#PLEASE do submit any and all inquiries to speak to him or breathe his air to miss dana scully!!

[carefulfears]

I hate when people dismiss the Phoebe thing as Scully simply having been jealous. She was his best friend first, and she did what any good friend would have

yeah it's pretty reductive, honestly. scully has been very protective of mulder since the pilot; the first 3 episodes of the show are literally her committing to him, holding a man hostage at gunpoint to find him, and cutting ties with her friends who make fun of him.

this was largely her arc in squeeze, after only having known him for a couple of weeks, as she defends him to colton multiple times

and, in the end, concludes that she would rather be “on the side of the victim” with mulder than climb the ladder with her classmates, and tells colton to fuck off the next time he’s rude about her partner

in ghost in the machine, she's disapproving of jerry from the moment they meet, knowing literally nothing about him except that he used to work with mulder

and she instantly recognizes the profile that jerry presents as mulder's work, whispering to him to ask if that's his, to which he replies "forget it, no" and then later fibs and says that jerry apologized for stealing it (once you tell your best friend you can't go back lol)

all of these examples pre-date her behavior in fire, and are episodes where she's put in situations navigating mulder around other men

y'all remember the first time she met krycek and just flat out refused to shake his hand lmao

i touched on this a little bit in my post on fire, but scully really was just so enthralled by him from the very beginning. she grew up on a military base with her navy captain father and two brothers, and her only relationships have been with older men in power.

she instantly is so aligned with mulder and that there's something different in him than she's used to, but she's aware that the openness and softness that she's so drawn to in him makes him more vulnerable, and she's desperate to protect it

in beyond the sea, the very next episode after fire, she screams at boggs that if mulder dies she'll gas him into hell herself, and boggs tells her that he's tasted the afterlife.

that it's a cold and dark place, and mulder's looking in on it now. she replies, "it might be a cold dark place for you, but it's not for mulder"

she knows him, and she's so moved by him and what he wants to do in the world. these are the values that she left medicine to follow.

"jealousy" honestly doesn't even compare to the kind of ferocious protectiveness that she feels towards him from the very start, she really doesn't trust anyone around him for anything. they can't possibly get it like she does, if they treat him that way.

he may not care if people call him names or steal from him or try to make him walk through fire, but he really is just her best friend. and she can't stand it.

[del-eatme]

“Pet, come here,” I obey my master without question. He holds out his palm and I position myself in the center before he lifts his palm up to his face. I’m so close that I can feel the puffs of breath coming from his nose.

“Close your eyes, Pet. Stay still for me,” Master coaxes. I close my eyes and let the tension fade from my shoulders. I’m not sure what Master wants but I’ll always be good for him.

I flinch slightly as a warm, wet mass gently rubs over my bare body. Alarmed and confused, I attempt to turn my head out if the last of what I now realize is a tongue. Master doesn’t like that very much and brings his other hand to hold my head still as he pulls away slightly.

“Stay. Still.” The words are firm and absolute and I have no choice but to submit. Master has never been this firm with me before, always so gentle and caring. His fingers remain to hold me into place as his tongue once again seeks me out.

I endure several more minutes of being tasted before master pulls back again. His eyes are nothing like I’m used to. His pupils are huge, drowning out any of the gentle master I had come to know.

“Master-“,

“Shhhhhh...” Master interrupted my inquiries. “Everything’s okay, just relax,” All of this feels foreign and strange. I have no idea what he has in mind.

“I need you to obey, sweet thing,” I nod without question. Anything master wants.

“Crawl inside,” I wasn’t sure what Master was talking about until he abruptly decided to move things along.

My master’s lips part and his maw yawns open, giving me a clear view of the tongue that I had been aquainted with earlier as well as the surrounding slick flesh. His throat shifts as he breathes. His fingers nudge my back, shoving me over until my forearms land on his tongue and I’m staring headfirst at the back of his mouth. The tongue curls around me slightly, like he’s unable to keep it still while he can taste me. Responding to his commands, I push down my uneasiness and slowly pull the rest of my tiny body into Master’s mouth. All of my body can fit on his tongue and I am reminded by our differences in a striking way.

Suddenly the light illuminating the mouth around me is blacked out when Master closes his lips. The tongue under me takes that as a cue to buck and push me to the roof of the mouth, running over me and suckling my form. Almost deafening sounds of pleasure echo up from Master’s throat indicating how much he’s enjoying this. Enjoying me. I don’t know why he’s doing this but I am happy that I’m making my master happy. I continue to be smothered by my master’s tongue, feeling every bump of every taste bud against my skin. Within minutes I am soaked with saliva.

“Why, Master?” My words echo around in his mouth and he responds by prying his lips and tugging me out of his mouth my my arms, strings of saliva bridge between my body and his lips.

“Mmmm because you’re so yummy, my pet,” Master looks so pleased as he says it. I can see it in his eyes. “Now hush, let me have my fun.”

With that, Master’s mouth gapes open once more and his tongue guides me inside before slurping me in like a noodle. I am once again surrounded my complete darkness and humid air. Though this time, Master seems to want to go further. The mouth holding me tilts on an angle and I have no choice but to slide down his tongue until my legs hit his throat. The muscle immediately latches onto me and catches my fall.

My lower body is compressed and held tight by the muscle of Master’s throat while my arms grip the back of his tongue the best I can. His tongue lifts and pushes into my face, scrubbing tastebuds over me as if to give me one last good taste. I run my fingers over the bumps trying to find a handhold to steady myself. He hums and his tongue pulls away only to return to shove me down into the slick tightness below me, swallowing me whole.

I slide down before the pressure halts me and another gulp forces me along. Master has to swallow a few more times to get me down.

I feel encompassed by Master. His flesh squeezes and tugs me along while his heartbeat and breaths are persistent noises booming through my ears.

As my decent ends I land in a cramped and wet space, much hotter than the mouth I had been aquainted with. I know where I am. I’m where food goes, but I’m not food. Master has some silly ideas sometimes.

I feel around the walls and find myself completely enclosed. As I touch I can hear my master let out a purr of contentment and the walls flex and shift in response. Quiet gurgling begins emitting from the flesh around me. I continue caressing for a while because it seems like Master enjoys it.

The walls surrounding me begin to close in more, restricting the already tight space and cradling my form in pulsing movements. Loud groans and gurgles vibrate my surroundings and fill my ears. The walls close in and the sounds get more frequent with each passing moment.

“M-Master? When will you let me out?”

“You’re not going anywhere, pet. Just relax, I’ll take care of you.”

Master and I both cease our words and sit in silence. The longer I sit in this dark place the harder it becomes for me to breathe and my head feels fuzzy. I slump against the elastic walls around me and my container tightens in response, more than happy to squeeze me into a tighter ball. Louder groans sound while I start to feel something on my skin. It... tingles?

“M-Master... I feel... dizzy... n’ tingly...” I can barely make my words audible enough to reach his ears. After I speak, a kind of pressure pushes into me. I imagine Master is rubbing his full belly.

“Shhhhhhhh... it’s alright, Pet. Just let it happen,” Master’s words are smooth and gentle, the only thing around me that is familiar and I cling to it. I’ve always obeyed. I must keep obeying.

The organic noises around me start to sound more distant and soft as it gets harder to think. I feel sleepy and slump into a more comfortable position. It’s hot and tight and hard to breathe but it is my master’s will, I should trust him and obey.

Right...?

[god7072therescue]

Mafia: Chapter One

Hey guys!! I am super excited to share chapter one of the mafia AU!! Now, this fic is just going to get darker from here. so ... buckle up!! It’s going to get wild! And I have plans for everyone that is in the poll so don’t worry about that! I hope everyone likes this and I hope the rfa guys are mafia enough for everyone! Please enjoy!! 

Masterlist  Prologue 

Trigger Warnings: Language, mentions of violence, mentions of prostitution, sexual themes. 

