#an elegant demon indeed

[lacamorte]

~ The White Lotus of Shuang Hua

Luo Binghe, being the Emperor of the united realms, has to congregate not only with the demonic aristocrats, but also the human ones. Seeking assurance that he did indeed unite the realms with good intentions, they urge LBH to take a spouse from among their own high-ranking families as a gesture of good will. At this point LBH has accepted that this will be another instance of the world throwing one pretty sister or another into his lap, and agrees to have a meeting with the female aristocrats.

When they arrive at the venue, LBH takes note of a group of very well-dressed young women in a courtyard, each holding fans of varying make in their delicate, manicured hands. In front of them is a lady wearing a lightly beaded weimao, who moves her fan between her fingers with remarkable skill, tapping it and flicking it with ease. She stood out for the simple design of her robes in comparison to the others who wore more ornate clothes — that, and the immense spiritual presence that she had. A cultivator, no doubt. She spoke clearly and sternly, sleeves gently swaying with her movements as she seemed to instruct the other ladies.

One look is all LBH needs to know that yes, this is the one he's here for.

She was quick to notice their approach, the bead strings of her weimao lightly clinking as she turned and raised her cupped hands to salute. The other women copied her example, but with not nearly as much elegance.

"This one greets the Emperor," one of the ladies spoke demurely, the others following suit in quiet murmurs.

Instead, LBH turns to the veiled woman, who after rising from her bow swiftly opened her fan in one smooth movement as if to cover her already veiled face, before pausing and lowering it as she realized the redundancy. LBH suppressed a wry smirk. A shy one, huh?

"Are these the flowers from which this lord is to make his selection?" He inquires politely, attempting to meet the lady's eyes from behind her veil. He catches a glimpse of pink lips before the fan is raised again.

"Merely buds as of yet, I'm afraid," her voice is very soft, a contrast to her earlier demeanor, as if speaking for him alone to hear with his demonic senses. Binghe notices the glint of a spiritual blade resting on her hip, almost hidden by her robes. Binghe's eyes glint with intrigue.

"The young mistresses await further inside, my lord," the aristocrat beside him explains. "If Junshang would follow this one—"

Binghe hums. "No need. I'll take this one."

Everyone seems to take a second to process his statement. Then, they collectively turned to the object of Binghe's attention — the lady in the weimao. The lady herself can only squeak in surprise.

The aristocrat startles, before laughing nervously. "Ah, Junshang, that is—the White Lotus of Shuang Hua is only temporarily in our employ, but—"

Ah, so she is a renown cultivator — and with a title, no less. Perhaps he'd spent too much time away from human society, to have not heard of her. "There is no need for further discussion. This lord has come to select a wife at your abode, and now I have." Then, he archs a brow imperiously. "Or are you refusing my choice?"

The man is sweating. "By no means, my lord! Rather, er, my lord seems to have misunderstood, Shen-xianshi is a ma—"

Master cultivator? Binghe scoffs. As if he hadn't already sensed the woman's immense spiritual presence. "Yes, I had noticed. It is of no concern to me." He waves a hand dismissively. "Send the other women home. Xianshi will be returning with me."

The aristocrat lights a candle in his heart in despair for his fellow men — especially for Shen-xianshi. Lord Luo, that's no sister you're taking as your wife — that's a man!!!

aka: LBH mistakes SY for a woman and says he'll take cultivator SY as spouse in compliance with a political arrangement. Not wanting to anger the demon emperor, the aristocrats quickly find a genderbending artifact for SY and send him off to join LBH's harem.

[dark-and-kawaii]

Daughters

Raphael x F!Tav/Reader

Haarlep x F!Tav/Reader

⋆˙⟡♡ Summary: Two separate little stories for Raphael & Haarlep being parents!!

⋆˙⟡♡ Notes: Purely self indulgent!! I just really love the thought of them both being parents okay! Especially Haarlep!!! I brought back Impsy from a previous story as well for Haarlep’s story!! Enjoy xoxo

⋆˙⟡♡ Parenthood | Dadphael | Fluff | Haarlep As A Parent ♡

Prt 2. - Prt 3.

Raphael

Raphael tended to his duties amidst the solemn quietude of his archive. Engrossed in the scrutiny of a newly inked contract, the rustle of hurried steps reached his ears. With a practiced motion, and without a glance away from his script, he caught hold of his daughter's tail as she attempted to dart past.

The abrupt interruption of her sprint sent her tumbling, "gah!"

"Pray tell, to what urgent destination are you racing?" Raphael inquired, his attention steadfast upon the curling letters of the contract.

"Nooowhere..." came the sheepish, drawn-out reply.

Raphael's voice, still calm and measured, carried a note of paternal admonishment, "Venture not too far, and refrain from such reckless haste within the archive. These relics are delicate, their histories irreplaceable.”

The little devil, a mischievous glint in her eyes, nodded slowly, her tail now still in her father's firm but gentle grasp. With a reluctant sigh, she straightened up, her posture mimicking the elegance she so often saw in her father.

"Sorry, father," she said, her voice a mix of feigned contrition and lingering excitement. "I'll be more careful. But, um, can I ask you something?"

Raphael finally lifted his gaze, his eyes meeting hers with an intensity that belied his calm exterior. "Of course, child. You know you may always speak freely."

She shuffled her feet, the earlier urgency replaced with a sudden shyness. "Yoooou are going to meet with a client later, and I... I was wondering if maybe I could watch? I promise I'll be silent and still as a statue!"

A small, knowing smile crept onto Raphael's lips. "A client, you say? Very well. You may observe, but under two conditions: You shall not interrupt, and you shall learn. There is much to be gained from understanding the art of negotiation and the binding of contracts."

Her face lit up, a beaming smile cutting through her attempts at decorum. "Yes, father! Thank you! I'll be the best statue you've ever seen!"

Raphael released her tail, and with a gentle push, he encouraged her toward the door. "Go then, prepare yourself. But remember, should you break your promise, there will be consequences. We are, after all, a family of our word."

The Apple of his eyes nodded vigorously before darting off, this time with a skip rather than a sprint, her excitement barely contained as she vanished from the archive.

Raphael's eyes returned to the contract before him, the smile lingering a moment longer before the mask of the composed dealmaker settled back into place. He placed it down on the table so he could focus on you, the mother of his heir who slept soundly at his side on the opulent sofa, your head resting upon his lap as he stroked your head. His gaze shifted to the crown of karsus, the brown irises tracking its form, “A family of our word, indeed."

Haarlep

The day arrived when the cries of a newborn half demon echoed through the halls. Haarlep approached the cradle, where a tiny creature with horns just sprouting from its head and a mischievous glint in its eyes lay. The tiny creature a perfect mix of you both. The incubus's heart, though not often given to warmth, swelled a tad with a strange pride.

"Ah, my little impling," Haarlep mused aloud, a smirk playing across their lips. "How I long to see the chaos you'll unleash."

It didn’t take long, Haarlep could barely believe their child was growing so fast…

"Come now, offspring," Haarlep spoke with a softness no one would believe they possessed. The incubus opened the curtains to your room, the moon casting down upon the city, "You see this world? It's yours to play with, to bend and to shape. I will teach you the art of emotional manipulation, to dance with the hearts of mortals as one plays the lyre." The child clung to their parents leg, its tiny tail giving an excited twitch, Haarlep could only grin.

“Haarlep~” You sung their name, catching your lovers attention.

“Hm?”

You crossed your arms, your infamous imp, Impsy, standing next you, doing the same with an arched brow. A subtle smile crossing your features, “…She’s 3…”

“You are just no fun, are you?”

As the child grew, it became clear that she was indeed Haarlep's progeny, causing minor chaos with a mere giggle, and using her innate powers to toy with the emotions of those around her. But Haarlep's teachings were not yet complete.

"One must never be alone, my little tyrant," Haarlep instructed one evening. "Tonight, you will summon Impsy. A loyal playmate for all your days."

Their child, eager and wide-eyed, nodded and began to chant under Haarlep's careful guidance. The air shimmered, and with a pop, a small imp appeared, its face unamused with its little foot tapping on the ground.

"Hells…” Impsy held the bridge of its nose, “I can’t believe there’s two of you now.” The imp shook its head, “But I mean look at her!“ Impsy’s eyes sparkled wide as it walked up to the tiny little halfbreed, pinching her cheek, “Awh she looks perfect as always! Let’s thank the gods for Tavy’s good genes-“ Impsy smirked at Haarlep, “would’ve been a shame if she got your looks!”

Haarlep watched, a proud smirk etched on their face, as their child and Impsy ran off to pull their first prank together. The bond between them was immediate since her birth, and the imp proved to be a fitting companion for the young thing.

Time passed, and the little half demon grew bolder, often attempting to slip away to explore or cause mischief beyond Haarlep's or your watchful eye. On one such occasion, the child tried to race out of the room, her tiny tail swishing excitedly behind her. With a swift movement, Haarlep's foot came down upon the tail, causing the little demon to tumble onto her rump.

"And where do you think you're going?" Haarlep asked, his tone playful yet stern, the smirk on his face belying his true delight in the little one's antics.

The child pouted, looking up at her father with a mix of annoyance and admiration.

"To explore, to play!" She exclaimed, her eyes shining with the promise of trouble.

Haarlep chuckled, lifting their foot. "Tut, tut. Patience my little one." Haarlep’s mind reflects back to when they were gifted to Mephistopheles… Then Raphael… The incubus’s features twisting at the memories. They wouldn’t allow such a fate for their offspring, “I shall join you, we’ll play a little game! Together! In the city with all those fools.”

[heartfeltcherie]

❝come and get it now❞

notes; birthday present for myself! this is also my first time writing something not rated pg-13 so my apologies if it’s not the greatest.

wc; i was too lazy to paste everything to google docs to figure out how many words were written lolz

warnings: mentions of smoking weed, making out, suggestive at the end. minors please don’t interact lol

you emerge into the lounge area, looking for something— anything —to do, pure boredom clogging up your mind. you see alastor and your dead heart skips a beat.

only he’s capable of doing that.

shades of red cast in through the open door of the hotel. alastor leans against the doorway casually, smoke dancing from his lips so gracefully you’d swear he was doing it on purpose to put you in a trance.

“penny for your thoughts?” you didn’t realize you were staring. “are you smoking weed?” a dumb question. you know a blunt when you see one. “indeed it is, my dear” he answers back so smoothly and casually, like seeing him doing such a thing is completely normal.

you take a few tentative steps closer to him. he’s got his eyes trained on the outside of the pride ring. his side profile looks so beautiful. and the way he holds that blunt between his fingers with such elegance and… care? god, you wish it was your hand he was holding instead.

“didn’t take you to be a smoker” you joke playfully, leaning against the opposite side of the doorway, one leg crossed in front of the other. alastor chuckles at you. “there’s a lot of things you don’t know about me, belle” he takes another drag and blows out the smoke… your gaze goes to his lips. “my eyes are up here, darling” your eyes widen and your face feels hot as he curves his finger under your chin to tilt your head up. his eyes are so beautiful under hell’s red glow.

you both stay like that for what seems like forever, time ticking by slowly as you put a tentative hand around his wrist, carefully testing the waters. and it surprises you when he doesn’t pull away or make the distance between you two less…

he stays. and instead he uses his thumb to gently pull your bottom lip down, moving his thumb across it so teasingly and tauntingly — but what else did you expect? it’s alastor for hell’s sake. but it doesn’t stop the sudden urge you feel to open your mouth fully for his thumb to enter your mouth.

fuck…

“something on your mind, cher?” alastor’s voice breaks through the silence with a smirk on his face; yeah, a certain radio demon and how badly i wanna kiss him. “may i try it?” alastor tilts his head at you, his radio coming through with muffles. “the weed”

alastor stands up straight again, taking his hand away from you (it feels cold there now). he lets out a hum, taking another puff. “oh, if you so must” he passes it to you and it gives you butterflies that your lips will be where his were in just a matter of seconds.

he watches as you put the rolled joint between your lips and he swears to himself that he’s never seen you look more angelic — which is the funniest thing, he thinks, utmost hilarious, considering you’re in the depths of hell. you breathe in the intoxicating air but your lungs decide it would be fun to betray you, making you begin coughing an ungodly amount. alastor laughs at you.

what an ass.

“al, you’re mean! i could’ve died!” you put a hand over your chest, catching your breath. “oh the dramatics, my dear. it was simply just smoke! you wouldn’t have died”

“i deserve a redo”

“a redo you say? hmm…” alastor makes a thinking face for a moment before a smirk graces his face again. he gently takes the joint out of your hand. “my dear, i’m gonna need you to stay completely still for this” you nod and watch as he takes the joint between his lips again, breathing in with ease. he leans down again, cupping your chin with his other hand as the joint rests to the side of him. he uses his thumb, again, to gently pull your bottom lip down as he so-gracefully blows the smoke into your parted lips.

you feel so giddy having an intimate moment like this with hell’s most feared overlord. it makes you wonder why people think he’s so scary when he’s always the utmost gentleman… with you.

your eyes are closed as you feel his hand go from your chin to your hip, clutching onto the material of your clothing like a vice as you put your hands over top his chest and you swear you can feel his heart beating. it’s intoxicating and dizzying and it puts you in a daze when everything’s finished. you open your half lidded eyes and he’s still nose-to-nose with you.

“was that better?” alastor looks at you with hooded eyes and all you can do is nod, feeling like you’re not even on the ground anymore. he chuckles. “oh darling, you’re too adorable…” he brings his hand back up to your cheek, stroking your skin gently with his thumb. “especially in this state”

then do something about it, you wanna say.

“al?”

you swear you see him looking at your lips the same way you’re looking at his; with hunger, want, need, desire, like you’ll die if you don’t get to know the feeling of each other’s lips.

fuck it.

“what will it take for you to kiss me already”

and that sentence is all it takes for alastor to break the distance between you both, crashing his lips onto yours in a fervent motion. you sigh against his lips, your hands clutching onto the lapels of his coat because if you don’t, he might disappear. he tosses the forgotten joint somewhere outside, not caring where it lands as his only focus is hitching your leg against his hip and holding it there as he keeps kissing you with so much passion and hunger that it takes your breath away every time you hear your lips smacking together. you’re feeling so turned on and the high gives you this cloud nine feel and—

oh my fucking god, i’m high and making out with the radio demon.

alastor puts both hands on your hips as he mutters a small “jump”, refusing to bring this make out session to a halt for even a couple seconds. you happily comply as you jump into alastor’s arms, wrapping your legs around his waist as his hands cup your butt, giving a gentle squeeze and he can’t help but chuckle lowly as you gasp into his mouth. he walks you both over to the couch, stopping at the side of the arm rest before he gently lays you down on the couch. the kissing stops for just a second (much to both of your dismays) so you can watch as he crawls over top of you like a predator about to pounce on his prey.

you part your legs so he has space to slot between and oh boy do the butterflies tickle your tummy with their wings seeing him on top of you like this. your face feels like lava.

“you know, my dear, i was planning on properly courting you before doing such explicit things,” he moves some hair out of your face, looking at you with hooded eyes. “but my mind is filled with thoughts that make me less of a gentleman” you bring your fingers to card through his hair.

“i don’t want you to be a gentleman with me, al. not right now”

alastor smirks and you swear you see his pupils turn to radio dials as he leans into your neck and says lowly in your ear,

“good girl”

tags; @alastorthirsty

comments/reblogs are appreciated ♡ also! if you liked what you read, consider asking to be on my taglist :)

[wistfulnightingale]

Finding Forgiveness (or, Text Barrages and Apology Dances)

Mini Meta-Musing #8

Forgiveness after a disagreement or an argument is such a simple yet complicated thing. In even the closest, most intimate relationships, it requires a great deal of trust and love. The person who caused the hurt must surrender some of their pride for the sake the loved one. They must also trust that it is safe to do so. The person who was hurt must be willing to let go of their anger or resentment, and open themselves up to the relationship again.

