#other people’s writing of my oc

[virydia]

Oh my gosh SO SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG IVE BEEN OFF SOCIAL MEDIA CAUSE IVE BEEN SO BUSY WITH LIFE BUT AAAAA HELLO???? MY DAUGHTER BEING A M E N T O R??? I never thoughtt abt that BuT HMMMM THATS SO SO CUTE??? 👀👀👀👀

Also I’m just imagining Al being like “I have plenty of friends!” And just points to 2 people 😂

THANK U SO MUCH AAA I LOVE HOW YOU INTERPRETED HER AAAAA ITS SUCH A CUTE SCENE 😭😭😭😭😭

Sugar, Spice and Nothing Nice

~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 12: The Company You Keep

🚨TRIGGER WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS SUICIDE, MENTIONS OF 🍇 , SEXUAL ABUSE, MENTAL ABUSE🚨

Chicago, Illinois 1988

“You are so beautiful,” Desiree; a 17 year old girl, smiled at the girl she was babysitting.

The girl blushed as Desiree put lipgloss on her, “Thanks, oh can you not put so much makeup on me; my mom will throw a hissy fit.” She rolled her eyes.

“Moms, am I right?” Desiree rolled her eyes. “Babe! Get in here! Look at my masterpiece!”

Wes, the younger girl’s stepbrother and Desiree’s boyfriend walked into the room, “Look,” she turned the girl to him.

“Wow nice job Rae,” Wes took a closer look. “You’re beautiful Bean.”

Bean smiled at older teens then at her reflection.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hell, Present Day

“Do you remember your life on earth?” Bean asked, looking at her reflection in the small mirror

“Tell Val that he has to move the shoot up an hour for the meeting at 3,” Vox told Victor; his assistant.

“The overlord meeting?” Victor asked, writing on their clipboard.

“No not the overlord meeting, I’m not going anywhere near that shit show,” Vox replied.

“Hey!” Bean said louder.

Vox rolled his eyes, “Give me a minute, my dear.” Bean pouted in the rolling chair.

“I’ll email him right away, oh and Carmilla wanted to know about what’s happening with the Angelic Security System” Victor looked at him.

“What’s the rush? There’s no threat thanks to the princess and her band of housekeepers,” Vox chuckled looking at his phone. Bean let out a loud dramatic sigh, Vox rubbed his temples; “Give me that box and leave” he pointed to a dark blue box, Victor handed it to him then left.

Vox walked over to the demon spinning in his chair, he stood behind it stopping him from spinning; “What are you moaning about?” He looked down at her.

Bean looked up at him smiling, “Do you remember your life before you died?”

“What brought on that?” He raised an eyebrow.

Bean shrugged, “I wanted to know if you could, so I could tell you what I remember.”

“You sure are somethin,” he shakes his head.

“So did you-”

“Would you like to see what I got you,” he interrupted her.

She gasped, “You got me a present?! What did you get me!!!” She squealed.

Vox opened the blue box revealing a gold necklace with his name written in cursive, Bean clapped smiling; “It’s so beautiful!” He put the jewelry around her neck.

Bean admired her neck in her hand mirror, “My dear I need a favor from you,” Vox turned her head to him.

“Okay,” she smiled up at him.

“I need you to be a good girl for me and stop delaying Val’s work, I know he makes you mad; but you can’t keep harming the workers,” Vox smirked, holding her face.

“Well he needs to tell his slutbag employees not to fuck with me,” Bean said sarcastically.

Vox stopped smirking, “I’m serious, I have an important broadcast tonight for the show and I can’t have Val being a baby cause his workers keep going ‘missing’; cut the shit for 24 hours or I can make you,” his voice became distorted. “Are we at an understanding?”

“Whatever,” Bean rolled her eyes, moving out of his grip.

“Hey..” Vox gently grabbed her face again, she looked up with puppy dog eyes; “You’re in my chair.” Bean glares at him before getting up letting him sit.

“You’re a jerk,” she said before Vox pulled her onto his lap. Bean faced him biting her lip.

“Isn’t this a much better seat?” He smirked, putting his hand through her hair.

Bean blushed before kissing him on the cheek.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Welcome back to ‘Ravin wit Rave’, we have a returning guest, Bean,” Eric pressed a button on a keyboard making an applause sound. “How ya doin girl?”

“I’m well, nice keyboard;” She glances at it.

“Thanks, Charlie got it for me,” He grinned.

Bean smiles, “Nice..so, why’d invite me here?”

“Well you kind of left me traumatized at the party,” Eric said. “I want the deets.”

“On what?” She smiled nervously.

“You told me that you devoured your step brother, I want the deets on that jazz;” he leaned forward.

Bean’s smile faded, “Oh, I shouldn’t have said that.. that’s not right-”

“Sorry did I cross a line again?” Eric covered the mic, whispering to her.

“No it’s fine I just shouldn’t have told you that, that’s not why I’m here, I ate them; but I didn’t kill them,” she played with her fingers.

“Oh..so the plot thickens..” Eric played a “gasp” sound effect. Bean stared at him with a blank face, “Sorry sorry I’m a gossipy bitch.”

“That’s ok, hell is full of gossipy bitches; but yes the plot is very thick,” she smiled a little.

“But does it get thicker than me?” Eric raised an eyebrow.

Bean laughed, “You’re annoying, I’ll tell you and your viewers something.”

Eric moved to the edge of his seat.

“This story is kind of sad, it’s not like scary stuff, more like I don’t know..”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chicago, Illinois 1980s

I met my step brother Wes when I was 10 years old, he didn’t really like me or my sister at first; I just thought he was an angsty teen..He was but I didn’t really care.

I think he had a problem because his dad liked me more than him…

I don’t know, but his mom had abandoned him or something so he moved in with me and my family. He was there for me, then he started dating Desiree; she babysat my sister. I thought I would be left out of everything since they were older but they included me in lots of things, especially when things at home got bad.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“What’s the sad part?” Eric asked. Bean was quiet for a moment, looking at her fingers.

“The human mind is…complicated,” she sighs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chicago, Illinois 1995

“I don’t understand!”I cried, Desiree was packing a suitcase.

“It’s not a good idea for you to stay here anymore,” she was frantic, she wouldn’t even look at me.

“You said I could! WES said I could!” I couldn’t believe she was doing this. Was she jealous? Was she cheating on Wes? Did she hate me?

“I can’t do this right now Bean!” She got in my face. “Get out, now!”

I stood there, if she wanted me to leave she’d have to make me; “Where’s Wes? I wanna talk to him.”

“Fine,” Desiree stormed over her closet. I followed her, as soon as she yanked the closet open,

I screamed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Holy shit!” Eric gasped. “She killed him?!”

Bean shakes her head.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

🚨TRIGGER WARNING:MENTIONS OF SUICIDE🚨

(Skip bold font if not comfortable)

“He took his own life” Desiree handed me a note he had written.

It read:

I’m so tired.

“This makes no sense,” was all I could say. “Wes wouldn’t-”

“Wes was depressed!” She interrupted me. “He promised he was going to get help! He lied!” She started sobbing.

“But.. why is he in the closet?” I was so confused.

“I don’t know, I just found him like this; I thought he was at work” she just stared at his lifeless body.

It wasn’t making sense, I kept staring at the note and something wasn’t right; then it hit me. “This isn’t his handwriting.. it’s not his-”

BANG!

And then there was one, I was alone. With two dead bodies…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Holy crap?! What next! Did you eat the bodies?!” Eric’s mouth was open agape.

“What?! No!” Bean rolled her eyes.

“Well you do eat people,” he crossed his arms.

“Well I didn’t do that to them…I made them pie,” she blushed.

“You mean ‘a pie’ ” Eric corrected.

“No…I made them into a pie,” Bean covered her face embarrassed. It was silent for a moment then Eric burst out laughing, “STTOOOPPPP!!! It’s not funny!!” She whined, starting to laugh.

“Oh Satan, that's hilarious,” He wiped a tear from his eye. “But honestly, that’s a pretty good way to get rid of evidence.”

“I guess,” she shrugged, smiling. “Wait, you never took your hand off your mic,” Bean pointed to Eric’s hand on his mic; he gasped and she started laughing again.

Eric put his head on the table, “Fuck my life.”

“Don’t you mean afterlife?” Bean joked.

“LAME!!!” He screamed before they both laughed.

“Wanna hear another story?” She smirked.

Eric quickly sat up, “Yes!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“You know you’re quite the storyteller Latte,” Angel smirked, leaning on Bean’s head.

“They’re not stories, but I like narrating; I like to narrate my life,” She smiled.

“You should start your own little segment,” He nudged her.

“No one would listen to that,” Bean looks down at her hands. “I’d look silly.”

“Well I’d listen to it,” Angel smiled at her; “And even if it’s horrible, I got bad insomnia and need somethin to put me to sleep,” he joked.

“Ha ha,” she rolls her eyes. “I can’t do that anyway, Val would want me to work-”

“Screw Val!” Angel interrupted her.

“Um yeah, I already do that,” Bean was confused.

“You know what I mean, I know it’s hard but you can’t keep doing this to yourself,” He put his hands on her shoulders.

Bean doesn’t look at the demon, then looks at him; “I have to.”

Angel’s eyes widened, “Are you in love with-”

“No! I’m not in love with anyone, I’m just…” she sighs putting her head in her hands. “It’s complicated..”

“Is..it..” Angel tapped his chin then gasped, “It’s Vox! You like him!”

Bean covered her face blushing, “Don’t say anything!”

“You don’t want to leave because you like him!” He covered his mouth, “Damn Latte I’m sorry.”

She looked up at him, confused, “What do you mean ‘sorry’?”

“I think you might be getting used,” Angel said.

Bean was silent, she just played with her fingers, “I don’t get it,” she mumbled.

“I don’t either,” He shrugged. “The Vees are sneaky bitches, hot but sneaky; and bitchy.”

“But they saved my life..I don’t understand..” She said sadly.

“I’ve always meant to ask, how’d you get mixed up with the Vees anyway,” Angel put his feet on the couch; lighting a cigarette.

“Well like I said, they saved my life,” she sighed. “I had been beaten and stabbed to near death, those fuckers ripped my leg off for Satan’s sake!”

“Who?!” Angel looked pissed.

“Ray and his bitch ass buddies,” Bean rolled her eyes. “Anyway-“

“Wait!” He interrupted. “You have a fake leg?” Bean grabbed one of his lower arms and put it on her lower leg.

“That’s metal, and this,” She pulled on her skin; “It’s rubber.”

Angel pulled her leg making her lay down, he examined it, “You mean to tell me that Vox can make fake limbs?” He knocked on her fake leg, “You feel that?”

“No,” Bean sat up rolling her eyes.

“What’s wrong with you?” He crossed his arms.

“Can I finish?” She whined.

“Okay geez,” he put his arms up in surrender.

She cleared her throat, “Anyway Val brought me to V-Tower, the Vees nursed me back to health; they would come in and do my hair and give me clothes- What?” Bean noticed Angel’s bored face.

“Nothin’ this just feels like a story I’ve heard before,” he leans on his arm. “Proceed.”

“Vox would come in a lot more than Valentino and Velvette, we got pretty personal,” Bean blushed.

“Personal huh,” Angel smirked. “And..uh what does pretty personal mean?”

“We didn’t really do anything, we never do,” she shrugged.

“Really?” Angel wasn’t convinced. “Then what the hell-”

“We were just talking, I just got hot and took my shirt off,” Bean said feeling embarrassed.

“You find yourself in the weirdest situations,” he raised an eyebrow. Bean just shrugged, she didn’t know what he meant by that.

“Anyway we just talked, he’d come in to talk, he would ask me how I felt and things I wanted,” Bean blushed thinking about their time together. “But one day he just stopped coming, he would barely talk to me; and I don’t know why,” she looked down glassy eyed.

