#life difficult pink creatures good

[helmip]

sorry i'll never be Her 😔🌸✨

original photo is by @ iam.calorie over on instagram

[emchant3d]

siren steve and pirate eddie, part 2 pt 1

Steve heals slowly.

He’s irritable and restless, bedridden, and he doesn’t have the strength in his injured tail to support himself if he were to be tossed back into the ocean.

The crew helps him to the deck for a change of scenery and some sunshine - he seems more settled when he can hear the waves and feel the sun on his skin. He’s less snappish, at least, those sharp teeth tucked away behind his pink lips instead of bared in Eddie’s direction.

Eddie had panicked briefly about how much saltwater Steve needs, and he’d rolled his eyes at him. “Keep it near and I’ll be fine,” he tells him. “Half human remember?”

“Yeah,” Eddie says, “but the fish part is looking a little dry, sweetheart.” 

Steve slaps him with a tail fin.

He finds himself spending most days with the Mer. Part of it is pure fascination - it’s difficult to not want to spend time around a story come to life. And if he neglects his duties as Captain a little, well - that’s what his crew is for.

Slowly, he pulls more from Steve. He finds out what caused his injuries - “the deep holds a lot of creatures that like the taste of Mer,” he tells him. “I swam right into a nest. By the time I realized, they already had me by the throat and were dragging me to the seabed.”

“Gods,” Eddie murmurs, and Steve hums in agreement. “Evil little things. Razor sharp claws and teeth, and their tails are like whips. They move in schools, so if there’s one, there’s dozens others.”

He speaks of these kinds of creatures so casually, monsters that have worked their way into human lore and others that are unknown to them, but the idea of them still makes Eddie’s skin crawl.

It’s like Steve has a sixth sense for his discomfort. He’s lounging in a long basin Freak and Jeff put together, a shallow amount of salt water in it to keep him comfortable, and he rolls his head to the side, peering up at Eddie.

“They probably wouldn’t turn down a human, either,” he muses, dragging those unnervingly deep eyes up and down him, “but your little lungs wouldn’t survive that deep down, so you’re probably fine.”

“Oh, fuck you,” Eddie snorts, and Steve breaks into a laugh.

As friendly as they’re becoming, Eddie knows Steve still doesn’t fully trust him. He’s excellent at reading people - he knows when someone is keeping secrets, and Steve is locked tight.

He doesn’t blame him. He knows it’s difficult to believe Eddie’s help doesn’t come with strings, and he catches Steve watching him and his crew sometimes, tense and on edge as if he’s waiting for someone to lash out at him.

Eddie hates it. But he doesn’t know how to settle him, not fully, and so maybe the solution is to craft those strings he’s looking so hard to find. Let him find what he’s looking for, but show him that they aren’t as bad as he’s built them up to be in that pretty head of his.

“So what other gifts are you blessed with, Highness?” he asks one cloudy day, the sky gloomy and overcast. A little rain won’t hurt them, but he’s hoping the darker clouds on the horizon will dissipate before they reach them and upend a true storm.

“Divination,” Steve says like he’s bored, and Eddie’s head whips around to stare at him. Steve holds his gaze, his own a little hooded, and he yawns softly.

“What,” Eddie asks flatly. Steve waves a hand dismissively. 

“Just about the ocean,” he says, like that isn’t still one of the most incredible things Eddie’s ever heard. “I can tell when danger’s near. When something isn’t quite right. Whole lot of good it did me,” he snorts, glancing down at his scarred torso.

The bandages have been removed, and pink skin is healing slowly where there used to be gaping wounds. His tail is faring much the same, scales missing from where he’d been bitten and ripped at, but the new flesh is beginning to blend in with the bright shades of his lower half.

“Everything was dangerous down there, I just tried to pick the safest option. I’m still pretty sure I chose right.” Eddie frowns. “You were almost eaten alive,” he says, can’t help it, and Steve cuts him a lazy smile.

“Almost,” he repeats, and Eddie supposes that’s an answer.

He takes a breath, calms his heart, and tries to act like the Captain he is. “So, if you stuck around, you’d be able to tell me what I’m heading towards.” Steve closes his eyes and lets his head hang back, arms resting on the sides of the basin. 

“Yes.” A cloud sweeps over them, blocking the sun from shining on Steve’s face, casting him in shadows. “I could tell you if you were sailing into an ambush, or if the waters were acting up, or any number of other useful little tips that could keep you and your crew alive.”

“You’ve thought about this,” he says, and Steve snorts.

“Of course I have. I have no home. No family. Going alone almost got me killed. I’m pretty but I’m not dumb, Eddie.” He opens his eyes, fixing his gaze onto Eddie’s. “So how about we make a deal?” he offers, and Eddie grins.

It’s an easy negotiation. Steve wants freedom. He wants to see the world. And he wants safety while he does it. Eddie wants an advantage, wants to keep his crew safe, wants them to thrive in this difficult life they’ve chosen.

They shake on it. Steve moves lightning fast as their hands meet, a sharp claw nicking his own palm and then Eddie’s, making him hiss.

“Fuck–” he grunts. A burning sensation shoots through him from hand to chest, fire hot and searing. He gasps, fingers locked around Steve’s, who stares at him impassively. “What…?”

“You’ve made an oath with a Mer,” Steve says simply. “You’ll be held to your word, Captain Munson.”

Eddie pulls his hand away and looks at his palm. 

A black mark surrounds the cut from Steve’s claw, a swirling spiral that snakes from the center of his palm in three little loops. Steve holds his hand out without being asked, showing the matching mark on his own skin.

Eddie’s no stranger to ink and tattoos, but this is decidedly different. It hums with an ancient kind of magic, a connection that he doesn’t - can’t - understand. Something unnameable settles into his bones.

This is a test, he realizes. Or maybe it’s insurance. Either way, it’s something Steve felt necessary to take Eddie at his word, and so he won’t ask questions - not yet, at least.

“Well, I’ve had worse deals, I guess,” he says, and when he meets Steve’s eyes again, some of the caution has seeped out of them. 

Eddie’s sure there’s more to be found out about this creature in front of him, but contrary to popular belief, he can be patient when it counts. 

For now he’ll take what he’s offered - a wary friendship. A slow-growing understanding. And a certain type of care, of gentleness, that curls warm within him and grows with every smile and soft look that Steve throws his way.

part 3 coming soon 💕 no tag lists, sorry!

[nerdgal27]

A Story Behind the Painting

Home

Summary:

Part 4 of (Mikey and Me Part 3), (It Happened Again Part 2), and (Don't Want to Talk Part 1). Struggle after struggle. There comes a time when the inner demon destroys so much, that one doesn't know what else to do. Other than keep the inner demon from loved ones.

Tags: Substance Abuse, Depression, Flashbacks, and Abuse.

Home 

Sunshine dapples the deep green forest. Burn the late morning dew glittering jewels in mid air. Coffee mug in hand black liquid slosh onto cold fingers as I wobble down the tiny staircase of the camper pickup truck. An old rust bucket is the last bit of my savings can afford. 

Sit on a lazy afternoon in a cozy chair. Stare at the endless view of evergreen pines and misty gray mountains is worth it all. Take in the cool sweet wood scent of green fill sore lungs. Swivel chair further away from an old gravel path. Wind over the lush undergrowth. Where customary rodents cover last night's tracks. Eat the empty nut shells and left over trail mix I left for them. Can’t stomach to eat anything again. What’s the point now?

Shield away by Mother Nature’s warmth and green walls. Her sweet melody chirps and whispers in the silence. The sticky sun glues me under the camper cobweb awning. Spiders big enough to play the banjo. Thought grows a chuckle to who said that once. Forever gone away in the forever distance. All for the best. For everyone. For them most of all. 

Free from pain, from it all. It has been done. No need to know the outside world. Can almost imagine it all. Not now. No need to think about any of that at all. Other than wonder how hot this coffee is for me to sip. 

Deep rich aroma takes me away from the pines. Old giggles bounce from concrete walls. Sparks spray in all directions mingles the smell with old metal. When muddle hands rub black grease over my eyebrow. Old scooter parts vomit all over the floor. A victim to be torn apart, rebuilt to either drive faster. Or explode. 

Phone rings memories back to green and soft blue reality. Muffle in the far depths of the 1967 brown and green camper. Can’t be right, I shut it off last night. 

Crawl back into the sauna brown dungeon. Follow the ringtone to the front. Weave over the hot tea water bottles on the fuzzy floor. Brush last night’s debris aside in the trap of doom between the front seat. Bright pink old life shivers in a frenzy. 

I shouldn’t turn the phone over to see the screen. This needs to be my new life now. Can’t go back anyways. How can I like this? How can anyone? Doing this for them. An glove box that only opens and closes by a swift kick is a good place to bury it all away. Turn off all of the past in orange velvet darkness. Leave it all tucked away. Return to the fresh sirene new life. 

Canadian geese honk over the tall tree peaks. The way the flock swoops down a long terrain down from blue skies and feather clouds. Sunrays beam grasshopper hisses mid day summer heat. Follow the distant honks and splash. A cool lake lap over dry cracked feet sounds perfect. Clear this heavy head of mine. 

Wander back inside. Cool worn out duds for lake water. Cold beer in hand, tuck comfy chair under my arm. A handful of fluorescent pink tags roll in hand. Nice way to return to my new home without getting lost. Wait for another set of geese to flutter above. Lead the way out of the hot sun. Weave between the trees. Step over tree root monsters. Smile at the odd bird or animal hops by. 

“We don’t keep secrets, right?”

I whisper to the memories. “No, you don’t.” 

Another voice in the dream rasp. “He still loves you.” 

He shouldn’t, neither should any of you. Too broken, not enough. Difficult. 

Out here. All are no different than any woodland creatures from the largest moose to the small voles scurry by. What is worse, to remember the words. Or the subtle silence of the first night when all of this began. A sink full of awful empty decisions. The oldest brother’s quiet gaze. Patterns flourish in the forest around me. Bright shapes shimmer all that is long gone behind me. Nothing wrong with a cold one in hand on a hot day. 

Besides, take in all of this. A wide dark turquoise green lake. Full of life. A single loon lone coo along with the tiny dots of geese in the water. Soft gentle slopes into sand and clay. Show evidence of deer were here moments ago. 

He misses you that’s all 

One’s voice. Does he?… Of course he does. How could he not? Everyone else knows. 

Sit down in the chair. Set down the last 3 cans of a 6 pack. Miraculous 3 survivors of a drunk blackout yesterday. Crack open heaven. Slide it down the fire throat. Feel it burn over it all. Take in this brand new peaceful life of quiet. Should bring out a couple fishing poles for tonight. If I remember to come back for them. Can’t go back to anything nowadays. 

When will I see you? 

My old self. When my voice had more life. 

Soon, Sweetheart, it will be like old times. 

There’s a reason why they are called old times. It was a good life. A loud life, somewhat chaotic. The endless laughs, pile ons, pushing around. Plastic cockroaches in cupboards, glitter in ninja smoke bombs. One time Mikey and I replaced Raphael’s shower gel for blue dye. Guy was a grumpy Smurf for 4 days. His grouchy growls. The wooden spoon in papa turtle Smurf’s hand. Mikey ran for his life. I laughed so hard I couldn't breathe. Wash over the more recent screams and pushes away. Even more of the dark and bleek. 

When closet doors rattle. Whisky bottles smash in the far distance- 

No. Not again. Never speak of it again. None of that ever happened. 

Water swishes numb ankles. Whirl to baby ducks splash nearby. Over work, Mother of 6 squacks her children to behave and paddle behind her. Chuckles at their little feet blur under the clear water. Match the same speed of their cotton ball wings. Can remember when Mikey used to run the same way. Anytime Donnie chases Mikey out of his lab. Sometimes so then Donnie and I could play science and pupil again. 

Water waves between my toes. Shallow parts warm from the sun. Heat numb limbs. Swallow back to boiling hot water. Scorch delicate young skin.

Mommy it’s too hot. 

No…stop

Screams echo. Blister scar. Bare to the summer heat. Every single one remembers every pain. Why did I wear this tank top? Why am I out here? Can’t stay.

Hands stick on to lawn chair. Water waves slosh against the sandy ridge. Small legs kick. Hot water splashes everywhere. Hands shove deep under water. 

Sweetheart, breathe…

Violet voice whispers. Take his invisible hands. Squeeze them. The way he told me to. No thumb rubs my hands. Take in all of the cool fresh pine. Have to get used to this alone. Least this way is the best. No one’s burden any more. Can pick up this lawn chair anytime. 

Wander back the pink flag trail. Lose myself to millions of songs birds and butterflies flutter by. Brush soft long grass under fingers as I go. Crisp fresh air. Think about what bait to use for food tonight. Another thing I will have to start getting used to. 

Yellow happy face atena swings in between shrubs. Wave me down the direction home. Swig the last bit of powerful robust dark beer. Ignite pain away in a smooth burn. Drown darkness where they belong. 

Soft breeze hushes the forest buzz. Breathe in strong bitter fuel knocks the taste of beer. Great animal growls a deep hungry growl. Take me back to a cool violet room. To a lab chair and elastic bands for hair tying. 

“Sweetheart!?”

 Old life hollars me dead frozen in the tall grass. Hidden behind thick honeysuckles. The low hanging tree branches block the meadow opening of my new home. Don’t need to see how close the voice is. Can hear his feet crunch back and forth in the gravel. Rusty truck doors whine open and slam shut. Yellow smiley atena whirs in a hyperactive spaz. Empty cans clang on the far away floor board. Fast in a frantic, more than the time he caught Mikey in his mutagen supply. 

Footsteps wobble in the far depths of camper sweet camper. No.

He can’t be here. No one can find me like this.  I did this for them. They need to stay away from me. Far from any ear shot here. Can drop everything and run. Spin to do so. Lungs leap to jump for the hot pink trail back to the lake. 

Get back here! 

Hot greasy hand clap thunder. Drop the entire lazy afternoon supply. Oh crap no! Don’t drop them.

Metal chair legs clang against beer cans. 

Shallow gasp in the wind. Pushes me faster down the trail. Teenage bare feet pound thistles and burrs I weaved around before. 

Child bare feet blur down a hallway. Slam the bedroom door shut. 

“Tessie, wait!” 

Oh shit! Dammit! All the curse words Mikey should never hear. He found me. Faster down the hill. Over the log. Reach for the ridge. Follow the open blue sky between the evergreen trunks. 

Slip under fast large hands. Hardwood scraps small bare knees. Away from him. Away from the man. Go go go. 

Feet hush to the quiet breeze and soft rainfall of leaves. The broken footpath behind me, bare. Maybe turned back to the shellraiser for something. No matter. Least I can slow down, and lungs can breathe. 

Leaves rustle ahead. Green blur drops from above. Dead in his tracks. The tall slender turtle raises his hands and snatches me. Should have known. Been raised by ninjas for Pete sake. 

Jerk arms in his grip. Swallow the rock down. 

“Donnie, what are you doing here? Let me go.”

Sink away from his gaze. Loosen his grip to one hand on my arm. 

He pants, “I’m not here to fight, and I should be the one asking you the same question.” 

Rip his hand off me. No point in running. His long legs follow behind down the path. As I pick up the lawn chair. 

“No phone call, no note, do you know what I found in that camper?” His feet pound behind. 

Pick up what’s left of the 6 pack. Dangle the last 2 cans yet to be drank. No point in hiding it now. Plus he said he’s not here to fight. There’s no need to answer. Lanky green hands rip the plastic rings. 

“Hey!”

Whirl back to the two cans soar into the forest. Shove Donnie back. 

“What the hell was that for? That stuff ain’t cheap.” 

He towers over me. Loom a dark shadow over. Calm eyes narrow into deep violet slits. Deepens his sharp tongue. 

“Do you know how long I drove to find you,

How long we’ve been looking for you?” 

Step out of his shadow. Continue down the path into the sunlight. Home sweet home lies ahead. 

Shrug as I go, “You didn’t have to. Just decided to take a trip, that's all, what’s wrong with that?”  

Old life lingers in the shadows. Listen to teeth grit splinters. Boy did he skip coffee? Why is he hear anyway. Everyone knows so what’s the point?

Set the lawn chair back under the shade of a hunter's green awning. Since Mr. Grumpy in the corner threw a good set of cans. Guess I’ll have to get more. Crawl back inside the brown velvet coffin. Weave over the thrown cans on the floor. Guess I’ll have to clean this soon. The camper door slams shut. 

“I wouldn’t shut that, unless you want to melt.” I speak to the ghost by the door. 

