#I don't know if he would like to be the muse of a shapeshifter

[junkkey]

Shapeshifter

"Am I convencing ?"

"Did I get you right?"

"😐"

Draft :

[cilil]

𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 | 𝐀 𝐇𝐮𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐬

AN: My last one for @feast-of-horns - for now. The Turgon x Caranthir sequel I promised will be coming, just at a later date. Thanks for reading and being patient!

𓄌 Characters/pairings: Námo x Vairë 𓄌 Synopsis: Námo and Vairë try out their own version of predator/prey play. 𓄌 Warnings: Smut, shapeshifting (Námo with female parts) 𓄌 Oneshot (~1k words) | AO3

"You know," Vairë said, spinning silver threads with four of her six hands while a fifth caressed the back of her husband's cool hand. "I have always been fascinated by this feast Oromë is so fond of." 

"Have you now?" Despite his usual neutral tone and posture, there was a faint hint of humour colouring Námo's voice. 

"Indeed." She hummed to herself, watching the motions of her hands as she dwelt on the thought. "We may not be hunters like he and his people are, but I would be lying if I said I couldn't comprehend the satisfaction of..." 

Skillfully, Vairë looped the thread around four index fingers and pulled it taut. 

"...catching something pretty just right." 

Námo observed her with the calm amusement of one who already knew the outcome of the conversation and was merely waiting for it to unfold. 

"I suppose you do, though your prey is both less corporeal and less flighty than Oromë's," he mused. "Yet thus far you speak in riddles. If there is anything you would have of me, you must ask."

"You would make me spell it out and show you, you who knows all and forgets nothing?" Vairë scolded playfully. "But I don't mind." 

Her sixth hand replaced the fifth, clasping Námo's, while the thus freed hand rose to his face. Gently, she turned his head and pulled away his veil. 

"I think I would like to capture you, my beautiful husband." 

Indeed, he was breathtaking underneath his veil, as Vairë thought whenever she removed it. Features too beautiful and ethereal to ever seem as stern and unforgiving as he was often seen, a face frightening only in its irresistible allure and divine grace. 

Námo smiled at her. "You already have. I shall be all yours." 

It was all the encouragement Vairë needed. Her four hands holding the thread spun around hastily, faster than the eye could see, yet with the precision of a true master of her craft. She then threw it at her husband like a net and crooked two index fingers as if to direct it as it wrapped around his wrists like a silvery snare. 

Reminiscent of a spider web, it floated in the air, thrumming with the power of her will and her music, and Námo kept smiling even as his arms were secured in place and his feet lifted off the ground. 

"Wonderful work as always, beloved."

"Thank you." 

Vairë willed the nails on one of her hands to turn into claws and raised it, ready to strike and devour her food like a spider discovering prey in its web. 

"Tell me, what will I find underneath those robes of yours?" she purred. 

"Whatever it is that you wish to find," Námo answered. 

"You already knew that as well, didn't you?" Vairë let out a chuckle, then cut his robes open with vicious efficiency. 

She was going to fix the damage later if she felt like it; there were prettier things she could find for her husband to wear than those plain black robes. 

Námo's fána was, as it had always been, less corporeal than those of other Ainur, almost ephemeral in the way he willed it in and out of existence within the blink of an eye. Some of its features remained ever the same, most importantly his tall, slender figure, his long, almost spindly legs and the ghostly pallor of his smooth, cool skin. Yet other features were ever fluid, changing and shifting at will. 

His hips were narrow as usual, but between his legs Vairë was greeted with the gentle slope of a vulva. Her eyes lit up in excitement — she had desired to bed her husband in such a manner for a while. For even though Námo aligned more with male temper and often presented accordingly, he was just as, if not more beautiful than any lady she had seen. 

"You saw my thoughts," was all Vairë said as she knelt down in front of him to examine. 

"Such is my nature." Námo spread his legs without needing to be prompted. "My flesh exists only for your pleasure, I need it for nought else." 

"At this point you are asking to be devoured."

"Perhaps I am, yes." 

"In that case, I shall." 

Vairë moved closer until she was kneeling between Námo's legs, caressing his thighs as she rested them on her shoulders. When she kissed his folds, she was reminded of a water lily with its petals closed, delicate and hiding its true beauty, and determined to coax it into opening up to her. 

Námo sighed. He was a quiet lover and not prone to outbursts of passion, but Vairë could tell he was sensitive. Almost as if he had never been touched before. Which he had been, though not in this form. The sense of novelty fanned the flames of her desire.

She took hold of his thighs and began to enjoy his new fána. First quick, teasing licks across his folds to explore. Then bolder, dipping her tongue in-between, pushing inside, searching for the sensitive little pearl that would ensure his pleasure. A gasp, a tentative moan. She could feel it now, right against the tip of her tongue. 

Entranced by the wonderful timbre of her husband's voice, Vairë continued. Námo was panting now, trying to adjust to the new sensations he was experiencing. 

Unfortunately for him, his wife wasn't merciful. She could feel his muscles twitching and traces of his arousal leaking out of him, wettening her lips and chin like morning dew. 

Oh how she loved him. Vairë could do this all day. 

Circling her tongue around his pearl, she carefully pushed one finger inside Námo, then two. He was tight but not entirely unused to penetration, he had taken her before in a different shape. 

"Please..." she heard his voice in her mind. 

"You are begging already?" Vairë neither slowed down nor withdrew, instead taking it as encouragement to thrust her fingers in and out of Námo. 

Whatever he had meant to say in response never came as his fána was overwhelmed by pleasure and driven to an early climax, leaving him speechless. 

It was only then that Vairë granted Námo a break. 

"Coming so fast?" she teased. "You do realise I haven't even started yet?" 

He exhaled slowly and closed his eyes. 

"Take me as many times as you see fit, beloved, as is your right after a successful hunt."

Thanks for reading! ♡

taglist: @asianbutnotjapanese @a-world-of-whimsy-5 @blauerregen @bluezenzennie @edensrose @elanna-elrondiel @eunoiaastralwings @i-did-not-mean-to @just-little-human @saintstars @singleteapot @urwendii @wandererindreams

[gabessquishytum]

Not sure what to do with this concept, but it feels like an awful shame that the fandom doesn't do much to take advantage of the fact that Calliope is a goddess and so can most likely shapeshift. There's so much potential here. Maybe she finds being able to change her form therapeutic after spending so long in captivity in her regular form. Maybe she finds that she'd prefer to have a dick instead of a cunt for a while.

If we're talking an immortal throuple au (which I don't think there are enough of), Hob would be delighted to have, not one, but two lovers that can shapeshift, I'm sure he has so many ideas. Dream and Calliope would only be too happy to oblige him. I just love the idea of Calliope shapeshifting.

This is such a good point which I never even thought of!! Calliope being a muse in particular leads me to believe that she would enjoy taking on some fantastical shapes and forms, just like her husband. She likes the embody the poetry that she lives for and inspires - she could be the wind, the sea, the sunset. Hob sometimes wakes up to the sun caressing his cheek and he knows that it's Calliope saying good morning to him. Whatever form she takes, she's glorious and Hob and Dream both take every opportunity to worship her.

I definitely think that making some changes after her years of imprisonment and vulnerability could be healing for her. Perhaps it's as simple as changing her hairstyle, but maybe she even chooses a different body. I think Hob would LOVE to be pinned down by a very muscular woman who could totally overpower him.

I just love the idea of both Calliope and Dream indulging Hob’s fantasies. Daydreams where his lovers are dragons or their genders are switched or anything at all really - they gladly surprise him by making it all come alive. Its safe to say that he'll never run out of ideas - and they will never tire of indulging him.

[chuckeroo777]

Dungeon Meshi Volume 9 Part 2

Welcome back! Getting into the real meat of the volume now.

This episode sponsored by Sir Not Appearing in this Season.

Curious that they put this chart on the chapter titled "The Winged Lion." Hmmm. I'm sure it means nothing.

This is just, a really funny visual.

I like how this fake Marcille looks just like the fake Marcille created by the shapeshifter. This is just how Laios sees her, newly acquired bangs be damned.

Why would Senshi be upset? Anyway, I suspect the Succubi's thought process was something like, okay, let's grab his wildest sexual fantasy. What? He doesn't have any? Okay, how about a family member? No, he hates his parents, and he's too smart to fall for a fake Falin. Ummm... I guess I'll become his closest friend and hope for the best?

But seriously, how advanced is this telepathy? Not only does it manage to use Laios' monster facts to free itself, but it's able to pick up on his much more complex, deep-set desires. Oh, also I guess this dispels my musing about succubi only shapeshifting occasionally. This one does it again right away.

It's honestly really sweet how both times he's being offered his deepest desire, he only goes for it as long as his friends are safe.

As opposed to my own expensive tricks.

In Laios' dream, Marcille and Falin are acting like an old married couple. That's adorable. And more evidence that Laios doesn't have a crush on Marcille.

I love how this assumption is solely based on what he heard in chapter 17. Marcille's been studying this stuff. Of course she'd be good at it! Then when Marcille actually gets the chance to control a dungeon, it's a complete disaster.

Yeah, I'm calling bull. If that was all you were, why did Thistle lock you away? Honestly, it's really funny how just two chapters later, we'll learn exactly how full of shit this guy really is.

Finally, something Laios thinks is gross.

This is poignant and all, but it's undercut a little when we learn that elf cake is kinda dogshit.

Why does this happen? Did Cithis hit him with something when I didn't notice? Or does the lack of desires make Mithrun oddly boring?

Kabru's people fixation is so funny. He's known Mithrun for like an hour, and the fake is already indistinguishable. Oh! Maybe that's why he's uninterested. He's already gleaned everything he can from a surface level.

Please don't eat that. You don't know where it's been.

Kabru's nightmare is just beginning.

Yeah, don't forget. Until Senshi showed up, Laios was kinda bad at cooking monsters. Enthusiastic, but bad.

Of course he can. Bold of you to assume he will.

Lol, evil Laios here doesn't even plan to attack humans or anything.

Wishes are always bad news. Seriously, I'm struggling to think of a story where wishes have no strings attached.

What do you know. He IS capable of emoting.

We'll look at Mithrun's tragic backstory next time!

[oddlyunaware]

Fixing Wish (2023) In My Sleep - Part 1

So, a few nights ago I had a dream. No, like, I was asleep and literally had a dream.

The dream was simple. I was explaining Wish, that new Disney movie, to my parents, and ranting about how it should have been better. Then I began to give my actual ideas for how it could be fixed... and I woke up, those ideas fresh in my mind.

So, here's part one of how I would fix Wish, and do it better asleep than Disney ever did awake.

First off, Asha is an attendant in the Royal Court. Specifically, she's a member of the Camarería, who acted as attendants to the Spanish Queen- since Rosas is meant to be based somewhat on Spanish and Mediterranean Culture, I decided this would be an applicable position! This would also give her a reason to discover Magnifico's "dark secrets" later on and begin to doubt him. She's also very close to Queen Amaya, and the two often exchange advice.