You can feel how heavy the atmosphere is around the area as you stare at the entrance in front of you. A dark, sleek glass door keeps the pedestrians on the street from being able to see inside. You have passed by the building a couple of times during the day, but you have never gotten chills by the mere sight of the door. 

 Until now. 

 Only the elites are able to enter this club. The only other way to enter is to be invited by the owner. You never want to be invited. The outcome is always grim. But now you are one of the ones to be invited. 

 You can only pray that you will not have the same outcome. 

 The club looks completely different during the day. There are no lines of cars up the street, no bouncer to keep you out, and there are no flashing lights that blind you every time the door opens. You used to be curious about what is behind those heavy doors. But now all you want to do is run. 

 Because you know what ever is waiting for you behind those doors is going to destroy you. 

 You have heard stories of the man that waited behind those doors. Rumors that are meant to keep the teenagers in your neighborhood inside at night. Tales that make the boogeyman seem like an old friend. Reports of how this man monster broke your father. Recounts of how this monster tore your father to pieces, forcing him to sacrifice the only saving grace your father had. 

 You. 

 You have never known what hatred felt like before your father was forced into giving you away. You are now well acquainted with the feeling. Hatred hasn't left your side since your father told you he forfeited you. At first you were furious with your father since he was the one who sacrificed you. But now, you are filled with a seething hatred for Jumin Han. 

 The name fills you with animosity. 

 And terror. 

 You let in a shaky breath as you step towards the door. You grip the handle for a moment before you finally build up the courage to open the damn thing. The door opens with ease. You half expected it to be locked. But sadly, it is open. 

 You look around the club in astonishment as you enter the main entrance. You can feel the stares on your back as you walk further in. The inside is well lit, allowing you to see the sheer amount bodyguards surrounding the interior. Is this a fortress or something? 

 Yes.

 The main area is filled with luxurious furniture surrounding the dance floor. There is also a stage with a steel pole directly in the middle. Just looking at the stage makes you sick. Will you be forced to dance on that stage one night?

 You cast your gaze towards the bar. There are so many bottles of liquor, you doubt you can name them all. So many of the brands are foreign to you. You are so wrapped up in your thoughts, you do not expect the teasing voice that speaks behind you. 

 "You must be our newest ... addition." 

 You are jolted out of your thoughts as you spin around to look at where the voice came from. You see a man with long, alabaster hair peering down at you. He gives you a devilish grin as he looks you up and down slowly. You notice that he has a light bruise forming on his left cheek. You are then caught off guard by his rare eye color as he studies your figure. Garnet. 

 You swallow at the unwanted attention. His fierce gaze causes you to look away, frazzled because even if you are extremely uncomfortable, the man is insanely attractive. And judging by the cocky grin on his face, he knows it. You shift your weight from foot to foot as you wait for his hungry gaze to leave you. Normally, you would tell him to leave you alone, but you have no idea who this man is or what his capabilities are. 

 "I was told to come get you. Boss's orders." 

 His voice seems pleasant as he speaks, but you are sure that it is deceiving to his true character. The pale man sneered when he mentioned his boss, but you do not dare make conversation. You just wait for him to tell you what to do. Taking orders is going to be your life now. You might as well get used to it. 

 "Follow me. We can have formal introductions after you meet with his royal highness." 

 He gives you another grin before he begins to walk away. You hesitantly follow. The tension the man in front of you has towards Jumin is obvious, but you refuse to make any inquiries. His heavy footsteps echo throughout the club as he leads you to a dimly lit hall behind the bar area. You force yourself to contain the tears that form in your eyes. 

 You feel as though you are being led to slaughter. 

 As you walk up the stairs, you realize just how long the man's hair is. It ends well below his waist. Wouldn't that get in the way of fighting? You do not dwell on the thought too long because you almost run into the man in front of you. You stop in your tracks when you realize he has stopped moving. Your muscles tense when you hear a quick knock. 

 No.

 The door opens and you are shocked to see a man with blue hair open the door. His glasses are tinted as dark as the windows to the club. How can he see? Your question is soon forgotten when you see the blue haired man step aside, allowing you and the other man into the room. You watch as the men walk further inside. 

 You take a long inhale before you step into the room. The office you have entered is in immaculate condition. There is not a book out of place, a speck of dust on any surface, or a stray piece of paper strewn on the grand mahogany desk. You barely have anytime to process this, because your eyes are glued to the man standing behind the desk. 

 Jumin Han. 

 You stand still as you take in the sight before you. There was the man you were taught to fear since he had opened the club down the street from your home. He is a lot different than you had imagined. He is beautiful. 

 The devil was also beautiful. 

 His gray eyes stare into yours, forcing you to hold his piercing gaze. You cannot look away as you feel him already testing you. Testing to see if you will look away. Trying to see how easily he can put you into submission. 

 You refuse to look away. 

 The corner of his mouth twitches when he sees that you will not submit so easily. He holds an emotion in his eyes that is indiscernible. 

 "You must be MC. Here," he gestures to one of the leather chairs in front of his desk, "Have a seat." 

 If you had not already known who this man is, you would have believed he is cordial man. His voice is thunderous but does not seem hostile. But you know exactly who he is. His kind front may be how he draws people into his ruse. 

 His eyes flash up to the white-haired man as he says in a much colder tone, "You may leave, Zen." 

 You don't turn around to see Zen's reaction, but you are pretty sure it isn't pleasant by the sound of the door slamming. 

 "Jihyun... follow him. I'd like to speak with MC alone." 

 Your blood runs cold when you hear the door close a second time, much quieter than when Zen left. Being left alone with Jumin causes your heart to race. You slowly walk towards the chair and you take a seat. You sit up straight as you look into his stormy eyes. You do not look away as you cross your legs in an attempt to make yourself comfortable. 

 You purposefully chose an outfit that did nothing for your figure. You figured a formless brown sweater and dark baggy jeans would not be appealing to the mob boss in front of you. You also just let your hair air dry after your shower so it would not look styled at all. You do not want to be attractive to this man at all. By the look on Jumin's face, it seems he knows your clothing choice was on purpose. 

 His ability to guess your thoughts is unnerving. 

 Jumin sits down in the lavish chair behind his desk before he analyzes you. While he takes the liberty to analyze you, you do the same. You scan the expanse of his face, his hair, his suit, and the rest of him just to realize that he has no flaws. His skin is clear, his features are perfectly sculpted, there is not a wrinkle on his suit, the ornate rings on his masculine fingers are expertly polished...

 You spend the entire time trying to find an imperfection on the monster in front of you, but you find none. 

 "I am not what you expected..." 

 His voice sounds amused, but his facial features remain the same as he finishes analyzing you. You feel your face redden because of how vulnerable you feel in his presence. You feel exposed because you are already aware that he owns you. Jumin's eyes flick to your cheeks before he continues to speak. 

 "I am going to make a deal with you MC..." He thinks about his choice of words for a brief moment before he says, "No... I am going to have mercy on you." 

 You feel your eyes widen as he speaks in his low timbre. Mercy? 

 "I have a critical task for you to complete. And you are the only one who is able to do it as of right now." 

 You hang on to every word he says. Father told you that Jumin would undoubtedly begin to pimp you out to his clients. By the way Jumin is speaking to you... it does not seem like that is the case. You immediately lean back into your chair a bit because Jumin leans forward.

 "You are going to infiltrate Mint Eye. You are going to give me information on the bitch leading it."

 You cannot hide the initial fear on your face as he mentions Mint Eye. Mint Eye is the rival mafia on the south side of the city. You have heard horrible stories of Jumin's mafia... but you have heard even worse stories about his rival. Jumin Han will kill you... but Mint Eye will torture your children and leave them on your front step as an example. That was only one of the many rumors you have heard regarding them. Jumin ignores the fear etched on your face as he continues to tell you of your new duties. 

 "Until that entire mafia is turned to ash, you will do everything I say. And you will do it without complaint. You will have a room to yourself here and you will have access to all of the benefits members of my mafia receive." 

