#oc: the slunk

[donksodonks]

Slunk 4 Prez (because ANYONE else would do a better job than That Guy)

[hugsohugs]

what if the slunk…was a slail!? 😳🤔 really makes you think…

[shag0hod]

my faaavorite thing is to draw characters in the same pose. but here are some refs i did for artfight ^_^

[flareguncalamity]

ride the cyclone kind of to me feels like they tried to write cats again but accidentally added two grizabella the glamour cats

[p-seduonym]

Switched At Birth (Part Seven)

A/N: What, I couldn't think of a new gif idea. Don't judge me. Anyway, my laptop has been acting weird so I might not be updating as frequently. I'll try to keep it consistent though. Also, confession time, I don't particularly like Damian but I hope I was at least faithful to his character.

Taglist (I'll add you if you ask):@luludeluluramblings, @von-jour, @holylonelyponyeatingmacaroni, @kenyummy, @bunniotomia, @ch1cky-093, @toxicthotsyndrome68, @cynniee, @icefox8155, @eyeless-kun, @c4xcocoa, @ed15fashionista, @yourtypicalhuman09, @fightmebissh. @tsuniio, @fantasyhopperhea, @type-ink, @dirtydiavolo, @colorfulgardenerduck, @seemeee3, @ironsaladwitch, @yumeravenclaw

Yandere!Batfam X Switched! Fem! Reader X Yandere!Wayne!OC

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Part Five

Part Six

Damian sat stiffly in the back seat, the city’s lights flickering across the window like a metronome. Alfred hummed quietly from the driver’s seat, an old jazz record playing low beneath the rumble of Gotham's streets. He wasn’t really listening. His eyes were fixed on the sidewalk they passed—the boarded-up storefronts, cracked concrete, and faint trails of ivy creeping where they didn’t belong.

Then something caught his eye.

Two figures, ducking through the narrow breach of a long-forgotten building. The glass dome above gave it away.

A conservatory.

His brows knit as he craned slightly, watching Melissa Wayne disappear through the broken wall. She was laughing—a soft, theatrical sound. And beside her—

There. That other one.

An unfamiliar student. Damian could only see their profile, but they were smiling too.

His frown deepened.

“—Are you listening, Master Damian?” Alfred asked gently.

“I saw something,” Damian muttered, still watching. “They shouldn’t be in there.”

Alfred didn’t respond. But Damian wasn’t looking for permission.

He didn’t trust Melissa. He never had.

But it wasn’t her that held his attention.

Melissa Wayne was far from exceptional. In his mind, at least.

She didn’t possess any athletic prowess, wit, or intelligence. The only thing distinct about her was her simpering visage—a perpetual mask of demureness, carefully arranged, right down to the slight tilt of her head and the way she blinked just a second too slow. She was practiced. Performed. Vaguely, she reminded him of the socialites who clung to his father during charity galas—smiles and silk gloves, hiding emptiness underneath.

She walked like someone who could only follow. Spoke like every word was a test.

She had a knack for drifting just close enough to be noticed, then fading into the periphery when it suited her. Never too loud. Never too quiet. Just... there. And hollow.

Damian had seen it before. In court. In League spies. In orphans trained to survive by becoming whatever someone else needed.

But Melissa?

She didn’t even do it well.

It was all mimicry. Secondhand charm and borrowed elegance. And yet, somehow, Father still looked at her with a kind of weary obligation, as if trying to fit her into a frame she didn’t belong in.

She bore the Wayne name, but not its weight. A bastard from a dalliance with some drug-addled harlot.

And Damian had never been more certain of that than now, watching her disappear into the ruins of the conservatory like a ghost playing house.

What interested him was the one who followed her.

The one beside her. The girl who walked into the darkened building with such a warm smile.

“Pennyworth, I’m leaving,” Damian announced, already opening the door. “Tell Father I’ll return.”

It was child’s play to slip into the shadows after them, though it would’ve drawn too much attention to follow them directly. Instead, he slunk into the green gloom surrounding a slumping side exit, swallowed by the ever-encroaching vegetation.

The conservatory loomed above him—rusted beams swallowed by ivy, glass warped and cracked like old bone. Damian narrowed his eyes at the structure. Sentiment. That’s what drew people to ruins—the desperate need to assign beauty to something that had long since rotted. He didn’t understand it.

He crouched low near a collapsed trellis, silent as mist, and tracked movement through the gaps in the stained glass. The figures inside cast shadows—one tall and poised, the other more inward. Melissa’s laugh chimed again, muffled by the thick, damp air. He could see the way she tilted her head, leaned in just so. He’d seen that posture before—a pathetic display of submissiveness from her bowed head to her large, watery eyes.

But the other girl didn’t mirror it, from what he could see. The dusk darkened his view, but still—she stood slightly apart, watching and listening. When she laughed, it was real. Not the kind you staged.

Damian studied her longer than he meant to.

She moved with ease. Not trained—nothing polished—but she wasn’t wary of the space. Or of Melissa. That was... rare.

He adjusted his footing on the soft soil, the hem of his uniform brushing against the weeds as he continued his quiet surveillance. Something about the scene gnawed at him. There was too much softness in it. Too much calm.

And calm, in Gotham, never lasted.

He tapped his comm and muted it. No reason to alert the Cave—yet. This was inconsequential. If it escalated, he’d act.

For now, he stayed in the green-dark, watching the two girls in the crumbling greenhouse. One, hollow and scheming. The other... confusing.

He didn’t know her name.

But she didn’t belong with Melissa Wayne.

She belonged somewhere better.

And Damian intended to find out where.

When the setting sun was finally extinguished, he watched as the two of you exited, trailing shadows nipping at your heels. He followed—certain he had not been detected. How could he be? He was the heir of the Demon’s Head, and you were civilians.

That’s what he thought—until you turned and looked over your shoulder. It could’ve been mistaken for you calling back to Melissa, if you hadn’t caught his eye.

An accident, he assured himself.

But you smiled. A cheeky, knowing smile.

Had you known he was there the entire time?

He froze beneath the greenery as Melissa remained clueless to his presence. As the two of you mounted the bike, he heard you laugh.

“What’s so funny?” Melissa asked, smiling but clearly confused.

“Thought I saw a rat.”

A rat? he thought, and Melissa echoed it.

“Yeah, small one. Ugly, though.” You chuckled, pushing off and pedaling away.

It was embarrassing how long it took to process your words. But when they registered, he flushed an indignant red.

That insolent little—

@gothamu_streets just saw a girl on a beat-up bike pedaling through Midtown with Melissa Wayne riding shotgun??? is this performance art or did I hallucinate that 📍Midtown, Gotham | 🕒 6:42 PM

@g0thamg1rl whoever that was biking Melissa Wayne down Crime Alley is braver than any marine. literally thought that was a jumpscare. 📍Lower Park Row (edge of Crime Alley) | 🕒 7:06 PM

@nvmfrankie wait—isn’t that the same girl she was with at that thrift shop on Canal St? she had the cutest cat socks @watchdogtruths yup. same height, same backpack. girl’s got rizz, tbh @bratbutgoth the thrift store girl??? oh, she’s deep in the Wayne drama now lmaoo

@vigilantytea mel wayne riding on the back of someone’s bike?? no bodyguards? no limo?? did she get disowned or is this the start of her villain arc 💀 📍Gotham U District | 🕒 6:57 PM

@waynewatchdog 🚨SPOTTED: Melissa Wayne seen cozy with a mystery student—caught riding two-up on a rusty bicycle in the East End. Is Gotham’s quietest Wayne heir finally rebelling? Or is this her way of going “normal girl”? Developing story. 👀 📍East End, Gotham | 🕒 7:12 PM

@sunlesssundays she’s not a mystery, I literally saw them together in Old Gotham like weeks ago @bootlegoracle same girl from that viral pic outside ThriftHaus on 9th. band sweatshirt, cat socks, huge bi energy. I remember things @bluelightgotham maybe she’s just a friend??? maybe mel wayne has friends like the rest of us and they thrift together. calm down, internet @n0tjackryder nahhhh no one thrifts in tandem unless it’s serious

@notbatmanirl bike kid got mel wayne smiling? either this girl’s a genius or Gotham’s about to burn down again. 📍St. Aubyn’s Overpass | 🕒 6:55 PM

@stainedglassx not her being the same girl from the thrift store pics 😭😭 i knew she was gonna be important @voidcandy this girl better get hazard pay. I’d evaporate under that much Wayne-family attention @gotham4thegirls melissa wayne and her thrift-core goth gf giving romcom energy while unknowingly walking into danger?? sign me UP

@gothamtabloid Melissa Wayne ditches her driver for a late-night bike ride with a mystery companion. Young love… or something darker? 👀🖤🚲 📍Broadcasted from Gotham Heights Newsroom | 🕒 7:40 PM

@cheesyfriesonmain someone tell me why mel wayne looked like she was clinging to that girl on the bike like her life depended on it. was that a date or a hostage situation? 📍Corner of 5th and Monroe | 🕒 6:51 PM

@roguechronicles Y’all really sleeping on the fact that the girl biking Melissa Wayne through Gotham was smiling. Like ma’am, do you know what city you’re in?? 🧍‍♀️ 📍Old Gotham Strip (near the border of Crime Alley) | 🕒 7:01 PM

@whoisontheguestlist Okay but… who is the girl with Melissa Wayne? New intern at Wayne Enterprises? Daughter of a rival family? Or just a cute nobody doomed to get caught in a mess? 📍Posted from Gotham City Center | 🕒 7:35 PM

A/N: This kinda felt like a nothing burger. I didn't really continue the story. anyway, hope you liked Damian's pov.

[written-in-flowers]

Her Servant: Jongho x Fem!Reader

Pairing: Incubus!Jongho x Fem!Reader x Fem!OC

Genre: Smut | AU: demon!au

Word Count: 8k

MINORS DO NOT INTERACT!

Summary: Hosting a tea party for your cousins, Jongho is forced to be in the presence of unattainable beauty. With the new pet plant slinking around, on the prowl for sustenance and Lady Hera's constant teasing, he gets more than he could dream for.

Tags: servant/master relationship, dom/sub, sub!jongho, dom!reader, threesome (FFM), tentacle sex, monster x human, masturbation, blowjobs, sixty-nine position, edging, oral sex, bisexual!reader, bisexual sex, cum eating, creampie, cousin/cousin incest, nipple play, facesitting, face riding, multiple orgasms, multiple positions.

Previously on Pretty Lady

Pretty Lady Masterlist

****

He hated feeding the damn thing. He swore every time he lifted meat above its head, it’d try biting off his hand. Jongho couldn’t stop the anxiety coming every time he walked near her cage; he pictured one of her vines grabbing his ankle and dragging him to her. Minnie ate nearly anything she could get her tentacles on, and if not to devour it, then to feed off endorphins in the body. Jongho recalled the last time the thing slunk its way into your bedroom and tried ripping at his pants. He managed to fight her off, but he felt the thing stalking him from time to time. It was another reason he hated feeding her. 

“She won’t bite you,” you told him, picking up a strip of meat to drop in between the cage bars. “I think she’s starting to control that side of herself.” 

“I hope so,” he replied, watching Minnie’s razor sharp teeth easily tear the tough flank apart. She gulped it down in two bites, swallowing and growling for more. “She already tries, you know, feeding in other ways with me.”

“That’s because you’re one the only male she sees regularly,” you explained. “You also feed her, so she associates you with food.”

Right as you said this, a thin, green tentacle slithered from between the bars. Jongho jumped back as it tried wrapping around his thigh, swatting at the vine and tossing the meat into the cage. The vine retracted to pick up the beef. 

“See?” he said, seeing you giggling. “She’s always trying to grab my dick and it’s annoying.”

Jongho gagged when he saw the slimy vine push the meat between curved jaws. Sharp teeth tearing through the strip, he knew those fangs retracted once she got her mouth on him. The phantom sensation of her thin vine stroking his shaft made him shudder again. He'd been more naive then, thinking it couldn't hurt him. Once she had him on the greenhouse floor, pants to his thighs, it was over. He did finish hard and felt satiated afterwards, but the thing now took to following him around with hopes of more. 

“I’ve been trying to train her to not do that,” you told him. “It’s not going well.”

“Mistress,” he knew he was wasting his time breaching the subject, but he couldn’t resist, “Are you sure keeping Minnie around is a good idea? I mean, she hasn’t been taking her training very well. She scares the other plants, and Octavius is annoyed by her. Not to mention, The Masters don’t like her being in the house.” 

You hesitated, watching Minnie eat the last bit of meat. He saw the sadness in your eyes. You’d made Minnie as an experiment in creating truly sentient plants like Octavius, and she’d been your first semi-success. While not able to speak or have intelligent thoughts, she acted affectionately with you and behaved more like a dog. However, she truly became a nuisance in the house. You’ve had her for a month now, and she hasn't changed at all. 

“She’s my baby,” you said softly, sitting in front of the cage. “She’s the first thing I’ve made that is really mine.” You stuck a finger in the cage, and one of her thinner vines wrapped around it. “Like, the first thing that has a mind of its own. She’s special. I can’t just get rid of her.”

“Nobody expects you to, but I feel she’s…untrainable.”

“Maybe,” you shrugged. “I’m still going to try. I thought about leaving her in the greenhouse when we got home. You know, let her hang around her own kind and maybe Octavius can teach her stuff. Kind of like how old dogs treat the new ones?”

“That’s an idea. Maybe we could teach her to hunt too, then I don’t have to risk my fingers or my dick to keep her fed.” 

This brought a smile to your face, “Don’t worry. I think after this cage Yeosang built, she won’t be getting out at all.” 

Jongho examined the cage once more. While you and the Masters enjoyed last night’s party, Yeosang took his free time to build Minnie’s new cage. Since normal metal cages did not seem to contain her, Yeosang embedded this one with shadow magic. Jongho did not see it at first, but when he looked closer, he saw a faint shadowy mist over the bars. He told you that this makes the cage impenetrable. Minnie cannot get out even if she knew how. Jongho knew this came after Master Seonghwa ordered them to keep Minnie confined to your bedroom for the rest of the weekend. Since she is able to open doors and windows, the thing can go anywhere. 

“I’m still going to let her out occasionally,” you told him, grinning when Minnie purred at your gentle finger pats. “She’ll get fussy if she’s in there too long.” 

The cage turned into a strange terrarium overnight. One day, it was bare with a small pillow to comfort her at night, and the next there was moss, grass, and plants sprouting from the floor and corners. You set up a water bottle in a corner where she happily sipped from time to time. He'll admit Minnie had her sweet moments, but they were far and few in between. 

“In that case, one of us will have to watch her once she gets going,” he said, putting the empty plate on the table to get away from the cage. “Otherwise, she’ll escape and then what would we do?” 

“It wouldn’t take long to find her. She never goes far.”

“Mostly because she doesn’t move that fast.” 

You stayed by the cage as he started picking up the table. You’d eaten breakfast in your suite, so he had a bit of a mess. He knew you’d be getting ready to go to Asmodeus’s next soiree, which is supposed to be Ancient Roman themed, and he’d have to help you get dressed. It was part of his job. Jongho didn’t have much of a background in taking care of lords and ladies like Yeosang or Yunho, but he knew his job enough to do it well. It certainly beat a life drifting between the mortal world and Hell, haunting houses and possessing people. 

“Mistress,” Yeosang appeared in the doorway, “The guests have arrived.” 

“Aw, great,” you smiled, standing up from the floor. “I’ll be out there soon.”

“Yes, Mistress.”

You walked over to a mirror where you checked yourself out. Your cream colored blouse fit snugly around your torso to accentuate your chest, while the denim shorts hugged your hips and thighs. Even if slightly hungover, you were a beauty. He’d taken his time dressing you today so he could look at you longer. Serving you has been the best thing that’s happened to him. It was akin to serving a goddess. Tending to your needs felt like a privilege only a certain few may have. He walked over to you, and tucked the back of your shirt for a reason to touch you. 

“I still think it’s strange to have guests the night after a party,” he told you. “You’re going to be seeing them tonight. What is the rush?”