Second- Asha is no longer "adorkable", like the dime a dozen protags we get these days. She is, to be rather blunt, a bitch. Yes, a bitch! Asha will have great character development, going from a stuck-up, somewhat prejudiced woman to learning the true value of being good for the sake of others, and not just yourself.

Magnifico and Amaya, also, are a power couple. The thing about Amaya, though, is that you don't know she's in cahoots with Magnifico until act three. Basically, she takes on the role of a happier Simon, and to a much better established degree.

Speaking of Simon and the others, they're kicked out. Nope. Not having that. The cast is already bloated, we don't need six more crazy teens to worry about. I'm keeping Dahlia, because she's decent disabled rep (and God knows we need at least that nowadays), and she's the one with the most character in the group.

And of course, Starboy is a thing! Of course he's gonna be a thing, how could he not? He's a semi-shapeshifting being made from stardust and good vibes, and is usually seen with a smile and a wink. He's rather smitten with humanity, and Asha, but slowly becomes more disillusioned as the film goes on, and luckily a more developed Asha will pull him out of his funk.

Now... how does this all fit into the plot?

The Plot of the Film

The film begins with a storybook opening, telling the story of Rosas. It remains relatively the same, with Magnifico suffering loss and wanting to create a kingdom where that could never happen again. A proud, strong foundation for generations to come. He is joined by his wife, Amaya, in making this happen.

However, he doesn't just "learn magic" out of nowhere, no- he wishes on a star so long and so hard, that star "wanted to listen closer", so it fell to the Earth and imbued him with stardust. A magical substance, stardust has the ability to change reality and make dreams come true, so he began to do so for other people and created his kingdom with literal hope as the foundation.

Rosas, a kingdom of inspiration for a better tomorrow, sprung forth! Heralded by Magnifico and Amaya, once a month they have a ceremony to grant three people's wishes- after all, if they granted everyone's wish, chaos would ensue. Even the most out of loop person would understand that, after all. Anyway, people are selected, and their deepest desire made a reality.

Magnifico soon discovers that this is an excellent way to keep people at ease, and listening to him. His kingdom- he can't lose it to chaos! He will only grant the wishes that have the kingdom's best interests at heart. It's for the good of everyone... right? Amaya certainly agrees.

Asha, a somewhat arrogant attendant, is helping Amaya prepare for the monthly ceremony. Amaya muses about the importance of knowing what your heart wants, and then states she doesn't know where her pen is to write out the names of the ones chosen. Asha offers to get one for her, and searches Magnifico's office for a pen and parchment too (because she's that helpful, of course). However, she stumbles into the Wishing Chamber, where Magnifico is... muttering about something.

Asha listens in, curious. Magnifico is staring off into space, saying something about how "wishes these days are so senseless", when he sees Asha, and questions her presence. Asha states she's trying to find a pen for Amaya, and Magnifico chuckles, whipping one up from a splinter of wood and some ink.

Asha returns, a little frazzled from Magnifico's demeanor, but quickly changes her tune when she sees the kingdom, and sighs longingly at its view. Asha starts to sing, the first song of the movie: "Life in Rosas". It's upbeat, but has an air of prejudice, with Asha noting things like how she climbed to the top and deserves the best, and otherwise acting indifferent to most of the plights in the kingdom in favor of her good mood. Think "Candy Store" from Heathers- it's catchy, fun, but isn't about a well-meaning person in the end.

At the end of the song, she walks by a child who is chasing a ball down the street, and she initially thinks nothing of it. But Amaya walks by, and she instantly changes her tune, helping the kid catch it. The viewer now understands she likes to help when it directly benefits her- in this case, staying in Amaya's good graces.

Amaya questions about her quest to find the pen, and Asha gives it to her, hoping she didn't seem too foolish. Amaya, however, commends her for being distracted by the "good of the kingdom", and happily states that she couldn't have a better confidant. Asha grins, feeling validated by her idol, and Amaya announces the ceremony is to begin soon.

Well... that's where I'll end this first post! It's super long already, and I'll be sure to add the second post and continue the story- we haven't even gotten into the meat of it yet!

PART 2 - will link when ready :)

[maleyanderecafe]

Any dark skin yandere

Oof man, I honestly thought there would be more of these but I did have a hard time thinking about it since there's a lot less than I thought there was. Usually if there is a darker skinned characters in a yandere story, it's the lover-not the yandere itself. As bad as this sounds I also don't know how you would define "dark" skinned character, so I apologize if I miss the mark.

Amon from My Gently Raised Beast - about the story and relationship of a princess brought to royalty and the heir of an animal shapeshifter kingdom. The yandere has a good relationship with her and is the male lead. Future Recommendation.

Muon from The Tainted Half - about a girl who is the last of her tribe forced to deal with the discrimination and difficulties of being a concubine and falls for the second prince. The yandere is pretty manipulative and loving, and I read it just for this ask. Future Recommendation.

Riftan from Under the Oak Tree - I haven't actually finished this one but Cherry tells me there's a light yandere in it. About a stuttering girl who becomes the wife of a famous knights man. Future Recommendation as soon as I finish it.

Kainer from a Sultan's Love - it has been a while since I've read it but from what I remember it does have a yandere in it. Also a smut.

Koolie from Tentador Leches - though not specifically a yandere for you the player, is implied to be for his wife, though whether he's being truthful about it is yet to be seen.

Doyle from Apartment No.9 - based off Inside No.9, follows a girl picking up a homeless guy and getting him to live with her. A lot of things go on. Future Recommendation

Bako from Infatuation - admittedly, the artwork isn't the best, but you do get a harem of yandere characters to run around with. Bako is the most violent of them.

Brandon and Julian from Particles of Reality - if Brandon does get a romantic route that is since it's implied that all or most of the male interests are yandere. About a girl who is just trying to escape from her abusive family and trying to live her life.

Zecharias from Be My Muse- currently a demo, but he is a yandere, able to manipulate the main character's memory. Also very tall.

Vincent from Dead Wishes- he has a pretty good route where you become his housewife, I will say that.

Leon from Don't Trust him - you are picked up on a strange pirate ship where everyone seems to know and is obsessed with you.

Mammon from Seven Bloody Nights - personally, I like the art style, and the story is basically running into a mansion filled with vampires, but I will wait a bit until the game gets more content.

Krow from @thekrows-nest - though not from a game, he is dark skinned, specifically he is Indian + Bengali. Would give him birds.

Kylar from Degrees of Lewdity is also usually depicted with dark skin, though it's not specifically cannon that it's what his appearance is like, so really he can be any skin color you want. This goes for all characters really.

Theeere are probably more that I can't think of off the top of my head. I also did some darker skinned yandere reblogs for you to day, so hopefully that should help as well.

[embodies]

resi thoughts under the cut (to be organised by muse and whatnot later):

i don't believe heisenberg would remain the most dangerous lord for long. as it stands in the current game timeline? absolutely, but donna is miranda's latest creation (of the 4 lords) and has not yet fully come into her powers or really shown any desire to. her quiet position in the intro scene of the lords is at miranda's right hand and i think that's intentional on miranda's behalf - she knows donna exhibits more potential at this early stage than the others did, and i think given time she would be capable of more than some simple hallucinations and doll possession.

moreau will often be silent but if you watch closely, he mouths a lot of what other people are saying to himself. the forever desire to be anyone but himself...

miranda has (rare) moments of playfulness with her lords when she's onto a good spiral of research into gaining eva's perfect vessel. she's known to use her shapeshifting powers to prank them, or silly phrases like 'a little birdie told me' (i imagine her to use her ravens as spy drones similar to odin in god of war)

moreau's 'crown' is an attempt once again to distance himself, a feeble mimicry of miranda's regality. he heavily idolises her (the alternative is admitting she has deeply brutalised him beyond recognition, too traumatic a truth to face head on) and often has delusions of almost literally 'being' her. like a child playing make believe.

heisenberg will have thematic / imagery links to hephaestus (god of blacksmiths) in my writing

moreau gifted heisenberg the springweight (often used for fishing) he wears around his neck. an odd trinket but at its base level, metal = heisenberg so he gave him something of his own that was metal. heisenberg is strangely a fan of the ugly underdog (and thought the idea of wearing it was pretty punk or 'metal', pun intended) so added to it with other various metal adornments as we see. in return, heisenberg installed moreau's tv for him. he checks in on the guy once in a while through it.

heisenberg's main role in the village shifts of course as the lycan populace grows, needing more time away from the factory to keep them in check. an easy thing to do for a metal-mover, for he can send silver into their hearts faster than any gun could dream. miranda recognises this strength, hence the assignment.

donna looks slightly different to everyone who looks at her: her hallucination powers go beyond the flowers we see and my icons will reflect this, with no real faceclaim or media source for she is ever shifting in how she wants you to perceive (or not perceive) her. she cannot however hide the blemish on her eye on a permanent basis.

moreau saying 'you're stupid, you talk too much' etc. to ethan is a replication of things said to him. it is a hope to transfer his unfortunate status onto someone else: you'll also notice he doesn't speak in the introductory scene, perhaps trained to be mostly silent amidst the company of miranda and his lords.... because 'you talk too much'.

the lords (mostly heisenberg) often make degrading jokes at moreau's expense, wordplay with the name moreau and the word moron. it is so deeply ingrained now, sometimes he forgets to respond to his actual name.

miranda forces everyone to strictly speak romanian or english only. donna is the only one to subtly disobey this, often speaking italian to herself and only herself. strangely, angie cannot understand it. miranda equally bans the use of technology for communication with the outside world.

miranda's selection of the ravens as an animal associated to her was for practicality : they are common vermin in the village and could be used with ease to spy for her by sharing some of her cadou through them. she has also co-opted their wings for her imagery to provoke the perception of a biblically accurate angel, complete with eyes to emphasise that she sees all. there's also something symbolic to be found, ravens are tricksters and feed on carrion. much like miranda is scavenging from the 'dead' rose to reincarnate her eva....

donna can plant good hallucinations just as easily as bad ones. she just... doesn't tend to. in theory she could help alleviate nightmares by planting more pleasant dreams in someone's head, but again... she's not interested.

[simplegenius042]

Ask meme!

Thank you @lulu2992 for tagging me! I quite enjoyed how you worded yours, as well as @glowwormsmith (to do so twice for the funsies) and am curious to see how well I do on mine.

Rules: Spell out your URL using song titles that can describe your muse/OC/pairings, then tag as many people as there are letters in your URL!