Silence. Gonna be civil now. Want to burn holes through my head? Go on, do it. Everyone else is gone, why should anything matter. Open the mini fridge. To an endless supply of bottles, cans, and what I forgot most. Leaps off the shelves, plop to the fuzzy floor. 

Oh shit. 

“…what is that?” 

He’s the brainiac and yet he’s asking me? Should be pretty obvious by the label. Let his long legs weave around me. Take a bag from the fridge. I Crack open a cold one. Fire burns down all those dark heavy nights. Think back to all of the colorful waves last night.

“…T-this…” 

Leave him in the camper. Let him figure it out himself. Wasn’t supposed to be here to begin with. Might as well read what brand I use, for what? Who knows. 

Set the can in the lawn chair. Camper door shuts, no slam? Weird. Shouldn’t he be furious or something? 

Been standing there for a while. Turn to him at the metal steps. Shaded from the hot sun. Bag shivers in between his fingers. Lost to the horizon. That I’ve seen thousands of times in his brown eyes. His internal gears whir. He never looks like this unless…

“You do know, right?” 

Silence answers. The deep rise and fall of his chest. He sinks down to the flatten tall grass. Let the bag fall between his fingers. A look I make when I wake up from a nightmare. Before I would run straight to his bedroom. 

Set the can away. How? What?! 

Rise up from the old seat. I ask, “The guys never told you?” 

Rise from his palms, bambi eyes round wide, “They know about this?!” 

“Well…yeah”- 

“How long?” He mutters, waiting for an answer, “Why didn’t you tell me?” 

Take a step away from his ember coals glow. Shrug an answer, “I thought you knew, how can everyone else know but you Donnie, you know every inch of the city.” 

“How was I supposed to know?” He shoots from the ground. Bury me in his height, “You never call or text me anymore, and then leave the city to who knows where, does Mikey know?!” 

Mikey. Golden sun, white dust particles float over the sweet turtle. Bath in old and new sunlight. Breathe that old dry air of that lazy morning. 

Nod in silence. Hoarse throat stops all words Heavy numb limbs drag back inside the brown coffin. Large queen size mattress at the back. Warm by the sun. Shut all of the curtains away. Curl all away in a ball. Close away from all life. This is not what is supposed to happen. 

“Sweetheart?” Footsteps wobble the camper. 

No answer. Feel the camper sink down with him. Warmth touches my arch back, soft thumb rubs me to the old cool lab. All those years ago. 

“What are your plans for being out here?” He whispers. 

No, he already knows now. He can’t know about this too. It will crush him. Shiver under his soft palm. There’s no going back. I’ve made this decision. Already caused enough problems as it is. First Leo. How it all turned Raph down into this dark hole. Times I’ve picked him up because of what I’ve done. Tried to fix it all for Mikey. Tried to be happy for Mikey. Yet…I am here. This is what I deserve. Donnie shouldn’t even be here. Why is he still here?

Weight shifts the mattress. Warmth drapes behind all along against me. His long arm slides around me. Pull me back tight against his beating heart. Donnie’s muzzle nestles deep into my shoulder. It doesn't take much for him to know. 

Brush back strands from my cheek. 

He whispers, “You don’t deserve to go through this alone.” 

Roll in his arms. Drown myself into this chest I’ve missed so much all night long. Muzzle in his sweet scent and warmth. Squeeze all pain in his tight arms. 

I shake, “I-I Don’t kn-know… if I can go back, big brother, I-I’m too broken. No one should be stuck with me”- 

Soft lips plant firm silence my heavy forehead. 

“You are never too broken, it’s okay to have space for a while when you need it.” His deep voice murmurs in my ear. 

Cling on to his belt. The same way when I was small. Take me back to the memories. Away from all of this. Let all of the pain drip onto his chest. Choke on my words.

As my brainiac brother traces slow circles on my back. Sweet rich coffee fills my world. Over the fresh pine. More warm than the summer hot sun. A soft sigh quells more than the lone loon. I am back home. This is home. Safe. Can hide here as long as I need. 

 He whispers, “I will stay for as long as you need me, little pupil.” 

Bit through all the painful tears to fall. That roll down my brother’s chest. Yesterday I was in darkness. Tomorrow, who knows where I will be. For now I am with Donatello. My close friend, my big brother.

I am home. 

[onyourhyuck]

Kiss. | K.DY

— Prologue: “Do I make you wanna kiss me?”

— Summary: Where you are a vampire who hates werewolves until you met Kim Doyoung and become his one night stand.

— Genre: Romance. Smut minors dni. Fantasy. Vampire!y/n x Werewolf!doyoung. Mention of alcohol. Drunk sex(?) lots of pushing and pinning down. Y/n is an annoying brat. Brat taming. Unprotected sex. (Please use protection irl). Heavy making out. One night stand but become lovers later. Doyoung is such a tease and loves annoying Y/n.

— Notes: Long ass fic.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

You’re a vampire who loves the party animal life style. You prefer being surrounded by your people who are vampires and love getting drunk even though it takes a while to get a vampire actually drunk on human alcohol and such. But tonight you are drunk off your rockets you won’t lie. You must’ve been so drunk because that night you decided to make the biggest mistake of your life.

Your paths were met with a certain someone you shouldn’t of have relations with anyways. They were new in town and you remember your family in the coven gossiping about how this town suddenly had a bunch of werewolves migrating from Seoul. And now they are here in your town living on with their life. This town mostly has humans living here so that’s why everyone who is a supernatural creature, they have a human disguise on.

For you it’s a spell protected ring that makes you able to go outside in the sun however it does go off roughly around two months. You gotta go back and get your ring renewed by the local witch who owns a shop after on.

The scent of something fuzzy and a mixture of alcohol mixing in with the natural scent of a werewolf makes anyone’s skin crawl creepily because your high sense of smell made it difficult to ignore him. You couldn’t believe a werewolf was drinking at your bar and at first it annoyed you to the bones until that same Werewolf walked to you with a smug expression pushing a large beer bottle to you and lifting his beer bottle.

You couldn’t explain it but it looked like he wanted to drink with you. As if he knew you were bothered by his presence being here and he decided to annoy you with it by drinking with you. You drunkenly glare pushing the bottle in your hand. It’s free alcohol you can’t reject that though.

“What are you doing here?” You ask the man. Doyoung laughs heartily as you came straight to the point. “Can’t you tell I’m having a drink with a beautiful lady?”

‘Ugh his flirting won’t on me.’ You prayed to yourself as you side stepped away from Doyoung leaving him and going to sit somewhere far. But when you left Doyoung just moved to sit next to you staring you down from the sideline.

You grumble. “You do realise that i am stronger than you during nighttime? I don’t think it’s a good idea to be picking a fight with me.”

Doyoung innocently stares as he sips calmly the bottle of beer in his hand shrugging. “I’m not picking a fight I’m having a conversation with you.”

“Is there a difference?” You blurt out.

Doyoung crowds over you. “There is. I’m being civil and you’re being prejudice.” He wasn’t wrong you had to admit. You were prejudice. You didn’t even know him yet and you only hate him because of his species — but you can’t blame yourself. Your family grew up this way and now they raised you that way too.

You look away sighing. “You’re lucky I’m feeling nice tonight.”

Doyoung smirks knowing he has lowered down your walls just a little now. It seems like you were now more comfortable to speak to him again. “I thought vampires couldn’t get drunk.” He’d question and you murmur taking a large sip of the beer bottle.

“They can if they drink to a point where it was excessive.”

The man questions in reality how much you drank then. Vampire bodies are basically rock stone so to have you this drunk it meant you must’ve been over that limit a long time ago. He saw you turn around suddenly watching him, your corpse like complexion which was so pale was growing a pink flush around the cheeks and Doyoung smiles seeing you squint your eyes forward to look at his face.

You really were so drunk. You couldn’t even see properly bless you he thought. Doyoung puts his hands on the desk where the bottle was put there and he looks back at you. “You’re…! I’m seeing two of you. Do you have twins?” You blabber and Doyoung laughs at how gone you are. “My lord you’re so drunk. What’s even your name?”

“Your mother.” You spat out and Doyoung rolls his eyes sighing. “Very funny. Come on i’ll take you home.” He was lifting you from your seat where he puts your arms around him and then starts walking you out of the bar. You were such a hard person to export to place to place because you kept wiggling and shaking in the hold. It’s as if you were more stubborn when drunk than you’re sober.

Doyoung hissed as you nearly hit him in the face with your hands moving everywhere. “Can you fucking stay still i’m trying to seatbelt you.” He snapped and somehow you could feel a little anger boiling inside him; you freeze and stay in the car seat like a cold statue and the final seatbelt was clicked in. He closed the door and comes through the driver seat sitting down.

You turn to him slowly and Doyoung glances at you. “Sorry I snapped.” He clears his throat as he drives away from the bar. You couldn’t believe your vampire ears for a whole ass minute because he apologised to you and you never thought werewolves could have the ability to be nice afterwards?

Might be the alcohol you thought because when a soft expression came on right after the angry one you found him sort of ethereal and beautiful. You look out the window drunkenly slurring. Why did you find his face attractive now? And why did you somehow like when he was ordering you, that you can’t answer.

“Where are we going?” You asked in a drunken manner and Doyoung slowly replied. “Will you tell me where you live?”

“God no. My parents can’t see me this drunk they would end me.” You lean in your seat getting comfortable.

Doyoung sighs. “Okay my house it is.”

As the car drive continues on you would see an incoming family house that looked slightly modern you weren’t sure why you were expecting a bloody cave. God you really need to stop judging werewolves. The driver left once the car was parked and went through opening your door unlocking the belt and then grabbing your arm putting it around his neck and having your supported body to carry up front to the door. It opens wide and you were welcomed into his home. A werewolf home and if your parents knew they would’ve known you to be a disgrace. But something about Doyoung made you stay and feel comfortable.

He wasn’t so bad. He actually helped you. No vampire has ever helped you before, but a freaking werewolf did.

Doyoung made sure you laid down on the bed inside his bedroom. You were fully clothed and looked to be so out of this world he still can’t believe you got this drunk at a bar, you clearly did not worry something would happen to you. Looking down at your shoes he took them off and puts them down somewhere in his room where you can see them later on. The clock on his bed stand table said it was too late and you couldn’t help but sit up holding Doyoung’s wrist from letting him leave.

“Where have you kidnapped me to?” You side shot and Doyoung looks down at you. “My bedroom.”

Your face went kinda warm thinking about this. This was his bedroom and you could find his scent everywhere it was almost infatuating. Doyoung rose his eyebrows at you pointing down at your hand holding his wrist. “You can let go off me now.” He’d say but you squint your eyes at him. “You’re not going to leave me here right?”

The man trails in confusion. “I’m taking the couch downstairs. I have to leave you here.” You huff. “You don’t even know my name though why are you treating me so nicely!”

Doyoung felt you pull him on the bed suddenly and he flinched by how your strength really was overpowering. The only time he was this close to a vampire was now. The vampires don’t let werewolves near them and they don’t get approached by Doyoung’s people because of this. They were stronger when it wasn’t the full moon. Until the full moon the werewolves become stronger than them.

You could feel a ball of air hitching in his throat when your face came closer to his even though you were drunk you could sense how nervous he was suddenly having you come so close to him. He whispers looking down at you. “You didn’t tell me your name. But that doesn’t mean i can leave you alone when you’re vulnerable.” It was kindness that made its way to your heart and you felt your body go warm because of how radiant he was.

You murmur staring down at his lips. There was something in your eyes that was speaking to him a foreign language. “Its Y/n. My name is Y/n.” You’d add softly and Doyoung swallows harshly.

“Kim Doyoung…” he slowly relies back but it seems like your eyes were both on each others lips. The sudden urge to lean in was a given.

“Do I make you wanna kiss me?” Doyoung quietly looked at you and you felt your eyes waver down capturing a soft peck on his lips. ‘ yes you do.’ You thought deeply. He slowly returned it back and it was a soft moment shared that would soon go from zero to a hundred. You laid back pulling Doyoung’s body on top of you while the kiss continued.

You wanted to say yes to everything knowing this was so wrong on many levels and if people found out about this it would be the ethereal cost of you both. But your heart was beating so fast you couldn’t understand why. Your hands were fiddling in your clothes as you were undressing each other so hungrily. A flash of yellow in his eyes made you think how much control he was losing.

And something about that control going haywire made you wonder how far you could push a werewolves buttons in bed. Your breathes gasping together as your lips break apart a long string of saliva connects the both of you.

“Is that all you can do? Already out of breathe Doyoung?” You playfully add with a smirk forming on your face seeing how Doyoung was flustered but the man below you fell into a stern expression where his hand captures your throat pushing you down on the bed and his voice going shades darker.

“The only one out of breathe will be yourself, Darling.” You couldn’t help it but he sent you multiple shivers down your smile as he licks your neck and sends those wet kisses you felt his teeth scraping on it and your legs straddling his waist as he pushed you down on the erected cock unclothed through your panties. You wince as if you can’t believe he was this big.

There was a hidden truth to his words. Everyone knows the rumours of werewolves being the best in bed and somehow you found yourself believing this now that you’re in that perfect situation of becoming someone’s fucked out doll. Doyoung was a complete unknown beast in bed you couldn’t believe it; he had you doing a whole workout. He was pushing into you so deep the minute his cock entered your wet pussy he went into a frenzy mode.

It’s like he had no physical restraint and when his glowing yellow eyes were pointed to yours that were crying pure tears by how good it felt folded by a werewolf to completely tame you, you found yourself loving the high too much. Your arms were on top of him scraping the skin with your claws that made him hiss in an irony of painful love. ‘Who would’ve thought he was a masochist..’ you smirked at the expression he gave and move your lips to his neck licking it down a spot.

His hips were straining you down with each pounding moment where your skin claps against each other you could feel your moans becoming more and more prominent. It was getting harder to control it down and at this point you pray his neighbours don’t question you and whatever you’re blabbering. “For someone who hates werewolves you love getting dick down by one don’t you?” There was hints of multiple trading you close your eyes unable to answer. Doyoung however loved seeing you go quiet and he whispers into your ear. “You love being stretched out by the biggest cock you’ve ever seen don’t you? You love having your stupid cunt filled.”

You whimper when his hands go back to choke you a little as you nod helplessly. “You already know the answer so why are you asking me?” Your voice was striking him so softly at the same time your body was so submissive but your personality was not and that’s another thing that Doyoung found attractive. You weren’t afraid to say what you want and you were stubborn as a mule.

“Because I like to see you break down while you admit it that you don’t hate werewolves.” Doyoung was your karma to say the least. He loved testing your ability to stay calm and now you can’t. You moan when his hands squeeze tighter again. He growls. “Admit it Y/n. You love getting fucked by a werewolf don’t you? You like how i stretch your small hole out and now I’m going to fill you up so much you won’t have any space in your womb.”

God you wanted to say no to all of these and say you don’t like anything how that sounded but you would be lying because all of the above you prayed it happens and your body was screaming for his release to come and give it to you. You loved the idea in truth and you loved how good it feels you were chasing your highs and he was chasing it too. You squeeze him whimpering.

Doyoung mockingly laughs. “Whimpering already? God you’re driving me fucking nuts.” He adds with a rough groan stuttering the hips down at you. The arms beneath you belong to him lift you up so he could hit another angle that made it straight to the k.o as he released deep within you. You weren’t aware you could have such a big orgasm before but you did and he made you come so many times.

“Take it all Y/n. Take it all.” He chants.

You couldn’t count how many exactly but it was too many. When Doyoung had finished inside you he stayed in your body for a while staring down at you as his yellow glowing eyes were all you could stare into as if you were hypnotised. You loved how bright and beautiful they actually were and your trembling hands hold his face.

He could tell how shaky your palms were by how they held his skin and he felt like you were made up of porcelain by your skin rattling like an earthquake. He drifts his face down as his eyes widen a little.

“You’re shaking so much, Y/n. ” He was suddenly worried. You can’t believe how he can switch so fast his personalities.

You murmur out in a daze. “Your neck looks so soft…” you whisper and your eyes were glowing a bright red. Doyoung couldn’t even resist to push you away when your fangs reappeared and bite down into the neck. He didn’t want to back away either.

He wanted you to drink him dry until your needs were satisfied. How would’ve thought you were going to bite him. Doyoung however grew a liking to the painful factor to this and he wanted you to bite every part of him and drink him out till he was nothing.