“They’re my cousins,” you said, fixing your hair, “And I want to see them outside an orgy setting. It’s good to have relationships that aren’t sexual or romantic. So, Mama says anyway.”

“I’m going to assume it’ll be Ladies Hestia, Kali, Hera and Artemis?”

“Yes,” you nodded, “Mama, Auntie Rhea and Gaia said they’d swing by tomorrow instead.” You grew a small daisy from your fingers and wove it into your hair, “I’m so glad it’s only my cousins that stayed last night. I would’ve died of embarrassment if Mama had stayed.” 

“Your mother is a duchess,” Jongho told you, “And Asmodeus’s niece, so it’s expected of her to go. She might’ve participated and you just didn’t know-”

“-Jongho, don’t be gross,” you groaned with disgust, causing him to laugh. “Nobody likes thinking of their parents like that. I bet you wouldn’t if it was you.”

“Not at all, but my parents aren’t royalty so they wouldn’t have been invited in the first place.”

“What do you parents do?” you asked curiously. “You don’t talk about them.”

Jongho hesitated. “My dad owns a trickster shop, and my mom works there.”

“A trickster shop? Is that like a joke shop?”

“In a way,” he shrugged. “He sold all kinds of stuff trickster demons could use on humans: illusionment smoke, fake gold, guidebooks, and things like that.”

“That’s actually cool. We should go one day. I’ve never been to any of the other cities before. Yeosang says we’re not allowed unless we're invited.”

“That depends on who you’re visiting, to be honest,” he said. “Princes Beelzebub, Mammon and Asmodeus don't mind visitors at all, while Princes Belphegor and Leviathan demand it or they’ll imprison you. Obviously, you need permission to see Lucifer, since he’s the king. My parents’ shop is in The Meadow, so you’ll have no trouble getting through. If anything, Prince Beelzebub will invite you to stay in his palace. I’ve heard it’s super nice. Food and drinks from all kinds of places, mortal and demonic are available around the clock.” The thought made his mouth water.

“You’re a glutton demon?” 

“Partly,” he answered, “I take after my mom more. She’s an Eris.”

“What’s an Eris?”

He forgot how little you knew about the demon world. “It’s the name for trickster demons. If you have to relate us to a prince, we’re descended from Lucifer’s line. My mom says he took the goddess Eris, Goddess of strife and discord, as his wife for a while and had kids with her. I guess a demon and a goddess having kids leads to them being these weird cambion breeds. In a way, we’re cambions too but not like human cambions.” He then said, “You’d be surprised how many demons are half-blooded. Yunho is too: part greed-part wrath. We would’ve died out if we didn’t all start having babies together.”

You paused in thought as you picked up your sunglasses. “I wonder what my kids would be like, if I had any. I’m a cambion, and the masters are full blooded. Would they be like me or like them?”

He thought about you being pregnant, and it worried him for a moment. Female humans didn't survive demonic pregnancies. Yet, you weren't entirely human. You might survive. But, you slept with The Masters so often that you should have fallen pregnant by now. Yeosang and Yunho said it's unlikely, but not impossible. 

“It’s fifty-fifty, to be honest," he answered. "I have a cousin who is part Eris-part Pride too and she takes more after her Pride parent than Eris. It’s kind of like how you take more after your human parent than you demon one.” 

“Hm, interesting,” you noted, putting your sunglasses on your head. “Maybe one day I’ll have a kid and we’ll get to see what happens.”

“It might not be very likely, Mistress,” he said, following you out of the room. “Cambions and demons can have children, but the odds are extremely low. What happened with your parents was pure luck.”

“Which is good, because then I popped out,” you stuck out your tongue teasingly and then giggled. 

Jongho pictured his parents’ shop as he walked behind you to the front doors. A small building settled between an apothecary and a bakery, his father kept various items in the front window to draw in customers. ‘Choi’s Tricks and Treats’ was a popular spot for Eris demons, who came looking for potions, spells, trinkets, and joke items to use on their victims during hauntings. It had been around since the beginning of Lucifer’s reign, and had been passed down from Choi to Choi. His father hoped Jongho might take up the shop when he retired, but then Jongho had been hired by Master Hongjoong. 

Jongho recalled the day he’d met Hongjoong in The Meadow’s market. He’d been buying some apples when two men approached him. He saw their ragged clothes and the malicious glint in their black eyes. Not a physical person, he’d created an illusion of the coin purse they wanted to take off him. In two hours or so, it would disappear, which gave him time to get away. Most demons don’t figure this out since he’d gotten so good at hiding it, yet Hongjoong had noticed. 

“That was a sneaky move. I like it. Can you do anything else?” 

He’d invited Jongho to Beelzebub’s palace, where he entertained the royals with tricks he’d learned over the years. He quite liked it, and it was much steadier than doing possession gigs. Jongho joined the Duke’s household as a jester first, singing songs, telling jokes and performing tricks for the masters’ amusement. It was only when you arrived that they “promoted” him to handler. Seonghwa believed his kind, patient nature would counterbalance Yeosang’s cold, strict demeanor. Jongho didn’t mind the change in pace. You were beautiful and bright. In your slave days, you may have been a bit melancholy and restless, but who wouldn’t be in that situation? It only made you more beautiful to him. 

The both of you came downstairs to the front entrance. There, he saw four familiar figures standing near the door with Yunho. As naturally beautiful as their flowers, the young Ladies of Eden mesmerized Jongho right away. He never met one until you started inviting them to the keep. He found it hard to keep his eyes off them. How could he when they were so eye-catching? Jongho blushed thinking of the last time your cousins had visited. 

“Cousin!” Hestia, the youngest, beamed when you appeared. Baby’s breath woven into her shoulder-length braids, her russet brown skin shimmered at her cheeks and nose. Her dress was shorter than she might wear at home, the fluffy hem kissing just above her knees. Jongho drooled over the heavenly virgin. “It’s so good to see you!”

“Hey, Hestia,” you smiled, hugging her tightly. 

“YN,” Artemis, olive-skinned and dark-haired, didn’t wear her usual short tunic but a pair of long pants, cropped shirt and blazer. If any sister stuck to Eden's man-hating principles, it was Artemis. “You look well,” they kissed cheeks, “Especially after last night.”

“I’m still a bit hungover,” you admitted sheepishly, “But you can’t be any better.”

“Some ginger tea can help,” she said, “Your cook could brew some for us.” 

“YN!” Hera came over excitedly, her mane of ginger curls bouncing around a heart-shaped freckled face, hugging you next. 

“Cousin!” Kali, chestnut strands tied back from her face accentuated her square jaw, went right behind Hera and they hugged you together. “Last night was insane!” Kali giggled, “Absolutely insane! I can’t believe Grandmother even let us go.”

Jongho knew how much convincing it’d taken for Princess Lilith to let some of the girls attend Asmodeus’s ball. Being a princess and his sister, her attendance was expected, but not the other ladies. You’d told him both you and your mother managed to make it happen. He grew hot around the collar thinking of pretty Hera fully nude and entangled between two men; Lady Kali’s perky breasts had bounced in Hongjoong’s face when she rode him on a sofa. Jongho took a discrete, deep breath and forced himself to think of something else. He'd kill for a single round with any of them. However, this faint sound caught Hera’s attention. 

“Good Afternoon, Jongho,” she smiled knowingly, green eyes glittering at him. 

“Afternoon, my ladies,” he gave a stiff bow to the group, and couldn’t help noticing their shared glances. “I hope you are all doing well.”

“Very well now that you’re here to tend to us,” she said, walking over to him. She smelled like roses, fragrant and divine. “My cousin’s lucky to have a servant like you,” she dared to slide her arm around one of his and start guiding him away. He felt the rest following the both of them. “You were so attentive at the party: making sure your mistress was well fed, had lots of water and rested the entire time.” 

Jongho could help the angle. Her being shorter than him, her low-cut top didn’t hide her ample cleavage. He remembered wishing she’d put them in his face, letting him suck and kiss them while she enjoyed his cock.

“She’s my mistress,” he said, “It’s my job to make sure she’s happy.”

“Very happy,” Kali came up beside him, linking her arm with the free one. “I hope you’re the same way with us.”

Her pink top was a bit snug, so he could see the soft curves of her bosom. A part of him suspected they knew how much he liked tits, and now used it against him. His cheeks turned a faint shade of pink when he thought of Kali's full lips dotting kisses on his skin. Her slender fingers could work him while his mouth latched to her breasts. Oh, if only...

“Of course, my lady,” he answered as he brought them to the main garden, “I wouldn’t treat you any other way.”

He brought the ladies to the tea table underneath a gazebo in the garden. Surrounded by vibrant flowers and evergreen leaves, it was a picturesque sight for the lovely women. You all chattered as you took your seats, starting to talk about the next party and gossip you’d learned throughout the night, while he poured tea nearby. It was nice hearing you talk to people aside from The Masters and your servants. You were a social person who thrived when amongst others. If you went too long without outside contact, you got serious cabin fever. That's why you enjoyed parties so much, he supposed. You got to be around your own kind, and not just people you see every day. 

“...Did you guys see Lady Akura?” Kali said, nibbling on a biscuit as Jongho started setting cups and saucers down. “Her costume was absolutely ridiculous. She looked like an omelet.”

“An all yellow leather costume is not an ideal look for her,” you agreed. 

“She's a duchess,” said Aretmis, “Show some respect.”

“She's a bitchy duchess,” muttered Kali. “She's so rude. She dared to make a comment about us being there. She said she thought we were better than that, and that us being at an orgy made us hypocrites.”

“The only hypocrite is her,” Hera scowled. “I saw her throwing herself at all those young servant boys. She was judging everyone else for having sex, but there she was trying to get into everyone's pants.”

“She should have just gone home,” you added. “I can't stand her for more than five minutes before I want to strangle her.”

“You should have heard her going on about…”

Jongho forced himself to listen in as he stood nearby. Perhaps the intriguing gossip that followed might distract him from the memories in his head. Right when he thought he had it under control, somebody spoke. somebody

 "Jongho," Hera called to him as she put sugar cubes in her tea, "How come you didn't join in?" 

He gulped, "I was there as a servant, not a guest."

 "You could still have joined the party," she looked over at him, tossing back ginger curls. "YN could have been your date."

 "If I should be so lucky…"

 "Or you could be mine," she giggled, smiling at him. "We can have plus-ones."

He glanced over at you for a moment, and you smirked. "I think he'd make a great date," you said. "He's a good boy. Aren't you?" you asked, that word hanging in between only you two.

 "I can be." 

You laughed, then started sipping your tea. Hera kept her eyes on him a few more seconds, then turned back to the table. It wasn't uncommon for nobles to bring servants to parties as guests. Honestly, the higher lords did it all the time. Bringing your spouse or partner was for lower status nobles. A high end pleasure slave was considered a sign of immense wealth; a servant meant you were a person of importance. Hera was obviously teasing him as she normally did. Out of all your cousins, Hera showed him the most attention, often finding excuses to flirt with him. A brief memory of her at the party floated to him. Bare breasts and wet centers filled his thoughts. She had made sure he saw everything. When her partner sucked her slick folds, she kept herself at an angle for him to see. When she sat on someone's face, she arched her back for him to watch. He'd gotten so hard he excused himself to rub it out in private. Hera enjoyed teasing him but she wasn't serious. He was a servant. She was a Lady of Eden. 

“Jongho, could you go get Minnie? I think some sun might be good for her,” your voice broke him from his thoughts. “I think her petals have been getting paler.”

“Do I have to?” he asked, not thrilled by the prospect of having to carry her cage with her inside it. 

“She won't bite you,” you said, your cousins giggling behind you. “She's in her cage anyways.”

He sighed internally, “Yes, Mistress.”

Jongho walked out of the garden and back into the house. The cage wasn't heavy, but he didn't like imagining what those vines might do if he drew too close. He entered your suite where he found Minnie still in her cage. He didn't like the sound of her low pur at his approach. He preferred to be back in the gazebo with the ladies, listening to them talk as he eyed their gorgeous bodies. Lady Hera came back to mind once again. The vision of her long red curls curtaining her face as she rode him gave him chills. You and her cousins joined in, and he bit his inner cheek. He thought he might combust if he had that many women at one time. He could hardly keep it together when it was only you. If your sultry, seductive relatives joined in, he'd die for sure. He entered the suite, thoughts of the group surrounding him in his head.

The five of you, topless and circling him as you each stuffed a tit in his mouth one at a time.

Several tongues and mouths on his length while his own worked whoever wanted to sit on his face. 

The positions quickly changed, and faces became interchangeable as the fantasies started clouding his mind. He stared out the window to see them still sitting and talking at the small picnic spot. He pictured himself in the middle, naked and tied down by vines as you all took turns on him. Each woman would get a few minutes of him in whatever way they chose. He didn't know if he could handle that, but he'd try. He'd do anything to have you alone for a few minutes right then. The echoes of Hera’s high breathy moans filled his head, fueling the blood pumping to his core. You'd sort him out in minutes with your expert mouth. Jongho never met a woman he enjoyed more than you, even if other women sometimes plagued him. He had trouble holding back at times. Like now. The center of his pants tightened as his dick pushed into it. The zipper curving to his hardening cock, he knew he couldn't go back outside like this. Delicately cupping the bulge, he gave it a gentle tug that produced a moan. He focused on you. You sat with legs crossed, your thighs more noticeable than before. Jongho pictured himself kneeling at your feet, naked and collared with hands behind his back. He'd have your cunt on his face, forced to it by the back of his head. Lashing his tongue at your throbbing clit, he'd be in heaven as he drowned in your juices. Pleasuring you was his favorite part. Rubbing his length through his pants, he saw himself sucking the dripping lips obscenely while you yelped in pleasure. Naked and spreas apart, you'd be an ultimate vision. 

Hera caught his eye next. Memories of her pert chest and round ass had him sticking his hand in his boxers. He took hold of himself as he pictured yiu both together. Hands roaming across supple skin, and lips sucking the tender places haunted him. You'd be riding his cock and she'd smother him with her thighs. She'd be on all fours, bouncing and ass rippling while she used him like a toy. Jongho leaned against the window with one hand, stroking faster while he thought of you both sharing him right on that table. He'd gladly become your personal pleasure slave if he could!d have that. 

A high creaking caught his attention. The moment he turned around, he saw Minnie out of her cage. Panic struck him, and he looked to the shadowy cage with its open door. You must have not closed it properly when you put her back inside. Jongho kept his composure. He saw the way she flapped her leaves and vines, slowly shuffling closer as she growled. He knew that growl. It was the low, threatening one that signaled another demand for food. He only had one thing she'd possibly want. 

“Don't you get any ideas,” he warned, pulling his hand out of his pants. “Your mother wants to show you off, so she told me to come get you. Let's go. Get in your cage.”

She hissed, flapping a vine in defiance. “Nope, in the cage. No cock for you right now.”

As she drew closer, he did notice the fading pink and purple petals. What were once bright fuschia and royal purple were now nearly white and lavender. Jongho felt somewhat bad for her. She might be a menace to the entire household, but she seemed so down and almost sickly. He sensed what she might actually need, and he worried what that spelled out for him. 

“In the cage,” he said, trying to wrangle her back inside. He heard her growling, now fully snapping her jaws as she went for his ankles. “Don't you even think about it, little lady. I'll get the weed whacker this time. I mean it.”

She completely ignored him. Minnie's tentacles reached for his ankles. Jongho tried kicking her away, but they stuck to him once they wrapped around his thighs. He groaned in disgust when her slimy underside started seeping through his trousers to his skin. She’d smelled him from across the suite, his pheromones likely carrying through the air over to her. You told him arousal drew her to people the most. Whenever you and one of The Masters shared a bed, she showed up if she happened to be around. You explained that, like with Octavius, the fluids gave her strength that food alone could not. He did enjoy watching her "feed" from you. 

“Get off,” he grunted, pulling at the vines tightening around his thighs but to no avail. "Come on, I got places to be," he said, pulling at her once again. He'd have to work himself off later. 