Tagging @cassietrn @chazz-anova @voidika @thewanderer-000 @titiagls and @onehornedbeast + anyone else who'd like to join. Also you don't have to do what I did. You can read my best attempt at this Ask meme below the cut:

"Some Nights" [Fun.] I just stay up, staring at my roof thinking about the characters, the fics I wrote, and the thing is, "I Can't Decide" [Scissor Sisters] on who to talk about first, because there is so many options, each imbued with "My Kind Of Love" [Leon Else - 13 Reasons Why] in various forms. There's the protagonist of The UnTitledverse, Joaquin Cobalt, who's personally a "Part Of Me" [Katy Perry] in some ways but very different in others, especially for his search of identity as he grows up. Silva Omar is the de-facto "main protagonist" of Far Cry The Silver Chronicles, especially with her motivation for living in Hope County, which is to move on from the past and her repetitive status as being the "Last One Standing" [Skylar Grey ft. Polo G, Mozzy, & Eminem - Venom: Let There Be Carnage]. Haoyu Anabuki is someone I find as an interesting protagonist in Life, Despair & Monsters, as unlike Joaquin and Silva, who do have good intentions but often times go to the extreme with those values (Joaquin's methods are more merciless while Silva's is brutal), Haoyu would rather hold onto their selfish intentions than help anyone, but actively learns to care about others and works as a significant foil against his "Enemy" [Imagine Dragons ft. J.I.D - Arcane League of Legends], Sir Enigma Malvolio, who's good intentions are condescending at best and severely warped at worse causing his methods to be unethical, uncaring and selfish.

There's also other series I've developed such as Wings And Horns and it's spin-off trilogy that develops, as well as the Fallout series A Radioactive Calamity of Love, Bombs & Gore, all a "Glorious" [Macklemore ft. Skylar Grey] exploration of the past that happened before The UnTitled Ventures saga, which is the kickstart of the other three series plots. "Everywhere You Look" [Carly Rae Jepsen - Fuller House] is a strange and fantastic journey, which both original and canon characters have to endure and overcome through because what we (and I) get seems to be "Never Enough" [Loren Allred - The Greatest Showman] for our passionate hearts, so we write our own stories and build upon it. "I Gotta Feeling" [The Black Eyed Peas] that The UnTitledverse, Far Cry The Silver Chronicles, Life, Despair & Monsters and the other series and the characters in them, are going to be phenomenal, which is a very bold statement but hey, I've had these building up in my head like an "Unstoppable" [The Score] force for years and I really, really want to finally write them all down so at least they are out there, somewhere, and who knows maybe it might "Shine Through" [The Stupendium] someone else's vision and inspire them to write or make their day a brighter.

One can hope it lasts "4ever" [The Veronicas], and I'll do my best to be along for the ride. And will still be writing even "28 Days Later" [John Murphy - 28 Days Later] after this.

(I have no songs I like or know that start with 0)

And mixing things up, here's how I worded my URL from Wattpad and a little bit from fanfiction.net based on gloworm's style.

Meant To Be - Bebe Rexha ft. Florida Georgia Line

"Maybe we do / Maybe we don't / Maybe we will / Maybe we won't / But if it's meant to, it'll be, it'll be / Baby just let it be (Sing it baby) / If it's meant to be, it'll be, it'll be (C'mon) / Baby, just let it be (Let's Go) / So won't you ride with me, ride with me? / See where this thing goes" for my ship of my shapeshifting, meat-eating alien Mario Emmet and Charlie Emily, the android who didn't realize she was an android for years from the FNAF novels.

Impossible Geometry - The Stupendium ft. Chi-chi

"Never in all of history before / Has cardio been such bliss to perform / But beware of the risks / As you twist and deform / Or you might just put / Your fist through a wall / The Earth is a stave / And you're surfing the waves / As the sound of the blades / Lay waste to the shapes / Stay braces for the pace / Get a taste for the race / There's grace to embrace / When space is your playlist / I feel the music moving through every part of me / I see the beauty blooming out of every passing beat / I'm flying straight towards the light and there's no stopping me / I live my life through impossible geometry / I found a place where my playlist lays a rhapsody / Where my heartbeat and the bass can weave a tapestry / I'm flying straight towards the light and there's no stopping me / I live my life inside impossible geometry" for Silva Omar and Paul Yellowjack, at the highest peak of Third Eye activation and use. In a way, it describes the kind of environment one sees in this state of mind.

Slide Into The Void - The Stupendium ft. Cami-Cat

"Breaking the first / The second / The third / The fourth wall / Fifth wall / No floor / You fall / Earworm humming in a dream / Baby, baby, baby yeah / Just plastic / You want to listen / You want to dream / You want to smile / You want to hurt / You don't want to be / You want to listen / You want to dream / You want to smile / You want to hurt / You don't want to be / If you can't place the pin / Where patterns end and you begin / Follow the Director / Else you're gonna slide into the void / But should your towers fall / Free your mind and heed the call / Go to the projector / Load another slide into the void" for the Ruins of the Midnight Rise (a science organization/cult that includes the Director, Sir Enigma Malvolio, a collection of the worlds greatest Third Eye users called "The Unity" or "Uni" for short, Malvolio's sopping wet bodyguard Denise Redwood, their primary enforcer Inviticus, his mecha-hound Impulse, a deranged Eden "Evie" Jackson Bloodleech (hint, hint), and Frederick Rosemary who shouldn't be anywhere near children).

The House Always Wins - The Stupendium

"You can hit them, you can fold them / Stack the deck and weight the dice / All that glitters isn't golden / Cash that check, you'll pay the price / Might be safer in the desert / Only dust to judge your sins / But those who wager aren't so clever / 'Cause in heaven / Well, the house always wins" for Mr. Robert Edwin House's condescending hatred towards one Marissa "Ress" Bishop... who returns the feeling 100% tenfold.

Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) - Kate Bush

"And if I only could, I'd make a deal with God / And I'd get him to swap out places / Be running up that road, be running up that hill / Be running up that building (He-oh) / Say, if I only could, oh-ooh / You / It's you and me / It's you and me / It's you and me / You won't be unhappy / Oh come on, baby / Oh come on, darlin' / Let me steal this moment from you now / Oh come on, angel / Come on, come on, darlin' / Let's exchange the experience / Oh-ooh-ooh" for Silva's survivor's guilt and grief over not being able to save her daughter Persephone.

Epoch - The Living Tombstone

"Everyone makes mistakes / I've had more than my share / But it's OK 'cause O'm gonna repair it / They say there are no retakes / But I just don't agree, no / This show / Is of my own making / Take it back to the start / I've had a change of heart / I know we can make it better than it ever was / I know we can make it better / I know we can make it better than it ever was / I know we can make it better" for an unlikely duo between Stranger Things Jim's older brother, Alfred "Jeff" Hopper, and Joaquin's older adopted sister Lisa Cobalt, both have nothing in common except for the fact both are repentant of their past mistakes and actions enough that they are willing to put a stop the world-ending Occult to save the people they want to keep alive.

Set Those Sinners Free - Dan Romer (Far Cry 5)

"Well, the Devil's friends hide in the dark / They've laid their plans and they'll make their mark / We pity the souls that they have claimed / They won't be saved when they're up in flames / The sinner's world is full of hate / There's so many lies that you can't keep straight / But when they finally meet their fate / There's no wait and see, there's see and wait / Well, you can sing all through the night / Preach till the mornin' light / But some cannot tell wrong from right / Jacob's gonna come and set those sinners free" for Alexander Khaos pretending to buy into the prophecy/religious aspect but going all in for the survival aspect that Jacob's set up.

Shameless - Camila Cabello

"So many mornings I woke up confused / In my dreams I do anything I want to you / My emotions are naked / They're taking me out of my mind / Right now I'm shameless / Screaming my lungs out for you / Not afraid to face it / I need you more than I want to / Need you more than I want to / Show me you're shameless / Write it on my neck, why don't ya? / And I won't erase it / I need you more than I want to / Need you more than I want to" for Silva Omar and the Apostles of Zachariah (human incarnations). Hates them but they're so traumatically impactful that she can't erase them from her mind and body (the scars and Persephone's absence being a reminder) which allows their memory to be constantly alive and haunting her. And compared to most people she fought and fights, she's subconsciously established them on this pedestal of what she wants out in a fight (as Paul taught her that "to fight is to prove you're alive").

Spotlight - CG5

"You really think I want to kill? The ink you see can't be distilled / I can tell it's not your day / Well, too bad! / I'm here to stay! / Our surprise is your demise / Close your lying eyes / Play that old song / In the night / Right under the spotlight!" for Calvin Dearing and his Narrator who hates his guts in A Blast In The Past and The Dark Awakening.

Pompeii - Bastille

"Eh, eheu, eheu / Eh, eheu, eheu / Eh, eheu, eheu / I was left to my own devices / Many days fell away with nothing to show / And the walls kept tumbling down in the city that we love / Grey clouds roll over the hills, bringing darkness from above / But if you close your eyes / Does it almost feel like nothing changed at all? / And if you closed your eyes / Does it almost feel like you've been here before? / How am I gonna be an optimist about this? / How am I gonna be an optimist about this?" for the duo Isiah Popov and Gemini Teal as they prepare their "finest" heist in an adapted Ketterdam in the present-ish modern-ish day but still stuck in its crooked ways.

Lost In Paradise - ALI ft. AKLO (Jujutsu Kaisen)

"Tokyo prison / I'm going to relight your feeling / Night and day are fading / I'm going to relight your feeling / Light up every last one of them / Ooh-ooh-oho, give me your love / Ooh-ooh-oho, access to your love / Ooh-ooh-oho, oh yeah! / Lost in paradise / Night and day are fading out / When time gets rough / Access to your love / Lost in paradise / Night and day are fading out / Keep on dancing now / Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey" for Hoayu Anabuki's journey in a Japanese high school trying to make a connection with their half-sister Monika without letting her know they're her sibling and a half-interdimensional being.

I'm So Sorry - Imagine Dragons

"No lies and no deceiving / Man is what he loves / I keep trying to conceive that / Death is from above (No time) / I get mine and make no excuses / Waste of precious breath (No time) / The sun shines on everyone / Everyone, love yourself to death / So you gotta fire up, you gotta let go / You'll never be loved till you've made your own / You gotta face up, you gotta make yours / You never know the top till you get too low / A son of a stepfather / A son of a, I'm so sorry / A son of a stepfather / A son of a, I'm so sorry" for the first major antagonist of The UnTitledverse, Edward Carmine, a 45-year-old Robotics Industrialist who doesn't take the hint to stay dead and tries to become God because of his superiority/god-complex much to everyone else's chagrin.

NEATH! A Fallen London Musical - The Stupendium

"See them scurry as the rat within the maze / Puzzulary and yet how they fascitate / Insignifiportant, if cacophocordant / Hunting for a heart to cherishisffectionate / Could they only see serendestiny / Death and broken dreams, hellish chemistries / Their apocacylsm spawns a clockanism / Requessary beyond their fathometry / Every infatuation, each glance of gladoration / Toothsome cogs upon our grand enmachinations / Each soul impassioned, heart's stole or lacerated / Each tale impaled by the quill tip to the pages / As the ink bleeds, how I drink these / Narratary little sips of histories / Every skipped beat now to drip feed / Something buried deep in enigmystery / All ends / Swords, pens / Foretent / Phenomonition / Court then / Torment / Love's bent / Definition / Cold and unprepared, wholly unawares / Chronologging their enhidden love affairs / There's a currency more poitiont underneath / And darker yet beyond that missing sun of theirs" for Evermond Scowlzka... going on about some poor lads he kidnapped picked up to run some unethical science upon.

