#monster forest!AU

[rabbithub]

Take These Broken Wings (Monster Forest!AU, 4/???)

(CW for death and human monching, but other than that we should be good to go.

Have this chapter before the mood shifts to Vampires.)

It had been a couple of weeks since Diavolo had taken in the siren, and things were...

Well, they weren't trying to kill each other, that was for certain; for the most part, both would bicker and briefly claw at each other, but get along a fair amount. Diavolo had been convincing the siren to go outside as of late, and would notice that the siren would forage for berries or swim into the river to hunt for fish whenever there was a chance; whilst Diavolo was concerned at first, he felt relieved the siren was trying to hunt something than languishing away in the cave alone waiting for food or worse.

"How can you stand being in water like that?" Diavolo asked, a bit of a hiss to his tone. "I can barely even stand being wet at all-"

"This is normal to me." The siren hisses back a little, treading water as he spoke. "What do you think that sirens do when there's no humans around?"

Diavolo watched as the siren dove underneath the water's surface, and a moment or so came up with a fish in his mouth; Diavolo wasn't sure how this siren made it so easy- Diavolo himself had to guess and reach into the water to grab a fish, and even couldn't get in the water past his legs. The siren, however, was floating on his back, eating his catch with a contented growl, almost grinning smugly.

Granted, there was somewhat valid point to what the siren was doing, but Diavolo couldn't fathom eating nothing but fish and berries for substanence- human meat seemed to be more filling, in all honesty-

A sound made Diavolo freeze, his body tense with anticipation. It seemed to be another human walking by, unaware of the predators close by. Taking this moment to hide in a nearby tree, Diavolo waited for the human to come close before pouncing; breaking their arm as they screamed and called him that oh so familiar insult he had embraced so much welcomely-

"I heard screaming, are you okay-"

Diavolo turned to the source of the voice, only the see the siren soaking wet and concerned. Diavolo, still noticing the human squirming to escape, quickly turned back to the human to quickly tear out their throat, putting an end to his attempted toying of his prey.

"...geez, you were just gonna draw it out and put this guy through it before going for the kill?" The siren answered, somewhat disappointed as he watch Diavolo eating the scrap of meat in his mouth.

"Helps blow off a bit of steam. You have no idea how much humans are good at avoiding a hunter after them." Diavolo hissed back, giving a smug look back.

"That human- he, uh, he said you were 'a devil'-"

"What of it?"

"You, uh, know what that means, right?"

Diavolo growls somewhat dismissively, his smug look still present on his face. "It must be formidable enough to compare me to such a figure." he states plainly, somewhat proud.

"I think it's like-" The siren waves his claws a little as he tries to explain. "...this figure humans are afraid of? Even more than us? I haven't really seen too many pictures of it in those books those sailors had, but I think it has horns or something-"

Diavolo listened intently, surprised that the siren knew this tidbit of knowledge he hadn't known. "...It's still a favorable thing to be called than the other things called me." he answered calmly.

"...but you have a another name, right? Your mother gave you a name when you were little, right?"

Diavolo blankly stared at the siren, dumbfounded by the statement. Had this siren not known that harpies never named their young early on?

The siren's eyes widened in surprise at the realization. "Seriously? Your own mother didn't name you-"

"It isn't like she hadn't cared for me." Diavolo answered. "She merely hadn't given me a name when I left on my own- I only improvised my situation. Aside from that, if I had died young, it wouldn't have been a waste."

The siren winced, saddened. "...does that... happen a lot?" he tentantively asked.

Diavolo bristled a bit, despite remaining stoic. "I've seen harpies younger than me dead from starvation or careless mistakes. As callous as it may sound to you, it is merely natural." he responded.

The siren remained quiet, unsure what to say for a while. Diavolo could sense that uneasiness, quietly tearing off a limb from the dead human to eat.

"...must be lonely, having to be on your own the second you're grown up." The siren answered, sounding a bit sad. "I don't think I'd be able to do it alone, you know?"

Diavolo quietly bit his tongue, trying not to give away the fact he also knew about what he had saw a few weeks back; it was better to basically let the discussion about the topic come naturally. "It is a little lonely, yes." he answered. "Although, I couldn't see myself living in a large group."

"It's certainly... a lot, but sort of in a good way?" The siren responded. "I know you might have tried to figure it out, but I sort of... lost my flock to hunters."

Diavolo winced as he heard the siren trail off, sounding sad. "You were injured and had a burn, what else would have happened?" Diavolo answered, sounding guilty. "I couldn't find anyone alive out of that mess-"

"I figured." The siren mumbled sadly. "Those fucking hunter bastards must have meant business if they were setting things on fire, too..."

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner-"

"It's not your fault- you figured something was up and went looking and I was- not in a good mood." The siren cut in, trying not to cry. "It was at least nice enough not to say anything in the moment and just, you know, waited to talk about it."

Diavolo nodded, taking a bite out of the limb he was holding and chewing slowly, considering his next sentence carefully. "...what did they call you, then?" he asks, merely curious.

"Oh, uh- it's Doppio." The siren answered, pleasantly surprised at the change of subject. "It's not a very fancy name, I know-"

"It's a very charming name." Diavolo answered, watching Doppio squeaking in surprise and blushing, almost as if caught off guard; If he was going to say something to the opposite effect, then he was definately not helping his case.

"I mean- I, um." Doppio was too flustered to speak, watching as Diavolo chuckled in amusement- probably karmic payback for fighting him a few weeks ago unprompted or laughing about Diavolo falling for his song, but it was fair at this point.

[xayasmrxsoftlyx]

Imagine...

Imagine you recently moved to the outskirts of a forest. The nature is beautiful and you do your part to keep it that way. You plant pollinator friendly flowers, rabbit friendly herbs, deer friendly bushes, you put out bird feeders, hummingbird feeders, squirrel feeders (though honestly, it's just extra bird feeders with less specific seeds since you noticed the birds didn't always eat the variety equally). Hell, you even changed out your lawn from traditional grass to clover and native wild flowers to use less water. You've been putting in a lot of effort to keep things nice for nature-- it's certainly been noticed, too.

In fact, you've no idea of the amount of eyes watching your beauty preserve nature's beauty- and to them you are nature's finest beauty. Looking at your plush body care for, tend to, and love the very things that feed their lives' essence; it's a sight that cannot be beat. At first, it was a competition amongst the forest. Who was yours? Who you belonged to? Now, now they understand that just like you work so hard to aid all of them, they can all share, love, tend to, and care for you, as well.

Imagine the first you meet, unbeknownst to you, is planned- it's all planned. You're sitting outside on a blanket, book in hand, just enjoying some rare free time when you hear a loud buzzing. It sounds as if a humming bird were flying right beside your ear. Yet, when you look up, it's certainly not that far from the truth despite not being completely correct in concept.

He's shorter than you, but not by much, barely hovering a foot off the ground. He hides half his body behind your oak tree- the one with all your feeders on it. He's got brilliant colors and jerks almost completely behind the tree when your eyes meet. (He's supposed to be speaking to you but when his eyes met your own shining gaze, he couldn't help but grow shy.) Your sweet, comforting scent has wafted in the air, stirred up in part by his own rapidly fluttering wings. He's buzzing with anxiety and adrenaline, the need to prove and show you his skills battling with his fear of your rejection. Now that he's gotten so close to those plump cheeks, he needs to kiss. Now that he's seen how soft and warm you are he needs to get closer; he needs to feel how soft and plush you are as he clings to your chubby form from his own anxiety.

Imagine you softly call out to him, voice sounding like both the sweetest lullaby to soothe his racing heart and mind and also just like home- like the sound he'd come come to with a nest full of little hatchlings and your warmth shared. It's that thought that spurs him into action, faster than you could reasonably expect. After all, the speed he can achieve gets to nearly the same as a traditional hummingbird.

He's higher in the air than you'd ever think he'd go, he shoots down, nearly towards you- no, definitely towards you, nearly at you the speed of which creates a loud chirp and you hear the sweet melody of whistles erupt from him as he's closer to you. As he hovers before you, dance still pumping adrenaline through him, he's more than proud of the awed expression you've been unable to shake. When you close your book and set it down to completely give him your full attention, he preens at your acceptance. You may not fully understand your own consent to his courtship, but the primal, feral instinct within him is more than satisfied with your open attraction and silent acceptance of him into your space- your life. He lingers by you for a moment and when he doesn't hide or fly away from you, it indicates he's comfortable enough with you. You smile and begin to speak.

Imagine you still keep your voice soft, welcoming for him. It's so, so sweet of you to care so much for him already- such a precious, soft, sweet mate you are already without hardly trying. You introduce yourself to him- you give him your name! As you do so, he flits around you with little twirls and swoops in his own excitement. Instinctually, you hold your hand out to shake. He grabs it instantaneously within his own soft, warm grasp. He holds your hand, enjoying how his hands are still just a smidge bigger than your own little, pudgy ones; even if it's barely noticeable to you, he can tell. You give the shared grasp a shake but he doesn't release you, instead he uses it to hover closer to you. (He's tempted to swoop into your outreached arm and cuddle into your side, he's strongly resisting that temptation. The mantra in his head is "not now, don't do it, not now...")

You smell like the flowers you plant, the earthiness of fresh watered soil, and there's a warmth beneath it all he can't place. It's enchanting, nearly hypnotizing. (Fuck, the other's are going to drool over your scent later when they get closer- maybe even over him if it's strong enough lingering on him after he meets you.) When he finally releases, he gives you his own name breathlessly with a giant blush upon his cheeks. His feathers puff up around him in his embarrassment before he dashes off towards the forest. As he does so, he pauses to look back at you every few yards. Instead of following you like he's silently urging and beckoning you to do, you smile, little puffy cheeks rounding adorably as you tell him "see you soon!" (fuck- his heart is going as fast as his wings and that cannot be healthy)

Imagine you start seeing Calypte more often. In fact, you start meeting him in your garden at least twice a week. After your first week, you begin to bring him fruit to eat, since you didn't quite think he drank from the hummingbird feeder like his look alike. The first time he ate the orange so ravenously for you that you never stopped. He knows that in nature, if he were true to his counterpart, he wouldn't be building the nest- you would. He knows in nature his counterparts instinct wouldn't be to linger after copulation, but he supposes that side of him is entirely the human part.