In the first episode of Season 2 of Good Omens, we are presented with two relationships in conflict. One uses words and words and more words... but there is no listening, no trust. The other settles the conflict with very few words at all. With a dance, in fact. Yet the trust and love there is deep and obvious.

The first is Nina and her partner Lindsay. Lindsay has assumed that Nina broke her trust by not calling when she was locked in the coffee shop with her phone out. Sure, the situation sounds a bit implausible... but Lindsay sends a barrage of accusatory texts before she knows any of the facts. As the days go by, we learn that not only is Lindsay controlling, but she also has no faith in her partner. She dumps words and accusations and guilt trips, never believing or listening or trusting, until finally breaking up with Nina in a resentment-filled text message.

After seeing that first deluge of text messages when Crowley restores power to the coffee shop, we are immediately shown a far different way to resolve conflict. The next scene is Crowley's melodramatic return to the bookshop. Aziraphale and Crowley have a lasting, deeply rooted relationship. Although some argue that they don't communicate enough, especially in this resolution, I propose that they have found a lovely and mature way to resolve serious conflicts.

Everytime I watch this scene, and see how intensely difficult it is for Crowley to accept doing this, I'm actually a little in awe. Crowley HATES DOING THIS DANCE!!! But as much as he hates humbling himself like this, he Loves Aziraphale MORE. It is far more important to him to fix their conflict quickly, be back on good terms, and help his Angel solve this Gabriel problem. Although his face looks fierce and his tone is irritated, his eyes never leave Azi's. I think they look a bit imploring. The apology is in his golden eyes.

" 'Kay?" is not just, "Are we okay now?" It's also a trust, a gift. "You understand how much I care about you, right? I really do accept how stubborn and thoughtless I was earlier, and you see that I'm very sorry, even though it's hard for me to say the words, yeh?"

Aziraphale is of course, deep down, just a bit of a bastard, so he does take a bit of a comeuppance in his "Very nice." Many of us read a bit more in that look... Crowley looks very elegant in that deep bow! Nonetheless, Azi is happy to be reconnected with his demon, and he eagerly engages with Crowley's brainstorming about their "tiny miracle."

They don't need to verbally process what the fight was about. They've had this fight before, in varying contexts, and they'll surely have it again. But they're working on it, each of them. They know each other's faults, and they love and forgive each other anyway.

I love these moments (in the above photo) after Jimbriel toddles down the stairs. Crowley has just scolded Jimbriel to stay inside. Meanwhile, behind him, Aziraphale steps in closer with an idea. Without even looking back, Crowley steps backwards into that familiar spot where he will be perfectly paired and facing his angel once he turns towards him. Like magnets. Like a couple who is completely synchronized, as long as they are open and trusting each other.

And the familiar excited exchange of ideas begins again!

Oh yes indeed... This is definitely An Old Married Couple (I wrote a meta on it!). They know how to communicate, how to trust each other, and how to forgive. At least as well as many of us do...!

And, although we don't really NEED to see it here, I'm including a gif of Crowley's Apology Dance. It's beautiful, it's graceful... Aw, heck, we all just LIKE to see it again!

[burningcheese-merchant]

"Avatar of Ruin" - BurningCheese Short #3

Got inspired while playing through Beast Raid and watching the little story cutscenes. There's an implication that Burning Spice is keeping tabs on Golden Cheese as she traverses Beast-Yeast, so I figured that, with this in mind, it stands to reason that he would've witnessed this particular event as well.

Also, fuck Expert Mode. Expert Mode can go suck rotten eggs. Give me the goddamn axe accessory already

'So that's what it looks like...'

Staring back at Burning Spice from within the misty reflection of his mirror was... something. Some great and terrible creature. Some snarling, spitting, red-faced, hulking monstrosity. A bizarre amalgamation of body parts that had no business being anywhere near each other. Tiger teeth, tiger paws, bird and pig feet. Golden armor plating on those far-too-big arms haphazardly stitched to its sides. A plume of scarlet feathers sprouting from its neck and pouring down its golden breastplate. Three heads: a boar on its right, a bird on its left, a tiger in the center - all wild-eyed and practically foaming at every mouth. And a long, tough pangolin tail protruding from its backside, as a final hideous touch.

The Wild Spices of old created this thing in Burning Spice's image, eh? He had no choice but to commend such unique artistry - and the spice-fueled madness he knew drove them to sculpt it in the first place. Fear, dread, aimless fury; he could sense all of these and more rolling off of the creature in waves, even through his mirror. Even on his throne, within his palace, so many miles away. He cared nothing for gestures of worship anymore; all empty and meaningless, as all life was without a touch of destruction and chaos to alleviate its monotony. But he could grant his approval towards this one, however... inaccurate it was, with regards to his appearance (he was much more handsome, for one). It was entertaining to watch. Very entertaining, indeed.

More entertaining still were the reactions of the spice warriors in its path. One ear-splitting bellow (or he had to assume; the mirror offered no sound) from the mouth of the tiger and the warriors cowered and flinched. One stomp of its feet and they all scattered, scrambling for refuge behind the surrounding rocks, desperate to put as much distance between them and what would likely go on to haunt their dreams forever as possible. One of the saffron buffalo scouts tripped while he fled and fell face first into the dirt - and Burning Spice laughed at him, harder than he's laughed at anything in a long time. He ought to command the Wild Spices to create more of these living tributes to his greatness, just so he can wake them up and watch them terrorize them all some more.

But his eyes eventually drifted away from the fool squirming in the dirt and back towards the monster. To the person standing just before it. The cruel, mocking grin he wore softened, melting into a dreamy smile.

Most entertaining of all was the beautiful little bird standing her ground against the creature, raising her spear towards it in stone-faced defiance.

On one side of her was the elder kulfi, his eyes wide and dark with worry; on the other, her hooded subordinate, an eerie purple flame crackling within the eye of his staff. He seemed apprehensive, confused... but resolute nevertheless. Ready and willing to follow his queen's lead.

Burning Spice's smile faltered for a moment, but quickly returned when he saw Golden Cheese take a strong step forward and adopt a fighting stance. None of those fools mattered. They weren't worth a single blink of his eye. His true entertainment would come from this monster, this demon, this affront to creation itself, and its battle against the little bird who dared to challenge its power.

She fought beautifully. Gracefully. With such elegance and poise, and such precise brutality in perfect contrast, that it dazzled him. Her subordinate fought alongside her, casting spells and landing a hit or two of his own - but Burning Spice didn't care about that. Magic was a coward's tool. No, he cared about the way Golden Cheese flew all around the monster's head and body, weaving through the gaps and flapping her wings in such a way as to try to disorient it. Every hard swing of the flaming swords it brandished was met with either swift evasion or an expert parry. Stabs and thrusts would follow each and every time. Carving into its flesh. Tearing holes in its armor, dismantling it little by little. Blood and smoke gushed from each and every wound, its movements growing more erratic and easy to counter as it slowly succumbed to its injuries.

Eventually, it collapsed, crumpling to the ground with a thud that sent a light shockwave through the earth. The hooded man knelt a ways away, panting, using his staff to maintain his balance - and Golden Cheese stood atop the monster's corpse, digging her foot straight into a gash in its temple and raising her spear triumphantly.

Burning Spice chuckled. 'Woman after my own heart...'

The spice warriors - the ones that stuck around - slowly came out of hiding and gazed upon the mutilated remains of that dreaded beast in shock and awe. A cloud of smoke suddenly enveloped its body, shrouding both it and Golden Cheese; a moment later, it dissipated releasing her back into the world... and with her, in her hand, a single red pepper. And nothing else at all.

Had it been fashioned entirely from this one pepper? Was that all that lay waiting within the depths of its fractured soul? Disappointing.

Golden Cheese stood tall and proud, beaming at all those who now surrounded her. She raised the pepper high for them to see; what she said to them, he couldn't tell, but even so, he could sense her overwhelming confidence. She must be giving them a heroic speech of some sort, if the relaxing of their postures and the looks of cautious relief - and joy, if anyone of them dared to admit it - told him anything.

Was Burning Spice upset that this monument to his power had been destroyed so easily? Absolutely.

Was Burning Spice furious at the spice warriors, both those who threw down their weapons and fled, and those who stayed and cowered while their enemy dealt with their problems for them? Beyond the shadow of a doubt.

Was he still deeply impressed with Golden Cheese's effort? Did he still enjoy himself watching her smite this abomination? Did his heart skip a beat when she thrust her spear into its throat, strong and determined, dealing the killing blow?

Was Burning Spice still completely, utterly smitten with her? Even more so now, after bearing witness to the great battle prowess he'd always known she possessed?

Fuck yes.

He reached over and touched the mirror, lovingly tracing the outline of Golden Cheese's face with his finger. He kept lingering on her lips, on her smile. That gorgeous, radiant smile.

To the victor go the spoils... And a single little pepper simply wouldn't do, now would it? Burning Spice will happily rectify this, and soon. Very, very soon.

He'll give her a real showdown. Put her skills to a much more difficult test. Make her wish this little avatar had struck her down while the chance still existed.

And then he'll take her into his arms and kiss the ever-loving hell out of her, as another grand prize for her previous victory, and to finally satisfy his eons-old craving that only seized him harder as he watched her go.

[cutieeva]

Sweet Peach

𝐅𝐚𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫

Female Reader

Warnings : Infidelity. Sexual assault. Dubious consent.

𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒

❛ シュージンの愛 ❜

He was utterly unaware the moment she step inside his mansion, all heavenly and beautiful like ripe fruit to taste and how can he, as a man leave such a fragile beauty alone despite the ring on his finger and children for who she was even asked to come.

"My Lord, the answer you have written is wrong. Please correct it after a thoughtful moment". (Y/N) says to the little boy dressed in kimono. Who lift his chin.

"May you correct me yourself because I find myself unable to". (Y/N) nod.

"With pleasure". Holding the brush between her fingers, with elegance she wrote the correct answer on the paper by the black ink before laying on the wooden polished table and present him. Kiriya nod in judgment.

"I see, forgive me for unable to identity myself". She smiles at the little boy's acknowledgement and pat his head.

"No fears, mistakes are crafted to be corrected and learnt". Uttering the advise she recalls from her own master to the little lord.

"Teacher, could you see my answer, please". Hinaki, the eldest daughter present her own paper to her tutor (Y/N), who smiles and views.

"Well done. May your sagacity persist, illuminating all your undertakings." The little girl, smile in response.

"Well, I offer my sincerest gratitude for your unwavering diligence. We shall meet at our next assembly." The children all bow slightly and (Y/N) nod. Standing up and walking to the exit when her sight meet their father, Ubuyashiki Kagaya. The leader of the demon slayer corp she had no knowledge of until she submit to the wealthy lord's for tuition and was accepted.

She curtsied deeply in respect to the young master and he, the symbol of benevolent and clean man should not bear such ill thoughts of his wondering eyes lingered upon the delicate contours of her neck, where the gentle folds of her attire accentuated each mole and sweet curve.

Unaware she stood straight again and he smiles in shame, eyes dart to the sliver ring reminding of his wife and children he often times forget the moment this enchanting woman step inside his mansion for two weeks now.

"The study has ended ? So soon, I might add". The woman smile wider at the young master's worry for his children's education.

"It is solely attributable to the young lords and ladies' remarkable intellectual alacrity. They grasp concepts with effortless ease and rectify errors with unerring swiftness, bespeaking a most promising future." Praises sing from her lips and the leader smile, basking at the proud of his offspring. "And, naturally, we must consider the lineage from which they hail. The young lords and ladies have unmistakably inherited their father's distinguished intellect and noble bearing." She added, admiration shine from her eyes where Kagaya see his unappealing self at the reflection yet her warmth humanize him, the way she stare directly free of shame or disgust from his spreading disease on the one eye. It flutter his heart when it should not.

"Your compliments are overly generous, but I attribute our children's exceptional qualities, in no small measure, to my wife's own exemplary intelligence and virtuous influence." She frown at the mention of his wife to which he notice and thought, does she dislike her ? A fleeling thought came of the answer perhaps she feels some envy ?

While (Y/N) inside is berating herself for the oversight to acknowledge the esteemed lady's influence, whose virtues and graces undoubtedly should be praise as well.

"Of course". She agreed. "I shall take my leave". Swallowing she stare for the polite permission.

"Indeed". He said with a heavy heart and he stepped aside, permitting the lady to glide past him. The soft brush of her silken shoulder against his arm arresting his breath, and he was unexpectedly entranced by the subtle, sweet fragrance that wafted from her, of peach he believes.

☯

Kagaya is sitting under a cherry blossom tree, basking at the warm sunlight and the cool breeze when a peach he had not know appeared in his palm and his mouth felt dry, with a sudden thirst he sank his teeth in the lush peach tasting the sweetest honey even a nector has fail and the juice glide inside his mouth and some in his hand, he hastily licked the trickle, savoring every drop. He bite and bite and bite more, the more he savor, the more unsatisfying he is feeling and before he knew it, eyes fluttered open, locking onto the inviting curve of a stranger's lips he is kissing with great passion he grace none.

And her kimono's silken folds slipped from her shoulder, unveiling a (S/C) radiant expanse of skin before his eyes that captivated Kagaya's senses he rip his kiss to claim the tender flesh, drinking in the heady fusion of peach sweetness and her own alluring essence.

"Lord, Lord, it's time to wake up". Kagaya's open his eyes wide and it dawn upon him. It was a sensual dream he had not imagine from adolescent. Also the woman with peach fragrance was—.

"Thank you for waking me". He smile at his wife who smile. —not his wife rather (Y/N).

Guilt and rage fill within and he waited, waited and waited for the disgust to come however it did not come. Perhaps because he never really loathe it. After all dreams are of someone's inner desire and shame eat him watching his innocent children running around their mother while he fascinate of another woman. Their tutor, (Y/N). The alluring woman that is seducing him.

Thus when she make her appearance Kagaya hid, not wanting to meet the cause of his destruction.

☯

"Teacher, what deeds can children do to bring joy to their fathers' hearts ?" This earned her attention and she smile.

"Explain, please". Hinaki gulp and look down, reluctant to open up. "Share your thoughts. You are seeking a way to bring joy to your father's heart, am I correct ?" The little girl lit up at her tutor's smoothing voice and nod.

"For few days despite his bright smile, I've noticed a lingering strain on his face these past few days. The faint wrinkles and tension in his demeanor betray his usual carefree air, leaving me feeling concerned and helpless." (Y/N) pat tendering on her back, dwell how adults overlook the keen discernment of children, who, with intuitive sagacity, grasp subtleties that escape the notice of their elders.

"Might I propose that you indulge your artistic inclinations by sketching a likeness of your esteemed father or beloved family? Such a gesture, tenderly presented, may well bring solace to his heart.". Hinaki nod at the suggestion and (Y/N) part her lips when Kiriya took her attention away at a problem he deem is correct. "I am looking forward to". She whisper to her, encouraging before helping others.

☯

"Well, I offer my sincerest gratitude for your unwavering diligence. We shall meet at our next assembly." She repeated the words and the students bow when Hinaki come near her, showing the drawing she crafted. (Y/N)'s heart touched, finding even herself among the family picture.

