#brute beasts twist dead

[shirahchante]

Now You're Reptilian

You’re turning into a reptilian race that flies. The strange flesh he took. I see him look at me. We’re standing there together in a dim dark upper room looking at each other with love in our eyes. As his skin turns reptilian he releases my hand then flies out the window with sunlight gleaming. I feel disparaging thoughts standing there alone. Where will he go? The blackness of darkness God…

[petrapalerno]

Submitting to the Alien Barbarian: #1

Signing up for an alien breeding program should be scary, considering the aliens are ruthless barbarians. On the upside, they won’t hesitate to give it to you as rough as you like it. 

Submitting to the Alien Barbarian is part of a smutty novella collection, Petra Palerno’s Filthy Shorts, that features otherworldly love interests. 

In this installment, you’ll find: alien romance, size difference, double dongs, submission, bratting, breeding, will it fit, rough play and pregnancy.

TW/CW: rough consensual sex, primal play, knotting, breeding, aliens, dominance/submission, blood play, spanking, pregnancy, fisting, overstimulation, anal play, gagging, violence, birthing, science fiction medical procedures and murder.

PREORDER NOW!

The heat radiating from the crowd, along with the smell of sex, hits me in the face as the door clicks open and the pilot bot dumps me unceremoniously into the dirt.

My heart thuds in my chest, but it’s not the excitement I thought I would feel.

I’m scared shitless.

But this is what I wanted, this is what I signed up for. 

“Mates needed for Volkroth spawning season. All expenses paid for biologically compatible species.” 

You wanted someone to be rough with you, to be a fucking barbarian with you.

Maybe it was too much to expect an orientation before being dropped off at the spawning pits. I figured after the extensive medical testing to ensure biological capability, they’d ease me in.

I was so wrong.

Besides the chorus of fucking masses that surround me, there’s the guttural noises of males as they slam their fists into each other’s bodies.

Something I didn’t realize from the holo communication is that the aliens are fucking huge. They tower over me as one purple brute rips the other male off a yellow alien female, who arguably looks like she’s having a great time. She even laughs as the male turns and clocks the attacking alien on the jaw.

His bones snap, sounding like a lightning-struck tree, as he crumples to the ground. I’m not sure if the breaking noise was his jaw or his neck—but I don’t think anyone cares.

They’re barbaric! They kill soldiers deemed too weak to fight. How could you want to mate a Volkroth? My roommate’s disgusted face flashes in my mind as I wonder if the alien on the ground is dead or not. 

“If you’re too weak to fight, you’re too weak to carry on the bloodline,” the victor yells.

The last male standing drips with the perspiration of sex, his body slick and shining. Unlike the one I saw on the holo comm, he’s completely nude.

More importantly, the big beast has two massive cocks resting on one heavy set of balls. They twist around each other, almost looking like they’re prehensile. I must gasp, because I draw his attention.

I scramble to stand when the alien’s eyes fall on me. His thick black hair, falling free of his topknot, spills over the four horns. There are two on either side of his head that curl proudly away from his face. 

“A human?” He almost laughs as he says it. “I’d have thought your kind too soft, too exotic to be in the spawning pits with the rest of us.”

His voice is deadly smooth as he approaches me, a predator stalking his prey.

I freeze, even though my brain is screaming to flee, that I shouldn’t let this monster near me.

But there’s a broken part of my judgement that wants him to grab me by the neck and fuck me into the dirt. So I stay still, stuck between two desires, my heart in my throat.

I crane my head up to look at him. He moves one very deliberate step closer. He’s so close now I can feel his breath on my face.

His eyes darken, and he licks his lips.

“You should run.” His voice is almost a whisper as it leaves his mouth.

The logical part of my mind wins, and I bolt. But I don’t have time to worry about where I’m running to. His huge hand shoots around my midsection, pulling me back against his body.

His enormous cocks strain against my ass, the thin fabric of my jumpsuit doing nothing to protect me from the heat of his body. He brings his free hand up to my neck and squeezes rough fingers against the column of my throat. It sends sparks down to my weeping pussy and I squirm in his hold.

“I want you full and dripping with my seed, and only mine, human,” he breathes into my ear.

I bite back a moan. 

“That’s why you’re here, isn’t it? You want a beast to breed you, to make you submit?”

“Yes,” I manage to eek out. The first words I’ve spoken on this planet are to agree to be some space barbarian’s plaything.

His hand rips the neckline of my jumpsuit, exposing my breast to the planet’s humid air. My nipples pebble instantly as he drags his rough hand over the sensitive flesh.

The hand on my neck weaves into my hair, grabbing my ponytail and yanking my head further back until my cheek rests against his. His stubble rubs my cheek raw.

“How do you want it?” he asks.

“Rough,” I groan as his fingers pinch my nipple. I arch my back, searching for some friction as my hips lift. I want him to fuck me.

Suddenly, there’s a flash of pain and I yelp as his hand comes down hard, sharply smacking my tit.

“Can you handle rough, with all this softness?” His palms smoothes over the agitated skin of my red breast, the stinging melting into something blurred with an intense pleasure.

“Only one way to find out,” I say, with some shocking boldness. “Fuck me.”

His breath catches at my change in tone.

This is what I wanted. My body sings with joy. I want him to use me; I want him to fucking breed me.

I look back at the alien, and his brows knit. A look of resolution crosses his face.

“I won’t share you,” he says before throwing me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

[theheadlessgroom]

Randall chuckled at the pair's reaction to their affections, pale cheeks turning an ectoplasmic green as he broke away from Emily to lean forward and scoop the pair up in his arms, teasing, "Oh yeah? Does that mean I can't give you two kisses?"

"Dad!" Lon laughed despite himself, as Randall showered the pair's round cheeks with kisses; while Lon squirmed and tried to wriggle his way out of his father's embrace, Erika merely giggled and accepted this kisses before leaning up to throw her arms around Randall's neck, having enjoyed the affection far more than her brother did (or, at least, far more than he was willing to admit he did).

The pair were just crawling up onto the sofa to sit between their parents (with Lon grabbing the remote in an effort to find out what was on next) when there was a knock at the door-the Burkes and the Paces had arrived, as promised, to see the newest generation's attic home; the Pace brothers entering first, the Burkes following thereafter, and June and Wilhelm bringing up the rear. A bit of a tight fit, everyone being in there at once, but they'd manage.

"Boy, what a place!" Colin remarked, only to realize how negative it sounded, causing him to quickly correct himself, saying earnestly, "You have a lovely home, it's just...it's mad to think it's an attic! It's amazing what you've done with it!"

"It's very homey!" Josephine smiled, as June commented, "I thought just the same when I first saw it-they've really turned it into such a warm and happy little home here, and Wil did such a wonderful job with the children's room!"

"Ah, I had some help from some of the other spooks!" Wilhelm chuckled, smiling humbly as Callahan slapped him on the back in approval, while August remained quietly observant. Admittedly, he still didn't understand the choice to live in an attic of all rooms, but to each their own, he supposed...

@beatingheart-bride

It never ceased to make Randall's heartache, hearing about how distant Emily's family life was growing up, so much so that she barely spoke to her parents, knowing too well that everything she said would simply go in one ear and out the other. It was just so different from his own childhood experiences, how he knew he could always turn to his mother for...anything, really. He knew he could talk to her, ask for her advice, or just simply confide in her, and he knew she would listen. It gutted him to think Emily didn't have the same experience.

"Well, you're a part of this family now," he replied, trying not to dwell on the past (or be resentful of his in-laws), smiling tenderly as he added, "And I couldn't be happier about that: You're a Pace, as far as me and my folks are concerned, and that means the world to us, having you in our afterlives, Emily."

After all this time, in Randall's eyes, Emily had the family she deserved: Although his parents had long made it clear that they never wanted to replace her own parents in her heart, they had nevertheless stepped up to the plate, giving her the familial support she'd long craved. They listened to her, they were supportive of her, they respected her...they treated her like family, because that was what she was. A Pace was a Pace, no matter how they came to be a part of their little clan.

"And I'm sure my uncles and my grandparents will feel just the same way," he smiled, as he pressed a loving kiss to her golden locks: Although she didn't have the worries he and his father did about being accepted, he had no doubt that, by the end of this visit, the Burkes and the Paces would embrace her too.

[hazbinextgeneration]

Demon Bride Ch10 All In A Name P3

(WARNINGS AND DISCLAIMERS!!! EVERYONE in this story is in their early 20s-30s! This story will contain mentions of past abuse and death! I'll be keeping it as SFW. Some backstories have been slightly altered for this particular story, and some characters cannonically dead or harmed is alive and well. I own nothing.

Credit to @flanelltees​ for the designs I based the demons off to look more demon-like with tails and pointed ears.

This story will be sfw, but there will be some blood, implied death, fighting, some gore mentioned, and a few other things that will be made aware by warnings. Pay attention to warnings at the top of any chapters just under the summery please.)

Once in the mountain villages it was a custom that once a year on the night of the new year's first moon, an unlucky young lady would be selected and left for the demons to become one of the unlucky few who married such a husband. In exchange for this offering the demons would protect the villages and leave the humans in peace. Until one day a powerful warrior drove the demons away freeing the humans of them. Now 2,000 years later, it's become a tradition that once a year, a new young lady would be picked and wait for her future husband to retrieve her from a shrine in the mountains. And now the lucky tradition would fall upon Y/n L/n. It would be her own turn to take on the tradition and not have to worry about demons. After all that part of the old tradition was just fake, made up by paranoid ancestors. Everyone knew demons didn't exist.

...Right?

(WARNINGS!!!:  Some cussing, Mentioning of reader's fractured leg, death/implied death, fighting which will include some wounds and mentioning of wounds and a demon's hand being cut off.  )  

First Part Here:

https://at.tumblr.com/hazbinextgeneration/demon-bride-ch-1-thus-it-begins/dibtpmvn5d42

Last Part Here:

https://www.tumblr.com/hazbinextgeneration/713597692878766080/demon-bride-ch9-all-in-a-name-p2?source=share

Next Part Here:

https://www.tumblr.com/hazbinextgeneration/716769330504876033/demon-bride-ch11-interluding?source=share

Quiet night. Unholy night of beasts. Feasting their sights upon the stray women who dare stay out at night when the full moon rises, lighting the pathway for the beasts to claim their prey. Gnashing teeth, snarling fangs waiting to take a bite into innocent flesh where the terrible claws miss. Waiting to snatch you away down into their dark abyss never to return.

The bark of trees felt rough against the palm of grey skin, perfect to blending into shadows and walking along the darkness of the cursed trees that beckoned any unknowing traveler further into their branches. A light step. Another light step. Light enough to not be heard by anyone my dear. A quiet mouse amongst the darkness a contrast to the many others in the surroundings. Many preferred brute force by tooth and nail, fang and claw to drag off their unwilling prey in the name of twisted love they've come to claim or give. Ears perked just now hearing the far off wails that sounded like some sick love sick beasts. A whoop of triumph from the lungs of some lucky beasts who was able to stake a claim on some poor soul that accepted their twisted gift of love. Dark black claws dug into the harsh bark of the thick plant that would otherwise not feel the pain it would usually cause another living thing. An aura of annoyance flooding forth from the source of the claws, and the darkness only received a scoff, as blue eyes as dangerous as the bottomless ocean looked up towards the sky, towards the source of the happy wails from far into the trees' abyss of darkness.

"Tch. Dam fools. They act like dogs in heat! The lot of them!" A voice. As rough as it was envious. The idiots. No brains at all. Now all that celebrating would do was attract others towards him in wanting to fight him for the claimed prize he just received. He knew that was the case entirely because many a shadowy beasts was already flocking towards that noise. "They have no dam senses to them!"

Fools. All of them fools. They should've quietly snuck away when they had the chance. But then again he couldn't expect any of them to be close to the intelligence he held. Whatever. He wasn't out here to watch the rabid fighting of fools, as entertaining as it was to watch others rip either apart. No. He had something else long thought over he wanted to be done with. And it all started with the wind. And the air filling his lungs. And a sweet scent that wafted within both.

Huh....That was different. Not one he was often met with, but one he was familiar with.

One he liked very much.

But why would one such as this be this close to the forbidden areas?...Unless someone carried it with them. Either way it was something that had gained his attention, and even if it was nothing, there might be fun had in seeing why this was there. And so light steps approached the direction of the scent, back against the few remaining lights of the setting sun. Step after step as the scent grew stronger and the forest less dense around him which was the more interesting part to it. It was the more confusing part of all about it really. After all-

"No peaches should be this dam close."

He recognized that scent now. It was one he often craved and made his mouth water, but one thing he could barely have as it was out of bounds of the forest line. Often he could catch the faintest of their scent from further down the mountain where he was sure a plethora of them grew, but he could never see for himself. But sometimes on rare occasions he worked hard enough to please his master, he would be rewarded with the succulent fruits of his labor. The soft fruit being devoured within seconds before being missed again. Perhaps it was someone else who had gotten their claws on them? If so he'd cut them down and take what he wanted as a prize for disobeying the one law no one shall disobey without permission from the Master. And he would rectify it. Then maybe he'd be rewarded with more fruits for his loyalty. The thought excited him. Maybe this night wouldn't be such a dull fest after all. The scent lead until the tree line forbiddily broke and it left him standing there cloaked in darkness as the last few rays of sunset left the world, and saw nothing. After just a moment of standing against the wind he cursed himself for being stupid enough to even entertain the goose chase that was this night. He cursed this night, and his luck and the stupid hope of rewards. He would've turned around and disappeared back into the shadows if it weren't for one thing that made him pause in his actions.

A ghost in the night.

A white shining in the dark up the pathway that lead away which lead the sweet scent of fruit with it. Odd. What was that? He hadn't see something like that before. Not around here and especially not at night, but there was visibly something there. Alive and moving within the moonlight. Well, well. Now what was this he wondered? His curiosity got the better of him. After all he did have nothing better to do than to follow from the shadows and get close enough to see what exactly this strange new oddity was. And the end result was what surprised him the most. The white movable object was indeed a living being, not a ghost or figment of the light like he suspected. But...it was not an animal either which was what both confused him more. It was a woman. No older than him, maybe by just a year or two in her early twenties, judging by how young and beautiful her form looked. This was...intriguing. And quite the interest. It was-..

"Human."

This was not a topic lost on him. He heard many tales of the humans from his Master's engagements with them and Douma's countless rambles (that often gave him headaches-) and he had even seen one although rarely if ever. Master's wife was human. Their child was human. He sometimes saw them when the Master made mandatory meetings or surprise inspections. The woman was...Kind. He was indifferent about the Master's choice in mate, as he didn't know her enough to have an opinion other than she was a lovely woman in appearance. And sometimes if he walked near the edge of the forest at the right time, he'd see humans traveling along the roads but he could never get this close or ever saw a sight stranger than a long young human woman walking by herself at night, especially tonight of all nights. Unless she-... No. It couldn't be. A-...

"An offering?"

A tempting. Young offering of scents that caught his interest and tempted him enough to follow. Yes. A nice offering for a nice night. Oh how the tides have turned in his interest. He began following this 'ghost in the night' half out of interest to the sweet and half out of boredom as there has really been nothing interesting happening tonight that Akaza wasn't able to (annoyingly) handle himself by getting there before he did. And he wouldn't be judged surely if he was just checking out this seemingly random traveler walking about at night none the less. It was highly stranger and maybe even suspicious, so he set off silently following the lost looking human woman wondering the paths. He only assumed she was lost as she shivered against the night's wind and dug her hands harder against the strap of your bag. Every so often she'd whip her head around wide eyed and looked directly at him, but because he was cloaked in darkness so well she never saw him, and only shook her head and continued walking on. It amused him slightly that she couldn't blatantly see him looking right dead at her, but what was to be expected from a human?....He had to admit though.

She WAS cute.

Soft looking skin. Neatly dressed clothes. Pretty f/c hair. And gentle looking f/c eyes. And a simple look that all humans seemed to have. Or at least what he's heard of.