The need to preen and nest for you, the need to stay by your side, the need for you attention, for your care, for your love. That is surely, entirely his humanity. After all, hybrids are different from their animal inspiration. They're an interesting amalgamation of all the best parts of both. That's why they were created, why they were designed, right? Before the humanity and ethics caught up to it all, anyway. His parents acted very human after all, it just depended on genetics. However you.... you brought the humanity out of him. You bring the humanity out of him. It thrills him, makes him feel alive, and he can not get enough of it- of you.

[starry-bi-sky]

finally giving fem danyal her own au and fulfilling my 'danny is an animal whisperer' agenda at the same time: mother of monsters danyal 2.0

i say "2.0" because TECHNICALLY 'mother of monsters danyal' is an au I made back in June for Dark fem!Danyal (who I promptly named Layal). However, I haven't posted much for her yet, and I like the "mother of monsters" premise too much to leave it only to Layal. Plus Danyal in that au was going to become the mother of monsters anyway, just with significantly less world domination and mass extinction.

'Animal whisperer' Danny has been something I've been thinking about since my latest DP 'wolfpack au' post and it's! So fun to think about, and who no better to assign the idea to than Danyal Al Ghul? Who comes from a family infamously known for their love of animals and nature?

Fem Danyal is just purely self-indulgent. *gestures wildly at her* i just lomvb,,, her,,,, I've only really mentioned her in context of the 'Things in Threes' au/my first Danyal al Ghul au with the facial scar, but she's!!! I love her. She deserves her own au <33

So kill three birds with one stone! Make a post about it.

Anyways, Danny has a large lair. Similar to cult leader danyal, her lair is a giant mountain region resembling nanda parbat with a big temple/palace-like area built into the mountain. It's large, it's overflowing with natural flora, with its own mini-floating islands hovering over some areas, and it's also completely empty.

Danny takes one look at her lair upon first meeting, -- noting that it looked relatively smaller from the outside -- and promptly, with the elegance of an Al Ghul, goes "What the hell??" Because yes, while she does enjoy her own solitude and privacy, this is a bit ridiculous.

For heaven's sake, there's even a massive lake in there! What's she going to do with all this space? Can she make it any smaller? Why is it so big in the first place? This looks borderline like one of the mega-islands!

She finds out later that apparently, the amount of ectoplasm a ghost has can have an effect on the size of their lair. And since she has such a large core, her lair reflects that. Wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey stuff, it's bigger on the inside so it doesn't take up "too much space" on the outside. Don't worry about it too much.

Danyal isn't totally opposed to having such a large lair, she's just... a bit baffled by it. It feels like so much wasted space is all. All this flora and no fauna to enjoy it with. It's practically eerie.

She decorates her temple-palace area, transforming rooms to match her needs as she sees fit. In the center of the inner gardens is a massive tree that she likes to climb, with twisting, winding branches. Sam and Tucker have honorary rooms, even if they can't safely leave the specter speeder for long periods of time, even with proper safety equipment. So does Jazz. Ali (Dani) has one too, but he can actually use that one, and Danny brought him to her lair so he could decorate it himself.

She has a personal garden, but for the most part she lets the flora exist as it is. Too much space to cultivate it en masse anyways.

Skip to a few weeks later, on her next visit to Clockwork. She developed a habit of going to see him semi-regularly just because. She enjoys his wisdom, and he has a lot of stories to tell, and when he's not being the cryptic and esoteric timekeeper, he's a bit goofy.

(pushing my dadwork agenda here,,, i think Danny deserves to go 'hey, Lord Clockwork, do you want me to buy you something' while she's at walmart, only to receive a singular glowing sticky note that says 'cucumber gatorade'.)

(She insists on referring to him with his proper titles even for the most mundane of things because it's proper, but Clockwork sees a future where she eventually calls him "Cee" and by all things in existence is he determined to get there. Anyways,,,)

On her next visit to Clockwork, just as she is about to leave, Clockwork stops her and goes; "Ah, I have something for you. Hold out your hands."

Danny does as such, and Clockwork doesn't give out things often, so her curiosity has spiked to the highest levels. He turns away from her for a moment, using his staff to summon whatever it is he needs, and when he turns around.

He drops a fish into her hands. Granted, a fish in a small glass tank. But a fish nonetheless. A small one, roughly about the size of her finger, with a blue-black, eel-shaped body and four sets of glowing eyes. She can see thin, almost translucent, but spiny fins down its back and the start of bioluminescent markings. It's swimming around in circles in its small container.

"Lord Clockwork." Danyal says all too calmly.

"Yes, Danyal?"

"What is this?"

"That is an adolescent leviathan, Danyal." She’s transfixed onto the tank, but she doesn’t need to see Clockwork’s face to hear the smile he’s stifling.

The myriad of emotions that runs through her all at once threatens to overwhelm her, and she can’t tell if the feelings are negative or positive. So she carefully closes her eyes to breathe in through her nose.

“Clockwork.”

“Ah, I see you’ve dropped formalities.”

She ignores that.

“Why have you given me an adolescent leviathan?”

She's expecting the trickster to look amused when she opens her eyes. Instead, he just looks endeared. "I know you're fond of animals," he says, "and you always look amazed when you come across an animal of the realms. So I thought you might enjoy taking care of the young beast, it's mother is dead so it has no one to care for it."

Oh.

"But, if you don't like it," Clockwork's hands reach out for the tank, "I can simply take it back--"

Danyal shifts the tank out from his reach and hugs it possessively. "I never said that. How do I care for it?"

And so clockwork gives her a list, and when Danyal returns to her lair, she sets up a large tank in her room for the leviathan to swim in -- it's much too small for the lake right now, she thinks. She'll feel better if it's somewhere she can find it. She names him Suhā.

Suhā grows quickly, and by the end of the mortal month she transforms one of the rooms into a large pond for him to swim around in. He's a very loyal beast, recognizing her as it's mother of some kind. Danyal takes great care ensuring that her beastie gets quality care, and Suhā swims to the surface to see her when he senses her in the room.

It spirals from there. Somehow, Pandora catches wind that Clockwork gave her a leviathan, and so the next time Danyal visits the Greater Athens, she gives her a baby chimera. It's eyes are still sealed shut, Danyal can't bring herself to say no. She names the little beastie Firas.

Frostbite hears about it too, and not to be outdone, gives her an animal she's never even heard of. Infinite-realms born, apparently. A fox-like creature with two small horns like an impala, four eyes, and tall legs. The name isn't something she's quite sure how to write down, and she's positive that her friends won't be able to comprehend it. She names her Eira.

Getting the three of them used to each other was... interesting. Suhā tried to eat Firas when Danyal first introduced the two, and they've hated each other ever since. Firas and Eira are seemingly getting along. Her island already feels full enough with the three of them on it.

Of course, that's not the end of it. With her luck, she begins stumbling across other monsters. Realms-borne or otherwise. An injured hydra in the Grecian islands that, through lots of trial and error, Danyal is able to rehabilitate and heal. It routinely comes to visit her afterwards.

A griffin with a broken wing that she moves permanently to the island that likes to keep to itself, but tends to come down when she's near. It gets along best with Firas.

A panther-like monster from the Shades Woods that had six legs and three tails, with ends that reminded her of a venus flytrap. It stuck around the heavy foliage and she can only make out where it was when she saw its golden eyes reflect.

She befriends a young indrik with its leg injured, and much like the hydra it follows her back to her island, and stays there in the mountains. It comes out when she's alone, much like her other beasts.

She receives two more leviathan -- one from clockwork, and one she finds herself while exploring the deeper and darker recesses of the Ghost Zone. It was huddled against the carcass of its mother, and she managed to befriend and get close enough to it to bring it back to her island. Suhā is fully grown by then, with a head bigger than Danyal herself and he still likes to stick her head out of the water for nuzzles when she's near.

He's not very happy with his new siblings, but he's not trying to eat them when she's not looking. So she calls it a win in her book.

And it's not just large beasts either; smaller animals begin popping up when she's not looking. Bird-like creatures and small mammals, and she swears she saw a doe (or something resembling a doe) grazing in the forest while she was walking by.

She takes back with her a lone snake egg once, and it grows so big it wraps around her island and sleeps with its massive head on the mountain beside the temple, like some smaller breed of Jörmungandr.

And on and on it goes. Some of the beasts she comes across never step foot onto her island, some of them follow her back, while others she has to carry back. Not all of the ones that follow her stay, and Danny rehabilitates the injured and releases them when they're fully healed.

It's hectic, and busy, and frankly she loves it. Some of her rehabilitated beasts return to visit her, or to have their children somewhere on the island, or whatever it is they need to do.

She becomes a bit infamous for it. She goes to visit Dorathea once, and as she's walking through the streets she can hear some of the denizens whispering while she walks past.

"Is that her?"

"Her highness' friend? Yes--"

"--that's the one--"

"--Mother of monsters--"

Danny's not sure how to feel about that.

Although, she can't say she's opposed.

Danyal Al Ghul, Mother of monsters, raiser of beasts. It has a nice ring to it.

[geraskierfanficprompts]

Prompt 11

There's a forest near Redania that is lush with color and flora. Every time Geralt camps there, he gets the best sleep of his life. There's always plenty of game for when he's hungry, and the birds follow after him, singing him songs. Every time he comes back, more and more odd qualities of the forest show. Most recently, flowers spawn wherever he or Roach steps. Roach finds this amazing (and very tasty), Geralt meanwhile is starting to find this suspicious. He's begun to hear a song in the breeze, and that's when he kicks roach into high gear and gets the hell out of there. But no matter how far he travels, in the back of his head, he can still hear the sad song, sung from a shaky voice. Eventually, he finds himself along the trail of the forest, and decides to risk it. The voice swaps immediately to a happy tune, and Geralt is being showered with deer and rabbits who are suspiciously suddenly always just near his camp, fish literally jumping out of the river toward him, birds flying after him to drop flowers on him. He decides that whatever is controlling the forest must be harmless, and even wishes it well as he rides off, only to hear the sad song start again as he leaves. He assures the forest he'll return again, and the song lightens to a cheery jig once more. When a monster known for spreading rot wherever it goes suddenly appears in Jaskier's forest, Jaskier knows his only chance is to sing his witcher back (and perhaps convince him to bring Jaskier with him next time.)