That night you wasn’t sure how many rounds you went through. But it certainly wasn’t one round. It was multiple rounds.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

The very next morning you woke up in many different positions. You couldn’t believe what happened until you saw your naked body in the long standing mirror placed in the corner of the bedroom. You saw so many hickeys marking your body. Your body looked like it’s been through war and hell back on earth. Your clothes were on the floor so you quickly changed back into them.

You couldn’t see Doyoung in bed so he must’ve been awake already. You find your sunlight protection ring and put it on. Your body comes out of the bedroom going down the stairs slowly but you happen to run into three men rounding the kitchen.

You pause as Doyoung’s eyes caught you and they approach you quickly as he shown you a little smile. “Hey you’re leaving already?” You stand there shocked. Doyoung seems like he didn’t want to leave. You slant on the stairway looking away.

“I thought you would want me to leave. Y’know…” you pause but Doyoung held your hand shaking his head. “Look i don’t want you to leave just like that.” You couldn’t help but find kind comfort in his words. Doyoung was surprisingly kind and supportive of you and you can’t help but fall for it just a little.

He dragged you to the kitchen and you were met with two other than sitting down eating breakfast. There was a muscular man sitting on the left eating from the plate while there was a cuter and softer male with features waving at you. You did a small wave back and turn to Doyoung shyly.

You were surrounded by a bunch of werewolves now. You felt sort of out of place and scared now. Doyoung however, made sure his presence was comforting you because his hand fell on your waist holding it softly. You look up at the man who gives you a small reassuring nod.

“Hello.” You say quietly to the men dining. Doyoung comes forward clearing his throat. “These two are my roommates. Y/n meet Jaehyun and Jungwoo.”

Jungwoo smirks applauding. “Nice to meet you y/n.” The other man, Jaehyun, trails softly. “It’s nice to finally meet the voice we kept hearing all night.”

Doyoung glares but his face went equally red and so did yours as you side glance away to avoid meeting their eyes. Great they definitely heard you both. No doubt.

“Ignore Jaehyun.” Doyoung murmurs as he sat you down and you were facing them. The boys were eating away as you watch. You were unbelievably tense but somehow Doyoung held on making you go calm again when he held your hand.

“Uhm so. Y/n. What year were you born in?” Jungwoo trails making a conversation. You look back at the boy answering back. “I am a 94’ liner.”

The three of them choke on their food midway as they heard you could see them catch their breathe. Jaehyun was trying not to smile as he saw Doyoung’s ears going bright red. Jungwoo brushed the back of his neck softly.

“You’re older than us.” He stated now this time more formally. You smirk eyeing them down. “You can speak comfortably with me.”

“Can i call you Y/n still?” Jungwoo adds and i shake it off. “Yeah that’s fine.”

Doyoung looks up at you. He couldn’t believe you’re older than him but you look so young. He wonders if you’re beautiful or magically gorgeous. You only woke up and you look perfect. He loved the way your fangs poke out everytime you speak. They were small and cute when they weren’t growing out.

“So what years were you born in then?”

Doyoung look away murmuring to your question. “I am 96. Jaehyun is 97 and Jungwoo is 98.”

It seems like the baby was Jungwoo. You could kind of see it with the way how extroverted he was speaking meanwhile Jaehyun and Doyoung were slightly more quiet than the other boy. It seems like their friendship was close however like they could read each others mind. That must be a Wolf thing.

After they finished breakfast and chatting with you Doyoung decided to walk you out as you said you would have to go now. Doyoung didn’t want to let you go but he didn’t have much choice but to do that. You look down at your feet as he escorts you out and you murmur softly.

“It was nice chatting to you in the morning.” You add because you felt like you made some friends along the way.

Doyoung smiles nodding. “They seem fond of you. Especially Jungwoo.”

You wanted to say it’s a bad idea getting close to someone like you and that it wouldn’t end well but you can’t bring yourself to say it to Doyoung. Somehow you wanted to continue knowing him and his friends. You suddenly hold his hand and Doyoung faces you hearing you whisper.

“I don’t want to… forget you.”

You paused as you spoke these words out watching how his expression softens and it were no longer a questioning sad one. It did him great happiness to hear you were feeling the same way as he was. Doyoung’s fingers slowly slip into your hand intertwining them so your hands were fitting together and he came close suddenly.

You didn’t run away and when the man came close he gave you a small peck on your lips. The urge to just grab and make out with him for two hours straight was there but you bury it deep down and slant back as he gave you a soft loving kiss. It was different from last time. It felt like a goodbye kiss almost but until next time they meet again.

“You know where to find me if you ever want to see me again.” Doyoung tells you, slowly pulling away from your body.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

The next few days you were on probation by your parents who were worried for you day and night. You couldn’t help but wish they were a little more lenient on you. They aren’t aware of what you got up to but they certainly could tell you weren’t home for a whole day which worried them. It’s ridiculous because you’re an adult but these people can never rest. They know how you are actually. You tend to get up to trouble wherever you go and they weren’t wrong.

You did get up to trouble. With a freaking werewolf that you can’t wait to see again.

‘I definitely got attached to him.’ You said to yourself as if this was a reason for you to relax and just let it happen. You didn’t hate him anymore however if anything you had some sort of weird feeling for him.

Doyoung took care of you. He even loved you for a whole night with many rounds to come. He introduced you to his friends who were not judgemental of your face. The only one that was still as hesitant was you. You were worried what your parents and your people would paint you as.

On your way you met your friend Taeyong. Lee Taeyong is a new vampire who was bitten by Taeil. You can see how that ended up now Taeil has to teach the boy to live as a vampire without getting caught.

Moon Taeil is your longest friend from childhood. You guys are the same age and you happen to know everything about each other — but this time you weren’t sure if he wants to know this piece of information.

“You slept with a werewolf?!” The two boys sang in unison as you were sitting down in their house sipping water from a straw.

Taeil looks away as he laughs in disbelief. You? With a werewolf? You hate werewolves last time he checked. He comes forward suddenly checking your wrists and sleeves.

You raise your eyebrows. “What are you doing?” You question your best friend who looks down at you. “I’m checking for a werewolf bite. What if he marked you? God you’re doomed.” He shakes his head at you coming to be so clueless.

“He didn’t bite me.” You’d reassure the two vampires in front of you. You murmur remembering the night again. “I bit him though.”

Taeil sat down crumbling as you kept giving the details from your night you spend with Doyoung. It seems it was getting worse and worse in his imagination.

“You drank from a werewolf. That’s fantastic Y/n! You fell for your one night stand.” He spat.

You flinch as you huddle on the couch sighing. “I shouldn’t of but he really isn’t as bad as the vampires claim they are. He took care of me Taeil. He even gave me a goodbye kiss.”

“I give you a goodbye kiss all the fucking time Y/n you can’t be seriously hurt that you aren’t seeing him anymore.” Taeil thrown at you.

You shake your head laying down on the couch holding your hands together. The ceiling was your form of entertainment as Taeil and Taeyong were wondering what’s happening with you.

“Did you at least do it safely?” Taeil would ask you.

A guilty smile came on your face as if you obviously weren’t being safe in the bedroom and Taeil sat back down yelling into his hands as if you were helpless and you were just a kid who knows nothing.

“Y/n you could get pregnant you know?” He spat and you somehow felt unbothered. You shrugged. “I didn’t know it was possible to intersect with werewolves.”

Taeil gasps. “Of course there are! Why do you think they don’t mix for a reason?”

Taeyong silently sips the blood from the hospital bloodbag and you roll off the couch sighing. “It’s fine trust me. I’m not going to get pregnant alright? It was only an one night stand.” Unfortunately.

Taeil side glares. “You want to meet him again don’t you?”

You smirk. “Heck yeah i do.”

“My god you are so delulu.” He stops. “For a werewolf Y/n. A werewolf Y/n. A species that could kill you.” He adds describing it. But even so you weren’t afraid of Doyoung.

You begin walking out the door. Taeil behind you shouts wondering where the heck you’re leaving while he was still talking to you.

“WHERE ARE YOU GOING Y/N? I WAS SPEAKING TO YOU.”

“I am going to a bar! God you’re sounding like my bloody father now.”

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

You murmur at the bar all alone sipping a shot of soju. “Stupid Taeil telling me what to do and not do… man he’s such a freaking Wikipedia…” you shake your thoughts away as your best friend was done lecturing you about how to do safe sex and what not.

You couldn’t believe him. He wasn’t even a medical student and he goes all father on you.

The bar was playing little songs in the background that were tapping your fingers on the wooden bar counterpart. You sway a little enjoying the peaceful atmosphere until a sudden man leans forward taking a seat next to you.

When you were going to turn around it certainly felt like a deja vu moment you wanted to replay again.

“Doyoun—“

You pause as you realise it wasn’t Doyoung. It was just another human bothering you once again. You scowl at the man feeling disgusted he was drunk and smelled full of previous drugs. You couldn’t deal with the heinous smell so you turn around about to walk away.

“Were you expecting someone else love?” The man echos behind you.

You scowl. “Yes. Get lost I’m not interested.” You slant away leaving walking far away from that side and as you walk away you took sips of the brand new whiskey glass humming.

As you walk away a hand turned you around and you sighed swung yourself to shout at the man that was probably following you. “Look here mister I’m not fucking interested—“ but as you did your mouth fell apart and your voice was no longer there. You turned into a silent voice that couldn’t be traced nor heard because the person standing in front of you was a young man that you met the previous starry night you wish to forever remember. It was like a memory engraved in your brain you couldn’t forget and you don’t want to. You loved that night so much you felt your dead corpse heart beating so much you felt alive and without him you felt like a cold slum of death.

Doyoung smirks down at you. “I promise you will be interested soon.” He adds after your words and you felt going embarrassed you really thought you were followed by that human after all.

You slide back. “It wasn’t directed to you. Forget I said anything.” You’d shake your head. Doyoung looks down grabbing your glass of whiskey taking the last slip of the burning alcohol down his throat. You blink as he drank from the same glass and you touched your lips a little wondering.

He did indirect kiss me right now. You clear your unholy thoughts god you must be so tense and awkward right now with him it’s unbelievable.

“Hm you’re awfully quiet today. What happened to you Y/n? You’re not telling me to get lost like you did the night before. No werewolf prejudice today?” He said smirking while watching you and you felt your eyebrows lower down as you frown at him. He was teasing you.

You knew he was messing with you but you felt awfully embarrassed by it and even then you didn’t know what to say and reply back. ���Shut up. Did you need anything Doyoung or are you here to rub it on my face?”

He grins. “Rub what on your face darling?”

You’d go silent. ‘That you slept with me and now I’m the one chasing you.’ You thought deeply. You want to kiss him so badly he looked so kissable right now. You want to let him know how bad you want him and even now him standing here you could take him on. You didn’t care if anyone else saw you.

You want people to know you are his and he’s yours. You don’t want this to be a secret one night stand. You want more. And here you are doing the thing you fear the most.

You’re here wanting to kiss a werewolf.

“Forget it.” You whisper into the air as your back turned around to Doyoung but as you did he turned you back around and quickly pinned you against the nearest wall as he was looking down at you knowing exactly what you wanted it he wouldn’t give it to you easily unless he heard it from you.

He wants to hear you. He wants you to give yourself to him and then he could do the same. But you’re stubborn and you’re conflicted still. He was only waiting for you.

“Doyoung what are you doing?” You flinch in panic when he came forward to close the gap between your faces.

He stares into your beautiful siren-like eyes that he swore were magically making him feel all sorts of emotions from you. “I want to look at your face.”

It was such a normal sentence that made you feel so many abnormal things deep inside your stomach. Your throat swallows harshly as he could see your neck move with each saliva you took back.

His eyes move up to your face again. “Do I make you wanna kiss me?”

Your hands wrap round his neck like a collar wanting to bring him forward to you. You ache out speaking so desperately as you close your eyes. “Yes so bad, Doyoung, so bad it hurts.”

He’s making you want to kiss him there and then but he was only waiting for your green light and then he could go and go kiss you as hard as you ever wish. He only needs your green light to give him the signal.

And when he did his lips did not waste a single time to take a taste of your cherry red lips feeling so good like he were flying off the ground with you. Matching your slow sensual speed and holding you tighter like he wanted to all this time you were in each others dreams just like this; he loved to see your voice go dimmer and your moans escaping occasionally with it and how badly he loved your lips on his. Doyoung could fall deeper and you fell deeper with him. All your brain thought line a religious mantra was: your lips, your lips on repeat.

In between the kisses you slip in with Doyoung you hear him whisper hovering your mouth. Even then your kisses did not stop like it was impossible to. “Do you want me to become yours, Y/n?” It was a clear answer as you achingly add. “Yes Doyoung. I don’t care what anyone says about us.” Pulling him into a passionate celebratory kiss.

It all took one KISS for you and Doyoung to release your feelings into the wide open reality. Like a forbidden spell taking over you.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

@onyourhyuck please refer from translating and copyrighting my work thank youu! Reblog and follow me for more it helps a girl out <33.

[tadpolesonalgae]

Ur descriptions of the lil coastal town and the sea with its little creatures and the lil trinkets is so amazing omg I cant help but get sucked right in. It just makes it so bittersweet that reader at least gets to experience this much but there’s still so much more out there for her to learn about and live through… she just can’t with her ‘timeframe’.

Fuck… the Bas scene rlly was a heavy hitter. I think that I (along with the reader) had just gotten so used to him being somewhat of a constant that this rlly did a number on me. Life rlly has been particularly awful to reader… to find him in such a state… especially when she expected him to outlive her by CENTURIES, to live and move on from her, experience what she couldn’t… when all things calm down, I hope the reader gets to see him off properly

You have done such an amazing job creating such a compelling character as Bas. I genuinely don’t think I’ve gotten so attached to a character as him. And as much as it hurts cause you have just made him so damn loveable, know that he lives in my brain on the constant.

Good job Azriel Shadowsinger (I’m using his full govt name cause I’m still mad at him) for being able to lull her to sleep after the ordeal(s)!!! It rlly was a rock and a hard place type situation😭 I’m happy that we got the lil look into some of reader’s happy childhood memories tho!

Also reader snarling and sassing him in the shop LMAO more of that please. He deserves to get some attitude.

It was a HEAVY chapter but you did amazingly (as always) I couldn’t put my phone down even if I tried to ❤️❤️❤️

'Ur descriptions of the lil coastal town and the sea with its little creatures and the lil trinkets is so amazing omg I cant help but get sucked right in.'

Thank you so much!!! <3

Since it was the first time I was taking you somewhere non-canon in the fic I really wanted to make it feel like an actual place, if that makes sense? I think actually writing those beginning sections where reader is observing the valleys, the shoreline, the town itself, and the beach were the parts that took the longest? With dialogue, or more character-driven scenes I mostly rely on conversation to keep progress up, while having small sentences of movement in between so the story is still moving even during conversation? So actually having to write more descriptive sections takes more effort, for me at least! Definitely trying to pull together a picture of what I want to describe, and pulling on past experiences?

I have this memory from when I was younger and visiting either Bristol or Brighton, and coming across a row of houses that were painted sea-shades of blue, and a couple of pink, and yellow ones, so that's where the coloured houses came from, then the summer before last I spent some time in Wales and visited a few different beaches, which helped with describing the shore section! <3

'Fuck… the Bas scene rlly was a heavy hitter. I think that I (along with the reader) had just gotten so used to him being somewhat of a constant that this rlly did a number on me.'

Yeah... I'll tell you, from the standpoint of being the one writing the story, it was so difficult getting asks about the Summer and Autumn Court sections (which looked like they were going to be the next chapters) and not being able to talk about much of that! :')

And I'm still going to miss getting to actively write his character - I think he honestly ended up becoming an integral part of reader's life, so losing him is going to cause some changes for her, and her perspective on life, and love.

On one hand I'm sorry that anyone who also liked Bas now won't get to see him again, but on the other hand it makes me so happy (?) that some of you connected enough with his character to feel sadness, or loss in that section? I know that's a weird way to phrase it, but in a sense it's heartwarming you're missing him, so thank you for your willingness to believe in him as a character <3

'especially when she expected him to outlive her by CENTURIES, to live and move on from her, experience what she couldn’t…'

Yes! For reader, she was born human, so in the beginning was probably still getting used to the idea of immortality, whereas for Bas it was practically a given. Like reader said, she wasn't expecting to experience more loss before she got to go, and especially not from someone who was supposed to outlast her by such a massive stretch :/

'You have done such an amazing job creating such a compelling character as Bas. I genuinely don’t think I’ve gotten so attached to a character as him. And as much as it hurts cause you have just made him so damn loveable, know that he lives in my brain on the constant.'