"I am deeply grateful. I can not alone with words describe how you warmth my heart. Thank you". Blush red her cheeks. "And I know, your father will cherish it a lot". She hand back the paper. "Well, I shall take my leave—". She stopped by the little girl's tuging her sleeve.

"I wish to present him with you". She tilt her head a little.

"If you are shy. We can share this with your mother ?" The suggestion she thought good was discard by her no.

"Why ?" Curiously she ask.

"Because mother is not at home at this moment and I wish to give him now however my nervousness overshadow me". (Y/N) nod, soaking the adorable reason and comply. They both stood up, parting from the others to visit her father, (Y/N) follow behind, (E/C) eyes wondering a little as never wander inside the mansion properly before. Each inch is pristine and polished as expected. A little envy grip her heart from how lavish they own.

"Here, we have arrived". Those thoughts disspeared at Hinaki's announcement. Her eyes stare at the door and wait for the daughter to open who rather gaze at her.

Stood in silence she finally utter. "You want me to open the door ?" The little girl nod. (Y/N) laugh nervously and walk closer to the door to knock once politely.

"Come in. Wife, you have arrived earlier than expected". Kagaya's voice plain and (Y/N) bite her bottom lips before opening the door and peering her head a little.

"Forgive me, it's (Y/N). My lord". The man's flinch at the faimilar voice that captured his dreams and mind and look up, meeting her humble smile.

"Oh. Please come in". Faxing a calm voice, he smile watching her enter in his study room, his gaze lingered on her figure draped in a lavender hue kimono he can not deny to say it's befitting.

His heart pound at the thought of her wishing to see him and wait for her lips to part and say when a little body caught his eye, his eldest daughter shying behind her and holding a paper. Confuse at her presence.

"Well, she wants to present something to you". He watch (Y/N) nod to his daughter who came near him and knelt to present the paper. His fingers unfold and eyes fill with warmth at the realization of a family picture drawn.

However what interesting is (Y/N) on the side too, unconscious smile wide and (Y/N) notice, pushing the little girl's body to hug her father in surprise, that she did. His lavender eyes wide before soften to reciprocating the action.

"Thank you, my child for gifting such wonderful gift I can receive". The girl smile bashfully.

"Welcome and teacher proposed this idea, sensing my unease I have felt concerning your welfare, father". His grip on her hug loosen and eyes met her.

"Oh, forgive father for distressing you, my child". His words directed to her daughter however his gaze remained on her. "And teacher, thank you for your guidance". (Y/N) nod at the kind words.

Hinaki part the hug and about to stood up when her feet slip and almost on her own did (Y/N) run to her student and hold when Kagaya did at once. Their hands top of one another causing (Y/N) to flinch and his heart to race faster at the first touch on bare skin.

"Her skin is softer than I imagined". He thought when she removed her hand.

"F-forgive my rudeness". Her lips stutter, standing up relieve to see her student not fall. The father smiled more, finding her stutter cute.

"Forgiven". The woman nod.

"I-I will take my leave". Bend her body in respect, she turn around to left without his swift permission, leaving behind emptiness within him from their short meeting.

That night he dreamed of caressing a soft (S/C) woman's body. He knew belonged to (Y/N).

☯

The droplets of rain fell harsh on the ground crafting such noise (Y/N) lean her body to listen, melting into the nature, almost lost of her work. If her student did not call her.

She jolt, ashamed by her actions and shake her mind to clear and help the little girl unaware a pair of lavender's eyes admirating her from the sildline.

Soon the study come to an end and the children bow at their gratitude and she stood up, walking to the exit encountering Amane, the mistress of the mansion hastily she bow.

"I have come to give you this, the rain is heavy and returning home might not be safe for a young lady like yourself". Amane forward the parasol to which (Y/N) thank.

"Pardon me, I still wish to return". The beautiful lady nod understanding and (Y/N) walk pass her holding the kind gesture and using it when she step out of the roof. "Heaven, the rain has increased". Her (E/C) eyes stare at the dead empty street and felt a shivers run her spine, walking through the harsh rain preying no ill stand in her way. However god does not bear her wish when the cool breeze and rain turn into a traitorous storm flying her weak parasol away surprising her as her only shield was snatched.

Stood in the middle of the road, dawn setting and her body soaking the water. "I must go back to the mansion". It's impossible to even take a step to continue her journey back home where her parents are waiting. Unfortunately it seem her day would be spend at the Ubuyashiki mansion.

When she return the mansion, standing soaked with blush on her skin from the shame of her lack of judgment, she expected to be ridicule however the pair did nothing apart from taking her to the guest room and advising her to rest the night here.

What escape her eyes were Kagaya's hunger eyes, drawning to her wet body, the way of rain soak her cloth to stick her each curves and skin, he is embarrass by the sound his gulp did. He lick his lips, going outside for privacy for her to change into fresher cloth. He sent his wife away to rest and stood outside, waiting for her former clothes (Y/N) hand, apologizing for being a burden, to he, laugh kindly.

(Y/N) close the door and sigh in relieve at how thoughtful of them to not be cruel while on the outside of her door, lean Kagaya gripping the soaked cloth and sniff on them aggressively. The smell of earthly mix with with her fragment of peach, together it craft the recipe of such heavenly odor he can not help yet lick his mouth to wet the dryness and calm the rush of blood in his lowerpart.

☯

The night came faster than she thought, resting in the estate of someone else feels unnatural, uncomfortable that she knelt from her futon and unfold the small wooden table on the corner and lit a candle to lay the paper and begin writing to draft her mind into a wander to calm her nerves.

Her finger familiar with the brush in her hand move in a fluid motion to write as she please, to no one to intervene and no one to judge yet her forehead still wrinkles and top of the brush touch her lips carelessly, very frequently than an appropriate amount however no loss would be if she decides to part those pillow lips, betray a glimpse of her pearly teeth or perhaps the red flesh of a tongue then the top of the brush will slip into her open mouth fill with saliva and settle upon the soft, plush bed of her tongue where it rest firm and hard, surrounded by the heat and her nector lips close on it's own, deliriously wrapped around the top of only a mere brush however the dignity was shed far long ago as she dug deeper and deeper the brush, befitting perfectly, firm and hard and in desire she suck on those only for the reward to never arrive as she coax, even pleads moans in desperation, rolling and rubbing the softness end of the brush tainting her pure hand in a black ink like a careless little girl—.

(Y/N) turn her head, directly staring at the door. No shadow or a soul stood, confuse by the feeling of watched she continue her writing, the brush still dance between her clean fingers and politely writing.

Kagaya, rest on his back on the wooden wall, breathing heavy for the lungs on his chest for air and close his eyes, sweat glistening from the lustful imagination he imaged pure from the hidden watching by the little crack he made. Her innocent writing turn into such filth his mind craft he can no more deny his desire stretching thin and that he wants her. Near and into his arm.

After all she is seducing him too. The averting glances, coming near her daughter, soaking in the heavy rain to return so sinfully and envy dropping from his wife. Passion must be met. The question is how.

☯

Morning awake her, she sit up, stretching her hands and yawning, slept like a baby. (Y/N) stand up, tighten her loosen kinomo and went to open the door, grasp.

"My lord ?" He stood right in front of her, figure tall to frighten her within the quite hallways. He look at her, gaze so tender she felt unsettle and smile too wide to be happy and without a word she was pushed inside and the door slam shut, her eyes close in the sudden pain on her back, wincing, part her lips to comment when he silence it by blending his own on top of her.

Her eyes wide, (E/C) pupils threating to spill, unable to believe the same kind married man kissing her. Her lips snarl and she attempt to push his advances however caught by his one hand before the other wrap around her waist, pulling her near.

No. No. No. No. No. In fit of rage and desperation with full strength remain in her body she push him away, ripping their lips apart. Her hand twisting free from his grip to slap him only to be caught.

He breaths heavily, lavender eyes decorate with lust and passion that clouded even his better judgement. He eyes her wet lips and smile, they were softer and sweeter than even the peaches he dreamed of and her skin were lovely to touch like feather of a bird. "Do not slap me. I love you". (Y/N) gaze at him in astonishment.

"Why do you appear surprise ? Do you not know I was under your spell the entire time you were seducing me ?" The man is mad, along the disease on his skin, it seem it spread into his brain too for how non sensible words he is uttering, (Y/N) thinks.

Before she can deny such impure accusation he drive into her neck, engulfing her body within his own and sucking the skin he desired so much, and sigh as if given water to survive, trailing pepper kisses on the side to her chin and stopping. (Y/N) grim, unable to stay attach to a situation she wish to never begin, watching him intently how he bore his eyes to her like imprinting her on his memory.

His lips then kiss on her corner of lip.

On her cheek. Kagaya smile and (Y/N) close her eyes in response.

On her closed eyes. (Y/N) suck a breath.

On her forehead. He loves her, oh so much, adorably to die.

And on her lips finally. Sighing in happiness, of how he kiss her, not in dream, imagination rather in real life. Heat garthering under his skin and blush color his cheeks, even his entire face along the wider smile. He looks mad in desire.

(Y/N) let him kiss her this time. Welding her lips open to sink his tongue to taste and hands to roam her garments. "I knew it, she wants this too". Happily nibbling on her bottom lips to into her flesh of mouth, he drink all and every nector she could offer, greedily taking and taking.

His hands while untie the rode to the kinomo and tear open her clothes she bite his lips hard to draw blood and broke the kiss when he flinch. Leaning her head on the wall, she breath first.

"Am I a prostitute in your eyes ?" Kagaya's eyes wide and shake his head desperately.

"No ! Never". Never in the life of him did he thought ill of her.

"Then after having your way with me. You would discard me like a used cloth". She avert her gaze and her voice bored, lack of emotions.

"No, Never". He deny eagerly, how could he when he is flying to her like a moth to a flame, infuriated with her entire being.

"How do I believe you when you have wife and children of your own ?" Her voice raise and eyebrows furrow. "I am just a other woman, you can not marry me. And if you can not, then you won't have me". Yank from his hands she tries to walk away when he embrace her from behind, tighten his hold where she is suffocated and whisper in her ear.

"I can leave her. Leave anything to have you". She smile bitterly and thought foolish, foolish man.

"Your children too ?" Her (E/C) eyes gaze at him and smile crease to nothing. The married man nod.

"I want you only". Feverishly he confess his love over and over and over again that she tune out.

"Then done it before having me". She broke free from the loose grip and he let her because if he wants to own her entirely he must get rid of the worthless ones.

☯

(Y/N) close her eyes in ache of the chaos a man create solely for his selfishness and sit quietly on the carriage Kagaya gave her.

"I do not wish to see your feet wounded". She scoff, wanting to be cradle in her mother's haven.

☯

For the few days she did not dare return the mansion, staying under the roof of her haven and as the days pass in silence, (Y/N) thought the storm has pass unaware it was brewing for the bigger storm because now she knelt alongside her parents in front of the treasures, gifts and a golden swan hairpin on above.

It's gift of marriage. Clearly he is proposing to her.

"(Y/N) ! What is happening ? Ubuyashiki is wanting your hand in marriage ? Was he not wed already ? With adorable children ?" Her mother rain of questions her daughter can not answer.

What would she ? That the man was drove in madness for the thirst of her body ? To own her ?

"Pardon me, Mrs. (L/N). Young master has divorced his wife. He is unwed now, waiting for your daughter's yes". The butler explain calmly.

"(Y/N) ! you can not say yes ! People will assume you as a whore—". She cut her father's worried whisper.

"Say you your Lord that I have accepted the gift and agreed upon the marriage on the date as he please". Her parents close their thoughts, doubts creeping them yet the decide to trust their daughter.

"Understood". The butler left, some guards on her doorsteps for false protection and more for assurance of her not run away.

☯

Within a week, their marriage was set as near as possible and (Y/N) sat wore pure white kimono as a bride she is, the maidens bathing her in praises and compliments she is not in need and her parents wore their dress, masking their tension by the smiles she could see though.

She stand up, going outside and met the gaze of her future husband Kagaya dressed in black, who's name is she going to bear along his possessions.

The man's breath stop for moments watching the angel descend from the stairs towards him, in pure white he will tore eventually and stand beside him to become his forever.

Their vows and the cup was exchange hastily. Guest were close to none and with that they become wed. A dry and marriage based on desires. Nothing alike to how she imagined few months ago before stepping at the cursed mansion. The servants took her first to change in their chamber and Kagaya watched, crazed smile decorate upon his lips.

☯

Finally he went inside greeted by not his new wife rather with empty cold chamber and his mind racing until his sight catch the letter underneath the lit candle.

'Dear husband, I will enter after fully dressed in red thus while waiting please drink the juice I made from my favorite fruit— peach'. The leader caress her exquisite writing just like her and glide to the cup he take to drink. The taste is bitter at first before sweeten, too much to his liking yet like intoxicating he only drink more and more and more.

With a gentle click on the table he place the cup, waiting for his (Y/N) to appear. Seconds bleed into minutes and his eyes flutter close. Minutes pass to hours and the slumber force his eyes to draft, the darkness won.

(Y/N) close her eyes, hoping he took her sleeping drink to fall asleep for her escape to be easier. Her parents sat in front, sleeping as well resting their head on one another, earning a serene smile from herself, she knows could be lost if she stayed with that man. He does not deserve her virtue let alone her heart. The entire reason she offer his prove of love through divorce was because the moment he confess his love, she knew his kind wife does not deserve to rot hence she wished enough for her to break free with the innocent children. Better to be fatherless than an adultery father.

However what she did not calculate his desire control him to send marriage gifts so shamelessly. Knowing she has fallen into the hole deep, she can not escape unscathed thus she agree to marry as promise only to run away somewhere he can never find her. Never, she promise because the place she is running to is out of the nation of Japan. As a tutor and educated woman, she has knowledge and chance to leave.

In the drink she craft, her mind almost wish to put poison for him to eternal sleep however the demon slayer corps need a leader to navigate the end of demons thus she let him live. In misery as she wants.

☯

Amane crumble the letter send by the woman that tore her marriage however the smile that plastered on her face could only overjoy in the misery of her husband of never earning the only woman he hold dear.

Sipping her tea, words from the letter flow her mind of apologize for ruining her marriage and deciding something for her instead of letting her bear a chance, she will forever be in regret and in debt of her.

"She is not a bad woman. Indeed". Amane thought, tasting the tea sweeter than it was.

Perhaps it's from the agony scream of her former husband from his mansion.

"How dare she run away from me when she have my name ! How dare she lie and broke the promise !" In fit of rage he scammble the house upside down, the servants quivering, never seen such side of their master— not even the time of his discovering his disease.

"I will haunt the woman—". Coughs of blood halt his speech and rage as he fall to the ground, blood dripping and scatter on the ground.

Language of love, he has read. When wed to his arranged wife he never felt love rather a duty however that woman changed his colorless life into rose tinted-one. Where he is not tie by duty rather to a love now, her physical touch. And he would haunt her to the end of world if needed.

"Good luck". (Y/N) smirk, throwing a white fogle symbol of ending a marriage that flew to fall on the ground as she ride the ship with her parents, carrying luggage on their hands.

FIN

𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐨𝐟 ◸◜𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬◞◿

[yesihaveaobsession]

Couple Costumes

Alastor x female reader

Summary: Halloween is around the corner and the reader (you) try and convince Alastor to do a couples costume this year

A/N- I know I said later or tomorrow, but I finished it fairly quickly, so HAPPY HALLOWEEN (again) and be safe and check your candy! 🎃🫶✨️

Alastor sat in the hotel lobby, completely absorbed in his newspaper, brows furrowed in concentration as his crimson eyes moved steadily across the page. You slid beside him, glancing up at him, waiting and hoping for him to acknowledge your presence. But as always, Alastor’s focus was as sharp as his smile—broad and entirely fixed on the headlines.