[shmorp-mcdurgen]

Slamming this down in front of all you. Uh. Remember when I mentioned shadow mark had another form he goes in unwillingly sometimes?

Anyway here it is

[icedghostlatte-art]

Dragon Elf Hybrid Vlad! Goes with Elf Danny!

[threefeline]

Another snerson

[sweetybaty]

Doodly

[ambyandony]

Fugo gets blue lobster’d full collection

bro has a lobster now

en español

[nevertheless-moving]

The Demon of Yunmeng: Chapter Six

Part One — Part Five

“You’re sure, Wei Gongzi?” Wen Ning held the reigns with care, looking at the horse uncertainly. It snorted, eyeing the glint of metal around Wen Ning’s arms and legs with reciprocal doubt. 

“Of course!” Wei Wuxian said. He leaned in, voice growing conspiratorial. “You know Jiang Cheng can’t openly support the Dafan Wen, not without risking Jiang Sect’s position. But the two of us will never be able to repay the debt we owe you.”

“I appreciate that, it- it’s just….” Wen Ning hesitated a moment. “My sister and I really do consider all debts paid between us, you know that right? I don’t w-want—” he exhaled, grimacing slightly and dropping his voice. “I know you’re in some sort of trouble. Jie-Jie’s been on edge about it all week. If it has something to d-do with us —”

Wei Wuxian shook his head, putting a hand on Wen Ning’s shoulder. “It has nothing to do with you whatsoever,” he said sincerely. “It’s about me. Well, me and my dumb inventions.”

“The tally?” Wen Ning whispered.

“Guessed it in one. I might have pissed them off a little with your family, but it was always going to be something. Trust me — the Jin are more than willing to make up excuses to take it from me. ”

“Is there — Is there anything I can do to help? An-anything at all?” 

Wei Wuxian snorted. “You know it’s funny you ask, I originally — what? What is it?”

Wen Ning’s eyes had grown wide and fearful, staring at something over Wei Wuxian’s shoulder. He quickly turned around, only to see the back of Lan Zhan’s head. 

“D-Did I do something to offend Lan Gongzi?” Wen Ning asked, still looking alarmed. “He w-was glaring at m-me like I killed someone!”

“Eh.” Wei Wuxian rolled his eyes. “Don’t worry about it, that’s just his face.”

Wen Ning looked doubtful. 

“In any case, Lan Zhan and I have it covered,” Wei Wuxian said cheerfully. “I might not be able to visit for a while, but when I do, everything should be fine.”

“Alright. But if there is some way I can help —”

“I’ll let you know.” He hesitated, glancing over his shoulder at Lan Zhan’s back. “Ask your sister about the details,” Wei Wuxian said under his breath. “But I might end up annoying Lan Zhan really badly and be back in a couple days, and might ask for your help with something, but you are absolutely free to say no, got it! You already said all debts are settled between us, so no taking that back! It’s a pretty stupid idea to be honest.”

“Um,” Wen Ning frowned. “Okay?”

“You’re a good man Wen Ning,” Wei Wuxian said, pulling him in for a hug. Talismans hummed at his chest, and he smiled. “I’m really glad I didn’t snap your neck when I had the chance.”

“Me too, Wei-Gongzi,” Wen Ning said, returning the embrace. “Thank you again for the horse — everyone always appreciates them. You’re sure you can’t stay any longer to say good bye A-Yuan? He was so happy playing with you last night.”

“Ah, don’t tempt me,” Wei Wuxian said, stepping back. “Thank you again for hosting me!”

“Thank you, Wei-Gongzi. I wouldn’t even have this home if it wasn’t for you, not to mention I wouldn’t be alive to —”

“Okay! Maybe we should stop saying thank yous between us. And seriously, you are the only person who calls me that."

“...Safe Travels, Wei-Gongzi.”

He sighed. “Until next time, Wen Ning.”

Wei Wuxian squared his shoulders, marching over to where the Second Jade himself stood.

“Ready?” he said, slinging an arm over Lan Zhan’s shoulder and feeling him stiffen.

“Mn.” Lan Wangji strode forward, leaving Wei Wuxian’s arm behind.

Wei Wuxian let his mouth ramble aimlessly for the first hour or so of their journey, eyeing Lan Zhan occasionally to see if he would crack under the persistent mild annoyance. The man bore it with enviable patience, humming with acknowledgement at all the right places to confirm he was listening, occasionally even saying whole words back.

Once Wei Wuxian felt enough time had passed to lure him into a false sense of security, he started to shift the conversation. Lan Zhan had disappeared before dinner last night, lingering only long enough to confirm that they would leave together in the morning, not leaving time for discussion.

Possibly he had been reporting to his Sect that he would be travelling by foot for the near future and might not be easy to find. Possibly he had been chopping down a forest, raging over the confused impulse to prove his dedication to justice that had led him into this situation. It was impossible to say by looking at him.

Time to get to the heart of things — nice as it was to walk beside Lan Zhan without arguing, he really didn’t want to wait until he was at Carp Tower to come up with a new plan.

 "So," Wei Wuxian said, hands behind his head. "We're heading to Lanling together."

"Mn."

“You're still committed to pretending to be my cultivation partner."

"...Mn."

Sunlit shone lazily through gaps in the trees as they walked; it was a pretty good day to be on foot, all things considered.

"No reservations," Wei Wuxian said skeptically.

"..."

"Lan Zhan," he said, rolling his eyes and coming to a stop.

Lan Wangji kept moving at an even pace.

"Lan Zhan!"

Lan Wangji continued forward.

Wei Wuxian hurried to catch up with him. "Look, it's best to get these things out sooner rather than later," he said reasonably. "I'm not going to stop pestering you, and if you don't tell me, I'm going to start guessing things that are worse than whatever you might say. Let’s just get it over with!”

"...Are there none among Wei Ying’s past lovers that you will acknowledge?" The man didn't even have the courtesy to turn and make eye contact when he said it.

Indignation rose in his chest. "I thought you said you didn't believe — ohhh you mean actual lovers."

"Mn." Lan Wangji's hand fell to his sword, but he made no move to draw it. It was good to have some indication of when the man was experiencing a real emotion — even if it was only ever anger. Lan Zhan had always gotten annoyed by his flirtatious behavior, hadn’t he?

Well, Lan Zhan was doing him a rather large favor, even if it was part of a bizarrely un-Lan-like plan to achieve justice. He could meet him part way and swallow his pride on this, if nothing else.

"Yeahh..." Wei Wuxian said, a bit sheepishly. "I might have slightly exaggerated about some of that in the past."

Lan Wangji glanced over, eyes narrowing.

"I mean it's not like I actually had a lot of free time during the sunshot campaign," he said defensively. "I'm going to have to pretend I literally wasn't sleeping ever to have been having sex with you during the war — and as you pointed out, we at least already knew each other and were conveniently near one another often enough. When the fuck would I have seduced random women?"

"Mn." That grunt was a bit tighter, as it tended to be when referencing intimate matters.

"Plus you must have noticed I'm a little less popular since taking up demonic cultivation — not an invitation to discuss changing my ways, just to be clear."

“...”

“What? You really think you’re the only person to be put off by my cultivation path? You’re not the only person with standards, Lan Zhan.”

"...Seen Wei Ying with women. Recently. At Phoenix Mountain Hunt."

"Pft." Wei Wuxian shrugged. "Just because a woman's willing to ride next to an attractive war hero in public doesn't mean she actually wants to spend quality time with him in private."

"Mn."

Wei Wuxian squinted suspiciously. "Was that ‘Mn’ skeptical?" 

"..."

"Come on, we have to be honest with each other, if we're going to be lifelong cultivation partners."

A tighter grip on the sword, then Lan Wangji turned his head away to look at the trees to his right. "Wei Ying claimed he had 'lots of experience,'" he said, voice free of inflection.

"What?" He struggled to think back. "When did we talk about experience? You mean in cloud recesses, because like I said I seriously exaggerated — oh! Haahahahaha!"

Lan Wangji whipped his head around to look at him, back rigid, but Wei Wuxaian struggled to do anything but bend over with laughter.

"Oh man," he said, still laughing. "You mean that nonsense I said during the hunt! Come on, you — wait. Wait!"

Several thoughts bumped against each other. He had run into Lan Zhan immediately after that mysterious kiss. Lan Zhan had been unusually offended by his presence. Lan Zhan said —

"Wait," he gasped. "When you said you saw me with women — do you mean you saw me kissing a woman?! At the hunt? Lan Zhan, did you see me kissing someone at the hunt?"

"Shameless!" Lan Zhan snarled, picking up the pace.

"Come on!" Wei Wuxian wheedled, hurrying to match his step. "You did, didn't you! Who was it? Lan Zhan, was that why you were so angry back then? Was I kissing someone you likmmnn Mnnn! mdphhnn!"

The silencing spell, seriously? he thought, first dumbfounded, then furious. 

He turned around, stalking back the way he came.

What are we, junior disciples? Fuck this, I don't need to voluntarily agree to extra time being disapproved of by Hunguang-Jun. This is stupid, so fucking stupid.

“Wei Ying.”

Maybe I’ll take Wen Qing up on her idea. Probably Not. Okay, definitely not, but we can discuss other things — we’re geniuses, surely we can come up with a smarter plan than this, right? We figured a way out of the Qiongqi pass and it wasn’t all luck.

"Wei Ying!"

Wei Wuxian made a rude gesture over his shoulder, continuing on.

"Wei Ying — this is foolish."

This time he made rude gestures over both shoulders, narrowly resisting the urge to fling a talisman back.

"...Wei Ying, I apologize. I should not have."

He paused, shocked, then opened his mouth, feeling the spell lift.

…Did he really just apologize? To me? For discipline?