They'll Find You - Griffinilia/Fandroid

"Find the mascots / Check your blind spots / Put the mask on / Turn the lights off / Wind the toy box / Check the game clock / Shun the dark thoughts / It's a long shot / They'll find you / They'll find you / We will find you / Terrorize you / And ensnare you / In a bear suit" for the animatronics against Lillian "Lena" Elliot as she tries to survive against them with a flashlight and baseball bat without damaging them too badly.

East of Eden - Zella Day

"Pink toes pressed against the carpet / Show your face and finish what you started / The record spins down the alley, late night / Be my friend, surround me like a satellite / Tiger on the prowl / East of Eden / Comin' for you now / Keep me from the cages under the control / Runnin' in the dark to find east of Eden / Keep me from the cages under the control / Runnin' in the dark to find east of Eden / To find east of Eden (Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)" for Silva, and maybe Ezekiel (given the "tiger" reference), against both her bio father and adopted father, Adam Omar and Paul Yellowjack in Silva's Hope and Old Dusk respectively.

Royalty - Egzod & Maestro Chives ft. Neoni

"Say I'm cold hearted / But I'm just getting started / Got my eyes on the target / Now, now / Till the battle's won / Till kingdom come / I'll never run / Best to give me your loyalty / Cause I'm taking the world you'll see / They'll be calling me, calling me / They'll be calling me royalty / Best to give me your loyalty / Cause I'm taking the world you'll see / They'll be calling me, calling me / They'll be calling me royalty / They'll be calling me royalty" for the Court King, a third-generation reality bender thought have perished in the Exterminator Purge War trillions of years ago. Only for him to find a puppet in Corvus Targaryen, adopted son of King Viserys the First.

1950 - King Princess

"I like it when we play 1950 / So bold, make them know you're with me / Stone cold, will you miss me? / So tell me why my Gods look like you / And tell me why it's wrong / So I'll wait for you, I'll pray / I will keep on waiting for your love / For you, I'll wait / I will keep on waiting for your" for Silva Omar and Faith Seed.

[tewwor]

NEWEST MUSE LIST 07-25

*** doubles as an interest check so like this and i'll cook up a starter! highly suggest specifying muse(s) for this one! i will be focusing on them more between drafts!

THE FRINGE — SAUL'S LIMINAL WORLD .

the knowing

the second host to be shunted into the fringe as a last ditch effort for safety. ended up becoming the keeper of knowledge; to the point where it’s debilitating. happened upon the abyss and was given the cruel gift of knowing by concentration, and by touch as of late. burdened by the mind splitting headache of retention and hunger to learn more. pigeonholed as the devils advocate.

the peril

meant to embody the very gravity within the fringe. within the space, their influence is shown by lands turned upside down or sideways and the visceral sense of falling without stop. outside of it, their presence manifests in deep rumbling storms and pressure — sometimes to the point of vertigo. when encountered, the manner of which they impact another varies person to person. some will experience the falling, vertigo, threat of imminent thunder, or even allure to gravitate closer. confused as a double agent of good and evil.

THE MARKED .

shrike 'choi siwoo'

Civilian occupation: blacksmith . Marked position: weapons dealer. Ability: physical restoration. Part of The Marked ( lore here ). Cares more about his craft than anyone. Get enraged when his weapons are treated like shit ( even though he can restore it to perfection ). Leaves his hovel of a home once every blue moon, while also somehow hosting the most at home parties ( ?? he's not sure how that works either ). Incredibly good host but will beat you with your own shoes if you don't take them off at the entrance. Has a fairly popular online shop and big Youtube/Tiktok following regarding his blacksmithing.

HARBORVIEW .

barbara davies

crocodile sea creature . all grin, all bite. big lady, big energy. harborview's very own local radio host. would rather not get into how she's come to know oram / how she was changed. not sure if she's the town's Mother or Fun Aunt just yet — most likely both. has #throwndown to protect at least a few other sea creatures / locals. will always do it again.

ha aera

waho employee near the outskirts, because of course there’s one. who else is going to witness the weird shit that happens? no, it’s not like the baga yaga’s hut — you can’t even prove it relocating anyways ( it 100% moves across town on giant chicken feet ). often has to deal with whatever bullshit happens out in the parking lot. does not enjoy this despite it making for good stories.

natori kato

seagull shapeshifter . steals everyone’s fries, sandwiches, any finger foods all the time ( mostly near / on the beach ). 10000% close friends to the other two bird shapshifters ( yunseo & chinmae ) except she doesn't bestow anything. just takes food and yaps away. clearly homeless, but she never mentions it — gets a little weird if it is brought to light ( usually sleeps as a seagull elsewhere on the shore ). only way she pays for food or lodging is by whatever washes up on the beach.

spencer aka suspenders

kelpie wangler / hippocampus protector????? yeah, the town’s infested with weird sea creatures, but the uptick in disappearances not from them caused lior to outsource someone to help with the herd of kelpies. none were harmed in the fruitless relocation ( they keep finding their way back ), so his residence became permanent and he set up sanctuary. if you see a stunning resemblance between him and holt ( holster under fantasy section ), he'll deny it till’ he's blue in the face.

ini shaw

sea witch that primarily sells knots and charms for sailors. most of the time they're filled with good luck. be nasty to her and you'll get a nasty surprise back amidst your stupid voyage. maybe a fanatic over oram, but who’s to say?

jinae 'jenny' cho

there's a new hot wife in town and she's married to the mayor ( that hasn't been eaten by the sea creatures finally )! does she know her high school sweetheart turned husband is a sea creature? no! so pretty and so scrappy. definitely has traits of a survivalist for reasons she'd rather leave in the dark.

[tieflingtareon]

My love, are you the devil? (Oh, call me a devil)

Chapter 27 | Words: 5.2k

Summary: Astarion found himself often surprised by his heroic companion. He had one goal. To become the favoured companion of the group, to earn the Tieflings loyalty, to make Tar'eons strength his own. Yet Tar'eon isn't like the usual target of his manipulations. Despite his naivety, he does not seem gullible. There is something very wrong with their 'leader' to begin with. Astarion isn't sure if he wants to control it or eradicate the threat it posed. But can he really do either when Tar'eon himself seems so...unwaveringly kind?

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/50668558/chapters/127995079

Tar'eon didn't have his own tent, so he hid away in Astarion's. It was vacant, and if he was honest, he wasn't sure he could stand talking to anyone else right now. He curled up in the piles of clothes, head on the stolen pillow and wrapped up in the blanket from the inn, nestling himself down to sleep. It wasn't even midday but he didn't want to think anymore. For once, he wanted to sleep dreamlessly.

By some miracle, he managed to sleep for a bit before he awoke to the tent opening, sunshine draping across his features.

"There you are." Astarion tutted. "You know, it's quite rude to enter ones abode without permission."

"I needed to be alone, and I don't have my own tent."

"Right, because you prefer sleeping under the stars." Astarion mused and closed the flap behind him, sitting beside the tiefling. "So...are you going to tell me why you suddenly deserted us out there? Oh, by the way, Karlach personally invited Yenna and her cat to stay with us. I told her we have enough strays, but Wyll backed up her decision so..."

"I'm glad she's here, rather than alone." Tar'eon turned to properly face Astarion, sighing. "It's just...seeing Orin - it shook me up. I've never felt so...angry before. In my life. Something about her gets under my skin, and I was afraid of what I'd do. I almost killed that smith."

"Yes, that was...honestly? Quite arousing. Terrifying, but arousing. You really should threaten people more often."

"Astar."

"Right, apologises." Astarion clicked his tongue. "She had a lot to say to you, that shapeshifter."

"Yeah..."

"She called you 'sibling'. Remarked on your father."

"She did."

"Are you going to tell me why she'd say such a thing or...?" Astarion gestured for him to explain, but Tar'eon had nothing to say.

"I don't know. I don't remember. But I know my memories? She took them. She scrambled with my brain and now...I know nothing." He hated her. 'Sister' or not. "Maybe she meant sibling in a different sense. We certainly don't look alike."

"Well, considering you share a father apparently..." Astarion frowned before smirking. "At least I'm not the only one who'll be having a family reunion."

"Gods, I hope not." Tar'eon pinched his brow.

"We still have four hours of daylight...Perhaps a trip to the circus would help take your mind off things?" Astarion mused and Tar'eon chuckled.

"A circus? I don't recall ever going to one."

"Karlach is begging to go, I beg you to save me from this." He pleaded and Tar'eon gave it a thought. The circus...after all the crap they'd been through, a circus sounded quite nice honestly. A day off, if anything. They deserved one of those.

"We should go."

"Ugh, I was hoping you'd say no."

"Then why ask?" Tar'eon grinned, amused but Astarion's pout.

"Because I was trying that 'nice' thing you keep encouraging." Tar'eon shook his head fondly and sat up to kiss Astarion softly.

"I appreciate it. Come on. I don't want to slump about over this. Maybe going out will help."

"That's the spirit. No point in being a depressing lump in my tent."

Tar'eon chuckled. Astarion had played him like a fiddle. But for once, it was to benefit him rather than himself. That was an improvement when it came to his silver tongue.

****

"I'm not wearing that." Astarion refused as Tar'eon crept closer with the face paint.

"Come on! You're supposed to be hiding anyway, aren't you?" Tar'eon grinned.

"I'd rather be found by Cazador than wear that crap on my face."

"Oh, oh, me! Let me!" Karlach insisted, pointing at her own face. Tar'eon laughed and began painting her face with a steady hand. "Oh, it's cold!"

"Everything's cold compared to you, Karlach." Shadowheart chuckled and stole some paint for herself, happy to disguise herself given her current status as a traitor to Shar.

"You're right - I'll happily warm you right up, baby!" Karlach beamed at her girlfriend, and Shadowheart rolled her eyes but smiled anyway.

"Ugh - I'm going to go pick pocket some patrons, anything to escape this dreadful place." Astarion waved his hand and slipped away into a crowd of people. Tar'eon shook his head. He hoped he got caught.

He painted a giant blue butterfly across Karlach's face and she let out a squeal when she saw it.

"Amazing! Gods, I look good. You ever thought of taking up painting once this is all over?"

"I'm not that good." Tar'eon was flattered though.

"Karlach's not joking. You have some talent." Shadowheart assured. "Maybe you painted before."

"A painter and a bard - quite the creative person I was, huh?" Tar'eon mused. He probably painted with blood and charmed people to walk off cliffs with his flute, no doubt.

"You know, I don't think I've ever heard you play." Karlach frowned. "Can you?"

"Of course I can. I can play just about any instrument I put my hands if I put my mind to it. I just...prefer the flute." Tar'eon took his flute and frowned as he walked down the steps. He placed his lips to the mouthpiece and decided to play a cheerful, adventurous tune, eyes falling shut. He hadn't really played because he hadn't the time, or the privacy to. Yet when he put his lips to it, he could feel something connecting inside his brain.