Akaza spoke often of a woman's beauty seriously and showed great disgust towards some specific colleges of theirs who agreed with his statement but in a perverted way. Honestly he couldn't be bothered to think about such things too much. That foolish thinking would only hold him back! Hender his training! And such a thing would make him look pathetically weak!! And he HATED being weak. Plus women were annoying! That was a literal fact! Every YEAR he had to break up countless fights, taking up so much of his time, and waste his time when the same thing happened all over again two seconds later once his back was turned! The women he helped weren't even grateful just fleeing or getting angry that he dared interrupt a fight over HER and sometimes attacked himself. Ugh! Nothing about them was 'cute'. Especially that Daki woman! She had her brother practically wrapped around her finger, when they weren't arguing that is, and she was as bratty and vain as they come! And Susamaru- OH! Don't get him started on that piece of work! She was always so annoying just throwing her toy balls everywhere trailed by Yahaba who did nothing to stop her! And girls always made men go nuts! Lose all sense of thought! No. No. He was always better off without them. The only one he sort of liked was Nakime because she was serious and non nonsense like his Sensei. Other than that, he could care less about them!!

....But on the other hand-

The Master's wife was...gentle. Kind. Softer than anyone else he's ever met. She was...quite a contrast to the Master in both looks and personality, and he'd be lying if he didn't say he wasn't once envious of him for having a beautiful wife like her. Ever since the Master met and married his wife a few years back he had been more...lenient. Not very much, but it that woman's impact certainly saved himself from a few harsher punishments he would've received otherwise if she hadn't impacted the Master's life. So whatever impact she had on him, it made a noticeable difference (sometimes).  So maybe human women had some kind of talent he wasn't aware of. However this human woman seemed quite pathetic.

At one point she passed by a fork in the road and went deeper into the mountain until she stopped sometime in the early night and looked lost. Well what was he expecting? Humans had zero night vision. But at one point she pulled out what he assumed to be a map and looked over it. At least she had enough smarts to do that. The wind was still blowing however, and it wasn't long until the map was blown from her hands, into the woods, and like an idiot!! She ran right after it. Into the forest.

The forest filled with demons hunting for a mate desperately. The forest no one was allowed in. The forest which HE was supposed to make sure no one entered.

.......Oh Crap-

Ohcrapohcrapohcrapohcrap-

OH CRAP!!

"Shit!"

He was going to be in SO much trouble!! He'd be punished worse than the time he accidentally sliced his Sensei's ponytail off!! She wasn't supposed to be in here! Stupid humans! Ok. Remain calm. No matter. All he had to do was literally grab and toss her back out before anyone knew! Yeah! Easy peasy. No one would even know, and he'd avoid being in any trouble! He'd even scare her just to make sure she didn't get any ideas of coming back! It would be as easy as hunting a blind deer! Nothing he couldn't handle! After all it was just one simple human.

....Oh how his problems loved to get bigger.

Because he didn't find her at all. Not at first at least. He followed her scent but he couldn't pinpoint her exactly which was starting to get him worried. Maybe he HAD been just seeing things from being overworked or bored to death. That was until he heard a scream. A very loud, high pitched, woman's scream! That had him snapping his head up against the wind in the direction of where it echoed out from, which was followed by a second just as scared shriek just moments later. Which could only mean one thing and he was dreading it-

"SHIT!!"

Some idiot HAD ended up finding that human! If she wasn't tossed out of here, it'd be his head! He was thankful for the extra speed training his sensei made him do, strengthening his legs and lungs in order to handle more speed and get to places faster. He still had a long way to go before he matched the speed of someone like Akaza, but it should be enough to get done what he needed to get done. And then he ended up smelling it again. That unmistakable sweet scent of fruit. That must've been the human because he only smelt this fruit when he was watching the human anyways. The wind and branches creaked past his black body darting between the grabbing branches and wind that howled with laughter seeming to taunt him for his blunder. Made him snarl and grit his fangs harder. Dammit! He followed that sweet scent until he skidded to a stop, a small cloud of dirt falling up from his feet sliding into place in the black dirt, came to a small cluster of dark trees only to find..nothing. Not a soul. But the scent was all over the small place, along with one other which smelt foul. Another male. And he could see an imprint in the dirt, as if something large fell from someplace high above. Dammit! Was the human attacked by an ambush? He wasn't sure. All that he knew was that she got away because the sweet scent was faintly head off into the west direction, and the foul smell followed, which obviously indicated a chase was given. Ah! F his life! This was going to be a long night! But none the less he growled and just ended up sprinting again after them. Dam human! Dam season! DAM ALL OF THIS!!! He was about ready to cut someone in half!! The wind was blowing away most of the already faint peach scent but he was lucky enough to be graced with yet another girly shriek of terror from just up ahead. Good. That was close. REAL CLOSE!! If fact, it was so close, he could hear a voice already-

"Stupid woman! SHUT UP!," a man's voice bellowed out, "Are you trying to alert others!? Dammit! You'll be a terrible mother."

Dark tree past dark tree. Weaving past darkness and limbs and lungs heavy with air whirled around by the wind. The vision appeared of a small innocent white ghost of the night and a sin daring to attempt to snuff it out for it's own needs. The trees couldn't hide that from him. Adrenaline pumping. Viens bunching up as a black tsuka of a katanna was grabbed, burnt to the touch as the rumbling of thunder was parting the whirling, taunting, laughing wind to make way for an electrical storm that bubbled through his blood vessels and gave the needed power to metal to become the lightning strike that shook the scene before him.

"Stop struggling! It's futile! There's no escape-"

SHING!!

A metal sound. A shine of silver in the dark. A dash of shadow. And a strike of thunder.

It all happened too fast and too dark for her mind to comprehend what happened. All that she knew was that one moment she were pinned against a tree and the next dropped to the ground like a rock, landing with a loud thud. A loud inhuman half screech half animal cry pierced the air and crimson liquid splattered across the dark. The cry echoed across the darkness, and was cut short when a powerful foot kicked out and struck the handless demon in the chest, knocking him back. And his form went flying back into the darkness only to be swallowed again and disappear, the red trailing after him, the only sounds to be heard was broken branches and then a loud thud and then the silence resumed once more.

"Dam idiots."

He stood there. Snarling. Staring off in the direction of the body he had just kicked away. Wasn't enough to kill, he could've easily crushed his chest on the spot but chose not too. For many reasons. He was here to retrieve not instigate a fight. He'd be in more trouble if he just started a fight, and he didn't need more trouble. He just needed to fix this situation before anyone else found out about a human woman stupidly bumbling her way in here especially when he was watching her! That wouldn't do him any good. If that insect knew what was good for him, he'd tuck his tail between his legs and run. After all, he was merciful enough to let him off with a warning. He could regenerate his hand easily and he doubted that kick did any real harm, maybe he'd be sore from falling back but he'd be-

Another shriek rang out from behind him. Causing him to snap his attention back to the thing he came here for.

In a flash her body reacted, scrambling away from the severed hand that just laid limply and crawling back on her hands and feet clumsily until her back hit a tree, breathing heavily. Ah right. He supposed that would've scared someone like her who never saw combat. Simple minded creatures, weren't they? He just rolled his eyes and turned his body to her, but the movement made the human freeze...before she slowly looked over and up at him, and she froze jaw dropping open. Hey now. He didn't think he was that horrendous looking! By demon standards, he was drop dead handsome! But then it clicked that she wasn't looking at his face, it was the long sword he still had unsheathed. A small slap sound came from her when her hand slapped over her mouth. Was she afraid he'd cut her down as well? That was ridiculous. He'd be more trouble if she was killed by him verses if he just tossed her out! Like he suspected. Simple minded. Let's just get this over with.

In a small rapid session his fangs clacked together enough to get her to look at him. "Hey! Get the hell up!"

He thought he made himself loud and clear, anyone else would perfectly understand what he just said. But instead she gave him the same looked he'd give the Master if he was in trouble. Pale. Terrified. Jaw dropped. And f/c eyes wide in terror at what she was seeing. Oh come now. He knew he was intimidating, but he hasn't even made a move to harm her! Although..her...Her face was actually kinda cute now that he was able to see it up close. Soft skinned. Pretty eyes reflective at him. It didn't have any demonic features like extra eyes or horns. And her f/c hair falling down her legs framing her face in a nice contrast to the white bridal gown she wor-

....Oh..Oh! ...OH!!

Like a flash of lightning in a storm, it all flashed across his mind now. Oh. A...bride. A human bride. It was a human offering. Oh. ...Well this was awkward. There hadn't been one of these since the mountain drought two hundred years ago. Back then, the humans thought sending a young lady in 'sacrifice' would cause some divine intervention from the demons to end the drought. Spoiler alert!! It did indeed NOT do that, and instead the poor human ended up getting taken by Douma to join his cult. No one ever heard anything about her since, and the drought continued on for another five years until mother nature sorted itself out. Of course this was before he was a part of the Twelve Kizuki so he actually never seen a 'Demon Bride' other than the Master's wife, so this situation was..Rather surprising to him.

The both of them stared at each other for a moment, before he opened his mouth revealing a mouthful of fangs and she flinched before he clattered them together in a rapid session to make the same clattering noise as before, before his face changed to look like he was straining his cheeks and a small shrill-grunt sound left his mouth.

"Get the hell up! Tell me why you're here!", he demanded and tilted his head expectantly at her terrified form. She still said nothing and it annoyed him. Great! Was she that scared?...Or maybe- Don't tell him you didn't understand what he just said! He grunted and rolled his eyes. "Not fluent in that, huh?" he spoke in human making her blink. "Figures you wouldn't be." He scoffed with another eye roll before bringing up his sword to inspect. And he scowled at the blood on it. It would have to be cleaned and polished later. "Disgusting pigs!" He harshly gave the blade one harsh shake to knock what droplet he could off, twirled it around with a wrist movement and aimed the blade to be returned to the sheath covered by his cloak. "So did I cut you or what?" She could only let her bottom lip quiver in response as she made some kind of squeak noise making him sigh in annoyance. "You gonna make me repeat myself? You humans are pathetic." She finally seemed to regain some sense as he scowled at her. "Hey, Human! Did I cut you or what!?'' She flinched pulling her hands to herself before frantically shaking her head no making him snort. "Good. Didn't think I did anyways, my skills are too precise for that."

She didn't answer. Instead doing something that made him pause. So taking a shaking hand, she pulled it back and slapped herself across the cheek making him just stare at her. By gods. Had she really HAD gone crazy!?

"The hell? Did that weakling hit your head too hard or something!?"

She hissed hand rubbing her sore cheek. "....This h-h-has got to b-b-be a n-nightmare..." She spoke barely above a whisper, but he still heard her voice.

"Tch. Unless you ran into Enmu, I highly doubt we're in one," he bluntly answered which made her flinch and look at him again. "But I've been trailing you this entire time so I know we didn't. Which begs the question." She yelped as he suddenly squatted and pushed his face into hers making it to where she were forced to stare into his angry scowl. "Who the hell are you!? You're not one of the humans brought in from the train! And you don't belong to Douma, you don't have his scent on you." His tail gave an annoyed thrash behind him. "So are you a trespasser or what!?"

"NO!!", she suddenly blurted out in fear. "I-I WAS JUST F-F-FOLLOWING THE MAP IS AL-ALL!!"

A thick brow rose higher, but he hummed. Yes..he had seen her with a map. "You were just following the map?" He asked again and terrified, she nodded making him hum again. "And then let me guess. You accidentally got lost on your way through here?"

She nodded again. "Y-YES!! That's r-r-right! I was!"

"Well why the hell were you not paying attention!? Any human should know once they're sent in that they need to be on the look out for scum like that!" He gestured at the ground like it should've been obvious. It was totally obvious for any bride to be thrusted in here that she should be careful for weaklings like the one he just trashed!! Didn't she even think of that!? She didn't answer and it made him growl before reaching up a hand to rub at his temples. Humans...This is why he never interacted with them outside of the Master's family. "Doesn't matter." The hand moved and he bore back into you. "I only spared your life because I wanted answers, otherwise I would have left you for whatever fucking scum to claim."

Screw this night AND this job! But...he wasn't sure what to do about this situation now. Now he knew she weren't a trespasser perse if she were sent to be an offering. Should he still throw her out? Can he throw her out while she was an offering? Was she allowed in here now or should he still toss her out? This situation was too new and complicated for him to figure out...He'd take her to Kyogai. Yes. Kyogai was the record keeper. If there was any laws for this kind of situation then he would definitely know about it! BUT-..If he was going through all this trouble to save an offering then he was going to make this worth his time! And right now he was very interested in that strong sweet smell, and her dowry. All brides these days had one to impress males if they wished to court instead.

"So before I leave your sorry ass, let me see your dowry."

Silence continued on. He stared at her expectantly. She stared at him silently wide eyed. Nothing answered them both except for the wind and creaking branches. ....And then he scowled.

"W-What-"

"Your dowry! Let me see your dowry! What do you have to offer me!?," he practically shouted at her face before giving a grunt of annoyance pointing at her bag. "In there! Gods above! Do I have to repeat everything to you!?"

She slowly rose a brow at him. "You want the-...A return payment?"

"Dowry! Payment! Offering! What ever the hell you people call it! Just give it to me! I know every human in your situation has one to give if they travel through here!"

"I-...I-I have no money." He seemed to exhale annoyed at her response. "B-B-But I ha-have these!"

He watched intently as her hands reached over, trembling harder, to her bag and he watched every moment intently. She reached to her bag, and pulled the top flap back with one hand, in an instant the sweet-sugary scent he'd been following this whole time intensified and she nearly flinched when you saw the way his eyes enlarged like a cat's when they saw a mouse. Instead she ever so slowly reached into the bag and pulled out a peice of cloth tied with a knot at the top, shaped lumpy with some visibly round objects. It was brought up to the monster held out, and his gaze was fully focused on it. He knew EXACTLY what was in that cloth before she even answered him again. His mouth instantly watered and his tongue flicked the inside of his fangs.

Peaches.

"H-Here. F-For you." She forced herself to smile.

He gave just the tiniest glance at her smile before he reacted in his own desires, her arm froze as the cloth was instantly snatched from herr hand and soon found itself within his claws, who didn't waste any time shredding through the cloth instead of just undoing the knot leaving the shreds to slowly float to the ground from his hands and inside amongst the shredded cloth in his hands was three small pieces of fruit. The small heart shaped pieces were cute looking in contrast to the clawed hands that held them, a pretty pink that faded to a yellow-tan color near the bottom. Not a blemish on them. Perfect. Sweet. And a delicacy to the tongue. He hadn't had them in so long...he couldn't even remember the last time he had one! He seemed almost in a trance as he stared at the perfect round things, savoring the sight just a bit longer to remember this moment by, before he could no longer resist the temptations. She flinched as a few peach juice droplets splashed against your hands and blinked. He had revealed his mouthful of fangs and bit through half of one peach with one bite, some pieces of the fruit falling to the ground. He exhaled slowly through his nose and his shoulders visibly relaxed. One more bite made the rest of the fruit disappear into his mouth like he was terribly hungry, then the second one followed the same fate as the first, gone in under a minute in two bites. It was by the third one that he even bothered to look at her again after all this time, where she had remained unmoving too. Was she still scared of him? Or was she waiting to see if he'd pick her for his own mate? Psh. Yeah right. As if he'd do that-...

Hm. On second thought. Maybe there was perks to having a human around-

After a moment he bothered to hum, arm reaching up to wipe at his mouth before he stood. "Not really a good dowry. Dam pathetic really." The last peach was tossed up and down in one hand. "The bare fucking minimum of expectations." Blue eyes carefully rolled over her form studying. She wasn't the worst looking. Infact it was an upgrade from most women he'd seen. ..Eh. She wasn't like the Master's wife, but her body looked strong and sturdy, and his senses indicated she was young and healthy. Early twenties tops....She might make a good servant. He hummed and then nodded. He'd check in with Kyogai first and make his choice from there. "But lucky for you, I'm feeling generous tonight. Hmph! You should be thankful!"

"S-So...Y-You're not going to hurt me?"

"If I wanted to hurt you, I would've struck you down the moment you stepped passed the tree line! Now stand up! We're leaving!"

She blinked.... "Leaving?"