"Hunguang-Jun," he said, rubbing his mouth, not looking back. "I know you don't approve of this sort of talk, and I know you're doing me a huge, life changing favor, but if you're going to silence me every time I talk about something immodest, there's no way this will work."

"You are right." 

Wei Wuxian wheeled around in surprise. "I'm right?"

Lan Wangji bowed low from the waist. "I will not silence you again. It was poor behavior. Forgive me."

"Well," Wei Wuxian said, smile starting to creep up involuntarily. "I suppose considering what you’re sacrificing, and the fact that you're too dignified to shout at me anymore, I can forgive the occasional spell. But not unless I really deserve it, alright? I mean, it's not like I don't know I can be annoying. But it can't be every little question."

"Mn."

Wei Wuxian laughed. "Alright, fine," he turned back south towards Lanling Jin, feeling oddly buoyed by the argument.

Maybe he really has changed since our school days. If he can admit to being overly harsh towards me…

"Anyway," Wei Wuxian said, scratching the side of his nose as they fell back into step with one another. "There's experience and there's experience, and I promise, I don't have as much of either as people think I have."

"..."

"It's not like I've actually been lying, not really. People assume things! I don't correct them. At most I exaggerate. I'm not one of those men who points at a maiden and claims to have taken her virtue just to make myself seem more masculine."

"I see." 

 Wei Wuxian waved a hand dismissively. "Yeah, I know, ‘do not exaggerate your accomplishments,’ 'don't speak unchastely of others.' I get it, I think I'm suffering the consequences of my actions well enough without having to copy the rules again."

"Mn."

"Right," Wei Wuxian said, clapping his hands. "The point is, there's nothing to worry about with that at the trial, I promise — no past true loves who I will have to deny to their faces, definitely no bastards."

"Then I have no further concerns."

"None?" Wei Wuxian asked skeptically.

"...I am willing to accept certain discomforts. No reason to discuss it further."

"Really Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian said, more sincerely. "I know that you're capable of sacrifice. It's just not necessary to accept those discomforts for the sake of justice, not in this case. Sure, I won't be able to claim my nights were full during the war, but that would be a stretch to explain anyway, and we're still not that far from the Wen; we can go back and I can —"

"Why him?"

Wei Wuxian glanced over at the unusually clipped words, but the Second Jade was once again facing away. "Why Wen Ning, do you mean?"

Lan Wangji turned his head just enough to glare at him out of the corner of his eyes.

"You mean why was I originally planning on asking him to pretend to be my cutsleeve lover?" Wei Wuxian asked, bewildered. "Or why am I saying I could still ask him now?"

Lan Wangji clenched his sword, eyebrow twitching slightly.

Wei Wuxian blew out a breath. "Who else would I have ever thought to ask? It's not like being a demonic cultivator makes your acquaintances more likely to spend time developing bonds of friendship with you, and then the accusations on top of that..."

He threw his hands in the air, letting out a bark of laughter. "How was I supposed to have ever guessed in a million years that you of all people would have said yes to this crazy idea? I thought you still hated me." He cocked his head, eyeing the man beside him thoughtfully. "When did you stop hating me, anyway?"

"Never hated Wei Ying."

"Bullshit!" Wei Wuxian stopped to wave a finger disapprovingly. "I believe you might not anymore, and I know your rules prohibit 'excessive opinions of vitriol' but rules don't change how a person actually feels."

"Never hated Wei Ying," Lan Wangji repeated, setting his jaw and planting his feet.

"Then why the hell did you hound me throughout the war — years, Lan Zhan, actual years of both of our lives, just to criticize my cultivation!" he rolled his eyes, trying to keep his tone light despite the roiling in his chest.

Lan Wangji didn't answer, and Wei Wuxian pushed further. If they were doing this, they might as well get it all out while they were still close enough for Wen Qing to patch him together if it came to blows.

"At a time when we were both fighting the same enemy, you acted like I was the worst person on the battlefield!” Wei Wuxian accused. “Like my crimes outweighed that of the Qishan Wen one hundred fold!”

“Did not.”

Wei Wuzian scoffed. “Just admit you at least used to hate me, even if you’ve meditated past it now. I'm the one who invented the ghost path, Lan Zhan! Hating my cultivation is the same thing as hating me!"

"Not hate," Lan Wangji insisted.

Wei Wuxian snorted, growing sarcastic. "What, so all those times you said 'demonic cultivation is bad for the mind' that was out of sincere concern for my own sake, not the people I would kill in my wicked madness?"

"Yes!"

He paused, staring at Hunguang-Jun, a man who was famously honest, and was also famously succinct. Succinct to the point of possibly being bad with words.

Hunguang-Jun stared back.

"...Seriously?"

"Yes." There was relief on Lan Zhan's face — only a hint, but coming from him...

Wei Wuxian's throat felt tight. "You were worried about me? Not... what I would do to others?"

"Yes. Still worried," Lan Wangji said quietly.

"What about wanting to lock me away in Gusu Lan?" Wei Wuxian dragged a hand across his face, eyes itching, throat still too tight. "You honestly expect me to believe you wanted to imprison me out of concern too?"

"No!"

Wei Wuxian took a step back, surprised by the volume of Lan Zhan's answer.

Lan Wangji took a step forward. "Not imprison. Heal Wei Ying. Protect."

"Lan Zhan!" Wei Ying said, frustration and a tangle of other painful emotions rising up. "Setting aside the fact that I'm not giving up the cultivation path I invented, what the fuck do you think would happen if I actually did come back to you to Gusu? You think your clan would treat me kindly? Let me run free?"

There was no agreement or disagreement; Lan Wangji just looked at him with anger — or possibly concern?

"They beat people for sneaking out at night!" he continued. "For drinking! Lan Zhan — even if — even if you only wish to help and "heal" me..." He dragged a hand over his face again.

Lan Wangji stared at him, hands fisted at his sides.

Wei Wuxian took a deep breath to settle himself. "Setting aside the fact that I don't need to be healed — your sect never had love for me and my ways, even when they came from a place of childlike innocence. I was thrown out of your uncle's presence for speaking of the idea of using resentful energy to counteract other dark forces. You honestly expect me to believe they would treat me fairly now, after everything I've done? That they would hesitate for one moment to punish me as severely as they possibly could?"

This time he waited for an answer. Lan Zhan opened his mouth. "I want Wei Ying safe," he said finally, voice unexpectedly hoarse, maybe even desperate.

It was impossible not to be moved by such a sincere confession. But in the end it just made him feel the way he did when earnest concern crept into Jiang Cheng's shouting about his laziness. The way he felt when A-Li's gentle questions about his sword hinted at a fearful depth of care.

Fucking tired.

And, besides, what did safety really mean, to someone as narrow-minded as Lan Zhan?

Painful clarity suddenly struck Wei Wuxian. "Wait... Lan Zhan... Is that it then? Is that the reason you agreed to this plan? So you could bring me back to your sect as your cultivation partner, and tuck me away somewhere 'safe'?"

"NO!"

Wei Wuxian's jaw dropped at the vehement denial, loaded with raw emotion that came from fucking nowhere. To his continued shock, tears appeared to be welling at the corners of Lan Zhan's eyes.

"Ah—" Wei Wuxian looked around wildly. "Um..." The overgrown path was still clear of any other travelers, and they were both skilled enough to sense the approach of others, but it seemed like a good moment to double check.

"Would not," Lan Zhan grit out, each word sounding like it was ripped painfully from his throat.

"Lan Zhan!" he said. "It's alright, I believe you!"

What the actual fuck?? What did I say?? The only other time I saw him cry his father was dying?!

"I would not," Lan Wangji repeated, turning away to hide his face.

Wei Wuxian couldn't help but reach a hand out and place it carefully on the man's shoulder, even knowing the contact was unlikely to help. "I believe you, Lan Zhan." He exhaled heavily. "Ah, Lan Zhan...and I thought Jiang Cheng was bad at expressing his feelings!"

Lan Wangji whirled around to face him, offended.

It was impossible not to laugh a little. "Oh, Lan Zhan! Come on, now that I know you actually don't hate me, of course we can be friends!" He paused. "You...do want to be friends, right?"

Insects chirped in the silence for an excruciatingly extended moment.

“Or I suppose there’s a lot of room between hatred and friendship,” Wei Wuxian said, pulling his hand back from where it had been lingering uselessly outstretched, using it to scratch the back of his neck. “I mean — ha, you don’t have to be friends with someone to want to help them, right? Or maybe you did at one point, but then the demonic—”

“Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji said, ears red, hands clenched.

“...Lan Zhan?”

“...I want.” Lan Wangji grit out, and Wei Wuxian’s heart swelled. 

"Great!" he said, slapping Lan Zhan on the back and darting away before he could draw his sword. "Took you long enough!"

He started walking forward, whistling cheerfully and allowing Lan Zhan to regain his composure in relative privacy. After a few minutes he dared to glance over, and was relieved to see Hunguang-Jun’s face had returned to its normal smoothness.

"Sooo..." he said, the casualness of his voice sounding fake even to his own ears. "When exactly did you decide you wanted to be friends?"

"..."

"Come on! When I was studying at cloud recesses? After? When we fought the Xunawu of Slaughter?"

"..."

"Yeah, this is pretty much how I always imagined our conversations going when we became friends."

It was barely late afternoon when Wei Wuxian insisted on stopping, setting up camp when they found a ready looking patch of trampled ground – not too far from a small creek, firepit already dug by past travelers.

Lan Zhan didn't protest the short day — probably because he was also aware that there was little to be gained by arriving at Carp Tower early. It was unlikely anybody would be thrilled at the thought of hosting the Demon of Yunmeng for unnecessary nights.

Possibly he was also disproportionately fatigued by the amount of genuine conversation they had had in one day. Wei Wuxian was fairly sure this was the most he had ever talked to Lan Zhan. Well, talked to and been spoken to in return.

The two worked companionably setting up camp, Wei Wuxian giving up on prying Lan Zhan for answers to sensitive questions, instead rambling about several (non demonic) talismans he had been working on.

