#feeling the additional asters

[arashikohedervary]

✨Phrases that'd become part of my daily vocabulary if it weren't for English not being my first language✨:

Part 1: Young Justice

"I'm whelmed."

"I'm feeling the aster."

*slaps forehead* "Hello, Megann!"

"Be back in a flash"

"Are you feeling the aster?"

"The Wall-man has arrived!"

[fuji-sen]

the 'evil imposter' just wants to be a baker!

Prologue: The Foodie turned Imposter?!

Part 2: Sweet Flowers

[ part 1 ] || [ masterlist ] || [ part 3 ]

divider is made by @saradika-graphics

Walking around you'd slowly realize you were in Mondstadt, based from the bundle of regional specialties you held in your arms. The orange makeshift bouquet of windwheel asters spun around like a regular pinwheel. Seeing that sight brought a small smile on your face, your walk around Mondstadt was peaceful, you hadn't run into unnecessary troubles so maybe your worries were for nothing.

Yeah, nvm — [Name]

You felt your stomach grumble, famished you were. But the city seemed to be nearing in the distance. Perhaps you can wait till then, but then you remember how broke you were and sighed, staring at the orange flowers in your arms. You wonder if you can sell it.

Money was definitely going to be an issue, as well as acquiring a roof over your head. Depending on the timeline, the only place left, may already be booked by the Fatui Delegates.

Food could be remedied by foraging sunsettias and wild crops.

"Oh a waypoint!" excitedly you run up to the red, unactivated waypoint and quickly you did the first thing that came to mind, slapping it with your hand.

The monument gave a hum of life before it turned blue and activated. "So that works at least" you hummed, inspecting it curiously. Up close and in real life, you could see the intricate design chiseled into the material.

Crouching down you wondered, could you use a waypoint? could you use one to go back home. . ?

"Well if I don't get to go back home, at least I don't have any more student debt" you chuckled hopelessly as you rubbed the water that pricked your eyes.

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

By the time you arrived at Mondstadt, the sun was almost setting. The skies were starting to get painted with an orange and pink hue.

Perhaps you shouldn't have gotten distracted or drowned in your sentiments and emotions. .

You sniffed, hugging yourself at the cold unforgiving winds while the windwheel asters and sweet flowers (a new addition to your wildflower bouquet) were luckily still fresh despite the trials they had gone through with your short travel to the city.

The sweet flowers had a sweet fragrance, once that made you crave for some sweet snacks. You debated on whether you can eat the flower raw, it looked more like a daisy too. . you decided against it. It would be far more wiser to use it for cooking or sell it for money.

The gates to the city was weirdly enough unguarded, so you stood by it awkwardly wondering when the guards would come. Would it be okay to enter without informing the knights? After waiting a couple of minutes, you decided to walk inside the city, time was running out, it would be getting dark soon and if you couldn't afford a place by selling these asters, you decided to at least buy some essentials. A polearm maybe or a coat, and maybe join the adventurers guild and see if there are any freebies or a free uniform you could get, cause your pajamas and fluffy Cinnamoroll designed slippers aren't going to cut it with the outdoor lifestyle you'd no doubt put them through.

You frown as you stared down on your cinnamoroll slippers. . it was no longer a pristine white due to the mud you had stepped into. .

Walking into the city of Mondstadt you found the city strangely. . void of life. You wonder if the prologue had yet to start and Stormterror or rather Dvalin was bothering the region.

Morale would mean a whole time low, and probably meant that prices on essentials would have risen, or maybe hopefully they were giving donations and relief goods.

"Hello," A voice greeted you and you turned to the woman or rather doll that operated the desk of the adventurer's guild "Would you like to join the Adventurer's guild?"

The smile on the puppet's face sent shivers down your spine but you pushed those feelings aside as you nodded politely. "Alright then, would you please present me with your information," she handed you a clipboard and pen "And I'll get the standard uniform for you." and then the receptionist left for a moment.

You blinked, wasn't she going to ask you for your size? or did Katheryne came with special eyes that could measure a person's body to decide the perfect clothes?

You began writing some information down. Your name, your age and your birthday but you left your address and place of origin empty since you couldn't just put in [country] and [city name] could you??

Turning to look behind you, you met eyes with a couple of residents of the city, and politely you waved at them as a greeting. . only for them to gape at you and run away from your gaze.

Okay. . rude much? was it because you were an outlander or a foreigner??

"Here you go. Everything seems to be in order." You snap back to the desk to find the receptionist had returned and had long since taken the clipboard and was reading through your information. 'When did she—?'

Katheryne then placed a set of uniform and fortunately, boots, right in front of you and you sighed in relief. "Thank you" and just as your finger grazed the fabric the clothes disappeared in a warm yellow light.

“. . .”

“can I uh. . get another set of the uniform. ." your voice cracked in shame. But before you could say anything more—

"Halt! Who dares to trespass into the City!" She flinched, turning to the approaching Guards, the knights of Favonius based on their uniforms, they stared at you wide eyes and mouth agape "What the—"

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

For whatever reason you ended up in Jean's office, tied down and on the floor. The windwheel asters were left on the streets, possibly wilting, alone. . the sweet flowers were trampled when they were trying to restrain her. It's sweet scent long gone, replaced with something bitter.

Jean wasn't here, oh wait no, she was coming in. You could hear muffled voices from the door, strange, when had your hearing been this good?

"do they really have the face of our divine?" that was Jean right? "well we won't know if we don't enter and see for ourselves" that suggestive yet sweet and soft voice was definitely Lisa's.

Were they talking about you?

What the hell did they mean by 'face of their divine?'

for some reason it was like a cold bucket of water was poured onto you, it was cold and terrifying and you started to shiver.

The door opened and Jean and Lisa did enter, as you craned your neck to look behind you, past the door you could see groups of knights who looked at each other with emotions you could vaguely pinpoint, horrified, worried, anger. .

"My my, you really do have the face of our esteemed creator." Lisa, the ever beautiful librarian grabbed you by the chin, making you look at her as she studied your face with scrutinizing Green eyes. Your breath hitched.

"What do you think?"

"I don't sense anything special from them, maybe they truly are an imposter."

You gaped at the terms that were hurled at you, imposter?? nothing special?? okay those were unnecessary!

Jean and Lisa conversed with each other, as your brows furrowed at the growing uncertainty in your stomach. Something was wrong, when were the Steadfast Jean and the carefree Lisa this. . cold and heartless.

"Where are Kaeya and the others?" Jean asked. "They are still visiting the temples with the traveller. I left after finishing the temple I was assigned to." Lisa informed the blond who nodded at the information.

The acting grandmaster hummed "I suppose we should deal with the imposter before they return."

The sound of a blade being unsheathed made you pale, the color disappearing from your skin as you watched Jean approached you, sword in hand without hesitation. .

Was she really going to kill you?

"Wait— wait a second? Why the hell are you going to kill me? What did I even do? Sure I entered the city carelessly but that was because your knights were slacking—hic!"

You could feel cold metal on the skin around your neck, sweat started to gather as you froze under Jean's stare.

"You committed the most grave blasphemy, heresy against the most divine creator! To imitate her beloved's face is a crime punishable by death."

You backtracked "What did you mean by creator! Also also how is being born with my face a crime?! do you hear how stupid that shit sounds?! You're a knight isn't there a due process?!"

Before she could reply the windows rattled and rattled, the winds were strong, the sun had long set and it was dark yet you could see the dust and objects flying about dangerous due to the storm. .

Storm terror was here.

Quickly you stood up, gaining Jean's and Lisa's attention once more as you quickly ran towards the window, knocking Jean to the ground and grabbing her sword due to your pettiness. You stopped for a moment to cut the restraints off your wrists with the sword.

"Why don't you settle down" Lisa said with a sickening sweet voice as powerful electro manifested in her hands and—

you screamed.

For now the earlier chapters will be titled with ingredients rather than food or recipe names.

[porters-fangs]

aster presents

giving the redacted couples a pet !

operating under the assumption that they eventually move in together/establish a relationship if they haven’t already ofc :3

(this is very headcanon heavy, so if you’re allergic to other people’s opinions pls keep scrolling 🫶)

• David & Angel - Guinea Pigs

You’d think that the wolf shifters would have dogs, and you’d be wrong. They actually get incredibly antsy when there’s another dog in the house, replacing their scent. It’s their territory, and it feels like a threat when another canine comes along - even another member of the pack.

And so, when Angel came home with two squeaking guinea pigs one day, toppling over each other to crawl into his lap, David was thrilled pleasantly surprised.

• Asher & Baaabe - Pigeon

Asher found a pigeon on the side of the road on his way home from work, cowering by the curb, one of its wings broken and bleeding. Being the tender person that he is, he bundled it up in his hoodie and drove home with it in his lap, muttering over and over about how everything would be okay.

Babe gave it a bath while Asher made up a little bed for it, and they called the vet in the morning to see if there was anything else they could do. Long story short, that pigeon is the luckiest bird in the world.

• Milo & Sweetheart - Chinchilla

Now, of course they have Aggro. But that’s too easy. Either as an alternative (or an additional pet, why not)-

Sweetheart has always been a huge fan of exotic pets. As a child, they had practically every animal under the sun - except for their dream pet.

Milo was more than happy to oblige, and they spent a few months converting one of their spare rooms into a the perfect space for their new baby. Sweetheart spends every day after work doting on the little fluffball, sat in the large playpen to let the stress of work seep from their bones.

And Milo wasn’t unhappy with the arrangement either. He’ll regularly hand the little guy a post-it note (usually something along the lines of “fuck you chrissy”) take a picture, and send it to the group chat. Christian isn’t a huge fan.

• Sam & Darlin - Chickens

As a kid, Sam used to have a gorgeous border collie that he had to leave behind when he ran away, and that kills him inside. But he’d never subject Darlin to feeling on edge in their own home for the sake of reliving that bond.

So they have chickens.

Does Darlin threaten to storm the coop every time Sam makes a good point in an argument? Maybe

But Sam also finds them asleep in the hen house after a long day of work, leaning against the doorframe fondly as he watches them snore beneath a pile of feathers.

• Vincent & Lovely - German Shepherd

A stunning couple needs an equally stunning dog.

Do they really need a guard dog? No, not at all. But that beautiful dog and its sleek black coat could rip a man’s arm off almost as easily as they could themselves.

Lovely handles the training, and Vincent watches from a distance, mildly intimidated by the both of them, but also in awe of how gorgeous they are.

• Porter & Treasure - Calico

You can thank my beloved Vinn (@vind3miat0r) for this one 🫶

Treasure has a cat. They found it in an alley after a rough night of their own, hissing and backed up into a corner. It reminded them of themself. They coaxed it back out into the light, bundling it up and driving it home, forgetting all about their friends, still drinking themselves to death in the club.

Before they even met Porter, their adorable little calico kitty kept them sane, nuzzling into their face and lapping at their tears every time they found themself sobbing in bed.

Porter always thought of himself as a dog person.

Porter was wrong.

Porter loves Cinnamon Toast Crunch more than life itself.

Treasure has come home multiple times to find the vampire sprawled out on the sofa with their cat snoozing on his chest, and they swear they fall in love all over again.

• Gavin & Freelancer - Betta Fish

Unfortunately, much to the Freelancer’s chagrin, Gavin is terrified of cats. So, instead, they have a huge fish tank in their kitchen. Call it a compromise.

The Freelancer comes home with more and more fish every time they go to the pet store just to get food, claiming that “it looked so sad :(”

And Gavin had to agree. The way these fish were treated truly was inhumane, and he was more than happy to help the Freelancer name every addition to their tank that came through their front door.

He was also far more fascinated by them than he’d ever anticipated being. He could stare at that tank for hours.

• Lasko & Dear - Frogs

Dear loves frogs. Lasko? Not so much.

When they moved in, he wasn’t expecting the uninvited guests that came with them. He never complained, of course, but he did insist that the tank would reside in the spare room and not the bedroom that he slept in every night. For practical reasons. Not because those bugged eyes and those webbed feet unsettled him.

Not at all.

Although, Dear could’ve sworn they heard him yelp when they opened the little tub of mealworms for feeding time…

He’ll warm up to them.

• Damien & Huxley - Collie

As if Huxley wasn’t enough of a bundle of energy, these two decided that they wanted one of the most active dogs on the planet. It works out surprisingly well for both of them, though.

It joins Huxley on hikes, bounding up the trail ahead of him, tail wagging impatiently as it waits for him to catch up as he laughs into the trees.

It sits at Damien’s side as he pores over his notes, and when the furrow in his brow deepens, it’ll nudge its nose into his hand until he drops the pen, tugging him outside for a walk.

And when they all collapse onto the couch in the evening, a pile of fur and giggles and a thumping tail, everything feels right.

• Elliot & Sunshine - Lovebirds

The pun isn’t lost on me.

They have a gorgeous, bright, mated pair of lovebirds. Whenever the couple catch them nuzzling beaks, Elliot pulls Sunshine’s face to his and brushes his nose over theirs.

Sunshine makes jewellery out of the feathers that molt around the house, and they both have matching necklaces that they wear everywhere.

• Blake & Bestie - California King Snake

Bestie walks around the house with it curled around their neck. Blake thinks it’s hot.

That’s all I have to say.

• Avior & Starlight - Maine Coon

Starlight has a black maine coon named Urania, after the Greek muse of astronomy. She is their pride and joy.

She gets along with Avior incredibly well, and even though he was initially very intimidated by her size, he quickly realised that meant she was in fact the softest and warmest cuddle buddy he could ever ask for.

She sits on Starlight’s lap when they’re reading, purring even after she’s fallen asleep, sometimes reaching out to paw at the pages.

• Anton & Lover - Hedgehog

Another rescue story, except Lover found this little cutie in their backyard while Anton was still away at work. They were too nervous to let it back outside even after they’d nursed it back to health, since its front paw was still a little crooked, so they decided to dedicate a little space for it in their office to keep an eye on it.

When Anton came home a few weeks later, he fell in love with the hedgehog. Literally just spent hours playing with it, giving it little snacks (even after Lover insisted it’d had enough)

And so they gained a new member of their family to keep Lover company when Anton had to go away again. And again.

• Hush & Doc - Stick Insects

Doc loves bugs. This is a fact.

Hush loves bugs. He never knew this.

Doc has a tank of stick insects in their bedroom, and the first time Hush spent the night he asked them why they kept an empty tank. And so Doc pulled out one of their precious babies to show him. And he was absolutely fascinated.

“It’s a living stick?”

“No, it’s an insect that’s adapted to look like a stick. For protection.”

“…Can I touch it?”

They sat on Doc’s bed with the bugs for hours.

• Vega & Warden - Dobermann

Vega values loyalty and obedience. And he adores his dobermann like you wouldn’t believe. If he ever had a soft spot for anything other than Warden, it was that dog.

He trains it meticulously, despite having every capability to protect himself, and praises every milestone.

When it first met Warden, Vega was expecting the usual wariness, for the dog’s ears to flick forward as it appraised them.

Not at all.

For the first time that Vega could remember, it broke heel to launch itself at Warden, licking at their face in excitement. And he didn’t reprimand it. Why would he?

After losing his memories, Vega found a strange familiarity in that dog as it stood by Warden’s side, as though protecting them�� from him.

• Guy & Honey - Ferrets

I feel like I don’t need to elaborate.

I will.

They have three.

Honey loves playing with them. They have that macaroni bath and the ferrets love wiggling around while Honey laughs until their ribs hurt.

Guy slips them pizza scraps after his shift, putting his finger over his lips and warning them to stay quiet or else Honey might hear them snacking.

• Aaron & Smartass - Belgian Malinois

It lays under Aaron’s desk while he works from home, nudging his foot with its nose every so often to remind him to take a break.

He often comes home from the office to find Smartass stretched across the couch, having fallen asleep while trying to wait up for him, the dog in their lap. It looks up when he closes the door behind him, clearly unimpressed with his poor punctuality.

That dog has a favourite.

• Ollie & Baby - Hamsters

They have two and both seemed determined to end their little rodent lives early. Ollie and Baby both love them so much, but they’ll wake up to find one with its head poking out between the bars, precariously close to choking, and another just passed out in the wood chips.

The vet bill? Ridiculous.

• Geordi & Cutie - Rabbit

In another life perhaps, they have a very sweet grey rabbit with an attitude. Thumping its paws whenever it isn’t allowed outside immediately when it asks, whenever its dinner is two minutes too late, whenever it’s woken up from its very important nap in the sunlight.

Geordi jokes that it reminds him of Cutie.

• Morgan & Seer Obscura - Mice

Seer Obscura actually saved these mice from lab testing as part of a charity program, and they were planning to adopt them out to close friends - but instead ended up with six mice that they love very much.

They scatter across their shoulders, and sometimes when Morgan brushes a lock of hair back from their face, a little fuzzy nose will poke out from behind their neck, sniffing around.

• Azmidi & Sweetie - Boa Constrictor

Scares the shit out of any visitors they have round.

They enjoy that very much.

Sweetie will fully poke their fingers into the enclosure when feeding it, and has not yet been bitten by some miracle.

No survival instincts, I tell you.

———

okay thank you for joining me on this wonderful journey! i do apologise if any of these are out of character or deviate from the canon - i don’t listen to all of the redacted boys but i do like to try and be inclusive 🫶

[emberdew]

Trans Danny Fic Recs 🏳️‍⚧️

Hi! For Pride Month I wanted to make a list of a bunch of fics that feature trans Danny that I like! Here we go:

One-shots

What are you going to do, fight the sun? by TheBadDragon || 1k One-shot. It's one of the few stories I've read where both Danny and Vlad are trans and I love it.

For Whom the Bell Tolls by @raaorqtpbpdy || 35k One-shot. This features a really interesting AU. I love that it deals with the question "if Danny is trans and he and Dani are siblings, do people think Danny named himself after his sister?"

Original by between || 4k One-shot. This is the only story I can think of where Danny comes out as trans to Dani. It is really sweet.

Pregaming is only distasteful if the deceased is actually dead and/or a good person. by @ficauthor || 14k One-shot. This story is so funny! It has great trans jokes (written by trans author).

Wrong Feeling by @gh0stzonedarchive || 2k One-shot. A nice nonbinary Danny coming out story.

Unpacking ALL of THAT. by @kawaiijohn || 6k One-shot. A nice story about Paulina saving Danny and then having a conversation while trapped in a box. It features trans (and bi) Danny and lesbian Paulina.

making it through by @robotbeowulf || 2k One-shot. A sweet story where Mr. Lancer helps Phantom and also comes out as trans to him.

Closet Space by @ecto-american || 2k One-shot. A sweet story where Danny and Sam are both trans and swap clothes.

oh, simple thing (breathing such harsh air) by Possiblyenjoyable || 3k One-shot. A really good story where Vlad may be a villain, but at least he's not transphobic.

Multichapter and Series

A Lot To Learn by @vampyra142001 || 21k Incomplete series. A nice Vlad redemption story. I really like how Danny being trans is incorporated into the story. Plus Vlad is ace.

Friends in Strange Places by @sunnys567 || 100k Complete multi-chap. This AU is really good and I love that Danny's friends learn about their own identities during Vlad's "coming out" trip.

Lightning by @tourettesdog || 21k Incomplete multi-chap. This is one of my favorite No One Knows AU stories and one of the few fics I can think of from Sam's POV. It features the iconic line: “Phantom’s trans— what an icon.” TourettesDog has several other fics with trans Danny that I like too, including Phantom at Pride.

Cognitive Dissonance by @secretly-an-automaton || 9k Complete multi-chap. A super sweet Gray Ghost revelation story! Danny being trans is a part of the reveal, which I think is a cool concept.

the haunting murders of bristol mansion by @antelabbitsghost || 8k Complete multi-chap. A really funny Buzzfeed Unsolved inspired story. Featuring Danny calling it transphobic when furniture falls on him lol.

Casper High’s New Nurse by @thewiltingdaisy || 55k Complete multi-chap. This story features one of my favorite tropes- an OC adult who helps struggling children with their problems. Danny is trans and the OC nurse character is nonbinary, which is cool!

Food as a Love Language by GooseJacket || 13k Incomplete series. Another fic where Danny and Vlad are both trans (and pan), which I appreciate despite it not coming up in the story much. I really love Danny and Kyle’s relationship in it though; they’re really cute together.

Mundane to Monstrous Ghost by @goliath-de-senfina-sango || 75k Complete multi-chap (part of an incomplete series, but ends in a nice place). This canon rewrite is really cool! Danny uses a wish from Desiree to magically transition, which is amazing.

DPxDC

Unearthed, Reborn by @queenofthequillandink || 62k Incomplete multi-chap. An amazing story featuring soft Eternal Trio with Jason as their teen half ghost son. In addition to Danny being trans, Dick Grayson also transes their gender. Plus there are trans puns!

Rooftop Express by @cheezygoddess || 89k Incomplete multi-chap. A really good Dead on Main story featuring trans Danny and trans Jason.

Wanted: Dead and Alive by @aster-draws || 121k Complete multi-chap. A very angsty vivisection fic with a happy ending. Danny is both trans and intersex. And of course, the GIW are transphobic.

Unlimited Love by @oliveofvanders || 10k Incomplete series. Some nice one-shots featuring trans Danny and the Death Defying (Danny/Dick) ship. I especially like the second fic about the pride parade.

Of All the Things My Hands Have Held by @disillusioneddanny || 17k Complete multi-chap. A cute Dead Serious story where Danny and Damian raise a baby together. I think it's funny that Talia gives them the baby partly because she doesn't know Danny is trans. DisillusionedDanny actually has a bunch of really good fics with trans Danny, including Eat The Acid and Love Like You.

Phantom in Gotham by @artemismoorea03 || 320k Incomplete series. This series is incredible! Poor Danny has to deal with some upsetting situations, but everyone in the Batfam who learns that Danny is trans is supportive which is sweet.

Liminal Familiarity by @isitcowboytimes || 70k Incomplete multi-chap. A nice angsty AU where Danny helps Jason after he becomes half ghost. There's a scene where Danny transforms back to human after being only Phantom for a while and he gets hit with gender dysphoria and being human dysphoria at the same time, oof.

Stalking Astronauts: Gotham's Latest Social Media Craze! by @tachvintlogic || 54k Complete multi-chap. This is a really interesting twist on the usual DPxDC adoption trope where Danny is afraid of being adopted, and he doesn't need to be because he's an adult and a successful astronaut. Unfortunately because of his facial masculinization surgery, everyone thinks he looks a Wayne.

Barely Surviving in a World Antithetical to My Existence by DomesticatedOpossum and Vampirenote13 || 67k Incomplete multi-chap. Danny gets isekaied to Gotham and helped by Constantine and the bats eventually. I like that both Danny and Tim are trans in this.

Better Halves (and other such falsehoods) by @astereaes || 132k Incomplete multi-chap. An amazing fake relationship Danny/Tim story! Tim doesn't know that Danny is trans for a while but he also doesn't know a lot of things about Danny lol.

I'll be updating this list as I read/remember other cool trans Danny fics, so feel free to send recs or promote your own fics! Last updated: 9/16/24.

[wings-of-ink]

Alright, everyone!

HERE ARE THE ASKS YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR

Below the cut are the asks and my answers/responses. I do apologize for not answering these individually, but some of them contain spoilers for chapter 5 content. Given the developments and reveals of the chapter, I want to let things simmer a bit before I pop off responses like normal.

If my Nonies listed below want to pop back into the ask box and let me know they got their answer, I would appreciate that, but you don't have to either (or if you have an additional question or comment, that's fine too!). I will reblog this a few times to make sure you have a higher chance of spotting it.

I numbered the Asks and put my answers in another color so you can tell things apart a bit easier. This is a trial run on answering these this way. I will also tag things for spoilers. ^_^

Anon:  "There's a she-wolf in the closet" made me laugh so hard I cried sdfjglkjl I was not expecting that out of nowhere 🤣😭  the temptation to name the wolf Shakira...............immense.

I'm so glad you got that reference! My husband and I sing that song to each other with the little "awoos" and all, lol. It was too good to pass up. Fun fact, if you name her Shakira, Oswin has a unique response. 

