#paragraphs of impartiality (elidibus ficlet)

[grumpyascianteddybear]

A What If Part Three

Oki, is split POV. I hope you guys like it.

@seatedsacrifice

@atdutiesend

@jedikitteh

She had been asleep, but hushed voices outside the room woke her. Hadianna blinked awake as a soft sound left her. She felt like shit, but that was normal when you were slowly wasting away into nothing. A soft sound left her as she moved to try and get comfortable again. She didn't want to listen to her daughter and mother arguing over was to do. There was nothing that could be done. He was dead, and she would soon follow him into the aetherial sea.

The sound of the door opening caught her attention and caused the voices to stop. A gasp that was unmistakenly Aurora sounded as another voice spoke. It was a voice she knew, yet there was no way it could be him. Some trick was being played. There was no other way. It left a bad taste in her mouth that someone would try and give them hope like this. There was no way to save her.

When the door opened, she squeezed her eyes shut. Hadianna wanted to avoid seeing the faker that had just walked in. There would only be a look of pity and disgust. At this point, she was little more than skin and bone. A skeleton with skin stretched over it. " Are you done gawking?"

" I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that you are skeptical, given that it should be impossible."

" Impossible does not even begin to cover this farce." Hadianna stated as he eyes opened as she struggled to sit up. She did not expect the weight she felt on the bed. That they would have the audacity to get so close to her? It was something that enraged her. She was already weak and looked terrible. False hope was not something she could afford to have.

" Don't; the last thing you should be doing is exerting yourself."

Her head turned, fist about to come down, as she felt the arms around her. Hadianna stopped dead when her eyes met glowing lilac. How? How was this possible? How had Cyr worked such a medical? There were so many questions, and yet she was suddenly tired. The adrenaline that her rage had brought was already gone. "Hold me, please."

He nodded at her request. Ophiuchus could already tell that what she had done so far had exhausted her greatly. Gently he moved her so they could lay together in a way that would at least be comfortable for her. He also wanted to get her off the side she had been lying on. The former Emissary was keenly aware of what bed sores were, which she did not need. It was already going to be a hard road to recovery as it was.

As soon as he was done moving them, she seemed to fall asleep in moments. Which didn't surprise him, but he knew he would not be sleeping. His mind was going at a mile a minute on what would need to be done. First things first, they would need to get the weight back on her. There was also the muscle mass that was lost. That would also need to remedy that.

Ophiuchus cringed as she shifted in her sleep, causing a boney part of her to bite into him. It was painful, which was surprising. He could actually feel it! Not the half sensation that had been present before. How he had craved just that before when he would come to visit. Enough to remind him of how touch-starved he was and never quench that need. Now the sensation was overwhelming.

A huff left him as he looked at her. His sweet Starlight looked absolutely terrible. Hollow cheeks made her face terribly thin and boney. He ran a thumb over one of her cheekbones which jutted out and somehow framed her sunken eyes. Eyes that had dark circles, almost like she was wearing a mask like the Starmamots. Her hair was limp and lackluster, the shine having been stolen as this all progressed.

Seeing her like this made him feel guilty. Though he did not regret his actions, he did regret that they were the root of her suffering. That an innocent paid for his mistakes did not sit well with him. He should have also expected this considering the bond. Dionysus had been right about one thing. He had not considered what his death might do to her. He had been compromised when the choice was made, which had cost her dearly.

Staring off into space as she slept only made his mind hyper-focus on the feelings. His sense of touch, now restored, was on overdrive. The silken sheets made his skin crawl, as did the plush blanket he had wrapped around her. Something that only mildly softened the jutting bones that dug into him. All of it cobbled together had him twitching in sensation overload.

He wanted nothing more than to pull away and run. Anything to stop the assault on his senses, and yet, he did not dare to move. She had asked for so little. Just to be held while she slept. The thought of leaving her here to wake up alone, as enticing as it was, made him feel guilty. This was all she wanted after being without him for so long. He could at least give her this much.

[grumpyascianteddybear]

@seatedsacrifice You didn't ask for this, but your thing gave me brain worms. So I slap you with the pool noodle of feels.

Hadianna had been trying to scrounge up what she could food-wise for her daughter. Everything was slowly withering, suffocated by the dark aether pouring in on them. She had been bleeding it off her daughter, so she did not turn. An offer she had extended to Polaris, though he had refused to take it. However, that did not surprise her, given that Polaris was like her Ophi. Both would sooner sacrifice themselves to save those they loved. 

The door slams against the wall as a man in back robes comes in, practically carrying Polaris. At first, she wants to demand who they are but then sees that mask. It is one she knows well. The following rush of emotions is halted when she sees Polaris's state. Black ichor stains his side, and one of his hands is now clawed. A whimper left her as she sees the ichor running down his chin and that one pupil had changed to a vertical slit. He was turning slower than the others but still turning.

“ I can keep him from losing himself long enough for you two to say goodbye, but make it quick Little One.”

The words are spoken quickly as her father sets him in an armchair. Hadianna is still trying to process things as she watches her daughter. The child was wasting no time, crawling into his lap. Why? Why did it have to turn out like this? To lose him twice… how was she supposed to recover? She would have to fake it for Aurora. As a mother, she had a duty to her child, and that was when it really hit her—goodbye meant that her father would whisk them to safety. She knew Polaris was too far gone to go with them.

“Foire, I need you to be good for this man and your mother.”

Hearing him speak was enough to get her moving. Now was not the time to sit idle and process things. This would be their last moment with him, and she needed to ensure they counted. Hadianna knew that most did not remember who they had been before. At least, that had been the trend with those that had already turned. She needed to leave him something, at the very least.

Reaching the desk, she ripped open one of the drawers and pulled out paper and the means to write. Quickly she wrote for him, giving him a name if he did not remember his own. There were also tidbits for him, something he could hold onto. She pulled out a scratch of the three she had meant to turn into a painting to fold up with the note. Hadianna signed the note and folded it with the sketch before going over to him. She was just in time to see him carefully putting a necklace on Aurora—that matched the one he was wearing.

Hadianna carefully picked up her daughter and handed her off to Daddy. That it was her own father that found him and did this was not a surprise. He and Ophi had always been close. A rare thing for in-laws but something she had always appreciated. Her father took Aurora and opened what she could only describe as a portal. There wasn’t much time left. He had already shifted more in the last few minutes.

“Sssssstarlight.”

The S bore an obvious hiss to it, and she could see scales blooming up his arms. Hadianna sat on his lap, one hand moving to cup his face. She pressed her forehead against his and shifted closer once she felt his arms wrap around her. Was she willing to risk the Ichor? Yes, she was. Hadianna needed to ensure he knew he was loved even in these last moments. At worst, her aether would lean toward darkness for a little while.

A soft hum left her before she pressed his lips to his. Hadianna released a small sound as he quickly deepened it. She felt his arms around her tighten as a soft sound left him. The kiss was suddenly halted as he whimpered before letting her go. Hadianna looked into his eyes and now also saw scales blooming across his cheekbones. She pressed her note and the sketch into one of his hands before kissing his cheek. “ I love you, I will always love you.”

“ I love you too, now you to go.” 

She didn’t want to go, and he moved her off his lap even as she hesitated. Hadianna closed her eyes and nodded before opening them again. He was firm clutching the note she had slipped into his hand. With a shaking breath, she turned and walked over to her father. Aurora seemed already quite comfortable with him as his face was buried against his neck. Hadianna glanced back only to find that he had gone limp, and the transformation was now in full swing. Without a word, she followed her father through the rift. 

A groan left him as he woke. Everything hurt, and he felt the hunger gnawing at him. Who was he? Where was he? This appeared to be a house and a chair, and he was sitting in a chair. Something was in his hand, thick parchment folded neatly yet half crumpled. Why was it there? Who had put it there? 

There was a vague feeling that others had been here at some point. A chest of toys suitable for a small child lay in one corner of the room. He could also taste the residual leftover aether so sweet it made his stomach lurch. It was so potent even as it faded into near nothingness. Perhaps that was who had left the note in his hand, but where were they now?

