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justmeinadaze · 1 year

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Head Filled With Demons Part 2 (Steddie X You)

A/N: If you haven't read that first one please do! It explains some things. Again, I play fast and loose with demon mythology and some things that happen in Season 4 of Stranger Things.

By the way! You guys ask a lot of thought provoking questions :). I love it! I do want y'all to know I plan on answering any things I allude to in any of the chapters in future ones so dont worry <3

There is a scene where they are talking in her head. Eddie's dialogue will be in red.

Warnings: Demon Steddie X Human Female Reader, SMUT, this dips heavily into their dominate side (smacking, rough smut, choking, taunting, holding her wrists down, undermining names like "Little Girl".), there are mentions of the readers past relationships with other partners crossing the lines (very brief). FLUFF, they do open up a bit more with her and vise versa.

ANGST: Lots of Angst! We do learn more about why both demons were banished. There are two killings including the HER Eddie has mentioned. Readers father is sick, talks about losing her mother, this chapter does focus a lot on the grief of losing any kind of loved one <3, mentions of blackmail (in a vision) as well as a sick child (very brief, not described just mentioned).

Word Count: 7545

It’s so warm…why is it so warm?

As your eyes shoot open, you realize the room is on fire and you immediately jump out of bed. Bolting to your window, you try to pull it open but it won’t budge. The buildings outside are in just as bad a shape as you watch Hawkins residents run from the blazes that surround them.

“Dad?!”

Quickly, you run to open the door and head to your father’s room, shocked when you don’t find him there.

“Dad! Where are you?!”

Sprinting into the burning living room, your stopped by the presence of your two demons looking down at you with soft smiles.

“We told you what would happen, honey.”, Steve shrugs. “It’s kind of funny this is how we would go out, huh Ed?”

“No! I still have time!”

“No, sweetheart. You don’t…but you did the best you could.”

“Where…where’s my dad?”

They don’t answer as they continue to stare at you with those gentle brown eyes. It reminds you of how each of your parents looked at you when they told you they were sick; pain and empathy, mixed with…acceptance.

“You don’t have to stay here. Go to Oblivion. You said you could live there and be safe!”

Eddie stepped forward and tenderly ran his thumb along your bottom lip.

“I already lost one princess. I’m not losing another.”

Abruptly, he yanks you to his chest and wraps his arms tightly around you before you feel another set of limbs hook around your waist. The world around you seems to shake as the house caves in—

A gasp leaves your mouth as your body shoots up in your bed. Panting, you look around the room trying to find your bearings as you slowly begin to realize you’re safe and it was all just a dream.

On impulse, you reach out to the other side of the bed behind you only to realize Steve isn’t there; neither of them are. Sighing, you rise from the mattress and get ready for the day.

***

“I see Space Cadet is back.”, Carol mocks as she smacks her gum. “Are you going to work today or are you just going to stand there staring into the void?”

You glare at her, flashing a fake smile as you continue to fold the clothes in front of you.

“No one would blame you for killing that one.” You jump at the sound of Eddie’s voice. “After what she did to you and the fact that she still has the audacity to still be a bitch.”

“Plus, popping gum like that is fucking annoying.”

You smirk at Steve’s comment as you try not to look at either of them, not wanting to seem like a crazy person talking to yourself.

“Y/N! My office, please.”, your boss shouts from across the store.

“Geez, ok Dick, don’t need to yell.”, Eddie playfully whines as you head towards the back area.

“Hey Richard. Is something wrong?”

“Um, yes, Y/N there is but don’t worry we’re talking to everyone not just you. It seems that…”

His voice drones on as both demons lean against the wall behind him. “He’s not an innocent for sure. He blackmails women all the time who are caught shoplifting.” Steve snaps his fingers and you see a quick flash of your boss sauntering around the office you are currently in as a twenty-something year old girl sits with her arms folded.

“Now, I don’t want to call the police and I don’t have to…if you do something for me. A girl like you seems to be very good with her hands…”

“What do you think, Y/N?”

You rapidly shake your head and the image disappears. “Huh?”

“I asked if you noticed anything odd since we’ve been missing money from the till every night.’

“Oh! Um… no I haven’t but I’m also not here past six because of my dad…”

“That’s right. I’m sorry I completely forget that you look after him. Alright, just...you know…keep both eyes open.”

Politely nodding, you get up and leave the room as quickly as possible.

“You need a new job, sweetheart. Maybe after you save the world from the apocalypse you can find something better with people who aren’t douchebags.”

“That’s every customer service job though.”, you whisper.

“She’s not wrong.”, Steve chuckles. “It’s like hell before you go to hell.”

Turning to face the wall, you pretend to organize some of the items in front of you. “Have you two ever been there? Hell?”

“Steve, I’m starting to think she can’t read. No, Y/N. We’re from a different realm, remember. Completely different place.”

You scowl at him, stomping towards the backroom where no one could see you. As soon as you closed the door, they both appeared behind you.

“Why are you such an asshole to me? Aren’t you supposed to be like on my side or something? Didn’t that thing say you two were good at relieving stress?”

“I don’t know, you tell us. Did we do good last night?”

“That doesn’t give you license to be a jerk. And aren’t you supposed to be protecting me?”, you ask gesturing towards Steve.

“From physical harm, not your personal feelings.”

“Y/N!” You huff under your breath as Carol barges into the room. “Are you going to work today or what?!”

“No! No, Carol, I’m fucking not! I’m using some of my sick leave.”

“Y-you can’t do that!”

“I can’t? Well shit. I should stay here then. Maybe I can talk to Richard again about how great of an employee you are. I think he would love to hear about you fucking my boyfriend in the breakroom during business hours!”

“I-I-I…um…”

“Good. I’ll see you in a few days.” You give her a sassy wink as you storm out the front door.

########

You lean your head next to your mother’s gravestone as you exhale heavily.

“That was amazing. Watching you standing up for yourself like that.”, Steve softly smiled as they both sat next to you. When you didn’t respond, he glared at his friend and nudged him with his elbow.

“Y/N, I’m…ugh…I’m sorry for…hurting your feelings.” Eddie winces at the last word like it left a bad taste in his mouth.

“Have you always been mean like this?”

“Yes.”

“No.”

You giggle at their answers as you shift your body to face them a bit more.

“Were you ever mean to her? Your princess.”

The metalhead’s eyes clouded over with anger as he growled and turned away. “I told you not to talk about that. You don’t know anything about it.”

“That’s why I’m asking.” When he growls again, you sigh turning your attention towards the gravestone next to you. “When my mother died, it killed me to talk about her. I know that sounds dramatic but it’s true. Anytime anyone would come up to me and give me their condolences or talk about some memory with her it was like being stabbed in the chest. I would always think ‘The fuck do you know? She was my mom and meant so much to me.’ People only knew her for small moments…I knew her my whole life.”

When you glance at Eddie again, you notice his entire demeanor has changed. He’s still glaring at the ground but his face softened as he listened to you speak. His jaw tightened before his eyes closed and he snapped his fingers. Images filled your mind of a beautiful, bright world with the sun beaming on a mansion style home.

You heard sniffles from a figure sitting outside against the wall of the house. She was curled into a ball, crying into her arms as she hugged her knees to her chest.

“Are you alright?” The girl jumps at the sound of Eddie’s voice. “Sorry! I didn’t mean to startle you, princess. I just…wanted to see if you were okay.”

“Yeah, I’m…can I ask you something?”

He comes to her side and slides to the ground. “Of course.”

“Do you…ever feel like…you’re losing your mind?”

Eddie flashes her a toothy smile before playfully pouting out his lips. “Oh, you know…just on a daily basis.” As she laughs, his smile grows. He loved the sound of her laugh. “What’s going on, Chrissy?”

She gazes up at him with her big, beautiful eyes before curling up in his side. “My dad wants me to marry someone I don’t want to.” She began to cry harder as he pulled her tighter to him, resting his chin on her head. “I just want to be with you.”

The memory cleared and you were back in reality.

“She was gorgeous.”

“Yeah…she was.”

“Do you know what happened? To her I mean.”

“Does it matter?”, Eddie snapped. “She fucking died and they blamed me.”

Steve hesitated a bit before raising his fingers and snapping them together.

“Chris! Come on!”, Eddie whispers as he enters her room. “We need to go now, babe.”

His eyes scan the scene in front of him as his body freezes at the sight. Chrissy was on the floor with a knife in her chest as blood drenched the carpet around her. The weapon was one he had used before but gave to her so she’d feel safe.

“Baby?” He fell to his knees as he reached out to touch her face…she was gone. “N-no. No, no, no!” Eddie pulled out the knife and threw it across the room as he lifted her into his arms. “Wake up, princess, please! Please, baby. I need you.”

The doors to her room flew open as her father’s guards charged in; people he knew Chrissy considered like family.

“Come on, Edward. Don’t make this harder than it has to be.”

He tenderly kissed the princess’s forehead before slowly getting to his feet and bolting towards the hidden exit he entered through.

“You fucking asshole!” The memory shook from your mind as Eddie punched Steve in the arm. “Don’t you ever show her my memories again! You had no right!”

“To be fair, I got banished with you. I have every right.”

“Fuck you.”, he growled before abruptly disappearing.

“Where do you guys go when you vanish like that?”

Steve sighs as he gestures absently. “Around. We can’t go far but…”

“Do you blame him? For getting you kicked out of your home?”

Without any hesitation, he shakes his head and snaps his fingers again.

“Steven! How can you not know where he is?! He is your best friend!”

“Sire, trust me, I’ve looked for him. I want to talk to him to but he’s nowhere to be found.”

“Please…talk to him about what?! The only thing I want to hear from him is the sound of his screams when he’s tortured for all eternity.”

“Sire, if I may, he wouldn’t hurt her. They were friends.”

The king loses his composure and shoves the demon against the wall of his home. “I don’t give a fuck what they were. He KILLED my child. Now, either you bring him to me or you can join him in a cell. Personally, I don’t care where you end up.”

“I knew he didn’t do it. The three of us were friends. I saw the way they were together. She was always happier in his arms than anywhere else.”

Your heart breaks as you lean against his shoulder. “Did you ever have anyone you felt that way with?”

He grins as he leans back on his hands. “There was this girl I really fell for. Would you believe she ended up with a demon slayer?! Of all people!” His grin grows when you genuinely laugh. “Come on, honey. Let’s get you home.”

“You’re not going to harass me into killing someone tonight?”

“Not tonight. I think you earned a break.”

***

“Miss Y/L/N?”, the man greets you as you’re walking up the path to your house.

“Um, yes? Can I help you?”

“I’m Detective Hopper and I just wanted to ask you a couple of questions if that’s alright.”

“Oh, um, sure…of course.”

“Did you see anything strange last night or out of the ordinary? Maybe someone in the neighborhood you had never seen before.”

“Ah, no sir. I usually work until 6 and then I come home to take care of my father. He’s in bed most of the time so he wouldn’t have seen anything either.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. That he’s ill…not that he didn’t see anything… Look, here’s my card. If you remember something or if you see something suspicious just give me a call.”

“Yes, sir. Should I be worried? Did something happen?”

“Oh, nothing for you to be worried about ma’am. Just always make sure to think smart and stay safe.”

You nod and watch him get into his car before driving away.

“You wouldn’t want to kill him. He’s actually one of the few good people here.”, Eddie exhales in frustration. “You two have a lot in common though. His daughter got sick and passed away a few years after your mom.” As he raised his fingers to snap them, you quickly closed your hands around his.

“Please… not really something I want to see. I know what it feels like with a parent. I can’t imagine what he went through with a child and I don’t want to.”

He nods his head, affirming your request as you open your front door.

“Dad, what did I say? You’re supposed to be in bed.”, you whine as you take off your jacket and head towards him.

“In my defense, you weren’t supposed to be home for another hour.”, he chuckles. “Who are your friends?”

You freeze as you turn to give him your attention. He’s smiling directly at the demons in front of him but only you should be able to see them, right?

“My friends?”

“I know it’s been awhile since you’ve brought anyone over but yes, Y/N, friend.” Your dad rises to his feet and extends his hand to both of them, beaming proudly when they finally shake it. “What’s your name, boys?”

Holy shit. He can see them…

“I’m Steve and this is my friend Eddie.”

“Pleasure. How do you know my daughter? From work?”

“Something like that.”

“She’s never mentioned you but she doesn’t tell me much about that store to be honest. Well, I hope you’ll stay for dinner.”

“Which I will make in a bit. I just have to talk with them about something really fast here. Come on, guys.” You shove them towards your bedroom and shut the door. “Why can he see you?!”

“I, honestly, have no idea. Maybe family members can see us to.”

“Eddie, how stupid do you think I am? ‘Maybe family members can see…’ You two have been doing this for how long and you’ve never come across this before?!”

“No, we haven’t. I think more than anything though we should focus on the fact that we don’t eat.”

“Not food anyway.”, Eddie smiles coyly in your direction making you giggle.

“You’re so stupid. Ok, ok. I trust you. Um… you can’t eat any type of food?”

“No. We don’t get our energy that way like you humans do.”

“Shit.” You continue to think before clapping your hands. “I got it!”

###############

Your father laughed as he continued telling the demons the story of how he and your mom met. He loved to tell that story to anyone who would listen and to your surprise both of them did in fact listen. They seemed so entranced in his tale like little kids listening to an adult read them a book.

“I’m telling you, boys. I literally fell for her, flat on my face! She was so beautiful though… I couldn’t take my eyes off her when she went out onto that stage and danced. I remember thinking ‘what the hell would a ballerina want with a greaser like me’? She got so mad when I actually asked her that.”, he chuckled.

“Could she do the whole spinning on her toes thing?”, Steve asked as you came around to clear their dishes.

You had decided to make a meal that required bowls instead of plates so their meals wouldn’t be on display and they could hide the fact that they weren’t eating anything.

“She absolutely could. The first time she showed me, she explained how she was doing it like she was reading a phone book. Just so monotone!”

“Yeah, dancers have amazing strength in their legs and abs. Chrissy used do flips and stuff all around her house and I was just amazed.” Eddie paused then, realizing what he just said as he shifted his gaze down to the table.

When you sat back down, you placed your hand on his lap comfortingly. You dad sensed the change in tone, knowing it all too well.

“When my wife died…it was like getting hit by truck. We had so many more plans and things we wanted to do. I hate that we didn’t have more time but I’m so grateful for the time we had and the gift she gave me.”, he smiled as he gestured towards you. “No one can take those memories away from you, son. I’m sure while she was here you made her feel happy and loved.”

Eddie’s hand reached down to cover yours as he held your hand. You knew he was trying to not disappear again especially since your dad could see him. He as being forced to face this conversation and it was killing him.

Your father began to cough and you quickly ran to his bedroom, coming back with his medication.

“Stop! Don’t…don’t look at me like…like that. I’m fine.” You wrap your arms around his neck and he leans back into your hug. “Here…I’ve bothered your friends…enough. Go spend some time together…without this old man.”

“It was a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Y/L/N.” Steve politely grins down at him, Eddie doing the same. Before he can walkway though, your dad tugs on his hand.

“It’s…it’s ok to care about someone again…Eddie. You’re not replacing her…you’re just…opening your heart again.”

The demon gently pats his shoulder as he leaves him to head for your room.

***

You sat on your bed, fiddling with their stone as you continued to examine it.

“What’s it like for you guys in here?”

“We’re not genies, honey. We don’t literally live in the stone. It’s just a conduit, I guess you would call it.”

“We have kind of a whole little area to ourselves.”, Eddie adds.

“Can you show it to me?”

“Uh, unfortunately no, and trust me. You don’t want to see it.”

“Are you prisoners?”

Their eyes shoot up to fully look you over.

“I guess it depends on your definition of ‘prisoner’.”

A heavy sigh leaves your lips as you meet their gaze. “Are you happy?”

“I don’t really remember what happy feels like.” Steve turns to glance at his friend, taken aback by his honesty. “After she…Chris… died, I felt so lost. I didn’t know what to do so I ran. While we were wondering around the realms, by the time we found the one who gave us this task I was elated. At least we could finally stop moving around and just do this.”

“Steve?”

“When the princess was killed, everything changed. Home didn’t feel like home anymore.”

His fingers hovered in the air again, pausing before Eddie nodded and he snapped them together.

A front door burst open and Eddie was tossed violently to the ground at Steve’s feet.

“Found him trying to get in a boat and swim across the shoreline there.” One of the demons boasted as he held the wanted demon down with his boot. “This is it. Imagine how the king will reward us when we bring him the head of the demon who brutally slaughtered his daughter.”

Eddie flinched as he laughed.

“Wait. Who said anything about killing him here? We’re supposed to take him back alive.”

“I’m pretty sure his majesty won’t mind if we—”

As the demon kicked his friend, Steve shoved his chest knocking him back.

“No! We follow orders.”

“What do you care? Don’t get soft now just because he’s your best friend. I’ve seen you tear apart demons you’ve known longer than him just because you were told to.”

“That’s right. I was ordered to. Just like I’m ordered to bring him in, Jason.”

“The princess was your friend to. You saw what he did to her. Are you really going to let him get away with that? Don’t you want to fuck him up even a little bit?”

Steve looks down at his bleeding friend before growling low in his throat. “I do.”

“There we go! Let’s tie him up with that rope and—”

While the demon was talking, he made the mistake of allowing Steve to get behind him, giving him enough opportunity to ram his bat into his skull. Jason fell to his knees before slumping to the ground. He yanked his weapon back and pointed the end towards Eddie.