She continued crawling up his body until he reached his hard cock. Jongho trembled when one of her petals brushed the tip. The faded purple petals fluttered against the head, flicking lightly over it and purring. Jongho fell back against the window. Thick vines massaging his legs, the tips rolling across his inner thighs, it reminded him of you. You liked teasing him before putting him in your mouth completely. You’d run your hands up and down his thighs and ass while delicately kissing around his base. He felt the two vines reach his balls, like you would, and the leaves cup them gently. His muscles tensed when the petals finally latched to his tip, sucking it firmly and humming. Pleasure pulsed through him like a heartbeat; his blood pumped down to his crotch where the creature used its mouth and vines on him. The pressure was firm but the movements remained slow as she gradually savored his energy. He’d seen Minnie feed from you on multiple occasions, licking up your juices after orgasms and even continuing to pleasure you herself. Jongho admitted he had enjoyed watching those times. He pictured your body wriggling on the bed, legs apart as green vines teased your nipples and her petal lips sucked your clit. She’d eventually fill your quivering hole with the thickest vine, and he’d stroke his cock wishing it was him fucking you. 

“F-f-fuck,” he breathed shakily as she gently tugged on his ballsack. “Like that…Good girl, like that…”

Minnie actually obeyed, continuing the motion while sinking herself further down his cock. He thrusted his hips forward out of habit, though he had nothing to thrust into. 

"You're a hungry thing, hm?" He smirked, eyes closed and hands sliding on the window. "Just like your mistress."

Jongho’s eyes rolled back once he was fully in her mouth. He could feel her pulsating, the walls of her mouth massaging his dick while something small teased the head inside. His body yearned for more. He removed his shirt fully, and pinched at his nipple before one of the thinner tentacles went up his body to do it for him. Jongho couldn’t help it. He carefully slipped up onto the bed, laying on his back as Minnie sucked him. Her low purring made a slight vibration that contorted his body and tensed his muscles. His legs instinctively bent to change her angle, and somehow put himself further. 

He yelped when her thickest tentacle brushed his hole. Her natural aloe secretion acted as a lubricant, he knew, which she spread around in circles. This new sensation had Jongho grabbing at the vines on his chest, needing something to hold onto as she teased his entrance. He’d become so enthralled by the beast that he didn’t hear the main door open. Soft footsteps went across the lounge and to the bedroom doors, where the figures watched him be pleasured by his mistress’s pet. Jongho groaned loudly as Minnie prodded his ass hole gently. He spread himself further as if giving her permission to fuck him. His hole clenched and unclenched in anticipation. 

“Here I thought you didn’t like Minnie,” your voice rang out through the room, causing Jongho to jump. 

You stood in the doorway with Hera beside you. The pair of you smirked knowingly at him, teasing flaring in your eyes. Jongho’s spell broke and he suddenly remembered where he was and what he was supposed to be doing. He sat up, doing his best to repress the pleasure Minnie’s mouth gave him, and pushed hair from his face. 

“Mis-Mistress,” he panted, wriggling to get Minnie off but she tightened her grip, “I-I thought you’d left.”

“You were taking a while, so I wanted to see what's holding you up.” You walked over to the bed, scanning down his naked torso to Minnie, “She must really like you if she’s feeding from you. She only ever does it with me.” You took a spot beside him, and pushed hair back from his face, “You were touching yourself, weren’t you?”

“Yes,” he answered. 

You propped yourself on your elbow, fingers starting to dance near where the vines teased over his nipples. “You naughty boy,” the vine moved aside to let you take its place, “So horny you can’t even wait until I come back. Maybe I should bring you to the party tonight, hm? There me and my cousins could take turns torturing your cock.”He

"I know I'd enjoy that," said Hera, taking the open space aside. "Uncle Ozzy has a nice little dungeon some people use. You'd look pretty tied up with this hard cock out," she put his other nipple in her mouth and he moaned. "We could all have fun with dirty little Jongho."

He wouldn’t admit how much he’d enjoy that. Not only you but your cousins, the ethereal ladies who wore thin, flowing dresses and flowers in their hair? Minnie’s mouth suddenly became every Eden Lady he’d dreamed of having in his bed. You must’ve figured this, since you chuckled and licked at his nipple. The warmth of two tongues contrasted against the colder vines stuck to him. You sucked the hard peak softly, licking around and flicking it while Hera teased the opposite side. The small sparks going straight to his groin joined the throbbing plant sucking his cock. He twitched around as the thin tubes inside her mouth circled his head; the vine teasing his hole made the same motions, causing him to let out streams of long moans. 

“Slutty boy,” you giggled, seeing him caught in the throws of bliss. You gently bit down on his nipple to spark a bit of pain that he enjoyed. “I bet you would go all day if we hadn’t turned up. I know how much you love being teased before getting fucked.” 

“She…She…I..I was…I didn’t…” 

“It’s okay,” you said, “You’re doing your mistress a big favor by feeding her for me. I would’ve had to keep somebody’s cum in me until I got home if you didn’t.” You sat up and pulled off your top, breasts spilling from your built-in bra. “I think that deserves a reward, don't you Hera?” 

"Definitely," she peeled off her shirt and his jaw dropped. "How will a servant know they're appreciated if we don't show it every so often? You're so good to my cousin. It means so much to all of us." 

“Oh god, please, Mistress.” 

Moving further up, the both of you hover your bare breasts over his face. Jongho immediately took one in his mouth, rolling his tongue around the soft nipple. He loved sucking on your tits. Jongho loved how much pleasure it brought you, and the sounds it produced when he did it. Hera's breathy moans joined yours when he licked at her hard pink nipple. She continued rolling his, keeping him deep inside the whirling pleasure. He reached around to her ass, the cheek like dough in his hand. He did the same to you, and teasingly pulled at them to feel you both shifted at it. 

 "Play with it," Hera whined, pushing into his hand. "I love that."

So he did. Fingers graze the tight ring in between them, earning another moan. The other hand did the same to you, and you grinded against his thigh. The same self-lubrication all demons had leaked from both of you, and he continued rolling it around. Minnie still sucking his cock had him grinding into the air while he rubbed both of you. He could stay there forever, pleasuring two gorgeous women, one of them being his beloved mistress. When he pushed his finger in your ass, you encouraged him to go further with a raspy moan. He did so in slow pushes, groaning at your tightness sucking his finger inside. 

Ever since he met you, he’s only ever wanted to please you, to serve you. He knew it sounded pathetic but he’d do anything for you. It was why he held onto his orgasm so tightly despite the plant sucking him off. You didn’t like him finishing without your permission, and you’d only just arrived. The need to satisfy you came over him, and he turned to the other nipple to suck gently. Your tit in his mouth and Minnie on his cock, he felt himself being pushed closer to the edge. His muffled moans became louder as Hera guided Minnie faster, humming more consistently. He felt his orgasm starting at the bottom, and slowly moving further upwards. Yet, Jongho held it back. He knew better. 

“You're such a good boy,” you moaned softly, hand running through his dark hair. “You're always so eager to please me.”

“I want you to be happy, Mistress,” he said, tit muffling his words. "Both of you," he pushes his finger deep inside Hera, moving to suck her breast next. 

 "I wish I had such a loyal servant," she said, rubbing into his hand. " but I don't think I'd do anything else if I did." 

“I really am lucky," you swished your breast over his mouth, and he knew to stick his tongue out to let you rub on it. “Do you want to make us extra happy?”

He knew what was coming and he withheld the excitement in his voice. “Yes, I do.”

You crawled further up his body until you straddled his head first. She took the cue and moved down to where Minnie continued lightly pleasuring him. He caught a glimpse of her removing the plant to take him in her mouth. Warm and tight, her lips sucked him firmly as she stroked him a few times. She then pulled off to let Minnie continue. 

"So yummy," Hera groaned, reaching for his ballsack, "And I bet what's on her is even better."

 "It is."

Damp sex close to his face, Jongho panted like a dog spotting the swelling lips through your thin panties. He knew to wait, but he still held his tongue out for you to rest on. Once you did, he shivered. He could feel the wetness pooled inside them sliding around. The pressure of his tongue forced it to come out through the fabric, and he ached to lick it. Even the thought of your essence in his mouth aroused him. You gently started rocking your hips into his face, letting out soft sighs as you rubbed against his tongue. The scent of your musk filled his nose, and he whined pathetically under you. With Minnie expertly rolling her tentacle vine around his hole, and Hera and her taking turns sucking him, Jongho started shuddering. 

“No, no, hold it,” you ordered gently, sensing his impending orgasm. “Be good for me and keep onto it.”

You finally pulled your panties aside, causing him to breathe deeply. He found the knot where his orgasm stayed and held onto it for you. You sat directly on hid face at last. 

“Lick.”

His tongue immediately began exploring the damp folds of your sex. It swirled around the hardening nub beneath the hood, flicking the underside the way you enjoyed. That special space between entrance and clitoris was teased and rolled over in gradual, measured licks. You did not guide or rock on him. He will be doing the work from now on. He relished in it. Your juices overwhelmed his taste buds, smearing onto his chin and nose to drown him. He sucked on the outer folds first, groaning constantly as he did, and heard your faint moans. His hands curled into fists when a pair of vines lifted his knees to the air. A thick tip continued slathering thin mucus onto his hole, occasionally proding inside to open him. Jongho whined and rocked his hips in frustration. The mouth moving further down to lap the fluttering entrance, Hera took over his cock. 

 "He likes that," she cooed, rubbing his thigh while licking his tip. "That's super hot."

 "You have no idea how much he likes it," you replied. "He cums so hard when I use my strap on his tight ass."

"I can't wait to see that all stretched and filled before he does it to me."

"Oh, that would drive him crazy," you said, grabbing your breasts to tease your nipples. “Maybe I'll use it on him tonight if he's a good boy." 

 "We all can." 

He pushed his tongue inside your sex without hesitation. It was his turn to be still as you rode his tongue. Your clenching walls squeezing the muscle, and clit throbbing against his nose nearly brought Jongho to the edge again. The urge to wriggle his tongue within him came, but he knew better. He'd wait until you told him to do it. He then moaned even louder. 

The vine that had been poking his hole finally sunk in, breaking Jongho from his daze and into a new level of pleasure. He stayed still as it pushed further inside. A slight burn came from the stretch, but the natural lubricant created a smooth entry. The other vines kept his legs pushed apart and bent in the air, giving the thickest one space to penetrate him deeper. Jongho’s eyes squeezed tight at the sudden pressure, but blasted open when it reached the very center of his body. The bulbous head gradually pushed on the tender g-spot inside him, adding to the sensitivity around his head and shaft. Soon, she picked up speed and nearly caused that tight ball in his core to burst open. 

“Not yet, sweetie,” Hera moaned, hand between her legs as she kept sucking him. “You can’t cum yet. We haven't said you could.”

He let out a whine, hips bucking in frustration again. Minnie’s tentacle continued pushing and pulling in his hole while Hera 's tongue continually rolled around his shaft. How could he not explode from this? He gripped the bed sheets as he felt you shuddering over him. He focused his humming on your clit until you were holding onto the ends of his hair and quaking. A flood of juices suddenly filled his mouth, and he eagerly swallowed what he could.  

 "My turn," Hera sneered as she took your place. 

 A small ginger strip above her clit, her smooth lips were swollen and pink. Jongho went right to work, lapping at her sweetness. She tasted similar to you, and he hungered for more. While he ate her out, you moved down his body. A few light kisses to his cock, you didn't wait to sink onto his aching erection. Your body felt better than anything in the world. No creature matched up to your snug walls. Your hips moving in time with the vine inside him, Jongho felt the ball unwinding like yarn. He held on as much as he could, but you felt too good. 

“Fuck me," you grunted, staying in place.

He instantly started sliding in and out on his own, meeting your hips at the same speed. Both you and Hera moaned as he pleasured you both. He'd only imagined this exact scenario moments ago. Now, it was happening. Hera's hard clit became sensitive the longer he rolled around it. 

“Hands on my ass," she said. 

Shaky hands grasped both cheeks, holding onto them as he kept her in place. 

“Spank me.”

He laid a smack to one side. 

“Again. Harder.”

He did it a second time. Jongho did it every time she commanded. e

"You have no idea your ass looks right now," you told her, and he sensed you lean forward. "Minnie thinks so too."

Hera yelped when a thin vine slipped up her crack. Jongho imagined it as he slapped her ass again. To add another layer, he stuck his tongue into her tightness. He'd earn that plus-one invitation. Tonight, he'll give each Lady of Eden as much cock as she wants. He'd make Hera cum so much she'll be dazed and senseless. You'd be right there, joining in and telling him how good he was being. 

Feeling your walls tighten made him more desperate. He couldn't hold on anymore. Jongho felt his orgasm slipping away like a thread between his fingers. He attempted to grasp the very ends, shaking and rocking upwards like mad, but he soon lost it completely.

“Please, please, please,” he whined, mouth full of pussy. “Mistress, please let me cum. I'm so close!”

“You only just started fucking me, sweetie,” you cooed, bouncing faster. “And you haven't fucked Hera yet. You don't want to stop now, do you?”

“Please!” he cried, still grabbing and slapping your ass. “I'm so close!”

"But, don't you want to fuck me too?" Hera asked innocently , grinding into his mouth. She smiled when he eagerly nodded. "Then make your mistress cum so I can get that dick in me."

That wasn't too hard to do. A couple of more pushes and you started shaking. Your loud moans could get anyone's attention. He loved the bombardment of sensations all over him. He nearly came once again before you pulled off him. Then she took over, holding his base and sucking him sloppily. 

"You taste so good on his dick," she moaned, and he watched you both share a deep kiss. 

 "Try it right from the source."

He watched you both get into a sixty-nine position, mouths immediately finding soaked cunts, and then knelt behind her. Minnie withdrew from his ass, leaving it empty and hollow and moved to where Hera licked you. He didn't hesitate to thrust himself into the tight ring aching for him. Hands grabbing her ass, keeping her cheeks apart, he watched himself slide in and out of her cunt while you licked her clit. Like with you, her sex clenched every time you rolled around her throbbing clitoris. It only pushed him further to an orgasm. He spat on the puckered hole between your ass cheeks when he saw a vine push into it. Hera nearly screamed, muffled by your pussy. He needed her to cum. He wanted to stay in this moment and feel her hugging him forever. Jongho pushed faster, balls smacking her and your tongue lashing around. When he withdrew to thrust into your mouth, he nearly came. 

 "Cum in me," Hera begged, "Now."

Jongho went right back inside, and unleashed himself on her. She looked over her shoulder, emerald eyes pleading with him to finish within her. 

"Be a good boy, Jongho," you moaned, "And give our guest what she wants."

She knelt up to reach around his head, bringing him closer to her. "Cum in me," she cried, " Please, please. I want it so bad. Nobody ever does it for me because of who I am. I want you to do it." 

He tightly held onto her hips as it shot out of him. Ropes of white sprayed the rigid walls, which tightened right when he started. Absolute bliss threw him over the edge at last, and he couldn't stop once he started. Hera’s slender body remained stiff in his hold, staying still as he slammed into her. He didn't stop until she'd gotten every drop. When he withdrew, the thick white dripped into your open mouth and he shuddered. He stared transfixed as you, licked up what spilled from her. How lucky he was to have this. 

Eventually, the bliss faded and he laid in your bed limp and sweaty. You each took either side of him, resting against his chest and legs between his. The sweet scent of roses came from Hera’s hair, and your usual alluring scent of peaches radiated from you. He coildnt help inhaling the scents. He soaked up the warmth you both pulled over him. The group stayed there a while, catching their breath and regaining energy before he slowly started falling asleep. 

“You did so well,” you praised him, nuzzling his nose with yours. “As always.”

“Only for you, Mistress.”

You on his chest, your breath falling in sync with his, Jongho felt nothing but pure euphoria. He fell asleep knowing the most beautiful woman in the world was satisfied. 

“Um, hello? Did you forget we were here?” an annoyed voice said from the foot of the bed. 

Artemis and Hestia stood there. Artemis had her arms crossed while Hestia turned away shyly and giggled. Waves of guilt and embarrassment washed over him when his senses came back. He sat up before you and Hera pulled him back down. 