A memory.

In his memory, the tune was softer. More mellow. There was no rush, no upbeat tick to it. Every note was drawn out, peaceful like walking along a riverbank beneath a full moon. Behind his eyelids, he could see a dark office, lit by candlelight. There was a presence behind him, he could feel it, but there was no fear. No anticipation. He was not in danger. The presence was as mellow as his song.

A warm hand curled around his throat, the cold claws sharp but not biting. His head fell back, and within the memory, darkness followed. He had closed his eyes. The music continued to play, air still leaving his lungs as his throat was cradled. There was submission in the act, something he knew was not freely given.

"Tir'yal...are you trying to charm me?" The music did not stop. The hand did not move. There was simply a chuckle, warm and low.

The memory faded into nothing, warped away, but Tar'eon could still feel the phantom hand on his throat as he pulled the flute from his lips. His upbeat tune had changed to that mellow one, and there were people crowding around him, looking mesmerizing.

"Wow..." Karlach breathed. "I don't think I've ever been moved by a flute solo before. Hells." She placed a hand on her chest. "I actually feel...almost cold."

"Was that your own song?" Shadowheart asked. "It was so...calming. Yet sad. I don't think I've ever entertained the flute as an emotional instrument before."

"I...I'm not sure if it's my song. I think it is." Tar'eon frowned, shaking his head. He couldn't get the memory out of his head. He hadn't realised playing his flute would open up more of his past to him. What else could he do to remember it? It was the only memory of his past that wasn't smeared with blood.

Who in Faerun was he? And who was the man with him? He used his infernal name with such ease...Like he knew the language well enough to call it his own.

"Whatever you were playing, it occupied the people well enough for me to nick a very pretty ring and some coin." Astarion grinned as he came to his side. "A beautiful song it was, darling. Perhaps I can show my talents at the piano one day. We'd make quite the duo."

Tar'eon smiled at the thought.

"I'd love to play with you." He could imagine in now, Astarion on the piano with his elegant fingers, Tar'eon with his flute pressed against his lips, creating a harmony together in a house they could call their own. It was a nice dream, and he hoped one day to experience it. He turned around to depart from the crowd and found himself stumbling over a few steps, righting himself in front of a woman with red hair - a druid. Or, he was definitely assuming druid with all the leaves and branches covering her modesty.

"Sorry, I-"

"This city of stone and steel is an endless scream in nature's womb. I have left no peace here." She turned to him and smiled serenely. "Until now. Your eyes, stira...there is pain, endless and deep. But also devotion - blazing like the sun. You're in love, are you not?"

Tar'eon stood straighter, his cheeks a touch hot at how easily she seemed to read him. It was a little unsettling, but there was little to hide from what he was guessing was a nymph - a dryad.

"I...yes. I am." There was no point in lying to the woman. "To someone quite close to me."

"You are wise to admit it. When it comes to love, vulnerability is armour. Truth, a sword. And trust, a shield." Tar'eon took in a deep breath, a little overwhelmed by her insight, but he understood. Love was not weakness. Being weak with the one you love was a strength in itself. To bare yourself before another...it was a risk that came with high rewards if you were lucky to bare yourself to the right person. "I pray you wield all three, stira."

Tar'eon smiled softly. It may be a sham she ran for the circus, but it made him feel good about putting his heart in Astarion's hands, even if they had conflicting views on power.

"Bring the one you love to me. I will look into your hearts and see if your love is eternal. Or doomed eternally." Tar'eon bit his lip. It was probably a scam. He doubted she would be able to know if Astarion and him were worth the journey, the pain and the healing, but...Gods, he wanted to have someone say it was. He wanted to know he was making the right choice with his heart, or if he was doomed to simply live with the heartache Astarion may bring him.

He turned to Astarion who was looking at the dryad sceptically, like he didn't quite think her predictions to be true, but when his eyes met his, they widened.

"Would you...like to try it? With me?" He offered his hand to Astarion and the vampire seemed surprised before he smiled, indulging Tar'eon.

"Oh my love, how could I say no?" He took his hand and came to stand beside him. Most circus' were full of scammers, sham magicians, but he didn't mind go through a little 'test of love' to make Tar'eon feel more secure in...whatever they were. Astarion didn't want to admit it to himself, but - he was also a touch insecure about their relationship. After the previous night, he felt like he was walking on eggshells, trying to ignore the forbidden ritual looming over their heads.

"Close your eyes, little ones. Be still as stone to earth. And remember to breathe."

"Do you think we could try next?" Karlach whispered to Shadowheart who smiled softly.

"I doubt she will be able to tell you anything I can't tell you myself about my feelings for you."

"Gods, I love you." Karlach grinned. "I still want to though."

"Alright, alright. Later."

Tar'eon closed his eyes, smiling to himself. Moments passed, and he only opened his eyes when he felt a shift in the air around him. A gentle breeze, the sound of a waterfall and running water - a lack of noise from the people around them. His hand was now empty as he looked around, finding himself in a peaceful hideaway of stone and moss, a tree trunk the only means to Astarion who stood on the other side with the dryad.

"Ah. Glorious. Your bond is sweeter than nature's dew. I see you. Know you. But do you know one another?"

"I know he's sweeter than nature's dew." Astarion joked, licking his lips and showing off his fangs in a grin as if to tease the dryad. Tar'eon suppressed a laugh, a finger to his lips as if to silence himself.

"Astarion: a tumultuous past hides behind a mirthful grin." Astarion made a small tutting sound at her insightful words. He didn't quite like being seen through so blatantly. "The heart is fraught, so let us begin with the joyous. When is he happiest?"

Tar'eon frowned, giving it a thought. When was Astarion happiest...?

"Well...I like to think he's happiest when we're alone. When he's being heard, listened to, and cared for. He likes fine things, and he like special treatment." Tar'eon mused before chuckling. "But I'd have to say he smiles most when elbow-deep in gore."

Astarion laughed, able to forget the personal part of his words in favour of the satisfying answer.

"Guilty as charged. Sometimes literally." Astarion shrugged with a smirk and Tar'eon walked closer, only pausing when the dryad spoke again.

"Your bond beats in pleasure. It is an honour to behold."

"Not the only kind of pleasure we get up to." Astarion quipped with a grinned. "Well, not recently, but the memories are good enough." He winked. Tar'eon shook his head, smile fond.

"Many things delight the heart, but only one makes it sing. Tell me, what does he desire more than anything?" Astarion frowned, looking away. He damn well knew the answer, but it wasn't one he'd like to be aired out like dirty laundry, thank you.

"Freedom." Tar'eon answered honestly. "That's all he's ever wanted. It's what he deserves."

"You're not wrong, but do we need to tell every stranger we meet our business?" Astarion narrowed his eyes and Tar'eon smiled as he walked closer.

"You're allowed your quips. I'm allowed my honesty." Astarion rolled his eyes.

"Our touch has been that of sunlight, but now we must ask the deep. The difficult. Fear sits in the soul of all - to tame it, we must name it. What is his deepest fear?" Tar'eon looked at Astarion, who was glaring at him, daring him to voice it out loud. He closed his eyes, allowing himself to chuck away the truth just this once. For his sake.

"Breaking a nail." Astarion laughed.

"Well, when you look this good..." He made a show of check his nails before his expression grew more serious, walking across the tree trunk to meet him. "Well, you were right every time. I almost wish you hadn't been, but...you do know me."

Tar'eon smiled and took his hand in his, squeezing gently.

"I press my fingers to your bond and find a shield - impenetrable. It is...beautiful." She sounded awed, and it made Tar'eons heart swell. "Your love is one few have - cherish it." She came closer, and then paused. "I only wonder if it is shared with such fervour."

The pair frowned, looking at her in confusion.

"Tar'eon...when is he happiest?" She was looking at Astarion now, who seemed dumbfounded to be asked such a personal question.

"I...Well..." Astarion actually looked embarrassed as he looked away from them both, Tar'eons hand holding his.

"You don't have to answer. I already know you care for me, Astar."

"Well...it's only fair to spill your dirty secrets in return." Astarion cleared his throat, licking his lips. "I...He's happiest when- when he's with his people." Tar'eons heart warmed, a small smile on his lips, but Astarion wasn't finished.

"He's happiest when he's talking to children, when an animal lets him get close, when he- when he can enjoy a good book in peace, and learn something new and - he seems happiest with...me." Astarion swallowed, heat burning the back of his neck. "Despite how much I'm sure I grate on his nerves."

"Even when I'm annoyed with you, I'm still happy to see you." Tar'eon agreed.

"Gods, you're a sap." Astarion scoffed like he hadn't said something so endearing just moments ago.

"You watch him close, for fear he may leave if you don't. He has made your heart beat again, and it is glorious yet terrifying." She seemed as if she was in love herself, her eyes almost starry despite their bright glow. "Tell me, what does he desire more than anything?"

Astarion bit his lip, sucking on it before he let go and huffed.

"Freedom. We're one in the same in that regard. He wants to be free of parts of himself, and I wish to be free of others."

"Perhaps there is more layers to be found within your partners desires." She mused and Tar'eons stomach churned.

"He was right. I do want to be free." Even if there was much more to it than that. "I want to be in control of my life, my actions."

"What is his deepest fear? The thing he fears above all else?" She continued, and Tar'eon watched Astarion, wondering what he'd say.

"He...he fears losing himself. Who doesn't?" Astarion had lost himself for years in his abuse, so many memories fuzzy from dissociation. From trying to get away in the only way he knew how.

"Perhaps there is something more terrifying than losing ones self?" She was talking to him this time, staring into his very soul, and Tar'eon swallowed hard.

"I...I fear losing him, even more than myself." He admitted. "I'm scared of become a monster; but I fear the monster devouring him more."

"The sword to the shield. Your love is both impenetrable, yet sharp. Where one protects," She gestured to Tar'eon. "The only defends." She smiled at Astarion who couldn't take his eyes off Tar'eon. "A perfect balance. All you need is the armour. Vulnerability. To truly bare yourselves to the other. Do not let secrets and insecurity fester and build a wall between you. Let truth and honesty by your bridge to one another."

She came closer, and the peaceful enclave disappeared, the sound of the city coming back to them. Tar'eon stared at her with wide eyes. He felt like he been stripped raw and put back together. She truly had dug down deep into them and forced them to face the matters at hand. Their love was not doomed - so long as they spoke to each other in truths and not falsehoods.

"Go in peace, seedlings. And know that you made one whose heart was long quiet beat with love anew." She smiled at them and Tar'eon nodded sharply. "And that you," She gestured to Astarion. "Have gained devotion and loyalty unlike any other you could conceive."

The pair stepped back from her, Tar'eon bowing his head in respect. He wasn't sure if he was supposed to say thank you or not.

"I..." Astarion looked lost for words.

