#boy in the belfry

[arobinwithoutbatman]

"Y'know, there's only one thing worse than it raining cats and dogs." Dick is lying on the couch, feet hanging off one of the arms, and grinning like he knows what he's going to say next is going to get something thrown at him.

"Hailing taxis."

"I mean, yeah, taxis never listen. I swear, all the drivers are-"

He paused... blinked... thought about the wording... and then giggled.

"Why are you like this?" He might not do the puns as often but he does indulge once in a while and Dick was a master at the arr.

[thisapplepielife]

Written for @steddie-spooktober.

Bats in the Belfry

Prompt: Bats | Word Count: 2400 | Rating: T | POV: Steve | Pairing: Pre-Steddie | CW: Language | Tags: Post S4 Events, Eddie Died...Or Did He?, Eddie Munson: Bat Boy, Steve Harrington: Exasperated Human

There's a colony of bats that keep swarming the house. It's odd. They've never been there before, and now it's like they're drawn to him. Steve wonders if this is some sort of horrible side effect of his bat bites from the Upside Down. Maybe he's a bat whisperer now, but he can't be sure because they won't light anywhere long enough for him to actually interact with them.

Not that he really wants to interact with them. But if they are gonna keep roosting around the pool, he'd rather find out why.

It's not the first time he thinks that if Eddie were still here, then at least he'd have someone else to ask, to see if this is happening to him, too. But he's not, and Steve's had to come to terms with that. He failed. They lost one of their own. Yeah, Eddie was new to the group, and Steve didn't know him well, but Dustin is mourning his loss. Big time. 

They all are, in their own ways.

Steve is just handing over cash to pay for the pizza he's had delivered, when a bat flies in through the front door, and immediately clings to the ceiling, out of reach. Great, that's just what Steve needs. A bat in his house. Robin will really freak out if he can't get it out before bedtime. She'll be sure he's gonna get rabies if he goes to sleep with that thing in here, and undoubtedly gets bit by it. And honestly? He cannot get that awful round of shots around his belly button just to ease her mind. He can't.

He loves her, but that's not happening.

So, Steve finds the broom in the closet, and tries to usher the bat back outside without letting more in, but it's not at all interested in exiting. Instead flies right up the stairs, and as Steve gives chase, he sees it fly into his open bedroom.

Great. Just fantastic.

Now, it's just sitting on the edge of his headboard, staring back at him.

"Um, I think you're a little lost. The other bats are hanging out by the pool," Steve says. Which, fine. He can give up the pool. But he really can't give up his bedroom. 

The bat just tilts his little head, as if he's listening, but not taking initiative to get the fuck out of the house.

"You can't stay here, you have to leave," Steve says and goes and opens his bedroom window. "Out!"

Then the bat zips over, but not to leave. Of course not. Instead it perches on Steve's shoulder and Steve's first instinct is to knock it away and scream bloody murder. But he doesn't. He just tries to focus on the little eyes looking back at him. He's too close to really see it well, but Steve's trying.

Steve leans towards the open window, and shakes and shimmies, trying to force it to let go of his shirt, but the bat just leans in the opposite direction, towards Steve's neck. Wings tickling Steve's skin. The bat is clearly not leaving.

Then it starts squeaking and chirping, and batting its wings and Steve sees why. There are other bats flapping towards the open window.

Oh, hell no.

He slams it shut.

"Are they picking on you for some reason?" Steve asks, as if he'll get an answer. "It's not because you have rabies, right?"

The bat doesn't answer, of course, but kind of slaps him in the face with a wing, and Steve's gonna take that as a no. 

"I can't have a pet bat," Steve says, "that's weird, even for everything I've ever experienced."

Then, like it's offended, it's flapping its way into the closet, rooting around, as if it's looking for something, if that's possible.

Steve peeks in, and watches as it settles on Eddie's stained battle vest. 

Well, that seems fitting, somehow.

Steve pushes the other clothes around, giving the bat some room, and closes the door to the closet. Leaving it in darkness. They like that, don't they? He thinks so. Nocturnal and all that shit.

And at least it's trapped in the closet, and not flying around the room.

"Don't bite me. That's the only rule," Steve says through the closed door, and hopes it fucking listens if it somehow finds its way out overnight.

In the morning, Steve cracks open the door and peeks into the closet, and where the bat was last night, is something that's taken the shape of Eddie Munson right there on the floor, buck-ass naked.

Now, Steve screams.

And that wakes the Eddie-shaped thing up, making it jump. Steve is fucking freaked out, and he slams the closet door shut, and leans against it. Blocking whatever that thing is, inside. Steve needs help. He needs Robin, and Nancy, the kids. He needs everybody. He needs his bat, the nailed one, not whatever this thing is. 

But he can't get any of those things without leaving his post and possibly letting this thing loose.

"What are you?" Steve demands through the door he's trying to hold shut. Every monster he's faced has been, well, pretty straightforwardly monster-looking. Not human at all.

"I'm Kas the Betrayer! Kas the Destroyer! Kas the Bloody-Handed! The First Vampire!" it shouts, way too loud and over-dramatic. It sounds ridiculous.

"Really?" Steve asks. Because he's suspicious of these claims. All that? It's a little much. 

There's a chuckle behind the door, "No, of course not, Harrington. I'm the town freak, accused murderer," comes the voice that sounds exactly like Eddie. It sends a chill down Steve's spine.

And then he's mad.

"No, you're not! Eddie's dead!" Steve yells, because whatever it actually is, saying that, well, that's pissing him off. If Dustin sees this thing, he's gonna freak out.

"Really not, big boy," Eddie says, and that gives Steve pause.

It can't be. No way. 

"Eddie?"

"That's my name, don't wear it out," Eddie snarks, and Steve laughs. His heart is still pounding, but he loosens up, just a little. Maybe this is Eddie. Somehow. El's different and they've all accepted her, so, maybe Eddie is different now, too.

"Are you a bat?" Steve asks.

"Only sometimes. I can't control it."

"Are you really a vampire?" Steve asks.

"Not that I know of," Eddie answers. "But I could bite you, and then we'd find out together." 

Steve sighs with exasperation. 

"Be serious. Are you gonna attack me if I open the closet door?" Steve questions, because he's not in the mood for a fight. Not this early in the morning.

"Wasn't planning on it," Eddie says, dryly. "Can I at least get some underwear before you fling those doors open, though? For my modesty, dude. I'm feeling a little exposed in here. It's awfully breezy for a closet. There's an air vent blowing right up my crac-"

"Okay, okay, hold your horses," Steve interrupts.