Angel sighed, he couldn’t help but feel bad; Val had seemed like the best person at one point in his life. He had given him everything, money, fame and what he used to think was love. “Hey come on, don’t cry;” he put his arm around her as she wiped her face with her.

“It is just so hard,” she cried. “I’m trying so hard.”

He grabs her shoulders, “Look at me,” she looks up at Angel crying and hiccuping. “We. Do. Not. Stress. For.These. Men.”

“Are you serious? You’d do anything or anyone for men,” she laughed.

“I get paid to do anybody AND anything toots, you give out for free,” he crosses his arms.

Bean rolls her eyes, “I do not.”

“Ya too sweet toots, try bein a bitch; or at least bitter I don’t know,” Angel shrugged.

“I am a bitch! I’m practically at cunt!” Bean’s voice got higher. Angel looked the short demon up and down, she was like a toddler; all she had to do was start stomping her foot. “I’m serious! I’ve literally killed people.”

Angel burst out laughing, “Okay Latte, you a killer!” He continued laughing.

“It’s true! Tiffany, Dymond, Ray! And some guy I forgot his name,” she said loudly.

“Okay first off, they would have told Val, and second; even if you did you are too small to do it by yourself,” Angel raised an eyebrow.

“Do you really think Val would care? And I had a little help I guess..” Bean sighed. “I just get so mad and I don’t know how to control myself.”

“You wanna know what I do when I get pissed?” He put a hand on her shoulder.

“Drugs?” She looked at him innocently.

“I do that all the time, I just spend time with people that care about me,” Angel smiled.

“Oh..okay!” Bean stood up smiling.

“Where ya goin?” He said.

“To spend time with my best friend,” this made Angel smile. “Barktholomew!” He frowned watching her leave.

“Cunt my ass.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“I don’t know why you do this to yourself,” Bean sat on the floor feeding Barktholomew cookies, “You know I decided to hang out with you today and all you want are..” She looked at the name on the package, which was only one letter written in black. “V’s cookies, it’s a bit rude.”

She continued to feed him the cookies when Bean felt a dark presence behind her. “I will never understand how you can spend hours on end with that mutt for hours on end,” a voice came from behind her. Bean turned to see Alastor leaning on his mic stick thing, she hadn’t decided what it was.

“Alastor! Sa tchob byen?” Bean smiled standing up.

Translation: Alastor! How’s it going?

“Oh you've been practicing!” Alastor said proudly.

“Nah, I only know that,” she said flattered. “Do you know who ‘V’ could be?” She showed him the package.

The radio demon just stared for a moment, “No idea,” He shrugged, Bean also shrugged before eating a cookie. “Why are you on the floor?”

“Angel said I should spend more time with the people I care about,” she hugged her dog.

“I’m sure he meant with actual people, not mutts you consider people,” he said with a smug grin.

The blue demon looked at him with a straight face, “Is your default just being a dick? Are you trying to make up for something else that might not be so big?” She smirked, wiggling her pinky.

Alastor looked at her, his eyes narrowing; “My my such crude words, from such a small child.”

Bean frowned, “I am NOT a child.”

“Then maybe don’t act like it,” He responded.

“Are you serious?” She scoffed. “People here literally rip each other apart, and you talk to anyone ANYWAY you want; but I make a dick joke and-” Bean was cut off by the Radio Demon walking up to her, he was smiling but there was anger in his eyes.

“You can talk to whoever you want however you want, but when talking to me you will talk to me with respect, do you understand?” He glared down at her, she glared back up at him not saying a word.

Bean sighed, “Whatever.”

“Good girl,” he pat her on the head.

“I bet you had TONS of friends,” she rolls her eyes.

“Why yes I have loads of friends,” Alastor smirks.

“Fine, name a friend you have not been attracted to, or was attracted to you, or had sex with,” Bean leaned on the counter Alastor opened his mouth. “AND a friend who isn’t a mother figure,” she finished.

He was silent for a moment, tapping his chin, “Where are your friends? Hmmmm,” he changed the subject.

“Um hello, one of them is right here,” Bean gestured to an empty spot on the floor where Barktholomew sat; she gasped.

“How sad,” he shook his head.

“Whatever, I bet your only friend was your mom,” she crossed her arms.

“Jealous?” He raised an eyebrow.

“No, cause my friend was my dad,” Bean stuck her tongue out at him.

“I’d rather my mom thank you,” Alastor responded.

“Mama’s boy,” she mumbled before going on her phone.

Alastor decided to say nothing, it was like arguing with a toddler, she always has to have the last word.

Bean fiddled with her necklace, “What was your mom like? I’m sure she was somethin special if she was your best friend,” she looked at him.

“I told you that I have loads of friends, and my mother holds a very special place in my heart, it was always me and her against the world; she taught me everything I know,”Alastor responded feeling nostalgic. His mother was his world, her face was one he could never forget.

“Awe how sweet,” Bean smiled, she looked at him in admiration. “Tell me more.”

“Oh I could go on forever my dear, let me hear more about you,” Alastor eyed the gold necklace she was fiddling with. “That’s a lovely necklace, who gave it to you?”

“Oh um Vox,” She blushed. “He gave it to me for being-”

“A good little girl?” He rolled his eyes. Alastor knew how the Vees were, their little workers did things for them and they got whatever their hearts desired.

“No they helped me out, and I work for them; and I get nice things,” Bean looked down at the necklace.

“Seems like you owe lots of people,” he leaned on the counter.

“Well yeah, like you told me to kill Ray and Dymond, and you just spend time with me,” She smiled. “I help you so you help me.”

“I did not tell you to kill them, I only said ‘that’s what I would do’ you didn’t have to do it;” he raised an eyebrow. What kind of game was she playing? “Take accountability my dear, you were upset, and I told you to find a way to relieve that anger.”

Bean looked at the floor, she thought that’s what he wanted. “I don’t understand, what do you want then?”

“I just want your company, I was just trying to help,” he explained.

“Company? That’s it?” She sounded confused, like she couldn’t comprehend a man not wanting sexual favors from her.

“That’s all, I’m sorry to disappoint cher but I’m taken, I thought you knew this,” Alastor watched the blue demon turn red with embarrassment.

“I’m sorry..I know that, I don’t want you like that,” she hid her face.

For a moment it was silent, Alastor thought about changing the subject. But before he could do so Bean uncovered her face, “Do you remember your life before you died?”

“I remember some things, however some memories are blurry,” he tried to think about it. He mostly remembered his lovely mother and the time they spent together, his awful father and the things he’d do to them. Alastor remembered his killings; however he had forgotten why he killed most of them. “Mostly good ones, but bad memories do haunt me sometimes.”

“I don’t have a lot of clear memories, it’s like a dream; the memories mix into each other. So sometimes things that happened in 1993 will just mix with things that happened in 1989,” Bean explained.

“Anything happened in those two years?” He asked.

“Well 1993 was when I was studying abroad in Europe and 1989-”

“I’m sorry, studying a what?” Alastor tilted his head in confusion.

“Studying abroad, ya know going to college in a different country for a year?” She explained to a still confused Alastor. “Didn’t you go to college? You’re like 40 or something.”

“I didn’t even go to high school, what makes you think I went to college?” He raised an eyebrow.

She shrugged “Whatever, anyway 1989 was just when my sister went missing.”

“You don’t seem too concerned.”

“Well for starters, she wasn’t even my blood sister; that was my stepdad and my mom’s kid and she was a major bitch, she defended her dad till her disappearance,” Bean crossed her arms.

“Oh my someone was jealous,” Alastor said smugly. “Wasn’t getting enough attention?”

She rolled her eyes, “More like too much attention, I studied abroad to get away from the ‘attention’.”

“I see..” Alastor said, understanding what she meant. “What’d your mother do when she found out?”

Bean took a breath, “She said ‘Can we not talk about this? I hear enough every night’.”

Alastor’s eyes widened, “And…this man is still amongst the living?”

“No, at least I don’t think so,” Bean smirked.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chicago, Illinois 1995

Bean ran into the bathroom covered in blood, she paced around the room hyperventilating.

“Well I didn’t expect that,” the woman watched the young woman. “You know you didn’t have to take the gun, or bake them…”

“I didn’t know what to do!” Bean yelled. “I already touched their bodies! Do you have their souls?”

“No, you didn’t kill them, so I don’t own them; remember our deal, you collect souls for me and I protect you”

“Ugh!!” Bean sat on the ground, this had to be a nightmare.

At that moment the bathroom door swung open, her stepdad stood in the doorway, “Get out!” She yelled standing back up.

“You know you’re pathetic,” he slammed the door. “Your mom is talking about calling the police, what did you say to her?”

“The only thing I told her was that your son was dead,” Bean crossed her arms looking up at him. She wasn’t afraid, not anymore.

“Why would you feel the need to talk about my son?” He towered over her.

She smirked, “You forgot your gun.” Without saying another word, Bean pulled the gun from her back pocket shooting her stepdad in his face. His lifeless body fell to the ground, looking down at him Bean began emptying the chamber into his face. She stared down at the bloody mess she made when a banging at the door made her look up.

“CPD OPEN UP!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“And.. that was my last day on earth,” Bean smiled.

“Have you ever thought that your unhealthy relationship with men is because of your stepfather?” Alastor asked.

“I- wait huh?” Bean was confused. What’d her relationship now have to do with killing her stepdad?

“Nothing.. I sound like Vera,” Alastor mumbled.

“Who’s Vera?” She asked.

Alastor emits microphone feedback, “Uh..”

Bean gasped, “Wait?! Vera is…your mom, you were comfortable enough with her to call her by her name; that’s so sweet.”

“Um..sure,” Alastor said, she was a sweet girl but she wasn’t the smartest. “Have you ever had ANY happy memories?” He changed the subject.

“Well I have vague memories, like I have this memory from when I was really small; my dad was singing this song to me, it kind of went like ‘You know I can’t smile without you, I can’t smile without you, I can’t laugh and I can’t sing, I’m finding it hard to do anything’,” She sang. “I feel happier already.”

“I’ve never heard of that song before,” Alastor thought about it. “Would you teach it to me?”

“Really?!” Bean’s eyes lit up.

Alastor nodded as the excited demon began to teach him the song.

She was a sweet kid, a sweet kid who needed guidance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“My sister and I had a conversation about coexisting, she was just jealous that she didn’t get to live the life I had, turns out having a civil conversation was all that we needed,” Erin smiled at Estelle, a beautiful siren that Erin looked up to.

“That’s great, I’m glad you and your sister are getting along; but all I asked was for you to put your feet in the water,” Estelle smiled.

She was in Alastor’s lake, trying to help Erin; she was pretty pale for a siren, and was also afraid of water. Lots of sirens had water related deaths, but most of them couldn’t stay out of the water.

“Oh, right,” Erin looked at the water. “Welp, here it goes-” before her foot even touched the door opened, Alastor walked into the room with a blue demon.

“And that’s why Vox hates me,” he said.

“Why do I feel like that’s not true?” The girl looked up at him confused.

Erin gasped running over to the demons, “Bean, oh my gosh!” She hugs her.

“Ellie my dear, don’t you look as radiant as ever?” Alastor walked over to Estelle kissing her hand.

“Now Allie, is there something you need?” She looked up at him.

“Can’t a man compliment his lovely best friend,” Alastor grinned. Estelle smiled warmly rolling her eyes, “However I do need some assistance cher.”

“Aha!” She pointed at the Radio Demon. “What do you need, my love?”

“See that lovely young lady over there?” He gestured to Bean who was talking and laughing with Erin. “I need you to persuade her.”

“Persuade her?” Estelle raised an eyebrow.

“She has strong feelings…for Vox.”

“Hm,” Her eyes widened. Estelle wasn’t a huge fan of the Vees, Vox was a bit much but this girl sees something in him; “You want me to persuade her to not like him?” She asked.

“I love how smart you are,” Alastor’s smile widened.

“Allie…I can’t just tell someone not to love who they love, but I suppose I can give advice if she helps me with Erin,” Estelle looked up at the demon.