2. Anon:  Hmmm. "I like the name Aster I'll probably use it again" HMMMMM hMMMMM hmmmMMMM Is this new Aster the ??? RO

Remembered that, did ya 😁 (I was quietly cackling when I wrote that for the old ask). You questioning Aster just makes me want to mess with you Nony, you can't tempt me like this! 

3. Anon:  Aster is so hawt, carressing our cheek w his thumb???? "i wont hurr you" pls let him be an ro bc gah damnnnn

Glad that did it for you, Anon, lol. There will be more of that in store. ^_^

4. Ravioli anon here, hope you remember me LOL I just finished reading the new chapter and I HAD A BLAST The whole gang in here now!!!!!! Aster is no longer question marks!!!! (I will admit when they were introcuded I almost, ALMOST expected their name in game to just be ???)

Hello Ravioli! Still chuckling about that I hope you know. The temptation was unreal to leave ??? in there, lol. At this point, even I know him more by that than his name!

Also to keep up with my perfect choice of names, my she-wolf is now named Der, because together we are Ravi and Der Get it, Ravi 'n Der. Consider this as a way to honor our dear grandma we were named after by our loving dads, you'll never be forgotten, you girlboss of a woman 

OMG, you are killing me over here, lol. This makes me want to code something for that, lol. Just your fathers shaking their heads at your MC while still being kinda amused and weirdly proud. Grandmother Ravinder would glare at you, but smile later.

5. @origamihoshi: Screaming about the necklace Oswin gives MC, my headcanon about MC wearing the snail shell as a necklace can now be canon! and I guess more reasons for my MC to be down bad for Oswin oops. I'm loving the update! I'm so happy to finally meet Rune, I love them so much! I wanna befriend them all. and I feel like there's been a good balance to spend time with all the characters so far and that makes me really happy. 😌Also cuddling with Zahn was so sweet oh my god, I love them so much too! I got so many more questions about MC and the curse, and the mark for that matter, looking forward to when we finally get some answers.

I very, very nearly told you that when you posted your MC, I was so ecstatic. I thought if you while coding that section too. I am so glad you enjoyed the new chapter and new goodies. Lots of fun stuff to come! ^_^

6. @mutsuowo:  HELP I NAMED THE SHE-WOLF ASTER BECAUSE I FIRST CALLED THE MULE YARROW AND NOW I HAVE NOT ONE, NOT TWO BUR THREE ASTER* GOING AROUND (I know one changed to Lakota but the joke that count)

Whoops! Lol Sorry my friend! I don't think any more Asters are hiding about at least. Probably….

7. @mutsuowo: I got spoiled of Aster's name by accident and even then I mistook it for being Lakota, so I thought somehow Lakota had a divorce and took the children to be an option romance with the MC. Cue to me acting like a variety game host and going "We have a cult member, a magician, childhood friends and also a wolf...what about you Aster ? What do you bring to make we choose you ?" The answer was being a DILF

Lol! Oh dear, yeah, bestie has a quarter-life crisis and leaves his wife and 4 kids to live that DILF life. Love it, this is some quality daytime TV stuff. 😆 

8. Anon:  Hello there! I am currently in the middle of the newest chapter, very very good work! Spoiler ahead : So MC is absorbing magic? That might actually help the theory that somehow MC is a god, demi-god, or whatever that is: cursed because they are on this plane and needing magic as a very part of their being? I can't imagine that a god wouldn't be starving for magic if deprived of it. Perhaps in GC it's not magic gods handle, but something similar? The fact that we CHOSE the mark truly makes me think that somehow we were choosing an aspect of ourselves for some reason. Not only something physical either. If not our domain, perhaps a tell of why we were cursed in the first place ? I wonder if, before the Curse manifested, MC would have been flagged as a magic being ? I don't think there was anybody that could have sussed them out back then though ? Rune is amazing, btw, big fan. Can't wait for Purple Lad to accompany us and need a bath as badly as Duri did !

Oooh, are you perhaps my Nony who sent some other theories in about this? Very juicy theory as well. Next chapter you'll learn a bit more about Hayat's curse over the gods and see if it lines up or changes your thoughts more. 😁 I'm glad you like Rune too! They are in for a new experience for sure. Even if they aren't as stuffy as other nobles, they definitely appreciate more refined things. The little town MC grew up in might be a bit of a culture shock. 

9. Anon:  Sooooo... I'm thinking we ARE the mad god ! A reincarnation of it at least ! Thinking about how the cult wanted us dead, I am thinking that as long as MC is alive, they can't have another incarnation of them.   But What exactly was it that drove the god mad ?

Oooh! This one is juicy too! These theories are so tasty! Lots of questions with this one. And like the one above, there may be some info in chapter 6 that may just give more evidence one way or another.

10. Anon:  Me on my first playthrough: oh, Oswin's pretty cute! I think I'll try romancing him first Me when I meet Zahn: oh no you can't just make me choose like that how am I supposed to do this Me when I meet Duri: are you kidding me. Ok screw it I'm romancing Duri Me when I meet Rune: FUCKAIJASJDSAAA Me when I meet ???: No reaction because I'm already combusted. I can't even anymore 

Lol! I am glad and maybe just a tiny bit sorry that you're so torn, my dear. Let's find some glue and get you patched up… ^_^

11. Anon:  HAVE THEORIES! NATHAN IS DURI'S UNCLE, AND ASS-TER -HE DESERVES THAT AFTER THE RING BUSINESS >:( - WAS RAISED BY THOSE ASSHOLES WHO ALMOST KIDNAPPED MC! (I am open to Asster endearing himself later, but I'm mad at him rn, how dare he hurt my already hurt, lovely, MC 😡😡😡) Anyway, your writing is impeccable as always, can't wait to (perhaps) bring Asster to his knees (with love or spite, or maybe both?? He seems like someone easy to love-hate, lol). Tysm, for God Cursed, I love it <333

Yaaass, moar theories! That's a good one too! Nathan having some secrets wouldn't be shocking either. They'd get along too… And it is totally fair for MC to be salty! And ASSter is a perfect nickname, lol. It's also fair that in chapter 6 you'll be able to (try to) get after him about it. :3

12. Anon:  TW SPOILERS ''There is nothing I want more than to hear you…hear you say what you- Nothing more… But for your own sake. Y/N, I'm a monster. I have been a monster. Your heart should be free of thoughts of me until you know what haunts my sleep at night. If you can do that for me and your heart does not change, then I will hear those words and I will spend the rest of my days showing you what you mean to me.'' UUUUHHMMMMM, EXCUSE MEE?????? LIKE THIS IS THE MOST-ROMANTIC-NON-LOVE-CONFESSION I HAVE EVER HEARD??? EVEN THOUGH IT BURNS ME TO NOT KNOW WHAT AFFLICTS OSWIN, AFTER HEARING THAT I'M WILLING TO WAIT FOR HIM.

I love that you love this! I might have cried juuuust a little bit when I wrote that scene, lol (shocking, I know).

13. Anon:  replayed the IF from the start for the update and gosh i felt so bad for our dear MC who has gone through SO much in a (relatively) short amount of time. and the way MC just always thinks about their fathers makes me sobbbbbb. one that always gets me is the scene where MC cried out for their fathers when they were in pain (my heart broke when they said they wanted to be held by their papa). another is in the scene with jasper and co. (‘i learned it from my fathers!’, yesss go MC!!!!). but oh, just imagining the absolute heartbreak the fathers would feel if they knew how MC cried out for them and knew about everything that MC went through, makes me tear up! MC is SO loved by their fathers and MC loves them just as much and i love that. i hope we’ll be able to give da and papa the biggest hugs when we see them again 🥹wonderful update, author! i absolutely adore the world you’ve built and the brilliant characters you’ve created (shout out to one my favs.. our new she-wolf friend <3)

I set out on this IF journey intending to be a bit hard on the MC and I think I succeeded, lol. It might be hard to believe but I really do love the MC as a character too and I feel for them. Hopefully not too hard, but they're on a journey of perseverance so I have faith in them. ^_^ That scene really tore me up too, especially thinking about how hard it would hit the dads to know their beloved kid was calling out to them. 😭 I am so glad you enjoyed the update, my dear, there will be great big dad-hugs in the future, I promise (and more than a few tears). ^_^

14. Anon:  idk if it's choice or route-specific but, zahn was NOT looking good at the end of chapter 5 and i'm worried 😟

Not route-specific (unfortunately???)…they're…going through some things. 😬 (sorry in advance)

15. Anon:  Hi, hi!! Dropping by to blabber about the update after i've finally had time to lose myself in it! (Oh no it got long again.) Okay, so, from the very moment i saw your intro post (over half a year ago, methinks) i decided to go for Rune's route first. I have been very patient, very faithful. And now i can finally say it was so, so worth the wait!!! they have me wrapped all around their beautiful noble finger; they're perfect, they are everything (i mean, how many people can say a literal god shows up for their birthday? yeah, thought so). I know they are no exception either and have their own share of issues, but honestly? that's even better. I wish i was kidding about the amount of times i daydream about them. Look at me now how i'm smiling like a stupid idiot. And the fact that i can make my MC an absolute shy mess around them is just so!! *chef's kiss* 

"Oh no it got long again" is like the tagline for my existence, lol. I am so giddy that you adore Rune! I think they've had less traction since they weren't introduced until now, but I also believe they are just the type of person that is better experienced. I enjoy writing all of the ROs, but Rune is such a presence in my heart and I really hope that comes through.

Also, did Duri seriously rat them out like that? Umm, for science, of what nature, exactly, are the books under Runey's bed?

LOL and I'm so glad you caught that bit about their "hidden literature." Rune LOVES romance novels, including the ridiculous smutty ones even if the plot is kinda bad.

Anyway, moving on, because you fed us so well with the story once again!! Can i just say i love your brain? Can i? Is that weird? Apologies. So!

You can totally say that, lol. I appreciate that you think so, my brain frustrates me sometimes, but I like how smooth it is. Very soft.

We learned so much in this update, and yet our answers are still too far to reach--but that's the whole fun about this! I'm thinking things, i'm suspecting, but i'll hold onto my theories for now… It is indeed very fortunate that each of MC's new friends can seemingly contribute a piece to this vexing puzzle; question is, is the picture only missing the very last piece, or are all four needed for it to be complete? I'm folding my hands and patiently waiting to find out in future updates. 

Oooh, you're speaking my language, Nony. There are some theories up above, maybe those will get your mind spinning too. That's a very good question though too. Eveyone seems to have something that might help MC out…so the question could be, do they go full Power Rangers and combine them to solve this problem or is one strong enough on their own? Hmmmmm? Time will tell.

One thing i will say is, more people may know about MC and their whole deal than Oswin may want to even consider. People with not the best intentions, that is.

I'm sure it's fiiiiiine. Probably just a…crazy…crazy fluke. It's fine. 😀

Speaking of, Oswin is so sweet! He cares so much i think it's rending him apart. Perhaps he should partake of Nathan's pipe every now and then. You know, for recreational purposes. Frankly i admit i don't know how mean you still can be to Oswin because every time there's a choice during his scenes i just tunnel-vision to the friendliest one there. It really makes me feel sorry for him if there are MCs out there who are still bitter about their relationship. As he was opening up about what kinds of actual horrors he witnessed and had to deal with in consequence, it really made me think MC's little group should, as a side-quest, go out and find him a therapist, because this guy *slaps him on the back* can fit so much trauma in him!

That's a good way to describe Oswin. He feels very intensely and those emotions are difficult for him to manage. I try not to be too mean to him, but I do want to try and give a decent variety of responses to the past tension for some MCs. Negativity there isn't a huge focus, so I try not to go too far down the rabbit hole with it at least, lol. A therapist is a great idea for him, for real. You cracked me up with that reference, I imagine Lakota trying to sell him to the MC, lol.

 I see Zahn has entered the trenches(TM). Just after i had them repeatedly stabbed in MC's place. And just after they finally got to cuddle with MC. This is fine. Not gonna lie, for a solid second you had me believe we wouldn't see them come back from that totally not evil or at least highly doubtful church of theirs, and that we'd had to leave without them. Haha, no waay. Lunan wouldn't do that to them, right? Right? Oh thank gods. See? I was right. Anyway, it seems like their character development arc is coming up soon, so i'm keeping calm and not cracking my knuckles, not at all.

Oh yes, there will be some development soon here. Tee hee?

Duri is so fun. Their playfulness is so endearing, so much so that i find myself repeatedly swayed in my decision to have them in a (now mostly) platonic relationship with MC. Simmer down, you'll have your turn. It had me rolling how they snapped once the bandits insulted their feet lmao! Also, also, their dynamic with Rune? Mmm, so good. I love the kind of friendship that's like "yeah i picked up this weird wet dog one day and now it won't leave me be and it's annoying, but only i'm allowed to say that. here, have a treat."

I love that you love that. Writing Duri is fun and I get to break some social norms with them so it's a win-win for us all. The relation to Rune is a blast.

Moving on, Duri sniffing MC after they talked with someone they didn't know; Duri immediately leaping at the opportunity to tease a jealous MC; Duri coming to MC's rescue to put a harasser in their place--they can't keep getting away with being so charming! Oh wait, they can. Human laws don't apply to them, after all.

Duri is already so loyal. Like a pup you picked up at the shelter, the connection is pretty quick for them. Also, if you didn't know, you can also get Rune to get defensive of MC being harassed in the tavern. Currently thinking of changing the code of that, but if you choose to stay neutral or a bit distrustful of Duri, Rune will get involved instead. Both have the confidence and the power to back it up though, can't go wrong.

And Aster? Something is up with him. Big time. Bost obviously, his name. I don't know, i don't know, i'm not convinced it's a coincidence or merely "fate." I'm watching you, Aster. Okay, and yes, i see why MC might need his help, but he never once elaborated on that part where he said he needs MC for power. Sooo, naah, i'm not putting my egg in your basket, not yet. Especially!! After he so brutally demonstrated just how much of a bigger hand he has over MC. That was evil. (In a good way.) He's unhinged, and i love that in a character. I would not trust him even with a cheese grater.

That may be wisdom here for sure, lol. Aster is quite the character, as are all of them I suppose. All have secrets he especially has some serious growing to do. He'll be an interesting addition - and a very smug one at that. Maybe juuuust maybe MC can get him to feel a little remorse for being an ASSter, to quote a previous ask, lol.

I almost thought MC's group of friends were going to mistake him for the kidnapper and everyone would want to throw hands, or would at least be very leery of him, so seeing how easily he slotted in had me a little surprised (and i think he was a bit surprised himself).

That very nearly happened actually. I cut it because of chapter length, and I'm thinking I want to polish the ending for that anyway. I feel like I was burnt out while writing that and I pushed it too fast. So, we'll see what happens in future….

I really, really liked the option of having MC be scared of him after he put a cork (dart) in Jasper's mouth (throat). The head tilt afterwards? Wiping away a stray tear? "Now come sit with me on my picnic blanket designer cloak to talk about how everything is drawn to you, including me?" "I'll need to study you?" Yes, i'll take your entire stock.

I'm glad you enjoyed your dessert, Nony. ;) There will be some serious studying in the next chapter.

Oswin being extremely quiet while MC was recounting their failed abduction because he was still recovering from those 6 panic attacks he had since finding MC's room empty and with signs of struggle.

THIS absolutely. MC may get an account of the experience later.

 i can't wait to see what the dads are going to say about each of MC's new friends! I can already imagine who might not entirely vibe with whom, especially if papa and da are going to be in a sour mood after they see my (feral despite being the healer of the party) MC scarred and sore despite their letters containing nothing but rainbows and sunshine (oops). MC's right, though, how are they going to house so many people lol.

This will be so much fun, especially when it comes to sleeping arrangements…A couple ROs will get themselves sorted but there's a couple that we might just get a "one bed" trope with, lol.

And last but not least, MC got the promised puppy!!! (i named her "Ginger" <33) 

Oh that is such a cute name too! She is kinda the color of ginger and she's also very gentle (ginger) AND she can be very spicy if you piss her off. Very gingery.

I have been here before and gushed about your writing on multiple occasions and i don't want to repeat myself over and over, so i'll just reiterate once more that i'm constantly blown away by how real and vivid you make everything feel. You're putting things down and i'm picking them right up, thank you, thank you, yup, i'll have that as well, thank you. You're painting pictures inside my head, and they're gorgeous and vibrant and moving now--hey, how did you even get in here? I'm convinced you're a mage. MC is not the mage here (yet?), but you sure are!! It's okay, you may fess up now. As always, thank you so much for all your hard work! May your holidays be full of joy and rest! Take care <333

I am so thankful that you resonate so much with my writing, my friend. That really truly makes my heart so glad and encourages me to keep at it. I hope each chapter brings you more and more enjoyment and adventure. ^_^

16. @rhiannon02:  IM SCREAMING OVER CH 5 LITERALLY SCREAMING ASTER ??? IM IM LOSING IT

Well, hang on dear, maybe I can help you find it, lol. (I heard that one in my soul) ^_^

That's all for now! ^_^

[suugarbabe]

foolish flowers | g.w x reader

word count: ~1.5k

summary: little georgie blurb based on an ask I recieved and lost.

warning: fluff

The dinging above the door alerted you that a customer had walked into the shop. You did your best to sound polite as you shouted from the back, “I’ll be right up.” Whoever had walked in told you to take your time, but you still found yourself rushing a bit as to not appear rude. 

You walked from the back with a bushel of Aster flowers in your arms, completely obstructing your view. You feel yourself nearly tripping over a pot as you’re making your way to your work station, quietly cursing to yourself. “Here, let me help you with those,” two large hands grab the bushel from you, placing it on the counter. 

You smoothed out your apron before looking up and meeting quite possibly the softest and kindest green eyes you’ve ever seen, “T-thank you.” The man in front of you just smiled, giving a nod before going back to look at the flowers and arrangements you had around your small shop. 

His brows furrowed reading the different cards associated with certain displays. You found yourself watching him, observing him as he looked around. He was incredibly tall, having to nearly bend in half to read anything on the counter. 

You couldn’t help but find his looks of confusion endearing. You decided it was probably best to offer your assistance, for as much as it seemed like he wanted to appear like he knew what he was looking for, he was completely lost. “Looking for something for your girlfriend?” you kept your tone innocent, but you’d be lying if you said there wasn’t motive behind the question beyond being helpful to a customer. 

“Erm, no, for my mum actually,” a blush crept up the man’s neck, dusting his cheeks along with it and accentuating his freckles. “Well then might I suggest not getting these,” you gestured towards the red salvia’s, “as they typically symbolize meaning ‘forever mine’, not quite sure that’s best for mum.” 

You gave him your sweetest smile and he returned a nervous one, scratching the back of his neck, “What, erm, do you suggest then? It’s her birthday tomorrow, my mum, that is, I just wanted to get her something nice.” 

You tapped your finger against your lips as you thought, glancing around the shop to create a beautiful and meaningful piece in your head. “How about…” you trailed off walking up to the marigolds and grabbing a handful, “and a little of…” you grabbed a small batch of chamomile, “oh and definitely…” you grabbed some fully bloomed clematis, “and lastly…” you grabbed some columbine. 

The man watched and you arranged it all in a beautiful glass vase, the purples, whites and yellows dancing together perfectly. He couldn’t help the smile that spread over his face as he watched you work. “Stunning,” he breathed, “What does it all mean?” 

You clapped your hands together in excitement, explaining pieces was one of your favorite parts of your job. “So, the marigolds here,” you pointed to the flame colored flower, “are her birth month flower and these here,” you pointed to the chamomile, “mean patience in adversity. I assumed because she was a boy mum that she probably dealt with a lot while you grew up,” you shot him a playful wink. 

He laughed lightly at this, “You have no idea.” You continued, pointing next at the clematis, “These mean mental beauty, which is simply true for any mother, and these here,” you pointed at the white flower surrounded by what looked like a purple shell and leaves, “are columbine flowers, they represent foolishness.” 

The man quirked an eyebrow at this one, “And why, pray tell, did you pick these?” You bit your lower lip slightly, “Well, you look awfully close to the moving character atop the joke shop across the street, so I just assumed you probably own it. Thus the additive of some foolishness representation.” 

He smirked at your explanation, leading you to believe that you were correct in your assumption, “Would you believe me if I told you I was born on April fools?” You giggled lightly, “I would expect nothing less coming from the man who owns a joke shop. What is it called again?” 

The man smiled proudly now, “Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes.” You looked at him curiously, “So is that your name? Weasley?” 

He nodded, “Surname. My first name, however, is George.” 

“Well it’s very nice to meet you, George.” You smiled sweetly, then turned to your register, “That’ll be ten galleons.” His smile never faltered as he dug into his pocket, pulling out the coins needed. 

He grabbed the vase, walking towards the door. As he was halfway out, he turned back to you, “I just realized that I told you my name, but you never told me yours.” You shrugged your shoulders, “Guess you’ll have to ask when I stop in your shop next time.” 

George raised his eyebrows, liking the bit of mischief you were flirting with, “Alright, guess I’ll see you then, love.” With a wink, he was out the door. 

—--------

Fred stood at the top of the steps, watching the smiling faces roam around his shop. He loved the kids faces as they discovered a new way to prank, a new toy to cause chaos, or how he could see the light switch in their eyes when they saw something on the shelves that had them plotting. 

He and George would get the same look when they were younger. Godric, they get that same look still to this day, they just try their best to choose the appropriate time and place for their shenanigans. 

What his shop did not often get were beautiful women exploring his shop and looking at… “Puking pastilles?” He looked at you curiously, but you hadn’t yet lifted your head from the package. 

“Seems like they’d come in handy for the family dinner I’m trying to avoid tonight,” Fred laughed with you and you finally turned to look at him. 

“Well, you’re certainly not George are you,” your smile was sweet as Fred cocked an eyebrow at you. “And how could you possibly be certain of that, darling?” 

You looked up at the man in front of you, he looked exactly like George, very obviously a twin brother. However if you paid attention enough, there were subtle differences. You didn’t inform George of this last week but you had noticed him before he walked into your shop that day. 

There were quite a few times you had spotted him through your front window, leaving or coming to work, always dressed colorfully and having a smile on his face. When he smiled the corners of his eyes wrinkled just a little, his eyes downturned just slightly more than the man in front of you. 

But the thing that really gave it away you had noticed just last week, when he was finally close enough for you to really see him properly. Staring into friends eyes you smiled, patting his chest, “George has a beauty mark on his neck, right here.” You pointed towards the spot where George’s mark was on Fred’s neck. 

Fred’s smile seemed to grow impossibly wider, “You’re the flower shop girl aren’t you.” He said it more like a statement rather than a question. “Y/n,” you corrected. 

The redhead laughed, “Oh Georgie is going to hate that I learned your name before him.” You shook your head, “Is Georgie here?”

Fred nodded, “Yeah, boyo’s here alright, but I’m really relishing in me getting to learn more information about the girl he’s been pining after before he does.” 

He was hoping to embarrass his twin a little, so what you said next instead had Fred a bit shocked. “Well I’m glad the feeling has been mutual,” your tone and smirk quite impressed Fred. 

When you looked over his shoulder he turned, seeing his twin on the upper level of the shop, “If you’ll excuse me, not George-”

“Fred,” he interrupted. You smiled, “If you’ll excuse me Fred, I’m going to go find George.” 

Fred watched as you sauntered up the staircase, George still none the wiser as he helped a few customers out. As you made it to the top you stood behind him and started speaking, his ears perking at the sound of your voice, “Got anything here to get out of a dinner party?” 

George turned around, sly smile on his face, “Have you looked into puking pastilles?” You held up the box in your hands, “Ah yes, that’s what the other George suggested.” 

The smile on George’s face quickly turned to laughter, “The other George?” You nodded, “You didn’t tell me you had a twin; Fred was it?” 

He nodded, leaning a hand on the railing beside him now, “And you still haven’t told me your name. I’ve been referring to you as flower shop girl in my head all week.” 

Your grin widened, knowing now (thanks to Fred) that George had probably been referring to you as that for a lot longer than a week, “Y/n. My name’s Y/n.” 

“S’beautiful,” George was bold, tucking a loose strand of hair behind your ear. Fred watched from a few floors below, mentally patting his brother on the back for pulling out the moves they used to use in school.

