#naga dust but with a twist

[absent-enigma]

Lil something for a fic I’m about to start posting for tomorrow evening (after edits).

POV: you’re rudely tossed into a cell by some shady kidnappers, but there’s already someone there. Wyd

(Still on my bad guy sans kick-continuing to twirl mothman Horror around in my mind-but naga dust for this fic).

[happybird16]

•Chapter One•

Naga!Levi Ackerman/Fem!Reader

Summary: Growing up, the forest's edge always darkened the far corner of your small village. The giant, twisted branches overhead rendered the forest floor a terrifying, pitch black. You shouldn't be here. There's creatures here, dangerous ones.

Overall warnings: Past references to child abuse, blood, scars, gore, mystery, eventual sex, inhuman genitalia (Levi is a snake man), horror vibes.

Chapter warnings: Horror vibes, mystery

Chapter length: 3.7k

Ao3 Link

The most special of shoutouts to my beloved friend and beta @theferricfox!!!! Also, credit to @the-milk-anon for the snake banner!!

Note: Welcome to my spin on Mermay! I have roughly 7/12 chapters done-ish for this! Comments and reblogs are always welcome!! I could use the inspo to continue lol!

Next chapter

You shouldn't be here.

Giant, ancient trees tower above, their twisted and gnarled branches interwoven to create a dense, impenetrable canopy that blankets the ground in an engulfing darkness. These colossal trees are so massive that even ten people, hand in hand, would struggle to encircle their trunks. In the face of such enormity, you feel minuscule, like a tiny mouse in a vast expanse, overshadowed by the towering branches that stretch higher than anything you've ever witnessed.

In your childhood, the edge of this forest marked the distant boundary of your small village. As young children, you and your friends would engage in daring games, cautiously venturing beneath the green canopy one foot at a time. Each step toward the darkness held a thrill, with adrenaline surging in your ears and laughter bubbling in your throat. You remember playfully nudging each other to go deeper, whispering tales of monsters until the alarmed cries of someone's parents would bring the game to an abrupt halt. It was all innocent play, a group of children tempting danger and challenging one another to venture further into the ominous jaws of the forest.

The Maw.

Now, every step forward fills you with an overwhelming sense of dread. The childlike wonder that once fueled your adventures has vanished, replaced by a pounding heart lodged in your throat. The once enticing forest now instills a deep sense of apprehension and unease.

You're in The Maw.

It's named such because it is a place that devours all who dare to venture into its depths. It teems with perilous creatures, their forms etched in your mind with vivid clarity—claws that rend, teeth that tear, and the sight of crimson blood staining the ground. The inhabitants of this forsaken realm include both savage beasts and eerie abominations, a chilling blend of half-human hybrids, demons, and towering giants. While rare for these creatures to stray beyond the forest's edge into your humble farming village, the disappearances of unsuspecting villagers were all too frequent. Vanished without a trace, they would be snatched from their beds in the dead of night or plucked from the fields in broad daylight. Some incidents left behind gruesome remnants of carnage, while others left nothing but an eerie absence. The Maw's hunger was insatiable, claiming lives and leaving a haunting sense of dread in its wake.

“F-ffuck,” you stutter, fighting against a stiff breeze to keep the hood of your cloak tight to your ears. It's cold. Fucking freezing actually. With each labored step, your body fights against the biting cold that gnaws at your skin. The hood of your cloak strains against the relentless wind, desperate to shield your ears from its icy grip. The weather has turned unforgiving since you entered the forest.

What began as a serene sunrise, painting the sky with hues of pink and yellow, has given way to a harsh reality. The gentle dusting of snow beneath your feet has transformed into a thick, heavy flurry. The temperature has plummeted, sending shards of icy pain with every breath you take. The bone-chilling cold seeps into your very core, inflicting aches that reverberate through your entire being. Each step is an agonizing struggle, your weary knees protesting with every creak. It feels as though you've never walked this far before, the physical toll becoming increasingly demanding with each passing moment.

Can't go back. Can't go back.

In the relentless darkness, your sense of time has become distorted, making it impossible to gauge how long you've been journeying through this treacherous forest. It feels like hours, perhaps even most of a day, has passed since you first set foot on this path. The initial signs of caution marked your entry into this perilous realm, with wooden boards warning of the impending danger, are long behind you. The words "Turn Back" and "Danger" were hastily scrawled in bright red, urging you to reconsider your course. The last sign you recall, which feels like an eternity ago, ominously proclaimed "Death Ahead."

The biting cold has taken its toll, numbing your body and rendering your toes distant and fuzzy within the confines of your leather boots. The wind howls in your ears, drowning out all other sounds, but occasionally you catch the panicked shuffling of small creatures seeking refuge from the tempest. Every noise, no matter how faint, puts you on edge, heightening your anxiety with each passing moment. Progress becomes increasingly arduous as you press forward, battling against the biting cold and the relentless forces of nature.

The oppressive darkness seems to intensify the longer the day drags on, engulfing your surroundings and adding to your growing fatigue. You struggle to maintain your balance, feeling the weight of exhaustion in every step. The biting cold cuts through your clothing, seeping into your bones, and you tightly wrap your coat around yourself in a feeble attempt to shield against the frigid air.

With determination in your voice, you mutter to yourself, "Can't go back. Can't go back." Despite the numbing cold and the seemingly endless journey, turning back is not an option. You press on, summoning whatever strength remains within you.

As you trudge forward, a brief break in the dense canopy allows a glimpse of the sky above. However, there is no welcoming sight of an evening sky with its fading hues. Instead, a tumultuous scene unfolds with dark and furious clouds obscuring any sense of time. In the distance, the white-capped peaks of The Spine stand resolute, yet seemingly no closer than when you first embarked on this arduous trek. Doubt begins to creep in, and you repeat to yourself, "I can't. I can't."

But you have to. Of course there'd be a storm. Just your luck.

The bitter cold continues to gnaw at your body, its icy grip sapping your strength and resolve. Hopefully the weather convinced any hungry mouths to stay home. The storm raging around you adds to the foreboding atmosphere, amplifying your sense of vulnerability. You can’t help but feel a sense of grim irony that the weather itself might be the cause of your demise before any of the lurking dangers within The Maw.

Navigating through the labyrinthine depths of The Maw is no easy feat, especially without a clear destination in mind. The absence of a guide or a map leaves you relying solely on your instincts and determination. The path ahead remains shrouded in darkness, and uncertainty tugs at your thoughts. You don't even know where the fuck you're going.

Despite the doubts and the physical strain, you carry on, propelled by a mix of resilience and desperation. The legacy of fear and caution instilled by your village only adds to the weight on your shoulders, reminding you of the countless tales of those who ventured deeper into this forbidden territory and never returned.

The heavy snow has engulfed your legs, reaching up past your shins and creeping closer to your knees. Each step is an arduous struggle, accompanied by a resounding crunch and leaving behind a trail of deep boot prints in the snow.

The words escape your lips in a desperate whisper, “Shelter. Need to find shelter.” Your teeth chatter uncontrollably, and you hunch your shoulders in a futile attempt to shield yourself from the biting wind that threatens to knock you off balance. The hood of your cloak is pulled down as far as it can go, obscuring your vision, and you strain to see the path ahead. Forward is the only option. Forward is the only way to endure.

The Spine dominates your thoughts, an unwavering destination that holds the key to your quest. It is the mountain range at the heart of The Maw, and you must reach its base. There is no turning back, no retreat, not unless you find them.

The weight of the task ahead feels insurmountable, overwhelming you with a crushing sense of impossibility. The magnitude of the journey, coupled with the harsh realities of The Maw, fuels a nagging belief that survival is unattainable. The specter of death looms ominously, casting its dark shadow over your thoughts.

You're going to die out here.

An abrupt sound shatters the eerie silence, reverberating through the desolate expanse of The Maw. It resonates with a weight that sends shivers down your spine, amplifying your sense of unease. Instinctively, your hand reaches for the knife attached to your belt loop, its familiar weight grounding you in this perilous moment. It was your fathers hunting knife, the only thing you have left besides the clothes on your back and a small bit of supplies in your bag.

As your fingers clasp around the knife’s handle, a surge of adrenaline courses through your veins, mingling with the cold that permeates the air. The tremor in your hand betrays a mix of fear and the biting chill that surrounds you. Your grip tightens, seeking solace in the solid presence of the blade as you brace yourself for whatever lurks in the darkness.

Someone -something- curses in the distance. The distant swear cuts through the air, resonating with a chilling familiarity that freezes your very core. It echoes with a human quality, evoking haunting memories of voices that once whispered from the edge of The Maw during your childhood summers. Those beguiling voices, whether belonging to silver-tongued demons or ravenous wendigos, possessed a deceptive innocence, luring the unwary towards their perilous embrace. They wore the guise of familiarity, mimicking loved ones and casting their sinister spell.

But this time, the sound does not persist. It does not morph into the soothing tones of your mother's voice or the mischievous giggles of your younger brother. Instead, an unsettling silence descends upon the forest, amplifying the eerie stillness that pervades the surroundings. The once-constant symphony of rustling leaves and distant whispers is replaced by an oppressive hush, broken only by the howling wind that pierces your ears.

The skeletal branches of the ancient trees loom ahead, their gnarled forms resembling bony fingers reaching out in a macabre invitation. The forest, now stripped of its foliage, feels even more sinister, as if the very essence of its secrets and lurking dangers is concentrated in this barren landscape. Your instincts scream at you to tread cautiously, to be alert to the unseen perils that may lie in wait within the shadows.

Prey.

You have the sudden, panicky realization that you’re prey. The thought builds a solid, uncomfortable itch between your shoulder blades. Every fiber of your being trembles with the realization that you are nothing more than some predator's next quarry in this treacherous domain. The weight of vulnerability settles upon you like a suffocating shroud, your senses heightened to the point of hypersensitivity. There could be something hungry watching you in the distance, just waiting for you to tire yourself out. The notion of unseen eyes fixated upon your weary form fuels a primal panic, evoking a primal fight-or-flight response deep within your core.

Your fingers, numbed by the biting cold, clench around the knife, its presence offering a meager reassurance in this harrowing moment. With determined resolve, you steady your breathing, allowing each inhalation to calm your racing heart. One deliberate step at a time, you advance through the snow-laden terrain, your movements slow and measured, as if treading upon fragile ice.

Every crunch of snow beneath your boots feels deafening, resonating through the wintry silence. The haunting stillness amplifies the tension, heightening the suspense as you inch closer to the source of the disturbance.

It's a man, slumped against the trunk of a massive tree, his body partly concealed by the swiftly accumulating snow. As you cautiously draw nearer, you observe his disheveled state, lying motionless on his side. Your attention is immediately drawn to his coat, a patchwork of furs and skins stitched together from different animals. The garment stands out as peculiar, though it appears to provide warmth in this frigid environment.

There's someone else out here? The presence of another person this far into The Maw surprises you. Something along the back of your mind flares red in warning, reminding you of the possibility that this could be a trap. With this warning at the back of your thoughts, you proceed with caution, prepared for any untoward situation that may arise.

Knife held steady, you kneel next to his form. The snow immediately soaks through the material of your pants, burning cold against your skin.

With your knife still in hand, you carefully lower yourself beside the man, the icy snow seeping through your pants and chilling your skin. “Hey,” you call quietly, eyes assessing the stranger's face.

The thought crosses your mind: What if he's in a situation similar to yours? Lost and vulnerable in this treacherous wilderness, in desperate need of assistance?

Despite being unconscious, the man continues to shiver uncontrollably. His trembling is so intense that it causes the snow around him to tremble as well. The exposed patches of skin beneath his peculiar coat are inflamed, their bright pink hue indicative of discomfort. His features appear slack, his hair splayed out against the snowy ground, forming a stark contrast of black against white. You observe that his lips have taken on a slight bluish tint. Worry grips your heart as you implore, "Hey, you need to wake up. We have to get you up."

With mounting urgency, you observe the man's lack of response as his head remains nestled in the snow, becoming adorned with a delicate layer of white flakes. The sound of the knife slipping back into its sheath echoes softly, as your hands instinctively reach out to press against the stranger's shoulders in a desperate attempt to rouse him. "Hey, come on!" you plead.

Although his chest rises and falls with each shuddering breath, indicating that he is indeed alive, you still place a finger on his neck to feel for a pulse. It's slow, alarmingly sluggish compared to your own racing heartbeat. "Fuck! Wake up, wake up, wake up!" you chant urgently, slapping his cheeks with your gloved fingers. His skin feels unnaturally cold, even through the protective layer of your gloves.

As the man's eyes flutter open, his brow furrows with confusion, and he mumbles something barely audible. His head lolls back into the snow, and he shifts, his elbow digging into the snowy ground.

"Hey, hi. That's it. Look at me," you urge, your voice filled with a mix of concern and determination. You grasp his shoulders and gently tug, trying to encourage him to sit up. "Come on, you can't stay here. You need to get up. Is there somewhere warm nearby?"

His eyes finally open fully, revealing a glimpse of gray irises before they quickly close again. "No, no, no, come on!" you implore, cupping the base of his skull with one hand and using your other hand to deliver a firm but gentle slap to his cheek, attempting to bring him back to consciousness.

If he's here, there must be some sort of human settlement nearby. Somewhere warm and safe.

As you contemplate the possibility, your attention is abruptly drawn to your left by a movement in the snow. Panic grips you as you witness something massive and black emerging from beneath a thick layer of white.

"F-Fuck!" you scream, unable to contain your shock and fear. Your eyes widen as you realize it's a colossal snake tail, stretching out straight and partially buried in the snow. The unexpected sight causes you to lose your balance, and you fall back onto the cold ground, landing on your backside. "What the fuck!" you exclaim, your voice filled with a mix of terror and disbelief.

He's a Naga. An actual Naga, half snake half man. You've only heard of them in legends, tales whispered back and forth among the children of your village. Even in the darkness of the forest, his black scales glitter up at you like diamonds.

Stuck in your awe, now waist deep in the snow, you're suddenly reminded just how cold it is. Even with excited adrenaline making your limbs all jittery and sweaty, it's still freezing. The snow is falling more rapidly now, wind whistling through the trees to twist and warp their smaller branches.

Surging forward onto your knees, you move to cup his face yet again, intending to continue your prodding. If only you could get him up, he could save you both.

“Hsssssssh,” he hisses at you, teeth bared. His head doesn't rise, resting heavy in the snow, but a jaw full of sharp fangs widens in full aggressive display right next to your hand. Silvery eyes suddenly wide and alert, he glares up at you with a vicious heat, flaring a pointed tongue out to taste the air. “Hhhuman,” his nose curls up at the word.

The sight of his long, white incisors strikes cold fear into your heart. It brings you pause, fingers trembling against his pale cheek. “H-hey,” you start shakily, struggling to meet his gaze. His pupils are sharp, the thin pin prick lines of a predator. When he blinks, a thin translucent membrane precedes the eyelid, startlingly inhuman. You pause for a moment, your fingers still trembling against his pale cheek. Despite the fear coursing through you, you muster the courage to speak, your voice quivering. Meeting his gaze, you try to convey empathy and urgency.

“Hey,” you stutter, your voice barely audible as you try again. “I understand you’re wary, but we can’t stay here. It’s dangerously cold. We need to find shelter. Please, let’s get up and find somewhere warm.”

“Cold,” he repeats with a hiss. Claws dig into the snow by your knee. He blinks heavily, struggling, “Why…”

He’s clearly disoriented, prompting you to speak slowly and gently, trying to guide him to sit up.

“Come on! We need to find somewhere nearby, somewhere warm,” you encourage, tugging at his shoulders in an attempt to rouse him from his daze.

“Warm,” he mutters, eyes fluttering with a vague sense of recognition. Slowly, he rises, causing his magnificent, 20-foot-long tail to shake off the snowy coating. Its pitch-black scales glisten in the dim light, an awe-inspiring sight. “Nest.”

“Do you live somewhere nearby?” you inquire, keeping a close eye on his movements. Once he manages to prop himself up on the bend of his tail, he leans heavily against your side, almost toppling you over. With one hand on his back for support, you guide him forward, urging him to lead the way.

“Where is your nest?” you ask, hoping he can direct you to a warm and safe place nearby.

"Cave," he slurs, his voice muffled against your neck. As he stands upright, you realize he's slightly shorter than you. His heavy eyes close and open, struggling to stay alert. He trembles against your side, his senses keen as he tastes the air once more. "Human. Don't need your help."

The mention of a cave ignites a spark of hope within you. If there's a cave, it must be located on the edge of The Spine, nestled among the rocks on the mountainside. With renewed determination, you wrap your arm around his back, fingers pressing gently into the small of his waist. "Come on. Can you guide me there?" you implore, relying on his knowledge to find the refuge you both desperately need.

“Mhmmm,” he mutters nonsensically as his face burrows into the warmth of your neck, his cold nose pressing against your collarbone. He doesn’t respond to your question, instead leaning heavily against your side. “Warm.”

“Hey hey,” you pat his hip, trying to pull him forward as you take a step forward. “Don't fall asleep again. Come on, move with me.” He does, tail sliding back and forth through the snow behind your huddled forms.

The progress is slow and arduous, each step a struggle as you practically drag him forward through the snow. The falling snow obscures your vision, but you spot a faint path ahead, partially covered by fresh snowfall. The wide trail left by his tail serves as a guide, leading you deeper into the wintry landscape.

"Come on, almost there," you urge, your voice strained. The weight of his body feels overwhelming, causing your bones to protest with each movement. The biting cold sears your face and ears, and the wetness on your pants becomes a painful reminder of the freezing temperatures. You can only imagine the suffering the man at your side endures. His fur coat, now soaked through, adds to his misery, and you feel his trembling against your side. How long has he been out here, exposed to the elements?

Throughout the entire journey, the Naga’s delirious muttering continues against your neck. His words are incoherent, mixed with occasional hisses and the repeated mention of warmth. You even feel the wet brush of his forked tongue against your skin at one point. He clings to you, one arm draped across your back, fingers digging into your far hip.

“There we go,” you gasp, the strain evident in your heaving chest as you continue pulling him forward. The physical exertion keeps you warm, though having sweat-soaked clothes in the midst of the storm is far from ideal. As you near the base of The Spine, the path grows more treacherous. The rugged terrain, with its sharp rocks and hidden crevices beneath the thick snow, demands careful navigation. Each step becomes a deliberate effort, further slowing your progress.

The winds howl fiercely, swirling the snow around you in a blinding flurry. It’s difficult to keep your bearings, but you know you can’t afford to stop. The cave must be near, offering the possibility of respite from the harsh elements. You cling to that thought, pushing through the exhaustion and pain.

After what feels like an eternity, you catch sight of a dark opening nestled among the rocks. It's the cave you've been searching for. Relief floods through you, pushing you forward with renewed determination. With every ounce of energy you can muster, you guide the Naga towards the entrance. It's camouflaged amidst the snow-covered rocks, barely noticeable. The opening is a narrow crack in the cliff side, just wide enough for you to squeeze through.

You pull him in behind you, tugging at his arm. He manages to squeeze himself inside, and the moment he fully enters the warm cavern, he succumbs to unconsciousness.

[alice-angel12x]

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Born of unknown Stardust: (platonic) Lucifer x (???)Reader

{Summary}: The angles formed the world and all mortal life from dust. One day from the unknown the angels came across bizarre dust, that seemed to have a will of its own. It refused to be molded and shaped to the angel's will. So they cast it aside, till a certain angel got his creative hands on it.