“Fair enough my dear,” Alastor booped her nose. “Bean, come here,” Bean and Erin walked over to the older demons.

“Can I show her my Creole?” Bean asked.

“No, I want you to meet my lovely friend Estelle,” Alastor gestured to his childhood friend as she waved.

“What’s happening?” Bean looked confused.

“I suppose Alastor thinks you have boy trouble,” Estelle replied. The blue demon glared at him.

“Are we talking about boys?!” Erin squealed.

“We are if you put your feet in the water,” Estelle smiled at her.

Erin frowned, taking a step back. “Can you not swim?” Bean asked. “But aren’t you a mermaid?”

“Siren,” Erin corrected her.

“Let me help you! I can swim!” Bean offered grinning. “And she can help you too, she’s also a mermaid!”

“Siren,” both Erin and Estelle said.

Alastor cleared his throat, “Well it seems like you ladies are acquainted, I’m going to give you some space,” he sat in his armchair; taking out a book.

Estelle rolled her eyes then looked at the girls, “Erin come,” Erin sits in the grass, Estelle holds her hands. “I want you to know that it’s okay to be afraid, there are things I’m afraid of; but you’re drying out. Soon showers and drinking water won’t be enough, please; let me help you,” she stared at her.

“Okay…I’ll try,” Erin sighs before slowly putting her feet in the lake. The girls watched and Alastor peeked over his book, Erin’s feet began to become scaly.

“Now get in, it’s gonna be fine,” Bean said as Erin started to get into the water holding onto Estelle.

“What now?” Erin asked them.

“Look,” Estelle pointed to Erin’s silvery blue tail coming out of the water.

Erin gasped, “I’ve never seen it so shiny.”

“I am so jealous, wish I was a siren,” Bean admired her tail.

“No, I'm jealous!” Erin leaned on the edge. “Who’s your bf?!”

“Tell us who this new Vox is,” Estelle leaned forward intriguingly.

“Well, I don’t really know,” Bean looked at the gold necklace around her neck. “I don’t think he’s new or anything, he’s just-”

“As annoying as ever,” Alastor interrupted.

Estelle splashed water towards him, “Shush you.”

“I don’t know what he’s like, we have these conversations where I think he also has feelings, but then he treats me like any other employee working there; it’s confusing,” Bean sighs.

“Is he ghosting you?” Erin said before Estelle could say anything.

“Ghosting?” Bean tilted her head.

“Like ignoring your texts and phone calls, stuff like that,” Erin explained.

“I don’t know, I texted how he was and he just texted a thumbs up,” Bean shrugged.

Estelle listened to the younger demons bicker about what the thumbs up meant, “Hey!” The girls looked at her. She was honestly surprised that worked, “You should talk to him, if you love him don’t wait; it might be too late if you wait too long.”

“I just don’t want to look like a silly little girl,” Bean looked at the ground. “I’m always treated like a kid, I’m not a kid.”

“Tell him that, stand your ground, and if decides to..to well I guess be Vox-”

“I’ll kill him,” Alastor closes his book. Estelle looks at him with her hands on her hips.

“Ugh! This is hard!” Bean put her head in her hands.

“I know right!” Erin sat next to her. “When I was alive this boy named Sam gave me a rose and said I was the one and that he could feel it, apparently he was giving every girl a rose!”

“Awe.. how tragic,” Alastor put his hand on his heart. “This is why I don’t trust men.”

Estelle stared at him with a straight face, “Go back to your book.”

“Actually it wasn’t tragic, I was the only one that got a real rose, the other girls got plastic ones,” Erin continued. “Guys are complicated, they do things the hard way instead of just asking for help.”

“And that’s why you should talk to him,” Estelle smiles at a hopeful looking Bean. “Help him out, a little.”

“Thank you so much!” She stood up walking to the door.

“Thanks for helping me!” Erin smiled.

“I did nothing but no problem!” Bean waved at them before leaving.

Estelle smiled before looking at her friend, who had worry in his eyes, “Allie,” she got his attention. “She’ll be fine.”

His smile widened.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bean walked through the halls of V-Tower, there were a lot of reporters around, some from “666 News” and other news stations she had never heard of. She was nervous but if didn’t do this now, she might forget. Walking backstage of the set Bean saw him, he was so tall and so handsome and unapproachable and he looked up at her and holy shit she couldn’t do it!

Bean left the set, her heart was beating a mile an hour or second or whatever; her face was warming up the longer she stayed near the set. She started down the hall away from the set, the reporters, from everything. Bean wasn’t too sure what she wanted, she took out her phone, scrolling through her and Vox’s text thread. Something that bothered her, she texted him more than he texted her.

What if she was the girl with the fake rose?

What if she wasn’t the one?

What if she wasn’t special?

Maybe the truth was just that, she just wasn’t any of those things. Bean sat on the hallway floor, then the worst thing happened; she started crying. CRYING. IN. PUBLIC! She tried to rush through the cries and sobs.

“Yeah he gets so dramatic about the guy Carmilla, I don’t know,” Bean heard a voice coming down the hall.

“Fuck,” she quickly stood up.

Valentino was walking down the hallway talking on the phone, “¡Eres una perra brutal!” He laughed.

Translation: You are a brutal bitch!

Bean leaned against the wall trying to look cool or something, Valentino stopped laughing when he saw her, “I’ll call you later,” he hung up. “What are you doing?”

“Me? Just chillin,” she shrugged.

“Were you the one sobbing earlier? He narrowed his eyes at her. Bean never understood if he did that because he didn’t believe her, or because he couldn’t see.

She shook her head holding back tears, Valentino looked down at her annoyed, “You know you’re pathetic right.”

“No I’m not,” she mumbled.

Valentino leaned down to her level, “Yes, you are; come.” He started down the hall, Bean slowly followed after him.

They arrived in his room, it felt weird being in there; but also strange cause she had been in this room a lot.

“You know I gave you everything, and you always ran away,” he scoffed, handing her tissues. “You know who that reminds me of?” Val sat on the bed next to her.

“Angel?” Bean rolled her eyes not looking at him.

“Me,” he said, making her look at him. “When I was alive I had to do anything to keep my family from starving. When I was about 14 or 15 my mother met this nice man, who promised to give us whatever we needed and whatever; all I had to do was do whatever he said. He sold me to many people, whoever was willing to pay could get me; one day I had enough and ran away. I didn’t know where I was, or where to go so I went back.”

“What does this have to do with me?” Bean looked away again.

He turned her face to his, “You came back, that’s someone who knows what they need is more important than how they feel.”

Bean was silent for a moment, she didn’t know what to say or how to feel. “But I have somewhere to go..”

“Oh the hotel? Let me ask you something, do you think Chandler knows what it’s like to be us? To have all this baggage and not know what to do with it?” He was in her face.

“Who’s Chandler?” Bean tilted her head.

“Are you listening?” Val looked at her with a straight face.

“I think,” she said confused. “I mean, I’m sorry that stuff happened to you but, we’re nothing alike.”

“How?”

“You are a pimp and porn director, I was homeless and got my fucking leg ripped off! I have one leg Val, ONE! You have like ten,” she crossed her arms.

“And look at you now, you’re not homeless and you’re pretty famous,” he grinned. “You keep looking at the negatives baby.”

“You sound like my fucking stepdad,” She mumbled.

“Awe..is that why you’re so pissy? Daddy issues?” Val pinches her cheek.

“Fuck off,” Bean pulls away but is pulled back by Val.

🚨TRIGGER WARNING: MENTIONS OF 🍇 , SEXUAL ABUSE, MENTAL ABUSE🚨

(Skip bold font if not comfortable)

“I bet you got the nicest shit and all you had to do was lay there and let daddy play with you,” he trailed his finger from her lips to her shirt.

“Stop,” she was on the verge of tears.

“You loved getting that stuff, but hated the aftermath,” he took down one of her straps. “Or maybe..” Val gripped her by her hair. “Maybe you liked it, liked having what mommy couldn’t?”

“NO! I DIDN’T! FUCK OFF!” Bean screamed, trying as hard as she could to get out of his grip, but failing.

“I know,” he smirked. “You feel powerless don’t you?”

“LEAVE ME ALONE!” She yelled. Val stayed quiet waiting for an answer. “Yes..”

He pushes Bean onto the bed, “Frustrating isn’t it?” He laid on top of her caressing her face. “I bet you wanna rip my fucking head off don’t you?” She just stared, not answering him, “You don’t need some hotel, or Angel, and you don’t need Vox. You wanna be a top? Stop standing behind everyone and take control.”

Bean tried pushing Val off but her arms were pinned to the bed, “Nice try,” he said smugly before kissing her, she started making out with him.

Val starts to bite her neck, Bean moans as he lifts up her dress and pulls her panties down. He begins to thrust into her making her gasp, she wraps her legs around his waist.

The harder he thrusted the angrier Bean got, all she could think about was him; coming into her room, getting on top of her, hitting her and her mom knowing about it. Ugh and Val.. someone did need to tear him to pieces. However he was right about one thing..

It was time she took control.

(Hey Hey, first things first; Estelle is not my OC , she belongs to @virydia *thank you for letting me put her in my story*. I know it’s been awhile but I finally got the chance to finish the chapter, the next chapter is the last, I was thinking of doing a sequel to this; imma give my girl the ending she deserves. This is the song Bean was teaching Alastor.)

[lucabyte]

I don't know how everyone isn't also always constantly thinking about how burial rites seem to be potentially one of the few things Siffrin instinctively remembers about their culture. But rest assured. I am in fact always thinking about it.

Textless version where they're just hanging out. It's fine!

[luxaofhesperides]

Ghostlights where Phantom saves Duke or the Signal, and a week later (at a Wayne gala or some other place) Duke recognizes the light/aura coming from Danny

Putting off gala prep was perhaps not the best plan. Duke spent the past month insisting that everything is fine and he has it under control. Duke is also a lying liar who lies, and now he’s frantically trying to pick up his suit in time to get it dry cleaned and altered as necessary. 

Alfred would be disappointed in him, but in Duke’s defense, he had to go out of town on a mission to bust a growing drug cartel, and then spent half a week visiting a shelter for metas on the run (unofficial and hidden away) to help everyone find new homes and learn to control their powers. These things take time!

Unfortunately, gala prep also takes time, and since it’s a charity gala for funding the education of every Gothamite student, it’s not one he can slip out of. The entire family is being strong-armed into attending and not making a scene until the donation period in the first half is over. 

Duke knows he’s not the only one who’s scrambling to get ready for a gala that’s taking place in three days, but they’re not helping him, so it feels like he’s the only one messing up. 

“Sorry!” he calls behind him as he sprints through a group of people. 

He could have asked someone to drive him, but he knows they’re all busy and doesn’t want his own poor time management to cause problems for anyone else. Even though he’s sure Bruce is looking for an excuse to get out of a mandatory Wayne Enterprises board meeting that both Lucius and Tim dragged him to.

RIP Bruce. He will be missed.

The Diamond District is full of people walking the streets, sprinting between parked cars and waiting for their rides. They’re all dressed nicely, making him feel out of place. It’s a feeling that’s never left him since he joined the Waynes but it’s particularly bad when he’s left to navigate these spaces alone. Rich people and socialites are a different kind of human, one that Duke doesn’t care to understand; there’s greed in all of them, turning them heartless, and they can give as much as they want to charity but it won’t change the fact that all they do is a performance to make people like them, rather than a desire to do anything good. 

The sooner this is over, the better. He keeps going, hoping that he can still make it to his appointment with the tailor. Alfred recommended the store, then set up the appointment, so all Duke has to do is trust their judgment as they get him fitted. He’s still got twenty minutes until the scheduled time, but some unspoken rule makes it so he has to show up fifteen minutes early for better service or risk being turned away and told to reschedule. 

Duke slows to a walk when he catches sight of the store, the trying to catch his breath and look more composed before he reaches the door. He takes a moment to straighten his clothes a bit, then opens the door and steps in.

