#ANYWAY god you cannot imagine the pride i feel over this!

[thisfairytalegonebad]

thisfairytalegonebad's Whumptober Masterpost

This year I've participated in Whumptober for the first time with the intention of just seeing how far I could make it. And then I actually ended up being a completionist and I cannot believe it, I'm honestly so proud of myself, lol.

I've decided to compile all my prompt fills in a masterpost below the cut. With each fill, I've added the character it focuses on, but warnings and ratings are given in the individual posts (Tumblr)/fics (AO3). But before that, have some fun facts and stats:

I wrote exclusively for Final Fantasy XV and the total word count of the fics combined is, according to AO3, 44'778 words. I kept a tally of which boy I bullied how many times and the list looks pretty even, so there's something to be found no matter who's your fave :) Ignis: 8 Noct: 8 Prompto: 7 Gladio: 7

Lastly, here's the link to the AO3 series and here's the link to the FFN fic. And now, go check out the actual fics below the cut! :D

Day 1: Safety Net Gladiolus Amicitia AO3 ¦ Tumblr

Day 2: "They don't care about you." Prompto Argentum AO3 ¦ Tumblr

Day 3: Journal Ignis Scientia AO3 ¦ Tumblr

Day 4: Shock Noctis Lucis Caelum AO3 ¦ Tumblr

Day 5: "It's broken." Noctis Lucis Caelum AO3 ¦ Tumblr

Day 6: "It should have been me." Gladiolus Amicitia AO3 ¦ Tumblr

Day 7: Radio Silence Prompto Argentum AO3 ¦ Tumblr

Day 8: Outnumbered Not character specific AO3 ¦ Tumblr

Day 9: Polaroid Prompto Argentum AO3 ¦ Tumblr

Day 10: Stranded/Broken Phone Ignis Scientia AO3 ¦ Tumblr

Day 11: Animal Trap Noctis Lucis Caelum AO3 ¦ Tumblr

Day 12: Insomnia Ignis Scientia AO3 ¦ Tumblr

Day 13: Cold Compress Gladiolus Amicitia AO3 ¦ Tumblr

Day 14: Flare Noctis Lucis Caelum AO3 ¦ Tumblr

Day 15: Makeshift Bandages/"I'm fine." Ignis Scientia AO3 ¦ Tumblr

Day 16: "Don't go where I can't follow." Ignis Scientia AO3 ¦ Tumblr

Day 17: Touch Aversion Prompto Argentum AO3 ¦ Tumblr

Day 18: Body Modification (alternative prompt) Gladiolus Amicitia AO3 ¦ Tumblr

Day 19: Floral Bouquet Gladiolus Amicitia AO3 ¦ Tumblr

Day 20: "You will regret touching them." Prompto Argentum AO3 ¦ Tumblr

Day 21: "See the chains around my feet."/Vows Noctis Lucis Caelum AO3 ¦ Tumblr

Day 22: Vehicular Accident Ignis Scientia AO3 ¦ Tumblr

Day 23: Stalking Gladiolus Amicitia AO3 ¦ Tumblr

Day 24: Neglect Prompto Argentum AO3 ¦ Tumblr

Day 25: Buried Alive Noctis Lucis Caelum AO3 ¦ Tumblr

Day 26: Working to Exhaustion Ignis Scientia AO3 ¦ Tumblr

Day 27: Scars Noctis Lucis Caelum AO3 ¦ Tumblr

Day 28: "You'll have to go through me." Gladiolus Amicitia AO3 ¦ Tumblr

Day 29: "What happened to me?" Prompto Argentum AO3 ¦ Tumblr

Day 30: Bridal Carry Ignis Scientia AO3 ¦ Tumblr

Day 31: Emptiness Noctis Lucis Caelum AO3 ¦ Tumblr

[vaguely-concerned]

To the ‘themes I am picking up on in Veilguard’ list, let's go ahead and add what I have a sneaking suspicion will actually turn out to be The theme:

— the world has changed and can never be as it was again.

— I have been changed and can never be who I was again.

— in this simple unavoidable truth there is endless grief and endless hope.

And I… may be getting a bit emotional about it haha. Let me show my work a bit: 

if da:o is a game about people who are already dead or half ghosts in some form (through societal forces, psychologically, functionally, literally, in body, through the joining etc.) coming together anyway to save the world from being swallowed by total nihilism and despair (symbolized by the blight) through the power of love and friendship and also this sword/potential heroic sacrifice that I found, da2 is a game about people who have lost their homes and been set adrift finding and building new homes in each other (while completely failing to save the world. also through the power of love and friendship. as well as years of petty bickering <3 we must imagine kirkwall if not happy then worth having been because the love was there the love was there and that's the only sanctifying force we can ever have in this doomed world and city of ours), and da:i is a game about old stabilizing-but-unjust comfortable lies vs. disruptive but potentially liberating uncomfortable truths, and the power of friendship to help us distinguish the one from the other and navigate through them...

folks… I'm starting to think that veilguard might be a game specifically about moving towards recovery and acceptance after trauma — about how even in this flawed, severed, scarred state, what is here right now is worth loving and worth caring for. even in an imperfect and impermanent world and self, there is worth and joy. and of course the first real tragedy — and threat — of Solas is that he just cannot find it in himself to accept this and move on, to let go of what was, the regret won’t let him go or he won’t let go of it. which means that even though on the surface it’s Elgar’nan and Ghilan’nain (and the will to subjugate and violate they represent) who are the main villains, the real antagonistic force in this story beneath that is the Dread Wolf’s despair. A despair Rook must make an answer to by the end of the game, one way or another, compassionately or with righteous fury, triumphant or pyrrhic.

The world will change again and again and so will you — BUT the crucial element is that so will everyone else who exists along with you, you are fundamentally not alone in this existential truth. all we’ll ever have is each other and my god that is plenty, my god that is enough!!! Which is the second thing Solas just can’t accept, he keeps himself separate and completely alone out of an awful mix of fear and pride and feeling himself unworthy of anything else. Rook and the player want to save the world of Thedas because it’s where everyone we love lives, Solas wants to go back to the past because that’s the only neighbourhood where he can still visit those he loved — and the person he himself was, before. A very sympathetic and human instinct/trap to fall into when touched by trauma, I think, if only it wasn’t backed by godlike power, a fundamentally oppositional personality, and a catastrophic lack of therapy to make it literally everyone else’s problem too lol. It’s varric and solas’ banter about the man on the island and where meaning in a life comes from all over again, writ large and with detail work — and the added idea of ‘what if there are also other islands out there, though. With other people on them that you could find if you reach for each other’. Rook with the best of intentions has to make choices to which there are no perfect outcomes and live with what happens — and not cut themselves off from everyone else around them even when there is regret or shame. You get back up every day and you make a life with other people doing the same and you do your best, and that’s the only victory this world will give you. In the end, that is more than enough, that is essential. And I um. I love that. So much. It’s why some of the writing clumsiness on top can’t hurt me because this thematic spine is so solid and so beautiful to me. It’s DA2 all over again that way for me personally — I forgive this story for what it isn’t and couldn’t be, and I love it with my whole stupid open heart for what it actually is. Thank you for coming to my TED-talk and goodbye etc.      

(For my fellow TLT heads out there — you know what this story is reminding me of most of all, actually? It has some big Nona the Ninth vibes down there in the deep. It’s about… the horror and unspeakable beauty that can only be found in liminality, and the role of love in making that basic fact of existence bearable. And also even more unbearable at the same time. I'm so sorry.)

[apricot-blossomss]

can you do one with Apollo where he offends someone or something and they strike down the mortal reader? real angsty you know

☛ apollo offends hera who takes revenge by killing mortal!reader

☛ extreme angst, major character death, violence, grief, guilt

The room was warm with the lingering heat, droplets of sweat tickled your back and were wiped away by the gentle hand of your lover. You were lying on your stomach, head resting on a pillow, and admiring the sight before you; your bare god looking down on you lovingly, your fresh marks adorned his neck and shoulders, his fingers gently tracing the testimonies of love he had left on your body.

He was propped up on one hand, so that you could admire him fully. Your hand, still a little shaky from the bliss, found his golden locks, damp and sticking to the back of his neck. Under your touch, he closed his eyes and smiled, leaning into your hand that guided his head down to your pillow. He settled next to you, a loose arm around your waist and your eyes locked. Their expression was no longer heated, no, his eyes were warm honey. Soft, golden, overflowing with adoration and love.

"I love you," you whispered. It had slipped out just a few minutes before, you had never said it before. But now it was out and you didn't wish to ever take it back.

His soft hand came to your neck as his expression was overrun with emotion. A shuddering breath left his lips and you saw a sort of desperation in his eyes. You knew him too well. "You don't have to say it back," you whispered and pressed a soft peck onto the tip of his nose.

"But I do," he breathed, running his thumb over your cheek with a care as if he was handling fragile glass. "I do so much. More than you-" he tapped your forehead tenderly, "could ever comprehend. More than I should."

"Because I'm mortal?" you asked, not breaking eye contact. "Because I will get old and die?" You saw in his expression that he was pondering something and inched even closer so that your noses almost touched. "You can tell me, Apollo. What's wrong?"

Another shudder of a breath. His arms tightened around you and his expression was pained. "I want you to grow old. And be with you all the way."

"Well, good that we aren't being seen in public anyways then, can you imagine the stares?" you giggled and he could bring himself to laugh a little. Tenderly, you brushed the damp locks out of his face. "Are you worried about me, Apollo?"

"Many of my lovers died." It broke out of him like a confession he had been holding in for a while, pushed down, but now it was out and he looked upon you with such vulnerability. "I cannot stand the thought that it might happen to you. It's the reason I'm keeping you my secret. Every time I close my eyes and you are not around, I am plagued my visions, dreams, images..."

A drop of sweat made its way down the side of his face- or was it a tear? You cradled his face in your hands and Apollo pulled you even closer, until you could feel every inch of each other. Somehow, it was even more intimate than the sex. "Nothing's gonna happen to me, Apollo," you said, wishing you could just erase all that worry from his mind. "Don't worry, do you think you can get rid of me that easily?"

He didn't answer, so you kissed him, deeply, with all the love you had for him. And still it was no match for the intensity with which he kissed you back. When you parted, you were all out of breath, tracing little patterns on his skin. "I trust you, Apollo," you whispered as you painted your love on him with invisible brushes. "More than anyone."

"I love you," was all he answered, body's intertwined so tightly you didn't know whose legs were who's anymore. "I'll never let you go."

And he couldn't. He couldn't let you go. He couldn't be too late. This couldn't be happening. Why, oh why, had his pride compelled him to inflict that plague onto Carthage, Hera's holy city? He had to get to you before she did. How stupid of him to think he had taken all the proper precautions to hide you, keep you a secret. The look on Hera's face when she had entered his palace, said your name and that you would pay for his crime, it haunted him. It was all he could see as he raced towards the mortal realm, in search of you, you, you.

The way he rushed past cities, realms to get to you, now, fast, before she did, all he could do was think please. Please. The wind rushed in his ears, his heart drumming up a storm, fueled by his desperate panic. He couldn't allow himself to think, he just had to find you, get you to safety, never let you out of his eyesight again-

Suddenly, he spottet you, and his heart stopped as abruptly as he did. For a split second, the skies opened and deceiving, stupid hope filled his chest. For just a second, it was all well, because there you were, in your springtime dress on your walk. Unsuspecting, beautiful you. It was a scene right out of a dream, the way you shielded your eyes from the sun, looking in his direction, as if a magic bond had pulled you towards him. Your eyes widened when they locked with his, and you smiled.

The dream was ripped apart.

Even with all his godly senses, it came too fast for him to see. One second, you stood, the next, you collapsed on the ground, struck by the invisible, deadly hand of the highest of goddesses.

Too late. In the back of his mind he knew he was too late, but that didn't stop him from inspecting the wound the moment his feet met the ground. A gown of blood was already draped around you, your former green dress now the color of scarlet. Shaking fingers pressed against the wound, but the blood kept spilling. Too much blood. And it mixed with the tears Apollo hadn't even realized were falling from his eyes.

His hands were frantic in their attempts, but they couldn't save you. You were slipping, and he knew it. A panicked sob left his lips, more tears were wetting his cheeks when he cradled your face in his hands. Your eyes were wide, full of fear, and your breaths were but strangled cries for help. A lung, he thought in the back of his mind, maybe both. And he couldn't fix you.

Admits it all, he wanted to say sorry, but no word left his lips as he saw your helpless eyes, eyes that were usually full of love, reassurance, warmth and tenderness. What had he done?

"'pollo" you managed to chocke out, along with a violent cough that had you spitting blood. The metallic taste filled your mouth. You wanted to move, but you couldn't. That was when you realized- you didn't feel your body anymore. But if you didn't feel your body anymore, why was there so much pain? You barely registered how Apollo lifted you up into his arms. "Don't talk, shh.."

"'s important," you slurred and he brushed your hair out of your face. You opened your mouth to speak, but nothing came out but another bloody cough. Your eyes widened as his heart stopped and you both came to the same realization: you were chocking on your own blood. Another coughing fit. "'Apollo, 'need to tell you-," you gasped and buried your fingers in his tunic so hard it hurt. They were too cold. And he couldn't move. Every cell in his body was screaming at him to move, do something, but he was unable to do anything but hold you in his arms as you died.

"'s not your f-" but you didn't get to finish your sentence. Blood painted your lips red. One second, your eyes were panicked, the next, they were empty, devoid of life. Your grip on his tunic loosened and he managed to break free from his paralysis to grab your hand and desperately press it to the spot you had been holding onto, as if that would return the life to your limp body. But you were gone. And all he could do was cradle your lifeless body in his arms and bury his head next to your still heart.

"No" he whispered, "no, no, no!" Another sob broke out of his trembling lips and tears wet your collarbone. Where he once had put his lips in adoration, you were now covered in your own blood. Your beautiful body, destroyed, and you, gone, in the blink of an eye. Because of him. He breathed in as terror washed over him. To look down upon the destruction he had caused, he raised his head from your fleeting warmth. The last warmth he would find in you. He would never be able to hold you again. And it was his doing.