(Pt: Prologue, ch.1, ch.2, ch.3, ch.4, ch.5, ch.6, ch.7 )

video sneak peek (1, 2, 3 )

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[vannyvancan]

Naga!Shinsou; one day out

I'm gonna fuckin cry i finally did this. This shit was planned for HALLOWEEN. AND I DID IT. This is small continuation for Fluff!naga shinsou thanks to @blossominglark 's ideas <3 I have no idea how this shit makes sense but here it is. Have some suspense from me :)

tw for: mentions of dark thoughts, NSFW (mastru-ahem) , female reader

It was just another day with the scout’s team, living out in the woods and exploring rain forests just like any other day. The manipulation of separating you from your scouts team that he executed s smoothly was like a blurry memory when you got brainwashed into now living with him..

Today he had you out of the den for much longer, even trusted you to go alone to pick apples and berries for yourself instead of him constantly watching over you. You had your doubts on that promise since his possessiveness was a strong suit, so you couldn’t help but feel like he’d watch you regardless of him being away.

„You're mine...“ His deep rumbling voice echoed in your mind when he had bred you, every sentence that escaped him had a venom attached to it. „You'll have my children.“

Your gut would twist with fear whenever he’d approach to you soundless, which probably gave you a seed of doubt.

Shinsou had grown rather accustomed of your presence as non-hostile one, but you didn’t. What he did to you, and whenever he touched you it felt cold, the memory of him doing things to you would resurface like a peeled off wound in an instant. The train of thoughts short circuited when you felt him behind. His hands resting softly on your waist and Shinsou just leering and looking down at the freshly picked berries and apples. Your breath hitched, a bubbling emotion just starting to boil up, but before you could ask what’s he doing, he started.

“Done with your food picking, Y/N?”

His touch, if it was that one of a lover it would have been sensual and attractive, but this was a touch of someone who’d used you for your body. Your fertility was all it mattered to him. You were so close to tears, with your knees buckled you hunched over the picked berries out of reflex. It was almost as if he already proclaimed himself to you as lover but never mentioned it.

The reoccurring image of you first meeting him had you in panic

“U-uh, yeah.” You cradled the apples and berries in your hands, nibbling on one as much as you could because god knows how much you have left before he diminishes your health over his priorities.

“Good… Follow me.”

Shinsou never liked to be touched and would rarely tell you to grab onto him to carry you. He was incredibly fast monster, but for you you’d notice he’d slow down just slightly for you, you still had to catch up though no matter how slow he slithered. His thick tail, with beautiful dark purple markings swayed ahead of you and you just happened to get distracted by a branch underneath your foot and stumbled forward with all the apples in your arms.

“Mpf-!” the apple that you were eating almost ended up choking you and you had to brace for an impact on the ground.

“Watch it-!” Shinsou’s tail moved in front of you and you ended up not falling but landing on the purple scaled meat of his tail. “You clumsy human, what’s wrong with you.” He snarled,

his cobra-like hood spread out just tiny bit at how threatened he felt. You winced back at his imitating figure. The hint of resistance in your voice apparent.

“I’m cold and tired-! Also barefoot, of course I’ll stumble.”

The pressure on you raised when you realize you shouldn’t really challenge a snake and you and pushed up against him slowly to compose yourself- You dusted your tattered clothing when Shinsou suddenly gripped your wrist with his hands.

“Wait-!” You wailed in protest

“You also kinda smell.”

He deadpanned

You looked at him confused; you could swear there was an undertone of something light in his voice. Was he giving you a small smile just now? You shook your head and as you were about to open your mouth, Shinsou immediately grabbed your legs and picked you up.

“Wha-! Hey!”

“Calm down, I’m taking you to the hot springs I know.”

He giggled at your little resistance. His strong arms holding you up with such ease as well. You took this time to look at his facial expression and features. He looked like a kid having fun, his purple eyebrows narrowed with focus, but his toothy smile showed his true boyish nature that you’ve never quite noticed before. You oddly relaxed at the newfound comfort. He smelled of lilacs as well, was he near the flower fields?

„Ew, you really do stink, humans are so disgusting.“ His hands tightened around you and brought you closer.

„Shut up...“ you paused, hesitantly talking back „...I wonder whose fault is it to keep me captive as well.“

He chuckles „You're right. But that's gonna change now.“ Inhaling in pure frustration you, had sliver of doubt creeping in your mind but that was about to cleanse from the moment you heard the soft murmur of water pouring nearby. As if it was washing you from the dark thoughts itself

„We're here.“

Passing by several branches unnoticed by any wildlife, he lowers his figure and sets you down on the soft leafy floor. When you arrived at the location, you were taken aback with the surroundings. Sound of waterfall and steam ran from even a while back as you were coming, but there was something up close that required to take several seconds of admiration of the smooth rocks, steamy air leaving the water and overall sound of the water running down.

„Aren't you gonna go in?“ He hovers above you

„Hey now!“ You protest, turning around to witness, somehow, his dumbstruck face.

It didn't give you ease at all to now undress in front of him, no matter what. You had to tell him to leave for a bit

„Can you come back later? I don't wanna be watched.“

The Naga monster inches closer, Shinsou was in such close proximity that left you now speechless, its not that you didn't find him attractive, it was just that the possibility of him taking advantage of you always present.

But he was kind with you so far, he wouldn't do anything terrible now, right? He cuffs your chin gently and you shiver.

„You sure you don't need protection?“

That fuckin' phrasing.

„Yeah, I'm sure.“

Shinsou's purple scales sway and find himself curling his long, thick tail nearby. Almost as if he was hesitant in uncertainty of your answer.

„Alright.“

He leaves, and you breathe in the sigh of relief.

...

As you took your clothing off, you place all your collected food down and happily stepped in the hot springs. Now letting the warm ripples wash away your worries, you started to plan out the rest of your evening on what you'll be doing. The warm water rippled down on the blurred out curtain in front of you as you squeezed the water from your hair and started massaging your sore shoulders and neck. It smelled nicely, fresh even from the surroundings.

'Shinsou, you did it on purpose did you?'

„Mmh...“ You grunted, the pain that was throbbing slowly faded away as you massaged yourself.

'You are mine...' The sudden from Shinsou echoed in your brain, and it made you shiver from the new annoyance, can't you just ever catch a break?

„What's going on in your mind Shinsou, why do you want me romantically now?“

The actions from today certainly proved to turn your mind around.

„Maybe I should give you the chance, and make you suffer like I did.“ Now twisted and turned rebellious to the concept, it was exciting to think about for sure. You rubbed your hands and stomach, the freshness made you hum and smile.

„Maybe I can make your tail curl like you did to me...“ You grinned at the imaginary scenario. You were on the verge of breaking and attempted suicide on several occasions, but not anymore, after the spent time together, you've noticed his character was like a water in this very hot springs. You can make him yours, instead of other way around.

'But then you'd just kill me... right?' You asked yourself in the blank silence

It was tiring, you were tired and just wanted to relax and have a nice time, maybe you wanted someone to tell you how good you've been, just a little bit...

Your hands start to trail over your body with the bare hands, massaging more of yourself as the water keeps tickling down over you, giving yourself a praise since no one else wanted to. Who would want a sheep that can barely protect for herself anyway,

Isn't that right?

Your eyes finally teared up, dropping the act now, your fingers mimicked the movements that of a lover yearning for a touch. Circling your nipples and slowly pulling on them until your other hand shyly made its way to your abdominal area. The emotions ran wild as you've only ever wanted to be loved by someone, the goal to being independent was long and lonesome and you've whimpered slightly at the loss of pride.

With your mind in a deep haze, having no trust in your shaky legs to sustain your body, you've leaned on the smooth rock as an extra support.

„Haa-h... mm.“

'G-god I want to run away. Please... I want to feel good.'

Your hand started playing with the nub of your clit, the circling motion made you sigh out and lean your head back. Moans escape you as you rubbed on yourself faster, and feeling of relief was bubbling up inside. Parting your legs more, you've bucked your hips forward slightly, preparing to let your finger dig inside of you.

„Please... Shinsou-“

'I want this to work. Please, just a release-'

Half lidded eyes in the hypnotic state from the steamy hot water made your senses run wild, the scent of arousal finally waiting to snap at any moment.

But that's when...

... You saw a dark figure standing right by the tree.

Gut wrenching scream erupted from your throat at the sight.

An unknown Naga was watching you from the tree the whole time.

You hastily jumping at the other side of the waterfall and started to make a run for it. The Naga saw it and tore down the branches on its way as he was chasing after you now, his face was unknown to you. His striking red eyes and blonde hair stared menacingly back at you.

After you tripped and fell, your figure shrunk more in the dirt now, crawling your way out from the spring, the screams of terror escaping you as his figure now towered over you. Now trying to kick him off, he stretched his hands out to you. You had managed to kick him several times, but he forced himself down on you as the waterfall kept running and muffled your noise.

„You're mine now.“ The red eyed monster growls. „That bastard should know better than to walk in MY territory like that!“

The smell of lilacs soon returns to overtake your senses. You knew you were safe and smiled.

How odd.

[obeymeluv]

Under Siege

The first and probably last time I will do something like this. It’s a choose your own adventure! This is like the set up; leads up to your first choice.

It goes like this: Set up -> choice -> ending.

Each choice goes to ONLY one brother, and maybe not the one you think ;).

Each choice has its own ending (one ending per choice).

I’ll make a mini masterlist as I finish the parts. I won’t be able to link anything, though. I tried to link things when I first started this blog and they didn’t work. They looked link but wouldn’t open up into anything.

I guess it’ll just help people find the choice they want? Sorry :/

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵ ︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

Imagine the Devildom being stormed by an outside army during the school year. It could be an army composed of secret children of the Demon King (Daddyvolo Sr.), or just different groups of lesser demons who feel they should have more power than they do. Think naga demons linking up with criminal lesser demons, summoners, dark elves, and dark fae. Just non-standard demons that are probably minorities in the Devildom or maybe used to call the Devildom home before it was solely for devils/demons.

Death comes by land and by sea. Some on creatures you’ve never seen before, some that were surely the inspiration for “And I looked and behold: a pale horse. And his name, that sat on him, was Death. And Hell followed with him.”

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵ ︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

Horror movies and apocalypse-style movies only kind of prepared you for what’s happening around you. It’s the first time you realize everyone really has been treating you with kid gloves. Out any window of RAD the sky is impossibly dark, the sky speckled with yellow and red---piercing eyes of creatures humans were never meant to see.

Probably the last thing you’ll see, because it is only when you realize how focused and murderous those eyes are that you hear the deafening sound of wings. Possibly thousands of wings. Hooves follow close behind, thundering across the land, and there’s a distinctly helpless feeling of being swallowed whole.

RAD, which is basically a castle, will be stormed and toppled.

A chorus of demon cries echo in the inky night, a sound that chills you to your core. It’s fear incarnate, something that strikes the most primal chord in your human body. The sounds aren’t human by any measure, but your brain translates the unmistakable I’m coming for you and the death therein.

Students with wings are unfurling them and warming up to shoot out windows in tornados of claws and fangs. Summoners are calling upon old favors from even older friends, pact mates that have served their families for generations. Others are casting charms on their friends and tearing pages out of books to cram in their pockets. Those capable of non-verbal magic are drawing sloppy sigils on anyone they can touch.

You’re struggling to recall any spell you’ve learned, to just not panic as you try to understand how everyone can be handling this so calmly. It helps being alive for thousands of years, doesn’t it? The absence of sirens or anything human-related that justifies the panic somehow makes things worse.  

You hadn’t been in the Devildom long enough to run any drills, but the demons around you seem to know what to do. You’re swept out in a wave of bodies, the general idea of moving out of confined spaces (the classrooms) into more open ones is most important right now. Bricks give away behind you—the demon forces are busting through the classroom walls. A haze of brick dust forms as students break off to fight or are physically separated by fliers. Someone in front of you is grabbed by a meaty fist easily three times the side of your head, and you’re surprised they have enough bite force to rip off a finger.

Between their bite and your terrified scratching, the student breaks free. You’re half-tossed by an impact that doesn’t quite break the stone. Or maybe that was a gust from nearby wings. Your head is spinning as you try to figure out who is friend and who is foe. Stone bits stab you in the hand as you stumble to your feet, tripping over one of the once-mounted iron torches someone tore off the wall.

Magic crackles in the air, a taste of lightning in your mouth. There is definitely fire, the burning smell seems to consume everything else. Your heart is pounding because any second someone will realize you’re just a human.

Will you be a war prize? A meal?

Your mind screams for you to summon one of the brothers. Any of them—all of them—but you can’t remember the words. You start running, lungs burning, and huge chunks of the incantation come back to you but you’re too scared to say them with your dry throat lest you summon something else. Two of the demons from Beel’s wrestling team force an orc-demon hybrid down and start tearing it apart with their bare hands.

It vaguely reminds you of the time the brothers idly mentioned choking demons out like it was nothing. Something is snapped off of it—a tooth? A horn? A claw?—and one hands it to you when they notice you’re still standing.

Anything is better than nothing for a human.

Your shaky fingers play along the thing—bigger than your forearm and almost impossible to grip all the way around—until your heart settles a bit. Your grip tightens, comforted by a semblance of preparedness. There’s chaos all around—screams of anguish, battle cries, spells firing off in the distance—and it hits you that no one would hear you if you cried out for them.

Hell, you can hardly hear yourself. The only reason you know your heart’s beating is because it takes up your whole body. You scoop up a fist-sized chunk of wall and duck a flying body as you try to reorient yourself. Something cuts across your back and the sting is enough to make you arch and cry out. Instinctively, you grip that chunk of wall and turn around in one swing.

It’s a demon with bloody claws and an unhinged jaw—part naga?—and you vaguely wonder if Beel can do that as you swing and keep swinging. Your brain is trying to focus and absorb everything at once. Did the blows land on its teeth or the face? Are you bleeding?

Something in you stops, captivated by the firelight and spells glinting in its teeth, and you’re gripped with absolute terror when you realize it paralyzed you. You looked at its eyes, not its teeth. Or maybe you were looking at its teeth and it moved its head down. As your hand grows heavy with the stone, your body relaxes into the tail coiling around and around your body. It lifts you towards its cracked, bloody teeth but before you’re swallowed something darts between you with lightning speed.

Blood sprays across your face and you don’t know if you wince or not. The snake demon falls one way, you fall the other way. Whatever it is, it sliced the demon snake’s throat and severed the tail just below your feet. Cussing and wriggling out of the coils, your heart stops again when you’re plucked from them like they’re not dead weight muscle. You’re grabbed by the front of your uniform and struggling to pull black-painted nails apart when gold tattoos catch your eye

Diavolo doesn’t apologize for the way he grabbed you, his blood-speckled chest heaving a little less than yours. His golden eyes shine with relief but no levity. It’s unusual and off-putting to see him so serious. So calm and calculating. Aware of the threads popping under his fingernails, Diavolo hauls you along like luggage as gold-tipped wings lash out like whips to clear the way.

He’s taken twists and turns as old as the castle itself. Ones only he knows, probably. The echo of chaos isn’t far away, and it won’t be long before someone finds the two of you. Diavolo pulls a female statue from the wall, setting it gently to the side. It melts into the section of wall, stone backing sliding away to follow it.

The bronze door looks old as time itself. There are several languages carved into it. He rearranges the languages until they resemble something you saw in Basic Sorcery and Sigils. “You’ll find whatever you desire here, and you’ll be safe.” Diavolo shoulders the door open, ignoring the dust and age that seeps out. You’re shoved unceremoniously into the room as he screeches at something down the hall; the very sound shakes your bones and is the epitome of do you dare challenge me? There are dull thumping sounds and crunching sounds.

Squishing sounds.

Then, nothing.

“I will come for you when it is safe. I do not lie.” He says through the door before absolute silence sets in.

You can’t hear as much from this room, whatever it is. It looked like little more than a storage closet, honestly. There were tables and shelves full of dusty things. Things in jars, piles of books, cloaks, sets of armor that seemed to span the centuries, and various weapons mounted along the walls.

The screams aren’t as loud but being separated and doing nothing is still hell on your nerves. “What if I want to help?!” you yell at no one, starting to feel the anger bubble up in you. You were angry at yourself for being able to do nothing besides run. Angry that you were stupid enough to fall for snake charms when the first thing Asmo told you was to never look a demon in the eye unless you absolutely trusted them. “WHAT IF I WANT TO HELP?!” you yell again, throwing the hunk of tooth-nail thing at the door.

The door groans on impact and your heart squeezes at the idea that you’ve somehow popped it open. Surely it would take more than that to undo Diavolo’s magic, right? What kind of room did Diavolo need to unlock with magic, anyways? The tooth-claw thing failed to leave a scratch but somehow you’ve awakened the languages again. They spin furiously and come together like mismatched newspaper ransom letters: Then pick

The room is alive. Books are sorting themselves, armor is assembling, and you squeeze yourself into a corner as all manner of items fly into the air. Tables separate from each other, leaving one to drag itself into the middle of the room. You approach to see a bejeweled dagger wrapped in red velvet and gold twine, an onyx necklace that shone with blue and green tones when held up to the light, a bundle of dried herbs wrapped in thorn braids, and a bramble crown flecked with gold and tangled in what appeared to be gilded bark gauntlets. As your hand hovers over the gauntlets a bow and arrow launches from the wall, skidding across the table and spinning to a stop.

You nudge them apart, too afraid to pick it up directly. Sensing space, a pair of strappy leather sandals walks from the back of the room and hop onto the table. Some kind of slip joins it, pouring over the shoes to reveal blades that had been coddled in the folds.

Wary of anything else coming to life, you browse the surrounding tables. Anything you reach for slides away. You try to pick something up and find it impossible. The mounted weapons hum in disapproval when you so much as move your hand over them. “Just the table then.” you say out loud. “Cool, got it.”

You look over the items again. There’s a dagger, a necklace, a bundle of herbs, a crown with gauntlets, a bow and arrow, and some magic shoes with accessories. Six things. “Almost one for each of the brothers,” you muse. Seven was a common theme in the Devildom, after all.

A beautiful gold sword drops from the wall and drags itself to the table. It has a celestial blue stone embedded where hit meets blade. The handle is wrapped in the same twine found with the dagger.

The door rattles violently and your heart leaps in your throat. Have you been found?!

It continues to rattle, and you can’t tell if it’s from the languages rearranging themselves or something trying to get inside.

NOW CHOOSE…

Time is running out. What do you grab?

[jackarychaoti]

Into The Maw.

                                                  - Music - 

“Jack?”

“Jack! What are you doing here? The Commander said you were asleep!”

All of Aurora had been up in an array of mixed emotions, most of the crew happy to see that Jackary was alive and yet all confused - Darnath had been very clear. The Emerald Dragon was to be left to sleep, quite possibly for eternity.  So what was he doing on the deck of the prized airship?

Icecrown had been cruel, but Aurora was there and it consisted of those that Jackary had been looking for.... mostly. There was his partner’s ship, part of the crew of The Naga’s Fury, his First Mate and yet no Darnath remained. The crew had been quick to direct him to Icecrown Citadel where Jackary would venture to but only after picking up a traveling buddy, saving her from the mundane chores and constant assaults on the Argent Tournament grounds.

Fast forward.

The very top spires of the Citadel where the frozen throne sat had been the landing point of the adventuring pair, the gathering nothing shy of curious. Onyx and Jackary had been crouched down behind one of the pillars, a plethora of Death Knights surrounded what appeared to be a shattered helm. The shattered helm. People Jack hadn’t seen in years were gathered, world leaders and even the Lich King himself stood side by side with a plethora of Death Knights. All he could think of was how promising it looked that Darnath could have been here. 

And then... That horrific energy that had been opened, swirling like a vortex around the separated crown churned, becoming severely unstable. Jackary had smelled the familiar scent, he knew his long-lost Dragonsworn must have been somewhere in the mess, but when so many had already been sucked into the portal, the torrential pull forced Onyx and Jack to lose their footing, hands grasped for each other to try and stay connected. Each passing second further dragged the pair towards the unstable vortex of a portal, claws dragged desperately along the ice as he tried to hold onto his grasp with Onyx yet he could feel her fingers slipping.

