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caged-dreamland · 9 months ago

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🥀The Shadow in the Mirror🗡️- ONE SHOT [Pre-Stellarium]

⚠️CONTENT WARNING⚠️: Hallucinations, Delusions, and Graphic Depictions of SH

A rewritten piece of one I did back in 2022. This was originally supposed to be a quick piece to showcase Venueri's destructive tendencies that turned into 5 pages of nonsense very quickly.

As the TW above says, please keep in mind that there will be heavy SH in the story.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:**:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

✧ Sitting at the vanity in her expansive yet so empty bedroom, Venueri stared at her reflection with slight contempt.

VENUERI: [“Look at yourself…”]

✧ Brushing the parted bangs more to the side, her eyes locked onto the marking that decorated her forehead.

✧ Her brows furrowed,

VENUERI: [“...why did I inherit this?”]

✧ With her pupils akin to slits and her vision going out of focus, she could hear the voice of someone play in her head.

MALUM: [“I love your markings, Venueri! There’s no need to feel shame over them.”]

✧ Such simple words, words that would once bring her comfort, now made her nauseous.

✧ She gripped the edge of the vanity with such strength that her claw-like nails made new grooves in the wood.

VENUERI: “Calm down… Calm down…”

✧ An useless effort, she knew that, she has done this before.

✧ Feeling something move behind her, she manages to shoot her eyes back up to the mirror before her.

VENUERI: “!!!!”

✧ She froze in place.

MALUM: “...Venueri.”

✧ She couldn't make a sound as her winged ears lowered in panic and fear.

✧ She felt like she was going to vomit.

MALUM: “Why did you do it, Venueri?”

✧ Those were words that have haunted her for years and years.

✧ The shadowy figure stared her down from over her shoulder as she tried to mutter out an answer.

VENUERI: “I…I…I didn’t—”

✧ The shadow shook his head.

MALUM: “I trusted you, Venueri.”

✧ Her hands trembled as he spoke.

MALUM: “You betrayed me.”

✧ The shadow moved closer, making her want to curl up and hide.

MALUM: “You could have saved me. Us.”

VENUERI: “What could I have done…?”

✧ The part of her mind begging her to think spoke out before an onslaught of laughter came from behind her.

✧ Their whispers like the cicadas in the summer buzzed in her ears before a hand gripped her shoulder

MALUM: “Ven… I’m right here.”

✧ She looked into the blurry face of the man behind her, his smile managing to feel the same as it used to.

✧ With her shoulder tense and her breathing becoming short, she waited for him to speak.

MALUM: “You’re… a protector, right?”

✧ His smile was charming,

MALUM: “Why didn’t you help us?”

✧ The water began to well in her eyes,

VENUERI: “I…”

MALUM: “Surely we were worth protecting.”

✧ Every word was another bullet wound to the chest.

VENUERI: “I couldn’t save you… Mother would have—”

✧ She could barely get that out before the Malum that stood by her now began speaking again.

MALUM: “Why did you allow her to do such things?”

✧ She knew the answer to that.

VENUERI: “Nothing could have been done; Mother’s words are absolute!”

✧ She glanced back at her own reflection for a split-second.

✧ She looked horrified.

✧ Malum shook his head in seeming disapproval.

MALUM: “Absolute? Simply because she labeled herself as a God?”

✧ Tears made themselves known as they dripped down her cheeks.

VENUERI: “She punishes us if we don’t!”

✧ Images of her sister’s arm being ripped clean off her body in a ruthless display by their Mother flashed for a moment as if to remind her of her place.

✧ Somewhere deep down, however…

MALUM: “You deserve such punishment.”

✧ She somehow agreed.

✧ As if commanded, her eyes take their focus off the mirror and to a knife that laid only somewhat hidden under a cloth.

✧ It’s the least she deserves.

✧ The voices of others chattered endlessly as the shadowy figure of Malum gestured to the clean knife.

MALUM: “You know you do.”

✧ Like she was possessed, her hands reach for the knife while the chorus of voices grew.

✧ “You deserve this.”

✧ “It’s only fair!”

✧ “You should have saved them.”

✧ “You’re too weak to do anything.”

✧ “You’ll never be able to protect anything you love.”

✧ Her fingers wrapped around the handle of the knife a little too tightly as she brought it closer to her person.