Next was the rage. He yelled for Hera to come down from her divine realm, to face him, he would destroy her, he would avenge you. But ultimately, there was no sign of the goddess, and he had to see that it wouldn't bring you back.

So he screamed for his uncle, to have mercy, to give you back to him. Down in Hades, the god heard his nephews cries for help, but he couldn't make a difference. You were a mere mortal. He should have known better. There was no answer from Hades.

So, he was left there. By now, his body was drenched with your blood as well, covering his tunic, his lips from when he had tried to kiss you back to life, and his hands. That was right. It was his hands that were bloody, sullied with the guilt. Again. This should have never happened to you. If he had had mercy, if he had been strong enough to leave you alone, you wouldn't be here. Destroyed by a goddess whose anger was directed at him. He was your murderer.

It took a time until he rose. Still, you were cradled in his arms, your head supported against his chest and your eyes closed. Once he had cleaned you up, one could almost think you were sleeping peacefully, if there weren't the memories of your panic in your last moments. Those widened eyes had burned themselves into his soul forever, an eternal scar.

Sources differ to what happened to you after this. Some say that your remains were transformed into a beautiful tree by the god, one that could never be brought down by an ax. In death, your love remained just as strong as in life. But the god was heartbroken. And he remained so for centuries to come.

[im-not-samantha-im-samanta]

Hello again, nonny!

Oh god, I'm so sorry how long this request took me to make.

I really wanted to make your request since you seem really sweet, but I struggled so much! I changed formats and ideas for your request at least 20 times and I'm so burnt out both creatively and in my personal life.

I'm not fully satisfied with my work, I feel like this piece could've been a bit better. But anyways I really hope you'll find the final results acceptable, and I'm again sorry for the way too long wait.

_

🍎🎶//Not such an awful colour after all...//🎶🍎

(Lilith and Lucifer x gender-neutral!imp!reader)

___________________________________________

Type: Fanfic

Settings: Romantic

Genre: Fluff, though a bit of hurt/comfort feel,

!TRIGGER WARNING!: Reader is hinted to be lonely and maybe a little depressed, hints of Reader having been mistreated in the past, occasional swear words used, idk if it's a trigger but Lucifer is a little awkward at interacting with gender-neutral reader at first (but he's supportive!), mentions of typical Hazbin Hotel stuff like hell, violence, etc., I believe the interaction between Lucifer and Lilith will give you second-hand embarrassment (but I imagine them being this lovey-dovey with each other, sorry), reader is also quite awkward and you'll probably also have second-hand embarrassment from this, and maybe a bit of not-sexual predator/prey feel in some parts is you squint (really not intended in a sexual way), and that should be all!

Sidenote: Reader is written as gender-neutral as per request. But if reader seems to be leaning towards more feminine sense, it's purely unintentional and I apologize!

Sidenote: Lucifer's portrayal is based off what we've seen in the show. As for Lilith, she's written as how the fandom's been portraying her before official release,

Sidenote: It's possible that reader might be a little neurodivergent coded. I just wrote what felt natural to me, and since I'm not a neurotypical, it might've affected Reader's portrayal,

_

That should be all,

Enjoy,

___________________________________________

Ah, those skies of red. Those sweet skies of red, they're all you've ever known.

Just those skies of red. And streets painted in blood, their shade makes you feel at home.

Skies of red, bloodied streets. As well as endless labyrinths bathing in the shade of ruby.

This is what makes up your entire world as a whole.

What makes up every twist, and every corner, even the littlest of crannies.

The colour of red - it seems to be an ever present companion.

A never leaving company, one that cannot be escaped no matter where you go.

Perhaps it is a punishment given to the sinners - to spend eternity in a sea of blood.

And only have a few distant memories of all the colours life holds.

A punishment to daily remind sinners of that one simple truth.

That just like the Pride ring is drained of colours, they themselves are drained of humanity.

At least, that's what's being passed on as the truth...

You yourself are not one of them, you're not a soul lost to sin and temptation.

And yet, you live the same exact way they do - in a single colour world.

Which is the only world you have ever known.

You may be an imp, sure.

You may have the upper hand over sinners, being able to travel outside Pride.

However, hell works just the same way the human world does.

At least in some ways.

Same as with humans, if you in hell don't have the means, the only travelling you can afford is taking out the trash.

And that's all. Nothing more, nothing less.

If we're bring honest here, you actually don't feel like you have the upper hand in this.

Especially considering the fact you're a lowly imp that can barely make a living.

If anything, you would say that sinners are the ones in the lead here.

Because they had experienced something you'd never have - a life outside of hell.

Before getting to hell, all sinners got to experience all the wonders of life.

Especially all those beautiful colours life could hold and come with - something you could only dream of.

You often wonder, though, just how it must feel to have everything you know taken away.

First having everything, and then ending up in a place that lacks most of what used to make up your whole world.

It's a pretty good punishment for sins if you think about it long and hard enough.

But you still don't think it's fair this punishment to see nothing but shades of red involves you too.

You never did anything wrong, and yet you live the same way sinners do.

And that's a fact you've still not accepted, and you probably never will.

The other imps in the Pride ring never seemed to be as bothered by this though.

They never really agreed with your desire of wanting more than just this.

Not even those that were the same as you - without the option to travel or move out of Pride.

Even your own parents always said that you were making this into too much of a big deal.

They didn't understand you, just like none of the other imps around you did.

That fact alone has always made you feel really singled out throughout your whole life.

You felt alone, and like no one really got you or your frustrations regarding living in a single colour world.

You felt like such an oddball - and the other imps didn't really help on that regard.

Most of them would point their fingers at you, and ridicule you.

You experienced that treatment especially when you were younger, still a naive little child.

Because back then you didn't know it was better to keep your mouth shut if your opinions didn't match what the rest thought.

You didn't know any better, but eventually, you've learned to keep such things to yourself.

You had to if you didn't want to continue being lonely and mistreated.

And so, you've pushed your distaste for the colour of red aside, never mentioning it ever again.

Or well, that's how it was until a really unusual and extraordinary day.

On one certain day, a beautiful, vividly turquoise rose was found in Pride.

And it was such an unusual sight that the petite little flower was taken and placed into a museum.

Yet, no one really seemed to care for that small little bloom.

No one really rushed to the museum building to see that little piece of miracle.

No one was excited about it.

No one except you.

It sure felt lonely all over again to be the only one there.

The only one standing in front of the flower secured behind the protective glass.

The only one eagerly wanting to take in every little detail of the flower with true and genuine enthusiasm.

But at the moment you finally got to live your childhood dreams, it didn't really matter.

It was not your loss, it was your gain.

And so, you stood there, gazing fondly at the petite bloom.

And as you did so, you eventually found yourself talking to the flower gently.

"Aren't you just the prettiest little thing all of hell's ever seen?".

You melted over the little miracle as if it could hear.

You spoke to it, letting those turquoise petals know just how much you admired them.

And you could've cared less about whether or not you looked silly.

This was a dream come true - and you've made sure that the little thing knew.

"You have no idea how much I've been wishing for something like you to happen here in hell...".

You found yourself confessing, telling the flower all you've kept inside for years and years.

All of what you've had to push aside and share with no one until this single moment.

And it felt amazing to finally let it all out after suppressing it all for so long.

Even if that small thing probably couldn't even hear or understand any of what you've shared.

Even if all you got in response was just and only deafening silence.

Silence that reminded you that you're the only one around.

The only one to have these certain thoughts regarding your hatred for the colour of red.

And your frustrations about your desires to see more of the colours life can hold.

You really were all alone on this one it seemed...

"Truly a sight to see, am I right?".

A voice broke you out of your thoughts.

And you then found yourself facing a stranger.

An ordinary height man - one with porcelain skin and golden locks for hair.

And two vividly yellow pools for eyes, with their centers of blood red.

Blood red - that one damn, awful shade that you held so much hatred for.

And yet, despite that, you had to admit that the man was quite the looker.

And he definitely knew how to dress - all fancy, and, dare you'd say, flawless.

Well, flawless if you ignored the presence of the colour red in his attire.

But nonetheless, he was truly something you could stare at for hours and not get bored.

And it was quite the surprise that such a man would approach someone like you.

A lowly imp - a creature beneath nearly all of hell kind.

"I wasn't talking about myself, you know?".

The man's voice brought you out of your thoughts for the second time today.

And as his teasing words settled in, you realize that you've been caught staring at him!

A blush immediately covered your face at that realization.

And you profoundly attempted to apologize, stumbling over your words as you did.

The stranger, however, didn't seem all too bothered, nor did he seem disgusted.

If anything, he looked amused, and the warm chuckle he gave reassured you about that assumption.

"Oh, it's nothing to get worked up over,".

The man silenced you gently, waving his hand dismissively.

"I am aware of the effect I have on women, men...".

He went on casually before pausing, and looking you up and down.

"As well as pretty little things such as yourself...".

He grinned at you seductively, but then you could almost see the gears turning in his head.

And as his eyes widened at what seemed to be a realization, his face shifted to a look of panic.

"Sorry- am I allowed to call you a thing? That's not offensive, is it?".

He questioned, making your embarrassment ease up.

He seemed as socially awkward as you at that certain moment.

And you couldn't help but smile as he sputtered some more.

"Fuck- sorry, would it be more acceptable to call you a pretty little person?".

The stranger asked, looking genuinely panicked about the situation.

But before you could reassure him, he went on a tangent.

"Wait- that's probably-".

He sputtered, stumbling over his words without catching a break.

It would be quite a comical sight to see - Him, a gorgeous demon - stressing over possibly having insulted a mere imp.

And to the point of nearly crumbling and begging for forgiveness too.

Truly a scene one doesn't get to see on the daily basis.

You might've even laughed at him if only you didn't feel quite bad for him.

He was obviously a decent person and meant well.

Which was not something you see in hell everyday either.

"Sorry! I've not romanced a gender nonconfirming individual before,".

The man chuckled awkwardly, nervously reaching out with his hand to fix his hat.

But then he almost seemed to choke back on his own chuckle before he, as if in a rush, added:

"-but I'm not actually trying to romance you! I'm just-".

He didn't get to finish his ramblings as you've decided to finally ease his nerves.

"It's all good, no worries,".

You gently cut the stranger off with a friendly chuckle.

And you even offered a soft smile to add to your reassurance.

You genuinely didn't want for this man to stress himself out - he seemed quite sweet.

"You did pretty well for your first time,".

You added in a light-hearted voice, feeling the need to relax the man further.

And to your words, the stranger responded with a surprised blink of his eyes, and his mouth going agape.

But that reaction was short lived as he soon grinned, looking pretty proud of himself.

"I did?".

Was the following verbal answer your reassurance received.

And being the good-natured person you were, you nodded in confirmation.

You didn't get annoyed with him, you actually enjoyed this interaction a lot.

It was like a breath of fresh air to finally talk to someone real.

And someone who was friendly and not a mean-spirited bitch at that!

"Wow, that's... That's a huge relief!".

The stranger chuckled again, but this time it was less awkward, and more warm and relaxed.

"It sure wouldn't do my reputation any good if I were to insult one of my subjects,".

He mused casually while tugging a little at his coat and fixing it to his liking.

"even if by complete accident,".

He added, but then his previous words sunk in, and you had to do a double take.

What did he mean by 'subjects'?

"Um... subjects?".

You voiced your thoughts and confusion, to which the man, still grinning, raised an eyebrow.

"Well, yeah?".

The stranger said with a voice tone that hinted it should be obvious, as if there was no place for confusion.

But you only stared at the man, clearly not getting the memo.

Yet, the man didn't seem offended, he actually seemed more amused than anything.

"Wait, you actually-?".

He broke put into a short, yet hearty laugh as he gripped onto his hat.

He laughed, but he didn't seem to be ridiculing you or have any ill will.

He just seemed to find the whole situation entertaining.

"My- oh, my!".

The stranger's laughter died down, only a few low chuckles leaving him as he uttered those words.

"Now that's something I don't see every day! You don't really do politics, do you?".

He asked you with a playful smirk, his sharp teeth peeking out from under his upper lip.

And you answered with a shake of your head, confirming the man's suspicions.

"Ah, that explains it,".

The stranger mused as he casually leaned onto his cane in the shape of an apple.

"Well, fortunately for you,".

The man began after a short pause, his eyes half-lidded and relaxed.

With a laid-back grin to complete the look.

"I'm not really one of those stuck-up royals who quite literally lose their shit over people not recognizing them,".

He gave a warm chuckle, along with a look of the same warmth as his laugh.

Like sweet honey stirred into a warm cup of tea.

Then, the stranger with the eyes of ruby put his free hand on his hip.

And he casually crossed his legs, all while still leaning against his cane.

He made his pose look so easy, and completely effortless. Like he had no weight the cane needed to support.

It was quite impressive.

And you wondered whether the man really weighed close to nothing.

Or if it was some sleight of hand kinda deal used to gain admiration from others.

Well, whichever case it were, the cane was perfectly still and straight.

As if the handsome demon wasn't even leaning on it.

"Yeah, that's not really my style,".

You heard the male say, drawing your attention back to him instead of the spear-like cane.

And you looked at the male just in time, because you got to see him casually checking his nails at the end of his statement.

Or well, you got to see him looking at where his nails would be as the stranger had black gloves on, giving no access to his nails.

But still, the gesture got the point across.

You understood the action was to deliver his words in a more smug and careless fashion.

Like he saw himself as above the rest of the popular demons.

And maybe as if he looked down on the others.

Not others as in low class.

Others as in the other royals, those who felt insulted if one didn't recognize them.

But that's beside the point.

What mattered more than how he said it, was the context of what he said.

Because the message that sunk in was clear - this man was a high class it seemed.

"Oh... so, you're a royal...?".

You found yourself saying in a way that made it seem like you were asking.