“Nobody could ever forget you,” you told her. “We were only helping Jongho feed Minnie.”

“We're nothing if not helpful,” Hera added, pecking his cheek. 

Artemis scanned his sweaty, limp body and stopped at his groin. He saw the intrigue behind her dark eyes. Hestia also stared, biting her lower lip and shifting to one side. 

“I suppose he is nice looking,” Artemis said, turning around, “But not my type.”

“Mingi’s probably lingering around somewhere,” you said. “He never says no to you.”

Artemis ignored you and walked away. Hestia stayed behind, hands behind her back and eyeing him. “Can I….YN, can I…”

“If Jongho wants to,” you said, “But I thought you were waiting.”

“I am, but…” she smiled brightly, “I've never seen or touched one before.”

“Jongho? Is it okay if she-”

“-Yes,” he said immediately. 

Hestia climbed onto the bed and settled between his legs. It twitched at her tentative touch, and she giggled again. 

Dreams did come true. 

****

A/N: heyyy look who made an appearance! Really enjoying this writing streak I'm on lol and hope you guys liked this one <3 I know it features anther OFC, but I love my characters so I can't help it. Plus, it keeps it spicy and maaaaybe alludes to something else *shrug*

[tragedybunny]

A Crooked Touch

༺Summary༻ Astarion gets horny and jerks it to his fantasies about his sleeping partner.

༺Pairing༻ Astarion x Serafina (Female Tav/OC)

༺Warnings༻Maturbation, Panty sniffing/chewing

༺Word Count༻ 694

༺A/N༻ Just a short horny fic - Beta by the best writing partner in the world @icybluepenguin

Read on AO3

Astarion had been hunting, quite successfully at that. He was now returning to the Elfsong full of blood and a bit giddy. All of his companions were deep in sleep, improbably including Halsin, who only tranced a scant few hours a night. 

The silence was sweet bliss to Astarion’s ears - except for the fact that his darling Sera was also asleep. She was always a welcome addition to his time. But he could slide into their shared bed for a cuddle before he drifted off into his own trance. 

It was with that very innocent goal in mind that Astarion slunk over to their bed to find Sera curled up asleep, and nearly tripped over a pile of her laundry left on the floor. Gods, she could be messy. There wasn’t time to ruminate on that as Astarion felt the blood he had drank travel between his thighs. The little temptress was curled up in the most delectable position - covers kicked off, bent at the waist, ass pushed out toward him, nightdress riding up her thighs. 

He swallowed a groan. 

What to do with this growing hardness? Sera was fast asleep, and even if she was awake, actually having sex was likely to be overwhelming. But a wicked idea presented itself to him as a flash of color caught his eyes - Sera’s pink undergarments, just recently purchased and proudly worn. Sera was a fairly deep sleeper and he could be very stealthy.

Eagerly he snatched up the soft bit of fabric and settled down carefully on the bed next to her, feeling ever so smug when she didn’t stir. The tightness of his pants was becoming unbearable and he hastily opened them to free his cock, now fully erect with precum beaded at the tip. 

Lightly, he traced his fingers along it, teasing himself. From his other hand where Sera’s undergarments were clutched, an intoxicating scent drifted to him: the essence of her, musky and sweet. With obscene excitement, he brought them to his nose and inhaled, filling his head with intoxicating visions. 

He tightened his grip on his cock and stroked slowly. In his mind, he spread those pale thighs of hers and buried his face between them, feasting on her.

His dead lungs filled with as much air as he could manage, driving himself mad with the fragrance, as he spread his own dripping fluid over himself. 

Once she was a mewling, soaking wet mess, he'd flip her over, getting her on her knees. Legs spread, her cunt just waiting to be filled. He'd press himself inside her, not bothering to be gentle since she'd be begging for him, so eager to be made his.  

A whimper almost escaped him and he bit down on the fabric, tongue delighting in the luscious taste of Sera. If he could live on that instead of blood, he would.  

His fingers would grip her hips, as he pounded into her, blue bruises blossoming on her from the pressure. How she would cry out his name, gripping the sheets to hold herself steady. Back arched, her hips would meet his, creating a sweet symphony of lewd noises. 

He was close, so close, laying there in his indecent state - mouth gagged with unwashed undergarments, relentlessly pleasuring himself. Perhaps he should have worried about waking someone, but he was too lost in chasing his bliss to think now. 

They would both be close then, Sera begging him to spill himself inside her. Those irresistible breasts of hers would be bouncing along with their movements. Releasing her hips, he’d grab them greedily, pinching and rolling her nipples in his fingers until she came undone. 

Sera moved in her sleep, letting out a noise that sounded almost like a muted moan, and he was lost. Hot seed pumped out of him, soiling his clothes and mattress beneath him, as he silently shouted. 

As he lay there, panting in the dark, sanity returned to him: he was holding his softening cock and could feel the wet spot he’d created. He’d need to clean up without anyone noticing, and get some sleep himself. 

But worst of all, beside him Sera was stirring. 

[pursuitseternal]

“A Night with the Ascendant:” Chapter 6

Ascended Astarion x F!OC | M this ch | 2.7 K

🎨 by @summerwarlock

Summary: Preparations for festivities in full swing, the Ascendant and his Bride clash. Lumina’s own past begins to surface, and the Ascendant may learn he’s decidedly bit off more than he can chew…

CW: banter, mention of prior abuse

Previous Ch | Ao3 Link | Masterlist

Lumina stood in the sun, a fact she still struggled to comprehend. Strolling the palace gardens, watching servants and vendors and musicians hurrying in and out of every door made her nervous. And of course there was her promise that she would remain close by and yet not underfoot from the preparations.

Never had she seen the refined effort that went into Astarion’s soirées. The one time she had attended, she arrived in the line of his Spawn, all the hubbub having settled and guests having arrived. Of course, that was the night he turned her… for the second time. From Spawn to Bride.

Now, she rested against the walls of the palace, arms crossed and chin low against her chest as she watched the organized chaos it was to organize such a grand affair.

“Not just any affair…” that velvet voice purred in her mind. “A grand affair for one exalted, beautiful vampiric Bride and her Sire,” he crooned, a caress of his attention stroking down her spine. “For you, all for you,” his words warmed her very blood as it ran undead in her veins. His presence in her mind was no longer tendrils, no longer like the strings of a marionette. It’s… as if his heart beat in her chest, a warmth that grew and expanded at his will, and yet never, ever diminished.

She loved it. And feared it.

A parade of servants carrying crates after crates of brilliant new dining wear… gold encrusted cups and plates of purest silver… she wondered if she would ever hold a simple wooden cup again or have to endure the taste of stale ale just to live…

She wondered why Astarion ever thought an urchin like her was worthy of his magnanimity and princely luxury. Flashes of those visions of his past came to her mind, a reminder that he hadn’t always been so great and powerful. A slave, like her. Abused, like her. A being now remade to be greater than the sum of his sufferings… like her.

Only, her abuser yet sucked air.

Mr. Tanner, she cursed the name, sucking in spit to launch into the ground near her skirts at just the thought of him. A curse on that rat.

“My Consort, such actions are not befitting of your status…”

Astarion had drawn up short, his embroidered and polished shoes just a hair's breadth away from here her spittle landed in the gravel of the path. The look on his pale face was screwed in surprise and displeasure… and yet expectation glinted in his crimson eyes as he found his love.

“Enjoying your ability to read my thoughts, my lord?” Lumina gave a disinterested smile as she walked towards the rose garden.

“I do find it useful, I confess,” he hummed his reply. “How else am I supposed to know what goes on in that pretty little head of yours?” He slunk after her, catching her beneath the arch in the garden wall, that perfect, rakish smirk turned down upon her. One arm staving off further retreat, he leaned down to whisper right against her ear. “You, my dear, have secrets, and I wish to know and love them all,” he rasped. That warm touch trailed up her skirts, resting on the curve of her hip. “I wish to… uncover them… unravel them… and see you come completely undone for me…” he purred into the creases of her ear.

Lumina smirked. “It seems you’re adding in another sort of request, aside from just coming to know my… secrets,” she teased, or tried to. It was a challenge to hold her own against the onslaught of that seductive smirk and hungry, devouring gaze. “B-besides, I know you have secrets, too…”

“More than I care to admit,” Astarion conceded, pressing his body just a little firmer against her, inch by pulse-racing inch.

His heart rapt against her chest, inside and out. That beating pulse racing as he slid a thigh into her skirts, as his head craned lower to inhale her scent as he nuzzled her neck. A chaste little kiss pressed on the right side of her neck, those small, twin scars of her turning tangible beneath his lips. “Tell me one secret, my little light.”

The order made her stomach flip flop, made her mouth taste of cotton and go dry.

“B-B-Balduran Mash is my favorite meal… or it was,” Lumina sputtered out nervously. Astarion jerked his head back in good humored surprise, hand slipping from the wall to brace his stomach. He gave a deep bellied laugh, those eyes squinting shut as he outright chortled. “Oh… oh my dear,” he managed to say in between his bouts of laughter. “You are a rare one, my love.” He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye.

And Lumina couldn’t help but join in with her own nervous, breathy giggle. “It was something you didn’t know, my Lord. A secret I kept from you.”

“And I’m so pleased you chose to divulge such a juice tidbit,” came his reply, his eyes opening to smile down on her. “I’ll share one back. My favorite meal is still the calamari at the Elfsong, though it was more delicious four centuries ago before…” he trailed off, that all too familiar veil of his shadowed past closing over him again. “Before I became a slave and spawn, before I lost the thrill that came with feeling truly alive and sought to reclaim all the appetites and arousals of man after my Ascension.”

Those memories closed in again, the ones he had kept so carefully guarded and locked away, tighter and tighter as the years passed. As each one of his old companions fell to the dust.

A cool hand cupped his face, and Lumina’s own scarlet eyes blinked up at him. So many silent questions swirled behind their sparkling depths. But she knew better than to push and pry, as if she felt the weight of his suffering. Maybe she did. Maybe she knew more of how to use their mating bond than he gave her credit for. She was clever, well-read, and reckless, he mused as he clasped her hand from his face to kiss it. “There is so much of you I feel as if I already know, my little light,” he whispered. “Barring a few secrets, I sometimes feel as if I’ve known you for centuries as if… you were from …”

The words die in his mouth. Another time. As if you were from that time, of fighting the Absolute and making camp in the Wilds and slaying Cazador and…

“Like calls to like, my Lord,” she whispered. “I often feel the same. If anything, I wish my story had been yours. Vengeance and freedom, independence and friendship. The grand heroics of it all…” She sighed wistfully, looking into the rose garden beyond the wall.

“Tch,” he schooled his face into that proper seductive smirk. “I was no hero, only a Rogue.”

Lumina gave him a wry smile, slipping back towards the palace, where a parade of musicians entered into the grand doors. “Even a Rogue can have valor,” she teased. “I know so, or else you wouldn’t have been a hero of Baldurian legend. Great as Balduran himself.”

That made Astarion snort and chuckle all at once. “Oh, my dear, you have no idea,” he tried to purr, too many deep-chested giggles in his words to sound seductive.

Running a hair through his mussy, long hair, he offered Lumina his arm. “If the minstrels are here, then it’s almost time to present the rarest jewel in my collection, my greatest treasure and Bride, the Lady Lumina.” He dipped a gallant bow, the likes of which Lumina had only read about in her books. Even as her dead heart leaped at the sight, she placed her hand, his warm fingers curling around it as he straightened. “Let’s get you pampered and perfected, my love. You’ll shine even greater at this celebration than ever you did as my spawn. A true light among the dullards of my other creations…”

As they passed the entryway to the cellars… the dormitory of ‘those other creations,’ Lumina chewed her lip. Morana’s warning still echoed in her thoughts. That strange sense of betrayal, or a need for justice, it made her stomach churn and not from hunger. “My Lord, surely your spawn will not be in attendance to… entertain… as we have in the past?”

“Do not ingratiate yourself with them,” he growled, replying without even turning his head. “They are beneath you, my dear. Beneath me. But they serve their purpose as they have for centuries.” Crimson eyes glanced down in the briefest flicker, catching the look of unease… indignant unease on Lumina’s pale face. “It is tradition, expected at my soirées. And my soirées are nothing short of pure hedonism at its finest.”

A chill wafted up her spine as they passed the entrance to the cellars, and it was as if Lumina could feel the heat of a dozen red eyes boring into her, unseen in the darkness.

“Perhaps, my Lord would prefer to merely have the others attend as guests…”

The speed with which his head snapped was preternaturally. “What?” He bit, half bark, half snarl. And all indignant.

Lumina swallowed the lump in her throat as she met his furious gaze.

“Darling,” he purred, that rumble laced with danger, “my spawn want for nothing. They are well fed, protected, and many escaped lives of torment or illness for an eternity of carefree existence under my care. But let me be very… clear. They are still my spawn, and I will do as I please.” Crimson eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly. “Is that understood, my beauty?”

Lumina’s gaze dropped, “Yes, Master.” That reply, so common for her full and smiling lips, this time it was laced with a venom Astarion didn’t know she possessed.

It made him draw up short, mid-stride as he was about to continue up to their chambers. “Lumina…” he purred his warning, his face softening into the now more familiar look of openness. “Come here,” he breathed, pulling her into his embrace.

Her face pressed against the elegant stitching of his jacket, and every breath she took was saturated with that cologne of rosemary, bergamot and brandy, that scent she could almost taste, even as a vampire. His voice was hypnotic, filling her mind and ears all at once. “Oh, my little light, let’s not bicker on your special day. Do not fret, my love, about the others. They are my concern, and I’ll ensure you’re well protected from all their spite or jealousy, if Morana is any indication of their tidings. I’ll allow them to feast at will tonight, to do as they please. That should smooth things over nicely.”

He chortled to himself, pulling back and lifting Lumina’s chin by the tip of his finger. “And you, my love, my bride, my darling, you’re going to look radiant sitting on my lap and dancing in my arms alone.”

Fortunately for her, she didn’t need to breathe as Lumina froze. Her eyes fluttered closed quicker than the walls of her pussy as they clenched around nothing. Her lips pursed, longing for his, for the slow, torturous kiss he worked against her mouth. Those warm, familiar fingers clawed under her chin, extending to wrap around her throat, his palm feeling the needy whine that escaped from her mouth. A rolling chuckle tickled her lips as he ran his tongue across her seam, delving in to taste her.

“My love,” he growled, exploring deeper. Lumina’s head spun, her hands gripping into his arms just to keep her feet under her. The slice of his fang into her bottom lip, the coppery taste of her own blood sent her own hunger at a raging pace. “Easy, my light,” he hissed, the briefest of giggles in his throat as he pulled back. The trail of blood from the corner of his mouth called to her, beckoned her to lick it clean.

Astarion let out his own growl of need as her cool tongue bathed the mess. Just one swipe and he smiled down on her. “Careful, unless you want me to gobble you up before the party instead of after the festivities,” he crooned, his tongue darting out to lick his lips clean of her taste.

Lumina backed up a step, willing her body to slide away from the warm, sinewy frame she was so addicted to. “Of course, my Lord,” she whispered, forcing her voice quiet to hide the way she trembled for him.

Not that she could conceal her lust, her affection. They reverberated down their bond, and it thrilled Astarion to the core. Back in his chambers, he let her ready herself with her maids, the door between their rooms open so he could savour the soft sounds of her movements, the little giggles she made as she dressed and had her hair done up.

His heart had beat for centuries already, but those small noises of companionship, the feeling of her presence entwined in his mind….

For the first time in his ancient memory, he let out a contented sigh. He hadn’t felt this warm and happy since… well, since those days. His plush lips turned in a wistful smile as he looked into the mirror on his wall, his steady, dexterous hands rimming his eyes in kohl as he loved to for such celebrations.

If only they all could see him now, perhaps they would be proud. Well, as close to proud as they felt for him and his eccentricities and selfish tendencies. But, he couldn’t help but imagine the soft smile on Halsin’s scarred face to hear he found a companion, the eye roll that Shadowheart would give him as she congratulated him all tongue-in-cheek for his efforts. Wyll would clap him warmly on the back; Gale would enter into some lengthy diatribe, waxing poetically about love and all that nonsense. A dismissive T’chk from Lae’zel and a flesh-burning hug from Karach…

Astarion lost himself for a moment, not hearing Lumina enter until she pressed a hand to his arm.