“What. Happened?”

“I-I don’t know. She was dead when I got there, Steven. I swear. I would never do anything to hurt her.”

His jaw clenched as he extended his arm for his friend to take.

You gasped as your reality came flooding back.

“Whoa! Are you okay?”

“Yeah, just…gore…not a fan. Even after—”

“Sorry. You get used to a story so much you kind of forget details like that.”, Steve chuckles. “So, yeah, I didn’t really care to go back home if everyone was going to be like that especially since one of my friends was dead and the other was banished.”

“Aw, I love you to, man.”, Eddie smiled as he patted his back before turning to look at you. “What?”

“Nothing. It’s just…you’re not like how I would expect demons to be…”

His grin grows as he covers the side of his face with his long hair. “Mean and scary?”

“Something like that.”, you giggle.

He and the other demon share a look and he knows without his friend having to say it; you are just like Chrissy.

“We can be mean if you’re into that.”, Steve winks.

“Oh, I don’t know. I’ve never… you don’t have to…”

“Don’t have to what?” His head tilts when you gesture towards your body, mimicking your movements. “I don’t know what this means. You have to say what you’re thinking out loud like a good girl.”

“You don’t have to…sleep with me again.”

“Did we sleep last night?”, Eddie asks playfully. “I don’t remember much sleeping.”

“Oh my God-goodness. I’m just saying you don’t have to! I’m not someone you have to please or whatever.”

“Why did you correct yourself just now?”, he inquires as he wiggles his finger in your direction. “You started to say God and then stopped. Why?”

“Um…I don’t know. I—”

“You’re a terrible liar.”, Steve laughs.

Your gaze shifts between theirs as their eyes heavily penetrate your own. “Eddie didn’t like it. I don’t want to offend you or anything.”

The demon softly smiles at your honest answer. “You listen. You are a good girl.” He turns to face his friend who leans his head against the wall behind him. “Now can we use her our way?”

A heavy exhale leaves your lips at his choice of words as they both focus back on you.

“What do you think, Y/N? You want to play the demon way?”

“Will-will it hurt?”

Steve shakes his head as Eddie grins. “Not unless you want it to.”

“Is, um, is there a safe word or something…”

“Do you feel like you need one?”

“I think you forget, sweetheart, that we can read you. We know where your boundaries are.” The metalhead looking boy snaps his fingers and you see a quick flash of all your sexual counters. None extremely worthwhile but a couple of times, men had crossed a line.

“Ow, Dean! Don’t bite me like that. It hurts.”

“Stupid whore. You like being fucked hard like this don’t you, slut?”

“Honestly, Kevin, you’re making me feel dirty not sexy.”

“Ow! Y/N! Jesus Christ, Stop!” The boy ducks as you try to smack him.

“You’re supposed to go slow, you asshole! Not just ram it in. I told you I’ve never done anal before!”

“Hm, thanks for that.”, you whine as you wave your hand in front of your face like it wipes the memories.

“We wouldn’t hurt you like that but, again, if it makes you more comfortable…”

“I…I trust you.”

They both smirk in your direction and a shiver runs down your spine to your core at the sight.

“So, I’ll ask again, do you want to play our way?”

“Yes.”

“Yes what?”

“Yes, Steve, I do…want to play the demon way.”

Both their heads straightened up as the smiles that had painted their beautiful faces began to fall as they starred at you. It felt like they were looking into your very soul and you couldn’t help but feel a little frightened.

“Alright, little girl. Let’s play.”, Steve growled wickedly as his fingers snapped and your world went dark.

#############

Your eyes snapped open as the breeze from outside hit your face. Rising to your feet, you realize you’re in a forest you’ve never been to.

“Have you ever done roleplay, Y/N?” You jump as Steve’s voice filled your head, quickly turning around to look for them and finding no one. “It’s ok, honey. You can scream and shout here. It’s part of the reason we chose this place.”

“We also kind of like the camp of it all. Demons fucking an innocent girl out in the middle of nowhere.”, Eddie giggles.

“Where are you?”

“Around.” This time they both chuckle as the wind around you picks up.

“I’m not innocent.”

“In life maybe not but sexually, sweetheart… You may as well be a virgin.”

“You of all people know I’m not a virgin.” When you turn around, you are suddenly met with Steve’s palm around your throat.

“We aren’t people, Y/N. Never forget that. Never forget that we are demons. We are above small beings like you. Do you understand me?”

“Yes.”

“Yes. WHAT. You better show us some respect, little girl.”

“Yes…sir…” You gasped for air as he threw you to the ground. He looked down at you with amusement when you sat up and clung to his leg like a scared child. Abruptly, you fall forward and just like that he’s gone.

“Aw, baby. Are you afraid?”

“No!”, you try to sound confident as you rise to your feet.

“You’re right. She’s a terrible liar.”

“What frightens you more, Y/N? The fact that you have no control or the fact that you like it?”

A ringed hand brushes lightly through your hair as lips gently kiss along your neck. When you turn your head to kiss them, you find yourself alone.

“Answer. Me.”

“I don’t know how to let go of that control.”

“We can show you how. We can show you a lot of things, princess, if you’ll let us.”

“Is that the ‘demon way’? I thought creatures like you just take what you want.”

“Creatures. I like that. Good choice of words, little one. It’s never quiet that simple. We can’t just take…it has to be offered.”

“Then…then take me.” The wind around you stops as the woods become silent. “You both deserve to feel good to after what you showed me. I gave you permission to do it your way. I trust you.”

“As you wish. Hey, honey?”

“Run.”

***

You didn’t need to be told twice as you ran in no particular direction. Hell, you didn’t even know where you were, you just needed to go. You imagined wherever you were headed, they were leading you there. You understood that you had just asked two lions to be their prey and the thought drove you wild.

Panting against a tree, you stopped to catch your breath. As you looked at your surroundings, a small rundown house that looked like it had long been abandoned suddenly came into a view. Carefully, you moved towards it, finding the front door open.

“Hello?”

No one responded except for the creaks in the wood as the wind quietly blew. Powerwalking towards the fridge you were grateful to find cold water within it…almost like it was left for you. You chugged down as much as you could until you felt your thirst was quenched, placing it back where you found it before beginning to look around.

There was really nothing of note that stood out. All the picture frames you passed were empty and besides the typical furniture there was no other decoration. As you glanced down the hallway, you noticed a faint light coming from one of the rooms and went to investigate.

There were candles strategically placed everywhere illuminating the bed in front of you. A sudden chill caused you to rub your arms, making you gasp when you realized your clothes you had on abruptly changed. When you looked down, you were no longer wearing jeans and a t-shirt but a red silk nightie with nothing underneath, no bra, panties, or even stockings for your feet. You felt extremely vulnerable but as you started to back out of the room, your back hit something hard.

“Took you long enough.” Eddie’s low, rough tone sent a shudder through your body. “Get lost?”, he asked as he grabbed your hair and pushed you to the floor. “I imagine your legs are probably tired from all that running. Don’t worry, we’re going to let your rest on your knees for a while.”

A naked Steve sauntered into view from the side, his large half hard cock now level with your face.

“Open up, little girl.” Your mouth had barely begun to widen before he shoved himself between your lips. His fingers gripped both sides of you head as he thrust his hips, pushing his length to the back of your throat making you gag. “Fuck, that’s it. Take it, honey. Take my dick like a good girl. Don’t forget about Eddie.”

Steve released you just long enough for the other now naked demon to thread his digits back into your hair as you wrapped your lips around his thick cock. He groaned at the feeling as you flattened your tongue and bobbed your head. “Good, baby. Keep stroking him. Last night was—mmm—was about you. Tonight is for us.”

As you alternated between them with your mouth and your hand, you felt your slick begin to drip down your thighs, your pussy desperately needing to be touched.

“Hey!”, Eddie growled as he yanked your hair back, forcing you to meet his angry eyes. “Did we tell you to move? Huh?! ANSWER ME!”

“No…no, sir. I’m sorry!”

“If no one told you to fucking move then why are grinding your hips like that?!”

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” Just like with his friend as soon as the demon let you go, you wrapped your body around his leg, holding him tightly. “I’m sorry.”

His large palm began to pet the top of your head making you feel like you were on the moon. He was accepting your apology; you were being forgiven. You were being good for them and right now that’s all you wanted, you wanted to please them.

Eddie’s arms slide under yours as he lifted you off the floor and carried you to the bed, throwing you on to it horizontally as if you weighed nothing. Tugging you to the edge, he took the base of his cock in his hand and slid it between your glistening folds.

“Fuck me. Are you really that desperate for us right now? Geez, Steven, these fucking humans are always so easy to please. Do you want my dick, Y/N?”

When you only nodded, his lust fueled eyes flicked above you before a hand flew across your cheek.

“Words, little girl. You answer him when he asks your something.” Steve’s massive fingers held your head in place, forcing you to stare at his friend.

“Pl-please. I want—mmm—I want your dick.”

“Yeah? Keep begging, Y/N, because I’m not sure that I believe you.”

“Please! Please, Edward. I want your thick cock inside of me. Make me cum, please.”

The demon’s head tilted at his correct name. Only other demons ever called him that but for many years now even he and Steve referred to him as Eddie. The last time someone else called him Edward was the last time he spoke to Chrissy.

“Something bad is about to happen! I know it!”

“Chris, baby, hey.”, he wrapped his arms around her to stop her from pacing. “Nothing bad is going to happen. I won’t let it.”

“My father is having the ceremony tomorrow. After that, I’m never going to see you.”, she cried into his chest as he held her tighter. “Henry won’t allow us to—”

“Sweetheart, fuck that pretty boy alright? I mean not literally but…” Eddie smiles when he feels her giggle. “Why don’t we leave? Huh? Run away with me.”

“Run where?”

“Anywhere! We can go further out or hell we can hop to other realms. Steven knows all about that.”

She pulls back, gazing up at him with nothing but adoration. “Ok.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. Let’s do it. Meet me here at midnight and we’ll go.”

He grins as he kisses her forehead and runs towards the hidden passage in her room. “I’ll see you tonight. I love you, you freak.”

Chrissy laughs harder as she shoos him with her hand. “I love you to, Edward. Now, go!”

“Hey…” His curls move as his head shakes at the feeling of your thumb caressing his skin. “Are you okay?”

Eddie blinks before grabbing your wrist and shoving it to the mattress. “Why did you call me that? Edward? Why?”

The demon’s abrupt insistence startled you as his face hovered over yours. “I-I-I was being respectful. S-S-Saying your name properly. I’m sorry, Eddie.”

A loud growl mixed with a grunt reverberated through his chest as he guided his cock a bit roughly into your entrance. He didn’t inch his way in this time, fully thrusting into you as your back and neck arched up at the intensity. The demon’s lips whisper into your ear as he began to slowly slam his waist into yours.

“You…you can call me that here, baby. I—f-fuck—I don’t mind. With pussy this good, you’re the only one who can.”

Your eyes rolled back at his words as you clenched around him. Standing again to his full height, Eddie held your legs open wide as he thrust into you. Knees straddled either side of your head as Steve’s cock came into view.

“Open your mouth, honey, and don’t move your head, okay?”

“Yes, sir.”

He grinned down at you before sliding his length between your lips. Your hands flew up to cling to his thighs as he began slowly fucking your face.

“Good—mmm—good girl, Y/N.”, Steve moaned as his palms reached out to play with your tits.

You couldn’t see much from the position they had you in but out of the corner of your watery eyes you could swear you saw Eddie pull Steve’s face to his shoulder as they both grunted at the feel of you. Did you see him place soft kisses along the tattoos splattered along the demon’s chest or was your mind playing tricks on you?

You barely had time to gather any more thoughts as Steve placed his fingers onto your clit, rubbing circles to match his friend’s pace.

Your eyes squeezed shut as you moaned around the demon in your mouth causing a deep growl to escape from his chest that startled you. His head quickly snapped down towards you sensing your fear and he promptly pulled his cock from your lips, pushing his body back so he could kiss you.

“It’s ok. You’re doing so good. That was a good sound, honey. Your mouth just feels so fucking amazing. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you like that.”, he whispered, gently trying to comfort you.

Eddie collapsed onto your body, rolling his hips roughly, tugging down the top half of your garment as he lightly licked and sucked on your nipple with his teeth. Steve leaned down to do the same with your other breast and you whimpered as you tried to keep pumping him with your fist.

“I’m…fuck…”

Eddie’s long tongue licked up your sweaty chest to your ear as his head fell beside yours.

“When you cum, princess, scream my name. Say it—mmm—say it the way you said it before.”

As his hips pounded into yours, you felt your body transport back to that floaty place before you were blinded by that white light and pulled back to earth by what could best be described as a lion’s snarl in your ear as you came.

“Fuck! Yes, Edward! Oh my…fuck, fuck, fuck!”

His rhythm sputtered as his fingers tangled in your hair and he released ropes of his seed inside of you as he grunted loudly. As he continued to lazily thrust into you, you tried to lift his head for a kiss but he hastily grabbed your wrist and held it against the bed.

“No…no, not yet. Give…give me a minute.”

“Are you okay?”, you asked and he nodded in response.

“I don’t …want to scare you. I just…need to calm down.”

“Please, Edward. Let me see you.”

He hesitated for a moment before letting you go and hovering his face above yours. Your fingers reached up to touch the splashes of demon skin that was displaying through his human one along his jawline. Eddie had to control every muscle in his body to keep from flinching. It had been a long while since anyone other than Steve had touched his original skin in anyway let alone as tenderly as you were.

When he had lifted his head, his eyes had remained closed knowing they were his real ones and not the ones he displayed for you.

“Can you open your eyes?”

Almost as if knowing what happen, Steve placed both palms on either side of your head again, holding you in place as the other demon sighed and did as you asked.

You squeaked in terror but they were both holding you down so you couldn’t move away. His red, glowing orbs tried to look anywhere else before the shimmering suddenly stopped and you were able to look directly into his irises.

“Why…why do they glow?”

“Uh, they do that when we’re angry.”

“Are you angry with me?”

His look softened at your question and you watched as the red changed to the brown, chocolate color eyes you had come to know over the past couple of days.

“No, sweetheart. Angry at myself for not being able to hold my appearance up for you.” His nose delicately bumped yours. “Hearing you say my name and then feeling your pussy cling to me like it does… I just couldn’t control myself there.”

Craning your neck, you leaned up to kiss his lips and he allowed it as he smiled against them. “I think it’s Steve’s turn. He’s been waiting very patiently to use you.” His eyebrows coyly raised as your cunt fluttered around him.

Arms slid under you, pulling you away from Eddie, and place you on your tummy as your face hits a pillow above you. Forcefully, the demon lifts your ass in the air, groaning as he breaches your entrance with his hard, leaking cock. Laying his body flat against yours pushes him deeper into your pussy, allowing access to sensitive areas within you that no one besides them could ever hit.

“Do—mmm—can I call you by your name?”, you whimpered as he slowly rolled his hips, bringing his dick almost all the way out before slamming it back in.

“Is that what you want, honey? Do—fuck me—do you think you deserve to?” Steve’s palm wrapped around your throat as he grunted into your ear. “Do you think you’ve earned the right, little one? Hm? Answer me.”

“Yes, yes I do, Steven.”

This must have been what hit Eddie so hard; he felt it as soon as you said his name. Hearing someone use his proper name after so long poked at the beast inside of him. It awakened a side he hadn’t utilized since his time in his own realm and it felt good. He wondered if what his friend had said about that mixed with you climax would really cause him to lose control like that. He had to find out.

Pushing up to his knees, he grabbed your wrists placing them behind your back as he pounded into you.

“When you cum, you scream my name like you did his. Do you hear me?”

“Y-yes. Fuck…please make me cum.”

For a few moments, only both your heavy pants and skin hitting skin were heard in the room but all the sudden, Eddie’s soothing, husky voice cut through. At first you didn’t understand why he was so far away until you realized…he wasn’t speaking to you but to Steve.

“You think she feels good now, wait until she says your name again. I’ve never felt anything like it. I don’t know what it is, Steve, but fucking hell.” Turning your head as much as you could, you noticed how his fingers ran over the demon’s hairy chest as he leaned his chin on his shoulder. “The thought is just making me hard all over again. If I could keep my dick inside her 24/7, I would.”

“St-Steven, I’m about to—”

Yanking on your hair, he pulls your back flush against him. “You say my name with confidence, little girl.” His other arm wrap around your front, holding you tightly to him as he thrust into you faster.

“Yes, Steven. Just like that, please. Don’t stop!”

Gravity left you and again you heard an animal’s rough growl before your face was pushed into the pillow as you came. The demon behind you pumped into you a few more times as red light flashed against the headboard in front of you and his spend warmed your insides.

He grunted, trying to catch his breath as both of them fell on either side of you. As soon as their heads hit the soft material, you blinked and found yourself back in your room at home. You tried to roll over so you could see him but Steve covered your eyes once you got to your back.

“No, no, honey. I think…what you’ve already seen is enough to give you trauma for the rest of your life. Let’s not add to it.”

“Can I touch you? At least since you don’t want me to see you.”

“You promise you’ll keep your eyes closed?”

“Yes, sir. I promise.”

Gradually, his hand left your eyes but you did as he asked, keeping them squeezed tight. Taking a hold of your wrist, he guided you to his face. Like Eddie, his skin was a rough material that was exposing itself mostly on his cheeks but unlike his friend, as you shifted to his hair your fingers ran into the horns protruding from his head. Steve seemed to have a lot more trouble keeping up appearances than the other demon.