The bell jingles pleasantly above his head. The store is empty of any other customers, and the employee at the front counter looks up with a plastered on smile. 

“I’ll be with you in a moment!” she says, then looks down at her phone and types something out before placing it under the counter. A tablet comes out instead and she swipes through a few screens, then sets it down and look at Duke again. “How can I help you, sir?”

“I have an appointment? For a suit fitting. Under the name Thomas.”

She taps on the screen for a minute, then nods and gives him another customer service smile. “Alright, I’ll go ahead and grab the tailor. They’ll be out with your suit soon. Please, feel free to take a seat or browse some of our suits. We just recently got a new collection in from Italy.”

“Sure, thanks. I’ll just… be here, I guess.”

The employee takes her tablet and disappears through a door, leaving him alone in the store. He doesn’t want to sit down, not while his heart is still trying to settle from his sprint through half of Diamond District, so Duke wanders around the neat stacks of dress shirts and vests, pants and belts and shoes lined up neatly against the walls. 

He takes a moment to shoot Alfred a text that he’s at the tailor for his fitting appointment. Steph’s sent him a long string of videos online, and he’s just about to go through them when the bell rings again. 

Duke glances up and watches a guy walk into the store. He looks around, makes eye contact with Duke, then quickly looks down, taking a seat by the door.

Probably another upper class citizen uncomfortable with the fact that someone in jeans and a hoodie is shopping for suits. Shaking his head lightly, Duke wanders deeper into the store to get some distance between them so they could ignore each other more easily. It’s only until the tailor comes out, and then he can go to a fitting room and be done with this whole thing, so Duke resigns himself to suffering through the tense silence. 

How long is he even supposed to wait? He can only look at clothes in one of three colors before he gets bored. 

He goes to another rack, trying to see if he can notice anything different about these shirts. 

And then he hears a shoe scuff against the floor behind him. He tenses up, but before he can turn around, a belt is wound around his throat, pulling him back and choking him. 

Duke drops his weight, tucking his chin and gets a hand against the inside of the belt to try to push it away. His back hits someone’s chest and he’s trapped, focused on trying not to be choked to death while also keeping his vigilante abilities and meta powers secret. 

More footsteps come from behind, and a soaked cloth is pressed against his nose and mouth.

Chloroform, he realizes, familiar with the smell from Bruce’s training. But training isn’t enough to keep him from being knocked out, and he quickly slips away from the waking world, falling to the ground. 

Just before he passes out completely, he hears the employee who greeted him say, “I’m not sure how much Wayne would be willing to pay for him, but let’s start high and negotiate lower. New kid can’t possibly be worth that much…”

Duke wakes up groggily, memories of what happened quickly snapping into place. He’s too out of it still to get up, but he’s awake enough to be offended. Sure he’s the new kid, and barely even a Wayne, but he’s still worth a lot!

Kidnappers these days. So rude.

He doesn’t hear anyone around him, and it feels like he’s lying on a cold concrete floor. Basement, maybe? Warehouse? Storage unit tucked away somewhere? There’s nothing much to see when Duke is able to open his eyes, squinting bareilly at his surroundings. His arms are tied behind him, wrists bound, but they left his legs alone. 

If he could just hit the panic button on his bracelet…

Duke wiggles around, fighting through the lingering effects of Chloroform, and manages to sit up. If he strains his hearing, he thinks he can hear voices outside of the empty room he’s been left in. There’s a window high up, too high for a normal person to reach without help, but if he can use the shadows to travel through it, then he may be able to escape on his own. 

First things first: he needs to free his hands before anyone comes in to check on him.

They used zip ties on him, which is inconvenient. He’s learned how to get out of them, but it’s difficult enough without being drugged and having to do it behind his back. 

He’s feeling the zip ties bite into his wrists just as there’s a crash from outside the room. His kidnappers yell, alarmed, and are quickly silenced. That’s rarely ever a good sign. Duke renews his efforts to escape, ignore the pain in pushing against his binds like this. 

The door opens. Duke hears the small click of a lock disengaging and freezes. Then he gets to his feet, still unsteady, and prepares to ram his head into anyone who comes near him like some sort of deranged battering ram, or a drunk raging bull. 

Duke is ready for the worst: a gang hoping to steal away a Wayne hostage, a Rogue, Gnomon popping in to cause trouble for the sole purpose of getting on Duke’s nerve. 

He’s not expecting another teenage boy, who is literally glowing, to poke his head in and zero in on Duke. He blinks, then smiles; it’s friendly and sincere, nothing like the employee who helped kidnap him. 

“Hey!” he says, coming into the room properly. He’s floating a good foot off the ground, eyes a bright neon green, with white hair that sways as if he’s underwater. “Are you okay? I saw them drag you out of the back of the store and followed them, but I got a bit lost. Sorry for taking so long to get here.”

“...It’s fine?” Duke offers, trying to wrap his head around what’s happening. “I wasn’t expecting a rescue so soon, anyways. Think you can help me out here?”

“Yeah, of course!” he flies closer, then drops down to the ground behind Duke. He hums lightly under his breath, and then Duke feels a cold touch on his wrist and the zip ties are suddenly gone. 

Duke blinks, then brings his arms in front of him. He moves around a bit to make sure he’s not hallucination, and sure enough, he’s free and unbound because a random meta teenager vanished the zip ties into the ether, or something. 

“Thanks, man. Any idea where we are?”

“Not a clue. I got lost coming here, and I was following them. I don’t think you should trust any directions I give.”

“Fair enough,” Duke laughs. “I’m Duke, by the way.”

“Phantom.”

“Well, thanks for the save, Phantom. Can I treat you to something?”

“Like, coffee?”

“Sure. Or brunch, or ice cream. Whatever you want, really.”

Phantom considers it for a moment, then shakes his head. “Sorry, I would love to but going out in public looking like this,” he gestures to himself, “Is not a great idea. Thanks for the offer though. You got a ride?”

Duke pats his pockets, then sighs. “My phone’s gone. I still have my wallet, though.”

“I fly you to someplace you can call someone, if you’d like.”

“You sure? I could probably just walk out of here and call a taxi.”

“I don’t think walking around by yourself after being kidnapped is a great idea,” Phantom says, doubtfully. “Seriously, let me fly you.”

He should just hit the panic button and wait for someone to show up to get him. He shouldn’t go to some unknown location with a meta he literally just met. 

But, you know what? No one else can say they got kidnapped twice in one day, so Duke nods and says, “Sure, sweep me off my feet, Phantom. You gotta commit to this rescue.”

Phantom laughs. And then he does sweep Duke off his feet into a princess carry with a cheeky grin and flies them out the building, which turns out to be an abandoned apartment building slated for demolition. 

“Keep this up and you’ll be replacing Superman in no time,” Duke jokes.

“I think I could manage it,” Phantom replies thoughtfully. “I mean, I’m already prettier than him, don’t you think?”

“Oh, definitely. The glow really brings out your eyes.”

Phantom gets him a few blocks away when Duke recognizes where they are, and quickly directs him into Crime Alley. They land on top of one of Jason’s safe houses, and while he’s sure there’s enough security to take out a SWAT Team, that’s absolutely not going to stop him from breaking in to use one of Jason’s burner phones and eat his leftovers. 

He’s set down on his feet gently, and as soon as Phantom sees that he’s fine, able to walk and everything, he floats back up, just out of reach.

“Be careful, okay?” he says, getting ready to leave.

“I’ll do my best. Hey, are you gonna be in Gotham for a while, or…?”

Phantom gives him a tired smile. “Nah. I’m just passing through. As long as my luck doesn’t get even worse, then I should be out of here in a few days.”

“Shame,” Duke says, giving Phantom a very visible once over. He’s pretty tall, and Duke can see some muscle on him, and the tight black outfit really adds to his look. The glow that comes out of his chest makes him look ethereal and Duke is beyond glad that he got such a charming rescuer.

Phantom doesn’t blush like a normal person. He glows brighter instead, curling into himself a bit as he looks away, unable to stop the smile from growing on his face. 

“I guess,” he shrugs. “Are you really going to be alright from here?”

“Yeah, man, I have a friend who lives here. I’ll just bother him until he agrees to give me a ride.”

“Alright.” Phantom drifts away, glancing behind him before turning back to Duke. “I’ll get going then. Take care, Duke!”

Duke waves and watches as Phantom begins to fly away. Then Phantom… disappears? Or rather, his body does but Duke can see an orb of light making its way across Gotham, almost like a star fallen from the sky.

He stays on the roof until the light is long gone. When he’s finally ready to go in and steal from Jason, the sun has completely set. 

And he still doesn’t have his suit.

Duke sighs, and mentally prepares himself to other day of stressing out about the gala.

Three days of stress and last minute scrambling leave Duke in the Gotham Museum of Modern Art with Steph, Tim, Cass, and Damian. They’re hiding in the photography gallery to avoid other guests, taking a break from being polite and letting thinly veiled, passive aggressive insults slide over them.

.

.

.

“How much longer must we suffer this before we can go?” Damian grumbles, looking like he’s do anything to get his hands on a blade. Which, considering how many people tried to either pinch his cheeks are say some racist remark about him and his mother, is totally fair. Duke would just punch them, but sometimes a little drama helped get the message across. 

“At least two more hours,” Tim says, not bothering to look up from his phone. From what few glimpses of the screen Duke caught, he’s leading a Titans missions through text and clever hacking. Though it may be more accurate to call is a Young Justice mission since there’s no way any of this was authorized by a Justice League member. 

Also Anita, suited up as Empress, is there. If they aren’t on the news for property destruction and absolutely batshit wild shenanigans, Duke will have to check on Tim to make sure he’s not a pod person sent to infiltrate the family. 

“Think we can sneak out without anyone noticing?” Steph asks, looking at the emergency exit longingly.

Cass shakes her head and points to the door leading to the ballroom. When they look over, Dick makes very deliberate eye contact with them and give them a smile that looks stretched across his face.

Tim winces and pushes Duke. “Oh, something went down. Go take over for him and let Dick rest in here for a bit.”

“Man, why does it have to be me?” he grumbles even as he stands. Dick lets out a heavy breath and gives Duke a grateful smile, patting on the shoulder before shoving him out the door. 

As soon as he’s back into the main hallway, the music and chatter swell, no longer muffled by the thick walls of the photography wing. A few people come and go from the ballroom, no doubt looking for the restroom. 

Or more private places for… other things. Things they definitely shouldn’t be doing in an art museum.

He really can’t wait for this night to be over.

Duke joins the rest of the guests, fake smile on his face, and quickly makes his way to the snack table. He might as well make the most of his time stuck out here. Maybe he could even cause another relationship scandal by implying that Bruce is sleeping with one of partners when in hearing distance of a couple. Maybe even both of them. 

Bruce would go with it. It’s hilarious and he also needs something to make these events bearable.

Sadly, he doesn’t see any good targets as he scans the ballroom. A few people are dancing, while others are talking in small circles, closed off from outsiders. There’s an entire table of old ladies with glasses of wine in front of them; Duke considers hanging around them, since they confess to a lot of crimes after a few glasses. It’s fascinating. 

Also, he does kind of miss hanging out with the one old lady who’s declared herself his high society grandmother and told him stories of how she used to go to bars to find racist people or Klan members during the Jim Crow era, seduce them, then poison them and get their addresses so a few gangs she was friends with would fuck them up.

Granny Kaliasto is the coolest person ever. 

Just as he’s about to finish his last mini rolled crepe, Duke catches sight of one of the few teenagers still in the ballroom. The others, mostly stuck up rich kids no one actually likes, have already left to take over some other part of the museum to gossip until their parents decide it’s time to go home. These two are clearly not part of that crew, what with the girl being very goth and in a poofy, ripped dress, and the boy having already taken his jacket off to keep over his forearm, the top button of his shirt popped open.

