#I need to get some proper face claims for human!Emil

[post-mortem-lullabies]

@scnkei asked: [ Rumour has it you're in love with Killer? ]

Send "Rumor Has It…" And a rumor about my muse and see how they respond.

Note: this never happened, I noticed this was OOC ask long after posting it as IC

"Oh?" That was unexpected. While Emil enjoyed poking and prodding at the high and mighty Shinigami, in preparations to maybe possibly fish any info how to get Hollow defeating powers for herself (being a living lure without a clear way of dealing with them could be annoying), she had NOT expected him to take any interest in her personal life.

Taking a deep breath, Emil decided to make him regret his life-choices.

"Isn't he wonderful? I don't know where you heard about it but I guess you've seen him! His hair is so long and well taken care of and so soft and fluffy! And he's big and warm and his hugs are the most comfortable thing in the world. And I have a cuddly Newfoundland Dog so you know that the competition is fierce over the first spot!" Emil waved her arms, playing up the enthusiasm and saying all of that a bit louder than appropriate.

"And can you believe this sneaky bastard!" She cupped her cheeks, acting as if this was embarrassing to admit out loud. It wasn't. "We started off as friends with benefits, but once it became clear he got feels for me, I wanted to break it all up, but he convinced me it would be fine if I never loved him back but then!" Emil stared up at Byakuya. "He must have bewitched me or something because after some time I realised I didn't want to be away from him!" She shook her head as if still in disbelief. "I want to watch him sleep next to me. I want to be there when he gets excited over his drums. Even his silly eating habits are just adorable to me now. He's a golden retriever boyfriend and I adore him."

She took in another deep breath, feeling gracious enough to give him a pause to change the topic.

(Killer in question @killer-soldier)

[sanders-sanctuary-au]

The Shadow Man

You said you didn’t mind if we wrote fan fiction for this AU, so I thought I’d give it a try. You liked my suggestion about Deacon having a reputation in the underground, so I hope you like this!

I thought I’d submit it to you directly, instead of posting somewhere else and tagging you in it. Just in case you don’t like the idea. Feel free to ignore it.

Warnings- Threats, Begging, Mentions of underground fighting rings, underground auctions, implicating murder, inhumane treatment of borrowers(nothing detailed all implied). I think that’s everything, please let me know if I missed anything.

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

“Give em to the Shadow Man” the words were a death sentence to any tiny. Fear and panic rose up as any tiny these words uttered at them, sympathy and grief filled the others. They would never see this tiny again once the Shadow Man had them.

“No!! No Sir PLEASE!! Please don’t!! I .. I can still fight!!” the battered tiny begs, struggling to get to their feet. They had to prove their worth, they had to prove that they didn’t need to go to the shadow! The owner just shakes his head, nothing but contempt for the small battered figure held in his eyes.

“You’re useless to me. You’ve already lost me more money then you can make up. You’re going to the Shadow Man!” He says and carelessly dumps the battered tiny in a cage locking it tight. The tiny lays in the bottom of the cage, helpless and afraid. They were going to die, they were going to go to the Shadow Man.They would never be seen again.

Rumors of the Shadow Man had started a year or so ago. A man, it was assumed, though some argued it could be a woman, had shown up in a underground auction. They had bought the tiny’s that had been deemed the least value, those that had been the most worthless and the cheapest. It was odd, but nobody thought anything of it, sticking your nose where others business lay was never a smart idea. The figure showed up again at a underground fight. They were dressed the same, a heavy cloak in black, lined with a sickly yellow edge, and a hood that cast their face into the deep dark shadows. At the end of the fight the figure had approached the looser, a woman who’s tiny had lost every round and cost her money.

“I’ll take them off your hands.” the deep voice had spoken. The female, who’d been muttering about what she was going to do with such a useless fighter, startled. She’d bought this tiny just recently with the promise that it was a good fighter, one that could make her some fast cash. Instead it had already proven to be a bad investment, loosing every round it had been in and laying meek and battered at the bottom of her crate. Her reputation was plummeting and she had been debating dumping it on the side of the road, obviously she’d been scammed. It was better to cut her losses early and find some other tiny to work for her. The woman eyed the man suspiciously.

“Why do you want something so worthless?” She demanded, was this an undercover cop? He didn’t look like one, but the way he kept in the shadows, and the way the heavy cloak hid the details of his body made her feel nervous. Why would someone go to so much effort to disguise so much about themselves?

“Does it matter why? I’m willing to take it from you. No muss, no fuss, you’ll never see it again.” he promised, white teeth split the darkness that was cast over his face. She shuddered slightly, he felt dangerous, she eyed him. He must mean he was going to kill it then, how.. disgusting, but it did save her the effort, and a possible fine if she was discovered to have killed it.

“And how much are you going to charge me for this… "her hand waved slightly as she searched for the right word that sounded better then disposal.

"Service?” she said to him. Surely if he was going to dispose of a tiny he wanted some sort of compensation. Frankly she didn’t feel like paying anything anyway. She’d already lost plenty tonight already.

“Nothing. I’ll do it for free. ” He said. Jaw dropped slightly. Free? He’d take and murder a tiny for free? She shivered as the teeth shown in the dim light once more. This man certainly was dangerous, there was no way.. perhaps he would do something else? Or had some sort of other plans for it? She decided suddenly she didn’t care. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously as she stared, while he waited patiently, the smile gone.

“And I’ll never see this thing again? I don’t nee–” he cut her off with a slight laugh that made ice crawl up her spine.

“Never again. You’ll never hear of it again. I promise” the voice all but purred out from the cloak and wrapped it’s self around her. She shuddered and then grit her teeth. It was a risk, but she didn’t want the stupid thing anymore.

“I’m not giving you my cage” she snapped. The man grinned again and reached into his cloak, a folded cage was pulled out and it snapped to it’s proper settings. He held out his hand.

“Give them to me.” He said, his tongue licking over his lips. It was an order not a request and his voice seemed to promise dangerous things if she didn’t do as he said and fast. She decided that she’d had more then enough of this man and quickly dumped the battered tiny from the cage and into his waiting hand. The little thing grunted in pain, but was set inside the other cage, and it locked with a small click.