He gestured at the dark. "Would you like me to leave you lost, alone, and in the dead of night where others are sure to find you?" He paused at what he said himself, because he hummed and turned his head upwards. She screamed quite a few times. Surely someone would've heard her, in fact someone might be coming towards them this moment. "With how much you stupidly screamed, I don't doubt others are already on their way here now." He growled with a scowl. "The bastards. Fighting like rats over a scrap of meat."

"N-NO!" He looked back to her as she forced herself on wobbling feet to stand before him. "I-I don't want to stay here! P-Please show me the way."

He seemed pleased with her answer because he huffed and one side of his mouth curled up in a smile. "That's more like it. If you're gonna be around me you need to step up your think-"

He didn't get to finish that sentence. In fact...He didn't get to even stand when a large hunk of branch flew past at lightning speed, and slammed right into the his side with a sickening crack sound. Wind flew past her from the sheer force of the throw, and the black robed demon was sent flying to the right and into a heap several yards away from where he initially stood. She stood frozen for a moment, the sight being too fast to comprehend what exactly had just happened. Then a horribly familiar voice spoke.

"Hands off the female! She's MY claim!!"

Her head snapped around, and she again shrieked as the insect-eyed demon has returned, hands fully intact and fangs bared towards the sight of another one of his kind as she stumbled back, eyes wide. A creaking sound was herd somewhere behind her followed by a loud thud and a deeper growl that reverberated off the wind and trees as a hiss sound escaped a black mass pushing themselves off the ground with many bone cracks and hissing noises until dangerously blue eyes cut through the dark right at the other.

"Dammed fools! You dare attack one of the Twelve Kizuki!?"

"I couldn't give a dam who you are! I staked my claim first! By law she's mine!"

And with that, he charged. She shrieked and ducked, arms coming to shield her head from the upcoming lunge but a black mass lunged faster, knocking the first one back into the trees as the two monsters rolled off. Something snapped within him. Perhaps it was all the pent up annoyance and anger at being challenged despite his rank. A whirlwind of claws and teeth they became. Crashing through tree branches, cutting one another, biting, each drawing blood from the other but he was stronger! He was faster!

He was superior!

So it wasn't very long that his opponent laid defeated. Silenced. Dead.

It wasn't a very long battle. Lasting under ten minutes. His wounds would heal within an hour or two. And he couldn't be in trouble for this, right? Surely he couldn't. Someone dared to challenge a Twelve Kizuki to battle and lost. Happened sometimes. And he had a right to fight since he insisted on fighting over the woman he still had unfinished business with. So he shouldn't be punished harshly for this. Although the fight was over, that did not stop his rage. For when he returned to claim what he had fought over, it was gone.

A piercing raged wail went through the night.

He couldn't believe this!! Did another one claim her while he was busy?! No. no. Couldn't have. He would've heard her shriek again. So that pathetic human must've taken the distraction and ran when he wasn't looking! DAMMIT!! And not only that-...

HIS LAST PEACH HAD BEEN CRUSHED IN THE FIGHT BEFORE HE COULD EVEN EAT IT!!!

He was angry! He was very, VERY ANGRY!! And he had to spend the rest of that night scrambling around trying to find this human, distracting him from his usual duties, and the scent going cold amongst the wind and other scents in the dam place! But now he was going to get in (maybe) trouble and won't get anything out of it.

....Oh so he thought.

One day went by.  Absolutely nothing. He was bitter, angry, and could do nothing but go back to do his own duties. Hopefully no one would notice or care about what happened. Everyone seemed too busy to pay him any mind anyways. Too busy struck by love-syndrome to really ever pay attention to himself. Which what he preferred anyways? It was best to leave him alone during these times anyways.

Two days go by and most of the bitterness had faded away, but he was still annoyed, stewing in the leftover bitterness that was attained from yesterday. Although an unexpected event happened, and it all happened as he was traveling along the Eastern tree line mindlessly. A very strong, and very important presence. Calling to him.

STRUM!

A forced pushed the back of his mind making him stumble in his step from how sudden it was. Like a mental rock was suddenly thrown on his shoulders, and it's weight made him lurch forward in real life, stumbling and throwing his arms out to catch himself against a tree. A feeling deep inside like something pulling his soul into a different box was tugging at his mind and it made him blink in confusion for a moment.

"What the fu-"

STRUM!!

His mind was pulled into a calling. It was like his conscious became thinned, light as air, and as nimble as a snake slithering through the lines of connection between himself and the bonds the Master's blood allowed them all to have. If he had one way of describing it, he would say it felt and looked like a tree rooted into their minds, different branches that were never the same but still connected to the same trunk in the end sharing the same deepened roots. The mind thread slithered ever closer to the thing that pulled and pulled and pulled him until he felt himself connecting to two others before him in this web of connections. He was thrown for a loop for a moment, but he quickly understood where he was and why he was here. One of the Twelve Kizuki wished him here, and the one responsible for bringing him here was just above him sitting silently. Upper Moon Five, Nakime, the one responsible for all transportation within this hivemind of threads. He reached out to that small thread sending a questioning thought for why she brought him here on such short notice. In return a thrum of an instrument vibrated within the wave lengths in return, and a mental arrow pointed to the third presence with them. And he followed her pointing. Who could it be who called him? Sensei Kokushibo? It wasn't the Master. The presence wasn't intimidating to him in the least.

"Kaigaku. I'm glad you answered my calling."

Kyogai!? What the hell could that lower moon want with him!? Especially now!? "What do you want!? I'm busy!"

He thought he heard Kyogai mentally sigh."I have something to ask you concerning some events which occurred last night."

"WHAT!?"

"Last night two intruders broke into my home."

"And? It's not my fault most of your staff are girls! You deal with your own territory and don't cry to me about not being able to do your job! If you want me to scare some dam idiots into submission, you can wait until I'm done!"

"You not doing your job is precisely my point! One of the dam insects claimed they were chasing a human bride through the woods!" The anger in the other presence fell silent. What did Kyogai just say? Human bride? In his home? "It's YOUR job to patrol the east side of the mountain and make sure no strangers enter or any demons leave the forest to that side of the mountain! Clearly you aren't doing your job good enough!"

There was silence for a few seconds as the younger presence thought on what he said. "You have the human?"

"I have no human!  DO. YOUR. DAM. JOB!! NEXT TIME SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS I'M REPORTING YOUR MESS UP TO KOKUSHIBO AND THE MASTER!! DO NOT LET SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN AGAIN! CONSIDER THIS YOUR ONLY WARNING!! Nakime, I am done with this message."

"NO! WAI-"

STRUM!!

The connection of the two wavelengths were cut off with a harsh strum of a bawa string, like a knife through hot butter, and there was a slight pain from the severed connection. He was thrown forward fast and with a gasp of air, was released from the wavelengths harshly without warning, ended up colliding face first into the tree he previously grabbed and slid down it to his knees coughing from the air knocked from his lungs. But he allowed the sweet silence to cascade over his body as he breathed. And there was silence. ....before a growl escaped his throat and bark splintered under his fingernails as blue eyes narrowed.

"Kyogai."

That was how he found himself in front of the infamous mansion throwing open the front door and making the sound spook any servant that was close enough to see his angered form stomp his way inside. This wasn't his first time here. Not by a longshot. He'd seek shelter here many a times before since it was so close to where he patrolled so it was very convenient for him, so much so that the older demon who ruled this home had been kind enough to give him his own room whenever he dropped by. Those whom saw him instantly bowed as his form stomped past them all one footfall after another.

"Lord Kaigaku. Good afternoon to you," one woman greeted with a bow but he ignored her in favor of stomping forward.

Further and further into the mansion he went, many servants bowing to the young lord but he paid them no attention. The scents around here all mixed with various different demons, but mostly Kyogai's. Kyogai was much more powerful compared to them all, so of course most of everything in here smelt of him. There was also the faint smell of blood. ...So Kyogai wasn't lying about intruders walking into his home. Which only made him more suspicious. Nothing really seemed out of place until he turned one corner in the mansion and paused.

"Found you."

And he stomped towards the smell. The very familiar smell he remembered from two nights ago. The very one he'd been trying to find these last two days was here, and he sure as hell wasn't letting her get off that easily. He quickened his pace speed walking through hallway after hallway ignoring the sudden bowing demons or any demons that were thrown his way, after one thing in particular. It got stronger and stronger and he was eventually able to pinpoint it to one room behind one door in particular. Heavy and quick footsteps went right up to the sliding door, his hand reaching out to grab it hard enough that some claw marks were  left behind by his claws and in one fluid, powerful motion he threw the door back hard enough to made a loud slam echo through the halls.

SLAM!!

There was a loud gasp, almost shriek at the sudden door open, and a woman whipped her head to him. F/c eyes met blue and he let a growl come out of his throat.

"It's about dam time I fucking found you."

**********************************************************************

You leaned back in the chair blissfully unaware of the approaching footsteps stomping their way towards your room. It had been a little while since Eri had left and left you just sitting there with nothing to do but keep your hurt leg submerged in the cold bucket of water. There was literally nothing you could do to keep yourself entertained other than to day dream of everything you wanted to do once you got out of here with your newfound freedom. Maybe that's why you didn't hear the stomping coming straight towards your room-

STOMP. STOMP. STOMP. STOMP-

Or the door being grabbed hard enough to leave claw indents in them.

SLAM!!

Making you gasp and whip your head to the thundering storm looming in the doorway only to meet blue eyes.

"It's about dam time I fucking found you."

You almost shrieked upon first laying eyes upon the demon who just barged into your room. Mostly because the entrance he gave scared you but you nearly shrieked again when the menacing form stepped in. Until you paused...and just stared at him. The demon didn't look much older than yourself, wearing a scowl on his face but not a dangerous scowl that said 'I'm going to murder you'. It was more of a really, really annoyed scowl like the ones Sanemi used to wear. Still made you nervous, but not to the point where you felt in danger. You watched with wide eyes as he stomped until he stood directly in front of you with that scowl of his, staring you down. His black cloaks looked torn and dirtied on him and here and there was small dirt smudged on his gray skin.

Wait a second. You knew this demon, but where did you see him?

You jumped as a black claw was suddenly pointed at your face. "Do you know how foolish you made me look defending you from that dam parasite!? I could have been killed for all you knew and you had the gall to leave without seeing if I died!!"

Oh right. He was the one who initially saved you from that first demon! You'd forgotten him up until this point. In the light he was a lot less intimidating.

"I should've left you to be made into someone's housewife than waste my time wi-"

"Are you alright?''

He paused. You stared at him concerned. He just stared back at you blankly for a moment. "...What?"He shook his head. "Of course I'm-"

He froze when your hand just grabbed his own and yanked. And he leaned forward, the surprising action catching him off guard. Especially when he felt something soft reached up and touch his face. And he just stood there as you squinted your eyes at him. One hand on his cheek, the other firmly around his left wrist as you took the chance to look over him. Despite his dirtied and ragged looking clothes, he seemed to be completely fine other than being angry, but you'd seen scarier. From Sanemi no less. Your eyes wondered over him and seemed satisfied to not see any damage to his body, so you released his wrist and face despite him staying stunned leaned over.

"I'm glad you're ok. That sounded like a bad fight you got into, and I'm sorry you had to go through that for my sake." Just apologize now and get it over with. You didn't want to owe anyone anything after you left here, including apologies, and he did have a point as much as you'd hate to admit it. He did spare you from that vulgar insect-eyed demon you first ran into and got in the way when it lunged back at you. Just remain calm. Everything would be fine if you just remained calm. It was then you bowed while still sitting in the chair which hindered your movement, but you did still bow to the best of your abilities. "I thank you for all the help and kindness you've shown me, and I apologize again for running off. I was scared and lucky to be alive." You then looked back up to his face. "And I'm not lying when I say I do hope you're ok. I'd hate for anyone else to get hurt because of me." And you were genuine with what you said. "Are you sure you're alright?"

The demon above you just-....Dumbfoundedly stared down at you. As if he lost all ability to think and act for himself. And ever patient you just continued to stare back silently at him. In total silence. Until you smiled to break the awkward silent tension and that small gesture finally seemed to snap him out of it because he blinked...before scowling and ripping his body away from you.

He opened his mouth and pointed at you...before closing his mouth and just growling before turning his head away. "I'm fine! Like I would allow myself to be hurt by someone beneath me! And you should be grateful to me! I could've left you to be taken by predators!"

You chose to not argue with him and honestly you didn't have the energy to deal with another Sanemi-like tantrum on top of your leg being hurt. If a small compromise of your pride meant peace, then it'd be better in the long run. Although you were not planning on seeing this demon again so soon.

"Whatever you say, but what are you doing here?" He turned slightly and cocked a thick brow at your question, a hum escaping his throat. "I wasn't expecting to ever see you again no offense, so why are you here now?"

He stared at you like you were dumb before scowling harder. "Are you dense!? I came here for you, Moron!"

Your brow rose now. "Me? Now why would you want to find me?"

"Because I need to toss you out! THAT'S WHY!!" A hand pointed a thumb behind his shoulder with a small growl from his throat. "If you hadn't come in here, I wouldn't be at risk for being punished! Who knows what'll happen to me if I don't make you leave!! Now get up!" He demanded with a 'come on' gesture. "You've plagued my existence long enough!" You...did not get up and only stared at him. "Well what are you waiting for!? I said GET UP!!"

"I can't."

"Why not!?"

"My leg was injured. That's why!" You frowned and gestured to your leg which still was dunked in the bucket of cold water. "I can't even stand let alone walk! Exactly how do you expect me to follow you out of here?"

He looked down at your leg, blinking as it just seemed to dawn on him that indeed your leg was in an awkward position. "What the hell- What are you doing sticking your leg in a fucking pail of water?"

"Trying to get the swelling to go down. The water's ice cold!," you deadpanned back at him he seemed to be annoyed again as he looked from your leg back to your face. "What? It's not my fault. One of those stupid monsters hurt me!"

"OH FOR FUCKS SAKE!!" At this point he threw his arms up looking both defeated and frustrated. "FINE!! Then I'll just take you to the human settlements Douma runs! One of them must have a healer! I am NOT getting in trouble for someone else harming a human!"

"I don't think that's a good ide-AH!!"

He didn't give you any warnings with two black sleeved arms just shoved themselves behind your back and under your knees before you were just roughly lifted up into a bridal style position in his arms. The bucket of water nearly spilling over from your sudden lift off via the demon who held you in his arms frustrated. On instinct your hands latched onto the front of his blackened robes which made him look down at you for a moment, taking in your wide eyed stare back up at him..Before he just wrenched his look away and turn you both around towards the door.

"W-WAIT!! I don't think this is a good idea! You could get in trouble more!"

He scoffed with an eye roll. "Oh, please. Who would stop me?"

"KAIGAKU!!!"

Your head snapped back to the still open door and the demon bristled. Muscles going rigid as an 'Oh crap-' expression flashed across his face, and then the footsteps, hurried and heavy came running down the hallway.

THUDTHUDTHUDTHUDTHUDTHUD-

Something big, heavy, and furious came running down the hallway and both you and the demon only watched as the floor shook under his feet. No escape as the thing came closer and closer- Until a giant clawed hand slammed harshly onto the doorframe making the demon holding you flinch and stumble a couple steps back as the looming form of Kyogai pushed his way into the doorway and stood above both of you much taller. You were confused looking between the now paled face of the demon holding you, and the furious look in Kyogai's blue and red eyes narrowed at the younger demon, breathing heavily from running all the way to here. You could only sit there awkwardly looking between the two demons staring each other down...Until your brow rose, and you decided to speak up.

"Kyogai?"

In an instant, his eyes snapped to you, and he blinked seeming to notice you finally, and froze. His blue eyes stared at your equally confused face, before they slowly roamed over across to where your hands gripped the black haired demon's front, then to said demon's arms holding you. Blue eyes widened for a second, but only a second, because instantly they narrowed into slits, a growl you hadn't heard him give before escaping his throat, and ever so slowly he pointed a hand right. At. The. Demon holding you.

"Put. Her. Back. Now."