Slowly, almost methodically, he unfolded it. There was a familiar feeling looking at the hurried and yet delicate looping script. There were two pieces of parchment here, yet this note looked short. Perhaps there was more on the parchment that he didn’t understand yet?

To my dearest husband,

I know that you likely won’t remember anything after you have woken. Not even your name left untouched by the darkness and the transformation it has brought. So let me give you one that has been and always will be yours. You are Ophiuchus. You are my entire world, and it pains me deeply to have to leave you behind, but we do not have a choice. I would attempt to try and explain all the things that you are, but I don’t have the time. Even as I am writing this, the change has already started. With this note is a sketch I did of the three of us. I had meant to turn it into a painting, but time did not allow it. Somehow you managed to find my father, and he will take our daughter Aurora and me to safety. Know that I love you and will always love you.

Your dearest Starlight,

Hadianna

Lilac hues closed for a moment after he was done reading over the note. Hadianna, his wife, had left the note. She had sought to leave him at least something, even if she knew he would not remember anything. How she knew he was not sure, but the foresight was appreciated nonetheless. Though there was no aether on the note, he was getting wafts of it from somewhere else in the house. For the moment, the sketch was left for later. Folded and tucked away into a pocket somewhere that it would not get lost before he moved to the other room to suck down the residual aether there. 

[grumpyascianteddybear]

Vaguely Horny Part Three

Last part is done. Hope you guys like it.

@seatedsacrifice

@jedikitteh

@atdutiesend

Hadianna pulled out and removed the strap on before she lowered him down onto the bed. She whispered small praises, sweet nothings, as she slowly released him from the harness. It took time, but she knew the feeling of the rope would keep him on the sensation high. She helped with this by laying kisses over spots she knew were sensitive. It took her fifteen minutes to get all the rope off him.

“ Can you roll onto your back for me?” She asked as she ran her fingertips along his spine. Hadianna didn’t miss the shiver or the way his eyes rolled back. His ears also twitched just before he rolled onto his back. She smiled warmly at him and chuckled. Knowing her husband, she knew he would want her to get as many times as he had. Though she wasn’t sure he would be up for that. 

“ Will Mistress sit on my face?”

Hadianna hummed as she ran a hand through his hair. Yes, that was a good idea. It would get her off and give him a reprieve. She moved, straddling his face with her front facing the rest of his body. That let her use his chest as leverage. A soft hum left her as she let his arms wrap around her. It soon became a moan as she felt his tongue against her core.  Slowly, she started to rock her hips over his face.

Her head fell back, eyes fluttering shut as she enjoyed the feeling. Ophi knew what made her tick. A soft, airy sound left her as she felt his firm, even strokes. That sound got louder as his hands moved up her body to her breasts. His fingers pinched and played with her nipples causing her to press her chest into his hands. Soft shivers ran through her as she looked down only to see him growing hard again. Those shivers soon turned to shaking as his name fell from his lips in a small prayer as she came on his face.

As she caught her breath, a small yipe left her as he teleported from under her. A mere moment later, she was pinned to the bed on her stomach with a pillow under her hips. A soft whine left her as she looked back at him. Hadianna could feel him rubbing his length against her. She was so wet and aching to have him in her. “ Please, put it in me.”

“ Such a good girl, begging already.” 

The sultry purr made her shiver as she pressed back against him. The tables had turned, and she wasn’t even mad about it. Hadianna moaned, long and loud, as she felt him slip into her. Her eyes rolled back as he laid sweet kisses over her back. It causes all kinds of little shocks to run through her body. Ophi knows what he is doing, and it's making her melt under him.

More moans left her as he started to move, not wasting much time. He knew that Hadianna liked it rough, and she was relieved when he almost immediately started to pound her. Soft grunts left her, and she soon felt his hands on hers, his fingers curling to hold her hands in a fashion. The gesture was soft, as were the sweet whispers in her ear. The sensation from his breath and the pound quickly returned her to that sweet edge.

“ Ophi, I ah am close.” Hadianna managed to moan sweetly before a mewl left her as her walls clenched around his length. She felt him stiffen before the warmth flooded her. The feeling of his cum in her made her shiver all over. She would have begged for more if sleep wasn’t already pulling at her. They had been at it for hours already. 

“ Such a good girl.”

Another whimper as he pulled out of her. She didn’t miss him using magic to clean them up. It was appreciated. Hadianna slowly moved as she noticed him lying down. His arms were held open for her, and she was quickly curled up on top of him. She enjoyed using him as a body pillow, and he didn’t mind. A hum left her as she rested her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. It didn’t take long for her to fall asleep, and she was sure he would fall asleep shortly too.

[grumpyascianteddybear]

Vaguely Horny Part Two

Here is part two. Have fun with it.

@seatedsacrifice

@atdutiesend

@jedikitteh

Ophiuchus watched as she went for the rope. It didn't surprise him when she started with his legs. Winding the rope around them to make them secure. The sensation sent shivered through him as soft moans escaped him. She had started toward his knees and were making it so that he would be ties into a knealing potiton.

That didn't bother him, nor did the light kisses laid over his shoulders. Those kisses soon traveled down his spine, causing his whole body to shiver. The fur on his ears even stood on end, and a loud moan left him. Those sound only continued to escape him as she pulled his arms back. Another rope was also gotten as she started on a harness that would also bind his arms behind his back.

" Such a good boy."

Yes! He was a good boy! The kisses turned to soft nips causing more moans and soft whimpers. As she finished the harness and ensured the rigging was secure, Ophiuchus could catch his breath. It did last long as he got him hooked and pulled up, so he was hanging above the bed. The feeling of hanging there in the air was a whole other sensation.

Deep, quiet breaths were drawn as he felt her move around him. Her fingers ghosted over his skin and the ropes. Ophiuchus soon realized he was hung high enough for his face to be a boob level when he lifted his head. He knew why that was and wasn't going to complain. Especially when she was soon kneeling in front of him.

A soft whimper left him as he felt her hands on his face. He was aching for her. As their lips met, his eyes fluttered closed, and he released a soft moan. Her hands soon traveled down His chest and to his tip. She spread the pre cum he had been leaking over the tip, which caused a long moan to escape him. That felt good, but it made him ache more.

" I have so much planned for you."

He didn't doubt it. She didn't even have to ask him to play with her nipples. Once the kiss was ended, he went right to it. Ophiuchus was a good boy, and he knew what his mistress wanted. He smoothed his tongue over one of her nipples and reveled in the moan it pulled from her. Part of him wished to be able to touch her, yet the other part was more than happy to be tied at her mercy.

More moans left him before his eyes rolled back as she started to rub his ears. The fur was soft, and the rubbing caused his tip to leak more precum. Ophi sucked on the nipple before rolling it between his teeth. He knew what she liked, and the moans he still getting told him he was doing a very good job.

A whine lifted him as she pulled away, leaning back to get the butt plug and the lube that went with it. Ophiuchus pressed his lips together and watched as she moved to his rear. He felt the lube first and realized it was the warming kind. His toes curled, and she spread it and even pressed her fingers into his ass to prepare for the plug. She would ensure he was ready for when she decided to peg him.

She slowly inserted the plug, causing Ophiuchus to moan loudly. A shiver ran through him before he gasped as he felt it start to vibrate. His toes curled as he was left to hang there for a moment with it. As she came back around, he saw her grab the gag. It was a simple fabric with a rubber piece covered in the fabric in the center.

The Emissary knew what she was going to do with that. He opened his mouth obediently for her to place the rubber piece in his mouth. Once that was done, she tied the loose ends at the nape of his neck. A moan left Ophiuchus as he felt her go under him before his eyes went wide. Why was she...

All thought was obliterated as he felt her tongue run from the base of his length to the tip. He moaned, thought it was muffled by the gag. Ophiuchus found himself unable to focus on any one thing. There were so many sensations, and all of them made him feel as if the world could end any minute. It would be the best end any man could for, though, so he wasn't terribly concerned.

His eyes rolled back as he felt her hand start to gently massage his balls. Shivered followed as she took his length into her mouth. Ophiuchus was well aware that Hadianna had no gag reflex. She hadn't had it in before the sundering and didn't have it now. It was great, considering how much she loved to deep-throat him.

