#dammit Husk you’re so dense

[top-shelf-tender]

*noms ear*

Husk’s fur bristled at the bite, but when he registered who had delivered it, he relaxed and quirked a brow.

“You too?” The bartender had come to expect this behavior from Alastor weekly, but Adam was…unexpected.

[a-vampire-culturelover]

Pneuma- Another Adventure time oc-related fic because im starting to really like making these >:3

“Hey Moon?”

“Yes Eustace?” ”Why is there a portal to the Nightosphere and Garbages body?” Eustace asked, terrified at the gray, lifeless body of his best friend floating and staring at the wall.

“Oh yeah we summoned Hunson Abadeer and he got his soul sucked out.” ”Why would you do that?!” ”He listened to me when I said, ‘hey let’s summon the ruler of the nightosphere and get Garbages soul sucked.” Moon added as Garbages body banged its head into the wall, groaning and making Eustace shudder. ”Dammit! Now we gotta go get him back!” You’re probably wondering what the hell is going on: Well it's simple. See Moon dared Garbage to summon Hunson Abadeer, ruler of the Nightosphere, and "get his soul sucked or something"; And Garbage, being the dense piece of trash that he is as a vampire cat, misinterpreted it as flirting with the ruler of literal hell. "Ayyy, Abadeer. Buddy, Pal." "Why did you summon me?" "Ah you know, don't play dumb. Like you know that whole soul thing?" "You want me to steal your soul?" "Yeah you can steal my soul anytime~." "Really?" Abadeer said with intent that Garbage immediately regretted. "Wait no I didn't mean it like that, I-I don't want to die a virgin!-" And just like that, Moon watched as her friend had his soul stolen right before her eyes, while doing jack-squat about it. And there Eustace was, calling Hierophant to come back to the apartment to watch over his best friend's body so nothing happened to it, as he dragged Moon and Empress with him to deal with the situation and go get back Garbage's soul back from Hunson. The three were currently on their way to Marceline's home, hoping the daughter of Abadeer, and also the one who killed the vamps years ago, could convince Abadeer to give it back. 'He better or else'. Eustace thought as he bickered with Empress. The taller of the vamps was pretty upset at him due to Eustace blaming Moon for Garbage losing his soul, and to be fair she had a point. Eustace was bitchin' around by that point after all. Yet still, he feared so dearly for his longtime friend, and despite the shit he had to put up with Garbage, he still cared about him. Hopefully after this was over bitch-slapping Garbage for making such a dumb mistake could wait; He'd be happy just to see Garbage's body with that dumb smile and not lifeless with cold eyes like it was now. "So you need my help getting my dad to give back someone's soul?" "Yes. You literally can't say no I just want my friend back." "Fine." Marceline complained as she set up the portal, not happy that she'd have to see her dad again because he was stealing souls(again.) Before Eustace even knew it, he could see what looked like a kitchen, and a man of Abadeer's description making something. "Welp, im going to talk with Edgard. Let me know when you're done bitching to Abadeer about Garbage's soul." Moon spoke as she left. "Hey dingwad! You stole my friend's fucking soul!" He yelled at Abadeer as the rule of the Nightosphere turned around confused, eating a sandwich. On the counter was jar labelled "Garbage's Soul", the poor thing whipping around in the cramped space. "He said he wanted me to." "Yeah, well he's a dumbass and said that he wanted you to because he thought he was supposed to be flirting with you!" "Oh. Well too bad, it's mine now." Hunson spoke as Eustace yoinked the jar, prepared to stand his ground. Quickly, the demon attempted to steal Eustace's soul, only to find it not working. "The fuck?" Empress and Marceline commented. "Oh yeah, I sold my soul to go to Wiz Arts College when I was 18." Eustace chuckled to himself as he and the others left, Moon getting back from a warm little reunion with Edgard, a demon that adopted Moon ages ago. "Yo Moon how was Edgard." He asked as they walked out of the portal, quick and easy as both Marceline and Abadeer were left confused in his kitchen. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"I'M ALIVE!!!" Garbage yelled as the lifeless husk that was his body regained color, and the red flash in his eyes was back. He pulled Eustace into a hug, earning a smack on the face from his tail. "Thanks for being an idiot and actually thinking a being of pure evil would just let you flirt with them and not steal your fucking soul." Eustace scorned him as he gave that blank little look that Garbage had when he wasn't paying attention.

"You aren't even paying attention, are you?" Eustace asked as Garbage just slow blinked at him while purring, earning a dry chuckle from his friend. Oh well. Better than having his soul stuck in a cramped jar for eternity.

[sorceresslost]

“Dammit Orren where are you?!”

Her question echoed through the forest, the young woman nearly falling over as she cast her gaze out into the blackness, her words fading into the void.