This makes me so unbelievably happy to hear - thank you so, so much! <3

Although again, I think that to form a strong attachment with or to a character, there has to be a willingness on your part to accept that character, and temporarily suspend some beliefs to make them come to life, so thank you to you for being open to him <3

'Good job Azriel Shadowsinger (I’m using his full govt name cause I’m still mad at him)'

As you should, as you should

I wouldn't have anything else to write if you forgave him immediately after that chapter, as relieving as I found it to finally write Az finding a way to kind of be there for reader, in his own, unique way

'for being able to lull her to sleep after the ordeal(s)!!! It rlly was a rock and a hard place type situation😭 I’m happy that we got the lil look into some of reader’s happy childhood memories tho!'

Despite that scene being a draining one to write, it was also kind of calming? I had this relaxing, instrumental, winter playlist on so it was a pretty cathartic scene for me, after the anguish of the section prior to that! And I'm glad you enjoyed that brief, wandering part as reader's drifting off to sleep, and Az trying to lull her into that fatigue by asking her questions that will conjure up ideas to dream about <3

'Also reader snarling and sassing him in the shop LMAO more of that please. He deserves to get some attitude.'

Yes! I loved getting to write the section with Malachite!! He really rubs her the wrong way, for some reason!

I think also, from a writing standpoint, it'll feel more natural for reader to be a little more open with her irritation, now that Azriel has already seen it passively?

'It was a HEAVY chapter but you did amazingly (as always) I couldn’t put my phone down even if I tried to ❤️❤️❤️'

Thank you! :') Though I don't know how you managed to keep concentrated for that long! I find my eyes sometimes go a little weird if I stare at a screen for too long without taking a break!

And I'm sorry for the heavy angst in that last part, I swear it's going to be Summer Court in the next chapter!!

And thank you so so SO much for writing in!!!!! Both after such a long break, and with such a heavy chapter, it's so relieving that you're still interested in cbmthy and happy to chatter away with me about it! It's always so fun, and such a lovely experience getting to hear different thoughts and reactions to the things I've written, so thank you! <3

[ditzydisaster13]

By the Best of the Lightning Strike

”By the Best of the Lightning Strike” is a Voltron Fantasy Au I’ve been working on. It’s been more mental preparation than anything I’ve written down as of late. But I’m planning plenty of art for it.

The characters are primarily Elven knights and warriors. Galra and Altean are all species of their own. With separate kingdoms and soldiers. Other “aliens”-> which are recognized as more mythological creatures and species themselves, belong as stand alone creatures or those under the rule, either willing or not, of Galra vs Altean-Voltron. Voltron is what they call their knights. Their best fighters are:

Lancelot (Lance) Ladron. His last name might mean thief. But only of hearts and frowns. A flirtatious soldier with glassy ocean eyes and a pure and unadulterated love for the stars and the sea alike. He has great power. Of water and rain, storm and wind. With his sickness comes weariness. He is physically strong. But Mentally does not allow himself the peace and smiles other see in him. He is wounded by the war. The war that leaves him half blind. And the war of the raging and roaring water and hurricanes that crash in his head. He is wonderful with a Sword. A bow and Arrow strikes through the most powerful currents. But his intentions to the world happen to be his strongest weapons. He is wise beyond his jokes. And a Master of craft. His magic is purely dispensable to him. And wonderful to others. He is among the last humans (aside his family, half elven and half human. He is mostly human) in Altea. But he won’t let the Purple trolls of Galran territory graze his pride.

Keith Keiden (name basically means Warrior from the wood of the battlefield.) Is a Grunt. A type of Fae that remain on the shorter side, with tempers that can be difficult to control. They are family people. And do not take being abandoned well. They are brisk and good fighters. Who fight with force and trickery. They are sneaky and prideful in not only their skills but their keen. Keith is also half Galra. Which results in some slight discrimination and anger when he reveals his bloodline. However, as well as a Voltron Soldier and Knight to Altea, his loyalties are split to the Blade of marmora. Garland and half Galran species who in turn want nothing to do with their kingdom or ancestry that fight independently, in small groups, and occasionally on the side of the Alteans. They often prefer Solitude. But Love is in fact their greatest weapons. A master of sword and blade, Keith is also a Dramonk. A name derived from the ancient and rare people of the dragons, meaning fire wielder. Flume of red and pink burst and burn from his hands. Dousing into rolling smoke. His anger gets the best of him. But a certain “thief” knows all too many way to douse the flames.

Dove Holt (Pidge/Katie. -> Holt actually means forest.) Despite Her [She/They pronouns for Pidge] less that forestric life, one home in the woods, a second in the workshop her father uses to study space, they are a lovely person. Dove, typically known as Pidge, is a Grunt. A distant Altean/Elven great grandmother somewhere in her blood. Dove, or Pidge, has the ability to connect with thee earth. He love and excitement for the future of space travel and technology is evident in her slick and mobile style of dressing. Despite her ladylike voice, they are sarcastic and witty. Athletic and feisty. Their connection to nature is in the soil. The vines that grow from her arms and allow her to launch herself great distances.

[redo-of-chii]

💌 𝕮𝖍𝖎𝖎’𝖘 𝕸𝖆𝖓𝖎𝖋𝖊𝖘𝖙𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓 𝕯𝖎𝖆𝖗𝖞 | 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 #𝟎𝟒

Dear diary & manifestors,

I still continue to affirm whenever I can and things seem to be going pretty well. I do have my moments where I feel down but I try to affirm instead of spiraling like I used to do when I started my journey.

Mental diet is not easy, but even dieting when it comes to food is not easy as well. Still, you can make your journey be fun. I made a few new subliminal playlists on Youtube and I plan to download them to play them at my phone while I'm out.

My manifestations are going pretty well though. For example, I wanted a new desk chair that had adjustable manual reclining and leg support. I also wanted it to be pink and at first I thought "it's going to be difficult for something like that to exist, that mixes comfort and aesthetic". Still, I tried to visualize it.

In the end, because of the changes in my job, I got offered many things and one of them was to change things in my workspace and one of them was have a new desk chair. And funnily enough, my coordinator found a pink chair that fit everything I wanted and said if I wanted it as a joke at first. I said "yes" and in the end, my chair got ordered and it's coming by the end of next week (or sooner).

I also got offered a new project at work involving my SP. Which I am really happy with because I wanted to finally have a common project with him where we could focus on our careers together instead of working with others. It's not bad working with others, but sometimes the people we had to work with were either negative, played the victim if they didn't get away with stuff or even energy vampires. That wasn't good because that affected our workflow a lot.

Another manifestation I am possibly having soon and I want to share with you all is that the person that was giving me a lot of problems at work is possibly quitting soon. Around July, I was affirming that the people that were making my job impossible were gone. I really love my job but those people were really making others (including myself) uncomfortable. From there, everything has been going smoothly. One of them quit because they got a better offer in another company, another one was fired because their problematic behavior reached HR, another one still works with us but she got a project where she is alone and has no time to be a pain and the last one, like I said, they are either quitting or they might get fired for their problematic behavior as well.

The law is amazing and I cannot thank the law enough for everything that is happening around me. I am also having a blast being on Tumblr and sharing many things with you all. I also want to thank the people that messaged me thanking me about my post about "SP Manifestation and Narcissistic Trauma Bond". I really wanted to share that because sometimes we can fall into the trap of thinking we want to manifest an ex back but it's just really a trauma bond. We are complicated and sensitive creatures and sometimes our heart does these things to us and sometimes we try to manifest something we don't really want. Sometimes it's because of fear, sometimes it's nostalgia and sometimes it's even pride because we want to prove we can manifest anything. And WE CAN MANIFEST ANYTHING, still, do we really want that? I think we can manifest better things for us. That's what I did and you should too.

Trust me, it gets better even if it may sound scary at first. But once you taste the life you deserve, you just don't want to ever go back. That's why I want to share my experience from the good and the ugly when it comes to manifestation because even if it may not seem like a straight line at first, it always comes to you.

∘•···············•∘ʚ ♡ ɞ∘•················•∘

꒰ Always & Forever — Chii ꒱

[loominggaia]

ORDER OF LOVE AND LIGHT, FAITH IN LOVE

OVERVIEW

The Order of Love and Light is a religion that was formed around Karenza, the Divine of Love, and her ideology. Its tenets are recorded in a holy book called “Scriptures of Love and Light”, which followers are expected adhere to.

Followers of this religion are called “Karenzans”. The adjective form is “Karenzan”. Karenzans congregate at places of worship called “temples of love and light” or “houses of Karenza”.

The Karenzan symbol represents two hearts joined together. The Order's official colors are green, pink, and white. They claim that green symbolizes growth, pink symbolizes love, and white symbolizes righteousness.

KARENZAN SYSTEM

The Order is an insular religion that does not accept just anyone into the fold. Followers must prove their dedication to the faith’s ideology with years of servitude to a Karenzan temple. Once they’ve proven themselves, a High Priestess officially grants them followership and all the benefits that come with it, including the Order’s support and protection. However, these benefits can be revoked if the follower commits too many infractions.

Many people may call themselves “Karenzans”, but few have actually been officiated by a High Priestess. Those actively trying to get officiated are called “students of love and light”.

Karenzans encourage everyone on Gaia to practice Karenza’s ideology, no matter their faith.

KARENZAN TENETS

No living creature is inherently greater than any other. All life is equal in the eyes of Karenza.

Honesty, kindness, and charity are essential virtues for all people. They should be practiced in acts of goodwill daily.

Dishonesty, cruelty, and greed are sins, and have no place in society.

Love should be embraced and hate should be rejected.

Wickedness should be reformed wherever possible, and wickedness which cannot be reformed should be destroyed.

Violence should be exercised only in necessity.

Those who are able should always help those who are in need.

Remain tender, but never collapse.

KARENZAN LIFESTYLE AND TRADITIONS

There are no particular holidays associated with the Order of Love and Light. Karenzans are expected to practice their virtues on a daily basis by performing “Acts of Love”. These are acts of charity and goodwill intended to improve the lives of Allkind. They may take many forms both major and minor, such as…

Volunteering at hospitals, schools, nursing homes, disaster zones, etc.

Defending innocent civilians from hostile forces (such as militaries and terrorists).

Providing food and goods for those in need.

Beautifying decrepit areas to boost morale.

Rescuing victims of slavery and trafficking.

Karenzans engage in small daily rituals as well:

They always wake at sunrise and recite prayers before breakfast to remind them of their cause.

They greet others by saying “peace to you”. A fellow Karenzan replies with, “peace to all”. 

All officiated Karenzans must complete medical training or learn healing spells.

All officiated Karenzans must take a vow of poverty, meaning they only keep enough money to survive and give the rest away to those in greater need. They embrace simplicity by rejecting material luxuries. Many temples of love and light are self-sufficient and don’t require gold to function at all. When temples do raise money, they use it for Acts of Love.

ETHEREAL CITY

Also known as “Alqamah”, “Sanctuary Island”, or “Maenad’s Refuge”, the Ethereal City is a large chunk of land that was ripped from Gaia’s surface and suspended in the sky by magic. It is always on the move and surrounded by clouds, making it difficult to locate. Some people spend their whole lives looking for it, never to catch a glimpse.

Karenza herself is believed to live on this island, and it is the place maenads must go if they want to be transformed into minervae. This pilgrimage is notoriously difficult, and few actually succeed. Karenza resides here to hide from the Divine of Hate, who relentlessly pursues her.

It is held aloft by three minervae, who have sacrificed their mobility to keep the island afloat. They appear as statues standing at opposing corners of the island, locked in a meditative stasis. They can teleport the island in dire situations, but this drains their energy quickly. Attendants must transfer magical energy to them regularly to keep them alive.

In the center of the island is a pearlescent temple where Karenza and her closest circle reside. Surrounding the temple are houses, workshops, and community spaces where the islanders (called “Ethereans”) live. The island’s outer edges hold farms and natural areas. The city is incredibly compact and efficient, and life here is only made possible by strict management policies and liberal use of magic.

Residents of the Ethereal City are either Karenzan pilgrims who have earned their place there, or their children who were born there. Either way, everyone who resides on the island must strictly obey the Tenets of Love and Light, or else they will be exiled. People of all species dwell here, though there is an abnormally high concentration of maenads and nymphs in general. Historically, the population has skewed heavily female.

LIFE IN THE ETHEREAL CITY

Though this place may look peaceful and utopian, it is fiercely policed by Karenza’s soldiers. This female-dominant force patrols the skies on flying mounts. They not only protect the island from malicious outsiders, they police its inhabitants as well. The Ethereal City is a hard place to get into and easy to get banished from.

The culture of this island is highly community-oriented. The use of currency is forbidden, so there are no rich and no poor. Everyone produces resources and shares them with everyone else. The island is mostly self-sustaining, but foragers do bring a lot of goods in from Below (the world outside the island).

Because space is so limited, the population must be somewhat controlled. Though the whole community has a say, Karenza and her council ultimately decide who stays and who goes. In many cases people leave willingly, wanting to explore Below. It’s not a decision to be taken lightly though, because once they leave, there is no guarantee they’ll be able to return.

Those who leave tend to be secretive about the island, in fear of sharing too much intel with the wrong people (such as the wicked Cult of the Crescent). They usually lie about their heritage or refuse to talk about it at all.

Violence is strictly forbidden in the Ethereal City, except in cases of training and self-defense. Regular civilians of the island are free to spend their time as they wish, but Karenza’s students and council must dedicate their time to her cause: nourishing love and destroying hate. That means running all kinds of missions for Karenza, which may involve visiting Below.

If they tire of their service, they may leave any time without consequence. However, completing missions earns them great and unique rewards, such as magical blessings from Karenza herself. Her best students earn great powers before leaving her service, but before they leave, they must promise to only use their powers for good deeds. If Karenza’s agents (such as Justice) catch them committing acts of wickedness, they will be hunted down and mercilessly destroyed.

CULTURE AND CONTROVERSY

The Karenzan faith was once the most popular religion in Yerim-Mor Kingdom and surrounding areas. It fell sharply out of favor after the Gold River War, as the Cult of the Crescent gained power in the region and banned all discussion of Karenza and her scriptures. The cult punishes Karenza’s followers with torture and death.

Today, The Order of Love and Light has become controversial, as they are heavily targeted by the Cult of the Crescent’s terrorist attacks. Many people now reject the presence of Karenzans and their temples, believing they will attract cultists and strife to the area.

Karenza herself is a rather controversial figure due to her militant adherence to her own ideology. Despite being known as the “Divine of Love”, she and her forces have killed millions of people in the name of “destroying wickedness”. Some believe that wickedness is subjective, and that Karenza has no right to decide who should live or die.

In regions with less Crescent Cult presence, opinions on the Order of Love and Light are generally favorable. The Order’s Acts of Love are diverse and far-reaching. They are known to operate orphanages, hospitals, drug rehab centers, homeless shelters, schools for the poor, and other humanitarian services. They also clean up litter and assist with disaster relief, and they even intercept terrorist attacks.

Some municipalities have banned Karenzan temples in fear that they will attract Crescent Cultists. However, other municipalities welcome and even subsidize them, as the Order of Love and Light actively defends their territory from Crescent Cult attacks, as well as crime and general terrorist activity. Areas with Karenzan temples experience a boost to civilian welfare, at no cost to the local government.

Overall, views on this religion can be complex and differ greatly depending on the local history and culture.

SEE ALSO

Lost Scriptures of Love and Light (story)

Ask - Karenza

Isaac

*

Questions/Comments?

Lore Masterpost

Read the Series

[joka13]

FANFICTION: Weasley Twins x Reader (Slytherin Girl) - Part 24

WARNINGS: frightening and intense scenes, gore, swearing

You silently cry yourself to sleep and into a nightmare.

You stand in the middle of a wood bridge that arches over a brutal, stampeding river. The air is thick with cold fog, making it difficult to see anything but the rapids beneath you. The water is deep enough that you can't see the bottom, and moves bone-crushingly fast. It absolutely terrifies you.

The bridge suddenly begins to splinter under your weight, and you fear you'll be dropped into the river if you don't act quickly. But you can't move. To escape the threat of the collapsing bridge you'd have to cross it and go into the fog, which now appears almost as equally frightening as the water. Then the fog parts toward the opposite ends of the bridge, revealing two sunny, welcoming paths to freedom. Your hopes are lifted momentarily, but there's another dilemma. Which path should you take? Then a sickening crack rings in your ears, and you're plunged into the dark, watery depths below.