It didn't take long for things to start building for him. Soft whines left him, and he bit his lips as he tried to hold it back. He didn't want to fall over that edge yet. He wanted to keep enjoying what she was doing. Ophiuchus grunted before a groan finally left him as he released into her mouth. He knew she was just swallowing it all. The thought actually turned him on more.

His head fell forward, and he watched her pop off his length. Ophiuchus released a small whine as she moved to reveal a wet spot where she had been sitting under him. She was so far from being done with him. He watched her crawl over to where the strap-on lay on the bed.

He watched her put it on, the butt plugs still vibrating. It kept him from completely coming down from the high. She didn't want him to come down, not completely. Ophi liked that. The over-sensitive buzz that came with never coming down from the high made the next time even better.

" Is my good boy ready for a good pounding?"

The purr in her voice causes a shiver to roll through him. He watched her stand and move behind him. She turned the plug off before carefully removing it. A small whine left him before he felt her manipulate the ropes so he was hunting upright. His eyes widened, and a long moan escaped him as he felt the strap-on push into his rear.

Ophiuchus gasped as she started to move, head rolling back. She was hitting all the good spots. Moans left him and he shivered, feeling one of her hands come around to stroke his length. It twitched in her hands, already hyper-sensitive from before. It hurt but felt so good at the same time.

It once again didn't take long for him to reach that edge. This time Ophiuchus wasn't able to hold it off. He nearly screamed as he came again, shooting the load out all over the bed. The Emmisarry huffed, eyes wide before his eyelids fluttered. The pleasant buzz still remained, and he knew she wasn't quite done. He had cum twice, and she hadn't at all.

[grumpyascianteddybear]

Vaguely Horny Part One

Tick shared a mental image with me, and Hadi has decided she wants to be dom. I hope you all enjoy this. This ran long and will be broken into three parts. Part two will be posted shortly, as it's already done, and then I will post part three in a bit.

@seatedsacrifice

@jedikitteh

@atdutiesend

This was too much. Hadianna pressed her lips together and watched him on the bed. He had himself propped up on his elbows. Sure, the top covered his ass, but it wasn't hard to tell he wasn't wearing pants. Was he just waiting for her to find him? She drew in a deep breath causing him to look toward her. It was a come hither look that sent waves of heat through her.

Oh, this was the game he was playing tonight? Two could play this game, and she had plans to be the one to deliver the delicious torture that he usually used against her. Hadianna licked her lips as she turned and shut the door before locking it. The click of the lock seemed loud to her ears, but it was likely much loader for him.

Once that was done, she walked over to the dresser. The top drawer held the rope and other toys. She opened it and started to look through it, glancing up into the mirror for his reaction. His ears were standing up, and she didn't miss how he licked his lips either. She had his full attention. That was how she wanted it.

Hadianna picked out the long ropes he usually used h when he was suspending here. The rigging for that could absolutely take his weight. She also grabbed a gag, one of the vibrating butt plugs, and her strap-on. The former princess would have so much fun playing with him tonight. She was going to make him moan so much he went hoarse.

Turning, she smiled and licked her lips. Her pale green hues were already dark with desire for him. Hadianna could see the same desire in his lilac orbs. He was such a pretty boy and a good pretty boy too. " Be a good boy for Mistress, and take what's left off."

She set what she had gotten on the bed as he got moving. Hadianna watched as he took the top off. It was such a wonderful top too. It showed off his shoulder so very nicely. Watching him peel it off caused her to squirm a bit. She was already a bit wet from just watching him and thinking about everything she would do to him.

She removed her boots and her pants, revealing crimson lace boy shorts. Hadianna now got the satisfaction of watching his reaction as she continued to strip. There was now missing how his length stood at attention for her. He knew what he would be getting, and they both knew he would enjoy it.

Once she was done with just her panties, mostly because she wanted her bra gone. She was also a generous Mistress that liked to have her nipples played with. He was also already kneeling with his hands resting palm up on his knees. It was a sign of submission and one that she always enjoyed seeing.

[grumpyascianteddybear]

Voidal Heart Chapter Two

Here is Chapter Two. There was supposed to be Smexy time, but neither of these bitches could decide whose point of view it was happening in. So now it's set for the next chapter.

@jedikitteh

Picking through ruins for useful artifacts was always a tedious endeavor. It was one that Elidibus preferred to delegate to someone else, but this was a delicate artifact. A sphere said to hold ancient wisdom. There was no known source of the artifact either. It had just been unearthed one-day eon ago by the people of the source. A strange orb that appeared to be some kind of crystal that held something lost to time. The last thing he needed was for Fandanial to find and destroy it.

A hum left him before he noticed a voice he knew in the distance. Blinking, he tilted his head and looked away from what he was doing. What was Emet doing here, and who was he talking to? The voice was deep and yet oddly feminine. Did he just call her Little One? Elidibus moved to meet them down the corridor. There was only one person that Selch called that. 

Turning a corner, he found them and stopped in his tracks. This woman did not match the memories stored in the ring from his great-something or other grandmother. Eyes narrowed beneath his mask at the way Emet smiled at her. He was in full father mode. It made the Emissary want to snarl at this imposter, but Emet had a gift that he did not. Well, that he didn’t have naturally. That was fine, though. It didn’t matter now that he could call on the abilities of every soul within Zodiark. 

His eyes glazed over as he went through the souls he was connected to. It didn’t take long for him to find one of the ones with soul sight and yoink the ability for a few minutes. Blinking, he looked at her with the borrowed sight, and his eyes widened. There was no missing the fact she was whole or the corruption. The swirling inky black almost hid the true color of her soul, but he caught it. A small swirl of crimson caused the Emissary to nearly fall to his knees.

She was whole this entire time? This entire time they had been looking for shards when she was unsundered on the 13th? At first, there was deep anguish, and then he felt the first spark of rage. It was not his, but it did not matter as it spread through the other souls like wildfire before spilling into him. His eyes closed as the molten fire filled him; all he could see was red.

“Selch! Who is responsible for this?” Elidibus asked as he stalked toward them. He focused on his father-in-law for the moment. If he looked at her, the anger would only become deeper. He could hear them, the souls screaming in his head. Outraged that his wife had fallen victim to the flood of darkness on the 13th. Elidibus was at a loss. They hadn’t found her. They had just left her there, alone and with no one, as they plunged the shard into a useless hunk of rock. 

“It would appear that her mother was able to secure a way for her to get through things unsundered.”

Harmonia? How had she managed that? It made his own anger spark, only renewing the cycle of anger, building it higher and higher. It clouded his mind and aether. He wanted retribution. For what, he wasn’t sure. It was hard actually to think through the rage. That became hard as his senses were assaulted as he felt lips press against his own. 

His first instinct was to push the offender away as his mind screamed over the souls, now starting to calm. His own anger even started to disappear? No, it was just being redirected by the only person that could get away with doing it. The offender who dared to touch him was the only person he had wished to have by his side again. As that realization hit him, his mind switched gears even through the pervading sense of being engulfed in sensory information.

Elidibus hummed as his arms wrapped around her. Hadianna had always known how to get his attention and now was no different. He had to look strange to her like this. Was there even anything left of the man she had held so dear? Would she leave him in the end because of that? 

“Themis, can we go somewhere else?”

Her voice was deeper now, yet that tone made him shiver slightly. He had not heard his actual name in so long that it sounded foreign to him. A hum left him as he thought about it. They did have a place for sleeping that was hidden carefully. Even they needed to rest at times, though Lahabrea hated it. They could go there, which would be better than here. He would have to ward one of the rooms for her to use anyway.

“We can.” Elidibus nodded. He cleared his throat, not sure why his voice sounded so strange. There was still something else that the anger had turned into. He wasn’t sure what it was, though. Something lost to Zodiark and the souls that grabbed for some purchase within his mind. 

He kept his arms around her as he teleported them to the hideaway. It was hidden on an uninhabited island in the sea that surrounded Vylbrand. The building had been created by Selch in the style of their home. Elidibus led her in and picked a room that was not being used. A hum left him as her name was soon seared into the door. 

“Themis, I don’t use that name anymore. I go by Belladonna now.”