If this isn't Eddie, it's a damn good mimic, and Steve supposes if that's the case, it deserves to kill him, just for being such a good actor. 

Steve goes over to his dresser, and picks up his walkie, turning it on, clipping it to his belt under his shirt. Just in case. Grabs his nailbat from under the bed, leaning it against the dresser.

Then he looks inside the top drawer, shouting, "Boxers or briefs?"

"Boxers!" Eddie answers, and Steve picks out a pair that he could stand to lose, and cracks the door open, and holds them out. A pale, ring-covered hand takes them. 

"You keep your rings when you change, but not your clothes?" Steve asks, leaning against the door again. Suspicious.

"I don't make the rules, Harrington. Last time I woke up wearing only my socks. That was a great look."

Steve laughs, even if he doesn't want to, even if he wants to be cautious. It just sounds dumb enough to be something that could happen to Eddie Munson, if he was turning into a bat.

Then, a minute later, "Okay. My dick's covered."

Steve shakes his head, unable to bite back the smile that threatens to split his face, as he eases the door open. As promised, Eddie's standing there in Steve's boxers, dick covered, and Eddie's also scrounged up an old swim team long-sleeve t-shirt from the depths of the closet.

And then they just stare at each other.

"Eddie?"

"Yep."

"Explain yourself," Steve says, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Um, I'm a part-time bat now?" Eddie says, looking sheepish. "From the bites, I guess?"

"I'm not a bat! And I got bit, too!" Steve screeches. He doesn't think he's a bat. But what if he's a bat and he just hasn't realized it yet? Fuck. Maybe he's a goddamn bat and that's why all the bats are lurking around the house.

"Did you die?" Eddie asks, "Because I did, I think. At least a little. Something happened when I came back."

"You became a bat? Can you like, poof, switch? Is there smoke?" Steve asks, then digs in his dresser, tossing Eddie a pair of joggers.

When he looks back, Eddie's at least a little more decent. Then he digs out a pair of socks, and tosses them over.

Eddie hops around getting them on each of his feet.

"No, I'm not Dracula," Eddie says, "Jesus H. Christ, Harrington. Keep up. Like I said. I can't control it. At least, not yet. The sun goes down? Bat. The sun goes up? Eddie. Most of the time, anyway. It's frustratingly unpredictable."

Steve ponders that, "Are you still…you? When you're a bat? Like, do you remember it?"

"Yeah, sure, I just can't talk. Which, for me, that's pretty fucking rough, man."

"I bet," Steve snarks, and Eddie just grins. 

Steve's relieved. He's probably not a bat, then. But he better make sure.

"Am I a bat?" Steve asks.

"Yep. You're the ringleader. King Steve, Bat God."

"Really?" Steve asks, the idea making him a little queasy. He doesn't want to be the ringleader of bats.

"No! You don't think you'd know if you were a bat? I think you're the one with bats in the belfry!" Eddie snaps, waving his arms around his head, indicating he thinks Steve is the crazy one. Which is pretty fucking rich, coming from bat boy over here.

"I don't know! I've never been a bat before!" Steve argues back, hands on his hips.

"And you still aren't one now!" Eddie yaps.

If he's not the King of Bats, and they aren't at the house to follow him, well. He has a thought: "Are you the one that brought all the goddamn bats to my house, then?"

"Um, no?" Eddie says, clearly lying.

"Eddie."

"I didn't mean to. They all started following me. Like they think I'm their leader. I can't shake 'em. When I saw the opportunity to get away from them and get into your house at the same time, I took it. Sorry about that."

"You don't sound sorry."

"I'm not, I lied to make you feel better," Eddie says, and Steve laughs, and Eddie smiles at him. It's good to see him, honestly.

And he allows himself a second or two just to take him in, alive and mostly well, then declares, "I'm glad you're okay. Sometimes bat or not."

"Thanks, Steve. Me too."

"Does anyone else know about you?" Steve asks, because they're gonna have to protect him. Just like they protect El. The special ones, amongst them. Keep it quiet.

"Um, no?" Eddie says, clearly lying again.

"Eddie."

"My uncle. And Gareth."

Steve is only vaguely aware of who that is, and only because of Henderson.

"That's it? Just the two of them?" Two's not so bad. They can deal with two-

"And JeffandGoodie," Eddie adds in a rush, as if mashing the two names together will make it less of a problem. Steve crosses his arms. 

"Eddie! You should have told one of us first. Me, or Henderson. Nancy. Lucas, Erica-"

"I'm scared of Erica," Eddie interrupts.

"Join the club, we're all scared of Erica!" Steve responds, "Fuck, you could have told Mike, I don't care. Just any one of us, in the know."

"I'm so sorry, Harrington, that I went to my own friends first instead of you and your monster version of the Scooby Gang. Hardy Boys. Nancy Drew. I don't know. All of you freaks."

Steve laughs, "Oh, now we're the freaks?"

"You know about monsters. You kill monsters. That's kind of freak behavior, Harrington."

Fair enough, Steve supposes, and he giggles at the thought of himself in an ascot like Fred Jones. Eddie's just poking at him. It's what he's always been good at, running his mouth and pissing people off.

Snapping back to the problem at hand, he honestly thinks he likes Eddie Munson. Smart mouth and all. Maybe they could be friends. Which he could have never imagined saying before spring break. He's really glad Eddie made it out, even if he's changed. They're all changed, just not in the exact same way as Eddie, and that's okay.

He's gotta tell Henderson. Pull that kid out of his funk. And Eddie's gonna love seeing Henderson's longer hair, rings and whole Eddie-inspired change. Steve's gotta be there when Eddie lays eyes on him for the first time.

"My band, they're pretty excited. A metal band with a real bat playing lead guitar? That's a multi-million dollar proposal, right?"

"Sure, Munson. I just hope after your first gig you enjoy your government sponsored cage, because that's exactly where you'll end up. Being poked and prodded. The freak."

Eddie sighs, and flops on Steve's bed, "I know. But let a guy dream."

Steve nods, and lays down next to him, shoulder-to-shoulder, "Eddie Munson. Bat Boy. Just like I saw on the cover of The National Enquirer."

"Weekly World News, Harrington, get it right."

And Steve just laughs, turning his head to look at him, "We should call the others. They'll be so excited to see you."

"Give me a few minutes?" Eddie asks, and Steve nods. He can give him a few minutes. 

And they just lay there in the quiet, the morning sun peeking through the curtains. Warm glow, all around.

"I turn into a bat," Eddie finally says.