Icy cold surrounds you. After the bubbles have ascended out of your vision, you search for the surface of the river, for air, but a flash of bright yellow catches your eye. You do a double take, still under the water, and find yourself puzzling over two, glowing, gold stones. They somehow remain completely parallel to each other beneath the ever rushing rapids, and they're growing larger by the second. With a horror more extreme than any sort of fear you've ever experienced, you realize that the pretty stones are not stones at all, but the eyes of a gigantic creature swimming toward you.

You naturally want to swim for your life, but suddenly find yourself without the ability. You've been literally petrified.

You sink helplessly as the creature comes nearer and nearer, until you can recognize its terrible face as belonging to the basilisk that haunted your second year of school at Hogwarts. No, it's not possible... Harry Potter had killed it! Indeed, a silver blade protrudes up through the monster's head. Now you notice the details of the basilisk's appearance: its scaly flesh has rotted away in some areas, revealing the cracked and yellowing bones of a snake-like skeleton. Its eyes are no longer parallel with each other; one floats loosely in the water, barely attached to the socket by a pink string of nerves. Three years ago, you thought you'd successfully made it to the end of the school year without being petrified or even killed by the monster. But, somehow, it has come back from the dead, zombified, with the sole purpose of taking you down to the grave back with it.

The basilisk opens its incredibly wide jaws, and you get a good look at the other half of the sword coming down through the roof of its mouth. Just before the decaying creature clamps its teeth down on you, you read a name engraved on the sword below the hilt: Godric Gryffindor.

Your eyes open and you roll over onto your back. You stare at the ceiling for a couple minutes, still recovering from the awful dream you had during the night. But you don't have time to ponder. You've got to get to breakfast.

You get out of bed and slowly dress into your robes. As always, Maddy has woken up and left the room before you. You're glad of it. You don't want to have to face her again after last night. Your eyes begin to water at the memory of it, but you quickly pull yourself together... or you think you do, at least.

When you eventually get out of the Slytherin common room, you are met with Fred and George, who stand on either side of the doorway. "Good morn—" you start to say, but are cut off when the twins lean in to lay a kiss on each of your cheeks at the same time. The sweet, combined gesture is too much for your already sensitive emotions to handle, and the tears begin to well up.

The twins pull away and, seeing their smiles fade at the sight of whatever expression you are making, the dam finally breaks. You begin to cry.

"Y/n?" George says. Both him and Fred are obviously shocked. Yours was the opposite of the reaction they were expecting.

You turn to George and move towards him, asking for comfort. Though still confused, he opens his arms and you step into his embrace.

"What's happened?" Fred asks as you sob all over George's shoulder.

"I'll t-tell you at b-breakfast," you manage to hiccup.

And so you do. After you finish weeping your eyes out, the three of you head to the Great Hall, sit down at your usual table, and you tell Fred and George about everything: last night's conversation with Maddy, your rising fear of the future, and your most recent dream. All the while, the twins listen intently without taking a single bite of their breakfasts.

"Blimey," Fred mutters in disbelief.

"Do you often have such vivid dreams?" asks George.

"Yes, actually," you answer, pushing around the food on your plate with your fork in one hand and resting your chin in the other. "Ever since I was little. I almost always remember them, too." Then you sigh and shake your head. "I'm so sorry to dump all of my drama on you two."

There's a pause in the conversation as the twins contemplate your words.

Then, to your surprise, George chuckles. "If you aren't the one who's causing the drama, don't feel bad about it. That's what Mum once said to Ginny when she was in a social pickle."

"Yeah," Fred agrees. "Though she could really use her own advice sometimes if you know what I mean!"

Fred and George laugh together, and you can't help but join in. In that moment, you suddenly feel so grateful for them, for their ability to make you smile no matter the situation. But your worries won't go away that easily.

"What do you make of this... 'something is coming' bit?" you ask the twins, quoting Maddy. Fred's and George's expressions turn serious once more. They exchange a look and then glance briefly around the room to make sure no one is listening in.

Fred speaks in a hushed tone, "Something really is coming—"

"Of course there is," you cut in. "There are rumors that You-Know-Who is back. That obviously means that something is gonna happen... Such as the Ministry losing its marbles." You laugh a little too forcefully.

"But it's not like before," says George, reaching his long arm over the table to hold your hand (you hadn't realized that your hands were shaking until now). "Not like what that bastard Professor Quarrel brought in..."

"Or Tom Riddle," Fred adds. A silence falls over the three of you, and you shiver. From your second year of attending Hogwarts, it had taken months for your nightmares about the basilisk to cease, until you had that bad dream last night, of course. But you can't imagine the fear the Weasley family must've experienced, with Ginny being so involved... The twins shake their heads at the same time, as if to push the memory to the back of their minds.

"Our point is, y/n, that You-Know-Who has completely come back," Fred continues. "He's not just a spirit, or a fragment or whatever."

You stare at the table for a moment, then swallow thickly. "And Maddy is afraid that I'll get on his bad side..."

Neither of the twins have time to say anything in response before the Hogwarts bell sounds, indicating that it's time for classes to start.

[zombocomme]

Between The Lines, Episode 2: Fangs too long

Enjoy.

*SFW:PG13:*mentions pet loss, vet office/needles, blood, allusion to death not specified*

"...That is the Rollercoaster, that is life..." -Papa IV

🌌🕊🌨⚘️🐀✨️🦇🫲🙂‍↕️🫱🦇✨️🪦🥀🌨🪽🌌

Secondo lifted Copia's chin, "That rat was a mean old one eyed bastard who was a danger to himself and others, and yet you loved that little shit so much you cared as best you could and loved him to the end..."

The vet office was quiet aside form the muffled sounds of kenneled animals. A box of tissues sat on the table looking lonely on the stainless steal slab, where an empty rat cage lay open and unoccupied.

Pirate the rat had been wonderful until one day he snapped. He bit copias thumb so hard, Copia's blood spurt in time with his thundering heartbeat. Secondo looked down at the thumb now, where grew a deep scar that still looked pink.

Primo wanted to release him as a garden rat, liking the idea of the rat belonging to his garden. 'Tersero' had suggested sending it to a sanctuary. Secondo called for it to be put down. Copia had put off his decision. Such a weight to carry at 11 years old,having to be responsible for life and death. He never wanted that burden. And yet it seemed one that wanted to land on him... unfortunately, fate would intervene for the little creature - and at his old age, he broke his leg falling in his cage for which copia blamed himself... he was too old to save. Too tired. And too damn mean.

*The pet had become a menace, with Copia having to shoo him into a bucket trap to clear out the cage and keep it clean. And Pirate with his one eye would launch himself against the cage in feral screeches and squeaking, repeatedly bitting at the bars and not letting go even if someone simply walked by. God forbid their hair or clothes get to close. Its aggression was unsuitable, and contributed to making his own life miserable, to be trapped and moved and towelwrapped...the poor little beast.*

Copia looked up at Secondo, who was his reluctant guardian for today. Tasked with accompanying the boy to the vet, to "put that vermin down." As Seestor so emphatically put jt.

Secondo may not have been a good babysitter, being hard in his exterior as a young man, but when he heard one of Copia's little pets (pests) had bitten him and sent the boy crying down the hall bleeding, it was everything in him not to immediately rush into Copia's room and snatch up the wretched animal himself and dispatch it to feed to his pet snake... yet even as Copia looked in Secondos eyes, the boy asked a difficult question that gave him pause...

"Secondo... do, do rats go to heaven?"

The silence felt worse now that the little animals body was being taken to the next room to the vet to be given the final shot to the heart that would make it stop forever.

"I don't know... I don't know if animals go to heaven when they die"

"Oh." Copia said softly. His little leather shoes kicked gently as he was too short to touch the floor on the bench. Knowing he may have to be ready to say goodbye to his pet, he wanted to make sure he looked proper to go to the vet. To appear a responsible pet owner. Afraid of unsolicited advice and rebukes of the grown-ups he was used to. Though one deep glare from Secundo at the check in counter shut that down quickly. He stood like a giant guard dog to the boy who's nose barely peaked over the high reception desk as he reached his little gloved hands to set the cage up, "like a big boy should".

Secundo felt it was important for the boy to face this experience head-on... the first death of many the boy would ever face in his life, though Secondo prayed a person was not next. It was better for him to chauffeur the kid who asked hard questions he didn't even want to know the answers to himself. And so, while he 'voluntold', he rather do it than not.

Primo was always busy either tending his dark flock or his garden. Terzo, as usual, off somewhere or getting into trouble. Secundo wanted nothing more than to be left to his sciences and devices, his books, his charcoals, his poetry writing. His his quiet hermit like behavior earned him a reputation of "being available" for errands like this. He was sure he'd have to grab a shovel later to make a tiny grave somewhere...

Yet even as he tilted Copia's chin up to him, he realized the words leaving his mouth came from somewhere deeper than his usual portrayed indifference. It came from that secret place people didn't often see, "Bambino, it is ok to be sad about it. It is OK to grieve. Grief is what happens when love has nowhere to go; it is the perseverance of love, and you have so much of it to give. You are good to be kind merciful to a creature like, that." he said tensely, trying not to be a total dick. The kid looked skeptical and looked at Secondo up and down. Copia was young, but he knew when adults were just saying things, they didn't mean to make themselves feel better. Secondo could see he wasn't quite reaching the boy. He sighed.

*What would Primo say...*

Primo, ever patient and wise seemed to almost always know what to say, and his sentiments echoed in his mind at that moment. The eldest brother's words, Secondos only older brother, touched Secondo's heart then, "Kindness , compasison, love for even the most humble of the earth's creatures. Now that, that, is a good seed. That is the seed to water." Primo had said, with a hint of admiration. It eas when Copia decided to keep Pirate in a cozy cage instead of in the wilds of The Ministry gardens.

It was because Copia felt guilty; if the poor creature found itself in a trap or something else's meal, or a victim of the elements, it would be an end undeserving, as Copia's lack pf attention and resulting blindness on the rat's part. would have been the reason for it. Pirate lost an eye while in Copia's care and it wasn't noticed until it was too late because Copia could barely get close enough to that damn cage, for the vermin to come charging like a little deamon hell bent on drawing blood.

But fuck. The kid loved the mean little bastard. And Secundo wanted to listen to his own big brother about how to handle this situation. The way he hoped the boy might listen to what he had to say.

"Carry that love in your heart where that loss lived. It won't replace anything, but it will keep your heart full. Even if only for yourself, you can't pour from an empty glass, si?"

Copia looked down at his empty lap where his hands twitched nervously. Like he was stimming. The boy was skittish and hid his hands under his thighs, and Secondo realized he had only just noticed it.

He set his other hand on the boys shoulder, turning from the bench on his toes to kneel in front of the seated little deacon, to get on his level and make this moment stuck. He felt it surging from his consciousness, and it tasted like an ill omen, as much as it tasted like a blessing.

"Love transcends death, and time. You will never walk alone."

There was a momentary pause where Copis chewed his lip anxiously.

"Like, like ghosts? Do you beleive in ghosts?" Copia asked, his eyes pleading, his lashes wet with tears.

Secundos face softend, the sympathy in his face making the skull makeup intense and saddened. "No, not like ghosts, because wll ghosts, they can be anything. Allot of times they're just wishes. Energy we name to be of comfort -" but he knew that wasn't what the boy wanted to hear. He knew the boy wasn't ready for such a hard truth.

It was a truth that made Secondo tired and broken, angry, enraged even, having lost his best friend, Rafaél, last summer...Somone he loved dearly. Somone he truly missed. Somone who one day it seemed snapped and couldn't hold on long enough to see his 21st birthday. The pain of such a tragic loss had made Secondo cold and recluse. He had shut out the world where he could, looking for a reason his best friend did something so awful. It had killed anything left of the child inside, leaving only a stoic young man in its place, with much fewer friends and dreams to believe in...

*Let him dream a little longer. Let the kid hold that innocence a little longer. Even if it only is ever pretend...*

Secondo thought, and then took a deep breath, unlocked his jaw, and softened the furrow in his forhead, letting his own tears wet his eyes as he restarted, "Maybe Pirate will come back a ghost, maybe he won't. Who knows. Anything is possible here, " he said almost to himself as he saw himself reflected in copias watery eyes, "I hope he comes back,"

*He did. He had looked everywhere for an answer, a way to bring Rafael back to him and have him in his arms again... and nothing... nothing but heartache and frustration, disappointment and anger, had come of it*

And now his lip trembled as he spoke, "It would be nice if he did, hmm? Maybe he will walk by and brush your hand, maybe feel a warm touch once more when you reach out to pet him, even if he is gone..." he choked up, his voice wavering as it pitched higher, trying to squeeze the sob in his throat painfully down.

All was quiet. Only the sounds of the animals in the back kennels muffled through the small crack in the door, and the tiny thump of the hands on the clock hanging near.

Then, Copia, a touch deprived child trying to make sense of the world and the way it turned, his face solemn with a wisdom beyond his years, for indeed, he was beyond his years. He regarded Secondo kneeling in front of him, stood up, and at once threw his arms around Secundos neck, hugging him tightly, patting his back softly even as he hitched back his own little sob.

Secondo, for a moment, gasped and felt stunned. Then quick as the shock hit him, it left him and he matched the intensity of the boys embrace...He held Copia in his arms, with a look of feirce determination but to no avail. Quickly they had their faces in each other's shoulders as they cried, Copia's little breath warm and his tears streaming. Secondo knelt before him, clutching the boy like a life-line in a storm, trying to hold fast.

*Secondo knew it, he that they were brothers. The other brothers knew, but not the kid. He couldn't know, and Secondo resented it even more, since it meant he was often being ripped from his brooding solitude and made to take the boy everywhere he had to go. He rebeled, often ditching the kid half the time to smoke or drink with his friends and neglect him, acting like a jerk. Nowadays he seemed to bare his teeth at the world and its gods out of spite, and even the boy wasn't safe from his outbursts and harsh words.

*None of the family or Ghoule were allowed to speak of it, it was especially forbidden to let Copia know that the rumors were true, that he was an Emeritus; He was one of the "stronzino brothers", lauded and feared because of the dickhead they shared blood in common with, Nihil. Copia was the old man's Bastard son... A Prime Mover...*

But Copia was only a boy, wanting to belong. To have a family. He was undeserving of the ill treatment he got for being different, being sneered at and bullied, for being neglected and ignored rarely if ever hugged. He was a sweet boy and deserved to go to heaven with his little rat. A rat so vile it deserved time in the pit.

But the kid was better than him. Copia had nursed the thing to health as best he could, giving the wretched thing every chance to prove himself worthy of the boy's love... Copia at least had hope left. He had compassion and so much of it. The fact that the young boy showed mercy to such a mal-adapted creature that was so angry and fearful that it attacked anything and anyone that came near...was a blessing in the open for him in this moment of shared comfort in one another's grief.

*Secondo felt an overwhelming sense of love and protectiveness as Copia threw his arms around his neck. He knew the young boy had been touch deprived, a product of his circumstances and the way his life had played out to this point, and yet, even in his young age, he had wisdom beyond his years. Wisdpme to be the moste beautiful thing in the darkest of moments... his little sunshine, who could take a sad song and make it better...*

*As Copia's breath shuddered, Secondo held him tighter, feeling the weight of the boy's affection and all the years of loneliness and isolation rest on his shoulder. As he knelt before Copia, he finally saw it...the depth of the boy's love.*

*Secondo was struck by the realization that Copia had known all along. He didn't know how or when, but Copia had understood. It was undeniable in the way the boy looked at him, the way he leaned into his embrace. Little Copia loved Secondo, and they had hardly if ever touched, yet that precious boy, had all along loved him... *

Copia sobbed with Secondo, and even as Secondo's crying subsided,and Copia's too, even when he caught his breath, he wouldn't let go of that little warm kid that he was holding, kissing his hair whispering words of comfort and sympathy, holding him the way he wished somebody had held him when Rafael left this world to be free... yet he knew Rafael had loved him, and Secondo's love for him had been real too...

And Rafael wouldn't want him trapped in a cage, protecting his broken heart away from somone who needed his love now more than ever. He had to do it...

* He had to let love in. He had to fill that emptiness laying on the cold planes of his heart.*

Secondo prayed harder than he ever had before. He prayed in hisbheart as he held Copia and kissed the tears from his sweet face, comforting and crying with him, finnally being there for him...