 You are already trembling by the time his eyes pierce yours. You lean further back into your seat as you try not to let the tears forming in your eyes fall. You will not let this monster have the satisfaction of seeing you cry. You can feel the menacing energy exude from him as his voice becomes more and more belligerent.  

 "When that bitch and her little lackeys are dead, I will give you your freedom." 

 You are too overwhelmed by the entire ordeal to react in any positive way, but you know this is unheard of when dealing with Jumin Han. He never lets people out of his grasp. He enjoys the power over people too much. You open your mouth so you can express your appreciation for his kindness, but you snap your mouth shut when you see his gaze turn into a seething glare. 

 "If you ever dare oppose me, I will keep you here.”

  “Forever."

 His eyes darken as his voice morphs into a softer yet threatening tone. A ghost of a smile appears on his lips as he notices the tears beginning to stream down your flushed cheeks,

 "You do not want to imagine the things I will do to you if you defy me."

[cutegirlmayra]

Hi rezfrosting here! ; 3 May I please request some metal sonic x modern Amy?

You may.

(Did I mention my guilty pleasure is evil and villainous Metal Sonic with feelings of twisted affection? Did I? DID I????!)

Prompt:

Neo Metal Sonic spun on his way to the ground, flopping with metallic clanks against the mud as the wet dirt clogged his engine.

He leaned up, scraping the ground as he revved his center turbine to splash the mud out.

“You try my patience… Amy.”

Amy Rose: Female Hedgehog. Power: Strong Hammer throws. Affinity to Sonic The Hedgehog. Weakness:….Everything.

Amy held her ground, “Where’s Big and Cream!?” she demanded, holding her hammer firmly in her grasp.

He scooped up some mud and swiped it at her.

“Ah!” she swat at the air, wiping her eyes and spitting out the mud before he charged her, hitting her down and causing her to fall to the mud.

“Offph! Grr… You’ll pay for that!” Amy tried to swing her hammer up, but he caught it. His grip was like trying to shake off a titanium beam, there was no way she was getting out of his hold… “Grr.. Rah…” she struggled, only making his eyes flare to a brighter red as he leaned his head up in pride.

“Resistance is futile. You will fall. As will the rest of Sonic’s friends.”

“No!” Amy kicked and squirmed, but nothing she did made any difference.

“… You’re still fighting… a foolish use of wasted energy.” He pulled her up, causing her to slip on the mud and be dragged up with now two hands on her hammer.

“Ack!” her muddy hands left no grip to be able to hold onto the hammer’s hilt.

As she slid back down, her body slipped under his spread and sturdy stance, as he looked to the hammer and then down to her, realizing how pathetic this duel really was.

Amy’s eyes started to water, “Where… where is Sonic?”

“You seem to like asking questions…” he flipped the hammer around, hoisting it back. “But I think it’s time your new master started making inquiries…” he gripped the scruff of her white collar, and pulled her up to him, still threatening the hammer hit if she resisted.

But it didn’t stop Amy from struggling, gripping his clawed hand and pushing the steel fingers away from her throat. “Let… me go!”

“Enough talk.” His eyes narrowed.

“Gruff! Ah! Hek! Ohhh!!! This isn’t fair! You’re not a master of anything! Especially me!” she continued to struggle. Ever since their failure to stop his Metal Overlord, Sonic was forced with Tails and Knuckles into a pocket-dimension. There, they could escape certain doom, and they had the Chaos Emeralds to come back to save this universe when they had gathered their strength back.

But with Sonic gone… Neo Metal Sonic’s rage intensified. Not only was nature out of control, but Metal Sonic was cruelly enslaving all living organisms. Amy wouldn’t allow her friends to be put in harm’s way and instructed them to fall back and seek the other teams.

But Blaze and Cream never came back…

And Amy’s eternal struggle to hold Neo Metal Sonic’s rage back only seemed to really last a few minutes…

He had given up his ultimate form for a later day, waiting upon Sonic’s return to fully finish him… but until then.

“Your attempt to save your friends is futile. You will all submit to me or perish. I care not which. So for my last warning, tell me where Sonic has hidden his weak and unworthy self away… and I may let you live…”

“Being enslaved is no way to live! Either way, we’re all suffering!” Amy kicked, but with one fatal whiplash of swinging her around, she was unable to keep up her fighting spirit…

“Tell me…” His eyes shone even brighter…

“…He’s… far out of your reach… you’ll never defeat Sonic… not permeant, anyway…” she was slipping… her hands falling to her sides and her head moving back.

He didn’t move… expressionless, his eyes suddenly flashed and started to make calculations.

He read that her breathing was fainter than normal and her body was giving way to exhaustion.

He laughed, dropping her and watching fall without a noise.

“Pathetic… I suppose I shall use you as leverage to lure Sonic back to me… Your insolent existence will have purpose after all…” he watched her a moment, still scanning her vital signs before he noticed her twitch and start getting up.

“…What?” he seemed genuinely perplexed.

She started to lift one arm under herself, then the other. Soft grunts showed her effort as she hoisted her torso up and looked back at him with a muddied face.

“…This isn’t possible.” He squinted his eyes, his red growing dim. “Your body is at its utter limits. Your oxygen intake halved from the smog and your exhaustion at its peak!” he formed a fist, showing the hopeless situation. “You should be begging at my feet for life! Why do you still insist on prolonging your demise?”

“B-because… I love him…” Amy closed one eye and opened the other. She panted a moment before straining herself up again, trying to get on her knees.

Neo Metal Sonic just stared at her, emotionless.

He kicked her and whammed her hammer into her side, causing her to spit out a groan of pain and clutch her stomach, turning around.

“…Ack!… ugh… ha…hah…hahah…”

“What are you laughing about?!”

“The fact… that you can’t… you can’t stand… to see me unable to quit.” She laughed with limited breath.

His head twitched in rage. “What angers me is your likeness to that blue hedgehog.” He twisted her hammer in his grasp, readying to pummel her again with new hits.

He walked towards her, gripping her head and forcing it up, holding it directly beside his own. “Tell me where he is…”

“O-or what? You’ve already…” she coughed, “Threatened me with death!”

“…If death does not sway you…” he placed her hammer under her chin, pushing up to limit her air supply once again as she choked to regain some air.

Her hands weakly clawed and gripped at his arm… as he started to push up from his knees… forcing the hammer up even more and making her stand.

He couldn’t understand her response from the faint squeaks of noise she made to try and speak with little air… but it satisfied him enough to see there was no way for her to survive other than surrender.

“Would Sonic want you to die?” he switched tactics. “Become my slave and I’ll show little mercy…” He slowly removed the hammer from her throat…

She coughed and gripped her throat, his other hand let go as she stumbled to remain upright.

To keep her up, he gripped her white collar from the back and kept it still slightly choking her, but not nearly enough to keep her from speaking again.

“Choose your words wisely… Amy Rose.”

She peeked through the slits of her eyes at him… her glare like daggers before closing them again and concentrating on breathing.

Her voice was harsher now, the effects of the choking showing through…

“Why would I… take little mercy..?”

“Because that’s more than any other creature has been offered.” He glared right back, pushing on her back to have her bend down. “Beg…” he rose his head up. “Tempt me to spare your insufferable existence… Make me want to keep you alive…” his voice grew darker, even with the robotic manifestation in it, it still sounded like he was toying with her…

She fell to her knees, unable to do anything more to stall for her friends… and wondering if Neo Metal Sonic had already taken care of them…

She squinted her eyes shut even more, shaking her head. “I won’t…” she began to cry. “But Sonic would want me to survive… until he returned…”

Neo Metal Sonic looked down, his glare intensifying.

“…Do your worst… but I will never give up!” she reached for his hand to her back as he pulled up and hoisted her over his shoulder.

“…You will suffer yourself to me.” He stated, still carrying the hammer in one hand and keeping her steady upon his metallic shoulder on the other.

She cried and kicked, trying to fight him but it was all pointless.