Elidibus blinked before looking at her. She changed her name? Why would she do that? Did it matter in the end when they no longer used their true names anyway? There was a simple nod as he looked to the door, and the name was soon changed to the correct one. That would take some time, but it shouldn’t be terribly hard. His eyes fluttered as he felt her lips press to his cheek. 

“Thank you, you can still use the nickname you did before.”

Nickname? What nickname? Elidibus swallowed as he pressed his lips together. He didn’t remember, though it was likely in the memories he had stored in the ring—something he would have to look into later. Opening the door, he led her inside and let the door shut behind them. The room was plain, with a full bed and a simple end table. They didn’t keep much in the way of personal items. She might prefer to do so, though.

“This will be your room. You may personalize it any way you wish.” He stated. That husky tone was back again. As she stepped away to look over the room, he took the time to take her in. Hadi-Belladonna had a thick hourglass shape to her. The top she was wearing also did not cover much. The draping fabric just barely covered her nipples and left much of her skin uncovered. There was so much cleavage, and most of her back was also uncovered. It made his mouth run dry, and that feeling just got stronger. 

Elidibus swallowed as one of the souls whispered about her back being sensitive. When did his pants become so……oh……that was what this feeling was. He had been ignoring that or painfully getting himself off for eons. Now here she was, and he had no idea how to start things. Those memories had been lost before he could put them in the ring. Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

She could feel his eyes on her and looked back at him. Belladonna did not miss the panicked look in his blue hues. She was glad to see that the purple glow was gone now. Her tongue darted out to lick her lips as she looked him up and down. The robe hid a lot, but as a succubus, she could taste the emotions in the aether. His energy was massive, more than she could likely eat in any one sitting. She could also taste his arousal and the panic.

A soft and yet seductive smile tipped the corners of her mouth up. Belladonna felt her wings shudder in anticipation. The small taste she got from being close was enough to make her mouth water. She had lost count of how many voidsent she had eaten already, sucking souls down that did almost nothing to alleviate the hunger gnawed at her belly. Now, that was something she would no longer have to worry about.

“ I know what you want, Themis.” She purred and began to walk over to him. Before, she had prevented herself from feeding while kissing him. Her father had been there, and the last thing she wanted was for him to be caught in it. Arms circled his neck and tugged his hood down, revealing longer white hair than she remembered. That just meant there was more for her to tug on and play with. The next thing she removed was his crimson mask. 

His face was slightly different, but he wasn’t in his original body either. A hand cupped his cheek, and she noted as his breath seemed to sputter. Blue hues closed as he leaned into the touch, even as the rest of him stiffened. Belladonna wasn’t sure what to make of it. It certainly wasn’t something he had done before. “Are you okay?”

That got a humorless chuckle out of him that did nothing to make her feel better. As hungry as she was, she didn’t want to hurt him in some way by accident. He hadn’t pushed her away. In fact, she felt his arm wrap around her and pull her closer. It was something she would have expected from him before. Now she didn’t know what to expect as he seemed too different from before. 

“Okay, is relative; please don’t stop.”

His voice was so soft as he said it and full of a need that she understood all too well. They have been apart for so long. Naturally, they would want to get lost in each other. Belladonna leaned up and pressed her lips to his. She heard the hum as his other arm wrapped around her tightly. It was like he was clinging to her with every fiber of his being. It made her feel loved and important, but did he even know what those emotions meant anymore?

[grumpyascianteddybear]

29. :)

A sigh left him as he saw her. A ghost from his past that he did not have a good recollection of. At least, not anymore. There had been a time when he had known her perhaps better than he ever knew himself. Now he barely knew anything about himself and even less about here. This spirit refused to leave him, and her soul's color made something in his ache.

Ophiuchus didn't understand why or how, but he knew that she was important. His endless aether made her appear more than just a vague shade. A pure blood garlean with long white waves flowed over her bare shoulders. Though her skin now holds a gray tone, the whisper of brown lends to her having been tan in life. Her face is round, and yet it echoes his now-dead father-in-law.

Father-in-law? Yes, Emet-Selch had been his father-in-law. He had married his...

His eyes closed as it slowly came back to him. They had been married before, only for her to be reborn as Selchs during Garlemald. Why was she haunting him now, though? Here in a white wedding dress that is accented with crimson. No, it isn't white. It is the palest of pinks that is just barely not white. What happened that she is now here haunting him?

The barest whisper of touch causes his eyes to open. As a well spring, he gave her enough energy to interact with the world around her. She felt solid for him even though he could barely see through her. The way she gently cupped his face and s smiled at him. He knew that smile it was the same...

Ophiuchus flinched away from her and nearly fell over a table. Now the part that she had been carefully hiding came into view. The gaping hole in her center glowed faintly purple. Staring at him, he felt the guilt bubbling up. He had done that to her. He had wounded her so severely that even her soul was marked, which made him shake. Why had he done it? What could possess him to do such a thing? She was...

That was her wedding dress, the one she had worn....

His hands balled into fists as tears started down his face. She was his wife, and he did this to her. Why, he still didn't know why. All that played through his head was that last blow. His sword went through her middle, and she almost seemed to fall. Her legs...

" It was either you or me, Precious."

Her voice whispered through the air as she came over to him again. Ophiuchus closes his eyes and feels her cold hand on his cheek again. There was no anger in her voice as she spoke. Calming, soft, and there was another emotion that he could likely name. She stayed for his comfort, so he would have someone. Someone other than Venolia, though he would not know what to do without the blue fur ball.

" I don't even remember your name." He breathed out through the tears. Guilt and regret clawed at his insides. He was not one to regret his actions, but he regretted this. This made his heart and soul ache in a way he could not explain. What was worse was that he would forget again eventually. The memories would be eaten by zodiark eventually.

" Names don't mean much when you're dead. Just call me Starlight"

" Starlight." He whispered before his arms wrapped around her. His energy made her solid for him, and he would keep her close for as long as she wished to remain. Ophiucus breathed out as he rested his cheek atop her head. The cold was bone-numbing, and yet he did not care. This was a cold he would cherish. He deserved this after what he did to her. To be haunted, to never be truly allowed to forget the kind of monster he had become.

[grumpyascianteddybear]

Voidal Heart Epilogue

I have started a new fanfic! It is Belladonna/Elidibus. I am trying to pound out the dents for my version of Elidibus here before I add him to the blog. There are a lot of ideas that I have for him that I have to weave together. And it's better to try that in a fic than just through rp. There is also the fact that I have yet to learn what happened in his early life regarding his parents and stuff. So hopefully, some of that will come out as we write this. Fic under the cut, I hope you all enjoy this.

Hadianna had thought nothing of it when her mother insisted that she keep this necklace. Her mother often gave her things, though this seemed almost strange. The glowing necklace had something to it. What exactly she did not know, but it made Daddy and her husband nervous when they saw it. It had even burned Themis at one point when she kept it tucked away under her robe. There was no time or energy for the activities that would force her to remove it, so that was a moot point. She was still cautious with it.

What came next for her was like nothing she could ever explain. Themis had gone out to care for something with Daddy and Uncle Lala. They had been dancing before to take their minds off everything happening. Now she was sitting on the couch in her wedding dress. It was silly, and she just wanted to wear the dress. At some point, she had fallen asleep. That was when it happened, the feeling of almost being torn apart. When she woke, she was someplace else, and everything felt terrible. 

As time passed, the strange, vaguely people-shaped things actually became people. Hadianna decided to blend in with them and took a new name. Her old one brought up a great deal of pain. She was the last, after all - at least, that was how it appeared to her. It was best to start over and make the best of things. It was always important to try and see the bright side of things.

It was hard to keep seeing that bright side as things started to go bad. It started with whispers of black-robed figures. The Edolons then arose, and she could not help but raise a brow. She noticed the similarities to creation magic that was present with these summons. Belladonna just couldn’t figure out how these people had learned such magics. 

She didn’t find out either, as the flood overtook them. Darkness, that was what flooded them, twisted them, though she would be the least twisted. She didn’t know why that was and didn’t much care. All she wanted at this point was to be left the fuck alone - something that she did get, until Mhach. Even then, she went willingly into the arch. Better to sleep there than be stuck here in this void.