Curious about what could be so captivating, you leaned over to peek at the newspaper, but he still didn’t notice. So, you tapped your fingers on the arm of the couch, giving him a hopeful smile. “Alastor?”

He didn’t even look up. “Yes, my dear?”

“Halloween is right around the corner, you know,” you began, trying your hardest to sound casual as you fiddled with a nonexistent thread on the couch.

“Indeed, it is! A wonderful time for ghouls and goblins to have their fun,” Alastor replied nonchalantly, still engrossed in his reading. Taking a deep breath, you gathered your courage, knowing this might take some effort.

“I was thinking, maybe this year, we could… do a matching costume?” You glanced back at him.

At that, his newspaper lowered just enough for his crimson eyes to peek over the top, fixing on you with a curious, slightly amused expression. “A matching costume? As in, a couple’s costume?”

“Yeah…” You scooted a bit closer. “It’d be fun! And you’d look so dashing—besides, Charlie and Vaggie are doing a couple’s costume this year.” Alastor arched an eyebrow, his mouth curving into a sly smile.

“Oh, is that so? And you think that just because they are engaging in such festivities, I should partake as well?”

You grinned, batting your eyelashes at him. You were quite proud to have gotten this far and could see the faintest crack in his defenses. “Yes! Look, Halloween is all about dressing up and having fun, right? And just think of the reactions we’d get—a coordinated look would make such a statement.”

He chuckled, leaning back into the couch, clearly entertained by your persistence. “Oh, my dear, costumes are never the fun part—it’s what people fear that’s truly delicious.” He lowered the newspaper onto his lap, looking at you with a mischievous glint in his eye.

“And besides, I hardly need a costume to frighten anyone.”

“Alastor, that’s not the point! Imagine you and I as… Bonnie and Clyde, or Dracula and his bride!” You rolled your eyes playfully. He raised a finger, as if about to present a lecture.

“Now, now, Bonnie and Clyde were notorious thieves. I’d rather not sully my own reputation with such petty criminal behavior.”

You sighed. “What about Dracula and his bride, then? You’d make an amazing Dracula—all sophisticated and charming. And I could be your elegant vampire queen.” You leaned closer, batting your eyelashes with a sly smile.

The Radio Demon tilted his head. “Flattery, my dear, will only get you so far.”

“Oh, come on!” You ran your fingers through your hair. “It’d be fun, and besides, we’d look great together.” By this point, you were practically begging.

Alastor’s finger traced along his leg thoughtfully before he looked back up. “You are quite determined, aren’t you?”

You gave him your best puppy-dog eyes. “Please, Alastor? It’s just one night.”

After a long pause, his grin widened, and he reached over to ruffle your hair affectionately. “Fine, fine! But only because you’re so delightfully persistent. If Charlie and Vaggie are parading around in costumes, I suppose I can humor you just this once.”

Your eyes lit up, and you beamed. “Yes! Thank you, Alastor!”

As he watched your excitement, his smile softened, if only slightly. “You’re welcome, my dear. But let’s make this night truly unforgettable, shall we?”

You took his hand and dragged him to the closet Halloween store.

[sugoi-writes]

Scream Machine - An Alastor x Reader fic

(Not sure if this will be a multipart yet or not, but hopeful for it to be! I hope you enjoy some brain rot with me! For reference of the song, look up Scream Machine by Maynard Ferguson on Youtube!)

Reader is a musician who started playing in their time in hell, and likes wearing heels/dresses. Alastor is brought to a "classy" speakeasy by Husk, and is perfectly content with watching your performance...

No warnings, past minor implications/pining and mentions of blood and darker intentions. Have fun! 🎙❤️

❤️🎙❤️

The hellish speakeasy was bellowing with lively chatter, instrumentalists setting up for a new set. As Husk adjusted his mouthpiece, Alastor gives him a beckoning wave, eyebrow twitching. Shit

Knowing his goose could be cooked, Husk trudges his way over, his tenor saxophone hanging lazily around his neck," What's the matter?"

Alastor, expression blunt, says" So I'm supposed to assume that this next chart... ugh, Scream Machine... is going to be... tasteful?" The Radio Demon looked forlorn, ears drooping slightly. He had been promised performances that were more his style. But all that he's observed and heard is BAD jazz. He had half a mind to think that his 'associate' had done this on purpose.

"I have to admit, Husker, while these pieces could certainly be called JAZZ... it's not quite to my tastes." Husk rolls his eyes, ears perking up when his name is called from the stage. Husk waves Alastor off dismissively, his saxophone being slung back to a playable position.

"Some new hot-shot features in it... 'figured you might give it a shot. You might just find a new 'pet' to listen to..." Alastor all but cackles, wiping a stray tear from his eye," Replacing you, dear Husker? Don't be absurd!" Alastor gives his henchman a cheeky wave of his fingers, making the anthropomorphic cat growl. God, Husk hated that fucker...

But, to Alastor's surprise, his eyes did befall a nearly angelic sight. Your shoes clicked loudly as you entered the stage, calling forth attention from the room. It quickly fell to silence as everyone waited for the performance to start.

Alastor's eyes narrowed as he watched you shake hands with the vile, modern jazz conductor... Your grip seemed firm, domineering almost. He was quick to note the flinch he gave you, that nervous smile of an intimidated man. What a curious creature you were; you oozed confidence and bravdo.

There you were, dressed in a long, elegant gown that drug along the floor. Alastor's posture straightens as the jazz conductor let you take your place, before counting the band off. The intro was quiet, featuring only a small handful of instruments. Alastor nearly leaned in as it grew, the trumpets coming in to the fray after a few measures. He realized then that you must be a trumpet player and the hot shot soloist that Husk mentioned. His interest in you grew as he eyed you from across the room.

Your hands were slender, though not quite as slim as his... and much smaller. But, they did seem very nimble. As you gracefully glided through different fingerings and positions, Alastor found himself distracted by your hands. He saw how you seemed to have a loose, almost nonchalant grip, while your soul gave the performance of your life. A perfect juxtaposition between your handshake and now; that fascinated him. He wondered if your bravado was your mask, or if that was the REAL you...

His hair nearly blew back from his face as the chorus kicked in, eyes wide in disbelief. Indeed, that's why it's called Scream Machine. All the right notes, the chords were perfectly struck...but there was still a zanny dissonance that had him gritting his teeth. How gauche...

But, when you began your solo, his ears couldn't help but flick and flex towards you, absolutely devouring your tone and clarity. You cut through the ensemble like a well sharpened knife, your style and timbre undeniable. It almost made the song forgivable, in his eyes. He rested his chin on his hand's plateau, eyes lidded. Despite the jazz being more bombastic and modern... he could get used to this if you were at the helm...

You sauntered towards the front of the ensemble as you blazed into another solo, your fingers and tongue articulating quickly. You were effortlessly setting the newfound tone. He was impressed, to say the least. Improv or not, the solo was quite a tricky one. One that even he would struggle with on a piano. As you walked across the stage, you struck a powerful pose, before the conductor grabbed the edge of your dress and tugged. Hard.

For a moment, a flash of anger crossed Alastor's forced smile, until he was hit with the "reveal".

In a quick flourish that matched the highest note of your solo, you stood in a now short, golden dress that hugged your figure. It seemed that Alastor didn't mind the show... in fact, he was nearly enslaved by your performance.

You shot the crimson and pitch demon a devious look, winking as your solo continued. Alastor felt his mouth salivating, swallowing harshly to get rid of the access fluids. It was strange enough to find himself this entertained... more so than his heightened curiosity.

The way your throat bellowed and constricted when you were playing... the way your cheeks puffed just a bit was you sustained insane, high notes... the way your eyes would flit about the room, but always land on him. Maybe he wasn't the only one caught staring...

The Radio Demon's mind landed on a simple notion: tasting the metallic tang of your lips, fresh from the kiss of your mouthpiece. Would it taste metallic and jarring like blood, he wondered? Would you be breathless from your performance, or just getting warmed up? Alastor shook his head with a start. What a strange thought to have... especially for him. He tried to dismiss it, foot tapping instinctively to the beat.

As the song continued, it suddenly grew quieter, the piano, drumkit, and string bass the only instruments playing. He watched as you blew slow, hot air in your horn, keeping it warm as you rested. Your lips were red, slightly puffy from your efforts. Even as a talented as you were, you had a crack in your mask: you were definitely a little winded.

As he kept watching you, Alastor couldn't help but focus on how your pulse beat in time with the music on stage... His devious mind cooked up the idea of sinking his teeth into your quivering heartbeat... Perhaps he would lure you out back, to a quiet place...

Again, he surprised himself. He had to clear his mind as he tried to focus anywhere but your neck, fingers and face.

Then suddenly, the main motif hit again, and he nearly fell backward in his chair. His own heart thumped madly, matching your own. Your eyes didn't meet his, but even so, he felt like you were playing just for him. He WANTED you to play just for him.

Alastor gripped the sides of his chair harshly, elongated talons splintering the wood. That settles it. Husker was right about one thing... you were a fascinating sight... one to behold, and maybe even held...

As the song wound towards its conclusion, you gave a wide twirl of your hips, before striking your final note. The accompaniment roared life, sustaining the final note before hitting it again, resolutely. Applause echoed throughout the room as Alastor felt the need to join. He was not keen on appearing rude or uncultured. His characteristic smile stretched his thin face as you beamed and bowed. Your eyes, wide with awe, glanced his way. Alastor noted the way your face heated, nodding and giving him a flattered smile.

Indeed that settles it; he would speak with you. Now. Alone... And from there, who knows what he'll do? Alastor slunk into the shadows, Husk unaware that his master was taking a quick detour...

Backstage, you were being fawned over and cheered for, the instrumentalists and crew happily contesting how talented you were. You would always smile and chuckle, doing your best to wave off the compliments. Truth be told, you did enjoy the hell out of them, but you didn't want it all to go to your head. Not yet, anyway~

Even now, you were humble, as a unfamiliar shadow formed behind you. Instinctively, you flinched and turned towards the figure, having to look up to meet the gaze.

It was none other than Alastor, the Radio Demon.

"I must say... that was quite the riveting performance, dear. Quite the act! I wanted to give you my gratitude for making something so loud and gauche bearable to listen to." Alastor offered a sweet, welcoming hand, outstretched for you to take. Come on, he thought... shake his hand like you had the conductor's.

You had sized him up, knowing fully well who was paying you the backhanded compliment, "Alastor, sir... 'pleasure to be meeting the Radio Demon in the flesh." Your hand met his, and just like he suspected; you nearly held him in a vice grip. The sinister smile on his face doubled, a chuckle and a quirked brow sent your way.

"My, do my ears deceive me? Am I in the presence of a fan~?" The tone of his microphone filter made his voice smooth as velvet. His voice forced you to suppress a shiver. You roll your eyes, before an uncharacteristically soft smile graces your face; one that didn't match your firm grip.

"You could assume that, I suppose... I've been an active listener to your broadcasts for a while now. 'Gotta keep up with who got got... and who has the best music on the air."

If Alastor smiled any wider, he would be entering his full-demonic form. But for now, he controlled himself.

"Well, isn't this a treat then..." Alastor leans down to your height, his face mere inches from yours," I dont intent to be forward or crass, but perhaps you could accompany me on a quick stroll?"

You swallowed the lump in your throat as you processed his words. Knowing that he was an overlord, his words were a demand, not a request. If you refuse, you may die. If you go with him... you may die just the same. Every fiber in your being demanded that you turn him down. Lie, and say you have one more set...

You puffed out your chest, a brave grin on your face," Sure... My chops are busted from that last set. Let's bounce."

Alastor offered you an arm, something you weren't expecting. You hesitated a beat longer than you should have before taking it. Alastor's grip now firm, you felt yourself bend and wane before solidifying just outside the joint you played in. Your head turned quickly towards the door, then him.

"So you can teleport other people too...," Good to know, you thought, as Alastor laughed.

"Dear, why fight the crowd? I figured it would be easier this way, don't you think?" You returned a nod to him, keeping your mask sharp as the two of you started your way down the block. You realized then you'd have to return tomorrow for your trumpet. But again, that wasn't the most worrying thing on your mind just yet...

You were weary of the entire encounter, but continued to follow the Radio Demon, who seemed a little too hellbent on getting you alone...

[monstersdownthepath]

Herald of Besmara: Kelpie's Wrath

CR 15

Chaotic Neutral Colossal Outsider

Adventure Path: Skulls and Shackles: The Wormwood Mutiny, pg. 86-87

When one thinks of Besmara they likely think of "piracy," but her other two areas of concern are 'strife' and 'sea monsters.' One may thus believe that Besmara's Herald may be a powerful pirate captain, or perhaps an intelligent sea beast which either inhabits or commands a vessel. The most visionary may believe that Besmara's Herald could be nothing less than a whole crew of people running an enchanted ship! So when a mysterious fog rolls in and the lights of a ship that wasn't there alight from nowhere, the party may be tempted to look towards the helm, or the prow, or perhaps even the crow's nest to try and spot who's commanding the intimidating galleon... only for the skull at the front to tell you to quit eyein' its aft like some kind of pervert.

Indeed, Besmara has an elegant solution to the problem of what her Herald would look like. It's not a crew on a ship, or a sea monster, or a singular captain, it's a ship made of a sea monster which captains itself and utilizes a crew of zombie sailors when needed. Despite it's skeletal appearance and ghoulish powers, the Kelpie's Wrath is as alive as any demon or dragon, though it can passably imitate the feared ghost ships which haunt the seas at night, able to conjure ghostly lights (Dancing Lights), fearful sights (Major Image), and zombie fights (summoning a crew of up to 20 draugr) seemingly at a whim and wielding terrifying, spectral weapons and even whole ghostly creatures as though they were limbs. Many crews who've found themselves in its sights mistakenly believe its illusions and conjured zombies to be the real threats, unaware that the ship itself is their true enemy... and even if they did, it's unlikely to help.

Have you ever fought an enemy that was its own stage hazard? You don't want to, especially if that enemy can Plane Shift or Teleport with you in tow... or just immediately dive underwater. Though you have to fail a DC 18 Will save to be shanghai'd into another plane, having a ship suddenly teleport out from under you or dive a hundred feet underwater and drag you behind it is a real danger regardless of the situation, and it puts you at a huge disadvantage if you can't immediately clamber back aboard YOUR ship, fly, or walk on water. And if the phantom ship resurfaces right next to you...

Actually, what am I talking about? "If?" No, when. It's a pirate in service to the Queen of Pirates, and pirates are quite famous for never fighting fair. If you find yourselves prey to the Kelpie's Wrath, it's going to use every trick it has in the most underhanded ways it can. Let's take a look at what that entails...

We'll start with the obvious: It's an entire ship. Nearly a hundred feet long and hovering around 25 to 30 feet wide, the Wrath is a battlefield unto itself, but you absolutely do not want to stand on it to fight, because that's just asking for a terrible death. Engaging it from afar means you 'only' have to deal with its 40ft space and 30ft reach, denoting which part of itself it's focusing on defending, which is still a radius that covers most traditional battle maps entirely. Because you're only ever going to be encountering the Wrath on the high seas (regardless of what world or plane those seas are on), staying out of its reach is practically impossible unless you're using Pathfinder's rules for ship combat to engage it with a vessel of your own (WARNING: Do Not Do This), and you will inevitably be forced into melee with it... and then, unfortunately, forced onto it, which as previously mentioned is almost certain doom.