Like you weren't just repeating what was said to you, but like you wanted to hear a confirmation.

But despite that though, the voice tone you spike in wasn't really impressed nor intimidated.

Unlike what would've been expected of you upon such a find.

But your reaction was genuine, contrary to what one might think.

You truly weren't really impressed or intimidated by the revelation - you didn't find any reason to be.

One could call you naive, but you didn't feel the need to cower or be in awe.

Because this handsome demon didn't seem to want that sort of thing.

At least, that's what you assumed based on your interaction so far.

For the demon acted like a normal and ordinary demon, an equal to you even.

And not just that - he's been sweet and considerate the entire time too!

Not to mention you never got just why were royals such a big deal.

So, your disinterest in the man's status was your genuine reaction, it was no act.

"Sure am,"

The stranger nodded in agreement with your words, a low grin decorating his flawless face.

And you couldn't help but feel this laid-back aura coming off him, he seemed like he had little to no care in the world.

And he gazed at you with soft eyes that welcomed you in despite how much you despised their colour.

Oh, and the way he looked at you...

It made you feel like he wasn't bothered by your lack of reaction or lack of appeal for the fact he was a hight class.

It actually felt like he appreciated it. And his next words seemed like a confirmation of that.

"but, you don't have to worry your pretty little head about it,"

He waved his hand dismissively before addressing you with a:

"my dear little any-colour-but-red enthusiast.".

And the way he's addressed you made you pause.

And as your eyes widened, you had to do a double take.

You needed to let the title he's given you fully sink in.

And oh, when it did, your entire being filled shame and embarrassment.

Because if you got it right, then the man's heard your one-sided chat with the flower!

That one embarrassing heart to heart conversation no one was supposed to hear...

"Wait-".

You muttered, feeling your face beginning to heat up.

"you... you heard me...?".

You asked, and you couldn't even say anything more.

You were so embarrassed!

If one could die from shame, you'd be found dead right on your spot at least twice.

And yet, a part of you still hoped the male wouldn't confirm your worries.

A part of you still believed the situation wasn't so bad.

But then all your hopes were shattered.

"Mhm, I sure did,"

The handsome stranger confirmed much to your dismay.

And you were internally screeching.

You were caught sharing your frustrations with a petite bloom.

Talk about awkward.

You were surprised the stranger didn't run from you.

Fuck, this embarrassing moment was gonna stay on your mind til you die.

Even on your death bed this moment would be in your head on repeat.

"Oh my fucking-".

You sputtered and buried your face into your hands.

And you couldn't stop the involuntary, annoyed groan at the situation.

"I... damn... I'm sorry you had to see that...".

You eventually managed to tell the stranger after getting the courage to face him again.

"I would swear to you thar I'm not as odd as I may look right now,"

You went on, despite not knowing why exactly.

You felt the need to explain yourself, make yourself look better.

But you couldn't really.

"but I, unfortunately, do shit like that pretty often,"

Followed your confession.

Being true was the key, right?

Maybe it'd help in your case? You didn't count on

it.

And yet, the friendly demon surprised you.

"That's quite alright,"

You heard him chuckle.

And just like you previously reassured him, now he was to reassure you.

"if anything, I think you're quite endearing.".

He reassured you, voice warm and sweet, just like his eyes and the look he was giving you were.

And you did feel a bit calmer after his words for sure, although you still couldn't get over the fact this man's heard everything.

After all, what you told the flower wasn't something you'd tell just anyone. Let alone to someone you didn't know at all.

But then, the male spoke up again.

"And, between you and me...".

He started, looking into your eyes.

And then, he said those words you've always wanted to hear.

"I agree with you, hell could use more colour.".

There it was. Those words no one's ever told you. Those words you've always craved to hear.

Someone was agreeing with you and sharing your frustrations.

It felt like a dream.

You needed to pinch yourself, just to be sure this was real.

Your ears weren't deceiving you, were they?

"You... you really think so?".

You asked the stranger, your voice low, words cautious.

You didn't want to risk anything.

Your thoughts were racing, you were all tense, and you almost held back your breath as you waited for the man's response.

The male was quiet for a bit, prolonging your nervousness.

But it didn't seem like it was deliberately to make you suffer.

Since his expression softened - his grin was less wide, less smug.

And his eyes held something in them that was hard to read.

It seemed like recognition or compassion...

And maybe if one looked close enough, they would see a hint of sadness and longing.

As if, long time ago, the man's lost something he cherished dearly.

You've never seen anyone look like that.

And maybe this was why you felt the stranger's words were true.

That he was sick of living in a world made of shades of red just like you were.

"Yes, I do,".

He nodded, melancholia taking over the demon's features.

"Losing the opportunity to witness all the colours life can carry is something I mourn over from time to time...".

He confessed to you as he stood straight again, hus stance no longer relaxed, and he gazed longingly at the turquoise rose.

"You know, when I'm in a certain mood...".

He added with a bit lighter tone and a soft smile sent your way.

As if he was trying to make his words seem more light-hearted and not bring the mood down.

His words made a few questions arise in your head.

He confessed to have known a world filled with colours, which would hint at him being a sinner.

But then again, he said he was a royal, so he couldn't be a sinner.

It was confusing, and you had several questions, but you didn't have it in you to ask.

Instead you remained silent, gaze fixating on those turquoise petals.

Yet, you didn't leave the stranger without a reaction.

It may have been daring, maybe even improper, to do this to a royal, but you felt it was the right thing to do.

And so, you gently placed a consoling hand on the man's arm.

And when the male looked at you with a surprised look, you offered a soft smile and eyes full of compassion.

A look to let him know he wasn't alone in this.

And that gesture seemed to mean a lot to the demon as he offered a light smile back, his eyes seeming more lively after your act.

And you two exchanged a gaze of understanding one another, both of you feeling seen.

And then, the two of you gazed back at the turquoise rose, both of you admiring it in silence.

But this time neither of you were alone. This time you both had someone there with you. Someone to share this special moment with.

This was a moment that meant more than any personal possessions - this moment meant everything.

Yet, getting to have everything at one moment doesn't necessarily mean you'll get to keep that everything.

Such moments were a matter of a few minutes, not a lifetime.

And the reminder of this simple truth, came in a form of a voice.

A female voice that awoke a sense of familiarity in you.

Yet, you could not remember where you've heard that voice before.

And and picturing the owner has proven to be even more hard - it was out of the question.

"Ah, there you are!".

A female voice rang through the empty museum halls.

The sound it carried was smooth and feminine, with elegance.

And it evoked a cozy feeling, if that even makes sense.

There was also this slight raspy quality to it, yet the voice was sweet.

Pleasant to the ears.

You and the handsome stranger both turned around.

And the sight you were met with - oh how to even describe it?

You almost found yourself doubting that you were still standing in hell.

Because you could've sworn you were literally seeing an angel.

The woman that approached was like a divine painting.

Her figure was well-endowed, with long and thin legs.

And her face was sharp and flawless, looking as if made up by angels.

As if to add to her beauty - she had blonde long hair.

And that hair draped over her body all the way to the floor.

Like a veil made of gold.

She truly looked like a being straight out of heaven.

And you would dare to say that she rivaled all the depictions of Eve you've heard of.

Though there was one thing ruining the divine image of hers.

And those were her horns.

Wine red, long and curled horns decorating her head.

"Lili!".

The blond male next to you perked up.

He eagerly waved the woman over, a wide smile on his face.

His sharp teeth exposed.

His entire person appeared to have completely livened up.

Contrary to how solemn he was with you just a few moments back.

"My one and only! Where have you been?".

He asked the woman.

Or well, Lili - as he's addressed her.

And he gazed at her with pure adoration, excitement written all over his face.

And the demon stepped forward with a fond look.

"I could've sworn you were by my side the whole time before- poof- and you were gone!".

The handsome demon went on.

His pace of speech was fast and energized.

And he was almost jumbling his words together in the process.

And with his gesticulation coming on strong, the male had a truly disorganized look to him.

He looked as if his thoughts and emotions were all over the place.

As if they were going millions of miles per second.

It was quite a wholesome sight to see.

The previously seemingly well-composed man turning into a little ball of energy?

Just because he laid his eyes on the much taller demoness?

That was a truly cute and wholesome moment, a heartwarming moment even, if you'd dare to say.

"But that's not what happened, Luci."

The demoness responded to the shorter demon.

Or well, Luci, if we're going by how he was addressed.

And the female chuckled warmly.

She didn't seem bothered by the male's antics.

Instead, they seemed to be something she adored and held dear.

And the look in her lilac eyes held nothing but devotion.

Matching the one in the red eyes of 'Luci'.

Then, at her response, the male demon looked confused.

"It's not?".

He questioned, to which 'Lili' shook her head, chuckling again.

And then came the following answer:

"No, not quite. It was actually you who wandered off.".

'Luci' seemed taken aback by the reply,.

And pointing to himself as he questioned further:

"Me?".

'Lili' then nodded softly.

The fond look never leaving her face.

"Are you- are you sure? I don't remember it happening like that...".

The blond male then mused, his brows furrowing.

And gripping his chin in thought, he puckered up his lips.

He seemed genuinely confused about the whole thing.

Which made him look quite silly.

Though you yourself, personally, found the look quite cute.

And 'Lili' probably shared your view on that matter.

Because she chuckled melodiously.

Which was a truly heavenly sound to your ears.

And as she did, she seemed to almost melt over the male.

"And how do you remember it, dear?".

She questioned, and her lilac eyes held a comforting feeling.

Like that one of summer evening.

When it's getting dark and everything is cooling down.

Getting to breathe and rest.

With a campfire nearby, a good chilly drink in hand.

And the sound of crickets in the background.

A warm, yet still cooling feeling.

"Well, first we were holding hands..."

'Luci' began to explain to his female companion.

And as if on cue, his strong gesticulation began anew.

And with that, he followed through with:

"Then we stopped by those Lust jewels - y'know, those Asmodeus used to wear before eventually donating them here,".

Then he paused for a moment.

He seemed to be trying to remember the rest of the details.

"Then, I noticed the signs about the new expositions...".

He added after a moment of silence.

A pause, and then eyes seemed to sparkle.

Almost as if he's made some sort of accomplishment.

He most likely managed to remember more details of what's happened.

At least, that's what you've guessed.

"Oh, yeah!".

The handsome male chirped eagerly.

And he almost jumped on his spot as he went ahead to fill in the rest of what's happened.

At least according to him:

"And then I go: Look, Lili! The sign here says the turquoise rose is on the upper floor! Come!".

He said, imitating, what you assumed, were his previous actions and words.

"And I rushed upstairs while leaving you by the Lust jewels.".

The demon finished casually as he smiled.

He seemed so proud of himself for remembering everything.

But then, his yellow eyes widened, everything apparently sinking in.

"Oohh, yeah... It really was me who wandered off,".

He muttered as an embarrassed and disappointed look took over his features.

"You were right, yeah...".

'Luci' admitted, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly all while 'Lili' had a knowing look.

It was that smug 'I told you so' look, but without the ill-will in it.

Instead the look held a playful feel.

A playful feel like that of a simple lovey-dovey banter.

A lovey-dovey banter with no hard feelings.

"Oh, Lili- my love!".

The handsome male called dramatically.

And he took ahold of the taller demoness' hands, squeezing them.

"I have committed such shameful act! Can you ever forgive me, my queen?".

He asked in such a over exaggerated, over dramatic voice.

And he looked a few seconds away from dropping to his knees.

Possibly to loudly and unnecessarily plead for forgiveness.

But that wasn't all yet, because 'Luci' added to the scene.

'Luci' began planting soft kisses onto the female's hands.

Yeah, that wasn't really a scene you'd care to watch.

Talk about uncomfortable.

You just had to look away from the two.

And not only was the scene unpleasant to witness.

But you also didn't want to be seen as some kind of perverted freak.

Like, being caught watching this sort of scene?

Yeah, that wasn't on your bucket list.

And so, you directed your focus back on the turquoise rose.

You wanted to give the two the privacy they probably should have.

And surprisingly, it wasn't as hard to tune the two out.

If you focused on the little bloom hard enough, that is.

You were only brought back to the conversation when you heard yourself being mentioned.

"And who's your friend, Lulu?".

The blonde female asked as her gaze met yours.

Her lilac eyes flashed red for a moment and the shade made you really uncomfortable.

It made you want to shrink, if not straight up run away.

And it was hard to tell if you felt that way because of how much you hated the colour red.

Or if it was because the woman's gaze was suddenly so strict and intimidating.

She seemed to be sizing you up, analyzing, judging...

But before you could muster up the courage to introduce yourself, 'Luci' did it for you.

Or well, he attempted to do so.

"Oh! That! That's...".

He eagerly attempted to introduce you.

Motioning to you with his hand as he grinned wide.

But when the blond male realized he actually didn't know your name, he let his hand drop back to his side.

And he chuckled awkwardly.

"I actually have no idea!".

He chuckled awkwardly, making you feel somewhat more nervous.

The way 'Lili' studied you left you quite uneasy and all tense, you were a little panicked.

Because suddenly a thought came to your head.

What if the woman could see you as some sort of homewrecker?

As someone trying to get with the male she so obviously dated?

That thought caused a tight feeling in your chest.

You found it hard to breathe.

And 'Luci' wasn't making it much better, despite not having any ill intent.

At least you hope he didn't.

"I guess we just got a little lost in our conversation,".

The male said.

He sounded much more casual with this statement.

And he fixed his hat a little.

"Isn't that right, my any-colour-but-red enthusiast?".

'Luci' addressed you with a grin.

Pulling you into the conversation without giving you any time to prepare.

Yeah, he wasn't making this situation any easier to handle.

And not having expected to be involved in the chat, your mind went all blank.

You had not anticipated that.

You were not prepared for this scenario.

So, the only reaction you could come up with was an awkward smile.

An awkward smile and a quick nod sent towards the tall female.

You really hoped that if 'Lili' was reading between the lines, she'd see it really was just an innocent interaction.

An innocent interaction and nothing more.