"Alright," he said, dumping another armload of dry wood by the firepit. "I'm going to go see if I can find some fish or something for dinner. Don't worry, I'll make sure to find you something, too. I'm sure they don't teach hunting in the Cloud Recesses."

Lan Zhan gave him a look, setting down what looked like most of a tree.

"Fine," Wei Wuxian said, rolling his eyes. "Just enough for me."

"No rabbits."

Wei Wuxian turned back to him in surprise, but Lan Zhan wasn't looking at him.

"You eat meat?" 

“Not in cloud recesses.”

“Alright,” he said, only a little wrong-footed. "No rabbits."

By the time he returned with five pheasants, courteously plucked away from camp, the fire had produced coals hot enough to cook over, a pot of water was almost boiling, and Lan Zhan had chopped enough extra wood to last a small family through the winter.

"Leaving enough firewood for the next set of wanderers?" Wei Wuxian asked affectionately. "Ah, you really are too good." He sat down by the fire, setting down a bundle of thick stemmed freshwater mints he had stumbled across.

"Rule 847," Lan Wangji said, setting down his own wild mushrooms and onions. "Do not balk from giving unthanked aid to strangers."

"Hey, that one's not so bad," he said cheerfully. "I remember my mother saying — anyway, if I was by myself I'd just chuck this all into soup, does that sound alright? We've got time and I've got some spices with me."

"Mn."

"Great!" he said cheerfully, "I'm not as good a cook as shiji, but still, this is going to be so much better than that medicinal stuff you have back in Cloud Recesses — you like spicy food, right? Wen Ning said how nice it was that you brought spices on one of your visits, so I figure you must have gotten a taste for them at some point, in order to actually appreciate how important they are."

"...Mn."

Cooking, meditating, and eating went... surprisingly well. Lan Zhan wasn't exactly the most companionable person he had ever camped with on a night hunt, but he was also far from the most annoying. He didn't even say anything about the whispers of resentful energy he surely sensed during Wei Wuxian's own evening rituals.

It wasn't until they had laid out their bedrolls by the banked embers, Wei Wuxian having judged the weather to look good enough to make setting up a tent to not be worth the effort, and Lan Zhan probably having a rule against frivolous tent use, that he decided to broach the subject again. Hopefully his cooking had put Lan Zhan in a more cheerful mood.

"Really," Wei Wuxian said, voice lower and more sincere than earlier. "When did you decide you wanted to be friends? Because obviously I've been trying to get you to warm up to me since we were fifteen."

"Mph."

"What!" Wei Wuxian said, sitting up. "What do you mean 'Mph?' You don't think I can tell the difference between 'Mn' and 'Mph' at this point? You don't think I was being genuine back then?!"

"..."

He leaned over to poke Lan Zhan's shoulder with Chenqing. "Come on," he said, whining. "It's not even Hai, you can't pretend to fall asleep on me yet. You think I didn't outstretch my hand to you in good faith at cloud recesses! I invited you to drink with me! I brought you rabbits! I shared my springbooks! What is boyhood friendship, if not that?"

"You did those things to mock me," Lan Wangji said, expressionless and toneless.

Wei Wuxian hesitated, and Lan Wangji closed his eyes.

"Ok, maybe a little," Wei Wuxian admitted. "But that's part of friendship! Teasing!"

"..."

"Really!" Wei Wuxian said, annoyed. "I tease all my friends! It's not like I was bullying you, you were the one in charge of my discipline, and you could silence me whenever you wanted! If I went a bit further with you it's only because things were skewed in your favor!"

He laid down, sulking for a few moments, slightly embarrassed by his own defensiveness. He shook it off soon enough, and had just gotten up onto one elbow to tell Lan Zhan that it was all in the past anyway, when the man spoke up.

"I know," he said quietly. "Wei Ying did not intend to be cruel."

That stabbed far too deep into chest, considering the things he had been called over the last few years. "You thought I was cruel?" he asked, tone neutral.

"Did not know cruel words," Lan Wangji's eyes were open again, but he stared resolutely up at the sky, not shifting the slightest bit to meet Wei Wuxian's gaze.

“...Not back then, huh? I'm guessing the Wen taking you for Indoctrination might have changed that.”

“Mn.”

“Yeah, I can see that providing some counter examples.”

Even talking about petty teenage hurts, Lan Zhan still looked like a perfect jade carving of a cultivator in the moonlight, long exhale barely moving his chest. "Wei Ying says things he does not mean. Actions are different."

"Oh," Wei Wuxian said, laying back down. "Huh."

They laid in silence for a few minutes.

"Your actions always spoke true, too," Wei Wuxian blurted out. "I mean, remember when you actually turned us both in when I knocked you out off the wall during curfew? I thought that was crazy, but also pretty cool."

"...I remember, Wei Ying."

Wei Wuxian grinned. "And then in the cave during indoctrination...I mean if it had been anyone besides you or Jiang Cheng there with me, I'm pretty sure I would have died fighting that thing. We made a pretty good team, huh?"

"Mn."

The last daylight had almost completely drained from the western horizon; We Wuxian watched the stars slowly start to fill in the sky. "I really had no idea you thought of me with friendship back then," he sighed. "I guess it doesn't matter now."

"...I will do better," Lan Wangji said after a long pause.

Wei Wuxian once again propped himself up on his elbow to stare at him. He squinted, but Lan Wangji was turned away so he couldn't see his face, for what good that was worth anyway.

"I mean throwing your whole future and a bunch of your principles aside to pretend to my cultivation partner is a pretty dramatic and unselfish gesture of friendship," Wei Wuxian said dryly. "I'd say it more than makes up for a bit of teenage scolding and badly expressed concern during wartime. Some might even call it unnecessarily excessive."

"..."

"Alright, alright I'll let you sleep," Wei Wuxian said, falling back down. He really wasn't tired, but whatever. It wasn't the first time he had spent hours coming with talisman designs behind his eyelids, and he didn't want to push his luck doing anything more interesting.

To his surprise, Lan Wangji continued the conversation. "Does it make a difference?"

"Does what make a difference?"

"Knowing why I disapprove of your cultivation path."

Wei Wuxian bit back a groan. "Lan Zhan, you really are a good person, and I truly am happy to be your friend," he said, trying to keep his voice light. "But if I wasn't willing to give it up for Jiang Cheng or A-Li, why would I give up my power for you?"

"...Mn."

"If you want to keep talking, we can discuss more about how we're going to fake —"

"It is time to sleep."

"Right. Good night Lan Zhan."

"...Good night, Wei Ying."

Wei exhaled a sigh of relief, quickly followed by irritation, then guilt.

Prev Chapter (Five) Next Chapter (Six) MDZS AU Masterlist

[mxwhore]

ghoulish girlfriends ♡

[rabbithub]

Take These Broken Wings (Monster Forest!AU, 3/???)

(Not very many warning this time, Just fluff and two feathery bastards (affectionate) trying to bond this chapter.)

When Diavolo returned to the cave, he had brought a big fish with him; at this point, if the siren was likely to stay here, he would knew that he would have to make things easier. Sirens were supposed to be part of a flock, not alone like that-

However, given the current situation, he would try to adjust to this circumstance; being a harpy, he had been raised alone and eventually had to live on his own, and he knew the siren might not have had a much more... direct upbringing.

After going inside and walking toward the nest where the siren slept, Diavolo, without much tact, dropped the fish onto the siren; the siren woke with a screech, almost as if awoken from a deep sleep. The siren glared in confusion, half awake. "What the hell is that for?!" He growled.

"It's morning and you need to eat- I couldn't hunt a human, so this will do." Diavolo answers, tone flippant. "I doubt the corpse from last night is fresh enough to eat, anyhow."

The siren looked at the fish with confusion, before eating quietly with a low growl. Minutes passed as he tore into the fish, with Diavolo a bit proud of his effort; so far, it was good enough that the siren was eating and not trying to sleep to death from such a tradegy. Eventually, the siren finished the fish, looking a little grateful at least. "Thanks." He mumbles, still feeling a little dejected.

"Of course." Diavolo answered, still unsure how to broach the topic of... what he saw earlier; it felt like it was too much too soon.

The siren looked away a bit, lengthening the awkward silence for a few more moments. "I'll leave your home soon-"

"No." While the word Diavolo uttered wasn't a threat, the tone only sounded as if it were, his concern bleeding into anger. "No... it's alright if you stay here longer. You need rest."

Diavolo could see that the siren was a bit confused and shocked, but nodded silently in agreement. "If you say so..." The siren mumbled, curling back up to sleep. Diavolo was a bit sad that there wasn't much he could do, but he was not an expert on grief; it might take some time for the siren to feel less of it, let alone want to sleep most of the day away.

As he left to walk and clear his head, Diavolo couldn't help but feel a little worried for his guest. 'There's nothing I can do for the moment, except let him rest and adjust to all this.' he told himself.

A few hours later, Diavolo managed to bring two more fish back to the cave; he hadn't managed to track or hunt down any humans today, so the fish would have to do for now. He was surprised when he saw the siren much closer to the entrance, seeming to immediately raise his feathers in surprise before trying to act as if he wasn't waiting in the area. "I wasn't just- waiting for you to come back-" the siren hissed, tripping over his words rapidly. "I was only looking out-"

"You don't have to explain yourself." Diavolo answered, a little irritated. "I only went outside for food for both of us." He handed the siren one of the fish before tearing into the other one. He could see the siren reluctantly eat, still somewhat wary; granted, it only had been a day since he had gotten there, so it would take time for them to get used to each other.

~

Diavolo quietly preened his feathers as he prepared to sleep; he was still somewhat worried about the siren's grief- while he had never experienced the loss of any family, let alone a large flock, he realized he needed to help the siren navigate through it. 'As far as I know, sirens do not live alone well.' he thought, pulling out a loose feather from his wing. 'He possibly needs company at this point.'

Diavolo could hear the siren singing to himself, perhaps to soothe himself and help ease his grief; while Diavolo himself tried to ignore the melody, he found himself drawn to it, helplessly walking to where the siren was. The moment the siren saw Diavolo walk close, he bristled slightly. "...what is it this time?" The siren murmured, a little annoyed yet at the same time... saddened?

