#blaze question herself often

[natslilcorner]

Baby!Philza AU

The End is as cold and bare as always. She doesn't blame The King for wanting things to decorate it, but still there is a limit to how much you can take.

Rose walks on the Island looking at all the creatures that live there. Enderman get aggressive when looked at, but she knows she is safe. She is powerful enough to destroy this whole place, even though she would never do it.

Now that The End has no ruler, the remnant Gods often go to check on it to make sure everything is stable. Balance is important and after the war they all have enough of the chaos. Talking about chaos, Rose looks in the distance and sees an unusual number of Enderman all gathered together. It's rare for Enderman to group up since they are solitary creatures.

Rose gets near the area and the closer she gets she hears another sound among the Enderman’s cries. A sound that should not belong in The End.

As soon as she is close the beasts teleport away finally allowing her to see what caught their attention.

Oh.

The Goddess kneels in front of a small bundle of white cloth. Inside it? A baby! She could not believe her eyes. What is a human baby doing in the wastelands? The End should be closed for humans so how did this little thing end up here?

Rose carefully picks up the baby keeping it in the centre of her palm. Right. She is not human sized right now, but maybe that’s safer for the baby! She stands up carefully and starts walking towards the portal. She has to show Blaze!

The End is as cold and bare as always. She doesn't blame The King for wanting things to decorate it, but still there is a limit to how much you can take.

Rose walks on the Island looking at all the creatures that live there. Enderman get aggressive when looked at, but she knows she is safe. She is powerful enough to destroy this whole place, even though she would never do it.

Now that The End has no ruler, the remnant Gods often go to check on it to make sure everything is stable. Balance is important and after the war they all have enough of the chaos. Talking about chaos, Rose looks in the distance and see an unusual number of Enderman all gathered together. It's rare for Enderman to group up since they are solitary creatures.

Rose gets near the area and the closer she gets she hears another sound among the Enderman’s cries. A sound that should not belong in The End.

As soon as she is close the beasts teleport away finally allowing her to see what caught their attention.

Oh.

The Goddess kneels in front of a small bundle of white cloth. Inside it? A baby! She could not believe her eyes. What is a human baby doing in the wastelands of the End? The End should be closed for humans so how did this little thing end up here?

Rose carefully picks up the baby keeping it in the centre of her palm. Right. She is not human sized right now, but maybe that’s safer for the baby! She stands up carefully and starts walking towards the portal. She has to show Blaze!

Idk because of QSMP and how Rose would call q!Philza “child of the sky” I imagined her as some sort of a mother figure :D So yeah baby Phil being found by her and then him growing up around the Gods. Rose being the chill carefree parent. Blaze being paranoid and assigning She and He as his babysitters and guards. Blaze coming to the Overworld and seeing both Rose and Phil playing in the mud. On “who” Philza in this type au is idk?? Like sometimes I like to think Philza would be the next “End guardian” like each thing (nether, oceans etc) needed someone to take care of them, and since the EnderKing is gonezo, Phil was born. This is why he also is a winged “human”. The Gods don’t know that tho.. they are not familiar with this. Or he is just an abandoned baby lol

I imagined the Ocean Overlord babysitting baby Phil. Rose dropping him off at his home and him putting Phil in a donut floatie to play in the water.

Rose comes back and asks Ocean about the baby. “What child?.........................oh, THE CHILD”. He totally forgot about it and went to play videogames. After a long search they find Phil in the middle of the ocean, sunburned, with dolphins swimming around him. Also Phil is holding a fish cuz why not lmao

Anyway Ocean can no longer babysit alone. Blaze was not happy.

Oh maybe Ocean is the one who gave Phil his little hat as a sorry/joke LOL Blaze did not find it funny.

Phil growing up learning so many skills thanks to the Gods who took care of him. Planning, fighting and organisation from Blaze, from Rose building, taking care of animals and nature etc, and from Ocean how to be independent and survival skills since his ass was not looking after him LMAO

Sjfsjibksnsfdjsfjfsjs immortal gods taking care of baby with no idea of what they are doing>>>>

(some old art lol)

part 1 (this one ig??)

part 2 (She and He appearence)

part 3 (Baby Phil and Rose)

[flawseer]

Mail Call #3

Answering comments from @void-the-bear @railway-lands @keabirb @ilikebookssomuch @chezgorman @cartoons-everywhere @dragonra305

Please don't hurt me. I have glasses.

Thank you, to all of you. It makes me genuinely happy to know that I'm able to put something into this world that other people can enjoy. I think this is a great setting that is fun to add to.

Doing a Wings of Fire-themed run of this Smaugust challenge has been very interesting and it's good that the result appears to be well-received. It's not always been easy, I'm actually getting quite exhausted having to post content on a strict schedule like this. But it is worth doing if it makes people happy.

Relating to my comment on this post. I probably will do it eventually, along with some other ideas I had that didn't fit in. But it won't happen while Smaugust is still going, as I am already skirting the limits of what I am physically capable of right now.

Ahh... hm... This is the question that has toppled mountains and started wars. You're going to get hit squads sent after me.

Well, there is the big one, of course. Qibli/Winter. They have such wonderful chemistry whenever they are in a scene together (with one pretty upsetting exception). And Qibli is always teasing him about being his destiny and the two of them getting married, so I think there is some attraction there.

Then uh... I used to feel completely ambivalent about this one, but Starflight/Fatespeaker has really grown on me over time. There's a lot of interesting potential there that doesn't really make it into the story. I need to make a long-winded post about Fatespeaker one day.

Blaze/Glacier is another one that could be cute. I think putting a repressed Icewing together with a highly eccentric and rambunctious Sandwing is going to be a winning combination most of the time. Or well, I guess I should say "could have been cute", since Glacier had to die for the plot, in a very wretched and infuriating way too.

There are a couple more that I think have their moments or could be interesting in one way or another. Some of them even contradicting or overlapping each other. Listing all of them would probably be a bit excessive.

Oh yeah, and I think Sunny is ace.

Ah, a question that'll make me put someone else's favorite character at the bottom of a preference list... After the shipping question I'm starting to fear for my life now.

Let me preface this by clarifying that I generally like all of the DoD. There are some characters in this setting that I loathe and wish they would exit the story, and the arc 1 protagonists are nowhere near that. So being ranked low here translates to me saying "Yeah, they're okay, room for improvement", not "wow, they're the WORST!"

Okay whatever, let's get down to it.

#1 - Sunny

That one's easy, I mean, just look at the pinned post on this blog.

Sunny is so wonderful and charming and perfect in every conceivable way, she is one of my six all-time favorite characters. She is the flower that blooms in the bitter desert. A lot of people may perceive her as this demure and innocent character who is always happy and friendly, and oblivious to the suffering around her. Nah, Sunny knows exactly what is going on. She is keenly aware of all the bloodshed, suffering, and toxicity that unfolds in the world around her. When she remains optimistic and forgiving in the face of darkness, that is not her being meek or passive, it's her steadfastly refusing to let that darkness into herself. She is actively embodying the change she wants to see in the world, even when it hurts her or gets her taken advantage of, because that is what she believes in and the future she will create.

That's pretty inspiring. I wish I had that kind of inner strength.

Also, she is not weak. While she's not a powerhouse scrapper like Tsunami or an invincible stack of bricks like Clay, Sunny strikes quickly and without hesitation when her friends are in danger, and can be deviously clever. This is often overlooked, but she is--to my knowledge--the only character to land an attack on Morrowseer that comes close to actually hurting him.

Well... you got me rambling about Sunny. Let's go through the others more briskly.

#2 - Starflight

I like Starflight a lot. Unfortunately the story really doesn't. He is like, the unluckiest character by far. I don't know what he did to deserve the never-ending cavalcade of misfortune that gets shoveled in his direction throughout all three arcs. Like, it never ends. A couple of friends and I came together and we jokingly called our group the "Starflight Protection Foundation", because someone needs to stage an intervention. Like, wrap him in a cozy sweater and buy him hot chocolate or something. Heaven help this poor man.

He's another one of my favorites.

#3 - Glory

Glory is really cool; I vibe with the "unchosen hero spurned by destiny" theme. She goes through her life and is constantly told "No, you don't have a special destiny. You're the fifth wheel. You are worthless and unimportant". Though she struggles with the constant abuse and devaluation, she eventually finds a way to turn it into strength and declare that the only value that matters is the one she gives to herself.

I really wish the story had NOT made her turn out to be a secret princess. "I was born without destiny, so I'm making my own" is a so much more satisfying character trajectory than "Oh, don't worry. You were born special after all, you just didn't know about it".

So yeah, I kind of tend to put that "secret princess" plot twist on the shelf when I think about Glory, and prefer to think that she managed to sway Grandeur with her skill and determination, rather than a random blood link.

#4 - Clay

Clay is very lovable. He is like the emotional bedrock of the group and acts as a stabilizing force that pairs well with all of the other arc 1 protagonists. He pretty much resolves all of his baggage in the first book and becomes content and steady. That is very good for him, but unfortunately this also kind of turns him into just some dude for the following four books.

Which is fine, it is good for the other characters to have someone behind them who loves them and helps them up when they stumble. It just makes it difficult for Clay to shine on his own.

#5 - Tsunami

Okay, so, Tsunami. I actually like her a lot in arc 1. She's bringing an interesting kind of energy to the group that is like, half-supportive and half-detrimental. Very chaotic. She also has to contend with some heavy stuff; everything to do with her father and the complications in her family life. It's very interesting. Lots of places to go with that.

Arc 2 Tsunami though, really grinds my gears. She regresses into this kind of juvenile, immature personality that is just pointlessly abrasive and confrontational. She acts really condescendingly towards Peril-- despite the latter having saved Clay's life AND it being really important to Clay that her staying at JMA works out well. Her borderline sabotaging this effort by making Peril feel unwelcome seems very dismissive towards Clay's feelings. It also doesn't help that she is the most outspoken about her loathing of Nightwing mindreading and prophecies, which drives Moonwatcher further into her emotional shell and makes things more complicated.

Okay, I have to reiterate: I don't dislike Tsunami. I just think her character arc is incomplete. It feels like she is stuck in arrested development while at JMA. She's mostly running around yelling at people, when she really should be thinking about what to do about Queen Coral, and how to get custody of her siblings. Her sister Anemone is carrying emotional scars from how the Queen has kept her leashed like a dog for her entire life, a process that is now happening to Auklet, even to this day. And then there's the 30 something children who have never known parental love for a day in their life and their mother can't remember the names of.

Someone's gotta step in and save these kids. Or like, at least start vaguely thinking about it.

Turtle???

Hmm....

...

Moose!

[drawnfamiliarfaces]

Would Jenny allow Danny to tinker with her? I know robotics isn’t exactly the same as aerospace engineering (and I do be headcanoning that my boy chose this as his major since he wants to be an astronaut), but with all the experience he had from handling his parents inventions I believe he can be trusted with fixing something as complex as a robot. I like to think that Danny was really impressed with how Jenny was made and secretly wanted to take a look at how she works, but was too shy to ask because he knows how it’s like to be treated like an object and not a person (with the whole “ghosts are non-sentient globs of ectoplasm with post-human consciousness” spiel he heard so many times) and didn’t want to make Jenny uncomfortable. I believe it took Jenny some time and getting to know Danny and his engineering skills before she let him fix her when she got something badly broken. It was like a show of ultimate trust from Jenny’s side and Danny was flattered, humbled and very respectful. And super careful of course, constantly asking how Jenny’s doing or feeling while he tinkered, mindful of her. I bet she was touched.

Not gonna lie, this is one of the more fascinating asks I got - if only because its incredibly interesting to read about your take/interpretation of Danny & Jenny's relationship! I hope you don't mind me saying, but it feels like you adore both characters and it's very cute!

Well, now, in HoM AU, both Danny and Jenny are close friends and indeed Danny is one of the few people who Jenny trusts with - well, herself - her mechanical self. Like you, I headcanon Danny as quite mechanicaly gifted - in HoM AU he actually graduated college/uni with engineering degree, so he got education to polish his raw skills! He is one of the first people who would help Jenny in and out of the field, if there is a minor malfunction or an injury of some sort!

But even for that to happen it took a couple of years and a few adventures together.

So to answer the original question, I would have to say that in HoM AU specifically, neither Danny would ask to 'tinker' with her, nor Jenny would probably be totally comfortable with that question if asked. 'Tinkering' would imply a degree of casual poking around, and in this case, both Danny and Jenny have certain life experiences that gave them... boundaries when it comes to their own and others' autonomy. Jenny especially.

(a bit of random background info dump here to explain the reasoning, but feel free to ignore it, since i basically answered the ask xD i just got bitten by a writing bunny, so its gotten a bit long - be warned!)

When Jenny was younger and only just acclimatizing herself with human world and amongst teenagers, she was rather blaze at times with how much access to her body she gave to her human friends and acquaintances.

After all, her mother was rather frank about it - often poking around in Jenny's mechanics and code. But it was her mother, who created her (sort of 'why are you covering yourself, i made you i already know what you have' mother attitude, which is a bit over-controlling and invasive to other's autonomy, but well, Jenny is a robot after all) and it a completely different deal from others.

So, despite her mother's warnings there are instances when Jenny was not very careful. Like when she allowed Brad, Tuck and Sheldon to literally remove and rip out her stuff in pursuit of fashion goals. Or when she dropped her guard around Todd Sweeney and got reprogrammed for her good deed.

And during the events of the last episode, she was once again controlled, by Dr Locus. While not exactly her fault, it still left a lasting impression that any mechanically gifted person could be dangerous to her.

Now, this is where we venture into my personal headcanons for MLAATR that are tied into HoM-verse:

Another aspect of Jenny's developed caution to giving access to her body - is the fact that she is not considered as a real person in the eye of the government/world. She is a thing, a weapon created by Dr. Walkman. She does not have the same rights as a human, and on paper she does not even have rights to her own body. It's all patented Nora Wakeman technology, (secretly) founded by the government.

And she has been fighting it ever since she was a teenager and refused to be called an IT - XJ-9 - and became a HER, a teenage girl Jenny, who also just happens to be a robot.

At first it started as a simple teenage rebellion and she went to school and started to hang out with other kids, but what about later after she graduates? Will she be even allowed to? Sure, maybe her school will give her a diploma, but how legal will it be to give something like that to someone who is legally not a real person? After all, its not like when other kids will turn 18 and can be their own people, not under the legal control of their parents. Jenny is her mother's property, intellectual and physical. For her to be considered a real person in the eye of government, it would require a law being passed about recognizing sentience of Artificial Intelligence.

And sure, she could probably be made an exception, being a hero robot and all, but the problem is, she is not the only human-made robot in existence! What about her sisters, who are prototypes and are not as developed as her? Her brother, who seemed to develop sentiency to the point of turning on humans?? Melody and Killgore?? And its not only in her world (cartoon), but in others (since its a crossover). So the question about AI/Robot sentience, no matter if they are good or bad or how developed they are, would not concern only her, it would be a global debate.

And we all know how the governments of the world would feel about passing laws about sentience of artificial beings that were created to serve the human race. It would be a struggle one way or another.

So, as she grows up and sees the world refusing to aknowledge her as a person, she doesnt have legal rights to finish school and go to college, to get a job, to get married, heck she cant even have a legal documentation that doesnt says 'Dr. Wakeman's creation'. The government says: your body belongs to us, because we paid for Dr. Wakeman to make you - you belong to us, we control you.

That, on top of several unpleasant experiences with other people disregarding her autonomy, will equal to Jenny trying to get some sense of that control back. So she starts to be more cautious about how much access others have to her physical self; she starts to build and reinforce boundaries with other people, starting with her family and friends.

It was one of the darkest days in Sheldon's life, when Jenny started to firmly say 'no' to whenever he asked her about her inner workings and casual access for poking around. xD Tuck was not a happy camper either, that his favorite robot friend became very stingy with all the cool stuff. But Brad got it. And after gentle (and sometimes not) reminders, others became more understanding.

It was a little harder with her mother. Dr. Wakeman truly loved her daughter, but she was a scientist first and mother second. She was so used to casual access to Jenny, in order to keep maitanance that it was hard for her to break the habits. Its still a constant struggle, but she has gotten so much better.

Now, when it came to her new friends amongst HoMies, she already has built a set of boundaries that allowed her to feel more secure as a person, despite how the world sees her, but she is much more reserved to opening herself up to others, at least compared to how she first approached people when she was younger.

It took a few missions and getting to know them better, for her to start trusting with them with her mechanical self. But now a few years later, she feels comfortable enough with most of them to give her a helping hand when needed!

Of course not everyone are capable of helping her though: Danny, Kim and Zak are three of more mechanically oriented people who can help. Though Danny is the one with actual education in that field, while Kim and Zak learned more by necessity, from Kim's various jobs and Zak to operate the Saturday's equipments.

When Rex joined them, he actually became the second best person for her to come to if she needed help. Not only because he has unprecedent skills in mechanics, but also because of his nanites. (but thats info dump for another time, lol)

Jun has some basic knowledge in mechanics, but nowhere near enough for her to feel comfortable poking in Jenny's insides. Jake is perhaps the least capable of helping, when it comes to engineering, followed by newbie Randy (tho we really aint counting him tbh xD).