"Ah, I see... how sweet".

'Lili' hummed.

Unbothered, unphased - that's how you'd describe her.

She seemed so well-composed and proper in every way.

Even all of her movements were just so elegant and correct.

If that makes sense.

Natural - that's another words you'd use for the female.

All her responses seemed just so natural and right.

Especially compared to you.

Yeah, nothing about her said 'socially awkward', unlike how it was in your case.

And, as if that wasn't enough - she was also truly hard to read.

You couldn't tell what she was thinking, she was unpredictable.

She could be planning on tearing you apart and you'd never be able to tell!

And that made the demoness so much more intimidating to you.

Especially considering you had a feeling that, unlike you, she could read you perfectly.

That, or she could be potentially misreading you - that would definitely make things worse.

"And I take it your little chat must've been quite entertaining if you've managed to hold my dear husband's attention for so long,"

The blonde's lilac gaze bore into yours once again.

Her long eyelashes gave her eyes a thin and sharp look.

They were like two black, massive folded fans.

You couldn't tell if they were natural lashes or false ones.

Anyways, her words were followed by a smirk - one that made you feel unsafe.

Predatory, dangerous - that was the air her smirk carried.

And you felt like you were about to fall prey to the demoness.

Like you were going to meet the same fate a little mouse meets at the claws of a cat.

Even the female's pupils seemed to be cat-like slits, as if to only add to that feeling.

And you were so sure that 'Lili' would've pounced on you.

If only 'Luci' didn't chime in.

"Hey! My attention span isn't so bad!".

The male demon called, hands on his hips as he looked quite offended.

Yet, he smiled playfully afterwards.

So, it was safe to assume that he wasn't truly as insulted as it may have seemed.

And another argument for that claim would be the man's next actions.

For his body took a much more relaxed stance, and he added:

"But yeah, yeah, it was a good chat,".

And he then simply fixed his hat a little as it previously nearly slipped off his head when he so intensely perked up at his wife's little jab at his person.

But shortly just after fixing his hat, the demon perked up again.

Almost sending his hat flying off his head once more.

"because-".

'Luci' jumped up.

He seemed to have recalled the exact context of the chat he had with you a few moments ago.

And suddenly, he no longer looked relaxed or casual.

Instead, in an blink of an eye, his calm demeanor switched up for a much more energetic one.

He acted like a little ball of energy once again.

"you won't believe it, Lili- but this little imp actually shares our passion!".

The blond male said with a wide grin.

And he started gesticulating strongly again.

Almost as if he was practitioning pantomime.

He seemed just so eager to share this with his female companion.

And he spoke so fast and excitedly that he almost struggled to breathe.

But after a long and deep breath, 'Luci' managed to sputter out the rest:

"They also think hell could use more colours! Isn't that- isn't that awesome, Lili??".

And at the mention of your desire to see more colours in hell 'Lili's eyes seemed to spark with interest.

"Oh, you don't say.".

She mused.

Her thin fingers grazed her face for a second, her eyebrows raising up a little.

And her expression softened.

Then, another light smirk appeared on her face.

But imposing isn't a word you'd call that smirk she wore.

This certain smirk was different than the previous ones.

This one seemed much safer, and almost friendly.

And 'Lili' had something more lively about her as she said:

"Well then, it seems we'll get along just perfect,".

And with those words, the blonde demoness took a step towards you.

"May I ask for your name? I'm sure that'd be much preferable than being referred to as any-colour-but-red enthusiast.".

The female told you with a short, yet warm chuckle.

And a hand casually rested on her curvy side.

Most of the intimidating demeanor she previously had seemed gone.

She seemed to have eased up.

Which gave her a more approachable feel.

And thanks to that, you yourself felt much more at ease being in the woman's presence.

So, it wasn't as difficult to muster up the courage to speak as it was before.

"Oh- y-yeah... I'd much rather be called by my name, yeah, that'd be much better, totally,".

You chuckled awkwardly.

And nodding your head with a light smile, you rubbed at the back of your neck.

You were rambling a little too.

You still felt a bit of unease.

But that was to be expected.

Considering you've not had this much of genuine social interaction in years.

But, 'Lili' didn't seem to mind.

She just looked at you with almost a motherly, compassionate look.

And she waited for you to introduce yourself with patience.

"Oh- damn- I'm rambling again, sorry,".

You said nervously after a short pause when you were processing your own actions.

And you almost started rambling anew before you caught yourself going that direction.

And you stopped yourself.

You needed to compose yourself.

You didn't want to drive her away by your social incompetence.

"Ahem, anyways, yeah, my name... I'm (Y/N),".

You finally introduced yourself.

And proud of your accomplishment, your inner self did a little victory dance.

Then, remembering how social interactions work, you added in:

"It's really a pleasure to meet you.".

You nodded with a smile before perking up and quickly saying:

"Ah- erm- both of you,".

And you sent a timid smile towards 'Luci', wanting to acknowledge him as well.

You didn't want for him to feel left out.

Your gesture seemed to be appreciated as the blond male smiled right back.

But instead of 'Luci' speaking up, it was his wife to follow though with the conversation.

"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance as well.".

'Lili's voice pulled your gaze right back at her figure.

And your full focus was on her once again.

"Truly it is, (Y/N).".

The demoness added in, nodding her head as if to confirm her statement.

After that, another smile formed on her lips, and she had this slightly amused look to her.

"Now, normally I would suppose that there's no introduction needed on our part,".

She mused, a hand resting on her chest while she leaned over a little, towering over you.

Her tall frame casted a bit of a shadow over you, making you feel much smaller than you actually were.

And she got so close that you could smell her expensive perfume.

But that was the least thing you needed to focus on.

You needed to listen to her words - which you forced yourself to do.

"but judging by this entire interaction, I would say you have absolutely no idea who we are,".

You heard 'Lili' say as your focus was back on the context of her words.

And her entire person was once again imposing as she finished her sentence.

She was wearing a light, entertained grin - one that exposed her pearly white fangs.

And despite her grin being quite pronounced, it did not take off her elegance.

If anything, it only made her more heavenly gorgeous.

And showing those pointed teeth some more, she asked:

"Am I correct in that assumption?".

With that question, she raised an eyebrow.

Her expression wasn't confused as one might have assumed, though.

No, the demoness seemed to already know your answer.

And that knowing look she wore only further confirmed that claim.

Perhaps you were right when you assumed 'Lili' could easily read you.

That realization alone made your eyes widen, and you sputtered:

"Oh- y-yeah- that would be right.".

You nodded your head with an awkward smile, feeling both nervous and embarrassed.

And your nervousness was, of course, affecting you, as you rambled a little just like you previously did:

"Yeah, I have no idea who you two are... I don't do politics and famous people... buuuut, you're... probably someone... important...?".

At your guess, both 'Lili' and 'Luci' chuckled, and they exchanged a glance.

"Oh dear, you have no idea,".

The blonde demoness stated as another soft chuckle left her lips.

Then she covered her lips with her fingers for a few seconds, looking amused.

And the way 'Lili' and 'Luci' were gazing at you left you unable to do anything other than smile awkwardly.

Their gazes were hard to describe, but you felt preyed upon.

Just like you previously felt with the women at the start.

Except it felt a bit different in a way you couldn't quite describe.

Not to mention that this time 'Luci' was a part of it.

The male demon's even gotten closer to you just like his wife did a while ago.

"They're precious, aren't they, Lili?".

'Luci' suggested as he stepped forward.

His gaze was focused on you, and he was giving a sharp toothed grin.

A grin that called for you - begged you - to read between the lines.

But that could be just your imp nature speaking, right?

After all, imps were used to being the prey to other demons.

So it made sense for you to be alert around other demon species, right?

Well, even then, the answer 'Lili' gave to 'Luci's question didn't help you feel safer.

"Quite so, Luci,".

'Lili' mused as her gaze trailed over your whole person.

She was looking you up and down with predatory eyes - like a snake looking at a little mouse.

Her gaze was unnerving, and the female didn't seem to bother with doing that action subtly either.

As if she felt no shame in doing so.

Almost as if she wanted for you to be aware of what she was doing.

And as if that wasn't alarming enough, 'Lili's gaze then trailed off towards 'Luci'.

The two looked at each other, exchanging a certain gaze.

You couldn't tell what kind of gaze it was exactly, but it made you feel so much more preyed upon.

It appeared as if the two were wordlessly agreeing on something, plotting even.

And you didn't like that one bit.

But before you could even think to perhaps run off, the couple directed their attention back at you.

"Well, dear (Y/N)... It seems an introduction is in order,".

'Lili' then told you in a smooth voice as she once agai leaned over you in one elegant movement.

Meanwhile 'Luci' stood aside, watching the further interaction with an eager grin.

"Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Lilith,".

The blonde demoness introduced herself, a hand on her chest.

Then, she motioned to the male beside her with her hand.

And the demon in question stepped forward, placing his hand into the female's palm.

"And this is my husband, Lucifer.".

Lilith introduced the male, making you pause.

You needed a moment to do a quick double take on that information.

But before you could even questioned anything, the mentioned male spoke:

"Lucifer Morningstar. It's a pleasure to officially meet you, (Y/N).".

And with those words, the world suddenly seemed to stop and freeze in time.

Your mouth and throat went completely dry, and your pulse seemed to halt.

The room seemed to begin to spin, your body breaking into cold sweat.

And all you could hear was loud and painful ringing in your ears.

This couldn't be real.

"W-wait...".

You attempted to speak, your eyes wide.

You wanted to say something - anything!

But your brain seemed to have crashed and gone blank.

You were unable to formulate a single simple sentence.

You were at loss for words.

And at loss for breath too it seemed.

Your throat was all closed up, and all you could give was a pathetic little gasp for air.

"Oh? Oh? What is it, dear?"

Lucifer looked entertained - and it was the same for Lilith.

The pair watched you do a bit of your mental gymnastics with amused gazes.

Both were grinning.

Seemingly finding some kind of joy in you finally realizing just who you were dealing with.

"Do those names... I don't know... maybe ring a bell?".

Lucifer asked you in a sweet and seemingly well-meaning, yet still condescending voice.

He sounded playful, as if this was just some kind of a game.

But when the demon got no response from you, he grinned wide and turned to his wife:

"Why, Lili, I have a feeling those names do ring a bell to them,".

And Lilith, seemingly equally as amused, nodded along:

"Yes, it certainly seems like it, Lulu,".

You had absolutely no idea as to what to do in this situation.

Your brain was way too overloaded to figure out a possible solution for this.

Thinking was out of the question, so was talking yourself out of this situation.

You were so fucked.

And so, acting on default, you dropped to your knees, hands in a praying position, attempting to ask for forgiveness.

You didn't dare look at the two, your eyes being directed to the ground as your entire body trembled.

And you pitifully tried to verbally ask for forgiveness of the pair too.

But all you could force out were just pathetic little noises and sputters of nonsense.

"Now, that's quite a bit of an extreme reaction, don't you think?".

Lucifer mused all so casually, sounding unbothered by the display.

And Lilith matched the casual, unphased voice tone, saying:

"Come now, get off the floor, dear. The ground is way too dirty for you to be sprawling all over it like that,".

After that, Lucifer chimed in again, following through with:

"Yeah, and you might want to wipe off those tears as well, they're a bit too dramatic,".

Their words and reaction confused you so, and made you pause.

You didn't know what was going on - you've not expected this.

They were supposed to tear you apart, weren't they?

Because you didn't recognize them and talked to them so casually, right?

Well, not even Lucifer's next words made that any clearer.

In fact, you actually ended up feeling even more confused then.

"And I gotta ask: is your memory not working well?".

Lucifer asked, and a hint of disappointment lingered in the air.

You didn't understand his words, or his voice tone.

Both only made more questions arise.

And you cautiously looked up to him,

"wha- what?".

You muttered, voice barely loud enough to be heard.

You felt almost afraid to question what Lucifer's said.

You just can't help yourself but be fearful of the male.

Even if he's been nothing but pleasant to you the whole time.

But, could anyone even really blame you for your unease and fear?

He was the literal Devil, and you've treated him like an equal.

There was no way that Lucifer wasn't insulted or upset over this.

"I mean, I told you I'm not one of those royals who lose it if one doesn't recognize them, no?".

Well, it turned out your assumptions were all wrong.

These words that Lucifer's said have proven you wrong.

He didn't seem upset whatsoever, and his words confirmed that.

Sure, he sounded just a little disappointed with you in a way.

But he was not upset, which definitely was a relief.

However, you still had yet to properly calm down and relax.

"Y-yeah... you did...".

Was all you've managed to clumsily force out.

And your voice tone sounded just a little surprised.

That was because you've experienced a bit of a realization.

Truth be told, you've completely forgotten about your previous conversation.

You've forgotten just what kind of a royal Lucifer told you he was.

And when you remembered the male's previous words, your eyes widened a little.

Yet, your mind didn't feel any clearer, you still felt the same.

So, saying anything more was a task you could not achieve.

But, the devil went on with the conversation anyways.

"Then what's up with that reaction?".

He questioned you, an eyebrow raised.

He sounded almost judgemental at that certain moment.

He even looked the part - an unimpressed gaze, a hand on his hip.

Yet, somehow, there was still no feeling of ill-will to him.

Still, it wasn't any easier for you to think of what to say.

"I- I... well... y-you see...".

You clumsily attempted to explain yourself.

But a weak little mutter was all that you could give.

You couldn't say anything more, your brain felt too empty.

Everything that's happened just left you with a clouded mind.

And your thoughts and emotions were all over the place.

So, a soft mutter and a distressed whimper was the best you could do.

But Lucifer didn't seem to mind that, not even in the slightest.

"Nah, I'm just pulling your leg!".

He called with a hearty chuckle.

And he dismissively waved his hand as he added:

"I totally get the whole dropping to your knees thing!".

"I mean, we're literally the rulers of hell, so it makes complete sense for you to act this way,".

The blonde male went on and on.

He seemed to be having a good laugh at all of this.