He had created for himself a castle, where Eggman was also enslaved to do his bidding, carrying metallic trays of electrical cords and providing tomfoolery entertainment for him… getting zapped for his pleasure…

Neo Metal Sonic laughed, patting Amy’s head as she sat below one of the armrests, chained up with a bowl of water next to her.

It wasn’t just humiliating, it was inhuman.

She shook her head and dipped herself below the throne, trying to hide from his touch.

When his hand couldn’t feel her head he stopped laughing and reared downwards, gripping her head and shoving it back up to look at his face…

The red of his eye reflected back in her own glossy eyes… as she tried to turn her head away from him.

“And what… do you think you’re doing?”

“…Grr… erk…”

He laughed again after a moment of staring at her, and pushed her away, causing her to topple down to the ground and spill the bowl of water over.

She glared at him, only making him look as though fondly to her and lean upon his elbow. “You know… I could be zapping you instead of him.” His eyes narrowed, another threat that seemed to humor him as he thought about it. “Would that please Sonic? Seeing you burnt to a crisp when he comes back for you and this world?”

Amy bit her tongue and didn’t say anything, looking away.

“…That’ll be all, Eggman.” Without shifting his position, or moving a muscle really, Neo Metal Sonic dismissed Eggman as he rubbed his butt from the electrocution and bolted away speedily.

“…Eggman surrendered to my whims… why not you?” He slowly fiddled and twisted her chains that were upon his throne around his finger… then around his arms… “…You’re like a fish. Not knowing when you’ve been caught!” he pulled, forcing her to slam into the throne and be dragged to his legs.

“Hahaha!”

“Grr… You’ll regret this… all of it.” She flinched through the pain, shaking from the weakness in her body from lack of food…

“You’re still sure he wants you back? A girl with no sense, poor and malnourished, unable to accept defeat?!” he tugged again, forcing her body and shoving it towards him.

She was now laying across him, his arms back from having taken the chains as far back as they could go… her eyes never wavering to show her conviction…

“…What keeps those eyes…” he tilted his head, releasing some of the chains to touch her face as she tried to lean back, away from them… being cautious… “So purely faithful to him..?”

“…He’s never not come for me…”

“…Yes. I remember.” Neo Metal Sonic looked annoyed, his eyelids sinking a bit. “He’s too ‘good’ to let an organism go unsaved.”

“It’s more than that Metal…” she suddenly moved closer, her body sliding over his own metal hide as she moved the chains from his arms.

He was suddenly paused in processing… not sure if this was her surrendering… or something else.

“Sonic is a symbol of hope… without Sonic, we’re all nothing.” She slipped her arms around him, her voice almost like a coo that confused him…

Her change of voice caused his systems to start scanning her, finding details within her eyes and the shape of her figure… pressing over and against him.

“…Sonic is gone.” Her distraction led to him not hearing the sliding of metal against metal… the chains wrapping around his neck…

“…You’re right. But he’s-“

“No more.” His eyes burned red again, as he shifted from under her. “Your female charms don’t tempt me. I’m a robot… your attempt at saving yourself is useless and irrational.” He moved up a bit, but his eyes stayed fixated on her own, turning from confidence to slight fear.

“However, …” he tapped his claws to her back, causing her to flinch. “I’ve always been curious… what he sees in you…” his frame moved to skim against her muzzle when she suddenly pulled on the chains, and his head went flinging back.

“WHAT?!” he struggled, realizing she had looped her chains around his neck, and started walking off of him, tugging and straining to pop his head off.

She shook the chains and slipped once or twice on the ground from the spilled water, but kept trying to put enough force into the chains to rip his head off its metal pieces…

“You… you think this will save your friends?!” Neo Metal Sonic struggled, gripping the chains.

Electricity sparked everywhere around his metallic neck as Amy remained steadfast, giving as much force to the chains as she could muster.

“You’ll be their end for this!” he cried out, before feeling a dent upon his metallic screw that held his head in place.

His eyes wobbled, realizing the threat level just skyrocketed, and began to fight back more forcibly, tugging on the chain to pull her back.

“Ah!” she fell and started to be dragged back to him, the chain loosening. “Yes… fight, Amy Rose… Show me that you’ll die in vain… I’ll kill each and every one of your precious companions in front of your eyes! Then we’ll see who’s able to fight the inevitable now!”

Amy’s foot slammed against the throne, as she looked up with absolute power in her eyes to him, making him stop his rambling and look for a moment in terror to her.

“…I…” she took in a deep breath. “Have no fear.” She ripped the chain from his grasp, and with it, severed his head from his body.

The explosion pushed her back, knocking her out.

When she came too, she noticed fire and began to panic. Eggman, in his brown slave attire, was hacking away at the melting chain with a rock.

“E..Egg…man…” she panted out.

“No time, you brilliant girl!” he kept banging the chain before finally it released her and he helped her up, cupping her head between his two hands, and smiling gleefully to her.

“You did it! You beat him!” he kissed the top of her head like a doting father, before slinging her under his armpit and rising up, making a poise with his hand in a fist.

“See that, Metal Sonic!? Even without Sonic! His friends are even good enough to take you down, until me! Whohohoho!” he laughed and gloated, even though it was Amy’s triumphant, not his.

He raced out of the burning fortress… as Neo Metal Sonic’s head blipped back to life for only a static moment…

Amy Rose: Female Hedgehog. Power: Strong Hammer throws. Affinity to Sonic The Hedgehog. Weakness:…

Nothing.

PART TWO: (x)

[rarhuk]

Revelations ( part 4 )

( Final installment. 4 th portion of A Short story collaboration with @tribeoftrolls. The priestess Shayna’s written part was done by @tribeoftrolls )

The earlier parts of the story

Part one Part two Part three Below, is the story’s conclusion...

Shayna was within the kitchen fixing herself a cup of tea, dressed in her usual long night robe as it was becoming late in the night and her company of Zekoa and Kor’akk’s had departed an hour or two ago. She was chuckling on a previous conversation she had with the two, the company of both of the males was always entertaining and humorous. She picking up her cup of tea to take a whiff of the herbal fragrance.

“Mmm…” A soft smile as she looked forward to sitting at the fire and getting some reading done. Just as she picked up a small tray of cookies, most were already eaten by her earlier company but a few were left. She was heading toward the main living space on the same ground level of her kitchen when the sudden sound of her door being kicked in startled her. The sound of glass shattering with tea spilling on the floor, the small metal tray clanged onto the floor scattering cookies.

“By Lukou’s light!?” She shouted out in zandali with her gaze wide, her hand extended out ready to cast a spell to defend herself when she saw Ra’rhuk barge into her home and bee lining it toward the guest chamber. Her hand to her chest with her other hand that is extended out was glowing a golden light before she closed her fist and the spell dissipated. She was heading toward the guest room where Ra’rhuk had entered in, the smell of blood was in the air and the scent of who she can only guess was coming from who Ra’rhuk carried in. She stopped abruptly when he was walking toward her in such a fast stride that she stepped a few steps back to let him pass.

“Ra’rhuk what is going—” Her words interrupted as he spoke up. She looked to the direction of where Ra’rhuk dropped Sandria off and heard of his warnings of the possibility of being crazed. To be guarded. Shayna was walking after him just as he was heading out the door. “Ra’rhuk wait! What happened!” She called for him, stepping out of the door to watch his figure gain more and more distance from her home. “Ra’rhuk!” She called once more but he seemed mostly determined to depart. Whatever had happened Ra’rhuk may have good reason to depart, she knew of his volatile behavior if triggered. Letting out a gentle breath she entered back into her home before the cold of outside became to much for her to endure. She returned to the guest room to look to the female that laid upon the cushions of the pillows on the floor, quickly approaching as her pillows were becoming stained in blood. She knelt down to the female, reaching her hands out to place her hands upon her body. Closing her eyes and focusing to flow gentle healing light to gain a sense of the condition of Sandria’s body.