"Yes, you do," Steve confirms.

How fucking weird is that? Only in Hawkins.

If you want to write your own, or see more entries, pop over to @steddie-spooktober and follow along with the spooky fun! 🦇

Notes: Bat Boy did not actually make his debut in the supermarket tabloid Weekly World News until 1992. Guess in their universe he popped up a little bit earlier, lol. I couldn't resist. And the twenty-one shots around belly button rabies shots have gone out of standard since the 80s.

[luxaofhesperides]

Barbara isn’t alone in the Clocktower anymore. She still doesn’t know who, exactly, is in here with her, but they’ve been nothing but quiet and polite since she first noticed their presence. That’s not to say that she trusts them—hard to trust someone whose face she hasn’t seen—but she gets the feeling that the two of them are similar souls, both hurting and alone and surviving despite it all. Or: There's a ghost in the Belfry.

my fic for @dpxdcbigbang with art by @im-not-a-bot-okay!!!

here's 32k of me loving barbara and giving her many problems to deal with, including but not limited to: dangerous weapons deals, the long term effects of her spine injury, and one (1) runaway ghost boy named Danny who's decided to hide out in the clocktower.

[marinettesaltprompts]

Cat in the Belfry (Part 2)

Adrien x Gotham City Sirens

Prompt by @somereaderinblue

Harley wonders if somehow, there’s something in Paris’s water that’s stronger than the literal toxic soup running through Gotham’s pipes. Like, she’s pretty sure the principal skipped 80% of protocol when he chose to hire her as the new counselor. Then again, that’s probably how Bustier got her job, nevermind that she’s more suited to teach kindergarteners.

Bustier is all too eager to preach about her perfect class & model students. When Harley meets them however, ooooh boy. It’s no wonder most of them have gotten akumatized. She meets Marinette, who takes the chance to rant abt Lila, the class’s ingratitude & Adrien’s betrayal. When Harley tries to poke holes (i.e. how Mari tried to call a witch hunt everyone understandably balks at & how she never told Adrien abt the threats), Mari throws her hands up & storms out, fed up that another adult ‘failed her’.

Red flags raised, Harley is shocked to see Lila practically molesting Adrien & once, swore she saw Mari look through a trash bin Adrien used. She asked his help to do a little test & yup, somehow, Mari knew abt Adrien’s private schedule. Adrien talks to Nino, who talks to Alya, who confirms the extent of Mari’s stalking. Needless to say, both boys are horrified & after lots of much-needed heart to hearts, Adrien tells them the truth abt Lila & Alya sees the error of her ways.

She & Nino try to apologize to Mari but she refuses to accept them bzc teenage impulsivity is clearly an unforgivable crime. Slowly, Adrien reaches out to the other classmates to help them see the light. They’re angry & hurt but he convinces them to apologize to Mari privately and ignore Lila, which for a pathological attention seeker, is punishment enough.

Mari shuns their apologies, wanting them to grovel some more & Lila is left to stew. The Italian’s reign goes out with a whimper as Adrien simply contacts her mom, mentions Lila’s lies & she’s transferred to a strict boarding school in Italy.

Adrien would be lying if he said he didn’t enjoy being sneaky.

But yeah, Mari is shocked when the class doesn’t come crawling back to her for forgiveness. They point out that they already said sorry but she chose to stew in her grudges & isolate herself. When she plays the victim card, they call her out, asking if all her ‘kindness’ were bribes to turn them into sheep. She has no response to that.

As LB, things get complicated. The mayor is panicking as Selina steals from the corrupt elite & discovers a lot of juicy blackmail. LB promises to help. CN confronts Selina abt it & rather than get angry, she’s amused.

She takes him to see the nitty-gritties of Paris. Opens his eyes to human trafficking, the homeless, the poor & the corruption and lies. Gives him some hard nuanced lessons that pushes him to act instead of react, patrolling in neglected areas & always checking up on past victims. He feeds the strays with Catwoman, Ivy helps him with a bio project & Harley teaches him how to dye his hair green.

One day, LB swoops in while Catwoman is doing a robbery. CN also shows up to defend her. He tries to explain that he hired her to help. LB is enraged that he made such a decision without her input & is defending a criminal.

CN: Are you any closer to finding out who Hawkmoth is?!

LB: I’m trying my best! All I have are Fu’s notes!

CN: Are you?! Were you & Fu trying to find Hawkmoth or is he just teaching you how to be a ‘better Guardian’? I didn’t have his teaching or his notes but at least I’m actually trying to do something about it.

LB: Do you think being a Guardian’s a game?!

CN: I think it’s a second priority to stopping Hawkmoth! Maybe becoming the Guardian will help us stop his akumas but it won’t. End. The status quo. We need to go for the head.

LB: And we do that with the help of a criminal?!

CN: This ‘criminal’ is a better hero & a better friend than you are!

Everyone is stunned by that statement. But it’s true. CN wouldn’t go as far as to call Selina a maternal figure, but her, Harley & Ivy are the cool wine aunts he’s never had. 

LB glares at CN & though he has the power of destruction, she’s the one who decides to land the final blow.

“Traitor.”

The next morning, LB goes on TV & tells everyone that CN is now a criminal.

[harlotofupdog]

The Serpent and Thistle - Chapter Three

Hey, check out this dumb wonker harlot who can't even finish a picture in time to post, but here, have a lil sneak peek small version because who finishes stuff anyway? That would be weird and I am demonstrably not weird. Anyway, here's chapter 3 of pubby pubby jizzy jizz.

Summary: Aziraphale is a Met officer who transfers to a small village police station. Crowley is the local publican. They don't see eye to eye.

There is also a plot. I hope.

Rating: E (E for Eventually)

CW/TW: I'm going to add a content warning here now rather than later, just so people are aware - there will be a couple of briefly mentioned deaths in later chapters of this story, but none of them are any of the characters that we know (including animals, of course). It is, in part, a cop story, so there will be a couple of slightly grim allusions, but we're not going into anything too rough in the story itself. I'll do specific CW/TW tags before the chapters in question, but I just wanted to foreshadow that now.

Special eternal thanks to u/Paperclip_Ninja who did an EXTRA SPECIAL last minute beta this weekend for me because I'm useless and hopeless. Thank you always sun-ox.

Excerpty boi:

Aziraphale looks up to where the vicar is pointing out the culprit, perched neatly atop the belfry. Harry, of course, does not look up. He is investigating the vicar’s trouser leg with benign interest, while PC Muriel Constable squints first at their notepad, and then at the church roof, as if the sum they were quite sure of does not add up in the end.