Everything within the Wrath's threat radius is subject to its trio of incorporeal touch attacks, which manifest as immense clawed hands, ghostly weapons, spectral sailors, and skeletal sea beasts of ages past, each one raking over the ship's target for 3d6 untyped damage plus 3d6 Electricity AND 3d6 Fire damage. The primary danger presented by these phantoms is that the party may not immediately know what's going on or recognize just how the attack works; the Wrath can conjure a crew of draugr to fight atop it AND it can use Major Image at any point within its reach, letting it clutter up the battlefield with obstacles which present no true danger to the party but which it can use as vectors for its incorporeal attacks, potentially making a party member out uselessly against illusions, insubstantial phantoms, and inconsequential minions.

Muddying the waters further, Wrath can use Seeming 3/day to swath its draugr sailors in magical disguises to make them appear more important than they truly are. Able to communicate telepathically, the ship can give complex orders to its entire crew at once to run baffling distractions or attack in tandem with it to make them seem like true threats, a tactic especially useful if the party doesn't yet recognize the ship is alive (or foolishly believes that only the skeletal figurehead is alive). Kelpie's Wrath thrives on sowing confusion when it attacks, and a DM would do well to remember that, describing its attacks and abilities in terms which feel ambiguous, like they could be coming from anywhere, like that one fancy draugr at the ship's helm that's dressed up like the captain or the strange balls of light dancing along its sails.

Even if the party feels like something is wrong, they'll have to go with their gut on this one; magic is unreliable when fighting the vile ship. Not because of any aura or unique ability it has, but because its space/reach means it can make extremely good use of its Disruptive and Spellbreaker feats, the former making it more difficult to cast spells defensively while in its threat radius (which is everywhere), the latter provoking Attacks of Opportunity if you fail the check to cast defensively.

Its touch attacks aren't just bad because of the damage, either. Being hit with two or more of them in a round lets it Keelhaul the unfortunate victim, repositioning them as a free action. Now, a reposition is a Combat Maneuver, which means it has to roll a CMB check versus the target's CMD. The average CMD of a 10th level Human Fighter is hovering anywhere between 25 and 35 depending on if they dumped Dex (WARNING: Do Not Do This) or got ahold of Str boosting items, and let's see what the Kelpie's Wrath has for its CMB...

+41?!

ah, right, Colossal size. This thing can juggle most players. Hope your party cohesion didn't rely on people being in specific positions!

In case you're not sure how the maneuver works: if you're repositioned, the attacker can shunt you into another space so long as that space is A) Within their reach, and B) within 5ft of your previous space... but for every 5 points the attacker's CMB check beats your CMD, that's another 5ft of movement. Now, remember how gigantic the Wrath's threat radius is? That's a LOT of potential spaces you can be shuttled into, and every 5ft you're moved from its Keelhaul you take an additional 1d6 damage because it's literally using your face to scrape barnacles and algae off itself. Keelhaul is an especially potent ability if used on the high seas, because the ability specifically states that it can use its repositions to drag victims underwater, forcing them into the ever-dreaded underwater combat scenario. Even if you've got Water Walk or Fly on, it can still shove you right into the drink if it beats your CMD by enough, forcing you to waste precious time getting back into the fight... if only to push you back down again, because pirates don't fight fair.

Also, Keelhaul specifically states "a creature hit with two or more of its attacks in 1 round," meaning AoOs and other off-turn attacks count. If you take one hit during its turn and then get schmacked because you triggered Spellbreaker or its Combat Reflexes, you're going into the soup.

If it doesn't want a victim in the sea, it also has the option to shove creatures directly into the center of its space, at which point victims are automatically dragged into its cargo hold and battered by treasure and captured supplies. This is treated as the swallow whole ability, victims taking 1d10+7 damage until they can get out, but it's not especially obvious what's going on, meaning players might waste their time trying to find an exit door out of the cargo hold or try to clamber back out the unyielding door when the 'proper' solution is to make a new door.

If the party manages to find out that swinging at the phantom limbs and illusions is useless, attacking the ship below their feet isn't exactly easy. The Kelpie's Wrath is magically reinforced, having an AC of 30 (hint: target its measly 6 touch AC) and DR 10/Lawful. It's got 30 Resistance to Acid, Cold, and Electricity, as well as 10 Fire Resistance and, of course, if you find yourselves managing to get past its defenses to outpace its Fast Healing 10, it can still suddenly poof away to rebuild, and if you think you can just use Dimensional Anchor or similar, it can still pop its once-per-minute Rush to crank its swim speed from 60ft to 150ft for one round, diving to the sea floor in a single round to give itself breathing room... and potentially taking breathing room from whatever schmucks are trapped in its hold.

And you know what? I've typed down... 12 entire paragraphs without even touching the Wrath's ranged options. This was on purpose! Because the Wrath is meant to get right up next to the ship it's attacking, and has every tool it needs to do so, including the ability to turn itself and its crew invisible 3/day or shroud its entire space with magical fog. Compared to all the shenanigans it can pull to get into melee and then make everyone wish it didn't, its ranged attacks need a little more preparation and math on the part of the DM, something they may not want to do on top of everything else it's already got. This is because its only ranged attack is using Telekinesis to hurl a storm of whatever garbage it's amassed at targets within 180ft of itself.

The Wrath can catapult up to 375 pounds of objects or creatures in a single action, not only allowing it to throw actual ammunition (which deals a flat 1d6 damage per 25 lbs; max 15d6 for a full weight object), but whatever it may have on hand or in its hold that it doesn't especially value. Since it can use Telekinesis at will and the spell itself has a tremendous range, there's no reason for it to ever run out of ammo, as it can simply dredge stones and wreckage from the sea floor and ferry it into its stores for later... but of course, there's nothing stopping it from using its enemies own cargo against it, or even lifting its enemies directly and throwing them around with nothing more than a thought. Most Medium-sized Humanoids weigh between 150 and 200 pounds, letting the Wrath snatch up two people at a time to toss around like ragdolls, including straight into the air if it wants.

There's something to be said about it hurling things far more dangerous than bricks and cannonballs, though, like casks of oil and a lantern, or barrels of Green Slime, or its own zombie crewmates. The Long range of Telekinesis also means it can get up to some pretty dangerous shenanigans if an enemy ship gets just a little too close, as it can pilfer cargo from a range, loose sails, send weapons hurling into the seas, or even spin cannons around just as they're about to fire if it readies an action to do so. Much like its phantom weapons, its telekinetic power helps make its illusions and zombie sailors all the more realistically threatening, adding to the confounding puppet show it puts on to throw people off.

The Kelpie's Wrath is one of the most dangerous Heralds a party to encounter, because they're going to encounter it on the seas (one of the most dangerous environments to fight in), AND they're not likely to even know it's nearby until it's dragging their crew to a watery grave. Even if they do, a DM can play up the possibility of it being a ghost ship for a while before any of them wise up to what they're really fighting, by which point someone might already be neatly folded and packed away in Davey Jones' Locker. It's not only dangerous for what it can do, but why it does what it does; most Heralds are only encountered if a god is offended, or has sent them on an important mission, but the Kelpie's Wrath freely wanders all creation in its off hours, attacking vessels with wild and greedy abandon. It's one of the few Heralds that an unlucky party may just randomly encounter, and thus have no possible way to prepare for.

You can read more about it here.

[libbee]

Some Venus in 8th house transformation notes:

May also apply to Moon in 8th house, Venus in Scorpio, Moon in Scorpio but especially to Venus in 8H

* Venus in 8th house is a mystery. The emotions are intense. When she is happy, she is euphoric. And then she starts crying because she just recalled a repressed past memory.

* Venus in 8H is psychologically draining but financially secure. As if universe wants her to suffer psychological turmoil yet feed her and keep her warm. As if the universe compensates for her psychological experience with financial security through parental inheritance and spousal income.

* This placement is eccentric and different from many other placements. This native deliberately likes to be private, secretive and hidden. It is because she wants to keep her life hidden from public view. Not just because she fears evil eye, but also because she wants authenticity in her personal life.

* Did I say authenticity? She has a core natural personality. Intuitive, emotional, sensitive, perceptive, psychically penetrating, empathetic. She is a healer. She knows that anything which is put in public display on social media loses its authenticity. She knows that words spoken in public are insincere. She does not care for public validation, it is depth and natural connection that she craves.

* Since she battles her own complexes everyday, she can also read other people's complexes easily. Life is a constant shadow work for her. Others may be ignorant of their shadow, insecurities and reactions, while this native can read people as if playing a piano, so easily and so beautifully.

* No doubt, this placement is psychologically challenging. The life theme of native revolves around transformation, rebirth, renewal, occult, psychology matters. Everyday is a new chapter in her life. Every morning she wakes up a different person. Since her core is so unstable and transformative, she finds identity and stability in occult, esoteric and mystical knowledge. Relationship is also based in identification with spouse, change in identity after wedding, merging identity with partner, having sex to "dissolve" the ego identification and become one with the universe with each orgasm.

* There is a major transformation in her younger self to older self. Before transformation, she could be impulsive and irrational. After transformation, she is completely changed, has emotional control and psychic insight. She can "see" what others cannot.

* One suggestion would be to not torture yourself with crying sessions to let go of the memories of past. We acknowledge that you are a sensitive person and you had a traumatic life, but you are not the only one with trauma. Almost all astrological placements have emotional trauma, that is just part of life. Venus 8H clings to her trauma, lives in it, keeps reliving it, that is where she self destructs. Try to live in a flow. Acknowledge the past and know that you are not alone. Do not let it fester into narcissism. Understand that even though people don't show it, everyone is suffering with emotional issues secretly - who knows this better than Venus 8H who herself keeps her dragons as pets with cute collars. Indeed, her inner demons obey her, she is that spiritually awakened and aware. You go to her house and find shadow dragons playing in grass.

* So much shadow work makes her fearless, as if she is rugged and unharmed. There is a healing vibes around her. People feel at peace with her. Being in her company is like meditating in Buddha temple, that serenity, safety, security, compassion and kindness. Feminine essence at its peak. Imagine an incense stick burning with its smoke, so serene and quiet, so mysterious and elegant. That is her soul. Always in touch with her emotions, never reactive and never defensive. Just flowing peacefully with the flow of life. Look how poetic smoke is, it makes no noise, leaves no traces, it is poetry to the heart.

* But this journey was not easy. The emotional healer today was once a wounded mess. We never appreciate how much of a difference emotional intelligence can make to human relationships. It changes conversations, there is no competition but understanding. She talks not because she wants to look good or show off her knowledge, she speaks because she genuinely feels a connection to your heart. Connection beyond superficiality. Connection that transforms her listener. Anyone who comes in contact with her is transformed, bewitched, hypnotized. Even the most angry person can calm down in her company, it feels just so safe to be with her. You will be heard and seen and accepted for your flaws and faults and mistakes because in the 8H there is no right or wrong, life is just a music of ups and downs. All fateful detours and blunder mistakes lead to spiritual insights. She does not judge you for anything, her only question is, "How did it make you feel? What did you learn from that experience?"

Now, depending upon the rest of the chart, we see how their life manifests. For eg, If there are significant fire placements, then the native will not be so secretive and like to be in limelight for their image.

But in conclusion, something that I have noticed with this placement is a significant lack of self concept. They are easily influenced by the energy of people, absorb the energy in their environment and may even become somebody else. This is of course not nice experience because then they will be torn apart between their natural core (intuitive) and the false adaptation they just performed, this may lead to neurotic behavior and unnecessary psychological suffering. One tip is to write down the keywords related to this placement like "transformation" "sensitive" "empathetic" "shadow work" "inner work" "secretive" and whenever you feel anxiety in social settings, mentally recall these keywords to create a stable identity/anchor in your head so you do not accidentally get carried away in someone else's energy. They are especially overwhelmed by the energies of air/fire placements that lack watery elements, because these natives are too smug and harsh for the sensitive person. Another tip is to have some will power which can be hard for these natives are pleasure seeking and indulgent too, so perhaps with some practice, behavior and emotional reaction can change. Repeated exposure to environments that trigger your insecurity and instability then practice grounding yourself in your natural core, who you truly are inside.

These natives can even make therapeutic healers, energy workers, witches, can assist you in passing from one stage of life to another, just how psychotherapy or surgery or birth or death works. They are the surgeons (penetrating vision) of the soul (just a joke).

[anonymousewrites]

One Hell of a Love Halloween Special 2024

Sebastian Michaelis x Demon! Reader

Halloween Special

            “The preparations for the Young Lord’s ball are nearly finished,” said Sebastian. “All that is left is to ensure our colleagues do not cause trouble.”

            “I’m sure we can frighten them into behaving themselves.” (Y/N) smirked. “Especially today of all days, All Hallow’s Eve.”

            “Indeed,” said Sebastian. “And speaking of this eve…” Sebastian moved behind (Y/N) as they dusted the shelves of the library, and (Y/N) paused. Sebastian’s hands snaked around their waist, and he smirked at them. “Would you accompany me to our own celebration? Once our duties to the young lord have concluded for the evening, I would be honored by your company.”

            (Y/N) leaned back into his touch. “At our favorite den on iniquity?” They did so adore the queer bar they had found with him.

            “I was considering a den on iniquity of the…inhuman variety,” said Sebastian.

            “Inhuman?” (Y/N) turned around in his arms and raised a brow. Their nose twitched. “I would prefer to avoid more of our kind.” Sebastian and (Y/N) were one another’s exceptions to disliking demons.

            “I have ensured we will be the demons of our kind present,” said Sebastian. “There may be incubi present, but none others of the demonic variety. Merely a few witches, perhaps a few fae will cross to this plane, and vampires are hosting.”

            “This will be quiet the celebration, then,” said (Y/N). “How should I dress?”

            “I have something prepared for our costumes,” said Sebastian, smirking. “You will look divine. Well, as divine as you can.”

            (Y/N) tutted. “If I am dressed as an angel, I will tear your costume to pieces.”

            “I would never disrespect you so. I know your tastes,” said Sebastian. He kissed their neck and then straightened. “Be prepared for midnight.”

            “And the witching hour?” said (Y/N), raising an amused brow.

            “Precisely,” said Sebastian with a wink.

l

            (Y/N) walked in their room at the end of the night. Ciel and Lizzy’s Halloween celebration had ended well, and all present had enjoy themselves. Now (Y/N) and Sebastian could have their own night.

            (Y/N) smirked as they looked at the costume laid out before them. It was an interesting costume for a demon, but they trusted his judgement, and it was beautifully made. Let’s see what he will be paired alongside me.

            Picking up the clothing, they looked at the mirror. One thing was for certain—they would make an impression.

l

            “You insist upon the cloak?” sighed Sebastian. “I created the costume myself, it is no surprise.”

            “But on me it is,” reminded (Y/N) as they walked through the country hills and trees of England. “You will see it once we arrive at our destination, my love.”

            Sebastian’s hand around their waist squeezed as he walked beside them. “I look forward to it eagerly, my darling.”

            Fortunately for Sebastian’s curiosity, they arrived at an old mansion presently, and with a wave of their hands and a curl of magical shadows, the gates opened to admit their supernatural guests. As they approached the door, Sebastian withdrew a black invitation from his coat, and it sparked to life. Pure white flames ate at it, and as they went out, the doors opened, allowing the demons to enter.