[phoenix-downer]

Love’s First Bloom

Summary: Kairi accidentally falls into a rushing river when she tries to pick a rare paopu flower. Sora and Riku work together to rescue her and realize they both have feelings for her.

Kairi likewise has a few realizations of her own.

~5000 words. Set between BBS and KH1. Love Triangle, Friendship, Romance, Fluff, Angst, Feelings Realization, Crushes, First Love, Introspection, Hurt/Comfort. POV Kairi, Riku, and Sora.

🌸🌼🌺

How quickly life can change. Like a cool breeze picking up or a slight shift in the scenery, suddenly what you took for granted can be gone in an instant. 

“C’mon, Kairi, let’s go!” Sora called. Kairi looked up from her current crafts project: a flower crown with purple asters, white chrysanthemums, blue forget-me-nots, and big red hibiscuses. Those colors were all nice together, but a yellow flower would be a nice addition. Maybe she’d find one as they went exploring. 

She tucked the flower crown in her pocket, then grabbed her straw hat and put it on. She wasn’t like Sora and Riku—they tanned easily, especially Sora, but her skin turned red so fast. And then the red turned into dozens and dozens of freckles. Redheads weren’t made for the tropical sun, and brief memories of another place flickered through her mind. A place with a big castle and lots of flowers and waterfalls. 

“Coming!” she cried as she stumbled after the boys. They were both so much faster than her, and the sand on the beach was always hard to run on. But presently the ground beneath her feet got more solid, and the boys finally slowed down as the three of them passed through the town and started climbing the hills behind it.

“Where are we going this time?” Sora asked, looking at Riku. Riku always decided what they would do. 

Riku grinned and swung his play sword. “It’s a surprise. But I think you’ll like it, Kairi.” He looked at her like he wanted her to say something. Come to think of it, he’d been looking at her a lot lately. 

“Oh, are there nice flowers?” she asked, her fingers resting on the flower crown in her pocket. She wanted to finish it as soon as she could.

Riku’s grin got bigger, and his eyes had a teasing glint in them. “Maybe.” 

“And pretty scenery?” she pressed. Every part of Destiny Islands was pretty, but Riku always knew the best spots.

“Only the best for you,” Riku said, and Kairi felt a funny feeling blooming in her chest.

Sora frowned, his face twisting into a scowl. “I know some pretty spots too, Kairi,” he said. 

Riku rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. The stuff I showed you guys last week,” he said, and Kairi giggled into her hand. 

Now Sora was pouting. “That’s not true, I know a lot of nice spots Riku doesn’t know!” 

“Prove it, then,” Riku said, and Sora muttered something about how he would. At the branch in the mountain path up ahead, he led them to the right. They followed the path for a little longer until Sora took them off the path and through a clump of trees. On the other side was a beautiful clearing full of wildflowers, perfect for sparring. The sound of running water reached Kairi’s ears. There must be a branch of the river nearby. 

“Oh, this is really pretty!” Kairi exclaimed, clasping her hands together. She glanced at Sora, and he grinned and rubbed his cheek. 

“Hmmph,” Riku said. It was clear this was a place he hadn’t been before. Either that or he had but hadn’t thought to bring them here.

Sora pulled his wooden sword out. “Wanna fight?” he asked Riku, and at this Riku perked up. He loved the chance to spar with Sora. He pulled his sword out too and moved into an attack stance. 

Kairi smoothed her skirts and dutifully sat down on the grass nearby. Sora recklessly charged, and Riku carefully evaded him, then caught him in the back. Sora plunged into a roll and then sprung to his feet. He whirled around so quickly that he caught Riku by surprise, knocking Riku over. But Riku still had a trick up his sleeve; he waited a few seconds, then pushed himself up with his arms, using his momentum to kick Sora with both of his feet. Sora flinched and yelped but still clung to his sword. And so the fight continued with neither of them getting the upper hand. Riku was stronger but Sora was faster, so it wasn’t clear who would win.

After a while, Kairi got kinda bored watching the boys fight. They sparred so often that she felt like she'd seen every combination of tricks they could pull off, and there were some pretty-looking flowers over by the riverbank that she really wanted to pick. She skipped off in the direction of the river. A quick glance over her shoulder told her the boys didn’t even notice because they were so focused on their fight. Smiling to herself, she continued on. She usually enjoyed hanging out with Sora and Riku, but sometimes they were just such…boys. Lately they’d been constantly sparring and competing with each other, even when she wanted to pick flowers or go swimming or make seashell crafts. 

Besides, this way she could give them both flowers no matter who won the fight. 

The wildflowers along the riverbank were really pretty. Their petals were small and delicate, like little blue bells hanging off the stems. The river sped along nearby, deceptively calm for having such a fast current. Her parents always warned her about not swimming in the water when it looked like that. One wrong move and she would easily get swept under. 

Humming, she picked a few more flowers and tucked them into her pockets. She was always careful not to take more than she needed. Only enough for her crafts—the rest she needed to leave behind so there would still be pretty flowers in the future. That was what her parents had taught her. The flowers she did pick would make nice gifts and supplies for her crafts.

Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a brilliant yellow blossom. It had five petals, and the rounded shape of the petals made it look like a paopu fruit. Kairi’s breath caught. Was this the paopu flower? She’d only seen it a couple times in the wild before, and never in a place she could reach it. It was supposed to be super rare, and she hadn’t expected to see one today.

Which meant she had to pick it. Who knows when she might find one again? Edging towards the riverbank, she thought about who to give it to: Sora, or Riku. A blush crept up her cheeks. You were supposed to give the flower to someone you loved. But who did she love? She wasn’t really sure. 

Just…a little further…there. She plucked the flower and smiled, glancing back towards the boys. But the movement threw her balance off, and she gasped and dropped the flower. A clump of earth crumbled beneath her hands, and a root from a nearby tree broke off when she grabbed it. She clutched at something, anything, to keep herself from falling in, but it was too late. With a scream, she tumbled headlong into the cold, fast-moving waters of the river.

🌸🌼🌺

The moment Riku and Sora heard Kairi’s blood-curdling scream and then a loud splash, the boys dropped their swords and raced to the riverbank. Riku knew Kairi was a strong swimmer thanks to his careful lessons (well, and if he had to, he would admit Sora had helped her too), but the river was cold and the current was fast. And if she’d hit her head on anything when she’d fallen…

Riku reached the riverbank first. He yanked his shirt off and threw it on the ground. “Sora, I’m going in!” he called as Sora arrived, panting hard. “Find a branch I can hold onto and pull us out.” Sora nodded, trusting him completely, and with that Riku dove into the icy water. Man, it was cold, and the current was fast, but he had to find Kairi. She hadn’t fallen into the water much earlier than him, but—

There she was, a little further downstream. Her eyes were half-lidded and she was gripping a tree branch, but as he watched in horror, her hand went limp and she slipped back into the water. 

“KAIRI!” he shouted, then swam to her as fast as he could. This couldn't be the end of her. He wouldn't let it be. Ever since she had washed up on the shores of the Destiny Islands eight years ago, his life hadn't been the same. She'd been shy and quiet at first, her eyes always gazing off into the distance like she was searching for someone she couldn't find, but that was before she’d opened up to them. They were all friends now, and the thought of never hearing her giggle or seeing her smile or watching her eyes light up when he surprised her made his stomach churn and drove him to reach her. He had to see the way her eyes danced and her smile got playful when she teased him and Sora again. He just had to.

Faster, he had to go faster. His senses sharpened, and his feelings were as clear as the river rushing to take her away from him: he couldn't bear for her to slip out of his life just as suddenly as she'd entered it. Her head briefly popped out of the water again, and relief flooded him at the side of her familiar red hair. He reached towards her, he was almost there, just a little farther—

“Kairi, grab my hand!” he shouted.

She latched onto his arm with far more strength than he expected, and he knew Sora had to act quickly, or they would both drown. In her desperate state, Kairi wouldn't remember to avoid dragging Riku under the water with her. It was something all parents told their children on Destiny Islands, and the warning rang clear through Riku's mind.

“Riku, grab the stick!” 

Never had he been so relieved to hear his best friend's voice. Sora had tied himself to a tree with some spare rope and was holding out a tree branch to him, his eyes filled with panic and worry. Riku grabbed on, and the unwanted thought flashed through his mind that Sora might not be strong enough to pull them both out. He was still pretty scrawny and small. But a determined glint was in his friend’s eyes now, and Sora braced himself and pulled with far more strength than Riku thought he was capable of. The muscles in his arms strained and shook, and he gritted his teeth and groaned loudly, but he refused to let go. For a split second, Riku thought he saw a blond boy several years older than him in Sora's place, but then he was gone and it was just Sora. Slowly, inch by inch, he pulled Riku and Kairi out of the river.

Sheesh. Riku must've been seeing things with how stressed out he was. He turned his attention to Kairi. She gasped and coughed, and at last enough of Riku was on the bank to pull and drag her the rest of the way up. She was shivering, soaking wet, and now covered in mud from the bank, but she was alive. He suddenly felt very, very weak, and as he glanced at Sora, he was shocked to see tears dripping down his cheeks.

“Thank goodness,” Sora said, sniffing and rubbing his red eyes, his voice filled with relief. “I thought I was gonna lose you both.”

Riku was irritated at how much of a crybaby Sora was being. Again. Seriously, he'd been such a crybaby ever since they were kids, and even at twelve years old, he still cried shamelessly in front of other people. Then Riku was annoyed at how little faith Sora had in him. Did Sora really think he wouldn't save Kairi? 

But when Sora smiled at them both and knelt to hug them, all of that melted away.

We really matter that much to him, don't we? A pang of guilt shot through Riku at how he'd been treating Sora lately. Putting him down in front of Kairi to try to impress her. Goading him and teasing him when he reacted and got upset. Turning everything into a competition because a tiny, green-eyed voice deep down wondered if Kairi liked Sora more.

Not that Sora noticed. The idiot was still so oblivious to his own feelings, let alone Kairi’s.

But Riku didn't push Sora away or tell him not to hug them. He didn't like how clingy Sora was being, but after what they’d all just been through, he would allow Sora to be clingy. Just this once.

“Kairi, you’re as cold as ice,” Sora said. He pulled away from them and frowned. He was right. When Riku touched her arm, it was way colder than it should've been. She coughed and wouldn't stop shivering, and when Sora said her name again, she didn't respond. 

“Kairi, wake up,” Sora begged, but she still wouldn't respond.

“I think she needs to see a doctor,” Riku said. “Hang on, let me grab my shirt so you can put it over her, then I'll go get her parents.”

He found his shirt upriver a little ways away from them, right where he’d left it, and brought it back. He tossed it to Sora and took off running, following the path of the river. He had to make it back to town as quickly as possible. But he was tired, so tired from going after Kairi. Would she really be okay? If only he were stronger, he could carry her all the way back to her parents or to the doctor himself.

Another pang of guilt shot through him. He needed more strength. More strength to protect her. His body was growing every day, but it still wasn't fast enough or strong enough. He still had to rely on adults for help. One day, he would have the strength to protect his friends himself. He had to. 

The thought urged him forward even as his legs ached and his lungs burned. Strength, to protect what matters. That was what he wanted, more than anything else.

🌸🌼🌺

Sora didn't know what to do. Even though he’d wrapped Riku’s shirt around Kairi, she kept getting colder and colder. She wasn't responding to him anymore, like she'd fallen into a deep deep sleep. She was still breathing, but her face was as pale as a ghost’s.

His heart was thundering in his chest, and his head swam. His arms ached from lifting Riku and Kairi out of the water, and he felt so useless. What good was it that he'd gotten her out of the water if she died here?

“Riku, hurry," he pleaded, but he knew he had to do something before his friend returned with help. It would still be a while yet before anyone else came. So he pulled Kairi close to his body and held her tight, hoping with all his heart that his warmth would make her body warm up again.

This was the closest he'd ever been to her, but all he could think about was how cold she was, how limp she was, how he wanted nothing more than for her to open her eyes again. Her eyes were so pretty. Blue like the sea with just a hint of purple, her favorite color. How did he not notice how pretty they were before? And now she might never open them again.

“Wake up, please,“ he begged, and the words sounded strangled and choked. “Kairi, you have to open your eyes!”

How could he have been so stupid? The thought of losing her made him realize just how much she meant to him. She was such an important part of his life, woven into so many memories as tightly as she wove her flower crowns and daisy chains together into beautiful creations. He couldn't imagine the future without her. In his mind, he'd arrogantly acted like she would always be there. But today had shown him he couldn't ever take a single moment with her for granted.

So he willed with all his heart that she would live, that his warmth would be enough. If it was, he would be sure to treasure every memory with her from now on.

After what was probably only minutes but felt like hours of agonized waiting, her skin felt ever so slightly warmer. At first he thought it was his overactive imagination, but no, a slight flush had returned to her cheeks. He gripped her even more tightly. A minute passed, and then another, and at last she stirred and opened her eyes.

“Sora?” she said weakly. Her voice sounded more like the croaks of the frogs they liked to catch in the pool on the Play Island, but to him it was the most wonderful sound in the world.

“You're awake!” He smiled, and in that moment he thought his heart would leap out of his chest. A warm, tingly sensation tumbled through him, but it wasn't a bad feeling. Just exciting and new. He would think about it later.

She smiled back. “You saved me. Thank you.”

He couldn't help himself. He hugged her tightly, and a moment later, he felt her arms wrapping around him. This was a very different hug from the quick hug he’d given her and Riku earlier. She was close, closer than she'd ever been, and something stirred deep inside him. His face, no, his entire body felt warm. He’d never been so aware of his body like this before, let alone hers. He was embarrassed by what he was feeling, but at the same time, he didn't want to let go of her either. It was like he couldn't move and didn't want to. She wasn't pulling away either. Did she like hugging him? He sure liked hugging her.

What was all this? He’d never felt like this before. Before he could make heads or tails of it, Riku returned with the grownups. 

The look on Riku's face was strange. Like Sora had just said something awful and punched him. Sora felt oddly…guilty. Like he shouldn't be hugging Kairi like this in front of Riku, even though it felt better than he could've imagined. So he pulled away from her even though he could've sat there hugging her for hours.

“Kairi, are you okay?" her mother asked, holding a blanket out to her daughter. The grownups took over from that point, and Sora just sort of watched everything in a daze.

Until Kairi wondered whose T-shirt she was wearing, and Riku shyly said that it was his. Kairi thanked him and tried to give it back to him, her cheeks pink as she avoided looking at his bare chest. Riku shook his head and insisted she keep it, and his cheeks were flushed too.

Sora felt like someone had kicked him in the gut. The breeze that had felt pleasant earlier felt cold now. Like the world was strange and different and off kilter because he knew something he wished he didn't. 

He understood now why Riku had given him that strange look. A tiny green-eyed monster reared its ugly head inside him. A creature of shadow that whispered Kairi's mine. Sora pushed the creature deep down to where he couldn't hear it anymore. Kairi wasn't a possession to own, she was a person. She was his friend. How could he even think something like that?

But a part of him didn't want her hugging anyone else the way she'd hugged him. And that part of him did not like the way she had looked at Riku, or the way Riku had looked at her.

Sora had stepped into a storybook he didn't want to be any part of. Riku was his best friend. Kairi was also his friend. He didn't want to hurt Riku, and he couldn't bear to watch Kairi smile at Riku or blush because of something Riku had said or giggle because of something Riku had done. He had the funny sense that the little green-eyed monster would grow bigger and stronger every time she did.

So when the grownups took Kairi back to the town, Sora stayed behind. She looked disappointed but didn't argue, and he promised he'd see her tomorrow. Now he was wandering back and forth by the river and kicking clumps of grass. He didn't think he could be around Riku or Kairi right now. He was relieved she was okay, but he had no idea what was going on with himself. The three of them were friends. They would always be friends. Right?

He wanted everything to go back to the way it was. Things had been fine this morning. Sure, Riku liked to tease him, and Kairi liked to tease him too, but he knew where his place was in that world. This new world, with these confusing new feelings? He had no idea. All he was sure of was that he wanted to hug Kairi again like that, but he didn't want to hurt Riku's feelings. And he knew that if Kairi ever hugged Riku the way she had hugged him, the monster might destroy him from the inside.

Not that he could ever let either of them know that. All of this felt so wrong and so complicated. 

He wandered over to the spot where Kairi had fallen in the river. A yellow flower with five petals caught his eye. Huh. The rounded shape of the petals kinda made it look like a paopu fruit. He picked it up and carefully tucked it in his pocket. It was a nice flower, and for some reason, he felt like it should stay with him. Maybe it was a token of good luck that had kept Kairi safe. He would take it home and put it in a vase. That would help it live for a while longer.

As he walked home, the future didn't seem so scary anymore. Those strange thoughts he had had earlier, those weird new feelings…it all felt a little silly now. He and Riku and Kairi would always be friends. He put his hands behind his neck and whistled as he walked the path home.

A tiny part of him, not the little green-eyed monster but something smaller and more delicate and yet harder to kill, hoped that someday, Kairi would hug him again like that, and that Riku wouldn't hate him for it.

🌸🌼🌺

The next day, Kairi was feeling much better. A good night’s sleep, her mother's miso soup, and the day off from school had worked wonders. Still, that had been an awfully close call, and she promised her parents never to do something so foolish again just to try to get a flower.

She sighed sadly. She'd been so close to having a legendary paopu flower of her own. Imagine what she could've done with it! Oh well. It certainly wasn't worth her life, and she knew she would find another one eventually.

The weather was perfect today. She happily skipped down the path to the main part of town, enjoying the beautiful scenery. Her father was the mayor, and her family lived in a big special house on a hill overlooking the town. Sora and Riku's families lived in town, so it was a bit of a walk to reach them, but she didn't mind.

She decided to stop by Sora's house first. It was a little closer, and he'd acted strange after their hug yesterday, and she wanted to know why. He’d gotten all quiet and thoughtful, which wasn't like him at all. She was a little bummed out he hadn't walked her home along with the grownups and Riku. But he’d said he wanted to stay behind a little longer, and she’d been too tired to argue.

She knocked on the door, then rocked up and down on her heels as she waited for him to answer, her hands behind her back. His mom opened the door instead and invited her in, and she greeted her politely and took off her shoes. Then she took the stairs two at a time and burst into his room. He was lying on his bed with his hands behind his neck, and he sat up, surprise written on his features until he realized it was her. His face lit up and then softened into a smile.

“Hey, Kairi! I'm glad you're feeling better.”

She tilted her head and leaned closer, which made his breath catch in an adorable way and a flush creep up his cheeks. “It's all thanks to you and—“

Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a brilliant yellow blossom carefully placed in a simple glass vase on his bedside table. It had five round petals, and Kairi’s breath caught. Was this the paopu flower she’d picked yesterday? 

“Sora, where did you find that flower?” 

He grinned. “Oh, that? It's pretty, isn't it? I found it on the riverbank yesterday and brought it home because I liked it.” He paused for a moment, studying her face. “Do you want it?”

She just stared at him for a few moments. You were supposed to give the flower to someone you loved. By fate or by chance, the flower had made its way to Sora. And in that moment, her feelings became crystal clear. The flower was a sign, but it hadn’t made up her mind. No, it was simply confirmation of what she already knew, deep down inside her heart.

She was very grateful to Riku for saving her from the river and for his friendship over the years, and like every other girl on the islands, she thought he was attractive, so of course she had blushed at seeing him shirtless yesterday. But she'd also realized something very important, something that had taken her by complete surprise.

Sora was the one she had a crush on. Sora. On paper she should prefer Riku. He was older, he was more mature, he was stronger and faster and good-looking. So why didn't she like him like that?

The answer was Sora. As she gazed at him, her heart grew warm and a blush spread across her cheeks. She couldn't stop thinking about the tender way he’d hugged her yesterday. How safe and gentle his arms were. How he had warmed her cold, shivering body up. The smile on his face that was meant only for her. It had lit up his eyes when she woke up and transformed his entire appearance. And his eyes were so pretty. How had she never noticed before? They were as blue as the sky at midday without a cloud to shroud them. She loved his messy mop of spiky brown hair and his dorky clothes, too. 

He was so brave and kind and goodhearted. Finding the strength from deep in his heart to rescue both her and Riku from the river, even though it must've been really difficult to pull them both out of it.

Sora was a good person. And knowing he was a good person, that he would go to any length to save her, painted him in a different light. Or maybe she was finally seeing what had been there all along.

She suddenly felt bad about the look on his face yesterday when she’d tried to give Riku back his T-shirt. He looked so hurt in a way she hadn't ever seen before, but he’d quickly masked it. Was it possible he was jealous? The thought sent a little thrill through her.

He had nothing to be jealous of. The paopu flower was only confirmation of something that had been growing and growing until today it had burst into bloom. Its yellow petals cast everything in a different light, like rays of the sun showing her Sora’s true self.

He tilted his head, a faint smile twitching at his lips. “Kairi? Everything okay?”

“Yes, sorry! I just got lost in thought, that's all.”

He just shook his head and grinned. “And you give me such a hard time about daydreaming,” he teased, putting his hands behind his neck. Then his expression softened and he lowered them. “But seriously, do you want the flower? You can have it.”

“Oh! No, no I want you to keep it. It suits you, and it suits that spot on the window.”

Still…The fact that he’d offered her the flower…was that confirmation he had feelings for her, too? 

No, he didn't know what it meant. She wasn't even sure he knew what his feelings were. But maybe one day he would. And then maybe he would tell her.

“Okay!” He glanced out the window looking out over the area in front of the house, where Riku was now waiting for them. “C’mon, Riku’s here.”

“I'll be right down,” she told him. With that he took off and clambered down the stairs while she lingered, staring in awe at the flower. It had found its way to Sora like it was supposed to and had revealed her feelings to her. Her heart.

This was all so strange and sudden and new. She needed time to think, to process her feelings before she went downstairs and joined the boys. A blush crept up her face, and she giggled into her hand. Sora! She liked Sora! Selphie would tease her endlessly about it if she knew.

But she didn't have to know yet. For now, this was Kairi's precious, private secret. She didn't have to tell anyone until she was ready. How this would all unfold was uncertain, but these new feelings were wonderful, and she would treasure them in her heart just like she treasured Sora in her heart.

And, when the time was right, she would tell him. Glancing at the flower one final time, she knew how she would do it. It was all in the flower’s namesake. She descended the stairs with a smile, looking forward to the day her daydreaming would become a reality.

🌸🌼🌺

A/N: Happy birthday to @hollypollly! 🥳 She gave me a very detailed prompt and outline for the story which was a lot of fun to write ❤️ Thank you so much for everything, Holley, and I hope you have a wonderful day and a fantastic year ❤️ I'm really grateful we met, and I'm glad you're a part of my life 🥺❤️

And thank you all for reading ❤️ I really enjoyed exploring how each of the characters felt in this situation because I do think they would all be feeling conflicting emotions, and it was fun to put that Ventus cameo in there too. I also really enjoyed exploring the world of Destiny Islands more and expounding on the paopu flower concept Holley came up with. Hope you all enjoyed!

[dez78]

Chapter 1: Reluctant Allies

Fandom: Baldur's Gate 3

Warnings: Trauma, mentions of abuse, Blood drinking, and Cursing

Rating: 18+ (Adult, Minors DNI)

Additional tags: Protective father, Protective husband, Astarion has a wife at the beginning, Astarion is a dad at the beginning, Dadstarion, Tavstarion, Astarion is feral when it comes to protecting his babies and his wife.

Summary: Astarion, his wife Artemis, and their six-year-old elflings are captured by the Nautiloid and crashed on the revered beach with Shadowheart and Lae'zel.

A/N: Astarion and his childhood love, Artemis, who eventually became his wife are turned into spawn by Cazador. Artemis gave birth to the twins late into their slavery. Astarion and Artemis were able to keep the twins, but Cazador was cruel even to them.

A/N 2: Their kids names are Aster (son) and Astra (daughter) They are their "Little Stars." As they like to call them.

Chapter 2 Link Below:

Crimson Tide Chapter 2: A mother's fury

Two of the pods, hissed as they opened. Artemis inhaled sharply as she held her throbbing head, she sat up, holding onto the side of the pod for balance. She had a splitting headache from that damn tadpole the mind flayer put in her eye. She stumbled out, falling onto her hands and knees. She groaned as she regained her balance and stood.