“I’m sure you’re very busy, officers—aren’t we all? But I thought I really should report it. You never know with these things,” says Vicar Brown cheerfully. He seems a nice enough man, although he stands just a little too close and is perhaps a little over familiar. As if to reinforce the point, the vicar claps a chummy hand on Aziraphale’s shoulder and leaves it there, fingers flexing slightly against the wool. It’s the sort of thing that would warrant a hand on his baton if he were walking the beat in south London. Here, though, it just makes him wince.

[baronmpontmercy]

To Pretend (Enjolras/Combeferre, 978 words)

Happy @logic-and-philosophy week 2024

On an autumn evening, Combeferre dreams of a homecoming.

____

The leaves were turning in the Jardin du Luxembourg, the vibrant greens of summer shimmering into golds and auburns. The oppressive thick heat of July and August had lessened now in mid-September, blown away by a cooler, crisper breeze and chased by orange-streaked evening skies. Combeferre, who hailed from the Alps, had always felt he was more suited to the cooler climes of autumn, would enjoy in his boyhood the colours and smells of the changing of the seasons; the tang of woodsmoke, the crunch of freshly fallen leaves underfoot, the rush of cold air from the mountaintops. Paris did quite pale in comparison, it had unique sights and smells for sure, but they were certainly not as quaint or picturesque. 

Still, sat in a quiet corner of the Luxembourg, hidden by a canopy of yellows, reds, browns, and greens, one might pretend. The soft autumnal sunlight filtered through the trees, though as it hit Enjolras’ hair, Combeferre could only think of spring. 

“...and will you?” he was drawn from reverie at Enjolras’ question, sat beside him on this secluded little bench. His cheeks and nose had the charming beginnings of chillkissed blush on them. 

“Will I what?” Combeferre asked a little sheepishly, “Forgive me, my mind wandered.”

“Return home over Reveillon and the new year,” Enjolras prompted, 

“Ah, yes. I suppose I will, Céline wouldn’t be amused if I didn’t,” Combeferre sighed, “and you?”

Enjolras was silent in reply, his gaze trained firmly forward, though Combeferre could see a line of displeasure twist at the corner of his mouth, barely perceptible lest you knew where to look. Combeferre knew where to look. He pressed Enjolras’ hand,

“I see,”

Enjolras pressed back and lingered, fingers brushing through the supple leather of their gloves. The twist at his lips dissipated, not quite giving way to a smile, but he was grateful at Combeferre’s immediate understanding; Enjolras had little need for dour attempts at frivolity anyway, when there were more important things to be done elsewhere. 

Still, Combeferre thought as he caught the warm musty scent of smoke in the air, maybe it would do Enjolras some good to get out of Paris at some point. Maybe not over the winter, maybe…

“I would that you could come with me to Saint-Antoine,” Combeferre said softly, “one day, perhaps, on a day like today.”

Enjolras tilted his head, indulging Combeferre’s sentimentality, “Oh?”

“Yes. I can picture us there. There is a park I used to frequent with my siblings, not so unlike this one, but with the Alps framing the background. And it’s quieter, as any small mountain town would be. But the leaves turn the same, the sky at dusk has the same smoky clouds crossing it. If I close my eyes and let myself focus, it’s as if we are there already. In fact… humour me, I know this may sound frivolous and fanciful.”

Enjolras’ brow furrowed slightly as he considered this, but it passed quickly as he took in Combeferre’s expression, the embarrassed bloom of pink that was gathering on his cheekbones, “Shall I close my eyes then?”

Combeferre’s delighted smile was answer enough. Eyelids firmly shut, Combeferre pressed Enjolras’ hand again, and Enjolras squeezed in return. 

“The streets are narrow, and old, not unlike the Latin Quarter. The cobbles are bumpy underfoot, but worn. There’s a bookshop and printshop on the Rue Saint-Charles, where I got a set of tomes on biology as a young boy. There’s the abbey church, with a towering steeple that as a boy I thought was the biggest in the world, with a belfry that’s open to allow the remnant arms of the Mistral to pass through on the occasions it did.”

“I know the Mistral,” Enjolras murmured, contentedly, contemplatively, “I would hear it rush past my bedroom window, see it beat against the trees.”

“Cold and sharp. Breathtaking,” Combeferre agreed, “we could walk past the belfry, to that park. It’s just around the corner, and when the days get colder and the nights longer, it is less crowded. We’d have it to ourselves, nearly.”

“I will admit to not seeing what you see in your mind’s eye,” Enjolras said, eyes falling open, turning his head to Combeferre, “as lovely an image as it is.” “No, I know you are not in the habit of daydreaming,” Combeferre sighed, his eyelids flickering behind the lens of his spectacles yet staying shut, “forgive my maudliness.” “No,” Enjolras’ voice was soft, brushing across Combeferre’s ear like a gentle caress, “continue.”

Combeferre felt his shoulders relax, and filled his lungs with the crisp autumn air. The pictures were vivid in his memory, and sparked on the tip of his tongue as he spoke the images into the space before them, anchored all the while by the gentle, constant warmth of Enjolras’ hand. Him and Enjolras, traversing the old weathered cobbles, past the bookshop, past the church. The breeze would rattle past them, causing them to huddle close together, Enjolras’ nose would be the same charming pink it was now. The distant warm glow of a setting sun would light Enjolras’ golden hair on brilliant fire, a beacon in coming darkness. And Combeferre, in this little world he saw, would draw him closer still. 

“I love my hometown. I would love it all the more for you being in it. I love the patch of grass on which we stand, because we stand on it together.”

Combeferre opened his eyes,

“That is true for here too, François.”

“No need for pretense.”

“None at all,”

In the quiet of that secluded spot, when Combeferre leant to press his lips to Enjolras’ forehead, there were no witnesses save those trees, emblazoned with the colour of fire. No witnesses, when Enjolras bent to capture Combeferre’s lips with his own, but the pinkening sky above them.

The same as over Saint-Antoine.

[kit-williams]

Masterlist

Hi decided to actually make a masterlist because it's probably for the best.

Things to know: I will write from a mainly female pov/perspective and it will for the most part be monogamous hetro relationships (in the terms of genitals) I won't do fxf or mxm or trans because that's not how I grew up and I'm god awful at writing homosexual sex (genderbend I can do) Another no: Adultry/cheating/spouse(or partner) thievery

Asks are open

Come buy me a coffee

Number of asks waiting to be answered: 15

My Ao3 (I havent updated a story on there since like 2016 I'm scared to even let ya'll see it but I might post the AU on there)

So I mainly write Halo, Runescape, and Warhammer 40k but here I've only been posting my Warhammer 40k and D&D au

So expect a lot of polls because it helps focus my ADHD ass

Also Fanart is ALWAYS allowed! Just Tag me!