After you were done touching him, he assumed you’d recoil away but you didn’t. Instead, your roaming digits traced down to the back of his neck and pulled him into a kiss that had him softly humming. As soon as you disconnected, you two opened your eyes and you were greeted with the amber ones he always displayed for you.

You curled up into your bed, reaching behind you to bring Eddie’s arm over your waist. It startled him at first but he finally settled into it as he nuzzled his face in your hair.

“Do those woods and house have any significance for you guys? Or was it just a random place?”

“The woods are from our realm. Eddie and I used to hang out there when we were growing up.”

“The house is just a house. We didn’t think you’d be comfortable on the dirty forest floor so that particular home is a combination of places we’ve been to.”

“Oh? Is considering my feelings the demon way?”, you grin as your eyes begin to drift.

“It’s our way. Remember, Y/N, we’re still here to serve you. We protect and guide you while you complete your task. Plus…”, Steve exhales as his fingers caress your cheek, eyes scanning you as you sleep. “Demons usually don’t hurt the ones they care about.”

“Ah,” Eddie chuckles softly. “So, you do feel it to? How different this go around feels.”

“She’s not like the others.”

“I know but, Steven, after she kills that last person, we’re gone. We’ll never see her again.”

“I know, Edward.”, he growls. “Let’s worry about that later. I’m sure when this is all over she’s going to end up hating us anyway.”

###########

@unfocused81 @tlclick73 @iaminlovewithdilfs @tiannamortis

@steeldaisies @goodhappyfriday @paleidiot

@fireeys-on-teller-dixon-grimes @strangerthings64

@howlingco @hellfire--cult

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bengiyo · 7 months

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The Sign Ep 12 (Finale) Stray Thoughts

It's been too long, so I barely remember where we are. We left at Tharn somehow maybe saving Phaya and getting stuck in a cave to maybe say goodbye because Chalothorn threatened him or whatever. Chart got caught for being undercover. The rest of the gang was lost in the woods. Anyway, let's finish this.

Wait, how are they successfully tracking anyone? I thought there was no phone service.

Oh lord don't start death flagging with promises about rings.

Damn, I feel bad for Chart. That final kick delivery was actually pretty good.

Bestie said they didn't need rope to get them out of the hole. The power of the Warrior's Bond and Yai's arms was enough.

I watch too much American action. The bullet stuff is giving recent Fast films.

Well, there goes Khem.

Why would they let Tharn run after them alone? He literally loses every fight.

Mhmm, see, Chalothorn had to intervene.

Montree still being afraid of Tharn came across clearly.

Damn, y'all ain't even shower before going back home?

Here we go. One last look at Babe's waistline before it ends.

Oof, the only thing Tharn responded to was an admission of his love.

Finally, 🍑

Oh, I liked that shot of the water leaking through the bed to show that Tharn was gone.

I feel like the grandma has always known more than she let on.

Did we really repeat the exact same death scenario? Chalothorn, you really suck at this. The circle remains unbroken.

I know Phaya's doctors have got to be frustrated that he keeps drowning.

Is Dao in France to cut down on filming schedule conflicts?

I love when dramas show the passage of time with facial hair.

So... Chalothorn just...got over it off screen?

Oh, a second season tag and Saint cameo. I guess?

Final Verdict: 5.5, Great Gowns, Beautiful Gowns. Overall, I just don't think the elements of this show ever really came together. I think the first two episodes of training and mythology teasers, along with the Lieutenant Tam mystery, made me expect these elements to circle and eventually converge in a more cohesive way. I also feel like some of the side stuff didn't really work. I thought some of the mythology about the Naga and Garuda was really interesting, but I didn't exactly feel the cycle they were stuck in playing out in this drama. I'm also hugely annoyed about the core angst evaporating off screen. So, in the end, I'll mostly remember it as copaganda.

That being said, I thought the cast chemistry was solid, and I really liked the execution and use of the CGI. I like that IdolFactory keeps trying more things, but I do think we need to get stronger script writers and editors in the room with a stronger say on the planning front.

#Ben watches #the sign the series #thai bl #bl series

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asteria7fics · 2 months

Note

How did you come up with the idea to make TSOB?

You know, I’m surprised to say that I don’t think I’ve answered this question on Tumblr before!

The short version that I tend to tell people is this: I was bored at work one night, working the closing shift, and I had an epiphany. I thought to myself, “Isn’t it weird that I take so much comfort in terrible characters? Like Agamemnon, and Cartman-… wait a damn minute!”

Seriously, it occurred to me that Agamemnon and Cartman actually had quite a few similarities, and then I realized that Kyle would make an excellent Achilles, and the rest was kind of history.

The long version? Well, how much time have you got?

I can’t really pinpoint the moment when I got really into Greek Mythology, and Classical/Ancient Greece in general, but it’s been an interest of mine for several years now.

I spent hours just exploring Greece in Assasin’s Creed Odyssey (as well as taking detailed notes in the historical tour mode), watched so many YouTube videos, read a great many books, etc.

Reading was actually where my love for the Trojan War in particular began. Idk man, there’s just something about those characters, and that conflict, that I adore.

I could give you a list of contemporary novels I’ve read and really enjoyed, but you didn’t come here for book recommendations ahaha so I’ll spare you the details, but suffice to say it was the only thing I read about for like a year.

Fast forward through a really intense k-pop obsession (it’s still a majority of the music I listen to. I’m listening to Ateez as we speak) and I’m in the throes of a new interest. Fucking South Park.

I really did just, get the idea one day. I was around season 15 of my first time watching the show (though I had a ton of stuff spoiled already, hence why I made Heidi and Cartman exes), and I had just started reading fanfiction. I had no intention of actually writing the damn thing, but the more I spitballed ideas with a few select coworkers, the more I realized the thing needed to be written.

Who else but my crazy ass would write this thing, really?

I suppose I should also add another, small piece of inspiration. Right before getting into South Park I actually decided to be surgically sterilized. I won’t go into detail as to why I made that choice, but the idea crossed my mind while developing the story to have a side plot where the adults are losing their minds over all their condoms going missing (because, yah know, they were needed for warfare!) and the whole town gets caught up in this big debate over if the man or the woman has the responsibility to be sterilized, should a cis & straight couple choose to be done having children.

Obviously this would have been a Randy and Sharon heavy debate, and I’m glad I didn’t include it as a proper plot point. In my mind though it does still occur, the kids are just totally oblivious to it. Likewise, the adults are totally oblivious to how ridiculous their kids play war is getting, until of course there are real consequences to the whole thing.

There’s one bit that alludes to it, when Annie has gone to the little girl’s house to discuss getting her Switch back and the girl’s parents are arguing about something they ‘don’t understand’. A fun remnant of a plot point that didn’t quite make it in!

Anyway, I’ve already broken down the story beats and how they correlate with the original text in this post, though if you were wondering where Cartman and Heidi canonically get their inspiration, I like to imagine they binged this show while they were together. It’s actually a pretty entertaining retelling, I would definitely recommend it to a casual enjoyer of Greek Myths!

Wow, that was a lot! If you actually read all of that, thank you!

And thank you for this ask, friend! (ෆ˙ᵕ˙ෆ)♡

#ask asteria #asteria lore drop #this was fun to think about!#I don’t get to revisit TSOB often #so all the asks related to it lately have been lovely!#Thank you guys for taking an interest in my work!#TSOB #The Song of Broflovski

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gorgonarcher · 5 months

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10th Game - Scion 2e

A bit strange that it took me this long to get around to doing Scion 2e. But anyway, let's move on.

Scion is a game set in a modern day where all the mythologies of the world are true, even those that contradict each other. Correction: especially those that contradict each other.

Oddly, there is not a specific template for gorgons yet. Here are the options we could do:

A scion of a godly or titanic patron.

A denizen, a supernatural being but one without a patron.

A dragon of the naga wing, because they have multiple heads.

The system sort of differentiates gods and titans, but also says they can use each others powers, and lore implies that the distinction is largely more political than actual.

I'm going to go with the Godly/Titanic scion.

Step 1 - Concept

For concept we come to the basic idea of who the character is "gorgon archer" is a good seed, but we need to flesh it out a little bit here.

In this case, I'm going to go with the Theoi (Greek Gods). I've done prior versions of gorgons that were associated with either the Orisha and also as an independent tutelary scion devoted to protecting the impoverished.

In this case, where the supernatural is public, I'm going to say that she's been known as a gorgon her entire life and received some disdain for it, and as she's grown up she's been taken in by a goddess associated with the Liminal.

We're also supposed to choose some Deeds here. Deeds are goals that we have for the character over the course of play. They are a mix of the character's goals and our narrative goals for things we want them to face. So it could be "track down my father's killer" or "lose a fight."

By RAW we would create three of these Deeds. So each player would have one each of the following:

One Short Term Deed - something that can be completed within a single session.

One Long Term Deed - something that would take a story-arc to complete.

One Band Deed - something that may take several one or more story arcs to complete and is shared across every character in the same Band.

You get experience for completing these.

In any session you complete one or more Short Term Deeds, you gain 1 XP.

In any session where every player completes at least one Short Term Deed, everybody gains a bonus 1 XP.

In any session where you complete a Long Term Deed you get either 2 XP or 3 XP. This is based on how powerful you already are. Legend 0 "Origin" characters gain 2 XP. Legend 1 and higher characters gain 3 XP.

Once you gain experience for a Long Term Deed, you cannot gain experience for another until everybody in the party has completed one each of Short Term, Long Term, and Band Deeds.

------

My group tends to further homebrew this as follows:

You can have up to 3 Short-Term Deeds active at once and may switch some out at session start if they no longer feel relevant.

You can refill a list of 3 Short-Term Deeds once everybody has completed one-each of all three scales of Deed, just like for Long-Term bonuses.

The multiple Short-Term deeds is meant to provide a variety of RP options rather than laser focus on one. The limit of refilling them is to make sure no one advances far past the other players.

We're going not to use this homebrew, but I just wanted to note it.

------

So, for this character's three Deeds:

Short Term: Make an impressive shot.

Long Term: Prove yourself a champion to outcasts.

Step 2 - Paths

Now we move on to Paths which is where we establish some of the narrative backstory of the character. While there is no hard and fast rule as to what these Paths represent, the default suggestion is as follows:

Origin Path - Your upbringing and where you come from.

Role Path - What sort of skills and occupation you have.

Society/Pantheon Path - The overall society you're associated with.

Each of these paths will contain of the following:

A title that summarizes this facet of your character.

A set of three skills.

Group, contact, and access connections, people you know and places you can go.

A condition that occurs will you stress your connection to this Path too far.

I'm going to start with the Origin Path and define it as follows based on the example Suburbia origin path from the book:

Suburban Gorgon Outcast

Skills: Culture, Empathy, Technology

Contacts: Gamer clubs, the weird kids, FLGS, Doc Albricht her general practitioner that treated her and helped her deal with bullies.

Going with the default conditions of "suspended" and "revoked' for if she stresses her contacts too hard.

For Role, I'm going to go with the following as a custom made Path:

LARPing Cozy-Witch

Skills: Athletics, Occult, Culture

Contacts: Local LARPIng society, coven of witches, Martha Marrero archery and HEMA instructor.

Same default conditions of "suspended" and "revoked".

For Society, I'm going with the Theoi base, of course, which gives Athletics, Persuasion, and one my choice. And I'm going to imply her patron in the title.

Found on the Crossroads

Skills: Athletics, Persuasion, Occult

Contacts: Temple of Hecate, Isaac Finch, servant of Hecate

Same default conditions of "suspended" and "revoked".

As a note, the game allows you to have any number of Paths you want, but only three of them affect skills and it gets increasingly difficult to make each path significant to your character. So it advises not going past six paths, just for the simplicity of making sure they all stay relevant to the narrative. The leeway is probably because some of the birthrights you can take on basically function as extra Paths.

We need to prioritize these so I'm going to do so as follows:

Primary: LARPing Cozy-Witch

Secondary: Suburban Gorgon Outcast

Tertiary: Found on the Crossroads

This is going to be important in the next step.

Step 3 - Skills

We're going to set our starting skill levels. We'll get more points to add to these later and add some character, but this is what we're starting with.

This is pretty easy.

The skills associated with the Primary path get 3 dots. Those associated with the Secondary path get 2 dots. Those associated with the Tertiary path get 1 dot. These get added up to a maximum of 5. If any skill goes above 5 (which I don't think will happen here) then the excess can be applied wherever we want. Any skill with a level of 3 or higher gets a specialty associated with it.

As such this is what we get:

Culture 5 (Primary and Secondary paths)

Occult 4 (Primary and Tertiary paths)

Technology 2 (Secondary path)

Athletics 4 (Primary and Tertiary paths)

Empathy 2 (Secondary path)

Persuasion 1 (Tertiary path)

Athletics is the combat skill associated with archery. For Specialties we're going with the following:

Culture (Activism)

Occult (Witchcraft)

Athletics (Archery)

As a note, by RAW these would be the only free specialty the character gets, but my group plays such that the first time you hit 3 in a skill at any time, you get one free specialty. That might apply here when we get to the free points later on in the character creation section. For now we're finished with Skills.

Step 4 - Attributes

Scion uses the 3x3 grid of attributes traditionally found in Storyteller games. Which makes sense given that Storypath was developed out of Storyteller. This is another case of prioritizing stats.

We have:

Three Arenas: Physical, Mental Social

Three Approaches: Force, Finesse, Resilience

We assign these by choosing:

The priority of our Arenas.

Naming a favored Approach.

This gives us the following:

1 free dot in each Attribute.

2 free dots in each Attribute in the Favored Approach.

6 dots to distribute to the attributes in the Primary Arena

4 dots to distribute to the attributes in the Secondary Arena

2 dots to distribute to the attributes in the Tertiary Arena

I'm going to break my standard here and actually put her archery a bit on the lower end and make Physical her tertiary approach, Social her primary approach, and Mental her secondary approach. For Favored Approach, I think I'm going to go with Resilience since we I've established her as having weathered a lot of bullying.

And that will result in the following:

Physical Force: Might 1

Physical Finesse: Dexterity 3

Physical Resilience: Stamina 3

Mental Force: Intellect 3

Mental Finesse: Cunning 2

Mental Resilience: Resolve 4

Social Force: Presence 4

Social Finesse: Manipulation 3

Social Resilience: Composure 4

I usually distinguish favored dots with a different color and use a tiered list rather than labeling things as "Physical Force" but tumblr doesn't do that well. So I was limited to what you see and marking the Favored Approach by marking those three attributes with bold/italic.

That handles Attributes for now.

Step 5 - Callings and Knacks

Now, this is the first time we end up to a step where there's a difference based on whether you are building an Origin or Hero character.

An Origin character would get one Calling from her among her patron's favored callings and a Hero character will three Callings, one of which should be from their patron's favored callings.

I usually start from Origin and move from there, but in this case, I'm going to assume a Hero character.

This is where I'm going to say that the character's patron is Hecate, hence "Found at the Crossroads". Hecate's callings are Healing, Liminal, and Sage. I want Sage. For the second, I'm going to take an optional Calling from the Realms of Mystery and Magic supplement: Psychopomp. For the third, I'm choosing between Lover and Leader, and I think I'm going with Lover.

Note: I was going to take the Healing calling, but it is almost all about physical healing and I wanted to focus on emotional healing.

I thought about taking Titan callings, but the closest would be Monster and I don't feel this character is about predation. The way she's shaping up, she's more about sheltering.

So, one Calling gets two dots and the other two each get one dot. Callings can not be increased with XP, they only go up as Legend goes up and that goes up based on completing Deeds (each time you complete set of one Short, one Long, and one Band your Legend goes up by 1.)

I'm assigning as follows:

Lover *

Sage *

Psychopomp **

Now, each Calling gets a number of Knacks equal to their dots in that Calling. You can purchase others via experience, but your dots limit how many you can have access.

By RAW, an "Immortal" knack counts as two dots in character creation and how many they count as for being active, but they cost the same amount of experience points as a Heroic knack. So usually, my group house rules that you can take two Immortal knacks if you want, you'll still only be able to slot one at a time but you get a choice. I'm not expecting to pick Immortal knacks anyway, so this isn't going to affect this character, but did like to say it.

There are also a number of generic knacks that we can select from that I may also take. These can be slotted into any Calling we want, but do fill a slot.

So, I'm thinking of taking these Knacks:

Lover: Soothing Presence

Sage: Presence of Magic

Psychopomp: Cracking the Egg, This Isn't Everything You Are

(yes, there is an official Knack called "Cracking the Egg")

This allows her to:

Soothe feelings in an area, though this moves things toward a calmer degree so it calms positive attitudes as well as negative ones.

Detect magical and sacred energies without needing to roll.

Help encourage someone accomplish a change in their personal state and help people breaking out of a rut.

Another thing that goes with Callings are keywords and titles. Each dot in a Calling gives the Scion one keyword related to that Calling and each point of Legend (Heroic starts at 1) you get a Title which must include at least one of your keywords. Keywords and Titles can be invoked in play to improve your rolls. There is a list of examples, but you are encouraged to make up your own. Titles especially are going to be unique to each character.

So, this is what I'm going with:

Lover: Cozy

Sage: Witch

Psychopomp: Guide, Compassionate

And for her title I'm going to go with the following:

The Cozy Gorgon

It's very simple, but sometimes that's the best sort of title. I was going to get a bit clever and try to force a "Cozy Gamer" / "Cozy Gorgon" pun in there like "Gor-Gamer" but no... that sounds bad.