She looked over when she heard a familiar voice, Astarion stood by her holding his head.

"Gods above, I have a blazing headache." He groaned.

"What happened, where are we?" She rasped at him; he looked over at her.

"I'm not sure, moonflower." Astarion replied, his voice was groggy, he was still dazed.

"Weren't the twins with us?" Artemis questioned as her ruby eyes darted around the area. Their panic set in, their eyes darted around looking for their six-year-old, elflings, Aster and Astra. They were right next to them when the Nautiloid attacked.

Astarion's eyes landed on two pods next to his and Artemis's, he went over and peered inside, he saw his children inside. He growled, a low rumble from within his chest.

"They are in these pods." Astarion hissed to his lover, Artemis hurried over to the opposite pod from Astarion's.

"Don't worry, little star. Daddy's here." He said, before punching the glass of one of the pods. His hand bloodied as he cracked the pod open, Aster was the one he pulled out, he set him down and checked him for injuries.

"Daddy? What happened?" The boy asked groggily as he wobbled,

"I'm not entirely sure yet little star." Astarion replied honestly, his bloody knuckles healed significantly fast, given his nature as a vampire, he was able to regenerate wounds.

Artemis punched at the second pod, where her daughter, Astra lay inside. She punched until the pod cracked and gave way, allowing her to reach in and pull her out safely. Her knuckles bloody as well but they healed within seconds.

"Mummy?" Astra's youthful voice was strained.

"You're safe, little starling." Artemis told her daughter in a hushed voice as she set her down. She grimaced as she held her head.

Suddenly their minds connected with strong telepathy, something potent. Astarion and Artemis realized then, their poor babies had tadpoles like they did.

It put a deep ache in their chests, knowing their elflings had the same twisted fate, yet again. As if being under Cazador wasn't tormenting already, now they had these blasted tadpoles to share as well.

Astra and Aster were so uncomfortable, feeling the foreign squirming, they began to panic. They started sobbing simultaneously. Astarion and Artemis stood there frozen for a moment, not knowing what to do at first.

Then their own panic set it when the tears didn't subside, usually when they cried like this it meant danger for them. Cazador hated their cries and would often lock them away to shut them up, only causing the twins to cry louder.

Astarion and Artemis knelt in front of their crying elflings, hushing them with words of affection.

"My darlings, I know you are uncomfortable, but we mustn't linger. We need to get to safety first." Astarion told them as he pet their faces in tandem. He wiped their tears away with the pads of his thumbs. Artemis sat there rubbing Aster's arm to calm him down.

The parents stood, each of them picking up a twin. Astarion took Aster on his hip and Artemis held Astra, the family a vampiric elves hurried out.

The family ran through the Nautiloid, they saw the raging battle taking place in Avernus. The dragons roared above, spewing fire at the ship.

"Are we in Avernus?" Artemis questioned as she looked at the blood red sky and the ashy ground, the volcanic mountains were enormous. Before Astarion could answer, a Githyanki warrior leapt off the ledge from above, she landed with grace and held them at the edge of her blade.

"Abominations! This is your end!" She snarled, pointing her blade, before Astarion could even say anything. A terrible pain ripped through his mind. His head throbbed and his skin tingled. Visions rush past: A dragon's wing, a silver sword, and a flash of his face through the strange woman's eyes.

"My head...what is this...ngh." The woman writhed as she leaned forward. Astarion looked at Artemis, she was writhing too. It had affected them all. He adjusted Aster on his hip, who cried in his arms. Astra was right with him.

"Daddy, why does my head hurt." Aster sobbed; his boyish innocence made an ache rush through Astarion. Astra hiccupped in her mother's arms as she wiped her eyes as her tears flowed freely.

"We need to find a way off this ship!" The woman said.

"She's right Astarion, this is too dangerous." Artemis agreed as she adjusted Astra, trying to calm her.

"Then let's go. We mustn't linger much longer." Astarion replied, they hurried off further through the ship.

The imps screeched upon their arrival. Astarion handed Aster to Artemis,

"Stay behind me. I'll handle this." He told her, she reluctantly took their son as she watched Astarion follow the Gith into battle. There were only a few imps, but Artemis still worried none the less. She stayed low with the twins.

Astarion was graceful with his dagger, his fighting style was like a dance. Then with the Gith's power attacks, the imps were no match. They were dealt with quickly.

Astarion grabbed two scimitars and a crossbow. He strapped the crossbow to his back. he used the dual swords, leading the way. Artemis followed suite.

The family and Githyanki warrior, traveled across the ship, looking for any survivors and a way to get out.

Upon arriving in a control room, they heard a woman banging on her pod, pleading for help.

"Leave her, we are already slow with your screaming babes." The Gith, they knew as Lae'zel now, told them. Astarion growled low,

"We are not slow; we are making good time." He said with a deep scowl.

"She might be useful Astarion, we can't leave her." Artemis countered as she adjusted the twins on her hips again. Astarion went up to the panel, he investigated it.

"It needs some type of key." He said, Artemis looked around, setting the twins down for a fleeting moment as she searched. Astarion went to the back room and ended up finding a rune of some kind. He came back out.

"I found this." He said holding up the rune, he placed it into empty socket of the machine, and it hummed to life. Astarion carefully placed his hand on it and a hideous squirming could be felt. He winced, then a strange feeling washed over him. A feeling of authority.

Astarion willed the pod to open with his mind and it worked, the pod hissed and the woman inside fell out. Catching her breath as she slowly stood.

Artemis grabbed the twins again and walked over to the woman with Astarion, Lae'zel was less than pleased, a scowl on her face as she crossed her arms over her armored chest.

"I thought that damn thing was going to be my coffin. Thank you-" The woman started, but that strong link between their minds connected again.

Astarion and Artemis saw, wariness, caution, and a hint of fear.

"You keep dangerous company." The woman said wrinkling her nose as she looked at Lae'zel with distain.

"Dangerous company is something we need, darling." Astarion said with his charming tone.

"Shadowheart is my name, pleasure." The woman said, the elven rogue bowed as he spoke his name in a voice honey sweet.

"Astarion."

Shadowheart looked over,

"You have children?" She asked,

"Yes, my family and I were swept off the streets of Baldur's Gate." Astarion's face contorted with displeasure as he spoke.

"Enough! We need to get moving!" Lae'zel snapped,

"I don't remember anyone putting you in charge." Shadowheart scoffed.

"Kainyank." Lae'zel snorted back.

The elves and Gith warrior hurried off to the helm of the ship.

When they arrived at the helm, they were met with a huge battle between hellspawn and ilithid.

"Spawn, connect the transponder, we must escape." One ilithid commanded,

"Do it! We will deal with the Kaik after!" Lae'zel told Astarion. He looked over at Artemis, who nodded. Astarion took out his swords, inhaling before darting forward.

"We'll cover you!" Shadowheart called to him, Artemis followed behind Astarion with the twins in her arms, he cleared a path. His moves graceful yet again, his blades were precise as he cut through the enemies.

Artemis ducked and dodged on coming attacks, Astarion was a force of speed and grace.

Finally they reached the transponder, Astarion sheathed his swords, Artemis was with him. He connected the tentacles together, he looked up when he heard the dragon's roar.

It landed above, the hole in the ceiling of the ship was gaping and allowed the dragon to stick it's entire head into the ship, sensing danger. Astarion didn't hesitate. He faced his wife and shoved her away with their twins.

Just as she landed with a thud, the dragon's fire spewed inside. Where she stood, she would have been burned. Astarion got singed and patted his fine garments to douse the flames.

The ship suddenly surged forward, sending Astarion flying back. Artemis too, she held the twins as tightly as she could. They tumbled and got dragged across the ship.

Astarion flew and caught the ship's transponder for support, so he wouldn't fall to his death. Artemis was tucked away safely with the twins elsewhere.

Astarion used all of his strength to climb to reach the tentacles again, he gritted his teeth and reached.

Finally, he managed to grab hold of it and was able to twist it. Which sent the ship through another plane. Sending Astarion flying once again as the ship leveled out. He tumbled across the floor of the ship. Artemis was with him.

They looked at each other with worrisome expressions as they looked down at the ground, it was coming fast as the ship plummeted to the ground.

Artemis lay sprawled on her back amidst the wreckage, her silver hair splayed like threads of moonlight against the scorched sand. The Nautiloid had plummeted into the coastline, leaving survivors scattered along the beach.

Artemis's eyes fluttered open, ruby-red irises catching the sunlight for a brief moment before she winced. The bright sky above felt almost mocking after the horrors they'd faced inside the Nautiloid. Blinking against the brightness, she focused the sun bore down on her.

She jumped up quickly, she wavered slightly, the ground beneath her still unsteady from the crash. Instinctively, she raised a hand to shield her face, looking for shade to hide, half-expecting the searing pain she'd come to dread in her undead existence. Instead, there was only a strange tingling warmth dancing across her skin, foreign but not unpleasant.

She looked around, when she realized Astarion and the twins weren't with her.

"Astarion!" She cried desperately as she trudged along the beach, he wasn't far, he was sprawled out on the beach. She hurried to him and shook him awake, his crimson eyes fluttered open.

Upon seeing Artemis in the sun, he quickly grabbed her and pulled her into the shade.

"What in sweet hells! Come here!" He cried, panic etched in his voice as he held her close,

"Star, it's okay. The sun doesn't burn us, look." She said, holding her arm out into the light. Astarion watched in awe as she twisted her arm, and no ash came from her skin.

They could walk in the daylight again. It was a miracle from the gods.

"Where the twins." Astarion said suddenly, he looked around and saw them a few feet away. He crawled over to them with Artemis, when their elflings woke up and whined, they sighed breaths of relief, despite not really needing it.

They scooped up their babies. Artemis and Astarion walked along the ravaged beach holding each twin. They didn't get far before seeing another survivor. They hurried over to her. It was Shadowheart.

Artemis set Astra down and knelt by Shadowheart, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her awake. She opened her eyes and looked around,

"What, happened?" She said, disoriented as she stood slowly with Artemis's help.

"You survived too!" Shadowheart voiced as she looked over at the elven woman and man before her. Their minds connected then. They could feel everything each other was feeling at that moment.

Fear, confusion, wariness, and distrust.

"We need to get these little monsters out." Shadowheart commented, the half elf's face was distorted as she frowned deeply.

"Do you know anything about these parasites?" Artemis questioned as she folded her arms over her chest.

"No better than you, I'm afraid. Just that they eventually turn us into mind flayers." Shadowheart replied truthfully.

"Turn us into...ahahaha!" Astarion laughed, but it wasn't joyous.

"Of course it'll turn me into a monster." He said with distain.

"We really should work on finding a healer." Artemis suggested.

"And I suppose you mean for us to travel together?" Shadowheart said warily.

"We can do that better together." Artemis added. Shadowheart was a bit more reluctant, so naturally she was more cautious as she agreed.

"Where's our Gith friend, by the way?" Artemis asked, noticing Lae'zel wasn't on the beach.

"I would reconsider calling her a friend, it seems she up and left us behind." Shadowheart grunted displeasingly as she folded her arms across her chest. Tilting her head slightly to the side.

"We should look for other survivors." Shadowheart suggested.

The three reluctant allies agreed to search for other survivors. They headed up the beach, searching the coast and scavenging for supplies.

They scavenged the wreckage; they found food and backpacks full of pots, pans, and tinder.

They went further up the beach and came across a magical portal inside a rock.

"What's wrong with that rune? It looks unstable, somehow." Artemis commented as they approached it. Shadowheart was the one to investigate it first, she slowly reached up.

The portal then zapped her, she cried out and withdrew her hand, inspecting it for spectral burns.

Suddenly a hand reached out, a man's voice followed afterwards.

"A hand! Anyone!" Shadowheart was wary at first but then took the man's hand and started to pull.

"That's it! Keeping pulling!" The man said. Shadowheart pulled with all her might, with one final tug, the man flew out and crashed into Shadowheart, forcing both of them to the ground.

Astarion and Artemis stood back a bit watching the exchange. The man stood and groaned, he dusted off his robes, he was clearly a wizard. Shadowheart stood afterwards.

"Hello, I'm Gale. Pleasure. I'm usually better at this." The man said cheerfully as he shook Shadowheart's hand. She looked at him with distain.

"At introductions?" Astarion snorted in a haughty tone.

"At magic." Gale corrected him with a genuine smile, Astarion just rolled his eyes.

"I'm Shadowheart, that's Artemis and Astarion." The Cleric introduced the party.

"I assume you all have an intrusion in the ocular region?" Gale said, pointing to his temple.

"Couldn't have said it better." Artemis replied.

"None of you happen to be Cleric do you?" Gale questioned,

"I am, but this is beyond most Cleric's abilities." Shadowheart replied.

"That's enough chit-chat. The sooner we find a healer, the better." Astarion countered, cutting the conversation short with irritation. All he was concerned about was his elflings and getting them cured of this parasite.

"Fair enough, do you have room for one more?" Gale smirked,

"Sure, you can join us." Shadowheart replied, more of obligation than companionship. Gale looked over at the two pale elves, that's when he saw the smaller stature elves.

"And who do we have here?" Gale said in a soft tone, he tried approaching and Astarion stepped forward,

"Do not take another step wizard." He growled; his crimson eyes gleaming dangerously. Gale laughed holding up his hands defensively.

"Little territorial we are, okay." He said, stepping back. Astarion was careful to not reveal his vampirism yet. He had to be careful.

"We should look for more survivors." Artemis eased the tension. Astarion relaxed somewhat but kept his eyes on the wizard.

They traveled up into the wilderness away from the beach, Artemis was leading the way, she saw two Tieflings ahead and approached them with caution.

Upon getting closer, she saw Lae'zel in a hanging cage. Her stare was white hot as she lurched into Artemis's mind. Lae'zel spoke then, her lips unmoving, but her voice as clear as day.

'Free me and get rid of them, I don't care how you do it.'

"I wouldn't trust her." Shadowheart snorted.

Artemis turned the Tieflings and turned on her vampiric charm as she spoke,

"This is a dangerous creature; you should let me handle it. Get yourselves to safety." Her crimson eyes burned into their very souls.

"We'll be sure to, good luck." The man said.

"If you need shelter after, we have a grove not too far up the road." The woman added. They hurried away, leaving Artemis to deal with Lae'zel.

Astarion used his crossbow and aimed for the base, he shot at it, and it cracked, but didn't break. He shot it again and it collapsed, Lae'zel fell out. She stood and dusted off her armor.

"Looks like the worm hasn't consumed all your senses." Lae'zel growled as she clapped the dirt from her hands. A deep frown wrinkling her features.

"A thank you would suffice." Artemis frowned. Shadowheart smirked.

"You might as well ask a wyvern bow to worms. The cure I offer will suffice as thanks." Lae'zel said, raising her head proudly.

"Fine, you can come along." Artemis offered,

"I'll trust your judgment-but I won't trust her. Not until I've gotten the measure of her." Shadowheart explained.

"You've a sharp tongue, elf. Would that your mind proved it's equal." Lae'zel retorted.

"Half-elf. I suppose the finer details are lost on a creature like you." Shadowheart shot back. Astarion snickered and Artemis smirked.

"Our first priority is to find a healer; we should head to that grove." Gale suggested.

"I agree, we need to find a way to get rid of these little monsters in our heads." Shadowheart explained.

The group continued forth in search of the grove the Tieflings had mentioned. As they walked, Shadowheart started up a conversation with Gale,

"So, Gale. You seem to know a lot about our condition."

"I do; I've studied on it enough to get an idea of it. It's called Ceremorphosis and it's to be avoided." Gale explained.

"It's a painful and horrific process." He added.

"Great, I look forward to it." Shadowheart said dryly as she scoffed, looking away.

"I hear shouting." Artemis commented as she looked over at her husband.

"I do too, let's be careful." He warned her. They approached and saw a group of adventures outside of a wooden gate. They assumed this was the Grove they were told about.

Astarion leaned into Artemis and spoke,

"Take the twins and keep your distance." Artemis nodded in response and took their elfings, she ushered them back down to the beach. Astarion then approached the gate with Shadowheart, Gale, and Lae'zel in toe.

"Let us in!" A human cried,

"The Goblins are right behind us!" He added.

"You led them here! You fool!" The Tiefling man wailed, his tone was rageful.

Artemis meanwhile got enough distance, she looked back towards the wilderness, a look of wariness on her timeless face.

"Mummy, is daddy going to be okay?" Astra asked, her youthful voice was distressed. Artemis smiled gently at her daughter as she knelt.

"Yes, Moonbeam. Daddy is going to be just fine. I promise." She said as she brushed a stray strand of silver hair from Astra's face. Aster stood next to his sister, clutching her hand tightly. His untamed silver curls whisked around from the light breeze.

"We just need to stay here for a bit, daddy will take care of the monsters." Artemis explained, she painted Astarion in a heroic light. The elflings admired both parents, but especially their father. He could do no wrong in their eyes.

Artemis sat down on a bit of debris, setting the twins down with her. She took this time to rub the smudges off their faces. Then she combed her fingers through their hair, untangling it to the best of her ability.

Astra's hair was easier to untangle, but Aster's unruly curls seemed to have a mind of their own. He wriggled in his mother's lap and whined.

"Aster please." Artemis told him as she fought with his curls. Astarion's genes were strong. Finally, Artemis got his curls to look tamer. She let him go.

She turned to Astra and began to braid pigtails for her. Her fingers wove through her daughter's silky-smooth hair, Astra inherited her mother's hair, so it was easier to tame than her brother's.

"Mummy, can you make my hair look like yours?" Astra asked, bending her head back as she looked at her mother, Artemis smiled,

"Of course, Starlight." She replied softly. Astra referred to the two buns and braids Artemis wore. She undid the braid and worked with her daughter's hair. It was longer, so it should be easy to recreate her own hairstyle.

Aster played in the sand in close proximity to his mother, she could keep an eye on him easily where he sat now.

By the time Artemis was finished with Astra's hair, that's when Astarion came down to the beach.

"Daddy!" The twins called in unison as they towards their father, he was covered in blood, but Artemis knew it was his by the scent of it. Astarion embraced his elflings as his wife approached him, she hugged him tightly.

"Is it safe?" She asked, her ruby eyes meeting his crimson ones, Astarion nodded, he looked exhausted. Artemis knew the reason; he hadn't fed yet and he was spent after fighting.

"It's safe now, my Moonflower." He said, his voice was strained, but calm.

"Come along, the others are already inside the Grove." Astarion ushered his family back towards the Grove.

"There are children here you fool!" Zevlor cried, he was clearly upset.

"We was running for our lives and you refuse to open the gate because you're a coward!" Aradin snapped. Zevlor tried to find reason in that response but couldn't find one.

"I want to protect my people, we have the druids to deal with already!" He wailed.

"Now, hold on. Let's not make things worse." Astarion said, his voice was authoritative, but calm. Aradin glared daggers at him,

"No one asked for your opinion, knife ears." He said coldly, Astarion looked at him like the insult physically struck him.

"Excuse me? I am the one who saved your asses." He barked with a biting tone, his face contorted into a scowl.

"This man did save your life; you owe him thanks." Zevlor countered, Aradin spit on the ground at Astarion's feet. The elf's lips twitched; he was losing his patience.

"I didn't ask for help from no, Fey mongrel." Aradin spat with distain, his nose wrinkling in disgust.

"Stop insulting my husband." Artemis defended Astarion.

"Oh another, Twigger. Great. With their own brats." Aradin rolled his eyes in distain as he looked at Artemis and the twins who hid behind her.

"You can insult me, but not my wife and my babes." Astarion growled, before Aradin knew what was happening, Astarion's fist collided with his jaw, knocking him out cold.

Astarion winced and shook his hand as he looked up at Zevlor,

"Thank you again for your help." He explained.

"Pleasure, but I'm not staying long, I need to find a healer." Astarion replied as he rubbed his sore knuckles.

"Goblin got you? There's a healer here, further down in the Grove, her name is Nettie." Zevlor explained to him.

"I appreciate it." Astarion said as he started to make his way towards the inner grove, Artemis, the twins, Shadowheart, Gale, and Lae'zel all followed. No one said anything.

Upon finding Nettie, Astarion and his companions were met with a dead-end.

"I can't provide a cure, only a way out. I'm sorry." Nettie explained,

"This is just great." Shadowheart scoffed as she folded her arms across her chest. Astarion reluctantly took the Wyvern poison.

"If you can find Halsin, he may be able to help you better than I could." Nettie offered a solution, Astarion sighed, this wasn't on his agenda today, but for the sake of his family, he agreed to find the Arch Druid.

"I'll look for him, you have my word." Astarion said thickly. Nettie sighed in relief,

"That's good news to hear for once. Thank you." She breathed. Astarion nodded, he stepped out and his party of companions followed in toe.

When they got outside, Astarion met with Arabella's parents. Locke and Komira, they thanked him for saving their daughter and gave up their locket to him. He took it with a gracious bow and left the family to discuss.

He looked over at his own elflings, Artemis had a hand on each other their shoulders, both of them yawned as they rubbed their eyes.

"We should look a place to camp soon, they need rest, Starlight." Artemis told him in a soft tone. Astarion agreed with her, and they went to the vendor to purchase supplies and possibly tents, if he had any in stock. They raked up enough gold for now.

Once enough was purchased, the party of allies headed out of the Grove to look for a spot to set up their camp.

After two hours of looking, the party of companions found a suitable clearing in the wilderness.

"This looks like a good place to camp." Gale noted as he looked around the area. They had bought and scavenged enough camp supplies to get them started.

"We should set it up and keep it set up, so we can just retreat here after the day's end." Gale continued, his suggestion was met with mutual agreement from his companions.

It was late afternoon, around 4:30pm. The companions scattered around the camp and picked their spots to set up their tents. Astarion and Artemis set up Astra and Aster's tent first.

The twins went down to the water to play, intending to explore, looking for bugs and frogs. They found sticks and ran along the water, pretending to be valiant heroes.

Gale set up his area to his liking, unpacking his scrolls and books. He noted they needed some furniture. Tables, chairs, etc. He heard the laughter of the children and smiled fondly.

He watched them run around for a moment, then he headed towards them, with the innocent intention of introducing himself to them. He didn't even think about the possible consequences of his actions.

Aster and Astra kneeled in the dirt, giggling as they played. Gale with a friendly smile approached them.

"Hello, younglings." He smiled brightly as he waved, Aster and Astra looked up at him with wide eyes. The fear of Cazador resurfacing, they didn't know if this was a bad man. Just yesterday they were living with Cazador, their tormentor.

The twins were paralyzed with fear, they held on to each other and trembled. It didn't go unnoticed by Gale; he knelt down in front of them.

"It's okay little ones; I won't hurt you." He said with softness; he held out his hand and conjured a colorful orb in his palm. The twin's eased a bit but were still unsure. Gale reached out further.

"Take it." He said softly, Aster reached out and took the orb, briefly their hands brushed. Gale smiled, not knowing of the brewing storm just a few feet away.

Astarion had witnessed this, he turned feral. Shadowheart was setting up the rest of her tent, when she looked up. She saw Astarion's fangs unretract, and he was over by his children in a blur of motion. Her eyes widened.

Gale stood slowly, but before he could even react, Astarion's hand was clasped around this throat, and he was slamming Gale into the ground. He stood above him; he titled his head and bared his fangs angrily. He was a predator now. Gale was shocked.

"You dare approach my elflings without my permission, you dare touch them!?" Astarion was livid, his crimson eyes glowed and his face was contorted in an expression, that scared the grown man below him.

Gale stammered as he spoke or as best as he could with Astarion choking him.

"I-I didn't mean no harm-I swear!" His words were strained and his face fearful. Astarion didn't lighten up, he leaned down, his voice low, he spoke in a deep guttural growl.

"Consider this your only warning, wizard."

Astarion let go and stood up, he turned to his elflings, his expression softened immediately. Shadowheart hurried over and helped Gale to his feet, Artemis went over too.

"My love?" Her voice broke through the tension of the air, Astarion turned to her.