Secondo had vowed he would never leave his littlest brother behind ever again, a promise he would make when in time Secondo would be blooded a Child of the Night; Such a transformation for life eternal came with a price; it came with certain features that made him beg from deep within that empty Rafael shaped hole in his heart, where a Copia sized loved was filling it to the brim even if he didn't deserve it, "Please, darkness, my old friend.. please," Secondo prayed through gritted teeth as he rocked Copia softly, holding the sniffling, hiccuping child in his strong arms, "Please..." he kissed Copias head once more. He whispered as he buried his words with a kiss , like a blessing into his baby brother's heart, "I don't want my fangs too long..."

[littleclownopinions]

The Haunting Perfection of Ballora

Slight Content warning: Mentions of child murder

With Five Nights at Freddy's: Help Wanted 2 releasing sometime next month, we will be seeing the return of everybody's favourite ballerina, so I thought this would be a good time to start talking about her again. Now, as much as I hope this will mean the inclusion of some much needed lore for our girl, this is not what I wish to solely focus on today. Although we will touch on the topic, I'd mostly like to talk about Ballora's overall design and how she left such an impact on me in the short amount of time we had with her.

Ballora is arguably the single most humanoid animatronic in the game's canon. While Circus Baby is obviously human-like, Ballora is especially human because of her proportions. Her figure, her hands and her facial structure all really bring her to life. Now, here is where I will briefly interject to mention the "who/why" of it all because I think regardless of how little we know about Ballora, these questions play an important part in understanding her human appearance. Circus Baby is the only other humanoid animatronic we have in the game, but we know her place. Being modelled after and later killing William Afton's daughter, Elizabeth, she is an important character to the story and lore. So then, who is Ballora and why is she so human? Well, although I don't have any definitive answers, many have speculated that Ballora is, in some way, connected to/representative of Mrs. Afton. As a result, it's become difficult for me personally to separate her from the image of a motherly figure, which I think adds some layers to her creep-factor. I mean, a mother is supposed to keep children safe, right? ...Right?

Now, in Sister Location we get the following blue prints.

Points B and C are pretty self explanatory. Ballora can stabilise herself and alert herself to any objects that may cause a collision to prevent accidents. However, points A and B are a little trickier to discern any actual meaning from at first glance. For a full run down of all the Sister Location blueprints as well as theories on how the animatronics work together to fulfil their 'purposes', I'll refer you to this post by an unfortunately deleted user. The important takeaway is as follows: Ballora is all about audio. She can sing, play music and she herself can even hear. However, she doesn't use these features for killing, at least not primarily. She, like Funtime Foxy, is more of a lure for kids and adults alike, to gather them away from Circus Baby and/or Funtime Freddy as they are the designated killers. She uses her voice and her music related functions as bait to aid them. I highly recommend checking out the post if you get the chance.

Moving on, I wanna talk about Five Nights at Freddy's AR: Special Delivery. Scott Cawthon said on a steam post in 2016 "I would imagine that she actually glides on a track most of the time, but after leaving the track she uses all four limbs to crawl more like a spider." This is exactly what we see in Special Delivery. Ballora is one of the only animatronics to crawl at the player, rather than the usual walk/run. As Scott mentioned, it gives her a spider-like quality that I think contrasts her elegance in a super neat way. She becomes this really unsettling, distressing creature, rather than the dainty and beautiful ballerina we came to know in Sister Location. We also see in both games the long, sharp teeth that fill out her mouth under her face plates which I think add to what I mentioned above. Here's a lovely image of what her crawl looks like for any previously lucky readers than might have never seen it before. :)

I think Ballora is a really intriguing character to talk about. On one hand I do think there's a point to be made about her having some connection to the Afton family. Afterall, the other Funtime Animatronics are pink, the colour most associated with ballerinas. So, why was Ballora given a purple and blue colour palate instead? She was also built around the same time as Circus Baby, a character that was modelled after the likeness of a specific someone, so, surely she, being so humanoid, must have been modelled after someone too? Don't even get me started on her song. The amount of ways you can interpret the first 4 lines alone is something I think we all still struggle with. That said, I do understand people not buying into the theory. There hasn't been much tangible evidence to properly give the theory legs, none of what I've said can sustain it alone.

Regardless of where you stand with her in terms of the lore, I still love Ballora's design and overall aesthetic. The sad ballerina left dancing through the halls of an empty gallery, struggling to find her place in the story or the world she was born into. She has a melancholy about her but, as we see in Special Delivery, she also has this animalistic nature that makes her incredibly nerve-wracking to come face-to-face with. Overall, I think Ballora has a bone chilling design and I hope we see a lot more of her in Help Wanted 2. I don't think she was given the time of day to truly shine and reach her potential, but here's to the future of FNAF, I cant wait to see what it has in store!

[fl3shm4id3n]

ₜₕₑ ₙₑw Gₐₘₑ

𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫, 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫. 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐰𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫'𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐞. 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐢𝐚 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲'𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐟 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞, 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝. 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐌𝐢𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐮𝐤 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬.

ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴜʟʟʏ'ꜱ x ꜰᴇᴍ! ʙɪᴍʙᴏ! ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ꜰᴇᴍ! ʙɪᴍʙᴏ! ᴏᴄ (ᴘʟᴀᴛᴏɴɪᴄ), ᴀᴏ'ɴᴜɴɢ x ꜰᴇᴍ! ʙɪᴍʙᴏ! ᴏᴄ

Tw: battle royal stuff, bullying, fighting, Mia beating Ao'nung's ass,

A/N: Based on the idea that a lovely Anon gave me. I also think about these ask. I kind of based Mia and Ao'nung fight after Maddy and Cassie's fight.

Masterlist

Life was good, you and Mia were living with the humans on Pandora and the Sully's. You had nothing to really worry about, you were living peacefully, not only that but you and Mia had your avatar's, the prices from last year's game. It felt strange being in a different body, it was also cool.

Even in your avatars, you and Mia still looked like yourselves. You both had manage to find hair bleach and you used it, you avoided the queue because Norm had told you and Mia that it was very sensitive. You both have thought about mating with one another since you were both besties, but you didn't. Even as avatars you still used the clothes that you used during the game, it fit small, but perfect. Everyone knew that it was you and Mia, what other na'vi or avatar has blonde strands of hair or bright makeup.

Just like Jake, you and Mia did the whole rite to passage to be part of the people. Mia was terrified of the direhorse, the whole time she had been freaking out when learning how to ride the creature, but she got the hang of it. When it came to the ikran, you and Mia were excited. You had already been thinking of names and how to dress them.

Mia went first, she was ready to get herself an ikran. Even more ready when she found out about that it might kill her. Then an ikran had hissed at her, the creature was a lilac purple color with a hot pink chin and red markings. The creature had picked her. Mia had a hard time trying to bond with the creature, instead of freaking out, she seemed to be having fun. Then she manage to tame the creature and went on a flight to seal the bond.

You couldn't wait any longer, you got even more hyped. As yo got near the ikran, non had seemed to want to attack you at first, but then one spotted you approaching. It was a baby pink with a hot pink chin and dark red markings. She was the one. Just like Mia, it was a struggle, but you manage to bond with your now ikran and went on a flight. You and Mia celebrated mid air that you both had got your ikran at the same time. Naming them was hard, you couldn't really decide on what to name them. You had finally named them after yours and Mia's favorite Sanrio characters. Mia named hers Kuromi and your My Melody.

That was cut short when the Sully's had to leave, apparently the RDA was after Jake and they had targeted the whole family. You and Mia didn't have to go since you weren't involved, but you both went with them. It was kind of difficult since you and Mia were still human with Avatar's. Something was settled, you and Mia would go with the Sully's with the Metkayina in your avatars so that they didn't have a hard time being accepted in the clan.

When you all arrived, it felt awkward, eveyone's eyes were all of you, mostly you and Mia. Probably due to the fact that they have ever seen na'vi with a bit of blonde hair. Mia couldn't stop looking at the at some boy with his hair up, she basically had her jaw hitting the floor when looking at him. That was cut short when the Tsahik showed up, she did not seem happy that you were all here.

Ronal commented about having thin arms, small tails, and not only that, but pointing out how Kiri and Lo'ak weren't true na'vi. Then she turned to you and Mia, also pointing out how you both weren't real na'vi, she wasn't wrong. Then Ronal touched Mia's hair, you saw how she held herself back from swatting and yelling at the Tsahik to not touch her hair. She pointed out how you both looked 'abnormal'. Luckily you were all allowed to stay with the condition that you learn to adapt.

You got introduced to Ao'nung and Tsireya who would be the ones teaching the Sully kids as well as you guys. Tsireya was kind enough to show you all around the village and take you to your now new home. The whole time Mia had been eyeing Ao'nung, she couldn't help but stare at him, until you arrived at the Marui. You all could tell how Neytiri was still not happy about having to leave here home and not only that but how she nearly threw hands with the Tsahik. Mia then told you about how she found Ao'nung cute and had planned to shoot her shot with him, that was cut short due to Jake having to speak to all the family. He explained that you all had to be on your best behavior and not cause any trouble.

The next morning was when lessons were going to start. You basically had to drag Mia out of the Marui before she put any makeup on and do her hair, she'll mess it up anyway. When everyone was out in the water, they waited for you and Mia to join in, but Mia was trying to look for an excuse not to going, but you decided to push her in the water. She was mad at first but let it go. It was difficult keeping up with the Metkayina kids sine they were fast and knew everything about the ocean since they lived around it.

After swimming around for a while, Tsireya and Rotxo taught you all how to breath longer underwater. Mia was kind of sad when she saw how Ao'nung wasn't with them for that lessons, but was when you were all learning how to bond with the ilus. The whole time Mia had been standing close to Ao'nung and his friends, she wasn't really paying attention on what they were talking about, she only had her attention on the chief's son. You saw how her tail basically wagged and her eyes sparkled just by the sight of him. You were the one to notice out of everyone since you how Mia would behave around a boy she was interested in.

Later you, Mia and Kiri were looking around the beach together. Kiri was really amazed by the beach since she has never seen near an ocean in her life. You and Mia had told her about the beaches on earth, but you could never swim in the contaminated ocean. While you were all sticking your heads in the water to look at the light colored sand. That was cut short when Ao'nung and his friends approached. "They're just looking at the sand." He pointed at you all, then Mia stuck her head out first, followed by Kiri and You.

"Did you say something?" Mia asked him, this caught the attention of both you and Kiri. "Are you all some kinds of... freaks?" he asked rudely. You all didn't answer, but got up from the floor. "He asked if you a freak." Koro chimed in. Then Kiri responded for all of you. "No" then you were all beginning to walk away from them, but they weren't done. "You guys aren't even true na'vi, just look at this hands." Ao'nung got a hold of Mia's wrist, but before she could do anything Lo'ak had appeared from nowhere. "Hey! Back off fishlips!" he referred to Ao'nung who let go of Mia's wrist.

"Awe, another four fingered freak" he laughed as he back away from Lo'ak who got close to his face. The group continued to pester you all, Kiri had yelled out to leave you guys alone, but then Neteyam showed up and everything went quiet. He had warned Ao'nung and his friends to leave you guys alone and to start respecting you, Kiri and Mia. Ao'nung had back off a bit, as you were all living he made a comment on how you were all freaks.

Mia was the first one to stop, then looked back at the group. She then gave you a look, you knew full well what that meant. She went over to Ao'nug and his group. She came face to face with Ao'nung. You couldn't hear what she was saying, but you saw how Mia was showing Ao'nung a your 'trick', you knew full well what was about to happen, she'd use that trick on Mizuchi once. Then you all watched how Mia had not once but punched Ao'nung three times making him fall backwards.

"That's a punch bitch!" she yelled, stomping over to where Ao'nung was, his friends back away from her a bit. You all watched how Mia grabbed Ao'nung by the head and had a grip on his queue, making him cry out in pain. Mia began to yell at him, not in English or na'vi but in Japanese, the Sully kids watched as Mia continued to yell at Ao'nung, not understanding her at all, but you did. She was cussing up a storm, she even said profanities you didn't know she knew. Not only that but she began to pull him to stand up by his queue and held him tightly like a rag doll. Then his friends tried to get Mia to let go of Ao'nung, but as soon as they touched her.

Lo'ak had jumped into action, now a fight began to unfold. You watched as Mia continued to yell at Ao'nung and was now slapping him around the face hard. He tried to get away from her by running in a different direction, but Mia got a hold of him from behind and attempted to choke him. Lo'ak continued to fight the other kids. You, Kiri and Neteyam watched, until Neteyam also decided to join in. You and Kiri just watched, Kiri commented on how stupid this was. You were laughing the whole time, seen Mia beat her crush's ass, then Kiri also began to laugh due to the yelling.

Now Mia, Lo'ak and Neteyam were being dragged to the marui by Jake. They all had bruises in the face and around the body, Mia was limping a bit due to a bruise on her foot, she barely had an scratches on her face, but her knuckles were bruised. "What was the one thing I told you all" Jake yelled. "Not get into trouble." Lo'ak said, Mia was looking at her now red knuckles and broken nail. "Sir, It was my fault I-" Neteyam tried to take the blame but Jake wasn't having it.

"It was my fault, I started it, If you want to be mad at someone be mad at me" Mia said, Jake then looked at her, seen her red knuckles and injured foot. "They were picking on me, y/n and Kiri. My anger got the best of me, I'm sorry Jake" she said in her defense. Jake just sighed. "Go apologize, I don't care how just go make peace." Mia sigh an rolled her eyes, going to apologize to Ao'nung.

Now it was just Jake, Neteyam and Lo'ak. Their father just sigh. "How did the others look like?" he asked, Neteyam responded. "Worse." He said, then Jake nodded. "That's good." Then Lo'sk chimed in. "Not only that but Ao'nung got beat up by a girl, out of all girls Mia" Lo'ak said chuckling along with Neteyam. "Alright, get out of here." Jake instructed his son and both of them left the Marui.

ₙₑₓₜ ₚₐᵣₜ

[nihilaraarchived]

HSR VOICE LINES: KURO & MIMI. once an emanator of yaoshi, kuro is a shell of his former self. skirting along the cosmos with his companion mimi, one of the hyper intelligent and near extinct species of cat - like creatures, known as the felista.

kuro is classified as the hunt, and does imaginary damage.

kuro is blue and mimi is pink

FIRST MEETING:  name's kuro nice to meet you. i uh... don't really do very much. worth noting that is.   nonsense. kuro you'd do well to be more cat - like sometimes. take pride in the fact you do very little of late.

GREETING:  sup, you need... help with something? mimi and i can handle it.   prrrrp!

PARTING:  *kuro & mimi yawn* we done? if so im gonna go lay down for a bit.

ABOUT SELF, APPEARANCE:   what...? do i look that bad?   your shirt is undone, and your hair is unbrushed.  ohh... oops. i tend to forget sometimes, not that it matters. i'm not trying to look nice for anyone in particular so...

ABOUT SELF, MIMI:   mimi? she's my best friend.  i thought she was a run of the mill cat for the longest time. turns out she's the last of her species. we've both kind of saved eachother, isn't that right?   couldn't of put it better myself, kuro. we're both a bit out of place. but i am truly grateful to have you with me in these difficult times.

CHAT, YAOSHI:   th-the aeon of abundance...? i know about as much as anyone else does. what... did you think my being an emanator before... helped me understand them? i really don't. they wish to rid the world of suffering, and death.  but even the best medicine can become poison, when applied too liberally. 

CHAT, XIANZHOU:   my history with the xian/zhou people... is complicated. i feel guilty for what i've done, and wish something could be done about their circumstances--  but it was their ancestors that asked for immortality. and yaoshi gave it to them.   well said, kuro. be sure to remember, you cannot change the past. but you do not need to let it ruin your future.

CHAT, IPC:   mrrow!! a dreadful corperation! invasive, manipulative, greedy! they took my home for resources, and believed us worth nothing more than common cats. tsk!    yeah. i'm pretty bias on this... but big companies like that. trying to get their hands in everything. i'm with mimi on this. 

HOBBIES:   uhhh...  does sleeping count?   again, credit where it is due, kuro. he is a wonderful cook, he seems at his happiest when making meals for others, mya!    but i love sleeping too...

ANNOYANCES:   immortality is, and will always be, a curse. what's the point of life, if there is no end?   mrr...?

SOMETHING TO SHARE:  you can tell a lot about a cat's mood, and what they're feeling by their tails. they're incredibly honest animals, if you know how to read them.   prrr...

KNOWLEDGE:  yaoshi's goal isn't inherently bad. see, the aeons don't care about good and evil, they don't care about us. their only desire is to perpetuate whatever concept, or ideal they embody. no matter who, or what it hurts. 