Her slender frame dodged and weaved through the dense sea of trees, hopping over downed tree trunks and just barely avoiding the rocks and debris strewn about the thick undergrowth. A raised forearm shielded her face from low hanging branches as she forced her way deeper through the foliage, and she winced whenever a particularly stubborn branch would make it past her gloves and add to the growing collection of scratches on her exposed neck and cheeks. Tired muscles pressed onward regardless, pushing through the dense underbrush.  Her lungs burned with fatigue as they desperately gasped for breath. The air that filled them was unpleasant, thick and damp, reeking of decomposition, a scent made even worse from the rain the night before. Her heart pounded in her chest from a cocktail of fear and exertion, begging for a respite that simply couldn’t be granted.

An agonizing pressure behind her eyes continued to mount as she came across yet another massive husk of a stone building, remains of what used to be a proud metropolis now commandeered by local flora. Too large to make her way around it, the woman cursed under her breath and forced her way inside the ancient structure, squeezing around the massive roots that had burst forth from the ground and wrapped themselves around what was left of the door frame. The cursed woods and everything in them were laden with ancient magicks, and every time she made contact with another handhold shimming through the entrance, it sent a fresh jolt through her skull that intensified her raging migraine.

The woods themselves seemed off from the very beginning, a feeling that fueled some deeply seated instinct, screaming at her ever since she laid foot here to turn around and get out; a voice that was only magnified the more her survival instincts continued to take over. She mentally chided herself for the dozenth time in the last thirty seconds. A single line repeated  over and over, each time laced with more contempt.

Stupid.

So stupid.

The far wall of the decaying structure had simply eroded away with time, and the girl easily made her way back outside. Beyond that last outpost, the landscape began to subtly shift the further she pushed forward. Ruined building became less frequent, and the massive trees that sprang forth in and around began to subside, replaced by smaller saplings and numerous bushes, before the foliage began to disperse entirely. No longer impeded, the woman was able to quicken her pace, rushing ahead with a renewed vigor kindled by the promise of open space. Scant rays of sunlight began to pierce through the dense canopy and illuminate the ground below as the forest continued to thin. With one final burst of resolve, the woman threw herself towards the light.

She stumbled out of the bramble and into a small clearing. Her legs finally gave out on her, and she collapsed to hands and knees, gasping for breath, ignoring the searing sensation that ran up her arms as she impacted hard against the ground.

It was only after taking a few moments to collect herself that she noticed the silence. The sounds of her pursuer had faded, replaced with the constant buzz of insects, the chirping of birds, and the occasional distant shriek of something deep within the woods she’d rather not contemplate. Her eyes took in the deceptively tranquil surroundings as she struggled to control her breathing in an attempt to calm down.

“I think… it’s gone…”

Silence was her only answer, and she fell further to the ground, cradling her limbs as she nursed her burning calves. A pathetic moan escaped her lips as she rocked back and forth in the grass. The adrenaline flooding her body began to subside, and the scratches on her face started to become noticeable, sharp pinpricks shooting through her cheeks with each exhale. Fatigue seeped into every last inch of her body, and it begged her for rest, the grass quickly becoming more comfortable as it cradled her exerted frame, threatening to lull her off to sleep.

She barely noticed the soft rustling sound as the foliage behind her was disturbed, her eyelids heavy and drooping. It wasn’t until the firm hand was upon her, grasping tightly at her shoulder, that she snapped to attention, a new wave of adrenaline firing through her. Her hand tightened into a fist and she leapt off the ground, ready to rain blows down upon her attacker, before freezing in her tracks when she realized who it was.

“Orren?!”

The young man jumped, pulling his hand away, face deep with distress.

His expression cut deep at the girl, and she winced. “Sorry…” Her cocked fist unclenched, falling to her side and she relaxed again, slumping back into the clearing’s alluring embrace with a long sigh. “At least say something next time. Nearly gave me a heart attack…” Her gaze slowly traced the figure in front of her; Orren’s appearance was equally as frazzled as hers. His proud olive tunic was in tatters, having been assaulted by both beasts and bramble, exposing the layer of ringmail underneath that she had, in hindsight stupidly, given him flak for insisting on wearing. The cuts and scrapes on his bare arms were less noticeable against his significantly darker skin, but the occasional trickle of crimson still shimmered against his athletic frame. Her stare rested on his wounds as pangs of guilt shot through her stomach, before moving up to his eyes, which were similarly giving her a once over. A soft smile touched her lips, despite her best efforts to conceal it. “You came back…”

His gaze shot off into the distance, expression heavy, before slow, unsure footsteps closed the remaining gap between the the pair. “You’re hurt.”

The girl’s brow arched. She looked over her body, only now noticing the sea of red on her arm and the rather nasty gash it sprang from. Her eyes jumped from the wound to Orren. “…What, this?” She loosed a nervous chuckle, the sight of the wound disturbing, but the pain barely noticeable amongst all the adrenaline. “It’s no big deal.”

Her would-be assailant ignored her, getting on one knee. “Lemme see…”

Tepidly, she extended her arm. Rough, calloused fingers met her skin as Orren took a moment to examine the injury. The eerie silence was dashed by the sound of tearing fabric, Orren taking what little was left of his sash and ripping a strip free to clear away the blood, followed by a longer strip to fasten into a bandage. Sera trembled under his touch, and the young man took a keen interest in the dew coating the grass as he worked. Even the ambience of the forest seemed to soften over the palpable tension.