"Me next! This is my girl, Shadowheart. We're ready to test our love, nature lady." Karlach grinned and Shadowheart shook her head, beyond amused.

"It can't hurt, I suppose - unless you embarrass me. Then you might find yourself hurting in a whole manner of ways."

"Hopefully only the good kind." Karlach winked. Tar'eon watched as the pair closed their eyes, turning to look at Astarion.

"You really feel that way?" Astarion asked, casting his gaze aside, unable to look into those mismatched eyes. "I...I knew you cared, but I never assumed I would be above your own life. I should have know, you've always had a gentle heart, trying to save everyone."

"You are above everyone." Tar'eon sighed, resigned to that fact of his life. "It's why I don't want you to do the ritual, Astar. Because I know I'll let you, and those deaths will never stop haunting me, knowing I could have stopped you from doing so. One persons life for several seems only justified, until you love that one person too much to ever hurt them."

"You would?" Astarion frowned. "If I did the ritual...you wouldn't leave?"

"I wouldn't. I'm not sure that's a good thing, though."

"I know you think this is only for power for me - but it's more than that. I'm taking everything from him. I will not be satisfied unless I inflict the same torture he inflicted on all of us. On me." Astarion scowled before his expression softened, looking up at Tar'eon. "I could give us so much more time, Tar'eon. If I ascended - you wouldn't have to fear hurting me. And I would never have to fear you dying long before I ever will. I could change you, make you my equal. Things could be perfect. Forever."

"And I would be haunted by the souls we damned, forever." Tar'eon reminded and shook his head softly. "I don't want to lose you. I fear messing with a devils contract will only bite us in the arse later. That you'll become someone different from the person I love."

"I won't." Astarion sighed, not sure how to get through to the man. "I'll still be me. Just...better."

"You are already perfect, Astar." Tar'eon took his face in his hands and thumbed at his cheeks. "There is nothing better than you. Not to me. You are perfection. You haunt my dreams and thoughts, and they are sweeter than anything I could ever taste. You may think yourself broken or imperfect or weak, but you are beautiful and quintessential and strong to me. You don't need some ritual to become better. You need Cazador dead, and to finally have the chance to move on and live."

He rested his forehead against his, eyes falling shut.

"I want to live with you. Once all of this is over, I want to spend the rest of my life at your side, in whatever way you will have me. I want to be your shield, your armour, your blade. I want to be yours, and for you to be mine. I want to be the modest man who worships the ground you walk on, even if I cannot be the rich man you slit the throat of." He chuckled, slowly opening his eyes to look at Astarion.

His eyes were glossy and wet, but he was refusing to shed tears. Instead, he narrowed his eyes at Tar'eon, lips twisted with bitterness.

"You offer all of that to me and expect me to not want it forever." He took his hands and moved them from his face, stepping back and turning around to weave through the crowd. If he was attempting to disappear within it, he was failing, his white curls sticking out like a sore thumb, but Tar'eon let him go.

He sighed, looking up at the sky. Whatever God was watching over him...He'd like a blessing one of these days.

****

He had really hoped there would be no bloodshed at the circus, but apparently whatever God was watching over him hated him and demanded it. He never thought he'd kill a clown, and yet...

He used the carter of water to wash the blood off his face and armour, offering Astarion one as well. Shadowheart was attempting to wash the paint off Karlach's face, but the tiefling was insisting she liked it and didn't want to ruin his 'art'.

"I'm more interested in kissing my girlfriend, not a butterfly." Which managed to make the barbarian sit patiently (she still wiggled, but it was Karlach) while the cleric rubbed blood and paint off her skin.

"Good! You lot made it back in time for dinner." Gale called as he walked away from the fire, quirking a brow. "Murder on the first day? I shouldn't be surprised, but I am. I thought you were scouting Rivington?"

"We went to the circus." Astarion grumbled.

"The circus? What fun! You know, that might help Yenna's spirits - maybe I'll take her and Wyll out tomorrow."

"Oh, uh, we kind of...killed them." Tar'eon admitted.

"You- you killed the circus? By Mystra - why?!"

"They attacked me first!" Karlach piped up, Shadowheart attempting to scrub blue paint from her cheek, holding her by her horn as she attempted to move away from it like a fussy pet. "They deserved it!"

"Absolute worshippers." Tar'eon explained and Gale sighed.

"All the good things get ruined before I can experience them. Surely I can join you tomorrow?"

"That should be fine. Shadowheart, Karlach, are you two alright to stay at camp tomorrow?"

"I guess. I'll just stay here and eat dirt or something." Karlach pouted.

"I'll stay and make sure she doesn't eat dirt." Shadowheart smirked.

"Gale, we leave early tomorrow."

"Fantastic!" The wizard clapped his hands together. "I'm sure Wyll will be happy to join us too."

"Obviously." Tar'eon smiled, knowing the two were basically a package deal at this point, the same as Karlach and Shadowheart.

"Oh amazing, does that mean I get to stay back too?" Astarion purred. "I mean, with two magic users on your team, surely you don't need my petty dagger, hm?"

"Astarion, you dismiss you own prowess!" Gale shook his head. "We all know an arrow from you is a deadly strike. Your precision is unlike anything a wizard myself could master. Magic is much too wild to have the same effect." Astarion grimaced but he accepted the praise.

"Well...someone has to hold this team together." He relented and tucked a curl behind his ear. "It may as well be yours truly."

"It's settled then. Gale, Wyll, yourself and I." Tar'eon smirked, smiling wider when Astarion glared at him. "Missed a spot, ph myirz." He reached over and wiped some blood off his ear.

"You're the exact reason I need time to read, you infernal bastard." Astarion muttered. He still didn't know what those damn words meant.

"Hm?" Tar'eons eyes crinkled with mischief as he shifted closer to the vampire, leaning in with a smirk. "You are the most radiant man I've ever met, and I want to consume every inch of you to shine half as brightly. I want to suck every last drop of sunlight out of your body through your cock." He let the natural hiss of the language overtake his words, the infernal sliding off his tongue like butter, and laughed into Astarion's shoulder when Karlach squawked.

"You dirty fuck!" She cackled. Tar'eon had forgotten she spent ten years likely speaking infernal to her fellow soldiers.

"I- Gods, what did you say?" Astarion asked, bewildered.

"Apparently something very naughty." Gale smirked.

"Keep studying, and maybe you'll find out." Tar'eon grinned.

"Oh you-" Astarion glowered and shoved him away, retreating to his tent.

"Xe dajy haf!"

"Keep your devils tongue to yourself!"

"That's the opposite of what he wants to do, buddy." Karlach snorted. Astarion closed the flap of his tent sharply and Tar'eon blushed.

"You think I went too far?" He asked.

"He's a big boy. He can take a joke." Shadowheart chuckled.

"Dinner is going to get cold if we keep chatting. Clean yourselves up and come to the fire. Yenna is quite the cook, with a guiding hand." Gale smiled with pride and made his way back to the fire where Wyll was helping Yenna with the hot ladle, pouring stew into a bowl for her.

Tar'eon smiled to himself. Even if her mother never came back for her...he was sure she wouldn't be alone. Not anymore.

****

As per usual, restless sleep plagued him. He scowled as he tossed and turned, trying to find peace in his dreams for once, but it seemed he did not get a choice.

"Naughty, naughty, naughty little master." He growled at the familiar voice, shooting up to face Fel, but he was no longer on his bedroll. Instead he was surrounded by stone, ominously doused in red light, an altar before him. He felt like he was home, yet it was unsettling all at once. Something was wrong. This wasn't camp. This wasn't home.

"You have disobeyed your Father's wishes one time too many." Fel's voice was still heard, but he couldn't see him, walking closer to the skull carved into the wall. There was a sense of dread, but also...belonging. Devotion. This...this was Father.

"For he who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself becomes a monster." The sockets of the skull burst red with magic, staring down upon him. Father was here. Father was watching. "When you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you."

He felt another presence in the room and turned to the altar, the slab of stone he could remember from another dream. The dream where he killed his guardian, his sacrifice. Now, Orin laid there, playing with her blade. A blade that didn't belong to her, his mind whispered with wrath.

"Another will embrace what you have rejected." Orin turned to look at him and he glared in response to her baring of teeth. "And that other will be your death." If he wasn't hers first, his conniving bitch of a sister, always after his destiny-

His destiny? No. No, that wasn't right...

"But your Father loves you dearly. You may reinherit yourself yet." Fel assured even as Orin pointed her dagger at him. His heart began to race. This was all wrong. This wasn't who he was. He wasn't- he couldn't be-!

Orin turned into a fearsome creature, with more spikes and claws and teeth than any beast of the Hells could conjure up. It struck fear into his very soul and he stumbled back as it approached, a heavy foot slamming down into his chest, pinning him to the altar.

"Slaughter your line. Become the last of your name." The Urge, the anger, it screamed in him to do it, to slaughter his sister, but the human part of him, his present self, didn't want to be another pawn in this game.

"Lord Bhaal shall have but one Chosen."

He wanted to be Father's favourite again. He wanted to be his Chosen. He wanted to be forgiven. He wanted to-

He wanted to kill Orin.

Sister or not, Chosen or not, he would kill the woman who stole his memories from him. Stole him from his life. He would kill Bhaal's Chosen, take her stone, and he would set things right.

He woke with a start, breathing hard. Rage burned beneath his skin as snatches of his past came back to him, all coated in gore and blood, in worship and devotion. He had lead his congregations, had been their master for years, and Bhaal...Bhaal had been his. A cruel master and...his father.

He was his spawn. His heir. His child.

That wasn't who he was anymore. He refused to be...All those bodies, all the blood, he would never be able to atone, but regardless, he was a different person entirely. Who he was before - it wasn't who he was now.

Yet he knew he would never be free of his Urge, not until he confronted the past...Orin was an abomination, mad and bloodthirsty. Even without his grudge against her, he knew he had to kill her. To end the Bhaal line with himself. By killing her, he could get her stone, and cut their father off from his plans with the elder brain. He killed Ketheric, and he would kill Orin. He would have all the stones in the palm of his hand. He'd be able to make things right.

'And Enver?' His mind whispered, and he couldn't remember when the mans first name become more familiar to his mind then his last, even with all memories of him being hidden to him or too fuzzy to be certain.

He didn't have an answer for the question, the implication, and that worried him more than anything; even more so when even the Urge did not beg for his bloodied body alongside Ketheric and Orin's.

[tothedarkdarkseas]

sooo we know what kind of stu look/vibe you prefer, is there a murdoc equivalent to that? i'm curious because you've recently gotten me on the lad stu bandwagon haha. there's definitely a "version" of murdoc i picture in your writing, but it's a bit difficult to articulate. so i was wondering if you had an intended effect in mind and if i'm anywhere near the mark!

Thank you, and welcome aboard the Lad Stu bandwagon! You may not find yourself drowning in content but you'll have a good time! It certainly hasn't eased up on me yet, and despite some fully self-inflicted misery at times I still think there's plenty of reward to be found, haha. He's just neat!