"I- I heard you singing." Diavolo admitted, blushing. "You sound-"

"Please don't try to flatter me." The siren interrupts, blushing. "I know my voice isn't sounding great right now." Trying to ignore Diavolo's presence, he began preening himself as a distraction.

"It- it sounds fine." Diavolo replied, stepping closer; it felt as though he were in a trance, yet lucid enough to understand what was happening. The siren seemed to notice, quickly swatting at Diavolo to snap him out of it.

"Geez, I really didn't think my singing would affect you, too..." The siren whined, still annoyed as he returned to preening himself. "I guess harpies aren't immune to this sort of thing either." Diavolo shook his head, as if regaining his senses once more.

"I..." Diavolo felt quite embarassed, blushing as this... little flaw was pointed out. "I didn't expect to be in thrall to your singing, for the record. It just... happened." This response made the siren laugh bitterly after a few awkward moments, as if amused by Diavolo's answer.

"I can't believe an 'apex hunter' just fell victim to my song like that without me even trying!" The siren cackles, obvious amusement in his voice. "That's absolutely fucking rich-"

"If you could not rub salt in the wound..." Diavolo growls, face entirely red as he covered it with his wings; he felt even more ashamed as the siren kept laughing, but he wasn't going to attack- this was much too petty a thing to fight about.

Eventually, the siren's bitter laugh calmed to a dull snicker. "Honestly, I'm surprised it even works on all harpies- there was only one other harpy that fell for my singing-" He stopped suddenly, seeming embarassed. "N-never mind, I was just rambling." he mumbles, tone mortified.

Diavolo raised an eyebrow, almost intrigued. "What do you mean, one other harpy fell for your song?" He asked, tone soft.

"Just- just forget it- she was way out of my league anyway-"

"You have a bad time of lying." Diavolo smirked, close to teasing. "I know you were gloating a few seconds ago-"

"Only because I knocked you down a peg or two!" The siren whined, hiding his face. "It's not as fun when I'm made fun of!"

DIavolo stifled his laughter, amused; this siren wasn't taking to trusting him well, but he could be a bit... charming when he wasn't trying to claw his face off. "You are much less intimidating when you are flustered like this." he said, leaning a bit toward the siren's face, only to recieve a connecting swat in return.

'Alright, I may have deserved that.' Diavolo told himself, wisely backing away whilst holding his cheek; he couldn't feel any blood coming from where the siren scratched him, it still stung a bit. The siren, however, was somewhat mortified, as if not expecting to actually hit Diavolo. "...I'll leave you be for now." Diavolo answered, if only to fill the awkward silence growing at the moment.

"Y-yeah, that's for the best right now." The siren answered back, meekly curling up on the nest to go to sleep. Diavolo quietly left the immediate area, but decided to curl up close by, in case something happened.

It... wasn't perfect, but it was a start, he supposed.

[xayasmrxsoftlyx]

Imagine...one night, everyone gets thrown a curve ball.

New character intro; MDNI, nsft. TW: blood and blood drinking mentions, sexual tension, once again yandere themes, stalking, voyeurism

You can't sleep, like at all. Your room is too hot with the blanket on, too cold with them off- you stripped completely and it hasn't done a thing for you. The fan doesn't help you so you open your window. It changes nothing and you can't stop tossing and turning completely and utterly wide awake. It's around 2 in the morning when you hear buzzing. It's so comforting, so familiar, so painstakingly welcomed. It sounds like your favorite new bird friend and your confusion (and disbelief) doesn't stop you from jumping out of bed to check whatever it is making that noise. You tiptoe to your window and peek out of your sheer curtains. It's not quite a full moon so your eyes take a moment to adjust and that's when you see them.

You knew the forests had many creatures, magickal and non alike, but you never even thought of an insect hybrid; let alone one quite like them. You open the curtain a smidge more and peer at them closer. You notice them beginning to pace. They're so tall and skinny, clear thin wings beating yet they're not flying- it seems they're wanting to fly but restraining themself for some reason. It's clear to you that despite your lack of knowledge on them, that this is a mosquito hybrid.

He's got to be at least 7 feet tall and lanky as hell, he's got a little wiry hair along his chest, too, and he meanders amongst your flowers. He's agitated it seems, by something as he's looking around and his antennas twitching erratically with his wings rapidly flapping. Despite clear frustration, even to you, he's calm in his gate, gentle in his pass over the petals of your flowers, and taking deep enough breaths you could follow along if you wanted to. Equal parts fascination and concern well within your stomach as you observe the scene for only a more moments before ultimately deciding enough was enough. Slipping on your night robe, you sneak outside.

However, you can't exactly sneak when he whips around to face you the moment you open the door. (SO sweet, smell so good, needs to taste, needs to feed, needs to taste that sweet, intoxicating scent-) Despite the surprise to both of you, you don't hesitate to walk out to begin to meet him. He doesn't hesitate to stop in his place and freeze. He's staring at your soft, supple flesh peeking from the length of your robe, can't stop his eyes from flicking up and down your enchanting round curves and full gorgeous face. You're the sweet scent he came in search of- not your well cared for flowers.

Imagine you both seem to realize just what kind of situation this is when the wind shifts and the rather short skirt of your robe blows to reveal more than you thought it might; your embarrassment at just barely stopping it in time to conceal almost all of your chubby, wet sex. That doesn't stop the spike of sweat and arousal that comes from you catching on the wind and giving him full body shivers. You're painfully aware that unlike with your hummingbird hybrid- you're the prey. He can feed on your blood- may even want to! (God does he want to, he wants to so badly he's nearly drooling; especially if you stay this wet with sweat and sex the whole time- fuck he'd die and go to heaven for that shit right there.)

This time, the roles are reversed. You freeze, finally having thought about the consequences of coming outside scantily clad for a stranger. (Despite freezing, you're finding that you don't much mind these particular circumstances and consequences so far, you just hope it stays that way.) You swallow, palms growing sweaty and thick thighs becoming so wet and slick you don't even realize how much you're squeezing them together. You watch this handsome, devilish bug man stalk across your yard towards you, calm and confident and fucking sexy.

He's even taller than you gave him credit, leaner muscles than lanky, you realize. As he draws close you can hear his labored breathing, can feel the hunger in his eyes, and can't stop the whine that bubbles in the back of your throat. It doesn't quite leave your clenched jaw but he seems to have heard it nonetheless when he groans in response; finally close enough to properly smell you, properly see you (properly take you).

Your plush flesh smells even more delectable so close and you actually whine aloud when his nose comes down close enough to your neck you can feel his breath and he deeply inhales. (You smell so good, fuck, so delicious, can't wait to sink his teeth into you and then his cock- or maybe it should be the other way around? Shit, it doesn't matter as long as he can gorge himself on your sweet blood and juicy cunt.) "Smell like a real meal, doll." He gruffs, voice like melted butter on a hot pan to your already wet, hot pussy. He seems to smell your reaction if his gravelly buzz and grunt were anything to go by in immediate response. You don't even think when you suck in a small gasp of air and crane your neck to the side for him, dizzy on lust.

"Then eat." You truly have no idea what comes over you. (You know Calypte will be livid in possessive jealousy. Maybe that encourages you to continue instead of stop. Maybe you want to be that desired object of affection others fight over. Maybe you're just a slut. None of it matters because none of it stops you.) It honestly takes longer than you expected for him to move, longer than you wanted. It's when you're about to move, about to tease him about getting cold feet or having eyes bigger than his stomach when he's grabbing your fat curves and hauling your soft, malleable frame up into the air and into his impressively strong embrace. "Too small down there, shortcake." Adrenaline rockets through you and before you can orient yourself, his teeth are sinking into the soft, delicious warmth of your neck.

The sting is the first sensation you notice as the adrenaline begins to settle slightly. Then, it's the realization that you're in the air- like, as in flying. That sends your stomach somersaulting and pussy fluttering in arousal. It takes a few more seconds to feel his tongue(s!?) flicking at the wound to collect your blood or his soft antennas tickling along your feverish collarbones and chubby chin. You're starting to feel tingly and enjoyably hazy between the minor blood loss and all your budding sexual tension (and maybe a bit of sleep deprivation was helping).

Imagine it's so hard to put you down after he's had his fill. (He could use more, certainly wants more, and you definitely seem like you're more than enjoying it. You taste like Heaven- like true ambrosia and he's sure the only better taste on the planet comes from your dripping, pudgy pussy and he really wants to taste that from you. In order to do that, though, he needs to stock licking and sucking and kissing your supple neck and shoulders.) He's still cheeky about it as he does it, too. He slowly comes back to the ground and instead of settling you right down on your feet, he lets you slide down his chest and catch on his thigh, rubbing up against him as you do so. You can't stop the loud, keening whine and fervently grind down into him. You can feel your bare clit rubbing against his hairy thigh, can feel how wet you're making his own hot, sweaty skin, and you don't want it to stop but you can feel the moment is over- or paused at least.

"Helped?" you squeak, adorably hopeful and longing, softly and dream like as it settles in the night air. You're finally starting to feel tired, despite the scorching heat and arousal thrumming and rolling like waves through your veins. He snorts and realizes you're more out of it than he could have expected. Cute.

"Yuh, sweetheart, naw let's get you tuh bed; we can talk about it in the mornin." He sweeps you into his arms again and leads you inside when he realizes how tired you are. Eyes peer from the forest, narrowed and frustrated- this was NOT part of the plan. Good thing nature is oh-so adaptable.

[stupidvillainousposts]

Trust When I Say That Wendy's Friends (They're Still Friends, Though Wendy Doesn't Spend as Much Time with Them Since They Mostly Spend Time Asking Her About Stan) Definitely Hang Around the Shack Daring Each Other to Get Closer Without Chickening Out

Robbie got scared once after seeing Stan stretch and bare his fangs, then ran into the woods like he was being chased

Robbie, running deep into the forest: Shitshitshitshitshitshitshit! Oh, fuck! I'm gonna die!

Hawk: *Watches Robbie Pass and Screeches*

Robbie: *Screams* What was that?!?!?!?