So... now moving on to the next step.

Step 6 - Birthrights

This is a step that doesn't happen if you're making an Origin character, because you don't normally get these until you hit Legend 1. That said, it is possible for an Origin character to start with some Birthrights as the "Finishing Touches" step provides that option, but all Heroic characters have a few Birthrights.

Birthrights in the core book include the following:

Creatures, strange supernatural beings that can perform tasks for the Scion.

Followers, people and beings that cooperate with the Scion on the scene. (Sort of function like equipment from a mechanical standpoint)

Guides, mentors and advisors, these act as extra paths and can give you access to extra purviews and callings.

Relics, magical or sacred objects associated with you directly.

Birthrights from other supplements include:

Cult, a sort of blend of Guides and Followers, people you have a responsibility to. (Mysteries of the World)

Covenant, an oath to stand for and protect a particular place or group of people. (Mysteries of the World)

Sanctum, a holy space sacred to the character, but mainly associated with Demigods rather than Heroes, so that's at Legend 5. We'll leave that alone for now. (Scion: Demigod)

A newly created Heroic Scion gets seven dots to distribute between Birthrights. I'm doing the following:

Guide 3

Relic 3

Cult 1

I'm going to hold off on designing the Cult for now, because I might add to that rating in Finishing Touches, for the others...

A Guide comes with a name, unique stunt, and Asset skills automatically. One Asset Skill at 1 dot, and two Asset skills at 2 dots. For each dot above 2 we can choose bonus Purviews, Callings, or Legendary Titles we can use as long as we have a good relationship with our guide.

Guide - Kaitlin DeVere, experienced witch

Asset Skills: Empathy, Occult

Purview: Wild

Stunt: Touch the Heart (1-3 successes) on a successful Empathy or Occult roll involving another person, you can spend extra successes to gain an enhancement bonus to your next attempt to adjust their Attitude toward you.

In this case, her guide has taught her how to reach out to the magic of nature. Probably Kaitlin is a sorcerer rather than a scion, so the scion (who we have not yet named) and she will interact with magic differently. Since one uses magic and the other is magic. The stunt lets her navigate emotional waters a bit more easily.

Now, for the Relic.

Relic - Caduceus Tatoo

Innate - This is physically part of her.

Purviews - Health, Passion (Compassion)

Motif - Turn Poison to Cure

She has a large tattoo of a pair of entwined snakes forming a caduceus on her back. The "Innate" aspect is not a RAW option, but it has been bandied about as worth about 1 Dot on forums for a while. The Purviews in the Core book each cost about 1 dot of Relic.

When a relic gives purviews, then it requries a Motif to explain how the relic's magic takes shape. So, in this case, the magic she does through her tattoo must be themed somehow with curatives or taking something toxic and purifying it. She may also require to have poisons and toxins on hand to make curatives out of them since that's how her magic works.

Not sure I thought that through... but its very thematic to a gorgon given the whole thing about blood that could be poison or cure.

As a note, all Pantheons have an innate motif to explain how they perform magic themselves. But I'll get to that in step 8.

Yes, I know we've done precious little of the archery so far, I'll get to that later.

As a note, if someone where to somehow steal her tattoo, they'd have access to its powers. There's likely magic that can do that along with more physical means.

And again, I'll handle the Cult later.

Step 7 - Purviews

As with birthrights, this isn't something an Origin character gets. Even more so than Birthrights since Purviews require Legend to use and Origin characters are Legend 0.

In any case, a starting Heroic Scion gains their Pantheon purview and one other Purview inherited from their Patron. For this character, that would be:

Metamorphosis (Theoi Pantheon Purview)

Fortune

So, this character is a bit about fate, prophecy, and foretelling and she has the ability to transform people and things.

This means our gorgon's purviews are these:

Metamorphosis (Pantheon)

Fortune (Innate)

Health (Relic Tattoo)

Passion: Compassion (Relic Tattoo)

Wild (Guide Kaitlin DeVere)

Each of these comes with a basic innate power:

Metamorphosis: Trivial characters never see through her disguises, and she suffers no Complications for changing identity regarding height, age, gender, ethnicity, or other things. Essentially, she is mutable by nature.

Fortune: Sense Fatebindings and know who is bound to whom though not necessarily the nature of the bond. She can also tell when Prophets and Sorcerers use their powers to change fate.

Health: Once per session recovers one Legend when you successfully treat a storyguide ally (NPC) and resolve an injury or ailment condition.

Passion: Enhancement of 3 to Assess emotions in people around you. And can intuit when people have Bonds with each other.

Wild: Ignore any natural plant based hazards and gain 2 Enhancement toward stealth in areas with a lot of plant growth.

Regarding Fortune detecting Fatebindings and Passion detecting Bonds.

These are separate things.

A Fatebinding means that Fate has decided that these two people should have X relationship and it will constantly throw up coincidences to encourage that relationship. Like if the Fatebinding relates to a romantic situation, then they will constantly find themselves in situations that heighten the other person's attractiveness as a partner. If it decides they're going to be rivals, then they will constantly find themselves in competition somehow. It doesn't mind control the people involved, but does play matchmaker.

Bonds are the emotional bonds and loyalties that people have actually formed between each other.

It is entirely possible to have a Bond that seems counter to a Fatebinding you have with the same person. Like fated Rivals might really enjoy the competition and form a Bond of love between each other.

Step 8 - Boons

The third step that comes for Heroic Scions that Origin Scions can't get. Like with Callings, a Scion gains new Boons as their Legend gets higher. So let's explain what Boons are.

Purviews are the way Scions shape their magic. As we discussed earlier, each pantheon performs their magic through different means. For the Theoi the motif is:

The most high may grant their favor to those who beseech them.

Which means that in order to perform magic, our gorgon needs to call on the gods by name. As her Legend gets higher, she will eventually be able to call on herself.

The normal way this works mechanically is to RP the invocation or other motif and then perform what is called a Marvel which are improvised magical effects like creating magical attacks, placing blessings or curses, changing the environment, or otherwise performing strange esoterica.

Boons are basically specialized and more efficient applications of Marvels. These are specific applications of magic that your scion is especially good with. A Heroic Scion starts with two Boons and gains more as their Legend goes up. You cannot increase them with Experience.

To review, these are our gorgon's purviews:

Metamorphosis (Pantheon)

Fortune (Innate)

Health (Relic Tattoo)

Passion: Compassion (Relic Tattoo)

Wild (Guide Kaitlin DeVere)

We can only take two Boons.

Also, note that "Passion" is noted as "Compassion". Some Purviews imply a specialization. This includes Passion, which could be things like Joy, Rage, Fear, or any other emotion and Beasts, which would name specific type of creatures.

Boons are supposed to be powers you make up for yourself, but also you're allowed to use existing example Boons but theme them to other Purviews. In this case I'm going to re-work "Heaven's Fire", a boon from the Fire purview made to efficiently create a way to attack and re-work it into something like the Gorgon's Gaze attached to Metamorphosis. It's a bit counter to her healer's theme, but I had the opportunity to work in the gorgon gaze, so I took it.

For the second Boon I'm taking Healing Hands which allows for healing physical injuries, diseases, and other such things. This extends to mental illnesses to a degree, but the implication is it only affects conditions that are, by their nature, temporary. So she might cleanse someone of the immediate shock of encountering something terrifying, which might prevent PTSD developing but if PTSD has already set in, that wouldn't be so easily fixed. She can also cleanse magically induced mental illnesses.

Personally, my favorite thing for healing long-term conditions from Scion is a Sorcerer technique where you cause the illness to manifest as a creature which you can then beat up. So, you can literally summon your friend's anxiety and beat it up so it leaves your friend alone. The urge to beat up my mental quirks is incredibly relatable.

So her boons are:

Metamorphosis: Gorgon's Gaze (Reworked Heaven's Fire)

Health: Healing Hands

Every other Purview operates through basic Marvels. So, she could still attack via Wild, but it would be more expensive than using her Gorgon's Gaze.

Step Nine - Finishing Touches

We've come back to places the Origin Scions also do... somewhat.

First, there are some Finishing Touches that Heroic Scions have that Origin Scions don't:

Legend - Every Origin Scion has Legend 0 and starting Heroic Scions have Legend 1

Virtues - Origin Scions don't have virtues yet. Heroic Scions start in the middle of their sliding scale.

For the Theoi, their two Virtues are Egoism versus Kinship. They're a quarrelsome family but they are a family and will defend each other when it comes down to it. When our gorgon acts to support her loved ones and friends, she'll slide toward Kinship. When she acts for herself, she'll slide toward Egoism.

As a note, the virtues for each pantheon aren't a matter of good vs bad. Even with Egoism vs Kinship, there's danger in sacrificing too much of yourself to the people around you and there's times you have to act for yourself. When someone is at one extreme or the other, there are certain benefits, but it does mean they are prone to some unreasonable behavior.

Virtue is a sliding scale with five positions. For simplicity and ease, going to note that as a number from -2 to 2, but she starts at 0 by default.

We already touched upon other elements of Legend in the section on Calling (her Title and Keywords) But this brings her to:

Legend 1

Virtue: Egoism vs Kinship 0

We also determine Health and Defense.

All scions get a Bruised, Injured, Maimed and Taken Out slot, plus one Bruised slot if Stamina is 3-4 or two additional for Stamina 5. Our character has Stamina 3 so she gets an extra Bruised level.

For comparisons, mooks in this game usually are taken out by 1 level of damage and Scions require between four and six levels at character creation. For this gorgon it looks like this:

Bruised

Injured

Maimed

Taken Out

As these are filled, they will be named relative to the condition suffered like "grazed", "twisted ankle" or "contact burn" for minor things and "broken arm" or "third degree burns" as things get more serious.

Defense is based on how the character chooses to defend themselves but will be equal to which ever Resilience attribute best applies. So this gorgon's defense will range from 3-4 based on whether she uses Stamina, Composure, or Resolve.

Now, also at this stage we get:

5 more Skill points

1 more attribute point

A choice of 2 more knacks or 4 points of Birthrights.

For the skills we're going to do the following:

As such this is what we get:

Culture 5 (Activism)

Occult 4 (Witchcraft)

Technology 2

Athletics 4 (Archery)

Empathy 3 (Stress)

Persuasion 1

Medicine 2

Integrity 2

For the Attribute point, I'm going with the following:

And that will result in the following:

Might 1

Dexterity 3

Stamina 3

Intellect 3

Cunning 2

Resolve 4

Presence 5

Manipulation 3

Composure 4

So just going to max out her Presence here.

I'm also choosing to gain 4 Birthright points and assigning them as follows:

Cult +3 (total 4)

Relic 1

The Relic is a simple one, I'm just adding an extra Tag to the basic Longbow.

Soporific Bow: Arcing, Ranged, Two-Handed, Stun

The Stun is the extra tag here and it means that this bow can never kill anyone. At worst, it will knock someone unconscious. Bows normally have the 0 point tag Lethal instead of the 1 point tag Stun.

For the Cult, I said we'd get to this later, we have a total of four points.

So, this is the cult that our Scion is part of... and I'm going to name her here as "Taylor Quinn" because I've vaguely had cozy-gamer "TQ" in mind here this entire time. To be clear, I don't know what "TQ" stands for because I'm not a friend, at most I've seen her on Desert Bus or her own stream, or follow her on Twitter. But also there is a "Taylor" who is a major NPC on the Beacon Alien RPG actual play by the Streampunks (and you'll find other names from that show in this character) and maybe a passing reference to Kathleen DeVere in there as well.

My brain is simple, while I was writing this, I was watching Beacon and TQ was being active on Twitter. So....

Anyway... back to character gen.

So, this Cult is going to be one led by Kaitlin DeVere, her witchy Guide, and one that has recognized her as a sacred being chosen by Hecate. She has responsibilities to help them and they have responsibilities to her as well. I envision this as a healthy and mutually supportive cult. Probably a bunch of people that similarly felt outcast that came together as a found family.

As a note, Cult in Scion does not have the negative connotation that it does in real life. Any sort of religious organization is a cult, even if they are religious in name only, such as doing little more than patting a statue of Hermes on the way into work each day.

Anyway, back to mechanics. Cult provides the following:

Cult 1 provides a Foundation choice of Community (1 Light, 1 Shadow), Conspiracy (2 Shadow), or Company (2 Light)

Each point beyond 1 adds either 1 Light or 1 Shadow.

Three Asset Skills related to the cult.

A single Tag

A list of responsibilities for the Scion has.

Light represents public resources of the cult and Shadow represents private ones. Each point of Light must be assigned to:

Connections - 1 point per

Followers - 2 points per

Tags - 1 point per

I'm going to say the Skills associated with Taylor's Cult are: Occult, Technology, Culture and say they do a mix of game streaming and advice on witchcraft and supernatural issues. They're associated with Hecate specifically so they're a Theoi-based cult.

I think they're a Community with both private and public elements.

The tags available are as follows:

Coven - Good at finding secrets, keeps the Scion's secrets

Guild - lets you invoke Light contacts an extra time

Family Tradition - invoke Shadow access connections an extra time

Historians - Good at finding info on enemies, very traditional

Mystery Society - Light and Shadow are tracked separately for invoking

Reliquarians - borrow relics

Social Club - Invoke Shadow contacts an extra time

Temple - invoke any access connection an extra time as long as you're physically in a temple

I think since we're starting this as a public facing streaming group, we'll start this with the Guild tag.

Assigning Shadow and Light I think we're looking at:

Community base - 1 Light and 1 Shadow

Add 2 Light points

Add 1 Shadow point

Total: 3 Light and 2 Shadow

And then I think we'll assign those 5 points as follows:

Followers 1: Stream support (Consultant, Group)

Light Access: Fanbase, the fans of their gaming and occult-advice streams

Shadow Access: Private Housing, places to stay when need time out of public sight.

Extra Tag: Coven

There's one more thing I'm going to do and that's borrow and rework a persistent Condition from the Kitsune denizen. The original condition was this:

Fox Tail - You have a tail. It is fluffy.

And the version for this will be:

Snake Hair - You have snakes for hair. They are hissy.

And that leaves the total package as follows:

Taylor Quinn - Starter Hero

Role Path: LARPing Cozy Witch

Origin Path: Suburban Gorgon Outcast

Pantheon Path: Found at the Crossroads

Pantheon: Theoi

Patron: Hecate

Legend 1

Title: The Cozy Gorgon

Egoism vs Kinship: 0

Short Term Deed: Make an impressive shot.

Long Term Deed: Prove yourself a champion to outcasts.

Band Deed: (Blank)

Skills

Culture 5 (Activism)

Occult 4 (Witchcraft)

Technology 2

Athletics 4 (Archery)

Empathy 3 (Stress)

Persuasion 1

Medicine 2

Integrity 2

Attributes

(Resilience Favored, Social Primary, Mental Secondary, Physical Tertiary)

Might 1

Dexterity 3

Stamina 3

Intellect 3

Cunning 2

Resolve 4

Presence 5

Manipulation 3

Composure 4

Callings & Keywords

Lover 1 (Cozy)

Sage 1 (Witch)

Psychopomp 2 (Guide, Compassionate)

Knacks

Lover: Soothing Presence

Sage: Presence of Magic

Psychopomp: Cracking the Egg, This Isn't Everything You Are

Birthrights

The Crossroad Streamers - Cult 4

Community

Light 3, Shadow 2

Coven, Guild

Light Access: Fanbase

Shadow Access: Private Residences

The Soporific Bow - Relic 1

Longbow (Arcing, Ranged, Two-Handed, Stun)

Caduceus Tattoo - Relic 3

Innate - Part of her

Purviews: Health, Passion (Compassion)

Kaitlin DeVere, Experienced Witch - Guide 3

Asset Skills: Empathy, Occult

Purview: Wild

Purviews & Boons

Metamorphosis (Gorgon's Gaze)

Fortune

Health (Healing Hands)

Passion: Compassion

Wild

Health:

Bruised

Injured

Maimed

Taken out

Defense: 3-4 depending on how it is RPed

#character creation #ttrpg #roleplaying games #tabletop roleplaying game #gorgon archer #gorgons #tabletop rpg #archer #gorgon #tabletop rpgs #Scion 2e #onyx path publishing #urban fantasy

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brightbeautifulthings · 5 months

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Smolder by Laurell K. Hamilton

"'Helplessness in the face of tragedy is hard for people like us,' Jake said. I looked at him. 'People like us?' 'People of action, warriors. Our weapons protect us and those we care for; when our skills fail us and we lose lives, it is hard. It erodes some of our sense of self.'"

Year Read: 2024

Rating: 4/5

About: There are overall spoilers for the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series ahead. Tough as nails vampire slayer Anita Blake's wedding to the king of American vampires, Jean-Claude, is fast approaching, but so are the threats against their people. A killer targeting vampires by exposing them to sunlight while they rest may have bigger designs, and family issues, wedding fittings, and date night are interrupted by an ancient evil come to take Jean-Claude's seat of power for itself. Trigger warnings: death, fire, mental health issues abound, jealousy/possessiveness and toxic relationships (countered). NSFW content.

Thoughts: This late in the series, the books are kind of hit or miss, but I liked Smolder a bit more than the last few in the series. While it's smaller in size, it does still fall into some of the pacing and irrelevancy problems of having so. many. damn. characters, but I'm accepting that as a matter of course at this point. Toward the end, it literally takes characters several chapters just to change locations because every time they turn a corner, a new character has to shovel sixteen emotional issues before they can pass. With this many partners in the polycule, I think they need weekly meetings just so everyone can air their grievances at a convenient time instead of, you know, in the middle of a crisis.