“Pleasure doing business with you.” he murmured giving a mocking half bow and turned, the cloak flaring around him as he headed for the exit. She stood shuddering a bit as she watched the cage vanish under the cloaks’ folds. Whatever that man wanted with the broken tiney’s she didn’t want to know. She hurried home.

He started to show up a bit more often. At the auctions, at the fight rings and at other events that were held. He always had the dark cloak on, and he always went after the most worthless tiney’s. He’d always offer to take any of the losers off the owners hands. Always free of charge, and always with the promise that they would never be seen or heard from again. Eventually the rumors spread of the man who was cloaked in Shadows, who never gave his name, who sometimes seemed to have yellow eyes, or sharp nails. The rumors spread like wildfire. Some were sure the man did experiments on the tiney’s. Trying to change a worthless one into a better one. One man claimed he saw scales crawling up the Shadow’s face, and was convinced he was trying to make some sort of hybrid tiny, crossing them with animals. Others thought that he simply killed them, and took pleasure in it. Why kill humans when you could go to jail, if you could murder tiney’s and probably face no more then a fine? The Shadow man never confirmed or denied any rumor about themselves. They would only grin and laugh, eyes glittering dangerously. It always sent a chill up the spine of whoever had been brave, or stupid, enough to ask them to their face.

And that brings us back to this tiny, waiting for their death. The Shadow Man was there tonight and his owner approached him.

“I want this one taken care of.” he said bluntly. The Shadow man turned slowly and looked down at the bruised and battered tiny in the cage. He titled his head and then nodded, the folding cage came out from the cloak and snapped in place and the Shadow held out his hand. The owner dumped the tiny into his hand and huffed, as though finally relieved of trash.

“Good riddance” he muttered and turned not bothering to watch as the Shadow put the tiny in the other cage and locked it. The tiny huddled in the bottom of the cage as the Shadow moved around the ring. Soon enough two others joined them in the cage. None of them spoke, all of them knew they were doomed.

Finally the Shadow left the underground club and began to walk. The cage was pulled under the cloak, shielding them from prying eyes and the bitter cold of the winter air. It took about twenty minuets before the man pulled out a set of keys. He’d parked very far away from anything. He opened the car and very gently set the cage on the passenger side. Then he went to the other side and got in, sliding the hood back giving the tiny’s a good look at him for the first time. He started the car up and let it idle for a moment as he reached out gently buckling the cage in place. Then he reached down below the seat and pulled a small bag up. The bag was the size of a child’s toy, and seemed to have something in it. He opened the door of the cage and set the bag in before closing it once more.

“There’s some food and water in there. A bottle for each of you, and something easy on your stomach. Drink water at the very least even if you can’t stomach any food” he said, his voice far more kind and gentle now then it had been before. A soft warm smile played over his lip.

“I’ll get you someplace safe.” he said. He put the car into drive and headed away. He would glance at the silent tiny’s making sure they had taken the miniature bottles of water, perfect for the tiny’s hands and were sipping from them. The drive seemed to take ages, but finally as the sun was peering over the horizon they pulled into something that felt more like a gravel road.

“Sorry for the bumps” he muttered gently as the car drove forward. Finally he stopped and got out. The wash of cold winter air made the tiny’s shudder in the cage. The car had been warm and quiet, and while they were all terrified, he’d not made any threatening moves. Finally the passenger door opened and they came out, being tucked back under the cloak right away to keep the cold air from them. It wasn’t until a door was opened and then shut that they were brought back out.

“Welcome to your new home. The Sanders Sanctuary."he said gently.

"Patton! I’ve got some more friends, they are pretty battered, tell Tayln and Emile they are going to need three beds ready for them.” He says. A tiny pops out of a door that’s near the entrance

“I’ll go tell them right now!” He beams, the sun has no contest to the warm that radiates from the small person.

“Welcome. We’ll get you all fixed up in no time!” he says and waves then runs off to give the others a bit of a heads up. Deacon smiles gently at the ones in the cage as he walked towards the infirmery for borrowers. Already the three can see lights coming on and figures, figures their size, moving around getting things ready.

“Once you’ve been looked over then I’m sure Virgil will want to get some measurements so he can start some clothing for you. ” he says as he kneels down and very gently opens the cage.

“For now though, let them help you alright? We’ll worry about the rest later” he promises. Talyn comes hurrying out, pushing a tiny sized wheelchair, and Emile follows close on their heels with another, and Patton comes pushing a third.

“Alright, if you can’t walk tell me now and I’ll help you into the chair.” they say. Deacon stands up slowly

“I’ll leave them in your capable hands” he says heading for the exit.

“Wait!” one of the tiny’s shouts. He stops short and turns back looking curiously at the one who’s owner had dumped off on him tonight.

“yes?” he asks tilting his head.

“You’re just.. you’re letting us go? Just like that? You’re not going to kill us or.. do experiments or.. or..  ” they are shaking and Deacon shakes his head no.

“Nothing like that will ever happen to you here. You’re safe here. And those three can get you started in healing. You can meet the others later, for now though.. rest up, and let them help you alright?” he says in a gentle tone. The tiny feels tears welling up in their eyes and they give a short nod, slowly stumbling out of the cage, tripping only to be caught by Patton.

“Hey there kiddo… welcome home. ” he says gently. The tiny breaks down into sobs clinging to Patton, finally feeling safe.

T: oh my goodness I LOVE this, I love how Dee just lets the rumors build about him, then how he goes from scary to soft the moment he has them safely away. And that ENDING, I love it 💜

Thank you so much for this!!!

[spacegaywritings]

Warming Paws and Melting Walls (3/8) “Making Adjustments”

General

Summary: Emile lets Remy take Virgil to work. Negotiations ensue.

Tags: Emile, Remy, cat virgil, mentions of kidnapping but no actual kidnapping, nervousness, cat treats, boxes, cute shit, snuggles, crushing on your boss, arguing with cats, remy is being salty all the time, swearing, bitch bitch remy, phone calls, mentions of work, ew social, Remy hates people but he is valid, loneliness, pining, subtle lovey lovey.

Virgil and Emile are referred to by they/them pronouns.

i do not think there is any to be applied. If you need me to add anything, please contact me here or on my tumblr (spacegayparty, spacegaywritings)

ao3: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 // all.

tumblr:  1 / 2 / 3 (you are here) / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8.