Unicorn: Wow, you're a bit of a wuss, huh?

Robbie, tensing and staring at the unicorn: You... you're a-

Unicorn, dismissively: Yeah, yeah, I am. Now, what are you running from, Wuss?

Robbie, regaining himself: I'm not a wuss! And the name's Robbie!

Unicorn: Okay, Wuss. What were you running from?

Robbie: Why should I tell you?

Unicorn: I'm a horse with a giant horn on my head. Do the math.

Robbie: And why would you help me?

Unicorn: Because I like it when humans owe me favors.

Robbie: *Scoffs* Like I'm gonna- *Hears Rustling Nearby* HE'S HERE! THE WOLFMAN IS HERE!

Unicorn: "Wolfman"? Oh! Do you mean Stanley?

Robbie: I don't know his name! I just know he's evil!

Unicorn: *Whinnies with Amusement* Oh, please! Stanley Pines is the farthest thing from evil!

Robbie: He ate a kid's face!

Unicorn: *Huffs in Annoyance* He bit a human who threatened him. Do you expect a random dog to just let you slap it, hit it with stones and bricks, or wrap a rope around its neck?

Robbie, horrified: Obviously not!

Unicorn: Then why expect Stanley to let the same happen to him? He may be half human, but, like all creatures in this forest, he will fight back if needed. Even if it... draws a little blood.

Robbie: The kid's face is gone.

Unicorn: Eye for an eye. Beyond that, however, I suggest you get to know him. Stanley could use a few more humans in his corner.

Robbie: I'll "get to know him" when he stops being dangerous.

Unicorn: Good! Then you'll start now.

[shmorp-mcdurgen]

The Gardener

Aka the monster au’s Preacher. Basically a forest creature that helps protect and look after. Well. The forest. Mostly the Savior’s Willow.

[angeart]

AU Masterpost [tags]

I think it's time. So I can keep track, and you guys know what's out there and how to search for it <3 Bear in mind that some AUs are more like concepts and might only have a single thought/art underneath their tag, but there might be more added to them in the future. If you're curious about anything, you can always ask! (I'm very easily convinced to drop rambles, as has been proven in the past—)

*

Help Me To Breathe [hmtb]

my main multi-chapter story, set in s8 boatem. deaths abruptly hurt on hermitcraft, and each respawn makes it worse. scar dies a lot by grian's hands, before grian even learns (the hard way) that things hurt now. welcome to a scarian angst hellhole where 3rd life flashbacks hit like bricks and guilt is mercilessly spilled everywhere <3

this fic is the epitome of it gets worse before it gets better. trust me.

cws: violence, ptsd, anxiety attacks, delusions, unhealthy coping mechanisms, suicidal ideation, suicide, temporary character death... please check tags on AO3 which i try very hard to keep updated

tags: #hmtb - an all-encompassing tag for fic updates, rambles, and art. (sometimes #hmtb art is also used in tandem, where relevant.)

fic: Help Me To Breathe on AO3

*

Hunted hybrids [hhau]

hermitcraft s8 got code-attacked and all the hermits got scattered into different worlds, lost and stuck in unfamiliar places, not knowing if their home still exists. the au follows scar and grian who ended up in the same world (although originally unaware)—a world dangerous and hostile to hybrids. grian is an avian, scar is a vex, and they're hunted relentlessly. also, it's permadeath <3

this au is self-indulgently used in RP and co-owned by linkito

cws: violence, blood, dehumanisation of hybrids, self harm (feather plucking), mentions of suicidal ideation... [updated cws in the hhau masterpost]

tags: #hhau

this one got out of hand so >> hhau masterpost <<

*

Boatem circus

scar, a sea-lion hybrid, builds a circus as a safe haven for all the hybrids and misfits that have nowhere to belong and need a place to heal. they all carry their own traumas and wounds, and scar gives them what they never had: gentleness and options and freedom to roam or leave. but it's not easy, navigating a growing community of varying triggers and buried pasts.

au put together with stiffyck

cws: ptsd, panic attacks, fear of fire, loss and grief, mentions of captivity/torture/abuse

tags: #boatem circus au

fics: don't be afraid, little bird (there are no cages around you now) —&— elegy

[AO3 series link]

*

Sleep demon Grian

grian is a sleep demon, existing in the dreamscape, able to manipulate dreams and thriving on giving people nightmares. he meets scar in a dream, immediately intrigued and amused by his reactions, and he keeps coming back to him. scar, despite all the nightmares being thrown at him, catches a glimpse of his perpetrator, and grows curious in turn. they start talking, everything eventually culminating into a ritual and a summonning circle. grian, in the waking world, needs to learn how to exist somewhere where he can get actually hurt, and come to terms with the fact that he has locked away memories and trauma.

cws: injuries, fear, panic, nightmares(?), trauma, violence, memory repression

tags: #sleep demon grian au

au rambles: here

fics: the nightmare snippet —&— even if it hurts (and even if it isn't a dream) you can have a home here

*

Cursed forest

found family boatem, where each of them carry their own heavy past and an attached curse. they thought they'd never find a place to settle that'd accept them and let them heal. but they found each other, deep in a hidden away forest, littered by bones and flowers, death and hope. (honestly, just see the au rambles.)

au put together with stiffyck

cws: animal death, necromancy, grief and guilt, body horror

tags: #cursed forest au

rambles: here

fics: even with death haunting your footsteps, your flowers will bloom again

*

Spill my blood AU

grian and scar have known each other before the world fell apart. they were equal parts aquaintances and something much deeper—allowed to be close during the most vulnerable, raw moments, yet never orbiting too close outside of them. 

grian used to be in a bad relationship, and scar at the time just happened to be the roommate of grian’s best friend, mumbo. that is, until a too-close call forced mumbo and scar to finally save grian out of that situation for good, and then, only a couple days later, before things even had time to fully settle, scar—freshly turned into a vampire by a desperate third party, and too terrified of losing control and hurting those he loves—had no choice but to leave, abandoning them in the aftermath. 

now, years later, they run into each other and reunite in the apocalypse, both them and the world forever changed.

au put together with plantie for our rp. 

title based on our working doc title spill my blood at the end of the world

cws: mentions of abuse, unhealthy relationship, violence, dark thoughts, trauma, breakdowns, dissociation, panic attacks, suicidal ideation, blood, general vampire stuff, being turned into a monster, fear of loss of control, rot and decay of a mycelium apocalypse, zombie thematics, hybrid dehumanisation, mentions of trafficking and experimentation, post apocalypse survival, hallucinations, sickness

tags: #spill my blood au

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Snowbird AU

hybrids don’t have a place in civilised society, seen as too animalistic, the line between human and wildlife too blurry for them to be accepted. they’re rare, hiding away and living off on their own in their little communes, keeping to themselves.  

one winter, grian’s all alone, struggling to survive. as a migratory species, he wasn’t meant to stay. he wasn’t meant to be alone. he doesn’t really know how to build a nest that the snow wouldn’t destroy. isn’t sure how to stay warm, or which direction he’s meant to go. he gets caught in a snowstorm that blows him, tired and cold and wounded, to the edge of scar’s backyard.

scar is a zookeeper. he knows a lot about animals, but next to nothing about hybrids. he never expected to come face-to-face with one… much less one hurt and scared and in distress. as he coaxes the avian to let him help, his mind is spinning wondering if bird wing injuries and avian wing injuries should be treated the same, and what is he going to do? 

scar ends up bringing grian to his house, putting him in his bed, warm and soft and safe. grian’s never been in a place like this, bright and walled and— heated. and he was told his whole life to steer clear of humans, but scar doesn’t seem like he wants to hurt him, and oh, grian’s never felt so cozy. maybe it’d be okay to let scar help? maybe it’d be okay to stay for a little bit? (after all, the outside is so cold—)

they’re both in an unfamiliar situation, but maybe… maybe they’ll both come out of it with far more than they expected.

au put together with lyrai

cws: injuries, sickness, grief, dehumanisation of hybrids, kidnapping, claustrophobia, wing clipping, distress of being grounded, panic attacks, fear of touch

tags: #snowbird au

*

Ari AU

grian (he/she) is ariana griande (ari), a famous singer beloved by the crowds. except things start getting a bit too out of hand. there are stalkers and people who think they have the right to ari's personal life, the right to see and dictate everything. the press gets out of hand. maybe the crowds get too rowdy. maybe—

more scared and overwhelmed by the second, grian gets a bodyguard. that bodyguard is scar. things continue to escalate though, and by the time ari calls a break in her career, everything's irreparably breaking down around her.

(If it wasn't clear yet, this is one very dark, very heavy, very human story. There's love and so, so, so much despair. Things go wrong and then worse.)

au with ben

cws: papparazzi hounding, stalkers, lack of privacy, blurring of self, drugging and [attempted] SA, physical assaults, self harm, overdose, medical trauma, restraints, seizures, ptsd, depression, suicidal stuff (including several attempts)

tags: #ari au

au rambles: [part I] - [part II] - [part III] - [part IV] - [part V] - [TBC]

au art:

downfall in three stages - here lake scene art - here

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Murder cannibal AU

… or the fucked up one where grian has a silly crush on scar and scar takes him camping. he’s showing grian how to hunt—a concept grian’s uneasy about, but scar’s so close, guiding his hand, so it’s totally worth it—when they get ambushed by a group of campers. they attack without hesitation, and while grian’s stunned and confused and scared, scar lifts his hunting rifle and shoots without as much as a flinch.

three bodies later, scar reveals that they were probably upset about "what scar’s done to their friend". and through the shock, things start clicking in grian’s head. oh. oh. he— he needs to run. he feels the eyes on him, feels the gun that’s surely pointing at his back now. scar’s just killed people and seems wholly unbothered. bile rises in grian’s throat together with terror and his body moves, scrambling to get away.

scar moves after him with ease, and after a bit of a chase, shoots grian’s ankle. he brings him into an isolated cabin deep in the woods, tying him up but also fixing up his injuries. grian’s terrified, and as days progress, scar nonchalantly lets him witness more death as he brings in people—sometimes still alive—to butcher up for food, staining the cabin’s floorboard with blood.

and somewhere along the lines, something in grian caves and gives in to this new messed up reality he’s been thrown into.

au put together with ben

cws: kidnapping, murder, all forms of violence, gore, cannibalism, a really fucked up cast of characters, mutilation, self mutilation, mind breaking, torture, major character death, fucked up concepts of love

tags: #murder cannibal au

*

Assassin AU

grian is an assassin, scar is elven nobility. one day, grian is sent to kill scar, which seems a simple enough job. except when they meet, they find that they actually know each other—they've met when they were kids and quickly became unlikely friends, with scar giving away a magical amulet to grian as a gift. (an amulet he still has.) scar was eventually found (turns out he was a noble runaway/lost kid) and dragged away, and grian never found out who he truly was or what happened to him and why he disappeared.