Softly speaking in zandali. “Listen, to the sound of my voice……..embrace the light of Lukou. You are safe….no harm, nor danger shall draw near to you while under the protection of Lukou……..rest child. Be at ease as you have found refuge…” While she spoke she was mending the wound at her forearm for the flesh to become whole, this female was a utter mess as there was a lot that her body was enduring and struggling to stay alive. Infection was deep set within her body, sickness was seeking to spread and her weaken condition was slowly failing.

Shayna felt the sense of death drawing near should she remain as she is, the lack of nutrition was also against Sandria. But while under the care of Shayna, she would do all that she can to help Sandria recover. Once she felt the sense of Sandria relaxing, that she felt her submit to deeper sleep. Shayna got to work to tend to Sandria while she was unconscious.

______________________________________

~ Brother… It’s time to stop. It’s been hours and the current toll of dead cannot be any deader.~ Zor’din’s resigned was muted under the grotesque crunching and snapping of bones that were being rend free of their limbs.

Ra’rhuk’s armor and exposed flesh were covered like viscous paint strokes of deep red hued bodily substance. His hair had been tied back earlier when he had cleaned, now it was shellacked slick, and thickly stained in his victory. Nothing was glorious about this kill, it was done out of a necessity to maintain. He grunted as he tossed the limb aside as if it was an unwanted thing, as he dismantled him most recent kill. He had his fill, he was only doing the action to curb the urge of those around him, that held an importance to him. “ I’ve had enough…. “

~ Are you sure? ~ Zor’din let the doubt hang between carried by his words.

“ Would it matter? “ Ra’rhuk asked with his brow raised in honest inquiry, as he rose his foot to be resting on the disemboweled torso as one would rest it on a step.

~ Yes. Yes, it would… For a few reasons. Important reasons, I might add. Such as the passed out lunatic you dumped off, and the priestess you pretty much forced into a corner to handle your mess....again. Highly unfair, and… Bah, I’m just repeating myself. You know for as polite as you’d like to think yourself being… You’re really not. ~ The spirit hovered over towards his brother who seemed to be resting his foot, not moving. ~ Are you going to head back, or what?~

“ I haven’t decided… “ Ra’rhuk smirked slowly at his brother’s impatience.

~ Why are you drawing this out? You’ve had your fill, go back to the hut!~ He used his corporeal arms to wave in that direction in an excited mannerism.

“ I’m hesitant due to the difficulties I’m having. “ Ra’rhuk confessed while lowering his foot to the ground. He slowly looked in the direction in which his brother had motioned towards.

~ loa’s me… Please, stand by, Ra’rhuk is having difficulties, we’ll get back to our regularly schedule program once he gets his head out of his ass. The world must halt while the great Ra’rhuk takes his sweet time processing.~ He made a motion of a kick at one of the corpses, of course making no contact it was just for expression. Zor’din was seemingly on his wits end with his brother by this time. He turned and batted his eyelashes at him using an overly kind voice. ~ What is it this time? ~

Ra’rhuk should have known better then to try to speak to Zor’din, he was based still in his emotional whims. There was no true clarity to be found with shade. “ Hmmmm… It’s time I depart. “ He turned his back on Zor’din and began heading towards Shayna’s hut leaving his hunting grounds of the corrupt behind him.

~ Seriously, I’m just trying to help… just talk, Rhuk, Share the good, or not so good word.~ Zor’din pleaded as he followed along.

_______________________________

Shayna had vials of medication on the night stand near the bed that she had gotten Sandria to rest upon. She had taken noticed that Ra’rhuk did what he could to tend to the female but she was far from being out of the woods of her frailty. Given that Ra’rhuk spoke of her being possibly crazed and illness can do such to a person she had Sandria bound to the bed, nothing that would cause harm to Sandria. Shayna had placed an enchanted bracelet’s on her wrists, the bracelets bound to keep Sandria on the bed until Shayna knew further of the females mental condition before allowing any further freedom of moving around in the room.

As the fever slowly ebbed back Sandria murmured incoherently words, some made no sense in that strange gibberish, while some were unmistakably meant be heard by someone’s ears. “ Find him…. “ Who that someone she had to find she did not say as fell into a deep slumber.

She had broken a fever that Sandria was suffering under, for now Sandria was resting comfortably and at ease. Shayna had taken her blood soaked pillows and other fabrics that blood as well as vomit had soiled a blanket. It was going to be a long night and the sort that Shayna knew she was not going to get much rest until Ra’rhuk’s return. She had changed to a different robe as well, the previous one she wore also had been soiled by blood but nothing that she wasn’t unprepared on how to clean. She had cleaned up the small mess in her kitchen and taken care of the soiled fabrics of the blanket, her robe and pillows by washing and the bundle of wet fabrics would have to wait till morning for her to hang outside to dry. Carrying a wicker basket with the wet fabrics inside, she was walking down the steps from the bathing room.

___________________________________

Ra’rhuk had approached Shayna’s hut, but did not go inside. He instead, decided to wait outside, for a long moment just at the end of her bottom steps.

~ What is wrong with this picture?…. I’ll give you a hint, it has to do with actually going inside. ~ Zor’din was motioning towards the door. ~ See this… go in. You know I can’t, or I would. She has the inside warded. I can’t walk past this step or poof, banished.~

“ I recall you being annoying, just not this…. impatient. “ He took an intentional breath and released it slowly. Cupping his hand to either side of the outside of his tusks, he suddenly shouted out the priestess’s name. “ SHAYNAAAA! “ His intent was to draw her outside rather then go inside, as inside was something he lacked a want to bother with at the moment. “ SHAYNAAAA! “

Zordin would have blinked had he the eyelids, so he just pretended as his brother was roaring out the priestess’s name. He hadn’t even been able to jab back at that response his brother had given him. ~ What are you doing?! Rooky come a courting, or what is this? Just walk in! You didn’t seem to have an issue kicking in her door earlier. ~ His brother rightly confounded him sometimes. ~ You better do something about your face, if you planned on a date, it’s covered in blood. ~

Ra’rhuk looked at his brother’s spirit and decided he was correct on his appearance. He bent down low, scooping up two hand fulls snow a cupping he rose to vigorously rub the snow on his face to clear it of the blood. “ Better? “ He asked turning his face to look at Zor’din a moment before repeating the motion in kneel. Shayna had not came to the door, so he devised another plan to get her attention. He was making snowballs, and throwing them at her windows… “ SHAYNAAAA! “

~ No, but it’s going to have to do, because heeeeere she comes. ~ Zor’din replied hearing the hurried foot steps draw nearer to the entrance way.

____________________________________________

She had no idea whom Sandria was calling out for, she could be searching for her mate, her brother, a son, it could be a numerous of situations of what Find Him implied. The female was a face that Shayna would not recognize or know for certain of who she is besides a sickly female that Ra’rhuk had brought and left in her guest room. She had been thinking over of the two words she heard the female mutter. Perhaps when she was more coherent then Shayna can talk to her. At least she was hoping and was going to aid to help fight against what illness has it’s grip upon the poor woman.

She had settled the wicker basket next to the entrance of her hut while she was sorting through a few more things, she also busying herself to stay awake for when Ra’rhuk entered. Before settling down she entered the guest room once more, checking Sandria and the female still slept. Shayna would return to the living room area to settle upon the couch, there she waited. And waited some more until sleep had claimed her. How ever long she was asleep, it could be an hour, could of been two or more but the sudden yelling of Ra’rhuk’s voice had her jump. She swears her own spirit may of also leaped beyond her ceiling as his voice would roar out her name once more.

Ra’rhuk juggled a snow ball back and forth from one hand to the next, as he was about to take aim at another spot on the hut’s exterior. He grinned at his brother… a slow almost eager grin, as if that dormant immaturity was rising to the surface. He may just pelt a Priestess if she decidedly burst through the door.

“Loa….Ra’rhuk!!” She cried out from her being startled in zandali. She was trying to get to the door in haste only the light within the room had dimmed. She tripped over her foot rest and caught her balance in mid step, trying to get her bearings what felt like an eternity to get to the entrance while she heard snow pelting onto her windows. Her patience was out the door by now. She snagged her hooded cloak to place around her, stepped her way out of the door into the cold and before she uttered one word.