            Sebastian and (Y/N) entered, walked down the stairs of the foyer, and entered a hall of opulence. Already, an incredible amount of supernatural beings were there, all handpicked by the hosts to be agreeable, elegant, and nonviolent at the ball. (Y/N) smiled slightly as they saw witches of all creed and color circling the room. They sensed the presence of incubi and succubi nearby, and the vampires were identifiable. Some of the supernatural guests had human plus ones, who gazed around themselves in awe at the golden light of candles sparkling around them and the magic instruments playing on their own.

            “Welcome,” said a servant, bowing to Sebastian and (Y/N). “Names?”

            “Corvus,” said Sebastian.

            “Felis,” said (Y/N).

            The servant nodded their head. “May I take your coats?” Sebastian and (Y/N) took off their outer coats, and their costumes were properly revealed.

            Sebastian wore a black suit, the shirt under ruffled and stitched with lace so it lay like a shadow over his skin—a sheer cloth of night. The jack was tailored perfectly to show off his slim waist, the pants were equally well-made, and the heels he wore held him taller than most in the room. He looked the shadows themselves, proud, dark, and beautiful.

            (Y/N) wore a long black dress with a split up to the knee for mobility. It had a soft sway to it, floating with their movements. It fell off their shoulders, and around their neck was a choker necklace of gold, purple, and blue wrapped like vines. On their head they wore a black veil, and Sebastian had stitched elegant patterns of vines in green across it, layering a shimmer of blue and purple petals.

            Together, (Y/N) and Sebastian were Persephone and Hades, rulers of the underworld. And, standing together as two demons before a crowd of supernatural beings, they truly felt like royalty.

            “Shall we dance, my darling Felis?” said Sebastian, offering his hand.

            “We shall,” said (Y/N), taking his hand. “My love, my Corvus.”

            And so, Sebastian swept them close and up into his arms. (Y/N) held him close and kissed him as he carried them to the dancefloor. As they separated and the music began to play once more, Sebastian smiled at them.

            “I love you, Felis,” he said. “May we always have these moments.”

            “I love you, too, Corvus,” said (Y/N). “And we will. After all, we are demons. We and our love shall endure.”

            “We shall,” said Sebastian. And as the music swept them into a dance, Sebastian and (Y/N) had eyes only for one another.

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[scribblestatic]

Hey yo, time for a dose of Sheepzun :3

----

Shen Yuan snuck his way further onto Qiong Ding Peak in search of his student. He rammed a few demons along the way, leaving them laying about in his search. Which, yes, he was leaving a mess, but he didn't have opposable thumbs to clean up after himself and he's kinda busy right now!

After some searching, he heard some wild commotion. It looked to be coming from the central platform of Qiong Ding, right in front of the main hall. Who would attack the main hall first except for some show-off, ah? If you want to infiltrate, start from the corners and bleed inwards so the main brass doesn't notice until it's too late! That's the kind of method that works best in this dog-eat-dog world!

Regardless, he kept himself concealed as he approached, noting that most of the disciples, as expected, wore Qiong Ding Peak colors. A smattered few wore Qing Jing Peak ones, with only a dotted minority wearing those of other peaks. When his ears flicked backwards, he heard a few more Qing Jing Peak disciples on their way.

Ah, interrupting the demons in their effort to break the bridge was a good idea! Perhaps Qing Jing could protect these lambs while waiting for more powerful backup. However, Qing Jing Peak didn't have many disciples, right? If it was one of the other peaks, there'd be more backup...but, of course, they'd mostly be lambs.

Where were the instructors, ah?? Their cultivation should be better than these little ones!

Frustrations aside, Shen Yuan snuck around the back of the crowd, easing his way toward the front. He had to be careful several times to avoid rushing disciples, keeping them from knocking into him or his horns.

Eventually, he made it near the front, only to see...dancing?

No, it was a battle. But it looked more like dancing to him than expected. Their fighting was elegant in a way, but it wasn't the sort of bloody event he'd been expecting between an immortal and a demon. Though, perhaps that had to do with the immortal's lack of spiritual sword. She must be of Luo Binghe's generation, some of whom haven't received their swords yet.

As such, her sword didn't ring with powerful energy, and as Shen Yuan watched, he saw her make a few mistakes. She overextended her arm at times, spun a little too loosely, just minute errors. But they built up, resulting in her loss once the demoness she battled struck her arm and chest.

After she picked herself up from the ground, she walked over to a lofty immortal who was leisurely fanning himself and--

Ah! Wasn't that one of the immortal lords he'd rescued in the cave? He was well! How wonderful!

Indeed, his colors were clearly Qing Jing, and he'd managed to clean himself up quite well. Perhaps he'd been cultivating in a different cave before finding the other...err...the pretty one. Yeah. Shen Yuan looked around briefly, realizing he couldn't see him anywhere. Maybe he was still recovering? He couldn't imagine it took that long, but he's a ram. Maybe it worked differently for humans.

Anyway, this guy, in his silver hair crown, fanning himself leisurely, was clearly some sort of immortal master. And he'd saved this guy's life? Perhaps he had some golden thighs to cling to after all!

...Eh? What a strange thought he just had. What 'golden thighs'?

"This disciple has lost and disgraced the mission, I request that Martial Uncle Shen punish me."

Punishment? No, she didn't deserve any sort of punishment. She'd done her best all things considered. Instead, she needed to learn the places she could've done better and continue her educa--

The immortal huffed, dismissing her with the wave of his fan, his expression curled in derision. The veiled girl managed a respectful bow despite her injured arm, then joined the gaggle of other girls in purple garb much like her own.

?

???

???

What an asshole???

Excuse me, Mr. Immortal, this ram had to save you in the caves! Where do you get off on acting like that little lamb was bothering you with her earnest attempt? Aren't you something of a teacher? Shouldn't you use this as an opportunity for her to learn?!

This Shen guy--

...Shen.

As in, Shen Qingqiu?

The demoness who won against the veiled girl smiled coquettishly, her body loosely covered in red bolts of fabric. So much skin, there was little left to the imagination. Ah, but Shen Yuan didn't think too much of that. As it was, his tail and wool were all that maintained his decency, in the humanoid sense, anyway. He would not be a pot berating a kettle.

Rouged lips parted to show bright teeth, canines a tad too sharp to be strictly human.

"This third trial will determine the victory! Who will you send up for the next trial, Elder Shen? This time, you had better choose carefully."

Agh, it really was Shen Qingqiu, wasn't it?

This lofty immortal with no teaching ability, this man was his Bing-lamb's human shizun? What a waste of a handsome face!

Ah, no, he should wait. It wouldn't be right to judge someone so quickly. After all, that immortal had been trying to help his pretty comrade in the caves, only for his messed up meridians to hinder him. If anything, the fact he's cultivated up to a core formation shows his dedication to the craft. Indeed, perhaps this man was simply somewhat cagey.

When the man spoke, a handsome, if not snide, voice rang out.

"No need for the Young Miss to trouble herself. This Shen has a person in mind."

Oof, he's definitely cagey. And quite apt at insults.

The young miss in question called out for a warrior on her side to come forth for what was apparently the third trial. So, there had been a battle beforehand? Who had fought?

But Shen Yuan's thoughts quickly became distracted when the ground below him shook. He moved out of the way as disciples around him shook and clustered in closer, clearly feeling some fear.

Not that Shen Yuan would blame them, considering the one that stepped out!

The huge demon elder was definitely some sort of giant! At least ten zhang tall, with a thick, hefty build, wearing thorny armor all over his body, he dragged an equally-large sledgehammer behind him. A toothy grin peered out from behind his shaggy hair and helmet.

The demoness in red spread her arms in display.

"I'll give everyone on this immortal mountain a warning first. The spikes on Elder Tian Chui's armor are covered with my family's strongest poison. This kind of poison has no effect on demons, but if a human is pierced, there is no cure."

...Excuse me, Young Miss?

Why would you bring an incurable poison to an immortal's mountain unless you meant to murder? Why bother playing around and fighting three rounds when the last one clearly shows your intent? What kind of infiltration is this?!

Also, Tian Chui?! Was this elder born carrying his sledgehammer the entire time?!! Did his mother look down at his body and say, "Dear demon child, look at you, born with a hammer! Your hammer will one day pierce the heavens and fight the power of the immortals!"

Terrible naming! Absolutely the worst!! Spit on your mother's grave, Tian Chui!!

Shen Yuan was so close to stomping his hooves in irritation, he had to grit his teeth to keep himself from doing so. But goodness, he'd never felt so enraged in his life! Something about being away from Qing Jing and Luo Binghe just made this world and its intricacies ten times worse.

Where was his little lamb? He should get the boy and go back to Qing Jing immediately. At least to get away from this mess!

The disciples around him clearly agreed, airing out their frustrations.

"Stinking demon girl!! Competing is competing! Using a strong poison--what fairness is there!"

Damn right, boy in Qiong Ding robes!

But the demoness just laughed.

"I didn't hide this point. If you feel anything's unfair, or if you're afraid of getting poisoned and losing your life, the custom is to cede the trial. There would be no more need to compete then. We demons won't laugh at you since we cherish life." Her grin sharpened then, clearly mocking. "It's only human."

Ah. She's a bitch.

Shen Yuan's not sure what a 'bitch' is, but whatever it is, she's that. He'd have to find out later.

The disciples continued their complaints, angrily condemning the demons. And, of course, none of them stepped forward. Who would? It's not just human nature to value your own life--it's the nature of all living organisms! Who in their right mind would throw it away once you told them an action would end it?

Shen Qingqiu was clearly thinking the same thing. After all, he was being quite quiet as the bantering slowed. As an immortal master of some sort, surely he wouldn't threaten the lives of his little lambs. He was an adult! It's important to give lambs the opportunity to grow, but it needed to be under controlled circumstances.

Before, with the demoness, there wasn't a threat of death. Now there was. Surely, the master would argue--

“Luo Binghe, you come out.”

...

Eh?

After a beat of silence, the Qing Jing disciples immediately started yelling. Disciples from other peaks barely did so, but they could be excused. They didn't know that Luo Binghe, instead of being a head disciple with 30+ years of cultivation under his belt, was just a wee lamb with less than two decades under his belt, more than half of which were spent in the mortal realm.

Of course, knowing this, Ming Fan--Ming Fan of all people--paled, suggesting he wasn't suitable for the task. A young girl also in Qing Jing robes cried out, attracting Shen Yuan's attention.

Sure enough, he finally found Binghe.

His lamb was stiff, eyes wide. The girl who had cried out was clinging to one of his arms--ah, yes, Ning Yingying--saying in a sort of babyish cry that she didn't want Luo Binghe to fight, stamping her feet much like Shen Yuan wanted to.

Of course! Good girl! She got his Binghe into trouble a few times, but she had a good heart overall!

But the immortal simply raised a brow.

“I said to let him go up so he should go up. Are you unsatisfied with this master’s judgment? Ying-er, let him go.”

As Luo Binghe comforted the girl, his tanned face pale, Shen Yuan shook, his hearing turning to white noise.

What was this? Was this really happening right now?

The boy's just barely 16, and he has had next to no battle experience at all. Although Binghe told him about the trip down the mountain and how Ning Yingying had gotten kidnapped, that experience barely counted for anything. A skinner demon was substantially less threatening than this bear of an elder.

What sort of...

He blinked, ears still ringing, and Luo Binghe stood before the hefty demon, like a sproutling before a fierce storm of demonic energy.

Like a lamb to the slaughter.

An anger like no other struck through his body. This...he had to stop this. If Luo Binghe met his end here, he wouldn't be able to live with himself--

But another thought came to him.

He was a teacher, was he not? At least, Luo Binghe trusted him to be a teacher.

And this situation... Luo Binghe was not prepared for it. And so, he should step in...

But something told him to wait. Something nagged at the back of his mind to stay his hooves and watch. It was the same sort of feeling that drew him to the cave, only this time, it was...light.

Positive.

...Although this sort of thing could be like a lamb to the slaughter, an old story he'd heard from another culture also came to mind. Of a young man wielding only a slingshot against a giant. He couldn't remember the names of the subjects in the sacred texts...Dà Wèi [大卫 - David] and Jùrén [巨人 - Goliath], maybe?

Anyway, from what little he could remember in his strange, hazy recollections was that Da Wei, despite being heavily outclassed, won against Juren just using that slingshot he had.

Shen Yuan's little lamb...perhaps he was just as powerful.

Despite his strong desire to interfere, he shakily placed his hoof back down, teeth gritting.

...He would trust in Binghe's power. What he needed more than protection was belief. He needed someone to truly believe in him. And so, as his shizun, he would take that position and put all of his power into believing in Luo Binghe's success.

And so, with the heavy slam of Elder Tian Chui's sledgehammer, the battle began.

Shen Yuan watched carefully, his eyes solely on Luo Binghe. If he would not interfere, then he would catalogue all his movements. Every single place he could've been better, every single move he could improve. He would do his job as his teacher.

He choked down a bleat the first time the hammer made contact with Luo Binghe's body.

But he also watched as the boy rolled, redirecting as much of the pressure as possible to reduce damage. He was, undoubtedly, still hurt, but he showed no weakness.

Indeed, a prey animal could not show any weakness. Doing so could spell death.

Even a mouse, when cornered, opens its mouth and squeaks a war cry against the cat hunting it, threatening with its little teeth.

With enough of an opening, that little mouse would jump forward and bite.

Luo Binghe had taken such lessons to heart, searching for the best place to strike. But it was very difficult. Trying to strike would mean getting closer to the poisoned armor which could kill him.

He was as spry on his feet as possible, still getting hit and nicked at times, but far from the sort of failure one would expect of a poorly trained disciple.

Even so, Cang Qiong's disciples were losing faith.

“Isn’t this a sure loss? What is there to compete?”

Shut up, Qiong Ding disciple.

Eventually, even the demon side recovered from their stupor, jeering at Luo Binghe as he took and avoided hit after hit, no closer to landing a single blow on Elder Tian Chui than before.

The elder bellowed out a laugh that echoed across the area as he caught Luo Binghe with his hammer again.

"This little doll had better admit defeat soon and get off the stage! This old man can still leave you a life!"

A life. Not alive.

Being alive and living a life were two different things, with the context changing depending on who said it and what they meant.

Many of the mortals below were living a life. Those with crippled legs and blinded eyes were living a life of struggle more so than others. The wealthy and affluent could be said to truly be alive. The immortals, with the resources to pursue their immortality, could be said to be living a life worth being alive for.

For some reason, Shen Yuan thought of a human in a strange white room.

He heard beeping from several tall devices near some sort of futuristic bed.

The figure in the bed had short, wavy hair, some of it splayed on the pillow, and a clear mask-like device over his face.

He was pale, dark circles under his eyes, and when he opened them, they stared out at the window, the light too bright for Shen Yuan's imagination to see what was outside. But he could see it.

Longing. Desire.

A painful, reaching drive to leave the pale, beeping room and be alive.

Binghe will be alive.

He is alive, and he will remain that way. He need not accept the scraps of life some elder demon would throw at him. No, Luo Binghe could take it for himself.

With that in mind, Shen Yuan put power into his thoughts, and, mentally reaching out to the boy, he spoke to him.

--

'Luo Binghe, you will win.'

[hualianisms]

Revised TGCF Novel: Hualian as Yin Yu's sect leaders in YY's dream

I talked before in a previous post about the changes to YY's arc/the quanyin flashback in the revised novel, but didn't have space to elaborate about the context regarding YY's dream. so I decided to make a proper post explaining the full context behind it!

these are the sequence of events in the revised novel that lead to the quanyin flashback sequence (ch 134-139 in the revised):

YY was digging with the earth master shovel in the Mount Tonglu tunnels to make tunnels for XL, HC and the other gods to travel in (the same tonglu tunnel scenes from the original novel).

then, YY's shovel accidentally hit a mountain monster/demon (it's implied that it's bc of XL's bad luck - bc YY had asked XL where to dig next and followed the direction XL told him)

the mountain monster tries to swallow YY's consciousness whole. HC said that to wake up from being swallowed by the mountain monster, you have to recall your most painful/worst memories, or the memories that cause you strong enough emotions of pain/anger/torment that it will keep your consciousness awake. otherwise, your soul will be consumed entirely by the mountain monster.