The demon holding you stayed frozen in place for a moment longer before finally scowling back and pulling you closer to him. "Fuck off!"

"What are you even planning on doing with her!?," Kyogai demanded throwing up his hands, "She has no use to you!"

"I'm not getting in trouble because Little Miss Lost decided to wonder in and get herself hurt!!"

"HEY!" You scowled back at him but he ignored you staring down the taller demon with another growl.

"Wha- WHAT WAS YOUR PLAN ON FIXING THIS!? Dumping her outside the Eastern Tree Line!? She can't even walk! You'll end up killing her leaving her for dead, you dim witted beetle!"

He growled baring his fangs back. "That's why I was taking her to Douma's settlements!! He has one or two human healers so they ought to know how to fix her! And Douma's good at handling new human pets, so it'd be the perfect place for her!" Kyogai's face immediately twisted to one of horror as you shot him a look. "If I deliver her to a human settlement, then I won't be in trouble if she's with her own kind! Douma's always up for taking in more humans anyways.''

"Excuse me!," you yelled at him.

"W H A T!?"

The home shook. Literally. The entire mansion shook, lurched a bit from it's master's rage built into it making the demon holding you wobble and nearly drop you from how much he stumbled and you increased your grip on him yelping at the home's groaning creaks. As if the entire mansion was alive with his anger.

THUD!!

Kyogai slammed a single foot down leaning forward all of a sudden and got into the face of the younger demon who half paused half scowled at the older demon. "Now you listen to me you dam tantrum throwing insect! She is not even FIT for travel even if you carried her with the speed and grace of a swan! It was your own fault that this all happened in the first place! Maybe if you did your job and actually pay attention these things wouldn't have happened! Now would they!? This is why you haven't become an Upper Moon yet because Kokushibo still has to teach you the basics of the duties!!"

"How dare you speak to me that way!? IM A HIGHER RANK THAN YOU!!!''

"You're only a higher rank because of your strength and speed, and because Kokushibo has taken you on as his student so the Master was generous enough to grant you a position within the Twelve Kizuki! Otherwise you wouldn't even have the pleasure of being able to argue with me right now!" The younger demon flinched when a clawed finger roughly jabbed his chest. "AND LIKE HELL I'M ALLOWING DOUMA ANYWHERE NEAR HERE!!! THAT PERVERTED EMPTY SHELL OF A MAN CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING BUT HIS OWN PERVERTED DESIRES AND I'LL NOT SUBJECT MY WOMEN STAFF OR THAT HUMAN TO ANY OF IT!!!"

"THAT'S WHY I SAID I'M TAKING HER TO DOUMA, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND!! YOUR 'PRECIOUS STAFF' SHOULD BE PROTECTED IF THAT MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER-"

"DAM YOU!! GIVE ME THE HUMAN!!" You squealed out as two larger hands hooked from under your body and again you found yourself being lifted into the arms of a demon, Kyogai to be in fact. He lifted you up and out of the smaller demon's hands. You blinked and looked up at him.

"HEY!! You have no claim to her!!," the black haired demon shouted back pointing at you.

"Oh! And I suppose you have?"

"YES!! Of matter of fact I do! Since she gave me her dowry!!" He huffed proud of himself and crossed his arms, and for once Kyogai went silent. Allowing this new demon to smugly turn his head.

"....What?"

"Yes! That girl-" He pointed at you. "-gave me her dowry which means she was interested in me! And I accepted, so obviously I DO get the final say in her! So I demand as a higher up and as my claim you hand her over to me!!"

You face palmed and Kyogai continued to stare at him silently before looking to you obviously for answers. After a moment you dared to look at him, and sighed.

"It's a misunderstanding," you cleared up. "Because first of all, and for the last time, I AM NOT A BRIDE!! I never was a bride before, I'm NOBODY'S bride now, and I never WILL be someone's bride!" You practically shouted into the air, frustrated at the constant bad hand life's always dealt you. And then you pointed at the smug jerk's face as he blinked. "Second of all, the only reason I'm here is because I got lost and then chased by some simple minded men who couldn't treat women with respect! That 'dowry' I gave you wasn't even a dowry! I just thought you wanted a payment in return for rescuing me from that beast!! And even then, I'm not going anywhere I don't know! I'm staying here and waiting for a doctor to come see me!!"

The black haired demon continued to stare at you for a long moment as you frowned back at him. "....So you're not interested in me? I thought it was pretty obvious."

Kyogai looked like he wanted to lash into him again but you stopped him before he could. "I never even got your name. What's your name?"

The black haired demon regarded you for a moment before huffing. "Kaigaku. Lower Moon one of the Twelve Kizuki. It'd do you good to remember it."

You nodded calmly. "Well, Kaigaku, I'm glad to meet you, but you're looking a little ragged. You should rest and have someone fix your clothes."

Kyogai perked up seeming to catch onto what you were doing because he was quick to calm himself. "She is right, Kaigaku. You look stressed and dirtied. You should rest and allow my staff to look over you."

He looked about ready to protest but you smiled and stopped him. "A member of the Twelve Kizuki needs to look presentable. It wouldn't be proper to allow yourself to fall into disarray, how'd that make you look to the others?"

To your surprise, Kaigaku actually hummed and looked as if he was actually considering it before he grunted. "Fine. But don't think I'm doing it because you asked. It's only deserving I get a break for everything I've done."

Kyogai's eyelid twitched, but managed to retain his rage. "Of course. Please, allow me." You yelped when all of a sudden you were hiked up to be cradled within one arm as his other, now free arm, went to one of the drums on his legs tapping it twice.

BUM! BUM!

Two seconds passed and a moment later there was footsteps and a random demon woman stopped in the doorway before bowing to the taller demon. "You called me, Lord Kyogai?" Wow. They were fast around here.

"Yes. Prepare the mens' bath for Lord Kaigaku, and send someone to address his garments. Tell the cook to prepare him a meal and have Ami prepare his room for his stay with us."

"And have Eri look him over as well."

Everyone looked at you as you stared at Kaigaku and pointed. "I don't like it that he got into a fight because of me, and I don't want him hurt. So just in case have Eri look him over."

"..I don't need a second opinion on my own body! I know my limits and strengths! I would know if I was injured!"

"Yes. But it would make me feel better, and I mean it when I said I don't want anyone hurt over me." You reached out and grabbed his hand making him freeze as you stared at him sadly. "...Please?"

...He opened his mouth- ....And closed it before yanking his hand away. "Fine! But I'll only do it as a part of the luxery I'm entitled too! Not for anyone worry especially a woman's!"

"Then I shall send Eri to look you over once you've settled. Mayla! Escort Kaigaku to the baths and carry out my other orders."

Mayla. (Was that her name?) She only simply bowed deeper before leaning back up. "As you wish, My Lord. Lord Kaigaku, please follow me."

"I've been here before I know where it is!," he mumbled but started off after Mayla as she turned and began to walk off but not before shoot Kyogai a look. "I expect to be informed on what the hell's happened in between my time last seeing the human."

"Oh you will be." Kyogai narrowed his eyes back. Wait until he heard about the Master already knowing about this. That ought to get this brat to shut up. He held eye contact and watched until Kaigaku (reluctantly) disappeared out of the door following Mayla and his footsteps disappeared, before he finally allowed his body to relaxed and he slowly looked back down to you still in his arms. "Are you alright? He didn't harm you did he?"

"Um...No. B-But could you put me back down? T-This is kind of awkward."

He blinked....and his face lit up a pink. "UH!! R-Right! Y-Yes! W-What was I thinking!? Apologies!" He was quick to set you back down gently in the chair before plopping your hurt leg back into the bucket with a small splash sound. Quickly retracting his hands away from your body afterwards. "H-Here! I-Is this better?"

You nodded. "Yes. Much better thank you." Your head tilted back towards the door. "But who was that just now?"

"That mess was one of my colleges. Lower Moon One of the Twelve Kizuki although if you ask me he does not deserve the generous rank!....But how do you know him is what I would like to know!?"

You shrugged. "I ran into him by accident when I first came in here. He saved me from an attacker-" Kyogai's brows rose in surprise at that. "-but then he ate all the food I had left for doing so. He called it a 'dowry' but at the time I just thought he wanted some payment in return for saving me. I guess that was yet another misunderstanding wasn't it?"

"Kaigaku expressed interest in a dowry? From a woman?.....Kaigaku!?" he blinked.

"Oh. Is that...bad?"

"I am...Unsure." Kyogai then mumbled and reached a hand to rub his temples with a sigh. "I see I have yet another thing to fix around here. I don't get paid enough for this."

"Oh...Well, Kyogai." He jumped when he felt you reach out and grab his hand in thanks blinking from under his thanks. "Thank you again for saving me! You're a real life saver. Was Eri able to treat you yet?"

His brain froze for a second, before with his cheeks pink he pulled his hand away and held it up. "UH! N-Not yet! I-I'm afraid she was interrupted by Kaigaku's presence!"

You blinked. "Oh. Well return to her and let her finish up healing you."

"YES!! I-I will! I-I return her to assist you as soon as possible," he slowly backed away and out of the room, "Please remain here and call one of the s-servants to help you." A hand grabbed the door and slid it shut quickly. "I-I'll make sure to have a word with Kaigaku. D-Don't worry."

You rose a brow at the sudden exit and even more so at the hurried footsteps retreating from the door. What the world just happened?

[bitchfitch]

(part 1)

V paced like a soldier. With his shoulders square, his head held high, and a look of impending doom in his eerily blue eyes. His heavy cloak, a gift from the princess they now waited to meet, caught the updraft generated by his anxious heat. The dark fabric flaring around him and making the already small man look even smaller.

"She has a guard with her right? What are we going to do about the guard?" V asks, turning on his heel and walking back the way he had come.

"Ratna's coming alone, V," Connor didn't look up from the small whittling project he'd brought to keep himself entertained with while they waited.

"She's alone- But what if someone - What if she gets lost- We should go find her," V frets, as he tends to do.

"She's fine. Ratna picked the location, she's almost as dangerous as you are these days, and she's a damn princess. No one is going to mess with her."

"But-"

"V. She's fine. I wouldn't let my friend get hurt, right? So if I'm trusting her to hold her own she must be perfectly capable of it, right?"

"But if she does. It's my fault. She's coming here to meet Me because I'm the one not allowed in the city. I- This isn't how the prophecy would be fulfilled, is it?"

"Are you the king of monsters yet?"

"What- no?"

"Is her dad dead yet?"

"No."

"Do you despise me yet?"

"No, of course not."

"Then is there any chance that the "and the queen will be stolen by the hateful monster king" will be fulfilled today?"

"Prophecies can be strange! How many doe goats were slaughtered the year I was born only for me to be born to a human?"

"You know what? You're right V. The legendary prophecy about our decent into mortal combat after you steal my wife, who I am not married to yet, will be fulfilled by her tripping and twisting her ankle in a swamp and getting eaten by deer or something. That is absolutely what is going to happen today," he sets his knife on the log he had been sat on, before picking up a stick and standing, "En guarde, foul beast, I must avenge my not wife who is definitely dead because she just ate shit on a pleasant walk."

V looked at the stick being trusted at him in a mockery of an attack with utter disdain. "You're not taking the seriously, Connor."

"You're the one ignoring the great hero's weapon being thrusted upon your frail body," he thwacks V's arm with the branch, jumping back in faux shock when it burns up on contact. "My blade has been destroyed!"

"No no no no-" V's annoyance turned to fear as he saw what was coming, recoiling from his friend while bracing for impact.

"So I simply must triumph with only my hands!" Connor lunged for him. V's attempt to dodge being thwarted by the flair of his cloak still falling within reach of the fated warrior. Connor dragged him back by it and wrapped his arms around V's waist to heft him up off the ground with a cackle.

"Do you relent your tyranny yet!? Or will I have to ruin you further?"

V couldn't stop the squawking laugh that tore out of him as he squirmed in Connor's hold. "Unhand me you brute!"

"Am I interrupting something?" Ratna asked from the edge of the clearing. She didn't attempt to hide her amusement at her comrades antics, striding into the fray of their faux battle with as much familiarity with them as she would have had she known them her whole life.

"Princess! You're back from the dead!" Connor bowed deeply tightening his grip on V the entire way to make the man wheeze through his protests.

"Let me go-" V finally managed to squirm free of the hold, stumbling into an equally deep but much more sincere bow, "My apologies, Princess Ratna, Connor does not handle serious conversations well and was attempting to distract from one. I apologize that That was your first impression of me."

"At rest, V. I'm glad that my first impression of you could be of your smile and the love our friend has for you," she was soft voiced, reserved and confident as she held a hand out to him. "With everything I've been told about you by home and well... everyone else, it's nice to know you're just a man under those horns of yours."

V straightened up, stepping back from the outstretched hand. "Thank you for your graciousness, Princess."

"It is no burden," she stepped forward in beat with him, not letting him retreat from her offer of equal footing.

"Still," another step back, V curled on himself as his courtly manners came in conflict with the simple fact that he would burn her to the bone if she made the mistake of touching him. "I appreciate it."

"Shake my hand, V," she wouldn't let him avoid it.

"That's not a good idea, Princess-" pain shoots through V's right side as Connor grabs his forearm and wrenches it up and out into position, his strength absolute as V goes silent in terror. his words coiling around a knot of betrayal. Connor was going to make him hurt her. He didn't want to hurt her-

Ratna's hand was soft, her grip on his much more polite than the one Connor had on his arm.

V could feel the elaborate scars on her palm.

She didn't recoil in pain. There was no smell of burning flesh, no chill as blood evaporated against his skin.

V couldn't look away from her hand, safe and whole in his.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, V," she says it gently while reaching to pull up her sleeve to reveal the elaborate sigil work painted in ink onto her rich brown skin. The sight made V think of all the masterworks of pottery emblazoned with retelling after retelling of his and hers and Connor's future. This was her rendition of their story. "And I'm glad to know you're fires are not without recourse."

(part 1)

[greywritesrandom]

Legends and Lore - 15 {Monster}

Minotaur

Deep in the winding, stone corridors of the labyrinth, where no light dares to reach, the Minotaur waits. Half-man, half-bull, it was born of both royal shame and divine punishment, a creature forged in the darkness of human folly. With the monstrous head of a bull atop the powerful body of a man, the Minotaur was trapped within a maze designed to be unsolvable—a living curse bound to endless solitude and hunger.

This beast was not always a monster. It began as an innocent, the unnatural offspring of Queen Pasiphaë of Crete and a cursed, sacred bull. But innocence cannot survive in a world of betrayal. King Minos, seething with disgust and humiliation, commanded the brilliant inventor Daedalus to construct a prison that could hide his shame forever. Thus, the labyrinth was born—a twisting, endless maze, a cage of stone where the creature would never escape and where its rage could fester, growing darker with every passing year.

With the passage of time, the Minotaur became more than a prisoner—it became the nightmare of Crete, its legend spreading across the seas. Every nine years, Minos demanded a tribute from Athens: seven youths and seven maidens, delivered to the beast as living sacrifices. The creature's hunger, both physical and existential, knew no bounds. Each footstep in the labyrinth echoed the screams of the lost and the dying, and the air was thick with the stench of terror and decay.

Yet, the Minotaur was no mindless brute. It possessed a terrible intelligence, one twisted by isolation and pain. It knew the maze better than anyone, moving through its shadows with ease, waiting for the scent of human fear to guide its steps. But for all its cunning and strength, it remained a prisoner—bound by fate, by the sins of others, and by its monstrous form.

It was Theseus, the hero of Athens, who dared to enter the labyrinth, armed with only a sword and a ball of thread to trace his steps. As he descended into the belly of the maze, the sound of his heartbeat was matched only by the distant, thunderous breath of the Minotaur. When they finally met in the heart of the labyrinth, it was a battle not just of strength, but of survival—man versus beast, hero versus horror. In the end, Theseus emerged victorious, but not without blood on his hands. The Minotaur, the tragic beast of Crete, lay dead, its long, tortured existence snuffed out at last.