Ben is a complicated situation - he has some training and knowledge in engineering and robotics because of his Plumber training, but Jenny has heard horror tales from Gwen about how he treats his stuff (the whole hacking/playing with Omnitrix settings), so she flat out refuses for Ben to touch her. However in emergency/battle situation she would allow Ben to use one of his aliens to do so (like, Grey Matter or Upgrade).

So, we talked about Jenny's experiences and why they would contribute to her feeling uncomfortable if someone asked to 'tinker' with her.

Now, let's talk about why Danny would not ask to 'tinker' with her in the first place.

Like you said, Danny is all to familiar with the struggle of being part of something tat is hardly recognized as a sentient species - he had to listen to his parents dismiss ghost sentience most of his younger life. Of course, they have gotten much better since the... 'finale' of DP, but this sort of racism? xenophobia? (im not rally sure which term to use tbh) prejudice against ghosts would have left a lasting impression on Danny.

So I dont remember if I ever implied it, but in HoM AU - events of DP finale happened very differently and the resulting consequences of it diverged a lot from Mr ButtHurtman's 'canon'.

(Also, I had ideas about it, before a Glitch In Time came out, so events from there were not taken into consideration. )

I don't want to reveal much, because it is kinda one of my planned flashback for HoM, but the events that happened reinforced Danny's ... well lets say regard of people's autonomy? It's kind of hard to put into words.

Ok, let's explain it like this: Danny would not ask Jenny if he could look at how she worked and if he could tinker with her, because it would be like if his Mom and Dad casually asked if they could perform a vivisection on him to see how different he is from a full human.

And while sure, the comparison might sound a bit extreme, since there is a difference when it comes to robots and humans about 'poking around' in their innards. But to Danny - it would be too close of a comparison - because of the whole 'recognition of sentience' thing.

After all, wasn't it just some years ago, his parents cried that ghost are nothing more than lump of malicious energy that have no feelings? They changed their mind after Danny's reveal, which allowed them to actually listen and look into evidence proving otherwise and learn. And here is Jenny, struggling to be recognized as a person, since she is considered nothing more than a lump of metal with no feelings - just a weapon to be pointed in a certain direction.

And Danny would feel like asking Jenny if he could casually poke inside her, is a bit... hypocritical? And not to mention insenstitive. After all, he knows how she feels - she is basically still living his worst imagined life in some ways.

So, I don't think he will ever ask to study how she works by casually poking inside her.

HOWEVER -

At some point, after they became friends, Danny would feel like he should know at least some basics on how Jenny works, just so he could help her in an emergency.

I imagine it happened after a particularly rough mission, and Danny had to help Jenny back home since she was unable to do so herself, so Dr. Wakeman could fix her. After some time thinking, he would sit in front of both Nora and Jenny and ask them for permission if he could learn how Jenny works - from Nora.

After all, Danny does not need to poke inside Jenny to learn how she functions, when there is her mother right there - the creator, the maintanance and doctor all in one package, with access to blueprints and all intricate knowledge, who can evaluate what Danny needs to know in accordance to his passable engineering skills. She could teach him the basics - but of course not without Jenny's permission.

So he asks her, if he could learn, because he is tired of looking how she gets hurt along with them, but unlike most of them she can not be easily fixed with bandages and some time. And Danny, since he is one of the few of them who has the skills, would like to be actually able to help her with those skills. But it is her body - it is her choice, to trust him or not.

And Jenny would be speechless. It would be the first time someone asked her like that. Not even Kim, who is one of her closest friends, asked before (but mostly because Kim was perfectly aware that she is nowhere skilled enough to even think about it).

And you would be right. It would be a show of ultimate trust from Jenny, to agree for Danny to learn. And maybe at some point, simply learning, turned into more on hands learning in some small ways. And Jenny's trust was never betrayed, and Danny always stayed humbled and aware of that.

so, i hope the answer was satisfying, or at least entertaining for you! thank you again, your ask was delightful to read and allowed me to explore some of my own backstory parts for HoM a little bit more!

[chucapybara]

—monsters.

a short arlecchino x harbinger fem!reader drabble.

—in which a wounded innamorati is tended to be blackened hands and mournful words.

notes: "innamorati" is one of the cast in the commedia dell'arte, with the theme of the lovers, if i remember correctly. they are usually a pair, as well. wrote this a few days ago; this came to me with my own version of a harbinger!oc in mind (hence it may come off as self-shippy), but i think it's vague enough to substitute a reader as innamorati. :3c inna also has cryo-inclined abilities (hence titled "Permafrost") and covers themselves in armour!

"You still bleed like a man does."

"And how does... ngfh... a man bleed?"

"Red."

Were it not for the slickened crimson coating her cursed palms, Arlecchino may as well have thought that the Innamorati was no more than an inanimate suit of obsidian. Innamorati's breaths come heavy, misting like frost at the base of her visor.

There is a kinship, in the blood and in the ghastly taint that sours them both. Like beckons like, as the familiar recognises the familiar from a sea of crowds.

For a moment, Arlecchino's dead-eyed gaze flickers over the shadows in Innamorati's helmet, as if searching for a glimpse of the soul that stares beneath. She almost catches the abyssal-flecked hazel, the dredges of human, or what once was human.

"Innamorati."

"Mmh."

"The children will mourn your passing," the Fourth mutters. It's difficult to dress the wound of an acquaintance who refuses to shed their armour, but she improvises. The bleeding must stop eventually.

"Will they, now?"

Arlecchino bows her head, the slightest nudge of a nod. It was not often that Innamorati passed by the House, but every instance always brought with it the intrigue from the children, and the rumour of the risen "abyssal knight". For all the Lovers' aloof frigidity, a wonder it had become when said abyssal knight would bring souvenirs and trinkets for the children of the Hearth after and between deployments, when said abyssal knight would converse with the fosters in a voice soft as snow, gentle as a whisper upon a dandelion breeze.

Quickly, Innamorati had unknowingly earned a place for herself among the denizens of that organisation, and had come under the scrutiny of its unfeeling Father. Hence had Arlecchino found a wounded Innamorati, returned from a mission, stalking past whilst nursing an injury; hence had Arlecchino beckoned her fellow Harbinger into her office, where a box of medical supplies sits in her cabinet for unforeseen events much like this.

"And of you?" The words come slow from 'neath Inna's helm, a gravelled drag to them, strained. "Will you mourn my passing, Knave?"

There is a long silence. With calculating coldness, the baleful moon falls quiet, perhaps contemplative, perhaps resentful of the question.

How many has she reaped? How many throats slashed, heads ground into a marrowy pulp? And of the many, of what number were those she had no strength to aid, left to keep the reminder of their lives in their final breaths?

Even now, from the depths of that icy past blazed upon a crimson pyre, Innamorati ferried recollections that the Knave had not pondered in a long time: her first blood, on that fated arena, within the cage of a woman madder than she—the blood of a fallen dreamer, an heir to tragedy.

When Arlecchino does not answer, Innamorati answers for her.

"Well," the Permafrost mutters in a rasp, "I have yet to forfeit my life, stubborn as I am. You do not grieve for the living."

"And yet we grieve, still, for what eludes us in the present."

Their gazes meet—or Arlecchino thinks they do. She feels a knowing shiver at the tilt of Innamorati's head, in her direction, where the fiery moon meets a frigid sun.

We grieve for what we have lost.

And if naught else, yours is the grave whose flowers I shall never allow to wilt.

[thebadboyfanclub]

My Moonlight (Daemon x Reader)

So this was requested by an anon. Once again this was a challenge but I hope I did it justice, let me know if it’s shit but… Enjoy!

It was a cold winter night when princess Alyssa gave birth to not one but two children, prince Daemon and princess (y/n), legend has it (y/n) would wail until she laid next to her twin brother. When princess Alyssa held her daughter he saw herself in the babes eyes, they held the same glimpse of strength and resilience, she was called “the fire of the realm”, the greatest thing was during the labour the wild dragon sheep stealer landed outside the keep.

Once princess Alyssa heard the news she was up on her feet with her twin children in her arms to meet the dragon, (y/n) was the one that sheep stealer had chosen as the dragon sniffed around her and then sat down on the ground, it almost looked like the dragon bowed for the princess, it was not as big in size as Caraxes yet he made up for it with its ill temper and ferocious attitude, it would only listen and obey to (y/n) which caused a lot of problems to the dragon keepers, the dragon was named blaze “it’s only fitting for the realms fire to ride her blaze” she liked to joke.

As the years passed the twins were attached at the hip and the court would joke about how they were the same person. (Y/n) and Daemon would often get in trouble due to the obsession they had for one another, (y/n) had a habit of grabbing little girls by their hair and drag them when they attempted to come close to her brother and Daemon had to be pulled off from other boys that would offer flowers to the princess. Their father would look at them as a continuation of the love he had shared with their deceased mother, it was no coincidence that they looked identical either, two bodies that shared one soul.

“we were born together, we will die together”

Prince Daemon would frequently answer when he was questioned about (y/n). (Y/n) and Daemon could not be tamed by rules, she had given her Maidenhead to Daemon before their betrothal was even announced, whispers of how prince Daemon had taken (y/n) behind a brother at the street of silk spread like fire, they were partially true what they forgot to mention was that (y/n) had dragged Daemon in a dark alley to mountain him, she was insatiable.

“It feels like I am being fucked by myself”

She whispered to him, Daemon laughed but did not oppose to her declare, their resemblance was uncanny and oddly arousing, seeing themselves in one another made it more fun for them, their facial expression matching as their were twisted with pleasure was exciting to say the least.

Both of them were intoxicated by love, they were ruthless as the green eyed monster of jealousy drove them to insanity, their antics baffled everyone as for example their brother Viserys had roared with anger when (y/n) slapped Rhaenyra at her own wedding for dancing and whispering to her lord husbands ear. (Y/n) was restrained by Daemon and was forced out, later a soldier heard their groans of pleasure as Daemon had pushed her against a wall to “teach her a lesson”.

Daemon had taken it a step further as he beheaded her knight for listing after his lady wife, the truth was the knight had just held the princess by the waist when she tripped over and Daemon did not appease to how the knight went about it.

The birthing bed was a place (y/n) would frequent with Daemon by her side as he whispered to her words of encouragement, the ended up having 8 kids, her eldest was a son that (y/n) already carried in her belly when the wedding ceremony was held, she named him Baelon, the second one was twin girls Alyssane and Alyssa, the fourth was another boy named Maegor, then there was Eleana, after her came Rhaegal that gave his mother quite a fright since he decided to arrive earlier than expected, and the last ones were another daughter pair of twins named Visenya and Helias a girl and a boy naturally they all looked like the same person just different heights and personalities, the family resided at dragon stone that Viserys had passed to his siblings, away from duty and boring court gatherings, they showed up when they wished not when they were summoned, on one hand it was a relief since having them around meant chaos would erupt, on the other no one knew when they would strike

“My moonlight”

Daemon called his sister wife who waited for him at the dragon pit with their children. Daemon took (y/n)s hand and placed a sweet kiss on the womans knuckles, he looked up to admire his ever defiant wife.

(Y/n) was dressed in a marvellous black and red outfit and stood next to her dragon, the first to run to Daemon was his youngest Visenya, her long dirty blonde hair swinging as she hugged his fathers leg. Daemon picked her up and held his daughter tightly, she was a spitting image of her parents of course, the only difference was that she was the one to inherit her grandmothers eyes, one was blue and the other was violet.

“How is my little princess?”

“Mother said I can ride my dragon”

“ The dragonkeepers said it’s safe and the red keep is a short flight from here”

“What amazing news”

Daemon beamed, all of their children had dragon eggs in their cradle, unfortunately a few did not hatch including Maegors, however that was quickly forgotten due to (y/n) and daemon flying with their kids to find unclaimed dragons when Maegor had found Cannibal and claimed him he came back riding, in his mothers eyes Maegor was destined to become a legend, the dragon was later named “Gaelithox”.

Daemon had assisted his little girl up on her completely white dragon, Visenya had named him “moonlight” after the nickname Daemon had for (y/n).

“Allow me my love”

“No need”

(Y/n) dismissed her husbands hand and sat on her dragons saddle. Daemon scoffed as he shook his head, of course she would not take his hand, (y/n) never yearned for assistance even if it came from her husband. The flight was short yet blissful, they all went up to the sky side by side and listened to little Visenyas squeals of joy, (y/n) puffed her chest with pride as she gazed at the little girl. Helias had claimed Vermithor, (y/n) had taken the small babe up in the sky with her dragon when she spotted vermithor, something told her to land next to the lonely dragon, it was then that the dragon chose the child as its new rider.

Once they landed their son caught up to his little sister and picked her off her dragon, Maegor was over protective of his siblings. Viserys waited outside for his brother and sister along with his wife, Alicent.

“Daemon and (y/n)! Welcome home”

“My dearest brother, how I’ve missed you”

(Y/n) loved Viserys, it was only for her that Viserys tolerated Daemons rebellious acts. Viserys placed his hands on (y/n)s stomach as his face showed admiration.

“Gods be good sister, your family is a sight for sore eyes, dragon stone seems to have their hands full with heirs”

“our mother unfortunately did not live long enough to make the army she wished for our father, I hope she is smiling down on me for my effort”

“The mother seems to be quite gracious with her blessings for princess (y/n)”

Alicent spoke lightly, (y/n)s eyes focused on her, (y/n) was never fond of the hightowers, she found them repulsive and vicious, lowlife rats that raised their hopes up to take over the Targaryen throne.

“Goddess Meleys was on our side that is correct”

“And let me take a good look at Rhaegal, my daughter is a lucky woman”

Rhaegal was to be wed to Helaena, Rhaegal had grown fond of the princesses innocence and kind heart, he would often ride his dragon to be by her side for as long as he could.

(Y/n) and Daemon pushed their pride aside for their son and allowed the match, they also thought how it would serve for their son to be wed to heleana when Rhaenyra ascends the throne, if their children take over the hightowers they would not go against the princess.

“Let us go inside, Rhaenyra has been waiting for you”

(Y/n)s mask slipped for a quick moment, she could recall the encounter that occurred during her wedding, she shared a look with her husband that made Daemon place his one hand around her waist and the other to hold her hand tightly, the last thing he needed was for his sister wife to be cross with him.

“Princess Rhaenyra it’s been far too long”

“Indeed it has my dear aunt, i see you have been quite busy growing your family”

Rhaenyra hugged her aunt and then took a step back to bow at her uncle, (y/n) smirked at the encounter and Rhaenyras timid behaviour, at least the slap had taught her a lesson.

“And your children have grown, Jacaerys, Lucerys and Joffrey isn’t it?”

“Correct, they were far younger when you last saw them”

“Visenya and Helias were babes, you don’t remember them do you sweetlings?”

Daemon once again picked up little Visenya. The girl shook her head before she hid her face at her fathers neck making everyone’s heart melt. Daemon rubbed her back while (y/n) lifted her son Helias in her arms, Helias seemed intrigued by Rhaenyra since he stared right in her eye, he was the adventurous one.

“I believe the children should go to the gardens, mingle amongst themselves”

(Y/n) suggested, they did not come all the way here to have some family quality time. Naturally Maegor went up to his father so he came hold little Visenya, she was a shy child who adored her brother. Alyssa went to her mother to lure Helias away with sweets, he was always a mothers boy so he needed a tad bit of convincing to leave his mothers arms.

As the children walked away it was only (y/n), Daemon, Viserys, Alicent and Rhaenyra in the room. An awkward silence fell as the three women sized each other up while the men stood completely still, waiting to see the women’s reaction.

“How is your son Baelon?”

“He should be here any minute now with his wife Laena and of course their two daughters, my son has informed me that princess Rhaenyra is interested to betroth Jacaerys and Lucerys with Baela and Raena”

“Indeed, the children seem quite fond of each other”

Rhaenyra responded diplomatically, (y/n) could detect that she was weaponising the children’s feelings so she wouldn’t go against it.(Y/n) nodded as she held back all the sly comments that passed through her mind, her grandchildren would marry the two bastards, what a mess and might she add a waste of Valyrian blood, Baelon was the one that tried to reason with his mother and allow the match, Baelon wished for his daughters to be happy as well as see Baela ascend to the throne with her lord husband.

“Well since we are are discussing the topic of betroths I would like to propose a match”

“What do you have in mind sister?”

“Alyssa has been betrothed to her brother Maegor but I would like to suggest that we betroth my other daughter Eleana to your son Aemond, our families I have been divided for so long it is time we put our differences aside, as well as keep the blood of old Valyria pure”

(Y/n)s eyes shifter for only a moment to take a look at Rhaenyra, Viserys smiled brightly at the proposal while Alicent froze in her spot, (y/n) has noticed that Alicent has a soft spot for her son Aemond so if he was to marry Eleana meant there would be another woman influencing her loyal soldier.

“What a splendid idea my dearest (y/n), Eleana is more than my son would have wished for, isn’t that right my queen?”

“I supposed, Aemond would be a… wonderful husband”

Everyone with eyes could detect Alicents uneasiness at the proposal, Eleana was a force to be reckoned with, an excellent archer and a mighty dragon rider, her spirit would not be silenced under Alicents influence, quite the contrary Alicent feared for her son being dragged away from her reach and follow his wife in whatever she wished, which was why (y/n) suggested it.