They might be cool. He’s hoping they’re cool because he desperately needs some company to keep from dying of boredom while the gala continues on.

Duke walks over to them, going around the side of the ballroom, until he’s close enough to hear them talking.

The boy has his back to Duke, but the girl sees him. She immediately scowls and slaps the boys shoulder, eyes locked on Duke.

“Got another comment about my dress?” she says, voice sharp and acidic.

“Another?” Duke repeats. “I was just bored and wanted to talk to people who were my age. Sorry?”

The boy smacks the girl’s arm, then turns to face Duke. “Sorry about her! Sam is just naturally rude and aggressive. Tonight’s been a bit rough, with this crowd.”

Duke goes to say something, but the words stick in his throat when he sees the boy’s eyes shift from deep blue to an electric green. When he focuses, he can see a faint glow in his chest, the same glow he saw in Phantom.

“Dude? You alright?”

Sam looks him over judgmentally. “I guess it’s nice that I’m not being ogled for once, but don’t do that shit to Danny either.”

“Wait, that’s not what I was doing!” Duke hurries to say, snapped out of his shock. “I just… you look a lot like someone I met recently.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. What was your name? I’m Duke, by the way.”

He holds out a hand, and the boy shakes it with a small smile. “Danny. I don’t think we’ve met. I mean, I’m only here because Sam wouldn’t come to this gala without me, so her parents flew me in.”

“You from out of town?”

“Sam and I are from Illinois. Her parents are traveling around the east coast right now, and they decided to spend a week in Gotham to talk business.”

“I’d ask how it is, but outsiders tend to really hate Gotham, so…”

Sam barks out a sharp laugh. “Oh please, we can handle Gotham. Our town might not be as big and well known as Gotham, but we got our own shit to deal with there.”

“I do get shot at a lot back home,” Danny adds thoughtfully. “And that’s without the ghosts.”

“Woah, what?”

“Up for a bit of a story?” Danny asks, impish grin on his face. By his side, Sam brings a hand up to cover a manic smile, shoulders already shaking with laughter. 

This is already better than the grandma gang. Duke leans against the wall, getting settled in, and says, “Always, man. Hit me with it.”

The next hour an a half passes quickly with Sam and Danny dramatically narrating some of the things that have happened in their town. Duke listens, absolutely enraptured, and doesn’t even notice the Waynes file into the ballroom again. 

Unfortunately, they bring with them the attention of most of the ballroom, including Bruce and Sam’s parents. 

She cuts the current story about Box Ghost short with a heavy sigh. “Hold up, I need to greet the Waynes properly while my parents are watching.” She steps in front of Duke and Danny, holding out a hand with a pained smile.

Tim takes it first, giving a solid shake, and introductions start. 

Free from the rules of high society, if only for the moment, Duke leans closer to Danny and whispers to him, “Phantom. Wanna get out of here?”

Danny flinches and turns to him looking panicked. “How did you know?”

“I kinda got magic eyes. I see a lot of things normal humans can’t. Don’t worry about it. I still owe you, so you wanna get out of here?”

He watches as Danny glances around the ballroom, then back to him, clearly weighing out his options. Then he nods and says, “Know where to get a good milkshake around here?”

“Sure do.”

“I guess you’re the one rescuing me this time.”

“Not a rescue,” Duke corrects, and casually picks Danny up over his shoulder into a fireman’s carry, “A kidnapping.”

Danny laughs and waves Sam and all the others goodbye as Duke marches out of the ballroom.

“Don’t bother me for the next two hours!” he calls to the Waynes, “I’m going on a date!”

There are shocked gasps and murmurs all through the crowd. But as he spins around to wave at his shocked and easily amused family, he also catches sight of Granny Kaliasto raising her half full wine glass towards him.

She really is the coolest.

He’s definitely telling her all about this at the next event they attend together. It’ll be nice to have a few stories of his own to share.

[myokk]

🥺

[princess-ibri]

Wanted to do a little fan doodle for @pinkiemachine ‘s amazing project “Alicia and the Kingdom of Starlight”, so here’s Alicia and Dominic!

[psychomusic]

oc time again! + her town & culture (heavily inspired by pre-roman italic populations)

she is suri sauthon (she/her). her story is linked to my swtor imperial agent, tar'x, but most of her life except for the one year away where she meets him, is spent in a town in the mountains of mirial.

despite mirial being cold and desert, and many cities developing underground, her town flourishes thanks to a force nexus, venerated in the form of an ancient, sacred, alive crystal. the ecosystem of that mountain depended on what "the horned crystal" was capable of giving them, but mirialans couldn't live off of that alone, so they developed trade and some rudimental technology, even if oftentimes it was bought thanks to the highly profitable trade of a plant used to make medicines that slowed down aging and had overall healing properties.

note: everything that's generated by this nexus has these healing properties BUT they have to be processed, except for those who bathed in the waters of the cavity under the crystal - the "real" nexus, but not the worshipped one. the waters were sacred but they were not thought to be miraculous, unlike the crystal, who instead was thought of as the keystone of the ecosystem: without it, everything would fall apart (and that is partially true: the cavity was the "real" nexus but thanks to the crystal, also strong in the force, the properties were spread all over the mountains). those who bathed in the cavity's waters - so, all of the town, who had a sort of baptism there - could eat the plant, make whatever food with it, and not only that plant, but everything generated by the nexus, that, again, had similar properties. this allowed people to live up to normal life-spans without advanced medicines or, much, really. to those who didn't live there, though, after the processing, had incredible effects, slowing down aging - for those who took it regularly - and making people able to live up to half a century more than the average]

originally, there were four tribes of nomads that lived thanks to horned farm animals that decided to settle down into one bigger town and other smaller settlements, to live off of transhumance. this division of the tribes stayed into the political and social organization: every person belonged to one tribe specifically, and had slightly different rituals and culture. for examples, each tribe had their own priests and healers, with different techniques and traditions. the town, tho, was guided by a group of people in the high priesthood, a position you could reach only by having earned the trust of all tribes. those high priests had many roles: they guided the people into sacred processions common to all the tribes, they managed the trading with outsiders, they did the maintenance of the temple of the summit (the one that functioned as casket to the crystal) and created a special liquid to offer the crystal that helps it grow.

this particular temple was important because 1. it was very visible, from every angle of the town, and it became an important identity symbol; 2. it stored the venerated horned crystal; 3. it had the altar where sacrifices were made for the crystals. that altar had a hole connected to the cavity, that allowed the liquids to reach the underground; 4. it had various symbols: statues representing each tribe + the high priesthood, and typical mirialan tattoos carved into the wood of the trees that served as columns for the temple, symbolizing 8 values that who dared to enter HAD to have; 5. it was on the way to an important lake (called "mother lake" because the lake the town was built around to depended on the waters of that other lake) where they traveled to in important processions; 6. it was said that a the wizard who unified the tribes made it with its magic, making the plant grow to hold the temple's roof. this wizard was, actually, a force user, obv.

BACK TO HER THOUGH: she's daughter of one of the high priests, who was in charge of managing the trades with outsiders, and lives in a house on the mountains with her mother and him. her parents are from different tribes (that's one of the things that earned him trust from the 4 tribes): when a child is born from two different tribes, they don't pick one to allign to, but they're usually linked automatically to the one with more relatives in it (in her case, the father's tribe: she had many uncles and aunts on his side while her mom only had one sister).

later, though, she got quite tied to her mother's tribe due to a mysterious illness that only her mother's tribe healer was able to cure. she spent 4 years (from 10 to 14 years old) living with the healer and learned her secrets. to better study, she wrote them down. when she returned home, she studied to become a priestess with her father. at 22 (the average age: you can't become priest before your 20s), she was supposed to take a test and become a priestess, but the healer of her mother's tribe died and the tribe asked her to take her place. she couldn't technically do that, but both tribes estimated both her and her parents and she was allowed to become both. she then decided to try to become a high priestess, and became one at 25 (a quite young age). being part of the council, she tried to convince the various tribe healers to unite their knowledges and write them down, and eventually made it. healers still remained tribe based but they now had an "upper, inter-tribe level" similar to high priesthood.

years later, the sacred horned crystal is stolen from the temple by some Hutt mercenaries looking for a profit. given the trust she has earned from all the tribes and the fact that her father is the high priest that deals with outsiders (and she's been hearing stories and advice about it since she was little), she is the one tasked with getting it back. without the growing crystal, the keystone to their ecosystem, the village would have lasted only a few years. in hrr quest, she meets imperial intelligence agent tar'x laran and, as they "solve the mystery" and fight to have it back, they get closer. they'll get married and have a daughter, Vegoia (who's the only one who actually will get to the plot of my story. this was all background)

[choccy-milky]

oh boy anon, you’ve activated my trap card. GET READY FOR A SEBASTIAN CHARACTER ANALYSIS ESSAY BELOW LMAO

ok so first off I know im obvs biased, but I don’t actually think my seb is that ooc, AND PUT DOWN YOUR PITCHFORKS IMMA EXPLAIN WHY. but im also gonna explain why I don’t think the other more friendly and lighthearted renditions of seb are ooc either. bc theres so many aspects of seb we get in the game that can be interpreted in so many diff ways, and so this is how i see it/landed on MY rendition of seb:

PROTECTIVENESS/POSSESSIVENESS: this is one of the main aspects of him, imo. his entire questline is about wanting to cure anne, and how he’s not giving up, and how he believes that HE is the only one that can do it, because “she’s MY sister!” seb is super tunnel visioned and has a one-track mind when it comes to this, and I headcanon that he’s this way because of their parents deaths. he’s the brother, the boy, he’s gotta be strong for his sister, and ofc when their parents died, he tries to comfort her and be there for her/be the rock, and it happens again when she’s sick. shes his sister, his responsibility, and he’ll die before he gives up on her and her safety.

SO, I just transfer all those aspects over to a romantic relationship instead. you just replace “shes my sister” with simply, “she’s mine/my gf/my wife/etc.” and in the same way I think seb tries to be strong and reliable and protect anne because he’s the brother, I think seb would be the same way in a relationship, because he’s a boy and she’s a girl and its 1890 and he’s chivalrous and he just sees it as his responsibility. I think the death of his parents and his dynamic with anne has baked this sort of mindset into him, and its even MORE intense in a romantic aspect, because then hormones and puberty and sexual tension and attraction is involved (plus the fact that seb in my fic is 17, so he’s older and has even stronger raging hormones and testosterone LOL.

JEALOUSY: who can forget the lines “between the two of you, I’m starting to feel left out” and “ominis simply needs a moment with you and he’ll change his mind. is that it?” the first one is more playful but I feel like the second one really showcases sebs brand of jealousy, and how biting and uncharitable it can be.

AGGRESSION/VIOLENCE: yet another iconic line with: “fine. but ominis knows, I won’t step back from a fight.” LIKE... the fact that apparently ominis knows this means its come up more than once…and im not saying seb is some unruly aggressor who flies off the handle at anything, but he defs has a capacity and is willing to get violent if HE believes the situation calls for it—basically the same way he feels about the dark arts. he felt justified using imperio to protect anne, and taking the relic to save anne, and so he would have fought ominis to get out of the catacomb. and with MY seb, while he doesn’t go picking fights with any boy who looks or gets close to clora, he’ll definitely be willing to beat up or lay hands on a creep who bothers clora/who is in the process of bothering her LOL.