Within a spit second, he felt her fall away, his eyes wide when one moment she was there and then she was gone. “ONYX!”

He had asked if she was willing to die with him. If she was willing to make this sacrifice if something went wrong.

Something had gone wrong.

Darnath’s scent was in the portal, Onyx had just fallen into it and Jack was left with mere seconds to think it over on his next decision. If he had to follow his Dragonsworn into hell to find him and he had to march through there to find Onyx again? Fingers released from their latched spot in the ice, letting the swirling energies suck him up and into the mirrored reflection above. 

Somewhere in the transition, he went from falling up to crashing back down.

It all happened so fast that when Jackary hit the ground, he landed on his back, cracking the wing disc from the pressure and knocking the wind clear from his lungs. Dust kicked up, dry, hot air filled his mouth, making it hard to gasp for air. All he could hear were the agonizing screams around him, the pain on the very ground his skin pressed upon. It took everything he had to simply breathe.

Rolling over to take the pressure off his spine, the metal plates had absorbed a good portion of the fall but it was the last of his concern. Those wild eyes raised up to look around, where there had been ice was now churning pools of lava and souls crying in agony. Monsters, twisted and hideous, trudged through the dirt that was quickly starting to stick to Jack’s skin from a thin layer of sweat beading up in attempt to remain cool from the uncomfortable heat. He’d been someplace like this before and even then it was rather unpleasant - this was agony.

Hands pushed hard at the warm ground to ease to his feet, limping a few steps in order to collect himself and get a better view, that was until a shadow flickered across the ground and right over him. Perceptive eyes noted the change in light, forcing Jackary to look up into the skies. The vision was haunting as winged creatures, much like the black-feathered Val’kyr he’d seen prior were up in a tizzy, furiously diving down off in the distance in an array of visible attacks. Some even snagged some of the mortals that had made it up to either drop them from an impossible height or carry them off towards the bleak, twisted tower in the distance.

“Onyx..?” Giving a glance around, Jackary decided it was best to move and do it quickly before he was spotted. He truly was a sitting duck waiting to be taken to wherever the souls were being dragged. Where he thought he was being careful, Jack hadn’t realized that already he was drawing attention to himself and the scent of something unwelcome brushed by in the strange change of winds, forcing the goggled eyes to glance over his shoulder. In that split second decision, his vision was greeted with something sharp coming down at him, a set of black wings flared, rendering just enough of a silhouette for Jackary to know exactly what was swinging at him. A flicker forward and he stumbled into a full on run, the echo of something or someone in his mind.

“Ah, there you are... You escaped death once, but this time you won’t be so lucky.”

Feeling his heart race faster, Jackary continued to sprint across the rocky terrain, dodging bolts of some twisted element being flung in his direction. He’d managed to almost get a lead until a single step was misjudged, rendering him to fall into a thick stream of fog. Tumbling into the canyon, he was swallowed up by the rolling blanket.

Currents of fog whipped past him, souls crying as they were constantly swept away in the waterless river. The pain in his foot was enough to have Jackary look back from trying to at least sit up, his ankle twisted and malformed completely. Somewhere within the blur, the outline of the hunter following his trail lurked closer, closing the distance he originally had on it.

Panicked, Jack turned to snag at the soil, crawling across the barely visible ground until familiar figures appeared through the brief reprieves of fog.

Jaina. Thrall. Anduin. Fingers reached towards them, parched lips calling out but he couldn’t overpower the shrill cries of the dead. He was easily drowned out. In the dragon’s struggle to attempt his movements towards the running figures, a large rock  formed into view -- no -- a crash sight of parts. There had been a glimmer of hope that he could at least fade and hide behind it to get the winged creature off his trail, but before he could even reach for the metal, a piercing strike burned through his back, pinning him completely to the ground. 

Everything had begun to fade almost instantly, his mouth hung open to silently try and call for anyone listening and in his blurred state, his eyes raised just enough to look at what he had tried to hide behind. There, right in front of him, was the sigil of Atlas Company, the Aurora and Darnath’s emblem displayed proudly on the damaged hull. Not that it mattered in that moment, for he felt the cold hand of the end wash over his form, blanketing his body to bury it in that river of the damned.

A slow exhale and the world went black.

Mention | - @just-onyx - @darnath - |

[illusionsofdreaming]

Liquid Courage

Prompt: Drunk confessions

Notes: So it’s my birthday and I thought as a gift, I’d finish this prompt I’ve been looking forward to for a while. Fun fact: I don’t really drink much and I absolutely HATE dealing with drunk people but it was incredibly fun to write this nonetheless.

FT: Saizo, Gaius

Saizo: “You drink too much.” He growled as he steadied you from nearly tripping again. His eye narrowed and he took a deep breath to contain his withering patience when you giggled. He did not find the situation funny at all.

It wasn’t that Saizo didn’t understand or was immune to the desire to let loose from time to time, after all, he was known to enjoy the occasional cup of sake but he also knew when to stop. He hated clouding his senses, anything that might impede his judgement could lead to deaths.

But there was also one disadvantage in being the most sober one in a group of idiots. Babysitting duties.

“Stop. Stop!” He pulled on your shoulder, halting another fall. With an aggravated sigh he swooped to carry you in his arms. You clearly hadn’t expected to be manhandled so suddenly and had struggled against the new arrangement. “P-put me down! I can walk!”

“Stop squirming!” He hissed, tightening his hold under your knees before you could flail yourself off. He was surprised when you actually listened, settling down with nothing more than a laughable attempt at a petulant glare. He rolled his eyes. Small mercies.

He did not focus on the heat of your skin through the thin material of his uniform, the same way he did not focus on the way your breath tickled his neck. After this night Saizo was going to his lord to petition for all consumption of alcohol to be banned until the war’s over.

He flinched involuntarily when he felt something touch his neck and looked down to find you nuzzling like a kitten.

“Stop that!” He snapped, patience thinning as his hackles rose, a chill ran down his spine when you did it again.

“You smell nice.” You whined.

He glowered, face heating up as you did it again. “Stop that or I will drop you.” he growled as if for some reason, his threats would mean anything to you in your current state.

You stared at him and he stared back. “You won’t.”

His expression darkened. “I will.” He loosened his grip but you only tightened your arms around his neck, your legs clamped around him as you clung to him.

“You won’t.” You glared, your gaze surprisingly clear for one so clearly drunk out of their mind.  “Because you’re nice.”

Saizo halted in his steps, he met your daring gaze with bewilderment like you had grown two heads. Saizo has been called many things in life, none of them flattering, but nice was definitely not one of them.

“You know nothing about me.” he snorted resuming his journey, his arms unconsciously returned to their previous positions, supporting your weight without much thought.

“Yes I do!” You argued. “You’re a jerk, a meanie, a brick wall, a jerk, a... a...!”

There, were the familiar insults on his person.

“A big softie!”

“I am not a soft-“ he bit down on his words, angry, because he didn’t need to defend himself, especially not to you.

“You are!” You wailed. He glanced down in horror. Dragons are you tearing up?!

“You are! You’re a big, stupid, softie!” your fist thumped his chest in emphasis. “I know because I don’t like meanies and I like you!”

He nearly dropped you out of shock. “What?”

“You’re a meanie!” you grabbed his face. “You!”

“Whet gwo oph muai faef!” You’re crazy. Saizo decided. Absolutely mental. He reared back to free himself from your grip but you were hellbent on making his night worse it seemed. In his fight to drop you (damnit he’s had enough) and your determination not to get dropped, gravity swooped in at the last minute and won. The two of you fell down in a heap of limbs. When the dust cleared, somehow you ended up on top of him, pinning and straddling his chest.

There were tears on your lashes framing your eyes as you hiccuped and if it were any other situation, perhaps Saizo would’ve found it endearing. “Stop this nonsense and get off of me-“

“I’m lonely.” you hiccuped.

He froze.

“You hate me. You probably think I’m evil, or weird, or…. weird.” you emphasised the word with a wave of your hand like it made a difference. “You watch over me because I’m the eneh… enemmem… nenemey..” you frowned, and Saizo watched in morbid fascination as even more tears welled up in your large eyes. “..not friend. You hate me.”

He watched as you scrubbed at the tears on your face, missing most as they continued to bloom at the corners, a seemingly unending flow. He knew his actions are often interpreted as malicious but he never bothered correcting any assumptions. After all, he’s not obligated to explain anything to anyone but his lord. His job was his life’s mission and what others thought of him never bothered him.

But it seems things aren’t ever that simple. “…I don’t hate you.” He sighed. This was why he stayed away from others. People can find surprisingly complex ways to hurt themselves over nothing.

“No?” You whimpered.

It was true that when you first joined he had been suspicious of your true intents, but it’s hard to say when that skepticism changed into grudging respect. You dream of peace and unity and he had scoffed at your naivety. In his eyes you were nothing but sheltered royalty, spouting idealistic dreams founded within the security of four walls as you knew nothing of the true horrors of the world. Even if you weren’t planning on betraying them, he had expected you to fold upon realising the truth of war. That the realisation of pretty words such as ‘peace’ and ‘unity’ can’t be supported by dreams and vision alone.

Except, you didn’t.

Instead of despairing at the blood you must shed, you agreed and understood the necessity of sacrifices and paved the path, dragging everyone else along in your tailwinds, towards your vision. Such vague and faraway notions of unity and peace - things he believed could only be brought to fruition by the strengths and efforts of his lord - suddenly, he believed you could do it too.

“No.” Saizo doesn’t hate you and something in his chest twisted painfully when your face brightened immediately. Really now? He averted his eyes and ignored how his heart raced. “Get off, you’re heavy.” He grumbled.

“Mmmkay..” you giggled, and he rolled his eyes at how quickly your moods fluctuated. You paused awkwardly halfway through moving though and your next statement immediately drained all the heat from his face. “…I don’t feel so well.”

“No wait-“ He sat up as fast as he could- “Dragons! Not down the front of my-!!”

Gaius: “Who’d knew you’d be such a lightweight Bubbles.” Gaius chuckled as he guided you back to your tent.

“I’m not usually..mmm..” you were having a hard time keeping your head up and relied mostly on your companion to lead you the right way. “..mmaybe I had too much tonight..” you grinned and he laughed in response.

“Maybe.” Gaius agreed as he pushed aside the tent flaps. He eased you onto your bed and steadied your swaying by your shoulders. “You alright now?” He raised an eyebrow in amusement.

“Mmmmm Yeah?.. yeah.. of course.. thanks.. Gaius.” You mumbled and bent over to undo your shoes but your fingers were having a hard time finding the strings until gentle hands batted yours away.

“Don’t hurt yourself Bubbles.” the thief laughed as he helped you unlace your boots. “In your current state you probably won’t recognize your own name.”

“_____________.”

He glanced up in surprise, not expecting you to actually respond to his jest. Your cheeks were flushed from the drinks but the look in your eyes was somber.

“It’s _____________.” You whispered. “The one thing I had even when I forgot everything else.”

“Right, of course.” He swallowed past the lump in his throat, forcing out a laugh. “Cheer up Bubbles, it just means you get to rediscover the joys of finding your favourites again.”

“Hmmm really?” You sounded dubious and he flicked your nose lightly.

“Yeah like your favourite animal?”

“Dogs.”

He grinned at your instant reply. “Favourite pie?”

“…Chicken?”

“Are you asking me?” he laughed at your confusion. “I’m more of a dessert pie guy.” He  set aside your boots. “Favourite color?”

It was a habit of yours to nibble on your lip when you’re puzzling through a particular difficult problem and Gaius found it charming in a way, that such a simple question in your current state would trigger your unconscious habit. Your eyes strayed around your vicinity searching for a clue and he knew you found it when your eyes brightened and your lips twitched in a satisfied smile.

“I think it’s red.”

“You think huh?”

“Yeah..” you mumbled and your fingers reached out and patted his head. “Red.”

“I ain’t gonna wag my tail for you Bubbles.” He laughed brushing off your hand which had begun twisting strands of his hair distractedly. Your pleasantly buzzed expression wasn’t a common sight and Gaius made sure to remember the details of this moment - for blackmail purposes of course. It wasn’t often one got to witness Ylissean’s all famous tactician let down their guards, for once free of the stress and burdens of war. You’ll probably answer anything at this point. A devious grin slipped onto his face.

“Say Bubbles,” He drawled lazily, catching your attention. “You wouldn’t happen to know where Lissa stashes her honey cakes?”

Your smile was equally lazy with contentment, and this, he decided was definitely an improvement from the pitiful expression you wore earlier. “Yeah... it’s in the condiments box...within the ugly green sugar tin,” your nose scrunched as if the memory brought a bad taste to your mouth. “.. a removable partition underneath.”

Jackpot! Gaius couldn’t keep the victorious smile from his face as he patted your head in reward. “Thanks Bubbles. Lifesaver you are.”

“Save me some?” You pouted and Naga would strike him down should he refused those puppy eyes.

“Alright,” he acquiesced, “Teamwork and all that right?” He secretly wondered if you’ll remember this deal come morning. He decided to distract you.

“You’ve got a crush on anyone Bubbles?”

“Mmmm….yes.”

“Oh?” he grinned, “Someone caught your fancy eh? Who is it?”

You glanced at him blearily, your smile stretched into a wobbly grin as you giggled. Cute. “Something on my face?” Gaius smiled, eyes half lidded with fondness.

“I like..” you smiled.

“You like…?” he prompted.

“..I liiiiike..”

“Yeeeees?”

In a surprising feat of agility you leaped at him and although startled, Gauis reacted instantly, lurching forwards with wide eyes to catch you. His knee knocked on the bed post but he barely registered the pain when your next words, muffled in his shirt set off ringing in his ears. “..you, silly!”

He righted you immediately - and felt a little guilty when you looked a little green from the abrupt movement - but he couldn’t ignore the panic that clutched his heart at that moment. He must’ve misheard. Surely you meant someone else- he had expected to hear Blue’s name, or kind hearted Padre, perhaps even the women fearing swordsman from Ferox- but him-

His heart was galloping like he’d just consumed a bit too much sugar and the ringing in his ears were deafening. “You,” his voice faltered and he tried again, firmly this time. “You shouldn’t like bad guys Bubbles.”

“Don’t you dare insult him!” You kicked out and it connected with his shin, Gaius doubled over with a yelp.

“He’s a good man! A real good man! Not like you, you villain!”

“You just contradicted yourself there..” Gaius groaned as he rubbed his offended limb.

“I will not have you slander him.” You huffed and Gaius snorted. Boy, if only you knew the colorful names others had for people like him.

“What’s there to like about a criminal Bubbles?” He challenged, a bit miffed because for being the smartest person in the army you sure have dubious taste in men. “There are better people out there worth your attention.”

“It’s bad to judge someone by their past.” You declared. “I’m Plegian does that mean I’m scary and plotting the fall of Ylisse?”

“You’re plenty scary as is.” He barely avoided another kick to the shins. Right, you’re not in your right mind right now. If only his filter would remember.

“Everyone has something in their past they want to keep secret and nothing’s wrong with that. He might be cunning and sneaky and a trickster, but at the end of the day, he’s the one who’s taking the jobs no one wants.“ There’s a glimmer of tears in your eyes and they truly have come full circle now. “He’s the kindest, gentlest one in the army and I like him.”

Gaius wilted, truly torn. For someone trying to convince you find someone better (because there’s always someone better, someone without a scarred record, someone who isn’t guilty and bore physical mark of their crimes) for your own good, he was feeling like scum doing so.

“You really do don’t you?” he sighed, reaching out ruffle your hair. Silly fool.

“He smells really nice too.” You added as an afterthought.

“Why do I get the feeling the latter matters the most to you?” He asked wryly and couldn’t help but grin despite himself when you blushed.

“Alright, I give.” he grumbled but it had no heat as he flicked your forehead. “He’s the nicest and coolest, like a cuddly teddy or something.” A cuddly teddy with knives on its body and well versed on the ways to end a life from the shadows. Villain. He nudged your shoulder lightly and that was all it took for you to tilt over and flop sideways on your bed.

“Yeah, pretty squishy.” You agreed with a sleepy murmur, you were barely keeping your eyes open at this point.

His eyebrows rose, “I’ll have you know I’m fighting fit. Not even one bit of squishy on me.” He tucked you in and grinned as he watched you snuggle deeper into the warmth.

“…suuree…” you murmured. “..not.. one.. biiiit…”

He watched as your breathing slowed and the slight crease between your eyebrows loosened. “____________?” He tested softly. When no reply came he finally allowed himself to relax and lean back, settling his weight on his haunches as he ran fingers through his hair.

“Guess what?” He mumbled softly, “I like you too.” Even though he’s the last person who should. Even though he doesn’t deserve happily ever afters.

But after all he’s heard this night… He stood up slowly and stretched his body. “I’ll give it a shot Bubbles. Work to become the man you think I am..” How could he not at least try?

He brushed your hair back gently before turning and leaving your tent. “Sleep well ________.”

[the-east-art]

Easts Story Ideas

Just so lots of these are in one place. Not comprehensive. I’m hoping this will help with my anxiety. Go under the read more and see why I’m losing it literally all the time. 

WTGP - Kyle, a college drop out, accidentally gets sucked into the magical underground of his town thanks to his housemates. 

The Rovers - Four humans travel across space back to the Local System (the Solar System where humankind originated from). A short story. 

A Nether Time - The life force of the world is dying, so Silas journeys to the other worlds in an attempt to find a solution. Timeloop.

Supernaturalists - When Briar gets shot, his heart stops. And then starts again. Starting from that day, his hair turns green, his eyes turn red, and he develops incredible powers. 

The Dragon House - a set of pre-teens find themselves in the forests of Maine brought to the Dragon House, needing to find out what is wrong with the mana of the world. 

Ghost Squad - A group of college friends come together to form a ghost hunting, paranormal investigating team. In the process they get in over their heads, and things go south. 

Reprise and Repeat - The year is 1965. After the death of her uncle, Sen becomes the owner of her families estate. Returning back to her family after spending years in an orphanage, Sen learns to inherit the family magic that rests inside of her. (In truth mostly brownies story idea)

Project Babel - Two girls are chosen by their people to control two giant and powerful robots in an attempt to kill the cruel god that rules over them. 

In The Eye - A girl gains extraordinary abilities by aligning herself with a magic source, until she discover its’ true nature (in very rough stages). 

Children of the Sea - The strange children of the sea become lost on land and must rely on the kindness found in the worlds people to finish their journeys (in very rough stages)

Cumulus - In a post-post apocalyptic earth, Dmitri is the last of the cloud boys, cowboys that were sent to the skies to watch over the clouds that take the form of horses. One stormy night the entire team of horses is taken and he falls from his land in the sky. Airren, a boy from the land, finds him, and journeys with him to repair things. 

Wires Twisted Like DNA - Red, a young prodigy, created the first AI robot, named Twone. Years later, they create the second AI robot, Delta. Twone struggles to deal with envy and the concept of siblings. 

The Stars - Zvezda, an intrepid space explorer haunted by a ghost, journeys as an independent thief across the universe. (in very rough stages)

In Our Shadows - A mother makes a pact with a demon in order to keep it away from her son (in very rough stages)

To Stumble - After the death of her parents, young Lily is sent to live with her college age cousin Kay, who now has to juggle school and teaching the family magic to his younger cousin. 

Cinder and Ash - A Cinderella story where Cinder is a boy and works in the stables, accidentally falling in love with the prince. (a verse novel)

Snow Queen - (there’s nothing here, but I want to do an adaptation of this story)

The Barracks - The chosen one is missing, sent to earth to prepare for the battle in three years. But this isn’t about him, this is about the birth and the fight of the rebellion in the years while he is gone. 