Alicent could feel it how every move was calculated and an attempt to shoot down anything the hightowers might have in mind. Aemond was a family oriented man, if him and Eleana were to have children he would never turn against his own kin, Heleana was to be wed to her other son so as a wife and a gentle soul she would comply with her husbands wishes, one of them was for Heleana to move to dragon stone after the ceremony. (Y/n) was already taking away her only daughter and now she planted a spy in his sons chamber.

“May I ask dear sister, what about your daughter Alyssane? Our son Aegon might-“

“No”

Daemon spoke up for the first time. He had heard stories of the nuisance that was Aegon, “a waste of a name” he called him when he was brought in question, Daemon had grown the closest to his daughter Alyssane, she was an exquisite sword woman and a perfect diplomat, he would never throw his daughter to the low life that was his nephew. (Y/n) squeezed her husband hand and smiled at him, her smile seemed warm although Daemon caught on quickly that it was his first and last warning.

“Alyssane is a free spirit my king, we’ve had numerous discussions about her and Aegon that led nowhere, she is adamant to marry Lord Cregan Stark, he has already send ravens to us asking for her hand, I think you can understand I cannot go against true love”

(Y/n) spoke the truth, her daughter Alyssane was keen on marrying Cregan stark, a fine young prince that would support their daughter and make her the queen of the north, what was a flat out lie was the “numerous discussions”, Alyssane and her parents had never discussed that option, Aegon was not their problem.

Before their plans could go any further they were interrupted by the guards bursting in the room.

“My apologies but you must come to the gardens, Prince Maegor has attacked prince Aegon”

“My child”

Alicent made haste and flew out the room leaving the others stunned. (Y/n) eyeballed her husband, their tight bond came in handy in these situations when they had to communicate with just their eyes. Everyone moved as fast they could and were met with Maegor being held back by three guards as Alicent inspected her son for injuries.

“What is the meaning of this?”

Daemons voice was loud and clear, Maegor had a temper but had never acted with violence without reason. Maegor gained back his composure when he realised his parents were present, (y/n) went to walk to her son as the guards led him go.

“What is the meaning? Your son is a savage, my children are once again met with cruelty of your family”

“Your grace let us not jump to conclusions, Maegor as your mother I demand to know what happened”

Maegor remained silent. As he looked at his sister he thought of what to say, he did not regret his actions yet once his mother came in his vision he felt embarrassed over his temper.

“Maegor I won’t ask twice”

“He wanted to bet money that he could fuck Alyssa”

Maegor interrupted his mother with his voice rising due to anger. It was like time stopped when Maegor made the accusation known, Maegor was defending his sister that was his soon to be wife.

Aegon was unaware that his uncle was standing behind him when he spoke with such disgusting words over his sisters. Alyssa and Alyssane were playing out a sword fight while Eleana and Visenya sat on the grass with Heleana and watched, the sons of Rhaenyra had ran off somewhere with Rhaegal and Aegon had turned to his brother Aemond to demise Maegors sisters. He was about to jump in the conversation so he can make Aegon stop talking when he heard of the bet, that was what made him lose his mind.

“Is that true Aegon?”

Alicent questioned in a state of shock. If what Maegor had stated was correct then it was another stab on Alicents back, her own son had betrayed her and left them exposed to the hungry wolves that was (y/n) and Daemon.

Aegon remained silent and (y/n) found this as an opportunity to approach the boy and land one harsh slap on his already bruised face. Alicent nor anyone else did not dare to stop her, he had crossed a line and spoke ill of her daughter, if it was the other way around Alicent would have done the same. Daemon admired his twin with his head held high as she grabbed Aegon by the chin and forced him on his knees in front of her son Maegor.

“Alyssa, go to your brother Maegor”

Alyssa did as told and wrapped her hand around Maegor after she leaned her head on his shoulder. Alyssa and Maegor were in love ever since they were toddlers, even if Maegor was younger he always protected his siblings and although he struggles with intimacy (y/n) recalled when Maegor would slip a small daisy in Alyssa’s books every day or how she waited for him to find a dragon so they could fly together, Alyssa had claimed silverwing when the dragon came out of hiding on Alyssanes and Alyssa’s first name day.

“Apologise to them”

“What?”

“You heard her boy, apologise to them”

Daemon repeated as he had approached his wife who stayed next to the kneeling boy. Aegon looked back at his mother for help yet to no avail, he had created this mess he was going to come out of it by his own.

“I…. I am sorry”

“For what?”

“I am sorry for speaking in a low manner about Alyssa”

“If I hear that you even looked at any of my daughters way, I will cut off your hands and your cock so I can feed it to you. Understood?”

Aegon only nodded in fear of (y/n)s wrath. She took her eyes of Aegon who was clearly beaten with quite the strength from Maegor and took a few steps to stand at the head of her son. Maegors posture was proud and there was no sight of remorse in his eyes as they laid upon his mother. Everyone held their breath as (y/n) handled the matter, all of Westeros were familiar with how far Daemon and (y/n) would go for their children, gods save the man that would harm their family. A small smirk appeared in (y/n)s lips as she reached up to caress her sons cheek

“You are your fathers son, I am proud of you my dear Maegor”

Requests are open!

[studentinpursuitofclouds]

Oh my hey! Please, if you haven't already, please, could you do if you haven't please do favorite singer and song of the sdv bachelor/ettes

Oh, this is the first time I've posted an ask about a topic like this, so I hope I did it right. Thanks for the question, and have a great day! 🫰💕

_________________________________________

SDV bachelors:

Harvey's radio will always play Louis Daniel Armstrong or Ella Jane Fitzgerald because the doctor loves listening to jazz. If he wants something more energetic, Harvey will switch to the Latin music radio channel. He's sure to start dancing in the kitchen when Pete Rodríguez's "I Like It Like That" comes on. With music like that, cooking dinner becomes more interesting and fun.

It may sound pretty cliche, but Alex will definitely have a workout playlist with songs from the 80s rock and roll, pop rock and metal genres. Stan Bush ("Touch", "Fight for survive", "Never surrender"), Paul Engemann ("Push it to the limit, "The Eagle Lands"), Survivor ("Eye of Tiger"), Judas Priest ("All guns blazing", "The Sentinel") would be his favorites.

I'm sure Sebastian will be a fan of alternative rock (Nirvana - "Smell like teen spirit" and "Lithium"), emo-core (Taking back Sunday - "Cute without an "E") and electronic rock (almost all Celldweller albums, his favourite album is "Wish upon a Blackstar"). I also think that Sebby often likes to enjoy breakcore, not really remembering the specific artists and listening to whatever he likes. This is how I imagine Sebastian trying to explain to his mom what breakcore is (Warning: loud).

It's quite difficult with Sam because he's a real melomaniac. He listens to absolutely everything and almost all the time. Depending on his mood, he can listen to both heavy metal and pop music. However, the most frequently played bands in his music player are definitely the Beatles (his two favourite albums are "Help" and "Yellow submarine"), Coldplay ("Yellow") and Arctic Monkeys (the album"AM"). And also any popular song that gets stuck in his head (California girls we're unforgettable, daisy dukes bikini on top-).

Classics for Elliott! Our dear writer - and without masterpieces of classical music? Unthinkable! Mozart, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi, Grieg, Debussy - all either playing in his little radio on the table, or the writer himself sits down at his piano and plays music by famous composers. He also loves modern classical music, and sometimes light jazz.

Shane listens to rock and heavy metal like Metallica, Ramstein, AC/DC all the time and you won't change my mind (I'll fight for that headcanon). I like to think he just lies on his bed, turns on his music player and plays the loudest heavy rock you can imagine in his headphones. One of his favourite songs that he listens to all the time is "For whom the bell tolls" (Metallica).

SDV bachelorettes:

Actually, I always thought that Maru would like synthwave and retrowave genre. I don't know why, but it would be just her style to include a playlist with synthwave artists (all Home songs, especially "Resonance" and "Head first"). If this genre is a too calm and the young inventor wants something a bit more energetic, her choice would be Daft Punk (Around the world, around the woooooooooooooorld!) or Disclosure ("Grab her" and "Omen" are her favorite songs).

Abigail's choices are quite chaotic. One moment she can listen to dark electro (Owl vision - "Horus" and "Holy shit"), and the next moment the amethyst lover admires folk music and promises herself that she will also learn to play the flute (Percival Schuttenbach - almost all songs, but especially "Karanfilce" and "Lazare", as well as Sowulo - the whole album "Sol"). She is also a lover of video game soundtracks and dark ambient. As I said before, pretty chaotic music taste.

All the popular pop, dance-pop and R&B you can think of - that's what Haley's playlist is. Ariana Grande, Doja Cat, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Britney Spears.... Haley doesn't have a particular favourite song, she likes everything. In the evening she likes to listen to the same pop and dance music songs, but in slowed down version + reverb.

Emily just can't live without energetic dance music. She could probably compete with Sam for the title of Starview Valley's music lover. And the genres can be diverse: from electro-swing (Caravan Palace) to Latin music (don't play Kaoma - "Lambada" in front of her, otherwise she will drag you to dance), from RnB (Beyoncé) to disco (Bee Gees).

When classical music is played, Penny falls into a melancholic mood. She is particularly affected by Claude Debussy's cycle of six piano pieces "Children's Corner", and she loves to listen to the piano version and the orchestra version equally. Besides classics, the young teacher also likes to listen to Enya (she always sheds tears when she listens to "May it be" or "Aniron"). But Penny will shed real rivers of tears if she hears the soundtrack from Titanic (especially "Hymn to the Sea").

If you ask Leah about her favourite music, the artist will name you a few groups of indie music and alternative music. After all, those are her favourite genres. In her free time, she sometimes likes to relax listening to Slenderbodies (especially "Belong" and "Opal ocean"), or Glass Animals (she can listen to the whole "Zaba" album all day long and she won't get bored). Leah also loves listening to songs by the indie duo King of Convenience (especially "Mrs Cold").

[fanficsformyfaves]

Salvatore Pt.1

Lilith/Madam Satan x Fem Witch!Reader

WARNING: ANGST, SMUT +18, Violence, Injuries, Legal Age Difference, Sexual Tension, Jealousy, Harassment From Lucifer, Oral Sex (R Receiving), Fingering, (R Receiving) Praise Kink (R Receiving), Degradation Kink (R Receiving), Lilith Uses Sex Magic To Give Herself A Cock

PREFACE: Reader is a witch who was found by Lilith in the woods after being attacked by Angels. Mesmerized by her beauty, Lilith takes Reader back to Pandemonium and recruits her as one of Lucifer’s foot-soldiers…but what happens when business and pleasure mix?

A/N: Lilith's P.O.V. in Bold and Colored!

YOUR P.O.V.

I fell limp after one final stab to the chest. The dagger piercing through my ribs and into my heart. After hitting the ground, it didn't take long before my vision began fading into nothingness.

"Come on, we need to clear the woods before sundown", a faint voice announced.

And just like that, I was left for dead in the cold and lonesome...or so I thought.

LILITH'S P.O.V.

As I made my way towards the Mortuary, I hear a struggle coming from somewhere in the woods. Usually, I'd go about my business, but I could sense supernatural energy coming from the direction of the sound.

So against my better judgment, I decide to follow it using teleportation and end up a few feet away, hidden behind a tree. I didn't know exactly what I was expecting to see, but a witch being brutally murdered at the hands of two angels wasn't it. Once they fled, I approached the body and there began it all.

She was devastatingly beautiful. Even battered, bruised and bleeding, her presence was so compelling. Something within me would not allow me to carry on, no matter how much I needed to.

I kneel before her and take one of her wrists. To my surprise, though weak, I did indeed find a pulse. Guess the angels didn't bother to ensure they finished the job. I take a quick glimpse around, before resting my palms on her body and closing my eyes. I focus my magic and recite the spell to heal her wounds and within a matter of minutes, the gashes started to close.

Once the lacerations had disappeared, I got back up on my feet and went to leave, but that same feeling in my gut continued to work against me.

"Just go" I pleaded with myself.

But alas, my efforts to leave the stranger behind were in vain when I found myself teleporting us both to Pandemonium in a blaze of hellfire

"Ah, Lilith, just the woman I wanted to see", Lucifer greets.

Just before spotting the woman in my lap.

"Mmm and you've brought me a little treat"

"I've brought you an opportunity", I corrected rather fiercely.

The mere thought of Lucifer touching her sent me into a spiral I couldn't explain.

"Do explain"

"Well, since you insist on me being here more often, I thought another eye watching over Sabrina would be of use. After all, she continues to fight against the path of night"

It took him a moment to consider what I'd said, but once he came to a conclusion, he ultimately agreed.

"Very well"

I let out a quiet sigh of relief, before ordering the guards to prepare a room for her.

YOUR P.O.V.

I wake to a faint beam of red light shinning through the window. It emanated from the crimson moon that contrasted against the pitch black sky. Surrounding me were silk sheets and the four posts that held a canopy over the bed that was not my own. Where the hell was I?

"You're awake", a voice said from a particularly dark corner of the room.

"Who said that? Where am I?", I sat up.

"One question at a time, dear", the figure emerged from the shadows.

It seemed as if my heart had dropped to the soles of my feet. Although confused and slightly frightened, I was also mesmerized by her daunting beauty. Her dark locks cascaded down her alabaster skin and her eyes gleamed a baby blue that rivaled any sky.

I took a moment to recollect myself and finally found the courage to speak.

"Where am I?"

"Hell"

That would explain the vast darkness that engulfed the outside.

"Am I dead?"

"No. You nearly were, but I managed to heal you before you completely bled out"

My hands reached for where the wounds would've been, but as she said, they were gone.

"Why am I here?"

"I thought you would be of use to the Dark Lord and whatever he needs, I make happen", she explained making her way over to me.

"The Dark Lord? Lucifer?"

"Unless there are other dark lords out there that I am unaware of, then yes"

She takes a seat beside me, as I recoiled, still unsure of my safety.

"I'm not going to hurt you", she reassured.

Her voice soft and sultry.

She rakes her gaze up and down my body, before brushing a fallen hair behind my ear.

"If I was, I wouldn't have bothered to set up this room for you"

"Fair point", I quietly answered as she smiled.

"Now"

She stood from the bed and turned to face me.

"I must alert the Dark Lord that you've awaken. Will five minutes be enough for you to be decent?"

I didn't even realize that my own clothes were replaced by a negligee. My hands instinctively pull the robe together to shield what was left of my dignity.

"Yes", I hesitated.

"Good"

She walks off, using her magic to open the doors.

"Oh and...", she says over her shoulder.

"You needn't shy away from your body"

I didn't need to see her face to hear the subtle grin in her words.

The moment the doors shut behind her, I let out a deep sigh, as my eyes fell closed in an attempt to calm my nerves. That woman.

Just as I regained my composure, the torches that decorated the walls around me all lit up at once, finally illuminating the room and allowing me to see. On the foot of the bed laid a black floor length dress that shimmered red against the burning flames. The bodice embellished with what looked like a golden ribcage.

LILITH'S P.O.V.

"Dark Lord, Madam Satan", Minion addressed.

"The new recruit is ready to meet you"

"Excellent! Bring her in", Lucifer ordered.

The guards hauled the heavy doors open to reveal the young woman awaiting behind it, dressed in the gown I had chosen. Judging by how well it hugged at every delicious curve, it seemed to me that I made the right choice.

"Come in, my child. Please do not be a stranger", Lucifer beckoned.

She slowly began approaching us, whilst scanning around the room.

"Oh, how precious. Worry not. No harm shall come to those who are not threats. Especially not to pretty little things like you", he chuckled.

I couldn't help but glare at him through my peripheral vision.

"What is your name?"

"(Y/N)", she answered.

"(Y/N). What a lovely name. Isn't that a lovely name, Lilith?"

"Yes, your wickedness", I answered whilst averting my gaze.

"You must be wondering why you're here and I'd be more than happy to answer, but I must ask some questions of my own", he declared standing up from his throne and making his way down the platform.

"What were you doing in the woods?"

"I was ran out of town by Angels and followed to Sweetwater River"

"Well, of course. This has the False God's work written all over it"

She kept her gaze focused the floor, too afraid to look either of us in the eyes.

"Do you belong to any of my covens?"

"I did, Dark Lord"

"Did?"

I see tears begin to gather in her eyes and her hands ball up into fists.

"The Angels slaughtered them in our Desecrated Church. My familiar helped me escape, before they caught up to me at the river"

Lucifer turns back to me with a sinister smirk.

"No one to recognize her and foil my plans"

Narcissistic as always.

"As for my final question, it actually answers yours. You see, I plan on taking over earth and turning it into the tenth circle of hell. The only problem is my daughter, Sabrina. Sabrina Spellman, who you will befriend and sway towards the path of night to fulfill the prophecy of becoming the Herald Of Hell and bring forth the apocalypse. That is your purpose here"

I watched as he circles her like a predator about to close in on its prey.

"My question now is...are you up to the task?"

She looks over at me and I give her a simple nod.

"Yes, Dark Lord"

He stops right beside her, shamelessly eyeing down the front of her dress.

"And what say you about being of service in other ways?", he questioned slipping off one of her straps to expose her shoulder.

"Dark Lord, may I please speak to you in private?"

He flashes her one more smile, before meeting me back up the platform.

"This must be important if you decided to interrupt me-"

"It is. I'm afraid if you take advantage of this girl, she will most likely turn on us. We have enough on our plate with Sabrina and the Angels and the Kings of Hell, what if she goes to the Spellmans and reveals your plans? It's not worth the risk"

He sighs through flared nostrils.