So she would sleep peacefully until woken by the other voidsent running amuck. Belladonna was uninterested in their petty squabbles and agreed to help the mages seal them back up again. Now free of her coffin, she helped watch things until they came. 

[grumpyascianteddybear]

HadiGrim 16 + 21 + 28

16. The one where anything written on your skin appears on your soulmate’s skin as well.

21. The one where you can talk to your soulmate in dreams.

28. The one where some people can see the red string of fate and follow it to their soulmates.

A hum left her as she looked at her arm. Of course, she knew whose handwriting it was. Well, she did now. It had taken some time to find out as she had been rather dense, especially after everything with her ex. Hadianna should have known better, yet she had decided that marrying a noble would be the best thing. She had to do her duty, after all. She had always known that her soulmate was not a garlean.

She was already with Metus when R'zhojo was brought and made her taster. It hadn't taken long for her to notice his handwriting. The princess had seen it scrawled across her skin more times than she could count. She had always been too afraid to write back, instead just painting landscapes onto her skin that matched her mood at the time.

Now that her ex was gone and they were married, the little pros to being soulmates like this came in handy. They could have whole conversations quietly without most people knowing. The message on her arm at the moment was a sweet love note while she was dealing with Imperial politics. He was normally with her, but Clara had gotten sick.

Evander had been dead a little over a week, and Hadianna was not taking it well. Sleep was easy, and her oldest was making sure she ate. She knew she needed to for the baby she was currently carrying. It was just hard. A part of her just wanted to join him in the aetherial sea. The other part knew that their children needed her. It would not do to leave them all here with her. He would not want that.

The only sense of solace she got was in her dreams. There she was whisked away to a strange sort of garden. It was odd and yet somehow comforting. Full of tea, cookies, bunnies, and an odd sort of doll. It spoke to her, and the conversation was pleasant. It didn't unnerve her the way it might have other people. Though her presence there did often confuse it.

Clara tilted her head as she noted the red string that connected her mother and this new person. Grim was his name, but he was so new to them. He had just arrived today, on her father's grave. Could he really be a shard of her father? That would also make him Mama's soulmate and explain the string. She also had to tell her mother about it since she could not see the strings.

The miqu female turned as she caught a streak of white out of the corner of her eyes. It seemed Elidibus was checking in on them. Come to see his old friend, though something about this visit seemed strange. " Please tell me that you weren't behind his death."

" I had not planned for your father's death." Elidibus stated as he watched what was going on. She was being a bit bitchy, but it could be much worse. " Grim was not going to survive much longer on the ninth. I had planned for Grim to rejoin with your father upon his passing."

Clara simply nodded. Her father's death had just sped things up and done this instead due to the connection that Elidibus had forged. That was a relief. A blessing of sorts as perhaps now her mother would be pulled out of the depression. " I will have to let them know eventually."

" Eventually, yes, but let them try and figure things out first." Elidibus stated as he turned to walk away. His work was done here. Hadianna would be taken care of. He could do that much for his dear friend, allowing her father some peace of mind.

[grumpyascianteddybear]

I will post this with tags to make a ficlet page for the blog. It needs it

[grumpyascianteddybear]

What If Part 2

So, this is a thing. A thing I enjoyed writing. Gonna tag some bitches. There might be oinons and it is certainly rude. Time to tag.

@seatedsacrifice

@atdutiesend

Walking out into the night air was refreshing after being down below. The cold gave him a rush that almost always cleared his head, yet tonight, it did not. Cyr was angry. Angry that he had to shoulder the burden of saving the world at the expense of friends, family, and a whole host of innocent people. Thousands died just so he would have a chance at victory. Who would fate take from him next? The only one keeping him together was his wife at this point.

There was a rage, one that he tried very hard to keep in check. It wasn't so bad before going to the past. There was also looking into that man's eyes. They were eyes that mirrored his one, the same two colors. Cyr didn't know who the man was, but it had caused something to start cracking in him. As if something unspeakable old was waking up, and it was even angrier than he was. It was an old anger that had simmered for a long time.

He shook his head to clear the fog the rage brought. Cyr knew the ancient thing would come out if he let the fog take over. That should be avoided at all costs, yet the anger refused to leave. It coiled in the pit of his stomach as they headed for the residential district. The fog closed in as he tried to keep things together. " If I seem weird in a bit, I am sorry."

There was a pause as his shoulders and neck rolled as if he was trying to get the joints to pop. It wasn't odd on its own, but how he walked also seemed to change. The way Cyr carried himself had completely changed, but it wasn't Cyr in the driver's seat anymore. That was even more apparent as he spoke, his voice taking on an almost entirely different timber. " Did you even think about what it would do to her?"

" What?" A smirk appeared at the confused sound in the voice of the other. Yes, Ophiuchus should need clarification. This was a man he had not seen in over 12000 years. Dionysus was very different now.

" Did you think about what your death would mean for your wife?" Dionysus asked again and, this time, turned back to look at Ophiuchus. There was a wide grin, though his eyes were not pleasant. The burning rage in them made the smile rather creepy to behold. " Did you even stop to think about what it would do to your daughter?"

The smile widened as the other seemed to spook. Yes, good, he should be scared. Dionysus was angry, and he was angry at a lot of things. He also had every right to be angry about these things. He had been hurt, he had been forced to butcher friends through his reincarnated self. A reincarnation that was now coming apart at the seams. To be expected, all things considered. CYr had been through more than any man should have to go through, and the only person they had not collectively lost was their wife.

" I tried to bring him back for Aurora; there was too much damage." Ophiuchus stated, voice small as Dion took a step forward toward him. Azem hummed at Elidibus and took a step back. The smile was still present, as was the anger. Though, there was perhaps a glimmer of something else.

" Well, I suppose it is good to know that you at least care about someone." Dion stated though it was rather condescending. Cared for his daughter more than his wife. What a shame, poor Hadianna. " You certainly don't care for your oldest friends. Hades didn't either, so I suppose that isn't surprising."

Turning, he headed off toward the residential district again. He glanced back one to assure the Ophiucus had started to follow. Dion knew that the man would be feeling very guilty once he saw the state of Hadianna. As they neared the house, a redhead emerged to greet them. Azems steps seem to grow light and a bit Hurried. Aidya was the only person that had not been stolen from them, at least the only one of importance to Dionysus.d

" Hello, Love." He stated as he came up, and a hand went to her cheek. His voice was like honey now, the earlier anger and malic gone. Dionysus had no anger where Aidya was concerned. Only adoration for his beloved wife, glad to still have. That his reincarnated self still had this one good thing was a comfort. It was a night and day difference, and the only look Ophiuchus would get at the Dionysus of the past. " I have brought her husband back. Anything short of that would only end in failure."

" I know I told you to do something quickly if you were going to do anything, but this was not what I expected. This is dramatic even for you." The woman stated as she leaned into his touch. There was a wary of the ascian that now stood before her in bunny form.

" Drastic times call for dramatic measure." Dion mused as he looked over at Ophiuchus. There was a dark smirk on his lips, and his bi-colored eyes almost seemed to glow. " Go on, you know where your dear wife is."

A hum left Azem as they watched the other male enter the house. Perhaps the guilt would destroy him. That would be a good show to watch. It was certainly destroying Cyr slowly. So many people, many old friends, lay dead at his reincarnated self's feet. The constant death and loss were slowly eating him, alive. Aidya was the only thing holding the poor Elezen together. Perhaps this twisted, rage-filled alter would be the only thing left when it was all said and done. It was hard to say.

[grumpyascianteddybear]

A What-If Part One

Here have a what-if scenario set in her veria verse. Grab your tissues cause there are gonna be onions. This has been sitting in my head for some time now. There is another one that I will do that is in the WoL verse, but this one first. Let me tag the important bitchs for this.

@seatedsacrifice

@jedikitteh

@atdutiesend

He had not expected this of all things. That Hydalen had decided to guide him back to the aetherial sea of the source for Hadi's sake was not out of character, he supposed. Nor was it out of character for his wife to fight the bond tooth and nail to keep living. Hers was a soul that enjoyed the sun, and everything life had to offer. Ophiuchus had once asked her how she could find it worth it when there was so much suffering.