The words left her lips without conscience. “You uhh… you okay?”

Orren’s hands froze, trembling a bit. He grunted, swallowing hard before finishing the bandage, giving it an especially aggressive tug taut. “Yeah. Yeah I’m fine.”

“But what ab-”

A staunch raised hand stopped her mid sentence. Sera’s stomach churned at the blunt dismissal, until she noticed Orren’s face: eyes pinpricks, ears twitching as he glanced back in the direction they came. Her churning stomach bottomed out.

“What’s wrong?”

Terror came over the man’s face, and he sprang to his feet, pulling at the collapsed woman in front of him. “We gotta move, now!”

He grabbed her forearm and took off, pulling the young woman to her feet again before she could protest. His firm grasp tore at her just-bandaged wound, and she let out a groan of disapproval. The pair made their way through the clearing, the few beams of light that penetrated the canopy casting the entire area in an odd, dream-like patchwork of desaturated golds and greens. The scent of blooming flowers that peppered the meadow a harsh contrast to the surrounding smell of rotting leaves.

They had only made it a few paces when the ground beneath them shook, loosening leaves from the trees and silencing the surrounding fauna. The pair froze, slowly turning back towards the direction they had just left. Another thunderous footstep shattered the silence, followed by the snapping and splintering of timber from deep within the woods just beyond their vision. Then another. Then another. Each louder and more clear than the one before it.

Its eyes pierced the black first, the light peeking through the freshly downed trees hitting it in just the right way to reflect off it’s inhuman irises. Two stacked pairs of golden hollow pupils that glowed with unnatural luminance cut through the dark. Another tremor, and the full beast came into view, it’s otherworldly head, vaguely reptilian but with a strangely geometric jaw, towered over the pair, it’s body covered in a mix of scales and a thick coating of slime, causing occasional brush to stick to its four lumbering limbs. The creature’s larger size made short work of the difficult terrain that had impeded their progress, and it tore through the forest with an almost casual indifference. It’s broad shoulders pushed aside branches, and flattened bushes under its massive hook-clawed limbs.

The horror locked both sets eyes with the terrified pair in the clearing and stopped, slowing lowering its body, deep indentations carved into the flesh on it’s sides that could be mistaken for gills shuddering as it assessed the situation. It turned it’s head and blinked, eyeing the couple with an animalistic curiosity, unmoving.

Orren gave the girl at his side a soft tap, not taking his eyes off the horror before them. His voice barely a whisper. “You think maybe it calmed down?”

The beast unhinged it’s jaw, letting loose a deep, guttural bellow that reverberated through the entire forest, silencing it entirely, and froze the blood in the veins of its prey.

The creature’s limbs tensed, and it rocketed forward, moving at a speed seemingly unfit for its size. Trees were ripped from their roots as the beast came barreling through the remaining foliage, sending the forest into a frenzy. The ground trembled, the whole world seeming to quake in terror under the beast’s gait.

Orren reacted first, snapping out of his trance and breaking into a sprint, nearly yanking the woman’s arm from it’s socket as he all but dragged her behind him. She stumbled, trying to keep pace with his longer strides, and they both dove back into the forest in hopes of losing the creature in the maze of bramble and brush.

The beast in pursuit wasn’t deterred, bursting through the bramble and continuing the hunt. Against better judgement the woman looked back, and cursed loudly. The horror was quickly beginning to gain ground on the desperate pair. The ground to their left exploded, the impact of a blade the size of Orren’s forearm showering them both in a cloud of dirt and debris as the Manticore just misses him with its massive sickle-tipped tail.

The woman shook herself from Orren’s grasp and veered off to her right. “Scatter! We’re too big of a target like this!”

The panicked man began to protest, but another near miss from the beast right between them quelled his misgivings, and he took to the left, not letting his eyes off the young woman for more than a few moments, and made sure not to overtake her.

The ghastly creature, now faced with two targets, kept its focus on the girl, continuing to close the gap with its prey. She cast a glance back at her pursuer just in time to dodge a sweeping blow from its forelimb, diving to her left as the beast just barely bat air with its strike. The ground met her faster than she anticipated, and she toppled face first into the bramble, the wind knocked from her lungs.

The girl let out a strained cry, and Orren whipped around, making a beeline for the young woman. She struggled to her feet, gasping for air, but the underbrush was still slick from the previous night’s rain, and her boots couldn’t gain traction in time. In seconds the horror was upon her, leaping forward and pinning the woman against the ground with massive claws, one of them tearing through her right shoulder.  She screamed in agony, blood pouring from the wound and soaking the ground beneath them. The creature’s twisted ears perked at the scent, and it let loose a victorious shriek, rattling the woman’s brain and filling her nose with the stench of dank breath leaking from it’s maw. Orren reached out in vain, still precious steps too far away to do anything but scream out in terror as the creature’s jaw slowly reeled back, then snapped forward, ready to sever the woman’s torso.

“SERA!!!!”