"It's okay, my dear." He told her gently. He knelt before his elflings.

"Is he a bad man?" Aster asked, his young eyes full of innocent wonder. Astarion sighed,

"I don't know yet, he's our companion for now, but you cannot trust everyone so easily Aster." He told his son. He kissed both of his children's foreheads, then he stood and held his wife close to him.

"You're a vampire?" Shadowheart asked.

"We all are, yes." Astarion snapped, he wanted to keep this hidden longer, but the damned wizard got noisy, and he had to step in to protect his babes.

"Your children are vampires too? They were turned that young?" Gale asked, his voice that of dejection and his eyebrows fell in a sorrowful manner.

"No, they were born." Artemis said shakily, still not fully trusting, but she felt the need to share it.

"Born vampires? That's such a rare anomaly. Fascinating." Gale chirped with curious eyes. Astarion stepped forward,

"Hands to yourself wizard, my elflings are not your experiments." He warned. Gale held up his hands defensively.

"I have not that intention, friend." He said, Astarion glared at him.

"We're not friends." He said,

"Well we have to be something if are going to be working together." Shadowheart countered boldly.

"We will be acquittances, but we are not friends." Astarion said holding his head up as he held Artemis closer to him.

"So, I guess that means, I'm only cooking for three." Gale joked suddenly, Astarion looked at him, he was making jokes after having a vampire father on him threatening his life. Fascinating.

"Yes, I can provide food for my family." Astarion told him confidently.

When the canopy of night encapsulated the wilderness. Astarion and Artemis went out to hunt with their twins. Their forms moved like shadows in the cover of darkness, their footsteps feather light.

Astarion stayed low, he was a stalking predator now, all his mannerisms were absent for this time being as his eyes surveyed the area looking for prey. Thanks to his vampirism, he could see in complete darkness.

His vision allowed him to find warm blooded creatures to hunt. His heightened senses were prominent because of his gnawing hunger. His sense of smell was immaculate, and his hearing was even better. His skyward ear twitched when he heard something.

It didn't go unnoticed by his wife, her voice was barely above a whisper,

"What do you hear?" She asked, the twins at her side. The wind shifted and the vampires could smell the fresh blood nearby. It was a pack of wild boars if Astarion's hearing, and smell didn't fail him.

"Follow me." He whispered as he trekked through the wilderness. His steps were cautious as they got closer, finally in a clearing of trees, they saw the pack of boars. There was seven of them that they counted. Astarion looked at his wife and nodded, she responded with a quick nod of her own.

"Stay here, little stars. Mummy and daddy will feed you soon." Astarion told his twins, they nodded in response to their father. They kept themselves low in the darkness.

Astarion and Artemis stalked their prey, their eyes hungry.

Then in a blur of motion, the vampires attacked. They were ferocious as they bit into the boar's necks. They managed to bring down four of the seven. The rest scattered back into the thick trees.

"Aster, Astra! Come here, darlings!" Astarion called, the twins came out from their hiding place and approached.

"Pick which one you want." Astarion told them standing above the corpses. Aster and Astra picked their dinner, Astarion and Artemis knelt down and fed on their own boars.

For the first time in their exsistences, the family of vampires could drink greedily with no consequences, quenching their thirst that had tormented them for so long.

The warm blood rushed into their mouths, making them dazed for a few moments because of the satisfaction of it.

When the boars were drained, the family was more than satisfied, they were happy. Their stomachs full and their cheeks flushed. Artemis and Astarion walked back to camp, indulging in conversion while their twins ran circles around them.

Once getting back to camp, their companions had long since fallen asleep, Astarion and Artemis tucked their twins away into their bedrolls.

They yawned again, more aggressively this time. They made cooing noises as they settled into the warmth of their beds. Artemis took out Astra's braids and buns so she could sleep more comfortably.

Before long, the twins slipped into their reverie. Artemis and Astarion snuck out and headed to their own tent, just a few steps away from their children's.

Once inside, they got comfortable. Artemis let her hair down, letting it fall along her back. Her hair fell like liquid starlight cascading down her back. It looked ethereal against her milky skin. Astarion's breath hitched, he had seen his wife plenty of times before, but this time felt different.

Maybe it was their freedom and no fear of Cazador looming over them constantly. Astarion reached out, hesitantly at first, but once his fingers brushed her skin, she turned to him.

Her ruby eyes illuminated, half lidded. Her eyelashes kissing her sharp cheekbones as she blinked slowly. Astarion was captivated, had his wife always been so beautiful? So otherworldly?

With the recent consumption of fresh blood, Astarion felt the heat rush to his cheeks and the tips of his ears. He was entranced by his wife. Despite being together for over 200 years, he found himself feeling like he was a young boy falling love all over again.

"You're staring, Starlight." Artemis said meekly, her own cheeks and ears flushing a deep red. Astarion blinked at her,

"Am I?" He asked, his voice was thick and distant, he was completely lost in his wife's eyes, drinking up her beauty. Astarion leaned in and captured Artemis's lips in tentative kiss, exploring her all over again freely.

They had intimacy often, but they always had to be discreet and careful that Cazador didn't catch them. Astarion disobeyed often with the rules and was defiant, he refused to let Cazador ruin intimacy with his wife. She was the only good thing he had for years, to lose her would be to lose himself. He was resilient and didn't allow that to happen.

Their intimacy was their sacred escape, to get lost in each other and their pleasure. They didn't lose it, Astarion thanked all the gods, whoever would listen.

Now as he freely kissed his wife again after so many years of torment and shadows, it felt incredible to let go for once. To let go of the lingering fear that they could be caught by their master.

Astarion rolled over on top of Artemis, his lips moving in tandem with her own, his tongue pushed into her mouth and tangled with hers. He ghosted his hands over her body, debating where to touch first.

He was drunk on love and decided to just touch every inch of her skin; she did the same. Feeling every part of her husband that was exposed to her fingertips.

It was pure bliss for the husband and wife. They could finally love each other freely once more.

[redbullgivesyouwingedkuriboh]

hi. if you’re reading this that means it’s my 21st birthday. I had this idea and had to write it down immediately (it’s may 29th. see y’all in just under 6 months) so. yeah. enjoy. happy 21st birthday to me!

The GX Cast In: What they would order for their first legal drink at a bar

DISCLAIMER: blair is excluded from this one cause I can’t fathom her being an adult rn. all characters are considered to be of legal drinking age for the purposes of this post. I do not condone underage drinking. drink responsibly and always call for help if you or a friend are displaying symptoms of alcohol poisoning.

Jaden Yuki: I have determined that Jaden doesn’t like whiskey, but if it’s mixed in something he might be okay with it. a rum and coke would be his go-to. on the rocks, he can’t drink warm liquor.

Chazz Princeton: straight vodka. i have a working theory that the more trauma someone has the better they take shots. (this is not a healthy theory, to be sure, but Chazz certainly qualifies as an observable subject.) he will spit out any food that contains the tiniest amount of carrot but pounds vodka like a champ. he’s definitely tried to do the whole lime and salt thing but found he prefers the burn. I just want him to be okay :(

Dr. Crowler: wayyyyyy back in the day, a very hot, very gay bartender gave him a shot of raspberry schnapps on the house because he “looks like a raspberry schnapps kinda guy”. keeps a bottle of it in his office for feeling nostalgic. atticus has gotten into it more than once, with zero evidence left behind.

Syrus Truesdale: the fruitiest goddamn cocktail you’ve ever seen. there’s a bendy straw and a paper umbrella. probably served out of a pineapple. he does not want to so much as SENSE the alcohol

Alexis Rhodes: whiskey sour. asks for the lemon on the side and squeezes the juice directly into her mouth.

Atticus Rhodes: margaritas, plural. unironically sings “gimme one margarita ima open my legs” the entire time and has to be physically restrained in order to stop him.

Zane Truesdale: he can’t drink, he has a heart condition. however: him and atticus buy cheap wine from the liquor store on oct 31 and sit somewhere outside as the clock ticks over to midnight, making the switch from atticus’s birthday to zane’s. they toast. life is good. zane has palpatations immediately and never drinks again.

Aster Phoenix: wine aunt energy. exclusively drinks wine, but alternates between white and red. his palate changes depending on what he ate. for his twenty first birthday, he probably had steak (s2 fishing incident had me rolling on the ground laughing), which pairs well with cabernet (I think that’s a red) so he’d get red wine.

Yubel: technically has always been legal drinking age? regardless, the strongest whiskey you can find. Jaden dislikes whiskey, though, so has only ever gotten him to take one shot of it. collects the little shooter bottles. it’s really cute to see them all lined up.

Jesse Anderson: fruity cocktail for a fruity bitch. he’d order a sex on the beach, but it would go something like, “I’d like a, ah… ha, alrighty then. A s-sex on the… you know what I mean!”, followed up by Chazz saying, “oh my god he’d like a sex on the beach. jesus.”

Jim Crocodile Cook: not much of a drinker, but he’d also love the fruity cocktails. he would order a strawberry daiquiri. frozen. he’d also do a shot for the hell of it, probably of cheap vodka, and spend the rest of the evening wondering how everyone else is handling that stuff so well.

Axel Brodie: straight fucking gin. no additives, no garnish, no nothing. just axel and a shot glass. somehow never shows signs of being tipsy.

Adrian Gecko: beer. he thinks it makes him look relatable. unironically a beer drinker. probably PBA.

Bastion Misawa: he orders a shot of “your finest whiskey, barkeep”. sniffs it first. takes a little sip. “oh, goodness. no thank you.”

[uva124]

PRESENTING THE REDESIGN OF THE GIRLBOSS QUEEN AMAYA 📢🗣🗣(I AM SO HAPPY TO HAVE FINISHED THE DRAWINGS)

It should be noted that this is a redesign for the Wish Au character written by @ animación , who helped me with the ideas and references for Amaya's design,@ animación it is very fun to collaborate with you :D

Now I will start to explain how we came to make this design:

-At first I didn't have many ideas for their design (the truth is before I was concentrating more on Aster and Asha) so I decided to watch the Whis movie to get a better idea of ��​the aesthetic I wanted to look for them………yes, the movie is not that good, later I will talk about my opinion of the movie but in terms of design I was disappointed that out of so many possibilities for the design and costumes of royalty, Disney chose a neutral color palette with small details of blue color, I don't know, I feel like there were so many striking possibilities wasted for they desings.

-Well, continuing with the topic, the author of this Au Wish sent me references about what her vision was about the design of Amaya, which were mostly about the storyboards of the movie, I really liked the idea, since it gave me vibes of a threatening but elegant queen,she also sent me some concept art of Mother Gothel that I used as a reference for the structure of Amaya's face

This gave me the idea of ​​also using Sephora that belongs to the movie "The Prince of Egypt" as a reference for the aesthetic that I more or less wanted for the character.

so first I decided to practice the structure of the face to familiarize myself with the design :D (I clarify that I traced the structure of the drawings here because it was just a practice, I used none of these sketches in the final result)

After a while I started making my own sketches when I finally understood how to draw the face

(For the hairstyle, I was guided by the photos that the author sent me, I almost forgot to put that😅)

-I also decided that instead of putting a crown on Amaya, I put a kind of headband with a jewel, because in addition to being comfortable, practical and cute (something that greatly characterizes Amaya's style)

It is also a parallel to my Asha design which has a diamond-shaped tattoo on her forehead.

-Now talking about Amaya's dress, yes or yes I wanted to design a cape with a hood, although at first I thought about adding a neckline to the top part of the dress, an idea came to me which was to be inspired by the Greek mythology character Circe, since curiously she is also a sorceress, I mentioned this to the author and she mentioned that at first when trying to draw her she was inspired by the conceptual art of Megara, who is also Greek, so in the end she decided that maybe the queen comes from from a town in Greece (Also this could have something to do with her backstory 👀)

-At some point in the story we discover that Amaya keeps different potions inside her dress (I guess for emergencies, I don't know), that's why I decided that the dress has a small opening, because in addition to making it easier for you to walk, it would also help you. get your potions out in an easier way (her potions are attached to a belt that would be on her leg or waist I suppose).

-In the end I designed these 3 prototypes and sent them to the author to help me decide which one to choose or which to combine because the truth is I couldn't choose alone (I'm too indecisive).As I said, I was inspired by the character of Circe, so I looked for references of how the Greek goddesses dressed in ancient paintings, and if you look a little closer you can notice that I added the Leo symbol, since it represents the lion. , an animal that was associated with the Greek mythology character I mentioned

Another important detail is the moons on her dress, since it represents motherhood, an aspect that Amaya uses as a facade with her people, and speaking of space, the writer gave me the idea that Magnifico represents the sun since in her own words:

"I know the association with the sun and the moon fits their personalities really well. As the sun can be seen as bright, fun and warm like Magnifico presents himself, but it can also be a force of destruction that burns and is unpredictable. And the moon can be associated with Amaya for being a protective glow in the darkness like how she presents herself as a caring guide, but the moon also has a mysterious dark side we can never see.And the moon only shines to us because the sun is shining on it, so like… Amaya only shines because she’s next to Magnifico"

(Honestly, I'm always surprised by how much symbolism the writer can find for the characters, I only put it in because of what I mentioned before and because I thought it looked cute lol).

(I came up with the belt and most of the costume thanks to this circe painting)

-Don't think that I decided on the colors yellow and dark blue just because they go together well, nonono, this one also has a meaning :D , you see, while I was looking at some of Wish's concept art there were these discarded designs of Magnifico:

And doing a little google search I found this:

-That's why I chose these colors, blue is a color that represents the truth, something that Amaya and Magnifico want to pretend, but the color yellow represents what they truly are, liars.

-And finally (because this writing is taking me more than 2 hours) the roses that are in her dress and hair are natural, and without giving you too many spoilers about the rewrite, Amaya suddenly ages a little, and when this happens the roses also have a change as they wither

Final comments :D

wow, that was quite long ,wasn't it?, I'm more than happy with the result, I hope you like it too, @annymation and I've put a lot of effort into this design and history of Amaya :)

[swannieluv]

.𖥔 ݁ ˖꩜ Portraits and flowers- PLATONIC Albedo and Klee x Child!Reader

✦⸼࣪⸳ 𝐆𝐍!𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

✦⸼࣪⸳ 𝐖𝐜: 1,4k

✦⸼࣪⸳ 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆!!: Slight mention of a bruise.

✦⸼࣪⸳ Part II of: Alchemy, bombs... Family?

✦⸼࣪⸳ A/N: HII!! Writing for Klee is so nice, she's just a silly ball of energy. Hope you guys like it!! Also, a friendly reminder that you're free to send whatever thoughts you have about this or my other fics on my asks <3

"Stay still."

These two words had been repeated thousands of times over the last two hours. A single command that should be simple, if it weren't terribly boring to sit in an armchair posing for so long.

"I still don't understand..." Their eyes turned to the back of the easel, which concealed Albedo's work. "Why do you want to make a portrait of me?"

"Because you're our new addition to the family; it's only fair that we have a portrait of you to put on the wall."

He wanted to present them with a painting that he would do himself. Although most of his drawings didn't make it out of the sketch phase because he always found other inspiration and left his unfinished projects lying around, Albedo was clearly making an effort for them.

For Albedo, this wasn't just a gift. It had been a few days since [Name] had joined the small family made up of Albedo, Klee and Alice; although they still hadn't had direct contact with the latter.

They were still adapting to the new reality they were living in, in the midst of a great deal of internal confusion because they couldn't remember anything about their past. That's where the idea for this gift came from, something that would make them feel embraced by him and Klee.

Albedo then returned his attention to the painting. He seemed focused, trying to capture every possible detail in his work and create the best possible representation of the person in front of him.

"It's already a great honor to have the opportunity to be painted by the 'genius' Albedo..."

They teased him in a light-hearted way. Albedo was known to many as a 'Genius'. Something in his mind said that the person who told [Name] about this title was a certain Cavalry Captain with, apparently, too much free time for his liking.

He wasn't particularly fond of being called that, thinking it was a big exaggeration on people's part. Nevertheless, he decided to join in.

"And it's a great pleasure to be able to paint the great Dodoca..." he smiled and looked at the canvas, his eyes analyzing every detail of what he had already done so that he could correct the mistakes.

"The mini terrorist will surely want a portrait if she sees it."

"Mini terrorist? New nickname for Klee, I see."

In a small family of three - or four if you count Alice - Klee was the bomb-maniac little sister. Although Albedo was the one who spent most of his time looking after the little girl, now that [Name] is here, she has been dividing her time between the two of them. Whenever Klee met [Name] along the way she would jump around and show off her new bombs, causing the two to end up in solitary confinement more than five times before even a week had passed since their arrival.

And today would probably be no exception.

"Mr. Albedo!"

Klee appeared as energetic as ever. The girl looked as if she had just returned from her adventures in Mondstadt, adventures she could only experience outside solitary confinement. In her hands was a bouquet of orange flowers: Windwheel Asters.

"I did it! I've collected all the flowers!"

Albedo stared at Klee in silence with wide eyes, his panic inside was apparent. He had agreed with the little girl to deliver the flowers after the painting was finished, not before!

But seeing Klee's sparkling eyes, he could only laugh softly and stroke her head gently. The little girl was really excited to hand over her present.

"Thank you, Klee."

As soon as Albedo's hand left her head, she ran and threw herself over them in a tight hug. Causing some of the flowers in her arms to slip, not that that was a problem at the moment.

The seat didn't have a back support, so as soon as Klee jumped, they both fell straight to the hard floor and remained there completely motionless while hugging each other.

The sound of two awkward giggles echoed around the room. The fall was funny, but a little painful for [Name]'s back.

"That was so fun!"

Klee stood up awkwardly; her backpack weighed a lot, even if she could carry it around. The contents of the backpack? A mystery, she always took the most random trinkets out of it. The only thing you could be sure of was the dozens of bombs she must hide in there every day.

"Klee picked the best flowers she could find! Just for you!" She brought the flowers close to their faces; a sweet but early surprise for [Name].

"You didn't have to..."

They prepared to get up, wiping the accumulated snow from their clothes. Their efforts were met with a gentle hand extended to them, just like the day Albedo and Klee had helped them.

"Thank you."

They accepted the support and were finally on two feet. Their sore backs would probably end up having a few bruises from the sudden impact they had suffered, but they didn't want to have to worry when they were having such a good time.

“Did Klee hurt you? I didn't intend to…” she mumbled under her breath, a hand over her mouth as the worried girl looked at them.

“I'm not hurt at all. It's okay.”

It wasn't exactly the truth, but what heartless person would say that to her? She looked so guilty right now, fearing having hurt her new friend like that.

“You could've used your vision to avoid your fall. Why haven't you done so?”

That was a reasonable question. The fact they wielded an anemo vision and weren't actively using it when needed was quite curious for him; maybe he could get the answer he was searching for. All evidence, from their vision's shape to their past clothing pointed out their origins coming from Snezhnaya.

It would start to make sense if they truly had come from the snowy nation, since they could stand the cold naturally without feeling slightly bothered by the lack of natural warmth inside his lab – unlike Klee, who would complain to no end about how her ears were “freezing” before getting her vision and becoming the walking heater she is – and their effortless pacing around the mountain, when even skilled adventurers would find the area rather hostile for exploring sometimes.

Yet, no answer would be concrete while [Name]’s memories continued to stay locked inside their mind for who knows how long. But even so, Albedo was more than willing to help them and wait for the right time when things will finally become clear.

“I don't know…” they answered with a rather puzzled look on their face. Their hands clutching to the hanging vision on their side.

“It's alright, just take your time.”

He put a hand on their shoulder, it was a reassuring action to make sure they knew he truly meant those words. Behind him was Klee, picking the flowers that fell when she jumped.

“Remember, no one's pressuring you into remembering anything”

Albedo's tone always carried a wave of gentleness with it. Years of taking care of Klee had surely improved his skills when dealing with children, she was the perfect definition of a ball of sunshine that could melt everyone's hearts.

“Yes, thank you—”

“What's this?” Klee’s question caught you two by surprise. She was standing close to the canvas, eyes exploring the painting quickly as if she was searching for something specific. Yet her facial expression showed a hint of confusion. “Oh, a drawing?”

“Yes, I'm important now so I can have one.”

They playfully stuck out their tongue to her, which she responded by leaving the flowers on a table and putting her hands on the hips with a pouting face. Of course Klee found [Name] amazing now that she was their friend, yet it didn't prevent her from feeling slightly jealous of Albedo's attention. Though it was more of a lighthearted, childish kind of jealousy.

“Right, Mr. Albe—”

He was gone.

“Oh.”

Albedo disappeared without saying a word, leaving them both alone in the lab without any kind of explanation.

“Let me see it.” [Name] ran to where Klee was, in front of the easel. Instead of a half done portrait, there was only a sketch.

Two hours, two freaking hours staying still like a porcelain doll for a sketch. It was quite infuriating, but maybe that's how artists worked? They wouldn't know.

“...”

They were so focused on their representation in the canvas that had failed to see the other two faces composing the picture. It wasn't only them; Albedo and Klee were also present in the sketch by their side. Written delicately in a small blank space was the word “family”.

“Family…"

A cozy home, big dinner, and a fireplace. Those images appeared for a second in their mind alongside the face of a familiar woman, but they couldn't remember whose face was that. It was blurred, just like everything else about their past.

"[Name]?" Klee's voice cut their thoughts. She had the flowers in her hands, ready to gift them with it.

Klee finally gave them the Windwheel Asters. A small smile on her face as she placed them carefully in [Name]’s hands. Maybe, just maybe, they were accepting it better than they thought.

“Klee wants you to be happy. Let's be siblings! I promise I won't explode you with my bombs, really!”

This time, though, the one to start the hug was [Name]. Their arms cautiously wrapped around the smaller child, afraid of hurting her somehow.

If Klee was a small flame due to her vision, [Name] would be the calm breeze to carry her with themselves. It's the very concept of siblings, right? Fighting, yet hugging by the end of it all.

“Thank you, Klee.”

[jaderavenarts]

4, 8, 9, 17, and 20! 🎶

4. A song you’d put on a playlist for a character you love

LOL I know you know my Arthur Morgan playlist has reached over 200 songs 😂 I'm gonna do each of my current notable character playlists because I can tho... lol

Arthur Morgan:

"I'm a Wanted Man" by Royal Deluxe

Seems like a boring choice on a surface level but, listen, I LOVE how it suits Arthur bc it postures as a rough and tough outlaw song... until it hits the bridge with a moment of quiet vulnerability in lamenting his inability to truly change who he is/what he's done to someone who presumably wants him to be better, and how it can recontextualize the rest of the song from bragging about violent confrontations to regret/being trapped in the cycle of violence/self loathing/being a danger to anyone he loves, LIKE... do you see the vision???

John Marston:

"My Love Mine All Mine" by Mitski

For John and his wife Abigail... And one for John and his son Jack too:

"Spring: Wake" by The Arcadian Wild

Both make me VERY emotional in those contexts lol... he loves them so much, he'll both burn the world down for them and also try so hard to treat them gently and make up for his past mistakes 🥺

Lucanis Dellamorte:

"Out of My Head" by First Aid Kit

...no comment :)

Bonus: Aster de Riva:

"make me feel so..." by Montaigne

This is the one song on my rookanis playlist that's specifically for Aster and lucaster, with the bonus fun of it being an nb singer lol

8. A song from a soundtrack.

"Running with the Wolves" by AURORA

Which has an alternate version that appeared in Wolfwalkers!!

9. A song from a language you don't speak.

I can only carry a conversation in English or simple verbal Indonesian but I've also studied (but can't speak well) Spanish, Japanese, and Italian (and Mando'a if you count fictional languages), so excluding those...

"Jólanótt" by SKÁLD

17. A cover song.

Must resist telling my story about a cover of the RDR1 credits song... lol. Let's instead do a fun gay cowboy song to accompany "Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other":

"Born This Way (The Country Road Version)" by Orville Peck

20. A song you’d put on a playlist for the person who sent you this ask

"Brother" by Lord Huron

Partly bc I wanted to squeeze in a Lord Huron song somewhere, partly to give you more platonic relationship songs, and partly bc you're the only person besides my actual brother I've had the sibling urge to do a fake punch at LMAO (which as I've said before is a compliment lol). Also for additional emotional damage, listen to it in the context of Arthur and John, you're welcome 😌

[havealotonmymind]

Curse

My first ever hanahaki fic! Making Act 1 Astarion suffer more than he already does is so fun to write. Slight canon divergence, but still very happy with how this turned out!