✧ While her grip was choking, her hands still shook.

✧ She hesitated for a moment,

MALUM: “You know, it really makes me happy when you bleed.”

✧ Any other state of mind and Venueri would have known those words did not belong to her dear friend.

✧ But, here– now…

✧ The tip of the knife met with the pale, porcelain skin of her arm.

VENUERI: “I deserve this…It’s the least I can do…”

✧ The blade slices open in a clean line.

✧ The jeering and mocking voices become softer as her world seems to spin.

✧ Another cut is made hastily.

VENUERI: “I’m sorry.”

✧ And another.

VENUERI: “It should have been me.”

✧ Soon, the warm red of stardust and nebula blood is dribbling down to the hardwood floors and onto her nightgown; her whole arm is covered in large gashes.

✧ The sight and scent of her own blood made her feel dizzy.

VENUERI: “I’m a monster; a demon– a devil.”

✧ The knife in her hand moved from her arm to the marks on her hands.

✧ The knife made quick work in mauling up her hand as she sucked air in through her gritted, sharp teeth.

MALUM: [“I love your markings, Ven—”]

✧ Markings…

✧ Those words from the past made her look up into the mirror once again.

✧ Markings….

✧ Her eyes lock onto the mark on her forehead.

MALUM: [“The Goddess is your Mother?”]

✧ Words like knives come flooding to her head.

✧ Snarling and throwing the knife down, she opts for her sharp nails.

✧ She no longer bothered to hide her sobbing as her nails like claws scratch and claw at her forehead.

✧ The stardust and nebula red drip down her face while she wails,

VENUERI: “Why?! Why?!”

✧ What she was exactly asking and to whom was beyond even her.

✧ Her tears and blood mix together, the stinging of her wounds making her even more delirious.

VENUERI: “Why did it have to be him? Why did it have to be them?!”

MALUM: “Venueri, I—”

✧ She swore she could hear Malum saying something, the outside world felt so far away even though he was right there.

✧ The voices of the others whispered mockingly, of how she was repenting, of how her blood and suffering was so small compared to those she had failed.

✧ Hands laid gently on her shoulders, urging her to look up.

MALUM: “Venueri.”

✧ He opened his mouth, but she didn’t hear anything.

✧ Just the crackling static and nonsense filled her ears.

VENUERI: “I’m hopeless;”

✧ She spoke to the reflection in a daze.

MALUM: “Venueri.”

✧ He speaks her name again.

VENUERI: “Worthless.”

✧ She looks at Malum’s reflection as it twists and contorts.

✧ The smile he wore filled with blood, dripping down his face.

✧ The bloody holes she had left him with start taking up his body.

✧ So… many… holes…

MALUM: “V e n u e r i…”

✧ She could see that he was wrapping his arms around her, but she couldn’t feel him.

✧ She was numb.

✧ The Malum that stood before her met her eyes, somehow, in the mirror.

✧ The words he would say synchronizing with those of the past long gone.

MALUM: “I love you—”

✧ And within a flash—

✧ All of them vanished. It all went utterly silent.

VENUERI: “What?”

✧ Bewildered, Venueri goes to stand from the chair.

✧ Her eyes, now dull and lifeless, glance around the room.

✧ Where did they…?

✧ The weight of a thousand suns seemed to suddenly fall upon her, getting heavier with every step she took around the room.

✧ When she finally made it to the large bed, all her strength was spent, and she fell over onto the covers.

✧ Her eyes drooping, she somehow still finds the energy to mutter to herself.

✧ Her questions to her Mother and her pleas would fade as she slowly allowed the urge to rest finally overtake her.

✧ Closing her eyes, her consciousness would fade, allowing her a small moment of peace.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:**:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

*:･ﾟENDﾟ: *

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caged-dreamland · 9 months ago

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💐Tea and Comfort🌿- Stellarium ONE SHOT

⚠️Content Warning⚠️: Slight warning for intrusive thoughts and hearing voices

A little thing I cobbled together because I wanted Meliora and Venueri to have dessert together and instead of doodling it, I wrote this! A little messy, but it was fun to do something sweet with them.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:**:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

Ღ Venueri was used to being alone, ever since she was young.