It does seem like there are genuine efforts to balance character development with plot here though. Anita is introduced to a new supernatural murder case that, while small in scope in this particular crime scene, is set up to potentially take a larger role on the future. There's also a Big Bad introduced that, miraculously, isn't resolved and defeated in three pages. I don't think we've had a villain span more than one book since the Mother of all Darkness, and I'm really excited to see this play out in more depth. It plays on some fun mythology elements and is scary enough to catch even Edward's interest. There's not a lot of closure on either of those threads, but there's some nice thematic closure on some of the character development, so the book doesn't feel as unfinished as it might have otherwise.

#book review #laurell k. hamilton #anita blake: vampire hunter #smolder #4/5 #rating: 4/5 #2024 #para #paranormal #paranormal romance #adult fiction

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pixie-mask · 1 year

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So this one was printed in 1998 and was a 3 issue mini-series. It focuses on the Olympics and also involves Samson

Xena: Warrior Princess - And the Original Olympics

From the get go the the art is...

The art is good with a lot of strong poses, though at times it looks/is a smidge wonky, just some things on Xena could be a debate on quality and anatomy (at least to me some tings look really wrong). Anyway I don’t want to focus on some of the plot too much as Joxer isn’t actually in this one that much.

It starts with this little boy being recused from the two men who are attacking for his sandals and not just any sandals

a la Disney’s Hercules.

Anyway the kid is making them in a sweatshop and was searching for Xena to save him and the other kids. That’s them when we’re introduced to Samson from the Bible. Cause we know Xena loves to play fast and loose with history, mythology, and religion. So yeah

Samson (idk why but I find his design so unappealing)

So Samson says the people use his name but he doesn’t put the kids to work nor does he know who makes them and he declines Xena’s ask to help because he’s on his way to the Olympics.

Here we cut to Salmoneus with his own sandals (non sweatshop made) trying to get a competitor by the name of Arthur (King Arthur I’m pretty sure as he has a companion named Lance with him) to be the big name for his brand.

After Arthur declines Joxer shows up

with the most short cut attempt at his armor. It looks like he’s wearing a weird medallion.

So quick things. Samson continues to be an ass and Gabrielle organizes, in opposition of the Olympics being all male, gathers amazons and athletic women alike for an all female Olympics.

Anyway back to the male side the sports are on their way and we focus on a race between Samson and Arthur as well as Joxer participating in the hammer throw.

The person giving him the thing isn’t shady at all.

So the race begins and Joxer practices and this happens

which cause Arthur (who is indeed King Arthur) to spring into action to save both Joxer and the spectators

So ass we see Joxer is pretty much super glued to that thing. They try to get clues but all Joxer can do is say it was some guy who happened to be very scrawny and makes a simple (accurate) guess that it was a woman disguised as a man. Which Samson (the absolute jerkass that he is in this. He was arrogant but he’s just gross in this) piggy backs off of to go be even more of a dick

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand that is all there is for Joxer in this comic.

Nothing bad really, honestly pretty in character, but also nothing bad.

Truthfully I’m not to keen on this story it’s just meh to me. The story goes on to Samson crossdressing to compete in the women’s Olympics and eventually loses his hair and is thus found out. There’s a moment that replicates his death in the Bible, but in addition to not loosing his strength he also doesn’t die.

#Joxer the Mighty #Joxer #Xena: Warrior Princess #Joxer in Xena comics-Mini Project

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evili87654 · 11 days

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diaphin93 · 3 months

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Fantastical Misconceptions Part 1: Rhea and the fire-breathing water dragon.

So I came across some screenshots of a post here by Fantasyinvader through Twitter and I can't just help myself but to put forward my own two cents on it and the issues I have with the take.

This already starts off bad because what Fantasyinvader describes here is not an oversimplification, it is just the description of an attitude, one primarily driven by the bad reception of Engage and its storyline. I would also imagine that it is a reaction towards many Rhea and Church apologist false statements and misinterpretations as Dragons being unambigiously good and the fact that we fight the Dragon in Crimson Flower as proof that its the evil route, by pointing out that actually, fighting against tyrannical dragons who want to control or destroy humanity is more of the norm than not in the series.

My real issue begins with fantasyinvader asserting their views on the supposed inspirations behind the dragons into Fire emblem and the very one sided and superficial way they interpret and assert eastern philosophy and religion into their posts. I am by no means an expert on those topics, but even I can identify that fantasyinvader, like many weebs, has a very simplistic and I would say fetishistic view of eastern mythology and japan on itself, akin to many weebs who construe Japan as this isolated culture that is free of disliked modern western influences and homogenously ideologically alligned to what is comfortable for them. This blogger does this alot as far as I have seen it in the past and especially their takes on the Church of Seiros and trying to deny all christian inspirations behind it often come with a fairly uninformed and franky condescending attitude towards the knowledge and familiarity japan has with christianity as a religion.

In this case Fantasyinvader already starts by ignoring the fact that japan is extremely ambivalent towards dragons as mythological figures, with there being benevolent and antagonistic dragon deities in the shinto mythology. There is naturally Ryujin who is considered the ruler of the ocean and a benevolent deity and patron god of japan, but on the other hand there is also the evil dragon serpent Yamata no Orochi. There are other examples and the role of dragons in japanese mythology is nowhere near as clear cut as fantasyinvader tries to make it out to be. And while it is true that traditionally, Dragons in european and abrahamic mythology where usually antagonistic and evil, Fantasyinvader does play fast and lose on what kind of inspirations dragons supposedly take, between modern popular fiction and classical mythology.

Like, lets take a detour and go into the fact that this is a very weird headcanon that fantasyinvader pushes forward as a fact that Rhea is supposedly an ice dragon. We know the type of dragon she is through the dragonstones you can get in NG+, she is the Sky Dragon. The Ice Dragon Sign is associated with the Crest of Aubin, while the water dragon is Indech. Aesthetically and visually, she seems clearly inspired by members of the Divine Dragon Tribe, especially the likes of Naga, Mila and Tiki, though I personally feel like her prime inspiration is a combination of Mila and Duma, looking at the melting elements in her design. I don't know what they are on about in terms of attacks either, as Rheas standart attack is breathing blue fire and her special attack is a white-golden fire beam. What Fantasyinvader describes is also a weird conflation of modern depictions of dragons with classical characterizations. It starts with the fact that the association with fire is not purely western and depictions of fire-breathing dragons is also present in japanese mythology, but it also glosses over the fact that going by mythological inspirations, most dragons are associated with water as well, it is not a purely eastern trait. The Leviathan, the original biblical dragon serpent, is described as a sea serpent, as is the Jörmungandr of norse mythology. So the association of dragons with either water or fire is an entirely artificial construct, as both elements were always present in the east and the west.

What fantasyinvader also does though is ignoring modern popcultural developments of Dragons in contemporary fictions, as well as in heraldry. Starting with heraldry, Dragons got more positive connotations in their use and became associated with valiance, strength and protectiveness, while wyverns, which are two legged dragons in heraldry, became associated with the overthrowing of the tyranny of satan and his forces. In popular fiction, by the time the Fire Emblem games were released dragons already god a much more nuanced presentation in western fantasy, with dragons at this time already often being depicted as intelligent and noble friends or guardians to humans. This is important because while Fantasyinvader loves to frame japanese people as largely unaware and without influence of western art and thought, this depictions are already present in one of the foundational influences of the japanese fantasy genre and the JRPG Genre, to which Fire Emblem belongs, especially: Dungeons & Dragons. There is no understatement in how much D&D exploded in popularity in japan during the 80s and how much it shaped the landscape of japanese fantasy, with many popular tropes in JRPG's, Fantasy Anime and Isekai having their roots in D&D. What D&D also features is, as many will know, the concept of benevolent and malevolent dragon deities. While there is no denial that as japanese developers, many ideas and attitudes are inspired by japanese culture, Fire Emblem itself is clearly a series that is highly inspired by western fantasy popularized in japan and adapted through a japanese lense.

I sidetracked alot here, but I think I made my point clear, that Fantasyinvaders core thesis going into it is already flawed and at best superficially informed, especially since, after having informed myself more about the entirety of the post, they play fast and lose on where 3 Houses is primarily buddhist in ideas and inspirations and where christian ideas are inserted when it benefits them. There is also a hugh misinterpretation of the divine dragons as purely protagonistic force in Fire Emblem and the initial premise of the game, which I will also go into a bit before stopping at the topic of Edelgard.

Divine Dragons are usually a benevolent tribe in Fire Emblem, so much is true, but the series already subverted this assumption as early as its second installment, Gaiden, better known through its remake Shadow of Valentia in the west. In there, Duma, the central antagonist of the game, is himself a member of the Divine Dragon Tribe, together with his sister Mila, who is presented as more benevolent but equally corruptive and misguided as Duma. Fire Emblem already did the whole plotline of liberating humanity from its oppressive dragon deities in its second installment, as it did framing the plan of overthrowing dragon gods as ultimatively good.

Fire Emblem 3 Houses is fundamentally build as a homage towards the old Fire Emblem Games, Geneology of Holy War was often namedropped during interviews, while also going through great lengths to subvert the conventions laid out by them or playing them straight in unexpected ways. Divine Bloodlines for example are featured heavily in the games narrative, only to be subverted in having their origins in the genocide of dragons, the ancient King who wielded a divine sword and was blessed with the 'Fire Emblem' who was said to have banished evil gods with the blessing of the divine dragon goddess being himself nothing but a powerhungry bandit who killed the divine dragon goddess to steal her power and bones.

In a similar way, Rhea herself is a homage to classical divine dragons while subverting them. She invokes characters like Tiki or Naga in her design, but also Mila. Ultimately, we can see her as a mix of both Duma and Mila, having both Milas benevolent and peace loving aspects as well as Dumas warrior like and conquering traits, with herself ruling as a religious leader over the continent who controls humanity through lies and an extreme of superficial peace, which by the time of the game lead into fragmentation and stagnation of humans under her control. Similarily, there is the subversive elements of many older fire emblem villains scheming to rebirth an evil dragon god, while in Rheas case we have her villainy in holding humanity in her grip with the goal to revive the divine dragon goddess of this game, which is framed as wrong and misguided by the game and even herself in the case of redeeming her in Silver Snow.

Ultimately, as far as I see it, Fantasyinvader does the mistake of basically and misinterpreting the games deliberately to spin a reading of it as fully and unconditionally validating Rhea and the Church, which is just not supported by the games text as well. I see this often and I have to ask myself what these people are really after. When it comes to being very pro-Edelgard, the answer of interpreting her as fully heroic is very clear, as many members of her fanbase are drawn to her for example as the first canonically queer non-avatar Lord in the series and she resonates alot towards queer and left leaning people due to her secularist fight against religious authority as well as her anti-feudal war. But I'm really honest, even when it comes to religious fans of the series, to which I mean no disrespect, this obsession with validating a clearly medieval catholic church inspired institution and at times also the feudal system it reigns over and upholds, in this case a feudal system based on eugenics, is incredibly suss to me. It just, for me, seems very reactionary. I personally find Silver Snow distasteful due to the route ending in the rule of an immortal theocratic god-monarch over all of Fodlan, when the game gives me the option to fight for secularism and against feudalism. Especially when the route possibly ends with said God-Monarch marrying their grandmother to establish a full on theocratic dynasty. But I get it, some people might have an incest kink or chose to ignore it due to liking Rhea and wanting to side with her, or due to personal anti-war and anti-revolutionary attitudes. But the game already offers a redemption for Rhea and her becoming a more virtuous leader for the church, so I still don't get why there is this massive obsession with having her entirely right from the start to finish against the games text, her own S-Support and basically any modern value we should possess. For me it strikes as FE3H having garnered a super religious, anti-modernist following who see the game as a safe space to play out their fantasy of theocracy, anti-modernism and religious nationalism, if I'm honest here.

But yeah, this was a very over blown post and I will write a follow up centered around Edelgard.

#fe3h #edelgard positive #edelgard discourse #edelgard critical #rhea critical

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gardenshomemanagement · 1 year

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daniel306gaming · 2 years

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¿What if Peter-Three failed to save MJ in Spider-Man No Way Home?

To: Andrew Garfield, Zendaya, Tom Holland, Jon Watts and Marvel Studios

Intro

¿What if events went differently in the MCU? ¿What if Peter-Three failed to save MJ in Spider-Man No Way Home? In today’s fan fiction we’re going to be exploring what would have happened if Peter-Three have failed to save MJ leading him to remember the death of his ex-girlfriend Gwen Stacy in Spider-Man No Way Home. ¿How can this affect the next Spider-Man trilogy going forward? This is my own take of events taking inspiration from the 2007-08 One More Day and 2014-15 Spider-Verse story arcs along with the 2010 One Moment in Time comic while following the mythology of Spider-Man and MJ and the timeline of the MCU. Within wasting anymore time sit back and relax and enjoy this very dark fan fiction.

Prologue

¿Have u ever wondered what can cause the destruction and sudden death of the multiverse apart from killing He Who Remains? Well don’t look further because today’s story will involve a universe that got destroyed due to Peter-Three of the Webbverse not being able to save MJ of the MCU and trust me this story will sadden all fans of Spider-Man forever. I am the Watcher. I am ur guide to these vast new realities. Follow me and pounder the question. What If…

Story

The events of No Way Home were playing out the same as in our universe. All 3 Spider-Men have cured all the villains but there was one left and that was Norman Osborn. After Peter Parker explained to Doctor Strange that his idea of curing all the villains and then sending them back would work to change their fate Doctor Strange took the box out of Peter’s hands. Still before he could say anymore all 3 Spider-Men looked in the distance to see Green Goblin had taken Doctor Strange’s box. Norman laughed and blew up almost half of the Statue of Liberty. At the same time Ned and MJ tried to close down Doctor Strange’s portal but failed. This caused Ned to lose his balance while MJ fell from the construction site. Peter Parker jumped in time trying to catch MJ but before he could do anything Green Goblin grabbed Peter in the nick of time throwing him down below. Peter punched Norman’s glide in anger until he blew it up using his pumpkin bombs. They flew towards the broken down Captain America shield in the water below. At the same time Peter-Three watched in horror as MJ the love of this Peter Parker’s life is near death just like what happened to his Gwen in his own universe. Thinking fast like what he did before Peter-Three jumped trying to catch MJ and here is where our story begins so he ready because what you’re about to see is the most darkest moment in my entire Marvel what if fan fiction collection so get those tissues ready. In our universe the Amazing Spider-Man used his agility to catch her but in this universe Peter wasn’t quite quick enough to save her. Peter tried to grab MJ but she was already close to the floor. Peter grabbed her and used his back to stop the fall. Peter-Three smiled as he had finally saved someone he couldn’t or in this case that’s what he thought. When Peter-Three used his back to save her from the fall MJ’s spine had cracked causing her to die instantly. Peter-Three turned her over to see her eyes were rolled back and blood was all over his hands. Peter stood in horror relieving the actual events of Gwen Stacy’s death in his own universe. A loud distorted noise could be heard. Peter-Three’s vision has gone. Everything was blurry while Peter Parker stood down watching while Peter-Three was holding MJ’s lifeless body. Spider-Man couldn’t think as he screamed at Peter-Three. Green Goblin used a secret blade hidden in his wrist stabbing it into Peter’s back. Spider-Man fell to the ground while Peter-Two ran in the distance with Norman’s cure. He looked to his left side watching Peter-Three holding a lifeless MJ while Peter was bleeding and he was down for the count. Peter-Two ran towards Green Goblin kicking him in the chest while using his webs to pull him back. Peter-Two punched Norman in the face again and again until blood was rolling down his hands. Spider-Man-Two knew that he needed to stop what he was doing before he was going to kill off Norman. As he was about to finish Norman off Norman kicked Peter-Two’s feet knocking him to the ground while Norman charged Peter-Two begging him to kill him. Peter-Two took Norman’s hands and crushed them. Goblin screamed and fell to the ground. He slowly took out a pumpkin bomb from his hands and smiled saying that he was going to meet Peter in hell but before Norman set off the pumpkin bomb his glider went through Green Goblin’s chest and Norman’s eyes rolled blood spilling from his mouth. Peter Parker had thrown the glider into Green Goblin’s chest killing him in front of Spider-Man-Two. Peter-Two asked why did he do that while Peter told Peter-Two that he didn’t care anymore and screamed for MJ. As he tried to walk away he fell into Peter’s arms. Tears came down Peter-Two’s eyes. He failed this world’s Spider-Man by letting him kill Green Goblin. Peter attempted to breathe but it was getting more challenging as each passing moment hit. Everything went quiet from the battle with MJ’s death to Norman’s murder and now Peter Parker of this world was dying. Peter asked Peter-Two if he failed as Spider-Man but before he could answer he took a big breath and died in his arms. Peter-Two was stricken with guilt. He watched the unfolding chaos in front of him. No matter how hard he tied it seemed like everyone was getting hurt that was close to him or who he tried to help. Peter cried and placed Peter Parker’s body down on the ground. He looked up to see Doctor Strange screaming for help. Peter-Two ran to Peter-Three. He asked for his help but he was motionless as if time were frozen. Peter Parker had placed down MJ where Ned broke free from the debris and saw her and Peter’s lifeless body. He was shocked that the villains of this world had won and killed both of his closest friends. He just stood there crying in pain. Peter-Two asked what they can do to help where Doctor Strange said there wasn’t much to do since the villains have already leaked into this reality. With an infinite amount of villains coming through there wasn’t much that could be done. The Spider-Men have already caused enough damage in this universe. Strange told them to look around at the destruction. Along with Spider-Man-Two Peter-Three could only look in horror as Ned was standing with Peter in MJ’s body and villains were leaking from every corner of the world. Villains such as Doppelgänger, Scorpion, Kraven the Hunter, Carnage, Hobgoblin etc. the list went on. Strange said that they could make everyone forget Peter Parker was Spider-Man. They agreed but there were too many villains to defeat. Peter-Three easily defeated Kraven, Scorpion and Carnage while Hobgoblin threw pumpkin bombs at buildings. Doppelgänger and Carnage attacked J. Jonah Jameson in the Daily Bugle and everyone was running everywhere. There was chaos everywhere. Peter-Two tried his best to hold off the villains while Strange protected himself and Peter-Two. Doctor Strange saw that the universe had been ripped open and there was nothing more that could have been done. On the other side of things Tom Hardy’s Venom had been caught up with fighting Spider-Man villains from all of reality but he was easily killed off when Hobgoblin threw pumpkin bombs in his direction killing the symbiote for good. Doppelgänger grabbed Peter-Three by the neck near the edge of the construction site. Peter-Two screamed and used his webs to fight off Doppelgänger but with one easy stroke Doppelgänger used the Carnage symbiote to claw Peter-Two in the chest while the Sinister 6 that leaked into the MCU were powerless. Electro and Otto tried to stand with Strange. The Spider-Men we’re dealing with the rest of the villains but to no avail. They were also defeated in the chaos. Strange saw that there was only an option left. He needed to send back the alternate Spider-Men to their home universes while he fixed his own universe. Peter-Two disagreed with Strange’s plan but Strange caused a spell to send back Peter-Two and Three to their home universes. While Peter Parker of the MCU had died the villains were still coming. Peter-Two saw Carnage stabbed Strange in the chest while he screamed “NO”. He was teleported back into his home universe. Peter-Three padded aaay landing back into an alleyway in his home dimension. With Strange impaled with a symbiote tendril he tried his best to fix reality but it didn’t work. This caused utter destruction to the MCU and would break the multiverse apart one by one. Because of this the villains of each universe who knew Peter Parker was Spider-Man would come to lay waste to destroy the universe while the world had been broken from all the villains coming through and Strange’s death. This universe would eventually be destroyed. Peter-Two and Three would give up being Spider-Man in their home universes due to them having too much guilt of being Spider-Man and breaking an entire reality becuase they couldn’t help another Peter Parker. Spider-Man-Two and Three would question the events and spectulate on whether or not the universe had been fixed by Strange. Not knowing these answers both of them would have a hard time fighting crime. The villains who had originally been sucked into the MCU would die with Strange and that alternate MCU reality…