And he gesticulated and spoke all enthusiastically.

But you didn't really catch any of what was being said.

Your brain was way too overloaded to be able to do so.

And the longer Lucifer spoke, the worse you began to feel.

Much to your relief though, Lilith finally chimed in once again.

"Luci, I think you're completely overwhelming the poor thing,".

The queen of hell noted.

She sounded a little amused just like the male was.

Yet, there was a clear hint of concern in the way she spoke.

"Oh, am I?".

The king of hell paused.

Finally, he took a moment to take in your state.

And when he did, he awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck and mused:

"Yeah... I think I am,".

After Lucifer noted that, Lilith focused and spoke directly to you.

"We apologize, (Y/N).".

She started in a gentle tone.

And her expression was not as amused anymore.

At that certain moment, she seemed almost apologetic.

But not too much.

"It's just that it's not often someone doesn't recognize us, and we couldn't help ourselves,".

The demoness explained.

And you could've sworn her eyes held genuine concern in them.

Although her overall stance didn't really change much.

The tall blonde was still perfectly well-composed.

And she still appeared mostly unphased.

Then she finished her speech with:

"all was meant in good fun,".

At that final explanation, you paused.

Your racing thoughts came to a full stop.

And processing Lilith's words, you said cautiously:

"S- so we're... all good?".

Your words came out slow and soft.

And you were careful with your wording too.

You were kind of testing the waters in a sense.

The two rulers of hell kept surprising you.

They were continuously proving to not be a threat to you.

Yet one could never be fully sure - especially not in Hell.

And especially not as mere little imp.

Your question was met with a warm smile from Lilith.

And she nodded to your words, confirming them.

"Yes, we're all good".

She confirmed.

Relief washed over you then.

And you made sure to voice that.

"Oh- holy shi- I'm so relieved!".

You breathed.

And only then did you get off the ground.

"Fuuuuck,".

You gave a breathy chuckle.

And you wiped some metaphorical sweat off your forehead.

You felt on cloud nine - as if you've escaped death.

So, you couldn't really control your vocabulary at the moment.

Not like it mattered anyways.

"For- for a moment I thought-".

You stumbled over your words a little.

This entire thing felt just so unreal.

You were overwhelmed again.

But this time not exactly overwhelmed in a bad way.

"For a moment I thought it'd be off with my head or something!".

You admitted.

And you gripped your head.

You needed a moment to fully process everything.

"Whaaat? No! No, we'd never do that!".

Lucifer called, pulling your focus back to himself and his wife.

He looked and sounded astounded.

As if not grasping just where you got that idea from.

But then he paused, and he gripped his chin in thought.

"I mean, we probably did that at some point, centuries and centuries ago...".

He thought out loud.

And that made your eyes widen a little.

You couldn't tell of he was just kidding around again or not.

And you almost felt your unease returning.

But then came the following exchange.

"Or did that happen only in a dream...?".

The Devil mused, confused and uncertain.

To which Lilith shushed him gently yet disapprovingly:

"Lulu, you're not helping,".

That was all she said.

She didn't deny or confirm anything.

And Lucifer perked up just then.

"Oh- yeah, right... that was a little beside the point I was trying to make...".

Lucifer admitted awkwardly.

He even gave a slight apologetic look for a quick moment.

But that expression of his was pretty much short lived.

Since then he relaxed and offered a friendly smile.

"Sorry, dear (Y/N), I tend to trail off sometimes.".

He told you, voice calm and pleasant.

And his words were even accompanied by a low chuckle.

"I can confirm that,".

Lilith voiced in, her tone just as pleasant, as well as humorous.

The mood in the room suddenly felt much better.

It felt easier to just be in the moment.

Lilith's little jab at Lucifer's expense made the male give a playful glare.

And to that, the demoness offered a playful smirk back.

Then, the blond male spoke again.

"Anyhow, I think we should properly apologize for how we...".

Lucifer trailed off.

Seemingly trying to find the right term to use.

"had fun at your expense?".

Lilith filled the rest in.

Helping her lover name what they did correctly.

And the male nodded in agreement:

"Yeah... that'd be the word,".

Then, Lucifer added:

"So, what can we do to apologize?".

The words of the pair had you astonished.

After all, they did give you a verbal apology already.

So, you'd just assume the situation was over.

It wasn't like you wanted anything more from them anyways.

After all, getting an apology out of someone as an imp was near to impossible.

And having someone want to do a selfless act to undo their wrongdoing?

That was twice as impossible.

No one really cared for imps.

Nor did they really see them as equals.

And yet, here were the two highest ranking demons in all of hell.

Both of them treating you fair and with respect.

You were so beneath them.

Yet they treated you more kindly than your own kin.

And maybe even more kindly than you treated yourself.

"Oh- no, no, that's completely alright!".

You dismissed the pair's offer.

You really weren't used to such treatment.

And you almost felt bad if you were to accept.

"No real harm was done! All's good!".

You went on.

You really didn't want for these two to burden themselves for your sake.

Honestly, it felt a little wrong.

However, your dismissiveness got matched.

Lilith and Lucifer weren't accepting of you waving it all off.

"No, no, we insist!".

Lucifer cut your efforts off.

And he matched your own voice tone.

Dismissive and insistent, and also a bit loud.

"Truly, we insist.".

Lilith nodded along, not letting you speak.

"After all, words are just so cheap - actions speak much louder".

She persuaded some more.

And the Devil was there to her aid, saying:

"So, even if we shall do just a simple act like buying you coffee... We insist,".

Of course, your first instinct was to keep declining.

Yet, something in you had you pause and think.

This was an opportunity like no other.

For you seemed to get along well with the two so far.

And the pair seemed to understand you like no one else.

After all, the two shared your view on Pride needing more colour.

Who knew if you didn't have more things in common?

And perhaps this was the moment you've always been waiting for.

Did you really want to sabotage yourself and throw it all away?

The answer was no.

No, you didn't.

And so, with a bit of hesitation, you stated:

"I guess... that coffee does sound good?".

And with your sheepish smile and answer the deal was sealed.

Because the king and queen both grinned.

"Good, I'm sure we'll have a lot to talk about,".

Lilith hummed.

She sounded pleased.

"And we'll start with why Pride needs more colour".

Lucifer added in.

And he gave a playful wink.

Then, his red eyes met yours for a moment.

And the Devil smiled at you before calling eagerly:

"Off to a cafe we go!".

And with that, the male rushed towards the museum exit.

He seemed to completely forget about you and Lilith.

"You'll get used to it,".

Lilith told you with a smile.

And as her lilac gaze met yours, her eyes flashed red again.

But this time her red eyes didn't intimidate you.

You two then went ahead to follow Lucifer.

And on your way out of the museum, you had just one thought.

That being:

That now you couldn't really hate the colour of red as much as you used to.

___________________________________________

[reanbowful]

this is a nsfw request-

a very sensitive and loud reader in bed 😔?

AHAHHAA THANK YOU FOR THE REQUEST!! 😈😈 (also, sorry in advance if it’s shorter from my other prompts)

“quiet down will you?”

if you’re loud in bed

*this is very nsfw

(gray, ben, alex, jake, donald, wolf)

gray yeon / yeon sieun

Sex with Gray is.. interesting.

He won’t make too much noise, maybe a few suppressed moans slipping out.

He’s like around 5 inches(?) (which is not bad that’s still an okay size to work with)

He’ll last like 1 round probably (sorry guys).

He enjoys foreplay more than the actual sex. Mainly because he can concentrate more on your pleasure than his. Also, he doesn’t last very long. So, you two will have more fun in building it up than going straight in.

If you’re very vocal, I feel like he would try to shut you up by kissing you or hush you down.

Especially if you’re a total mess after cumming 3x on his finger, begging him to enter you already.

He’ll kiss you and stroke your hair.

“Shh.. one more. You can do one more, right?”

No Gray, they in fact, cannot.

But I have to say, Gray is really good at making the most out of his knowledge. He knows where to touch, where to press, when to slow down, when to speed up.

Overall, you’ll have a good experience with him.

ben park / park humin

I don’t know if Ben likes it if you’re loud, but it would make him feel happy that he’s making you feel good.

So let’s start with this, sex with Ben is very fun. He’s very giggly, so you don’t have to worry about things being too awkward and serious.

He focuses on making you feel comfortable enough to know that you can show him everything.

So if you are vocal, he would probably be happy. But if you get too loud, he will try to make you lower your voice to not disturb the neighbours.

He will most likely laugh in between trying to shush you.

“Shh babe..! Shh.. pfft!”

Will end with him just kissing you while he’s STILL thrusting inside.

As for his size..

Let’s be generous, he would be around like 7 inches. (okay maybe 6.5 is more realistic but I’m biased and whatever. I’ll leave it up to your imagination)

He cums a little fast, but makes up for it with his stamina. He could last as many rounds as you want ngl. Man is blessed with the stamina of a god.

alex go / go hyuntak

Alex. Oh. Alex would probably not like it if you’re way too loud.

He would panic a little if he notice you being a lot more vocal than usual. But unlike others, he would not kiss you.

This man, will put his hand over your mouth.

Oh he would not stop either once he’s already in there.

“Ha.. I’m so sorry, babe. But you’re being a bit too loud right now.”

Alex is.. okay at sex.

It’s not like he has a really great technique nor can he last too many rounds. Pretty average size too maybe around 5-5.5 inches. And he lasts like around 2-3 rounds.

But he does make sure that you cum every single time. No, in fact, he won’t sleep until you’re satisfied.

He will use any means whatsoever. Be it his tongue or his fingers.

His pride would probably prevent him from cumming before you. So rest assured. If you sleep with him. He will make sure you get what you went in for.

jake ji / ji hakho

Jake would love it if you’re loud for him.

He needs to make sure if he’s making you feel good, so he appreciates it if you’re vocal about it.

“Does it feel that good?”

If you’re sensitive that’s even better. Since this guy has no fucking idea what he’s doing.

If he manage to make you cum, he would be so proud of himself.

If he manage to make you cum twice, he’ll probably start thinking he’s some kind of sex god or something.

It’s a bit of a shame cuz he’s kinda, ok he’s around 6.5 inches. If you think that’s small, something is very wrong with you. (🤨)

But anyways, he’s quite big..? So, since he doesn’t know how to utilise his assets. It’s a bit of a shame.

The good thing is that since you’re sensitive and he’s- well he has his size. You can both cum fairly easily without much fancy techniques needed.

Jake could last like about 2 rounds, 3 if he pushes it maximum. So, I hope you can be satisfied by then?

Aftercare is Jake’s specialty I feel like, so during that time, you can tell Jake what you like or don’t like. The next time you guys have sex again, he will take notes of those stuff so sex with him will only get better and better.

(^ from a commenter thank you ehe)

donald na / na baekjin

Donald LOVES it. He absolutely love it if you’re loud and sensitive.

In fact, he would even urge you to be louder.

He’s very cocky. And that personality goes in when he’s having sex also.

This makes him soo fucking dangerous. Because not only does he have the knowledge to know where your weak spots are, he will make you beg for him to let you release.

The asshole would literally stop moving if he notice that you’re close. And he knows you’re sensitive so he will pull out to make sure you don’t cum until he gets what he wants.

“Do you want to cum? Show me how much you want it.”

A solid 7. You can’t tell me otherwise. This man is no joke.

I can’t tell you how many rounds he last because he could take a long time to cum.

Honestly if you are his partner, my condolences for you. Because he can literally go 1 hour without pulling out. Despite him already cumming twice inside. (with a condom of course, safety is number 1)

wolf keum / keum seongje

Ok here’s the thing. Wolf tends to be quite rough in bed.

So it doesn’t matter what kind of shit you do, the neighbours are not gonna be sleeping through it.

Wolf has a high stamina so he can go multiple rounds. Maybe 5-6 max tho.

He would probably make you cum a couple times before he would enter you to raise your sensitivity.

He loves seeing you cry from his dick. (I’m sorry it just seems like so😬)

While he likes it when you show him that you’re enjoying it, if you get too loud, Wolf will stop moving entirely and threaten to pull out unless you lower it down.

“Noona, I know you’re feeling good. But if you don’t lower it down, someone’s really gonna knock on our door soon.”

If he’s feeling sadistic, he will make you cover your own mouth. And if you make a sound, he will slow down. Only to speed up once you calmed down.

If you still make too much sound or stop covering your mouth, Wolf will take it to himself and shove his fingers into your mouth. (courtesy of a commenter)

Imo he’s a solid 6. Not too big, but he knows how to use it well. (🤭)

[bigsoftmarshmallow]

Here's something!

In the middle of battle, the Dorfs’ wife gets seriously injured. He rushes her to the healer's tent &... she nearly dies. Like, her heart actually stops beating for a minute or two.

I imagine him breaking down in utter despair, but then, he feels her fingers tighten ever so slightly around his. So weakly, but still it was something.

When it's all over, her eyes open weakly, a small, tired smile on her face.

I heard him whispering quietly, his voice shaking, “A'nï… A'nï barákúl ladhi gib uàyúl būjūn'so plix'nï…” (I… I believed that death had stolen you from me…)

Her voice rasps at him, yet the sound is the most beautiful thing he'd ever heard, “You won't be getting rid of me that easily.”

Later, I can’t help but think that he’d also be curious about what she experienced in death. Though, when asked, she says that he probably won’t believe her. Commenting that she actually doesn’t quite believe it herself.

Ganondorf insists & she looks at him for a moment & told him that when she was… wherever it was she’d been, there’d been a some twink there. Like, a bizarrely “pretty” twink. Which, she’ll comment, not her type. Too teen heartthrob, not enough “could crush a man’s skull with his bare hands.”

But, anyway, the pervert tried to kiss her, so she punched him in the teeth & told him she was married.

Apparently, he liked her loyalty, so he decided to “grant her a boon”? And then she woke up.

She asked if her husband knew what that meant. Who seemed to just stare at her, before calmly informing her that she’d most likely just gained the favor of Ôyáseem, Gerudo God of the Wind, Thieves, Temptation, & Death. He is known to detest infidelity & will grant boons to those who resist his temptations to remain loyal to their significant others.