"Very well then, you deal with her", he spat bitterly before disappearing in a whirlwind of flames.

YOUR P.O.V.

I collapse to the floor in tears, overwhelmed by everything. Not only did I lose my coven, my familiar and the life I once knew, but I was now a pawn in the Dark Lord's game with no way out.

I could barely catch my breath from the panic that consumed my whole being. It felt like my lungs were set ablaze and death was just looming around the corner. Just then, I see Lilith kneel before me.

"Look at me"

It took all the strength I had left to lift my head from the confines of my knees.

"Crying won't solve anything. If you want to survive, you must play your part in this seamlessly"

"But-"

"But nothing"

She takes a hold of my hand and poured her eyes into mine. I found comfort in her gaze. Something about it felt genuine and true.

"You will do what you must. Is that understood?"

After taking in a long deep breath, I started to come to my senses.

"Yes"

She takes a quick look around the room, before leaning in to whisper.

"No one will hurt you as long as I am here", she promised, getting back on her feet.

"Guards, escort her back to her chambers and have a meal brought to her"

She offers me a hand and I take it to stand back up. As she went to leave, I decided to give into my curiosity.

"Why are you helping me?", I questioned.

She stops for a moment, before continuing to walk out.

LILITH'S P.O.V.

It had been almost a month since I rescued (Y/N) and for the most part, things went smoothly. She managed to successfully infiltrate Sabrina's circle of friends without arousing any suspicion from her or her peers.

The only issue I faced was not being able to keep away from her. I'd use any and every excuse to get her alone and in those moments, it took all of me to keep a level head. I couldn't help it. She was just the sweetest little sin.

From the doe eyes to the soft lips, I fought against every instinct that begged me to touch her.

Especially now. It was lunch time at Baxter High and I called her into my office to 'discuss' her progress with Sabrina. When in reality, I just wanted her all to myself for even just ten minutes.

"I told her I was a witch"

"And what did she say, darling?"

I could tell the pet name had an effect on her by the way she straightened her posture. I barely managed to hide the smile tugging at my lips.

YOUR P.O.V.

It was like she was trying to get under my skin and if she was, it was working. Of course, I had to be imagining things. How could a woman like her find interest in someone like me?

"(Y/N)?"

I snap out of my thoughts and remembered where I was.

"She told me she was one too"

She sits up from her chair and walks around her desk.

"So you've gained her trust, I take it?"

"Yes, Madam Satan"

"Oh please, spare the formalities. Lilith is fine"

"Of course...Lilith"

Even her name felt like sin on my tongue. I see her lick her lips and I almost lost it.

"You're doing so well", she says taking my necklace into her slender fingers.

A breath hitches in the back of my throat from how close she was. She raises a brow and leans in even closer.

"Do I make you nervous, pet?"

My skin was on fire and I was on the verge of completely losing my cool.

Before anything else could happen, the door clicks open and Lilith let go of my pendant.

"Miss Wardell-" Sabrina called out.

"Oh, hey (Y/N)"

"Hey 'Brina", I greeted.

"I can just come back-"

"Oh there's no need for that. (Y/N) was just leaving...weren't you, dear?"

"Yes, Miss Wardwell"

I got up and picked my bag off the floor.

"See you at Chem, Sabrina", I say almost, sprinting out of the office.

That woman's gonna be the death of me.

Later on that day, I decided to walk Sabrina home in an attempt to gather more information.

"He just wants you to steal gum?", I questioned.

"I know it doesn't seem like a big deal now, but what happens when his demands get worse? It's just gonna get harder and harder to say no"

"It's possible, but not guaranteed. Maybe it's just a test to see if you'll actually do it"

"Maybe, but still", she sighs.

"Has ever visited you? Ask you to do something?"

If only she knew.

"You could say that"

"What'd he want?"

"He just wanted me skip school"

"Is that why you didn't come in last week?"

"No, this was back in my old school"

It didn't feel right to lie to her, especially when she's been so kind to me, but I had no other choice. It was just like Lilith said. Play the game and keep it moving.

"Has he visited you again after that?"

"No. It was just that one time"

We finally arrived at the Mortuary and as she went up the steps, she stops.

"Should I just do it then?"

All I could do was shrug.

"I mean, if it'll get him off your back and buy you some more time to come up with a game plan, I don't see why not"

She nods.

"See you tomorrow, (Y/N)", she bids farewell, letting herself inside.

After the door closes behind her, I made my way to the clearing in the woods where Lilith told me to meet her. As I did, that moment in her office played in a torturous loop in my head. What would've happened if Sabrina never walked in? I pondered on it for a bit, before I see Lilith herself step out from behind a tree.

"Excellent work"

"Thank you", I respond.

My voice barely above a whisper.

"Come now. The Dark Lord is waiting", she says extending a hand.

I carefully take it and we vanish into a flash of fire.

LILITH'S P.O.V.

After informing him of the day she'd had, minus some details, the Dark Lord was quite pleased to hear how much progress (Y/N) has made with Sabrina.

"All the pieces are falling into place", he grinned.

"That'll be all for you, (Y/N), you may retire for the evening", he dismissed.

I watched as she bowed her head, before making a swift exit out of the throne room.

"You as well, Lilith"

I follow behind her, till she arrived at her door.

"Goodnight, (Y/N). I do hope you sleep", I bid farewell, whilst eyeing up and down her frame.

And just as I began to walk off, I could feel her eyes follow every sway of my hips, causing me to stifle back a chuckle.

"Wait", she called out to me.

And snap went the trap.

"Yes?"

"Maybe we could um...talk for a bit? In my room?"

My brows raise in pretend surprise.

"Well, of course", I say approaching her.

"You've been so good"

She blushes at the praise, looking down at her feet.

"And I bet it gets so...lonely"

I use my finger to lift her chin.

"Doesn't it?"

She nods and I reach for the door handle behind her, making sure to brush my lips past her ear.

"We can surely fix that, can't we?"

The door unlocks and she shyly pulls away, walking in, as I followed suit.

"Stop there"

I walk over to her and carefully place my hands on her shoulders to bring her against me.

"It seems to me that you're quite comfortable in my presence"

She nods, as her eyes fell shut.

"I'm afraid I'm going to need a verbal answer, pet"

"Yes, I am", she shudders, feeling me press out the knots in her shoulders.

"May I?", I ask, tugging at the straps of her dress.

"Please"

Just hearing her beg like this has my skin crawling in goosebumps.

I pull them both to the side and watch as the dress completely slips off her body. Every inch of her skin was nothing short of absolute perfection.

YOUR P.O.V.

I could feel her eyes on me like a devastating fever.

"Oh, pet", she whispered against my ear, running her hands up my waist.

"Lilith", I exhaled.

"Mhm?"

"I need you"

She giggles to herself and turns me around to face her.

"Let's not keep you waiting, then"

After what felt like an eternity of her teasing, she finally crashes her lips onto mine and it was better than I could've ever imagined. Her lips were as soft as silk and as sweet as honey, which contrasted against the fierce grip she had on my hips. I knew in that moment that this was the closest I'd ever get to heaven.

Without breaking the kiss, she lead me towards the bed and sat me down.

"I've been waiting for this. To finally know what you taste like", she says, getting down on her knees in front of me.

"Would you like that?"

"Yes, please"

With one final smirk, she pulls my underwear to the side and licks up my slit, collecting the mess she made previously. I shiver at the sensation, letting out a quiet gasp and reaching for her hair.

"So good for me. So tasty", she mumbled, sending vibrations through my bundle of nerves.

We had just began and I was already on the verge of completely coming undone.

Her tongue worked furious circles on my clit, while her fingers prepped my entrance by spreading my wetness up and down it. With each passing second, I felt a climax that had been building up closing in on me.

She slips two fingers into me and I clap a hand over my mouth to muffle the sounds of my moans. She chuckles, taking my hand off of my face.

"I've enchanted this room to be soundproof. You didn't think I'd miss the opportunity to hear all the pretty sounds you make, did you?"

"Lilith", I panted.

"How long has it been since you've been touched, darling?"

"Too long", I whined, grinding myself against her mouth.

"Poor thing", she teased.

Her ministrations gradually quickened its pace and before I knew it, her digits were pounding into the spot I needed most.

"Fuck, yes there!", I cried out.

My walls clenched around her fingers, as I was losing my breath from all the wanton moans that fought themselves out of me.

"You're so close, I can feel it. Do it, come for me", she ordered.

And with that, I was thrusted over the edge and I came with a scream that echoed around the room. I go limp and fall back against the mattress. Lilith stands up and I whine at the sight of her glistening chin.

"That", she says, collecting my essence off her chin and sucking it off her fingers.

"Was fucking good"

She crawls on top of me and rests my legs on either side of her. She mutters a spell under her breath and at first, I didn't know what was happening, but once I saw what appeared between her legs, I was astonished. She'd conjured up an appendage that was far larger than any I've ever seen myself.

"Like what you see, pet?", she questioned, dragging my bottom lip down with her thumb.

"Yes, Lilith"

She leans back down to kiss me and I wrap my arms around her neck.

"You will be spoiled rotten tonight", she says, guiding her cock against my cunt.

She slowly began inching her way inside me as I whined, gripping at the roots of her hair.

"I know, pet. Just a little bit more", she groaned, kissing my cheek in an attempt to soothe me.

The stretch stung and I wasn't sure how much more of her I could take, but eventually, I felt her thighs press up against the back of mine. She filled me like I'd never been filled before and it hurt so good.

"Fuck, it was like you were made for me", she sighed, snaking her hands underneath my back.

I give myself a moment to adjust, before bashfully grinding myself against her.

"You can move", I whispered.

Her hips retracted a bit, before pushing back into me with a steady rhythm.

"You're doing so good. So so good", she praised.

Gradually, her pace quickened and so did each breath that would get harder and harder to catch. Before I knew it, she had my legs over her shoulders, allowing her to hit my g-spot dead on. All I could do was repeatedly scream out her name like a prayer, whilst holding onto her wrists for dear life.

"Oh God!", I cried out, causing her to bite back a chuckle.

"He can't help you now, pet"

That alone would've pushed me to the brink of ecstasy, if it hadn't been for one of her hands that reached down between us to toy with my clit.

"I'm gonna-"

"Not until I say so", she ordered, pounding into me harder.

"Please!", I begged.

"Disobey me and I won't let you come at all", she threatened.

Not wanting to be left high and dry, I followed her orders. Even though it was killing me trying to fight back the orgasm that was wearing me down.

The tempo of her rams eventually began to falter at the growing pulse of my walls that were clenching around her.

"You feel so good. You like this? Being used like a toy?"

"Yes, fuck!"

"Such a dirty whore. All for me", she moaned, letting her head fall back in pleasure.

The sheer force of her thrusts began to cause the bed to skid against the floor and I feared its legs would give out at any moment.

"Fuck, Lilith! I can't-"

"Do it, come for me!", she yelled.

That was all it took for me to come completely undone. I let out one final moan, before melting completely in her grasp. She came not too far behind, painting my walls with ropes of white.

"Fuck!" she cursed into the air.

She helps me ride out the aftershocks of my orgasm with subtle thrusts, before carefully pulling out of me. I wince at the empty soreness and she collapses to my side, pulling me onto her damp chest.

"You were fucking incredible", I panted.

"I've been known to be", she teased, getting a giggle out of me.

We laid there, just basking in the afterglow for about a minute or two. I'd been so on edge for the past weeks that it felt good to just exist without a care in the world.

"This stays between us for now. What the Dark Lord doesn't know won't hurt him"

"I know"

She kisses the top of my head, holding me closer.

"But..."

"But what?"

"What if we don't need to?"

She pulls away to look me in the eyes.

"What?"

"Look. Lucifer's plans to take over the world could be catastrophic at best"

"There are risks involved in his plans, but what does that have to do with us?", she questioned.

"Everything. If he somehow gets his way and brings forth the apocalypse, he rules over all and where does that leave us? I don't wanna spend the rest of my life as a slave and I'm sure you don't either"

She cuts herself off with a sigh through her nose.

"I know it's risky", I said, sitting up.

"But the Spellmans could help"

"The Spellmans?"

"Yes. They may bend to Lucifer's will now, but the love they have for Sabrina far outweighs that. They'd do anything to keep her safe"

"(Y/N)-"

"Lilith, think about it. Sabrina's nature tends towards the path of light and you and I both know she isn't fit to rule Hell anyway. Besides, I think you'd make a far better ruler"

Her gaze softens.

"You mean that?"

"Is that even question? If it weren't for you, Lucifer wouldn't have gotten this far. You are the smartest and bravest person I know"

Tears prick in her eyes, as I took her face into my hands.

"You trust me, don't you?"

She nods, as a stray tear makes its way down her cheek. I wipe it away with my thumb before pressing a soft kiss to her lips.

"I do"

I smile, holding her head against my bare chest.

"I'm taking you away from this place. I swear"

[searsage]

"Stop being so damn sweet, Your giving me terrible impulses.." Robin snorted as she pressed another soft kiss to her architect's jaw, the soft content hum her affection earned her only further instigated her dotting.

"Impulses..?" Her architect asked softly tilting his head curiously, she could hear his intrigue but the poor precursor was far too distracted indulging in her attention then to pry any further into the less then innocent comment.

"Yes very invasive ones…" Robin laughed giving into the urge to kiss the side of his neck, trying her damnest to catch one of the anxious streaks of light racing over her carapace.

"Oh…Yes I believe I understand…" Al-an sighed, his claws contently playing in her long braids as he waited patiently for his human to get her fill of him.

"Oh..do you..?" Robin asked curiously.

"Yes, intrusive musings, I often experience these phenomenon when i encounter your coffee machine and contemplate my experiences with it.."

"Hahaha! What..?" Robin couldn't help herself, a mirth filled snort escapes her lips.

"Do you find my unfortunate encounter with your overwhelming bean stimulant amusing Robin..?"

Al-an huffed, a claw idly lifting her chin, angling her face up to meet his eyeless face.

"No..no..i just-" Robin was over taken by the laughter, made even more prominent when her architect blazed an incredulous yellow.

"It was not." Al-an moped broodingly.

"Okay, okay…i know" Robin snickered getting another soft kiss against her cheek for her indiscretion.

"You are still laughing. Perhaps i should recount some of your more questionable decisions in the past year…" Al-an sniffed, pinching her side gently.

"Don't be salty, that was one hundred percent your fault big guy." Robin squeaked with laughter, betting away her testy architect.

"Our vessels require very little salt, I am however experiencing a critical deficit in suger…" Al-an deadpanned rather urgently.

"You are..? No wait. Really Al-an!?" Robin wheezes equally appalled and amused by the terrible pick up line.

"Robin, please utilize haste, I require your aid, carry on." Al-an insisted, pressing forward for his demand.

"Holy sol, your rotten, fine you win." Robin huffed far more flustard then she rightfully should have been at the silly joke.

She didn't even try to stop the laugh the bubbled up when her architect gives a satisfactory hum.

[kisses4kaia]

please i am on my knees begging for billy…you write him so well…

yes baby whatever you want—implication oral sex (f recieving) but no real smut i fear :((, very very very slight internalized misogyny (r is just jealous), billy being a cocky dick (the best kind)

billy was yours and that was that.

with that damn leash you kept on him, it was never questioned why billy never went home with any girls at the saloon after a game of poker, whether he won or lost. because as probable as it was the sun would come up the next day, it was just as likely it would be you he’d lay in bed next to, fucking you with just about as much passion as he would have exerted in a goddamn battlefield.

you never had to worry about him straying, because you knew you had him and nobody could ever replace what you give him in a lover, but that never meant his born reckless soul wasn’t going to push boundaries.

she had painted fingernails, corset cinched to the maximum degree of discomfort, and a flawless, straight-like-a-ruler, smile. she came from money and her name was something like margaret, or margaux—something french, probably. she was classy and beautiful and not billy’s type. you could have laughed when you saw her saunter over to billy’s barstool.

before looking at her, he paid her no mind, listening to her talk about how lonely he looked on a beautiful evening like this one, and how he doesn’t look like he belongs here. the same tired lines every girl used every time, and he probably would have shooed her away if his eyes hadn’t landed on the daggers you shot at her with your shattering gaze.

his smirk was quick to make itself known, letting his eyes run over her body as he straightened his posture. you couldn’t exactly hear what was being discussed over the conversation buzz swallowing the sound scape. you did, however, hear margaret/margaux laugh, so trained, so light and airy and feminine and infuriating. you didn’t grow up in a country house or paint your nails, the different appropriate kinds of laughters were never discerned in your taught etiquette.

nothing about you was light or airy or feminine and here billy was, flirting with those very things personified like you didn’t have him pleading with you to stop cumming less than 24 hours ago. you were probably steaming at the ears at this point.

abandoning the dull conversation surrounding the upcoming horse races with a friendly barkeep, you put one cowgirl boot in front of the other as you blaze over to billy. “come on, we’re leaving.” you say jaggedly, hardly sparing margaret/margaux a single glance.

“is this your friend?” she asks with a tone so sweet and pitchy it almost makes your eye twitch.

“yes.”