Summary: A hag’s curse is always one borne of intimate cruelty. A wish gone horribly wrong, nostalgia made agony. And love painfully twisted out like so much weeds.

Defeating Auntie Ethel came at the cost of a unique curse: Astarion expelling petals and flowers whole without rhyme nor reason. Leviathala (OC) is deadset on helping him uproot the curse entirely, but even that proves to be a rather prickly situation of its own.

Well, at least the undead don’t need to breathe.

Written for Week 2 of #hanahaki4hanami (Aster) and a yume server spring event!

Rating: Teen

Pairing: Astarion/Named!Tav, Astarion/Original Female Character

Other Relationships: Astarion & Gale & Karlach & Lae'zel & Shadowheart & Tav & Wyll (Friendship)

Additional Tags:

Fluff and Hurt/Comfort, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Pre-Relationship, Curse Breaking, Hanahaki Disease, Not Actually Unrequited Love, Idiots in Love, Minor Character Death, It's Ethel don't worry lol, Denial of Feelings, Blood Drinking, Act 1 Astarion Being Act 1 Astarion (Baldur's Gate), Language of Flowers, Flirting, Act 1 (Baldur's Gate 3), Emerald Grove Tiefling Party (Baldur's Gate), Named Tav (Baldur's Gate), Tiefling Tav (Baldur's Gate), Fighter Tav (Baldur's Gate)

Also available on AO3!

Fighting a hag in her own territory was a very bad idea. Astarion had said so many, many times while they perused the macabre museum of wishes gone wrong under Ethel’s hut. Hidden in the farther dark stood a woman holding her own decapitated head in her hands. A dead woman with her eyes carved out of her skull was tucked in another corner, the roots of the place starting to grow over her corpse. The screaming elf who only saw the worst potential visions of the future marked them for illithid transformation in a matter of days. This collection of awful humanoid trophies dug under his skin.

Leviathala was either stubborn, stupid, or some infuriating mix of both to push onward. Going out of her way to save that whiny whelp Mayrina was her business. Why drag him into it?

The inevitable confrontation with the hag and her enthralled servants only soured his mood further. This wretched place swelled with rot and decay. It reminded him too much of the Szarr palace kennels, complete with the servants’ begging Ethel not to hurt others against their will.

Per Leviathala’s orders, he only incapacitated them. Pity, really. The fools would be far better off dead. They must be wishing for it, at least.

Shadowheart and Gale shot off spell after flashy spell, giving him an opportunity to slink behind Ethel. Leviathala was merciless with her Doom Hammer, crunching the hag’s ribs and leaving crude dents in her skull with every swing. Astarion might have laughed had it not been so grotesque. He met Lev’s eyes over the hag’s shoulder. The signal.

His blades drove deep into Ethel’s hunched back. Black blood sprayed from her mouth as she wailed in surprise. She whirled to face him, a dark glow behind her eyes. “Oh, you wretched spawn!”

“Guilty as charged. It’s a curse, really.” He dodged a swipe at his chest. “Though even I wouldn’t want to have a taste of your blood, hag. Looks far too…pulpy. Ugh.”

Lev snorted and he threw a dashing grin her way. Getting her to crack a smile even mid-battle was always a treat.

Ethel looked between the two of them and snarled, “You think just because you’re a vampire that you’re cursed? Petal, you don’t know what cursed is.”

A beam of sickly green light shot out of her bony finger straight at Astarion’s chest. The spell burst through his tough leather Drow armor, settling coolly against his skin like fog. A brief bout of nausea overcame him and he clapped a hand to his mouth.

“Astarion!” Lev called out with such fervor that it struck something in him. The nausea followed down his throat and took root in his chest.

Then the feeling subsided.

“Wait, I don’t feel any different.” He clicked his tongue. “I’m almost disappointed.”

“Oh, you won’t be for long, petal. I can guarantee you that.”

With one final swing of her hammer, Leviathala ended Ethel then and there. Her bright blue eyes glowed with murderous intent. Teeth bared, covered in black viscera and bits of bone, she looked positively ferocious.

It wasn’t a bad look for her. Mild surprise stirred in his chest at the unbidden thought, but he found it to be true all the same. She wore rage well.

No. Not rage. It was her steadfast will to protect what mattered most. Well, Astarion decided, he didn’t mind being one of those things for her.

She wiped the blood dripping off her cheek on the back of her glove. Her expression softened to its usual rounded concern. “Are you okay?”

He shrugged and flicked the blood off his daggers onto the hag’s remains. “It would seem so. The hag must have cast Ray of Sickness, but well, the undead can’t exactly get sick. Honestly, I didn’t take her for such a—”

Something soft caught in the lining of his throat. He swallowed uncomfortably, but the feeling persisted until he coughed. A single light blue petal flew out of his lips.

He stared down at it in alarm then looked helplessly to her. Leviathala was just as stunned. His throat itched as more petals burst forth from within him.

“Shadowheart! Can you come here please?” Lev called over her shoulder. Her eyes remained locked on him as if she were afraid he would erupt into a pile of weeds if she looked away.

“What is it?” Shadowheart paused as he hunched over, hands on his knees. Something solid pushed up his esophagus. Astarion’s chest wracked and heaved as he spat up a glob of more petals. “…Oh. Gods.”

He glared at her. “Help me, dammit.”

Gale peered down at the wet pile at his feet. “You’ve been cursed, I’d say. Petal indeed.”

“Really? Now’s not the time for jokes,” Astarion rasped.

Shadowheart threw him a look. “As if you wouldn’t say something similar if the roles were reversed.”

“Something worse, I’d imagine,” Lev said, placing a tentative hand on his back. When he didn’t move away, she began to rub slow circles. “You’ll be fine, though. Remove Curse ought to do the trick.”

Shadowheart’s hands glowed a blinding white as she muttered under her breath. The itching sensation in his chest and throat faded. Astarion spat out a couple more blue petals then…nothing. He grimaced when a long string of spit clung to one of the petals before snapping back to his mouth.

As he stirred, Lev’s hand fell away. “Is it gone?”

“Just one last petty prank.” His voice sounded hoarse. “Gods…”

Leviathala looked him over. He expected her to be disgusted or horrified. Instead, she tugged at the leather collar on her scale mail armor and exposed her neck to him. “If it helps, I’ll let you have some blood early today.”

He quickly wiped his mouth on the back of his sleeve, throwing on his most debonair smile as if he hadn’t just regurgitated several weeds. “Oh, darling, would you?”

Lev’s keen eyes swept over the area. Ethel’s former servants stumbled around like lost sheep. Whatever enchantment the hag placed upon them dissolved with her death. She jerked her chin at the closest of the bunch. “Shadowheart, Gale, could you check on them? They may need our help.”

Ever the bleeding heart. Oh well. So long as some of that blood went to him, who was he to complain?

After shooting a wary glance at Ethel’s corpse, she sauntered back towards the tangled root paths that led them all down here in the first place. A curtain of overgrowth hanging off a cliffside provided good enough cover. She pushed it aside to step into the tiny alcove behind it.

“How cozy,” he scoffed. It was a rather tight fit for the both of them. He had to hunch a bit to avoid hitting his head on the rock above. 

“I didn’t want to scare the hag victims. They’ve had a rough go as it is,” she said and tilted her head again. “All right. Go ahead.”

She shut her eyes, waiting. Astarion studied the curve of her throat. Her pulse thrummed against her skin, still running quick from the thrill of battle.

His mouth watered. Draining her dry was out of the question, but Gods, was he ever so tempted. Her odd, foolish faith in him would be her downfall one day. He was certain of that.

Astarion brushed her hair back with slow fingers. The short, choppy strands were feather-soft and smelled faintly of jasmine even underneath all the gore. She had once asked how her blood tasted. He hadn’t answered then because he didn’t have the words to describe it.

A vampire’s sense of taste was much different than the average person’s. Blood was not the dull copper tang everyone claimed it to be. It was far more intangible than that. Leviathala’s blood was strength. It was unfounded confidence. And it was sweet, too. An utterly delicious mix he could not find in any wine or spirit, no matter how hard he searched. Her blood was simply…her. It was her life. And she, albeit begrudgingly, was willing to share that with him.

That same itch in the back of his throat started again. He bit into her neck the very next moment.

A rush of clarity flooded through his mind. The muted voices from the next room grew louder, more crisp, as though he was standing right beside them. Lev’s breathing quickened. He could hear her fluttering heart beat faster, the crunch of the dirt wall behind them falling away as she dug her fingers into the soil.

That awful itch went away and he pulled back with a sigh. Lev fixed her collar back in place, looking wearier than earlier. “Better?”

“Just about.” He swept the bead of blood on the corner of his lips back into his mouth. “Your blood is as sweet as ever. You’re making it very hard to keep myself composed, you know.”

Lev merely scoffed and waved him back. “Let me back out. We need to check for any valuables Ethel might have. Could be some powerful magic down here.”

There she went as though any part of their little arrangement was normal. He was using her far more than she used him. She had to know that. Had to know what his plan truly was.

Unless she really was that naïve.

Lev went back to free the other hag victims in the horrid room above from their curses while the rest of them looted what they could find below. Various pieces of jewelry, a nice bit of gold, and the odd magical item or two rounded up to be a pretty fruitful reward overall. Mayrina and her newly-resurrected zombie husband made off to Baldur’s Gate and that was that. Another painfully kind mission over and done with.

Evening fell upon their camp with a sweep of warm laughter. After their rather early dinner, Karlach, Leviathala, Wyll, and Lae’zel set up their workout routine. It was a tradition Lev accidentally started when Karlach caught her doing one-armed push-ups on her own. Lae’zel overheard their chat about strength training, and from then on, no matter what grueling quest they dealt with that day, they trained for an hour or so every night.

Shadowheart typically joined them, but with her spells and energy depleted after this last battle, she opted to skip out tonight. Gale stuck to basic stretches and called it a night, as he did every night.

As for Astarion himself, well, they always offered and he always declined. Tonight at least, he had the excuse of recovering from that awful curse.

Their racket was easy enough to ignore. They kept it mostly controlled as they spotted each other and sparred. Something about this session gave him pause, though.

Leviathala seemed a lot more unsteady on her feet as she trained with the rest of them. She and Lae’zel usually stood on equal ground when they sparred, but now she had her weapons knocked out of her hands more often than not. Even Wyll, fit as he was, could not normally outdo her in feats of pure strength. Now she struggled to balance upright while she did lunging squats.

Did their little bloodletting excursion really affect her this much?

Eventually, she sat down on a log by the campfire, waving for the others to continue without her. Karlach threw her a concerned glance every time she did a sit-up. After finishing his stretching, Wyll went to sit beside her.

Astarion frowned. Both he and Lev had been getting along more lately. He caught them exchanging jokes or smiling just a little too long at each other for his liking.

His chest felt a little tighter. He paid it no mind, squinting to pick out what they might be talking about from this distance. Lev whispered something in his ear and Wyll laughed. The two then went up to Karlach and pointed over at Lae’zel. Oblivious and facing the lake, the gith dead-lifted a makeshift weight made from tying a sanded off branch to two full firewine barrels.

Wyll handed Lev a rapier and all three snuck up behind Lae’zel. With a quick flourish, Lev poked two small holes into the sides of both barrels. Wyll and Karlach held tankards to the spilling liquid, giggling like schoolchildren.

Startled gith curses filled the air as her weights were drained. Lae’zel had the sense to put the barrels down before she chased after the three of them laughing madly and sloshing wine all over the ground. Astarion failed to bite back a laugh of his own. Looks like their fearless leader had a bit of a silly streak to her.

There again, that familiar tickle in the back of his throat. He tried to clear it, but it only grew in intensity. He coughed. A single petal splatted onto the back of his hand.

Shit.

Astarion turned away from the group, trying to be discreet as more petals pushed against his gag reflex.

Lev was the first one to notice. “Astarion? Are you all right?”

He tried to get the words out. Tried to reassure her that everything was fine. Instead, a cluster of petals spewed from his mouth.

She rushed to him in the next instant. “Oh shit. You’re still cursed?”

Their party’s playful bickering died immediately as they stared over at him. Karlach was the first to speak. “Uh, hang on, what’s happening?”

Once again, he tried to speak and once again, he was thwarted by something even larger in his windpipe. With a dawning horror, he realized the thing lodged in his throat was still growing. He shoved two fingers in his mouth and forced himself to retch. Underneath the undigested blood laid…a flower. A whole flower, stem and all.

Oh.

Everyone in their workout group swore violently. Only Leviathala remained silent. She took the towel from around her neck and stooped to pick the flower up with it.

He threw her an incredulous look. “What in the hells…”

It hurt to talk. He swallowed hard and fell silent. 

Leviathala offered him a small smile. “Remove Curse not working isn’t a good sign. I’ll take this to Gale and Shadowheart. We’ll try to get you healed in no time.”

And try they did. To ease his coughing, Lev ground one of the petals of the sussur blooms into a horrid tea for him to drink. The magic-draining properties worked for a few hours. Far longer than Remove Curse did, at any rate.

Astarion thought he was all but cured until they returned to the Underdark. They found a secret Zhentarim stash of goods, and Lev wanted to try her hand at breaking open one of the chests. She succeeded after breaking multiple thieves’ tools, the chipped metal remains lying shattered by her feet. Her pleased smile was infectious, and something in it damned him to vomiting more flowers.

Shadowheart cast Remove Curse on him at the same time he drained another cup of sussur tea. He managed to go a whole day without any problems. Come nightfall, however, the curse returned with a vengeance. He nearly choked on flower stems as they forced their way out of his throat.

The next morning, they traveled back to Ethel’s hut to see if she truly was dead. Her corpse rotted in the same spot they left her. Gale had the foresight to burn the whole place down after they left.

That still wasn’t the end of it. In one last desperate attempt, they even went back to that blasted arcane wizard tower in the Underdark to peruse through its abandoned library for answers, to no avail. His symptoms only grew worse. For every brief respite he enjoyed, the pain of the next bout doubled in measure as he coughed up whole bouquets.

Vile as it was, they collected each sample, hoping, praying to find an answer somewhere. Astarion could do little but trail after their party from place to place and sulk.

If he already didn’t need to breathe, he would’ve suffocated long ago. Gods, what kind of curse even was this? It was relentless, and always seemed to crop up whenever he felt the slightest bit amused or energized.

He curled atop his bedroll within his tent. Weary after a long, unsuccessful day, he shut his eyes and tried his best to rest.

* * *

“If Remove Curse isn’t doing anything for him, then what can we do?” Leviathala asked. Her ears pricked up when Astarion coughed again in his tent. It had been nearly a tenday since he was cursed and nothing they did seemed to be working.

Gale curled a finger under his chin in thought. “The source of the curse must be something on his person. Hags are petty creatures, so I can only assume she placed the curse on some important trinket he has on him.”

“I don’t know. Astarion isn’t the sentimental type. I doubt he’d have something like that.”

“Perhaps there’s some meaning we can glean from the flowers he expels then?”

“What, like roses for love and all that?” Karlach asked.

Wyll stared at the wilted flower specimens they’d collected. “I’d hazard a guess they must be some play on his purity. Or lack thereof. Daisies often represent innocence from what I’ve read.”

“They’re not daisies,” Leviathala piped up. “They’re aster flowers.”

Lae’zel rolled her eyes. “How apt. I suppose he’s named after them, then? A symbol of how he only cares for his own whims?”

“Possibly,” Leviathala said, “but aster flowers are known to treat all kinds of respiratory illnesses. I’d wager it may be more of a mockery of that.”

“How do you know this, Lev?” Shadowheart asked, raising a slightly impressed eyebrow. “I didn’t take you for a florist when we first met.”

A shy smile spread across Lev’s face. “My mother is a cleric. She often uses herbal medicines where she can to preserve her magic for more serious illnesses. I just picked up a few things from her over the years.”

“Lev.” Their group paused at the sound of Astarion’s weak rasp. “Lev, come here.”

She exchanged a meaningful look with each member of their party before heading over.

“All right, Astarion?” Leviathala asked as she ducked into his tent. “I was just…”

Without any warning, he removed his shirt.

“Whoa, what are you—”

He made a face. “Don’t get any lewd ideas. It’s for medical purposes.”

Another wet cough rattled through his chest and he spat out a yellow pistil with a scant two petals on it. 

“If that’s the case, then why not get Shadowheart—”

“You’re the only one who’s seen my scars.” His sharp tone would not allow for more questions along that vein.

Leviathala looked him up and down. He didn’t meet her gaze. Just stared at a point in the dirt beside her.

“All right. What am I looking for?”

Exhaustion settled heavily under his eyes. “Some hidden glyph or ward or…something. I don’t know. Maybe the curse is attached to something physically on me.”

Lev nodded then looked over his bare chest. Not even the faintest scratch remained from their earlier battles. Impressive in an alarming way, she supposed. Scars always told a story, and save for the etchings on his back, he had none.

Leaning a little closer, she examined his arms, telling him to lift or bend them at different angles so she could get a better look. Up close like this, it was hard not to notice how sharp every angle of his body was. It was as though he’d been sculpted with a severe eye, the artist chipping away at any bit of marble that didn’t serve a purpose. His muscles looked strained as a result, clinging to the bone as if by command rather than it being a natural build. His master had taken every and any unique facet and did away with it. There was no room for rounded fat or softness on his canvas.

Astarion had been molded to near-perfection. Others might have found it lovely. Ideal, even.

Leviathala just found it all disturbing.

He leaned back on his hands and smiled. “Like what you see?”

She snorted. “No. Turn around.”

“Hm, rude.” He did as she asked anyway, hunching forward to give her a better view. His raised scars gleamed when she peered down at them. Had any part of them changed since she last saw it?

“I need to touch your scars. Just to be sure it’s not some hidden mark there.”

Astarion perked up a tad. “Oh, Cazador would be furious if he found out a hag ruined his precious contract.”

It was as good a yes as any. She placed light fingers along the very top etch, tracing down to read the Infernal word for binding. Or bound. The conjugation always messed her up.

The longer she traced and studied each mark, the more her stomach churned. Her other hand flew to the scar on her lip. Every so often, it would ache as though it had been sliced anew. She couldn’t imagine what a whole night’s worth of carving could do to a man’s sanity.

Her fingers lingered on the central mark before pulling away. “I can’t find anything. It may be something internal, then. I’m sorry.”

“I see.” He turned around again to face her. “So what were you all discussing out there?”

“We’re putting our heads together to figure out the source of your curse. So far, all we’ve landed on is a potential hidden meaning in the kind of flower you’ve been coughing up.”

“As if those weeds mean anything.”

“They’re actually very useful for treating coughing. Which makes it doubly ironic, in this case.”

“Oh really?” There was a distant look to his eyes. Leviathala shifted uneasily. If he couldn’t even laugh at that, then the curse must be taking quite the toll on him.

“They’re also known as the aster flower.”

The smallest smile fell upon his lips. “The hag had some sick sense of humor, I’ll give her that.”

His silence was so unlike him. She grew frustrated at her own helplessness.

“There is another theory I have,” Lev said slowly. “I hadn’t thought it relevant, but since we’re speculating…”

Astarion frowned. “Go on.”

“There’s a rare curse I’ve heard faint tales of before: the hanahaki curse. It’s Kozakuran in nature. The curse-bearer typically grows flowers in their chest and coughs them up until…” She trailed off, biting her lip.

“Until what?”

“Well, the hanahaki curse typically festers in someone who suffers from unrequited love. The only cure is to either surgically remove the roots or to have their love returned.” 

“Because nothing screams I love you more than vomited bouquets.”

Leviathala laughed. “It is rather awful. But if there’s even the slightest chance this is that curse, then—”

“Please, I’m the only person I can rely on most days. You are the sole exception by virtue of having slept with me. You’re very lucky.”

“How flattering.” She blew out a defeated sigh. “I’m out of ideas. Aster flowers have so many different meanings that I really don’t know if there’s anything we can focus on there.”

“You know, we ought to give it a shot, at least.” There was a low edge to his voice that she didn’t pay any mind.

“Give what a shot?”

Astarion leaned closer. An empty smile graced his lips and she nearly recoiled. “Having you once was quite fun, you know. Who knows? Maybe I won’t hold back this time.”

Ever since that fateful night they slept together in the woods, Leviathala avoided contending with the very real possibility that it left a much larger impression on her heart than she wanted. It was a silly one-night stand, was all. Any and all thoughts and feelings regarding Astarion were twisted into tight knots she had no time nor inclination to untangle now.

Especially with this curse pushing flowers out of his lungs.

“You really think sex would cure you?” she said and pulled back with a wry smile.

His grin grew a tad sharper. “No, but it could be fun either way.”

“Not if you hack up wet flowers in the middle of it. I don’t exactly find that a turn-on, you know.”

His laugh sounded rough, but there was a spark of his old self in it. “Have it your way.”

“The thing about true love’s kiss being the cure-all for curses is that it has to be true, Astarion.”

“What if I confess my love to you first?”

“Astarion.”

He shrugged his shirt back on with a sigh. “Yes, fine. Brew up some of your sussur blossom tea. I’ll take something over nothing at this point.”

She nudged his shoulder with her own. “We’ll cure you. I promise.”

“You’re far too sweet for your own good if you’ve started to lie to yourself like that,” he said. Never just a simple thank you with him.

“And you lack faith in my tenacity.” She pushed herself to her feet and held a hand out to help him up. “I don’t make promises lightly, Astarion. I intend to see this one through.”

He scoffed once more but took her hand anyway.

Night had fallen while they spoke. Fragrant herb-crusted meat sizzled in a pan that Gale attended to with intense concentration. Karlach smiled over at them from by the fire. The kettle was already set next to her, a mote of steam coiling up through the spout.

Lev waved at her before glancing at Astarion once more. “Karlach and I are going to need a few minutes to brew the tea. If you start coughing again, head straight to Shadowheart. I’ll come see you when I’m ready.”

His face was unreadable in the dim light. More resignation to his fate, perhaps.

“All right.”

He stalked off with his shoulders hunched as if he anticipated another coughing bout at any moment. This blasted curse did more than just suffocate him with flowers. It robbed him of his voice, his snappy wit. Watching him shrink away from everything just felt so…wrong.

She sighed and plucked two more sussur blossom petals from her alchemy pouch. No one deserved such a fate. And besides, no one made her laugh like he did.

“Everything all right, soldier?” Karlach asked when she handed her the boiled kettle.

Leviathala tried for a smile. “Not yet. But I’ll make sure it will be soon.”

* * *

For all their group’s collective prowess, they often could not come to the simplest conclusions right away. Plant-based curses called for plant-based cures. Who better to handle that than the druids of the Emerald Grove?

They were immediately greeted by all the tieflings packed up and waiting to thank them for saving their sorry hides. Their accolades and praise rained down upon them thick and near-cloying.

It made Astarion deeply uncomfortable. Leave the heroics to those foolish enough to pursue such thankless endeavors. He was only along for the ride. 

The druids all took a look at Astarion, but even they couldn’t determine how to rid him of the curse. Their theories dissolved into arguments, and soon, Halsin stepped in to heal what he could. With yet another foul herbal concoction drained, that persistent itch in his chest faded to a dull ache. He could breathe a little easier. At least, when he chose to breathe anyway.

Halsin warned him it was no long-term cure, but that didn’t matter. This was reason enough to celebrate.

That night, the tieflings invited themselves over to their camp for some drunken revelry of their own. Leviathala was a gracious hostess, flitting from guest to guest to make sure everyone was comfortable and having fun.

Her fellow tieflings welcomed her with open arms. Rolan put on a half-drunk magic show for his siblings and she was there to clap alongside them. Alfira sang her a couple workshopped verses of the tale she planned to write about their party’s victory. Even Zevlor managed to snag a short dance with her when the party kicked up. Leviathala was not as adept a dancer as she was a fighter. She stumbled her way through it, laughing heartily even as Lakrissa made fun of her for it.