PLACE WHERE YOU CAN ASK TO BE PUT ON TAG LIST

Poll Storage Pheromone Spray poll part 1 First kiss part 2 Pheromone Spray part 2 Husbandry lewdness poll First Kiss part 3 How to tag the lewd poll probably going with carnal bond Should momrad include skin tone WIP poll Help momrad focus on what to write Ones ready to be typed Adhd helper poll

WIPs

Warhammer 40k

The D&D AU

The Yandere Black Templar and Flesh Tearer

The Yandere Space Marine Masterlist

Story Vault until I know where to put these stories/how to categorize them

The boys and their darlings

This is not Canon mini masterlist

Primarchs masterlist

Pheromone Spray 1 2

Bonus Zul Spray

Song Inspiration

First Kiss 1 2 3

Typhus fleas 1 2

Baseline hitting on the darlings

Varial the insatiable

Lamenters devouring

Raven in the belfry

Child in the Eyrie

First Words Can Damn You

The black rut

Lucius the Eternal plus art

Warhammer Fantasy

Dangerous Druchii pending

Warhammer 40k & COD

The COD Integration mini-masterlist

Demon Prince/Bloodthirster Graves

The 40k au

How does Horangi spend the thrones? Horangi focused

Lieblings König focused

Spirit Halloween Ghost focused

Hey Kiddo Price focused

Where do babies come from reply

Hail to the King Black Templar König

Everyone is space elves

COD

The mud pit cope fic

Hot Chocolate cope fic König focused

Missing the Bairn cope fic Soap focused

Zombie cope fic Ghost focused

He scares me Nikto focused happens before the Soap one

It's a wonderful life CODHoliday2023 fic angst-comfort Ghost

Age hcs/boys ages

Random romantic thing I wrote

Tanz mit mir Regency Au songfic

Halo

Most of it is on my Ao3

Random

The eventual bringing over that one non con I wrote pending

I have to edit it

The #I wrote something for my tumblr can help too

Sentience base off of lancer but I really just like the Balor

Baby fluff

barn anon/Tales from the Barn/Space Marine Husbandry Sentience

I will rename this when I can sit and think of better titles for them

Space Marine Husbandry Sentience Plot Beats

Space Marine Husbandry Sentience Mini Master List

51 more Space Marine Husbandry Sentience & Tales from the Barn

Hey Look another Space Marine Husbandry Mini Masterlist

Golden Apotheosis

Birthdays

avoiding bonds and eye contact

Favorite Wretch

Dischorus and Caracuss

Sentience Lore: Warp Fuckery

Weight of the Worlds

Insanity seems to follow...

Party

Anrir Husbandry

Home for the Holiday

Reverse Husbandry AU

Reverse Husbandry Gabriel

Reverse Husbandry Headcanon

Reverse Husbandry Emperor

Sanguinius and Glitter

Gabriel and his sick human

Human Husbandry?

Primarchs in the reverse world

Gaius flees

Judgement from the Lord of Iron

Seeing things

Funny stuff/Fan art

Ovaries Stolen meme

Fan art by bispecsual

Blood Angel Gabriel meme

ZUL by moodymisty

Angron Post Surgery expression

Fan art by c-u-c-koo anon of Plague Witch

Apollo and Dodgeball

Plague Witch part 2 by c-u-c-koo anon

Apollo by greenarsonist

Aurora by greenarsonist

Marine Meat Monday Zul by moodymisty

Penelope and Peterbunbun by Egrets-not-regrets

Fluffuary

Fluffuary master list

Fluffuary rules

MerMay

Story list

[sleepygh0ulia]

. . . Introducing my Monster High DR!!

About This dr takes place in 2005, in New Salem, Virginia. In my dr normies and monsters get along slightly better, enough so that monsters can walk around in public and not get gunned down

🎀 [ABOUT ME ! ]

Name Evangeline Battis Lycan

Nationality American

Birthplace Boo Jersey

Languages English and Italian

Monster Type Werewolf & Vampire

Age 1580

Face Claim

🎀 [BACKSTORY ! ]

My bio parents were a werewolf named Aaron Lycan and a vampire named Carmilla Valira. My mom was good friends with Dracula, so when I was little I’d often have sleepovers at their manor, and hang out with Draculaurs. We were attached at the hip, and got into all kinds of trouble together, we saw each other so much we were practically sisters. When I was 567 (bare with me vampire aging is weird) my parents unfortunately were killed by monster hunters, and per their will, I was taken in by Dracula. While I was devastated that my parents weren’t coming back, being able to live with Draculaura lifted my spirits ever so slightly. I started going to school with Draculaura, before Monster High opened, and since I have the outwardly appearance of a werewolf I got a lot of crap from other students. Though Draculaura was always there to help me feel better, and thankfully after a few years, Monster High opened up, a school for all monsters. It was like a dream come true, I got to stay with my best friend, and meet other monsters in the process.

🎀 [WARDROBE ! ]

A mix of black y2k fashion & aaliyahcore

🎀 [LIFE AT MONSTER HIGH ! ]

Dorms Im ngl I don’t know if G1 monster high has dorms, but I want it to be a boarding school cs this is my dr and I say so. Students are 4 to a dorm, with 4 beds, 2 mini fridges, 4 closets, 2 bathrooms, and 4 desks. You can decorate your dorm however you want, since it’s yours until you graduate. There are 2 different dorm buildings, 1 for the girls and 1 for the boys, each building is separated alphabetically. All students must be in a dorm by 11PM, and failure to do so will result in a 3 day detention (normally served by cleaning) Girls and boys are allowed in each others dorms, but not later than 8pm and you need permission from the headmistress and all room occupants. Same sex sleepovers are allowed but must be approved by the headmistress, and if you don’t get permission, and are caught it’s a 5 day detention.

Extracurriculars

• Art Club

• A/V Club

• Batball

• Chess Club

• Comic Book Club

• Cooking Club

• Environment Club

• Fashion Club

• Fear Squad

• Graveball

• Gymnastics Club

• Mad Science Club

• Monster Exchange Program

• Music Society

• News Paper Club

• Photography Club

• Robotics Club

• Student Disembody Council

• Skultimate Roller Maze

• Swim Team

• Frightingale Society Club

• Track Team

Events

• Valentine’s day dance

• Winter Formal

• Spirit Weeks

• Annual field trips to other monster societies

• Exchange weeks! For two weeks we allow 5 students from Belfry prep, Crescent Moon High, Granite City High, Himalayan High, and Plankton Prep to attend Monster High as regular students, to promote Monster High.