ABOUT JING YUAN:  best if our paths never crossed again. though knowing my luck, it's bound to happen.   i just hope he's had a bit of time to cool off after your dashing escape, nyehehe!

ABOUT BLADE:  i can't be mad about the animosity he has towards me. thankfully though he's courteous enough to not try anything when mimi's in the way.   hmph.

ABOUT DR. RATIO:  i've seen him and mimi having conversations before. i really don't bother listening in or interrupting, they look like they're enjoying themselves.   i care for you deeply kuro, but sometimes i am in need of more...  stimulating conversation.

ABOUT ARGENTI:  i can say with confidence that argenti is a friend. we've crossed paths more than once. he's odd, eccentric... but he's a good person.   and he spoils me rotten, nya~  he's selfless, beautiful, and chivelrous. you could learn a thing or two from your friend, kuro.  

ABOUT BOOTHILL:   revenge? against the IPC? an admirable goal, prrr.  it will not be easy, their influence is vast, and the things they're willing to do for their own advantage? truly wishing him the best with his mission.   yeah, what she said.

EIDOLON ACTIVATION:  ohh that's neat.

CHARACTER ACENSION:  excellent work kuro, keep it up.

MAX LEVEL:  so can i go take a nap now?

TRACE ACTIVATION:  phew, looking pretty good...

ADDED TO THE TEAM WITH JING YUAN:  no hard feelings about my escape, right? ah? ... oh...  

ADDED TO THE TEAM WITH RATIO:  you can also talk to me, i hope you know that.  afraid i might run away?

ADDED TO THE TEAM WITH ARGENTI:  good to see you again, argenti. and in one piece no less.

ADDED TO THE TEAM WITH BOOTHILL:  all you really need is a horse huh...

bonus

ABOUT KEVAH:  mimi really likes him, so i like him too. i was... admittedly very surprised to see so many sketches of myself in his book. it's kind of flattering. am i that nice to look at?   prrp...

ABOUT SUNDAY:  is it insulting so say he reminds me of myself in some way? i don't want to say too much. but i can't help pity him, and the situation he's in.   the entirety of the dream hotel seems to be in a bad way. hmph.

I WILL ADD MORE AS I PLOT WITH FOLKS. THIS IS UNFINISHED!

[tieflingtareon]

My love, are you the devil? (Oh, call me a devil)

Chapter 36 | Words: 4.7k

Summary: Astarion found himself often surprised by his heroic companion. He had one goal. To become the favoured companion of the group, to earn the Tieflings loyalty, to make Tar'eons strength his own. Yet Tar'eon isn't like the usual target of his manipulations. Despite his naivety, he does not seem gullible. There is something very wrong with their 'leader' to begin with. Astarion isn't sure if he wants to control it or eradicate the threat it posed. But can he really do either when Tar'eon himself seems so...unwaveringly kind?

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/50668558/chapters/127995079

When Astarion asked to shack up in a place with a proper bed, Tar'eon didn't hesitate to fork over the gold for the upper floor above. He popped back to camp and tell everyone to pack up and haul themselves over, leaving Karlach and Astarion to pick their own beds, right next to each other.

Astarion felt...strange, honestly. Like he was waiting for something, but didn't know what. He sunk into the hot water of his fresh bath, the scent of rosemary oil so intense it drowned out the blood on his skin. It felt impossible good, sinking into scalding water and allowing it to envelop his body. He cupped the water in his hands and pressed the puddle he caught in his palms to his face, watching the pink droplets and rivets connect and disappear into the glistening surface.

He tipped his head back against the edge of the tub and closed his eyes, desiring to let everything fall away. He wanted to empty his mind, but it was difficult. It was all over. Cazador was gone.

He still felt restless. His skin felt tight, and it wasn't just the heat that was making his pale skin turn pink. He took a deep breath, mildly suffocated by the steam filling the room. He almost missed the forest, the streaming rivers. He sunk beneath the surface, running his fingers through his perfectly styled hair and stripping it of wax. He knew undone, it looked uneven and messy, but he felt the very same.

He broke the surface with a soft exhale, opening his eyes slowly to gaze at the still water surrounding him. He curled his knees up and held them to his chest, resting his chin atop of the bony joint as he stared at the wall, too tired to focus on anything. It was strange. He felt almost...numb yet overwhelmed all at once. Cazador was gone.

He was gone. Forever.

For so long, he had been his. His spawn, his disappointment, his boy...In turn, Cazador had defined his life, who he was. His past, the one he could remember at least, was marred with Cazador's influence, tainting every part of it, and even now, finally dead and gone...It didn't change all the damage he'd done. It didn't negate his influence on him. After two hundred years being ruled by him, he was finally free to take a step towards making himself his own man, and he was frightened at the prospect, yet terribly elated.

The first time he'd broken his rules, he'd felt the same. Drinking from a thinking creature had been exhilarating yet he had feared Cazador's wrath when he came back to himself. It hadn't stopped him. Recklessly abandoning Cazador's orders gave him a thrill like nothing else. He didn't have to fear his anger anymore though. His punishments. Yet something in him was still wound up tight, jittery, waiting.

He had to figure out who he was without him now. He couldn't allow this part of himself to fester, to infect the person he wanted to be and kill it with it's fear of the unknown before it got to blossom. This fragment of him that still feared Cazador, still treated the past as the present, needed to rest. That part that belonged to Cazador, that still lived within that palace, haunted by the shadows, by the hands of lovers who knew no better, needed to die.

He lingered in the tub until the water began to loose it's heat, unable to warm his cold body any longer. He slipped out and dried himself off, opening the pack where he stored his growing abundance of clothing, riffling through it. At the very bottom, he saw a familiar shade of purple and gold, pulling the doublet out with a small smile.

If only for one more night, he'd like to hold his old self, before he let him go for good. Before he allowed him to rest, like he deserved.

It was tighter than he remembered, perhaps because he was finally allowed to fill out a little, to build muscle and strength with the help of near daily feedings. It felt appropriate though. To not have it fit like a glove anymore. This, wasn't him anymore. It would never be again.

He stepped out into the shared space and sat upon his bed, riffling through his things in hopes of finding something to do to distract himself until Tar'eon got back. It felt ridiculous, but he missed him already. Gods, he felt clingy. He was clingy. He couldn't deny that he wanted to bask in his attention and presence near constantly. The man brought him a foreign sense of peace. He'd never been awarded such a luxury before, to bask in another and not feel expectation creep into the corners of his mind.

Jaheria had chosen the room across from him and Karlach, working on healing her leg slowly with magic. Astarion was starting to get sick of the smell, honestly. It was hard to focus with her bleeding on her sheets only a stride away. It was hard to focus on much of anything to begin with.

"Gods, bandage it up like a normal person, would you?" Astarion scoffed, sitting down on the edge of her bed as he pulled out a roll of bandages for her that he'd had tucked in his pack - more for Tar'eon than himself. "I've been very good today, all things considered. I'd rather not slip up because you're bleeding everywhere."

Jaheria chuckled and took the bandages, unravelling them.

"You have been good, child." She relinquished, wrapping the white cloth around her thigh. Astarion scoffed.

"Child? Lady, I'm certain I'm older than you."

"You still act like a child though." Jaheria smirked, amused by Astarion's offence. "You have no yet matured enough for me to call you a man."

"I- Gods, I know I'm forever young, and beautiful I'd like to add, but I assure you I am very much a man." Astarion placed a hand on his chest with an unimpressed look. Jaheria hummed, mulling his words over thoughtfully.

"I suppose you proved yourself today. Though, you will forever be a child to me. I have more wrinkles than you, and have lived a more fulfilling life." She smiled. "Now, you have the chance to become your own man. I only hope you continue to make the right choices, lest I have to upset Tar'eon by adding another vampire head to my collection."

"Gods, please tell me you don't actually have a collection." Astarion grimaced. How vulgar. He would probably appreciate such a thing if it wasn't his kinds neck on the line.

"No. Just a list I keep around to reminisce over." Jaheria was obviously kidding, and it actually made Astarion laugh, delighted to hear the usually serious woman jest. "I'll keep Szarr off my list. You earned that one, fair and square."

"Oh, how kind of you." Astarion chuckled as they lapsed in silence, the druid focused on pinning her bandages in place. "...You're a half-elf, right?"

"Indeed I am. Why do you ask?"

"I...Cazador never spoke to me in elvish while I was with him. I've lost that part of myself, and I...I want it back." He admitted. "I don't want to be some spawn, or vampiric threat, I just...I want to reconnect with my heritage, I suppose." He felt so lost. In killing Cazador, he'd uprooted himself for good. His identity was no longer linked to him. It was entirely his own now, and he wondered what he needed to have back, and what he needed to discard in becoming Astar. The better man Tar'eon claimed he already was. The person he entrusted his faith and belief to, knowing he'd make the right choice. That he was capable of it.

Tar'eon may think Astarion always had the potential to be better, but he knew better. It wasn't some desire to be some do-gooder than lead him on this path. It wasn't heroism that changed him, or even an empathy he'd always had buried deep down that drove him to free his siblings, his victims.

It was love. In being loved, in loving in return, he had been changed fundamentally. Given the chance to be truly free. If Tar'eon had still been his old self when they met, if he had still fallen deeply into Bhaal's son, he would have reflected his wicked and cruel ways like a mirror with no remorse. Sunk even further into the mask that covered all his insecurities, his weaknesses, never daring to show his true self. He would have accepted the power of the ritual with no hesitation, allowed himself to be completely blinded and consumed by it the same way Cazador had. It was only because he fell for the Tar'eon of now, because he was loved by someone as bright as the sun, that he wanted to burn brighter, to be better.

Tar'eon dug up parts of him he hadn't even realised he lost and gave them back to him without asking for anything in return. He'd been patient, and kind, and understanding even when he was the worst version of himself. He had looked into the darkest pits of his soul, seen the scars, the horrors and the ugliness within its depths, and still thought it beautiful, him beautiful, and worthy of endless love and devotion like no other.

There was no other with a heart like him. And he had the honour, the terrifying honour, of holding it in his hands. He never wanted to lose it, but there was still a deep seated fear of breaking it if he held too tightly. All the same, he was petrified of having his own shattered beyond repaired after Tar'eon finally managed to patch it back together.

Tar'eon trusted him though. Named him his heart. He wanted to put his trust in him in return to be gentle with the fragile parts of him. He had proven time and time again that he would be.

"Are you asking me to...teach you?" Jaheria frowned slightly.

"I- I suppose? I could ask Isobel, or even Shadowheart, Hells, even Halsin, but you seem more...wise?"

"Old. I seem old." Jaheria corrected, but she didn't seem annoyed by the statement of her age. Her age did not define her like some let themselves be, for sake of vanity.

"Well...yes." Astarion pursed his lips. "Look, can you help or not?"

"Well, I can't not help." Jaheria shrugged one shoulder. "I don't know if I'm particularly good as teaching things outside of combat or strategy, or code words but...I can try. How much do you remember?"

"Honestly...very little." Astarion actually felt embarrassed at how little he knew. "There are some words that are...familiar, but I don't know there meanings anymore. Like...Ursplindaar."

"...Library?" Jaheria furrowed her brows.

"Is that what that means? Gods, I thought it more climatic than that." Astarion gave a little giggle. "Oh, I am curious, I...There's this word that - rattles around my skull sometimes." He gestured to his head with another nervous laugh. "It feels...important, but I'm not sure why."

"Well, spit it out. Perhaps it is important." Jaheria gestured for him to hit her with it and he cleared his throat, sitting taller.

"Thiraminitae...What does that mean exactly?"

"You-" Jaheria actually looked surprised before her lips curled into a small smile. "When do you think of this word most?"

"Ah, well...often times when I'm..." He gestured vaguely, ears feeling strangely hot. Why was he so embarrassed to admit the word was linked to Tar'eon? Jaheria had to know that they were something. More than something. "With...him."

Jaheria chuckled and stretched her leg out on the bed with a sparkle in her eye.

"It's very special, to have a thiraminitae. I had one once. They never really leave though, even when they die."

"Oh...I see. My- my condolences." He wasn't sure how to respond to that. He was starting to get the picture of the words meaning, even if she hadn't said directly what it was.

"It was a long time ago. He will always be in my heart. That is the...painful part about living so long, as a warrior." She admitted. "The lovers you take may die swiftly, but the love you have for them never goes so kindly."

"You speak from experience."

"Too much experience." Jaheria admitted and sat upright to look at Astarion properly. "I have loved few, Astarion, but loved intensely. I feel you are...similar in that vein. You are not whimsical in your affections. Tar'eon is not either. I'd say you are very in line with your heritage, to call him by such a title on instinct."

"And what exactly am I calling him?" Astarion leaned back on his palms so he wouldn't fidget, tilting his head at her.

"Something like a...soulmate. A one and only. Elves live a long life, but they typically only take one love in a life time. There are exceptions, and the tradition of it tends to die out once they leave their homelands. Plenty of half-elves around. That does not stop some of us from following our ancestors ways though, unknowingly."

"Have you only...ever loved the one?" Astarion picked at his nails, shy suddenly as he looked down. Jaheria sighed, looking like she was trying to formulate the right response to such a loaded question.

"I...Yes, and no. I loved my husband more than anything. I consider him my one and only. But I felt affection for others. Care. Even love. But nothing like Khalid." She smiled softly at just the memory of him. "He was my opposite, but it worked. He was gentle, and I liked that, even if his company were goodie-two-shoes. I know I am a High Harper, but I wouldn't call myself a...good person." She chuckled. "I like to play on the fence of morality. Whatever gets the job done."

"That we can agree on." Astarion huffed out a laugh before growing sombre. "You know, I...I could have done it. The ritual. It was selfish, but...it offered me everything I ever wanted. Power, security, freedom and...and him. Forever."

"It would have changed you. True vampires have no souls, Astarion. Whatever love you have for him, it would have become twisted. You would have hurt him, and eventually, he would have let you destroy him, or left you. More likely the former than the latter, from what I've seen."

"I know. I know, and I gave it all up, for him. Well, no, for me as well, but...I gave it up so I could become someone he could be proud of staying beside." He huffed. "It sounds ridiculous, doesn't it? Giving up all the power for a man I've only know, what, two months? Three?"

"They say peril adventures bring together people for a lifetime. Personally, I don't think you'll be able to shake him. Ever. He loves you with the heartbeat of a thousand men. He worships the ground you walk on as if you were Bhaal himself. Though, perhaps not a good idea to use that metaphor, considering he is his Father." Jaheria chuckled. "You understand what I mean though. It may seem like a short time to you, but compared to you, he has a short life. Do not withhold your love for some arbitrary rule of 'milestones'. You will meet them when you meet them. They may not come in a certain order. You may marry before your first argument that leaves you on the couch." She smiled fondly, remembering her own marriage with a tender heart that ached deeply for what it now lacked each morning when she awoke alone.

"Life is strange, but you have every chance to enjoy it to the fullest now. Well...once the brain is dealt with. After that, you two can run into the sunset together for all I care." Jaheria shrugged.

"Once those tadpoles are gone, I doubt I'll see the sun again for a long time."

"He promised you the sun. I say take it as the vow it was. You'll walk in the sun again one day, my fanged friend." She patted his shoulder and slipped down the sheets to lay back. "Now go. I need my beauty rest."

"A little late for that, don't you think, dear?"

"Do not make me add another name to my list, darling boy." Astarion giggled and stood, hesitating for a moment.

"...Thank you. I think I needed that." Astarion admitted and smiled sadly before he left back to his own section of the floor, laying back on his bed. It had been a nice distraction at least.

He pressed a hand to his chest, trying to find its beat. It usually gained a little bit of life after a meal, but right now, it was the softest thump known to man, sluggish and slow. He felt...tired. Drained. He'd been fighting for so long and now there was nothing for him to fight anymore. No shadows to fear. No Cazador. Just the tadpole, he supposed.

"I know you'd hate to hear me say this, but I'm so fucking proud of you, Astarion." Karlach said from her own bed, sharpening her axe with a whetstone. Astarion rolled his eyes.

"I think I'll just take it as praise to my brilliant self control. But Gods, if you ever say that again, I think I'll barf." Karlach laughed.

"I mean it! You could have had it all, but you chose to keep your soul instead. Wasn't sure you had it in you, but you've really changed. For the better, I mean. Overcoming all that crap, all that darkness...Gods, I could smooch your pointy little face! If I knew Tar'eon wouldn't try to kill me in my sleep." She joked, knowing Tar'eon would never. He expressed a lot of love for Astarion, but she wasn't sure she'd actually ever seen him get jealous before. Protective, sure, but not jealous.