Astarion kept his distance. He might dip in every now and then to grab some free wine and spirits, but he really couldn’t stand constantly being congratulated or clapped on the back like a comrade. All they did was kill a handful of goblins and gnolls. Just the odd bit of pest control. Nothing worthy of a song, in his opinion.

The party was more for Lev than anything. She was their de facto leader. Distracting the rabble was basically her job.

Lev met his eyes across camp every so often. Not as a nudge to join them like she did with the more reluctant tieflings. No, her concern was far too obvious. Probably wanted to keep an eye on if his curse flared up again.

The longer the night went on, however, the more impatient he became. Every time it looked like she was about to talk to him, some drunk tiefling or one of their other companions pulled her away. He could always approach her first, of course, but where was the fun in that? Flirting was a game. The loser was the one who took the bait first.

Finally, she managed to peel away from everyone at last.

“Here’s my little treat with their cheeks all flushed,” he said with a scolding click of his tongue. It took her a lot longer to check on him than he would’ve liked. “You will come to my bed tonight, won’t you?”

Her refusal the night before had shaken him more than he cared to admit. If she lost interest in him now, it’d be that much more difficult to convince her to help take down Cazador further down the line.

Leviathala wrinkled her nose. “‘A little treat’? You can do better than that.”

“Oh, I certainly can. It would be my…pleasure.”

He had more than two hundred years of experience, after all. Lev was more of a challenge than his usual type, though. Even drunk, she still had some near-on impervious armor to his flirtations. She hardly ever took it seriously.

“Hm, how about this one: All these accolades from the tieflings are nothing to the sound of my name, cried from your lips.”

She only snorted and said, “So many honeyed words, as usual.”

“Not half as sweet as when I tasted you.”

She shifted on the balls of her feet and cleared her throat. Ah. A crack in her defenses.

“Hm, let me give it another go…” He threw her a signature cheeky smile. It always made his past conquests feel like they were in on a joke with him. The only difference this time was that it was true.

“Every part of your perfect body whispers temptation.” He gestured a hand up and down the curves of her body, long fingers extending out as though he could trace them by memory. “It’s as if the gods made you just to ruin me.”

It was a line that had lured in so many before her. It had brought so many others to their doom.

And Lev simply laughed and laughed. The sound rang out freely before she clapped a hand over her mouth to muffle it. Part of him wished she didn’t feel the need to do that. Her smile, sharp as it was, was quite lovely.

“You’re sweet,” she said through light giggles, “and sillier than I thought.”

Astarion huffed. He was neither of those things, thank you very much.

“I can go all night with the flattery, but is that really… all you want?” he purred.

There again, that disbelieving smirk as she leaned closer, anticipating another laughable line.

“How about if I said these little words…Everyone’s favorite…”

And then he paused. A great brambling prickle in his chest and throat threatened to suffocate him once more.

Shit. He had to say it now before he started spewing up flowers in front of all their guests.

“I love you.”

The words came out softer than he intended.

Her smile fell. In all the years he flaunted false confessions, not once had he ever seen someone look so hurt afterwards.

Oh. Maybe she really did care about him then. All his other lines were so over-the-top and theatrical that it was easy to brush those off. These three words were a step too far. A step towards something real.

…Real? Of course this wasn’t. He knew that. She had to know that, too, keen as her senses were. All this was a bit of fun. Obviously it was. What else could it be?

Astarion was about to throw another awful line in there just to get her smiling again. She schooled her features back to something like amusement before he got the chance. “Having fun, are you?”

He laughed, swinging his arms back and forth. Of course she saw right through him.

“I am. It’s hard not to with you.”

This he meant with his whole heart. Lev was a hell of a lot of fun to be around, predilections towards good deeds be damned.

“Now, as much as I relish standing around and saying all my favorite lines at you, I’d much rather we got to experience each others’ full portfolio of talents once again.”

Her sardonic grin returned and his chest washed with relief. She leaned even closer so that only he would hear. “I’ll come find you after everyone is asleep.”

Well then. He’d won. At least for the night.

“I’ll be waiting,” he breathed, voice dripping with unrestrained lust.

Lev rolled her eyes and turned away. Underneath her annoyed exterior, he knew deep down she was just as excited for the night ahead as he was.

“Love you, too,” she teased with a wave over her shoulder.

A more genuine smile crossed his lips just for a moment. Maybe it was a blessing, her never taking his words at face value. Something in him felt lighter. Like he could breathe easier.

He thought nothing of it. When he had a busy night to prepare for, what room was there for anything else?

* * *

The morning after was always Astarion’s least favorite part of sex. Awkward post-haze greetings, stumbling around to get dressed—all of it felt so humiliating.

It was…different with Leviathala. He couldn’t put a finger on why. 

Watching the sun slowly climb over the horizon out in the woods certainly made for an idyllic picture. She slept peacefully beside him, oblivious and far too trusting. Maybe that was it? Just set dressing and a beautiful person to wake up next to?

No, that wasn’t it. He’d woken beside many a gorgeous individual over the years. Their looks belied ugly intentions to use and discard him for their own benefit. Beauty often meant nothing, in the end. Certainly not an indicator of any kind of goodness.

Just look at his own track record.

Astarion propped himself up on an elbow and stared at her face. Lev always had this furrow between her eyes like she anticipated danger at every turn. This hardly let up even when it was just their group together at camp. When she slept beside him, though, all her tension seeped away. She looked a lot softer in this early morning light. A light breeze wafted through her hair, brushing it over her face.

Absently, he swept the offending strands back. His eyes landed on the scar on her lip. He’d wondered how she had gotten it, of course, but asking about it felt too much like caring. She would have some sob story at the ready, and he’d be expected to go “there, there” and offer hollow words of comfort. Lev wasn’t looking for that, he knew, but someone in their party would insist on it and make the both of them uncomfortable.

He took in a deep breath then blew it out nice and slow. The crisp morning certainly did wonders for…

Wait, he could breathe. He could breathe.

Astarion grabbed hold of her shoulder and shook. “Lev! Lev, wake up!”

“Huh? What?” Her voice was groggy as she pushed through the hush of sleep to look at him.

“It worked! I told you it would.”

“What’re you on about?” she grumbled, rubbing at her eyes.

“The curse! All I had to do was have sex. I haven’t coughed in hours,” he said. “My chest is finally clear!”

Lev squinted at him. “Are you sure it wasn’t whatever Halsin gave you?”

“Please, that thick brew of mud or whatever it was only put a stopper on my symptoms. It was practically a worse version of your sussur tea.” He waved the thought away immediately. “So thank you, truly. One less thing to worry about now.”

“Congratulations…”

Astarion pouted. “You could stand to sound more enthusiastic, you know. I was having a dreadful time.”

“I’m happy for you, really. Just…sleepy.”

“I told you it’s very hard to hold back with you, darling. This time, I didn’t.”

Lev rolled her neck then winced. “Your bite felt much better in the moment. Today, not so much.”

“Where’s that enchanted amulet you always use?” he asked, looking around the forest floor. In the heat of taking each other’s clothes off, their valuables might have been scattered under some brush.

A glint of gold winked out at him underneath his own trousers. The slightest crackling of the Weave tingled along his fingertips when he reached out for it. Holding it imbued him with a short burst of energy and relief.

“Come here,” he said, waving her over. “I’ll cast it.”

Lev really must’ve been still half-asleep because she moved to him with little complaint. He had watched her cast the spell embedded within enough times to remember the incantation: “Vincere est vivere.”

The Weave pulsed out of his palm to coat the side of her neck. Lev sighed, her whole body wilting in relief beside him. “Thank you.”

“It’s the least I could do considering…well.” He tossed the jewelry aside. “Anyway, are you planning to get up anytime soon?”

She turned away. “Give me five more minutes.”

“The longer it takes for us to get back, the more our companions will start to wonder where we went off to. Unless you want them talking.”

Lev didn’t respond. Never one for petty gossip, her.

“What do aster flowers symbolize anyway?” he asked. Didn’t want her totally slipping away again.

“Patience. Healing,” she muttered. “Love…”

“What was that last one?”

Too late. Lev had fallen asleep once more, her breathing soft and slow.

Astarion stayed perfectly still. Love?

Why did all flowers always represent love? Whoever decided that plants had to mean anything anyhow? Forget eternity. Flowers were fleeting things that wilted in a matter of days.

No different from real love, he supposed.

He pressed a hand to his chest. It occurred to him that if the hanahaki curse was real and the very one that afflicted him, then she had cured him all on her own. Not with a cup of tea or magic or anything but three simple words: Love you, too.

A mockery of his own confession, but then that would mean…

Astarion’s eyes darted away. Unrequited love was for romantics and children. Whatever lure he might find in Lev was purely carnal and driven by an animal need to survive. To live.

It was such a nice, simple plan. So easy to play her heartstrings like a lute and get her to do as he pleased. Too easy, really.

To have this curse dissipate just like that last night of all nights…for her to say those words back to him…

It meant nothing. Maybe the magic behind it all had simply worn away. That was it.

He didn’t love Leviathala in the slightest.

Of course not.

[blue-rose-soul]

In Happy Hotel AU, what do you think happens when Charlie brings little Alastor to heaven? Will the angels be shocked that such a young soul is tossed into Hell? I can imagine the court scene being much different with Charlie bringing Alastor into her argument of there are some souls that do not belong in Hell. 

I think it’s around here along with the reveal of extermination that Alastor heritage is somehow revealed. Being the child of the devil does send you straight to hell regardless if you are a good person or not. This might show that Heaven does not know everything and is in the dark as Hell in judgment of souls. Charlie and Lucifer are in for a surprise after everything happened in Heaven.

In addition to this, how do you think the final battle with Adam will be? They are certainly not bringing a baby into the fold and with no adult Alastor around they won’t have the information on angelic steel or recruitment of the cannibals from Rosie. Maybe Lucifer could give them a hand?

Wow, from what I seen so far Alastor really pulled his weight in helping the Hotel in canon.

Lucifer was the one who suggested that Charlie bring Aster* to Heaven to show the leaders that there were at least some souls in Hell that didn't deserve to be wiped out. Although Lucifer had his own underlying motives for this suggestion - hoping Sera or one of the angels would keep Aster in Heaven, where he'd be safe - Charlie believes in it wholeheartedly. She argues earnestly that if Heaven rejected the soul of a two-year-old child whose worst action on Earth couldn't have been worse than a common temper tantrum, then it's not only possible but in fact very likely that the Exorcists aren't just slaughtering mass murderers or rapists, but perfectly average people who were only later warped by their environment.

Granted, Charlie doesn't believe even the worst, cruelest human souls deserve genocide ending in complete erasure from existence either. She's simply using this argument as a starting point to convince Heaven's leadership to at least reexamine whether the Exterminations are truly necessary.

They use the glowy magicky ball thing to examine Aster's life. As they watch the scene of his death, Aster buries his little face in Vaggie's chest and Vaggie wants to smash Sera's nose in for showing that while Aster's in the courtroom. They go further back, effectively watching Aster's life in reverse (learning his birth name along the way, though the Aster nickname sticks) and Charlie feels tears welling up in her eyes as she realizes the reason the human in the memory looks so familiar is because she's identical to that Winner she and Emily met at the zoo. Aster keeps reaching for her image and yelling 'ma.' They go back further, and further, to the very beginning of his life.

Then to the night of his conception.

The... the night of, not the exact moment. They see Nicaise meeting Lucifer in human disguise, and cut to black before things get inappropriate for a court room.

Needless to say, the 'You Didn't Know' song takes on an additional meaning.

The aftermath is a bit similar to what I described here as far as Sera confronting Lucifer about Aster's creation. But the more immediate reaction in the courtroom is pure chaos. Adam is laughing his ass off and outright mocking Charlie, Charlie's frozen to the spot staring at the still image of her dad with this human, the various higher ranked angels are arguing with one another, torn between wanting to take Aster and lock him away or banish him and Charlie and Vaggie back to Hell, and Sera's eyes are locked on Aster, her heart stuck in her throat.

Ultimately, she declares Aster belongs in Hell just like any Hellborn and there's no proof that Sinners are capable of redemption. And then she ejects the three of them from the courtroom. Aster sobs the whole time and Charlie never even gets a chance to take him back to Nicaise.

As for the battle at the hotel.

Yeah, Alastor really did pull his weight, despite what some might say. Without Alastor uncovering the angels' weakness, or showing Charlie where to recruit an army, Charlie's focus is more on evacuation and defense rather than a counterattack. Lucifer brings Aster to the palace. Now knowing that Aster is in fact his child. Over the past six months, he's built a pretty strong bond with the little guy, but he's been acting more in the role of a grandparent, since Charlie and Vaggie assumed primary care over him after finding him on their doorstep. He's torn over the revelation, and it doesn't help when Aster looks up at him with those big, ruby eyes and says 'Anpè!*'

Ultimately, it's Vaggie who comes up with the exorcists' weakness. While reminiscing over hers and Charlie's first meeting, it hits her that Lute should not have been able to permanently injure her the way she had. Up until now, Vaggie had assumed that she was truly Fallen. That by sparing demon she'd lost her divine protection and that's why she could be maimed. It's only now that she begins to consider another possibility. But if she's going to tell Charlie, that means she'll have to tell Charlie everything. In the chaos of the heavenly court, Adam didn't get a chance to reveal her secret but Vaggie knows she can't keep it forever. Especially not if she wants to help Charlie achieve her dream.

She braces herself. Then, she tells Charlie her theory that exorcists can be harmed by angelic steel. Her evidence? Her empty eye socket.

Like in canon, Charlie is shocked and hurt that Vaggie kept this secret for so long. But unlike canon, this Vaggie told her the truth herself. That goes a long way towards softening the blow.

That just leaves them in need of manpower to wield enough angelic steel to turn back the exorcist army. So Charlie puts out an announcement to all of the Pride Ring; the exorcists can be killed. She knows how to defeat them but in order to win they're going to have to work together. She invites anyone willing to fight alongside her to come to the Happy Hotel to finally take a stand against Heaven.

No one shows up. At least, not for the first two days.

On the morning of the third day, Rosie appears at the front gates of the hotel with a pack of bloodthirsty cannibals.

Of course, Rosie isn't offering to help Charlie out of the goodness of her heart. As Alastor says, Charlie is filled with potential and in need of a guide. To which Rosie gleefully sings:

"I concur! Stick with her, you'll be on the winning side!"

Rosie knows there's a lot to gain from allying herself with Hell's princess. And if the rest of the Overlords are too blind to realize that, well, that suits her just fine and dandy! Their loss is her gain!

(*Toddler Alastor's nickname in this AU, as of this post.)

(*Mispronunciation of 'granpè.' Unfortunately I haven't had much luck finding a resource for Louisiana Creole, so sometimes I substitute Haitian Creole terms. I'm not really sure how much or little overlap there is.)

[lavenoon]

Asterisms (~5.6K)

*An asterism is an observed pattern or group of stars in the sky. Asterisms can be any identified pattern or group of stars, and therefore are a more general concept than the 88 formally defined constellations.

Bloodstain Fool by @naffeclipse, og detective au by sunnys-aesthetic

menace4menace one-shots in order: Falling into Orbit, Conjunction, [You are here]

A bit of a disclaimer/ context: There is another drabble that will be referenced in this one, but I wrote it as a vent when I was in a very bad spot mentally and never cleaned it up, so it's now unfortunately in the "canon to the menace4menace storyline but too raw to share" limbo. You don't need to know the details to understand though (I hope). It does end with another sleepover, so that's where we start off here!

-

“So, are we friends now?” 

You take another bite from your breakfast apple, legs crossed on the couch. Eclipse at his desk tenses, his shoulders rising, and the scratch of his pen coming to an abrupt halt. But he doesn’t turn back, doesn’t spare you his standard glare. 

After a moment, he continues writing, as if you never said anything. That’s just fine — you’re too stubborn to stop now. 

“Because comforting someone during a breakdown is kind of friend behavior.”

Impossibly, he tenses further. From the way his writing sounds he’ll soon tear through the paper and just start carving onto the desk. 

“You were talking nonsense and I simply corrected you. If you interpret that as comfort, that is not my problem.”

You hope he feels how scathing your disdain is through vibes alone as you direct a deadpan stare at his back.  

He probably doesn’t know what “vibes” are. 

“You invited me over too.” 

“And you owe me for that.” 

Fine, then. If he insists on framing it as more debt that he’ll hardly be able to collect you can let it go. Otherwise you’ll just back him into a corner of stubbornness, and something tells you he’s the type to double down. 

It does mean you spare him the mention of the blanket. A soft red throw currently protecting you from sticking to the leather of the couch. Eclipse refused to acknowledge its existence, much less elaborate on the reason for the new addition to his couch yesterday, and you weren’t in the mood to ask either. The afternoon was stressful enough. 

You sigh. 

“Okay, sure. You can start a little tally on the back of the I.O.U. note I already gave you.”

Some of the tension leaves his shoulders, and you almost want to sigh again. How exhausting to see everything as transactional. 

“No need. I remember.” 

The question about animatronic memory dies a quiet death on the tip of your tongue — at the last second you decide it’s not a good idea to imply doubt right now. Instead you take another bite from your apple, and chew. Hopefully you can drop this conversation after. It didn’t really go the way you wanted it to. 

Just to make sure it sticks you decide to change the topic entirely. 

“What are you writing?” 

There’s the softest huff as his shoulders drop further. The defeat is evident, and you press your lips together to keep a grin down. Friends or not, he’s learned his lesson about your stubbornness. 

You’ll get him on the friendship, too, sooner or later. 

“A report.” 

Oh, he wants to be like that. Fine. You’ll play.

“On what?” 

The pen stops for a moment, then continues.

“The latest bounty I apprehended.” 

“You have to write reports on that?” 

In a way, it makes sense — you just didn’t think about it before. But you’re no stranger to writing reports, and detailing the events of how a certain bounty was caught seems reasonable. 

Eclipse turns to look at you for the first time, and his expression is about as tired as an animatronic could manage to look. 

“Yes. It’s not like the movies.” 

You take another bite from your apple as you keep up the eye contact, and then he turns back. Seems like your silence was enough of a concession for him. 

Leaning back against the couch, you’re just thinking that you don’t miss writing reports one bit. 

“Reports suck. My condolences.” 

Eclipse doesn’t stop writing to look back, but you do hear the soft static sound of a laugh. 

“Speaking from experience?”

You chuckle softly, matching him. Writing reports and bills - the worst part of your chosen career. 

“Yup.” 

He hums. 

“Is that why you haven’t made any efforts to work again?” 

Well, not quite — looking for work hasn’t been on your list of priorities without the immediate pressure of paying for your lodging. An oversight, you’ll admit, given that you can’t rely on your boarded room forever. But without any credentials, without your degree or even an ID you don’t really know where to start, hypothetically. 

Besides, even if you wanted to, you know that research has to go through a few more necessary steps before you can consider picking up your former work again.

So you shrug, even though he can’t see.

“Eh, mostly I don’t think my job field exists yet. Caring about kids with learning disabilities was a pretty recent development even in my time.” 

This time, the pause feels heavier than before. 

“... You worked with children?” 

You have no idea how to read his tone. Not angry, you don’t think, but there’s something that you just cannot make sense of. It sparks something defensive in you, even though you can’t tell if it’s judgement coloring his voice. You chose your job for a reason, and you know it’s a good one.

“Yeah, I mean. No one gave a fuck about my problems in school growing up. I didn’t want that for other kids.” 

“Hm.” 

That’s… It’s not acknowledgement, but it’s also not a rebuke. You don’t know what to make of it. 

You’ll poke the bear just one more time. 

“You don’t like children?” 

That poke went through. Eclipse carefully sets his pen down, and turns his head your way. Just his head - it’s unsettling, and you flinch at the suddenness. You wonder if that was exactly his intention when he narrows his darkened eyes at you. 

“Continue this line of questioning and you’ll find that I absolutely will kick you out.” 

There isn’t a hint of humor in his voice, nor even a crumb of softness. This time you decide not to bet on that being a bluff. Not with those eyes. You shrink back, hunched on the couch and pondering the nearly finished apple in your hand. Eclipse turns back, you think. You only hear the click of his neck and then the scratch of his pen again. 

The lump in your throat grows at the renewed tension that you don’t know how to alleviate. Maybe just a straightforward approach — you did push him too far. 

“I’m sorry, I won’t ask again. I just care about them.”

This time, the scratch of his pen only stutters, but doesn’t stop. You’ll take that as progress, even if his tone is still hard.

“You got to be a child.” 

You think back to your childhood, and the responsibilities you had to take on much too early. A huff of air escapes as a sigh before you can stop it. There’s nothing you really process as you stare off into space. The smile you manage twitches pathetically before you let it fall again. 

“I guess, for a while.”

Still longer than Eclipse got to be one though, to be fair. 

This time you sigh on purpose, and extract yourself from the blanket. Folding it is a bit hard with only one free hand available, but you at least don’t leave it as a scrunched up mess. You ramble on a bit, just to put out any metaphorical fires you might have set. 

“I’m filing this away as another thing I shouldn’t ask about. I won’t pry, and I get that you probably have complicated feelings about it. I have my own, different ones. We can both be justified. I’ll drop it now. Gonna wash up a bit.” 

Without giving him any opportunity to reply you slink into the kitchen, disposing of the apple core before escaping further into the bathroom. 

Not a lot you can do in here without your toiletries, and you don’t think Eclipse has a habit of expecting human visitors, much less preparing for their needs. The blanket already was a surprise, after all. You’ll just have to deal with a bit of discomfort until you make it back to your room. 

Maybe Eclipse is right. You are awfully curious, and there are a lot of lines you don’t know you’re crossing until you’ve waltzed right over them. He has every right to set those boundaries, and maybe you could learn a little tact. At least you can try. After the unexpected kindness he showed you, no matter how much he denies it, you really do owe him that. 

For now you’ll just not mention kids again, and definitely change the topic once you’re back out. 

Carefully you reemerge, and assess the situation from the entrance to the living room. Eclipse is still writing his report, focused and quiet, but his shoulders are relaxed. Well, as much as you’ve ever seen him relaxed. There is of course the pure physical difference — maybe he doesn’t have to relax as much as humans do to really feel the effect. 

You’ve seen him tense for sure. More often than not, which only exacerbates the thought that he doesn’t know how to truly relax. 

Not that you do, either. It’s not rest if you feel guilty for resting, occupying your thoughts with more anxiety, and that’s unfortunately what you keep doing, again and again. 

Yesterday, in the park — that was the latest botched attempt to relax for once. And that didn’t do jack shit for your mind until Eclipse came by and poked you until you spilled it all. Kinder than he gives himself credit for, but just as blunt as you needed. Hard to argue that self deprecation is deserved with nearly ten foot of all that glaring down at you and calling you out on your bullshit. 

Not that he did in so many words, but his threats were convincing in the moment. Now you’re just left wondering.

Apparently you stare just a little too long. 

“What?”

The question is curt and somewhat grumpy — the familiar grumpy, and thus leagues better than the hostile tone from before. 

You don’t think. It’s a bad habit. 

“Could you throw me?” 

Eclipse straightens in his chair, pausing his writing again. You don’t know what to make of that, even with his pointed follow up. 

“Excuse you?”

Any other person might agree that you’ve made some very unwise decisions, and this is barrelling towards yet another added to the ever growing tally. However, you’re you, and as long as he doesn’t sound outright hostile you don’t see the harm in elaborating.

“Yesterday, you said you’d throw me in the pond if I don’t shut up. I’m not asking you to, just if you actually could.” 

You watch as he sets the pen down, this time turning on the chair to face you. His stare is so deadpan, you’ll need a graveyard for kitchenware stat. Slowly, and without looking away he rises.

That doesn’t bode well for you. On instinct you wave your hands through the air, though you don’t have much hope.

“I said you don’t need to prove it!” 

While Eclipse is deceptively calm in his approach, you’re not oblivious enough to believe him. You duck, not quite a crouch, but you’re keyed up already. Your options are limited and you don’t have time to think - and then he’s past the coffee table, and you make a break for it down the hallway. 

Hearing him laugh definitely isn’t reassuring. 

