🥀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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💐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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