  My KoFi  - Support me ♥ or Commission me

Story under the cut // Word count: 4,4k

   “No.. I can’t. You don’t get it, I cannot come for the life of me!”

 Remy gripped the phone in his hand tighter. His knuckles turned white. Not once in his life had he even dreamed of a scenario of this sort. No nightmare could ever reach into the depth of his personal fears like this. He was enraged, somewhat nervous. One of his hands was on the couch scratch the smooth, cool surface.

Reality was much crueller than imagination could ever be. Real life wrote stories that nobody could come up with - history was the perfect piece of evidence. People fighting alligators and smuggling foxes or colour-coding genitals. Human society was so fucked up, people did not even realise it. The most unbelievable shit happened all the time.

 Right now, it was happening to him. Despite this, he tried, he really tried to get this right.

 “Remy, you can’t just tell me you are not coming and then not give me a reason. Is anything wrong? Do you need help?”

 Emile’s voice dropped from a somewhat sharp and scolding sound into the usually concerned sound. That pal was just made to care about others, weren’t they?

Even now they were more supposed to get upset and threaten him, when they were just worried about him. Remy wanted to roll his eyes at the display of pure wholesomeness but he did not have it in him to tease them about this.

 “Okay, listen here. I know that is a shit thing to do. You guys are not prepared to be without me but I got some kinda emergency here, honey. I can’t handle work right now, not with them around. Or not around - Sorry, boss.”

 The man carefully brushed over the kitten in his lap, the shivering little thing meowing pitifully. They were wailing out the feelings Remy gritted into his teeth.

 “Alright, alright- wait. Wait a minute right there. What do you mean? Is anyone holding you against your will? Remy, I am concerned about you.”

 Remy blinked for a moment at how much the whole conversation as much as Emile’s reactions to his words were a fucked over roller coaster that went back and forth and off-track periodically but irregularly so. It was unpredictable and honestly so draining. But understandably, the pal had some worries for their employees, especially Remy since he got into big piles of sick days due to his chronic migraines and physical issues. Still, it was a little absurd to expect him to be kidnapped. He was way to sassy to stay put.

 “Uh, I mean, I would like to go to work but staying at home always sounds nicer than, like, being productive. Sounds like a big nappy time to me, if you are asking me, honey.”

 Right after saying that, Remy realised that he was still sort of talking to his boss and probably should choose his words with at least a BIT more care, as of this moment. Emile was nice but they were not some dumb idiot who would let Remy do whatever with them.

 “Uh, okay. Let me explain, honey. I picked up this cat and I don’t know, like, whose it is and I put up those papers and put ads on PhotoAlbum in several groups (it was a lot of work, sweetie. Would not recommend. Totally busted my weekend! So rude.). I also posted to some page that deals with missing animals of this area and all that kinda shit. I still got, like, a sweet nothing and the cat is really sad and they won’t let me go out. I am - I don’t want to leave the cat alone. You know, Virgil might all up and fuck over my flat and I have nobody to babysit them - catsit them? Whatever.”

 Silence engulfed their phone call for a moment.

Remy was met with nothing but more little mewls which he quickly stilled by brushing further over their soft fur. Were cats supposed to have more dense fur than this? It felt a little thin, especially for winter coming up. Was that a black cat thing? The vet had not mentioned anything about that. Just to give the cat a stable and proper diet at, like, a scheduled time because stability. Which made sense and all but... Ugh, maybe he had to go there again or ask the internet or just get a book.

 Emile cleared his throat after a while.

The doctor really did know how to get some attention. For some unknown reason, it felt like one of the hottest things to Remy how the man could just draw the attention back to him with the most subtle gestures on this fucking planet. They were still considered to be nice and soft and all that kinda fun stuff when they were actually not just sweet and adorable. Emile could be serious and it was almost frightening to know them in control. 

 "Remy, if neither you nor your cat - " 

 "Virgil. Their name is Virgil." 

 "Alright. If you are healthy and so is Virgil, I don't think I can excuse you at work. As much as I would like to, you are our one and only receptionist." 

 Remy's heart fell and he let out an audible sigh. It felt like pushing bricks through his windpipe when he could have breathed regular oxygen. 

Whether his employer was hot or not, he couldn't just treat them like a friend or talk to them like some guy he wanted to hook up with. Okay, he kinda did but he tried to not listen to those thoughts. For once in a lifetime, Remy actually felt somewhat bad talking to Emile. He wanted to tell them off and never like his boss again. His chest was a fierce burning and he wanted them to regret being inconsiderate of the little kitten. 

 Didn’t they know Virgil was an abandoned stray? They were confused and all alone in the middle of winter in a big, heartless city!

 "I appreciate your honesty, still. But Remy, listen. If your cat is new and you are scared of leaving him -" 

 "They. Virgil gets they /hem pronouns because they are a special person and deserved not to be misgendered." 

 "Alright. If you don't want them to be home alone, how about we make work a little more home for hi- them." 

 Remy pressed his lips into a thin line. For a moment, he hummed in deliberation. 

 "What do you mean?" 

 Virgil meowed on his chest and patted the phone in interested. Remy was sure they wanted to play. Emile received a little thud on their end.

 "We keep your door closed and a little darker and hang up signs for people to try and be quiet so they can sleep. Cats sleep almost all day. Much more than we need." 

 The receptionist nodded but realised that Emile could probably not see that. 

 "Sounds okay." 

 Emile let out a hum. 

 "You would really do that? I'll get ready and come over with them." 

 His boss let out a laugh. Remy's queer heart was blooming in delight. Maybe they were not bad. They just had obligations too and these needed to be fulfilled. Other than Remy, Emile was running a business and needed his employees. Remy only had a void on his lap and softness in his heart.

 Of course! Why didn't Remy think about that. Any kind of doctor needed to take an oath, swearing to protect all life. Emile had to prioritise their clients. 

 The cat meowed and Emile giggled again. 

 "Hello Virgil! See you later, I hope" 

 Remy's heart was beating so fast, he nearly swooned loud enough for Emile to hear him. His eyes closed and the sugar-sweet smile on his face refused to leave. Instead, it revelled on his lips for another few moments. 

 "I'll pack up and see you in a few." 