And We Forget Ourselves - When you turn 18, you forget your childhood (in very rough stages, probably a short story)

How High Must Men Pile Mud To Ask God A Question And Get An Answer

The Mother and The Beast - Kaviron gives birth to a child destined to wreck havoc on the land. But she cannot bring herself to kill him, so instead she raises him, trying to keep him safe from those that would harm him.

Retrograde - the planet is hurt and loses it’s long term memory. This results in a world wide time loop. A rag tag group (Including a lawyer, an old man, and a kid who works at Chili’s) must find out how to heal the memory of the world. 

Space Dust - A rag tag space group each has a reason to break into a highly protecting space facility (in very rough stages, a podcast)

Road Trip - A handful of preteens and young teenagers are charged with saving the world. They need Casey for one reason - she’s old enough to drive. 

Little Red Wolf Slayer - Little Red Riding Hood takes up a sword and goes to save other folklore characters, while also searching for someone important to her. 

Horse Crew - A group of horse girls (in very rough stages, only characters)

Law of Pelts - Selkies (in very rough stage, only characters)

Candle Queen - (in very rough stages, only characters

Silk Skin - A Naga and a young researcher fall in love (In very rough stages)

Frog Cadet - (in very rough stages, only characters)

Hello, it’s me, the space station - after seeing their crew in danger from human enemies, the space station accidentally creates a robotic body for itself and breaks through any programming blocks they had (in very rough stages, only characters)

Libra - (in very rough stages, only character)

Marina - The story of five friends who spend the summer on a house boat and the surrounding area. About facing the future, learning about the past, and the uneasy feeling of summer. 

Moodboard Characters - just a set of characters I made up from moodboards a while back

Exulansis - a series of short, wordless comics about different people solving the problems of different worlds. 

Eat Crow - The story of a crow girl with a sword (in very rough stages, only characters)

Inktober - characters from inktober prompts

Letters From No One - A boy is put in charge of delivering letters from the afterlife to the living

In The Rubble - Surviving in the apocalypse (very rough stages, only characters (caterpillar girl))

Breeze - a man and the soft fairy that accompanies him (very rough stages, only characters)

Mystery Dungeon The Comic - more of an honorable mention, an adaptation of Pokemon Mystery Dungeon. 

Emily and Paxton - A witch and her familiar (very rough stages, only characters)

Of Magical Things - a hunter moves into an apartment building that is well known for hosting magical creatures and people in hopes to infiltrate and destroy them from the inside. She poses as a witch, and things get sticky when she starts to actually become one (very early stages)

Up Old Hawk Road - (Supernaturalists side story) Lynn lives in a home full of other supernaturalists, wander the property, and falls in love with a boy. Now how to keep the true nature of her ‘family’ a secret from him.

Arius and Enoch - two brother (very early stages)

Lady of the Estate - the many murders of Lady Macbeth (preferably a series of painting exploring the character)

Aerodynamic - The story of superheroes, human experiments, and found family. 

The Sun Warrior - fighting until she is burnt out (very early stages, only vague concept)

Stardust - after fighting the darkness, a deity falls to the planet, becoming a young child. 

[video-killed-the-radio-host]

Nurture and Nature ch 6

Earl stares down at the rock in his hand. They could track this right? Get him back? He flinches when there's footsteps behind him. He's unarmed and doesn't have much training in true self defense. He grips the stone tightly and looks up. A little tension falls from his shoulders when he sees it's just Magnus. 

"Magnus…"

"We should go back to court and regroup."

"No." Earl shakes his head and stands. "I need to go after him."

"Earl that's a horrible idea."

"It's my fault he was out here." Earl looks at the taller man. "I left him alone. I have to get him back."

"Okay we'll-" 

"No." Earl interrupts. "You should go back to court. Tell Carlos what happened. I trust his judgement."

“What are you going to do?”

“FInd him.”

“You can’t go after him on your own. Earl use your head.”

“I have to. Magnus please.”

Magnus sighs. This was  going nowhere. “ALright. How about a compromise?”

“What do you mean?”

“I will go back to court and tell Carlos. And then we will meet you in Farois Na Greine. No further. Understand?”

Earl sighs but nods. “Okay.” 

“Be careful.” Magnus hands him a dagger. “You need something to at least attempt to protect yourself.” 

“Thank you.” Earl says softly. He slowly follows Magnus back to the camp and gathers his bedroll and basic supplies. He considers taking the horse but decides against it. He didn't want to risk her getting hurt or killed. He takes a deep breath. This is his fault. He brought Kevin out here. 

"Farois na Gréine. No more than four days." Magnus puts a hand on Earl's shoulder. 

Earl nods. "I'll see you there. Be careful."

Magnus laughs. "You don't need to tell me that."

Earl offers a smile before gathering the few supplies he was taking. Farois na Gréine wasn't very far but it wasn't close either. It would take at least a day and a half if the weather was good. It looks good so hopefully it stays that way. He just hopes he can make it before the High Moon begins. They had maybe a week, at the most. He looked down at the Seod Réalta and it seemed to glint at him teasingly. He scowls and is tempted to throw it. But he can't do that. It's his one link to Kevin. Instead, he puts it in the pocket of his pants. Adjusting the bag on his back, he keeps walking. 

The path is less worn  the further away from the campsite he gets but the forest seems to be working with him rather than against him. Sunlight filters through the leaves and lights his way well enough. 

-----.-----

When Kevin wakes  up, his ankle is throbbing. His head hurt and he could hardly see. He tried to move but found himself stuck. He twists his wrist and white hot pain shot through his arm before the burning starts. Iron. He grits his teeth and feels hot tears start to stream down his face. He can't scream as he doesn't have a voice. He tugs on the shackles holding his arms up, which makes the burning worse. His wrists were already an angry red and starting to bleed. Was Earl here too? Is Earl even still alive? He should have died the last time he was taken. 

A shuffling somewhere to his right made Kevin stop struggling. He stops breathing and listens. Is this where he truly dies? Nothing happens and Kevin slowly lets his breath out. He goes back to uselessly struggling against the chains. 

A few minutes later, the shuffling starts up again. Kevin freezes. This is where he dies. Earl… But if he dies now he can see Charles...Donny..Mika… 

Kevin closes his eyes, accepting his fate.

“Excuse me.” A soft voice says. “Please don’t be dead.”

Kevin opens his eyes and finds himself looking at a woman with short brown hair and green eyes. She had flared ears similar to Cecil’s and scales along her neck and exposed shoulders. Not human. Some of the tension falls from his shoulders. From the looks of it, she’s a Siren....and another prisoner. Why isn’t she shackled? Did they already break her?

“Sit still.” She says softly. “I’m going to help you okay?”

Kevin’s eyes track her as she moves closer. She hisses when touching the shackles but a few minutes later and Kevin can lower his arms. The woman comes back into view. 

“My name is Lauren.” She keeps her voice soft. Maybe she can’t speak louder. “I’ve been here for about two years.” Her eyes roam his chest and for the first time Kevin realized he had been stripped down to a pair of threadbare leggings.

“A Seal of Silence…” She murmurs. “You must be the Fae the humans keep talking about. I’m so sorry.”

Kevin blinks at her.

“They want you dead.”

-----.-----

Earl is starting to feel lost when he finally starts to see signs of civilization. He finally made it. Hope started to fill his chest. That hope dies as he gets closer. Most of the buildings  have been destroyed in what was clearly an ambush.

The town is mostly gone and that made finding the castle easy. He starts toward it but comes to a stop next to a field between what was left of the town and the road leading to the castle. The field had been converted into what looked like a graveyard. The graves appeared to be dug in a hurry and because of that, they were crudely organized and marked with a variety of flowers. Earl sighs softly and starts up the path. What happened here…?

The walk to the castle was slow and quick. Earl approaches the heavy doors. The castle looks mostly intact but there’s no sign of life. He pulls open the door and steps inside. “Hello?” He calls. His voice echoes off the stone walls. He starts down the long hall but comes to a stop next to a painting. It was covered in dust and faded due to sunlight but he can make out the two figures. One was a Naga with a red tail. He was tall with dark skin and kind eyes. The circlet on his brow indicates he was clearly royalty. The other person in the painting was….Kevin. He looked happy and he had his wings. So this is where he was from….

Earl had started to lean forward to study the painting more when a dagger zips past his cheek, pinning his shirt to the painting. He twists around and finds himself face to face with a stranger with short blue hair holding a long thin sword to his throat.

“Who are you?” They demand. “What do you want?”

[monstersandmaw]

Ko-fi commission - male mongoose monster + male naga x reader (sfw)

Edit which I’m including in all my works after plagiarism and theft has taken place: I do not give my consent for my works to be used, copied, published, or posted anywhere. They are copyrighted and belong to me.

Whoooff! This was a great prompt from a while back, which then turned into a ko-fi commission! 

So, here it is! Sfw, featuring one feisty, grumpy little mongoose, and a snek who’s not prepared to put up with his shit... and a gender-neutral reader.

You rarely cursed, but when you felt your ankle go, sending you sprawling to the gravel of the trail with a sharp cry of surprise and pain, you definitely let out a curse. The river gushed away on your right, frothing and a beautiful bright blue as it churned at the base of the limestone cliff on the far side, while the dry pine needles of the evergreen forest scented the air on your left. The crack of a breaking twig set your heart lurching into a wild rhythm and you scrabbled frantically to sit up. When you saw the short, feisty looking, lean creature come poking its way out of the trees, you relaxed a little. These mongoose folk were rare, but the weren’t known for attacking humans.

Well, you relaxed until you realised that what you had at first taken for walking staff was in fact a guandao: a pole weapon with a large, curved blade at the top. The reason you hadn’t recognised it as a weapon was because of the leather wrappings bound tightly around the blade.

He seemed as surprised to find you there as you were to find yourself on the floor, and his golden eyes went wide at the sight of you, while his brindled fur, which had dark shadows with coppery and golden flecks, stood up on end in alarm. He walked upright on his hind legs, standing at perhaps just under five feet tall, his modesty covered by simple fur and leather, and he stared stupidly at you for a moment before shaking himself and approaching slowly. His movements were twitchy and nervy, his little ears flicking back and forth, but his voice was confident and quiet as he asked, “You alright? I thought I heard you fall.”

“I think I hurt my ankle,” you admitted, rotating it experimentally and wincing. “It’s just a twist, nothing serious, but I don’t think I really want to walk on it yet.”

“Maybe it would help if you dipped it in the river,” he suggested, his eyes darting to a boulder that jutted out from the path into the gushing water. “It’s cold with melt water at this time of year. I’ll help you if you like? I’m Tavi, by the way.” He grinned and you saw some sharp little teeth, and then he laid down his weapon at the edge of the path near the top of the gentle slope leading down to the river.

Accepting his help was surprisingly easy. Tavi was deceptively strong considering his lissom body and slender appearance, and it seemed to take no effort at all as he hooked his arm beneath yours and hoisted you cheerfully to your feet and half carried you down towards the water. He nattered away about the river and the forest and the uncommonly pleasant weather of late, constantly chirping on in order to distract you from the shock of the water on your inflamed ankle and the pain of the joint itself.

It worked, and just as you had opened your lips to thank him for his sweet kindness, he stiffened, nose in the air, his fur bristling all over, and a high pitched, intense growl sounded in his throat.

“Tavi? What is it?”

“Shh…” He began to breathe more rapidly, his chest heaving as he snuffed the breeze. “Naga,” he finally hissed. “Stay here. Don’t move. I’ll be right back.”

“Tavi!”

But your new friend was scuttling up the bank through the tall grass on all fours, even as you stood clumsily and yelled after him.

The bank was not steep, still affording you a good view of the path, and as you watched him, he stood upright again, snatched the covering from the guandao, and took up a fighting stance on the track. His delicate hind paws dug into the grit, and he snarled, thrashing his little bristling tail back and forth. You couldn’t even see a naga, but he was so clearly agitated. You knew that his kind and nagas were mortal enemies, having waged war on each other for centuries, but it saddened you to think of them fighting right there in front of you. Naga, however, unlike Tavi’s folk, were frequently extremely hostile towards humans.

A figure slowly emerged from the shadows of the trees a few moments later, and drew up short at the sight of the creature confronting him with a weapon. “Easssssy,” he hissed, holding up pale hands.

Your eyes widened. He was beautiful. His skin was two toned, his back and shoulders being inky black, as well as the upper side of his tail, while his human chest and stomach, and the belly of his tail, were a warm, creamy ivory colour. His face had the sharp, serpentine features of all naga, and his orange eyes bore the vertical, slit pupils familiar to you from others of his kind. The smooth skin of his face was mottled black and cream, and his glowing eyes darted straight over to you the moment he noticed you staring at him. Tavi took the naga’s distraction and pressed his advantage, jabbing the weapon forwards.

“No!” you screamed, and in the split second your cry reverberated off the rocks and trees, the naga darted backwards, drawing himself upright and hissing defensively. As he did so, two large frills puffed out like a cobra’s on his neck, and he began to weave slightly from side to side as his opponent readied himself for a fresh attack.

“Come to feast on helpless prey?” Tavi snarled, darting in and bouncing back again.

“I heard a ssssshout,” the naga replied in a soft, lisping, susurrating tenor voice, never taking his eyes off Tavi. “I came to invesssstigate. Pleassse, I didn't mean any harm.”

“A likely tale,” Tavi sneered. “You’re here for an easy meal. You’re vile scum, all of you. Heartless, soulless, venomous worms the lot of you…” He lunged for the naga with a whirling, spinning attack like a dancer, and in defence, the naga brought up his tail in a wide arc. The thick, supple muscle connected with Tavi’s midsection and he flew, winded, to land heavily in the dust a good ten yards away from where he had been standing.

“Stop it, both of you!” you screeched, standing painfully. “For goodness’ sake! Stop it!”

And to your immense surprise, they did.

Tavi picked himself up, brushing bits out of his coat, and turned to glare at the naga. The naga, however, lowered the cobra-like collar and turned to you. “Are you alright?” he asked shyly.

“Yeah,” you said. “I just twisted my ankle, like an idiot… Tavi here suggested I soak it in the cold water to help any swelling.”

The naga smiled. “A good idea,” he said softly, and then he looked up at the sky. “It’ssssss going to rain,” he murmured.

“No it’s not,” Tavi countered immediately.

The naga sighed and rolled his eyes. “It issssss,” was all he said as he began to slither away. With gasp you noticed that the blade of Tavi’s weapon had nicked his shoulder, and blood was slowly oozing down the sculpted muscles of his arm.

“You hurt him!” you glared at Tavi, but the mongoose only shrugged.

“Sure I did,” he laughed. “He would only have shot his poison at me if I hadn’t.”

The naga turned, eyes aflame with indignation. “I came here to help, you little ssssshit,” he fired. “To help! How dare you accusssse me of anything. You attacked me!”

“You shouldn’t have tried to sneak up on me!”

“You didn’t have to attack me on sight!” he blared back. “You could have waited!”

This was ridiculous. As the first few spits of drizzle hit your cheeks, you clenched your fists and gritted your teeth. The other two fell silent the moment you began to climb up the short bank, bravely ignoring the flare of hot pain in the joint each time it bore your weight.

“Wait, what are you doing?” Tavi asked, plainly baffled. “You shouldn’t be walking on it yet…”

“I’m sure as hell not going to sit here and listen to you two insult each other to death,” you said. “Besides,” you added, looking at Tavi pointedly, “It’s raining.”

“But… where are you going to go?” the mongoose asked, deeply concerned, his little ears all pricked forwards as you struggled to join them on the path. “It’s too far back to the town from here.”

The naga began to slither slowly towards you. “Here,” he said, extending an elegant, clawed hand down to you. His blue-black skin was mottled with pale spots, as though someone had splashed white paint over his thumb and up the inside of his wrist.

As he did so, Tavi’s guandao flashed down, stopping mere inches from the naga’s wrist. In turn, the naga flicked his tail up so quickly you saw nothing but a dark blur, and he knocked the weapon from Tavi’s paw-like hands.

“Son of a -” Tavi began as it fell with a clatter, but you slipped before he could finish his exclamation, and you gave a grunt of pain as searing heat shot up your leg and your ankle gave way.

The naga lunged forwards and caught you before you toppled over, drawing you easily back up onto the path and carefully setting you down without letting go of you. You smiled up at him and thanked him, letting him take most of your weight for the moment.

Tavi picked up the guandao and jabbed the point of it up straight into the naga’s face, stopping just shy of his slightly flattened nose with its almost vertical nostrils. The naga never let go of you, but you felt his grip tighten on you and the very tips of his sharp claws just pricked you through your jacket. His forked tongue shot out and he hissed a warning at Tavi, those cobra-like frills rising out once again. Fascinated, you ached to touch one, but sensed that now wasn’t quite the time.

“Get your hands off -” Tavi began, but the naga just rolled his eyes.

“Pleassse,” he said snorted. “If I let go, it will put more weight on that ankle. Better we go to my cave - you can even come too, furball - and sssit out this ssshower than all get sssssoaked ssstanding around out here. Hmm?”

Tavi’s breathing was rapid and shallow, but eventually he nodded grudgingly, and you let the naga help you gradually up the path.

“What’s your name?” you asked him, stealing a glance up at his unusual and handsome face. The skin around his hairline was dark as spilled ink, and his black hair fell down loose over his shoulders. There was the remnants of an old, thin braid in it, and from the end of it dangled a small charm with a feather. Around his golden eyes he had two blotchy, paler patches, and the one on his right cheek spilled down to his lips which were full, the corners sharply defined.

He paused his gentle slithering and smiled softly. “Jhinyu. My name is Jhinyu.”

“Tavi and Jhinyu,” you grinned, “My two heroes.” Tavi growled softly at that, and you laughed. “I mean it!” and then the mirth died in your voice as you winced, catching your foot on an uneven patch of the track.

“You know,” Jhinyu said, “It might be easssssier, and quicker, if you let me carry you?”

Tavi interrupted sourly, “What, so you can dart off through the trees and make your escape? No way, buddy.”

“Perhapsssss you should offer your sssservices insssstead,” Jhinyu said calmly, eyeing Tavi’s small stature. The mongoose warrior was clearly strong, but he was shorter even than you, and would probably have struggled to carry you very far. That he knew this was written all over his face and he chirruped something angrily to himself.

“Relax, Tavi,” you smiled, trying to assuage his fears.

“Easy for you to say: swept off your feet by a big handsome naga…” he grumbled.

“You think I’m handsome?” Jhinyu grinned at him as he did precisely that and picked you up in his arms, carrying you as if you were newly-weds.

Tavi sputtered, his ears pricking forwards and then pinning flat back to his skull. “Of course not. Nagas are all far too… slithery for my liking. Makes me want to bite something.”

Jhinyu chuckled softly but made no further comment.

Tavi stumped along next to you, slashing at the undergrowth with his guandao, until you reached a homely looking cave in a rocky outcrop amid the trees. The wind sighed through the branches and seemed to echo in chorus with the soft sliding of Jhinyu’s pale belly scales over the scattered pine needles. Raindrops spattered down through gaps in the canopy as the cloudburst intensified, and Jhinyu began to move more slowly, shivering now and again. Tavi too looked decidedly dejected as he scuffed through the leaf litter on the forest floor with his little hind paws. His little ears were wet, and his fur was beginning to mat and become bedraggled, and you would have reached for his arm to reassure him if you’d been able to.

Jhinyu ducked low through the narrow opening of the cave, and set you down on top of a huge boulder in the centre of the small cavern, beside a large fire pit. A hole in the roof would draw the smoke upwards when the fire was lit, and the naga shivered visibly. His mottled blue-black and cream body shone with the rain, accentuating the muscles of his arms and torso, but his black hair was stuck limply to his head and shoulders. He looked honestly miserable.

“Sssshould I sssstart a fire?” he asked, his voice trembling with the cold.

“That’d be great,” you smiled, but it soon turned into a frown when you saw him fumbling with cold, clawed hands to pick up a flint and steel from a ledge nearby.