Murdoc is tricky, as I see him as a bit more of a shapeshifter than Stu is, simultaneously more aware of himself and less loyal to who or what that is. My rule of thumb is that Murdoc is adaptable and Stu is malleable, and these are two very distinct ways to affect and be affected by the world around you, even if both ultimately result in the birth of unhealthy self-gratifying habits. Murdoc has the survival experience to know what a situation requires, and how to play it toward his benefit-- and he's comfortable with (or settled more deeply into) the knowledge that sometimes it's bending, and sometimes it's biting. Sometimes you get what you want by removing the capacity to be punished. An inability to be pinned down is a fundamental part of that, I think. By no means do I think that means Murdoc is always sincere in these perspectives, nor do I think he's always if ever been completely honest with a microphone on, but I think he'd see the sort of nihilistic reason to it and lack of reason in splitting those hairs over concepts. Behind his manic showmanship Murdoc has a strange pragmatism to him, but you could turn him inside out without seeing it. He's also just, you know, unwell in less digestible ways. Honestly, you'd have to read every post on this blog back to 2018 to relay back to me what I've said about Murdoc and I probably still couldn't parse it, haha.

As far as looks, that is a bit easier to tackle! I don't mind artwork that depicts Murdoc with his greener skintone and it doesn't register as "wrong" to my version of him, but in writing I'm generally picturing he and Stuart both a bit more human than they're typically drawn with a stronger leaning toward their respective pop cultural muses, and so Murdoc probably resembles P1-P2 models more. Jaundiced and sickly in undertone, but not cartoon-coloured. The broader silhouette of his face and hair borrowed from Keith Richards or Richard Ashcroft. I see him as sinewy and slight, but not proportionately railish and lanky as Stu is; he has some give in the thighs, to put it one way, haha, but in general he strikes me as "the runt of the litter." Small in the way that doesn't entirely carry in photographs. I do like some of the softer-figured Murdoc artwork and definitely enjoy it over a bizarrely muscular depiction (looking at you in that one specific P4 piece, Jamie) but I think my characterization of him has always been scrawny, booze-bellied, making his size something that fuels gratification and in fact prompts comparison/insult rather than downplays it, because that co-opting of his own degradation returns the satisfaction of it to his hands and not Stu's. (Though rarely would he rather anything be out of Stu's hands, given the choice.)

Vibe-wise, I hope the above paragraphs paint a picture, as I'm not sure I'll be able to-- at least not without making it even more confusing, haha. I see Murdoc as more punkish stylistically, not so entirely devoted to the sartorial extremes as he was in his early 20's playing in 7 different Stoke-based bands but rooted within it. I tend to say "punkish" and not just punk to make some distinction, hopefully, that he is informed by a lot of alt British youth culture, Northern culture, poverty from birth through the total establishment of his adult life, and at last in well-fucking-won gluttonous defiance of that, the excesses of rockstardom. He settles easily into topless lounging, or crusty old band t-shirts with coats from the charity shop, or a leather jacket a size too small to keep him from swimming in the sleeves, separate enough from his beltline for Stu to notice. (Again, looking at a different P4 Jamie piece; he giveth and he taketh away.)

[ivesleptsolong]

| 𝕽𝖚𝖑𝖊𝖘 |

|| Rule one: I am obviously not my muse.

Rule two: see rule one.

Minors (under 18, 21 in some places), please, do NOT interact.

I'm 30+ years old, call me Crow.

This is a sideblog, I can not follow you back!

I have more than 15 years of roleplay and writing experience but my first language is not English. Please be kind.

I do not know how active I'll be.

Plotting is good, but we can just wing it, I don't mind.

Mun talk is encouraged. I don't bite.

I'm here to serve fluff, angst, gore, and more!

I do not have triggers. If you do, tell me.

I'm going to tag smutty posts with "lemon juice tw". Please blacklist it if it bothers you.

𝓐𝓫𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓾𝓼𝓮

Name: Edward Blackburn

Mother: Lady Astrid Blackburn

Father: Sir Magnus Blackburn

Age: 4563

Species: vampire

Gender: cis male

Sexuality: bisexual

Positive traits: Gentle, polite, warm, kind

Negative traits: Vengeful, jealous, obsessive

Face claim: Bryan Dechart

Abilities:

Immortality

Enhanced Strength

Enhanced Speed

Enhanced Durability

Enhanced Senses

Flight (rarely used)

Hypnosis

Shapeshifting (rarely used)

Regenerative Healing

Wall Crawling

Vapor/mist Form (rarely used)

Edward is capable of reproduction if his partner has a womb. He had fathered and raised dhampirs (half vampire, half human) in the past.

Edward's saliva contains a certain venom, which, if it gets into his victim's bloodstream, acts like an aphrodisiac. It has to have that, so the bitten mortals wouldn't fight back. In turn, his bite can quickly turn on his victims, making them almost crave to be bitten again. That heightened arousal lasts for about half an hour. Yes, victims can have an orgasm when they're bitten. The venom can be absorbed in other ways (see this post) although, it takes a longer time for the body… but this way, even kissing mortals for long periods of time can turn them into blabbering little messes. 😏

History: Edward just woke up from his 300 years long vampiric slumber. The new age is confusing for him, but he knows some things - like blood - never changes...

Born to a wealthy British family in 2540 BCE, Edward Blackburn was the only son of his parents. His mother, Lady Astrid Blackburn, died giving birth to his twins after he was born, and his father, Sir Magnus Blackburn, never married again. He rather focused on teaching Edward all he knew. Edward was willing to learn, but only until his father had lost his sense of authority upon treating servants wrong. The Blackburn family was vast, they had a manor to live in, Edward had spent a lot of time with his cousins who visited them often, and the servants who liked him because he was kind to them. He particularly loved the horses. He was often gone for days on horseback, trying to find undiscovered places and adventure.

When his father died from pneumonia when he was thirty, he had met a man who offered him a deal. Edward could keep his station, his manor, his servants and everything he held dear in his life, if he accepted his gift. If he did not agree, he'd slaughter everyone except him. Not knowing what the gift was, Edward agreed. Little did he know that he had crossed paths with Earth's First Murderer, the First Son, the ancient vampire who called himself Cain. And the gift, of course, was his bite and blood - something that changed Edward once and for all.

He had woken up under the stars at night, with Cain sitting beside him. His new Master let him keep his manor, his servants, his horses. The only thing he demanded from him was loyalty.

And Edward was loyal. He wasn't like the other vampires Cain had turned before, though; this particular one was strict to his own moral compass. He didn't kill, not even on command - which always resulted in harsh punishment, and even then, Edward did not obey. Cain realised quite quickly that he would not turn Edward on his side this way, his little fledgling required special care.

Cain broke him in. Slowly, deliberately. He used innocent people, threatening to hurt them if Edward didn't comply. Cain loved to use anyone he met, on his own terms, and Edward was perfect for that as he was easy to keep under control. Cain introduced him to a world of pain and pleasure; he held orgies in his manor often and gifted him to several groups of strangers to use him as they saw fit while he was watching so they wouldn't cause Edward permanent harm. The psychological torture was much worse than the physical; Edward couldn't expect when the next horror would arrive, and what would it be. And Cain was clever and creative; he knew exactly how to extort the maximum distress out of a person.

So when he offered that he wouldn't pass him to strangers during orgies to be used and degraded, only if Edward married him - Edward was quick to say yes. He didn't like feeling helpless and weak.

He had no idea what he agreed to. Every stranger that ever touched him was collected in Cain's manor, and they were systematically slaughtered to never tell anyone about it in the future. Then, they've spent a few hundred years together, during which Edward had learned a lot about Cain, his motives, his personality - and even then, he could not hate him. On the contrary; during those years Edward slowly fell in love with him. If it was due to Cain being someone loveable or because Edward developed feelings in order to survive with his abuser - it's a matter of point of view.

Eventually, Cain became bored and left Edward's country, leaving him to his own devices. Freedom brought the young vampire peace and calm, something he hadn't felt in hundreds of years. He slowly established his manor and started to learn how to create gear for horse riding.

[To be continued]

[mandysxmuses]

CONFESSED (Schatz)

send CONFESSED for a scene from my muse's past in which they revealed a secret about themselves to someone

"Jemand, I'm going to tell you something. It's something I've only ever told Catnip, and..."

Well, at least to Jemand, Catnip was only a pet. A rather unusual pet with the ability to shapeshift, but that wasn't unheard of. Hearing that Schatz originally trusted only that little thing with this... it must have truly been an intimate secret.

"I do trust you with it. I feel like you're my best friend, really-- ah, besides Catnip. But I need you to promise me just in case, alright, lad, it's..." Schatz pulled his hat away from his head, and eventually pulled off each and every one of his eyepatches. With all of them together it was difficult to manage, but he did it. "Promise you won't tell anyone?"

Schatz saw Jemand's eyes immediately soften. He reached out to him from across the table, bumping the playing cards with his arm, and resting his hand over the pirate's. "... You have my word."

Still, it took Schatz a minute to say it. He could describe it all perfectly well to Catnip, who had always been kind as ever to him, but a part of him still did dread telling Jemand... it wasn't that he didn't trust him. Far from it. But unlike Catnip, he had the ability to tell others, and that in itself was enough to make it feel considerably more risky.

... Eventually, he spoke. "I'm not... actually a pirate. I wasn't born knowing I was one, anyway, like everyone else seemed to be born knowin' stuff, I just... all I know is this place made me, and I was made... feeling like I had no purpose. I-I'm-- I think I'm depressed, Jemand... and it's-- what am I supposed to do?! Was I made to be depressed? Did that just come on its own? I..."

".. Schatz, no, hey-- it's okay... we're here to be happy. We're all here to be happy, I think. And you picked something that helps, I hope, the pirate thing... it's fun?"

Schatz glanced down, anxious thoughts racing through his mind. "... Takes a little of the edge off, yeah. It's a lot easier to be this than have nothing. That's for sure. It just... never keeps that feeling away, you know? Just puts it in the background, if that... makes sense..."

Jemand pulled back, and drummed his fingers on the edge of the table uncomfortably. This wasn't really a conversation he felt equipped to have. He'd summon something, but he didn't know if Schatz needed something summoned...

Regardless, he still created a drink for him on the table, which Schatz accepted.

"... I think you could tell Verheiler about this, you know. He's a lot like a therapist. I go to him all the time." Jemand said warmly.

"No-- it's because he's like that I don't want to tell him, yeah? Not that I don't want to be helped, but I'm scared that... if he tells me something, and I do it, it won't help. ... It'll prove I can't be."

"Don't think like that... it's worth a try. Reaching out is always worth a try. And Verheiler is super understanding, he's like... a saint--"

Schatz glared at him. "I'm not telling anyone else. ... Please, please understand that, Jemand. I'm not... ready for him to know."

The drumming of Jemand's fingers grew a little faster and then suddenly stopped, and he gave a slow, precise nod. "... Alright. I'm glad you trusted me with this. Just know I don't see you any differently, Schatz. You're an amazing, funny person, and you deserve to be here, and... I think the Void's so much better with you here."