 Emile smiled, unbeknownst to Remy.

 “Can’t wait to see you at work, Remy.”

 *

 Upon arrival, Virgil ducked away and cuddled up to Remy's chest. They were snuggled up under his jacket which they shared with Remy. Such a humble gesture. Whenever the cat heard a sound, they cuddled closer and flinched away from any source of sound other than Remy. 

His footsteps? All okay. 

Someone coughing? Fucking illegal. 

 Remy was more than happy to know he brought about as much food and little things for Virgil to ease up and calm down. It should ease them up. But he couldn't change the smell and make it more comfortable for the cat to relax faster instead of hiding away a lot. 

It was still a wonder to him that Virgil was so trustworthy with him but then again, they all assumed they had been socialised before. But he didn't find a single person claiming to own the little void. Not yet, at least.

 The man walked over to his little "office" only to be stopped from stepping inside. 

A sign, as promised. But that one wasn't for the others to be quiet. It was for him to move into the bigger office. 

 “Reception moved to the main office.”

 .. The main office was much bigger and Remy didn't know how Emile made it a usable working space for him and at the same time an adequate living space for Virgil but he would give it a try. If not, he would need to get some student to catsit his baby for a few hours every day. It wasn't like he desperately needed these bucks, anyway. It was okay. And he was willing and happy to spend it on his Virgil when they needed it more. He himself was glad, already. He had books and nice things but Virgil had nobody and had yet to be picked up by their original home.

 A happy void was a good void and he wanted his void to be their best at all times. At least for the time being.

 Virgil meowed and pawed at Remy. There was hesitation in their movement and after that, they stayed quiet as if to wait for their friend to reply to their request. The man just gently hushed the kitten by stroking over their black fur and humming a bit, quietly so.

The surroundings were so white, so new and it smelled of stingy disinfectant sprays and other things. One of the walls was pastel pink. It was not just cold but also warm but not warm like Remy was warm. Or Virgil, for that matter. He was just glad to wear his sunglasses loyally.

 Virgil curled further into the black jacket.

 “It’s okay, Queen, you will be fine”, he promised.

 He made it to the office. The only time he had been in this place was when he had applied for this position not too long ago. A few years, maybe. This was Emile’s personal office. He was standing in his office and his things were in here. Emile usually did not have too many things around but the pictures and the pastel walls were giving off a warm vibe. Again, it was not the Remy-kind of warmth but it was warm nonetheless and it made him feel funny things he could not quite place.

Sometimes he forgot there was more than his own working space. That, and the fact that Emile had his own practice close to his home. He had probably been here early and had used the time to move furniture and accommodate Remy.

 Literally, what kind of employer would ever do this?

 This office was innocent and playful like going to the kindergarten or being on a swing. It was simple and natural. Natural despite pastels being a little less naturally occurring, especially in a city like the one they were living in. Still, it was a soft colour and had some sort of soothing effect on him.

 Remy carefully nudged the door close behind him and brought Virgil over to the table where he was supposed to sit and work. The desk was larger and the wood looked like oak, perhaps. He was not the type of guy to know much about things. He just liked books and partying. He was a simple soul.

 But his boss? He seemed to mind. Emile must haven taken time to invest in a certain vibe this office would convey. Maybe it was a psychology thing It calmed him down for sure.

 Now, while the walls and pictures screamed Emile, they also hummed Remy’s tone. His desk was filled with little pictures and decorations he had brought to make himself more at home.

That was about the only delight he could relish in, working as an assistant or secretary or however people wanted to call his profession. Whatever, he was just there to welcome clients and give them some treatment plans he had printed according to Emile’s orders. Sometimes he would make appointments with people and negotiate about finances and payment plans. He checked prescriptions and other things, too. He mostly took care of all the social interactions beside the actual treatment Emile gave.

 Yeah, Emile had it all figured out and believe it or not, Remy was actually great at keeping some order together and be somewhat effective with people. He kept track of every person and their schedules. He just knew which days to propose and which days, dates and times were impossible due to things such as soccer practice for the kids or school or religious rituals and family traditions.

 Say whatever you want, Remy was good enough at his job to keep it yet still flip off enough people.

 However, now he needed to settle down and enjoy the new space.

Or, well, absolutely hate how much it smelled of Emile and how it felt warm like them and their sweaters. Having the hots for his boss or uh, higher-up, was definitely the best thing to ever happen to him. Maybe not the best but it was entertaining to say the least. Virgil, on the other hand, was quite..quiet.

 The smol kitten was put onto the desk with care. Remy was handling a precious piece of creature right there after all. He watched them for a moment, the cat just crouching down and looking at him with wide, heterochromatic eyes.

Right into his heart and soul.

 “I love you too, royal stray. Now let me work before I get fired, Queen of salt”, Remy offered and let his bag down.

 He made some space, turned on the computer and gently nudged the cat. Virgil refused to budge and stayed put in front of the keyboard.

 “Kitten, I gotta work. Wanna sit on my lap? You can cuddle with me while I work.”

 Remy looked at them but there was no answer. Were cats the clever ones? Or was this dogs?

Well, whatever, it’s not like Virgil would just suddenly all up and speak actual words. This was not a magical place after all, it was just a boring office.

Or a warm office, actually. Not that it really mattered. (It did, to him.)

 “Caaat, come on, I need to work.”

 Remy put his arms around Virgil to at least type his log-in data into the computer and get his whole shit set up and finally started. After some time, he could start receiving calls and schedule things again. It was bad enough he was so late. He probably had a ton of emails to check about how some people needed to reschedule something or needed an extra appointment, maybe even an emergency one.

 People, right?

 Nothing was ever right with people, it was inconsistent. Apparently, cats were not really as consistent either.

Maybe living things just sucked and Remy did not know how to deal with that.

The black blob of fur was still unmoving and even with the arms awkwardly surrounding them, they would not take any more action than purring.

 Purring. Fucking purring.

 “Virgil, come on. Quit your bullshit and move, you are not supposed to be comfortable in my working space.”

 “Meow”

 “Yeah, meow you too, little bitch.”

 Remy rolled his eyes, looking for his brain so he could interrogate why the fuck he was actually arguing with a cat. Like talking to his brain was actually more sensible than discussing things with a cat and somewhat expecting a rational answer.