THE END!

And that is going to be it for what if Peter-Three failed to save MJ in Spider-Man No Way Home. I hope I didn’t make you’ll upset but I have to say that out of all my fan fictions that I’ve done so far this is the darkest fan fiction that I’ve done especially when it came to destroying a universe and btw this is purely fan fiction so I hope you’ll enjoy this and like I said this is not meant to literally make all of u Spider-Man fans upset because I know how much you’ll the character of Spider-Man. Do make sure to be on the lookout for more what ifs coming soon. Take care guys and have a fantastic day. Peace out!

#marvel studios #multiverse saga

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thenightling · 2 years

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“The Oldest Game”

I was surprised to find someone in my Sandman Facebook group actually complaining about “The Oldest Game” in The Sandman Netflix series (episode 4). They seemed disappointed that it wasn’t a “Real” battle but instead it was “like watching them play Dungeons and Dragons.” Meanwhile the majority of us Sandman fans loved the scene. When I first read that scene that was when I knew I was reading something truly different from the usual DC content. I was reading something truly special. To the person complaining about it, I am afraid The Sandman might not be to your taste. There is very little physical combat and scenes like The Oldest Game / “I am Hope” are what hooked a lot of us.

The Oldest Game is based on something TV Tropes (and The Sword in the Stone) calls a “Wizard’s Duel” or a Wizard Duel. The concept turns up a lot in folklore and mythology. It’s where two magical entities (sometimes sorcerers, sometimes Gods, sometimes shapeshifters) have a duel of wits and creativity using their powers and imagination. There’s a similar trope called the Transformation chase and there is an overlap but the transformation chase usually requires there being a chase. You see a sort of single-person transformation chase in Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among thieves.

In The Sandman this battle was for Morpheus’s helm. If he won he got his helm back. If Morpheus lost he would have been enslaved by Choronzon The Demon.

Here’s how the game usually works. The challenged usually gets to make the first move. They pick a form or a spell and it is usually non-lethal. You’re supposed to start small and build up to bigger / more imposing things. The battle follows TBL (Turn based Logic) like in a tabletop or online text based role playing game. So the Dungeons and Dragons comparison isn’t actually wrong so much as it’s not quite the right role playing game. (Yes, I AM a nerd. Thank you for noticing.)

After the first move is made the opponent may take the hit and then make an offensive move (attack) in return or instead of taking the hit, they can make a defensive counter move to avoid taking the hit but in doing so the person loses the opportunity to make a offensive move. If you’re clever you can sometimes get away with a single move that does both but that is tricky. So the choice is usually take damage and attack or protect from damage and not attack until the next turn. The game is usually about “one upping” the opponent so you go for something slightly bigger and better than what they used.

In some versions of the game you are allowed to defend yourself and then make an attack move during the same turn so you don’t have to make the choice of defense or attack. In both variations, if you’re clever enough you can come up with a combo of attack and defense in one move but that’s rare.

Usually it’s like this. If your opponent throws a magical dart, you can create a shield or shoot a similar projectile but in some variations you can do both if you can pull it off in a single concept (like creating an armored knight holding a sword and shield). If the rival turned into a rat, you can turn into a cat. Hopefully you get the idea. You can’t go too big too fast or the creativity and strategy the game is known for is lost. It’s a game of wits and creativity after all, not really brute force.

Recently I have seen some people try to argue that during the Lucifer and Morpheus version of the duel that Despair can kill Hope and that Lucifer could have won if she was willing to say she is Despair. No, that may have just caused an unhappy stalemate because pretty much everything that can destroy Hope can also be destroyed by Hope. Hope kills Despair as surely as Despair kills Hope. They are two sides of the same coin after all. It would just be an infinite loop at that point. However there is also the argument that Hope springs eternal while Despair is always only temporary, depending on your perspective.

I have provided three pop culture examples of The Wizard’s Duel. The first is the version in Netflix’s The Sandman between Lucifer and Morpheus.

The second is from Disney’s Sword in the Stone between Mim and Merlin.

The third is from the 1963 film The Raven starring Vincent Price and Boris Karloff. I have a bias in favor of this one since I love this movie. It was written by the late Richard Matheson, directed by Roger Corman, and starred Vincent Price. It came out the same year as Disney’s The Sword in the Stone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZOwaeAEIw0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxqhjWcS8zQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2gBhMdJ23Q

youtube

#The Sandman #Sandman #The Oldest Game #Wizard's Duel #Wizard Duel #Morpheus #Dream of The Endless #Lucifer Morningstar #Neil Gaiman

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latetaektalk · 3 years

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a lover’s bond | jjk [preview]

“what’s jungkook supposed to do when he loses you, but go beg the god of the dead and king of the underworld to give you back?

or a retelling of the greek myth of orpheus and eurydice, a tragic love story.”

— genre: greek mythology! AU, orpheus and eurydice! AU, implied smut, fluff, heavy angst, grief

— pairing: jungkook x female reader

— word count: estimated 23-25k, 551 for the preview

— warnings: major character death, cursing, light alcohol consumption, themes of grief

— playlist: to be added

— a/n: okay this is the baby ive been working on for the past month!! super different from what i normally write, but this post has been haunting me forever now and i also came across this reel, so i just had to! also i looked at song of achilles by madeline miller a lot to figure out how to do this, so there might be a few subconscious influences! to be added to the taglist, shoot me a message/ask! and, thank you to both lira @koocycle and soobs @subways-stuff for reading this!! ily guys so much!!

— coming sunday, january 30th 2022

“I broke your heart?” you ask, quirking a brow. Your faces still impossibly close, words whispered between each other.

Jungkook grips the chair tighter, the skin stretched white and thin over his knuckles. It almost offends him that it’s his heart that’s beating as fast as it is. This wasn’t how this was supposed to go. And yet, he can’t pull away from you, drawn in, practically brought to his knees.

“How did I do that—” He anticipates the end of your question. He knows it will be his name. And he also knows that you’re aware of how desperately he loves to hear those two syllables spilling from your lips. He’s almost sure you won’t give him the satisfaction, until you do, finally, thankfully. “—Jungkook?”

He wants to shake his head, scoff at the innocence you’re feigning, the act you’re presenting him with—eyelashes batting, head tilted to the side, a smile quirked up on your mouth. A part of him is almost infuriated by how you have him hanging on your lips.

“You left me,” Jungkook reminds you, staring into your eyes and he thinks he’s going to get lost in them. “Remember?”

“Oh, did I?” you gasp, and it makes him tongue his cheek. You’re playing this well. “I did, didn’t I?”

You wait a beat, and he knows what you’re going to ask before you even do.

“Did that hurt your pride?”

Jungkook takes his time to answer your question, letting you mull in silence. Partially to see if you’d grow uncomfortable, and partially because he isn’t sure if he wants to admit to it or not. It would be another hit to his ego and pride. But when he remembers the way you smiled when he declared you the winner and gave in, the choice is easy.

“You know it did.”

The answer satisfies you, your mouth splitting into a grin.

“And why’s that?”

When he meets your gaze, he can’t believe it’s his face that flushes, his breath that hitches, his pulse that triples, his voice that dies in his throat. That, even though Jungkook came prepared, you’re the one in power after all.

He exhales a quiet scoff and shakes his head. “You know why.”

The small laugh you let out then should probably offend him. And yet, all he can think about is how beautiful it is, how melodic and delicate. It’s ingrained in him already, replaying in his mind.

“What now?” you ask, tilting your head to the side. “How do you want me to fix it, hm?” You put your hand on his chest, right above his heart. He stills. He’s sure you can feel the way it beats and thumps in there, loud and fast. “That broken heart of yours?”

This game you’re playing, the dance you’re dancing, he’s bad at it. You’re winning this without even trying. It was foolish, he realises, to have thought that coming here might allow him to even out the fields, score a point himself. You’re running circles around him without even running.

“Have dinner with me,” he whispers, unable to speak louder than this.

You tilt your head to the side. “You think that will help?”

“I think—” The words come out slowly. “—it will do a lot to mend my heart.”

coming sunday, january 30th 2022

#jungkook angst #jungkook fluff #bts fluff #bts angst #jungkook x reader #bts x reader #jungkook scenarios #bts scenarios #jungkook fanfic #linh.preview

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oviids · 4 years

Note

pls share some of your spn fic recs 🥺🥺

ok, a few things first:

followers and mutuals who do not have supernatural brainworms, kindly avert your eyes

i don’t normally rec or even read much fanfic any more but this is a CRISIS ok (cont.)

there is so. much. content for deancas out there and i have incredibly high standards, several ancient ao3 bookmarks, can speedread, and want to spare you guys the experience of wading through it all.

i also have a section for spn femslash since I was pretty into that back in the day (sadly a lot less fan content for this :/)

I don’t really like au’s or pure smut (I honestly usually just skim or skip those scenes) so if you’re mainly looking for that kind of thing this probably won’t be very helpful to you. jsyk.

i’m not great at describing stuff but i’ll do my best, i’ll also try and add tw’s when neccesary.

i wil try and keep updating this with any other decent fics i find, feel free to rec stuff too since i’m like 7 years behind.(edit 1/25/21) this is getting looooong so i’m going to start making another list on my spn blog rather than update this one

(edit 1/3/21) since this has gotten pretty long i’ve added rating/approximate word counts and marked my particular favorites with an asterisk.

Dean/Cas fic:

So Says The Sword*** - explicit/85k. FUCK its good...au/time travel where dean is not pulled out of hell by cas and says yes to becoming the michael sword. honestly could serve as an alternative to actually watching the show, if you want to get into dean/cas without actually doing that to yourself.

Fata morgana.* - teen/6k, pst s9 finale. very bela centric and i love it, she finds cas looking for dean in hell.

Redemption Road -misc/600+k. an incredibly long fic from a collaborative writing group back in the day. canon divergent from the end of s6 on, has a cool take on godstiel and the leviathans, as well as the lovecratian mythos connection. ngl when i reread it i only made it about 28% in but imo the casual reader can actually stop around there, the rest concerns a lovecraftian apocalypse that is still good (i think i don’t remember it very well) but not required to enjoy the first half. if you prefer i have an ebook version i can send you on gdrive.

Someone Who's Feeling For Me* - mature/45k, s12. they run into lisa braeden and dean thinks cas is into her while cas thinks dean still likes her. treats lisa way better than the show ever did and the miscommunication is pretty funny rather than annoying.

a turn of the earth - mature/95k. time travel fic where cas from s10 keeps showing up in deans life from a few years before s1 to right before the hellhounds take his soul. slow burn, good character study, and at one point cas punches the dad in the face and it rules.

On the Wings of War - teen/85k, canon divergent s5. dean accidentally becomes the Horseman of War. plays fun, fast and loose with biblical lore, michael has some rights.

Named - mature/95k, alternate s5. EXTREMELY blasphemous in a fun sexy way. manages to predict metatron almost to a T. there’s one major character death and its literally jesus christ, everyone is very sad about it and it sets the rest of the story rolling. an alternate interpretation of cas’ mission to raise dean from hell which had me on the floor. ngl its kind of misogynistic at points, but its from 2010 and tracks with late oughts-2010 spn (sorry anna the author did you dirty here:/).

The Girlfriend Experience - explicit/15k. uhhh i don’t normally rec or even read smutty stuff unless someone i know is specifically asking for it but this has stuff like sam trying to be a good ally and dean thinking holding hands with cas is ‘kinda gay :/’ minutes after having gay sex with him.

i crippled your heart a hundred times - explicit/19k, s8. cas confesses his feelings and dean spends a long time getting his head out of his ass about it. truly hits different after the actual confession, despite being written six years early it feels like its actually what could have gone down more or less if the writers weren’t talentless demons who hate us.

My Roots Take Flight** - mature/125k. reverse au where cas is a hunter and dean’s an angel...OR IS IT???? an alternate retelling of s4. tw for briefly being set in a psychiatric hospital/the hospital being mentioned somewhat frequently throughout the fic, plus more references to torture in hell and heaven than usual.

The One Thing You Can't Lose* - teen/4k.you know those posts about how cas is a super-strong super-tough ancient warrior but he just lets dean tug him around because he likes it? thats it thats the fic.

Hands, From Which All Things Are Built - teen/14k, post s8′s ‘goodbye stranger.’ cas is on the run with the angel tablet but keeps in touch with sam and dean by text, he and dean still manage to be terrible at Actual communication.

Autrement, Danger - or, The Account of an Exceedingly Long Day - mature/30k, post s11. a monster that takes the appearance of your soulmate leads to some wild miscommunications and dealing with years of repression, also dean gets to see cas’ true form which is always cool. tw for non-graphic mentions of underage sexual assault/sex work.

Down to Agincourt - mature/explicit/900++++k, endverse continuation. endverse!cas survives his encounter with lucifer and discovers another time-displaced dean from s7. i’ve only read the two of four parts but its really good, veeeeery slow burn, has a lot of fun oc’s and takes a rather surprising but (imo) entertaining and intriguing turn into Hellenic history and mythology. usual tw’s for endverse/endverse!cas but nothing graphic, it’s actually pretty light-hearted (relatively speaking of course).

Nothing Equals the Splendor** - explicit/8k, THEE finale fix it fic you’ve been waiting for! posits that the entire final episode was just a (very bad and lame) djinn’s vision.

like moses and batman and james dean - explicit/31k, post s8. explores dean’s trauma and internalized homophoba from his technically canon experience with sex work and its impact on his relationship with cas. the sex work itself isn’t really shown in any detail but it’s still a relatively heavy fic.

Crazy Diamonds - explicit/25k, s4/alternate s14. fresh-out-of-hell dean and dean from 10 years in the future are displaced from time and sent to each other’s present.

where the weeds take root - explicit/30k. au where the men of letters kick them out of the bunker and they accidentally move out into the country, get over their codependence and semi retire. featuring chicken coop building, sam volunteering at a dog shelter, gardening, and blissfully mundane domesticity.

No Resting Place - teen/6k. djinn dream fic, switches back and forth between cas’ dream of being married to dean and retired from hunting to the aftermath when he wakes up. tw for brief mention of suicide since, y’know, djinn dream.

any port in a storm - mature/52k. post s8 finale. cas and dean have to pose as a couple going through a rough patch for a case and actually deal with their emotional baggage, cas struggles with being human and metatron is up to stuff.

all this and heaven too* - explicit/7k. in the author’s own words ‘...a love letter to every trans person who ever projected onto Dean Winchester.’ absolutely unzipped me emotionally and theologically, its just. so good. tw for very brief mentions of internalized transphobia/dysphoria.