Ღ She would have never guessed it in a million years that the stars would bless her with the company of another after all this time.

Ღ She truly didn’t deserve it.

Ღ But here she was, waiting at the small, ornate outdoor table for the first Villicus she has seen in a long time to come back with her “surprise”.

VENUERI: (“I don’t know why she bothers…”)

Ღ Well, with her. Venueri didn’t see why her new roommate seemed to enjoy her presence.

Ღ Not that she didn’t enjoy her company, it was more so…

Ღ She felt that she was a lost cause.

???: “No one should ever get close to you.”

Ღ A voice sneered at her, one she had grown accustomed to.

Ღ Before she could dive deeper into that rabbit hole, the sound of her gilded heels came clicking on the white stone leading to the gazebo.

MELIORA: “Venueri! Sorry for the wait, had trouble figuring out the stove!”

Ღ Her vibrant violet eyes that contained a sky similar to Venueri’s seemed to sparkle with excitement.

VENUERI: “O-Oh, it’s not an issue! Please, come have a seat.”

Ღ Setting down the trays with grace, Meliora sat down on the chair across from Venueri.

Ღ Venueri looked up from her lap finally and to the trays she brought.

VENUERI: “You made tarts?”

Ღ Quite surprising.

MELIORA: “Yup, you said in the past that you had trouble tasting certain flavors. So, I made something sour!”

Ღ She remembered that?

VENUERI: “Oh, you didn’t have to!”

Ღ She was slightly embarrassed by feeling… seen, almost.

Ღ But Meliora grinned and waved her hand,

MELIORA: “I wanted to, besides, you need something indulgent for once. What did you have last night before we went to bed? …Bread?”

Ღ So she saw her do that.

Ღ Venueri felt herself turn pink at those words, trying not make eye contact with the other.

VENUERI: “I promise I do try to cook real food sometimes…”

MELIORA: “...You do remember the last dish you made, right?”

Ღ Oh, yeah, that.

VENUERI: “Please don’t mention it.”

Ღ Venueri sulked openly, the embarrassment still fresh on her mind.

Ღ Meliora chuckled at her pouting before grabbing the teapot she had prepared for the two of them.

MELIORA: “I didn’t know what kind of blend you like, so I hope the one I chose is ok.”

Ღ She plopped in two sugar cubes into her teacup, the scent of the tea rose into the air.

Ღ It was really nice, actually.

VENUERI: “It smells wonderful! Which one is it?”

Ღ Meliora smirked in a victorious fashion, as if she was betting with herself on this.

MELIORA: “It’s called Hot Apple Spice, you seemed to be really into the Autumn season when we went out last time, so I grabbed a bag!”

Ღ She could smell the apple and cinnamon, there was also the slight scent of orange and cloves in the mix.

Ღ Meliora grabbed Venueri’s teacup and a small plate.

MELIORA: “How many cubes?”

Ღ She clicked the little sugar cube tongs as she asked.

VENUERI: “I, um, the same amount as you?”

Ღ Meliora wasn’t pleased by that answer,

MELIORA: “Do you like it more bitter or sweet?”

Ღ Venueri sat straight up, as if she were being interrogated.

Ღ She put more thought into this answer this time.

VENUERI: “I suppose sweet to pair with the sour of the tarts…”

Ღ Meliora nodded her head, grabbing a few sugar cubes and stirring her tea with the small, detailed spoon.

MELIORA: “You do seem like more of sweets girl!”

Ღ She grins happily as she carefully handled one of the baked tarts she made.

Ღ The scent of rhubarb and strawberries filled her nose, and the plate and teacup were gently set in front of her.

Ღ Venueri stared at the tart like it had eyes, but she picked up the teacup and let the aroma fill her senses.

Ღ She had to wonder…

Ღ Why would Meliora bother with her?

???: “She’s just wasting her time on you.”

Ღ A voice mocked her from somewhere.

???: “She would be better off kicking dirt.”

Ღ The shaking of her own hands became apparent to even herself as they continued to shout and insult her.

MELIORA: “Venueri?”

Ღ Of course she would notice, she wasn’t doing a great job at hiding her panic right now.

Ღ Venueri tried to calm down, to level her breathing, but even as her vision blurred– she couldn’t get her mind to cease the voices.