Then he slowly opened his eyes, meeting her reflection in his mirror. One more gift he bestowed on her as his Bride, all the powers and love of the Ascendant at her disposal. “Little love,” he purred, “whatever could be the matter?”

Lumina bit her lip. “Perhaps, my Lord, this is not the best of times, but you asked after my… secrets earlier.”

He gave a warm half smile, wrapping one arm around her little waist. “I’m all pointy ears, love. Tell me… divulge your secrets to your love.”

Now, she chewed her lip, her single fang jutting out just a little as she worried. “When I was… collected by your servants… I left behind a most wretched life. It was… not unlike your own from before…”

Astarion inhaled sharply, those perfect nostrils flaring on his perfect, aquiline nose. But he kept himself silent, acutely aware of the moment and her own festering anxiety.

“I was kept… indentured by contract to Mr. Tanner and his emporium in the Lower City.” Her voice was quiet, her face crestfallen, as she bared her vulnerable soul to him. “He would sell all manner of things… even… me.” Her hand gripped harder into his arm, eyes closing. And then she felt the warm breadth of his hand cover hers. She found her courage and her breath. “Life was hell and he was my devil,” she hissed.

Astarion squeezed her hand. “And now, my lady, you have a saviour, a lord and master to spoil you as you deserve.” He purred, raising her hand to his smiling lips, caressing her cool, smooth knuckles. “Do not fret, my darling. I’ll protect you. With me, you’ll be flourishing… for I am with you always. I will be watching,” he looked down at her, eyes wide and wet and doting. His deep, silken voice purred into her mind. “I am always watching. You’re safe now, my sweet.”

A placating smile on her berry-red lips, and Lumina let the matter go, letting his hand go as well. But her mind whirred with rage, with an unsated hunger…. She would have blood. Not for her eternal thirst, but for revenge.

😘😘 to @nyx-knox for her reading of the drama (literally)

[redfoxwritesstuff]

For Eternity, Chapter 6

Alastor x Angel!Wife Oc (Isabel) Rated: Adult - this fic contains content inappropriate for minors. Chapter Warnings: canon typical violence, non consensual touching of a romantic nature

@impulsivethoughtsat2am Was darling enough to beta <3 Many thanks, Dearheart.

Join us at VoxTek for a Vox themed Hazbin Discord. And my friend runs a Hazbin Fic Community

Masterlist AO3 KoFi

Isabel sat on the cold platform, too bright lights shining in her face. The heat radiating from the lights was oppressive, making her part her lips and pant. Or perhaps that was the fear. 

There were too many eyes on her, taking in too much of her exposed flesh. She wanted nothing more than to cover herself from their eyes, but she couldn’t. Her arms were suspended above her, the contraption set to pull her back and to the hard surface she sat on when Valentino decided it was time. 

That made her shoulder joints ache, but it was nothing compared to her wings. They’d already shot the scene of Angel Dust catching her, innocent and pure for the opening of the film. 

That scene hadn’t been so bad. Her limbs were free, and a flowing wrap dress covered her body for most of the scene. The material was gauzy, letting light pass through, but it offered her some coverage just the same. They allowed her to indulge in her modesty during it, using her wings to cover her body as he exposed the lacey undergarments that hid the fading bruises left by Adam.

Valentino and Vox cared more about hiding those marks than the ones Vox had left, blooming dark from a few hours earlier. There was a desperation in him as he almost pleaded with her not to do this, as if it was her decision to do it in the first place. 

All she had to do was accept him. Be his. Want him. He’d tell her everything she needed to know about that man that had been her husband in life. She would see that he was the right choice. She just had to pick him. 

But she couldn’t and she didn’t. Though he tried to paint this as her choice, her doing, she knew it wasn’t. Again and again, as his hands grabbed at her jaw, strange flat face kissing her forcefully puckered lips, she told herself that this wasn’t her betrayal. Again and again, as his hands gripped her waist, she told herself that her Alastor was always a progressive man. He would understand. 

Again and again, she reminded herself what Angel Dust had whispered in her ears as he performed the act of catching her. Alastor knew. Alastor was coming. Alastor would fix this. Alastor would stop this. Alastor. 

Alastor. 

The sanctuary of her thoughts shattered as a man pulled roughly on the end of her wing, having tied a rope around it tightly. The same was being done to the other wing, and they were being forcefully spread wide, put on lewd display along with the rest of her. 

It made an impressive sight to all those on the crew. She could see in most eyes how the sight of wings marking her divinity moved them. Not so much in a sexual way, though that had been there too. In death, she found herself blessed with wings so similar to that of angelic art on earth. Having them on full display moved those that had been religious in life. 

Angel Dust wouldn’t look at them. His eyes were downcast as he stood, nearly naked, and yet her eyes struggled to see him as such with the way soft fur covered his body. 

“Places, everyone!” Valentino yelled and Angle Dust finally looked up, meeting her eyes.

She smiled at him as he slunk onto the set, a mask of confident sexiness falling on his face. The golden tooth in his smile gleamed in the light as “Action!” was called.

He approached, reciting the lines as the script demanded. It wasn’t as cringy as it could have been, but she paid the words no mind. They didn’t matter; it wasn’t like anyone expected her to pretend or react in any way that wasn’t wholly natural to her. For her, this wasn’t an act.

They wanted to film her experiencing exactly what was going to happen, after all. They intended to make their money on her pain and violation. They did not need to provide her special lines or reason to force her to say them.They rightfully knew she wouldn’t cooperate, anyway. 

She was just another prop in their disgusting production. 

Isabel tried to be strong as Angel Dust drew closer. Though she tried, she couldn’t stop the tears from gathering in her eyes. There was nothing she could do to stop her body from trembling as Angel Dust ran soft fingertips across her skin. 

“I’m sorry,” he whispered near silently as he looked away from her eyes, greedy grin plastered in place, a jarring contrast to the regret and pain in his eyes. 

“Is he coming?” Tears spilled down her cheeks as she looked at Angel Dust with fear and hope. 

“He said he would,” was all Angel Dust said as he caressed her body, kissing her neck as he reached behind her to unclasp her bra. 

“Please,” she sobbed as Angle Dust ripped the straps of the bra, allowing it to fall from her. “Please, don’t make him do this.” 

Off to the side of the set, people yelled for Angel Dust to move out of the way, to consider the shots. Vox took the small direction break to swoop in, brushing her hair off her shoulder and reminding her that all she had to do was pick him and it would be over. This didn’t have to happen. He could put a stop to it all with just a snap of his clawed finger. 

Angel Dust didn’t have to hurt her. Val wouldn’t have to make Angle Dust do this. She could stop it. Protect herself. Protect him. It was she who held that power, no one else. 

“No,” she choked on the word, jerking away from Vox’s cold talons as best she could, “Alastor will come for me.”

“He hasn’t yet,” Vox laughed. “Does he know she’s here, Angel? Does he even care? Probably not!”

“Don’t know, don’t care.” Angel plastered that greedy smile on his face for Vox. “I avoid Smiles. That dude is creepy.” 

“Places!” Valentino yelled, “Action.” 

“Alastor,” she whimpered his name as Angel Dust resumed kissing her neck, moving to be by her side and using his arms to frame her exposed breasts. He caressed her softly, whispering his apologies into her skin as she chanted her husband’s name like a prayer. 

Each whispered plea for her husband stung Angel Dust’s heart the same as if she had plunged a blade into it. Where the fuck was Alastor? Why the fuck was it getting this far? Angle Dust debated if outright refusal was worth the punishment from Val just to avoid violating her. Could he even refuse? Was it possible with his contract?

Who was trembling more, her or him? Angel Dust couldn’t be sure as he smoothed his hands over her naked ribs, working his way to her chest as Valentino demanded rougher hands, “I’m so sorry.”

Lights dimmed, flickering out for a moment before slowly returning. No matter how bright the lights got, though, the shadows seemed to remain. Some lights dimmed again while others grew brighter yet, seeming to compensate until the brightening bulbs burst, one after the other.

Angel Dust pulled his face from her chest, whispering her name until her panicked eyes met his. “He’s here.” 

“What?” Fear flooded her as glass showered the set, leaving them sitting in a dim spotlight. The rope suspending her arms above her head went slack, causing her to sag to the ground, crying out as the full weight of her body was unexpectedly supprted by her straining wings. 

A moment later her wings sagged, their ropes cut as well, causing her to fall forward, landing in Angel Dust’s arms. Under the sea of panic, screaming filled her ears. She couldn’t make out what anyone was saying as she clutched at him. 

Angel Dust soothed, rubbing a hand down her lower back as another rubbed above her wings. Holding her close, he obscured her body as best he could as her wings hung limply, sore and strained from the stress of supporting her weight so suddenly.

A pool of shadows seemed to bleed off their shadows under foot, startling Isabel. She flinched away from it, or at least tried to while Angel Dust held her in his many arms. Shadows rose from the ground, materializing into the shape of a tall man. 

“Good Day!” He said with a boundless cheer as color bled into him, rather literally. He was red- that was the only way she could describe him. “Forgive me for popping by without calling.” 

Isabel peeked at him, huddled in Angel Dust’s arms as he used a single hand to unbutton his red long coat with a practiced ease she had seen many times before. As the coat fell around his waist, he took his hand from his cane and it shocked her to see it remain standing on its own. 

Screaming, she could hear angry yelling, but the words felt like they were in another language as blood rushed through her ears, roaring like the ocean waves. 

The cane, topped with an old-fashioned microphoneand was the same red as the rest of the man. So much red. Looking up at the man, she watched as he shrugged out of his coat, gathering it in his arm. 

“Angel Dust!” Valentino yelled, “What did you do?!” 

“He didn’t need to do anything! Haha!” The man knelt in front of her, a chilling grin plastered across his face as he fed the coat under Isabel’s plush wings, paying no mind to how she flinched away from him. He wrapped the coat around her shoulders, letting her wings hold it low down her back.

“I’ll help her button it.” Angel Dust whispered, not looking the man in the eye as he spoke. 

“Hold on to her for a moment longer for me, will you?” 

“Alastor?” She breathed his name, realizing who he had to be. 

A large, red clawed hand rested on her head softly as he looked down at her, a yellow smile grotesquely wide, with blood dripping from his lips. “Be a darling for me and don’t look.” 

When she sat frozen, eyes still locked on his too pale face framed by even more red, he ran his hand down from the top of her head. He caressed her forehead as he slowly covered her eyes, forcing her to close them to protect them. 

“Good girl,” he said as her eyes remained closed. “Stay just like that.” 

With her eyes closed, she could just hear it. Under the static, under the screams, under the crackling distortion of a carbon microphone that sounded a lot like home, she could hear his voice. 

Her Alastor was here. She had found him. After decades of waiting and longing, she found him. 

“Lean back,” Angel Dust pushed her shoulders away from him softly as he helped her put her arms in the jacket sleeves. Once she had it on, though somewhat awkwardly because of her wings, Angel Dust buttoned the front. 

“He came.” Tears spilled down from her closed eyes as Angel Dust gathered her back in his arms. 

“I told you he would,” Angel Dust whispered, hardly loud enough to be heard over the screams and static. “You know, I’ve never seen him take this coat off before.” 

Angel Dust fell into silence as he held her trembling body against his. Violence raged around them, but he was determined to make up for every violating caress he had placed on her skin by protecting her from the sight of her husband ripping his coworkers limb from limb. 

TV static, radio feedback, and clashing metal filled the room. Angle Dust hummed, rocking her as he tried to remember the words to the songs of his childhood. There wasn’t much he could do to drown out the chaos without drawing attention to him. 

He had to look uninvolved. Either way, he would be punished for this shitshow regardless, but if he could play his cards right, if he could pretend to know nothing, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. 

Whatever price he had to pay for having a part in this, though, Angel Dust knew it was worth it. It was worth it to not have to force himself onto her, into her. It was worth it. No matter how bad it was going to be, it would be worth it. 

Tag List: @preciousbabypeter, @catticora, @alastor-simp, @alastorthirsty

[donksodonks]

reupload bc i forgot his tail

ref sheet for my new funny little guy, The Slunk

based vaguely off of sea slugs

he is...not very smart

hammed burger.

[hugsohugs]

King The Slunk

(context: i'm replaying miitopia and assigned slunk as the king, and as soon as i saw these consecutive dialogues i dropped everything to draw this)

[call-sign-shark]

Pairing: Modern!Darkling x OC || Amos x Heaven (PB)

Summary: He came in the psych ward one rainy night... Or the very first time Heaven sees Amos. Written as a reply to @justrainandcoffee's ask.

Word: 1k

Find the Asylum Masterlist here.

More of Hev and Aleksander -> Echo of Shadows

1: Love at First Bite

She had seen the movie that was playing on the common room's old TV at least four times since her internment here. And jeez, she hated it. As was the case for all romantic movies.

Sitting on the floor, hugging her own legs and her chin resting on her knees, Heaven watched the screen with little to no interest, its colorful light reflecting on her diaphanous skin. Glazed in a mix of boredom and mild sedation, her unsettling pale eyes seemed so empty that the nurse who glanced at her felt uncomfortable.

It was better than isolation or her chamber though, she thought, trying to enjoy the quietness - which was rather scarce in such a troubled place. It didn't last long.

The screaming came first. Not the one that plagued her mind sometimes or the usual outburst of a random patient, but rather guttural, furious roars that could only belong to a thing made of sharp teeth.

"Hold him tight!"

"The fucker is strong..."

The voices that followed took the shape of orders barked with panic as guards shouted over each other.

"No, no, hold him I said! BRING THE FUCKING SHOT."

A loud thud came right after, like something crashing against the floor. It was hard enough to shake the walls.

"Dom! Are you okay? Did he hurt you?"

Curiosity proved to be stronger than the chemical daze of her meds, for Heaven discreetly dared to peep through the door's small opening. That was when she saw him for the very first time.

Dragged in like a beast refusing to be caged, arms restrained by two guards and a third trying desperately to keep him from slamming his skull into the nearest wall, Amos screamed again, "I'll fucking kill you! I'LL FLAY YOU ALL ALIVE!"

He was soaked in rage, rain and blood. His hair, disheveled and wild, fell in black strands that stuck to his face with a mix of blood and sweat. As for his eyes, black like the night, they shot murderous glares to the guards as he howled again, "Get your filthy hands off me!"

He was so enraged that Heaven could see the blood pounding in the huge artery in his throat. She smiled. A lazy, broken smirk that stretched her fleshy lips just a little but that didn't echo in her eyes.

It wasn’t the chaos that got her. She was worse than him when the police brought her here. It was something... else.

Something about him and the way he fought like an animal while still looking like he was carved in marble, ruin, and ice.

So tall, so dark, so battered... So alive while everyone else here always seemed fucking dead inside. Like her. As they passed in front of the common room, one of the guards glanced sharply her way, his eyes narrowing - she slunk down low in reply, curling herself as tight as she could as though she could become invisible. Just like another ghost in the walls.

Even after they'd dragged him down the hall and thrown him in isolation she looked again. The calm had returned, and it felt far too heavy, similar to the creepy silence after a bomb. The dark-eyed stranger wasn't here anymore and still she saw him again. He and his pure wildness.

And Heaven smiled. Wide. Curious. A little mad.

2: He Smiled Like a Wolf

The murder doll couldn't sleep that night.

Haunted. The Stranger haunted her.

Instead, she sat on her mattress with her legs folded, grabbed the short pencil she had stolen from one of the creative therapies, and she thought for a minute. Above her head, the light buzzed softly, flickering now and then. Each time it switched on again, it cast slim shadows that looked like a giant's spider legs on the wall facing her.

And she drew him.

Not drawing in the calm and careful sense of the activity.

