#oc: gareth the gargoyle

[ghostcaterwaul-doesnt-write]

Tarot Prompt #9! I used my own prompt for this one.

The draft was written in about 8 minutes, stream of consciousness, then edited and revised over the course of a week, then beta’d by @luckiestgirl13

I’m thinking of doing a taglist for these, by the way, if anyone’s interested! Should I do that?

I made a masterlist of my previous prompts and relevant posts.

Constructive feedback or words of encouragement are always welcome!

Deck used: Joseph Vargo's The Gothic Tarot

Card: The Sun

Prompt: Daylight

Word Count: 548

Alice woke up and expected everything to have been a dream, but she was still on the train. Light peaked through the opening in the stained glass window that was slightly ajar and Alice realized she’d never seen this odd world in daylight before so she opened the window a little wider.

The train was going past a field of tall flowers. They had large aubergine central disks and their velvety heart shaped petals were dark teal. They stood alongside equally tall spire-shaped perennials with glowing pastel pink flowers.

The peachy sun was just rising, peaking through the lavender clouds and you could still see the bioluminescence of the plant life. The sky farthest from the sun was indigo, and a pastel salmon closest to the sun.

The silvery lavender fog of the night was powder pink with rose gold hues during the day. The sun reflected off the dew, making the scenery appear to be covered in glitter.

Alice gasped in awe of the ethereal beauty. She took in a deep breath of the morning air, which had a sweet citrus smell with soft herbal undertones.

The light shined on Gareth’s smooth, crystalline face, causing him to groan, turn his head, and block the light with his arm. The sun reflected off of his rose colored form, forming little rainbow patches on the surfaces of the train compartment.

“Close that window, kid. It’s too damn bright!”

Alice grimaced a bit. “Sorry.” She whispered before closing the window more and leaving it open just enough to peek one blue-grey eye out to take in the view.

Gareth was still annoyed by this and grumbled incoherently under his breath, but didn’t complain.

Alice did her best to look outside while blocking any light from coming in. Even in the daylight, the flowers still seemed to glow. Out in the field, there was a herd of what Alice could only assume to be unicorns. They were about 9 feet tall with long curly mains and tails with tufts of hair on their chins, feathering on their lower legs, and red and brown spiral horns in the center of their foreheads that curved upward. They were a variety of muted tones of sea-greens, olives, dusty blues, lavenders and mauves with various unique markings like starbursts and swirls. Alice perked up and looked back at Gareth, who was awake, but trying to get back to sleep.

“Hey, Gareth?”

The gargoyle sighed. “What?”

“Can you take me to meet the unicorns?”

Gareth chuckled. “Not those wild ones out there. They’d skewer you like a kebab.”

“Really? They don’t look violent.”

“Take a look at the horns.”

Alice squinted but eventually saw that the red and brown on the horns was actually both dried and fresh blood. A chill ran up her spine. While she’d always hoped that unicorns existed out there somewhere, it had never occurred to her that they would be violent or dangerous.

“I got a friend who breeds captive ones. I’ll take you to see those if you want.” Gareth said. “But only if you let me get back to sleep.” He added with a sharp grumble.

Alice nodded quickly. “Okay. Sorry.” She whispered before turning her head to look out the window, still keeping it open only a sliver.

[elvensemi]

@thestrangemirror​ I’m sorry you didn’t ask for this but I saw your comments on doromine’s art of Gareth and I’m in quarantine and I wanna talk about my OCs, (warning some of the following links aren’t sfw, if you’re interested in reading further a full archive with tags and warnings can be found here)

As far as I know, Avi is the same size as his Jean-y counterpart, which is to say 6′6. Where it counts he’s,,, well, I mean, you can read about Bree’s struggles in that area. He’s not a gargoyle or a half-succubus but he’s packing enough heat even when he’s not ribbed for her pleasure. So. Yeah. Rest in pieces, Ren’s internal organs... OR... 

