#Red/Ink

[sin-cognito]

Rarepair New Year 2024 ch14: Red/Ink, Mafia AU

SFW

Wordcount: 2044

As head of the Gaster family, Red should be sitting at the back of the car and letting his chauffeur drive him around. The issue is that he handpicked this very car years ago and loves her so much that he can't bear the thought of letting anyone else (but his dear brother) put their stinky hands on her delicate wheel. He's the only one allowed to drive her.

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As head of the Gaster family, Red should be sitting at the back of the car and letting his chauffeur drive him around. The issue is that he handpicked this very car years ago and loves her so much that he can't bear the thought of letting anyone else (but his dear brother) put their stinky hands on her delicate wheel. He's the only one allowed to drive her.

As such, he's presently happily swerving around town with his chauffeur in the back, silent and scared to hell by his Don's driving style.

"BROTHER, YOU SHOULD MAYBE SLOW DOWN A LITTLE," Papyrus points out from next to him, unperturbed as he polishes a gun. "I THINK YOUR POOR CHAUFFEUR IS GOING TO HAVE A STROKE IF YOU KEEP UP WITH THIS SPEED."

Red guffaws. "nah, he gotta get used to it since i'm gonna do all the driving around." He briefly readjusts the rearview mirror and catches the chauffeur's terrified gaze. "you okay back there? want me to stop and let you get off?"

The chauffeur can only shake his head wildly, knowing that outside will be worse. They're currently driving very close to enemy territory, and it would be suicide for someone in the family, especially one who's so close to the Don, to walk around in there without some higher-up's protection. Unfortunately for the chauffeur, Red is busy today and doesn't have time to play baby-sitter.

A snarky grin makes its way onto Red's teeth just thinking about his plans for the afternoon. As of on cue, his favorite shop comes into view. He turns right and parks in front of it. He's been spending all his time there for the past three months or so. He instructs his brother to get the car back home safe and sound, as he doesn't trust the chauffeur to have regained his composure quite enough yet to drive his beloved car.

Edge asks him when he should send someone to pick him up, and Red shrugs.

"i'll figure it out," he waves his brother away as he makes his way into the little bookshop.

As always, the place is crowded with books and dust, and devoid of clients. The only other living being besides the Don is a small skeleton with bright eyelights and an addictive, pastel rainbow blush.

Ink.

Red's little darling turns around when he hears the doorbell ring and his eyelights light up.

"Red, my favorite client! How nice to see you today! Come in, please!" The small skeleton hurries to put the stack of books he was carrying onto the shelves in no particular order, before he makes his way to Red. He does so with great difficulty though, considering most paths between the shelves are covered in books and old newspapers that Ink insists on not throwing away for archiving purposes. "Would you like a cup of tea? What are the news around town? Tell me all the gossip!"

Red chuckles as he lets himself be pulled by the sleeve toward the checkout counter, which is also covered in books.

He gives an update on the status of the city to his small friend, omitting some details about his family's personal affairs. It wouldn't do for a mafia boss to reveal all his secrets so easily. Especially to someone like Ink.

"I heard that a building was burned to the ground in the neighborhood north of the river. It must be the Dreemurr family. Even for such an old and well established family, they have no class," Ink rants as he pours tea into two cups.

"yeah, that's what happens when their tenants don't pay their taxes," Red comments, bent over the counter, chin in the palm of his hand, his half-hooded eyesockets trained on Ink's every movement. "kind of a shitty way to solve things if you want my opinion. all they gained from burning down that building is a pile of ashes, and still no tax money from the tenants."

Ink chuckles as he sips his tea.

"This city is rotten to the bone, heh, but there are families out there that'll treat their tenants right and who won't ask for unpayable protection taxes."

"oh, and who might these families be, i wonder?" Red hums. "certainly they need to be well-established ones rather than newcomers who just barged in with no foreplay, don't you think?"

Ink shoots Red a joyful smile that's more than easy to decypher for the Don: touché.

"Anyway, as flattered as I am to receive such a prestigious guest in my humble little shop, what might bring me the pleasure of your visit?" Ink asks, taking the now empty cups and setting them aside to wash later.