Yet, even in death, the Minotaur’s story lingers—its name echoing through the halls of myth as a reminder of what it means to be trapped by fate, by the sins of others, and by the prison of one’s own nature. The labyrinth may crumble, but its darkness remains, waiting for the next unwary soul to wander too far into its depths.

[justices-blade]

☆ die by the sword

swordmaster mastery drabble.

Daein armor is black.

Daein's army is great.

Daein's army will win.

Black armor, red flags — Deep red, regal and commanding. The flags aren't often flown in the fringes of Nevassa, but just outside of it, where the city leads to foot- and carriagepaths. They fly high, stark against blue, bright against ink.

What for? It's easier to believe stories of heroism and glory when you live in a warm house with a warm family. Outside, it's a matter of that blurred line between hope and desperation. — Expansion is profitable. Will any of that trickle down to them?

There are those that say no and stay out of it, hoping war will not find their doorstep instead. There are those that open their mouths and hold out their hands and pray. But King Ashnard, he extends his war-calloused hands and gives even the lowest of the low a chance to reach out, to grasp, so long as they have the strength to fight.

Was it for glory? For your country, for your hometown, for yourself?

No, not anything so naïve. It was for survival.

It's not that Edward didn't want to believe in the heroism of it all, but with glory comes acclaim. With acclaim comes money. With money comes stability for him and his. For a child and his brother with nothing else to his name, no other avenues to walk, nothing else given to him but this, what other dream should he chase? That heroism — The tales told by nannies and grannies down the street of brave men and women, his neighbours, cutting down legions and slaying monstrous beasts? That's just a bonus.

But for a brother who needed a future, he readily spun tales of valor and heroism anyway. Swordsmen in black coats, nimble and skilled, rising above and beyond. Heroes who came from nothing and gained everything, blades blessed by sunlight. The hope that they could crawl out of this nothing and gain everything, more than enough to share with eachother, with everybody who's helped them. That this was a choice, and it was worth making. He weaves the stories, pulls them around him like that could make them real, like he could become one of those swordmasters, too. Those who are strong will prosper in Ashnard's Daein, after all.

During the Mad King's War, Edward was not strong enough. Yes, they train children to fight and kill all too readily in those noble academies, but a scrawny street rat with a blunted blade is hardly better than cannon fodder. Still, maybe it was for the best he was turned away with hardly a glance. As it turns out, Daein wasn't strong enough either.

Daein armor is black.

Daein's army was great.

Daein lost.

And then Crimea didn't care, and Begnion came in. War ends. Still, red flooded the streets and washed Finch away in the undertow. Begnion armor is red. It's diluted, almost orange, a half-commitment to blood. Black-clad soldiers returned, too, but scathed, in caskets, in memory. Grief filled the streets. Hunger filled it, too. Grief and hunger and fear.

In him, grief and desperation, yes. But there was also anger. (Realisation.) It's over. The war is over. The dream is dead, and there is noone left for him to find and chase another for. And now, now, from livable to worse, everyone still clings to eachother, praying they won't drown as Begnion scum try to tear them down and apart like children at play breaking block towers.

He could stop and lie down and die. But seeing faces he knows twisted in agony? He won't stand for it. Why are they kicking everyone off the rafts and into the red? Can't they see they're already half-starved? At the other shore of bonds found, ties made, community knit, how can people be so carelessly cruel to folk who already have it hard enough? The lesson that seemed so obvious to him in childhood was completely lost on these brutes. They were acting like they were all still at war, but didn't need any reason, be it money or glory, to act like this.

In him, realisation, this time clear as day. That to earn glory, he would have had to hurt others too. He would always have had to. For togetherness, he can take it. But for glory? Glory is the stupidest reason to hurt someone. The only stupider thing is to have no reason at all.

In him, anger. In him, brighter still, rebellion. He knows how to steal. He just needs to start doing it to the right people. From Begnion, he takes food, supplies, clothes, medicine, a boy from the jaws of certain death. It's only right, to take back what was taken from people who need it, isn't it? He clings, with all he has. The light grows, comes to shine before him, a guiding star in the shape of silver hair, golden eyes. In it, he finds a hope anew, the seeds of a new dream, puts his faith in that light, to dispel the fear and the hunger and the mourning. He wants to be someone to trust, too, his hands growing ever more acquainted with the hilt of a blade.

Here, close to home, it's not for glory that he sabotages and fights and kills. Maybe it still is for stability, in the end, for safety, for home. The land bleeds because its people do, bled of hope with every step. He sees Nevassa. He knows it's not the only place that suffers. The dream sprouts.

In him, revolution. He fights now, truly for Daein, not for her glory or her pride, but for her people. Is that not the heart of it? It's the people he knows and talks to and knows and loves, the people he sings and dances and breaks bread with, the people who share with eachother no matter how little they have. That's the Daein he knows. The Daein he sees. The Daein he hopes for and fights for, hope and faith everbright in his eyes. If the black emblem is Daein's pride, then the red of its flag is the people that let it exist. The dream blossoms.

Edward fights, and fights, and fights, even when it seems stupid or pointless or like something's wrong, because the choice is once again no choice at all, and because he would rather swing his sword than lie down and die. But it's filled with a conviction, and while he would have never fought selfishly, he may have lost drive after the realisation — But for freedom, for home, for family, for the Dawn Drigade and for Daein, he does not. He fights in crimson, carmine, red, trailing behind him — No indulgent half-measures in orange-red, no glory sought or subordination in black.

And Micaiah — Does she understand? She too grants him a coat of red, bright as dawn, trailing coattails to frame his bloodied path, to show his growth — A benediction for all he has done, for all he can still do.

In that swordmaster's coat, the dream bears fruit. There is a day he looks at himself and realises that he's become someone he'd only ever dreamed of being years ago. He's strong enough now — Really, truly, a flurry of steel in sunlight, in starlight. He's strong, but this really isn't that great, is it? It's heavy, this mantle of what he thought hero, but he's strong and knows he's fighting for what'lll ultimately be right. So he'll carry it. It's no worse than five sacks of flour down the street at once.

Still. No wonder noone can keep going just for glory; It's nowhere near worth killing for, dying for. But him, he'll do anything so he can break bread with everyone again, with no fear or grief snapping at their heels. Not just to survive, but to live, too.

Living — Hah, now that's worth dying for.

It's with this knowledge that he shrugs the coat on, tightens the belts and buckles, Caladbolg at his hip, its pommel solid under his palm.

He'll keep trailing red for the people of Daein, for his family found, for that shining vision of home.

[lultimagoccia]

In the dead of night, an ocular shift throws things off-balance. While change is often impermanent, there are instances where the results can be jarring to those who feel the brunt of its effects.

...How do you feel about full moons, Peppino?

(M/A: Peppino is now able to change into Werepep! Common werewolf rules apply, but the start and duration of the magic anon is at the writer's discretion. Have fun!)

truthfully, peppino hadn't noticed the phase of the moon. he'd been so preoccupied in work, as he often was at this hour of night, to really pay it much mind.

didn't help he had this weird bite to fuss over now, which had been irking him since it happened. he really wished when customers called in an order, they'd remember to warn him about the presence of a BIG SCARY DOG on the premises! the one that had knocked him off his bike the other night had nearly ruined the entire order, sinking its jaws into an arm before he'd managed to wrestle it off, sending the brute on its way.

ALSO didn't help that they insisted their dog was a little angel who would never attack someone, seeming convincingly confused about his description of the thing as being massive and aggressive. people really seemed to think he was some kinda fool, easily led astray by their talk of the dog " being a small breed and a senior dog " and his description " not sounding like any dog they'd heard of before " and " maybe he should consider seeing a doctor because he probably just got attacked by a wild animal ". ridiculous! he'd lived on this island for many years, and never saw anything like that monstrosity.

and on top of all THAT bullshit, the tip had been absolutely lousy! definitely a home he was putting in his delivery blacklist. 

... though. maybe he should think about seeing a doctor. he hadn't been feeling so well, the dull ache of the bite gradually increasing to a burning pain that seeped through the muscles of his forearm, spreading throughout his body as he worked. he was used to coping with pain, thanks to old wounds and the natural discomforts of an aging body. but this was beyond the soreness of old joints, and it was only getting worse as the night wore on. he felt too warm, such that a sheen of sweat now glistened at his brow and his breathing had gotten noticeably heavier. 

he hated seeing the doctor. loathed hospitals. peppino prayed this was the sort of thing you could sleep off, pausing in the middle of his closing routine to lean heavily against the counter and rub his eyes. 

and that was when he felt – and heard – the first snap. His entire body went rigid, breath wheezing from his lungs as he scrambled to determine what had caused such acute, and IMMENSE suffering within his already miserable body. But before he could properly assess the issue at hand, it continued, causing him to slump heavily against the counter, fingernails scrabbling for purchase as he felt his very body itself, bones, muscle, change. 

he’d encountered many strange shifts during his time in the tower. and it vaguely occurred this might’ve been one of them, somewhere in his frantic and racing thoughts. But none of them felt like this. None of them hurt so badly.

he was on the floor before long, back arching as his miserable groans and cries of agony were smothered in his throat. couldn’t even call for help, because even his vocal cords were gripped by the same agonizing, pulling, twisting, breaking pain that overtook every other part of him. He became a stranger in his own form, experiencing every brutal second of suffering while being powerless to stop or understand it. The best peppino had managed was to drag himself across the floor towards the exit in a feeble attempt to get outside, and … and hope maybe gustavo had decided to come back or that someone, ANYONE would come to check on him. 

eyes fell shut with a shudder, air pulled deep into lungs and then –

A HOWL. the beast that now laid in his place pulled itself up from the floor, testing new and unfamiliar limbs as it stumbled forward a few paces, swaying unsteadily before it threw itself against the front doors, breaking them from their hinges as it raced off into the night.

[lilmothscocoon]

A while back, I have this expanding concept that I started a year ago of an in universe anti-mystery kids that was inspired by the Bad End Friends and Dark Avengers. They’re known as the Adolescent Anomalies, a group of supernaturally twisted children banding together for the sole purpose to destroy their rivals. The art here is old, so I’m going to tell you the current line up of the members and how they foil their counterparts

Ellen (The Witch’s House MV):

what was once a young girl enduring her family’s curse, now inherits her friend’s body out of witchcraft and deceit in deal with her demonic feline partner to get rid of said curse. She’s a smart and well mannered girl who’s chosen as the leader of her group for her intelligence, but can easily fall into blind rage when things don’t go in her way. She’s capable of wielding black magic as result of her deal with the cat, she’s also capable of regeneration and with her violent frenzy which makes her an unpredictable fighter.

Ellen represents everything Coraline despises, from being a witch, parent killer, manipulator, and an uncaring person driven by a selfish desire whereas Ellen would greatly envy Coraline due to her past against her witch, and having loving parents whom she saved them from said witch. In short, Coraline hates the person Ellen is and Ellen is jealous of Coraline’s life.

Jude/Brahms (The Boy 2):

A young boy named Jude who’s sadly tricked and possessed by a demonic doll named Brahms despite his parent’s attempts to save him. Brahms behavior of formality is merely a facade of the obsessive and unnerving side that lies underneath. The doll’s influence gives the body supernatural strength and immense durability and is experienced in hunting such as setting up traps and tracking prey down for the team.

Brahms was initially Coraline’s counterpart in the beginning considering his obsession of pretty girls and representing as everything she initially saw in Wybie, however that changed when I found Ellen and saw no equal to Wybie. So I made Brahms/Jude Wybie’s counterpart for a simple reason, Wybie’s a caring friend and mechanic while Brahms/Jude is a simping creep and a brute.

Ellie & Bird Head (Pet Sematary):

One should know that some things should stay dead, in the end they all realize it too late of the Wendigo’s curse being too tempting to turn down in grief and too powerful to be stopped in the end. Ellie and birdhead are undead who still retain their intelligence and verbal capabilities, though they prefer not to speak. They are the ears and eyes of the team and are unfazed to all damage coming at them. And like all zombies, they eat meat but they don’t infect, they’re just cannibals.

Ellen and Birdhead’s situation is essentially an inverse of what Norman and Neil had to go through. Rather than dealing with zombified adults cursed to be punished by a scared child, they’re now facing innocent pawns forced to expand the power of a literal monster that follows on nothing but its own instincts. So even though Norman can see through the curse and is determined to free the spirits of the undead, the children would only see him as a threat and will have no problem in killing him, and he also can’t talk down a feral beast.

Milo & Ashley:

Members of a spiritual cult, both Milo and Ashley are fanatics that pleases their god Bughuul by murdering their families while recording it all and recruiting more members to the cause. As spirits, they enjoy wreaking carnage through their belief and enjoyment with Milo’s cunning ways and Ashley’s upfront approach as they love to get the fullest of attention of themselves.

Their personalities greatly clash against the pine twins with Mabel’s happy go to attitude against Ashley’s stern demeanor and Dipper’s observant honesty against Milo’s charming charisma. On the contrary, while D&M’s relationship are more genuine and understanding of one another as all siblings do, A&M aren’t siblings, so they see each other as accomplices than anything. Milo would want to recruit Mabel while Ashley would want things to be done and Mabel would be tempted at first, but Dipper’s observation would eventually save them both and would have beefs with Milo.

Joshua & Scarlet (Silent Hill):

In a nearby town of Maine, a deal was struck between the residents and a cult of a neighboring town, to protect them from their god, they must sacrifice their children. Of course this it didn’t end well with ritual going wrong. Scarlet is reformed out her love of dolls and the fury of her father’s betrayal by cutting her to pieces, this resulted her attacking anything to quell her wrath acting more beast than child. Joshua however was more disciplined for his desire to be a soldier like his father and held the power to manipulate water for he was drowned by his brother and caused the ritual to go wrong as he wasn’t the chosen sacrifice, but he forgave the accident.

Once again, originally a powerful psychic named Stephanie was apart of the team, but she was too op however she’s still on the team as an extra.

Like the Psychonauts, Scarlet and Joshua are both the powerhouses of the team being both psychic and magical, they also could be seen as dark elevation of Raz and Lili’s traits. Scarlet’s rage and tragedy peeks a bleak possibility to Lili’s temper and relationship with her father while Joshua’s fanaticism to be a soldier could also be seen as a contorted outcome to Raz’s devotion as an agent

There are also more who mirror the extra members of the Mystery Kids, but that will come later so I hope you enjoy my expansion of the Mystery Kids lore thanks!!!

[slifarianhawk]

Chapter 3: a true fight

I was thrown back into reality with a mere crack of the ceramic tile beneathe my feet. The massive humanoid was walking toward me. My mind started to race a million miles per second. I knew one hit I would be gravely injured and I was damn sure not ready to die today.

I said a quick prayer to who'd ever listened and bolted to the wall on the other side of the room. The room was about 350 hundred square feet yet also narrow. The ceiling was at leat twenty feet off the floor. Seven columns of varying sizes stood spread apart weirdly. It wasnt hard to figure out this was this B.O.Ws testing room.

Several seconds pass before I reached the wall on the other side of the room. I sighed, if I had my Samurai Egde this would at least be manageable. Then I ripped from my planning the brute swung its axe down. Dropping to the floor, dust cascaded down from above me. The massive butchering tool was stuck in the wall not eight inches above my head.

"Fuck that was close." I muttered rolling from where I was. With a quick side step my body was at the shortest column. Scrambling I pulled myself up on the cracked pillar and regained my composure. Fear is one thing the damn bastard didn't deserve to see from me. Not after he left me to die not once or even twice, but four damn times.

The bruly beast twisted pulling its weapon from the massive crevice it had just created. The damn thing would learn what it means to mess with a true killer. Taking a quick look around I found my target and leaped. The next pillar was pointed and hard to land upon ;however, holding my balence wasn't difficult.

The creature was slow and took up alot of room . That there was its weakness. If I was anything other than desperate I was extremely agile. Then it B.O.W made its move. In a crazed fit it swung its axe. It destroyed the plinth i was previously on. At the moment I knew my plan.

In a flash I constantly leapt up the to the taller structures. In an attempt to keep me still the "Executioner" Wesker sent after me fell straight into my trap. It slammed the hammer side into the largest column and it fell straight on top of him. Before jumping from my current position I grabbed the black knife from my combat boot.