... until now.

now scar's life is at the tip of grian's blade, and grian finds himself conflicted, unwilling to kill the one person he's ever managed to connect with (even if it was years ago, and they've both changed beyond repair since). but grian knows that if he won't finish this job, someone else will.

so on an insane impulse, grian does the desperate thing and whisks scar away, uprooting both of their lives and exchanging everything they've known for a ragged life on the run.

except turns out, there's a reason why people want scar dead, and they're not going to give up the pursuit.

cws: blood and violence, mind control, being generally oblivious about life, survival scenario, murder, possible animal death

tags: #assassin au

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Misguided Heroes

scar is secretly hotguy, a hero meant to protect the people. grian is a shopkeeper at barge, but with self-proclaimed king ren wreaking havoc on economy and making life of ordinary citizens so much harder, he decides to secretly play vigilante, cuteguy, and stage a one-man rebellion.

also, scar and grian are roommates.

au with sima

cws: injuries, illusions messing with perception/reality, [to be determined]

tags: #misguided heroes au

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Grumbo apocalypse AU [monster horror AU]

mumbo wakes up to the world as he knows it gone. no more point to a routine office job, no more awkward neighbourly smalltalks, no more tired grocery shop runs. instead, the sky is bright white, the sun is black, weird glitchy reality rifts open up around, and death lurks in every shadow. amidst it all, the city is overrun by various monsters that shift and change and screech, killing off anything that moves.

when eventually one of them breaks into mumbo’s apartment, he does not move a muscle, completely freezing on the spot. it’s his lack of panicked movements that saves him in the end. 

the creature that’s crouched down in front of him, looking at him curiously, is grian. he’s existed long before the apocalypse, but the nature of this doom has scrambled some instincts and control, pushing his kind into a more aggressive, feral state. they’re shapeshifters, in the most literal sense of the word—their bodies are not a constant, instead a horrory amalgamation of various, ever-shifting things, squelching and skittering. 

oh, and they steal and mimic people’s voices; the captured and reproduced sounds are grian’s only method at human communication at the very start. (it’s mostly death screams. there’s not a lot of chatter when people see them in the apocalypse—)

mumbo somehow finds himself still alive after this encounter, and grian decides to be very protective over his new friend in the hostile world. they struggle to navigate not only the new landscape of the apocalypse, but also each other and themselves. 

au put together with ben

cws: apocalypse, body horror, identity issues, end of the world feelings, monsters, fear, nightmares, communication issues, mentions of death, violence, killer instincts, horror vibes

tags: #grumbo apocalypse monster au

ben’s masterpost: here

*

Ghost Scar AU

grian is a paranormal investigator. scar is a ghost. they meet, they talk, and grian resolves to do his best to make scar feel less lonely.

cws: dead character??? he's a ghost dw he's fine-

tags: #ghost scar au

fics: you exist in silence (i'll help you make a sound)

*

Silly vampire Scar

scar is a vampire living in a mansion too big and too lonely for him. grian and mumbo are survivors in a world riddled with monsters, which they learn to hunt and kill. one night, they seek shelter in what seems to be an abandoned mansion, only to find out there is a sole occupant in it: a strange, chippery vampire who's keen on keeping them there.

cws: general vampire and monster stuff, [to be determined]

tags: #vampire scar au

fics: [one day]

*

Cuteguy AU

scar is hotguy, grian is his sidekick cutecuy. one day, things go wrong and a building explodes with scar still inside. the body is never found. hotguy is presumed dead. that is, until cuteguy comes face to face with a new villain that is oddly familiar—

idea loosely bounced off of stiffy's TOGH au

cws: blood, violence, delusions, brainwashing, grief, loss of identity, presumed major character's death (twice. wild. huh.)

tags: #cuteguy au

*

Hybrid farms AU [respawn version]

with food growing scarce, hybrids have been separated from society, rounded up, and put into farms. they’re kept captive in inhumane conditions, slaughtered over and over again (thanks to respawn mechanics) to feed the general populace. 

grian was born in captivity, but briefly tasted the outside life in his teens, meeting mumbo. he was promised there’s a place he can be safe, but before mumbo could deliver on his promises, grian was recaptured and plunged back into the circle of tight spaces, pain, and death.

eventually, he manages to escape and makes it to hermitcraft, where he clingily attaches himself to mumbo. and then he meets scar… 

au put together with ben

cws: dehumanisation of hybrids, slaughter, captivity, repeated death, cannibalism, trauma 

tags: [none so far; this lives in our DMs]

*

Vex Hunger AU [kidnapping/griangst AU]

grian (avian) and cub (vex) get kidnapped and shoved in a little cell. they’re cherry picked for their hybridity, used without consent by unethical researchers who are eager to prove that vex hybrids should be given mob status rather than a player status. the method is simple: provide avian-suitable food, but nothing for the vex to eat, and wait until he starves enough to go feral, proving vexes are dangerous.

with respawns anchored in their little cell, they don’t have a choice on what happens next. 

they are eventually found and rescued by the hermitcraft crew, but not before the awful unstoppable circle repeats over and over again; they’re found huddled up on opposite ends of the cell, dried blood and viscera splattered in between them. 

the path to healing afterwards is rocky and sometimes it feels insurmountable.

au put together with ben

cws: kidnapping, captivity, hybrid dehumanisation, starvation, assault, panic, cannibalism, gore and death, self hate, loss of control, Trauma™, bad coping mechanisms, self destructive tendencies 

tags: [none so far; this lives in our DMs]

*

Dancing zombies AU [zombie whisperer scar AU]

it’s zombie apocalypse and grian, scar, and mumbo build themselves a little settlement, each of them playing a different pivotal role. mumbo’s in charge of security, defenses, and traps; grian’s in charge of building, scouting, and venturing out for resources; scar’s in charge of building upkeep, landscaping, animal keeping, and meals.

everything seems normal for a while, except… turns out, scar can talk to zombies. 

(and turns out, they listen.)

… this au involves grian’s fear (and distrust) of zombies, silly scams, zombie intel, misunderstandings, flowercrowns, dancing, scar building an amusement park full of zombie cast, and a death moat full of zombies that makes both grian and scar uncomfortable for different reasons

cws: zombie apocalypse, general zombie gore, panic attacks, assaults, survival scenario

tags: [none so far]

*

Papers please AU

what it says on the tin. scar lives with his cat jellie in a cold, small, state-provided apartment and gets assigned a job as an immigration officer at a border checkpoint. he... isn't great at the job, but doesn't have a choice, and needs the money to keep them fed and healthy. grian is the head of resistance, because of course he is <3

cws: dystopian world, cold, hunger, sickness, potential pet death, injuries

tags: #papers please au

*

Spirit AU

grian is an avian living freely in a patch of forest. that is, until he gets caught by people who think hybrids are on-par with working animals, and is shackled and hurt and trained, to serve. there is a looming war, and flight-capable carriers are very valued (but not much cared for). scar is a vex hybrid, coming from a settlement that's kinder to hybrids, who also gets captured. they meet in captivity, and things happen.

cws: hybrid slavery, hybrid dehumanisation, loss of freedom, abuse, warzone stuff

tags: #spirit au

*

DL rp AU

grian and scar in double life, soulbound and with vague memories of previous life games. their soul connection transfers not only all the pain and injuries, but also emotions. and they both feel. a little too much. (they're a mess, but also in love, as they should be)

au for rp with sima

cws: they very sad; self destructive tendencies (sorry there's no self in this one, they are linked and there's always collateral-)

tags: #dl rp

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Half sea town AU

a town half-submerged into the sea. the upper half is reserved for humans, who are seen as better, richer, the posh and the nobility. the lower half, the submerged part, is slum-like, reserved for seafolk, seen as lesser. many seafolk learn to live on land, to improve their standing (not necessarily living situation; they do need water). mumbo lives amongst the nobility. scar lived his whole life in the sea. grian, even though he belongs to the seafolk, lives on land. mumbo's best friend, forever trying to be something he isn't.

a crackers collective au

cws: er.. class divide?, self worth issues, needs denial in a way?

tags: #half sea town au

*

The underwater AU that somehow fails to have a name the first thing i ever posted on tumblr woo.

an underwater au set somewhere in the wide, deep sea. merfolks. mumbo is a prince, grian, jimmy, and joel are his guards. scar is a deep-sea fish, and tales say those are scary and horrendous and dangerous. (he's just a silly guy, pls)

stiffy/crackers collective au

cws: injuries, idk

tags: #mer au

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smaller aus/ideas:

last life scar: #post-ll scar's issues with touch

fixing double life scarian: #fixing dl au

puppeteer scar: #puppeteer scar au

cannibal scar/forest (the game) au: #forest au

life games king au: not on tumblr but i should tell u about it one day

...and more

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some other aus that i have yoinked and might have content for:

#space grian au - another au that belongs to ben. also burrowed my way in to this one. hehe. (ben none of your aus are now safe from me.)

#snifflins au - crackers group au, based on that one time jimmy and scar were piglinmynose, and joel and grian were sniffermyfeet - twisted into snifflers and piglin hybrids (snifflins!) in the aftermath, trying to get used to their new bodies and instincts and needs.

#desert alien scar au - belongs to stiffy

+ a whole bunch of others <3

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(if i missed any cws for any of the aus, please let me know!)

reinstating that if you're curious about anything, i don't bite! come ask!

[my AO3]