HC cast the butterfly dream spell on YY to make YY fall asleep and start dreaming. HC said YY will now naturally recall his most painful/difficult memories. with the butterfly spell, Hualian can now enter YY's dream.

YY is dreaming about his memories starting from finding QYZ outside their sect as a 10 year-old child, up to YY's banishment (this is the quanyin flashback sequence from the original novel. it is largely the same as in the original, except with a couple of new scenes/moments)

(context: when HC casts the butterfly dream spell, the person dreaming has to subconsciously fit Hualian into the existing characters/setting in their dream, so that Hualian can be a part of their dream world. YY's mind subconsciously imagined XL as his Shibo and HC as his Shizun. they are co-sect leaders, with the Shibo ranking highest in the sect. the Shibo is oldest; he is the Shizun's shixiong.)

XL turns up in YY's dream as YY's Sect Leader Shibo. there is a scene of him interacting with the disciples when the disciples find QYZ outside the doors of their sect.

We see YY coming up to XL to ask: "Sect Leader Shibo, this kid is pretty good (at fighting). Is it possible to consider taking him into our sect?" XL: "About this, it seems like we should consult Sect Leader... Shixiong?" YY (gets visibly nervous): "But, you know that, with Sect Leader Shizun's temperament, it could be extremely difficult to get him to agree. However, Sect Leader Shizun is willing to listen you about everything..." XL agrees to ask the Shizun. YY: "If it's you asking, Sect Leader Shizun will definitely not object!"

XL then goes to see the Sect Leader Shizun who is indeed HC, dressed in white and looking very elegant (fanart of Shizun HC here). XL tells HC with a smile, "Sect Leader Shidi, your disciples are all so scared of you." HC smiles and replies "Gege, you've actually already guessed that it's me."

then we see the scenes of YY's memories of everything that went wrong regarding QYZ, ending with his banishment, and the memory sequence ends with YY waking up with an anguished scream so strong that it breaks him free of the mountain monster

[rainbowfey]

Day 2: "Left. Other left!" @flufftober

Several thoughts raced through Sanemi‘s head, all of them competing for his attention, when he hastened towards the Ubuyashiki Estate. Of course, the most pressing question was why he had been summoned by Oyakata-sama. The Kasugai crow had refused to give him any explanation for this sudden invitation and even though Sanemi had threatened to catch it and cook it under the grill, the crow had kept its beak shut. Thus, he had no idea what to expect and this circumstance was something that he deeply disliked. While it was always a pleasure to speak to Oyakata-sama, he did not usually invite any of the Hashira outside of their regular meetings without a good and often grave reason. Sanemi’s heart started beating faster when ideas started flooding his mind, one more menacing than the other.

Sanemi quickened his pace and turned the last corner – and froze at the sight that unfolded in front of him. He did indeed see Oyakata-sama who was already looking into his direction as if he had sensed Sanemi arriving, a warm smile on his face. Next to him kneeled two of his children, their pale faces calm as always as they both followed their father’s gaze. And in front of them stood another person who had not yet noticed Sanemi. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the dark hair flowing down on a haori that was split into two parts, one half being red and the other having a very distinct pattern that Sanemi would have recognized everywhere.

“Shit,” Sanemi muttered before he could stop himself. This already odd invitation had now taken a rather dreadful turn and he was not sure anymore whether he really wanted to attend the meeting. But since Oyakata-sama had already spotted him, he had no other choice than approaching them, teeth gritted.

As if he had felt Sanemi’s gaze burning holes into his haori, Giyuu turned around. As always, his face did not show much of a reaction but Sanemi noticed his eyebrows slightly furrowing. Apparently, Giyuu had not been informed about his presence either which was somewhat reassuring. For a moment, they exchanged an unenthused look. Then, Sanemi turned towards Oyakata-sama and his children and bowed deeply, his eyes fixed at the ground.

“Welcome, Sanemi. Thank you for coming,” Oyakata-sama said, his voice soft as always. “Now that you have arrived, we can speak about the matter at hand.”

Sanemi looked up and noticed that Giyuu was still standing around as if this did not pertain to him, his gaze wandering over the trees and paths surrounding this part of the estate. If it were not for Oyakata-sama’s presence, Sanemi would have hit Giyuu over the head for this disrespect towards their master. While it was still tempting, he did not move a muscle though. For the moment, he had to leave it at a nasty look – and if he was lucky, the chance to go through with it would present itself at a later point. “Yes, Oyakata-sama,” he said as calmly as possible, listening carefully.

Oyakata-sama smiled at him before his face turned earnest. “As you are aware, both of you are Hashira and therefore two of the strongest demon slayers. However, it has been brought to my attention that both of you still have potential to grow in your respective areas.”

Sanemi tilted his head and looked at his master pensively. It took him a moment to filter out the meaning behind those elegant words and his heart sank when he realized that he had just been told in a very kind way that at least one of his skills was lacking. He shot Giyuu an angry look when he noticed Giyuu glancing at him with what looked like a slightly amused gaze.

“I’m not sure I understand,” he said hesitatingly and this time, he was fairly sure that he saw amusement sparkling in Giyuu’s eyes. It was only for Oyakata-sama’s calm presence that he did not jump up and grab Giyuu by the collar of his ridiculous haori. While Sanemi was not shy of confrontations, there was one person in the world he never wanted to disappoint – and he was pretty sure that Oyakata-sama would indeed be very disappointed in him, should he lose his temper this easily.

As if he had read his mind, Oyakata-sama nodded to him, an encouraging smile on his lips. “I apologize, I should have explained it better. While both of you are impressive fighters, both in your respective breathing styles as well as in your strong minds, it has come to my attention that you both struggle working with a partner.”

Sanemi paused and stared at Oyakata-sama. From the corner of his eye, he saw that Giyuu had also turned to look at their master, a slightly uneasy expression on his pale face. Oyakata-sama smiled at them. For a moment, Sanemi absentmindedly thought that his master had to be the only person in the world who was able to both smile at someone and give them a stern look at the same time.

“Giyuu, you have to learn how to communicate your plan to others, especially when working as a team,” Oyakata-sama continued. “And you, Sanemi, have to learn how to trust others instead of only relying on yourself. And since both of your struggles stem from the same root, you will be working together to outgrow them and become even stronger.”

For a moment, everything was silent. Sanemi felt his blood rush through his body when the meaning of what Oyakata-sama had just said sank in. And while he still struggled for words, he heard Giyuu quietly say what was on his mind as well. “Oh no.”

Nichika – or Hinaki, as Sanemi could not tell the Ubuyashiki daughters apart – smiled at them and bowed after she had finished explaining the instructions. She turned to leave, followed by Hinaki – or maybe Nichika, who knew. Sanemi watched them leave the training ground close by the Ubuyashiki residence, his mouth still slightly agape. It took him quite a bit of willpower to turn around and face Giyuu who stood a few steps behind him, leaning against one of the many wooden dummies they were supposed to use for their training. Of course, Giyuu was once again too pretentious to reveal any big emotion but even from where he stood, Sanemi saw his eyelid twitching. And for once, Sanemi could relate to him.

For a while, they both kept quiet, lost in their own bewilderment at what had been asked of them. Sanemi contemplated leaving, simply sneaking away from the training ground. He was sure he would be able to do so without being seen but since he was well aware that his master’s mental abilities well exceeded those of his eyes, he knew that this plan was doomed before he could even try. Oyakata-sama would know, in one way or the other, and while he would maybe not intervene, he would be direly disappointed in Sanemi’s actions - and however much disdain he felt at the idea of training with Giyuu, Sanemi was not willing to disappoint the one person who had never disappointed him.

Thus, he gritted his teeth and turned to Giyuu who stared at the cloudy sky as if it was about to reveal an out of this situation to him. “Well,” Sanemi growled. “Since we have not much of a choice, we might as well get it over with.”

For a moment, Giyuu did not react and Sanemi was about to say something rather unkind at this ignorance, when Giyuu finally nodded reluctantly. “Yes,” he muttered, avoiding Sanemi’s gaze. “So … are you going to bend down or do I have to jump?”

Sanemi felt his own blood rush through his ears and he dug his fingernails deep into his palms, desperately trying to cope with the absurdity of the situation. It took him all his willpower to keep breathing calmly instead of exploding when he begrudgingly crouched down. He heard slow footsteps behind him and clenched his jaws when he felt Giyuu coming closer. His whole body tensed up when Giyuu came to a halt behind him. And then, he felt cold fingers hesitantly touching his shoulders before grabbing ahold of them and even though he tried his best to suppress it, Sanemi flinched at the touch. He felt Giyuu freeze and for a moment, they were engulfed by silence as both Sanemi and Giyuu held their breath at the same time.

Then, Sanemi closed his eyes and sighed, conquering his repulsion. The quicker they started, the quicker it would be over. And with a swift movement, he reached back and heaved Giyuu onto his shoulders, almost overhearing the surprised yelp coming from behind him. “Great,” he spat out. “What now?”

For a moment, he was met with stunned silence. Apparently, Giyuu had not expected this sudden ascent and it took him a second to adapt to the situation. “Well,” he said slowly. “Before we start, we have to … uh, put on the blindfold.”

With his jaw, Sanemi also almost dropped Giyuu. He noticed just in time that he had let go of him and quickly grabbed his legs, cutting Giyuu’s startled cry short. “The what?” he bellowed, desperately hoping that he had misheard Giyuu’s words.

But only a second later, his hopes were shattered when Giyuu repeated himself, this time dangling a dark piece of cloth in front of Sanemi’s face as if to prove his words. “The blindfold. You’ll have to put it on. Nichika explained it to us.”

Dumbstruck, Sanemi stared at the blindfold softly swaying before his eyes, moving in an almost hypnotic rhythm. He felt like he was trapped in a nightmare and while his brain still tried to process this new development, he heard himself weakly say, “I can’t put it on with no hands free though.”

And without hesitation, Giyuu replied, “Then I’ll do it for you.”

Sanemi froze when he felt Giyuu’s hands grazing his face as he quickly slipped the blindfold over his eyes. For a split second, Sanemi contemplated ripping the blindfold away and strangling Giyuu with it but even in this humiliating situation, he saw Oyakata-sama’s smile before his inner eye. And with clenched teeth, he let it wash over himself. When the dark cloth almost entirely drowned out any light, Giyuu finally retracted his hands. It was only then that Sanemi realized that he had held his breath throughout the whole ordeal and when he now gasped for air, he felt Giyuu shift uncomfortably on his shoulders as he leaned forward.

“Everything alright?” Giyuu asked, his voice sounding strangely timid. And instead of snapping at him, Sanemi left it at an exasperated sigh and nodded.

“Let’s get it over and done with,” he groaned, blinking rapidly as one of his eyelashes got stuck on the fabric. He felt Giyuu’s weight on his shoulders and even though Giyuu was not particularly heavy, it felt like he had shouldered nothing less than a boulder. For all he knew, this was at least a one-off occasion and this thought gave him the strength to tighten his grip when he felt Giyuu drawing his katana. As one of the Ubuyashiki daughters had explained to them, they would have to work together, Sanemi being the legs and muscle while Giyuu bore the katana and acted as the mind behind their strategy.

“Uh, let’s get moving then,” Giyuu said, sounding a bit unsure. He shifted his weight a bit and Sanemi clenched his teeth again, trying not to snap at him that he was no horse that had to be steered with the legs.

“Where?” he growled instead. “I can’t exactly see, if you haven’t noticed.”

Giyuu paused before he muttered, “Sure. Hm, turn to the right. There are a few dummies up ahead.”

And begrudgingly, Sanemi followed suit. The next hour – which did feel like an eternity – consisted mostly of Giyuu giving him increasingly precise commands where to go while Sanemi slowly got used to supporting Giyuu’s weight while he brandished his sword. And while his insides where still burning with anger at this training method, he did come to appreciate the satisfying thump when Giyuu’s katana hit another of the wooden dummies.

However, Sanemi was well aware that in the speed they were moving right now, an enemy would have enough time to gather a whole army before they even got to him. And thus, he spoke up after a while, cursing silently at himself for having to make this suggestion. “We should move quicker if we want this to be a real training.”

A moment of silence followed and he heard Giyuu’s soft breath before he finally replied, “Are you sure you are, uh, strong enough for that? I mean, you’ve been carrying me around for a while now.”

This caught Sanemi entirely by surprise and for a moment, he was at a loss of words as rage started bubbling up in his throat. He tightened his grip around Giyuu’s legs until his nails had to dig into his skin and he smiled grimly at the sharp breath drawn above his head. “I’ll show you just how to strong I am,” he murmured, more to himself.

Giyuu did not react to his threatening tone but Sanemi could feel him move into a more secure position, seemingly expecting Sanemi to burst into motion at any moment. And then, he did.

In the blink of an eye, Sanemi charged forward. Giyuu let out a small yelp and clung to his shoulders as they flew across the training ground. “Right,” Giyuu screamed, apparently just in time as his katana hit something hard way quicker than it had before.

But Sanemi did not let this knock him off course and he continued to sprint, led only by Giyuu’s hasty directions. Over and over, he heard the impact of Giyuu’s katana and when his muscles started burning and both of their breaths came ragged, he released all of his anger in another mighty burst of energy. They whirled across the training ground, drafts of air and the fierce impacts blurring into each other. Giyuu’s voice came quicker as he tried to keep up with Sanemi’s speed, his commands sounding more rushed by the minute which made Sanemi grin to himself.

“Left,” Giyuu gasped out and Sanemi instantly followed suit. Giyuu’s body tensed up as he screamed, “Other left!”

And before Sanemi had the time to react, something akin to a brick wall materialized in front of him and with an earthshattering thump, they collided. He yelped in surprise and pain as he staggered backwards, letting go of Giyuu who fell from his shoulders with a cry. Giyuu landed hard on the ground with a loud groan and Sanemi, still blinded by the dark fabric, stumbled over him, toppling over. Before he could reach out to catch himself, he landed on something rather soft which evoked another groan, this time slightly muffled. And when Sanemi ripped the blindfold off his face, he noticed that the squishy something he had landed on was Giyuu who stared up at him with his eyes wide as saucers.

Sanemi quickly struggled to his feet, hastily moving a few steps away from both Giyuu and the unexpected barrier which turned out to be less of a brick wall and more of an especially broad wooden dummy that now – if one looked closely – had the silhouette of a weird, humpbacked figure imprinted into its frontside.

Sanemi turned back to Giyuu, glaring at him, already opening his mouth to give him a piece of his mind when he suddenly heard a soft hem somewhere behind them. Giyuu’s gaze fell on something behind Sanemi and with a start, he turned around. His heart sank when he found himself face to face with Oyakata-sama, accompanied by his daughters. A slightly amused smile formed on his master’s face when he looked at first him, then Giyuu.

“As I can tell, this training was a good idea. I am glad that you are taking this very seriously, my children. And since you have both proven that you still have a ways to go, you will continue this training until you work in perfect harmony.” For a moment, everything fell silent. Like in trance, Sanemi turned his head and when his gaze met Giyuu’s blue eyes, he knew that this was only just the start to a few particularly unpleasant weeks. And the worst of it all: he would only break free if he and Giyuu actually managed to work as a team.