 “Okay, Queen, how about that: We can find you a box. You like boxes and I should have a box here - for paper. I swear, I will go totally feral if they threw this away. Anyway, I will just take away the paper and you can get all comfortable in the box, just like at my place.”

 Virgil looked at him, purring and vibrating in interest. The sparkling eyes fixed on the man and Remy nodded. The void seemed to be pleased by this suggestion. Remy was allowed to breathe around the feral beast for a little longer. Great. 

The secretariat let himself drop into his swivel chair and he quickly rolled over to the printer and took the stash of printing paper out for the sake of making space for his kitty friend. Damn yes, he was glad Emile had not thrown this away. He would have trusted them to do such things.

 “Oh Virgil~”, he purred out in a voice akin to songs more than simple words, “come here, kitty kitty.”

 The kitten looked over, tail swishing around for a moment. They looked as if they were ready to get up and maybe even cooperate for a second. What a day of fucking miracles.

 Remy experimentally patted the box and Virgil slowly moved over, purring still and with passion It sounded like the whole room was driven by the engine that was nothing but Virgil’s curious sounds. They were unique and even if Remy was sighing in exasperation at how much time the cat took to INSPECT AN EMPTY BOX OF CARDBOARD, he was smiling.

 Eventually, Virgil was done sniffing and patting the box with paws and nose. They actually stepped into the small space and settled into the space like cat pudding.

Wasn’t there some stupid shit of cats being liquid? He did not remember it quite well but he was sure there was something like that.

 “There you go, little void. I got a treat for you, you are doing so well.”

 He quickly pulled a little snack out of his bag and handed it to his kitten who took it immediately.

Virgil’s nose was twitching for a moment and their little teeth crunched on the small treat as if this was the most festive and fancy meal they would ever receive. Those teeth looked like straight out of some vampire novel.

But was that shit really so tasty for cats?

 ..He kinda wanted to try that but he was human and he would probably hate that shit. He also kinda felt odd about the idea of eating Virgil’s food. He had his own food, seriously. He had such dummy thicc ideas sometimes.

 “You are the best little void”, Remy cooed and softly bonked their heads together.

 Virgil’s insistent purring gradually seeped into the human. Closing his eyes, Remy just stayed in place and brushed his hand through the little kitten’s charcoal fur for a little while longer. It was warm. Warm like hugs were warm and drinking hot chocolate or similar drinks that made him feel fuzzy and sleepy.

Maybe he met the kitty cat in winter, so he would be warmer and not the cat themself.

  “You two sure look comfortable!~”

 Remy ripped himself away from the dark kitten, his head whipping around so quickly, he could hear it giving off the sound of something breaking. Oops, neck. Sorry, not sorry. His reaction was so quick and violent, someone might have thought he was a teenager whose parents walked in on him pleasing himself. As expected (yet somewhat at the same time, not really), the boss themself was standing there and looking at Remy and Virgil cuddling. Emile chuckled but apologised at the scare they had driven into the others.

 The coffee-lover could do no more but raise an eloquent eyebrow instead of stuttering up some weak apology. He was not about that kind of speech anyway. Too much work. Instead, he was the type of person to, well, arch an eyebrow at his boss.

Virgil’s colourful eyes were focused on the intruder. They stared into Emile’s soul. 

 “Virgil is doing okay”, he replied as he pulled up his work email account and scheduling programme to put the things together.

 Oh dear coffee bean, he still needed to check voice mail for all the info he had missed. Emile pressed their lips into a thin line for a moment before letting them pop back out.

 “You know, you can tell me these things first things in the morning instead of not coming and sending me ominous texts. I am more than inclined to helping you when I know that you are in need of certain accommodations.”

 Remy nodded but kept his eyes on the screen. For a brief moment, the man glanced over at his boss and clicked his tongue. He acknowledged them for just long enough to be somewhat polite.

 “Thanks.”

 He shrugged and Virgil meowed…in agreement?

 “Aw your kitten is so cute! Where did you get them again?”

 The doctor came into the office and slowly approached the kitten. Their back arched a bit, making them smaller. Virgil shrunk away from them and their ears changed position.

 Remy gingerly grabbed the little box of void and pulled them closer in. The kitten’s eyes widened and their body tensed, seemingly jumping into a position to pounce onto the intruder or flee within the blink of an eye. If need be, they were prepared.

The man gently eased the kitten with small movements. He brushed the fur down until the void was in a more regular position but their small muscle strands were still obviously tensed up under his displays of affection.

 “They are shy. I found them around the trash in a side alley on my way home”, he explained curtly as he gently consoled the kitten who settled into the box once more.

 Safe box, good box.

Best little void.

 Remy was so proud of them for relaxing and trusting him. The flee stance was away and the cat did not look like they were a small kindergarten kid some big adult suddenly started yelling at for apparently no understandable reason. The kitten was doing well.

 “It’s okay, little Queen, bad Em will bow to your wishes, little darling.”

 Emile straightened their posture and smiled at the two before them, waving.

Could they do anything better than wave? They felt like an outsider watching an intimacy they would never be a part of. Like a child watching the perfect family from the other side of the window.

It was so warm and so far away. The own world was so cool.

 Yet it was another kind of warm. Not smiles and soft words warm, it was more than reassurance and paid trust. There was a whole relationship in this warmth. It had established within just a few days. The time span was so strikingly short, the individual was genuinely shocked to have missed so much of Remy’s life in just a moment.

 Emile pressed their lips together again and sighed.

 “I just wanted to let you know that you can have the office if that helps. I will stack cat food and toys for the kitten, if you want to. I hope that helps you accommodate. But I need you to help me plan the refurbishment of your old office, then. Got any time during lunch break?”

 Remy shrugged.

 “I mean, if I do not have to catch up on anything else, sure. I cannot go out with Virgil. This is too much for them.”

 He glanced at them and gently pulled the kitten-box closer to his stomach.

 “You okay there?”

 Virgil meowed and was rewarded yet another pat on the head. The cat pushed against the gentle hand, eyes squeezed shut. Remy looked at them instead of his boss.

 “Okay, good. Now let me work, you demanding little bitch. I got your business to handle and finances to take care of.”