"Round two...." I took my leap of fate and fell towards the monster with a wild smirk on my face. Twisting in the air, my body and blade became in perfect alignment. My boot grind down the axe to the brutes throat. In that moment the white walls turns a disgusting brown and red. The beasts throat and brain stem were severed.

The body writhed but with no doubt it was dead. Nothing can survive the brain stem being severed. Its the link between the command of the nervous system and the rest of the body.

"Set.. Match. Its trachea and brain stem are cut off from the rest of the body." I glared at the glass, "Is that all you have failures and proto types?!?"

A voice crackled through the speaker, it was a female "He had to step out but im sure he has grown bored of you, have fun with his original work."

That could only mean one thing. A creaking and hissing noise came from deeper in the room. A massive chamber appeared to raise from the floor. Inside of it....the sight nearly made me puke from PTSD... a Tyrant.

__________________________________________________

FLASH BACK

[1998]

__________________________________________________

"Are you sure the last time we did something like this it didn't play out in our favor at all...." I spoke cleaning the chamber of my Beretta. My S.T.A.R.S. uniform fully stocked with extra magazines and a few poision recovery items.

"Yes my dear. If we do this umbrella will fall and the research will remain where it belongs." The blonde male said, "The data transfer should go off with out an issue."

"Just be damn sure none of my friends get hurt, after that incident with my mother I can't handle it." I growled loading my hand gun.

I glared at the computer screen with the umbrella logo slowly spinning.

"Don't worry they are more than capable I've seen to that little lotus." He smirked his eyes full of some cocky emotion well hidden behind dark glasses.

"You promise wesk?" I walked up and whispered in his ear.

"Anything for you little lotus." He said kissing my lightly on the neck.

__________________________________________________

Later that night

__________________________________________________

"YOU FUCKING BASTARD YOU LIED TO ME!" I roared Chris holding me back by my wrist. I was seething , my vision stained an evil red.

"Did you expect anything else my dear? I needed to test the B.O.Ws against trained flesh and blood combatants." Wesker laughed, "now my dear you and I shall be taking our leave."

"Like hell I will. You harmed my friends..... You kidnapped and nearly killed my brother. This is line that never should of been crossed." I growled my brown eyes narrowed in him. My husband was my target, "and my targets never escape."

"Such a waste, I had extremely high expectations for my little lotus and Chris you make me proud." Wesker pointed a gun at my head.

"Wesker!" Chris said with disgust.

"Tonight truly was an excellent for gathering data on umbrellas B.O.Ws against flesh and blood combatants" he smirked walking toward the center aisle.

"YOU BASTARD! IT IS TRUE! YOU SET THE TEAM UP! YOU FED US STRIGHT INTO THEIR HANDS." I roared ripping my self away from Chris.

"Excellent deduction Tabitha; however, I don't don't need them any more." He clicked a button revealing a creature encased in glass," The ultimate life form Tyrant, It's beautiful."

"You are fucking sick!" A deep seated growl ran through my chest.

I wish my words were different, for what I witnessed sent me in to an unbridled depression swirling with killing intent. The Tyrant ran its long clawed hand through Alberts abdomen.

__________________________________________________

END OF FLASH BACK

__________________________________________________

I released a bone chilling screech. My eyes burned. Rage, all that was there was an unrelenting screaming rage. I started laughing manicly.

"Its been eight years since I last saw the T-02 model Tyrant model. " I spoke drawing out each breath. Each one sounding like a sharp growl or like a hiss,"and I killed it with out a second thought."

Slowly, I stalked up to the chamber. Every step just grew heavier and heavier. Time was going either horrifyingly fast or ungodly slow. My mind was racing even faster than earlier. Stopping at the chamber, I stared at the flithy beast.

" It's..... It's ......IT'S" I mumbled rapidly.

"Aw lost for words no, isn't it gorgeous?" The female voice rang out.

"ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING AND DOESN'T DESERVE TO LIVE!" I snapped punching through the glass and ripped off the clawed hand of the tyrant, "This is "beautiful" to you fools, Then I'll need to destroy it."

I kicked the glass and it completely shattered. The beast awakening; however, I was a step ahead and impaled its massive heart with my knife. It dropped to its knees. I chuckled darkly and impaled the monstrousity through the skull with its claw.

It let out a grunt as it bleed from being stabbed through with its own hand. I ripped the knife from its heart then proceeded to decapitate it. I picked up the head. I'd use it to further my act as Alistar.

The wall on the other side of the room opened revealing a brightly lit room. Inside was Albert Wesker.

[skxrbrand]

@alteia-underground​ liked for a drabble

Being one of the most dangerous creatures in all of creation had it’s perks such as being able to lay out, prone, under the desert sun surrounded by all manner of monster and creature and have none of them dare approach you.

But King Gordon wasn’t from the desert. And the sleeping Daemon presented an opportunity for a little bit of payback, however petty it might be. Runic waiting restlessly in the distance, the retchen king had approached the sleeping Bloodthirster and maneuvered himself onto the brute’s shoulder. Fortunately for him, Khazaan was a fairly heavy sleeper otherwise he would’ve surely felt the rodent hands of the King twisting and shimmying and pulling the stolen crown off of his horn...

Mounting up his winged beast, Gordon left with a whoop, victory swelling in his chest. The lost crown had been re-taken, even if it had been replaced by a more ornate one in the meantime. It was the sentiment that counted, the principle. But the joy quickly bled away and clarity returned to the retchen’s eyes, he noticed something...different.

The metal of the crown had been warped by the heat of the daemon, but also by it’s sheer unnaturalness. What was one gold, was now brass. What had once been stately and kingly was now ugly sharp angles and sinister spikes. What had once been smooth metal was engraved by thin, evil runes. A malice exuded from the thing now, the very brass corrupted...

Khazaan isn’t the most observative of daemons and it takes an errant comment from a Bloodletter to let him know the crown is gone. The she-rat in his thrall is his first suspect, but when raiding her burrow turns up nothing, the Bloodthirster takes to the wing and makes for his second suspect: Gordon. It’s a petty thing, the crown, but he will not countenance being stolen from.

...However, when he arrives to the Kingdom, death sits on the wind long before he has a chance to bring it. Bodies are broken, the dead and dying choke the ground and his fury is dimmed by curiosity...then, a knowing malice. Some fool has worn the crown and all in their vicinity have gone mad with rage.

“ Silly rodents.” Khazaan murmurs as he steps over the bodies to find who bears the Brazen Crown of Hate...

[lightphieric]

Virtue's Last Record: Monster

Clover's thoughts during Luna End. Title from the Chicory: A Colorful Tale OST. CWs: Violence, canon character death AO3

When she’d thought Light was dead, horrible thoughts had gone through Clover’s head. They were the kind of thoughts that had shocked her into a stupor upon crossing her mind, the kind she couldn’t believe could come from her, the kind that had the potential to completely alter her own perception of herself. It had been almost impossible to reconcile them, to the point where she tried to strike them from her memory.

But Alice was as good at telling when someone else was deceiving herself.

“We found a dead man in the captain’s quarters, right next to the axe that had been used to kill him. I spent a long time staring at that axe, and I almost picked it up. So I could…” Clover bit down the words and averted her gaze from Alice’s. It was still too much to admit out loud. “Well, then Junpei showed me I was wrong about who the killer was. So there wasn’t really a point anymore.”

Alice narrowed her eyes and wrinkled her nose. Somehow it didn’t quite seem to be in disgust, only scrutiny. “But if it hadn’t been for that intervention…” she began, nodding her head, prompting Clover to finish the thought herself.

“I would have… I would have…” A lump formed in Clover’s throat as she tried to spit it out. Alice waited patiently, and although Clover may have preferred a verbal confirmation that she wouldn’t judge, the message got across on her face all the same. “I would have hurt someone,” she finally confessed.

“Or tried to hurt someone,” Alice said, sounding totally unfazed. “Do you really feel like you’re capable of being an axe murderer at this point? I see two things that need to change, Clover. One, you need to be in better control of your emotions, because you will see upsetting things in this job. And two, you need to be stronger. So if the time ever comes when you need to hurt someone, you’ll be able to do it properly.”

So Alice set Clover up with an SOIS shrink. He did good work; he addressed her past trauma and helped her guard herself against any future traumas to come. At the end of the day, though, it was really Alice herself who taught Clover how to keep that nasty side of herself down. Through talking to her, she learned that Alice had a mind for vengeance, too, but in seeing her act, Clover had only ever seen professionalism and decorum. She knew how to take deep breaths, see the bigger picture, put her rage into productivity. Even when they found her father murdered – not presumed dead, but bruised, bloodied, and lifeless in front of them – Alice came into work the next day with an even temper and a rational plan.

Clover wanted so badly to be like Alice. She admired and adored her. But maybe it was the fact that Clover cared so much about her that meant she could never be like her. When they were captured for yet another twisted game, when Alice proved to be very mortal, when yet another person Clover had come to rely on for everything was ripped away from her, it all came flooding back.

There was no chance that this was a trick, like it had been with Light. It was definitely Alice splayed out lifelessly on the floor, her face just as beautiful and her wardrobe just as unique, but both sullied by grim, stinking death. The déjà vu mixed with the hanging weight of certainty brought back feelings in Clover she thought she had pushed down. The beast was out, and there was no forcing it back into the cage.

Maybe she questioned Luna first for a benign reason. All Clover wanted were answers, and Luna seemed like the kind of spineless person who couldn’t keep a secret. She would either confess right away or let herself off the hook. And she did, professing that she didn’t kill Alice…

But Clover kept pushing. She waved around the injection gun primed with tubocurarine, a weapon more suited to her. Poisons are about mind games, not brute strength. Alice had told her that, and remembering her advice only made Clover angrier. She jabbed the gun forwards, point first, to emphasize her words. Every time, Luna backed further and further into the room, towards Alice’s body, making Clover even angrier. She reached for Luna’s shoulders, to shake her.

She hadn’t thought it would be in Luna to struggle. But anyone would when faced with someone like Clover, wouldn’t they?

Having someone die by her hands wasn’t quite what Clover imagined it would be like. There was no blood, no screams of pain. For all the strength she fought back with, once the needle entered her neck, Luna simply stopped moving and collapsed to the ground. There was no catharsis that came with it. Just a person who was no longer breathing and the heavy weight of regret.

Last time, the people she’d suspected hadn’t been the people who tried to kill Light. There was no reason now would be any different, when she didn’t have all the information. But this time, someone had died for it. Someone had died by Clover’s hand, because that had been something she was capable of all along. Maybe that capability had only been awoken a year ago, but she’d spent that year training physically and mentally and now, she was a killing machine that had just taken its first victim.

Even though it had been a bloodless death, Clover felt it drip from her fingers. She dropped the injection gun and bolted, thankful to at least remember a place where she could sanitize herself. There was a defibrillator in the infirmary, and she wasn’t stupid, she knew it would take more than restarting Luna’s heart to fix her collapsed lungs, but in Clover’s mind, even trying something desperate and hopeless to right her wrongs was something a murderer wouldn’t do. And she didn’t want to be a murderer.

Unfortunately, she had never handled a defibrillator before. And as she struggled with it, Luna’s last chance at life rapidly ticking away, Dio entered the infirmary. Someone she would quickly learn was no better than her.

As they sat waiting for death together, Tenmyouji confessed things to Clover, things which were as nonsensical as she’d expect from someone delirious from blood loss. She could have told him about Luna in return, gotten that off her chest in her final breath. But if the crazy things he’d said to her were true, then he would have absolutely told her it was okay, that he forgave her. And that was the last thing she wanted to hear. She didn’t want to be absolved; she wanted to die a killer. It was what she deserved.

[rallis-fatalis]

A Mutually Magical Friendship

Despite no one ever having taught her, Rallis was quite the naturally gifted mage. She had mastered every spell she’d ever attempted, even those presumably above her level. On the dragon’s latest adventure, she meets an actual master of magic, and one who’s even willing to teach her some new tricks! Meeting this wise old mage was sure to lead to a magnificent friendship, one that could be mutually beneficial.

“Ewww. It’s like an herbiboar, but a human. A humaniboar.”

“They’re called sourhogs, though I think I might like your name better.”

Rallis and a hooded cloaked figure huddled together in a dark, damp cave, hidden behind moist stalagmites. The hooded figure silently nocked a bolt into her crossbow and leveled it against her arm to take aim. Before them was a hulking brute of a beast, a humanoid pig the size of an ogre. It was tearing into its meal of carrot and potato with a side of mangled adventurer.

“Here we go,” the hooded figure whispered. She loosed her shot, and the bolt zoomed to its target. The shadowy dart slammed into the sourhog’s skull, forcing a strangled squeal out of the beast before it dropped dead.

The hooded figure sighed in relief. “Well thankfully that was ea–.”

A second sourhog rushed into view, roaring a horrific mix between a man and wild boar. The hooded figure scrambled to get another bolt nocked. The sourhog took note of the intruders, lowered its head, and charged their way.

“Crap, move!”

Rallis and the figure rolled opposite ways, barely escaping the shower of stone as the hogman barreled into the now broken stalagmites. The sourhog screamed and charged at Rallis’ partner, more infuriated with them than the dragon. It backed the woman against the wall with nowhere for her to run. She ditched her crossbow for a twisted dagger, scared but ready to take this beast down.

The monster roared and spattered a foul green acidic substance from its mouth, burning the earth before it, and reared back to launch a phlegmy ball of it at its prey. Right as it was about to launch its spit, the beast let out a strangled pained squeal and began to flail and reach for the back of its neck. Rallis had thrown herself at the sourhog and bitten down on its neck. The monster reached for the dragon, but with another deeper crunch, the beast fell dead, swallowing its acidic build-up and melting its throat open with a deadly gurgle.

Rallis leapt off the dead monster and spat out its disgusting greenish-red blood.

“Bleugh! Augh that’s nasty!” the dragon gagged as she wiped her tongue on her tattered sleeve.

The hooded figure tossed the dragon a canteen of water for her to rinse her mouth out with. She threw back her hood, revealing short brown hair and a pair of bright red goggles. She smiled as she kicked one of the sourhog’s corpses.

“One more duty done! Thanks for the help. I might’ve been in some trouble just by my lonesome!” She kneeled before one of the beasts and severed one of its hooves as a trophy. “That oughta be convincing enough for the reward! Meet back up in Draynor for your cut. You more than deserve it.”

Rallis nodded and tossed the canteen back. They left the monster den with a pair of smiles, happy to have done some good.

_______________________________________________________________________

Rallis fiddled with the large stack of coins causing her currency pouch to bulge. That job netted her quite a good sum of cash. She couldn’t wait to tell her family and Kaqemeex and Reldo the story. Her very first job! Killing an evil monster terrorizing town alongside a professional monster hunter! Spria was super nice for someone with the occupation of ‘monster killer,’ and Rallis was surprised at how well she got along with the woman given what the dragon was. The job paid 3,000 gold, and for a job well done, Spria split the loot 50/50 with Rallis. The dragon imagined all the possible things she could spend it on! …And just settled on a nice lunch from the stalls in town.

After her journey both above and below Lumbridge, Rallis strolled through the forest to the west. Despite the plethora of angry goblins, the scenic jaunt was lovely. Beyond the forest was a small town by the oceanside called Draynor Village. It was a tiny and quiet town, with some rather eclectic residents calling the place home. There was Spria, the monster hunter, but there were also a few other monster hunters that specialized in killing certain types of beasts, most notably vampyres. Rallis paled and hoped they never bumped into her friend Grimro.

There were also some ex-sailors, crafters who worked in unique materials, bankers that couldn’t afford a place in a nicer town, and a ton of wizards and mages. Quite a few of them made the daily trip to a place called the Wizard’s Tower a short ways south of the town, while others were retired mage adventurers that enjoyed the general peace and quiet Draynor had to offer.