[axcel-lucci]

Since it's October will you do modern au of Human Law x Female Shy Reader x Demon Law? Law and shy reader are newly wed couples. One day shy reader was unknowingly possessed by Demon Law few years ago, looks similar to her husband but has demon horns and tail. When Reader's possessed, her eyes turned yellow. They had sex, and demon Law likes being inside Reader's body, grew fond of her and does kinky stuff to Human Law. Part 2, is continuation where shy Reader is possessed by Demon Law, again. This time she's month pregnant, and Demon Law couldn't get out due to her pregnancy. This just came to me, you can decide whether Human Law is aware his shy wife is possessed by his demon counterpart or not.😅😊

Counterparts

Human! Trafalgar Law x fem!reader x demon! Trafalgar Law.

Parts ==>

A/n: I know this is different from what you had expected/requested but I have no idea of how to do it, I hope this is alright.

My masterlist

Down in the netherworld, where demons and monsters prey on the souls of humans, a "pleasure district" exists.

Demons tend to "get out of line" and usually come to this district to relax.

"This place has gotten so fucking boring." A demon with sharp horns and strong tail, jet black hair and golden eyes, complained harshly, "the last time I remember, this district is fucking lively"

"Probably because you've fucked every demon here-"

"Shut up!" The demon yelled, "nothing gets my fucking dick hard enough. Gah!"

The demon, also know as "surgeon of death", is frustrated.

"That's it. I'm going to the human realm." He groaned

"M-master...! You know that humans are such fragile creatures!" His companion, a white fluffy bear (which was a stark contrast to hell itself), proclaimed.

"I know." The surgeon smirked darkly, "that's why the thought of it is fun..."

...

At the human realm, (y/n) and her husband, Trafalgar Law, is living happily.

Just married a year ago and moved to a new house right after the wedding to spend their honeymoon there.

(Y/n) works as a chef at a high-end restaurant while Law worked as a surgeon.

Despite busy schedules, they have time for each other.

So right now, they are walking through the streets of the town, buying whatever in the shops they think is quite nice.

"Oh my gosh love, look. A new volume of Sora, warrior of the sea." (Y/n) said

"Where?!" Law gasped, looking around until he saw the bookshelf of a small bookstore.

"Let's go buy it?" She giggled when he practically dragged her to the store to buy said copy.

And guess what? It's an original!

"Second happiest day of my life..." Law sighed to himself as they walked out with the book and a few others as to not seem the book was for him.

"Oh? What's your first?" (Y/n) asked innocently

"Why," he chuckled and held her hand to kiss it, "our wedding. Of course."

It made her blush all over the place and playfully punch him. It made him laugh and kiss her cheek

"Let's go back home so that I can read- I mean rest... so that we can rest." He corrected himself.

While walking home, Law wanted to walk through the forest near the house.

It was a safe path as it was relatively a part of a nature preserve. A path had already been etched on the grassy floor by how many times people have walked in it.

...

After showing up in the human realm, the surgeon shivered; "dammit... is the human realm always so chilly??" He groaned as he walked around and saw the faded path.

"Just my luck." He huffed and followed the path until he saw a young couple. He would be lying if he didn't say his eyes caught a beautiful sight.

A sight of a young woman, beautiful and elegant, a stark contrast to him, just talking with such angelic voice.

But the man next to her was... him?! Just human form...??

He forgot that every demon or monster in hell has their own counter part here in the human realm...

"Just my luck indeed" he frowned but grimaced when he saw that the two were wearing matching rings, indicating they were already married to each other.

"Who's there?" His counterpart growled and pulled the woman behind him to protect.

'what a gentleman.' The surgeon smirked before sighing and showing himself

...

Law and (y/n) gasped upon seeing under Law, just... with horns, tail, and a very mean aura.

"Who are you?" Law huffed and held (y/n) close to him while also protecting her.

"Relax dude, I'm basically you. Just from hell" the demon rolled his eyes, "say... since we're counterparts, mind sharing that toy?"

"Toy...? Toy?! Don't you fucking call my wife a toy!" He yelled

"Love, calm down...!" (Y/n) said before kissing his cheek to calm him down

"I will not tolerate anyone looking down at you like that." Law reasoned

"I understand..."

"Ew. Just... Ew." The demon frowns, "I guess you ca call me Trafalgar since we both have the same names"

It was silent for a while

"Wait... are you shivering? I mean... you're wearing little to no clothes after all and it's almost winter..." (y/n) muttered as the demon blushed intensely

"W-w-what?! I am not shivering!"

"He definitely is..." Law muttered

She just hummed a bit

...

"Please make yourself at home, here... some blankets to keep you warm." (Y/n) smiled as she handed the demon some thick blankets

"Geez. No thank you??" Law grumbled as he started the fireplace

Trafalgar just stuck a tongue out at him like a child making her laugh.

"Law, my love..." (y/n) called as Law stood up to walk over to her, "I think our guest needs some warm food."

Law just looked at his demon counterpart, "let him starve"

"Law!"

"Ugh. Fine."

She giggled and kissed his cheek before excusing herself to the kitchen

Trafalgar basically sighed in relief as the warm fire and thick blankets heat up his entire body.

"Oi." Law called as Trafalgar looked back at him with a groan

"What do you want?"

"If you're here to bring her harm, I am definitely going to kick you back down to hell" Law threatened as Trafalgar rolled his eyes

"Yeah whatever..." he huffed before facing the fire.

Later on, it was time for bed.

"Hmm... we don't have a place for you to sleep..." (y/n) muttered as Law wrapped his arms around her waist and rest his head on her shoulder

"Yeah we do."

"Oh? Where?"

"Outside" law smirked making Trafalgar frown

"My love...! He's our guest! He may be a demon but remember, he's still you. Just... different." (Y/n) said before kissing him, "and no one could ever replace my lovely husband."

"Let me fuck you stupid and you'll reconsider" Trafalgar smirked making Law glare at him and (y/n) to laugh a bit

"Now now... I am only married to one person, and that is my human love. Law..." she smiled, "and while I know you're trying to propose a simple... threesome... I will have to decline. Hell is quite a place, who knows what diseases you have. No offense of course."

"None taken" Trafalgar shook his head, "I just wanna see him explode."

"You-!"

"Love..."

Law sighed before kissing her neck, "sorry dear..."

"It's alright"

"Yeah that's right, 'love'. Stay where you are like a dog"

"Trafalgar." (Y/n) sternly said while glaring

"Ah-"

It has now been a few weeks since the demon was there, it was weird since the demon oddly liked it in the human realm.

Learning all sorts of things from the humans he never even bothered to learn about. Maybe because the teacher was hot-

Law eventually warmed up to him and learned that he and the demon weren't that far apart other than the realms they lived in.

"Yeah, I'm a surgeon down at hell." Trafalgar shrugged as he drank some hot chocolate.

It was late at night, probably later than what they would prefer but...

"Oh? It must've been difficult. Considering your anatomy and human anatomy is rather different as well" Law hummed as he pulled (y/n) against him making her hum

"What else is different in hell? Do I have a demon counterpart? That would've been rather... awesome?" (Y/n) giggled

"I don't know, haven't met her yet." Trafalgar shrugged.

As the conversation grew intimate, actions were as well.

One thing led to another and (y/n) found herself being carried and teased by two pairs of hands while her wrists were tied together above her head and blindfolded.

"L-law...! Trafalgar..." she gasped when she felt the last bit of cloth in her body ripped away. Other than her panties that remained, she was entirely naked on the bed for both to see

"J knew she was hot, but not this hot..." Trafalgar bit his lip before running his hands up her trembling thighs and settle on her hips to pull her down slightly

"That my wife you're talking about, obviously she's hot." Law smirked before playing with her chest, pinching and pulling on her nipples as she moaned and arched her back.

"I wonder how long will she last..." Trafalgar muttered, already playing with the wet bud in her folds

"I doubt it would be long, she's already wet and dripping..." Law smirked as he pushed the fabric of her panties aside to reveal a wet entrance.

"L-law... Trafalgar... please." She begged, panting heavily

"Yep. Not too long, she's already begging" Trafalgar laughed before ripping away her panties and placing her legs over his shoulder.

Before diving, Law warned him not to take it too much.

"I know" Trafalgar rolled his eyes before licking his lips, "thank you for such a meal." He muttered before diving between her legs and lick up her slit and tasting her wetness.

The action made her moan outloid and pull on the restraints. As well as arching her back.

Trafalgar smirked at the taste and continued on, not wasting any time on foreplay and just fucked her entrance with his long tongue making her weep in pleasure

"Ah- ah..! T-trafalgar...!" She gasped as Law chuckled and started sucking on her breasts.

All these sensations, partnered with the restraints and blindfold, brought her to ecstasy and cum on Trafalgar's face

"Mmhh... so good." The demon said while drinking up her orgasm with slurps and wet noises.

"I think that's enough oral." Law smirked as he pulled away from her now bruised chest with his hickey's.

"I think so too" Trafalgar smirked before slowly, but teasingly, pulling out his long tongue from inside her, making her shiver from the sensitivity.

"Don't you dare fuck her pussy." Law growled while glaring at him

"I have no intention to. Though it tastes delicious. I wonder if her ass is open..." the demon smirked before trailing his hand up in between her still trembling thighs and rub against the hole in her back side that seemed to twitch with sensitivity, "well what a surprise... a perfect ass..."

"Tsk." Law rolled his eyes before taking out the toys they have, "if you're going to fuck her ass, prepare her properly"

"W-what do you mean...?" She sighed in exhaustion

"You'll know soon enough." Trafalgar smirked.

Law rolled his eyes before positioning (y/n) to straddle his lap and slip his dick inside her making her moan and arch her back.

Her arms were already wrapped tightly around her husband, only for her to gasp at the feeling of a cold liquid being pressed against her back side.

And not too long after, the demon's fingers started to push against the hole until they were inside it, coating her insides with the cold liquid as well before he pulled them out.

Only to be replaced with what felt like a rubber object with the same liquid but this time, it had a weird but also pleasurable shape and texture until she felt the very hilt of it hit the outside of her hole.

"Wow... that made me fucking cum." Trafalgar groaned

Law rolled his eyes and kissed her neck, "how are you feeling?"

"L-law... please move..." she moaned in his ear.

"May I...?"

"Sure"

Grabbing hold of the bottom of the toy, he slowly pulled it out before shoving it back in making her moan and clench around him tightly

Law continued this action, getting faster and faster everytime until he was practically slamming the toy back inside her as soon as it was pulled out.

"L-law...! I'm so close...!" She moaned before he smirked and pulled the toy all the way out, "law!"

"Come now..." he chuckled and kissed her on the lips.

"My turn..." Trafalgar smirked before holding her hips tightly and positioning himself at her now ready hole, his tip pressing against it

"You ready?"

She nodded and held tight unto Law.

The sight of her ass being parted by his hand sent something inside Trafalgar making him shove his whole length in without any mercy and started pounding, not caring if she adjusted or not.

Law soon started to match his pace making (y/n) howl moans and gasps that bounced off the walls of the room, as well as the sound of sex itself.

"Who knew you'd be such a whore for double penetration?" Trafalgar chuckled before cursing slightly, "but fuck... this ass is so good."

Law chuckled, "heh. My sweet little slut. Moaning like a cow while being fucked stupid by two dicks..."

(Y/n) moaned even more with the added degration until they had enough and sped up to catch their highs.

She basically came before them multiple times until they actually came deep inside her.

Law pressing against her womb and Trafalgar against her prostate.

The feeling made her moan even louder and cum a third time.

...

"That felt fucking good." Trafalgar muttered as he put on some clothes.

Law cleaned (y/n) up as she was already sleeping, "yeah. Sure."

"Fuck... now I wanna fuck her in her sleep."

"Don't you dare."

[stardustgalaxy]

Even more DMC headcanons~! Y’all seem to really like the ones with the reader/you involved so… why don’t we go more with that then?

(Just a whole bunch of nonsense thrown together, y’know?)

✨Let’s take a journey backwards into how Dante managed to ask you out in the most on brand way possible! He did and didn’t ask you out, but running on the assumption you’ve been friends/known each other for a while he’ll just kind of give you something expensive (let’s be honest, it’s a bracelet with a red gemstone embedded in it) and ask you this: “Can ya hang onto this?”

“Sure, but, why…?

“Isn’t it obvious? So I’m always able to find you, (Nickname)?”

✨Vergil, alas, is much less suave with his ways of asking you out, but the fact you managed to get past the icy shell of protection and get along with Dante, he’ll do something a little more romantic… by giving you a questionably expensive set of books to write in/a book has already been filled with his thoughts of you~! Man sucks with speaking, but writing is his expertise!

✨Nero, oh you sweet summer child, is the more bold of the trio! He’ll get cold feet, freak out about things going sideways, and then absolutely melt when you kiss him on the cheek when he hands you a bouquet of your favorite kind of flowers. And yes, there is indeed a single bright blue rose in there that he’ll carefully place in your hair~ Kyrie is 100% the one who suggested he do the bouquet with the rose.

✨Lady asking you out is by far the simplest of the entirety of the DMC crew, even Trish is surprised considering they both enjoy the more lavish (yet simple) sides of things. Lady is most likely the one to ask you out with you two on your classic lunch once a month, a tradition you started and she come to enjoy happening~ 100p extra if you turn the tables on her and ask her out instead, with a charming smile on your face and a quick peck on her lips!

✨It’s a wonder how Trish managed to find herself falling in love with someone, let alone you since you’re… well, you. She can’t describe it! But you’ve hung out together long enough, and if you’re a fellow hunter also slayed a few demons together, and so she figured she might as well ask you out on a date first! What she wasn’t prepared for was for you to show up looking nice with a single flower in your hand, gently placing said into the suit she decided to wear that day and saying such simple words. “You may not think much on it, but a woman as elegant and electrifying as you should wear this as well...”

✨Now for the ACTUAL headcanons:

💜Nero has a low resistance to spices, though it’s gotten better now that he moved out of Fortuna City

💜Dante, on the other hand, has a stupidly high resistance to spices and gets a little disappointed that the “spiciest thing around” is just a tickle on his tongue… have mercy upon his toilet

💜Vergil finds the concept of eating to be difficult, his sense are a bit skewed from his time split apart into two as well as time as Nelo Angelo, and thus he has the worlds slowest burning metabolism! He can go without eating a full meal for like… weeks. He will snack on small things like gummy bears and animal crackers, just so Dante and Nero get off his back about him skipping some sort of fuel. He’s gotten better at eating more consistently tho.

💜Lady has this ONE particular shade of lipstick she absolutely adores and was crushed when her favorite shop ran out of that shade, nearly punched a hole in Dante’s wall when it came to be discovered her favorite shade was discontinued due to unfortunate events… (demons)

💜Trish actually has a sour tooth! Contrary to what others may think, she prefers sour things over sweet, savory, and spicy! Go ahead, give her a sour patch kid or a warhead, she’ll snack on them all day if she could~!

💜Kyrie, believe it or not, has a secret love for some rock metal and it’s entirely Nico AND Dante’s fault! She also has a once a week little brunch hangout with Vergil to help him get more acclimated to “semi normal” life, as she is the only one who didn’t attempt to suffocate him in his sleep. (i.e gave him a scolding in a way that reminded him of Eva, so he felt comforted in a way because of it)

And that’s all the headcanons and I guess insert moments I got! Tune in next time for when I share these again… tho, I wonder if y’all would want me to make a separate lil blog for this