Tavi watched for a while and then snorted. “You get the firewood,” he said. “And I’ll actually light the fire, alright, icicle?” and he held out his palm for the flint and steel. Reluctantly, the naga acquiesced, and slithered sluggishly off to a back corner of the modest cave to bring over some dry logs and kindling.

Tavi’s glittering eyes met yours and he said playfully, “I like it when they’re cold. They’re slow…”

You rolled your eyes, catching the jest in his tone nonetheless.

Jhinyu didn’t seem to get it though, because he hissed a warning at him, and said, “Well, if you need usssss to even the oddsss a little, I ssssuppose you’ll take what you can get.” His already lisping voice was thick, as though his tongue wasn’t working properly, and you stared once again at the cut on his arm. It had been washed by the drizzling rain, but still it wept a thin sheen of pink down his wet arm.

“Have you got a bandage, Jhinyu?” you asked.

Both of them looked up sharply and asked as one, “Are you hurt?”

You gazed from one to the other of them, and then burst out laughing.

“What?” they again asked together, and then, with matching scowls, glared at each other.

“It’s for Jhinyu,” you said. “I’m fine. But maybe you two aren’t as different as you claim…”

Neither of them liked that suggestion, but you shrugged it off with a laugh. Tavi got the fire going and helped you down off the boulder once you’d patched up Jhinyu’s arm. You squeezed Tavi’s hand as he steadied you, feeling the smooth, warm, leathery skin of his palm beneath your fingertips. “Thank you,” you said. “I’m very grateful for all your help.”

“How’s it doing?” he asked quietly, nodding down at your ankle.

“Much better for having cooled it immediately,” you said. “That was a good idea.”

He smiled a cute little smile and helped you to lower yourself to the ground beside the fire. The flames danced and flickered, smoke coiling up towards the ceiling, and you took a deep inhale. The cave was pretty small for the three of you, and the rough-hewn ceiling was barely high enough for Jhinyu to move about without cracking his head on it. In all, it was perhaps only about six or seven yards wide, and maybe ten yards deep.

The naga saw you gazing around his home, and bowed his head, his shoulders drooping. “I know it’ssss not much,” he said, trying to put a brave smile on.

“It’s cosy,” you reassured him.

Tavi chimed in with a muttered, “Filthy viper’s nest.”

“Oh and I suppose your little worm-filled burrow is sssso much more sssssanitary,” Jhinyu snarled.

“It’s better than this!” Tavi retorted.

“Stop it!” you yelled again. “Please! Can’t you just try to get along?”

“He doesn’t have to sssstay,” Jhinyu said sharply.

Tavi sighed. “I don’t trust you,” he said flatly. “I’m not going anywhere til I can see our human safely back to the town.”

You grinned at that. “‘Our’ human?”

With a grumble, Tavi stood abruptly from where he’d been sitting cross legged beside you, and stalked to the entrance of the cave to stare out at the sheeting rain.

Jhinyu approached, and the mongoose turned to watch, but all the naga did was hold out a small log and two cushions. “Here,” he said. “Sssslide that under your ankle. You ssssshould raise it up a bit. And you can sssssit on thissssss one.”

Your hands brushed his fingers as he handed the cushion to you, and you gasped. “Jhin, you’re freezing! Come and sit by the fire!”

“You don’t mind?” he asked, his teeth chattering.

“Of course not!” You shot a glance at Tavi, who was marching back over to you, and rolled your eyes. “Sure, let’s have both of you over here. Play nicely now, boys…”

Jhinyu parted his lips, his jaw unhinging unnervingly wide, and hissed possessively at the mongoose, who curled up beside you and laid his head in your lap, growling like a thunderstorm in a leather bag.

As you began to pet Tavi’s ears and head, the growling subsided into something much gentler, and with a jolt you realised he was purring softly. “There,” you whispered to yourself a while later. His breathing had evened out, and you realised he must have been exhausted. He was fast asleep in your lap with one hand resting on your thigh.

You glanced over at Jhinyu, who had leaned his human torso against the boulder in the centre of the room, and coiled his tail tightly around himself to form a perfect little knot beneath himself. He had folded his arms across his chest and was nodding off too, his head dipping slowly, only to snap up again.

“It’s alright,” you whispered. “You can sleep too.”

He smiled shyly at you. “I’m so cold,” he whimpered.

You raised one arm and invited him to come closer and lay his head on your shoulder. “It’s warmer by the fire… Bring a few of those blankets,” you added, eyeing a small pile of them on a rocky shelf at the side of the cave.

Reluctantly, he uncoiled himself, grabbed the blankets, and slunk over to you. He draped the first around your shoulders before you leaned back against the large boulder with a moan of satisfaction, and then, even more reluctantly, he shook a second out, letting it fall slowly down over the sleeping warrior in your lap. You smiled up at him, and he rolled his eyes before pulling a third blanket around his own shoulders and leaning his body against your side, resting his head on your shoulder.

“My two heroes,” you said again, and he hissed a soft laugh.

________________

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[pontsalin]

Au masterpost

With summaries and links for each! 

There may be aus that I’ve never talked about before, so if you’re interested in hearing more about them, shoot me an ask about it (you can also ask me if you want to hear more about an au I’ve posted about)!

Quirk au (crossover with BNHA)

@ask-vigilante-virgil

Summary: Virgil is a vigilante, fighting the crime at night with his best friend Remy. Everything is fine until Virgil gets caught in something much bigger than he thought.

Info about their quirks:

Virgil, Logan, Patton and Roman

Remy

Deceit and Emile

General info about them (desktop only)

Read from the start (desktop only)

Ships: Eventual LAMP, established remile, eventual RED, past sleepxiety

Tw: Morally grey Patton, unsympathetic Remus, sympathetic Deceit

Monster au

Summary: In a world where monsters exist, but are feared by humans, Logan and Patton create a school for fantastic creatures, to make a safe space where they can learn to control their powers and get a proper education.

Design of the main sides

General infos about them

More lore infos about them

Tag: monster au

Ships: Eventual LAMP, originally analogical and royality, but has been built to be more prinxiety + logicality

Tw: Morally grey Roman, Morally grey Deceit

Shugo Chara au (crossover)

Summary: Thomas wakes up with three eggs in this bed, each one representing an hidden desire. Then a fourth egg. Then a fifth egg? What?

Their design + the backstory

Tag: Shugo Chara au

Ships: None

Somewhat swapped au

Summary: Swap au + Highschool au where the sides are swapped but still keep a part of their canon character. 

Who’s swapped: 

Virgil/ Patton

Logan/ Roman

Remy/ Emile

Deceit/ Remus

Their designs

Tag: Somewhat swapped au

Ships: Slow burn LAMP, eventual remile, platonic demus

Tw: Sympathetic Deceit and Remus

Gem au (crossover with Steven Universe)

Summary: Roman, Logan, Patton and Thomas form the Crystal Gems, defending the Earth against the odd.

Their designs

Tag: gem au

Ships: Eventual LAMP

WlW au (genderbend au)

Summary: Human au where the sides are girls.

Their designs + their body types here

Tag: wlw au

Ships: Prinxiety, loreceit, remile

Tw: Sympathetic Deceit and Remus

Sun and Moon au 

Summary: Au where the sides are spirits of a specific thing, and Thomas is a kid curious about them.

Their designs

Tag: Sun and moon au

Ships: LAMPD, remile, eventual Remy/ Emile/ Remus

Tw: Sympathetic Deceit, morally grey Remus

Fnaf au (crossover)

Summary: Each sides are animatronics living in a circus and entertaining kids.

Their designs + a bit of their story

Tag: fnaf au

Ships: None

Tw: Morally grey everyone

The Greatest Showman au (crossover)

Summary: 

Roman:  P.T Barnum

Patton: Charity Barnum

Logan:  Phillip Carlyle

Virgil:  Anne Wheeler

Deceit: Jenny Lind

Ships: Royality, Analogical

Tw: unsympathetic Deceit

Ghostbusters au

Summary: Logan and Patton are two ghosbusters, catching the troubling ghosts.

Their designs + backstory/ plot

Ships: Eventual moxiety, eventual logince, past anxceit

Spider Virgil au

Summary: Deceit being a snake, and Remus an octopus, so Virgil being a spider (more precisely a chilean rose hair tarantula) would be fitting, right?

Art

Ships: Undecided

Gaming au

Summary: Logan is twitch streamer, Patton has a gaming channel and Virgil and Roman owns together a gmaing channel too. Damien is their editor.

Details of their channels

Ships: Slow burn DLAMP

Tw: Sympathetic Deceit

Witch au

Summary: Logan enters a school for witchcraft and gets to meet other witches, and learns that science and magic are one and the same.

Ships: Undecided

Angel/ Demon au

Summary: Virgil tries to summon a demon, but an angel tries to prevent him from doing it. He’s now roomate with the two of them.

Art

Ships: Prinxiety, eventual moxiety, undecided

Golden soul au

Summary:  Soulmate where your dreams are linked to your soulmate(s). You can't remember their face or name, but when you wake you got golden dust where your soulmate touched you. (Original post)

Roman and Logan are soulmates, except Roman lives in Europe while Logan lives in America. They barely get sleep at the same time, and for the longest time thought the two of them didn’t have soulmates, until Patton (Logan’s friend) shows Roman’s youtube channel to him.

Ships: Logince, moxiety, RED

Unconventional pets au

Summary: Virgil likes pets that aren’t universally loved. He likes spiders, frogs, snakes, mantis etc.

His dads (Logan and Patton) try their best to support him, but Patton’s fear of most of those pets isn’t ideal. Virgil gets to meet another snake lover, Dee.

Logan and Patton are also trying to fix their gay crisis, since they’re both crushing hard on that cute genderfluid baker down the street (Roman).

Ships: Anxceit, established Logicality, future morolo

Tw: Sympathetic Deceit and Remus

Secret Identity au

Summary: Heroes need to hide their faces to preserve their identity. Shenanigans insues.

Powers: 

Logan: Can create portals on flat surfaces

Patton: None. Masters white weapons.

Roman: Invisibility

Virgil: Can control the weather, and has a small orb that changes shape depending on his mood (sad= rainy etc.)

Deceit: Animal shapeshifter

Remus: None. Is the voice that co ordinates them in the mic.

Emile: Blood bending

Remy: Can go into other’s people dreams

Ships: Logicality, Remus x Deceit x Virgil, Roman x Remy x Emile

- Hero! Logan and Hero! Patton make out after the fights, but Logan can’t stand Patton irl.

- Deceit and Remus are dating, and Virgil is very jealous of Remus. Though he really likes the voice that talks to them during fights.

Tw: Sympathetic Deceit and Remus

Creepy au

Summary: Logan is a curious kid. Patton is always smiling. Roman has many friends. Virgil will never leave his brother’s side. Four outcasts dealing with supernatural stuff.

Logan is a young scientist with a lot of motivation.

Patton is a new demon.

Roman sees dead people.

Virgil has a plush possessed by a demon.

Ships: None

Cryptid au

Summary: Roman has a youtube channel where he does urbex with Virgil (bfu style), and make rant videos about how cryptid are beautiful and he’d love to date one. 

Plot twist. Virgil is mothman, and sticks with Roman to protect him since he has a very bad luck and attracts every bad spirits.

Logan has a youtube channel where he debunks myth (from the flat earth to supernatural stuff). He does not believe in anything supernatural, except that his best friend Patton is a fae that has claimed him.

Ships: Prinxiety, Logicality

Mermaid au

Summary: Roman is a human who has always been fascinated by the ocean. Little does the know that his mother was the same.

Roman: Human

Remus: Octomaid

Deceit: Human

Logan: Octomaid

Virgil: Shark mermaid

Patton: Seal mermaid

French Highschool au

Summary: Highschool au happening in France because I’m tired to see every highschool au being in the US.

Logan: S, overworks himself to the point of doing burnouts because he needs to be the best.

Virgil: S,  is ahead of pretty much all classes due to his anxiety. Often beats Logan during tests.

Roman: S, pressured by his parents to go in the scientific course, doesn’t work but still gets good grades. He hates himself each time his executive dysfunction makes him not working.

Patton: ES, tries his best, works a lot but still struggles to get more than average grades.

Deceit: L, average. He gets average grades and work an average ammount of time. He’s the stereotypical L that smokes and is bad at math.

Remus: Redoublant, gets the new school system, struggles to work.

Emile: Biology / science and life of the Earth teacher

Remy: Math teacher

Thomas: French Teacher

Ships: Analogical, roceit, intruality, remile

Patton’s design

Doodles (second and third pics)

Ships: Logince, moxiety, demus

Steampunk au

Summary: The high and middle class live on a floating island, unknowingly (or not) abusing on the people living on the ground.

Deceit: Originally from the lower city, he’s one of the few that knows how to travel down (or up).

Remus: Son of the King, does not know anything about what’s happening bellow. Deceit conviced him to go to the lower city.

Roman: Son of the King, knew what was happening in the lower city, and escaped many years ago. Presumed dead. Patton’s fiancé.

Patton: Comes from the lower city, managed to go on the island as a courtesan. Went back down with Roman when he escaped.

Virgil: From the lower city, one of the greatest engineer of the Kingdom. Made Patton’s prothesis, Deceit’s monocle and his own fake eyes.

Logan: Middle class, works as a cop chasing people escaping the island. Constantly running after Deceit.

Ship: Dukexiety, Royality, Loceit

Sudden Monsters au

Summary: The sides gets transformed one after the other as monsters. A great excuse to talk about feelings and overcome fears.

Virgil: Drider (half spider)

Deceit: Naga

Remus: Octomaid

Roman: Mermaid

Logan: Centaur (but half unicorn)

Patton: Werewolf (is always an humanoid canid, but gets violent during the full moon)

Ships: Moxiety, undecided

Eldritch au

Summary: Virgil meets the monster under his bed. He is actually really sweet.

More talk there

Ship: Dukexiety, eventual Logince

Lost kids au

Summary: Virgil and Remus run away from the orphanage they were in, and decides to sleep in an abandoned house. The creature (Deceit) living there decides to take care of them.

Rpg au

Summary: The sides meet on a mmorpg and creates a team.

Roman: Tank, werewolf 

Logan: Long range dps, elf

Patton: Summoner/ necromancian, human

Virgil: Healer, spider specie

Deceit: Rogue, snake specie

Remus: Short range dps, human

Ships: Established moxiety, slow burn lomus, roceit

Alien Runaway au

Summary: Logan is a scientist working in a space station. An alien arrives, badly injuried. The crew saves him, and keep him safe until he gets better. His name is Roman, and he’s willing to talk (with ASL) only to Logan.

Roman, Remus, Emile and Deceit are aliens.

Logan, Virgil, Patton and Remy are human scientists.

Marvel au

Virgil is Natasha 

Patton is Cap 

Logan is Bruce 

Roman is Thor

Deceit is Loki

Remy is Tony

Ships: Undecided

Overwatch au

May be a crack au. Idk I was just in a ovw mood when I made it.

Roman: D.Va

Logan: Symmetra

Patton: Mercy

Virgil: Reaper (following the theory that Reaper is infiltrated in Talon)

Deceit: Moira or Roadhog

Remus: Junkrat

Fusion au

Summary: Fusion au where the fusions are piece of chess

Doodles

Souleater au

I do not know yet, but it’s somewhere in my mind

Sherlock au

sherlock - virgil

watson - remus

moriarty - roman

irene - patton

mycroft - dee 

lestrade - logan

[mercurial-muses]

Lost At Sea

Larkin rocked her head back on her shoulders and closed her eyes. Her nostrils flared as she drew in a breath through her nose and released it slowly through slightly parted lips. She could taste the salt in the air on her tongue. When the tightness in her chest didn’t ease, she tried again. Deep breath in, deep breath out.

In hindsight, Lark could now see that she’d sensed that something was wrong well before her mind had acknowledged it. What had begun as a nagging restlessness had given way to a sickening drop in her stomach. She had possessed a mysterious certainty that something terrible had occurred and, even without knowing exactly what, worry had started to press in from every corner of her mind. News of the lost ships finally made it ashore and that sick feeling in her gut had twisted into a constricting of her heart. 

And when she was finally as certain as she could be that Wieda had been on one of those ships, she had forgotten how to breathe. Deep breath in, deep breath out… all to no avail.

The lieutenant clenched her teeth, tightening them against the roaring in her ears. She kept at it, only half-consciously, until her jaw ached and she could feel her pulse between her molars. The beating of her heart was a low thrum in her ears, but it couldn’t compete with that horrible rumbling of water. Larkin opened her eyes to scan the distant vertically flowing sea wall, cursing its destructive power even as she prayed it would hold.

Tears gathered at the edges of her eyes as she turned her gaze yet again to the ships broken on the spires of rock far above the ocean floor. Even from this distance she could see the wreckage below them, an odd mix of waterlogged timbers and burning debris. She held up her hands and studied her gloves. The leather was scarred and dusted with a crust of salt, stained with ash and mud… with blood.

Larkin had spent the last day in that wreckage looking for survivors but finding none. The hold on her heart tightened as she thought back to those who had perished. With every body she had discovered, it was like she’d held a revolver to her chest without knowing if the next chamber was loaded. Uncovering another face was a squeeze of the trigger. 

-click- 

Thank the Light, not Wieda. Over and over again she had played that dangerous game. Deep breath in, deep breath out.

Shaking herself from those memories, Larkin scanned the ground below her high perch. Her eyes turned away from the ships and followed the uneven flow of sea floor. There were what looked to be a few trails, but if she could see them from this height, chances were good they were not new and therefore carved out by the naga. She could see a number of places to shelter; ruins, deeply shadowed ledges, possibly cave entrances, and who knew how many other such spots remained unseen from here. 

Light, she had no idea where to start looking next. She only knew what would make her stop. She would either find Wieda, or those thunderous walls would come crashing down and bury them both.

~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~

OOC- My soundtrack for this piece was ‘Never Go Back’ by Evanescence.