~ I don’t have a clue what has gotten into yuh—-~ Zor’din took his eyes off Ra’rhuk only to look at the entrance way of the hut seeing the Priestess barrel out of there on a mission. ~ Aim for her feet or this is going to get much worse! ~ Zor’din warned his brother. The spirit waved his almost invisible arms trying to warn the priestess.

~ Wait! He’s— ~ With all the warding that protected the female Zor’din wasn’t certain if she could see him, or hear him at all. But the warning came too late!

She grabbed one of her necklaces. Holding to it as she moved her hand in a sweep motion, a spell was cast directly at Ra’rhuk. A harmless one but a spell that would cause a knock back to hopefully have Ra’rhuk fall on his ass on the snow. “That’s for scaring me not once but twice! And leaving to care to who you brought in with hardly any explanation!” She yelled in zandali sounding quite miffed.

Zor’din began to cackle his corporeal ass off as Ra’rhuk was instantly dazed and toppled over on his plated rear end by a ball of light to the face. The snow ball flew straight up in the air and as if in slow motion fell from the sky only to collide upon Ra’rhuk’s head. Served him right! Ra’rhuk knew better, and he had been acting dumbass since he had arrived. Zor’din was glad the target hadn’t been him! Zor’din was laughing it up, thoroughly enjoying this moment, because Shayna accomplished something he had wanted to do all day knock his brother to his senses.

Ra’rhuk was recovering from the hit that had him on the ground, most suddenly. It hardly registered that he had been hit by his own snow ball, the light had been too intense. He held out one hand as if to keep her back as he was rubbing to his temple with index finger and thumb, trying to clear his vision. He did not care for spell flingers, especially those that could leave him disorientated. His level of irritation was on the rise, so he remained motionless until it had passed. He was not harmed it was just the matter of his progression being hindered by Shayna’s action towards him. It had been uncalled for in his mind to step it up to that level as he was merely attempting to get her outside to speak with her…. Perhaps, the snow ball was slightly uncalled for as well, yet his intention was not one of maliciousness in nature only.. maybe slightly malicious… but he hadn’t deserved that approach by her in his mind.

She went right back into the hut to fetch her wicker basket before she would hear Ra’rhuk out. It wouldn’t take her long as she shortly returned with the wicker basket in both of her hands. A frown upon her features as she was approaching, she was irritable due to her fatigue and not that it’s not known that she has a fiery side to her from time to time. She would hand him the wicker basket, pretty much making sure he grabbed it.

“ Shayna… I - “ Ra’rhuk’s hand was still outstretched as if to keep her away from him, or he just had forgotten to lower it, when he received a basket of clothing. His digits curled slowly around the outer edging of the object. His hand at his temple lowered, his glowing eyes inspecting to what had been placed for him to take before slowly rising upward to meet her own.

“Now…before I freeze out here. You’re going to hang these on my clothes line…while I go get something warmer to put on to be out here. Or are you going to come in? ” She crossed her arms mostly to pull her cloak closer to her body as the temperature late in the hours was not exactly welcoming to be standing in. She had her cloak that provided her warmth but she needed more then just her cloak.

“ I will hang your clothes on the line… Although, I believe it defeats the purpose, they will only freeze unless you make a fire to dry them by the heat. “  He advised.

“I am aware of this..” She breathed out with a light shake to her breath from her shivering. “I have a fire pit already there I can get a fire started once I return..” Living out in Zul’Drak, hanging clothes to dry always required a fire to be near by so her clothing didn’t freeze up so much.

He slowly rose and moved to the clothes line. “ I will wait for you to return. “ He noted with a dip of his head as he proceeded to do the task set before him. Shayna would depart to head back in to dress in warmer attires. He was hanging the clothes along the line while his brother continued to yammer onward in consistency.

~ What is it that you are so afraid of in that hut, that - I - wind up the lesser of the two evils to keep company with? ~  Zor’din asked as his brother was doing woman’s work that was so beneath his station in life. The irony did not escape him, and it greatly entertained him as Ra’rhuk was clothes pinning like an expert, and seemed to know his way around a hamper.

Ra’rhuk was ignoring Zor’din for the time being as Shayna had in short returned. She returned with a thicker fur coat as well as clothing beneath that would keep her warm against the cold.

“Ahh…much better..” She spoke in a lighter tone.

Her mood was much more improved while she made her way towards him, the snow crunching under each step. As soon as Zor’din gave a sign that he wasn’t going to keep silent Ra’rhuk rose a single digit in warning. It was a stern enough warning that Zor’din was aware if he did not take his leave there would be grave consequences.

~ Excuse me, priestess… I must exit stage right, for the time being.~ He bowed in theatrics, before he did his mysterious disappearing act, with a poof of wavering air.

She picked up the sound of Zor’din’s voice, she thought she heard laughing but she was so irritated in the moment that she wasn’t sure if it was just the sound of the wind. Feeling much more calm now that she can withstand against the cold, she looked to the direction to get a glimpse of the spirit bowing and soon out of her sights.

“Zor’din..is that–..” She paused in her words, of course it was him. Though last time she knew that the spirit was hanging around Raji’din from time to time. The only reason she knew is due to talks she had with San’gee and him.

“Never mind…” She would call to him later if it was needed. Her attention soon was upon Ra’rhuk, looking him over and realizing he was staring at her. “Ra’rhuk?” She grabbed her hood to pull it back, her golden blonde hair spilling from the depth of her hood to drape at her shoulders.

Ra’rhuk continued to hold the empty basket as he looked to Shayna. He did as he always had done when looking towards any individual, studying and appraising the minuscule changes in demeanor. He was making a mental note to compliment, or disregard any adjustments in physical appearance what he would either deem necessary, or otherwise to mention. Ra’rhuk as always as if nothing happened a few moments ago, went forward with what was in the forefront of his mind to address. He did not hold the living’s emotional reactions against them, as it was to be expected, and he most likely deserved it even if he could not understand why.

“ I require… your guidance… “ He had began with allowing that to settle before he would continue. She gave a nod of her head and remained silent to hear him out.

“ I am not as I was when we last spoke… I’ve been granted a blessing one in which, I struggle with as it has given me vision of realization and revelation, beyond what I have known for… “ Ra’rhuk’s brow creased a moment it was apparent he was having difficulties with something. He abruptly walked up to her stone porch, after setting the laundry basket down he stood there silently for a long moment before walking back towards Shayna. He looked like a usher as he placed his hand to his chest and then slowly with palm facing upward directed her to sit on the stone steps, or where he thought she would feel most comfortable. “ If you would rather sit, you may. “  He indicated so he could regain his thoughts processes. He simply would stand before her regardless.

Shayna was watching him as he began to speak, once he placed the empty basket down and noticed his hand motion toward the stone steps of her porch. Moving toward him her expression held wonder and thought to what Ra’rhuk wanted to speak on, she soon settled to sit on the stone steps. Pulling her coat closer to herself to maintain her warmth. “I’m listening..”

“ These sights and sounds are not of the world I know as it is… it is of what was. They are vivid, flashes of color, and… emotion. It is as if fragmented memories are rising, yet these are not just memories, they are sensations. What follows these uprisings my only way to describe them is… pain. It’s as if what rises within conflicts with my purpose in existence of what was then, and what is now inside of me. A weakness is etched into my foundations, unraveling everything that has held me sound up until this point. I implore to try to understand… This weakness cannot be, it conflicts with the very nature of what I am here before you, the more I try to abolish what wavers, the stronger I am in it’s grasp.“ He brought his fist to his chest once in a quiet knock to the plated armor. He took off his gloves setting them aside on the stone slab of the entrance. He moved a measured step to close in the distance between them, abruptly he knelt as if a ranking chief or king had entered. Ra’rhuk took one of Shayna’s hands in both of his with his head bowed and lowered, glowing gaze to the ground as if in utmost regard and respect. He allowed a still unmoving silence to settle in deeply around them, as if that too spoke the volumes of what he was attempting to say.