Because it is* - mature/6k, finale fix it. killing chuck does not bring back anyone back and the winchesters spend a very long time dealing with what they’ve lost, cas and dean SOMEHOW still manage to have signifigant communication issues even after the confession. tw for suicidal thoughts/brief attempt.

Vena Amoris and Other Old-Fashioned Bullshit* - teen/4k, s6. when cas fell for dean it automatically soulbonded/angel married them, shenanigans ensue when dean finds out during the angel’s civil war. funny and actually written back when s6 was airing so cas is still (or at least pretending to be) kind of an OP asshole which is fun.

Rinse, Repeat - teen/3k, s8. angsty character study of cas as he’s reprogrammed and trained to kill dean. not really dean/cas since its just cas’ pov of canon events but its beautifully written and ends with him snapping out of it through the power of love (also now a canon event!).

Emergence - explicit/59k, canon divergent after s11. dean meets a hunter he only recognizes as their friend claire novak’s missing father, but soon realizes he might be the answer behind the mysterious void in his memories and feelings (aka everyone’s memories of cas are completely wiped away for three years).

Cuckoo And Nest - explicit/10k, early established relationship/character study, cas tries to figure out how he fits into dean’s life and space in the bunker.

Build a Home* - teen/20k, canon divergent s12. sam and eileen are cute and turn the bunker into men of letters/hunters hq and everyone but cas moves in, mutual miscommunication issues and pining ensues.

Down in the River - teen/5k, early s8, cas prays to dean in purgatory while sam and dean try to figure out a way to get him out.

Teaching Poetry to Fish* - mature/52k, ?? BC through the entire series/canon divergent s14 and 15. retelling of crucial scenes throughout the shows timeline from cas’ pov, feat. actual fish and poetry.

the minor fall, the major lift - gen/4k, post confession/finale fixit. dean goes into the empty to save cas and runs into several old friends (and enemies).

With the Kisses of His Mouth* - teen/3k, gen later seasons. dean and cas keep kissing by accident.

Remaining Grace - explicit/109k, alternate s6. au where cas asks dean for help with raphael and dean, of course, does. tw for temporary major character death/semi-graphic depictions of alcohol withdrawal.

The face of heaven.* - teen/10k, au, dean is a regular guy and cas is a fallen star (think ‘stardust’, kinda).

Stories Are Made of Mistakes* - teen/5k. newly human cas has trouble getting used to a human body and humanity in general, but still figures out that he and dean are A Thing before dean does.

Hurry Up And Wait - mature/21k, canon divergent s12. a fairyland and quite possibly LOTR related case comes up and dean goes full fanboy, mary is introduced to the wonders of the peter jackson adaptions, many references and comparisons (including between cas and dean’s ‘friendship’ and arwen/aragon). also charle is still alive and has just been doing fairy stuff this whole time.

There Are Many Things - explicit/28k, s9. cas is extremely lonely/touch-starved and trying to figure out this whole human thing, as well as where he and dean stand after being kicked out of the bunker.

It's A Long Life to Always Be Longing - teen/40k, post s11 finale. amara helps dean by putting him in a magical coma so he can finally get some much needed rest and show him possible futures for him, sam and cas. meanwhile sam and cas go on a roadtrip (or several) to find componets for a spell to wake dean up. really good sam and cas friendship, they actually talk about their shared lucifer trauma and stuff.

Non-Photo Blue - gen/2k, s4/5/alternate s5. fifty moments from cas’ memories of dean.

Tall Grass - explicit/57k, canon divergent post series. cas becomes the ultimate plant dad. feat the wayward sisters gang, cathartic character growth, fun oc’s, domesticity, and lots of actual botanical info-dumping.

on vessels - no rating/gen/2k. established dean/cas, cas tells dean about how he used to imagine what it would be like to have him as his vessel.

search for tomorrow on every shore* - teen/11k, post-finale (extremely derogatory). some angels in jack’s new heaven act out and dean gets temporarily resurrected in 2003 and runs into his younger self.

Architecture of the Minotaur’s Heart - explicit/45k, very canon divergent post s1. dean’s new house seems to have a life and mind of its own, while in his dreams he sees glimpses of a world and apocalypse that never came to be and an angel that looks strangely like his mysterious neighbor, cas. loosely inspired by the book house of leaves (which i highly recommend for fans of weird horror).

The Distance Of The Setting Sun - explicit/17k, post s5. established dean/cas relationship, team free will finally takes advantage of cas’ abilities to go on vacation around the world.

diamond star halo - teen/5k, s11. dean lets cas use him as a temporary vessel while he recovers from rowena’s spell, sam is a long-suffering third-wheel.

Make Known** - teen/16k, s6/7. dean struggles to understand how cas could have become his enemy and whether he ever truly knew him in the first place.

blunt little instrument* - mature/1.4k, post finale. dean finally confronts his father in heaven, very cathartic.

my heart a compass*** - teen/10k, post confession. the empty forces cas to re-experience his most regretted moments while dean tries to snap him out of it and bring him home.

A Crash Course in Someone Else's History - teen/11k, s6. cas from the very start of s4 is brought forward in time by s6!cas to distract the brothers from his and crowley’s plans.

The Cuckoo Father - mature/8k, s7 au. the woman who found cas in the river post-leviathans does not marry him bc he was sent to her by god or whatever, but actually identifies him as jimmy novak and sends him back to claire and amelia.

The Dead Dean Clause* - teen/5k, post alt s5 ending. team free will celebrates surviving taking down lucifer by getting blitzed, cas lies to a cop and gets an impromptu driving lesson. title/description sound dark i know but it’s actually very funny and light.

Suck It, Judy Garland - mature/20k, s12 (after the ‘i love you...i love all of you’ episode). cas and sam have to pretend to be a couple for a case and dean is NOT happy about it.

By Daylight and In Dream - teen/16k, s5. pre-dean/cas, dean invites cas to use his dreams to hide from the other angels. tw for very brief mention of a memory/dream of alastair sexually assaulting dean.

The Five People You Meet in Heaven - mature/22k, post-canon. an actually happy (if sometimes bittersweet) heaven endgame written several years ago, though some details are rather eerily similar to the show’s ending.

heaven is a place on earth* - teen/2k. dean’s pov of some of the times cas left him behind throughout the show, and one alternate ending where he finally gets to stay.

I Cleanse The Mirror - teen/20k, alternate s6. dean’s body is stolen by an ancient elemental and his soul has to hitch a ride in cas’ vessel.

an exploration of gender; angelic*** - mature/4k. *oscar isaac voice* lets get into angel gender politics!! aka cas is trans.

Zenith - explicit/33k, s9. after 9x06 an angry witch curses cas with the ability to see supernatural beings and human souls.

La cucina. - gen/3k, alt s9. dean goes wild helping a newly-human cas find out what kinds of food he likes, or the early s9 domesticity we deserved!

Dean Winchester, Cocksucker at Rest***** - teen/7k, post-finale. john and mary finally come over for dinner and john reacts to dean/cas in a rather predictable fashion. SOOOOOOOOO good omg, its so funny and a little sad and very very cathartic. part of a series that has a few other really good short fics.

The Way You Didn't Go - teen/5k, s15. coda to 15.09, dean has nightmares about the moc!cas timeline.

On Drowning - teen/28k. dean saves cas after he nearly drowns, they both try and deal with the physical/mental fallout (aka the fic where thee iconic “you only touch me when you think I’m dead or dying” originates). tw for realistic depictions of drowning/triage/misc medical information.

The Thirty-Six Questions That Lead to Love* - mature/13k. claire has dean and cas pretend to be her gay dads for a case and they play the titular 36 question game, get mistaken for swingers, and birdwatch, among other things.

Assorted F/F stuff:

Deep Breaths* - mary/ellen, au where mary said no to azazel’s deal and let john stay dead, still becomes a milf.

Like Rebel Diamonds - krissy/claire, they become hunter gf’s on the hunt for cas to kick his ass for taking jimmy. not-so-stealth dean/cas as well.

To Ash and Bone - anna/ruby, same author as the previous fic (p much all of her stuff is good from what i recall). au where ruby is a witch and helps anna when she’s cursed.

Holy Clockwork Angels - jo/ruby, STEAMPUNK au with very cool worldbuiilding.

At Day's End - jo/anna (my fucking KINGDOM for more jo/anna content, the dean/cas parallels are allllll there), au where they are both at the camp in the endverse and gfs.

these posts - ok so not actually a fic but i’m now obsessed with this hannah/meg dynamic.

Tagelied - mary/ellen, the true story of how ellen got into hunting before angels interfered.

Hell's Bells** - meg/abaddon, alternate s8/9 where meg survives crowley’s attack with sam’s help and teams up with abaddon (who she has a sk year old crush on) to take back hell.

The Ecstasy of the Rose - anna/ruby, anna travels back in time to escape heaven and becomes a signifigant part of ruby’s old human life.

Angel Underground - anna/jo, kind of an urban fantasy au with a very intriguing premise (sadly its very short, i’d love to see more if this ‘verse).

Clover, Flame - billie/mary, billie was always the reaper that showed up to take mary after her death(s) over the years.

Drag Me To Heaven - anna/ruby, a variant on the ‘last night on earth’ thing with dean.

Come Home* - jo/anna, canon-divergent au where anna is the new waitress at the roadhouse and helps jo set up a (probably not really) haunted house for halloween.

#if you told me i'd be doing this in 2020 three weeks ago i'd have laughed in your face :/#deancas #supernatural #fic recs #spn femslash #destiel #fic #the alie tag #spn posting

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scarlet-sky4 · 3 years

Text

The Queen of Hades [Hades!Baekhyun]

AU: Greek Mythology, Hades and Persephone Genres: Romance, Supernatural Pairing: Hades!Baekhyun x Persephone!OC Prompts: “even death has a heart.” ―markus zusak “will you love me? even with my dark side?” ―kelly clarkson Total word count: 10k

AN: I wrote this for a contest on Asianfanfics and wanted to share it here too!

Masterlist

At first glance, this Friday seemed as ordinary as any other day, but for Jieun, it would change everything. Her mundane life was about to get turned on its head—the dice had been cast and the wheel of fate set into motion.

The person she had been hiding from for most of her life was about to make his first move, and Jieun was blissfully unaware of the encounter awaiting her. She didn’t see the pair of onyx eyes watching her, and neither did she feel his presence. He blended in with the crowd of students inside the university building, inconspicuous like a mere shadow as he waited for the perfect moment to reveal himself.

The loud chime of a bell announced the end of Jieun’s last class of the week. She shoved her netbook in her backpack, slinging it over her shoulder. It had been tiring to follow the professor’s long-winded explanations for hours. She was exhausted and all she wanted was to take a nap, preferably under a tree in the forest.

Jieun was the current reincarnation of Persephone, the Goddess of Spring. Thus, she was drawn to nature like a butterfly to a flower, feeling at ease when surrounded by her element. She had turned twenty-one recently, but despite her age, her mother Dahyun, the Goddess Demeter, seldom let her out of her sight.

Dahyun was cautious for a reason. Each reincarnation of Persephone was born with a curse, doomed to live in the Underworld with its ruler, the reincarnation of Hades. She was anxious about her future, refusing to spend the rest of her life in the realm of the dead with a heartless king. Therefore, she followed her mother’s advice, leading an ordinary life and blending in with people. She would do anything to assure Hades would never find her.

The young Goddess tucked a lock of her brown hair behind her ear and exited the lecture hall in a hurry, walking past many human students who had no clue about her true identity. Sadly, luck was not on her side. Instead of sneaking out undetected, her beloved fiancé, Youngjae, caught up with her. The demigod was infatuated with her, even going so far as to join her in her environmental science lectures although he chose a different major.

Dahyun had arranged the marriage about two months ago. It was a desperate attempt to prevent Hades from taking Jieun away. She refused to lose her only daughter to a God as vile as him. Therefore, she had chosen a demigod to become Jieun’s husband in his stead. Youngjae was the reincarnation of Theseus, a son of Poseidon, and in Dahyun’s eyes, he was the perfect match for Jieun.

Jieun herself didn’t know which option was worse; marrying a man she didn’t love or being confined to the Underworld forever. No matter which road fate would lead her down, she would be miserable at its end. It seemed like she was destined to be trapped like a bird in a cage. All she wanted was to spread her wings and fly—but freedom was unattainable to Persephone.

“Jieun, wait!” Youngjae called and caught up to her, adjusting to her fast steps.

Inwardly, she rolled her eyes but she showed none of her annoyance. Her fiancé played a key role in avoiding Hades, so she hesitated to voice her reluctance for the upcoming wedding. However, Youngjae’s domineering attitude often upset her.

“Yes?” she said and threw him a questioning glance.

“Will you go on a date with me this evening? I booked us a table at a restaurant,” he smiled.

She could hardly decline when he already made a reservation for them. Her heart sank in her chest. Deep down, she wanted to make up an excuse and do something else, but her mother wouldn’t be happy if she refused. So she didn’t.

“That’s… uh… great,” she smiled awkwardly. Youngjae noticed none of her reluctance. He never did.

“I will pick you up at seven,” he decided, and she found herself nodding, barely having processed his words.

For the remainder of the afternoon, she stayed in the library, finishing an essay that was due for one of her classes. She just about made it home in time to get ready, having waited until the very last moment. Her mother was ecstatic when she heard about the date, but Jieun struggled to mirror her enthusiasm. Nonetheless, she didn’t speak her mind. Dahyun wanted the best for her, and who was she to complain? Surely, Youngjae was the better choice compared to what awaited her with Hades’ reincarnation.

With this in mind, she forced herself to put on light makeup and made herself look presentable, donning an elegant knee-length dress in her favorite shade of green. It complimented her emerald eyes and brown hair. Knowing Youngjae, he would take her to one of the more expensive establishments in town. She didn’t want to embarrass herself by dressing too casually.

***

As expected, Youngjae’s restaurant of choice was on the expensive side. Its lavish decoration and golden chandeliers did little to raise her gloomy mood. However, she was mindful of her manners and made an effort to have a polite conversation with Youngjae.

They had known each other for about two months, but she considered him only an acquaintance and her distant attitude tended to irritate him sometimes. Thankfully, she didn’t have to contribute much to their conversation this evening since he rambled about a job offer he had received.

Jieun’s emerald eyes were fixed on her wine glass as he spoke, absentmindedly watching the red fluid slosh around when she dipped it. A strange sensation befell her. The hair on the back of her neck raised. She put her wine glass down, furrowing her brows. The atmosphere in the restaurant had shifted, grown heavy. The change was accompanied by a sense of ominous foreboding. Her mother’s warning rang in her head—she had to remain vigilant. Jieun’s eyes darted over the other guests in the restaurant, but none of them stood out to her.

“Jieun? Did you hear what I just said?” Youngjae muttered, voice sounding a bit sour.

“Sorry?”

“I have to make a quick phone call. Something important came up. I’ll be right back,” he repeated, and she nodded. Youngjae got up and walked towards the exit, leaving her alone for a moment.

The sensation of being watched overcame her again, but this time, it was stronger and layered with the promise of danger. There was no way she imagined it. Except for Youngjae and herself, she sensed no divine beings nearby… so where did this inexplicable sense of danger come from?

She rested her chin on her hand and glanced around until her gaze got stuck on someone she had never seen before. It seemed like he had appeared out of thin air, approaching her table with confident strides. He was dressed in black from head to toe, wearing ripped jeans and a dress shirt with the top buttons undone. When she glanced at his face, she was stunned. His eyes were the darkest she had ever seen—their onyx shade was deeply unsettling. Although she had never met him before, a sense of familiarity overcame her. His lips curled into a smug grin.

Not a second later, realization struck her like a lightning bolt. Her heart jumped. Cold dread gripped her. The handsome stranger took Youngjae’s seat without asking for permission.

“Hello, Persephone. I’ve been looking for you,” he smirked.

“Hades,” she hissed, her back going rigid. His aura was unmistakable, much colder than those of the Gods and Goddesses she was used to.

“Please call me Baekhyun. There’s no need for formalities,” he answered. “You know why I’m here, don’t you?”

He cut right to the chase—was he so eager to rob her of her freedom? Hades really was a heartless God. She gritted her teeth and forced herself to stay composed on the outside. “I’m aware of your intentions, but I won’t surrender to you,” she countered icily, ignoring his outstretched hand. Every muscle in her body tensed. She would fight tooth and nail if she had to. “Leave me alone! I don’t want anything to do with you.”

“Calm down, petal. I won’t force you to join me if you don’t wish to,” he said and retracted his hand. In spite of her cold rejection, his arrogance prevailed. “You will fall for me soon enough.”

“I could never love someone like you.”

“I’ll prove you wrong,” he said, his confidence unwavering. “You will become my Queen. There is no point in fighting the inevitable.”

“I’m not like Persephone’s previous reincarnations,” she snapped. “Go back to the Underworld and bother someone else, Hades.”

His eyes flashed, reflecting the eternal golden flames of his realm. She was startled by the sight. His eyes were gorgeous. Their irises shimmered amber before fading back to their original onyx shade. The play of colors reminded her of the sunset. She had never seen anything like it on any other God.

“You’re a spitfire,” he remarked, his sharp lips curving up. “I like you, petal.”

“Don’t call me that!”

“If you tell me your true name, I might stop.”

“It’s Choi Jieun.” How could someone be this infuriating and yet unfairly attractive all at the same time? She clenched her fists, reining in her temper.