“no.”

the woman looked simply confused at your contrasting answers and quite politely excused herself as your eyes yielded a dangerous hail down onto him. he sighed, taking his time as he finished his drink—rising from his barstool, paying the barkeep, grabbing his hat and jacket—and finally walking out of the saloon with you.

as soon as the door shut to billy’s current homestead you shared, you stomped in silence to the bedroom. “where you going, baby?” he called out, not wincing, and pushing past the nearly slammed door after you. he enters to see you pacing, practically fuming.

“what’s wrong, darlin’?” he approached you and uncrossed your arms, looking down at you as if you were wounded. you hated these stares of him because it was so hearty and intense and all about you.

“you were practically sticking your dick in her! that lady, the one who obviously wanted you to take her out back,” you spit out all at once. your language was often crude, but it never made billy wince the way it made other men react. billy just smiled as though he pitied you, kissing the top of your head. you forced your arms to sides as he wrapped his around you. “you jealous?” he laughed after pulling you away from his chest and looking back down at you again.

you rolled your eyes, scoffing and tearing yourself out of his hold, walking away from him. your arms crossed in front of your chest. “i am not jealous, i am simply… perplexed.”

this seemed to amuse him. “uh huh. well, you don’t got anythin’ to worry about, baby. dontch’ya know i’m crazy about you?” his drawl drew you towards him again. his eyes were glimmering with honesty, soothing your jealousy slightly.

“you sure?” you said with a slight pout as billy pulls you in once more.

“need me to prove it to you?” the ask wasn’t posed so much as a question as a request as he sunk down slowly onto his knees in front of you. you laughed, nodding eagerly as you helped him unbutton your denim.

[blackjackkent]

Prompt fill for @thedarkstrategist from this meme: Shadowzel, “You know better than most the pain a lie can inflict.” 

-----

Shadowheart lies on her back in her tent, staring up at the dark fabric backlit by the moon hanging low over Rivington, and broods.

You’re being stupid, she tells herself firmly. Lae’zel has her own concerns. She doesn’t owe you her company every night.

Which is, of course, perfectly true. But it doesn’t change the fact that Shadowheart got used to it, out there in the Shadowlands. It became habit, every night, to see Lae’zel crawling through her tent flap, to expend the day’s frustration and tension in a blaze of heat. To fall asleep with Lae’zel’s warmth cuddled against her side, the “soft touch” that it had taken the gith so much courage to ask for and Shadowheart just as much courage to offer.

And ever since the Shadowfell, since Shar’s torment and Aylin’s revelations, Shadowheart has been so terribly, terribly cold. Lae’zel’s warmth saved her on the road to Baldur’s Gate, more than Shadowheart has ever articulated aloud.

And now it’s gone. It’s been three days since Lae’zel came to her, and Shadowheart feels the loss as keenly as if her heart has been torn out.

What is wrong with you? she chastises herself. You’re stronger than this.

But she isn’t, it seems. Not anymore. Not with the loss of her faith, the torment she has suffered. Not with how terribly lonely the world is, with her sense of purpose ripped away. Not without Lae’zel.

She grunts irritably and sits up, crawling out into the open air.

Lae’zel is sitting by her own tent, cross-legged. She has a dagger out in one hand and is turning it carefully in the moonlight, examining the keenness of its edge. Her catlike eyes are narrowed with intense focus and she does not look up as Shadowheart approaches, but she does speak all the same. “What is it, Shadowheart?”

Shadowheart resists the urge to fidget her weight from foot to foot. Lae’zel’s voice sounds oddly flat, without any of her usual energy and heat. That has been the case for several days as well, and really it’s even more troubling than Shadowheart’s own selfish desires. 

“I was going to ask you the same question,” she says carefully. Pressing Lae’zel when she’s in a snit is often akin to poking an injured bear with a stick - but she isn’t sure that’s even what’s really going on here. This isn’t anger; it’s just an air of general disinterest, which is far more unnerving from the gith’s usual fiery personality. “Another night you haven’t come to bed. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong.” Lae’zel draws the edge of the blade experimentally along her fingertips and nods in satisfaction to feel its sharpness. A pause, then she looks up and studies Shadowheart’s face intently. “Why should it be?”

The direct question feels extremely unfair. Neither of them have ever been good at articulating their feelings out loud, and Lae’zel knows this about Shadowheart. It is one of the things that binds them together, those feelings that exist without words. “Since when am I the one who has to explain these things?” Shadowheart says moodily, automatically slipping into the usual bickering banter that characterizes most of their conversation.

But again, Lae’zel doesn’t rise to it, just watches her unblinking. “Tell me,” she says coolly.

Shadowheart frowns. “Well,” she says unsteadily, thrown off by the irregular rhythm of the conversation. “You’ve been quiet lately. I’ve barely seen you for three days, even at night. You don’t want to talk.” A pause. “Is it because of Vlaakith’s little invasion into our camp?”

Lae’zel cocks her head to one side. “Vlaakith,” she says thoughtfully, more to herself than to Shadowheart. “Yes. Of course.”

Shadowheart stiffens. “Of course?” she says hotly. “How can it be of course when you won’t talk to me?” Her lips purse, and then she voices the fear sitting at the back of all these thoughts. “Did I do something, Lae’zel? What is this about? Don’t just… pretend like everything is normal, not to me.” A pause. She swallows, looks down and away. “You of all people know the pain a lie can inflict,” she mutters. “Don’t toy with me, Lae’zel. If something’s wrong… I need you to tell me.”

Silence. She looks up cautiously and finds that Lae’zel has stopped looking at her. Her attention is back on the blade she’s examining, utterly unmoved by this heartfelt plea. And something in Shadowheart’s chest seems to twist painfully at this lack of response.

“Damn you,” she mutters. “I don’t ask for much. But I thought we-- I thought you--” She stops; her voice is dangerously on the edge of cracking. She was so much stronger than this, once, but in the wake of all her recent torment, it is too much.

“Look at me, damn it!” she snaps. 

She lashes out with one hand, grabbing for the dagger that has occupied all of Lae’zel’s attention. It’s an awkward motion without forethought, and she fumbles it. In twisting the blade away, she scores its needle-sharp edge along the back of Lae’zel’s hand.

The cut is crisp and clean, and silver-white blood wells up to pool on Lae’zel’s skin.

Shadowheart freezes, her fingers going white-knuckled on the hilt of the dagger. She has seen Lae’zel’s blood before, all too many times. She has seen it painted on enemy blades and across her own hands in healing afterwards. It is not silver, but a deep ruby red that is almost black.

Shadowheart’s blood runs cold. Oh. Oh… shit. 

She darts backwards a step, lifting the blade point-first towards the thing she thought was Lae’zel. “You bitch,” she snaps. “What have you done with her?”

Orin smiles slowly with Lae’zel’s face. “A quick eye the Sharran has,” she murmurs. “Perhaps I should pluck it out… trail the blood down your pretty face…” Her head twists, Lae’zel’s form dripping off of her to reveal the pale face and blank white eyes underneath. Only the smile remains the same, unchanging as her form shifts. 

“What fun it is to watch you wriggle, wondering, worrying… but no, fear not, little worm, for your precious pet’s guts do not paint the ground… yet.” The changeling giggles excitedly. “She would die too easily; the Murder Lord craves a sweeter meal.” 

Her smile twists, almost impossibly wide on her face and full of gleeful malice. “If you would have her still gasp out her mewling breaths, then other blood must be spilled to buy her. We have much to talk about, you and I.”

[therummesoccupied]

IDW'S SONIC THE HEDGEHOG, 2024 ANNUAL - THOUGHTS

I wanted to cover this one earlier, I really did, but the Sonic X Shadow Generations hype took me over, and for the past couple weeks I have been incapable of thinking about anything else. If you haven't played that yet, by the way, I highly recommend doing so as soon as possible. It's truly one of the most astoundingly high-quality pieces of Sonic media ever produced. Maybe I'll do a post on it, who knows. But for now, we have an annual special to cover.

This is the first one of these annuals I've discussed on here, but I really appreciate their presence in the story. Both they and the various mini-series have done a great job of sort of filling the void Sonic Universe left behind when Archie Sonic ended. It's nice getting to peek into what the supporting cast is up to and what's happening outside of the main plot.

This one is also a unique little experience since, while most Annuals have had either five or six short stories included within them, this one includes only three stories - with one of them being a full twenty pages. That's as long as a regular issue! So I'll move through the stories one at a time, and give a few thoughts on each.

I wanna start by talking about the cover, though, because this one's kind of interesting to me. In the past, the "A" Covers have always done a bit to give you at least some idea of what to expect from the stories inside. The 2019 and 2020 covers both featured somewhat generic art featuring characters making appearances from stories within. The 2022 cover showed Blaze in a sundress spending time with Cream at the beach - an allusion to the "Guardians" story that kicked off the 2022 Annual and its ending with Blaze taking a vacation in Sonic's world.

This one, though, features a nice little art piece featuring Sonic and Tails rushing through a snowy mountainscape, which... does not happen in the Annual. None of the stories in this one center around Sonic or Tails, and none of them take place in any sort of wintry tundra.

Just an odd detail I noticed. Nothing here gives us any sort of glimpse into the stories we're about to see or the characters we're about to follow. Still nice art, though.

With that bit of business out of the way, we'll move on to the real meat and potatoes of the Annual:

The Stories

Story #1: Hero's Calling

We kick things off with a good old-fashioned Ian Flynn story about Surge and Kit continuing to pursue a life of heroism following the events of the Extreme Competition and Phantom Riders arcs, and finding it more difficult than they had anticipated to live up to the reputation of a hero.

The pencils here are handled by Thomas Rothlisberger with Rik Mack tackling Inks and Colors. Rothlisberger's style is often employed for the series' lower-stakes stories, relying a lot on exaggerated expressiveness and cramming every panel as full of action and detail as possible. They're perfect for slapstick-y stories, and while that fits the bill a bit here, it doesn't fit perfectly for me since, as this story continues, it takes a turn for the quieter and more introspective toward its second half.

After "saving" a runaway trolley in the city of Westopolis (from 2005's Shadow the Hedgehog - neat to see that city show up again), Surge finds herself contemplating a difficult question. As she chases the life of a hero, she takes it upon herself to save others. But she wonders: Why do they even need saving? With this world being subject to one crisis after another, shouldn't its denizens have learned to handle this sort of thing by now? She wonders if maybe, by always being there to save the day, if Sonic and friends have made this world a little soft. Maybe the Sonic Cycle really is keeping the world from moving forward.

Maybe...

I love Kit's reaction to this. Kit has always been quick to support Surge, no matter what, but when she suggests that Dr. Starline, the man who stole their lives, used and tortured them, and destroyed everything they were, may have been right all along... For the first time, we see the tiniest hint of anger toward her flash across his face. Kit. Truly Hates. Dr. Starline.

As she talks things over with Kit, Surge... never really settles on a course of action. The only thing she knows for sure is that she believes Sonic is the problem here, and that she hopes to one day remove him from the equation once and for all.

Kit, on the other hand, arrives at a much more dangerous conclusion.

Kit sees Surge's frustration at the world's ability to solve its own problems, but he also sees the fulfillment she gets from solving those problems. And so, he resolves to continue making sure there are problems for her to solve, even if she is able take out what she perceives as their roots.

This... will not go well. I can already see it. Surge is going to keep solving whatever issues Kit constructs for her to overcome, feeling like she's truly making a difference, only for it all to come crashing down when she realizes she was never changing anything. This will, in turn, create a rift between her and Kit, and since Kit has become heavily dedicated to and dependent on her, it is going to destroy this poor child. Mark my words. These two are in for some sad times.

Overall, Rothlisberger does do a pretty good job at capturing this story's subtler moments, but at times the exaggerated, cartoony style and Mack's very bright, stark colors can take me a little bit out of some of the moodier moments of this story. Still, a solid bit a storytelling dedicated to these two characters who really seem to be going somewhere in the grand scheme of things.

Story #2: For My Destiny

Our second story is a chill, little character check-in on Knuckles the Echidna as he spends his days peacefully guarding the Master Emerald on Angel Island. This one boasts a script and colors by Iasmin Omar Ata, and pencils by Adam Bryce Thomas.

This is yet another case of an artist being used in an odd way, since ABT's art really shines when he gets to do big, shonen-style action scenes. But here, we just get a quick introspective of Knuckles contemplating his relationship with the Master Emerald and all of the events and people it's brought into his life.

Not much else really happens here, and the first time through, I thought this story was a bit of a waste of time. Like, we already kind of get this sort of look at Knuckles in Sonic Frontiers, why keep harping on it here? But then I read it a second time with Frontiers in mind, specifically the Prologue: Divergence animated short. I thought of how this story would be told if it could be animated, with music and performance to really nail down the vibe it's going for, and I... kind of love it now? It's dramatic in a very understated way, and I'm honestly glad its here.

Story #3: Shattered Diamonds

This one. This right here is the real showstopper of the 2024 Annual.

Here, we get a script from Gigi Dutreix, Pencils from Dutreix and Mauro Fonseca, Inks from Matt Froese, and Colors by Leonardo Ito and Valentina Pinto. Everyone here brings their A-game for... a backstory comic about Mimic the Octopus. This is nuts to me. A comic-original side-villain, getting his own full-issue length story exploring his background, and it's... so good.

Dutreix has explained on their social media that they put a lot of work into researching real-life sociopaths, and the commonalities in their worldview when determining how to handle Mimic's backstory. We learn that he was once an actor (hey! I'm one of those!) and that his time in the fiercely competitive industry quickly taught him not to trust anyone. He learned to use whatever means necessary to achieve his goals, even going so far as to stab others in the back to get what he wants.

Then the Eggman War we see in Sonic Forces happens, and Mimic's ugly worldview seems to be proven true, and the means he uses to survive appear justified for a while, further strengthening this idea he has to that no one but him is honest with themselves, and that one mustn't trust or dedicate themselves to anyone else if they hope to survive.

Then. Something happens.

Mimic meets a group of people who seem.. genuine. People who care for each other. Care for him.

And he panics.

He convinces himself that they must be fakes. That they wouldn't care about him if they really knew him. All they have to do is see him for who he really is, and they'll stab him in the back just as he's done to so many others before.

He starts to view the Diamond Cutters as a means to an end. And he fears becoming attached to those means, fears letting those means change him.

So... he disposes of them. Or tries to. From there, we all know how it goes. But now, we have a far more thorough understanding of why someone who claims to be pragmatic and driven by self-preservation continues to engage in this dogged pursuit of revenge against Whisper. He views her as the last remaining evidence of a memory that almost changed who he is. And he worries that he will never be comfortable being himself again until she is gone.

The story ends with a quick little scene of Mimic stalking the New Diamond Cutters as they make their way toward the Eggperial City at the beginning of the Urban Warfare arc, and there's one little bit of weirdness here.

See, in this story, the Diamond Cutters are waiting to meet up with Sonic and Tails before proceeding to the City, but when they storm the city together in Issue 57... Tails isn't there. Tails isn't part of the Urban Warfare arc until Issue 58, after Sonic has reached out to Jewel and asked her to send backup. After that point, Tails arrives with Amy, Silver, and Blaze to lend Sonic a hand. So why is he here with Sonic before he and the Diamond Cutters even make their way to the city?

I actually got a chance to ask Dutreix about this directly, and they provided a fairly similar answer to the conclusion I was already considering: Tails had simply accompanied Sonic to rendezvous with the Diamond Cutters before splitting off to go do something else on his own, returning to regroup with Sonic after Jewel put out the call for reinforcements.

Continuity weirdness aside, though, I loved this story. It was explorative and complex, dark and moody, and it all had such a clear sense of direction. This is the kind of quality storytelling I would never, in a million years, expect to be devoted to a character like Mimic. And that fact just makes it all the better.

Wow.

Massive props to Dutreix and crew for putting together one of the most compelling Sonic stories I've had the pleasure to read.

It might be easy to complain about the smaller amount of stories in this Annual, or about how many of the stories are connected to events that have not yet happened in the comic, but I tell ya, the quality and care put into the stories we got makes it all worth it. This is exactly what these Annuals are for.

Anyway, I think Issue 74 dropped about a half hour ago, so I'mma go read that, and get a review written sometime in the distant future, for sure.

Thanks for reading!

[fallout4-reacts]

Let's do something else while you wait for a new react (I am not often in my computer lately and making the reacts ask a set-up... yeah, I know.... anyway) Here's my thoughts on companions to do my reacts with them.

Cait : Cait is like a delicate flower. Awfully introverted--you say no? That she is really vocal? Let's me explain.

If nothing terrible had happened to her, she may have been a princess. But then she got hurt, and hurt, and hurt. Her own parents betrayed her. The sun does not shine; he burns.

As a sad tiny flower all alone, crashed and burning in the sun, she had two options: turn to ash or blaze back.

Something within her ignited, and she has since blazed the world.

Codsworth : This is a unique one. He was a well-programed Mister Handy. He remains still. But midway through the eternity of waiting for nothing, his code evolved. He is still Mister Handy, but he is conscious of this.

Unlike others of his type, he has become self-conscious and has begun to question himself, his life, and his own purpose.

Because what is his point if he can't wax the rust off your car?

So why is he still... on? Alive? Alive?! Is he alive? What determines life?

Fuck, poor robot, he weren't made for such philosophical notions...

Curie : Curie represents curiosity. What defines Curie? Curiosity. How far can a robot go to satisfy her curiosity? Considered from the perspective of an unborn being, which lacks the capacity to comprehend or fear mortality: A long way.