“ These years I have kept your company, I have done so as I am doing now… placing unfair, and unjust burdens on your shoulders to carry. These things I am incapable of doing, incapable to face…. alone. I thought by removing myself it would lessen the burden, but it seems to etch it’s way into my very being, my thoughts, the only sound upon the wind. “ He slowly lifted his eyes to trace her facial features, to gauge her understanding, to see if she could see what he was desperately searching to convey. His reaching attempt at an apology, and all the depths that he was struggling with. He used his unbroken tusk to point in the direction within the hut. “ What, who, I placed in there is a portion, a symbol of what I cannot regain. I cannot know the suffering she has gone through, I cannot feel it as my own. I cannot look at that burden, and undo what has been wrought out in all these years. I cannot correct it, or change the course of what will happen. I can be the hand in which these things are met with, yet I am not prepared to come to terms with the outcome.  “

After a moment of staring at the door he looked back to Shayna. He released her hand slowly, reaching out he touched to one of her braids. He lowered his hand and head once more. “ I am weakened by what I cannot have… I will see you all that I have held close to me as in as much fondness I carry, as I see her now. Much of what could have been, has fallen brittle like the leaves caught in winter’s breath, but a whisper of what was vibrant in the summer. That opportunity, and promise fulfilled is distant from me, detached because I cannot be apart of it no matter how I long it to be otherwise. I’m helpless to prevent and protect from what is to come, I cannot stop time’s hand… I cannot… endure… the… pain.. of that… alone. Please… help me. “ He growled with a strangling sound deep in his throat that rolled in a straining echo, not one of anger, but one of pain, as his head lowered hanging low on his neck as if in defeat.

She listened to him while he spoke and knelt before her, with her hands held and felt the cold of his hands in her grasp. Her warm hands gripping to his in return, her thumbs rubbing the sides of his hands as to provide what comfort she can give him. Her expression held concern as well as care as she stared to his glowing lich fire gaze. She awaited until he said all that was needed to be spoken. Hearing the strangling growl sound after he pleaded for her help. Her hands lifted up to place both hands to his cheeks to hold, thumbs once more moving the caress the sides of his face. Noticing the pain in his features, she wasn’t sure to use any of her shadow magic to ease it but she did seek to sooth by comfort of touch.

“Shhhhhh…….Ra’rhuk it’s alright. I am not mad at you, nor do I take this as a burden. No matter how late in the hour, I am here for those in need. Of course I will help you..” She gently spoke as she guided to lift his head to look to her, noticing he was doing his best to apologies but this seemed more deep then just an apology. Now that she got a closer look at him to take notice he also was covered in blood at his armor. Blood never really bothered her, being a healer she has had her fair share of all sorts of gore from wounds, sicknesses and broken bones.

“I will do all that I can to help…..You do not need to face this alone. You have endured difficulties before…” Such as the time he was put in jail for false accusation, that was quite the task to get him out of there. But there was no way she, nor the others were going to leave him held in that prison. Ra’rhuk had recovered as he remained in her hut for the time he needed to regain himself.

How he desired to feel the true warmth of her hands that freely offered a solace to what was turbulent within. He wished  that it held the power to ebb back the pain that worried on his turmoil like a dog with a bone, gnawing away within. His eyes slowly closed, as her gentle touch of thumbs had rose to offer that simple comfort upon his pallid cheeks. His thoughts on things of fragility and nothing of strength in that silence she had ushered in with her soothing voice. His thoughts if he could hold onto that sound, that rhythm of her voice and the tone that held the power of the calm, as her flesh did not, he could silence all that was jaggedly sawing at that newly risen agony. He listened as she spoke of not facing an obstacle alone, as he was slowly regaining his composure to look at her again. She was correct that he had faced similar tests of his endurance and fortitude before. He had not done it alone, there had been his allies, and she was included on that long list of those that had aided him.

“And you have helped me on many occasions in return. I’m not about to deny you the aid that you seek. It’s what friends do..” She smiled softly toward him before her expression returned to concern.

“ It has always been my pleasure to aid you… I - ” He slowly adjusted his stance as she spoke of being as what friends do as if some small realization had crept into his knowledge. His ears lowered upon that single word of friend, only to rise up to a passive height while he mirrored her smile in a reflection. Before his smile had fell completely placid  there was a brief moment where the expression held her own concern.

“From what you have told me, have you tried to…accept these changes going on with you? To allow these changes to take it’s place, to adjust to it, to learn so what may feel as pain. Will result to relief? I do have questions as well as to let you know of Sandria’s condition? But before I get to that I rather be sure you are alright first.” Her eyes never leaving his as she spoke her words, trying to comfort by touch with her hands remaining to hold his face for as long as he welcomed it.

She knew him well enough to know these indications of a carefully drawn up mask, he was hiding something. His expression now held that mild detached curiosity that he typically had in company to display an interest kept upon the conversation at hand, although thinking about something else entirely. “ I have… attempted to.. yes.  At times, to make it known… it can be worse then any suffering imaginable to not have my true intentions seen. ” He held a quietness about the nature of his voice.

He did not remove her hands from his face as long as she was willing to have them remain where they rested, he allowed her and himself that small intimate luxury. His gaze continued to search her facial features as she spoke in question of Sandria’s condition for a long time, before they shifted to the side looking to where the female Sandria was resting.  “ I am as well as it is to be expected. ” He spoke in reply to ease her mind in return.

“ You may ask your questions about Sandria’s condition. I will answer on all that I know, freely. ” He continued to stare in that direction of her hut before looking back to Shayna with a slight attempt at a smile.

“Now your sounding like your Uncle..” She lightly joked with a small smile as she has heard that line so many times from Raji’din. Knowing full well, an answer like that is most likely a cover up. She had been watching his expressions, how he closed his eyes. How he reacted and trying to figure out what more that may be going on with him. As if she can gain the answers by watching his gaze, his movements, how he spoke and how he displayed his expressions.

“Is there anything I can get you?” She asked. Knowing that if he did need anything, she most likely could provide it. Given the blood she figured he had sated his hunger but she rather ask then not at all.

“ No… I am where I wish to be. ” His voice rolled in a quiet echo onward until there was a quiet between them once more.

[ladydragon1316]

DA Drunk Writing: Awful AU #314

Awful AU #314: “There’s only one plug in this entire coffee shop and you’re sitting right in front of it and you’re not even using it, and my laptop is about to die in the middle of this online exam I’m taking, so whatever I don’t care how intimidatingly attractive you are I’m sitting down at your table to plug my shit in.” AU

  Cullen was already halfway home before he remembered the exam. It had been on his calendar since the day he’s received the syllabus. However, with a full docket of classes, two part-time jobs, and a multi-phase commute, something was bound to fall through the cracks. But did it have to be the test worth twenty percent of the final grade?

This was all Dorian’s fault. How he’s wound up partnered with that fop on a group project…? They’d spent two hours making what should have been fifteen minutes arranging the work load (though Cullen would still probably have to do most of it anyway.

Now he was stuck at a bus-stop, still an hour from home with an important exam due in two—

Cullen sighed heavily. He didn’t have time to wait until he got home. He’d have to dip into his precious data to make it in time. The man fished his phone out of his pocket—and flushed when the home screen lit up. ‘Dorian!’

When had he had time to take this picture? And how had he managed to—

No. This was tomorrow’s problem. Right now he needed to log onto the class website and—‘10% battery? Dorian!!!’

Cullen cast around frantically for a store and spied a coffee shop right across the street. He took one last look down the road and made a decision. What was one more missed bus at this point? Or two fewer hours of sleep? He crossed the street, waiting until he’d reached the opposite sidewalk before fishing the phone charger from his bag, making a note of personal commendation for his preplanning.