I’d very much like his thoughts, feelings, opinions, & reactions to all this, please & thank you? Especially to the fact that his tiny little wife had impressed the death god of his people by all-but assaulting in.

When you punch god in the face because you are HAPPILY MARRIED THANK YOU-

I love this. Ganondorf (and apparently Demise as well. We cannot escape him no matter how much I tell him that THERE ISNT ANY GERUDO IN HIS ERA.) taking in how much his wife loves him and dammit he will never chance losing her again. Nemma may need a beating stick because the man just became her personal body guard. No personal space, because he will never leave.

Wife nearly dies, but comes back? Ganondorf: WHERE EVER YOU ARE I WONT BE FAR TO FOLLOW OHHHH I LOVE YOU SOOOOO JUST SO YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU MEANS YOU ARE NEVER EVER EVER EVER GETTING RID OF ME-

^ Personal headcanon lol

Chat says differently me thinks->

***********************************************************************

When Ganondorf's wife nearly dies on the battlefield, the moment is shattering for him. Each version of Ganondorf, shaped by his experiences and personality, would react in his own way, but the underlying emotions would be strikingly similar—despair, helplessness, and a profound sense of loss. Seeing her heart stop would break something deep within him, especially given how much he values strength and loyalty. Her heart faltering would feel like the world itself was slipping away from him.

When she squeezes his hand, even the slightest movement would send a wave of relief through him, though it might take a moment to register. He’d whisper to her, voice shaking, hardly daring to believe she was still alive. Her raspy response would feel like a lifeline, a reassurance that he hadn’t lost her.

Afterward, when she recounts her experience of nearly dying and mentions the strange encounter with the “pretty twink,” Ganondorf’s reaction would be a mix of curiosity, disbelief, and a deep, almost reverent respect for her.

Wind Waker Ganondorf might laugh a bit darkly when she mentions punching the deity. His eyes would narrow with a mix of pride and relief, though the idea that his wife had impressed Ôyáseem would sober him quickly. He might tease her about being so fiercely loyal even to the gods, but beneath the humor, there's a deep sense of gratitude that she’s still with him, and perhaps a bit of awe that she now carries the favor of such a powerful deity.

Ocarina of Time Ganondorf would be more serious. He’s not one to easily express his emotions, but hearing her story would stir something deep within him. He’d likely be silent for a moment, processing the idea that his wife had not only faced death but had also won the favor of the Gerudo God of Death. His respect for her would deepen, though he might not show it overtly. Instead, he’d hold her close, perhaps whispering something about how he’s glad she’s as stubborn as ever.

Twilight Princess Ganondorf would be deeply affected. His connection to ancient powers and his own experience with divine forces would make him keenly aware of the significance of her encounter. He might react with a grim sort of pride, appreciating her defiance in the face of such a being. He would be deeply relieved that she’s alive and would likely become more protective of her, though he’d admire her strength all the more.

Hyrule Warriors Ganondorf would have a mix of pride and possessiveness. The idea that his wife impressed a god by rejecting him would fill Ganondorf with a sense of fierce pride. He might even feel a bit of rivalry with Ôyáseem, though he’d never admit it. He’d likely make some comment about how no god could take her from him, and his grip on her would tighten, both as a show of protection and affection.

Tears of the Kingdom Ganondorf might react with a sense of grim satisfaction. Having seen the power of the Zonai and other divine beings, he’d understand the gravity of her experience. The fact that she resisted such a being would impress him deeply, though his reaction might be more internalized. He might quietly vow to honor the boon she’s received, recognizing the favor of Ôyáseem as something that could be both a blessing and a responsibility.

Demise would likely be furious at first—not with her, but with the situation that nearly took her from him. Hearing her story, though, his fury might turn into a sort of grudging respect for Ôyáseem, though he’d never voice it. He would be more openly protective after this, perhaps even more possessive, viewing her survival and the boon as something that proves her worthiness even more. Her loyalty would resonate deeply with him, though he might express it in a more intense, perhaps slightly ominous way, promising that no force, mortal or divine, would ever take her from him again.

In all versions, Ganondorf would be deeply moved by her experience, though his outward reaction would vary based on his personality. The idea that she had impressed Ôyáseem by resisting his advances would only strengthen his love and respect for her, though he might also feel a renewed determination to protect her from any further harm.

[differenteagletragedy]

so… idk how interested you are in stuff like bridgerton/pride and prejudice/etc, but i’ve been obsessing over the idea of like a Regency au ever since my friend was like “baxter is in the wrong genre. that man is suited for historical romances. he dreams of writing by candlelight and fainting onto couches.” so do you have any hcs on a regency/historical romance au? assuming you do aus? thanks :)

I haven't watched Bridgerton! It's been many years since I read/watched Pride and Prejudice so apologies if this is a little too Darcy, but I think there would be some similarities between him and Baxter!

-- Baxter is a fancy man now, so living in a time period when men dressed fancier in general, he's going to have to kick it up a few notches. I'm thinking flashier colors, maybe some floral patterns.

-- Those little dances they threw all the time? You know he's there all the time. He has tons of one night stands with people he meets there, but then he meets MC and they are Different.

-- Baxter on a horse Baxter on a horse

-- Does he need a cane? No. Does he have a fancy one anyway. Yup.

--You're not going to catch him in a hat. He knows he's pretty and he doesn't want to take attention away from his face.

-- Basically this version of Baxter is unbearable lol but he does have his charms! Maybe he's playing charades with MC and throws the game just to be a silly little guy and make MC laugh. Or maybe they're playing cards and he keeps pretending to make dumb mistakes, again for a laugh.

-- Everybody talks with that flowery language, so he's going to have to lean on something else to make him stand out, and I think it would be his goofiness. Like he's still charming, of course, but he's not going to be a weirdo in the way that the Baxter of today is.

-- He'd still go on a walk with MC and make up a bunch of nonsense about the things around them.

-- Why am I researching this like I'm writing an essay

-- He would very much want to court MC, but he wouldn't feel like he was worth it. So what I think would happen would be that he began the courting process with the knowledge that he'd eventually just stop.

-- Liz is their chaperone lol

-- Baxter and MC are going for a walk and Baxter is running his mouth and Liz is just like "good god this guy ..."

-- A historian spoke to PBS (this is getting so serious) and explained, “You would initially address one another as sir, my lord, or madam, depending on rank, and then progress to Mr. and Miss So-and-so, or Lord and Lady So-and-so. To use a person’s Christian name during courtship was a special mark of intimacy. And we can often see the moment in their letters when someone asked to be called by their first name, signaling that a relationship was becoming much more serious and, in fact, might later progress to pet names and things like my dearest love or my dearest life.”

-- So the first time MC actually says Baxter's name it's just going to absolutely wreck him, it's going to hit him right in the heart.

-- And when they end up together Baxter calls them "my dearest life" CAN YOU IMAGINE

-- Apparently if you ended a courtship then the proper thing to do was return the letters you'd sent each other, Baxter cannot do this emotionally

-- He'd be like "I burned them they can't have them" and keep them like under a floorboard so he could read them at night and cry.

-- MC's reputation is definitely going to take a hit. Baxter's was already bad but now it's worse, and now he feels guilty for messing with MC in the first place.

*a few years of mess*

-- Baxter has traveled, seen places and done things, but he finds himself back in his hometown. There's a ball. He'd decide to go for old times sake, and you were probably married by then so nbd

-- There you are though!

-- He wants to throw up, but he asks you to dance anyway because he can't help himself. MC agrees because dang that Baxter is smooth.

-- Ok ok, so back in those days if you danced with somebody twice then people thought that was a Big Deal and that you basically wanted to marry them.

Baxter: I would ask for another dance, but I don't deserve it.

MC: Why don't you try asking anyway.

Baxter: But if we have another dance, people are going to talk ...

MC: Let them talk ... Baxter.

Baxter: *swoons*

-- Yeah that's corny and silly, but we're just having fun here.

[slavicafire]

żmija, i am in a messy situation. my love of more than two years (long distance relationship, we have not met yet in person) drifted away for a while last month (we had quite a bit of tension between us, mutually caused) and then we kept in touch again but he stopped replying again - just as we were supposed to meet in person (i thought he's really busy with exams and i kept sending cute lovely messages almost every day) and now he says he found another person and that he couldn't decide for a month if he should leave me but it's time. żmija, i really love him, more than anything, with a big big love and i really improved after that tension and stopped being jealous and angry. i talked to him again today after crying for a whole day from his decision he told me about yesterday and i can see (or i hope) he can be convinced to at least meet me. i want to try to get him back and i come here for advice on how to do that, any advice, because you are wise and i trust your judgement. i know that without drifting he still could be in a relationship with me now and i wish it didn't happen but i really want to try to change his mind anyway. how do i do it, how do i.. i don't know, seduce him? make him infatuated with me, like he is with her? make him feel the same that one can feel at the start of love, make him feel fresh love? please, if you can, answer this soon, i think the more time passes, the less chances i have, and i know i probably act foolish and should let go - everyone says that - but i love him in a real way

oh, darling... what a horrible pain to be in - and what a wrong door to knock at to get the answer you hope for.

one, the truth is that I simply cannot comprehend a long distance relationship. I cannot fathom being with someone - romantically, sexually, spiritually - without having met them. I can imagine a separation due to horrific circumstance, after a long time of loving and being close, but I cannot imagine being with someone without ever meeting them. I might be the minority, I might be dense, I might be cruel or shallow - but while I can comprehend a long distance spark, I cannot comprehend a long distance love. perhaps you ought to ask someone for whom this concept is dear and important.

and two - if someone would tell me that after a month of thinking about me, they chose someone else... I'd send a kiss across the four winds and bid them fare fucking well.

I know that without drifting... but he did. he has. there is no without. if he drifted - then he is simply like driftwood, and the river shall take him and then the sea, and any other heart that's willing. why would yours have to beg?

why would your own heart have to claw at this love that's clearly being held over your head? why fall to your knees and cry desperately? a thousand sweet messages won't make him love you like you deserve to be loved.

if you require a kind voice to tell you: beg him, prostrate yourself as if before the very god, cry and pray, offer him what no other can offer - then you must go somewhere else.

from me, you'll only get one thing: prioritise yourself. your time, your heart, your loyalty, your willingness, your pride, your love.

don't claw at it.

[doomalade]

Yes! And with this idea, let's say the deal with Lilith had warped his mind into the Alastor we know today. Not completely, but just amped up the "I'll fuck you up" part of him. I can see maybe it being apart of Alastor's redemption arc. However, it's not so a simple like Charlie and him talking it out. Because that would be waaaay to easy for someone like Alastor. I feel like he should be either the last or next to last one to crack. Anyway, because, he's not willing to just redeem himself like Charlie wants so, Charlie could maybe set up to find her Mom, now more desperate for her plan to work than ever. Of course, like every other situation like this, Lilith isn't so willing to relent her deal with Alastor, because "A deal is a deal." She's asks Lucifer, but then maybe we learn that he can't, because only Angels can intervene with a demon's deals maybe? I don't know, like I said, just building ideas. Not concrete. However, going with the idea, Charlie goes back to Heaven and strikes a deal with maybe God or St. Peter or some other angel to free Alastor from his deal with Lilith so, he can be uncorrupted. Whichever Angel she makes a deal with accepts, but at the expense of Charlie herself??

Anon

I love you

Thank you for fueling the fires back into my rewrite

It would be interesting to see how living so long in Hell and gaining such power would warp someone’s mind and soul

That the Overlords slowly become more and more sadistic with power, especially with their status putting them above their fellow sinners.

Alastor being tasked with protecting Charlie no matter what and doing whatever it takes, even if that means consuming souls to increase his power and influence so he can stand his own even against Exterminators. Even if Charlie has been white listed from being killed, Alastor’s duty and deal is to protect her and the hotel at all costs.

Her reminding him of Rosie, being that little sister figure he had lost all of those years ago, it further pushes him over the edge. Perhaps Lilith did this on purpose as a sort of equal payment for his immense power, maybe it was accidental.

Either way, all of the worst aspects of Hell consume Alastor, leaving him to be the one sinner Charlie just cannot redeem. Maybe he believes himself unable to be redeemed after all of the horrors he unleash upon Hell.

His pride, wrath, gluttony, greed, envy, lust, and sloth (okay maybe not sloth? Idk) all being rampant.

He almost feels guilt for becoming a monster, unable to live with himself thinking what Rosie might think of him, what Charlie might think of him.

And now he’s gone and enslaved Husk along with consuming and trapping countless souls. He ponders if he is no better than Lilith, who still has him on her leash, or maybe it’s best that he’s been held back by her and was not allowed to become a true monster and lay waste to Hell.

(Insert joke about more effort being put into this than what Viv did and imagine this is in a text to speech for added comedic value)

[b-plot-butch]

Hiding by Florence + The Machine is such a Calliope and Dream song

Hi anon!! Florence + The Machine isn’t my usual type of music but your ask made me 👀👀👀 so I listened to the song and ohmygod. I hope you don’t mind if I write a breakdown of some of the lyrics? I…may have gotten a bit carried away. I’ll stick most of this under a read-more because there is simply Too Much.

I think you hide / When all the world’s asleep and tired / You cry a little

ALL RIGHT STRAIGHT OFF THE BAT WE’VE GOT SOME EMOTIONS HERE. I will say it a thousand times, it speaks volumes to me that though Dream is billions of years old and has had a number of lovers, Calliope is the only one he married. As we see in Brief Lives, Dream does sometimes break down. You know that panel of him sitting in his chair with his hand over his face? Yeah. Fuck. As his lover, as his wife, Calliope may have witnessed something like this or at least suspected it. I’m imagining a situation where Orpheus as a young child has an minor accident, and Calliope and Dream have to just. Stop. And cope with the knowledge of his mortality together.