[ask-the-chan-family]

Dashie orcadragon worldwide hero series

Somewhere in back area by the main vault at the Xuden City third national bank, several gang members from the Mask Adean Condor Clan were busy moving some cash from the main Vault, and carrying them through a hole they created from the side of the bank. While the rest of them were busy with the loot, two of the remaining security guards were hiding behind a desk, making sure that none of the gang members see them. One of the security guards were using their cellphone to see if they can call for backup, while the other keep an eye on the gang members, and see what they doing next. Frank: any luck on calling for backup? Finn: not yet, I been trying to reach the security room, but most of our guys are already dead. I even try to call the police station, but I think they using some sort of tech to block our calls. Frank: well that just great then. We have no backup, and we're the only two that can stop these guys. Finn: I say we just sneak out of here, before one of them spot us. Frank: not a chance, Finn. Once you become a security guard, your main mission is to stop the crooks. Finn: I only sign up for the benefit, not risking my life to a bunch of loser gang. Mysterious voice: bunch of loser gang you say. Well then, I guess this loser here have to show you guys, that we mean business. Finn, and Frank were both scared knowing that one of the gang members were standing behind the desk they were hiding. Before one of them try to grab their guns, Frank was caught by his shirt collar and grub up from the floor. Frank's legs were moving a lot, trying to break free from the gang member clutches. Finn try to see if he can help him, but soon he know it, Finn heard a snap noise in the air, and Frank’s legs stopped moving. Finn was puzzle of what happened to Frank, but part of him already know what cruel faith he was in. Finn see Frank body fell to the ground like a rag doll, not making any other movement at all. Finn was shocked to see Frank neck was twisted in a weird way, which nearly made him wet himself. While Finn was busy looking at his formal partner, the gang member whistled to the security guard, gaining his attention. Finn look and notice a bulk up horse with a Gatling gun for an arm, was busy starring at the guard, waiting for the right moment to attack. Out of fear, Finn got up from the floor, and try to run down the other side of the hallway. The horse gang member look at the guard, and gave him a moment to run a good distance. After waiting for a bit, he held out his Gatling gun arm, and shot a couple of bullets, which ended the guard life. The horse laugh to himself, knowing that he enjoyed doing that. Before he can laughed even further, the horse gang member was cut off, when he senses a familiar hiss behind him. He turned around and saw a female Naga snake with robotic claws, was starring with a disappointed look in her eyes. The horse gang member nervously smiled, and say some compliments words to her. Derby Lincoln: hey, Madyson, how my beautiful Naga girl is doing? Madyson Mad Eye: I would have been fine, if it wasn't my boyfriend being a total idiot. Derby Lincoln: what are you talking about, Madyson, what sort of thing you think was wrong? Madyson Mad Eye: you killed the only two hostages we could use in case the cops get here. I told you a thousand time to hold back from killing anyone, before we were done with the vault. Derby Lincoln: okay, okay, I made one tiny mistake. But there is no way that the police going to be here soon. Your brother not only a good locksmith, but a great hacker too. We be gone by the time they get here. Madyson Mad Eye: ....... Sigh, you’re lucky that your cute, Derby, or I would have cut something very important to you, and it not going to be your tail. Derby Lincoln knew what she meant, which force him to close his leg from getting hurt. Madyson smirks a little, knowing that her boyfriend Derby understood her. She slithered away, and head back to the Vault. Inside the Vault, most of the gangs were gathering up some cash, and getting out of there. At the back area of the Vault, a male raven with robotic arms was busy trying to hack through a special lock, that protecting a priceless statue. A big guy who happened to be the leader of the group, was standing behind the male raven, waiting patiently for him to do his work. Strickler Joe: are you done yet working on that thing. Elmer Mad Eye: ever heard a saying, never bother an artist while working on their master piece. Strickler Joe: what master piece. All you’re doing is opening up that glass vault. Elmer Mad Eye: well this glass vault is extremely sensitive. They place it in a special security lock that separates from the main one. It going to take time for me to separate the wire, and cut out from the alarms. Strickler Joe: then work faster. The sooner you get that thing open, the quicker we can get out of here. Elmer Mad Eye: I got it already. Still don't get why you want us to steal this statue in the first place. We got the cash, why we need this thing. Strickler Joe: because, we got orders from the head boss to steal that statue. He didn't gave me the full details, but his only care about getting it. Elmer Mad Eye: whatever you say then. Still kind of lame excuse to have it though. Madyson Mad Eye: much lamer that my older brother working like a slow turtle. Elmer and Strickler look and notice that Madyson slither inside the vault. Elmer relief that his sister came back, and ask her if things alright. Elmer Mad Eye: well it about time you got your snake butt back in here. Madyson Mad Eye: sorry for being late, apparently Derby Lincoln done something stupid again. Elmer Mad Eye: let me guess, your boyfriend killed off the last remaining guards that we could use as hostages. Madyson Mad Eye: you do know I hated you being right. Elmer Mad Eye: I sometimes hate being right. But it look like we won't have any hostages, in case the police get here. Strickler Joe: don't worry about it. Even if the police get here *he move his robotic gun up in the air* we will blast them for fun * he laugh* Elmer Mad Eye: ..... Sigh, that the last thing we need right now. Madyson Mad Eye: don't worry about it brother. The security system are still offline, they won't be here for some time. But I do suggest we hurry up, and get out of here. Strickler Joe: we will pretty soon, until your brother get that darn thing. Before he got a chance to end his sentence, Strickler overheard a click noise, which was coming right behind him. Strickler and Madyson looked and notice that Elmer was able to get the statue out from the glass. Elmer present the statue to Strickler, letting him know that the job was done. Elmer Mad Eye: as per usual, I make this job too easy. Strickler Joe: *he grab the statue* well it about time you got the thing. For a minute there, I thought I have to do something stupid by breaking the glass myself. Elmer Mad Eye: well luckily for I was here to do the job right. Madyson Mad Eye: what should we do now, since we got the statue? Strickler Joe: what else, we get the heck out of here. I'll get the others to lease, while you two make sure to let Sonya Lynch know that we got the job done. Madyson Mad Eye: you can count on us sir. Elmer Mad Eye: no doubt about it. Strickler Joe nodded to them, and head for the rest of the gang, to let them know that they going to leave. Elmer face change after finally seeing him gone. Elmer Mad Eye: about time that loser is gone. Madyson Mad Eye: easy, brother. We can't let our cover blown just yet. Elmer Mad Eye: I know that, but if I have to hear that blow heart voice again, I would easily shove my hand straight to his. Madyson Mad Eye: hey! You do know I'm standing right here. Elmer Mad Eye: oh don't even try sis, or you want me to tell everyone about your fun time you had with. Madyson Mad Eye: *she blush* you promise that you won't bring that up. Elmer Mad Eye: I promise many things. Madyson Mad Eye: humph Elmer Mad Eye: any case, were you able to call her, to let her know that we are heading back to the hideout? Madyson Mad Eye: of course I did. I called her from our private phone, and she going to be there with her team in a little while. Elmer Mad Eye: don't get it why she can't come here, and end their lives. Madyson Mad Eye: you know she doesn't want any witnesses. She wanted to arrest most of them at a location where there no way for anyone to escape. Elmer Mad Eye: I get it, I get it. At least we did our end and get a breather for a little while. Madyson Mad Eye: you sure you don't want to join them? Elmer Mad Eye: no thank you. We head for a place to eat, and wait out for her to do clean up. Knowing me, that place going to be filled with blood soon you know it. Madyson Mad Eye: what make you say that? Elmer Mad Eye: the person we are working for is a Redfield, and Ness Redfield is the eldest daughter of the family. She someone you don't want to mess with. Especially when it comes with the family reputation. Miles away from Xuden City third National Bank. Somewhere inside the main hallway of the S.T.A.W.S agency, a simple butler name Jarvis was busy dusting off the main desk by the entrance area. Jarvis always keep the agency clean, and. make sure that everything was in order. While he was dusty off some pictures, he over heard a noise that catch his attention. He look at his cyber female hybrid mouse wolf, was try to carry a large couch from the ground, so she can clean the dirt area. Jarvis sigh to himself, knowing that she was going to break one of her gears doing that. He call out her name, so she can try to be more extra careful. Jarvis: N.I.V.A. how many time I told you not to lift heavy objects. Your body isn't set up right to do that. N.I.V.A.: I know you told me that about 389.6 time, but my main program is to make sure this place is clean at every corner *she drop the couch on the side of the ground* this spot haven't been cleaned up for nearly several months. *her hand transformed into a laser* I'll clean this spot with a high laser. Jarvis: hold on a second, you don't need to *he stop when he heard a blast noise* that. N.I.V.A.: area is cleared from dust. Ready for next task. Jarvis: Sigh, very well. How about head for the storage area, and make sure that we have everything. N.I.V.A.: affirmative, I'll go at once. N.I.V.A. walk down the hallway, heading for the storage room. Jarvis look at the mess N.I.V.A made, which he had to clean up on his own. Jarvis had no issues with N.I.V.A. ever since Dr. Lina Viper decommissioned her from future spy mission, Jarvis had her doing maid duties with her instead. Course, Jarvis still had to deal with some minor things with her programs. When, Jarvis was about to push the couch, the front door of the S.T.A.W.S agency was wide open. By the door, Valo Fox Gears was running down the hallway, knowing that he was going to be late for work. Before he gone further, he accidentally trip over the couch, and safe landed on the cushion. Jarvis look over the couch, and see that Valo was sitting there. Jarvis: oh! It good to see you to stop by, and had a seat Master Valo. Valo Fox Gears: well it good to see you too. Who bright idea to move the couch in the middle of the hallway. Jarvis: that would be N.I.V.A. don't mind it too much, her programming still need some work. Valo fox Gears: I see if I can talk to Dr. Viper to check up on her. Jarvis: speaking of Dr. Viper. Lady Talon and Dr. Viper are both waiting for you, at the training facility. Valo fox Gears: why they need me there for? Jarvis: the Mayor of Xuden city is visiting today, and they want to see the new spy in action. Valo fox Gears: oh I see. I'm guessing the Mayor isn't too fond of what we do here. Jarvis: the S.T.A.W.S agency main purpose is to check any strange activity that might harm Xuden. The Mayor see us as an extra backup to deal with real crime, but that sort of the job for the police. Valo Fox Gears: true, but even the police force are understaffed, and we can't be their back up for every little problem. Jarvis: indeed, but since we are getting fund from them, we have no other choice in the matter. Valo Fox Gears: sigh, fair enough. So what my aunt want me to do anyway. Mysterious voice: Commander Talon Gears want you to fight against that experiment at the training ground, and show them how it works. Valo look at the other side of the hallway, and saw a female Dalmatian in a red jumpsuit, standing a few feet from him. Valo wasn't happy to see her, but relief it wasn't her aunt to nag him instead. Valo Fox Gears: hello Agent K9. I should have guess that the Mayor was going to visit here, you would be here too. Delilah Redfield: well you know that I got to be here, Valo. If the Mayor stop by, I have to be extra security for any kind of trouble. Valo Fox Gears: but does she travel with one of her sisters, Elizabeth Redfield. Since she is her secretary/bodyguard. Delilah Redfield: she will be, but since both they are my aunts, I have to be there for security reasons. Valo fox Gears: oh yeah, I nearly forgot. You’re a Redfield like them. Valo try to walk pass her, but Delilah held her hand out, and stop him from going any further. Delilah Redfield: look, Valo. I know you have a personal grudge against my family, for what happened to yours. Not all of us are criminals, we care about protecting this city, and the people who live in it. Valo fox Gears: I know that, Delilah. You not like your family, but you still carry the Redfield name. Valo removed Delilah hand, and continued walking down the hallway. Delilah know what her last name mean some hardships to him, knowing that her family history show nothing more, but bloodshed. Jarvis stood by Delilah side, doing his best to comfort her. Jarvis: don't mind him, Miss Redfield. He been that way since his family was murdered by that Lynch fellow. Your family try to regain the reputation, but still plenty of work to be done. Delilah Redfield: ..... Yeah Inside the training facility, Talon, and Dr. Lina Viper were having a conversation with the Mayor, and her secretary, talking about the agency management, and the research on their spy work. Mayor Mona Redfield look through some of the paperwork they gave out, but so far haven't seen anything that caught her interest. Elizabeth Redfield however was listing to Dr. Lina Viper lecture of the research she is working. Dr. Lina Viper: and once we got the information we needed, we made sure that our research team send all data to the proper agent's, and get the job done. Now, is there any question? Mayor Mona Redfield: I have one, are we meant to see one of your top secret spy agent that we were meant to see today. Dr. Lina Viper: oh yeah, I nearly forgot to show you guys that. Elizabeth Redfield: please don't tell us that your special spy agent isn't ready? Dr. Lina Viper: oh it ready, we are waiting for someone to get here soon. Mayor Mona Redfield: and who that someone you have to wait for? Talon Gears: it my nephew, Valo fox Gears. He a medical mechanic for the agency, but one of the best agents that we got. Mayor Mona Redfield: Valo you say. Why that name sound familiar. Elizabeth Redfield: he's the only survivor from the Gears Family massacre. Talon Gears: yes, that massacre, which your brother murdered my family. Mayor Mona Redfield: now see here, we already condemn Lynch Redfield for what he did. Our father banished him from the family, and never be heard of again. Talon Gears: but still the same, your family killed mine, but since we need each other to protect the city, we willing to look the other way ... for now. Elizabeth Redfield: humph, now I see why your sister see you the responsible one. Talon Gears: responsible enough from doing something stupid. Elizabeth Redfield: *she glare at Talon with her one good eye* do you want to settle this? Talon Gears: I’m always game. Dr. Lina Viper: hold it you two. Nobody going to fight, except the experiment. Mayor Mona Redfield: that be something to see, if this Valo fox Gears get here. Just when she said those words, the door from the other side of the room finally open. From there stand Valo fox Gears. Valo pant a little, after running down the hallway. Once he regained his breath, he look up, and saw everyone was staring at him. Valo smiles a bit, and apologize to them for being late. Valo fox Gears: sorry everyone, was running a little late this morning. Dr. Lina Viper: dang it, Valo. Do you have any idea how late you are? Valo fox Gears: I'm only a half an hour late, Dr. Viper. Dr. Lina Viper: don't be a wise guy, Valo. You live a lot longer. Talon Gears: just leave him be, Viper. We still under a tight schedule, and want to get this presentation on the move. Valo fox Gears: good to see you, Aunt Talon. Talon Gears: good to see you too, Valo. Now that your here, I want to introduce you Mayor Mona Redfield and Secretary Elizabeth Redfield. Valo fox Gears: oh yeah, the two sisters from the murdering family. It nice to meet you both. Dr. Lina Viper: *she hit him on the hard* Valo, take it easy with that. Valo fox Gears: sorry, but it true what I said. Mayor Mona Redfield: it alright, we know what our family are, and not afraid about it. But we are not here to talk about our family history. Elizabeth Redfield: we came here to see if this super spy of yours, is ready enough to be use on the field. Dr. Lina Viper: oh don't worry, ORCA-D 13 is most definitely ready to go on a field test. We just going to give you a demonstration of how she fight first. Elizabeth Redfield: and I'm guessing Valo will be fighting it. Valo fox Gears: come again. Dr. Lina Viper: *she laugh nervously* sorry, let me talk to, Valo for a moment. What the matter, don't tell me you’re not Interested on doing this? Valo fox Gears: I am, but a little bit annoyed that neither you, or my aunt told me that I'm going to face an ORCA-D Dr. Lina Viper: I know you have a soft side for the ORCA-D experiments, but 13 is ready for a field test, and it willing to do it, if you was there to fight it. Valo fox Gears: .... I don't know Dr. Lina Viper: if you don't do this for me, I'll hunt you down, and have my fun with your Valo fox Gears: alright, I do it. Just don't day another word. Dr. Lina Viper: I'm glad you see thing my way. Now then, let go forward with the test. After accepting Dr. Lina threats, Valo head for the training ground, and prepare himself for battle. Everyone were at the control room, so they can see the event. Valo have his gloves on, making sure they were tight. He could have his other items for the battle, but since Dr. Lina told him not to use it, making it a lot harder. Valo sigh to himself that he going to have a lot of talk with her. Valo look around to see where the ORCA-D should be. All he see so far is a plain mat, with a pool that wrap around the ring. Valo scratch, wondering if the experiment could be late. While ponder to see if the ORCA-D is nearby, Valo heard a splash noise that caught his attention, which made him look to see what going on. Valo notice a puddle on the floor that was an inch nearby the pool. Valo figure that ORCA-D must the came out from there, question is.... where did the ORCA-D went. Before he got a chance to look, his ears were picking up something in the air, letting him know that someone was behind him. Valo turned and saw an eight feet tall giant female Orcadragon in a spy wet-flight suit was about to attack Valo, with their fist. Valo was able to dodge the ORCA-D attack, but jump a few inches more when the ORCA-D fist smashed the ground. Valo was shock seeing how strong the ORCA-D was, part of him would have brought his syringe, and use his abilities. Inside the control room, Elizabeth and Mayor Mona Redfield were both empress of the ORCA-D speed, and strength. Dr. Lina Viper start explaining about ORCA-D 13 Dr. Lina Viper: as you can see, ORCA-D 13 is one of my latest creations for the perfect super spy. She was able inflated the training ground by water, and sneak up behind Valo without him knowing she was there. Mayor Mona Redfield: empress, and how strong is she exactly, which she was able to damage the field like that? Dr. Lina Viper: she up a special DNA and special enhancement to her body, which allow her to have incredible strength. She ten time stronger, and faster than any agent we got. Elizabeth Redfield: and you have your medical mechanic to face a lethal weapon. Talon Gears: Valo is a lot stronger than you think. Just watch and see. Elizabeth and Mayor Mona both continued watching, and see more of the training session. Valo fox Gears was relief that he was able to miss that attack, but still shock of what happened. He look at the ORCA-D and examine her a bit further. He notice that she was wearing a special helmet to cover most of her face, which make it harder to see who she is. Valo also notice the size of her body, being so thick, that she was fast enough to get behind him. Valo knew that he can't rest now, since he got to be ready to give everything he got. Valo notice that the orcadragon was on all four, waiting for a right moment to strike. Valo had no clue what the orcadragon is up to, but he had to make a move. He ran towards the orcadragon to make a first strike, but out of surprised that she was able to dodge it without a problem, which he guessing her speed is good. Valo stop for a second, trying to figure out another method to take her down. But ORCA-D didn't hesitate, and use her speed to get behind Valo again. This time Valo was able to see, and try to dodge another attack. While he miss her fist, Valo didn't notice that she was using her tail to grab his body, and then lift him off from the ground. Valo try his best to. Real free, but her grief was too strong. The ORCA-D move him closer to get a better look. She start to sniff Valo, gaining some scent from him. Valo hold his breath, smelling some morning breath from breakfast she eat. When she was done, ORCA-D toss, Valo to the ground, and then ran towards the pool. Valo had no clue what going on, but he figure that he need something in order to defeat her. Back inside the control room, Mayor Mona Redfield was impressed with their performance, but was more interested of how good Valo fought in battle. She secretly talk to her sister Elizabeth Redfield, to see if the fight was being recorded. Mayor Mona Redfield: Elizabeth, is this training session being recorded? Elizabeth Redfield: of course it is, why are you asking? Mayor Mona Redfield: oh nothing really, I just want to have some proper footage of Valo, and the experiment. Elizabeth Redfield: proper footage...... Oh Mona! Not that again. Mayor Mona Redfield: what do you mean that again? Elizabeth Redfield: you know what I mean. You always been asking footage of him train, each time we pass by here. Mayor Mona Redfield: *she blush* it not like that. I'm just curious to see how good he is, that all to it. Elizabeth Redfield: really! Then if that the case, do you want me to bring the footage to your personal? Mayor Mona Redfield: *she blush more* yes please. Talon Gears: are you two alright? Elizabeth Redfield: we're fine, just talking about work. We just curious to see what the ORCA-D is doing hiding, while she had him on the ropes. Dr. Lina Viper: ORCA-D prime objective is to infiltrate to gather information, and escape. Right now, ORCA-D was able to gain some information on Valo using her scent of smell. She going to have an upper hand of defeating him. Mayor Mona Redfield: I see, we’ll let hope Valo can stop her. Back at the training ground, Valo fox Gears was looking around by the pool to see where the orcadragon went. Since the pool was deep, she could be anywhere by now. While he was occupied looking for her, ORCA-D appeared from the other side of the, and silently climbed out. She notice that Valo wasn't paying much attention to her, which give the ORCA-D the opportunity to strike. She started to crawl all four, carefully not to make any noises. Once she reach up to him, the ORCA-D was about to make a strike, Valo was able to dodge her attack. ORCA-D look to see where Valo had went, she paused for a moment, when she heard a whistling that was coming right behind her. ORCA-D turned around, and saw Valo standing right behind her. ORCA-D was about to get him, but Valo was able to push her, which she fell face flat on the pool surface. Inside the control room, everyone were making faces, seeing how ORCA-D face flat on the pool. Dr. Lina Viper face palm herself knowing that she going to do more training session with her. Elizabeth and Mayor Mona Redfield both clap their hand, and were empress with the presentation. Mayor Mona Redfield: that sure was interesting presentation, wasn't it Elizabeth. Elizabeth Redfield: it was good, could have been a little better from that little incident. But other than that, I enjoy it. Talon Gears: that good to hear. So do we still have our agreement to keep the S.T.A.W.S agency funding keep on going? Mayor Mona Redfield: of course, the Xuden City mayor office will continue funding your agency. Elizabeth Redfield: just make sure that the experiment is ready for any future mission. Dr. Lina Viper: don't worry, ORCA-D 13 will be ready for any infiltration missions in no time. Right after I check on it, and make sure it didn't get damaged. Back at the training ground, Valo look at the area, and see that ORCA-D was floating a bit, until it was able to gain conscious, and move it body. Valo was relief that the ORCA-D was, and not hurt at all. He saw her start swimming towards the edge and jump out from the pool. Valo walk up to ORCA-D and see if she was doing alright. Valo fox Gears: hey there, are you doing alright. That was quite a fall you taken. ORCA-D 13: I should be fine, that type of fall wouldn't hurt me that much. But I'm sorry that I screw up the presentation. Valo fox Gears: don't worry too much about it. They only here to see if you can fight very well, and so far you done a great job. ORCA-D 13: *she blush* you, you really think so? Valo fox Gears: of course. You was able to sneak up behind me, without making a lot of noises. You got some talent, and hope you do well on the field. ORCA-D 13: thank you Mr. Valo sir, I just hope they do have me out of the field one day. Valo fox Gears: trust me, they most..... Hold on a second, how did you know my name? ORCA-D 13: .... Um, Dr. Viper told me. Valo fox Gears: that would be true, but Lina never said about telling you my name yet. ORCA-D 13: then what about your aunt Talon who told me about your name. Valo fox Gears: yeah you could be *he pause once more, after hearing a certain line* alright, exactly who are you? ORCA-D 13: what do you mean? Valo fox Gears: not many people know that Commander Talon aunty Talon, except my sister, and cousin. ORCA-D 13: ..... Valo fox Gears: alright, you best tell me who you are, before I decided to find out the hard way. ORCA-D 13 knew that her cover was blown, and she had no other choice to show who she really is. She unbuckle the strap around her neck, and slowly removed the helmet that was on her head. Valo was able to see more of her hair, but ORCA-D was still facing the other way. ORCA-D turn around slowly, and finally reveal her true face to him. Valo look at her for a moment, trying to figure out who she was. ORCA-D stood quite for a moment, but said something to him that might help him remember. ORCA-D 13: here my face, don't you recognize me? Valo fox Gears: part of me feel like I do, but you look like someone I once knew long time ago. ORCA-D 13: like a young, and scared orcadragon, who you saved her life from being burnt from the fire. Valo fox Gears: ..... No Way! Little Orci, is that really? ORCA-D 13: *she smile* yeah, that me alright. But I'm not that little anymore. Valo was shock to see the little orcadragon that usually follow him around, now into a very tall adult dragon. ORCA-D kneel down a bit, so she have a better view of Valo, and have a quick conversation, before she had to go. ORCA-D 13: it really good to see you, Valo. I never would thought I ever to see again. Valo fox Gears: my thoughts exactly. When Dr. Viper told me that you was going through a lot of test, I thought they going to take you to another science lab. ORCA-D 13: I sort of did gone through a lot of test, but the test Dr. Viper had me go through was somebody enchantment. Dr. Lina Viper had me a test chamber, where she added some enhancements into my body. She even age progress me, so I can be a full flesh agent. Valo fox Gears: wait a second. You telling me that Dr. Viper did some crazy enhancement on you, and age progress your body as well. ORCA-D 13: that right. I have a teen mind, stuck in an adult body. Valo sigh to himself, knowing that this going to be one of those days. End of part 2 of episode 1