 The cat slowly blinked at him and he chuckled. Emile cleared his throat.

 “Good then. I’ll leave you to it.”

 “Yeah whatever”, he cooed before he redirected his attention to the screen before him where he started scanning the first emails with plan changes. His right put down the notes of it with little abbreviations. Mrs. Shuster was probably running late again. He really needed to have a talk about this with Emile.

 Talking about this, the pal was still standing there, abandoned eyes on the unattending Remy. He was patting Virgil with one hand and started clicking and reading at incredibly fast speed with his other hand.

Emile did not notice they were staring, standing still as they were captivated by the simple scene before them. When Remy’s cool eyes, shaded by sunglasses, suddenly looked at them, they realised they had yet to leave.

 “Anyway, I gotta get this stuff done. Need anything else?”

 His boss shook their head with a smile softer than butter in the sun.

 “I will leave you two to it. See you later, Remy, Virgil.”

 They nodded their head at each name and looked at the two. The void was basically invisible under the desk and in Remy’s lap.

Just safe and protected as the needed it.

 Emile left, swallowing the odd tightness in their throat.

[writing-ro]

Fictober 19-8: “I can’t come back.”

@fictober-event // Set in a Multi-fandom Fantasy AU where most if not all kinds of fantasy creatures exist alongside humans, though the two cultures stay fairly separate, with many humans being afraid or prejudice against creatures.

Rating: T Fandom: Dragon Age, Characters: Analei Amell (OFC), Revka Amell, Orana (Dragon Age), Leliana (Dragon Age), Mikoto Hawke (OFC), Mother Dorathea | Divine Justinia V Ships: Analei Amell/Leliana  Additional Tags: Secret Wedding, Revka Amell is an Awesome Mom, Analei has the best siblings and maid, Happy Lesbian Day!, 

For two weeks, Analei was a ghost in her own home. Aside from meals and one trip to the library to collect books (where she was deliberately kept away from the magic tomes), she was locked in her room. She tried small rebellion, keeping her curtains closed for all the day and refusing baths when her maid (not Orana, her elven confidante sent by her Hawke cousins, she had been given to Adria) prepared to draw them. She read or embroidered by the light of one candle, only to stave off the madness of boredom, and took no care of cosmetics or hygiene except to brush her hair, purely because she herself could not stand snarls. As such, when she came for meals, she was sallow and greasy, and while she did nothing to exert herself, she naturally began to smell. She said not a word at meals, even with her dear mother Revka or beloved siblings, and only ate enough that she knew she would not faint. It worked for a week, then Aristide send Rickon and Rodrick with the maid and gave her the choice of either coming clean or being barred from meals entirely. So she bathed, but kept to the dark. 

She was allowed visitors, but for those two weeks, she only had two; Jakob and Lianne. The twins came together on the first day of her imprisonment and apologized profusely for their roles in Aristide finding out, and Analei forgave them immediately, for it was not either of their faults. Lianne brought back word that Aristide was speaking with the de Launcets to push Analei and Emile’s wedding to the end of the month, with the suggestion of a long honeymoon at one of their inland estates. Jakob admitted he had ridden to the clearing and gave Leliana a warning, so by the time Eddard and his hunters got there, Leliana was no where to be found, with her belongings missing. Analei worried Aristide would know of his ride, but he assured her no one was any the wiser of his leaving, for Mattias and Johann claimed he had been drinking with them in the cellar, and he used a horse of one of his other friends who owed him quite the debt. 

Analei held him close after that confession, and he passed on a handkerchief Leliana had entrusted to him. It was the first courting gift Analei had given her, embroidered with a nightingale holding a bunch of forget-me-nots. Analei managed to hold herself together long enough for her siblings to leave, then cried anew, and prayed to the Lady that Leliana would be protected. 

It was late evening on the fourteenth day of her imprisonment when there was a knocking on her door, a firm thud very different from the maid’s soft rap. She looked up from the book she’d been staring at for the past half-hour, and called out, “Come in.”

Revka Amell walked in, all grace and beauty even nearing fifty years of age, followed by Adria,  who was starting to grow into a similar bearing, and Orana, with her unobtrusive servant’s walk. With Amell blue eyes, black hair and a generous figure each, some would Revka’s traits had passed over her first daughter for her second, and be mostly right. But difference created the strongest bond between mother and eldest, and when together one could see they shared the same quirk of their brow, the same smile, and the same sparkle in their eye. A sparkle Analei was surprised to see now. 

“Good evening, Analei,” Revka said. 

“Good evening, Mother,” Analei said, closing her book and setting it on the table. “What brings you here?”

“A mother can’t visit her daughter?” Revka turned to the door, which was still partially open. “I’ll just close this now, I wish to discuss women’s things with my daughter. Her wedding is coming up, you know.” She closed it before the guard could respond, and nodded to Adria, who pulled a paper seal and charcoal from within her sleeves. She placed the seal on the door, right below the keyhole, and started sketching on it with charcoal. 

Revka turned to Analei and gave her a sad smile. “Oh my little bluebird.” She crossed the room and knelt by Analei’s chair a hand reaching out to cup her cheek. “I am so sorry to not have visited you in this time. There was just so much to prepare.”

“Prepare?” Analei took her mother’s hand in her own. “Prepare for what?”

“Your wedding, of course.” Revka waved with her other hand and Orana came over with a bundle in her arms, holding it as Revka started to unfold it. “We needed to make alterations to ensure a proper fit, after all. Luckily, Orana had your most recent measurements and she, Lianne and Adria together make for quick work.” 

Analei was about to ask again what her mother was talking about, when she saw the gown that had been wrapped up and gasped. It was Leandra’s wedding dress, or rather, the one she would have worn had her engagement gone through. But her sisters and maid had transformed it. The lace overdress had been dyed a soft blue, and the gold silk trim on the high collar, shoulders and hem was replaced with silver. The underdress remained snow white, but the cuffs and hem were embroidered with blue forget-me-nots, and on above them on the sleeves were purple and blue songbirds - bluebirds and nightingales. 

Analei hesitantly reached out, worried this was a dream, but she felt the fabric under her fingers, and it was just imperfect enough to make her realize it was real. “But-but how?” 