You’re just reaching for the bathroom door when his hands wrap around your middle, and you screech. Or laugh, you aren’t quite sure. Unceremoniously you’re whipped back, your safe haven back out of reach. Eclipse lets go only for a moment, and only to turn you into a position facing him. 

That grin is not reassuring. It might be the happiest you’ve seen him yet. 

Before you can even begin to process that contradiction his hands are on you again, and then you’re up. 

You blink. Rare enough you get to look him in the eyes on face level. 

“Does this answer your question?” 

And still he sounds so happy. In a strange way, it makes sense. Maybe. If you think about it — a playful, if extremely short chase that lets him show off how big and scary he is, without any of the risks his job usually involves. It’s not even like he’s holding you particularly tightly. The pressure from his hold is mostly under your arms, and that’s gravity from dangling, not him grabbing too hard.

Just as you think about it, his fingers loosen around you even more. Just a hint, and you are still held securely, but a noticeable change. Before, he felt bad about the bruises he left on accident, and now he’s trying to adjust? Is that it? 

And yet, all that combined with his unbearably smug attitude. 

You suppress a grin, just barely, and decide to deflect. This morning has had enough realizations and tense conversations. 

“... Do I even weigh anything to you?” 

The bubble of happiness bursts, and he narrows his eyes again with a scoff. Seamlessly he turns, back towards the living room, and just for a moment you brush your fingers against the ceiling. Also rare enough you get to do that, even in places that aren’t housing a ridiculously tall animatronic. 

He ducks under the doorway, and for a second you hope to touch ground again. None of that. 

“At worst you’re a burden on my mind.” 

The dissonance between the way he’s still holding you and the venom in his voice is too great, so you promptly decide to disregard the latter. Actions over words, or something. And sure, there are nicer ways to tell someone you think about them a lot, but this is the guy who doesn’t believe in friendship. 

You pat his shoulder, and close your eyes for posterity. 

“I’m flattered. You should have said ‘No, it’s like holding a couple of grapes.’” 

When you open your eyes again you’re met with a narrow-eyed glare, radiating suspicion. Also, you have to look up again. If you weigh so little to him, the only explanation is that he wants to be taller. You file that hypothesis away for another time, when you have access to walls to climb on.

For now, Eclipse has caught onto the fact that you continue sprinkling memes into your conversations.

“I’m not saying that.” 

He dips you a little lower, and then many things happen at once. Air breezing past you, and his hands no longer holding you up — but you’re not just falling. 

No, the bastard did throw you. 

The springs of the couch creak as you land on it butt first, and your back hits the armrest at an angle.

“Oof.” 

Unaffected by your suffering, Eclipse brushes past you to settle back at his desk. 

“Now let me finish my report, or I’m kicking you out.”

His shoulders are lower, again. You smile.

Then, with a soft chuckle, you right yourself, twisting to face him even as he doesn’t face you. 

“Actually, can we do it the other way round? I wanna ask one more thing -”

Before you get to finish he’s already turning back, eyes narrow in warning. You throw your hands up placatingly and continue without pause.

“Nothing about you, stop looking at me like that. After that I’ll leave and you have the entire rest of this beautiful day to engage in boring as fuck work stuff.” 

Because he did remind you of that issue creeping closer and closer, and you have not the slightest idea how to go about fixing it before it all goes south. 

For a sigh, he slumps. A bit theatrically, you want to say, especially when he starts rubbing his forehead in exasperation, too — well, notably, the little swirl, just above his eye. Reminds you of when you did the same, just gentler.

“I feel like that will be a welcome reprieve after your exciting presence.” 

Right, back to the conversation. You click your tongue and flutter your eyelashes innocently. 

“Ahw, you just keep flattering me.” 

If you ever decide to measure how narrow his eyes go, you’d need to pinch your fingers together, and he’d definitely take offense. You’re tempted all the more. 

“Ask your question before I change my mind, you menace.” 

So he doesn’t mind the question. Could have said so in a few more words, but you’ll take it. After another little dig — you have your dignity to defend. You straighten and level your own haughty scowl at him. 

“Says the guy who just threw me on the couch.” 

His hand still set on the table tightens into a fist.

“Star.”

Right, the question. You lean back, bouncing slightly on the couch. 

“Fine, fine. Where could I work? Without any proof of my existence or education?” 

Right now, you’re boarding for free, but your conscience is starting to weigh on you. As ideal as it is, that’s not how things work, and you’ll need a source of income if you don’t want to be dependent on other people’s goodwill. 

Eclipse’s expression sours, and his shoulders droop with an overly exaggerated sigh. 

“I suppose it’s in my favor too if you get some faked documents. I’ll just need some additional information.” 

He really just jumped past a few steps you didn’t expect to be that easy of a hurdle. Then again, his legs are a lot longer, sure it’s easier for him. You can roll with that. 

There is no way you’re going to bring your name into this though. If you already get to reinvent yourself… 

Or, even better - 

“Sure. Can I have the last name Smith?” 

“Smith?” 

The suspicion is palpable, though he doesn’t seem to get the joke. That’s no problem, you’ll gladly help him out. No ulterior motives at all. 

“Yeah! Like the ‘I’m here undercover so I’m picking the most obvious fake name ever’ name.” 

His expression tells you everything you need to know about what he thinks of that idea. 

You smile, and remain silent. The proof that you can shut up. And if the timing just so happens to also make it prove that you can be a menace even without opening your mouth, well, that’s between you and your steadily growing grin. The moment stretches as Eclipse’s eyes narrow further, and his next sigh bursts with frustrated static as he turns away.

“Why did I ever think you just being quiet would be enough?” 

Mumbling to himself he rummages through a drawer, and you sit up on your knees to catch a glimpse of loose pens and papers and paperclips. 

“Silence is golden, after all. I didn’t have to say anything to annoy you.” 

Words are one thing, actions another. You take the notepad and pencil he holds out to you, and settle back on the couch.

“You’re a walking headache. And here I thought I was immune.”

“You keep saying that, and yet you keep inviting me back. I don’t think I’m that bad, or you’re a masochist.”

Oh, oh and you thought you knew his bad glares. But this one is just a tad too disbelieving — did you really have the audacity to say that? — and rather than doing the proper self preserving thing and apologize, or something, you just snort. 

Eclipse has had enough of you. 

“Just write down the information you want. If it’s ridiculous, I’m not getting it. If anything’s missing, I’m making up the least flattering filler possible.” 

Again he turns back, and you dutifully write down all the info he could need. Your desired name (including the Smith), age, and height - and then stop at the gender. After a moment of deliberation you doodle a little mischievous cat face and carry on. You think your birth town already exists, so you note it down too. What else, what else… 

For a minute or two, the room is silent except for the scratch of two pens. 

Once you’re done (at least as done as you can be without knowing what information exactly is necessary) you stand up, dusting yourself off just to stall for time. By the time you step next to Eclipse at the desk and hold out the notepad again he too has put down his pen. You shake the pad once before he takes it. 

“All done.” 

“Good. Now get out of here.” 

He stashes the pencil back in the drawer, but the notepad he leaves on the desk. Doesn’t even spare you a last glance before he picks up his pen again. There’s no fight to be won here, so you just snort and step away. Overstaying your welcome is not something you’re particularly interested in, and you’ve already teetered the edge for a while now.

Except you stop at the entrance to the living room, one hand on the doorframe. There’s a lot left unsaid, both because you’re embarrassed still about your little breakdown, and because Eclipse is about as emotionally aware as a rock and pricklier than a cactus. But if you’re leaving now anyway… 

Before you can talk yourself out of it, you turn back. Eclipse is still writing. 

“Hey, Eclipse?” 

“Yes?” 

He draws out the sound, clearly annoyed. Woe is him, you haven’t actually left his apartment yet. 

“Thank you, again.” 

Just like any time before, he stiffens at the expression of gratitude. At least he doesn’t notice your smile in response, given that you manage to suppress the amused huff. 

You’re undeterred. 

“You’re a better person than you give yourself credit for. Though if I may recommend a different succulent to emulate, aloe would be a much more pleasant alternative.” 

He turns on his chair after just a moment of processing your barb, a growl already building up. But before he catches you with his glare you’re laughing, and dipping into the hallway. 

“See you soon!” 

“Don’t you dare!” 

But for all his posturing, he doesn’t chase you again — doesn’t chase you out. After just demonstrating how easy it would be for him, that speaks volumes. 

Oh, you’ll definitely see him again soon. Life would be much too boring otherwise.

—

It’s a few days before you see Eclipse again, and by pure chance, too. For once, you’re out and about with a purpose, and seeing a bounty hunter isn’t it. 

No one will fault you for a detour, though. 

Especially not when you see that he’s talking to someone - a man, wearing nondescript worker’s clothes, and not the kind of work Eclipse engages in. No, this is someone your eyes would simply pass over in a vintage photograph of a street scene, or some sort of group shot. 

So Mr. No Friends has other reasons to communicate with people — and you’re just dying to know about what. 

Your current position puts you at Eclipse’s back, and that’s where you prefer to be for now. Means he won’t see you until it’s too late, and you’re already close enough to listen in. So you step closer, carefully and quietly, though you make no secret out of your curiosity. With your eyes on Eclipse you creep closer, arms crossed behind your back. You lean forward just slightly, like that will put you closer to the conversation. 

And then you get spotted. 

“I saw him last around — Sorry, who’s your friend?” 

Your automatic smile stiffens as you drop your gaze to the speaker. Those narrow eyes are nothing compared to what Eclipse will look like when he sees you’ve been eavesdropping.

“My -” 

Eclipse turns, a wide eyed glare finding you quickly. Think of the devil. Rage simmers just below the surface, and you remember the last time you announced yourself as his friend. Your smile twitches, and you direct a wave at Eclipse’s not-friend. An informant, maybe? That would fit into his broody bounty hunter reputation. 

The impulsive part of your brain supplies a feathery Eclipse as a chicken-puddle as he clucks offendedly, and you decide to talk before you start laughing. 

“Oh, no, I just owe him.” 

Somehow, you feel like his glare is worse now. 

Maybe-Informant scowls, then turns back to Eclipse. 

“You’re branching out, huh? Anyways, I last saw him lurking around the industrial area, hiding out in different warehouses. Lots of people on his tail these days, might be a hassle finding him in that maze.” 

Definitely an informant then. Your curiosity is officially sated, even at the cost of Eclipse once again being mad at you. 

“I’ll find him. Keep an eye out.” 

He turns so suddenly that you end up taking a step back, to no avail. His hand wraps around your upper arm, though the grip isn’t tight — but his fingertips touch. Just so, and no tighter, and then he’s dragging you after him. 

For a second, you contemplate making a show of it. Back of the hand to your forehead, pretend despair at being dragged away. You decide against it, because you don’t actually want to make Eclipse’s reputation worse, and you also remember why he started helping you out in the first place. 

So instead, you opt for a wave. It reaches nothing but air. You don’t even see the informant anymore, and don’t get the chance to look around either before Eclipse drags you off into an alley. 

At least he starts talking before you get to voice your comment about risqué behavior during daylight hours. You’re in deep enough trouble as is.

“What are you doing here?” 

You shrug, the motion pulling his hand up before he lets go of your arm. Not that he looks any happier, but also not like you aren’t used to that by now. You’ve seen him really angry, and this isn’t it. 

“Job hunting.”

Nonchalant as the response is, his reaction is the opposite. You’re pretty sure you see his eyelid twitch. 

“Job - I haven’t even gotten you your papers yet!”

Alright, maybe you’re just a little impatient. Indignance pulls up your shoulders again, and you pace down the alleyway to gesture at nothing. 

“I know, but I got bored! So I came up with a story that will keep most people from asking questions - saying you left Germany as fast as possible at the cost of documentation is apparently very easy to believe. We’re not exactly popular. Now everyone pities me instead of focusing on the everything else, which does play into my hand.” 

Eclipse stays and watches you, deceptively calm where you are restless. You trail to a stop and look at him, trying to gauge his reaction. 

It comes out almost impressed.

“... You’re more devious than I thought.” 

Uh oh, can’t give him standards. You wave off the questionable compliment and step closer again, even if it means you have crane up your neck higher. The distance between your faces is big enough even if you don’t stand half an alley away.

“Don’t give me too much credit. I didn’t think of that lie any sooner, and I had to prepare contingency plans for multiple possible lines of questioning before I felt safe enough to even attempt telling it to anyone.” 

A static rumble of a sigh as he briefly hides his eyes behind a hand. 

“This is who I…” 

Wait, what? You barely understand the mumble before he trails off, but immediately perk up.

“You what?” 

But just as quickly he drops his hand, instead glaring down at you. 

“Nothing. Did you have to prepare the other lie too?” 

He’s lost you. 

“What lie?” 

You’re not exactly in the habit of lying, don’t even enjoy this one you came up with. 

There’s a twitch to his expression, and when he elaborates, his voice is strained. Considering he’s technically always gritting his teeth this is the first time he sounds like it too. 

“That you ‘just’ owe me.” 

Oh.

You blink. 

Break eye contact to look down. 

Hide the manic grin growing on your face. 

He’s mad because you denied being his friend. 

That’s the only explanation that makes sense to you, the only reason he’d be mad about this. At some point within the past few weeks he’s changed his mind from being allergic to friends to wanting to be yours. Sure, he hasn’t admitted it in so many words. He doesn’t need to. Not with this reaction — and that glare earlier that now makes sense, too. 

Maybe he hasn’t even realized it himself.

“Don’t come up with a lie now.”

Oh, stars, if he gets any grumpier about this you absolutely will lose it.

“I’m not. I’m trying not to laugh.” 

“What?”

You look back up. The grin is undeniable, and your cheeks are starting to hurt. 

Eclipse does not look amused.

“You’re mad because I affirmed your broody loner reputation? I assumed that’s what you want, but I’ll gladly call you my bestie next time.”

He physically flinches back. This look you know, and remember well despite only having seen it once - disgust. But you no longer believe you’re a very squishy bug to him. You really, really want to laugh. 

“Do not insinuate we are friends.” 

“Why is it an issue then if I ‘just’ owe you?” 

“That’s -” 

You watch him struggle for a moment, shoulders a tense line as he breaks eye contact to scowl off into space. But only for a moment. After all, there’s giving him time to sort out his thoughts, and torturing him by putting him on the spot. 

… Though you’re probably doing that already. All the more reason to intercept. 

“You want to be friends.” 

Now if only you could reign in the smugness radiating off of you.

Eclipse meanwhile looks terribly offended. 

“I do not.”

He’s a better liar than you are, but unfortunately for him, he already gave himself away. You chuckle softly, and lean back against the dingy brick wall behind you to cross your arms. The satisfaction still drips from your tone.

"Wasch mir den Pelz, aber mach mich nicht nass." 

His eyes narrow. The tone may be undeniable, but still he doesn’t know what exactly you said, and it only irritates him more. You should talk German to him more often. 

When you don’t elaborate after a moment, he growls.

"What?" 

Your cheeks really hurt now. 

"Wash my fur but don't make me wet. I prefer it over 'you can't have your cake and eat it' because I have it to eat it." 

The glare drops into something resigned. He’s gotten used to your bullshit then, and is already tired of it. To be fair, you are doing it on purpose, at least partially. Or maybe more accurately, you are simply embracing being a natural menace. 

Eclipse grumbles. Somehow, the sound reminds you of a pissed off cat. 

"So now you're insulting me in German." 

You close your eyes, though that does nothing to diminish your grin. With a chiding waggle of your finger you continue. 

"No, I described the situation. If you interpreted that as an insult that's not my problem." 

Oh, yeah, you love being a menace. A glimpse back up shows Eclipse’s hands balled into fists and his eyes closed — maybe counting to ten in his head. You hear it’s supposed to calm you down. You wonder if it works. 

His eyes are golden and blazing when he narrows them at you again.

"I detest you." 

And you’re much too elated to take him seriously. 

"You want to be my friend." 

Still allergic to the word, his shoulders rise in defense. If he narrows his eyes any further, they’ll be closed. 

"I experienced a momentary lapse in judgement. I'm cured now." 

And yet, he hasn’t left. Is “shit-eating grin” an expression yet? 

It takes enormous effort to tamper it down into something good natured, and shrug innocently. Bat your eyes just to really sell the act. 

"Sure. Whenever you want another sleepover just hit me up." 

Eclipse’s expression jerks. You drop your gaze to watch his hands, and catch them on the tail-end of unfurling. Instead, he crosses them, and apparently decides to just ignore your offer.

“I have work to do. And you, little Star, want to get out of this part of town.” 

You click your tongue and lift one hand up to your heart, fluttering your lashes in adoration.

“Ahw, you care about me!”

There’s that lemon face you love!

“Leave before I lose the rest of my sanity!” 

He’s all coiled tension, ready to go off as he extracts one arm to point towards the main road. If you tease him any more, he might just start steaming like a cartoon. … Probably less than ideal as an animatronic. 

Better to call it a day here. Placatingly you wave your hands, though you can’t help the soft laugh that escapes with your words.

“Yes, yes. You take your non-breather breather.” 

Rather than acknowledge your parting comment he just turns, walking further down the alley. There are other little backstreets, so maybe he plans on leaving that way. 

Your cue to go then, too. You’ll take the main road, not because he told you, but because even you have enough self preservation skills to realize that traversing an unfamiliar network of seedy alleys in the late afternoon rapidly turning evening is a bad idea. 

But still you hesitate at the crossroads. You didn’t really say goodbye, and somehow that doesn’t sit right with you. Though getting mushy on Eclipse is probably worse than being a menace, so you turn for one last tease.

The narrow walls carry your voice, and all the delight in it too.

“Bye, bestie!” 

You laugh at his frustrated roar from deeper in the alley, and dip around the corner. There, gave him enough to chew on. 

Let him stew in those thoughts. 

[sleepingdeath-light]

darling ; 18+

requested by ; an ao3 user (20/06/23)

word count ; 1344

content ; painting as foreplay, praise, sort of sensation play, implied sex

fandom ; welcome home

pairing ; wally darling x female reader

read also on ; ao3

note ; playfellowxxx is the tag created by clown and the team for nsfw content — please block it if this isn’t something you want to see

additional note ; potentially ooc wally as this is my first smut shot featuring him lol — this was also written at like 8am over 30 mins so that might have contributed

minors and ageless blogs will be blocked

Being vulnerable with your partner came as easily as breathing to you — his gentle words and soft gaze as natural and soothing as a cool, babbling brook on a hot summer day or as welcomingly as a warm blanket on a cold winter evening. He was an artist and saw beauty in everything — from the fluttering wings of the butterfly that flitted in front of your faces to the curve of a friends’ smile to something as small as a fingerprint.

And never before had this trait of his been as obvious and endearing as it was now. Now that you were laid bare before him, nude body sprawled out on a blanket that neither of you minded losing, whilst he hummed in that same old way and mixed some body safe paints onto his palate. You’d seen him carefully pick up and inspect each bottle before picking out what he deemed as the most acceptable shades and turning to you — that same old smile on his face that never failed to leave your stomach fluttering with those butterflies he loved to paint.

‘I think I’ll start from the top,’ he mused, more to himself that anyone else, before kneeling down beside your head and smoothing out your hair, ‘are you okay?’

You hummed in approval and smiling against his lips when he leaned down to give you a chaste kiss — a smile that remained even as he pulled away. He had always been a worrier, even when you had been the one to propose something (as you had this), so his questioning was far from a shock — in fact you’d almost been expecting more of it.

Though, thankfully, your Darling wasn’t in much of a mood to delay your fun and quickly began to mix up his paints — and you were barely able to contain your excitement.

—————

An ocean of asters sprung up from the edges of your lips and wormed their way up above your eyes with intricate interlocking stems that you could barely feel as they were painted. A garden of purple buds and blossoms that was quickly framed by a chain of baby’s breath that dipped in and out of your hairline.

Then he moved on to your throat: splotches of daintily dotted white popping like fireworks against the sky of your skin. His brushwork more dotty than consistent as he didn’t bother drawing their stems, instead focusing on the blossoms himself as he adjusted the colours with each new press of the tip against your neck.

After that came your chest and collarbone, with which he took great care. Mixing calla lilies with camellias of pink, red and white — a bouquet of attraction that sprouted from the swells of your breasts and wound upwards and over your collar and shoulders. A display that left no skin uncoloured, undecorated, unloved whilst he offered more and more praise with each stroke of the brush.

‘I love you,’

‘You’re so beautiful, did you know that?’

‘Perfect,’

‘You’re doing so well,’

And, when you whimpered at the innocent brush of his fingertip across your nipple when he went to correct the paint, he smiled and chuckled. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you when we’re finished,’

Your stomach and sides were adorned with blossoming carnations — wedding white that faded into pink and then deep red as he approached the apex of your thighs. Pure love to a promise of remembrance to a deep love that echoed through his sweet touches and his reassuring words — promises you knew he’d keep (he always did) but that left you terribly wanting nonetheless.

Words crafted as beautifully, as intentionally, as the artwork that now adorned your body that was growing and twisting and almost taking on a life of its own as he continued to work and promise and praise and touch. Leaving no room for doubt as he decorated you.

‘You can ask me to stop if you’d like. Hm? No? Alright, but remember that you always have the option,’

‘Your beauty is astounding,’

Explaining the meaning of each flower as he painted its petals upon your flesh — your stomach, then your thighs. Leaving your head spinning, chest heaving, as he was so close — so very close — and yet still he made you wait. Making you listen to his adoration as he illustrated his affections onto your body itself.

If you’d have been a bit more patient then the romance of the gesture would have left you speechless.

—————

Red chrysanthemums; I love you. He had those flourishing in the depths of your stretch marks.

Daisies; loyal love. Those decorated the circumference of your thighs in delicate chains that tickled as they were applied.

Gardenias; you’re lovely. Their blossoms, detached, free-floated around your knees.

Heliotrope; devotion. Deep purple splotches nestled into the crease where your legs met your body, tantalising centimetres away from where you needed him.

Morning glories; affection. Dotted along the inner side of your calves, each placed on a spot he kissed as he made his way further and further down your body.

Red tulips; passion. He dotted them around your ankle, their stems intertwined with yellow tulips (sunshine in your smile) and yarrows (everlasting love) for good measure.

Red salvias; forever mine. The final flowers he painted, which decorated the outline of your sex with a beautiful array of peaking blossoms and buds that made you giggle and keen as they were applied to your sensitive skin.

Then, finally complete, Wally placed his palate to one side and stood back to admire his handiwork whilst you admired him in return: blue hair dishevelled and partially hanging over his face in tendrils of deep beautiful blue that he hadn’t bothered to put back in place; cardigan discarded and white sleeves rolled up to his elbows, his wrists and hands covered in splotches of colour that matched the mess made of his striped pants; the satisfied smile on his face as his eyes looked you over from ankle to crown — lingering on your exposed, decorated pussy for a few beats before moving upwards once again to meet you own needy, inquisitive gaze.

‘You look amazing,’ he finally offered, his words making you smile as you ushered him over.

‘Thanks to you,’

Once he was close to your level, you grasped his collar and pulled him into a kiss so passionate that it stole the breath from his lungs and neatly had him stumbling over his own legs as he hurriedly knelt down to meet you. You felt him gasp against your lips as he took a moment to adjust before he tilted his head to the side and deepened it — one paint covered hand flying to the back of your head as his fingers tangled themselves in your hair, his other reaching down to both steady you at your waist and keep himself up right as he shuffled between your spread legs.

For a moment you almost felt guilty about so many hours of work going to waste — you’d seen your reflection, after all, and Wally had done a fantastic and very detailed job. But that guilt evaporated mere moments later when you were forced to break the kiss and you saw how worked up your beloved had gotten: dilated pupils, panting breaths, parted lips and a string of saliva connecting you two that broke the moment you rushed forwards and captured his lips in another, even messier kiss.

No longer guilty about the paint not having the time to dry as he lowered you down to the floor and settled between your decorated thighs. No longer guilty about the amount of paint you were sure to get on his clothes as he rubbed his hardening dick against your wet, neglected pussy and you both moaned. No longer guilty about the artwork only lasting a matter of minutes when one of his hands left your hand reached between you to start clumsily rubbing at your clit.

No longer guilty because it was clear that he wanted to make a mess as much as you did.