It was fevered. Brutal. Scratches and rough lines, darkness around the eyes, a tilt of the mouth that was more wolf than man. She sketched the snarl, even the blood on his perfectly trimmed beard. The tangle of hair that fell over his forehead too. And she even managed to prick the tip of her fingers with the sharp lead and used her own blood as ink to recreate the red stains that was smeared all over his face

Once she was done, the crazy white-haired doll stared at it, and her heart pounded for no good reason. It was only when her pulse got a little too carried away that she folded the page, carefully this time.

Then, she exited her bedroom despite the rules.

Barefoot in the hall, she managed to avoir the nurses as they did they round, and walked passed the sleepy guard until she could creep to the isolation room.

She crouched by the door, the voices in her head whispering poetry along with the butterflies' wings flapping in her stomach.

She slid the folded drawing beneath the door and padded back to her room without a sound.

3. Seen

The room was dark. Not the comforting kind of dark he usually loved, but the one that pressed in. That made the walls feel too close and the air too heavy. Amos had spent the night collapsed against the mattress, trying to ignore the relentless pounding of his heart and the phantom rage that gnawed at him. He felt as if his brain was chewing itself apart in silence.

They had pumped him with enough meds to keep his body sluggish and his mind blurry, but he could still feel the latter burn. Scratch against his skull. They should have knock the fuck out of him, he thought.

Then he saw a corner of paper, curled just slightly, beneath the metal frame of the door. How long had it been here? Was it really here?

His brows pulled together as he crouched — all of his movements were slow and unsure for the tranquilizers had kicked him badly. Amos reached for the paper, his fingers trembling slightly as he tugged the paper close and unfolded it.

It was him.

Not a cartoon, not a scribble or a stick figure. A portrait. A sketch that made you feel seen.

The tilt of his head.

The jagged line of his jaw.

The rage in his eyes—captured. Understood.

Amos sat back against the wall, holding the paper in his hands like it was holy. Like it was fragile. And as he did, his lips curled in the same grin he had on the drawing. Wolfish. Twisted. But this time, a hint of softness could be seen. A smile he hadn't worn in a long time, not for anyone.

Peaky Blinders taglist: @justrainandcoffee @cillmequick @mischievouslittlecreature @evita-shelby @lunarubra @peakyswritings @jjovin3221 @shelbydelrey @zablife

Shadow and Bone taglist: @lunawants , @emtaz-art, @lightinbug, @kmc1989, @thepassionatereader @mystic-mara @m-riaa @kallista-diune @meadows5 @kasagia @watersquirtpewpewboomm @the-sweet-psycho @sarahsobsession @elizabethblood9 @ritzzzzz @sophialeiros @noortsshift @sassyvilliantrope @sherwoodforesttales

[seventeenpins]

give 'em a show

pairing: Joel Miller x F!Reader

word count: 1.5k

summary: Joel watches you as you dance with a stranger in the bar. It goes a little too far, and Joel makes sure everyone knows exactly who you belong to. (Literally just smut.)

warnings: established monogamous-ish relationship, exhibitionism/public sex, jealousy, somewhat insecure joel, both asshole!joel and soft!joel, joel miller is an ass man, no implied age gap, smidge of ass play, possessive behavior, choking, derogatory language, didn't mean to make it sweet but it kinda ended up that way WHOOPS

a/n: first, not to self promote too much but pls check out this Joel/nb!oc series i've just started set in an 1870s outbreak au, i'm really excited about where it's gonna go!!! last night i drank a bottle of wine, woke up this morning and found this in my drafts. needed a bit of editing, but here u go~ this fic is dedicated to the incredible couple I saw about five years ago, both wearing cowboy hats whilst fucking, bent over their pickup truck, just outside of a cowboy bar. and I'm not saying Joel's wearing a cowboy hat, but I'm not saying he's not.

The room was vibrating, the bass of the music buzzing up your legs. It was dark and the flashing lights were near-blinding, but despite the hindrance, you could feel Joel's eyes on you all night. He watched, unmoving, never missing a single beat.

But when you felt the stranger's hard cock against your ass as you ground against him, you knew you'd crossed a line.

Only a moment and barely a blink later, you could hear his low warning, "You wanna keep your hands? Better keep them off my woman," and the man you'd been dancing with slunk away barely a moment later.

"You think you're cute?" he asked, tone dangerous, whispered in your ear.

"No, Joel, I-"

"You think this is a fuckin' game?"

It was a game, but this was part of the rules.

Mostly.

The shake of his voice betrayed his thinly-veiled intensity.

You did let that guy rub up on you, and you'd never let it get that far before.

Fuck.

"You really think I'm gonna watch you let some asshole put his hands all over you?" he asked. You hadn't anticipated this level of reaction, and you could feel yourself getting wet.

"I'm sorry, I-"

"I'm the only one who gets to fuckin' touch you, baby,"

"Yes, Joel, you-"

"You wanna let me make you feel good," he said, and then glared over towards the man you were dancing with, "Or do you wanna go home with that guy?"

"Always with you, Joel, only want you."

"Fuckin' right," he growled, and then pulled you in by the waist. Let his hands wander, grazing across the swell of your breast, the small of your waist and then grabbing your ass, staking his claim. "We're getting out of here."

You could barely keep your hands off one another as you stumbled over to Joel's pickup, and when you got there, Joel began pressing incongruously gentle kisses on you. From that sweet spot just behind your ear, down your throat and then your collarbone, he sent you spiralling into soft, hazy dizziness.

Then, cruelly, he pulled away and started fumbling with his keys, searching out the right one to unlock his truck.

"No!," you shouted, and you both nearly jumped, startled at the unexpected urgency of your voice.

"No," you said again, quieter. He dropped his hands and looked at you a moment before you continued. "No, don't wanna wait that long. Don't care if we get out of here. Need you to fuck me. In the truck, on the truck, I don't fucking care. Just need you, Joel."

He stared at you, barely blinking, studying your face. You were lost in his eyes, pupils blown wide but catching the moonlight perfectly.

"Dirty girl," he breathed, "I got you," and then he was pressing you forward to lean against the truck. You let out a moan when he folded you over, and whimpered when he pulled up your skirt.

He can't stop touching you, like his hands are being compelled to run all along your body as if by magnetic pull. His touch is constantly changing, one moment it's feather-light, the next moment he's grabbing and scratching at your flesh, and it all feels exquisite.

You're overwhelmed by sensation, lost in the way Joel works his hands over you. Grabbing at your flesh, dragging his nails along your sides, calloused fingertips catching against the smooth skin of your ass as he rubs circles against your skin.

Then, he's stroking your jaw, prying open your lips, pressing his thumb into your mouth.

"Get it nice and wet, baby," he soothed, and then, "Christ," he groaned as you laved your tongue around the digit, collecting your spit, a string of saliva hanging between your lips and his thumb as he pulled his thumb out.

"Gonna fuck you good, baby, show everyone here who you belong to. That's what you want, huh?"

You whimpered in response, which earned you a smack to the ass. "Words, honey," he hissed, and you nodded.

"Yes, baby, that's what I want."

"Damn right."

He pulls your panties down, leaving your ass completely bare in the midnight air.

Then he's spreading your ass cheeks apart and stroking his glistening thumb between your folds. The added slick mixed with your arousal makes for the most delicious glide as he presses his thumb inside you and then withdraws it, replacing it with two fingers.

It's rough, verging on brutal, but any pain is overwhelmed by pleasure and within moments you're already a shaking mess.

"We're gonna let everyone here see just how well you take this cock, ain't we?"

You love when he talks to you like this, uses you like this. You whine an affirmation and you can feel his hard cock, his need, pressed up against you through his jeans, and he doesn't seem too worried about words anymore.

"You want me to fill you up good, huh? Fuckin' slut you are." He gripped your hips, guiding your bare ass to rub against his bulge. Then, he released you and you could hear the unbuckling of his belt, the pull of his zipper.

He pressed the head of his cock up against your drooling pussy, notching the head between your folds.

"Put on a show for me, baby," he growled, and slid into you in one slow thrust.

Your tits were pressed up against the pickup's hood, cold even through your top, and Joel's hands were like a fire on your body, hot and wonderful, freely wandering across your goose-bumped flesh.

As he starts to speed up and fuck you in earnest, his thumb glides down the cleft of your ass and starts to press against your tight muscle.

You hiss out a "yes", a stilted affirmation, and he pulls away the thumb for just a moment, popping it in his mouth, getting it wet again, and then pressing it into you.

You rut up against the intrusion, feeling him push further into your ass, his thrusts growing faster and harder. He doesn't fuck you with his digit, just lets it sit there, pressing into you. You know that if there wasn't the possibility of an audience, he'd probably be eating out your ass right now.

That's a step too far, something he reserves for him and only for him. Loves the way he can make you come just from fucking your ass.

He fucks you rough and steady, balls slapping against your clit with each thrust. Your legs start to buckle, sensation of being so completely filled starting to tip you over the edge.

You think you hear a wolf whistle from the distance.

"Attagirl," Joel praises, "Puttin' on a real nice show, huh? Takin' this cock so good. Sounds like we've got company, baby. Doin' such a good job."

"I love it-" you breathe, "They know I'm yours. All yours, every bit of me-"

"Damn right," he growls, "Fillin' you up real full."

"Joel," you sob, "I'm gonna come, gonna come on your cock, please, please, can I?"

His wandering hand leaves your breast tragically untouched, but wraps around your throat, giving you one more perfect, dizzying piece of sensation.

"Come on this dick, baby," he urges, "Come on, come for me," and every bit of you that was holding out comes undone.

Your body convulses, pussy creaming around his thick cock, aftershocks of your orgasm pulsing and drawing out a low, deep groan from Joel as he holds you steady and works you through it.

Then he pulls out of you abruptly, the sudden emptiness shocking, until you can feel him pumping himself a couple of times before releasing his spend all over your ass.

The next few moments are a blur. He wipes up his cum with your panties and pockets them, then pulls your skirt back up. Zips up his jeans. Straightens your top. Unlocks the truck and helps you in.

Before you know it, you're buckled and he's leaning towards you, brushing a strand of hair back behind your ear.

He kisses you, soft and deep, his tongue gentle as it runs over your bottom lip, gently biting and nipping at you.

"Baby," he says, and you're thrown by the strain in his voice, "You know, if you ever-"

You frown as he struggles to find his words.

"If I'm ever- not enough. Not enough for you," he swallows, "I just-"

"No, Joel," you shake your head, "Not at all."

"I'm just sayin'. If I'm ever not enough for you, I don't want you to feel-" he shook his head, "Tethered to me."

"Never," you smile, and the way his face lights up just a little is enough to make you melt. "I'm glad to be yours. I want to be yours. Only yours."

You kiss him again, feeling him yield, surrender into your embrace.

"You're it for me, baby," you tell him, and it's true.

You see him smile, resting back into a semblance of comfort, of confidence.

As he drives you both home, you relax into the familiar rhythm of it.

You can still feel the stickiness of his cum on your skin and cherished it, a not-so-secret offering between the two of you. He's yours and you're his.

And you'll show him. Every day.

[fanaticsnail]

Perfection

Tobiuo Masterlist Here

Word Count: 2,200+

Synopsis: Several members of the Heart, Kid, and Straw Hat pirates engage in a game of Poker. When Shachi runs out of Berry, he decides to bet something a little more interesting: Tobiuo's kiss.

Themes: Heat x Tobiuo, Canon x OC, gambling, drinking, kissing, yearning, unrequited love, infatuation, fascination, supernova trio crews, first kiss, they're so sheepish, fluff, swearing.

Notes: I am learning how to draw on my phone because I want to do some digital art. Always starting with a kiss, I just wanted to know more about why they were kissing like that. Calls back to this comic I did a while ago. 3rd person POV.

“Alright, which one of your crewmates has the weirdest mouth?” Shachi’s nasally crackle shot through the air, his drunken stupor propelling those around to laugh with him, “I'm outta Berry, so I gotta bet somethin’.” Penguin clapped a hand over Shachi's shoulder, leaning his forehead against his upper arm and hissing out a snort of laughter into it.

Killer was contemplative, leaning back in his seat and thinking on it. Going through a list of names of his crewmen, he finally settled on, “Heat. I think Heat has the weirdest mouth. Guy breathes fire, and he's got the ridges from the scar marks. Robin?”

“I'd say Brook, just because he has no flesh, nor tongue, but can still taste and consume food,” she hums in deep thought, meandering through her cards and sorting them from weakest to strongest suit. Shachi stifled his laughter, using his hands in a rough flurry to call to his crewmate from across the bay.

“Ours is Tobiuo. You gotta see her tongue and teeth, man,” Shachi admitted to the table, all ignoring the shouts and petulant competitions going on between Law, Luffy and Kid. Tobiuo released several soft huffs of laughter, soundlessly expressing her glee while nodding in confirmation with her red-headed crewmate. Killer tilted his head, narrowing his eyes beneath the mask to get a better glimpse of the inside of the fishwoman's mouth.

Arching her brows at his inquisition, she slunk back in her seat, lazily hooking her right thigh over her left knee and slinging her arm around the back of Penguin’s chair. Eyeing the mask-wearing man cautiously, she drew her tankard up to her lips and took a large sip of the amber liquid within.

“Why all the curiosity about mouths and Berry, Shachi?” Robin asked, regaining the tables attention and peeling their eyes away from Tobiuo's lips.

“I'm gonna bet Tobiuo’s lips for my wager. You up for it, Iyo?” he slurred his speech, lulling his head to the side and looking over his pointed sunglasses at her, “Gonna kiss the winner?” Tobiuo moved her hands in a rushed flurry, her lips pulling back into a tight-lipped snarl.

“Am I meant to be offended, or-…?”

“-No, no! Of course not,” Shachi interrupted the gestures, “Look, we all know what your lips feel like. You're an excellent kisser. I'd say they're worth…” he trailed off, creating an opening for another voice to air their thoughts.

“...Three Million Berry.”

Tobiuo choked on her drink, snapping her head over to the quieter voice at the end of the table.

Hiding behind a hand of cards, the slouched and bashful shoulders of the Kid-Pirate Fire-Breather softly shot his sunken eyes over the margin of the stack of cards. Tobiuo tilted her head to the side, fluttering her webbed hands hastily before tapping Penguin's arm with the heel of her palm.

“She's wondering why so much,” Penguin raised his arms defeatedly before translating properly, “Her exact phrase: ‘for that price, you could hire an escort to mess around with. Why her’?” Tobiuo nodded, waiting for his reply. Killer sat back in his seat, smugly looking between Heat and the Heart Pirates’ chief of security.

Killer had been the target to Heat’s confessions regarding his attraction to the fishwoman, often the source of many a migraine. Finally having an opening for conversation, he felt a weight leave him as Heat continued.

“I-... I, uh-…” Heat fumbled, his fluster rising in his cheeks and blooming the warmth in his chest. Killer’s migraine returned, prompting him to take action and rearrange his cards.

“That settles it, then,” Shachi confessed, looking between his pile of Berry, Nami, Robin, Killer, Penguin, Tobiuo, Wire, and Heat, “Opening bid, three million Berry. Anyone gonna call?” Tobiuo moved her hands and furrowed her brows, her two crewmates ignoring her protests and chastising words.

Before Heat had the ability to test his hand against Shachi's, to win the opportunity of a kiss from the Fishwoman, the blonde Kid-Pirate spoke up.

“I'll call you on your bullshit, Shachi,” Killer spoke up with his warm tone full of playfulness and jest.

“Jokes on you, blondie,” Shachi’s nasally crackle cut through the air, “I got 3 pretty ladies in my hand. Got something better than a three of a kind?” Shachi’s cocky grin looked greedily down at the pile of Berry on the table and back up to Killer.

“Actually I do,” his grin widened beneath his mask, his smile heard in his soothing baritone, “I've got a straight flush.”

“No,” Shachi whined, chucking his cards on the table in defeat, “And it was all going so well! I actually had a good hand this time!” Rather than consoling her crewmates of his loss, Tobiuo narrowed her milky-gaze at the mask-wearing man and tilted her chin up to assess him.