SO YEAH, that’s pretty much it, and I’ll be the first to admit I definitely ramp up these traits further because he’s older in my fic and i think these traits would only get more intensified with age + being in love and also bc IM A TWILIGHT GIRLIE!!! what can I say. there are so many moments in my fic where you can just replace seb with edward and it wouldn’t seem out of place tbh LMAOO so blame twilight, it was a formative experience for me BAHAHA

BUT like I ALSO said, I don’t think peoples more lighthearted interpretations of seb are ooc either. because even all my earlier above examples, you can just focus on diff aspects of them. like his tunnel vision and obsession to cure anne? instead of seeing it as over the top protective and possessive, you can just view it in a more wholesome determined selfless sort of way. like I said we got so many nice little bits and ingredients of his personality that we can turn into anything we want, really👌just pick which flavour of seb u like best and use what we got in game to create it HAHA

AW TYY QUEEN BAHAHA💖 and aw im always so honoured when ppl tell me they consider my stuff canon that’s like the best compliment I can get, tysm 😭 and im glad you like my fic and art so much (enough for your friends and family to unfortunately know💀 LMAOO)

im adding your ask to this because it kinda ties into my seb essay. LETS GET INTO WHY A SWEET BABY ANGEL WOULD LIKE SOMEONE LIKE SEB. the answer ISSS: the same reason WE’RE also all into him I guess?? BAHHA

ok but to start off im gonna defend my seb, not only cause of what you said anon (i dont want you to feel like this is targeted to you!) but also bc I got an ask recently asking me to summarize seb and clora’s relationship since all they see from my art is that “they fuck and seb is possessive” LMAO, and I feel like ppl who JUST see my art and don’t read my fic have a warped image of my seb.

this may be shocking but I don’t consider my seb a red flag LMAO. I joke about how hes more of a pink flag tbh, but even THAT i dont even really believe, and don’t even consider him overly possessive. like yes he keeps an eye on her when shes hanging around other boys, but I feel like that’s normal (esp for 1890) and all of his most possessive moments have been when theres been a threat to cloras life/coming from a place of love and protection (especially since clora is so self-sacrificial, she’d have killed herself by now if not for seb LOL) so to me id actually put Sebastian as being PROTECTIVE as his first and foremost trait, followed by the possessiveness.

and yeah he gets jealous, but unless a dude is actively trying to get with her/hitting on her/harassing her, he’ll otherwise just kinda be unhappy about it/let it play out/ watch on unhappily LOL. and even when lawley was blackmailing clora and getting in between her and sebs relationship and lying about how close he and clora were, seb demanded answers from CLORA on what was happening between the two of them, but he didn’t touch lawley or tell him to stay away. bc seb thought that was what clora wanted, so he let her drift away. if he was TRULY a red flag, in this instance he would have just beat up lawley for taking what was "his"/not allow clora to leave him/immediately go to lawley instead of clora, and tell him to stay away despite what clora might want. (and clora even WISHED seb had interfered and done this. she was like 'why is he letting me drift away and go off with lawley i WANT him to fight for me...but she couldn't actually say anything thanks to the blackmail)

clora doesn’t just 'put up' with sebs more possessive and protective behaviour though, she actually likes it HAHA. just bc shes a precious baby angel, we all like a bad boy, even back then. just look at jane eyre, and how popular the dark and brooding and assholey mr. rochester was.

she tells seb at one point that she likes those things about him, even his immature competitive side, and his darker sides, and that he shouldn’t try to hide them or change himself because she accepts them. and even putting aside all of the stuff they’ve been through together that has bonded them (like the main canon quests + annes curse and then CLORA being cursed, and then clora being kidnapped and seb saving her) clora thought seb was roguish and charming and witty and intelligent and good looking from day 1. add to the fact that he’s just so devoted to her in everything he does, that even if he CAN get a bit overbearing at times, how could you NOT fall for someone like that���� someone whose possessive behavior just stems from wanting to protect you and love you and want to keep you safe and cherish you like DAMN…. GET ME A SEB, TOO. WHERES MINE!!!😭😭

clora also realizes in ch 32 WHY seb is so protective of her (the trauma with his parents and wanting to be there for anne) and that she accepts it, and enjoys it, and that she might even MISS it if seb were to ever get less protective of her/might get lonely LOL, and then sebs like "i’ve "spoiled you, have i?"

so YEAH I don’t think sebs protectiveness and possessiveness goes into any toxic territory or red flag territory PERSONALLY (and the time that it DID get toxic was because of the relic, and clora DID put her foot down)

but my normal seb? whose dream in life is to whisk clora away into a tower and lock her up to keep her safe and keep her all to himself, but that he’d never ACTUALLY do because he knows its insane and unreasonable but jokes about wanting to do it anyway bc he would if clora agreed? clora finds that endearing and cute and is touched by how much he loves her and wants to keep her safe.

IN CLOSING: I LOVE THEM YOUR HONOUR AND THEY LOVE EACH OTHER👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨

[temeyes]

random cod oc post, but anyway: their and Gaz's dynamic

[deoidesign]

quick traditional piece for fun ^^

[cringefail-clown]

when you create a character and want to give them a nickname, it might sound ideal to call them something cute or cool like nightshade or candy or other stuff, but i think its inherently more realistic and way more funnier if you have in mind that most of the times nicknames come from other people, like your friends or family, and they can be straight up violating

from what ive gathered throughout the years of living amongst people, there are a few "nickname categories", and they are as follows:

your surname has a somehow funny word in it and its now your nickname for forever

youve had a misfortune of reminding someone of some fictional character and now you are called by that characters name

actually, youve had a misfortune of reminding someone of anything, be it a plant or an animal or an inanimated object, and it is now your nickname

youve misspelled/mispronounced a word and everyone collectively agreed that its how they will call you from now on

(the last one is personal bc i legit didnt know how "auchan" is pronounced and i said it wrong in front of my friends (rookie mistake). ive been auchan (the mispronounced way) for a long, long time)

obviously do what you want with your characters, but i highly encourage the funny nicknames. they can add so much to the oc, both in the dynamic they have with their friends/family, and also in terms of a backstory for them

[justbrothings]

Concept: a family with three brothers, the older two are a bit closer in age to each other and have this complicated codependent incestuous hate-love relationship going on, they are either bitterly fighting or deeply in love at any given time; any chance they get they either beat the shit out of each other or make out passionately

But that is strictly between those two: they treat their little brother completely normal and see him as nothing but a sometimes annoying younger sibling; absolutely nothing romantic or homoerotic going on between them and him

Meanwhile the younger brother is deeply and desperately in unrequited love with them, pining his fucking heart out (and probably catches them at some point together and then has to pretend nothing is wrong while the jealousy is eating him up)

[faeofdusk]

OC havers please vote and share, I want to check something

[kit-williams]

Anrir Husbandry

Husbandry tags: @egrets-not-regrets @liar-anubiass-blog @barn-anon @bleedingichorhearts @gallifreyianrosearkytiorsusan

@ms--lobotomy @nekotaetae @sleepyfan-blog @c-u-c-koo-4-40k @the-raven-lady

@bispecsual

Edit: forgot to thank @justahuman1757 for help with some of the translations and other help

Song on repeat: Cradles by Sub Urban (also most of the remixes for this SLAP)

tw: smut, yandere, obsessive behavior, manipulation

Anrir cooed at the little human in his arms finishing up singing them back to sleep знішчыць.... знішчыць... His voice carried low and softly. It was naptime... they needed to sleep as it was good for them of course they didn't seem to realize that. His long back hair was tied back into a slightly messy bun as his nearly completely black eyes dart around the pastel colored room just looking for anything wrong. His Dragă wanted to work with children in childcare and perhaps it took a couple of years to get here since he had first found her.

She was so much happier since he had first found her... happy about their bond... no more worry in her eyes... no more stress making her hands tremble or her loosing sleep... no more worrying about her next meal or if her car were to break... no more crying... well no more senseless crying. He puts the child down looking around at the sleeping forms but he cant help but grin as this really was all possible because of him, Anrir purrs softly at the satisfaction of how well he has done his job... and how he has covered his trail...

5 years prior

Anrir was a drifter... he drifted around as he had yet to find his own bonded, which given how some legions seemed to be more inclined to get a bond; with Night Lords being one of the ones with very few "feral" Astartes it was only a matter of time before Anrir would find his. But Anrir in all definitions was a feral Astartes having been unbonded since he arrived forty years ago. However, it was fine as Anrir hadn't spent that time just moping about he spent a majority of his time politicking and reuniting with other Terran Night Lords long dead and of course reuniting with those who were under his knife when they were aspirants and scouts which he affectionately called them his kids.

He was also using this time to take a break, a forced break, from running his warband; not that he could run it right now anyway. But he would mull over plans for when he returned back to his time period... if he did was another thought. His eyes moved up to the sky as he could smell the water gathering in the air. Which meant that the group he was with would start a debate on if they were going to settle down or continue on despite the weather. He did not care too much and decided to wander off to look around at where they were.

He walked out of the tree covering that the group was skulking through as he looked at the abandoned parking lot he had walked out into. It was rotting away neglected and abandoned as the painted lines were faded and practically gone, the pavement was cracked with plants growing through cracks; with the asphalt under his feet turning to gravel as plants come to reclaim this section of human infrastructure. And Anrir... he savored this reclamation of nature and decay of it all. Compared to the prison pit he was born into on the other side of the globe; he had already made his pilgrimage to the eventual site of his birth... a town full of people whose existence was never known as a great chasm of the guilty was there.

But that dark pit in the ground was not there now... there were no babies being born in that dark hellhole... his neck tattoo had a phantom itch as he is reminded why it was put on his neck... as he is reminded that at some point he was truly innocent... he is reminded of the hand gently petting his head... the soft voice cooing at him telling him how brave he was being... as he remembers having tears in his eyes as the ink is shoved into his skin... he gently starts to suffocate the memories of a child long gone and a woman paradoxically long dead and yet had yet to be born. His eyes flick to the far side of the quiet parking lot as a car just sits in the dark. The only other thing in this lot, far from the flickering road light... he could hear the annoying buzz of the light as it flickered... the flick... flick... flick... as it finally goes out. He moves with soft steps towards the vehicle as the summer insects scream their sonorous songs it was almost overstimulating for some of his brothers with how alive this planet felt with no foe to focus down on. Anrir felt his gums itch like he craved an oral inhalant and the way the hair on the back of his neck rose as he wandered closer not giving into the craving.

Anrir had seen many homeless humans both back in his own time and here. His eyes looked through the windows of the car seeing how it was lived in, he could hear the soft breathing akin to how someone was asleep... the slow beat of a heart was barely audible to him as the insects continued to scream their songs. There was nothing special about what he saw as it was a baseline female just buried under an assortment of clothes, a towel, a jacket, and some blanket... a bucket with a strainer lid to collect the impending rain... he chuckled at the cleverness but he understood the need to just survive. He turned to walk back to the others but something rooted him in place. He could practically taste the misery mixing with the rain. His throat tightened as it silently moved in foreign ways but he knew what he was trying to do... to mimic the noises they make at humans.

He lets out a dark chuckle as they were right... it really was something that he would know when it happened. Worry soon festered in his gut as his eyes roamed over her vehicle and while he hardly knew about how it worked he could see the signs of disrepair. His nose wrinkled for a moment as he unclipped his helmet from his hip, slipping it over his head as the rain finally let loose. He listened to the rain slap against the metal roof of the car, the way she moved inside her comfortable cocoon for a moment, and the way water was gathering in the bucket... Anrir had to do something.

You did your best to ignore the Night Lord that was hanging around. Affectionate bastards you were told as you remember those videos of just them being friendly. You shiver at the memory of that one gang member who thought he was so big... being homeless you quickly learned how sleeping near warbands meant that you had to ignore certain things... certain sounds especially at night. Astartes always scared you... you couldn't point to any incident that had happened involving them just that you got bad feelings from them... a certain type of dread. So it wasn't exactly like a fear of dogs but the way they looked and acted they were so human... why were they here... you make yourself look smaller as the Night Lord with what looked like a metal spider on his back sat next to you.

You hear him coo and trill at you trying to get your attention, his head tilting slightly as you could hear the slightly distorted trill to his voice from his helmet, and you did your best to ignore him. Eventually he did leave you alone and you had hoped that would be the last you saw him. But, every day for the next week he kept finding you... he would click and coo at you beckoning you closer with those armored claws of his. It was the last day in the week that you broke and approached him as you chose to fill your car with gas over eating and he had shown up with food. You feel tears gather with each bite as he trills down at you and you feel him hold you close... you hear his purr... you've seen this display online it was a bonding display. You do your best to not choak on the hot food as you can feel tears gather in the corner of your eyes, really the last thing you want is an Astartes bonding to you.