“Oh, Uncle is so distracted with the negotiations with the du Launcets he was all too eager to leave the women’s work to the women, and Aunt Bethann has been so poorly lately, it’s a relief for me to take it off her hands.” Revka smiled. “Now soon, Lianne will be by with one of her teas, and it’s Jameson on guard tonight - you know he has such a sweet spot for her. I’d almost allow him to make a courting request if I didn’t know that Uncle would never allow it. The tea will have siren’s tear lavender in it, so he’ll be drowsy and susceptible to suggestion. Lianne will tell him we all spoke for a while, then left when you prepared for bed. Coupled with the conversation seal Adria’s placed by the door, he’ll honestly believe I’m speaking to you about a woman’s duties to a husband.”

“And don’t you worry about where your bride will be,” Adria said, standing and dusting off her skirt. “Jakob told her of one of the old mine tunnels that goes from the coast right up near Hightown, and he hired some friends to escort her. When we went to services on Sunday, Mother Dorathea told us she had made it safely to the chantry. Both of them are waiting for us.”

Analei looked at her wrists and raised them up. “But, the cuffs. I can’t even leave my room without someone being alerted.”

Orana reached into her pocket and pulled out a silver key, passing it to Revka who pressed it to the cuffs, making the seam and lock reappear. “Lord Adam would make a killing as a pickpocket in Lowtown, should your marriage truly bring ruin to the family.”

Analei’s eyes welled with tears as the full implications of it all hit her. “If- if we do this, Leliana and I will have to leave Kirkwall. I- I can’t come back. Not until Aristide dies, and maybe even Grandfather.”

“We know,” Orana said, smiling even as her own tears started. “But we’d all rather you be happy far from here than waste away as a du Launcet.”

Revka reached out to cup Analei’s face again. “You know there is no love lost between your father and I, and I’m fairly certain my mother caught the cough just to leave your grandfather. Your aunt Leandra was the perfect Amell, and then she left with her heart in the talons of a Hawke. If I had to pick one of those fates for you, I would rather have you be Leandra than me.”

Analei choked on a sob and threw herself into her mother’s arms, tears streaming down her face. “Thank you. Thank you.”

Revka hugged her tight, then drew back. “Now, we best hurry and get you ready. We only have a small window to get out of here.”

With her mother, sister and maid helping, Analei was soon scrubbed clean, dressed in the beautiful gown, and had her hair pulled back into a fancier version of her usual bun. It was held in place with her favorite hairclip, which had an addition of two feathers attached to it, one blue and one brown with a lavender tip. Adria did her makeup, continuing the color theme, then Revka took off her necklace and hung it around Analei’s neck. Analei almost teared up again seeing it, staving them off when Adria told her to not ruin her hard work. She had crafted it for Revka when she was twelve, testing her transmutation spells. A pendant of an Amell blue sapphire with a center of the soft pale green of her own eyes, on a silver chain. She placed a hand on it, and Revka placed her hand over hers.

“A piece of your family, to remember where you came from,” Revka recited, and reached back to touch the brown feather. “A piece of your spouse, to remember who your life belongs to.” She touched the clip itself. “And a piece of yourself, to remember who you are.”

“But where’s the piece from my friends?” Analei asked. She truly did not have many, most of Kirkwall’s society did not find joy in spending hours studying a topic until exhaustion, and often a tangent she brought up at a party could bring conversation to a halt until someone changed the subject. 

Orana reached into the pocket of her dress and pulled out a small box. “These were my parents’. My father managed to pass them to me before he was killed. I have no interest in marriage, and I have my locket to carry their memory. They’ll have a much better use with you.”

Analei took the box and opened it to show a simple pair of rings, silver with engravings of elven marriage blessings. “Orana…” Analei stood and wrapped the elf in a tight hug. “You’ve always been my closest friend.”

“And you mine.” Orana held the hug for a moment, then stepped back. “I’ll carry them for now, then give them back when it’s time.”

Analei nodded and looked in the mirror when Adria drew her over. Analei almost didn’t recognize herself. She never lacked confidence in her appearance, and was told she was pretty often enough. But looking in the mirror, for once she truly felt beautiful. 

Revka smiled over her shoulder, as if she was reading her thoughts. “It’s love; it makes even the plainest of us beautiful.” She pressed a kiss to Analei’s cheek, then took her traveling cloak from Orana and wrapped it around her shoulders. “Now we best hurry, before Uncle leaves his study for the evening.

They had Analei stand by the bed as they went to the door and called out good nights to each other as Adria pulled the seal from the door and opened it. Analei then rushed over on quiet feet, hood drawn over her head, and walked out between her mother and sister, who she only now realized wore gowns of the same navy as her cloak, and the bag they had packed clothes and some valuables into was dark as well. As promised, Jameson’s eyes were droopy and he paid near no mind to them as Revka told him Analei was preparing for bed and did not wish to be disturbed for any reason. They rushed silently down the hall to the servant’s stair, and out a side entrance to the gardens. A little used gate was in the back corner, near where the stables were. By this gate, Analei found her other siblings waiting.

“We can’t all go to the wedding,” Lianne said. “But we couldn’t let you leave without seeing you off.”

Analei smiled and gave her sister a hug. “Thank you, Lia. Keep making your teas. They’re already being incredibly useful.” She went to Adam and squeezed him tight, even as he initially stiffened before hugging her back. “Don’t drive Mother to drink now, and keep practicing your frost spells.”

“Too late for the former,” he teased, stepping back. “But just wait, I’ll be a master of them when you get back, you’ll see.”

Analei smiled and nodded, hoping she would see that. Then she turned to Jakob, who had his head bowed. “Hey, none of that now,” Analei said, tilting his chin up so he’d look her in the eye, a bit ridiculous since he was a good three inches taller than her. “I do not blame you for any part of this matter.”

“But I was the one to reveal it all to Uncle.” His eyes welled with tears and his lip trembled. 

“And it could just as easily been anyone. He was already getting suspicious, he would have sent Eddard after be one of these days, and we’d still be here.” Analei wiped away the first tear to fall. “You saved Leliana from the hunters, and gave us a chance of a life together. I can never thank you enough for that. So no more tears now, okay?”

Jakob smiled and wiped his eyes, then pulled her into a bone-crushing hug. “I won’t let Uncle keep you away long. I’ll make him let you back, by whatever means necessary.”