[occasionallydiverting]

Contre nous de la tyrannie

A commission for @realfroghoursninetofive. Also on AO3. If you’d like to support my ongoing projects, toss me a Ko-Fi!

The Valmese occupation had been going on long enough that it seemed like a fact of life. Most of the citizens of Chon’sin’s capital had adjusted to the presence of foreign soldiers in their streets--if not welcomingly, at least with resignation. Apart from the hourly patrols, the armored cars, and the nightly curfews, life continued as usual.

The Grand Cathedral of Naga, built hundreds of years ago at the request of the old Valentian royalty, was a bulwark of calm and comfort in these turbulent times. Its bishop, Tiki, was revered as a voice of wisdom, and her words during the weekly services were a balm to the troubled hearts of the people.

The sun was setting as the church bells tolled out the end of worship, and the congregation filed out toward the doors. A few of them, however, lingered--most notably, a golden-haired woman in the neatly pressed uniform of a Valmese officer. She held her cap respectfully tucked under one arm and stood at the base of the lectern, waiting patiently for the bishop’s attention. Her aides waited just out of earshot, looking somewhat less at ease.

“Your Excellency.”

“Major Pheros,” said Tiki, inclining her head politely. “To what do I owe the honor?”

“I simply wished to commend you on another excellent sermon,” said Pheros with a faint smile. “You have an admirable way with words.”

“So you have told me.” Tiki adjusted the set of her clerical collar. “I must admit, I had not expected an officer of the Valmese army to be one of my most appreciative congregants.”

“Expected us all to be heathen invaders, did you?” The major’s mouth twitched into a rueful smirk. “Well, I suppose that would be a fair assessment of some of us. Why, just the other day, some fool was frothing over one of your recent services, saying you preached sedition!”

“Oh, my,” said Tiki, her voice still mild. “I am surprised that I did not hear of such accusations earlier.”

“I set the fool straight,” said Pheros, waving a hand dismissively. “It was his own fault for not recognizing words straight out of the testaments.”

“I take it that you have some familiarity with the scriptures?”

“I do, yes.” The Valmese woman looked almost wistful. “I was supposed to have entered seminary two years ago, but… well.” She gestured to the rank bars pinned to her lapel.

“You could have chosen not to fight,” said Tiki. “The testaments teach the value of peace, not of war. Perhaps that is why your brother in arms found them to seem seditious.”

Pheros let out a short, mirthless laugh. “Careful, Your Excellency. Less discerning ears might think you were urging me to abandon my duties--and that would be sedition.”

“Not at all.” Tiki’s expression betrayed nothing. “I simply wish to understand you better, as any good priestess would. You must, of course, follow your conscience.”

The clack of boots on the stone floor drew their attention, as one of the other Valmese soldiers stepped forward. “Major, we should be on our way. Our patrol begins soon.”

“Of course, lieutenant. There is no telling what manner of havoc the resistance might cause if left unchecked.” Pheros tucked her cap securely onto her head and gave Tiki a shallow bow, a small smirk still lingering on her lips. “Be safe, Your Excellency.”

“Goddess be with you, my child,” said Tiki, extending a hand in benediction.

As the last of the congregation left, and the doors of the cathedral shut behind them, Tiki looked pensively after them. It was an interesting conversation, but I wonder… were either of us sincere in our goodbyes?

The crypts beneath the cathedral, where generations of Valentian royalty had been interred, were usually shrouded in impenetrable stillness. Footsteps fell dead, swallowed up by the porous stone and thick dust, and the labyrinthine corridors made the mere act of walking around disorienting.

Tiki navigated them with practiced care, never making a wrong turn as she wove her way downward, a covered basket in one hand and a pewter candle tray in the other. The flame guttered at occasional drafts, but she paid it no mind.

At last, she reached her goal: a nondescript wooden door with a heavy iron lock. The room on the other side was almost completely bare, with only iron sconces on the walls and an old statue of the Earth Mother breaking the monotony of its walls. Tiki looked down the hallway in both directions, ensuring that nobody was around, before going inside and locking the door behind her.

Once there, she set her candle and basket on the floor and approached the statue. She knelt down to pray, hands brushing against the cold stones of the floor. Grant me wisdom, Goddess, that I might carry out thy will here on earth.

Her palm fell upon a stone that protruded slightly more than the ones around it. She grasped it tightly and gave it a firm twist. The floor shook slightly, and the deep rumble of stone and metal grating against one another filled the room as the statue slid ponderously to one side, revealing a narrow staircase leading down. Tiki picked up her candle again and followed it.

The existence of this passage was a closely guarded secret in the church--Tiki could count on one hand the others who knew of its existence. The passage led to the old catacombs beneath the city, a maze of mass graves from the time of the plague. It was a holdout from an earlier era, when the church had granted sanctuary to those who opposed tyranny.

In that respect, nothing much has changed.

She reached the end of the passageway and knocked on the door. After a moment’s pause, a voice answered.

“You may come in. Not that you need my permission.”

“Perhaps not, but it is polite to knock.” Tiki eased open the door and smiled at the woman sitting on the cot inside. Say’ri’s appearance had changed somewhat over the past two years: her skin was paler than usual from lack of sunlight, and her expression much more careworn.

The room itself was sparse: the cot along one wall, covered in threadbare blankets; a desk and chair opposite, with a rifle and cleaning supplies laid out on the surface and a dingy clock hanging on the wall above; and a curtained-off corner for toilet and shower. It seemed more like a prison cell than a refuge. Perhaps that is what it feels like to her, too.

“Are you well?” said Tiki in an attempt at normal conversation. Her guest shrugged.

“As well as can be expected. To what do I owe the visit?”

Tiki held out the basket. “Here. It may not be warm, but it should be filling enough.”

Say’ri pulled back the cloth covering the basket and smiled at the food inside. “It would be the height of rudeness to complain of such things, given the risks you already take in sheltering me here.”

“I do not consider it as such,” said Tiki. “We are called by the Goddess to care for those who are in need. This is a duty, and one that I take seriously.”

Say’ri looked as if she was considering a response, but after a moment she simply nodded her thanks. “What news of the war?”

“A continued stalemate.” Tiki pulled out the chair from the desk and sat. “The Feroxi forces are dug in and fortified, and even the Imperial artillery will have trouble dislodging them. As for the Ylissean front… well, more of the same.”

“People fight, people die, and the lines don’t budge.” Say’ri gritted her teeth. “I feel so helpless, just hiding in the shadows...”

“Yet you can hardly appear in public. Your brother--”

“That damned collaborator is not my brother!” Say’ri snapped. “My brother would not have given in so easily when the empire came!”

Tiki sighed. “Marshal Yen’fay, then. In his eyes, and those of the empire, you are a wanted criminal.”

Yen’fay had been in command of the Chon’sin army at the time of the Valmese invasion, but in the face of their overwhelming might, he had quickly negotiated a surrender. In return, he had been allowed to retain some administrative authority over the country.

Say’ri had disagreed vehemently. She and the officers loyal to her had sworn to fight on, refusing to abide to an agreement they saw as invalid. Thus had begun the Chon’sin Resistance, a constant thorn in Valm’s side.

The silence was finally broken, as the clock chimed softly. Say’ri stood, grabbing her long coat from where it lay on the floor and sliding it on. “I must be going.”

“The Valmese patrols will be out tonight,” Tiki warned.

“They always are.” Say’ri picked up her rifle from the desk and affixed a shoulder strap to it. “But my soldiers are counting on me to lead them.”

“You cannot continue like this forever.” There was an almost pleading note in Tiki’s voice, mixed with resignation. She already knew anything she said to dissuade Say’ri would be in vain.

“I cannot. But there is no need for that. I will simply continue until the war is finished, or until I am… whichever comes first.” Her eyes were hard and determined. “As long as I draw breath, I will fight on.”

Say’ri made a few final adjustments to her equipment, checking that her spare ammunition was secure, before nodding to herself in satisfaction. “All set.” She inclined her head to Tiki, smiling faintly. “I’ll be off, then. Stay safe.”

“Goddess be with you,” said Tiki.

She stood in the empty room for a long while as the sound of Say’ri’s footsteps faded into the distance.

Goddess be with us all.

[yukiwrites]

A Family Ritual

Thank you so much for your support, @breeachuu! Watch out ye who enters for the sin! ;D

Summary: Nidra felt accomplished with her new life -- being a mother of three and a wife of a wonderful husband couldn’t make her feel happier. Even more so now that she could share her manakete customs with her own blood and feel her husband’s love within her.

Commission info HERE and HERE!

Being a mother was everything that Nidra thought it would be and oh, so much more. Additionally, it had been her life-long dream to have a family of her own, so of course she would feel more than overjoyed to be able to care for and nurture the small bundle of happiness that was her baby boy.

Being Luci's godmother and taking care of her during the year Robin had been away gave much-needed experience to the manakete: although from different species entirely, Luci and Meli behaved mostly like any other baby; their particular quirks easy to figure out once one knew where to look.

And Nidra loved to simply stare all day long at her little baby; to just poke his chubby cheeks or caress his head as well as his tiny and soft pointy ears. They were so cute! The epitome of cuteness!

During one of these musings, Nidra was hit with a sudden revelation: since Meliodas was of mixed blood, it meant that his Naga Bell bath had to be given to him much earlier than if he were pureblooded. And although the Naga Bells were rumored to only bloom once in every two hundred years, Nidra knew better: it was a very special kind of flower, though not in the way the legends painted it to be.

Indeed, it was true that it was only found in high, craggy terrain away from human settlements and that it had a very irregular blooming schedule, but it was a flower that sensed whenever someone needed it -- and it would make itself seen in places one would least expect it if the need arose.

Nidra herself needed the blossom in more than one occasion, either as offerings to Naga or as the simple need of its magical properties, and she found it during some of her rough landings atop of mountains. She knew that it would show itself if it were time for Meli's Naga Bell bath, though of course it would only reveal itself it Nidra looked for it first.

Well, more specifically, if Nidra's blood looked for it.

Worried about leaving Meli out of her sight as well as concerned about the little one's health were she to take him out with her to look for the flower, Nidra asked of Meliodas and Cynthia to look for the flower instead.

"THE LEGENDARY NAGA'S BELL?! Mother!! You've given me the QUEST of my LIFE!" Cynthia beamed the moment Nidra gave her the so-called mission. "Me and my partner are gonna rummage through every nook and cranny from this valley, Mother! We'll find your flower!"

"It is not mine yet, technically, but I thank you for your enthusiasm, Cynthia." The mother chuckled, nudging on her daughter's pigtails, never getting enough of her fluffy hair.

"I myself only heard of this flower once or twice." Meliodas placed one hand over his chin in thought. "I do not recall you mentioning it back in the future, so I must have read it somewhere..." He twisted his lips, searching his memory.

"Ah, but it is an inherent thought to all manaketes, Son." Nidra said, looking from the pegasus knight to her brother, then back at her. "Surely the name feels familiar to you as well, Cynthia."

The young manakete blinked. "Oh, yeah, true! Now that I think about it, I did say ‘the’ legendary Naga's Bell."

Meliodas' hand fell from his chin. "Ohh."

"Indeed," Nidra only nodded. "It is an important part of a manakete's life, so we are born with this knowledge. Or should I say, with the instinct that will be transformed into knowledge once we apply our rational thought onto it."

"Like with the dragonstone..." Meliodas whispered more to himself than to his family. Not hearing her brother's musings, Cynthia turned to her mother, bright-eyed.

"So! Mother! We're born KNOWING stuff, that's amazing! But I'm gonna be even more amazing and fetch that flower for you before my brother does!" She hopped excitedly, dramatically looking back at her brother to watch his reaction to her letter of challenge.

"Oh, little sister, you are ON." He puffed his chest, narrowing his eyes to her. Cynthia beamed, hopping on her feet.

"C'mon! Let's go already!" She giggled happily, running towards her brother so as to yank his hand.

"W-wait! Mother, do you have a description of the flower-"

Her eyes fond from watching her children interact, Nidra simply lifted her hand in a gracious wave. "You'll know it is the right one once you find it; all manaketes do. But of course I'll tell you two: it resembles a ballerina with both of her arms upwards," she mimicked the gesture so perfectly one would think she had been a dancer in her previous life, "and the large petals make up her skirt."

Cynthia and Meliodas both had their mouths open in surprise. "Wow! A ballerina flower!" The younger manakete said, trying to imagine how pretty a field filled with such beauties would be. Her brother nodded beside her, his braid waving behind his back.

"Indeed. I am certain you two will find it before the sun sets, but do set out quickly just so you'll have more sunlight to aid you, hm?"

"Sure!" Cynthia puffed her chest, jumping on her mother for a good-bye hug before running out of the door. Meliodas followed suit, though his hug was much less rough than his sister's.

"Of course. We will be back soon, Mother."

"Be careful, just in case, alright? Look after your sister, as well... She still prefers to fly on her pegasus, so..."

"No need to worry, Mother. I'll keep one eye on her and another on the flower!" He winked, placing a kiss on Nidra's forehead before leaving. One could hear the sound of his transformation followed by his flight right after.

Still smiling, Nidra walked to her and Henry's room, finding her husband sitting in front of Meli's crib. "They just left," she said in a soft voice so as not to wake the baby.

Henry leaned both arms on the crib, resting his face on one of them just so he could be more comfortable in staring at his baby son. "Mhm. You sure you don't want me to go, too? Six eyes are better than four, after all." He said with a small smile, never tiring of looking at Meli.

Nidra placed both hands over Henry's shoulders, leaning her body weight on him. "Yes, I am. I would rather you stayed with me and Meli, just the three of us." She hummed as Henry placed one hand over hers, caressing his thumb on her skin.

After a moment of silence, Henry snorted. "Well, it is summer right now, right? We got a pretty narrow window to conceive Cynthia, so why not get to work- ouch! Nyaha, you always bonk my head like this when I mention it!" He massaged the bonked area while Nidra took a step away from him, red in the face.

"Ahem, c-conceiving Cynthia was not the reason I sent them away, Henry. Preposterous!" She ruffled her husband's hair with both hands, stealing a few good-natured laughter out of him, "well, not the main one..." she whispered.

"I HEARD THAT!! WHOO!" He jumped out of his seat straight to his wife's arms, laughing at how mortified she looked.

"Henry!" She hissed, glancing at the sleeping baby by the crib. "Do not be so rowdy! A-and do erase that perverted smile from your face; we are not-"

"Noooo?" He tilted his head to the side, looking at her from her chest where he dug his face into.

Nidra puffed her cheeks, making them appear even redder than before. "No!" She said firmly, but then whispered right after: "it's still light out..."

"ONCE IT GETS DARK, GOT IT!" He laughed loudly, immediately slapping his own mouth so as not to wake Meli up. He received a stinky look from Nidra, but her suppressed smirk betrayed her silent reprehension, making both of them dissolve into a silent laughter.

Nidra's days couldn't have been more perfect than simply spending time with her family like that.

True to Nidra's instructions, Meliodas and Cynthia returned a ways before sunset, bearing a single Naga's Bell flower.

"Oh, wow! You're back early! We haven't even had lunch yet." Henry opened his arms to welcome his children's collective hug, laughing at Cynthia's enthusiasm.

"I was the one who plucked it from the canyon, Father!" She blurted out, random twigs sticking out of her hair, her clothes full of dust and all sorts of leaves.

"A dangerous endeavor, but I am glad it turned out okay!" Meliodas pulled Cynthia's cheek, making her giggle.

"What do you mean? My partner was flying right beside me while I climbed down the edge 'cause her wings were too big for her to fly sideways while I reached for it, but it was still perfectly safe! She would've caught me if I fell."

"So would I, but that is beside the poiinnnt," he stretched her cheeks more, making her whine.

"Owowow, but it all worked out, Brother! Isn't that right, Mother? Here's the flower!"

Nidra pulled Cynthia's opposite cheek, stretching it as well. "You reckless child. I am glad you are unharmed, but think of your safety first and foremost."

"Owowow, my face's gonna get all f-flabby!" Her hands full of carefully holding the flower, Cynthia only squeezed her eyes while her mother and brother pulled her cheeks.

"Hahh, I am glad you are alright, however." Nidra sighed, enveloping both arms around her little girl. "Thank you for bringing the flower as I asked, but do be careful next time, for my sake."

"Allright..." Cynthia dug her face into her mother's chest, the mischievous smile still by her lips. "How are you gonna prepare Meli's bath? I wanna watch it!" She hopped out of Nidra's arms, eagerly handing her the flower. "Oh, but wait! I promised I'd visit Owain's new house today... I completely forgot! B-but I wanna watch Meli's bath..."