I know that you’re hiding / I know there’s a part of you that I just cannot reach / You don’t have to let me in / Just know that I’m still here

Now this is GOOD SHIT. It goes both ways with these two!!! Dream would never know what it was like to experience the abuse Calliope survived, would never force her to tell him about it. Calliope would never understand the weight of what it means to contain the world’s collective unconscious, to have to be so rigid with yourself to the point of pain. But these lyrics speak to steadfastness. While we don’t see much indication (either comics or show) that they will be there for each other in the future, in the show we see the tenderness between them so clearly in Calliope pressing her cheek to Dream’s, Dream’s eyelids fluttering shut. It’s VERY easy to expand on that and explore in fic and headcanon that they would again forge a supportive relationship—bolstered by the character development Dream has had since their marriage—and work together to try to heal. I’ve written that myself!

I know you’ve tried / But something stops you every time

Hahahahahaha. Oh my god. I am hitting Dream with a stick.

And it’s your pride / That’s keeping us still so far apart / But if you give a little / So will I

HELLOOOOO. Okay, so I know the initial reaction is to probably apply this to Dream, which, yes, he is one proud motherfucker. But I think Calliope certainly has her own share of pride, although not to the extent of her ex-husband. (I’d say in her episode, we see more of the like, self-worth, I-know-what-I-deserve type of pride. Which is good!!! I adore that about her!!!) She did not want to yield over those thousands of years, either. And she will not beg. She will request—may I visit you in the Dream Realm sometime, so that we may finally talk about our son, and grieve him properly?—but she will not beg. But! If Dream gives a little!! So will she!!!

I know I seem shaky / These hands not fit for holding

THESE HANDS NOT FIT FOR HOLDING. JESUS CHRIST. This is, of course, a lyric that shouts and screams Dream at me. I am in pain. I’m thinking of the way he says, “I owe you that much.” The word owe stands out to me—I think it may indicate that he has become aware he did not always treat Calliope as she should be treated, and he feels he has to make up for that in some way. I’m thinking about how he says, “I’ve learnt much in recent times,” and how that suggests he may have been reevaluating his role in Orpheus’s fate. How he could have acted differently. And with that, I think it made him consider Calliope’s reproach in a new way. It doesn’t seem like too much of a stretch to me that Dream would feel like his hands are not fit for holding Calliope’s anymore.

ANYWAY. That was a whole lot of probably incoherent chatter and I hope at least you enjoyed reading it, anon. Anyone reading this, feel free to send me asks about songs that remind you of the characters or dynamics that I post about often. Although I have to say, if it’s a Taylor Swift song I probably won’t listen to it, sorry.

Thanks again for the ask, anon!!!

[thesungod]

Do you have any Hera meta you would like to expand on , maybe in relation to what a relationship with Apollo would look like

anon… do u share my brand of insanity or are u just indulging me.

as far as Hera meta goes, my main point is that she’s not a villain in the true sense of the word: i think she’s tolerant of humans and the consideration she generally has for demigods is the consideration she’d have for ants. and honestly, she’s truly one of the few gods who’s entitled to feel that way, considering that she’s not responsible for siring them and would rather the others didn’t. obviously she has exceptions (demigods/humans she really likes and demigods/humans she really hates) and she’s wrong for taking revenge on Zeus’ mistresses but overall she’s just not that bad. ya feel me?

she’s also shown to feel genuine love for Jason which brings the count of people who have actually felt genuine love for Jason in canon up to three lmao (Piper-Leo-Hera). Nico exists in a grey area and you got to have some respect for that.

so anyways, she was actually pretty smart to swap Percy and Jason and she managed to keep it under the rug for longer than what would be expected. obviously it was wrong of her to use them as puppets for her strings but she’s not nearly alone in that. Apollo confirms in ToA that it is simply the way gods treat demigods. In my view, she sucks but she doesn’t Especially Sucks.

i also have endless sympathy for Hera having to tolerate her husband’s infidelity and (so clearly implied they might as well say it) abuse. she’s just. an unhappy woman, dare i say the unhappiest olympian god, and i think she has been so for so long that she has forgotten what anything else feels like. does she have friends? she certainly doesn’t have lovers, and while that may have initially been a commitment of love, it must have gotten pretty lonely over the years. she’s portrayed as icy and dignified and distant, the godliest of the gods, the one who most clearly represents the divide between mortals and immortals, and i ask myself how much of that is her real personality, and how much is the result of bitterness and isolation.

imagine: Hera regretting the fact that she’s made so many enemies once, when she felt untouchable and at her peak, because she’s just alone now, but what’s done is done so what can she do?

Hera never quite fitting in with other deities and really, who can blame them.

Hera having spent such a long time not even considering the idea of romantic love for herself and being so stunted that when she starts falling for Apollo, she doesn’t even notice. she simply cannot believe it. doesn’t even dare to think it.

she feels that feeling. the one where you a crush on someone after a really long time and you are all giddy and excited, not because you think it may be reciprocated, but because it’s new and thrilling to desire someone. she’s a high school girl wanting to be asked to prom.

now, let’s suppose it all happens because her and Apollo start sleeping together to spite Zeus as per my headcanon, and she inexplicably begins to want him for more than just revenge: she would would be so angry because she cares more, she’s far more into it, she’s utterly taken by him. at the end of the day, what they do is nothing particularly new for him (except for the “if he catches us i’m dead” part ig lmao) but it’s all brand new never heard before for her!! and her pride would be hurt!! but what are you gonna do about it!!

and now let’s suppose that at one point he starts caring back, and he treats her well and she hasn’t been treated well in centuries. so she gets carefree, and she gets reckless and she catches herself fixing her hair before the Olympian Council so that he sees her at her best!! imagine how humiliating that is for her!! she’s the Queen of Olympus she’s the Queen of the gods she’s the Ruler of the world and he’s literally just a guy!! she should hit him with her car!!

instead, she finds herself in his car, having been convinced to take a ride with the sun chariot for the first time ever while he’s babbling about… she doesn’t even know, talking horses trying to kill him? because that’s something that happened? apparently? and he has his stupid shades on and she feels like a high school girl actually getting asked to prom.

and for the unhappiest goddess of the Council, that’s a really magnificent feeling.

[prismbearer]

Screaming crying throwing up over Viconia in this game 😭😭😭 I know that it's the setting etc and WotC stuff but even still my heart. I'm sorry Vici. The only reason Fe didn't kill her was she didn't think Jaheira would like it. Which is growth for her gd.

I cannot comprehend giving SH to her especially if you help her rebel from Shar... and especially when she turns the puppy dog eyes on you... It's beyond fucked up cruelty like... Damn Shar. Having her re-meet and torture and forget her parents over and over? Probably in that classroom or whatever? And Vic to be party to that? 😬 still love her and I couldn't kill her this time, but damn. She asks way too much, asking Viconia to destroy everything she achieved in Waterdeep to usher in SH taking her place? Fuck. And for her to stay loyal to that... idk I just always wanted better for Vic, tho this version of her fate might not deserve the compassion of SH or the player etc. She is probably one of the more typically Evil aligned characters presented in this game like....... the only maybe not horrible aspect was Jaheira apparently disapproving of Vic dying. But Minsc doesn't.

I had Vyn romance Viconia at one point bc my girl Ophiera couldn't... and I loved her I always felt for her so this is pretty fucked up, but the canon setting makes it kinda unredeemable like... do I think this Viconia would ever turn from Shar? No. Shar is all she has, and Shar has made certain of it. The fact that Vic would have probably been killed by SH to for her to Ascend to her position too... and the fact that in some toxic fucked up horrible way, Vic probably loved and felt conflicting pride and disgust towards SH in some form that was so far from actual love and so horrific that it's just. (Vile, truly and very interesting dynamic like. Shar wtf.) I'm definitely curious about anything else you glean by playing SH.

And for the parents to still believe in Selune...? I mean. Damn. I know Gods etc are a huge present deal for people in Faerun and beyond but even Still that's such a situation for a crisis of faith... not that I imagine Shar would have relented regardless. I mean. DECADES of being tortured by cultists and one of them is your brainwashed daughter? Just idk religion is hard for me.

I tried both scenes with the parents bc initially, I was going to let SH choose... and she chooses to respect their choice and be selfless. Which seemed beautiful, and even Lae'zel said it was the right thing, not the easy one... (Actually... Minsc really surprised me with his response to it.) and the moonmotes with them free and at peace watching over her... but tbh. SH deserves better. She deserves to be selfish, I don't want her to have to like jump to feeling like she needs to be some redeemed daughter of Selune when she doesn't even know what she wants other than peace. And the pain is terrible, that she might have to carry a burden cast upon her by Shar... but it's an interesting fantastical take on chronic pain and loss and she deserves to have the peace she wants to figure out her Future when she's lost 40 years of her life already. Let our girl be selfish; it kinda made me sad that you have to persuade her to say what she wants. (Fitting though.) Anyway. Idk if it's terrible that I was romancing her on my DUrge for my secondary playthrough now.... bc I want dark gods to stay TF away from SH... but idk we'll see. 🙃

I thought her little friendship/romance thing with Nocturne was sweet. I do love a purple character. Kinda shipped it tbh, I love that she had Someone at minimum.

I just really want more info on how this mission worked. Since SH was their party healer, and it wasn't a solo infiltration mission or something...

[brooklynislandgirl]

sundays are supposedly holy-- sometimes saturdays, depending on the long distance provider connecting you to the god of abraham. you know this in a casual sort of way, even if it has never really applied to you like that. yet here the knowledge is, tickling you with it's presence, riding along just behind those other thoughts creeping around in your head today. he has never touched you in anyway but steadying and kind, utterly respectable, but you know the feeling of his calloused hands, those long thick fingers that pack a grip worthy of a smith. the kind of thing that could tear an aluminum can in two without an effort. you can imagine what just one of those paws would feel like wrapped around your throat and manipulating the tilt of your chin-- putting you where he wants you, demanding and unyielding.

you can imagine yourself surrendering to it. if only he would.

...Spare a Little... || --

Friday finds her chasing her own redemption in the narrow confines of the Confessional, all of her sins laid bare for judgement. Even the ones that do not belong there, the ones she shoulders for others who never know the various and lengthy acts of contrition she offers in their stead. Saturdays belong not to a distant and dour Father but her closer parent. She cleanses herself in Sea's arms. Lets the salt burn her into something new, grounding her and reminding her that everything is interconnected, that all live sprang forth from Her most frigid and hazardous depths. Sundays she returns to the Father, on sand scoured knees, newly reborn, because that is ritual and both kinds of divinity gird her for other days. Days glowing in pride, days bathed in vengeance. Days where she is fully aware of her own insignificance in the grander schemes of men and monsters. Days when she exalts in being the thorn in the lion's paw. But it isn't the days that she worries about. Aren't the moments wherein she is consumed by the rarest of all her sins. Hers is the green of envy, the violet of pride. She will readily admit to those in every space where she lives; in the growing plants and the brightness of her mana, casually spoken about over coffee. She doesn't want pity, she doesn't want to wallow in the things she cannot change. It's that word though that sticks in her craw. Want. Most of the time it doesn't exist. She has no appetite for the world of the living. But those hands. Capable to of such great destruction whether full or empty but have never been anything but tender in her vicinity. The river of his voice so gravel rough, but as gentle as his hands when he says her name. The way he laughs those few times he does. The way his mouth moves when he sits down and finally eats something he didn't get out of a drive-thru or tin can. Fingertips ghosting the squareness of her jaw, lips that thirst for something unquenchable but still placid in their discipline. The solidity of the earth, the weight of mountains cradled between the smooth banks of her thighs. His beautiful and broken-boned face buried in the sweet-smelling crook of her neck, teeth grazing the line of her throat. Partaking of her body and blood in communion… "Beth?" …She blinks. Horror creeping around the base of her spine looking to make the trek up each rung until it reaches her brain, where everything will fall apart. She can hide the colour in her cheeks with the long curtain of her hair, the molten gleam in her eyes by lowering her lashes and glancing shyly away. Hold her breath until it's burning in her lungs, she's had practice with that. Occlude every single trace of the feelings roiling through every aspect of her being, from the white-knuckle grip on the door's edge to the feathery nature of her words. She clears her throat. "I-I'm sorry. Do you wanna come in? Have some coffee?"

[katsukidynam1ght]

~ KATS RANT TIME ~

i really really really really really really really hate when people’s sole reason for not liking a character is because they cannot imagine that character being an actual human being. they look at this character and go “what a bitch” instead of processing that oh, maybe this character is a human person too and feels things the same way everyone else does.

this is about bakugou. specifically. everyone else too but explicitly him rn. because so many people look at this little bastard of a guy and say “he’s so cocky and shallow and rude and prideful” YEAH! YEAH HE FUCKING IS! Y’KNOW WHY? because he’s a human being who has experienced life in a way that led to that kind of behavior.

why in the world does it take him Reaching His Fucking Breaking Point for you to look at him and realize he’s human, too? why? why does he have to cry and express shame and guilt before you finally understand that he isn’t the untouchable god he’d have you believe?

and it makes me so upset because it’s clear as fucking day to me. he’s like that for a reason. a reason that makes complete and total sense given his circumstances. does that make everything he’s done okay? of course not! but it means he’s Human, for crying out loud. and you’d all have him burnt at the stake before understanding that.

i’ve been through it. i understand why he’s like that. and it makes me so upset to see people acting like he’s unlovable or irredeemable. because i know people have looked at me the exact same fucking way. why is it so hard to believe we’ve got feelings too, huh? can you not see the humanity in anyone’s eyes but your own?

i don’t usually get heated about stuff and i try to be mostly chill in fandom whatnot. but this is an issue that really gets me pressed because damn, is that how you think of people in real life too?

anyways. moment of vulnerability over, stepping down off the soapbox.

[dinogoose]

Buck prides himself on being a good listener. Yes, he loves talking, but he also loves hearing other people. Hearing them talk about things they like or dislike. Lending an ear whenever someone needs to rant. Attentively listening when someone is passionate about something. So the point is, Buck not only is a good listener, he also enjoys it.