Then... on this route, continually moving forward, she upgrades herself and discovers.....what?????? Feelings? Overwhelming feeling? Something more mind-blowing than simply wanting to know everything!!!!

She then wishes to continue on this path, but it might be painful at times.

Another concept she can't stand...

Just how much further could she push herself?

Danse : Danse knows precisely where he is. He understands it so well that dying for this place is insignificant. Nothing at all. He is a part of something far bigger than himself.

But, Danse, you didn't follow that when you went to get Cutler back...

It was to... not waste... another soldier......

But it wasn't an order from the BoS?

He did what he had to do

But why insist on retrieving the lost patrol from the Commonwealth?

That was his...

It was not requested by the BoS; it was his initiative.

But, no, he works FOR the Brotherhoods! Period, or did he?

He didn't question it, at least. Not until someone stands in front of him and says, "Bad Danse, bad Danse. Do not assault ghouls or synths on sight; they are people."

Danse is a mess, although he doesn't want anyone to know it, not even himself.

He didn't dare to kill Nick or Hancock, and it was his decision, and he will never admit it. The truth is that he COULD. Why didn't he do it, though?

He didn't question it.

He didn't have a choice.

It was his only option to have you by his side, wasn't it?

Furthermore, he never once feels any sort of respect for a synth as events progress. Nick is just... hmm.... a strategically important part of the Commonwealth and he don't want to jeopardize the position in the Commonwealth by... and the Mayor of an important... hm.... well... See! A Deathclaw!!! Shooooot!!!

Deacon : This one... it feels close to home. Knowing everything bad in his soul and being fully aware of it. And knowing that everyone, to some degree, has it.

So what is important?

Nothing.

Nothing at all.

Nothing is important, and existence is USELESS.

But it's still not lacking in anything.

Then, establishing some strong beliefs regarding the right to life, which shall be considered.

If nothing matters, then no one is more important than another.

As nothing matters, he is free to pick what is truly important to him.

All life matter because nothing matters.

So, why didn't he become the most fervent defender of the very life he despised?

That is a purpose, just like any other—one that can allow him to live his life the way he wants it to be—interesting, thrilling, and fulfilling.

And he is quite skilled at it.

Hancock : Ah, this one. It could have been worse, and in some ways he is. He has clothed himself in the worst and displayed it in front of everyone.

Life's a joke. (You'll tell me it's Deacon's way? But no, it's truly Hancock's. Life is a joke! A extremely terrible, wacky joke.)

He was lavished with everything a man could want, and what did it do? It's made everything tasteless.

Consuming was not solely for the chems. For the day, the people, and everything.

To taste something, he had to take it anywhere and in any form, in many forms.

The flavour of life had faded away...

Up until the day he saw a really nasty guy being really mean with the neighbourhood synth.

Seems insignificant and far from the Of the Peoples and Save all the Ghouls man?

This was the first seed.

Why did anyone disregard the synth? He was a decent damn man, the only one who was always nice, never judging--okay, he was a gigantic judgement on legs, but he was never cruel about it, and he never rejected anyone who did not meet his standards--why be an ass for such a kind man?

Because Nick is as manly as him.

Okay, so these Upper Stand assholes are like this for synths, ghouls, the poor, and outsiders?

His own family?

His own brother???

Something in Hancock has broken because his blood and his own were so awful. And there was an intense feeling of dislike. 

An intense feeling nonetheless. 

The seed grows.

No amount of chem can destroy it now.

Nothing can hide it anymore.

He has no family.

He has no brother.

The seed had transformed into a sturdy tree with a protective layer of bark on this very, awful day of Diamond City history.

And, even though it was still a young and, in some ways, vulnerable tree when he left the place, it has only grown stronger.

And now it's a fucking bloody large tree with so many ramifications to offer shelter to any outcast in need, no matter what kind of outcast--such as a tree harbouring insects, birds, squirrels, raccoons, and so on...

A fucking massive tree that no storm can shake from the deep roots of his convictions.

MacCready : This one... yeah, this one.

A father.

An anxious parent who knows that displaying any emotion will kill him and his son. Even as a young boy, he learned that adults in his community were treated with distrust. And he's learned that as an adult, everyone is so selfish.

Then there is nothing more important than Duncan. The only unwavering love left in his life. He can only rely on this one person.

Nothing is worthwhile to demonstrate, express, or feel.

He only has one goal.

And splitting up is a complete and utter waste of time.

Because the universe revolves solely around Duncan.

And he had no time to waste explaining it to anyone.

"Think anything you want; I don't care. Give me my caps."

Did I really need to explain?

But why did he quit the Gunners? Knowing that it will be more worse for him afterwards? Knowing how risky it would be?

Because, even if he can do anything for Duncan, he couldn't bear the thought of destroying someone else's family like his own...

Even if it's not in Ghoul's hands or due to illness, he knows that killing innocent people would break families and cause other children to suffer, and he can't stand it.

He could hear Duncan's crying in the midst of every child's cries.

Yes, but... Vault 88.

It is something else.

It's not that he doesn't want this kid to be saved, and it has crushed his heart deep down.

But losing you is worse... because... maybe... something other than Duncan now matters to him... and he doesn't want to lose it.

Maxson : This is one of my favorites. Not because I prefer this one over any others. Many people know that Nick is my most beloved of all.

But Maxson is a case.

Maxson is frequently portrayed as a narrow-minded zealot who is little more than a forceful fanatic.

In the fan community, an author can dealt with in a different light.

But not enough.

Maxson is a complicated person, yet he is incredibly subtle.

First and foremost, we must remember that his name is the cornerstone of THE Brotherhood of Steel.

From the beginning of his life, he felt this burden on his shoulders with each stride.

A very profound brainwashing began, most likely before he was even conscious of who he was. Every first impression was undoubtedly tinted with the realization that he is a Maxson. He can't be anything less than a Maxson.

The indoctrination is quite deep, beyond anything you could conceive. A product of the Bos' pure, straight, tight, and negative mindset.

A Maxson, a humankind that cannot make mistakes and must be grandiose.

Since his early youth.

And even if...

Even if I can name what I want to express several times, I have a fantastic illustration of what I mean when I say he is more complex.

The Blind Betrayal.

Damn you for thinking he can't just take down Danse and Sole.

He can.

He absolutely can.

But he does not WANT. And he is relieved that Sole is arguing and offers him an exit door.

He plays the game throughout the entire length. Because he is Maxson! He can't be less.

He cannot have friendship jeopardize the BoS's entire belief system!

He cannot be weak!

He is the MAXSON!!

"Now that it is state, excuse me, I need to go into a dark place, roll upon myself, and cry my heart out. After that, I have a meeting where I will have to show no mercy and use a fine strategy. Have fun and comfort each other; I'm all alone on my podium and will always be this way... because now I don't even have the man who was the closest definition of a friend I could have...."

Nick : Oh my god. The Tin Man.

I'll explain my own feelings toward this man.

In my entire life, I've only encountered one person who has been truly good and selfless: my grandfather.

And Nick's voice! And, due to the game's structure, his running style...

Nick is a personification of my grandfather, as if he came back from the grave to remember me. To remind me of the ideals my grandfather had taught me.

And, as in the past, I feel like that little girl who wants to make her grandfather proud.

Also, my granddad was incredibly small for a man. And extremely very good. People openly insulted him, denigrated him, and treated him in the same way that they do to Nick.

Even while some people acknowledged all of his nice qualities and how amazing it was that he lived, there were always other people who took advantage of his kindness and wiped their feet on him.

My grandfather took it without offence.

"Poor ones, let them be, it's not their fault."

- Is it not their fault that they are bad?

"You have to understand them..."

- But they don't need to understand you?!

"It doesn't matter..."

He wakes up each day thinking about how to improve the world for everyone. And he goes to bed every night worried that he hasn't accomplished everything he could.

This kind of man... did exist... and I hope it still does. Because if someone conceived of creating Nick, it was because he had met someone comparable to my grandfather... didn't he?

And, to be honest, if I ever met this type of man, I would care for and cherish him in ways that cannot be imagined.

Because now I understand how empty the world feels when they left...

Preston : Another case.

Preston. This is a shame.

It's a shame he was designed to be the radiant... because this man deserves far more respect.

The very man who was willing to die because he believes he failed.

But it's not even his own failure.

But he carries it on his shoulder, with the world.

He finally found you.

And hope returns and...

Be serious for a second. The Minutemen Reborn is not you. It's not the fact that you're the General.

The Minutemen, the entire idea, faith, and philosophy are his and his alone.

Without him, there will be no Minutemen, no hope for a better world.

Even if he claims to be broken and defeated and unable to accomplish anything else, he has lifted the sun on the earth with nothing but his dream and benevolence.

What else could I possibly say?

Porter : Ah, man. He needs a hug. In a more twisted fashion than Preston, he is of the same type.

Just more of the lazy type.

Becoming a farmer or whatever is just not in is blood.

Simply having a negative example is enough to make him a bad man.

I believe Bethesda has slipped it here.

Porter may have been a great addition to the Commonwealth.

I think there should have been another alternative.

Porter was the alternative for living as a raider. But if you eventually decide otherwise, it would have been far better to persuade Porter to follow you.

Could he have lived with the knowledge that he had to kill, or at least allow others to kill, everyone on his responsibilities?

I don't think so.

He would have collapsed at some point.

What a waste.

He just needed more hugs...

(Have you ever heard his comment: A gift? For me?-- the way he sounds, well, my heart has melted as for Hancock.)

Strong : Aaaaah, Strong. A kind of developed super mutant... kind of...

He has his own colour, I must say.

Not my favorite companion as Marcus was, but still, his own color is worth it.

I adore how he dislikes everything you can accomplish that he believes is not worthwhile.

It's quite vibrant.

And the dread in his voice as he realizes what Virgil does.

Strong could have been an Orc. He is noble, proud, and appreciates something about his culture.

Even if he is difficult to deal with, he is well worth it.

Because it's amusing to have a character idolize you, but getting Strong's regard feels meaningful.

It's so easy to not earn it.

X6-88 : Give the man a break!

Poor X6.

No, not a hug. You will freeze his brain and cause his own doom!

NOOOOO!!!! DO NOT KISS HIM!!!!!

Poor, poor little thing...

Give him a break.

With enough time, you will find your way.

But give.this.poor.man.a.break!!!

[lemonlamblaura]

My Husband is the God of Pestilence - chapter 17

I had to rewrite the beginning of this chapter like 3 times smdh

Thanks for your patience everyone 😊

A week passed after the attack on the temple and repairs were completed in that time. Rainbow light filled the halls, the windows made up of mosaics of different crystals in the style of stained glass. The front doors were made up of slabs of clear quartz, and were very heavy and sturdy compared to the simple wooden doors they replaced.

Nona's absence was noticed immediately by the other followers. Kallamar assured them that he had sent Nona away for being a nuisance, and, since no one was close to him, they believed their god without question.

Saleos served his punishment by cleaning the outhouses for a week which the custodians appreciated. Lilybell avoided him and Saleos reciprocated, not wanting to get on her or Kallamar's bad side.

Rowan continued to watch over Lilybell and Kallamar and also grew closer to Merryn. Due to his past experience lifting heavy logs, he was assigned to assist the gemcutters by lifting and sorting the uncut crystals, and eventually also came to help cut down the huge minerals into a more manageable size to be shaped. It was hard work but he was happy to have a job and to be close to his daughter.

Lilybell moved into Kallamar's room, unable to sleep in her old one since Trenaty's death. Everything except her bed was moved in, which was relocated to the women's quarters. She spent every night in his bed, snuggled in his arms while he read or worked. Due to his divinity he had little need to sleep, though he did doze occasionally.

Nights were especially hard for the young sheep. She dreamt of Trenaty often and she sometimes dreaded going to bed. One terrible night she began to twitch and cry out in her sleep, calling for Trenaty, before jolting awake in a panic. Kallamar comforted her as she began to cry into his chest. When morning came she pretended nothing happened despite Kallamar's protests that she was not as "okay" as she claimed.

Kallamar chose that day to visit Silk Cradle so Lilybell could forget her dreams. They left just after breakfast as the other followers began to settle into their daily tasks. They teleported to the lobby of Shamura's temple, and it was as dark as Lilybell remembered it from the week before. Shamura was summoned, Narinder trailing along behind them with a bored expression.

"Greeting, brother," Shamura said. "Your temple has been repaired, I assume?"

Kallamar nodded, setting Lilybell on the floor. Her hooves stuck to the cobwebs covering the stone, undoing hours of careful weaving. "We used crystals to cover the damages. It looks spectacular, I wish you could see it."

"In time. Your eye is healing well." They turned to a few followers who came beside them, holding towels and a fresh dress. "Perhaps your lady would prefer to dry herself?"

"Yes, please!" Lilybell exclaimed, taking a towel and attempting to dry her hair, but salt water clung to the thick wool like a sponge. It took three towels to soak up most of the water. When she was done the followers held up the used towels around her, forming a makeshift dressing room so she could change. The new dress was long sleeved and lavender and covered with a second layer of lace in a web-like pattern.

The tour of the temple lasted all morning. Lilybell was surprised how the layout of Shamura's temple resembled Kallamar's. In fact, it was almost exactly the same. When asked, Kallamar meekly explained that he enjoyed the way Shamura's temple was built and modeled his own after it.

One room was used solely for refining. Two large forges blazed brightly while workers pounded away at metal, or artistically shaped glass.

"Have you any forges yet?" Shamura asked Kallamar.

"I'm afraid not."

"I shall send you materials so you may build your own. It is in the benefit of every god that they have their own forge."

Next was Shamura's pride and joy: an enormous library, filled wall to wall and floor to ceiling with books of all sizes. Lilybell's eyes brightened at the sight of all the books.

"I've never seen so many books in my whole life!" She squealed, hopping up and down excitedly. "Do you have The Dreaming Princess? It's my favorite!"

"I collect textbooks, not novels," Shamura said flatly. "I care not for frivolous stories."

Lilybell pouted disappointedly. "That's too bad, it's really good! You should give it a try!"

The look on Shamura's face made it clear that they did not believe her, nor would they even attempt to seek it out.

The last stop on their tour was the room where followers wove silk. Looms and spinning wheels were everywhere, followers knitting or sewing while they talked amongst themselves.

"This is where your dresses come from, my dear," Kallamar said to Lilybell with an affectionate smile.

Lilybell waved to the followers. "Thank you!" She called out to them, grinning. Their response was to look confusedly at one another; they had no idea who she was or why she was yelling at them.

Eventually the group circled back to the lobby. Kallamar and Shamura began to talk quietly while Lilybell continued looking around. Narinder looked bored and annoyed, having followed them silently throughout the tour.

"I have made my first sacrifice, sibling," Kallamar whispered.

"Excellent. We're there spectators?"

"No, we were alone."

"There is still time to teach the others that sacrifice is in their best interests. Remember, brother, you are their god. They must obey you without question."

Meanwhile, Lilybell came up to Narinder with her hand extended. "Hi! We haven't met, but my name is Lilybell! It's nice to meet you!"

Narinder stared down at her hoof coldly. After a moment, his face twisted into a cocky smirk and he met her eyes with mischief. "Want to hear how you die?"

The lamb's hand dropped slightly, startled by the question. "Huh?"

"It's a autumn night, full of stars," Narinder continued as if he weren't interrupted. He maintained eye contact in such a way that it made Lilybell uncomfortable. "You're with your husband and he's very sad. You go to comfort him but he snaps your neck. You suffocate slowly while he holds you in his arms and cries."

"Narinder," Shamura cut in warningly. They beckon the kitten over and give him a sharp flick on the head with their fingers, just hard enough to smart.

"Ow! What was that for?!" Narinder shouted, rubbing the spot where he'd been struck.

"I warned you to behave yourself," the spider chastised. "So far you have been no more than a spoiled infant." They turned to Lilybell. "Pay no attention to him. He enjoys tormenting others."

Kallamar picked up a shaken Lilybell, cuddling her close. "You owe my darling an apology."

Narinder looked up to Shamura, silently protesting, expecting them to support him, but the glare Shamura sent him made him cower, lowering his head in defeat. "I'm sorry," he grumbled, clearly not sorry.

Kallamar wanted to reach down and give the kitten a piece of his mind. But he knew Lilybell and Shamura would not be happy, so he kept quiet, stroking Lilybell's hair. "I suppose we must be on our way."

Shamura nodded. "Thank you for your visit. We hope to see you again soon."

When they returned to the ocean, Lilybell patted Kallamar's chest to get his attention. "He was just kidding, right?" She asked worriedly, her brows furrowed.

"Of course, my love. I will never allow anyone to hurt you. Anyone who tries will answer to me."

Relieved, she snuggled into his arms and let out a dreamy sigh.

She gets more beautiful every time I look at her, Kallamar thought, his heart fluttering in his chest.

*

Later that evening, Kallamar held a sermon shortly before everyone went to bed. It was the first sermon he'd made since the battle. He spoke to his followers about the glory of sacrifice, of many kinds.

"Sacrifice is a virtue," he said loudly for all to hear. "We sacrifice everyday. We sacrifice our time, our love, our patience. But the greatest thing you can do is to sacrifice what you can to help someone you love, someone in need. For there is no angel in the afterlife that did not give up something for another."