🎀 [OTHER ! ]

Best Friends Draculaura, Clawdeen, Cleo, Operetta, and Venus

S/O Twyla Boogeyman

Also Venus’ design is the G3 cs it eats down

Happy Shifting and Manifesting!!

[imagionationstation]

Boys for tag game

My exact thought process:

“Episode beginning. Three boys reading comics. Leo makes Raph mad so he starts a pillow fight… Probably season five?”

The pillow fight was imperative to figuring out the episode. Still looked through an episode list because the name wasn’t computing:

It’s Bat In The Belfry! (Nearly season five but not quite)

Introduces us to comic nonsense so the comic nonsense can come alive! Some of these episodes literally come out of nowhere and this is one of them. Why does Bat In The Belfry even exist???

I enjoy the episode and all but WHY??!

[lustandrot]

"Quasimodo..."

The Archdeacon uttered the boy's name quite faintly, his tone clearly giving away the fact that he was subconsciously distracted by other thoughts - thoughts of his own. Not as if the hunchback could pick up on any of that in the first place, but it was clear in the man's expression as well had the boy only looked at him.

With dark, heavy eyes falling to the thick rope that had been tightly secured around the boy's ankle, a direct reminder of the orders he had given his soldiers upon infiltrating The Court of Miracles just several hours prior, the Archdeacon continued on as he let his gaze finally wander away from the other's restraints - ignoring the subtle discomfort the sight caused him internally. It didn't matter anymore what had actually brought them here in the first place.

They were here now.

The man was not there to be weak, however, though weakness was the exact thing he felt in that moment, but it was not because of Quasimodo.

It was indeed very much because of Esmeralda, and for the unsuspecting, defeated hunchback, who now more than likely felt like he had nothing left to lose, it was only about to get more dangerous.

Little to Quasimodo's knowledge, the Archdeacon had just visited the gypsy girl in her cell to yet again, give her another undeserving chance at salvation -- at living. She had denied and mocked him for the final time and he had done the unthinkable in return -- but why?

It was her poison.

The gypsy witch had imbedded herself so deep within the confines of his very soul, that she had completely clouded his judgement. She had led him directly down the path to SIN and now -- this agony that he felt - this burning, searing ache that plagued him - it was his punishment. He had fallen victim to her vile corruption and her heathen sorcery and now he was forever damned. But what of the hunchback? Where was his soul in all of this? Had he not been just as plagued -- just as tempted? Thoughts ran rampant through the man's head as he stood there, his gaze hovering toward the belfry above, but not too long before falling once again to study the broken boy in front of him.

"Believe me, my boy, when I say .... that it brings me great pain to see you like this. I ......I.... never once wanted this for you. For us...." he began dryly, clearly having to coax the sentiment from actually leaving his mouth, as he now circled around the boy a bit more so that Quasimodo could properly hear him or at least read his lips.

He briefly wondered what the hunchback had been thinking in that moment or even in general. No doubt, he was upset, even perhaps ... heartbroken, but Claude was starting to wonder just what else the boy had been harboring when it came to feelings - feelings the Archdeacon only assumed he had known nothing about -- up until recently. While this should have very well been something the man should have left alone - he couldn't. In fact, it was only becoming a slow, painful obsession - something for his rattled mind to latch onto.

"Do you hurt for her, Quasimodo? Your heart - how much does it ache?"

[arobinwithoutbatman]

"Tell me the last thing you remember." - Marcus

"Uhm..." He blinked and shook his head. "Waking up this morning... brushing my teeth... oh shoot!"

It wasn't Marcus' fault. Tim had just been cleared to start leaving the house again and hadn't been back at the Belfry for long. He hadn't mentioned that mirrors tended to set off a depersonalization episode.

"The mirror must've done it. We really need to cover it up, I'm so sorry, I can't believe I forgot to mention it. I didn't scare you too bad, did I? Dick about had a cow the first time it happened."

[theredhoodedcryptid]

(MAJOR SPOILERS FOR GOTHAM KNIGHTS VIDEO GAME)

Ok, so I finished Gotham Knights, and here's my review.

I loved it! The story was amazing, and the plot twists! I totally did not expect Kane to be The Voice. And the Court of Owls!!! They're my all time favorite Batman villain/organization, so for them to be such a prominent villain made me undeniably happy. And the Labyrinth, it was so well done, I literally cried. The mind games and the way it hits you in the feels, it embodies the Court perfectly. The League of Shadow was well done as well.

The sibling bonding! I'm sad that only Dick, Babs, Jay, and Tim were there, but they did them so well! They showed Tim's insecurity and grief for losing Bruce, and I totally believe he's autistic. Dick struggled with whether to take up the cowl and whether he was good enough. Babs struggles through her own grief with her father's death. Jason grieves a father he barely got to know, and apparently the Lazarus pit gave him powers??? I'm all for it. And how Jay still struggles with the pit's effects, finally someone did my boy right.

But it's not all sadness and pain for the batkids. They bond, have fun and make fun of each other, true BatFam content.

I was spoiled for the end of the game, but even if I hadn't been I still felt the dread and realization that as we approached the Wayne cemetery that Talia was going to revive Bruce. That whole scene hit me in the feels and having to mourn Bruce a second time.

And Gotham city, I adored swinging/flying/driving around and patrolling. The subtle details like the fact that there is actually a Batman Musical in universe made me smile. The way citizens have differing opinions on vigilantes. I've never played a spider-man game, but I imagine they're pretty similar.

And the way Wayne Family Botanical Gardens was in ruins and not used, it made me so sad. How Bruce is buried next to his parents, how in the belfry he had the highest ranking score on the video game. I couldn't even bring myself to play it, if i removed Bruce from the leader board I would have felt so guilty and sad.

The graphics were amazing, the attention to detail made my artist heart excited and inspired, and I only ever experienced minor glitches, like the subtitles occasionally flashing, I've had way worse glitches in Skyrim or Knight of the Old Republic, so it really wasn't a big deal to me. I loved how both the end credits and Main Title adjust to whatever your heroes are wearing at the time. I haven't played multiplayer, nor do I plan to, so I can't give you a review on that.

This game was not only gorgeous and well thought out, but it actually made me feel with the characters. I would 100% recommend playing it. 100/10 would play again.