“Bets a bet. Pay up, Buttercup,” Killer rose to his feet, prompting Tobiuo to do the same. In two broad strides, she stood in front of him and folder her arms into one another. Killer snuck a look at his crewmate, Heat, who placed his cards face up on the lengthy table in front of him. A royal flush, a hand that would've landed him in Killer’s place if he spoke up.

“Don't be shy,” Killer uttered, elevating his right hand up and returning his attention to the seven foot Fishwoman. “Let me see,” he extended up his fingers towards her chin. Tobiuo narrowed her eyes, at him and released a puff of air from her lips before pouting them.

“Don't get all huffy with me, Missy,” he giggled, his shrill laugh causing her to become more at ease. Unlacing her arms, she allowed him to place his thumb and index finger on her chin and draw himself into her space. Offering a small hum of approval, he gently coaxed her face towards him.

Killer took a moment to appreciate being dwarfed by her great height, sparing another glance at his fire-breathing crewmates before directing her closer to his mask.

“Now say ‘ah’ for me, Tobiuo,” Killer moved his thumb up and gingerly toyed with Tobiuo’s bottom lip. Rolling her eyes, she parted her lips and revealed a sharp set of teeth. Each tooth was whittled naturally down into a sharp peak, her stalactite-shaped canines protruding from her upper and lower lips.

“Ohh… Pretty,” Killer hummed in thought, examining how interesting her uniqueness was in comparison to human anatomy while drawing his thumb away from her lip and down to her chin once more, “Now the tongue?” Tobiuo’s smirk rose up on the left hand side of her darker lips, lulling her tongue over and revealing the organ to him.

“Bloody hell-!” Killer exclaimed, pulling his hand away in shock at the length of the morsel. Divots, ridges, and pliant barbs were elevated over her palate. The tip of her tongue tapered off in a pointed end, extending far further than regular capacity.

Heat sat quietly by, his eyes widening and heart beating rapidly against the shell of his ribcage. Just when he thought he couldn't get more enamored with Trafalgar Law’s barbaric fighter, he swoons at the new light being shone on her otherworldly anatomy.

“Gonna show me what a three million Berry kiss is?” Killer goaded, prompting Tobiuo to retract her tongue back into her mouth and lean in closer to Killer. Reaching her webbed hand up to his mask, he shook his head and recoiled against her touch.

“Not on your life, Missy,” he shook his head and stepped fully away from her, “I don't take this off for just anyone. Not even for such a pretty reward as your lips, honey.” Tobiuo tilted her head to the side, furrowing her brows while fluttering her hands. Killer watched the motions, not truly understanding and looking over to Shachi or Penguin for translation.

“She's asking where you want her to kiss you, in not very appropriate language, I might add,” Penguin chuckled, prompting Shachi to wheeze. Killer shot his attention past the two Heart-Pirates towards the fire-breathing commander and curled his finger twice towards him.

“We were talking about Heat earlier,” Killer informed the gathering of allied troops at the poker table, “Can’t kiss me, but you can kiss one of the other commanders on my behalf.” The corset-wearing commander stepped closer to both Killer and Tobiuo, his eyes avoiding the milky-gaze of the security officer as she assessed his form.

She hadn't really thought much about the blue-haired Kid-Pirate, not truly experiencing a closeness like this with him to truly admire his features. Heat trailed his eyes up to her chin, hovering briefly on her lips before meeting her gaze with his own.

Fluttering her hands at him, Shachi, Penguin and, surprisingly, Wire, all released a cackle at her flurry. Heat shook his head, his lips parting as he tilted his chin towards the gathering without departing his eyes from hers.

“What are you-?” Heat asked his hairless eyebrows knitting together curiously, “Are you making fun of me?” Tobiuo slunk away, smiling with her lips tightly shut and a deep, purple blush rising to flood her cheeks and webbed ears. Heat chuckled, stepping forward more boldly now.

“Oh, I think you are making fun of me, Tobiuo,” Heat uttered in a deep rumble, causing her to take a step back and buckle her knees on the back of the bar island to the side of the poker table, “And what are you saying, hm? What's got them all giggly?” Weaving his legs within hers, he rose his right hand to cup her neck and tilted her head back. Hovering his lips over hers, he whispered gently over her sensitive skin.

Tobiuo’s brows rose, her gaze darting down to his lips and back up to his eyes in shock. Heat's thumb gently caressed the dips and elevations of scales against her skin, prompting Tobiuo’s breath to hitch and shudder. Heat made to tease the security officer a little more, but his over-eagerness to brush his lips with hers stilled that thought in a heartbeat.

Surging forward on his toes, he dwarfed the Fishwoman by looming his frame over hers, immediately meeting his lips with hers in a soft kiss. Closing his eyes, the tattooed Fire-Breather hummed into her lips in a soft moan, enjoying the warmth of her lips on his. Tobiuo's eyes remained open, examining the commander as he pressed his lips on hers with more intent and meaning.

Tobiuo was not unaccustomed to kissing for fun, many of her crew often got a peck on the forehead, a raspberry blown in their necks from behind, or a platonic oscillation if she was feeling exceptionally generous. But this? This was something entirely different.

Heat's lips ignited something in her that she hadn't felt before. Heart fluttering in her chest, she finally closed her eyes and leaned into his kiss. Webbed hands finding his hips, she drew him further into her lap and tilted her chin up to brush with his. Changing the angle, she parted her lips and prompted him to do the same. Just as her thumbs brushed against his dermal tri-hip piercings, Heat’s fingertips raked and carded through her hair to add depth to the kiss.

As his tongue finally met with hers, a small whimper caught itself in his throat at the ridges and flexible barbs coarsely grinding against his. Drunk on the feeling, his boldness halts as his bottom lip gets nicked on her sharp teeth.

“Ow-! Ouch-!” Heat hisses, tugging his body away from her and drawing his hand up to his bleeding lip. Tobiuo’s eyes widened in horror, her hand raised in a c-shaped cup and waving it in front of her lips. Her lip quivered, sharp lips chattering as she truly depicted her apologies for the bite.

“She's sorry, she's sorry,” Penguin translated for her, watching the flurry manically fluttering from her hands with her lips moving soundlessly, “‘It was a mistake. I'm so sorry, pretty boy. So much for a three million Berry kiss’.” Heat’s eyes widened, shaking his head and releasing his lip from his fingers. The softest trickle of red dribbled down his chin, doing nothing to calm Tobiuo’s hasty apologies from flying from her hands.

“...Pretty boy?” Heat blushed, his cheeks tinting with the softest shade of pink. Tobiuo stilled her hands, the same purple hue dusting her scaled features. “Is… Is that what you called me? ‘Pretty boy’?” Tobiuo sucked her lips into her mouth to halt her rising smile, prompting Heat to step towards her once more.

“I-... I think you're really pretty too, love,” he confessed in a barely audible whisper.

Killer hummed, slouching in his seat and offering his clenched fist towards Wire. The taller man clenched his own fist and tapped it against the balled fist of the first mate. The blonde was feeling rather pleased with himself, finally having Heat’s longing and infatuation momentarily satiated by a soft kiss from the security officer of his dreams.

Tobiuo felt her heart soar at his confession. Although, compared to the women present on the three vessels, she didn't feel she was all that much to look at. When her eyes met with Heat’s once more, she felt like the most beautiful creature that had ever lived. Offering him a little more of a grin, Heat released a whimsy sigh.

“Perfection.”

[somanyratsinthewalls]

Burning Hearts Chapter 6

Pairing: Law x Straw Hat Zoan Type (named) OC 

Summary: You were teleported across the globe in an instant, away from your crew. Your body was badly broken and beaten, thrust into the harsh landscape of a Northern island. You are discovered by the Heart Pirates and brought back to health. Startled upon waking up in a foreign place with an unfamiliar crew, you are shocked with the news that you’ll be spending two years there. Trafalgar Law, the captain of the Heart Pirates has made a promise to train you, but will it become something more than a mentor relationship?

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5

**this chapter contains a brief scene of adult content! minors dni!**

Burning Hearts Chapter 6: A Difficult Return

— — 

It was around 3 in the morning when Law finally pushed open the reinforced door of the Heart Pirate’s base. He made sure to close the door behind him carefully, not wanting to alert his crew to his return just yet. He was exhausted and just wanted to fall into bed without any disturbances or questions from his excitable and curious crew. 

Law slunk quietly through the halls of the base and entered his office. Without flipping the lights on, Law lazily dropped his sword and backpack on his desk before retreating to his adjoining bedroom. He strips his shirt over his head, removing his hat as well in the process before letting them flop to his bedroom floor. He unbuckles his pants and steps out of them, leaving them splayed on the floor. Normally, Law was a tidy man, but today he just wanted to face plant into his pillow. 

And face plant he did. Not even bothering to get under the covers, Law flops onto the bed and immediately passes out… 

— — 

“Hnnnhhgg! Ah!” Daisy grunted and panted below him, hips squirming and bucking while she laid there accepting his cock greedily. 

“What’s that, Princess? You feel good?” Law huffs out while continuing his assault on her most sensitive bits. 

“Aaahh! Mmhmm!” Daisy nods feverishly and arches her back in pleasure. 

“Na uh, use your words. Tell daddy how much you love his cock.” Law commands with a punishing snap of his hips. 

“S’ so good, love it s’much!” Daisy’s eyes roll back in her head, a dumb grin on her face as she relishes in the feeling of coming apart. 

“Shit- Princess you’re squeeing me so tight… fuck I’m-“

Gone.

Law snaps awake in bed, covered in sweat on top of his comforter. His chest heaves. He notices a wet feeling in his boxers. As Law looks down at his lap, he sees the wet sticky evidence of having ejaculated in his sleep. 

Law sighs and flops backwards onto the bed. Why did this keep happening? What was causing this influx of erotic dreams… and why was it always her? She was a brat. They disagreed so much that he could barely stand to be in a room with her when they weren’t training… so why did she keep finding him in his dreams?

“Shit…” Law groans and rubs his tired eyes. Suddenly, his brow furrowed. “Why would I say that?”

Law cringes at the way he acted in his dream. Daddy? Princess? Who the hell did he think he was? He would never treat someone like that. Not like he’s ever had the opportunity to anyway…

Shaking himself from the dream, Law decides a cold shower would help him clear his head. He throws on some clothes to make his way to the bathroom. He steps into his office and makes his way to the door… but something catches his eye. A large green plant was next to his desk in a painted white pot with black spots. 

This wasn’t his. Someone had been in his office while he was gone. He had left all his letters and private papers from the Marines out on his desk, trusting his crew to follow the instructions to not enter his office. Law sees red. 

— — 

You whistle along to the music coming from the record player as you finish up breakfast. Your red jumpsuit hung lazily off one shoulder and you had your hair braided with some orange tulip buds in it. 

“Chow time, losers!” You shout as you place the platter of French toast in the middle of the dining table. The crew files into the galley as you finish setting up the table with orange juice and butter. “Last loaf of bread before your captain comes home, you better enjoy it!” You smile and pour syrup on the pile of French toast. 

“I’ll take seconds now, then!” Penguin grinned as he piled extra slices onto his plate. 

You smiled and mussed his cap playfully. 

“Eat up, buttercup.” You take off your apron (which was massively huge since you were borrowing it from Bepo) and hang it up on the side of the fridge. “You guys can rock, paper, scissors for dish duty. I have work to do in the garden oh-!”

Law bursts into the galley carrying a potted plant in one hand, pot hanging on by a thread. 

“Captain! You’re back! We missed you!” Bepo says as he stands from the table. 

“What the hell is this?” Law huffs out. 

“A ficus.” You cross your arms and lean against the fridge. 

“I know what it fucking is, I’m asking why the fuck is it in my office?” Law shakes the poor plant in frustration. 

“Every doctor’s office has a ficus. Good for the air quality.” You reply, casually gesturing to the air on front of you with one hand. 

“Why the fuck would you think you can go into my office without permission? And what the hell are you wearing? You look like a clown.” Law spits. 

“And you wear that crusty hat every day. Sorry if I’m not offended that you don’t like my outfit.” You chuckle. 

“You think this is funny? You come into my base and accept my training, and this is what I have to deal with?” Law angrily gestures at both the French toast on the table and the fresh green trumpet vine you hung from the rafters to make the space more homey. “I’m doing your captain a favor and you’re fucking ungrateful! And is that Cora’s record player?! Who fucking told you that you could touch that?” Law continued his verbal assault on you without signs of stopping. 

Your arms drop. Your brows knit together and your mouth tightens into a fine line. Law doesn’t notice your change in demeanor. 

“This isn’t your doll’s fucking dream house! This is my pirate base!” Law shouts at you and drops the plant to the kitchen floor, causing the pot to shatter. 

You gasp instinctively, bringing your hands to your chest. The only sound in the room was from the record player that was still spinning.

“Captain please… she was just being nice…” Bepo quietly tries to plea with his captain. 

“I don’t care. My base, my rules and while-“ Law replies but you interrupt him. 

“I… I painted that myself…” You stare at the broken pot on the floor, pieces littered between piles of dirt. You look back up at Law. 

“Fuck you.” You huff out with tears in your eyes. The grey smoke beginning to billow from your nose wasn’t lost on you, Law, or anyone else in the room. Feeling that you were close to losing yourself again, you storm off to your room and lock the door behind you. You slide down against the door until your body was seated on the cold metal floor. You bring your hands to your face and sob. 

— — 

*knock knock knock knock* 

“I’m busy” Law says without looking up from the medical journal on his desk. The door opens anyway. Ikkaku storms in with a bag in hand and comes right up to him. She drops the bag on the desk and gestures at it. 

“I cleaned up the mess you made during your tantrum.” She cocks her head angrily. She doesn’t give Law time to respond. “Why the hell are you so mean to that poor girl?” She asks. 

“That poor girl is stubborn and disobedient and she should learn that her actions have consequences. She won’t get stronger if we hold her hand the whole way.” Law looks back down at his medical journal.

“There’s a lot of room between holding her hand and whatever the hell you’re doing. And disobedient? What is she, a golden retriever? She’s a grown woman, Law. She just lost all her friends, has no idea where they are and is stuck here for 2 years with an asshole like you screaming at her. You expect her to hang on your every word? You need to get real. It’s not her fault that you can’t control yourself around her.” 

“And what exactly do you mean by that, Ikkaku?” Law seethed. “And if I were you, I would choose my words very carefully.” Law leaned forward in his chair. 

Ikkaku sighs. 

“What I’m saying is. It’s clear you’re having some… very big feelings about this girl. I don’t know what they are, all I know is you’re being a proper dick because you won’t deal with those feelings. I just think you should give her some grace.” 

“And I think you’re way out of line. Get out of my office, I have work to do.” Lap snaps. 

“Yes Captain.” Ikkaku resigns and leaves Law alone to brood. 

As the door shuts behind Ikkaku, Law closes the medical journal on his desk. He rests his heads in his hands and sighs. Maybe he did fly off the handle about the houseplant… but how else was she going to learn to take things seriously? 

Her carefree nature was so diametrically opposed to his own. It made his blood boil that she refused to take anything seriously, always flitting about and laughing when she made a mistake during training. Every time he reprimanded her, she would flash that cute smile and tell him to “loosen up, will ya? We’ve got 2 years.” 

*Cute?* No, wait. She wasn’t cute. He didn’t think that. She was annoying. Not cute.

Gods, he hated how much she reminded him of someone he used to know… 

— — 

For the third day in a row, Daisy had skipped their training session. Each morning, Law went to the clearing and waited. Waited for something that never came. As the sun set over the tree line, Law returned back to the base. Another wasted day. Frustrated, Law enters his office and flops down into the large leather chair in the middle of the room. His gaze falls upon the bag Ikkaku left on his desk days ago. He rises from the chair and approaches his desk. 

He unties the cinch around the top of the bag and empties it out onto his desk. The bag contained a dead ficus, a handful of dirt, and the broken pieces of the painted clay pot. Law carefully picks the shattered pieces out from the dirty mess and holds one in his hand. 

It was white with black spots. It matched his hat. She had obviously painted this specifically for his office. 