“I know you will,” Analei said. When he loosened his hold, she rose up on her toes to press a kiss to his forehead. “Take care of everyone, okay.”

He nodded. “I will.” 

He let her go and stepped back, and the wedding party slipped out through the gate, freshly oiled two days in a row to eliminate any squeaks on the hinges. 

It took a fifteen minute walk through the near deserted streets to reach the chantry, and when they entered it was nearly entirely dark, except for the torches by the doors and three lit candelabras around the alter. Mother Dorathea stood at the alter, speaking with about the last person Analei expected to see. 

“Mikoto?” It was barely more than a whisper, but it carried across the empty chapel and her cousin turned, her pink dress twirling around her ankles. 

“Surprised?” she asked with a smile, her brown Hawke eyes holding the Amell sparkle, and Analei hurried down the aisle to her.

“What are you doing here?” She now noticed the people sitting in the first pew, recognizing them as Mikoto’s elven lover Fenris, and her friends, the guardswoman Aveline and lover Donnic, and Varric Tethras, who was also the author of Analei’s favorite romance series. 

“We were having drinks at the Hanged Man when Jakob came looking for someone to play bodyguard. When he explained what - or rather who - it was for, we offered to do it for the small price of a silver each, and an invitation to the wedding. Jackson and Isabela are with your bride to be. They and I will be her bridal party, and Adria and Orana will be yours.” She smiled wider and picked a bouquet off the altar. “Fenris is musical accompaniment.”

“Under protest, I might add,” Fenris said, but his smile belayed his gruff tone. 

It took all her willpower to not tear up again. Analei had never felt so loved by her family in her life. 

“Since we are all here, shall we get started?” Dorathea asked. “I understand we are on a bit of a schedule tonight.”

Analei nodded, and accepted the bouquet of flowers Mikoto handed her, white roses with a single red one, surrounded by forget-me-nots and lavender. Her party gathered on the right side of the hall, and when Mikoto’s lute started plucking out a wedding march, they started walking out, first Orana, then Adria, and finally Analei on Revka’s arm. 

Analei had purposefully kept her eyes down during the bridesmaid marches, so when she looked up to see Leliana, she couldn’t help a gasp. Her love was wearing a gown of her native Orlais, with a wide collar and short off-the-shoulder sleeves of silver trimmed white silk that covered her busts. The trim continued down the bodice, with a large broach securing a belt of the same under the bust, and the bodice itself was a soft lavender that continued into an overskirt embroidered with bronze to look like feathers, to match the wings on her back, which were glossy and bright. The underskirt was plain white, except for a band on the hem of embroidered lavender and forget-me-nots. In her hand was a matching bouquet to Analei’s own.

When they met at the altar, Revka pressed a light kiss to Analei’s cheek before joining her and Leliana’s hands together. Analei squeezed it as she stared at Leliana for a moment. 

“You’re here.”

Leliana smiled and nodded. “And you’re here.” 

“And since you are both here, let us begin,” Dorathea said, and everyone laughed before she started the ceremony. “In the name of the Maker who brought us this world…”

Afterwards, Analei did not remember much of the ceremony itself. All her thoughts were on the feel of Leliana’s hand in her own, and the fact that they were there, in that moment. 

“May I have the rings?” Dorathea asked, and Orana stepped forward, passing over the rings and taking the bouquets. “Analei, take a ring and repeat after me. With this ring…”

Analei did so, holding it above Leliana’s hand. “With this ring…”

“I give you my heart…”

“I give you my heart…”

“From this day forward…”

“From this day forward…”

“You will never walk alone…”

“You will never walk alone…”

“My arms will be your home.”

“My arms will be your home.” Analei slide the ring on Leliana’s finger, and both gave a gasp as the engravings lit up with a small flash of light. 

“Now Leliana, take a ring and repeat after me. With this ring…”

Leliana repeated the vows, and the same light flashed as it set in place on Analei’s finger. As if on cue, the tears both had been holding back started to fall even as they grinned.

“By the power vested in me by the Maker, Our Lady, and the Chantry, I now pronounce you married. You may kiss the bride.”

Analei and Leliana needed to further encouragement, reaching for each other and meeting their lips in such a sweet kiss, Analei didn’t know how she didn’t die right in that moment. It went on for long enough they could hear a laugh from one of the bridal party. 

“Well now, do you think they’d notice if we just left? Or should we stay so they don’t defile the altar?”

They broke apart then, and Analei saw it was Isabela, for once wearing a skirt that that went past the tops of her boots and didn’t show her hips. “I like to believe I was raised a little better than that, Isabela.” 

The pirate captain just smiled. “You might, but I’d bet your siren wasn’t.” She jerked her thumb to the door. “Come on, your cousin hired a cart from a dwarf and his son to get us to the harbor, but it won’t be waiting forever.”

Analei nodded and turned to her mother, who’s own face was wet with tears. They wrapped each other in a hug, and when they parted, Revka pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Stay safe now, my little bluebird. I’ll be expecting letters.”

Analei nodded. “I will write every week, and send them when I can.” She hugged Adria and kissed her sister’s cheek. “I’m sorry I won’t be here for your wedding.”

Adria smiled and shook her head, her own tears finally falling. “Saemus won’t mind a long engagement. And who knows, maybe Uncle will have a stroke in a week and you’ll be able to come right back.”

Analei gave a small laugh. “One can dream.” She at last turned to Orana. They needed no words, having said all they needed to, and just hugged each other. “I’ll write you as well.”

“Don’t be getting a new best friend now,” Orana teased.

“But don’t you know?” Leliana asked, having finished wishing goodbye to Dorathea and wrapping her arm around Analei’s waist. “You’re supposed to marry your best friend.”

They all laughed, and Orana passed them back their boquets before the party headed to the doors. The cart was a simple goods cart, but the dwarves who owned it had added ribbon to the side in an attempt to cheer it up. “Your carriage awaits, m’ladies.” The father dwarf bowed from the driver’s seat. 

Those bound for the harbor climbed inside, while those who would stay waited on the steps. Analei and Leliana gave one last wave, then turned and tossed the bouquets behind them, not looking back to see Adria and Aveline had caught it. They were facing forward, to their new life together.