This has been hinted at a few times but not out-and-out confirmed (until now) (because I’m trash) but it is in fact Ren’s not-so-human ancestry that lets her survive things that maybe would be inadvisable for an ordinary human (is it because I have a size kink? no it’s because I like angst but it just so happens to come up more vis-a-vis dicks when Kitty’s around), like nightshade and whatever unfortunate things Gareth’s doing to her colon on a semi-regular basis. 

She heals up faster than usual, too, which is why she’s walking around on a sprained ankle a day later, as well as how she’s able to hide some things from Gareth. I’ll avoid going into any more detail on exactly why and how, for the sake of people who haven’t fully read the series yet, but I think if you have, you can probably guess. :) 

[ghostcaterwaul-doesnt-write]

Tarot Prompt #4! I decided to use a prompt from Tarot for Writers by Corrine Kenner this time.

I usually only write for 5 minutes for these, but I forgot to set a timer this time and wrote for almost an hour! So enjoy this longer one with a word count of over 600 words! Some of it’s rushed because I thought my timer was going to go off but after a bit I was like “It should have gone off by now, right?” And realized my mistake. Haha!

Constructive feedback or words of encouragement are always welcome!

Deck used: Joseph Vargo’s The Gothic Tarot

Card: The Chariot

Prompt from Tarot For Writers by Corrine Kenner: A Traveler (I changed this to just “Travel” so I could introduce my favorite part of my world so far. Though I suppose Alice and Gareth could be considered the travelers here.)

Alice and Gareth reached a large train station with stained glass windows, Victorian architecture, Gothic spires, and Baroque flourishes. There were gargoyles on pedestals that Gareth said hello to and talked with before going inside.

They approached one of the skeletal horned creatures that Alice had seen in the sky upon her arrival. The name tag on his uniform said Skritch. Behind him was a train that was unexplainably made of trinkets and tchotchkes, gum wrappers and candy wrappers, jewelry, buttons, and coins, sitting on a rollercoaster track made of what looked like vines and tree roots. 

“Train fare, please?” Skritch said in a raspy voice that made him sound like he’d be out in the desert without water for days.

Gareth looked over at Alice, who was scrambling through her crossbody tote bag for change. “It can be anything you have on you.” He told her before handing over some glowing crystals that seemed to suddenly appear in his hand. They looked like chunks of the crystal he was made of, but Alice couldn’t see any new chips or cracks on Gareth. She wondered where he’d gotten them and how he’d been carrying them all this time.

Alice took off her oval black onyx ring, as she had several just like it at home. “Is this okay?” She asked, handing it to Skritch.

Skritch grinned and nodded. “Ah, yes, a wonderful addition to the train!” He said, putting them on stone podium in front of him, which lit up a baby blue color as the items disappeared, and then reappeared on the train.

Gareth’s glowing crystals were added along with other bioluminescent items on the front of the train to act as headlights, and Alice’s ring being added to the frame of one of windows.

They approached the train and Alice noticed the conductor was a being even more pale than herself with long lavender hair, pointed ears with lots of piercings, big green eyes with irises a little too large and pupils a little too small, and big, silver, insect-like wings. Alice gasped in awe of what she could only assume was a fairy.

“Hello, I’m Asphodel Sugarmist, the train conductor. I know you, Gareth, but who’s this lovely human you have accompanying you today?” She asked with a soft smile, her voice an elegant, warm tone.

 Alice blushed at being called ‘lovely’, especially by such a beautiful creature, and stammered out her name, barely loud enough for anyone to hear. 

“Welcome, Alice, I hope you enjoy the ride.”

A ramp made of twigs and vines extended out from the train entrance and Alice and Gareth both got on the train. The inside was made of plushies and pillows, with lights made of bioluminescent mushrooms that varied in color from pinks,to purples, to blues, to greens. Each train compartment had a different centerpiece on its table.