I'll be starting Arkham Knight soon, so stay tuned for that review. I've heard good things and I'm excited!

[normal-nightmare]

It's me again and please keep yapping this is the tasty content I come here for. lol I've been sitting here a while (longer than is polite) trying to form a proper response to my previous ask cause it was literally everything! I wish I could be half as eloquent instead of just yelling XD

like there are so many things that draw me to these two, and ngl it definitely started with the whole pseudo-incest vibe but they really are so complex and you really hit the nail with this:

Just... they're so complicated and it sucks that people don't wanna explore that because of the preconceived notion that they're brothers, nothing more, nothing less. Sure, legally they are, but they don't... act like it? They didn't grow up together, they weren't very close before Jason died, and they only recently started getting properly close. Jason also has his crush thing going on (seriously, how else am I supposed to interpret RHATO v2 annual 1??)

Look I will forever maintain Dick was Jason’s gay awakening and that boy has been in love with Dick since he was what 12? 15? Also the way you described their relationship to each other was so delicious and alterous is such a great term for them.

I feel like jaydick becoming canon one day would be a natural progression of their relationship. Especially since they seem to be getting paired up as a duo more often. Readers love them, comic artists and writers like them too- i feel like jaydick actually happening one day wouldn't be extremely surprising.

THISTHISTHIS!!! I hope this does happen.🙏

Also re: dickbabs and not making certain characters bisexual I feel that on such a spiritual level. Like I’m sorry but both Jason and Dick read as queer to me? Idk how to describe it. Which is why I love the little touch of bi Dick in Gotham Knights.

Also speaking of Gotham Knights, I finally finished it and holy fuck what the fuck? One of my few complaints is that I wish it was longer. I need GK2: electric boogaloo but this time with a Poison Ivy case file because reasons. I adored every interaction Dick and Jason had, from the emails to the flirting in front of everyone’s salad, plus how they were almost always near each other? (also Jason looked so good in that post credit scene in the Batcave I choose to believe every time he wears it, Dick can’t keep his hands to himself 🫣)

ALSO

I genuinely feel like the writers were intending for jaydick to happen in a DLC given how much setup there is.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this? I want to yell about this game so much. I wish I had someone to play co-op with me so I could see some of those Jaydick interactions too 😞

GOD honestly i have a million thoughts on Dick and Jason's relationship in Gotham Knights?? Because what the HELL is going on in that game!!!

It utterly BAFFLES me when other people read their interactions (Belfry, cutscenes, whatever) as brotherly/familial bc like... if you're interacting with your family like that I'm so concerned?? Bc they're gay as hell!! They flirt the ENTIRE GAME. Like... it's ridiculous how in-your-face they are about it. It's not even gay subtext anymore, it's just... text. Saying they're not gay in Gotham Knights is like saying Jayce and Viktor were 'just brothers' in Arcane to me LMFAO.

Like... the rooftop scene for one reads as really BAD flirting on Dicks part. It doesn't feel like he's being deliberately silly to cheer up Jason until he fakes falling over the edge, THEN he's properly silly. The entire scene otherwise, he's just... being really bad at flirting? And it's funnier that both that and then him being silly actually kinda WORKS on Jason. He laughs (laughs!!), relents and let's Dick sit next to him! It's so, so cute!!

And then the little interaction where Dick says that the Belfry needs a cat, and then Jason suddenly flirts with him?? Like the line "Listen, Grayson, if you're scared of some mouse you saw scurrying, I'll keep you safe." Is ABSOLUTELY flirting, and this is only supported by A) the tone Jason has and B) the way Dick stutters and stumbles over his words afterwards. Like, Dick is AUDIBLY flustered and surprised by this. He tries sooo hard to keep it cool but that boys BLUSHING.

And then there's the tension in some scenes?? When they argue in the beginning and when Dick puts a hand on Jason's wrist (after Jason jokes about making Tim a fake ID), and kind of the scene where Jasons mad, and he's sparring with Dick and Dick catches his fist and says "Easy, Tiger." Like.... the tension in these scenes goes crazy?? The physical closeness, the eye contact, the brief silence, calling Jason tiger?? Like I CANNOT be crazy thinking that there's at least a LITTLE sexual tension in these moments. Juuuust a little 🤏

And like! Yeah you're 100% on them being so physically close most of the game. It's hard to find scenes where they AREN'T standing right by each other. And their stories focus a lot on each other!! At least Dicks story focuses a lot on Jason! Like... a LOT, it's 90% Dicks story 😭

And the like,, nicknames. Dick calls Jason things like Big Guy, swole, and Miracules throughout the game, like, consistently. He points out Jason's size and strength a lot?? (His size and strength kink is so blatantly obvious, good lord this man is horny LMAO. I don't blame him though... 👀) and then Jason mainly calls him Grayson, but when he's being vulnerable he calls him Dick? Which is so cute?!

And a cute little detail is how angry Dick gets on Jason's behalf when Talia says they should be grateful she brought Jason back even though she took away his autonomy and used him. Like, Dick is PISSED! Lowkey he's so ready to throw hands right there.

And i think one of my favorite interactions is when Dick chooses to take Jason to a circus that's in town. Like! He's literally asking Jason out on a DATE. And it's the cutest thing ever?! Jason is surprised and it's just... it's so sweet.

And in general they have the sweetest interactions and emails. It's adorable how they kinda talk about Tim like they're proud parents, and it's also cute how they kinda bicker over the perfect sandwiches cause they sound like a married couple loll.

Just!! Auuggghhhh they're so CUTE in Gotham Knights! There's a mountain of setup there for a romantic relationship. It's very in your face, and honestly impossible to ignore if you have ears and eyes. I'm sure there's more i'm missing or just haven't mentioned, but it's so blatant it feels like it couldn't have been on accident.