The coffee shop was a hole in the wall place. Brick walls outside and in. A charming little bell rang when he pushed the door open, a waft of warm caffeine infused air breaking over his entry. The shop couldn’t have been more than thirty feet wide, utilizing its length for space and seating. Cullen ordered a small coffee at the counter out of a sense of propriety, then went searching the walls for an outlet.

There was nothing all the way down. Cullen kept going, eyes near the ground, trying not to disturb the few patrons present, to the very back where the shop opened up into a wider sitting area. He finally spied what appeared to be the loan outlet in the place just hidden behind a pair of shapely calves beneath a floral skirt.

Cullen fought the faint heat that filtered into his cheeks and pulled his eyes upward—they took their sweet time, damn them!—to the legs’ owner. Only for him to flush the rest of the way.

He didn’t think it was possible to get struck stupid like this. But here he was: staring at a stranger, completely unable to move or tear his eyes away. Mentally, he knew it was a flood of dopamine and serotonin getting pumped into his brain, making his head feel light and his heart race as he took in the graceful bone structure, full lips, and ebony hair wound up into a tossed bun atop her head, which only served to expose her neck, already laid bare by the thin straps and scooping neckline of her shirt.

The image of this, frankly, gorgeous woman imprinted itself into his brain, all the way down to the faint furrow in her otherwise flawless brow and the shade of the deep brown eyes that were fixed right back on him.

She broke his trance with an inquiry, colored with just a hint of warning. “Can I help you?”

Cullen’s tongue felt twice its size, fumbling words he could have sworn he knew how to speak. His brain wasn’t much help either. In the end, he managed to gesture uselessly under the table and say, “Can I get in there?”

Her eyes flashed. “Excuse me?”

It took a minute to realize what he’d said. And exactly where he’d pointed.

‘Maker’s breath!’ Together, his brain and mouth managed to coordinate what equated to a drunken juggling of his explanation. “I—sorry. I need to plug you—In you—Under you—Under there!” A fresh flush slapped him in the face. Cullen’s arms jerked up, flailing his phone and cord around in view. “This—I’m…Dying.” ‘If only.’ “I need to…Please?” With that last plaintive plea, Cullen squeezed his eyes shut and prayed the Maker to return this precise moment and smite him, right here, right now.

No such luck. Instead he was left there, standing in front of the entire coffee shop after that horrendous display. She was well within her rights to stand up and slap him. The pragmatic part of his brain pointed out that would probably leave the outlet free. Then, after he finished the test, he could spend the next month mentally beating his head against a wall as punishment for opening his mouth.

There was a faint rustle of fabric. Cullen peaked out one eye just enough to see those calves tilt off to one side as she located the object of his cloddish request.

But instead of moving seats or flat out refusing, she crossed her legs off to the side and replied, “Go ahead.”

Cullen blinked, at once relieved, mortified and outright confused. Instead of waste time questioning, though, he knelt down and quickly plugged in his phone, making sure not to look at or touch her in any way while he did it.

The ‘charging’ icon in the corner of his screen released a modicum of tension from his spine, and he muttered a ‘thank you’ before dropping into the chair opposite her and accessing the class website. He got onto the test page using the shop’s wifi. From there it was a simple matter of multiple choice questions. Cullen had spent many a sleepless night studying the material, so the answers came easily. Which was good, because the setting of this test was exceptionally distracting.

Even hunched dutifully over his phone with his eyes in his lap, the bright floral pattern in the corner of his vision still drew his eyes. She still refused to move, returning her attention to the impressively thick book in her hands. And his charger cord was so short—why hadn’t he noticed this before?—Cullen had to sit so close to the table that any time either of them moved, their knees bumped together.

After a half hour, Cullen submitted his exam and breathed a sigh of relief before venturing a look up. “Um…thank you.”

She quirked an eyebrow with a hint of a smile. “So you didn’t ‘die’ then?”

He chuckled awkwardly, lifting a hand to rub at the back of his neck. “No. At least, not today.” He cleared his throat, looking anywhere but at her. “I’m sorry about…before. I—” A familiar sound of an industrial engine rumbled through the far door. “—Oh no!”

Cullen leapt out of his seat, yanking his charger from the wall, and bolted across the shop, bursting outside just in time to see his bus pulling away down the street. He didn’t even bother to give chase. Just threw his head back and groaned skyward. This was just the worst day. The worst day.

“Was that your bus?” Cullen jumped, whipping around to find that the woman had followed him out and was holding his unfinished coffee. “You left this inside.”

“Thanks,” he mumbled, taking it sullenly. He hadn’t planned on finishing it. But at this point he may as well get a double espresso and head back to campus. Maybe nap in the computer lab or something.

She gestured to his phone, “Can’t you call your boyfriend or something?”

Cullen started. “What?” Then looked down at his phone and remembered. “Oh, no. He’s not my—He’s my partner. For a project.” Dorian’s flamboyant personality gave him some ground to stand on. “He thinks he’s the Maker’s gift to the world.”

Stepping back from the curb, Cullen unlocked his phone and started digging furiously through the settings menu. It wasn’t like he didn’t have plenty of time on his hands now to figure out how to get the man’s ridiculous mustache off his wallpaper. If Cullen didn’t need the grade, he’d throw Dorian under the bus for this.

After a lot of furious typing and no results, she stepped closer. “May I?”

Cullen started. Again. She’d been standing here and he’d just…Maker, he was an idiot!

Rather than acknowledge his rude behavior, Cullen fixed his eyes on the ground and offered his phone. She tucked her book under her arm and accepted the handheld. A swift series of flicks and clicks, and she handed it back, this time with a series of purple dodecahedrons in place of Dorian’s smirking face. “Thanks,” he replied.

They lingered awkwardly on the sidewalk for a long minute. “So…do you need a ride?” He was fairly shocked she offered, and his face must have said it. “You seem kind of in a hard spot. I could drive you somewhere if you need it. My car’s right around the corner.”

Cullen blinked. “Even after…inside?” She laughed and he could have sworn the world got brighter.

“No one could fail so spectacularly on purpose.” When his face fell, she leapt to reassure him. “No, I don’t mean it like that. I mean it was…cute.” Cullen didn’t usually take ‘cute’ as a compliment. But when it came with a shy sideways glance and a tuck of hair behind her ear... Maybe ‘cute’ wasn’t so bad. “So, where do you need to get to?”

A few minutes later, they were on the road in her sedan, headed for the Haven apartment complex. Cullen took a look at the book he now held on his lap; the one she’d been reading at the coffee shop. ‘Le Comte de Monte-Cristo’. In the original Orlesian. Given how worn the spine was and that her accent was definitely not Orlesian, he was impressed. Smart and beautiful.

They got to the apartment complex much faster than he would have using the bus. She pulled up to his building and put the car in park. “Can I see your phone for a minute?”

Cullen pulled it out and passed it to her without much thought. She clicked through a few things and there was the distinct sound effect of a camera shutter. A few more clicks and she passed it back. “There. For the next time you’re ‘dying’.”

He looked down at the new contact, complete with a picture and a name. Evelyn.

“Really?”

She—Evelyn, smiled at him. “Really.”

“I…Okay.”

He didn’t really want to get out of the car, but managed it anyway. He made it up two flights of stairs to his apartment with his legs half in protest. Once there, he looked back down to see her car still lingering in the parking lot with Evelyn leaning over into view in the passenger-side window. Only after he’d opened his door and given her a wave did she wave back and pull forward, heading for the exit.

The remainder of the journey to bed was done in a daze. After setting his alarm, Cullen pulled up his contacts one more time, just to make sure it hadn’t been a hallucination. Sure enough, there she was: ebony hair and bottomless eyes, smiling benevolently at him from her driver’s seat.

Almost like she’d known he was looking, a text chimed through from her.

Today: 7:38pm

Evelyn

‘Just to clarify, you don’t necessarily have to be ‘dying’ to call.’

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Cullen beamed and typed a quick reply.

Today: 7:39pm

Messages

‘I’ll remember.’

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Maker, would he.