 “Ooh, can we sit here?” Alice asked, excitedly, pointing to one with a purple mushroom light and a snowglobe with a wolf figurine inside as the table centerpiece.

After saying so, though, Alice realized that Gareth’s large stature may cause him not to fit in any of the compartments, but before she could say anything, he slide into the booth made of Skeleanimal plushies, and the booth and compartment seemingly grew to accommodate his size, though from what Alice could tell, the size and shape of the train as a whole didn’t change. It was disorienting for Alice to witness, but she slid onto the booth opposite of Gareth all the same. She looked at the table and realized it was made of crystals and pebbles and she was fascinated.

Despite the unconventional materials that made up the train, it still felt safe and sturdy. She opened the stained glass window that depicted a raven holding a dark purple rose in its mouth, and looked outside.

[ghostcaterwaul-doesnt-write]

Tarot Prompt #7! I used another prompt from Tarot for Writers by Corrine Kenner.

The draft was written in about 7 minutes, stream of consciousness, then edited and revised over the course of a week.

Picks up where the last one left off.

I’m thinking of doing a taglist for these, by the way, if anyone’s interested! Should I do that? I’m probably going to make a masterpost of them as well.

Constructive feedback or words of encouragement are always welcome!

This snippet contains mentions of alcohol as it takes place in a bar.

Deck used: Joseph Vargo's The Gothic Tarot

Card: 10 of Swords

Prompt from Tarot For Writers by Corrine Kenner: Gossip

Alice sipped on her absinthe, savoring the sweet, herbal, licorice flavor of the chartreuse liquid. She looked around the tavern as Gareth talked to the other patrons. The Tavern was a circle, with a circular bar in the middle made of a pitch black wood with a rainbow opalescence. Booths with purple velvet upholstery lined the gray brick walls. The floor was marble tile designed to take the shape of a purple goblet with an olive green jewel. All the windows were blocked out with stained glass designs depicting various goblets except for the front window, which was clear with the exception of stained glass script spelling out The Ghastly Goblet. Crystal sconces adorned  the wall, radiating teal, violet, and magenta light and there were matching centerpieces on the tables and every 3 seats at the bar. A silver chandelier that’s arms only held incense hung from the ceiling. The tavern had a warm, sweet, earthy smell with hints of spice and vanilla and a smoky resinous scent. 

Alice gazed around in awe, eyes wide and mouth agape,, her heart pounding with excitement. She almost forgot about her drink until she saw Gareth take a sip of his Bourbon Manhattan. She sipped her drink and looked around once more, her eyes landing on an unnaturally large black-purple vulture with piercing fluorescent green eyes that had flown into the front window’s view and perched on a planter hanging from a street pole. The planter held a plant with cascading stems of blue and purple bell-shaped, bioluminescent flowers with gently flared petals.

Suddenly, whispers filled the tavern.

“There’s that old crone’s bird again.”

“Why does it come all the way out here?”

“Probably looking for Astrid’s next victim.”

“Do you really think she killed her husband?”

“Oh, now all of you shut up.” Gareth’s voice boomed throughout the tavern and reverberated off the walls, shocking the rest of the patrons into silence and causing Alice to jump a bit. He continued, “We all know Astrid did no such thing. And you all go to her for spells and potions anyways. How dare you take advantage of her skills only to talk behind her back!”

There was a hum of murmurs for a moment before regular conversations began to pick up again.

Alice was still partially transfixed on the vulture outside as she gazed into the carrion’s mesmerizing eyes. “Who’s Astrid?” She asked, her curiosity getting the best of her. Alice couldn’t help but be intrigued by this mysterious witch.

“An old witch that lives out in the swamp.” Gareth said. “That bird is her familiar, Edgar.” 

“A familiar? That’s a really special animal to a witch, right?”

“To put it simply.”

Alice went quiet for a moment as she still admired Edgar until he eventually took flight.