VENUERI: “I…It’s ok, I’m just a little on edge…”

Ღ Meliora wasn’t stupid, she knew that, but it was the best lie she had.

Ღ But she approached Venueri regardless, her hand urging Venueri to put down the teacup and lay her hands down.

MELIORA: “Venueri, it’s alright, focus on me.”

Ღ Venueri didn’t want to, but her voice was so warm, so compelling, that she looked up at Meliora’s face.

Ღ Meliora’s hand gently squeezed her own, her violet eyes filled with indigo clouds and a warm yellow moon stared back into her own sky filled eyes.

Ღ Venueri keep finding the one question bubble its way back up the surface of her mind as Meliora ran her thumb across her knuckles.

Ღ Why does she bother?

Ღ What did she have to gain from this?

Ღ Venueri was so confused, by this warmth and concern.

Ღ It felt like an axe embedded in her chest.

MELIORA: “Here, the tea isn’t caffeinated, the warmth might help ease your head.”

Ღ She slowly let go of her hand and pushed the tea towards her,

VENUERI: “...”

Ღ She was silent for a moment before she took a small sip of the tea.

Ღ The warmth did feel nice.

Ღ Meliora was quiet, but she didn’t leave her side.

Ღ As the panic of her head slowly leveled, Venueri felt a bitter feeling come up in her heart.

Ღ She finally decided to ask.

VENUERI: “Meliora?”

Ღ Her eyes widened at Venueri.

MELIORA: “What is it?”

Ღ She looks at her fellow Villicus,

VENUERI: “Why…”

Ღ She starts, almost stopping and burying her emotions deeper.

VENUERI: “Why did you do all this?”

MELIORA: “...Huh?”

Ღ She clearly didn’t get it.

VENUERI: “The tarts, the tea, the concern…”

Ღ She listed a few of the most recent examples.

VENUERI: “There has to be a reason you’re doing all this.”

Ღ Meliora smiles though, she smiles with a sadness.

MELIORA: “It’s simple, really.”

Ღ She looks down at Venueri, who looks up at her.

MELIORA: “I like you!”

Ღ She scratches her cheek in embarrassment, leaving Venueri flabbergasted.

VENUERI: “L-Like?!”

Ღ She could have dropped her teacup right there.

Ღ Her eyes wide with confusion, while Meliora chuckled at her unusual expression.

VENUERI: “You don’t know me though.”

Ღ She knew if Meliora knew her… then…

Ღ Meliora didn’t let her finish that thought.

MELIORA: “Even if I don’t know everything, I want to know more.”

Ღ She smirks; honestly…

VENUERI: “Do you not think that I’m… a disaster?”

Ღ A lost cause.

Ღ A broken tool.

Ღ Meliora shrugged it off.

MELIORA: “Even if you were, who am I to say that’s a bad thing?”

Ღ Venueri blinked at that statement.

MELIORA: “If you’re a disaster, then I’m a hurricane!”

Ღ She seemed… proud of that.

Ღ Venueri finally let a smile slip through, even if it was small.

VENUERI: “Meliora?”

Ღ Meliora tilts her head,

MELIORA: “What’s up?”

VENUERI: “...Thank you.”

Ღ She snickers, a sound Venueri welcomed.

MELIORA: “I barely even did anything, but you are welcome.”

Ღ Venueri and Meliora look to the tea and treats on the table,

VENUERI: “Ah… my little meltdown took over our teatime. The tea most be cold–”

MELIORA: “Worry not, we have fire magic for a reason.”

VENUERI: “We are not using that in the gazebo.”

Ღ That made Meliora laugh out loud.

MELIORA: “Then we better eat up!”

Ღ She grabs a fork and cuts a piece of the tart.

MELIORA: “Here, open wide!”

Ღ Venueri felt her embarrassment peak as the fork was placed at her lips.

VENUERI: “Meliora! Are you serious?!”

MELIORA: “What? I want you to try it!”

Ღ She was playing dumb.

Ღ The sounds of the two bickering and chatting filled the expansive garden.

Ღ Even with the clean white walls, the white marble, and pristine stone that made the world of Venueri’s Somnious feel so holy yet unwelcoming…

Ღ The warmth the two began to share filled the Monastery with a light that it had never seen before.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:**:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

₊˚ପ⊹ - END

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