Red rolls his shoulders as he removes his fedora hat. "my apologies, i should've started with that. i'm always happy to pay my dear friend an impromptu visit, but i'm here today to ask if perhaps you could find a specific book for me."

Ink looks intrigued. "A book? What sort of book?"

Ah. Red realizes he didn't think far enough about his excuse to come visit his little darling, and he looks around the shop, scrambling to find an idea. Next to him, Ink has a hard time keeping his giggles in check at seeing the mafia Don struggle to find a believable title for the imaginary book.

"I received new books about astrology and old scientific papers the other day," Ink whispers to help Red.

"oh, right, thanks," Red whispers back before adding in a louder voice, dramatically accentuating his intonations. "well you see, i've been quite interested in astronomy lately-"

"Astrology."

"-in astrology lately, and so i was wondering if maybe you had some books about that."

Ink rolls his eyelights and shakes his skull as he smiles fondly at Red before gesturing to the door that leads toward the back of the shop.

"Yes I do! They're all in the back so if you would please follow me."

Ink quickly shuts the front door and puts up the 'closed' sign, then the two skeletons make their way to the back. It's quiet back there, they can't hear the cars in the streets nor any mafia induced violence out there.

As they pass by a couple of cabinets, Red's impressive shoulder width doesn't seem to agree with the narrow passage and he knocks one of the cabinets open. A couple guns fall down from a drawer, which he's quick to pick up.

"oopsie daisy, my bad," he places them back into the drawer, or at least tries to. The cabinets are as tidy as the bookshop, which is to say not at all, and whenever he manages to put one gun back, another falls down. "say, you really should organize your shit better, you know? how the hell do you manage to keep track of your stock in these conditions?"

Ink chuckles awkwardly while the Don shakes his skull disapprovingly.

"I need my guns to be easily accessible in case one of my boys comes here to get one for an emergency. Did you know that my guys are frequently attacked by a certain someone's minions?"

Red shrugs nonchalantly, pushing Ink toward the couch that Ink keeps in the backroom for special guests.

"well maybe your guys should stop trying to get their filthy hands on my family's territory. i ain't giving the order to leave your clan alone when all you've been doing is being a pain in my ass and stealing my tax money."

"Oh, like you need the money. This city already belongs to you, Don Gaster," Ink nags him all the while grabbing Red by the tie and pulling him down so that he's pinning Ink down on the couch. "But maybe we should switch positions, and you can become a pain in my ass," he teases as he wraps his arms around Red's shoulders and thrusts his hips up, rubbing his crotch against Red's. His intent is clear.

"maybe i'll do just that," Red purrs back before bending down and capturing Ink's mouth in a rough kiss.

The two fool around for a while, keeping most of their clothes on just in case someone from Ink's family pays the bookshop an impromptu visit. It wouldn't be the first time it's happened, so now Ink makes sure to keep his pants on, albeit down to the ankles while Red pushes into him from behind.

They've been seeing each other regularly for the past three months, and to say they're smitten over each other would be the understatement of the year. Unfortunately for them however, they're not free to openly express their affection in public.

For one, Red is the biggest Don in the city, and as such he's regularly the target of many gruesome murder attempts on his person. He's never really felt scared for his life though, not with his little brother by his side, who's shooting prowess has earned him quite a reputation. Red himself isn't half bad when it comes to handling a gun, though he prefers to negociate first. His father used to rule over the whole city and while he's lost some territory since Wingdings passed away a couple years ago, Red is still feared by most other families.

The only one that's proving to be a thorn in his, heh, flesh, is a new family that arrived half a year ago. They call themselves the Prism family, and while they're obviously not very experienced when it comes to the mafia etiquette, not to mention that they're awful at shooting straight with their cheap guns, they make up for it with their unpredictability.

The Prism family immediately caught Red's attention, and he began tracking them down, thinking that once he'd find the head of the family, things would get back to normal. The problem is that he didn't expect to not only find the head of the family, but he didn't anticipate he'd be finding him to be so cute and charming and lovely.

Ink.

The little skeleton who has been plaguing his days and his dreams for several months now, ever since he first stepped foot in that little fake bookshop that serves the head of the Prism family as a front for all his mafia activities. Red was shocked to learn the truth about the cutiepie, and that's saying something from someone who's whole job usually consists of piercing through the hardest poker face during intense negociations.