She turned to Gareth. “Can I meet her?”

“Astrid? Yeah. Sure, kid, I’ll take you out there later.”

[ghostcaterwaul-doesnt-write]

Tarot Prompt #6! I used a prompt from Tarot for Writers by Corrine Kenner again!

This was written in about 6 minutes, stream of consciousness.

Another scene of Alice and Gareth and some more character introductions.

I’m thinking of doing a taglist for these, by the way, if anyone’s interested! Should I do that?

Constructive feedback or words of encouragement are always welcome!

This snippet contains mentions of alcohol as it takes place in a bar.

Deck used: Joseph Vargo’s The Gothic Tarot

Card: 9 of Cups

Prompt from Tarot For Writers by Corrine Kenner: A bar scene

Gareth began leading her to a tavern called The Ghastly Goblet where he was greeted at the door by a gargoyle made of glowing green crystal with a blue-ish purple iridescent sheen, wearing a security uniform with a name tag reading Tiberius. They went inside and sat down at the bar and ordered drinks from a bartender that was a horned skeleton specter like Skritch, but this one had a long death hawk.

“Heya, Gareth, what can I getcha?” She asked.

“Hey there, Wisp. I’ll have a Bourbon Manhattan. Alice, what do you want? It’s on me.”

“Do you have Absinthe?” Alice asked.

“Hell yeah, we do! We love The Green Fairy here!” Wisp said excitedly.

Gareth handed Wisp a few chunks of glowing pink crystals with yellow iridescent sheen, just like the crystal he was made of. Then, a spectral green fairy on a stained glass window suddenly came to life and poured Alice’s drink from the Absinthe fountain into a crystal Absinthe glass with a black stem and base that faded up to clear so you could still see the fluorescent green liquid. Gareth’s drink was served to him by Wisp in a similar colored lowball glass. The black color on the glasses seemed to have a faint purple-ish pink glow.

[ghostcaterwaul-doesnt-write]

Tarot Prompt #8! Prompt from Tarot for Writers by Corrine Kenner.

The draft was written in about 7 minutes, stream of consciousness, then edited and revised over the course of a week.

I’m thinking of doing a taglist for these, by the way, if anyone’s interested! Should I do that?

I’m also thinking of looking for a beta reader for these, as I’m finding it difficult to edit and revise my own work.

I made a masterlist of my previous prompts and relevant posts.

Constructive criticism and feedback or words of encouragement are always welcome!

Deck used: Joseph Vargo's The Gothic

Tarot Card: The Lovers

Prompt from Tarot For Writers by Corrine Kenner: An Ancient Tree

Word Count: 384

The forest was lukewarm, slightly humid, and smelled of musk, soiled earth, crushed leaves, and moss with a resinous, smoky scent and undertones of a cool, sweet floral softness, the ghost of a crisp fruity note, and the slightest hint of licorice.

The wind rustled through the leaves in a rhythmic fashion and twigs crunched as they walked. Glowing flower petals fell elegantly from the trees. The heels of Alice’s boots were sinking into the wet soil. There was a faint sound of humming or muffled singing and an even quieter flute and harp that was barely audible, Alice couldn’t tell which. Gareth didn’t seem to hear it. Alice looked around to see where it was coming from.

“Do you hear that?” She asked her gargoyle companion.

“Hear what?”

“I hear some sort of music or something.”

“Oh, that’s just the fairies.”

“Where are they?”

“Oh they’re everywhere in here. They’re just teeny tiny right now. If they want you to see them, you will.”

“I won’t accidentally step on any, will I?”

“Nah, they’re in the trees.” Alice looked closer at the trees, squinting in hopes of being able to see the fairies. Her face fell into a frown and her shoulders slumped when she didn’t see them, though she perked up again when she instead noticed very small windows and doors in tree trunks and branches. The lights inside radiated neon colors of teal, pink, green, purple, and blue. They blended in so well with the bioluminescence of the forest, she hadn’t noticed them before.