You feel the Astartis petting your head as you eat, trilling at you and you're certain if he wasn't in armor he would be purring. When you look up at him miserably he coos at you trying to sooth the clear distress you were in. His hands flexing each time you try to pull away from him, "You don't want me to be your bonded buddy," You finally speak up and that just breaks something in you and you feel those heavy tears roll down your cheeks even as you try to use the heel of your palm to rub your eyes clean they still fall, "I can't give you anything." Your voice cracks as you admit that.

Anrir sat there silently as you tried to reject the bond… he could feel it fraying at the edges like a lighter had been taken to it. But Anrir was calm even as his entire existence seemed to reel on its axis as you try to push it away. Your voice cracking gave way to the tears that ran down your face, his black eyes darting over your face as baselines crying was familiar to him given what he was but it felt so different… so wrong. Why are you letting her cry Anrir? A soft voice in the back of his mind seems to say. He could feel it fray more and more… but Anrir was aware that when a bond frays… it never attaches back normally. There was also a small high for him as would this be how he tasted death? Not after millennia of being alive just some mortal woman would be the death of him? He would have laughed if it actually broke but he pulled her against him and you did not make the effort to pull away… and so the bond repairs wrong. He did not need anything from you except you. 

How you lean against him trying to hide away. So he was okay if you couldn’t give him anything now. He didn’t expect you to give him anything in the first place… but a wicked thought plants itself in his mind. Perhaps it was old fashioned… after all he watched the radical social changes in a mere 40 years and yet like always the Astartes remained unchanged. But… why couldn’t he provide for you? Anrir was a capable Astartes and he did not survive this long by chance but memories flicker by of how generous others were towards their humans. He grinned darkly as he could recognize the signs now… oh… he had intensely bonded to you… he had read the manuals and grimoires both in person and on the noosphere… he had helped write some of those too… so he knew what to look for in terms of side effects and was filing away mental notes about his deviances. And as much as he wanted to act on those feelings Anrir was patient, he was an Apothacarion after all, and his Dragă needed to be taken care of. He purrs and chirps at her to calm her down and gets her to finish her meal.

Thrones, credits, souls, cash… it was annoying dealing with baselines as most societies revolved around needing a good or currency for things and this was not their reality or time period where refusing an Astartes was suicidal. He noted his lack of desire to skin the man yelling at his Dragă to get him to stop “loitering”. But he, like most Astartes, relied on each other and the complex network and ecosystem they built like a parasite on the infrastructure of what was already there or was it the other way around? The Iron Warriors and Imperial Fists would say they laid out efficient infrastructure… but he found resources; since it was no longer allowed to simply take humans as serfs anymore and just have them live in a base full time… not that the Night Lords had one yet. It would be a few more years till the base was operational and that would be a mustering point for most Night Lords in the area. But Anrir noted how jumpy his precious Dragă got at the idea of getting help from Salamanders or staying in a shelter; he was fine with her choice. He wrinkled his nose as her car was falling apart and he couldn’t fit in it and him being a Night Lord did not help his goal of getting money. However, Anrir had a long reputation having worked in the Consortium with Bile too being a prominent figure in his legion’s hierarchy, no matter how much he tried to stay out of the politicking, so when the Alpharii approached him he wasn’t too surprised. 

There were treaties and edicts that any Astartes had to agree to if they wanted to stay near the humans. Besides the obvious of not killing any humans; which before Anrir was bonded was a surprisingly hard ask, but they were not allowed to mettle with them. Technology was to be kept away from them at all costs, no extending their life spans, no augmetics beyond simple necessary prosthetics, and a few others. It all made sense as it was clear they were not ready at all for the horrors of the wider galaxy… no they would not play a hand into accidentally smothering humanity in the cradle because they helped them reach the stars earlier than they were ready for. But just like how human killers existed… and Night Lord trafficker Hunts happened… there was always some bending and breaking of these rules.

The Alpharii couldn’t help mettle in the affairs of the baselines, it was their legion’s expertise, they were information brokers and information hiders… they modified records to hide the sudden birth of a child from a woman and a Astartes… to all the way of covering up when forbidden technology falls into the hands of baselines and there needs to be a raid. They had their fingers in many pies as the saying goes… and Anrir could not play the moral high ground for their request. They weren’t supposed to extend the baselines lives… there was the crude method of giving them a transfusion of Astartes blood and hope they survive all the way to getting the chemicals and components needed for rejuvenation treatments. The latter took time to get what they needed as they could only synthesis so much being limited to what was only on this one planet; and it was hard to keep the Iron Hands from getting eager in “helping” them be able to colonize the Sol system. 

But… Anrir looked down at the old corrupt man. Such greedy creatures humans could be and Anrir could never be like his kin who were able to see themselves as being above humanity… Anrir was far too aware of his own humanity and also his own lack of humanity too. “How do I know it will work?” The old man interrupts Anrir’s explanation of what he will be doing in transplanting his heart, “You could be some… con artist.” He says with malice in his frail voice.

Anrir never liked nobles… and he was always surprised at how… self important they could be. His smooth voice answers the question before one of the Alpharii can speak, “My reputation,” He had asked the Alpharii before this and he was not bonded to any of them… he was very much a pawn that the Alpharii weren’t ready to loose yet, “your… companions wouldn’t have gotten me if they doubted my skills. The heart is made for you so there is no chance of rejection.” He says truthfully as it was child's play growing the organ for him.

Anrir voxes one of the Alpharii, “As for my payment for this?” He hisses letting his displeasure bleed through as how dare he speak to Anrir in such a way.

“Everything is set up in ways that won’t tip off the government officials to the sudden influx of wealth. And conveniently set up so that if you choose to help us again…” 

Anrir waved his armored hand over his shoulder as his medical mechadendrites unfolded like a spider on his back, “Yes yes you lot have me for several surgeries,” He goes through the process of setting everything for fine movements and working on humans, “But please be aware should anything go wrong in the payments that I can be quite spiteful.” He threatens and enjoys the place of power he is able to come from given how specialists are in such short supplies here and he is certain there is only one other Consortium member on the planet… he knows his expertise is invaluable he is certain he is on many lists to be kept alive.

“Of course Anrir.” Is all one says and that was good enough as Anrir headed into the prepared room.

You were happy that Anrir returned as he did keep you safe and maybe you were feeling those good vibes that people always say they get around Astartes. But now? You looked at what was holding out to you with apprehension. You’re sure that it was a thousand dollars in his hand and you felt hesitant to take it from him as no one just gives people money and not expecting something back… your spine crawls at a memory… He just sighs looking at you passively and perhaps a little annoyed, “Dragă. Go get your car looked at and get it fixed.” He says and you take the money from him as your AC had died and you’re certain that also meant your heating was gone… “Unless,” Your eyes returned to his face as your eyes picked up the bit of white at the roots of his sideburns, “You want to get a bigger vehicle?”

“But I can’t-” You start.

“Don’t worry about money for a second Dragă.” He says putting his hands on your shoulders.

You squirm under his gaze as you considered rejecting it as Anrir gave you such feelings that there was something else he was after… then again you never felt truly comfortable around Astartes… always a lingering sense of dread but… “Maybe… maybe we get something you can fit in as well. Wouldn’t that be nice?” You say softly as you’re certain those cars are far beyond what you can afford and from what you heard basically never break down. 

You hold your breath for a moment as Anrir cups your face, you could hear him trill at you, as he grinned down at you with a smile that you’re certain the devil himself would envy, “What a thoughtful Dragă.” Was all he cooed at you.

After that, with much fussing from him, he made you use the money to stay in a motel for a week and you don’t remember when the last time you ate so much food. Anrir in the meanwhile took care of things. You were torn on letting him do such as wasn’t this the reason you had a fallout with your family? Your hands shake at the memories… he ruined your life. Yet while you’re certain Anrir is doing the same thing… it feels different. Anrir only suggested what you use the money for never using it to tell you what to do… Anrir confused you but you took comfort in the thought that he wanted something from you that he could get at your absolute lowest… everyone says bonds are precious things so maybe you should trust him more.

Anrir makes sure he always has enough money on him as he was making sure that there was a positive association in your mind that he was able to provide for you. The fuss you made when he got the car customized so that you could live out of it as long as you wanted, he hopped it wouldn’t be much longer, but it was your choice and all he could do was nudge his Dragă. The excitement he felt rush up his spine when he heard you say “Anrir” in a specific tone… a tone he associated with his Dragă needing something… Dragă needed him to provide. Sometimes you were like a skittish animal only staying for the exchange but sometimes you lingered like an animal and he could get what he wanted from you too. He felt that dopamine rush as you tolerated his touches, the joy he felt when you let him cup your face, how loudly he purred as you let him nuzzle you, petting your head, or rubbing your back. He could still see the hesitation in your eyes… he could tell you weren’t as (warp blind) (bond blind) as other humans were and Anrir is fine with that in fact it made this all the more enjoyable for him.

Winter always comes too soon and once again Anrir brings up places you can stay over the colder months and as hard as you try you still can’t get rid of the feelings that if you acquiesce he will want something. Anrir himself is disappointed that you wont ask him for much more; he does use winter to get something he does want. He finally gets to hold you for as long as he wants, usually your whole sleep cycle. He’s slept in far worse spots and just being a little cramped is hardly anywhere near the list of worst rests he has had. He purrs loudly as you’re glued to his side or his chest at night. Cooing to you as you drift off each night with a full belly in his arms. Its hard not to drift off with how he purrs and the rhythmic beating of his twin hearts… this feels like it’s going to be an easy winter for once so of course you get sick as a dog.

“Poor Dragă.” Anrir’s voice breaks you through your sick haze as the chills don’t help but Anrir being so warm helps. “I know you won’t like this suggestion but as a health specialist I do recommend that perhaps it is time for you to live inside more regularly again?” You can barely hear the quiet engine over the Heater going, Anrir not allowing you to fuss about anything right now once more saying he had it under control, “Arata mizerabil... (Miserable looking…)” He says in Nostroman letting his tongue click as you bury yourself closer to his chest, feeling those ports dig into your skin, “At least something temporary, yes?” He says sounding a little worried, “Wouldn’t that be nice? A temporary place to stay till you find what you want to do?”

“Daycare.” You croak out.

“Hmm?” Anrir looks down at you cocking his head to the side surprised you answered him. 

“I want to take care of kids. I like taking care of kids. Don’t know why… so I want to start a daycare.” You say but you soon get weepy, “But who is going to let me do that. Look at me! I’m living in my car running away from my family and I can’t -” You stop your distressed rant as you cough and your nose plugs up again making it hard for you to breath and you can’t help but squirm in Anrir’s grip.

“Shh Dragă, I’ll take care of  you.” Anrir says softly a uncharacteristic gentleness in his voice you weren’t expecting from a Night Lord, “You don’t need to worry anymore, Dragă.” Again it’s a soft and warmth to his voice you didn’t know he could have, “Do you trust me?” He asks in a tone you have trouble reading. 

Bonds are supposed to be good things… that’s what everyone says… you have a companion for life… and you can tell that they get so much out of what we give them as they were clearly made for something far more violent. But… did you trust Anrir. No… you did not trust him as that feeling never goes away… “What do you want Anrir?” You finally say after a minute of silence.

“You, Dragă.” Anrir says quickly breathlessly.

Again you lay there silently thinking… you didn’t know what he wanted… was it really just being with you? You’ve been with him for months at this point and you couldn’t figure out what he wanted. You did research on bonds from what little you could find and everything kept coming back to just wanting to keep their bonded alive and safe. You were scared to let someone in your safe little world but you were so tired of keeping everything so tight to your chest. Maybe it was because you were sick but you nod and let out a heavy sigh softly saying, “I trust you Anrir.”