He still remembers it clearly. She had walked up to him and held his face in her hands. Hers was the only touch he could feel, a pro to their bond. He always leaned into her touch, even if his nerves were half dead. It was always a heady rush to feel anything where touch was concerned. Her words on that day also stayed with him.

" Life is a bucket of good things and bad things. The good things don't always out weight the bad, but the bad things don't make the good things any less important."

She had been right too. She was always there no matter how bad it had gotten through the eons. Now he had left her behind in the land of the living. In truth, he had not expected her to last this long. He also did not expect to see the person that walked toward him. Yes, he recognizes them now. The warrior of light, Azems current shard here on the source. What did Cyr want with him, though?

" I was not expected to see you again." Ophiuchus stated as he tilted his head. He had been waiting here in the shallows for her. That also allowed the giant Elezen to find him. It might have been hard given the abundant aether all around. Dionysus had been the same way, blind other than his aether sight.

" The world is full of surprises." He stated with a sigh. Cyr seemed to be in a state of extreme melancholy. It was strange to see, as Dion had always been very good at hiding that. Yet, Cyr was not nearly as dramatic as Dion had been. " I don't fancy being responsible for her death. So, even though everyone else will disagree, I have devised a way to prevent it. If you are willing."

" If I am......" He didn't get to finish as he blinked, watching the loperits bring a bundle that was shaped like a body. Was Cyr actually offering him a way back? Why would he even... Yet before the question even finished itself, he had his answer. Pandemonium. That had been a different time, and he was a different person, yet that alone was enough for Cyr to give him a chance.

" The body was made by the loperits, a blank that you can shape as you, please. I would suggest not a Huyr, so people are less likely to recognize you." The Elezen stated as they turned to give the ascian some privacy. Ophiuchus was confused, yet this would give him a chance to be with them. It meant their daughter would not be left alone in the world.

Something that was Huyr? That would work nicely. Slipping into this blank, he quickly shaped it as he wished it. Choosing to match her race. When he was ready, he would stand and brush himself off. With a snap of his fingers, he was dressed as well. Having ears like this was strange, and he had decided not to have the bunny feet. He drew the line at the bunny feet. He had also seen some Veria that didn't have the bunny feet, so it worked.

" Alright, I am ready." Ophiuchus stated as he looked at Cyr. He watched the much taller Elezen nod his head and motion for him to follow. Dionysus had been tall like that too. He had towered over them even compared to those that were not short in the slightest. Sometimes he wondered what it was like to see over everyone one. To have to look down to meet anyone's gaze. It also left him thinking about the man's poor wife, who was more than a foot shorter.

" It won't be a pretty sight." Cyr warned as he led the other up to the elevator. Ophiuchus was expecting it to be bad. She was likely little more than skin and bones at this point. A long recovery lay ahead of her. One that was going to leave her frustrated.

"I am aware of this." He stated as they entered the elevator and it closed. If he was honest with himself, this was going to be painful. Seeing her life this and knowing that his own actions were the cause. Sure, he could blame Cyr, but he had not given the other choice. It was either locked him in the tower or watched the world burn. Cyr, just like Dion, had chosen to champion the world in which he lived. That was something that Ophiuchus would never fault him for.

[grumpyascianteddybear]

The Darkest Day

Did I cry while writing this? Absolutely, and so I must share it with all of you. This is for one of my personal ships and I hope you all enjoy it

@jedikitteh

He had been called for, though he didn't understand why. Why would they call him to a collapsed building? It didn't make sense, how could he be if help here? It was days after the calamity and they were moving Through the rubble. Turning a corner he came to the building only for eyes to widen in shock beneath his mask.

No! This was Hadianna's apartment building. It was in ruins. Was she okay? Why wasn't her father called? If he was, what could be keeping him away? All of these questions rushed through his mind as he looked for the one. It didn't take long to find them and once he talked to them they led him over to a small area of injured

"These ones have already been seen by the healers and deemed beyond help." A deep breath was taken in as the overseer for this said that. It was inevitable in a tragedy of this scale. Though, that didn't make it easy as he spotted her among this group of injured. It was hard to miss her and he bolted over to the cot she was laying on. A hand covered his mouth as he took in the grisly sight before him.

She must have been in her apartment when the building came down. Elidibus knelt down beside her and moved a lock of hair out of her face. Her breathing was shallow and labored. It looked, painful, and there were large spots of blood all over the white robe she was wearing. One of the ones he had given her after finding out he would be the heart of Zodiark. No one had expected him to extract himself, and even after doing so she would not have known.

" She kept asking for you by your true name, we had to ask her father who she meant. He is across town and had us call for you." Elidibus only nodded as the overseer spoke. Emet-Selch didn't want her to be alone when she passed on. Though this was more personal than a true emergency, he was not going to fault the now grieving father. In truth, the Emissary did not want her to die here alone either.

"Themis?" He had to resist the urge to cringe. Her voice was so soft, so weak. Elidibus carefully cupped her cheek as he tried his best to give her a reassuring smile. A sense of relief washed over him as the overseer walked off. Now he could be free to feel his emotions instead of keeping the mask of impartiality. Hadi was his best friend and childhood sweetheart. He could not be unbiased in regards to her.

"I am here, My Sweet." He whispered as her pale green hues regarded him. There was barely any glow there. It wouldn't be long. Elidibus was surprised she was even still here. "Anything you want, I will do for you."

"Hold me, please. I feel so cold." He could feel the beginning of tears in his eyes. This was agonizing to watch. Elidibus knew she had to have been crushed when the building came down. That meant moving her was going to be painful, yet he didn't want to refuse her. She deserved to feel like she was cherished in her final moments.

Slowly, and very carefully he moved her to minimize pain. He felt like his heart was being crushed as he felt how broken her body was. The sharp edges of bones sticking out of her skin in places. Some of those edges were now pressed against him as he cradled her in his lap. Her breathing was even more labored now and there was a wet sound with it.

"Thank....you." Her breath was soft on his neck. Elidibus removed his mask so she could see his face. The laws could be damned at the moment. She was dying and deserved to see the face of someone she knew before her life faded. She was so pale, likely from blood loss.

" Themis, I.....lo-ve...you." That was the straw that broke the camel's back. Tears started down his cheeks as he ran his thumb over her cheek. She was so cold. Elidibus didn't know how much time she had left. Not much, that was for sure.

He leaned in and kissed her forehead as she sob threatened to escape him. Elidibus was very well conditioned to keep his emotions in check. How was he supposed to do that now? She had been with him for so long. They had been engaged. They were supposed to be getting married! But no, that could happen because of his duty to the star. He had to become lord Zodiarks heart. Doing that would make it so they could survive. So she would survive and find........

"I love you too, Hadi. Rest now, and return to us when you are ready." He whispered and pulled back enough to look at her. His thumb kept rubbing her cheek, an attempt at comfort. Her mother would have been so much better at this. Azem wasn't here anymore, she was gone. No one, not even her own husband knew where she was now. "I will love you until I take my dying breath "

Elidibus watched as the glow in her pale hues disappeared completely, leaving only dead vacant eyes behind. A deep echoing sob escaped him as he buried his face in her hair. It wasn't supposed to be like this! His sacrifice should have been enough to save her!

Mere feet away Emet-Selch watched. He had only just arrived and as he suspected he came too late to be here for her passing. Tears stained his cheeks running under his mask only to drop off his chin. He could see her soul, the beautiful crimson color. She was hesitant to move away and he could not blame her. No one had ever seen the Emissary show such violet emotion. Granted, these were not normal circumstances. He might have to shepherd her to the atherial sea, as was a small part of his duties. The third seat had never been expecting to have to do it for his daughter.

Stepping forward he summoned his staff and tapped it on the ground to get her attention. The full length staff was made of bone. The top was carved to mimic his sigil and black bells hug from the bottom point of the sigil. The ring of those bells was what caught her attention. This staff was passed down from predecessor to successor, a symbol of the seat and a tool to help souls move along. Not all were able to move on on their own.