It was sloppy, badly delivered, he thought. But, in his opinion, it was better to ease them into the idea of giving themselves to him rather than just to tell them. Better than scaring them away. Still, despite his criticisms towards his sermon, the following ate it up like the famished at a soup kitchen. He felt their devotion seep into his soul like rain upon the earth and it nourished him better than the richest meals fit for kings.

When it was over, he gave the crowd a chance to speak to air any grievances publicly or to ask questions. Usually no one said anything, but this time a small hand went up.

"Lord Kallamar," said the small goldfish once they were addressed, "what's wrong with the ocean?"

A concerned murmur broke out through the crowd. Lilybell and Rowan looked at each other in confusion. Being foreigners, they felt no difference in the ocean whatsoever. But the sea-dwellers who had lived there all their lives felt changes in every way of life. From the slowing currents to the random temperature changes, it was clear the ocean had changed.

"Lord Kallamar, you fought with Carcharias, didn't you?" Cried another follower.

He nodded. He had felt the changes too but hoped they wouldn't say anything. He needed to come up with something fast.

"It's true, the ocean has changed," he confirmed, "because Carcharias has been defeated-"

"Did you kill him?"

A sharp glare directed at the follower shut them up. "Yes. He left me no choice. It was either him or me, and I could not leave all of you without leadership. Gods have always come and gone throughout the eras... it is nothing to be concerned about. A new god will take over the ocean in time. For now there is nothing we can do but wait."

This was, of course, not at all true. Unless another crown came along with the exact same powers as the ultramarine crown, there would never be another god that could control the ocean. But he knew better than to tell them this. It would send them into a panic.

"Tell us about your fight with Carcharias, Lord Kallamar!"

"Was he very strong, like in the stories?"

"Did he have his magic trident?"

"Was he scary?"

"Tell us, Lord Kallamar!"

The following clamored eagerly like children begging their parents for one last bedtime story. Kallamar weaved an exciting tale, full of embellishments to make him sound like the hero, Shamura as his sidekick and Carcharias as the slimy, dastardly villain. They absorbed every word, every syllable, especially Lilybell, who listened admiringly while her heart swelled with pride at Kallamar's "bravery". Rowan reserved his thoughts as the speech droned on, finding it hard to believe every word.

"But he still lived, even after the ceiling caved in!" Kallamar said dramatically, waving his arms, getting into his own story. "He begged for mercy, said he would never have anything to do with us again. However, I knew this was a lie, that he would have stopped at nothing to destroy our way of life. So I took up my sword and finished him off with one mighty swing!"

Everyone except Rowan cheered and Kallamar felt more devotion flow into him as the crowd whooped and hollered. Finally the ocean was free of Carcharias's tyranny! Things would change for the better!

Rowan raised his hand. "I find it hard to believe the god who ruled the ocean for millenia was actually a huge coward. How do we know you aren't just trying to make yourself look better?"

"Shut up, land-dweller!" Someone shouted.

"Yeah! Lord Kallamar would never lie to us!"

"Long live Lord Kallamar!"

"Long live Lord Kallamar!"

Chanting filled the hall as the followers swarmed the stage. Lilybell weaved her way through them until she reached Kallamar, and he picked her up and set her on his shoulder while the others fell at his feet and began to bow like peasants before a king.

Rowan grumbled, storming out of the hall. It was dark, save for a few glowing crystals on the walls. He looked out the window, waiting for Lilybell or Merryn to come out to he would have someone to talk to. He was surprised at how lonely he'd been since coming to the temple. He thought he would be able to spend more time with his daughter, but she was so caught up with Kallamar he wondered if she forgot he was even there. Merryn had been a blessing, seemingly the only other person in the temple with common sense, but after the way everyone behaved in the hall just now he wasn't sure anymore.

Suddenly, something high above caught his eye. Through the colored crystal he could see many tiny lights floating through the water. Stars? No, they couldn't be seen through the waves at the surface. It was something else.

He burst back into the hall just as Kallamar was trying to quiet everyone down. "There's something in the sky!" He shouted.

Merryn rushed forward to calm him down. "What is it?" She asked, taking his arm.

"Lots of bright lights! They look like stars!"

Everyone suddenly got very excited again. "The jellies are migrating for the winter!" Someone exclaimed, and everyone ran out of the hall, excited to go outside.

"Jellyfish?" Lilybell asked nervously, scooting closer to Kallamar's head.

He chuckled. "Not the ones that almost got you that night, darling. These ones are harmless. They travel south every year to bear young. Watching them is a yearly tradition."

Everyone went outside to watch the great migration. There were so many jellyfish that an enormous streak of light shone through the water just under the waves. If one were to watch very closely, they could see the jellyfish moving at a leisurely pace.

Lilybell cooed in amazement, leaning her head on Kallamar's squishy cheek. "That's so cool. It's like a galaxy," she breathed.

"Maybe," Kallamar whispered back, "but their beauty pales in comparison to yours, my little pearl."

Her face flushed bright red and she pressed a kiss into his cool skin, snuggling into his neck with a delighted sigh that made his tentacles shiver in ecstacy.

*

Winter descended on Anchordeep faster than usual that year. While the world above the waves was covered in a blanket of snow and ice, the ocean remained relatively unchanged aside from a drop in temperature. Followers often gathered in the dining hall to be closer to the kitchen's hearth and work slowed somewhat. In the meantime, sermons picked up. Kallamar addressed the following multiple times a week in order to keep faith high. The stress of so many sermons made Kallamar anxious but Lilybell was always there with an adoring kiss to comfort him.

Whenever Lilybell was not by Kallamar's side, she was often found with her father or Merryn and Anna. Rowan tried to avoid Kallamar as a topic of conversation as he was still untrusting of the squid. That particular day, Rowan was telling the girls about his travels from the mountains to Anchordeep.

"You know, it's strange," he said, "but when I was passing through Darkwood I found a big clearing full of flowers that weren't in season. They were all so healthy, someone had to be taking care of them."

"What kind of flowers?" Merryn asked.

"There were so many I couldn't tell you! Sunflowers, camellias, irises, all kinds."

"Were there roses?" Lilybell asked.

"I wouldn't be surprised, but I didn't see any."

"I would love to see them," Lilybell smiled with her head in her hands. "I bet it's magnificent!"

"You should ask Kallamar to take you," Merryn suggested, ignoring the look Rowan gave her. "Don't you two go out sometimes?"

That was before Lilybell was almost kidnapped. Kallamar had asked her to go out with him since then, but she turned him down, wanting to stay close to the temple. Going to Silk Cradle was the furthest she had been for some time.

"I'm not sure," she said, frowning. "I don't want anything to happen again."

"But Carcharias is gone now, and Darkwood isn't like Anchordeep. There wouldn't be anyone to go after you there."

Rowan interrupted by clearing his throat. "If she doesn't want to go, she doesn't have to."

Thoughts of flowers and lush green grass took over Lilybell's mind all the rest of the day. If Rowan had never said anything, she probably would have never thought about flowers or the land above. But he had, and she had to admit that she missed flowers and sunshine on her wool more than she wanted to admit. She never thought about flowers more than she did that day.

Kallamar noticed that she was distracted before suppertime. "What's wrong, love? Are you troubled?" He asked.

She looked up at him, her face serious. "Can we go to Darkwood?"

He was taken aback not just by her expression but also her directness. "Of course, darling, but why? What could you possibly need in Darkwood?"

After a moment of hesitation to figure out how to express her desires, she turned to face him and took his large hand in her smaller ones. "I want the sun."

His face twisted in confusion. "The sun."

"And the grass, and the flowers, and everything else. When you're in Silk Cradle for too long don't you want to go home after a while?"

At last he understood that she was homesick, but he was troubled by it. Didn't she love Anchordeep as he did? He would have thought that after all this time she would have preferred being down here.

"Your wish is my command, my darling. But tell me, do you dislike this place? Are you unhappy here?" With me?

"No! I just... miss being where I used to come from, that's all. Dad told us about a really pretty place with lots of flowers and I wanted to see it."

"But darling, surely the flowers are all dead and covered with snow."

"Please, Kallamar?" She gave him the biggest puppy dog eyes she could muster, batting her eyelashes and turning up her mouth in an adorable pout. "Pretty please?"

How could he resist such a face? His heart melted at the sight of her. "Very well, my dear, we shall go at once." Better to get it over with quickly to forget it all. "Take some old robes to keep yourself warm."

The next thing they knew they were in Darkwood. Snow covered every inch of ground while icicles hung from tree branches. An icy breeze came by, chilling them both to the bone. Lilybell shivered in Kallamar's arm while he peered over a map. He was less affected by the cold but even he knew he would be bothered eventually.

"We won't be able to stay long, it's far too cold." As he spoke tiny crystals of ice began to form on the wet paper. They set off in the direction of a large clearing. As they came towards it the temperature seemed to change and the snow began to fade away. It almost felt like springtime. Lilybell began to shake less and less and Kallamar could feel warmth return to the tips of his tentacles.

Finally they made it, and all the snow had disappeared. They couldn't believe their eyes. Before them was a huge meadow full of every flower imaginable. Every colour of the rainbow was on full display and not an ounce of snow or ice was in sight. The air was warm and bees flew from flower to flower while birds twittered in the trees. It was like winter did not exist here. Only spring, and warmth and colour existed.

Kallamar set Lilybell down and she rushed into the field of flowers laughing and smiling brightly. "I never saw so many flowers in my whole life!" She shouted gleefully. "Daisies and poppies and hyacinths and morning glories! There's forget-me-nots, too! There's even a pond for water lilies! There's even lilac bushes! OH, MY GOD, THERE'S ROSES! KALLAMAR, THERE'S ROSES!!!"

Kallamar smiled as he watched her scream is excitement but he stayed at the edge of the meadow. He would not be able to enter without trampling the flowers and he hated the though of getting mud on his tentacles. He never understood the appeal of flowers, maybe because he was not exposed to them growing up. Still, he had to admit there was beauty in these alien weeds. In fact, the more he looked at them the more he realized that they were too perfect. There was some magic in them that made them so healthy.

"You are trespassing."

He could have inked himself. He turned slowly to see a being that was his size. Behind them were a huge pair of iridescent wings, glimmering in rainbow patterns. Multiple antennae protruded from their head and their five eyes were divided into many tiny squares. Their fur seemed to glitter as if covered in microscopic diamonds. They wore a crown on their head with a dark pink four petaled flower as an eye.

"State your intention, god of pestilence," said the butterfly.

"W-who are you?" Kallamar stuttered. "We m-m-mean no harm..."

"I am Arete, the god of nature. This is my sacred meadow. You are not welcome here."

"Please forgive me, we were told of this place by someone. W-we didn't know it belonged to you. My dar- I mean, my love has been missing home and wished to come and see the flowers."

Arete was stone faced. "I care not why you have come. You must leave now."

"Kallamar!" Lilybell cried, coming up behind him with a bouquet of flowers she had picked. "Look, look! Can I take them home? Oh, please?" She noticed the huge butterfly just then. "Is this your garden?" She asked them, not realizing that the other god was angered. "All your flowers are so beautiful! You take such good care of them, they're much, much better than the flowers back home! They smell so nice, too-"

"Lilybell!" Kallamar cried in alarm, noticing the flowers in her hands. "Put those back!"

"But I can't! They've already been picked!"

"Don't you understand? These are a god's flowers! They aren't yours!"

"Oh, no! I'm so sorry, I thought they were just here!"

"Take them." Arete said suddenly. Kallamar and Lilybell looked at them in surprise. "I enjoy when my work is complimented. More shall grow in their place. You are welcome here anytime you like... provided the flowers are left alone."

Kallamar didn't know what to say. Thankfully Lilybell filled the silence. "Thank you!"

Arete turned and crept away, their footsteps silent. They disappeared into the trees and it felt as if they were never there to begin with. Kallamar breathed a sigh of relief and looked down at Lilybell. She smiled up at him brightly.

"They were nice!"

They stayed for at least another hour when an angry bee stung Lilybell's hand. Kallamar had so enjoyed watching her frolick that he lost track of time and it was too late to hold a sermon.

That night, Lilybell slept in Kallamar's arms while he tried to read. After going over a single page for a third time he gave up, laying the book down on the bed. He looked down at his girl, his fingers playing with her hair absentmindedly. He wondered what she was dreaming about. The dreams about Trenaty had waned these past weeks, which he was glad for. She seemed happier lately, too.

She was so beautiful, even as she drooled on his chest and talked in her sleep. He was so lucky to have her. If she had never come to Anchordeep that day he would surely be a different man, most likely a more unhappy man. How could he live without her now? Just the thought of her with someone else filled him with dread. He decided he must be the one to make her happy no matter what the cost, even if all the world became his enemy.

When are you going to make an honest woman of my daughter?

Now there was a thought. Sure, gods couldn't procreate, but at the very least they could get married. It was the logical next step and they were basically already married anyway, sharing a bed, spending their days together, kissing and making love. The idea of her in a white gown and professing her vows to him almost brought a tear to his eye.

That was it then.

He tapped her arm. "Darling." No response. He tapped just the slightest bit harder. "Lilybell."

"Uh?" Came the half-asleep response. She didn't even bother lifting her head to meet him.

"Will you marry me?"

She was quiet for a moment before she looked up at him, her eyes bleary. "Huh?"

"Will you marry me? Will you be my wife?"

She blinked at him for a moment before pulling herself up and capturing his lips in a tender kiss. He sighed into her mouth, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her on top of him.

"Sorry," she said when they finally broke apart, "I wanted to be sure I wasn't dreaming."

He leaned his forehead against hers. "Is that a yes?" He asked hopefully.

"Are you crazy? Yes!" She giggled, kissing him again.

*

"You are planning something, god of knowledge."

The lion had made a deadly mistake going to Silk Cradle alone. Shamura had been awaiting their arrival. It was only a matter of time before news of Carcharias's death reached the ears of the goddess of law and order.

"First Warracka and now Carcharias? One god warrants concern, but two is unreasonable. These were not accidents, nor self defense. How many more gods do you mean to kill?"

"All of them."

The response shocked her. She had no time to defend herself against the blade that slit her throat. She staggered back, grasping desperately at the bleeding wound, gasping and coughing as blood entered her lungs. Shamura lunged forward and plunged the dagger into her chest, over and over again as she fell to the cobwebbed floor. Once they knew she was dead, they began to carve out her heart.

Three down, hundreds to go. Narinder watched from the shadows, eager to learn from his master. He wanted to taste the heart, too.

"Come, little brother," Shamura beckoned, the heart dripping in their hand. "Come and taste divinity."

[floredaqueen]

A Bud In The Gun(2)

Gator Tillman X Fem!OriginalCharacter

Enemies To Lovers

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Writer(?)'s Note: This chapter was actually super hard for me to write, but I hope people actually like it. Took me forever to gain the courage to even continue it because it felt so late. I just hope that people like a different type of love story. Please enjoy.

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⚠️WARNING⚠️

MINORS DNI 18+, Cursing, Threats, Insults, Chrys being a little private investigator, Gator still spying on Chrys, description of fighting, description of sexual content, description of past SA (Trigger), description of assault, mentions of self harm.

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Pinapples (3), Grapefruit (3), Bananas (6), Strawberries (2 1LBs), Raspberries (3 1LBs), Blackberries (3 1LBs), Green Apples (5), Grapes (2lbs), Kiwis (6), Grapefruit Juice (2 5.9 oz), Lemonade (2 5.9 oz), Orange Juice (2 6 oz), Apple Juice (2 6 oz), Cranberry Juice (2 5.9 oz)..

... This was the kind of food Chrysanthemum was used to throwing into her cart at this point. When she began her job as an exotic dancer, more than a few of the girls told her that her new bread and butter were fruits and salads. The nutrience would be her best friend. They were right. Now, it's all she would eat. Chrys could still eat other foods, but at this point, it didn't go down her stomach the right way.. in fact, she often coughed it back up.

As she stocked up on her nutritious must haves, she contemplated her plan of action. Her beloved father and brother. She was sure about how she would go about it, but she knew damn sure that all bets were off. Especially when it came to law enforcement in this Godforsaken town. She could've sworn she overheard Sheriff- Gag- Roy Tillman justify a man raising his hand to his wife. It was fucking 2019. If a man had ever threatened or committed violence against her she would kill him. If she allowed to happen even once, Chrys would kill herself. She was just getting more and more reasons to set this town a blaze.

It wasn't long when she finished up, counting her spending and then heading to the checkout bag. Although, no matter how goregous and sharp her eyes were at any other time in the day, there was no getting past the fact that she was as blind as a bat in the early morning. That was her inner dialogue for why she was always bumping someone. The someone she inconveniently bumped into this breezy morning had to be the slick back haired douche seemed to follow her everywhere.. otherwise known as Gator Tillman.

"Careful, darlin'. I could've knocked you over," He'd say in that slightly southern accent, which didn't make much sense considering they were in North Dakota. Chrys rolled her eyes, rolling her shopping car full of sweet and acidic goodies. Gator took a gander as the pretty woman swiped and checked and swiped and checked. Even while doing something so mundane, she looked good, the deputies eyes trailing downward to that juicy peach she called her backside.

"So this is how you keep yourself.. petite.. you need help, lil' lady?" Tillman questioned while he gawked at her smooth and lithe frame. It only got a quick laugh out of her. She looked back when she finished the juice and moved on to the salad.