His reaction was immediate as he pressed his cheek to yours and you could feel the purring in your teeth as it was so loud, your finger bones felt like they were vibrating, but you didn’t feel the quick kisses that he leaves on your skin. You whimper at the sudden affection. It was anrir’s quirk as he was odd with his affection as whenever you would seek him out for affection he would smother you in his affection but you were okay with it because it was on your terms… your gut wouldn’t stop at the feeling that sometimes it was on his terms luring you in… He presses a kiss to your forehead trilling, his accent thick, “I don’t want you to worry any more my Dragă. I will take care of everything.” His black eyes seem to glitter in delight as he makes his declaration. And you just let go of that tension a bit more.

You don’t know how Anrir found this place, it had a horribly short lease but you knew that it was just to get you out of the weather… you’re certain this place wasn’t built for Astartes in mind so usually that meant they weren’t allowed. You guessed that the landlord looked the other way if said Astartes was paying in cash. It was small and cramped... but it was warm and you could store more than just a bit of food. You were sitting in the tub as Anrir sat on the side shirtless as his hands were massaging shampoo into your hair. You didn't need help with your hair but that didn't stop you from leaning into his hands as he helped you feel clean.

Anrir chuckled at your gentle groaning and moaning as it was clear you were enjoying yourself. He enjoyed helping you feel this way helping you clean and take care of you in this small way... he shivered as he was cleaning his Dragă... he wrapped his Dragă in a nice fluffy towel... he carried his Dragă to the bedroom and savored the laugh that left your mouth as he just tossed you onto the bed with a bounce.

You just laid there, eyes closed, enjoying yourself... sure there was only one bed which was fine as you had spent most of the winter snuggling up to Anrir in the car, it was not the most comfortable mattress in the world... the apartment was quiet...no it was never quiet not with the thin walls... but Anrir was quiet. You became aware of how you were just laying naked on the bed... alarms were going off in your head as you feel his smooth hands run over your knees, feeling his thumbs push into the side as he spreads your legs open slowly. This wasn't normal... and yet this felt like what everything was building up too... but you were always told that bonds were selfless things, right?

Your skin trembles as his hands move over your drying flesh, your breathing shivers, you can feel the bed shift as Anrir climbs onto it. Your throat bobs as you swallow the nervous energy but your eyes open as you feel the bare skin of his legs as he had divested himself of his pants. Anrir's silent still as he presses his scarred lips against your cheek, his body leaning over yours as he settles between your legs, and you feel his hand move to your chin to slowly turn you to meet him. His lips dragging against your flesh as the scarred flesh presses against your own lips. You were close enough that you could tell that his eyes were not fully black... you could see the dark blue of his iris darting with micromovements as he took in your face. But, you could see the predator in his eyes... but it was something more the term hyper-predator comes to mind because what monsters would someone like Anrir need to hunt?

Anrir presses his mouth to yours more and you close your eyes allowing the kiss to deepen. Anrir had been nothing but good to you... but you worry... would he use this against you? You desperately hope that he wouldn't. "Mina..." His voice rumbles like thunder as his hands drag across your flesh in a way that feels dominant and possessive. You can't stop the shuddering moan that leaves your mouth as his mouth moves against the front of your neck, licking the way your throat moves in its swallowing motion. "Toate ale mele… (All mine...)" He says whispering to you in a language that you don't know, "Fiecare parte din tine… toată a mea… trupul și sufletul tău. (Every part of you... all mine... your body and your soul.)" He says again as Anrir presses his cock against your entrance. His mouth continuing its worship of your neck and chin as you open your eyes slightly and just watch Anrir with lidded eyes. He cups your face as his tongue presses hard on your lower lip before pushing his tongue back into your mouth just kissing you hard.

You knew you had fringe thoughts about Astartes... Anrir was just proving to you one thing... that they were far too human to ignore. Far too human and far too predatory... you could never get that feel good emotion from Anrir... from any Astartes really. They were all predators... they were man made monsters made to fight monsters that you didn't know would exist beyond the silver screen of Hollywood or the writings of horror writers. He pulls his mouth away trilling at you and pausing when he sees the look on your face. You were looking at a predator looking at prey a malicious looking thing that tried to play the part of a friendly thing... a wolf playing the role of a dog. "Anrir."

"Yes Dragă." He says as a hand cups your face.

"What do you want?" You again ask... because... you don't think he's lying about the bond but this wasn't normal? You felt everything rushing anxiously to a point.

"You, Dragă." He says devotedly.

You were tired... so tired of being on your own for years before Anrir came. Oh how much Anrir had helped beyond just the money he gave you and the food... just being here... even if it was wrong... even if... you were so tired. You pull Anrir into a kiss as you didn't want to think anymore! You didn't want to worry any more... you whimper as Anrir just purrs loudly as you decide to let Anrir take care of it... take care of you... just for today you tell yourself as you melt into the embrace.

You feel the slight discomforting sensation of your walls spreading open as his cock slowly pushes in. When it becomes too much your hand or foot pushes against his chest which makes him stop till your brow stops furrowing and you for him to continue. This continues until his hips are flush with yours and Anrir hisses in delight, "Atât de strâns atât de bine cu mine… draga mea… a mea. (So tight so good to me... my dear... mine.)" You once more don't understand him but you decide to not worry about it as he starts moving. Your thighs burn slightly at the stretch to have them spread open wide for Anrir to thrust into you. Your eyes close as you focus on the feeling and enjoy that he doesn't ask you to look at him but that doesn't stop him from talking, "Mă simți fată frumoasă? (Do you feel me pretty girl?)" He trills in that unknown tongue, "Te concentrezi pe penisul meu din interiorul tău? (Are you focused on my cock inside of you?)" He asks something else perhaps not realizing or caring that you don't understand him.

He picks up the pace as he pants down at you and you just yowl and moan in pleasure. Porn making everything feel so fake when real sex sounds so unsexy at times but you had no need to make things sound sexy or be perfect. You could hear Anrir chuckle at an unflattering noise you make as he slams his hips into yours again making you repeat it. Eventually things feel tighter and more anxious as Anrir tilts you slightly so his cock pushes into you at a downward angle and you just laugh at the unflattering squeak and squawk that you make. Anrir laughs with you at all those weird and all those distinctively you vocalizations but you just don't care as no one is telling you that you're being unappealing... you throw your head back and arch up as you earned the right to not worry. You moan loudly moaning his name as you feel so good! You earned this reward! You deserve this... you deserve to just let go... you orgasm with little fan fair... just a simple gasp.

You feel so good... everything feels so good as Anrir continues to chase his release, the feeling of a bed against your back, the fuzzy climbdown from an orgasm, the oily drop of sweat from Anrir that lands on your shoulder, and the comforting stutter from him that stutter causes you to open your eyes to watch his brow furrow and you watch how surprisingly expressive he gets as he cums.

The apartment is mostly quiet... as quiet as you can get with thin walls... you lay there with him not thinking about anything... not thinking as you feel his cock softening against your inner thigh. He lets out a loud breath as he lays back in bed in his spot as you meanwhile are pushing away the worry about the consequences of sleeping with Anrir. You cuddle against his side, his arm wrapping around you, you feel the cum ooze out of you ... you're still tired of thinking... you're so tired of it... so tired of worrying why and what Anrir was doing for money... You put your head against his chest over his hearts ignoring the discomfort of the ports against your face... you just listen to the way his hearts beat.

Present day

You were in a much better spot than when you were a couple of years ago... you actually came into money, no it wasn't a rich distant relative dying but it was another person you had camped with when you were homeless. They had actually won the lottery and were being smart with it, which you think was more so their Ultramarine had helped in making smart choices. Though you had your suspicions... the Alpharii... a few seem to come by every few months some to coo at the kids, eager to find a bonded, and some to talk with Anrir as you watched them take containers from your home. But being given money you sudden just kept finding yourself with more money and it was stupid how much money you got after investing some of it... you didn't want to question it and Anrir was very good at distracting you.

Oh speaking of Anrir... he got you so many gifts. He would still give you random bouts of cash but he was finally acting more and more like how a bonded Astartis is supposed to act. You also were seeing how talented he was with his hands as besides his occupation you discovered his macabre hobby that all Night Lords seem to have... bone scrimshawing and taxidermy. You could point out all the time that he acted like a normal bonded Astartis and yet at the same time... how many gestures were more. You got outfits, jewelry, wines, your current house, and hell even your job you know he had a hand in financing... it spiraled out of control with his gifts that your friends noticed and asked who your 'sugar daddy' was or rather if he had any friends.

You smile warmly and wave goodbye as the last child finally gets picked up. You head back inside letting out a soft exhale and start picking up the room not getting very far into cleaning up when Anrir wraps his arms around you and purrs into your shoulder... purring into where he tattooed you years ago. You feel him give a playful tug onto the choker collar that he made for you, expensive thing and you know he liked you wearing it. You were lucky that no one asked you what Anrir was... everyone just assumed he was a Raven Guard...

"I can smell your worry Dragă." He says nipping your earlobe.

"I'm just tired Anrir."

"Then lets go home." He kisses your cheek.

"But I have stuff to pick up-"

"And this is why we hire others to clean," He says gentle cocking his head to the side, "You're worried about something." Anrir takes the toy from your hands as you pick at the seams.

You let out a heavy sigh bringing your thumb to your lips, "I'm just scared everything is about to go wrong." Anrir takes your hand to stop you from biting your nails.

"And if it does... I will take care of it." Anrir says with such certainty and authority that makes you believe him.

The breath in your chest you let out with a heavy sigh, "Okay." You nod.

He tugs on your choker bringing you close for a kiss as he trills softly, "I will always take care of you my frumoasă dragă (beautiful darling)." And you chose to believe it.

[shungieshrieks]

Who would win, a summoner or a necromancer? Starring @janearts's Roisia because I adore her character so much!

[illarian-rambling]

Important things for a writer to know: Which of your characters would be the quickest to resort to cannibalism?

[freaky-flawless]

Finally finished with these two! Which is ironic since they were the first ones I drew lol. You can find Tori's old ref here!

Some more info on them under the cut:

As much as he doesn't want to acknowledge it, its pretty much an open secret to everyone that knows of him that Kris is the estranged son of Krampus. From a young age he was opposed to following in his fathers footsteps, and for years tried his best to fight against it. Once he hit high school, he struck up a deal with his dad that he would pick up the mantle once he graduated. Kris agreed and promptly dropped out just shy of his graduation date. And he's been living on his own ever since.

He works at a gas station near Monster High, and is well liked by the students for his surprisingly good advice and tendency to turn a blind eye towards obviously fake IDs. His apartment is near New Salem University where he spends a lot of his free time hanging out with his buddies from school, one of them being Luci Ferguson, the heir of hell. The two go way back, they're dad's being close friends. As it stands Kris is cruising through life without much of a care in the world, or so it seems. Deep down he regrets his decision to cut his education short, and feels his life is pretty directionless.

Tori is a Zodiac Monster, a rich and exclusive community of monsters who tend to only congregate amongst themselves. While being a Zodiac monster may have meant something long long ago, nowadays it's little more than a title, one that denotes a lot of social power. That pressure, as well as all the drama and critiques that come with living in such a tight-knit social circle, leads to Tori wanting an out, or at least a break from the Zodiac Monster lifestyle. She finds her chance once it's time for her to go to college.

While Tori is very sweet and tries her best to be considerate of others, she's also somewhat naive and socially awkward. She has a tendency to say very out of touch things, not immediately recognizing that not everyone grew up as wealthy and privileged as she did. Regardless she's very open-minded and enjoys hearing all sorts of different perspectives. She;s incredibly grateful when Fangel, Demonique, and Luci take her under their wings, especially since she's starting completely new in terms of making friends. It doesn't take long for her to meet Kris and become fascinated (and even somewhat enamored) by his sloppiness and carefree lifestyle.