"He wouldn't hurt a hair on your head, darling, he knows I like you far too much."

"Aww, Astarion!" Karlach got off her bed and particularly crashed into him, squeezing him tight as he grunted and squirmed.

"Gods, mind your strength, woman!"

"I knew we were friends, fangs, but I didn't know you actually cared."

"I take it back, I take it back, get off me." Astarion pushed her away as she laughed, crouched beside his bed as she smiled at him.

"I'm glad we're friends, As. I didn't really have any actual friends until I got this sucker in my head." She tapped her temple, alluding to the tadpole squirming about in there. "I'm glad I get to call you one, before I die."

"You're not going to die, darling. You and Shadowheart will find a way to stabilise that engine in your chest in Avernus. I'm sure of it."

"Yeah...I know I promised her I would, but I really don't want to go back. I don't want to die either, but...who's to say what awaits me in Avernus won't be worse than death?"

"You will be fine." Astarion assured. "Now go back to your bed. I'm exhausted, and I want to nap because the rest of them get here." He laid back and closed his eyes, choosing to ignore her pout. She left though, going back to sharpening her axe. The sound of whetstone on metal lulled him into a dreamless trance.

****

Packing everything up at camp can taken awhile, hauling Astarion, Karlach and Jaheria's stuff while Halsin carried the communal chest. Tar'eon probably should have thought it through and told Karlach to come back with him to pack up, but he didn't want Astarion to be alone after all that. He needed a friend close by.

"Let me." Lae'zel offered to Halsin, which Tar'eon noted as slightly strange, only because Halsin could certainly carry the heavy chest all on his own.

"Why, how kind of you, Lae'zel, to offer. How could I refuse?" Halsin smiled and handed the chest over to the githyanki without a fight. Lae'zel didn't respond, seemingly unphased by the weight now pawned off to her, eyes focused on Halsin's back instead. Tar'eon frowned. He supposed Lae'zel being quiet wasn't strange in itself, but her laser focus on Halsin was. Her gaze did not speak of lust or affection for the man like it had only a few days ago. It was cold, calculating. Had the two had a falling out he wasn't aware of?

He groaned as he placed everything down, the pain in his back still lingering. Thankfully, Shadowheart was happy to extend her healing prowess to him, Isobel offering assistance to Jaheria. After a good nights rest, hopefully they'd all feel a lot better.

"Gods, finally! A proper stove and sink!" Gale cried with a relieved laugh. "Yenna, Yenna, come here with the bag." He beckoned her over and Wyll chuckled.

"We won't be having dinner in the tavern?"

"What? No, I have plans for dinner, if you want tavern food, you can go for lunch. Dinner is here." He gestured to himself, taking offence to the very notion that his services would not be needed that evening.

"It's more I was hoping to take you for dinner, but..." Wyll looked away, a small smile on his lips.

"Oh. Oh well - I did have plans for tonight's dinner, but tomorrow is...plan free." Gale cleared his throat like he was blushing school boy and not a once prodigal wizard.

"Tomorrow then." Wyll conceded with shining eyes, pleased.

"Can I come?" Yenna asked and Wyll seemed unsure how to tell her no without hurting her feelings.

"Why don't we cook tomorrow?" Isobel offered with a small smile to the young girl. "After all, everyone else be quite hungry with Gale gone."

"Oh, you're right...I'll take cooking duties tomorrow! I'm quite good, Gale's taught me a lot."

"I like to think in another life, I would have excelled at being a teacher." Gale smirked.

"There's still much time left for you yet. After we save the city, I'm sure there will be schools begging for your wisdom." Wyll chuckled.

"You think?" Gale's eyes twinkled at the idea. "I mean - of course! I'm Gale of Waterdeep, wizard prodigy! I have much wisdom to pass on."

"I'm sure you do." Wyll smiled fondly and swept a loose hair behind his ear. Gale's brows shot up in surprise at the gentle touch before his own fond smile curled onto his lips, looking down before he glanced at Wyll and turned away, ushering Yenna to his side so he could watch closely as she prepared dinner with him.

Tar'eon smiled and turned his gaze towards Astarion's bed where the man was reading. Beside his bed was Karlach's, the tiefling woman being examined by her lady love.

"I'm fine, I swear. I've dealt with much worse in the Blood War, babe."

"I'm sure you have, but you're black and blue, when you're supposed to be red, Karlach. Stay still." Shadowheart rolled her eyes, hands glowing as she smoothed them over the woman's skin.

"Oh, tingles..." Karlach turned her head to look at Shadowheart from over her shoulder, grinning. "Wanna direct that healing touch lower?"

"Only if you want our companions to know how pretty you sound when I'm in charge, hot stuff." Shadowheart smirked and squeezed her bruised shoulder, the tiefling giving a groan.

"Wish we got a private room. How about a date of our own?"

"And skimp out on Gale's lovely dinner?"

"Fine, fine, after dinner...drinks?" Karlach gave a coquettish grin, tipping her head back with shining eyes Shadowheart couldn't say no to.

"Alright. Drinks. You know I can't refuse that." Karlach beamed and kissed the cleric quick, patting her thighs happily as Shadowheart continued her ministrations, rolling her eyes once more with a fond smile.

Tar'eon was glad to see everyone was in a good mood. Coming back to each other at the end of the day felt...good. Homely. He liked it. It was comforting, knowing he could come back to them after a rough day fighting monsters and saving lives.

He slowly came to sit on the edge of Astarion's bed, tilting his head at him. He looked up at him but seemed to hesitate. He looked at the couple across from them and Tar'eon understood. He cleared his throat to gain Shadowheart's attention and made a vague dome shape with his hands. She quirked a brow before understanding and casting a dome of privacy upon them so they could speak without listeners.

Astarion sagged with relief, thankful for the bubble around them as he closed his book, thumbing at the cover. It took him a moment before he spoke.

"I should probably start getting use to the shadows again. Who knows how long I have left in the sun?"

"Regretting your choice?" Tar'eon frowned. He hoped not.

"No, I made the right choice. Although, I do regret the options I had." Astarion picked at nonexistent dirt from beneath his nails. "Maybe never seeing the sun again is...just the price of freedom." He sighed, looking at Tar'eon. He did make the right choice. He knew that. It didn't mean he couldn't be upset though.

"You know, I'll be with you either way." He reached out and slipped his hand into his, linking their fingers. "Dusk or dawn, night or day, I'm there. I hope you know that."

"I think I do." Astarion smiled softly. His words meant a lot to him. "Assuming we survive, of course. Because a horrible death is always just around the corner with you." He rolled his eyes and Tar'eon chuckled, thumbing over his knuckles. He looked him over and noticed he was wearing his old doublet, the one he met him in. He didn't realise he still had it.

"Sick of your new clothes already?" Tar'eon hummed, only teasing as he righted the collar. "I haven't seen you wear this is some time."

"Yes, well...I think it will be the last time." He smoothed his hand down his chest, feeling the velvet and leather, the embroidery he painstakingly repaired himself. It was the last thing he wore before he was kidnapped by the mind flayers. He hadn't had many outfits, but this one had been his favourite. It looked almost regal. He'd worn it for countless victims, repairing it again and again, refusing to let it go.

He died in this outfit, and was then reborn in it too. He crawled out of his coffin wearing this damn thing. This was the last time he'd wear it. He...was putting the past to bed. All of it. Before Cazador, and after Cazador. He was letting whoever he had been before finally rest tonight, along with all the pain and regret.

He had a new life now. He wanted to focus on that. The future. What he had now was so much more than what he ever had before.

"There's...something I'd like to show you, if that's alright? Something out in the city." He glanced up at Tar'eon, voice uncertain but hopeful. The tiefling smiled.

"If you want to sneak off for a cuddle, you can just ask." He joked, and Astarion chuckled.

"I'll try to restrain myself if you do. Shall we?" He stood, not needing to offer his hand when Tar'eons was already in his.

"We shall. But uh, perhaps after I've bathed and eaten?" Tar'eon gave a sheepish smile, standing and kissed his crown. "I promise, once I'm clean and fed, I will happily go anywhere you want. But right now, my stomach is kind of eating itself as we speak, and I'm covered in monster gore and dust."

Astarion laughed and shook his head at Tar'eons ridiculousness. He smiled up at him and nodded softly.

"I'll wait. I've finally learnt to be patient, it seems." Tar'eons wide smile made the world shine brighter, pressing a sweet kiss to his lips before he stepped away, his hand still holding his.

"I won't make you wait long." He promised, finally letting his hand slip free of his before he left to wash up. Astarion's stomach swarmed with nerves, but strangely enough, he wasn't scared. It was a good kind of nervous. He never thought that was possible, to be nervous in a good way. But this felt...right. Everything about them felt right.

Tar'eons heart was already his, and he was finally ready to give all of his in return.

[witchthewriter]

𝐁𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐉𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬' 𝐬/𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞

⤷ female, ambiguous race, and any size reader. Requests are open, thank you for reading!

Warnings: swearing

ᴹᵃˢᵗᵉʳˡᶤˢᵗ

𝑺𝑭𝑾🌿  

・You had seen Keeley on the tv before you ever saw her in person.

・And when you did see her in person, you went up and introduced yourself. Only because you were making yourself do things that were difficult (it was supposed to be character-building or something - an idea from your therapist)

・And talking to a pretty girl was one step toward having more confidence

・But she was absolutely lovely

・And you were left feeling so light and bubbly after the conversation

・But fate somehow had a hand in your relationship because you kept bumping into each other.

"I'm not stalking you, I promise!" You blurted out one morning after entering the coffee shop she was exiting.

But she only laughed.

"I've had stalkers before love, you ain't as good as 'em," she winked and walked off. Leaving you with a very fast beating heart.

・You fantasised about her; daydreaming about how your relationship would be. What your wedding would be like, how many kids you would have, if you would be the bread winner or Keeley

・And then you would be brought back to reality with a yell from your boss

・Your pining lasted a few months, until one of your friends got fed up with your inaction and added her on Instagram

・She accepted, and to your surprise, she dm'ed you first

'we go to the same coffee shop, don't we?'

・You were stunned and didn't think this would happen in a million years. Were you supposed to answer straight away? In 10 minutes? In an hour, oh god a day??

・This was why you were terrible at dating and relationships in general - you never knew what to do

・But Keeley had made you feel so at ease, and you made up your mind. Even if you looked stupid, at least you were being polite

'Yeah, we do! Too bad today they didn't have their croissants :('

・You waited and waited and saw that she had read the message. It took two minutes for the bubbles to form and you were squealing

'I could get you one tomorrow!'

・You nearly threw your phone across the room. FUCK WAS SHE FLIRTING OR JUST BEING NICE?!

'Really?? thank you! What time do you get there?'

・Was this a date? Were you inadvertently creating a date?

・The answer was yes. A big fat fucking yes. Which led to more and more dates.

・And then she asked if you wanted to sleep over at her place and it was the best time of your life. The next morning she made snails out of pancakes and various other creatures. It made you fall in love with her even more.

・There was something about Keeley that made you feel confident and weak in the knees at the same time

・She always loops her arm with yours, nudging you and then holding you close.

・And Keeley always has something to say, so there's never a lull in the conversation

・She's asked you if you'd still love her if she was a worm, and you said yes. And you'd make a little worm house for her, and get her food. And she started crying.

・Who knew a B-level model and D-level celebrity would fall in love with you?

・You honestly never thought Keeley and you would work. Or at least, get this far. Past the point of talking to each other in the coffee shop.

・But you did, and you moved into her place

・She brings you to all the Richmond games (or the important ones, if you don't like sports)

・Roy and Jamie cornered you one afternoon, both had their arms crossed in front of each other.

・But you weren't intimidated in the slightest

"You hurt her, and we'll break your face," Roy grumbled. And Jamie nodded and then looked at his captain with a tad of horror.

"Fair," you said and walked away.

・Would definitely get two ragdoll kittens with pink collars and love heart name tags.

・Her favourite things to do with you are staying up late watching movies - especially romance. She can't help but love them. Especially 'Leap Year' and 'Mamma Mia.'

𝑹𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔

Chaotic Dumbass Duo

Always Hold Grudges (You) x Forgives Too Easily (Keeley)

You Didn't Believe The Other Could Ever Love Them Back But They Do

𝑹𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒕 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆    

You Fell First, But They Fall Harder

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈

Underground by Cody Fry

[katatty]

Recap: Strangetown Round 5 (Summer) - part 1

Strangetown has seen something of a housing boom lately, with new developments springing up all over town to provide places for new graduates to call home. Some would call Strangetown a “boring” place to live but the government-funded ShinyThings Lab makes it a hub for scientists across SimNation. And it’s the safest it’s been in some time - over 6 weeks since the last missing sim report!

The round starts with Nervous and his son Riley. They're quickly joined by Pascal (the baby's father) and Tycho! Pascal worries about Nervous, looking after a baby in this big house all alone...

Nervous ends up quitting his job in the criminal career, since he doesn't really need the money anymore. He's a little uneasy about it, though...

Tycho grows up into a knowledge sim! He’s an genius night owl with the science hobby who likes staying up late watching the stars. Good luck waking him when he sleeps in all morning the next day, he’s a heavy sleeper! He’s also kind of over-emotional, a trait he definitely didn’t pick up from his stoic father.

Constant visits from family and constant childcare have Nervous feeling overwhelmed and agravated - sometimes everything is just too much.

Tycho ages Riley up, and sets about teaching him to talk right away. It will be so nice having a little brother he can actually hold a conversation with!

Tycho gets some lunch with some friends from Pleasantview - Mia Broke and Oliver Goth. They talk all about their haunted houses with dark histories...

That's all - but they were really fun to play! More functional as a household than I was expecting. It’s nice seeing Nervous with a family, even if it’s a bit of an unconventional one.

Next up: the Lola-Curious family.

Ajay and Lola are one of those couples that got together “off screen”. I wasn’t explicitly trying to get them together, but once they were friends ACR took over and they autonomously went steady, so I just decided to merge their households since I felt like it made sense for them (and partially because I find Ajay’s family boring to play on their own, haha.)

School’s out for summer, but the kids have summer homework to catch up on before they can start enjoying their freedom! Ajay and Lola are very strict on this.

Then, quickly, Lola finds she's expecting! It's a bit of a suprise since she and Ajay hadn't really talked about kids, but he's on board.

Testee was initially worried she was going to be "replaced" by a new baby, but Lola is quick to reassure her.

The baby is born and named Esme! She’s got Ajay skintone but inherited her mother’s alien eyes - I think she’s the first sim with that look to be born in my game!

Then, it's Testee's birthday!

Testee grows up into a popularity sim in pretty pink dress. She loves nature, being outdoors, and dreams of someday seeing the ocean and maybe studying marine life, checking out hot sims in swimwear, perhaps even becoming the hand of poseidon? She’s a big fan of the supernatural, too, and very interested in her alien roots (perhaps one of the reasons she feels drawn to creatures of the sea, alien in their own way?)

She’s a little absent-minded and her difficult history can make her over-emotional at times. She likes unemployed sims and is turned off by hard-workers, I’m guessing she’d prefer not to have to compete with work for attention in a partner like she does with Ajay and Lola.

She heads to town for the customary teenage makeover and, when she gets home, has an important chat with Lola about her past.

Another pink-loving alien is next, Stella Terrano and her fiancee, Klara Vonderstien!

They want to open up a coffe shop/bakery together someday, but need more money first! So Stella takes a job in the medical field, while Klara picks up a job in journalism.

They also pick up a kitten named Saturn!

Klara, though, has worries. Not long ago, she had a spontanious drunken hookup with her longtime crush, Blossom Moonbeam. She knows she needs to be truthful about it if she wants their marriage to work...

But Stella takes it better than expected! She does request a "free pass" in future though, in the interests of fairness... we'll see how that works out for them.

They're mostly pretty chill and laid back tro play.

Before long it's wedding day! Aside from a jerk-ish waiter at the diner, it goes off without a hitch.

Stella and Klara are now the Terrano-Vondersteins, officially! Both of their names were far too cool not to keep. (Their tags will remain the same, though.)

Stella meets Testee, who has a few questions about their home planet...

and that’s Stella and Klara all done! I was half thinking I might break them up since Klara did cheat, but they seem so besotted with each other I didn’t have the heart. Hopefully that’s all in the past now, like Stella said.

aaaaaaaaand it looks like I've hit Tumblrs new "image limit", so stay tuned for recap parts 2, 3 & 4 🙄