Just... it's so cute, I'll never get over it 😭

[carrion-art]

Boy howdy it's going

Belfry if you see this no you didn't

[leilamarie99]

You and Finn decide you want your own life

The war was was coming to the end you and Finn have been talking lately about leaving this all behind and wanting a normal life for you both Tommy has never been interested in Finn the only family finn has got is you his Y/N you have always been there for each other no matter what it will always be you 2

Tonight Finn was going to Tommy’s something about a meeting with him Y/N stomach was turning all day with worry what if Tommy knew we are leaving the family and all this behind

You were walking back from the market to get some food for you and Finn tonight is going to tell Tommy that you both are out for good this has been going on since your whole life’s and you just want to move on and live with each other and have children

You bumped into Izzy

“Hi Izzy “

After ruby passed things haven’t been the same specially with her and Tommy she’s been loving at her mums with Charlie hasn’t spoken to Tommy at all

“ hiya Y/N how’s you and Finn “

“ yeah we are good just getting dinner for tonight “

“ oh “ Izzy said

“ what “

“Finn and Billy we’re going to Tommy’s for some meeting “

“ billy no it was only finn not Billy “

“ no they both are going or something I heard isiah talking about with the other lads besides Tommy don’t tell me anything anymore I am leaving with Charles tonight anyway I am taking him with me to New York “

“ oh finn said the was a meeting but he didn’t tell me Billy was going aswell Tommy just wanted to speak with finn “

“ oh and Duke aswell “ Izzy said

“ Duke “

“ I don’t know what’s going on but little advice for you and finn get out “

“ yeah we are “ y/n whispering but Izzy already walked off

Y/n was home sitting at the table she has a bag feeling about tonight what’s happening I hope Tommy doesn’t know about us leaving Finn was going straight there y/n decided to walk to Tommy’s and see what’s going on first she had to try and find Finn before he left she tried the garrison and he wasn’t there so she’s went to his office he wasn’t there his assistant said him and Billy went to Tommy’s early

Something is wrong she had to get to him fast as she can her Finn was in trouble she was running down the lane to Tommy’s belfry she got to the house she saw some cars outside she made she got to the entrance were 2 peaky boys where standing but they stopped her

“ sorry mam we can’t let you through dukes orders “

“ where’s Tommy “

“ Tommy’s not here “ one of them said

“ so where Tommy “

“We don’t know “

“ so what’s going on why’s Duke got orders “

They didn’t say anything

“ that’s it “ she pushed passed them “

“ miss Shelby I don’t think you want to go in there “opening the door Billy on the floor isiah pointing a gun to his head

“ what the fuck is going on “

“ what are you doing here y/ n “ finn said

“ I was worried “

“ now the little princess has joined she can watch finn tell the truth

“ what truth “ worried looking at Finn Tommy knew

“ finn has betrayed the family “

Y/n put her head down

“But you already knew didn’t ya “ Duke grabbing my hair

“ don’t fucking touch her “ finn shouted

“ don’t worry I keep her warm for ya “

“ fuck you “

Duke went to kiss her but she slapped him

Laughing

“ I like you I think you and me will get along “

“ in your dreams”

“ so Finn to proof you haven’t betrayed us shoot Billy now

“ no “

“ no “ Duke said shocked

“ no please I haven’t done anything “ billy pleased

“ or we shoot you “ Duke pointing the gun at Finn

“ no “ you shouted running towards Finn but the lads grabbed you

“ or we shoot her “

“ your not gonna touch her “

“ take the gun Finn “ Duke passing to him

“Arthur says if you don’t do it you can walk away from this family for good “

“What the fuck do you know about family you’re not family your a son of a fucking whore “ finn said

“ j ust take the gun “

“ take the fucking gun “ billy said crying

Finn looking at you and taking the gun off Duke

“ now you have the gun finn you have the gun use it if these fucks”

Isiah then turned around and shoot at Billy in the arm you screaming finn points the gun at Duke you trying to escape from the lads that got ahold of ya

Finn goes to shoot but nothing comes out Duke pushes Finn to the floor

“ Charlie told me give finn the gun make sure the first 2 chambers are empty good old uncle Charlie “

billy runs at Duke then shoots him in the head you screaming Billy landing besides finn

Finn gets up looking at you the boys let you go

“ you are no longer a member of this Shelby family by order of the peaky fucking blinders

Y/n running over to Finn grabbing his hand to walk off

“ I will come for you “

Trying to pull him away

“ I will fucking come for you “

Y/n pulling him away and walking out side grabbing him in a hug y/n crying scared that would of been Finn in the floor

“ finn “

“ why did you come here “

“ I was worried if I didn’t come that would of been you on the floor next to Billy “

Finn grabbing your face

“ I fucking love you you know that right “

“ always we can have a normal life now “

“ where are we going to go “

“New York “

“ New York “

“ Izzy is there she said we can live with her for a while until we Find a home “

“ yeah that’s do it”

“ finn we are finally free “

“ yeah “

“ there is something that I need to tell you aswell”

“What “

Grabbing Finn’s hands and putting on your stomach

“ I’m pregnant “

Finn smiling and grabbing ya walking towards a car to go and pack some stuff you went to New York that night happy and free from the peaky blinders to live a happy life with you and finn and your baby

[noxxytocin]

—for Gothic Fantasy Fest by @thewritingheirsofslytherin 🐍

Pairing: Sebastian Sallow x Ominis Gaunt/Sebinis

Summary:

Ominis Gaunt, blind since birth and scorned by his village, lives in the shadows of both tragedy and cruelty in Belfry Hollow. His only comfort—Sebastian Sallow, the friend who saved him from a deadly fire years ago. But when a blood-red harvest moon rises and a vicious werewolf begins terrorizing the village, Ominis and Sebastian are thrust into a nightmare.

Ominis Gaunt was a lad of unremarkable origins, aged eighteen, dwelling in a cottage in the equally unremarkable village of Belfry Hollow. His existence, marked by its ordinariness, was singularly distinguished by his affliction— blindness, which, in a twist of irony, rendered him, indeed, remarkable...albeit in a rather unfortunate and pitiable sense.

As a boy, he had learned, with bitter clarity, that a gluttonous beast prowled beneath every polished facade of man.

Humanity wore civility like a hole-covered coat.

For years, the villagers, with their customary inclination towards unkind sobriquets, bestowed upon Ominis the epithet “Moon Eyes.”—how fitting, he thought, that they should ascribe to him the very thing he had never known.

Did they, he wondered, even perceive the biting irony that he, whose eyes had never glimpsed the light of the moon, should be so named?

They could not fathom the depths of the void he inhabited, nor did they care to. In their seeing eyes, he was simply the blind boy of Belfry Hollow, a fixture of the village, no different than the well-worn cobblestones beneath their feet they pissed on and sullied with their drunken filth or the crumbling spire of the church where they mouthed hollow prayers.

"The Lord is my shepherd," they'd say, the greedy wolves—always wanting.

There were no green pastures nor still waters here. The Lord, blind as he, led these beasts through paths of fire, flames licking at their heels as they carved their own valley of death. He carried no staff to guide them, only hands stained with blood—a red he forced himself to believe was another substance.

But wolves knew red…

Read the rest on A03