"You need to go, Little one." He stated voice cracking in agony. His wife was gone and now their daughter too. Was Harmonia dead? He had not noted her soul move into the atherial sea, but that didn't mean much. He could not oversee the passing of every soul at a time like this. It was a luxury to have the ability to do this for his daughter.

Emet watched her and was slightly surprised when she approached him. A moment later his eyes widened as the soul before him wrapped it's arms around him. If only he could return the gesture, but that she would even try this spoke volumes. Even in death she kept her passion for others. Everyone always remarked how much like him she was. They never took the time to see her mother shining through in her.

Take care of him for me, Daddy.

It was barely there whisper on the air, but he heard it. Emet closed his eyes and nodded before watching her disappear into the atherial sea. Some souls needed more coaxing than others. Though it was completely possible that she had simply been waiting to say good bye to him. "I will do my best little one."

[grumpyascianteddybear]

Good Night My Angel

@seatedsacrifice I bat with pool noodle.

Hadianna sighed as she looked at the sheet music in front of her. She was not unfamiliar with it being a prodigy violinist. The piano was, however, very different from the violin, and it showed even as she tried to play. Her fingers tripped over the keys as she tried to play this song. It was a high difficulty, a new piece she was working on learning. Many would have asked why a violinist was learning piano, though the answer for her was simple. Her daughter had shown interest, and though Hadianna would never reach the level of skill that Ophi had, she could, at the very least, become decent enough to teach Aurora. 

A hum left her before a gloved hand reached over and scooped up the music. It was her father, who was also a violin prodigy. He was the one that had taught her to play. Hadianna watched him as he looked over the music. A brow rose as she was handed different sheet music. What had he handed her?

“This is about the same difficulty. He finished it a few weeks before the final days started. It was supposed to be a gift for you. It's even got lyrics.”

She nodded before looking over the sheet music. There was confusion at first before her lips pressed together. She knew these lyrics. Polaris had sung this to Aurora. To learn now that it was something that Ophi had written before the final days were upon them was…something she didn’t have words for. They had been talking about having children. Had this been his way of telling her yes? She supposed she would really never know. Though, in the end, she supposed they, in a way, had the child they had been talking about. 

Glancing back at Void and Aurora caused her to hum. Something had happened a few weeks ago that caused a shift. Hadianna still didn’t know what exactly had happened, but he was much more fatherly toward Aurora now. She watched as he reached out and gently booped her daughter's nose. There was also the fact that he was getting bits and pieces of memory in dreams. Something that he thought she was doing. In a way, Hadianna supposed she was doing it just by being near. The same went for Aurora, as both were key pieces in a life he had forgotten. 

“ I wonder.” She whispered before placing the music in front of her. A first playthrough of anything was always rough. Missed notes and melodies that weren’t quite on point, but that was okay. Once Hadianna started on her first playthrough, she did not stop until the end. More so considering what she was interested in possibly hearing from behind her.

Aurora giggled as he gently pressed his finger against the tip of her nose. Mummy was trying to learn a new song on the piano. She often wondered why that seemed to make Mummy look so sad. Yet, there was also a determination there. Mummy had started to teach her the basics now that she had them down. The eight-year-old blinked as she heard the notes drift through their little house. The cords seem to make Daddy’s aether almost pulse.

“Goodnight my angel, time to close your eyes/And save these questions for another day/I think I know what you've been asking me”

A soft gasp left her, a smile plastered to her face. Daddy had been so different when Mummy first brought him back. Slowly he had started to come back. She had heard him and Mummy have a slight argument. Aurora wasn’t sure why he seemed to think there was a catch or what a catch was, for that matter. Why couldn’t he believe Mummy didn’t want anything else from him? He didn’t like it when Mummy asked him what he wanted from her.

“I think you know what I've been trying to say/I promised I would never leave you/Then you should always know/Wherever you may go, no matter where you are/I never will be far away”

Aurora clapped her hands together as he kept singing. She wasn’t sure he was all there, given how his Aether was pulsing. The argument had happened before Daddy had saved her from the bandits. She didn’t like to think about it as it had been scary. It was okay because Daddy had been there to protect her. He had carried her into the house and refused to let go. When Mummy got home, he even growled at her. Another piece fell into place, but there were so many lost pieces still.

“Goodnight my angel, now it's time to sleep/And still so many things I want to say/Remember all the songs you sang for me/When we went sailing on an emerald bay”

It was so good to hear Daddy sing again. Aurora wasn’t sure it would ever happen, and now it was. His deep and soothing voice was starting to make her sleepy. This song always made her sleepy when he sang it. The addition of the piano only made the effect worse. A yawn left her, and she was soon scooped up. Oh, maybe Daddy wasn’t completely out of it. She curled up, cradled in his arms as she fell asleep.

“And like a boat out on the ocean/I'm rocking you to sleep/The water's dark and deep, inside this ancient heart/You'll always be a part of me”

Emet Selch blinked as he watched things play out. He had gotten to hear Elidibus play this once, and it was a piece that had always stuck with him. Hadianna did not play it perfectly, but it was also her first time playing it. The fact that she did not trip over her mistakes and just kept playing was good. It made those mistakes impossible to find for someone who had never heard the song before. The ascian would ponder how he knew the lyrics for some time. 

“Goodnight my angel, now it's time to dream/And dream how wonderful your life will be/Someday your child may cry, and if you sing this lullaby”

He watched as the voidsent, who was no longer quite as seeped in darkness, got up and went to Aurora’s room. The eight-year-old was out cold. Emet wondered momentarily if that had been a common thing when Polaris sang. It wasn’t something he would know without being told. A glance over at his daughter revealed that she was smirking slightly. He got the feeling she had known this might happen. How though? There was no way for this voidsent to know the lyrics. Unless they had been a fragment to stick with this particular shard, he supposed that was very possible.

“Then in your heart there will always be a part of me/Someday we'll all be gone/But lullabies go on and on/They never die/That's how you and I will be”

As the last lyrics of the song faded, Emet hummed, watching the voidsent blink as he exited the small child’s room. The rapid blinking that usually came with suddenly coming out of a haze. He was not completely aware of what had just happened. Something very evident as the voidsent looked between the now-sleeping Aurora and where they had been together on the floor. The other male seemed to shake himself before heading to the bedroom he and Hadianna had started to share.

“Daddy, look.” 

His attention was pulled back to Hadianna. She had been flipping through the music and noticed a note on the back of one of the pieces of paper. Emet had not noticed it, but he also had not been looking for it. Grabbing the sheet music had been a gut response at the time. Now that he looked at it with his daughter, a soft and very tired sigh left him.

To My Dearest Starlight,

I know we have been talking about having children. It was something that I shut down when we had first gotten together. I was afraid of the kind of parent I would be given how my parents had been with me. Something that I have overcome with time. So here is your surprise, a lullaby for our children, which will hopefully be passed on long after we return to the star.

From Your Ever Loving Husband,

Ophiuchus

[grumpyascianteddybear]

Voidal Heart Chapter Three

Alright Kitties! Here it is, the smut chapter! Let me tell you, this man is very long-winded. There are also mentions of self-harm and scar descriptions. My Beta reader says it not graphic, but please be aware that it is there. @jedikitteh

Elidibus hummed as he deepened the kiss. Her lips, though he knew they were soft, felt like sandpaper. Even her palm on his cheek felt rough as if she had calloused hands. Yet he knew there were no calluses at all. His nerves were screaming even as he slid his tongue against hers. Screaming that it was too much, but even his clothes were too much. The soft, high-grade cotton that was usually so calming now felt suffocating. He was too hot, and that heat only seemed to worsen.

He could feel her doing something, but at the moment, he felt like he was in a haze. The dull ache that was usually just background noise now flared, burning brighter as he pinned her against the wall. Not even the cooling charms on his clothes could soothe this burning. It crackled in his skin. Anywhere she touched, the burning grew into a raging inferno. Why did it feel so good?

Normally he hated when people touched him. He barely tolerated Selch, and even he knew what he could not do. With Emet, everything was feather light, almost not there at all as not to overload him. Ha-Belladonna was doing no such thing. Every touch was firm and yet gentle. All he wanted was more of it, even as things went dangerously close to being more than he could handle.