Meliodas placed one closed hand over one open palm, as though remembering something. "Oh! I also have a previous engagement..."

"Lucina and Morgan called on you for a get-together haven't they?" Nidra carefully placed the flower inside a large bowl, her family following her steps to the kitchen at the back.

"Yes..." Meliodas nodded. "And I have been meaning to take their braids for our jewel. Tonight's a full moon as well, so it's a perfect timing." He absent-mindedly watched as Nidra plucked the petals with utmost care, placing them over a hand towel beside the sink.

The older manakete bobbed her head to the sides, humming. "Meli's bath will only be ready after the moon comes out, as well, so I'm afraid our schedules will not match.

Cynthia looked from her mother to her brother as though watching a ball game. "Whaat? But I wanna watch the jewel-making ritual, too! I'm not gonna spend the night at Owain's but I could go to the castle later, too..."

"Nyaha, I'm sure the kids at the castle will be happy to have two dragon playmates around! Oh, and the babies, too!" Henry joined in after sneakingly making tea for everyone and putting it on the table. "Ni-Ni said the both of us have to bathe Meli at the same time and send a prayer to Naga, so I guess all of us have stuff to 'do' tonight, huh?" He wriggled his eyebrows to his teacup, knowing his wife would get the drift.

Without even looking over her back, Nidra kicked the chair right behind her -- where Henry sat -- while still minding the flower with her hands. "Indeed." She coughed, then raised her chin to the food by the oven. "Let us at least share this afternoon meal before we go our separate ways, hm?"

"Oh yes, please! I'm starving!" Cynthia raised her hand after finishing her tea, hopping out of her seat to help Meliodas put the table.

"YOU should be the one taking a bath later, sister. You can't show yourself to Owain's wife looking like that."

"Hey! I just to brush the leaves out and I'll be good as new! But I guess it would be good to take a bath just in case..."

Nidra and Henry laughed at their children's interchange, watching as they put the table with fondness.

After sharing the meal and the stories that came with the children's hunt for the flower, the family slowly separated: Meliodas was the first one to leave to castle Ylisse to spend the night there, followed by a now-clean Cynthia, who also brushed her pegasus before setting out for the city, and from there to the castle to witness Meliodas' ritual.

After cleaning the table, Henry noticed that Nidra had made two separate bowls for the Naga's Bell. "Are we gonna give him two baths?" He asked, tilting his head to the side.

Nidra loudly cleared her throat, pretending to be busy heating the water. "The smaller bowl is for tea. A single petal will suffice, so the rest will go for Meli's bath."

"Huh." The dark mage raised one eyebrow. "And we're drinking this tea? Or are you gonna offer it to Naga?" He took a step to be beside her, which made her avert her face away from him so he wouldn't see her blushing mien.

"N-no, I'll be the one drinking it."

"You, alone?" He circled her to look at her face, but she looked away once again. His smirk grew.

"Yes, I alone." This time, she turned her back to him, though her face was so red even the tip of her pointy ears were blushing.

Henry wriggled his fingers, slowly sliding them on his wife's waist. Nidra let out a surprised 'eek', but didn't move from her spot.

"Whaaat is ittt forrr?" He placed his chin over her shoulder, "wow, your cheek is super hot! It has to do with boinking, doesn't it? It doessss, righttt?" he teased, pulling her closer to him.

"Oh, for Naga's sake, it does! But stop saying this word, I beg you!" She cried out, hiding her face with both hands. "I shall drink it and send a prayer to Naga asking for fertility! H-happy now?!"

"Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm," he teased, breathing by her neck, his hands tightly holding her waist. "We could just keep trying and trying and trying, though, no prayers needed! That's fun part, too, nyaha!"

Nidra's shoulders sagged in defeat, her face still hidden under her hands. "I'm not saying we aren't trying."

"Aha!"

"I-it's just a guarantee, alright? Since the flower is here and all..."

"Uh-huhhh," he kissed her nude neck, enjoying how she flinched with the touch of his lips. "You better take the pot away from the fire now, though, or there won't be any water left." He noted without even stopping his kisses, making Nidra gasp loudly.

"Oh no!" She jumped, quickly reaching for the kettle and moving it away from the fire. "You distract me so much, Henry."

"Nyehe," he squeezed her in his hug, digging his face into her neck, his breath tickling her skin. "You're not complaining, though!"

"Never." She smiled softly, the shade of red still ever present over her cheeks, her eyes watching the smoke coming out of the boiling water.

Later that evening, the full moon made itself seen, signaling the perfect moment for Meli's bath. Fortunately the nights weren't too cold during summer, so Nidra and Henry could bring the baby-sized bathtub outside so as to enjoy the most the moonlight had to offer.

The Naga's Bell water turned into a silver shade of green the moment the light shone onto it, glittering as though there were manakete scales inside of it. Henry blinked with the sight, letting out an amused 'oohh' once Nidra carefully placed Meli inside.

Sleepy, the baby yawned widely, enjoying the lukewarm water around his body. Nidra felt her eyes burn with emotion by simply sharing that wonderful moment with her husband: the both of them held Meli behind his neck, carefully splashing water all over him with their free hands.

The more they mixed the water around the baby, the more it turned into a silvery rainbow, much like Meliodas' wings in his dragon form. "See how the flower resonates with his inner dragon?" Nidra whispered softly, the warm wind lifting strands of hair as Meli cooed in their arms.

"This is all so magical, and I've been a mage all my life." Henry commented, a fatherly smile splattered across his lips. "Thanks for sharing this with me, Ni-Ni. For choosing me, for loving me... for giving me this family I can call mine." He said solemnly though casually, without even stopping rubbing the water on Meli.

Nidra choked a sob, scooting closer to her husband so she could rest her head on his. "I'm the one who should be thanking you, but instead, I will say this: I love you."

"Mhm," Henry leaned his head on hers as well. "I love you too, Nidra."

The manakete closed her eyes, sending a silent prayer to Naga -- asking for the protection of her little baby as well as of her beloved husband beside her. Of course, she thanked the heavens for such a great amount of happiness, a single tear itching down her face as she did so.

"Meli's gonna start getting cold soon, let's bring him back." Henry noticed a change in the clouds above, reaching for the towel he hanged over his free shoulder.

"Indeed, let's." Nidra dried her tears with her wet hand, drenching her face even more. But she didn't care. The smile almost hurt on her lips as she watched Henry carefully wrap their baby around the towel, her heart bursting with love.

By the time they finished putting Meli's pajamas, he was already deep asleep, his skin glowing in the moonlight much like Nidra's did on occasion. The manakete held her husband as they watched their son sleep for a while, their hearts beating as one.

She could feel Henry sliding his hand up and down her back, caressing her ever so softly in a way she knew he had never done to anyone else before. She closed her eyes to hug him closer, pressing her ear into his chest.

The sound of his heartbeat filled her head, making her close her eyes to enjoy it -- to commit it to memory. "I love you so, so much." She whispered, feeling his hug tighten around her.

"Hey, I love you too." His voice sounded hoarse, almost inviting her to look up at him. Which she did. The moment their eyes met, their lips drifted closer, wanting to taste one another.

They shared a small kiss under the moonlight, enjoying how it grew deeper, their tongues intertwining, never wanting to part. Their bodies moved in unison, as did their breathing -- Nidra turned her head to the side to give Henry's tongue more space inside her mouth as his hands traveled through her back so as to free her from her cape.

Nidra leaned her entire body on Henry's, not noticing how their feet stumbled to get to the bed up until they stumbled and fell on it. Laughing, she rolled to the mattress to take off her top, watching how Henry did the same with his shirt before once again taking him into her arms and lips.

He lied her down on the bed, trailing both hands downwards so as to free her from her shorts as she held his face with both hands, closing her eyes due to the depth of their kiss. She strangled a moan once she was free of her last piece of clothing, promptly opening her legs so her husband could place himself in the middle.

"You're so pretty, Ni-Ni," he whispered as he trailed his kisses from her lips to her jaw, then collarbone and finally breasts. Her skin glowed in the moonlight, the droplets of sweat all around her body glittering in a green and silver light as though she were a work of art.

Her chest had always been so soft and Henry's general favorite spot to play with -- if Nidra's desire didn't rush him, he would play with her breasts and nipples for hours. He loved how he could mold them with squeezes and how she would yelp of pleasure whenever he nipped at them, so he made sure to do it often.

He licked her aureole, then nipped at the tip, enjoying how she trembled under his tongue and teeth. Nidra dug one hand by his scalp, pulling it slightly. "H-Henry..." she could barely speak under the lustful atmosphere, her body going up and down seductively.

The mage snorted by her chest, making a funny noise. "See, I told you this was the fun part!" He chuckled as she puffed her cheeks.

"This isn't the time or place for that!" She growled, immediately deflating. "D-don't keep me waiting..." She huffed, her breathing rasped. Watching her chest moving, once again Henry took it upon himself to lick and suck it, making Nidra wrap both legs around his waist, wanting to rub them against each other -- wanting him to rub himself inside of her.

Giggling, Henry once again trailed his mouth to her collarbone, neck, jaw and finally lips -- the voracity with which she welcomed the kiss made him roll his eyes in pleasure as he reached down for his own pants to free his erection.

The moment it popped out, his glans rubbed on Nidra's vaginal opening, making her let out a long, lustful sigh. "Henry... don't keep me waitingg..." She bemoaned, almost whining.

The mage smirked, prodding his erection by her vulva, feeling her promptly suck it in. "You shouldn't just hit me whenever I mention this if you want it this much, y'know?" He licked her cheek as he penetrated her all at once, enjoying how she struggled to keep her moan as silent as possible so as not to wake up the baby.

"You-ahh... You are too explicit! Keep t-these, hmm, these talks to the bedroom i-instead..." She tried to speak under his thrusts, letting adorable moans out amidst her phrase.

"Dirty talking? Woo!" He teased, pulling it all out then putting it in, enjoying how even her limbs went limp from pleasure. She giggled in response, pulling him for yet another kiss, never tiring of feeling him inside of her.

By then, Nidra had completely forgotten about the tea she had taken earlier that afternoon, or even about the prayer she had sent to Naga -- at that moment, she and Henry were simply being enveloped into one another's love, enjoying the pleasure they could give each other.

No words could describe how right having Henry inside of her felt -- how his teasing and playing around even during the act made her feel whole. It had taken her almost three millennia, but she had finally found the place where she belonged the most:

Inside Henry's arms, specifically while part of him was inside of her as well.

"I'm gonna say it first this time," he huffed, accelerating his movements. Inebriated by pleasure, Nidra's eyes were heavy and her mind, foggy.

"H-Hen-ahh-ry?" She squeezed her hug on his neck, her insides pulsating with the approaching orgasm.

"I love you, Ni-Ni. Forever... and ever," he said in a low voice, his thrusts getting deeper and stronger. Barely were the words out of his mouth, he could feel Nidra closing in around him, being washed over by the climax.

"Th-that's unfair, Henry," she huffed as he still thrusted, the orgasm close to him after it passed from her. "I love you as, ahh, well..."

She felt him liberate himself inside of her, their declaration of love a catalyst for their utmost pleasure.

"Heehee," the mage pressed his forehead on Nidra's, not wanting to pull it out of her, "we still have the whole summer to keep trying."

Tired from the climax, Nidra only laughed, stealing yet another kiss from her beloved. "Our whole lives you mean. Surely we do not plan on stopping after Cynthia is born."

"Oooooh, now you're talking!"

[triilo-write]

Modern Male Orc x Trans Man Reader (sfw) Part 1

this kinda hit me in the middle of the night when i was supposed to be sleeping so i started it on my phone and then finished on my compute r

You couldn't believe you'd finally cracked. For the last two years you had been happily single, focusing more on earning your degree than on a love life. You liked it that way. The last couple relationships you'd had were... rocky, to say the least, but ended mutually and on good terms. You even sometimes went out to get a drink with one of them now and then; with her new girlfriend tagging along who you were immediately determined to befriend. Your roommate, on the other hand, seemed to think that your forlorn gazes at the other male students was a sign that you needed to give it another shot.

"Okay, just, hear me out." Nira had began during one movie night. The faun had paused at the half wall separating the living room from the ‘kitchen’ with a bowl of hot popcorn in their hands, chocolaty brown eyes locked on you instead of the tv. "Just one date won't bring about the end of the world. You can just ask one of the cute guys in your classes, or at work." They suggested, pouting huffily at your eye roll.

 "You know why I can't 'just' do that, N." You sighed, dropping the remote into the little hammock the blanket made between your knees. "I have the worst time talking to anybody, let alone a cute somebody." You glanced at them as they settled down beside you, tucking a leg under the other.

 "Then.. Why not not ask them face to face?"

 "...You've lost me."

 "A dating profile!" Nira exclaimed, eyes glinting excitedly in the dim light. "Just make like, a Tinder or a Grindr or whatever other app floats your boat, and just browse and wait for a match."

You had to admit that at the time it wasn't the worst possible idea. They'd had plenty worse than using a dating app. But.. You still beat around the bush for another week and a half. Eventually you set up a Grindr- without letting Nira know right off the bat- and the waiting game began. You groaned to yourself and left your phone forgotten on your chest to cover your face with your hands. "There's no way I really got talked into this..." You grumbled against your palms, shutting your eyes and closing off all the nervous thoughts prickling at the back of your mind.

Within just a few minutes of calming down, your phone buzzed almost aggressively against you. You expected it to be Nira, or another friend, or even a classmate asking about notes. Instead, it was an alert that someone had liked you. Apparently you really didn’t need to wait as long as you thought.

It was an almost painfully handsome orcish someone. According to the distance he most likely went to your college and probably even stayed in one of the dormitories, or an apartment like you were, and it set off another wave of nerves. From his profile photos he actually was part of the culinary students, which was a bit of a surprise. Especially considering the first photo was of him and a bunch of other men in football uniforms.

Idly, you worried at your bottom lip with your teeth as you read over his bio, shifting onto your side. His name was Mhurren- an addendum of “the H is silent :)” following- and was twenty-three and, apparently, over six-and-a-half feet tall. Good Gods. And, the more you read, the more you found yourself smiling. He liked going hiking, watching The Great British Baking Show, and expressed a great fondness for blueberry muffins. All things you oddly enough, enjoyed too. Chronic joint pain made hiking a, well, pain in the ass; but you loved being out in nature and exploring. Maybe you’d be able to visit the state park together sometime? You sighed to yourself and mulled over your options, your eyes lingering on his face.

 In the picture he was with a naga, both of them dressed in the standard double-breasted jacket of culinary students, flour dusting the maroon fabric . He had one thick arm around the naga’s neck in a playfully gentle headlock- you could tell by the beaming grin on both of their faces. The naga herself was beautiful; her skin a warm tan with speckling of deep crimson scales on her cheeks and climbing up her neck. Her dark hair was tied up in a neat bun and amber eyes focused on the camera with a happy glint in them. He, however, captivated you with all the little details. His skin was a deep green, and thick tusks caught the overhead lights; his long hair was dyed a rich dark seafoam with the dark brown roots showing. It was tied back in a beautiful dutch braid that he had pulled over his shoulder, and just messy enough to show he’d let it down out of a bun just a little before. His piercings were beautiful- bright silver studs in erl, snake bite, and brow styles. The philtrum looked like it was more stone than metal, but you couldn’t make out what kind just yet.

Just yet? You didn’t even know if you were going to meet him!

Your gaze drifted from the philtrum to the attractive black septum ring, then up higher to his eyes. Mirth glittered in their mismatched depths, and you found yourself inhaling a little sharply. His right eye was a blue to rival the sky, whereas the left was a striking, storm cloud grey.

 ...Maybe liking him back couldn’t hurt after all. Your thumb swiped his profile to the right and you could feel a small coil of anxiety twist in your chest as the app announced a match. “Oh, Gods.” You mumbled to yourself as you shifted to sit up, crossing your legs together. Your thumbs nervously tapped the edges of your phone while the chat was loaded; what if you said something wrong right off the bat? Maybe he’d lose interest the moment you started to talk, what if-

A message popped up and drove you from your apprehensive thoughts, and you read it with a flutter in your stomach.

 ‘hey! sorry if I’m keeping you up any.’

‘Oh! No, no youre fine! Im just settling in to relax for the night’ Not a complete lie, but you didn’t want him to feel bad for talking to you.

‘oh good. I didn’t really expect you to swipe back tbh.’

‘Really?’

‘yeah, but I just joined and don’t really know what to expect in general, you know?’

‘Gods, tell me about it. Ive never had a dating profile before so this is all extremely new’

You were glad he was as new as you were, the awkward process of breaking the ice would be mutual that way. It soothed your uneasiness some, and you moved again to slip out of bed and make your way into the main room. You were much more awake now while the two of you spoke back and forth, and you switched on the electric kettle while you leaned against the counter. He was already making you smile and chuckle to yourself as he talked about how his classes were going, and you in turn dipped into how yours were. He was majoring as a pastry chef, and you were majoring as a geologist.

 In a way it was a mistake to tell him that, as the science puns started up without warning as you dropped a bag of Yorkshire Gold tea into your mug. A particularly bad one almost made you laugh out loud and you had to clamp your hand over your mouth quickly to stifle yourself.

  ‘That was horrible!! Youre lucky i love puns’

‘aha! finally I have an excuse to utilize my awful sense of humor.’

‘Be careful, using it all the time may be’ A brief pause for suspense. ‘Punisble’

 His subsequent keysmash and ‘GODS’ filled you with pride and giggle to yourself as the kettle finished heating, and you reached for the handle, typing with one hand.

 ‘Im glad you enjoyed that so much’

‘I woke up my roommate laughing, look what you do to me’

‘Maybe I could do more’ The message sent before you could stop yourself, heat flaring in your cheeks as you nearly overfilled your mug in shock at your own bravado. ‘I mean make you laugh more!! I bet you have a wonderful laugh, the world should hear it as often as possible!’

You groaned at yourself, putting the kettle back in place and using a spoon to help weigh down the tea bag before covering your face with your hand. You really were digging a deeper hole for yourself, weren’t you? He was bound to lose interest now, you’d been speaking for maybe an hour and then you make a comment like that? Mortifying.

 What felt like an eternity had passed before your phone buzzed again and you chanced a peek at the screen, eyeing his response.

 ‘I’d like that, though. perhaps you’ll get your chance Friday night during dinner, if you want to go with me 💖’

 “WHAT-” You yelped in shock, covering your mouth swiftly afterwards, though not swift enough. In moments Nira was at their doorway looking ruffled and worried. You dropped your hand to answer before she even asked. “I.. Just got asked out.”

“Ooh! Who is it, how?” They excitedly hopped over to you, peering curiously at your phone, and huffing at your lack of a reply. “Don’t leave them hanging, that’d be rude.” The faun bumped their head against your shoulder encouragingly before stepping back to put their hands on their hips.

‘Id love that; I just want to warn you its been a long while since Ive been out with anyone, though’

“There we are! Now, fill me in.” They grinned, dark eyes shining with intrigue. Together you stood in the open kitchen with the small overhead light on, mixing up your tea with Nira hanging on your every word. At one point Mhurren had responded, his answer excited and asking to verifying a time- Friday was only a day away, after all. You both settled on seven in the evening to give yourselves a fair bit of time together to talk, before he bid you a good night. Nira, however, wouldn’t leave you to your tea until you showed them the photos of Mhurren. “Now he’s a catch! And he might be able to keep up with your sweet tooth if he’s working to be a pastry chef.” They teased with a wink, patting your shoulder before heading back to their room.

 You sat on the couch, watching the dark world outside the large living room window, sipping your cooling tea and mulling over what had happened. Part of you was still nervous that he’d be unhappy with what he saw and heard when you’d both meet up, but you swatted it away to focus on finishing your drink and returning to bed yourself. Even then you didn’t doze for quite some time, but when sleep finally found you it was sound and dreamless.