So despite the fact that their families are technically enemies, Red and Ink can't help but see each other secretly whenever they can. Red is getting tired of these stolen moments, but it's not like he can just announce that the Prism family will fuse with his all nilly willy. Such an announcement is bound to create nasty ripples, especially considering the Prism family members have decided that bothering and attacking the Gaster relatives is the best way to conquer as much territory in the city as they can, and fast. And Ink can't decently tell them to leave the Gasters alone without a good excuse either.

So Red makes do with what he can get from Ink here and there. He learns to appreciate the other's body for as long as their lovemaking is allowed to last, he kisses Ink's face and his mouth and whispers terribly mushy things into the other's neck. Ink doesn't do much better honestly, sighing his pleasure into the silence of the back room while their families go at war with each other outside.

Maybe one day Red will come up with a plan to have their families merge into one. Or maybe one day one will destroy the other, and Red can only hope he'll survive that war just to be able to take Ink's hand and run away with him to a far away land. Or maybe yet another powerful family will show up, or the Dreemurrs will finally get their shit together and become actually strong enough to pose a threat to both the Gasters and the Prisms, and Red and his little darling will call a temporary truce that will turn real in time.

Whatever happens, Red knows that he's not letting Ink go so easily.

[hinamie]

oversaturate

[bebx]

[morggo]

Greyhound and Peonies

Pen and ink on Arches paper

3 in x 5 in

[anoffbeatalbatross]

Probably not going to finish this one in my sketchbook but will def be doing a more proper version of this in the near future (and exploring different limited color palettes too!)

Follow my other socials @ insta // cara

[kevinlucbert]

Une rencontre

21 x 29,7cm, ink on paper, Kevin Lucbert, 2024

[antoanetaab]

𝒟𝑒𝓈𝒾𝓇𝑒

[miss-anaa]

[werewolfest]

different kind of werewolf

[red-pencil]

Happy #nationalcoffeeday !

It's been a while since I've painted with coffee. I'm a bit rusty.

[morggo]

Bound

Pen, ink, and gouache on Arches paper

6.5 in. x 8.5 in.

Part of WOWxWOW's Undercurrents show, starting February 2nd.

[starlikeswomen]

“why haven’t you been doing paptober” yeah i got a little distracted…

idk if this is accurate I haven’t watched underverse in forever

tt repost

[antoanetaab]

𝒫𝒶𝓈𝓈𝒾𝑜𝓃

[simsim54]

Stranger: *Gesturing to Alex* Is this man bothering you? Henry: Yes, but he is my husband. I signed up for this

[inklessletter]

"Put your lips close to mine, as long as they don't touch. Out of focus, eye to eye, 'till gravity's too much."

🦋

Thank you all once again for trusting the process with me.

I am in love with this piece. A Red concept brought to life.

They feel, they know. Yet confessing makes it real. Something to act upon. But as long as they are silent they get to stretch the unspoken truth between them. Both an abyss and a bridge to cross through. A bright light they both choose not to look at, and neither the perfectly shaped shadow of their bodies standing so close they look like one. Light butterfly touches that need no justification. Sharing warmth, and gazes, secretive smiles under the wing of the autumn, where the decay and decadence of perishable life feels a lot too much like a foreshadowing of their untold story.

But they feel.

And they know.

[leaves-and-inks]

I’ve had this piece in my head (and on random post-it notes) since 2020-2021. It’s nice to finally put it to paper, or to procreate I guess. It’s not quite how I pictured it, but it’s where I’m at now skill-wise.

The Crane Wives are one of my favorite bands, and have been a huge inspiration in all of my creative pursuits, whether that be art or writing. Their music really speaks to me.

It was interesting reading up on the meaning behind the band name! I wasn’t aware of the myth of the crane wife before, it was really interesting reading up on it, and it helped me figure out exactly which bird to draw. If you’re not familiar with it and like mythology, I definitely recommend looking it up!

[ID: digital illustration of a red-crowned crane with its mouth wide open and a stylized, long neck wrapping around and behind it. In its open beak are the hand-lettered words: “THE CRANE WIVES”. There is a white border around the edge of the frame, and the piece has a word, rough style to its inking and rendering./end ID]