The burning, it made him feel like he was going to burn to a crisp. Lips moved down her jaw and over her neck. What did she like? Where did she most enjoy being touched? His eyes fluttered shut as small whispers responded, recommending what he could try. His hand moved under her top, the sharp bits on his gloves forgotten until he heard a soft whine from her. Elidibus blinked slowly before he pulled back enough to look at her. 

“Can you take the gloves off? They have sharp bits.”

A hum left him as he looked down and noted a small slash across the inside curve on the right side. Elidibus licked his lips as he noted the black ichor seeped from the small wound and onto the thumb portion of his glove. What would that taste like? Where had that thought even come from? He didn’t know, but he decided to find out. He removed his gloves and bent to smooth his tongue over the small slash.

As his tongue made contact, Elidibus moaned. The rich flavor of chocolate caused him to take a moment a suck gently on the wound. There was a tingling that joined the haze now. Heat pooled in a place that was extremely restricted by his clothing. It was time for it to go. Pulling back, he stripped off his white robe first. His chest was like a road map of scars one could trace for hours. Some were self-inflicted, made when the world's weight became too much to bear. Others were from backlash brought on by fighting the collective will of the souls he was connected to. These appeared similar to magical burns that crossed over the deep gashes caused by his nails.

Once his robes were removed, his hands moved to her shirt. The draping fabric was easy to dispose of, joining his robes on the floor. A hum left him as he ran his thumbs over her hard nipples. The soft sound that pulled from her made him hum. A moment ago, she had pressed her chest against his mouth. Elidibus hummed as he bent down and ran his tongue over her nipple this time. The deep moan he got in response caused him to smile.

Carefully he picked her up. The fabric of her skirt against his arms was uncomfortable. It was rough and yet somehow smooth at the same time. A texture that he did not care for in the slightest. A soft sound left him as her arms wrapped around his shoulders. He would have to tell her to be careful of his back. The blisters there covered most of his back in the shape of six wings. The feeling was akin to sun poisoning, something that was not in the least pleasant. Even when popped, the blisters returned, larger and more painful than the last.

Elidibus kissed and nipped at her neck while carrying her over to the bed. The flaring pain that came with every touch had started to blur into more. He could not explain it, nor did he want to. Getting lost in the sensations, getting lost in her, even if it was just tonight, sounded like paradise. As it all blurred, her skin started to feel soft instead of the rough texture he had felt before. 

“Can you get my boots off?”

Her voice was sultry now, and the sound made him shiver. Elidibus nodded as he moved down her body leaving kisses in his wake. One corner of his mouth turned up as he heard the soft moans. Belladonna was also squirming, which he was taking as a good sign. A hum left him as his lips reached the waistband of her skirt. It rode along her hips, and he kissed right along it as his hands quickly worked on her boots. Once those were gone, he removed her skirt to find she wasn’t wearing underwear.

He supposed he knew why, given that her tail was now wrapped around his arm. It was long, perhaps longer than she was tall. The texture was strange. It felt almost like there was a fine layer of fur? He did also note that it was the same color as her hair. However, that fine fur layer ended as the end of her tail gave way to a black barb. That could do some serious damage when aimed at someone. 

“Themis?”

The whine caught his attention and also caused him to lick his lips. She was completely exposed to him now, and he could see how wet she was for him. His sweet Starlight was practically dripping. Starlight? Yes, that was the nickname. Those things usually didn’t come to him organically like that, but he would be thankful it did this time. “Apologizes Starlight. I got distracted for a moment.”

A shiver moved through him as the whispers surfaced again with more suggestions. So far, listening had gone well, so he would keep listening. Some alien part of him delighted in the thought of tasting her. Elidibus leaned in his chest against the side of the bed before his arms wrapped around her legs. His hands came around to hold open the outer lips of her core. He smoothed his tongue over her core a moment later in an exploratory broad stroke.

A soft moan left him as even her juices tasted reminiscent of chocolate. It had to be the fact that she was permeated with dark aspected aether. Elidibus began to lap at her hungrily, pulling a chorus of moans from her. A soft groan left him as he felt her hands sink into his hair and grip it. It sent a burning sensation through his scalp that crackled when she pulled his hair sharply. He found a spot that really got her moan and just kept on that spot. It didn’t take long for her whole body to shudder before she went a bit limp. 

A soft hum left him before he moved to get up and whimpered. He still wore his pants, and the fabric was extremely uncomfortable now. Elidibus hummed as they disappeared. That was much better, though he was still aching. He knew what he wanted, what he needed. He could hear her whimpering softly, begging for more. Begging for him to be inside her. It was delicious just to take a moment and listen to her soft begging. “Such a good girl.”

He moved her up onto the bed more before joining her on it. Elidibus hummed as he started to kiss his way up her body. He was enjoying the soft, begging whimpers she was giving him. Her squirming also revealed something in him, some primal satisfaction that he could not explain. The movement and whines as he kissed his way up were delicious. A soft moan left him as he got to her breasts again. He knew these were very sensitive.

He reveled in the long moan that left her as he licked her nipple. The hard bud against his tongue was a welcome sensation. So was the feeling of her hands returning to grip his hair. Elidibus was past the burning being painful. It felt so good now. The line between pain and pleasure had blurred so much that it had just become pure pleasure. The pulling of his hair caused a long moan to escape him, and he felt his length twitch. As much as he enjoyed torturing her like this, he needed that sweet release that she had already had.

Elidibus pressed his lips against her neck before he pressed his length against her core. A deep groan left him as that alone created a sensation so strong it crossed back into pain. It caused him to pause, eyes fluttering shut. Could he really do this? Everything in him screamed for it, to feel her again and take her as he had before. Yet, would the sessions be too much for him to bear? 

You will not know until you try.

It was a soft whisper, and he knew that whichever soul had uttered it was right. Elidibus grunted before he shifted and sheathed himself inside her. His eyes went wide as he felt the breath knocked out of him. The long moan from her was so sweet to hear, yet it barely registered. Hot, she was so hot around his length. It burned, moving from pleasure to pain and then back again. He couldn’t decide which was the prominent feeling. He needed a moment but knew he didn’t have long as he felt her legs wrap around his waist. 

Slowly he started to move. Small pants and grimaces were buried against her neck as his hands moved to hold hers above her head. The last thing he needed was her hands wandering to his back where the blisters were. He didn’t know whether to weep or moan as he continued with the slow pace. It kept shifting between pain and pleasure from moment to moment. It was maddening, yet this was all he wanted right now. He deserved the pain that came with it.

“More, please.”

The whine from her caused his eyes to squeeze shut before he started to go faster. It caused the burning to crackle and sink in deeper. Elidibus moaned softly though it almost sounded like a whine. He just needed to get through this, and it would be fine. A grunt left him before he started to lay kisses over her neck. The grunt turned into a gasp as he felt her becoming tighter around him. It burned, and then he felt like something broke within him, sending waves of sensations through him. It causes his body to lock up and yet shake at the same time.

The long moan that was nearly a scream let him know that she had fallen over that edge with him. His breath comes out in short gasps as he lay half on her. Small whimpers left him as the lines blurred again, and the burning shifted between pain and pleasure. Elidibus didn’t want to move. His body ached, and his only wish was to stay with her. His eyelids suddenly felt heavy.

A nap sounded good, and he could feel her starting to nod off. Slowly he pulled out, whimpering as he did so. Now that he was coming down from the high, every touch had returned to being painful. Elidibus didn’t actually care about that right now. All he cared about was that she was here and that he wanted to hold her. He was almost afraid this was some kind of cruel dream. That he would wake up and she would be gone, just another figment of his fractured mind.

Elidibus grabbed the blanket and pulled it over them. He would deal with the fabric not having a cooling charm on it. Once he lay down, his eyes fluttered closed. He didn’t even have to pull her close. She was already curling up against his chest. His arms wrapped around her even as his breath quickened for a moment. This pain was worth it. It was worth it to hold her again as she fell asleep. Even if he didn’t sleep, he would not move until she awoke. Thankfully he did eventually drift off into a very light sleep.