Jemand did not think, however, that he could simply keep this secret to himself. Especially not when Todlich would be dying to hear about it... and as long as he made sure he wouldn't say a word about it, was it really that big a deal?

[amischiefofdeets]

DUPLICITY

>--------------------------------------<

CHARACTER SUMMARY

>--------------------------------------<

Cole, also known as 'Duplicity', is a high-profile shapeshifting supervillain who has a collection of underlings he refers to as his 'pack'. He's unstable, battling with his wants to regain his old life back and the manic joy of destruction. A celestial event struck Earth giving those exposed to it directly abilities, some of these people were driven mad by the effect this had on their bodies and Cole is one of those individuals. Before it hit he was a psychology professor at a university, engaged to his partner Nathan - that all changed after. His unhinged mood swings ruined his relationship and he ran mid-argument when things had nearly gotten physical, never to return to his partner. He instead became a villain, causing mayhem and relishing in it all while watching his partner fight to better the world. Nathan became a hero and Duplicity would become a fixture in his life, a villain obsessed with him - much to his disgust. Nathan doesn't know Duplicity is Cole and he intends on keeping it that way. Note: I am happy to rework my bois to make them fit into hero universes, so they can be used for Marvel/DC/ect. if wanted.

>--------------------------------------<

MUSE DETAILS

>--------------------------------------<

Name: Cole Denholm Nicknames: Duplicity Race: Mutated Human Born: [UNKNOWN] Age: 29 Height: 6'2 Gender: Male Sexuality: Bisexual Location: [CLASSIFIED] Occupation: Big-time Villain Abilities: Shapeshifting, heightened strength, speed and ability to endure damage

Scars: N/A Tattoos: Alignment: Chaotic Evil Goals: Hobbies: Likes: Luka, Novastar/Nathaniel Winters, stealing things, his 'pack' of loyal criminals, destroying things, one on one fights with heroes that give him a challenge Dislikes: Anyone getting near Novastar/Nathaniel Winters, boring heroes that don't offer much fight, disrespect to him or his organization, talking about his past or trying to get him to talk about it, hurting children Mental state: Unstable due to the cosmic event, he lost many inhibitions, growing violent and volatile - though even he has limits. Disabilities: Reputation: Family: Jack Denholm - Father - [Disowned him] Sophia Denholm - Mother - [Disowned him] Henry Denholm - Brother - [Disowned him] Toyhou.se: [LINK] Characterhub: [LINK]

>--------------------------------------<

HISTORY

>--------------------------------------<

This is based on my own story where people gained powers via a cosmic event - some 20% of the planet gained powers and a small group of those were negatively affected by those powers, making them lash out and their personalities change drastically. Before the event Nathan was living happily with his boyfriend Cole, the two of them a pair of introverts just wanting to spend a peaceful life together but that changed very quickly after the event occurred. Cole began acting irrationally, losing his temper and lashing out - this scared Nathan and during a particularly bad fight he told Cole to leave. And so he did. And he never went back. Going off the deep end, Cole found himself committing petty crimes for the thrill of it, learning of his abilities to shapeshift and using them to his advantage. It didn't take long for him to build his own criminal network and become one of the most feared villains in the area. Unbeknownst to everyone but his most trusted, he has affection for Nathan still, who has become a hero while he's been gone and believes Cole to be dead. Not wanting to hurt him further, Cole inserts himself in Nathans life as various people, shapeshifting so he's never recognized. He's been the civilian Nathan saved, the neighbour living across the hall and various times even an unknown hero come to help him when times got tough. He doesn't let anyone get close to Nathan, whether for good or bad. If a hero seems to be too friendly, suddenly they're another casualty of the fight. If a villain gets too close, they're taken down. In his mind Nathan is his and nothing is going to take that away from him. Eventually he does have help getting over Nathan in the form of Luka, a petty criminal who eventually becomes his right hand man, confidante and eventually, boyfriend. The two are a formidable force together, revelling in a little chaos while supporting eachother when their respective mental disturbances rear their ugly heads.

>--------------------------------------<

TAGS

>--------------------------------------<

Main tag - Headcanons - Ask tag Likes - Aesthetics - Musings - Wardrobe

RELATIONSHIP TAGS

TBA

[underlockeandkeys]

the sound of whirring cameras, straining under the weight of amassed time, sounds out within a poorly rented-out studio. low-budget films being shot, almost uncanny children's shows, and more..

a tired technician, set designer, writer, and more sits behind the camera, knowing this was what he was meant to do; just simply.. work all day, film these lukewarm shows, and nothing else. it was in his contract and debt, after all.

welcome to underlockeandkeys, an independent multimuse oc blog.

" who is this dork, and why should i care about him? "

locked heart- but more commonly known in his human form as locke, is a shapeshifter between a sentient inanimate object and a human, usually residing as his usual human self, yet at times retracting into his smaller object self.

he's got a debt to pay off; and a lot of it, working day and night under his boss, who he is 99% sure is a maniac, and several possible guest appearances from different characters on the set; there's going to be a lot going down here!

chronic coffee-drinker and hater of the job, he's got a major grudge against his boss and a story he doesn't quite feel like telling to anyone, let alone some people he doesn't know. his boss would be elated to tell you, but she's busy setting up the next episode!

here's his toyhouse with extended info!

(muse is an adult, but mun is a minor! keep this in mind!)

" what rules does this set have for today? "

. . no nsfw, mun is 17.

. . flirting/shipping is okay, but don't be surprised if he gets snappy or mad over it.

. . we multiship in this household, but please speak to me abt it beforehand before romancing him!

. . don't m!a him too badly.. i.e; don't get too unrealistic!

. . i will int with anyone who ints with me, as long as they aren't nsfw or unsettle me, the creator. please understand if i don't want to interact at times, i am very easily nervous lol

. . reblog roleplay chains are nice, but they are very cluttered! i'd appreciate several different things such as ask back-and-forths!

" and what's on the menu for us to perform now? "

#. . "technical difficulties.." (ooc)

#. . "stop the show!" (important)

#. . "next episode of.." (casual)

#. . "what do you mean no lunch-break?" (interactions with boss)

more tags to come for fellow muses!

#. . "listen to the audience!" (asks)

#. . "what did you do to the cameras." (m!as (if i get any))

#. . "show gone wrong!" (rp interactions)

#. . "guest actors?" (special guests, usually friends)

have fun! ( banner mask by imjustchillinghere )

special thanks to callum for giving me the courage to make this

[helldustedstories]

@fizzarollitm asked: ⭐ ( for @hlylight & here )

Send me a ⭐ and I’ll tell you muses I want to throw your way! // Pretty much always accepting, tbh!

Oh, I have so many thoughts and ideas. Both for Fizz and everyone else.

Starting with Fizz!

There's the obvious, of course, with Fizz and Ozzie. Basically give me all of the things. I want to write their first meeting, falling in love, figuring out how they're gonna make things work, how they fit together (emotionally, physically, literally anything), Ozzie realizing oh holy shit this is different from anything I've ever experienced and I don't ever want to be without this person, and beyond. All the missing scenes we haven't gotten, and figuring things out in the future. Basically, just give me all the Fizzarozzie.

I know you've got your Hazbin verse, so it could be fun to throw any of my Hazbin characters at Fizz! He and Angel would probably bond, like we've talked about at least a little bit, I would have to figure Husk out but I could manage that, Lucifer would probably say something about Looloo Land, and then he'd appreciate Fizz for his craft, and probably make him a duck.

For Moxxie, there are actually a few different possibilities, both based in canon and potentially pre-canon (and of course, the cinematic AUniverse). So Moxxie was working for his dad before I.M.P., as we know, in Greed. Which means he could potentially run into Fizz somewhere. Do I have more than that off the top of my head? Not right this second, but there are possibilities! And then, more based in canon, Blitz could send Moxx to help Fizz out with something, or Moxx could volunteer or what have you. Lots of potential! And that is just expanded on in the AU. ^^ They could get along, I think!

For Tex, if Fizz and Verosika know one another, there's an easy connection there. He could even help bodyguard at some point if needed. Or we can come up with other things if you want Tex. ^^ Otherwise, we have plenty of other options.

And down to Stolas (of my canon characters)! We've already talked about a few things with him, and just give me all the things. I want them to talk and bond and become friends (especially in the circus AU, along with everything we've talked about for that. ^^). Stolas post-divorce is already exploring his own style since he can, and Fizz can help with that and a lot of other things, honestly. And they can just chat and bond over both having a lot of trauma. Stolas is very good at holding space for other people.

Omg, please, Fizz and Echo could be such interesting friends, potentially. Their main job is gathering information, so they could easily be working for Fizz or bringing Fizz info on Ozzie's behalf. Echo tends to sort of mirror people's energy, since they're a shapeshifter, so it's always interesting if/when people are able to sort of see past that mask, which it feels like Fizz would be able to do.

And now that I've gone overboard, onto hlylight!

For Lilith: The obvious options are Charlie and Lucifer. Exploring those dynamics is going to be so interesting. Charlie looks up to her mom so much and is so afraid of letting her down, of disappointing her. And exploring where and how things went with Lucifer and Lilith is such a fascinating dynamic, really. And you know I will throw pretty much anyone your way. Though Cain would also be interesting to interact with Lilith, actually. First woman, firstborn son? Having them interact could be fun.

For Sera: Pre-fall Lucifer!! I love exploring what he was like as an angel, especially as he interacts with other angels. And even post-fall, too! There's so much to explore and figure out, and I think that would be excellent. Charlie could interact with her too, to some extent. Oh, oh, and Cain. If she ever went to earth, she could potentially interact with him, which could be really fun to explore. Also pre-fall Ozzie!! There are so many delightful possibilities, and I want to expand and explore all of the things and build lore.

For Angel: *grabby hands* All the things! I wanna throw everyone at him: Charlie, Husk, Lucifer. I could probably also come up with ideas for Stolas, Moxxie, and Ozzie, at the very least. I already have some thoughts, actually, SO YES. Give me all of the things and let me love him.

Bel: I need to get off my butt and reply to the stuff with Stolas, 'cause I'm very much looking forward to those threads. ^^ Obviously, I want things with Lucifer and Ozzie, both pre- and post-fall. Figuring out their dynamic, how it changes, how it's the same, all of it. Echo again is someone that I can kind of throw in anywhere, so if Bel needs information on anything that she can't find on her own, call your local shapeshifter.

Husk: More of all of the things. Have him interact with Angel, with Charlie, Lucifer. I can figure out ways to throw other people at him, too. ^^ Echo is always good for throwing at people as previously mentioned, since they can blend in and all that jazz. One of my other OCs is a club musician, so he could potentially have played in Husk's club/casino back when he was an overlord and such. Lots of possibilities!

So these are just kind of off the top of my head, but if you have an idea, I am always down to throw pretty much anyone your way all the time.