While walking through the forest, Alice and Gareth came across The First Tree.

Like the rest of the trees in the forest, it was a weeping tree with a twisted and knotty trunk, spiraled and curly branches, gnarled roots, and black bark with a rainbow luster. It towered over all the other trees with an umbrella-like canopy and spidery, cascading branches, adorned with teal heart-shaped leaves and violet and magenta bioluminescent star-shaped flowers with pointed petals. It’s large, jagged roots were threaded in and out of the soil like skeletal tentacles and it was difficult to tell them apart from the leaning and fallen trees of the forest. Alice and Gareth coil walk underneath the arches of the roots. It was truly a monster of a tree.

[ghostcaterwaul-doesnt-write]

Tarot Prompt #5! I used another prompt from Tarot for Writers by Corrine Kenner.

This was written in about 6 minutes, stream of consciousness.

This takes place years after Alice’s first visit to what I’m temporarily calling The Strange World. This piece is pretty dark compared to the others I’ve posted, so please pay attention to the trigger warnings I’ve added!

Also, here’s Alice’s OC intro from awhile ago, before I had a story for her. I have her age as 17 there, but that’s not set in stone. Please mind the trigger warnings on her OC intro post as well.

I’m thinking of doing a taglist for these, by the way, if anyone’s interested! Should I do that?

Constructive feedback or words of encouragement are always welcome!

Trigger warnings for mentions of substance abuse (alcohol, weed, and pills), and a non-graphic suicide attempt.

Deck used: Joseph Vargo’s The Gothic Tarot

Card: The Devil

Prompt from Tarot For Writers by Corrine Kenner: Addiction

It’d been years since Alice had been to that strange world with gargoyles, fairies, and horned skeletal creatures that glided in circles in the sky. She had been able to return a few times, before her mental health issues began to spiral out of control. Then she started using. Partially to try and go back to that strange world she had become so attached to, and partially to cope with being stuck in such an unbearable reality. It started off harmless with some weed or alcohol here and there, but then her usage of both increased, and then she started doing Adderall, then Xanax, then Percocet, and eventually OxyContin as well.

She thought she’d never be able to go back again, and ingested a potentially lethal cocktail of drugs in an attempt to end her own life at the age of 21.

Instead, she awoke in a bed of lush, dark teal grass, with Gareth hovering above her, and weeping trees with colorful bioluminescent flowers towering over them both.

“Well, what the hell’d ya do that for, kid?” He asked, a hint of sadness ghosting underneath his usual quirky, raspy tone.

[ghostcaterwaul-doesnt-write]

Tarot Prompt #3! I used the image on the card for inspiration again!

This was written in about 5 minutes, stream of consciousness.

All of these will be unfinished snippets, as I plan to limit myself to a certain time frame for writing, starting at 5 minutes and adding a minute on every week.

More of Alice’s journey through my world!

Constructive feedback or words of encouragement are always welcome.

Deck used: Joseph Vargo’s The Gothic Tarot

Card: Knave of Wands

Prompt: I decided to introduce a gargoyle character!

Alice approached the large gothic building and stared in amazement at the gargoyle outside, perched on a pedestal. It was made of a type of crystal she’d never seen before. A warm pink crystal with a yellow iridescent finish that seemed similar to quartz and glowed softly. The gargoyle sported spiraled horns and big fangs as well as pointed ears. She gazed at its chiseled face for a few long moments when suddenly it opened its eyes.

“It’s not polite to stare, you know!” He said in a raspy, high-pitched voice.

“Oh! I’m sorry! I was just— I didn’t— I didn’t realize you were alive.”

“Well why wouldn’t I be?” The gargoyle asked. He then extended his claw out to her. “Name’s Gareth.”

Alice gently grasped his claw and he carefully carefully closed it around her hand. “I’m Alice.”