In town, there were a few market stalls and places to sit and enjoy the food, drinks, and ocean view Draynor had to offer. Rallis sat on a bench facing the ocean with a bottle of grape juice and roasted corn cob, enjoying a fresh meal after a hard day of work. She liked this town far more than Lumbridge. People didn’t seem to be so scared of her appearance here. Unnerved at first, yes, but not terribly scared, as if the sight of a monster wasn’t that novel. The town had an air of ‘leave us be and we’ll leave you be,’ and the dragon could appreciate that. She ate in silence, watching the waves ebb and flow, keeping to herself.

Or at least she was until she heard someone scream.

A pair of black-robed shady-looking men cornered a marketgoer on her way home. They blocked either way she could escape from, with the bulk of a willow tree blocking her rear escape. Before Rallis could put down her lunch to help, a market guard armed with a steel sword and shield leapt into the fray.

“You two, stop!” the guard demanded. “Make any sudden moves and you’ll be hanging from the gallows instead of chained to a pillory!”

The pair of shady men snorted at the man who considered himself a threat. One waved a cloaked hand into the air, and bursting forth from his fingertips was a ball of flame. It swathed the guard in a violent blaze. The guard dropped his sword and shield with a scream and rolled in the dirt to put out the magically growing flame. The drink salesman in the market square acted quickly, pouring every available jug of water onto the man and saving his life.

Now Rallis was up and ready for action. ‘Mages, huh? Well they aren’t the only ones who know magic!’

Rallis pulled enough runes from her pouch for a few casts of fire magic and entered the fray. “Hey! You leave her alone!”

She launched a ball of fire at one mage, who held up his long sleeve to block part of the blow. Most of the flames bounced away harmlessly, fading away as they hit the wet grass. Rallis blinked in surprise. She had never seen that happen before. Were their robes magic warding?

The second cloaked wizard formed a bright blue ball in his hands and launched it at the dragon. Rallis dodged with the grace of a cat, retaliating with a flaming ball of her own. The wizard’s spell splashed against the floor, while Rallis’ flame hit the man square in the chest, and even though his black robes might have hindered the magical effect of the spell, it did nothing to stop its force. The man skidded back, giving the poor marketgoer a chance to escape.

Rallis didn’t let up, launching herself at the pair of wizards with fangs and claws bared. She took the pair down to the ground with her and turned to the frightened woman.

“Run now! I’ve got them!”

The woman nodded with a whimper and sprinted away. One of the two mages beneath Rallis blasted the side of her face with a flame spell, throwing her off them. They quickly stood with a victorious sneer, but their grins were just as quickly wiped away when they saw their spell had absolutely no effect. The dragon’s face was perfectly fine, with not a burn mark on her. And now she looked pissed.

“You call that fire?” she growled. “I’ll show you fire.”

With runes in each hand, Rallis clapped and smashed the stones for a much stronger fire spell together. Between her palms flourished an open flame akin to the breath of a dragon. She roared as she launched the spell at the two mages. The flames easily ate away at the meager magical protection their robes granted, setting them alight from boot to hood. The men screamed as they panicked and ran like headless chickens until their brain functioned enough to process the idea of jumping into the sea. They threw themselves into the cool ocean water, dousing themselves with a hissing sizzle.

By now, a crowd had gathered, including more market guards. Two brushed by Rallis with a stern ‘We’ll take it from here,’ as they ran to the shore with metal cuffs. Rallis huffed a ‘phew’ and dusted the rune powder from her hands. That had escalated quite quickly.

“My, my! A good thing we had such a talented mage here to save the day!” a well-spoken voice called out from behind Rallis. The dragon jumped at the sudden voice addressing her and turned around. Behind her, leaning on a tall elaborate white and gold staff, was an old man. He wore plain brown robes, similar to a monk’s but with more of an olive undertone. He had a great white beard, yet not a strand of hair atop his bald head. He wore a blue felt crown, similar to the festive party hats one might find in toy crackers every Wintumber, and a pair of circular glasses that looked too large for his face.

“Draynor is no stranger to new faces, especially those of wizards, but I daresay this is the first time I’ve seen one as unique as yours! My name is Dionysius,” he said with a polite nod of his head. “And if you have a moment to spare, I would greatly appreciate a chat.”

“My name is Rallis,” she said with a smile. “And sure, I’ve got nowhere to be.”

“Not a student of the Wizard’s Tower then, I take it?”

“So that tower is a school?” she mused. “Definitely not.” She had more than enough time being a student as of late. She wasn’t about to enroll herself in even more classes.

“An adventurer, then?” he guessed. “You must be, given that getup.”

Rallis wasn’t sure what the man was talking about. She looked fine enough. Sure part of her shirt was burnt now from that wizard’s spell, and the rest had tears and blood stains and streaks of dirt… as did her skirt and pants… and her toe claws still had tufts of sourhog fur caught in the tips… Okay, perhaps she did look a bit raggedy.

“Now about that chat,” Dionysius said. “If you wouldn’t mind, I would love to hear about the kind of magic a creature such as yourself could do. As a fellow mage, I find all forms of magic to be of great interest, and it is exceedingly rare to have a chance to converse with someone so far from human. Would you perhaps be a lizardman or dragon of some kind?”

Rallis’ ears shot up in surprise. Someone who actually guessed what she was correctly! “Yes, I’m a dragon!” she said more excitedly than she should have.

“Intriguing. Well then, Rallis the dragon, might you stop by for some tea and a chat?”

Rallis nodded excitedly and followed the old man to his home just around the corner of the market. Finally, a human stranger that wasn’t terrified by her appearance and even had some manners to boot! If only the rest of the world could be so open-minded and polite.

As Dionysius held open the door to his abode for her, a memory of Kaqemeex teaching her not to wander off with strangers tugged at her mind. As an adventurer, she realized that rule was really rather silly. Doing things for and being with strangers was a whole part of adventuring!

Dionysius’ home was full of bookshelves, with the whole bottom floor looking like Reldo’s library! It was actually a comfortingly familiar sight. There was even a similar desk and study on the far end just like the one she would nap under.

Before Rallis could get too nostalgic, Dionysius made his way to the tiny kitchenette hiding behind the bookshelves in the farthest corner. There sat a small table for two, three if you squished together. The man fished two servings of tea out of a ceramic jar and prepped two cups.

“Come, take a seat. And you’re welcome to any biscuits or cookies.”

Rallis cautiously took a seat, wary of the precarious stacks of books and papers her tail could easily knock over. She did indeed take a pair of cookies while Dionysius wasn’t looking, despite his invitation for her to do so. The man sat down a heated teapot of water for their cups, kindly poured the dragon a drink before his own, and sipped before asking his questions.

“I must thank you again for being so willing to answer my questions,” he started. “Now as fascinating as you are in your own right, I’m sure you get pestered about your being quite enough. I’m more focused on that little stunt you just performed. No creature I’ve seen has taken a fire strike to the face and walked away unscathed, save a beast of ancient age or massive proportion.”

Rallis subconsciously rubbed the side of her face that took the blow. “Well, us dragons are pretty immune to fire, magical or natural. I’ve been hit worse by my own brothers!”

“Actually,” Dionysius folded his hands together in thought. “Dragons can be found weak against magic sometimes. They most certainly resist magic due to the properties of their hide, but it is thoroughly possible for a dragon to be burned by magic. I know I’ve seen it for myself. They’re also actually very susceptible to water and ice spells. I wonder how you could withstand such a blow without some type of charm or ward!”

Rallis didn’t know what to say. She simply shrugged. “I’m sorry but I’m not sure how to answer you. I just don’t get too hurt, I guess. Well, not by magic at least.”

“Hmmm.” Dionysius took a sip of his tea in thought. “I wonder if your resistance is partially due to your skill. Mages actually find themselves partially resistant to spells due to the build-up of energy inside them acting as a weak sort of shield. As a dragon, you must have a great deal of magic inside you!”

“I’m pretty good at magic!” Rallis happily agreed. “My uncle gave me some runes to try magic with one day and he said I was a natural! I can use all of these I carry with me really well.”

The dragon unlooped a pouch from her waist and dumped its contents onto the table. Out came tumbling fire and air elemental runes alongside a myriad of catalytic, ranging from the more practical law and nature to the destructive mind and chaos.

“I see you lean towards fire spells,” the man noted. “With these, you could cast a fire bolt at best. Have you ever tried more high level spells using these?”

He pulled a pair of runes from his pocket. One had a white skull, the other a red teardrop. Rallis eyed them and shook her head. She hadn’t seen those before in Aubury’s shop.

“This is called a death rune,” Dionysius pointed to the stone with the skull. “And this is a blood rune.” He pointed to the red teardrop. “Death runes are the standard for offensive spells, allowing you to cast blasts. Blood runes are for the more advanced mage, allowing you to cast waves.” He handed them over to the dragon. “I would be grateful if you could show me your talent in action with these.”

“Right now?” Rallis blinked.

“Not this very moment,” he laughed. “I didn’t make tea for it to be left to the wayside.” He took a thoughtful sip of said beverage and hummed a moment in thought. “You must excuse me if this question comes off as brash or distasteful, but I won’t know until I ask it. Would you mind if I had a few of your scales? They would be fascinating to test magical resistance on, and certainly more safe than asking a less polite beast for a handful for science.”

Her own drink dribbled out of Rallis’ mouth as she stared at the man with an indiscernible look. He immediately backtracked.

“As I thought, a rude question,” Dionysius said, throwing his hands up defensively. “Please forget I asked.”

“More weird than rude,” Rallis muttered. “That’s like asking some random human for a patch of their skin.”

“Well I suppose like that the question does sound rather foul!” he laughed. “I was thinking more akin to how other reptiles simply lose their scales from time to time and equated the similarity to you without thinking. Truly, my apologies.”

Rallis shrugged, not really caring. At least this human was polite about it all.

After some more chatting and after finishing their tea, Dionysius escorted Rallis to the edge of the woods south-east of Draynor. There was a large grassy expanse perfect for practicing spells in without fear of setting anything ablaze. Rallis took out the first of the two new runes, the death rune, and aimed at a boulder half-buried into the ground before her. With a flame-red glow and a satisfying crackle, the runes for a fire blast crumbled into dust and Rallis threw the spell at the rock.

The air shuddered and sparked, as if electrified by lightning. Then CRACK! A thunderous snap and an explosion of fire struck the boulder with the strength of a bomb. Rallis hopped back like a startled cat, feathered wings and tail tip flared out. Even Dionysius seemed to be impressed, his eyes wide and brows raised. This beast did indeed house a great deal of magic, something she herself didn’t even seem to know. Teaching her that strength might just be to his benefit…

Rallis nervously looked to the man, as if looking for a sign that this was okay. She looked rather scared at first glance, but he could see something power-hungry underneath, a feeling he knew firsthand.

“That was excellent, don’t worry,” he praised. “Though I do believe I’ll be standing a bit farther back for this next one!”

Rallis took out the second new rune, the red teardrop, a blood rune. Rallis remembered Grimro saying something about blood magic; it was strong and vampyres used it. Perhaps stepping a few paces back was sound advice.

With a steadying breath and slightly shaking hands, Rallis smashed together the blood runes alongside fire and air. A pulsating wave of fire began to form in her hands, ready to be tossed and cause mass destruction. Rallis pulled back to toss the spell and threw…! Only for it to explode in her face, sending her flying back. A thunderous BOOM rattled the air, followed by Rallis’ shrill yelp as she was flung backwards into the grass. She rolled and rolled until another rock stopped her with a huff that knocked the wind out of her.

“Goodness! Are you alright?”

Dionysius ran over and gave the slightly charred dragon a hand. She accepted his help with a groan and rubbed a sore spot on her head. Where she stood before was now soot-black and burnt, and a ring of dwindling embers burnt away the grass.

“Don’t think I’ll be trying that again any time soon!” she laughed. “That was crazy! I’ve never seen magic that strong before.”

“And yet you sport no injuries,” Dionysius remarked. Sure, the dragon had a few burnt marks, but she was otherwise unmarred. A blast like that, cast from a spell gone wrong, easily had the potential to burn the unfortunate mage alive. He was right to take an interest in her.

“You did well for a first try with a wave spell,” the man continued. “You actually managed to hold the spell steady for a while. You simply lost your focus on the actual cast. I could teach you some tricks, show you how to be a better mage, and maybe even lead you to learning stronger spells if you’d like.”

Rallis beamed. “Really? Sure, I’d love to! Magic is so cool!”

“Of course. Only, I would need something from you first.”

That was only fair, Rallis thought. If this kind stranger was going to go out of his way to teach her magic, it was only fair he ask for something in return.

“Sure thing! What do you need?”

“The runes you will need to practice are more blood runes, and I have very little left in my personal stores. They are rather rare so sadly they’re not something one can find for sale in a casual wizarding shop. However, there is a place nearby with a surplus of any rune a budding mage might need.”

Dionysius pointed to a tall gray tower, looming in the misty distance.

“Oh yeah, that’s that wizard school, right?” Rallis said.

“Indeed. It is the Wizard’s Tower, where young wizards from across Gielinor strive to study and become apprentices. Naturally, as a school for wizardry, they have runes to spare.” The man inwardly grinned, hoping this dragon would be gullible enough to believe his next lie. “I used to study there too, you know. It’s how I became such a renowned sage and adventurer in my time. But one day we had a disagreement and I was kicked out without being allowed to take my belongings with me. I can’t even remember what the disagreement was about anymore; I only remember both sides being petty and foolish. They likely still have my old rune stash.”

Rallis was appalled. “All you did was get into a fight and they kicked you out and stole your stuff?! That’s horrible!”

“Sadly, yes,” he played. “And now I am forbidden from ever setting foot near the tower again. No one has the time to spare for an old man such as myself, and so I have had no one to ask to retrieve my belongings. But if you manage to bring them back for me, I’ll have plenty of runes to teach you with.”

“I’ll gladly help!” Rallis cheered. “Tell what to do and get and I’ll do and get it!”

Dionysius held back a grin. This beast was indeed gullible. What an easy way to finally get some payoff. Maybe he would raid more than a measly bank this time with the amount of runes this dragon could net him.

Back home, the man drew out a crude layout of the tower’s interior, showing the dragon every possible nook and cranny to hide in. It was quickly determined she would have to sneak in and out; there was no way she could waltz in and ask for some free high-tier runes nor give away who she was there to get them for. Of course, if she was caught, Dionysius gave her an out, some innocently lame excuse the old wizards were sure to buy into.

“There’s a large storage area in the basement,” Dionysius said as he pointed to the drawing of the basement. “On your left once you enter is the storage chamber. There are many cabinets and drawers and such, but the ones that hold runes should be fairly obvious; they are labeled with the appropriate runic symbol. I will need as many blood and death runes as you can carry, especially the former.”

Rallis nodded, committing the map to memory.

“There may be one obstacle once you reach the basement, however. The head wizard’s sleeping quarters are directly opposite the storage chamber. I remember hearing him being a rather light sleeper, so do be careful not to alert him of your presence.”

“Got it,” affirmed Rallis. “This shouldn’t be too hard. I’ve stolen more from a lot scarier people.” She would fear the black knights hiding in the Taverley Dungeon far more than a school of magic students.

“Good to hear!” Dionysius cheered. He wasn’t worried about the dragon getting caught with that level of confidence, and if she was caught, well he had now seen firsthand she could tank a few spells to the face. “I will eagerly await the results of your venture.”

_____________________________________________________________________________

The moon was quite absent that night, making it all the easier for Rallis to sneak around unnoticed. She stuck to the darkest shadows of the long stone bridge that stretched across the water to the Wizard’s Tower, slinking around like a cat on the prowl. Reaching the tower undetected was no problem at all; now all she had to do was get inside.

Dionysius warned her of the creaking old doors that led to the main lobby, but there was an old window permanently stuck in a jam from someone else’s attempt at thievery long ago. Rallis found it easily, at the back of the tower and close enough to the floor for her to reach. The wizards were obviously not too stupid, as they had reinforced the broken window and barred it. But they hadn’t accounted for a dragon that could chew through metal to break in.

Rallis chomped through the weak iron bars keeping the half-broken window in place and slithered through. With a silent drop, the dragon was now inside the building. All around her were ancient tomes and magically bound books. Magical items and artifacts lined shelves on the wall, alongside a few mysteriously colored potions. The sheer amount of magic in this place made her scales itch.