Law sighed. He reached to the side of his desk and opened a drawer. Law sifted through the drawer’s contents for a few moments before retrieving a small bottle of superglue… 

— — 

You were folding your clean laundry on your bed when a knock came at your door. You had spent the past several days since Law’s blowup in your room by yourself, leaving only in the very early hours of the morning to train alone and to tend the garden. 

“I’m not coming to dinner, I’ll eat later!” You yell towards the door. 

“It’s me. Can I come in?” 

You freeze upon hearing Law’s deep voice on the other side of your stateroom door. You hadn’t seen or spoken to the doctor since he berated you in front of his entire crew. 

“Ok.” You call out. 

The door opens slowly and Law enters, closing it behind him. He was carrying something under his arm. Upon closer inspection you see that it was the planter that he had broken on the kitchen floor, however now it was all in one piece again. 

“You’ve been skipping training.” Law states. 

“I’ve been training. Just not with you.” You cross your arms over your chest. “So are you here to yell at me again, or did you need something else?” 

Law swallows nervously. 

“I am here to apologize.” 

Your eyebrows raise in surprise. 

“Oh?” You cock your head. 

“I behaved selfishly. I wasn’t considering anyone but myself.” Law struggles to maintain eye contact with you, gaze shifting from your face to the floor. “You did something kind for me and I… I don’t always receive things like that well…” 

“Clearly.” You reply. 

“Maybe that was an understatement… Regardless, I am sorry I acted the way that I did and I hope that we can continue our training.”

There was a silence.

“Thank you for apologizing. I’ll keep training with you, Law, but if you ever and I mean EVER, treat me like that again I am done here.” You firmly state as you point at him accusingly. 

“I understand.” Law holds the plant pot out towards you. For a surgeon, he did a really shitty job trying to glue it back together. Couldn’t he have just ‘shambles’ed the pieces back into place? This looks like he did it by hand. “I… I couldn’t save the plant…” 

You walk towards him and grab the pot out of his hands. Your right hand grazed his left briefly and Law inhaled sharply. 

“It’s ok, I’ve got a few more in the garden. I’ll keep it out there then.” You turn to place the pot on your desk. 

“No-“

You turn around with a questioning look.

“I… I’d like another one. Good for air quality, you said…” 

You smirk. 

“I’ll see what I can do. I’ll bring it by tomorrow evening after training.” 

“Right. I will see you tomorrow then.” Law nods and awkwardly shuffles out of your stateroom. 

*what a strange little guy…* you think to yourself.

xx 

[tixdixl]

Happy Birthday, Ren! - TWST Ficlet

Word Count: 2,718

Characters: Wei Renqiao ( @cyanide-latte 's OC), Oisín Anbás, Riddle Rosehearts, Ortho Shroud, Vex Alabaster, Idia Shroud (mentioned), Lilia Vanrouge (mentioned)

CWs: None

A/N: I had some life stuff happen, so unfortunately I'm a few days late. But I really enjoyed writing this and sharing a more tricksy side to my dullahan in this. Hope you all enjoy it!

~~~

The Ignihyde dorm remained quiet, its sleepy lull stable in the early hours of the morning. Despite its vacantness, the brilliant lights of the Ignihyde tech kept the hallways bright as the dullahan slipped down them. Gentle metallic tapping followed their footsteps as they headed toward the main lounge space. As they reached the lounge and the kitchen, the dullahan immediately b-lined for the fridge. The infamous fridge. They pulled open the handle, digging something out of their pocket as they carefully placed it inside. A puff of whisping white smoke danced in delight above their collar, pleased with themself as they nearly completed their preparations.

Without wasting time, they slunk down the halls once again. This time, they stopped in front of one of the dorm room doors. They gently pulled out an envelope from their pocket and placed it carefully on the welcome mat. The name “Wei Renqiao” penned onto the envelope glimmered in the ambient light. And with another proud cloud of smoke wafting from their collar, they disappeared into the dead of the morning.

✨️✨️✨️

After preparing himself for the day, Wei Renqiao followed his standard routine, opting to head to the kitchen to grab something to eat and brew some tea. But when the door opened, the crinkle of paper immediately caught his attention. Confused, he reached down and picked up the envelope. His eyes scanned over the calligraphy, immediately recognizing the author. A slight smile rose to his lips. And as he opened the envelope, he handled the paper gingerly to prevent ripping any part of it.

Out from the envelope fell a folded piece of parchment and a singular skeleton key. This immediately brought him pause. He didn’t recognize the key, not in the slightest. Most of the doors in Ignihyde didn’t use keys, but rather a scanner or a key card. It also didn’t look like it belonged to any blast cycle. Not that Ren would have minded, he had been around his cousin and their partner enough to recognise it as anything but.

Regardless of his confusion, he figured the paper likely would have some semblance of an answer. At the very least, a clue.

“Deartháirín,

Happiest of birthdays, my friend! I hope that your day greets you with joy, rest, and memorable moments. I’m going to be busy with Idia and Ortho setting up the lounge for your party, so I apologize for having to deliver this to you impersonally.

Or at least… I would apologize, if not for the fact that it’s a part of your present. UwU

I’m sure by now the gears are already turning. You want to know what the key is for, don’t you?

The short answer: it’s the key to opening your present.

The long answer: the key is your clue to finding your present.

I’ve hidden it somewhere for you to find. Given how much you love a good puzzle and a problem to solve, well… OwO I believe in you.

~ Oisín”

Ren had expected something sappy or flowery, given their tendency of using writing as a means to express themself and their affections. Yet, the note depicted the more tricksy side of the dullahan. And frankly, as far as the sophomore was concerned? He enjoyed this quite a bit more.

His already pleasant smile turned sly. The corners of his mouth tugged even farther. A puzzle? A problem to solve? And a ticking clock? Truly, they were speaking his language. And as he slipped the letter and the key into his blazer pocket, he cracked his knuckles and popped his neck.

Starting in the kitchen, Ren searched the cupboards. He looked through the tea boxes and bags of loose leaf. The thought occurred to him mid-search to hit two birds with one stone, and reached for a bag of his favorite loose leaf tea. But when he opened the bag, a slip of paper with a [OwO] scratched into it stared up at him. He blinked, having to stifle a snort as he realized he’d been caught. He pulled the slip of paper out of the bag and flicked on the electric kettle.

While he waited for the water to boil, Ren moved to the next place he could possibly think to check. He slid down the hall, careful not to lose his balance or collide with anyone in his path. And as he approached the door to the lab, the sophomore deliberately kept his head on a swivel, scanning for any signs of a trail or signs of an intentionally, poorly hidden package. But he met the locked door and saw no trace of the dullahan’s presence.

He unlocked the workshop door. At a glance, the room seemed unchanged from last time he left it. The device he’d been tinkering with, labelled and meticulously organized, laid on his designated work bench. The table itself bore no signs of change, as far as he could see. His tool box sat locked and untampered next to his bag of screws.

Gingerly, he shifted his tool box, trying to give himself a better view of the space behind his tools and his personal project. But as his eyes landed on the back wall, he was greeted with a bright pink sticky note, one with a very playful [ \(○v○)/ ] drawn in sharpie.

Another snort. This time with an eye roll.

So he acknowledged then that the package wouldn’t be found here. Not in the cupboard. Not in the workshop. Maybe… oh, he needed to double check one more place in the kitchen before he dismissed the kitchen.

He returned to the kitchen, having almost forgotten the boiling water, now whistling in alarm. The sophomore poured himself a mug, putting the loose leaf diffuser inside. He set a timer for 3 minutes and slid over to the refrigerator.

Ren didn’t put it past Oisín to jokingly remind him of the fridge incident as a birthday prank. Yet, something also told him that that was too easy.

As he pulled open the door, the fridge sounded off with its little jingle. The many bottles of beverages and tupperware full of questionable foods lined the shelves. He shuffled around the various containers. Pulling some out and putting them back in, he made it a point to make sure that everyone’s containers returned to their original spots. Until finally his eyes landed on a singular sugar cookie with an [^_^] iced on the top of it.

Well… at least they were changing it up. Clearly the sugar cookie was his to claim, and claim it, he did. And at the VERY least, he could tell instantly that Lilia had no part in baking it. Thank Seven.

But before he could collect his thoughts entirely, the timer went off.

He slinked back over to the kettle and removed the diffuser from the mug. As he sipped from the mug and chewed on the cookie, he pondered where exactly he needed to check next. Oisín wasn’t the type of fae to be invasive, so he could easily deduce that they hadn’t hidden the package in a private space. So no bedrooms. No washrooms. Maybe… club rooms?

Ren recognized that the board game club had a specific storage area where they kept the games safe. And any of the students had the ability to ask for access at any time. Perhaps, Oisín had hidden the present in the storage.

Taking the mug with him, he headed out of the mirror. The halls felt almost as vacant as the Ignihyde dorm. The morning had settled with that same lull, that drowsiness that came from the early sunrise, and as a result, few students lined the halls. Though Ren assumed it wouldn’t be long before traffic would pick up. He descended down the halls and toward the storage closet, sipping his tea as he went. But as he approached the closet, he noticed a lanky figure, hunched over and seemingly digging in the closet. Ashy hair draped over the Heartslabyul uniform in such a way that it served as an instant identifier.

Ren cleared his throat, “Good morning, Mx. Alabaster.”

A small squeak of surprise erupted from the closet. They withdrew from the closet, hands empty. As their heterochromatic eyes met his, her features softened.

“Quite the morning it is, Mr. Wei. And I certainly hope the morning has been treating you well- oh! And the happiest of birthdays should be wished to you, before I forget.”

Despite the speed of their voice, their syllables retained a crispness that made their verbiage easier to follow.

“To what do I owe the pleasure? Are you simply moseying about, looking for a game to take back and share during your birthday? I’m sure no one will mind if you do. Everyone with a sense of decency from the Board Game Club is planning on stopping by the party later, if they aren’t already setting it up- Idia.”

That… certainly was a question. And frankly, if Vex weren’t a fae themself, he would have been inclined not to explain himself and leave it to silence. Yet… because of their fairy nature, he hoped they would understand.

“One of my dormmates, Oisín, has sent me on a scavenger hunt to find my birthday present,” he explained.

“Oh! And you thought that the present might be here? Certainly! Please- let me get out of your way.”

The draconic fae side stepped out of the way, giving him full access to the closet space. He searched immediately for the box of his favorite game. Box after box, case after case, he pulled out the games and shuffled them around. Once again, attempting to move things around with care, he sifted through until he found exactly what he was looking for. But as he lifted the lid, a single playing card, clearly ill befitting of the game, fluttered to the floor.

Feeling the curious gaze of the fae looming behind him, Ren bent over and plucked the card off the floor. The printed card resembled a card from the Arcana: the Cultivation deck. But… on the front, the picture was replaced with a computer monitor. The title read [UwU], and it required two blue resource cards to play it. The description read:

“On your opponent’s turn, you may use this card to misdirect 1 enemy attack damage of equal or lesser value.”

At this point, Ren couldn’t help but laugh.

“Um- I’m so sorry, but you have me absolutely brimming with curiosity,” the dragon piped up, “Did you find what you were looking for?”

He shook his head, his laughter naturally dying but leaving a soft smile on his face.

“No, but I have a feeling I know where to go next.”

“Oh! Well, good luck then! I hope you find what your friend set out for you! And I hope no one else has claimed it.”

With a silent nod of acknowledgement, Ren took off, leaving the fae behind him. And on he went. Off towards the stables, where he wondered if he'd find Riddle. If Oisín had phoned a friend, chances were that they’d reached out to Riddle in an attempt to learn more about his daily habits and interests.

As he crossed the fields, his eyes caught sight of a head of scarlet. The shorter student stood next to a gorgeous mare, brush in his hand. Despite his lack of stealth, the red queen failed to notice his approach. A rather calm, almost tranquil expression painted his face like a painted rose. His eyes glittered, almost like the red queen had some sort of tune or day dream in his head. And his quiet words of encouragement left his mouth, Ren acknowledged that his friend had been spending quality time with his steed. He knew he’d need to be brief.

“Good morning, Riddle,” Ren announced his presence, practically startling the other sophomore.

“Good morning, Renqiao, and Happy Birthday,” the barely collected greeting reciprocated, “I’ll admit I’m surprised to see you out here this morning. Did you need me for something?”

With a swift nod, he answered, “Oisín has me on a bit of a scavenger’s hunt for my present this morning.”

Riddle’s expression immediately flattened into unamusement.

“You’re kidding?”

He shook his head once again.

With a small sigh, the red queen placed his hands firmly on his own hips.

“Well, that explains what that was about,” Riddle muttered, before then stating, “I saw them this morning, but I shooed them away from the stables. Whatever it was going on in their head, I didn’t like the emote their monitor was displaying this morning. Clearly, it had to do with this.”

The queen paused, placing a hand to his chin.

“I certainly haven’t seen any sign of them since, so my guess is they went off somewhere else,” he deduced, “Have you tried your club storage?”

A silent nod led to a slightly dissatisfied pout from the queen.

“Well, that certainly doesn’t help…” he glanced back up at the much larger student, “I’m sorry, Ren. I can’t say I know where they went.”

“Not to worry,” Ren waved him off, “If anything, this saves me a lot of work… Sorry to disrupt you this morning.”

“No, not at all. I hope you find what you are looking for.”

✨️✨️✨️

After scouring every place he could think of, Ren returned to the Ignihyde dorm. Decorations only half lined the room. A petite robot could be seen hovering off the floor and draping streamers along the towering skeletal statues. And as his presence his Ortho’s radar - or so he assumed - the little robot glanced down at him from above.

“Hi Ren-dídí!”

Ah yes, the endearingly incorrect nickname. At least some things were still normal today.

He offered Ortho a wave as he moved further into the space.

“Happy birthday, friend!” Ortho called out before his expression warped into one of pensiveness, “...I’m detecting minor signs of frustration. Is everything okay?”

Instead of answering Ortho’s question, an idea hit him like a ton of bricks. He reached back into his pocket and pulled out the skeleton key.

“Ortho, would you happen to know what this key belongs to?”

As he held it out to Ortho, he watched the humanoid’s eyes flash golden, as if he himself were scanning the key.

“SCANNING DATABASES FOR POSSIBLE LOCK ON CAMPUS OF NIGHT RAVEN COLLEGE…

46%...

72%...

98%...

DATA NOT FOUND.”

He couldn’t help but frown at that. Truthfully, he had begun to wonder if the dullahan had out puzzled him for once. But then, just as he had begun to consider his options, the robot spoke up once more:

“Where did you find it?”

Ren didn’t answer verbally. Instead, he pulled out the note and handed it to the humanoid. He watched as those golden eyes scanned once more. And once he’d finished, a sly little smirk formed behind that humanoid’s mask.

“...I thought I saw Oisín entering the party area with a uniquely shaped box. Perhaps, that might have something to do with it?”

…oh, but of course. Of course, they would hide it in plain sight. In the most obvious place possible, just to stump him.

He offered the humanoid a nod and a small gesture of gratitude before he headed toward the main table, of which treats and sweets would overwhelm and overrun shortly. But instead of sweets, a wooden chest, engraved with falcons along its sides, rested pristinely, as if waiting- taunting him even. Placed in plain sight. And sure enough, the chest had a small padlock, holding the lid closed.

When he inserted the key, the padlock flew open like a springtrap. He slid the bars out from the chest, and tucked both the lock and its key into his pocket. Gingerly, he lifted the lid. Much to his surprise, the chest contained a single thing: a worker’s magnifying glass set and its accompanying stand.

[For your work station,] came a familiar text to speech voice, [so you don’t strain your eyes in the late night hours. You do a lot of intricate and detailed work. No sense on limiting yourself by damaging your eyes.]

He spun around. His eyes met with a retro TV monitor with a [^^] plastered in bold on its screen.

[Happy birthday, Deartháirín.]

~~~

Tag list: @ramshacklerumble @the-trinket-witch @elenauaurs @winterweary @rainesol

@cyanide-latte @inmateofthemind @boopshoops @theleechyskrunkly @thehollowwriter

@lumdays @twstinginthewind @twistedwonderlandshenanigans @starry-night-rose @chillygourami

Lmk if you want added/removed