But no matter how good he is, there is no way he heard what was just said to him, correctly.

“I’m sorry- what?” Buck was currently standing in the kitchen, staring at Eddie. He had been making an assortment of cookies for a bake-sale at Chris’s school tomorrow. (he may have made slightly too many) When Eddie had come in after putting Chris to sleep, and said… no there’s no way he actually said that.

“Marry me.” Eddie is currently standing on the other side of the dining table. His gaze is intense, and is communicating something Buck can’t decipher (he can decipher it, he just refuses to give himself false hope)

“Ha-ha, very funny Eddie.” Buck turns back to mixing the dough, with shaky hands, desperately hoping he doesn’t give anything away.

“I wasn’t joking. I want to marry you, so please, marry me.” He says this with complete conviction, that Buck has no choice but to believe him. Even though… what?

Don’t get him wrong. Buck is in love with him. Like the full nine yards, butterflies, yearning looks, can’t imagine life without him (and Chris) thing. His soul belongs to Eddie, they are stars in the universe destined to one another. Anyways you get the point, but now that Eddie is in front of him, saying what he said, Buck is frozen.

“I- you- what?” Buck is just standing looking at Eddie, hands covered in cinnamon sugar. Eddie smiles at him, and he nervously fiddles with something in his hand. Now that Buck is actually facing Eddie's direction he notices the older man is holding a ring. A. Ring.

Now that he sees it, he can’t stop. Eddie got him a ring. This is either a hallucination or a cruel prank.

“Okay… I’m going to need so many more words.” He still isn’t convinced this is real, so he needs Eddie to say a lot more than just marry me. Which oh my god-

“God, I’m terrible at words. Okay well, honestly I wasn’t planning on doing this tonight, I swear. I was going to take you out. Woo you. The whole shebang.” He runs his empty hand through his hair. “But then I came out here and you were excitedly baking for Chris’s bake sale and just- I love you. So much. It’s all consuming. You and Chris are my entire universe. Sometimes I don’t even think I was fully a person until I met you, you complete me. Seeing you here right now, just being you, made me realize I couldn’t wait another second. Maybe this is too much- well it definitely is.. but it feels right. So, Evan Buckley, will you marry me?”

Buck has tears streaming down his face. No one has ever loved him like this, so openly, so much. He doesn’t think he deserves it. He lifts a hand to his arm and pinches hard.

“Ow fuck!” Okay so not a dream and now Eddie is staring at him, like he’s the crazy one, like he just proposed out of the blue. Buck takes a deep breath.

“I’ve been in love with you for years. You and Chris have given me everything I’ve ever wanted and even more. I love you both so much. You have helped me become a better person. I owe you my life. So yes, even though this is completely insane, I’ll marry you.” Buck finishes this by walking over and kissing Eddie.

It’s their first kiss, and it feels like home. Buck’s hands are still covered in cinnamon-sugar and it rubs off on Eddie’s face. Buck tilts his head slightly, and catches Eddie’s bottom lip in his teeth. They continue like this until their own smiles get in the way.

“I cannot believe we were fiances before we even had our first kiss.” Eddie says still close enough that his breath is tickling Buck’s face. The younger man laughs brightly.

“Now who’s fault is that?” Eddie laughs back at him, and then takes a step back. In the soft glow of the kitchen light, Buck can see his kiss swollen lips, dilated eyes, and the coating of sugar on his cheeks. He is so lost in Eddie’s face he barely even notices as the older man slips something onto his ring finger. It’s a black titanium band, with blue opal running through it. It’s perfect.

“You are crazy. Like seriously off the walls.” Buck punctuates each of these with a kiss.

“Chris helped me pick it out.” This sends even more tears into Buck’s eyes.

“Chris was okay with this?” He asks apprehensively. Eddie just cups his face and gently swipes away his tears.

“Of course he was, he loves you so much, and when I told him you’d be a part of our family now he just looked at me like I was stupid. Then he said you already were.” Buck cannot even fathom that this is happening. He will wake up tomorrow from this gorgeous dream, and none of this has happened. But he knows it’s real. Knows he couldn’t have even dreamed up the love in Eddie’s eyes in his own mind.

“Thank you. For giving me this, for giving me Chris, for giving me you.” Eddie leans in and peppers kisses all around Buck’s face.

“Evan, you have always had us. We love you forever.”

Buck has never loved listening more.

(originally posted on ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/40752609)

[savagewildnerness]

Realised, I was going to say too much for a comment, haha!

Lestat certainly says in the books that he knew Louis would have died had he not turned him. Louis has a cynical side, a self-destructive side & he is forged from his ingrained Catholicism in a similar way to how Nicholas is… but aside from that I see them as quite different in most respects. Well, they are both obviously beautiful and fragile sad boys... Lestat has a type!

Louis' personality is, as I see it quite different to Nicolas' though... as is the place they were in before they were turned... We can even look to what they did as humans - Louis is a successful businessman and takes pride in this instinctive skill he possesses. He likes to make money. He's good at it. It's a natural talent. Nicolas on the other hand rejected even his studies of law... and for all his cynicism - he is an artist and must be inherently incredibly talented, as, even though he'd never be a concert-soloist on the esteemed stages - to reach the level of skill and emotional power his violin playing does in such a short time is actually... well... it's actually impossible unless Nicolas is a musical savant... but anyway - we can see already that their deep-down drives are very different.

Louis was actively drinking himself to death and tempting death (he was quite keen to get someone to murder him, in his actions!) due to a very specific shame and hopelessness following his brothers' death. He was VERY active about it, so it would likely have happened and very soon! Most likely Louis would have provoked someone to murder him before he drank himself to death. Whether from his own violence, or over gambling, or something along these lines. Prompted into it by his own self-hatred. But I don't think Louis was *always* on this verge of death in the way Nicolas was. Like, had Lestat not turned him at that moment in his life... yeah... at that time, Louis was heading towards death. But had Lestat been mortal at that time and had a relationship with mortal Louis. Well... I think I might do a poll as I'm intrigued what people imagine might have been the result? Louis was particularly self-denying and self-hating with resect to his own sexuality and desires in a way that... I mean, maybe Nicolas is internally - we never have Nicolas' own perspective in the way we do have Louis (we never have any of Nicolas' perspective at all in fact!)... but Lestat never gives the impression Nicolas is haunted by the idea that loving Lestat is wrong, so... (Though, given his religion, we can presume Nicolas probably is haunted by it, even if he doesn't ever tell or show Lestat...?)

But I see even Louis' seeking of death as pretty different to Nicolas. I don't see Nicolas as turning violently on Lestat if he'd survived longer (I presume you mean, as a vampire, in the way of Claudia and Louis) because while there are some similarities in human-Louis and human-Nicolas (they're both beautiful sad boys, to boil it down!) vampire-Louis and vampire-Nicolas are VERY different. I think the violent streak in Louis is what actually helps him become a great vampire.

Nicolas feeds just like a beast. Lestat cannot bear to watch it. It's *this* I think that Lestat cannot take about vampire-Nicolas - he is like the confirmation of all of Lestat's greatest fears. Lestat and Nicolas' conversation is one of the most fulfilling things in Lestat's mortal life (maybe in his entire life, mortal and immortal? I think he partially always judges "humanity" on what this was like... and really, this is one of Lestat's only experiences of the true freedom of being human and alive, so of course he does!)... and they disagree about some things - primarily because Lestat believes in the Goodness of Art and that people can Be Good simply by creating art and thus bringing joy to others, whereas Nicolas sees only what God finds Good as being Good. So he sees his beautiful art as being inherently sinful. He feels that the very fact that he enjoys creating art is evidence of his art's sin: to sin feels good.

But underlying, I think both Lestat and Nicolas. have the same deep-set fear - The Great Void of meaningless and hopelessness, where evil, or lack of meaning at all might swallow your essence whole. This is basically what Lestat sees is all Nicolas' mind is after he turns Nicki into a vampire.

For Lestat, he keeps his same existential questions, pondering and quests once turned vampire. His "Conversation" with Nicki kind of continues into Lestat's life-quest? He is also a fabulous vampire. He can sink into his vampire nature. And because Lestat was not brought up to be religious, he always created his own moral schemes, and so naturally he is able to forge his own moral schemes around being a vampire pretty instinctively. He tries to kill the evil-doer.... but he also has his aesthetic principles to live by, so he doesn't *need* to follow his devised moral code to the letter in order to exist, because he doesn't *need* to follow any rules - he is The Creator of his own rules. And yet, he cannot abide if he feels other vampires have *no* moral rules at all... still that is somehow abhorrent and terrifying to Lestat.

For Louis, he clings ever-tighter to his human-ness (I'd call it his human-ness rather than his humanity necessarily) once turned vampire. He tries to deny his evil, his violence, his nature - much as he already did as a human, so it should be no surprise that really he denies much the same things he always did.

But to Nicolas, who admittedly - his mind is already utterly shattered by the time he is made a vampire - that vampires exist is PROOF evil exists. It is proof *he* is now evil. And so, Goodness no longer exists to him. In a later book, Memnoch The Devil will tour Lestat around many realms... but in a way, I feel Nicolas is doing the work of The Devil on Earth. He is trying to say, 100% of the time "Look at me, humans! I am evil! I am your PROOF of evil! I will kill in front of you - kill me! Kill us all! I will write my plays that convey how evil I am. Which are TRUE! Hear them! Kill me! Kill us all! I shall play my music and it shall now speak too of the True Evil that I am! Hear it! Kill me now" There's a purity of intent to Nicolas which I think was always there and is probably why his music is so impactful too and his conversation so intense, and the way he cannot and would never have been able to accept Lestat's perspective on joy and goodness so absolute... Anything, this purity in Nicolas hurts Lestat as sure as a blade to the throat, but I don't think it is intended to hurt Lestat. I think it is just Nicolas expressing his truth.

I don't think Nicolas would ever have slit Lestat's throat, as I don't think Nicolas resents Lestat for making him a vampire. In fact, Nicolas begged for it. Of course, Nicolas resents Lestat for not making him a vampire sooner, but I don't know that that matters much to him once he is made a vampire.

I don't think connections to any other being matter to Nicolas once he is made a vampire.

And connections to other beings are all that matter to Lestat.

And oh, Louis... Louis so focussed on his own humanity, that it takes him time to work out his connections to other beings.

I don't know... I have no point here. I'm just trying to work things out as I type them. I think Louis and Nicolas are pretty different though... their beauty, the way religion damaged them and their fragility is similar, but aside from that. I also haven't discussed Louis' inaction which is a big theme in the books. But I wanted this to be book or TV relevant and I don't think Louis' inaction - The biggest theme for Louis in the books is really A Thing on the TV show... in fact... maybe it is there? But not in his relationship and time with Lestat. Rather, in Louis' time with Armand...?

OK... I'm just gonna.... stop my random thoughts right in the middle here.... *slinks off*...

I’ve been seeing “What if Nicki survived” takes, so, as I see it (trying my hardest to be succinct…!)

Nicolas & Nicolas & Lestat’s relationship is beautiful because he (& thus - it) is doomed.

Nicolas was never long for this world. Like your Shakespearean or Greek tragedies, you can ruminate on Armand’s role; Lestat’s role; Nicolas’ parents’ role*… but while Nicolas may have struggled through an extra tortured decade or so, even if Lestat had never been made a vampire & even if he & Nicki hadn’t ever broken up, I am almost certain that in time, likely as Lestat’s star inevitably would have risen, Nicolas would have sunk deeper into a disillusioned, resentful depression that would be all the worse as he wouldn’t want to sink into it & he’d want only to love Lestat & be happy for him & yet Lestat’s world would be opening up & he’d have shone ever-brighter as he would have had to watch Nicolas, his love most likely slowly & awfully self destruct, sinking deeper & deeper, inescapably into darkness. (And this post is about Nicolas, but I’m not sure a mortal Lestat would have survived experiencing a slow self destruction by Nicolas in this way either…)

Whatever the scenario, all paths led to Nicolas’ death. (I described just one scenario here - but that’s likely the best-case scenario for Nicolas?!)

What’s more - that’s the beauty! That’s the beauty of gothic literature. You don’t need happily ever after to feel the peace & resonance & satisfaction from it. In fact happily ever after is (certainly to me anyway! And was so as a child too, instinctively) depressing as it’s (fictionally) unrealistic. The satiation comes from the satisfying resolution when what you knew deep down was always the ending comes to pass. As it always had to. As it must. Sorrow is Nicolas’ end. Death, in the end is all of our ends & in fiction, some characters can be an articulation of that inevitability & Nicolas is that for sure.

Just as Claudia’s end always had to be as it is & was a way for Anne Rice to give at least some kind of closure to an unfathomable, senseless, never-resolved pain in her real life - that of her daughter’s death; so Nicolas’ death is cathartic.

Here is a beauty of art. In reality, death is always painful & senseless, often random, always meaningless & there is no understanding it or ever getting over it. It has no purpose. It is always cruel. It is incomprehensible to our mortal minds. Just as true immortality is incomprehensible, so is mortality - that those we love will die. And the planet will die. And every memory of every human who ever existed will be lost. And the one specific person you love most of all too, can just die. It is senseless. People kill. People die. Death.

But in art, we have a realm to shape our inexplicable & painful experiences into something that’s not only manageable, but pleasurable. We can shape meaninglessness into meaning. And as I see it it means WAY more & I feel way more deeply &, ultimately (as it’s truer) it makes me feel way happier when the deepest tragedy can be sharped into meaning by stories. It is resonant and cathartic - A Savage Garden created by art, you could say…? Or at least a true articulation of The Savage Garden.

I don’t fully have the words to articulate what I’m trying to say. But Nicolas is one of my favourite VC characters & he’s certainly the character I relate to most.

And I love that he’s dead. That’s the point. He would always have died. That’s his beauty & his tragedy & what Lestat felt in Nicolas’ music, yet never fully understood about Nicki in his idealistic youth.

* We might blame God’s role, though. Religion.