On the other side of the room was the door leading to the lobby. Careful not to make the old wood creak on its hinges, Rallis opened the door just enough to squeeze through and slid across the lobby to the stairs leading down to the basement. There wasn’t a single sound or feeling out of place yet. So far so good.

Once Rallis slid into the basement, she could see in clearer detail what Dionysius spoke of. Down a turn and a small hallway, the basement split into two distinct segments: a massive collection of cabinets and other storage units, and a much smaller room. There were no windows or peepholes, and the only entrance was shut tight. That had to be the head wizard’s room. Rallis tiptoed by, the presumably sleeping wizard none the wiser.

A metal gate was all that separated Rallis from the rune stores. A flimsy lock hung loosely between the two gate doors, something easily gnawable for a dragon. With a quick bite, Rallis snapped the lock in twain and spat out the pieces. Security in this place sure wasn’t much to write home about. Perhaps this is what happened when one relied too heavily on magic and nothing else; it led to complacency.

Right inside the storage room, as if presenting themselves on a golden platter, were massive drawers full of sorted runes. Each drawer was etched with their corresponding symbol, some of which Rallis had never seen, such as a pair of spectral light blue wings and some kind of red-eyed black demon head. She took a small handful of those for herself, for research purposes of course. She found the requested death and blood runes next and shoveled as many as she could carry into her pouches.

There was no reason to shut the gate after her; the lock was shattered and there was no reason to hide her theft. Besides, it would just cause more noise than necessary. She slunk back through the gate and down the hallway, and there were the stairs back to the ground floor. What an easy in and out job!

As Rallis reached for the steps, something stopped her, something that made the scales on the back of her neck flare. It felt like someone was watching her. She spun around with claws drawn, but no one was there. That wasn’t right; she knew something was here.

An ethereal whisper floated through her ears, startling the dragon even more.

“The Eye… It hides here…”

Rallis jumped out of her skin at the voice, but with another look around, it still revealed no one nearby. Something faint burned between her wings, making her hiss. Before her, a faint symbol glowed on the door to the head wizard’s room.

“The Eye… In there… Protect it!”

Rallis frowned and thought loudly, hoping whatever spooky ghost voice this was would hear.

‘Sorry but I’m not following a disembodied spooky voice right now. The last one turned out to be a hydra! Besides, that’s where the head wizard is and I’m not looking to get caught. You’ll have to find someone else to help you, or wait for another time, spooky ghost voice.'

The voice vanished, as did the pain between Rallis’ wings. She huffed in relief and slithered back through the tower and squirmed through the broken window. She had made out like a bandit, and Dionysius was sure to be happy!

_________________________________________________________________________

“My word, this is enough runes to last until I die! Excellent work!”

Rallis dumped the runes onto Dionysius’ table, sorting them into piles of death and blood. The man acted like he had just found a treasure chest filled with millions of gold, nearly throwing himself onto the table in joy.

“I can’t thank you enough,” he told Rallis. “I’ll have no problem teaching you how to work difficult magic now!”

“Oh! Speaking of…” Rallis fished out one of each new rune she snagged from the tower. She showed off the one with the light blue pair of wings first. “What rune is this?”

“That’s a soul rune. They are primarily used for a type of magic that few know today, a type of magic that is from an ancient civilization. I’ve also heard rumors it is used across the sea in some odd ways involving severed body parts. I couldn’t tell you more though.”

“Interesting,” Rallis mused as she put it away. She pulled out the demonic-looking one next. “What about this one?”

Dionysius held back a scream as he paled. “Put that away now! That’s a wrath rune, the strongest catalytic rune in the world. One accidental spell with those and you can turn half of Draynor into dust on the wind!”

Rallis swiftly stowed it away, in a pouch far from the rest of her runes. It wouldn’t do to get them confused with the others in the midst of battle.

“Good to know. Guess I won’t try those any time soon! Unless you can teach me…?”

The man shook his head. “Apologies, but no. Wrath runes are far too dangerous when they’re used correctly . Practice with them is for the foolishly brave or those with a death wish, and I am neither. Perhaps once you master every other level of spell, I’ll teach you. Maybe.”

“I’ll take a maybe!”

“Then tomorrow, we practice wave spells. I recommend we take a short journey north to the abandoned manor so we don’t draw attention. Those wizards at the tower will be looking for a culprit.”

“Right, that sounds good,” Rallis agreed. “Here’s to a friendship over magic!”

She fist-pumped the air with a cheer. Dionysius half-heartedly returned the gesture.

‘Indeed,’ he thought. ‘And perhaps a friendship over what else I can have you steal for me,’ he smiled devilishly.

[dailyadventureprompts]

Bit of a grotesque one, but- a striking image that needs a proper villainous being behind it. Apparently not-infrequently, grappling stags will end up inextricably tangled by the antlers, and one or the other will die and- if the other doesn't starve to death- end up as a gory decapitated trophy caught in the other's horns. This anon needs some kinda monster coming out of that image- something about eternal counsel with one's greatest enemy, unable to see beyond your foe.

Deity: Aefrix, God of Snares and Bonds

Hold on though your teeth may chip and your nails rip from their beds, hold on though the binds may cut your flesh and your name be cursed, hold on and though your suffering may be eternal, and you will never be alone. 

Setup:  An ancient deity of the wilds that has persisted into the modern day mainly through unwitting folk ritual, Aefrix has been much diminished by long history, enduring innumerable metaphysical wounds while being theologically twisted into something small and hateful. 

In the original tellings,  Aefrix was a god of the hunt symbolizing the unique relationship between predator and prey, the ritualized pursuit that would determine the victor, and the duality of death either in the starvation of the hunter or the devouring of the hunted.   At some point this duality collapsed in on itself, rendering Aefrix a god that was both alive and dead, starving and devouring and sated and being eaten all at once. Some druidic elders tell the tale of how Aefrix was cursed by a rival to hunt his own shadow, while others insist that it was a wicked shape-shifter he stalked, who took on the gods’ form for their final clash mirroring his every movement as they battled to the death. 

Regardless of the accuracy of these tales, Aefrix and his worship changed after that point: no longer blessing persuit, he became a god that oversaw the unending capture, whether it be oaths, punishments, magical wards, or traps. Passed over by hunters, he became a patron of those who would give everything not to let go of what they treasured, be it love or life or honor, even if it meant their own destruction. 

When manifested, Aefrix appears as a pair of animals locked in some deadly embrace, one dead, the other doomed: a stag with the severed head of another dangling from his horns, a serpent traped in the talons of a rictus hawk. When he appears as a humanoid, it is always as a haggard and bloodsmeared hunter with a corpse twined about his form, both heads sheltered beneath the same hood. When Aefrix speaks, the living head is gruff and dismissive, while the dead head speaks in a lofty and archaic tone. 

Adventure Hooks: 

As an ancient god Aefrix cares little for morality when bestowing his blessings, only sacrifice, and prefers living creatures to be left on his altar bound to waste away,  fall victim to the wilds, or struggle free on their own. While most supplicants get away with a mouse bound in twine, those who ask great deeds of the god of snares are tasked with constructing traps that can capture great beasts or people. The party may inadvertantly learn that there’s an adherent of the old ways in their vicinity when they stumble into such a trap, a pit or snare made to hold the victim to the point of death, with the twined god’s symbol in clear view. For greater blessings these traps must be constructed ( and fed) regularly, creating a wilderness minefield that preys on travelers and hunters alike. 

Forced into a marriage with a member of the country gentry, a woman writes to the party for aid: Her brute of a husband has taken an unexpected tumble down the stairs, and though she finds herself the inheritor of his title, she finds herself unable to leave the grounds: a dark presence hunts her from the thick forest surrounding their her manor house, transforming the estate into a gilded cage from which she cannot escape. As it turns out, the lord was an adherent of Aefrix and asked his god to ensure his pretty young wife didn’t escape, never planning on her ability to resist in any other way.  Investigating the house and the surrounding wilderness may provide a way of breaking the curse, but the now departed lord has crammed both full of traps. 

While traveling through the wilderness, a pained voice begins calling to the party in their minds, just as they detect a whiff of blood on the air. Pushing through the underbrush the party finds a unicorn caught in a trap of barbed spears that have closed around the glimmering beast’s frame like a blasphemous beartrap. Immortal and unwilling to die, the unicorn has been here for days, the ground below muddy with its silver blood, and pleads with the party to help free it before its life is fully bled away. As the party works it free, they will be assaulted by a pack of undead wolves, harbingers of a mad druid who haunts the wilderness and devises new and terrible ways to pay tribute to her patron. Upset at the loss of this prize sacrifice, he’ll toss a curse on the party from afar, further hampering their journey. 

Titles: The Twined god, Caller of the Hunt, Tithe of Teeth and pain, Snaremaker

Signs: The growth of strangling vines, the remains of creatures caught in traps natural or otherwise, Scattered horns/teeth dug in where they should not be. The appearance of not-deer

Symbols: Clashing deer,  Statues with two heads/faces (one dead, one alive), a hunter murdered by their captured prey, teethmarks, bloodsoaked horns/fangs. 

Art 

[lore-olympian]

ασкαgα ρяєνιєω

here’s a preview for the aokaga fantasy au i’m working on, please enjoy <3 

tw. blood, swearing, injury

Blood. There was a lot of blood.

Kagami found himself with several broken ribs and blood gushing down his arm. The boy’s head was becoming dizzier by the minute; he was running out of time before he became this monster’s dinner. 

Kagami had been furious. Who the hell was Aomine to forbid him from going on a hunt? The King of Touou was truly as arrogant as the people made him out to be. The young redhead hunted religiously with his father. His magic had a forceful nature, which, combined with his incredible strength and speed, knocked beasts back no matter their size. Kagami’s not strong enough to fight a creature of the night? Like hell, he was going to let the snarky bastard’s comment slide. 

Not just comment, singular. But a slew of warnings, which Kagami took as personal insults. Aomine warned him that his spells were too unsafe, too uncalculated, too unrefined– too weak– for the creature he was hell-bent on facing. You can’t just bash its head with light magic, idiot, you need tactics against it, he said.

Kagami was described as hot-headed far more often than he liked to admit. 

Alas, his behavior never proved those voices wrong. From his tendency to rely on luck and brute force to wildly aim attacks at enemies, or undertake feats of unforeseen culinary demolition on a simple dare, the foolish boy made one reckless decision after another.

So of course, Kagami took warnings as a challenge.

Which is exactly what brought him to his current predicament. 

True to Aomine’s warnings, the monster’s venomous claws, sharp teeth, and large size were an overwhelming combination for those who battled it alone. Kagami raised his right arm to aim another blast, but the hairy beast dodged it effortlessly. The red-head was getting sloppier with his dodges, one scratch followed another while the venom’s effects were growing more apparent. 

With his back pressed against a tree, Kagami realized that his heart was beating slower than he was accustomed to. After all, an adrenaline junky knows no rest. His current state of relaxation would’ve been welcomed if it wasn’t accompanied by the incredible pain and the realization of imminent death. The creature growled, flashing its teeth in a sinister grin, jumping towards its long-awaited meal. Kagami closed his eyes, bracing for the impact and…

A splash.

There was only the gush of blood he felt on his face and the desperate howl of the beast. There it was, unconscious beneath his feet, painting the grass red.

“You idiot! If I say you’re not ready, that means you’re too fucking weak! Why do you have to go and get yourself killed to prove my point?!”

Kagami groaned.

“For fuck’s sake Taiga…” Aomine kneeled down before the redhead, examining his wounds. 

“I thought… if I killed it, you would finally respect me… at least a little bit…” he muttered, fighting his body to stay awake a while longer.

“Stop talking. You can’t earn my respect if you’re dead, moron.” 

Aomine’s voice was uncharacteristically soft. Kagami could swear the king’s hands were shaking. His cool demeanor was nowhere to be found. The venom really must really be doing a trick on his mind, the red-head thought.

They moved to return to Aomine’s castle. One step shouldn’t be so hard… he thought. And he was absolutely wrong! The boy would’ve had another bruise if it weren’t for his companion. His cold body welcomed the warm hand that wrapped itself around his back.

“Aomine…”

“Lean on me,” he muttered, placing his other hand on Taiga’s forehead. 

“Well, this is the first stage of the poisoning. When you start burning up, we won’t have much time to save your ass.” Aomine lowered him to the ground and kneeled. 

It was common for hunting trips to end in injuries. Some worse than the others: a scratch on his leg, a concussion, a twisted ankle, a broken arm. All said injuries were tended to by Riko or another powerful healer. But this intense feeling of fatigue was foreign to him. His mind was in a frenzy. His breath hitched as warm hands traveled across his body over the injuries that made it seem like a miracle he even survived.

Kagami had failed. He was on death’s door, and he had failed to prove the asshole wrong. Not only that but he was also rescued like a damn damsel in distress. Kagami prayed that the ground would open and swallow him whole.

Kagami was powerful and fierce: he was not in the need of a protector. He was the one who protected everyone else. He despised depending on others. It was his destiny to be the strongest, but it seemed he was drifting farther from it each day.

Get your hands off me, I’m perfectly fine was what he wanted to say instead, all his addled wits brought forth was: 

“Are you going to carry me back in your strong arms, your highness?” The king chuckled.

“Of course, princess, if you say please,” Kagami swore he would’ve made a wonderful remark if he wasn’t on the verge of visiting the underworld. Instead:

“This is going to hurt a lot” was all the warning he got until he heard a scream. Why was Aomine screaming? Was Aomine screaming? No, he wasn’t. It was Kagami. The pleasant warmth of the king’s hands that trailed his muscles was replaced with intense heat. His vision blurred, engulfed in the familiar blue light. The whispers of his name were the last thing Kagami remembered as the darkness replaced the indigo gleam.

[separatist-apologist]

No i absolutely can not wait im going down the rabbit hole right now and i intend to find something worthwhile i need it now 😭

This is the best I can do

“So,” he said, coming off that last step with a smirk. “Lucien and Tamlin, together again. What do I owe the pleasure, my lords?”

Lucien didn’t bat a lash. He’d spent a good century dealing with his father and brothers, after all. Rhysand, too, though Tamlin wouldn’t dare say it outloud.

“Disband your army,” Lucien said, coming towards Paxton. Just as they’d discussed. Tamlin watched Lucien put a hand on Paxton’s shoulder, squeezing like old friends. Lucien’s eyes slid towards Tamlin, inclining his head ever so slightly.

Paxton, arrogant and too comfortable with his own power, laughed. “And go back to bowing to the beast? I think not. Come, Lucien. Surely you’re tired of playing second hand to a lesser male. Think—”

Lucien had Paxton’s arms pinned behind his back, his boot in his back. Paxton slammed to his knees while Tamlin prowled forward. He couldn’t fight Lucien—Lucien was a High Lords son and far more powerful than someone like Paxton. He twisted, spitting on Tamlin when he reached for that crown.

“Trevyn would have killed you for this,” he said, holding that golden crown with one long finger.

“Trevyn is dead.” Paxton spat at Tamlins feet. “Your whole inbred family ought to be—”

Tamlin reached for his neck, talons slicing through the skin to silence him before he died. Blood splattered over Tamlin’s nice boots, replacing the spit. He relished the brute strength coursing through him, his magic that made his skin ripple. Tamlin ripped, holding Paxton’s gaze. His last horrible realization was the High Lord removing his head, dropping it like trash at his feet.

Lucien released Paxton’s body, letting it slump forward unceremoniously. Tamlin felt the woosh of magic sliding back to the world, parsed out of a long line of powerful beings.

How many more would return their gift to the world and let the Mother re-roll the dice?

Lucien looked to the gathered forces still standing on the lawn. He recognized a few of those faces, had once fought alongside them. Tamlin kicked at Paxtons head, letting them see what defiance might win them. Their lord was powerful but they were not and in the span of two sentences, both Lucien and Tamlin had removed him from this world. He could tear through that army in minutes, faster if Lucien helped.

“You can return to the barracks,” Tamlin told them, “Or you can join your master. Your choice.”

Lucien almost laughed. “Want to raid the house for things he stole?”