"Tillman, the only thing this is keeping me from getting is arrested because I kicked your ass." Chrys sneered, getting a chuckle out of him. Soon, he was leaning over, his big hands hovering over her worked, tiny waist appreciatively as if he wasn't about to say something to set her off.

"I'd love to see you try darlin'.. the only thing you could probably do is dodge–" His eyes widened when her gaze met his. They were still piercing right through him as if she were looking at a mirror. He felt like he could feel her lips on his even though her nose almost touched his.

"I assure you.. you don't wanna find out what I can do." Those were fighting words, Gator all the more riled up to start something with his more than eager opponent who couldn't stop poking at him with her long, black painted fingernail. Even if she was dead serious, he couldn't wait for the chance to really demonstrate how they were two completely different levels.

"What if I do..?" Gator would question, only to find himself more and more smug as while her irritation sat like chili on the stove.. at a low boil.

"Go fuck yourself," Chrys decided that was enough indulging Gator for one day, finishing up the scanning of her items before paying and leaving.

"Or you could fuck me yourself," He continued, strolling after her as she pushed the cart now full of bagged fruits and whatever else she decided to stock up on.

"That's not clever.." She added, walking faster until she got to her car while he just stood there. He silently observed Chrys bend over just to put her eatables in the trunk of her Lexus. His head lowered itself, slightly tilting to get a better view of the way her ass curved as while she busied herself.

"Says who?" The agent of "justice" raised an eyebrow playfully, only to get scrutinized by the auburn haired woman. She even scoffed as she pusted a group of others she eyed while she walked to her car.

"Says me. Now instead of following me, go do your fucking job-" She'd say abruptly before hopping into Corey and driving off. She'd barely made out the words Gator decided to speak before she took off.

"Be seein' you, darlin," ..

Yeah.. he definitely would be.

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It wasn't only a few hours before Chrys had driven back out, finding herself subconsciously eyeing the scenery. She kept thinking to herself about how it was a different time. It's not simpler but different. When she had reached a familiar looking ranch, her mind flashed, and all she saw was her father and much younger self. She remembered that day.

The day her dad finally caved in and taught her how to ride a horse. He himself was a horse wrangler, but even then, he taught his children that there was way more to life, partially because of the way he was treated. He wasn't the only horse wrangler, but he was the only black horse wrangler. And with that fact known, he had to seek out issues with his ranch, his horses, and money in 'different' ways.. more difficult ways, as if it wasn't difficult enough.

That day was wonderful, though. It was hard, fun work, picking a pony small enough for her young, petite stature. The riding process was terrifying, Chrys remembering how scared she was to even have the horse move and not hold onto it for dear life. She got over her fear, though, following her father to the ranch every Sunday after church to go ride that damn horse.

On the third day of practice, she named her. Like an idiot, she named her. Her name was Posey. Her mane and coat of fur all black. She was feisty and sassy. But not to Chrys. Chrys was the only one who could tame her. But she wasn't too stubborn to call a quits. Before Chrysanthemum went off to college, Posey passed, having to be put down because her joints were weak. After a while, they were weak enough to break.

Chrys was there when her right back leg broke. She was riding Poesy one last time, not even aware of the pain her horse was going through. A loud crack was heard, both Posey and her younger version screeching in horror as they both fell.

Chrys tumbled off of the black beauty bestowed upon her at a young age, shaking off her twisted ankle and wrist to see what happened. And then the real screeching happened. The one where she called out to her father as blood poured across the ground from the very messed up bone. But when he got there, it was too late.

...There was something significant about that day. About the day she watched the animal, she stupidly named implode on itself. She found it symbolic. And she vowed never to let herself get that far.

Easier said than done when she was planning a massacre.

To be quite frank, she didn't know what she was doing, the vengeful woman ending up tramping in the trailer that was her home all those years ago; a taser in her back pocket and a thigh holster, keeping her 9 millimeter close. The place was abandoned, not even given up as collateral or sold to a new home owner. The furniture and electronics were gone.. probably stolen. Food? Rotten, Chrys finding a particularly rancid smell from whatever mushy and rotten substance that barely held its shape in the fridge.

As her hazel, dull green orbs slowed around the double-wide, something distinct was absent. The pictures. Where were they? She rummaged around through the cabinets, messy drawers along with the rest of the vandalized furniture. She only found 2 photos by the end of her salvage. One of them all together, stained by a little bit of mold, and the other of her when she was younger, when she didn't look so exhausted by the wear of college, work, and whatever she called this.. grieving..? For her, it was.

There used to be substance here. This used to be a decent home, filled with the overbearing love of a 3-person family. It used to be filled with laughter, longing hugs, friendly competition, reassurance.. love. Real, gut-wrenching, admirable love. Something Chrys has been longing for ever since she got here. Now.. the place was just an empty, moldy depiction of what laughter, board games, and lessons her family endured together. Together, they were no more.

Her yearning was shortly interrupted by the small sound of leaves being crushed under a boot. Immediately, her head spun around around see what -or who - made the noise, only to find nothing but the wind and what was previously still behind her to be present. What made it worse was that she still felt the eerie present behind her.

The feeling persisted all week. At her apartment, at the grocery store, at the familiarity of a strip club, when she went back to the abandoned trailer. It just wouldn't go away. That is until she decided to figure out what was making her feel such a way.

Later that night, Chrys found herself in her closet, her pupils small and sharp in focus despite the heavy bags under her eyes. She wasn't going to sleep, not until her intuition got to the bottom of what was unsettling her. Not 20 minutes later, she heard a creak at her bedroom door. She would've assumed it was the air conditioning if she didn't see a grown ass man stomp his way into her space. She stilled, her bulbs following his every move.

His gloved hand placed itself upon every surface it could before he realized she wasn't soundly sleeping on her comfy mattress. She wished that she was, but the intruder made the simple action quite difficult to achieve. When he headed to her bathroom, she stepped out of her small storage unit, it now visible that her hand was gripping a metal baseball bat.

Her smaller frame snuck behind the bathroom door, and then behind him when he returned to the bed. The first time she swung, he dodged it just in time to see her. The second time, he wasn't so lucky, the sound of the hallow pang ringing in his ears as he felt the harsh connection against his right temple. His body fell against the flush of her silk covered mattress, yet he was still conscious. He considered enough to grab the bat before she couldn't hit him again with it, only for her to use the hard edge of her elbow as her next weapon. She still didn't know who it was, the perpetrator hiding his face with a stupid Halloween mask. She would've broken his face in if it wasn't for the disguise. Still, though, it was lights out for him, Chrys not taking any chances or giving mercy. Her funny bone was on fire as the weary girl nonstop plowed against his nearest pressure point.

When he was finally subdued, Chrys pulled off the mask, throwing it in annoyance as she realized who was stalking her. With his hair grossly slicked back and his nose protruding a little too high, she already knew it was the son of a bitch, Gator Tillman.

'Kill him,' was her very first thought. 'Kill him and send his severed head without the skull to his no good father as a warning.' She could easily find the tools, and she was sure he wouldn't be looking for him.. but then a better idea came to mind.

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Ringing. During the time he sturred back awake, Gator could still hear the ringing in his ears from the harsh hit to the temple he endured. Cautiously, his eyes found the smooth of slim, chestnut color legs standing in patience for his consciousness to return. When her raging expression met his line of vision, he rolled his eyes with a straining groan.

"Fancy, seein' you here, sugar," He smiled wickedly, the young woman crossing her arms in obvious annoyance.

"Why are you stalking me?" She questioned , only getting a snort out of the dirty cop. Her eye twitched as she watched his range of emotions. His anger that he got caught, his annoyance that it was by some chicken, his aloof thought process on how to escape. It was all clear to Chrys.. that is until he turned his attention back to her.

A smoldering expression took form on his face, one that confused her for a moment. She almost slapped the expression off of his face, that is, until he gave it up. Did he think this was fucking Tangled?

"Just wanted to know why you came back," He finally answered, Chrys biting the inside of her cheek to stop her from injuring him further.

"You know why I came back.."

There was a quick silence between them both after that. It was enough time for Whitlock to remember as well. She allowed her anger and grief to fill her once more with determination. Her hands reached for her 9 millimeter, cocking it back before almost capping one in his head. It just grazed his left ear. It was enough to take a portion of the shell of.

By then, she had the deputy yelling profanities, the very small wound just a warning for he could really experience.

"You bitch," He growled in exhaustion, only getting a small chuckle out the mentally wounded girl.

"Probably," She answered with an eerily warm grin. She watched him suffer just a little more, allowing him to fully curse her out just a little longer. A few "Fucking cunt,"s and "stupid slut,"s later, she finally began to bargain for what she really wanted.

"Listen, as much as I'd love to hear you call me every name under the sun, there's a reason I haven't killed you yet."

She sat her piece back down on the kitchen counter, pushing her to be up by her arms to plop her ass on the counter as well.

"I know your dad knows something about what happened to my family.. and I can't just go up and ask him. He'll blow my head off.." Chrys trailed off for a moment, her eyes fluttering to his in a motion that was all too familiar to him. When she hopped off the corner and onto his lap, it was clear. Gator only tensed up when she settled fully,

"I need to infiltrate from the inside.. and you'll be my perfect cover.." A soft smile came to her face, Gator face contorting into a heavy bit of confusion..

"The hell are you on about..?" The deputy asked until he was shushed by the carress of her stiletto painted fingers tips.

...

Sunday seemed to come quick, Chrys finding herself being greeted into the Tillman household by a taller woman. A brown Bob framing her face with eyes desperate to rain happy.

"Hi! I'm Karen. You must be Gator's fiancé!'' She exclaimed, seeming to be happy there was another woman in the house. A warm smile came to her face the, but the sound of girlish giggles followed along by the feel of tiny hands and arms wrapping around her frilly clothed waist. When her eyes peered down, they found two blonde twins, around 7 or 8.

"Oh.. And who might you two be, hm?" She asked with a slightly teasing voice. When they giggled once more, Karen huffed slightly.

"Girls, where are your manners?" The pale woman snapped, shooing the girls away before turning back to the exotic-looking woman.

"I'm sorry about them! You know how it is," Chrys didn't hear the explanation tangent Karen had gone on, too busy looking at all the furnished wood and marble that made up the walls and furniture a like.. until her peridot colored irises landed on the scorn of the Earth, standing there with his burly arms crossed and his greying hair freshly cut.

This.. was gonna be harder than she ever anticipated.. especially with Roy breathing down her neck every second he got.

[hyylia]

For the requests: Zelink, prompt "did you drop this?"

oooh i love this prompt so much!!! thanks for sending it to me! <3

i wrote this with five paces back in mind, but be warned that there's probably some conflicting info because i wrote this as a warm up and didn't bother rereading my fic LOLLL (i'm the worst)

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It was painful—trying to get his attention. She’d tried everything that she could possibly think of: prying about his family, his training and qualifications, even once bringing up war strategy to see if it interested him. At times, he’d slipped. Once, he’d told her about his younger sister, Aryll, and how similarly she looked to their late mother. Another time, he’d briefly mentioned his arduous training at the military camp. Yet, after each slip, he’d immediately clammed up and ignored any further questions. She’d been faced with that silent, stoic guard once more.

More than feeling irritated about it, Zelda found her interest in him agonizingly growing. 

He was handsome, she thought, in an unfair sort of way. Where Zelda had to sit in front of her vanity each morning, spending time on her appearance, he rolled out of bed and just… looked like that. She caught herself staring at him sometimes, standing guard in the corner of her study, looking all toned muscle and soft jaw and beautiful hair. He had an easy-going voice, the kind you wanted to hear: soft and quiet, but with the slightest edge that made her breath catch. She could have begged him to talk more—wanted his companionship—and yet he would not give it.

One night, she got desperate. 

It was a classic trick, written about in countless stories she’d read and often witnessed firsthand at large gatherings. A ring or a handkerchief dropped, a fan conveniently left behind. She’d chosen something more obscure, smaller, easier to deny if asked: a single sapphire hairpin from the updo she’d requested that morning. She hadn’t been sure if he’d even recognize it as hers—did he even look at her?—but she’d left it in the hallway regardless. Part of her had felt hopeful in that moment, the other part had felt dread.

It was only a few minutes later, Zelda standing frozen behind her door, when he’d knocked. She’d opened it instantly, thoughtlessly.

“Your Highness,” he’d said, immediately dropping into a bow. “Did… Did you drop this?”

In his left hand, gleaming in the golden light of her blazing fireplace, was her sapphire hairpin. He’d held it out for her to take. 

“Yes, I must have,” she’d said softly, retrieving it from his hand. It was one of few times they’d ever stood so close, face-to-face, and she’d found herself searching his eyes. He’d stared right back, letting her look. 

The thought that he’d known it was hers, that he’d acknowledged her, the longing look in his eyes, the very sound of his voice… It was all too much. Something in her heart had stirred then, and she could have sworn that he’d felt it too. His eyes had widened. He'd cleared his throat uncomfortably. A moment later and he’d looked away.

“I am glad to return it to you, Your Highness,” he’d said quietly, bowing once more. “I... should return to my post now.” 

“Of course.” She’d watched him leave, a shy smile slowly forming on her face.

[hevexns-realm]

Hello! Since my birthday is coming soon, here's another question:

How do you think each character would spend their birthday? Like, what would they prefer for it — set a whole party, or take a good walk with friends, or something else? 👀

Aww, happy early birthday breaddo!! I hope you have a great birthday! 🤍🤍🤍

As how each character spends their birthday..

Amy - a giant tea party with the girls and some of the boys. She’d most likely ask shadow for a drag performance, or for helping out with the party. After all she, Sonic, and shadow are all amazing friends, especially in adulthood! (Although one year she decided to go clubbing with aeon and rouge, and honestly she had fun!)

Rouge - drinking wine all evening and buying herself luxuries. knuckles, shadow, and a few others pop by her place to host her a small dinner party, as the bar has gone down in history as Mobius’ greatest thief, might as well celebrate!

Cream - a gorgeous birthday party that’s similar to Amy’s, except she gets special presents from all her friends and family. Depending on who it’s from, it can range from coloring books, plushies, to small amounts of jewelry, and even a handmade dress for her! (Nazo always makes cream a birthday dress, it’s just his yearly tradition.)

Blaze - well, she’s a princess. You better believe a whole festival is being held in her honor. She’s invited many fellow royal families and high honored guests, but her favorite bit is dancing under the moonlight with silver. Mephiles and iblis actually help with these events, since blaze is considered a goddess in her realm (technically she’s a Demi-goddess, but she’s still worshipped all the same!)

Iris - it really depends on the situation and when/where she is. If you were talking about when she was in the castle, she really wouldn’t have anything held for her by her dad or most of her older siblings. However, she was always given a handmade vanilla cake by some of the maids on her birthday. If you’re talking about in the present timeline? Most likely a night out to buy herself some dinner, buy some cute jewelry, and if it’s a work night? Oh the girl gets SPOILED by rich men. (Nazo and seelk can’t help but feel jealous, but not like they can do anything about it, let her enjoy the day as she deserves!)

Aeon - goes on a shopping spree or goes to travel. Every year she experiences something unique and beautiful on her travels! ^^

Sonic - pool party at his place, backyard cookout, maybe even some drinks! He also gets spoiled rotten by all his friends and loved ones! ^^

Scourge - pretty similar to Sonic, except the drinking is more extreme, and drugs can be found at the event 0-0|| you can imagine how often cops show up at the event spot due to complaints.

Shadow - most likely going to a drag bar to perform, after all, he knows a lot of his friends there have stuff planned for him. Ranging from alcohol to new dresses, he’s gonna get spoiled on his birthday, in more ways than one! -v-

Seelkadoom - going to concerts. This can range in his mood. However, this year he’s aiming to bring the rest of the supernatural trio to an Olivia Rodrigo concert for his 23rd birthday. (For his 22nd, he and nazo went to a Sabrina carpenter concert, and he got an autograph from her! You can still see it framed in their room, you’ll have to ask him to see it though!)

Nazo - this depends. Some days he wants to stay in bed and cuddle his beloveds all day, some days he wants to go shopping for a new cologne and some new pieces, some days he wants to go gambling in no limit hold ‘em’. However, he’s always gifted some sweets from vanilla and cream for his birthday. They have this tradition of gifting each other something they love, and Nazo has always adored vanilla’s baking!

Tails - is usually given a small party, and is usually having game nights at Sonic’s place. Usually having some burgers with Sonic’s homemade chili cheese fries! ✨v✨

Knuckles - goes to cuddle and hangs out with rouge! Usually has some soup and some cake with her, or goes out drinking with Sonic and the others! ^^

Bonus:

Usually, mephiles and iblis don’t celebrate their birthdays. After all, they don’t remember how old they actually are. However, they do celebrate the birthdays of their favorite devotees!

Remember the sweet trans woman who left soup, cookies, and wine for mephiles? He always makes sure she has an amazing birthday, no matter what happens the day before. Sometimes he gets a little gutsy and visits her in her dreams to wish her a happy birthday! (He’s in love, but he HATES admitting it to anyone he doesn’t trust.)

For iblis, she always buys high quality ingredients and utensils for the chef who makes the amazing meals for her at her altar. It’s her small way of giving back, especially when they’re nothing but sweet to a goddess like her!