“Jieun,” he repeated, cocking his head. Strands of charcoal hair shadowed his face. “Why don’t we make a deal?”

“What kind of deal?” she asked warily.

Again, a peculiar fire sparked in his eyes. “If I can make you fall for me within the next four weeks, you will join me and become my Queen. If I don’t succeed, I will leave you be. I promise I won’t do anything you don’t agree with.”

To be completely honest, she was intrigued. He could have just opened a gate to the Underworld and abducted her like her mother always said he would. Instead, he offered her a fair deal. All he wanted was time—she had nothing to lose.

“You promise?” she asked.

Hades met her gleaming emerald eyes, took in her unsure expression. He didn’t like the apprehension hidden in her gaze. “Yes. I won’t break my word.”

“Then I agree to your deal,” she said, relaxing in her seat and smiling victoriously. “Don’t be a sore loser, Hades.”

His confident smirk made her falter. “You sound sure of yourself, but I won’t lose. I never have and I never will.”

Just at that moment, Youngjae returned. When he was a few steps away, he stopped and stared at Jieun and the stranger who boldly sat in his chair.

“Hades?” he spluttered in sheer disbelief.

Baekhyun scowled in annoyance, not happy about the unwanted interruption. He got up, wisps of black smoke leaking from his fingertips. Jieun blinked, her eyes widening. It appeared as if his clothing was made of pure darkness, warping and cloaking him in black—it hadn’t been like this a minute ago. She watched the strange phenomenon with morbid fascination. For the first time since they met, she sensed his absurdly powerful aura. He no longer hid it.

“And who might you be?” Baekhyun arched his brow, scrutinizing the demigod from head to toe.

“That’s Youngjae, my fiancé,” she explained.

“You don’t need a fiancé,” Baekhyun answered her without taking his furious eyes off of Youngjae. “Break the engagement off.”

“Forget it,” Youngjae snapped. “I won’t hand her over to you!”

“A demigod dares to oppose me? You are quite naïve,” he taunted, a haughty smile gracing his features. “I advise you to stay away from Jieun. It’s not wise to cross me.” The shadows swirling around his body flickered like flames, and Youngjae eyed them cautiously. He clenched his jaw, holding in a retort.

“We’ll meet again soon,” Baekhyun said as he captured Jieun’s gaze, “Petal.”

He left the restaurant without another word and walked into the night. Her gaze followed his black silhouette through the windows as it merged with the darkness. Jieun’s mind was made up—she wouldn’t lose to him. After all, it was impossible to fall in love with a heartless God.

Jieun never intended for Dahyun to find out about her encounter with Hades, but Youngjae didn’t keep his mouth shut. He called Jieun’s mother that same evening and told her everything, painting a sinister picture of Hades. It was no surprise Dahyun was overflowing with worry.

“Jieun! I told you to be careful!” she fussed. “How did he find you?”

“I don’t know. He appeared out of nowhere—I have no idea how he found me so suddenly.”

“You have to hide,” Dahyun urged. She put her hands on Jieun’s shoulders, beseechingly staring at her. “I don’t care where we have to take you, but that bastard won’t get his hands on you!”

“No. I won’t hide from him,” Jieun replied calmly, the very opposite of her frantic mother. “It’s not necessary.”

“Have you lost your mind?! He will trap you in the Underworld!”

“He won’t,” she answered, biting her lip. While she did not necessarily like him, she didn’t doubt his sincerity. “He promised he wouldn’t.”

“And you believed him?” Dahyun’s thoughts were written all over her face. “Hades would do anything to trick you. Don’t be foolish! You are the Goddess of Spring, do you have any idea what it would be like to be imprisoned in the Underworld? There are no seasons in Hades’ realm, it’s nothing more than a dead and barren land. You would be miserable.”

Jieun’s decision didn’t change. She knew what was at stake, and maybe she was foolish for tying her fate to a promise of Hades. But for some inexplicable reason, she was convinced she could put her faith in his words. He would never lie to her—she knew. How she knew remained a mystery. Maybe she had inherited this conviction from one of her previous reincarnations. And if this was the case, it had to be the truth.

“He’ll be your demise if we don’t act now! We must begin preparations for your wedding with Youngjae,” Dahyun decided.

Jieun’s heart clenched. She didn’t want to get married—now even less than before. Since there was a good chance she would not end up in Hades’ clutches, why agree to a loveless marriage? She didn’t return Youngjae’s feelings. She never would, but he was too blind to see it.

***

When the first rays of the morning sun broke through the clouds, Jieun was already awake. Her upset mind hadn’t allowed her to rest, thoughts circling her encounter with Hades and the peculiar deal he had proposed to her. She also felt bad about the dispute with her mother. Jieun loved her very much and disliked arguing with her.

To clear her mind, Jieun went for a walk. Since she lived at the edge of town, she was able to reach the forest within a few minutes. She walked straight into the greenery, the tree branches bowing respectfully and opening a path for her when she approached. The familiar smell of moss and wildflowers reached her nose. She smiled, gazing at the tree crowns where she spotted a few birds. Their cheerful chattering raised her spirits, and her heavy heart lightened. No matter how many times she came here, she would never tire of it. The Goddess of Spring shared a deep connection with all vegetation on the planet, and she enjoyed being as close to nature as possible.

Suddenly, the birds’ joyful songs died. Silence fell over the formerly vivacious forest. She sensed something odd, her body tensing up. Her jittery fingers curled around the edges of her jacket sleeves. She was no longer alone. When she looked over her shoulder, she noticed the shadowy silhouette of Hades between the trees. He studied her without speaking a word and approached her once she had noted his presence. She didn’t sense his frighteningly strong aura, merely saw wisps of smoke following in his wake.

“Hello, Jieun,” he said. His onyx eyes bore into her emerald ones. Something strange stirred in her chest, but she ignored it.

“What a pleasant surprise to meet you here,” she countered, tone dripping with sarcasm. “Awfully convenient. Are you stalking me?”

The corners of his mouth twitched. “No, I’m simply paying my favorite Goddess a visit.”

“You’re a smooth talker,” she snorted, disliking his exorbitant wording. He would have to try harder if he wanted to win her heart. Jieun preferred actions over words since they revealed more about a person’s intentions than words ever could.

“Are you here to flirt with me?”

“Among other things, yes. I told you I don’t plan on losing you.”

“You can’t lose someone who was never yours,” she retorted, her voice sharp as a knife. The poison in her gaze prompted him to stiffen slightly. “I know this is just a silly game to you, but I won’t be your toy. You can’t win, Hades.”

A hint of hurt crossed his face, but he hid it in a blink. “My name is Baekhyun. I would prefer you to use my real name and not my title as a God, Jieun.”

“I will call you Hades,” she insisted, “Because that’s who you are.”

Baekhyun’s onyx eyes dulled a little, enough to be noticeable. “I’m more than just the God of the Underworld. Tell me, Jieun, do you believe in the rumors about me? Is that why you’re so cold to me?”

“Well… I did,” she mumbled, pondering over his question for a moment. Some rumors painted a grim picture of him, and Jieun had to admit that most of them were nothing but lies. “So far, the rumors don’t seem truthful. You also haven’t abducted me as my mother told me you would.”

“That’s ridiculous,” he scoffed. “I want to win your heart and not scare you away.”

“Then please be honest with me.” The question tumbled over her lips before she knew it. “Why do you want me to become your Queen? Why are you so determined about it? I bet someone like you could have any other woman on the planet.”

“They could never compare to you, Jieun. I’ve been drawn to you from the moment I first saw you. Initially, I only searched for you out of curiosity, because I wanted to find out why my previous reincarnations always chose Persephone. But now I understand. We’re meant to be together—there is just no other way to describe it. When I’m close to you, I feel whole.”

His thoughtful expression disintegrated as a wicked smirk settled on his lips. “I’m in love with you, Jieun.”

She gazed at him with wide eyes, thinking she had misheard him. Hades’ boldness gave rise to an unwanted blush that spread over her cheeks. “But we barely know each other! I’m sure you’re saying this because of the curse,” she replied, putting her hands on her hips. “You don’t reallylove me. It’s not possible.”

The idea of Hades being in love with anyonebut himself was ludicrous. She couldn’t wrap her head around it, no matter how hard she tried—Hades had no heart.

“Curse?” he echoed, furrowing his brows. “What curse?”

He appeared bewildered, which she found strange. Shouldn’t he of all Gods be aware of Persephone’s curse? “You don’t know? My mother said every reincarnation of Persephone is born with a curse. It binds my life to Hades and the Underworld where I’m doomed to stay until I die.”

Baekhyun’s confidence melted away upon hearing her words. Anger and sadness dyed his alluring eyes fiery red. She was astonished by their sudden intensity. “Demeter calls our bond a curse? Does she despise me so much?” he uttered, sounding deeply upset. His gaze darted from the forest ground to Jieun. “Your mother is lying to you. There is no curse and there never has been. It’s not my intention to cause you harm.”

“Why should I believe you?”

“Because I would never lie to you, petal,” he whispered and reached out his hand. She stilled and waited with bated breath as he closed the distance between them. His hand moved to her chin and tilted it up with astounding gentleness, making her realize something unexpected. Hades felt warm and alive.

“Please give me a chance,” he said. His gaze was haunting now that his confident façade was gone, uncovering more of his true self than he would have liked.

When she answered him, Jieun herself was surprised about her soft tone. “My trust needs to be earned. If you do love me, you have to prove it.”

***

During the days that followed, Jieun didn’t see Baekhyun anywhere, but she knew he was nearby. Someone had been leaving little gifts for her in the most obvious of places, and her secret admirer certainly wasn’t Youngjae…

When she entered the lecture hall that morning, she was met with another sweet surprise. A cup of coffee awaited her where she usually sat. It was from the Starbucks across the street, the scribble on it reading “Petal”. Jieun was torn between exasperation and amusement. Her eye darted through the lecture hall, scanned over the students without finding who she was looking for. He must have left right before she came since the coffee was still hot and steaming. She sat down and unpacked her netbook, getting ready for the lecture. As the professor began speaking, she eyed the cup and picked it up, bringing it to her lips. The pleasant flavor of coffee invaded her mouth, mixed with a hint of caramel. She dipped her head, smiling faintly. It tasted divine.

The next day, Jieun found a beautiful rose on her table. Its petals were of a sensual burgundy color and exuded a sweet scent. She touched it carefully, her lips twitching. He seemed to be familiar with the language of flowers, giving her an obvious hint about his apparent feelings for her. Roses of this particular color symbolized desire and passion, alluding to a deep bond.

Hades was serious about stealing her heart, and she wondered when he would show himself again. It seemed like he wanted to give her time, but for how long would his patience last?

The day after, the young Goddess came across one more present. This one was by far the most beautiful and thoughtful. Jieun was impressed. When she opened the black velvet box, she discovered a lovely hairpin adorned with delicate flowers. It was made of pearls and gemstones, sparkling in all colors of the rainbow when its embellishments caught the light. Her breath hitched.

What had he been thinking when he bought this for her?

She raised her head and searched for black hair and onyx eyes, but she was disappointed. He was not here. Jieun frowned. Did she actually want to meet him now? Hades somehow managed to rouse her curiosity, and despite the eerie warnings of her mother, she wanted to meet him again.

He made her wait for one more day before he showed himself. As it was common for him, he appeared out of nowhere when she least expected him to. Jieun was taking a walk through the local park, enjoying the sunny weather. She spotted him from far away, his dark frame standing out against the vibrant greenery surrounding them. Getting closer, she saw he was wearing casual clothing; jeans and a shirt. Even though his outfit was simple, he looked effortlessly attractive. A silver ring adorned his earlobe and caught her attention.

“Hades,” she said when he stopped in front of her. Both her expression and tone remained neutral—he didn’t need to know she had been secretly waiting for him…

He studied her searchingly, frowning since he didn’t find what he was looking for. “You’re not wearing the hairpin. Don’t you like it?”

“Thank you for your gift. It’s incredibly beautiful,” she answered politely, “But I didn’t feel like wearing it today.”

“You’re not making this easy for me. What do I have to do to prove myself, petal?” he exhaled, frustration seeping into his tone. “My feelings for you are genuine.”

Jieun searched his gaze for a sign of insincerity but found none. His flaming eyes brimmed with strong emotions, so desperate with longing. Nobody had ever looked at her like this. Why was her chest heavy all of a sudden? Could it be she had misjudged him? Perhaps Hades did have a heart. Maybe she had been too prejudiced to see it. Had the disturbing rumors about him clouded her judgment? So far, she had seen none of the cruel person he was believed to be. On the contrary.

She gave him a mysterious smile that stole his breath—she was gorgeous in every aspect, and her continuous refusal to be his drove him insane. Baekhyun’s time was running out, fading like sand in an hourglass, but he was determined to succeed. His four weeks were far from over.

“Maybe I will wear your gift tomorrow. You’ll only find out if you pay me a visit,” she said.

His astonishment turned into relief. At last, she was willing to give him a chance. “I’ll visit you every day if you want me to, petal.” When he leaned in and his hot breath caressed her lips, she was hit by a rush of exhilaration, drowning in his gorgeous eyes. “I would do anything for you, Jieun.”

“You’ve been distracted lately,” Youngjae remarked. The accusing glare accompanying his words made Jieun stiffen in the car seat. They were on the way home from a date he had talked her into, but she hadn’t been in the mood for it. Listening to his long-winded rambling about his achievements was tiring. He did it to impress her, but he accomplished the opposite. She thought he was too self-centered.

“I’m busy with projects for university,” she answered automatically, keeping her eyes on the road. Thus, she missed his scowl.

“Really? Ever since that bastard showed up, you’ve been acting strange. You should stay away from him. He’s no good for you.”

“But you are?” was what she wanted to retort, but she bit her tongue and kept it to herself. Dahyun wouldn’t appreciate it if she angered her fiancé, even if it was tempting. Jieun already felt guilty, and she didn’t want to make it worse—her mother had no idea she met Hades regularly, and she would be devastated if she found out.

In the past two weeks, Jieun had grown closer to Baekhyun. Once the ice had been broken, it had happened very fast. As he had promised, he visited her every day and made it seem like he met her by coincidence, but she knew he sought her out on purpose. Jieun didn’t mind. Speaking to him felt natural, as if they had known each other for years instead of just weeks. She no longer dreaded seeing him—the terrible rumors about him had turned out to be false. At this point, she was convinced her mother had lied about certain things in order to keep her away from him.

But Jieun couldn’t stay away, especially not after getting to know him. He was always honest and she trusted him. Never would he do anything against her will.

She looked forward to meeting him every day. Bickering with him was surprisingly fun, too. When he teased her, she teased him right back. They had developed an interesting dynamic, one she would miss when they would part ways. She often caught herself thinking about their ongoing bet. Baekhyun still had a week left to win her heart… but what would happen once it was up? Would he disappear from her life if she asked him to? Did she even want to say goodbye?

Jieun was conflicted by her budding feelings for him and her loyalty to her mother. She didn’t know what to do, and Youngjae’s overbearing presence didn’t make it any easier.

***

After the third week had ended, Dahyun’s suspicions and worries about her daughter kept mounting. She noticed a behavior change, and she knew her daughter made detours after university.

When Jieun returned home on Friday evening, her mother had a surprise in store for her. Dahyun had arranged another date with Youngjae, and Jieun was anything but thrilled about it. She told Dahyun she would rather spend the evening outside in the forest. Subsequently, her mother became angry, berating her until Jieun yielded up to her fate.

That’s how she ended up sitting opposite Youngjae in a restaurant, miserably staring at the menu. She didn’t have an appetite, feeling a little sick. He didn’t notice, not even when he observed her more closely. Something else drew his attention.

“Is your hairpin new? I don’t think I’ve seen it before,” Youngjae muttered, narrowing his eyes at her.

She touched the silver-white flowers adorning it, felt the tiny jewels embedded in their center. “It was a gift,” was all she said, wondering whether it would irk Youngjae to find out who it was from. Probably. Did she care? Not really.

“A gift from whom?” His tone was clipped, revealing the bitter jealousy raging within him.

“Hades,” she answered.

Youngjae’s fist hit the table. She flinched. “Persephone. Don’t you know what he will do to you when you let your guard down? The hairpin is hideous. Throw it away! I will buy you a new one tomorrow.”

“That’s not necessary. I like this one,” she replied, keeping her tone neutral.

“Are you deaf? I want you to remove it!”

The longer their conversation dragged on, the more she wanted to leave. Why bother arguing with this self-absorbed person when she could be somewhere else instead? Anger flaring, she became aware of something crucial.

If she didn’t take action soon, she would end up married to this man.

It was the last she wanted. Not even her loyalty to her mother could make her go through with this. Secretly, she had dreaded the impending wedding from the moment her mother had first mentioned it. She should have never agreed to it. Fortunately, Jieun could still break off the engagement. And she would. Dahyun had no right to control her life.

Youngjae’s bitter glower remained unnoticed by Jieun until he reached over the table and grabbed her hand, regaining her attention. “You can’t wear gifts from other men. Not while you’re engaged to me.”

He didn’t even grant her this tiny little piece of freedom. Why did everything always have to go his way? Why did he never consider her wishes? The last bits of her patience dissolved. She pulled her hand free from his grasp.

“You know what? I don’t want to marry you.”

His countenance slipped. Burning anger and disbelief sparked in his eyes. “Stop joking! This is not funny.”

“Please accept my decision.”

“It’s too late, you can’t back out! If Demeter finds out about—”

“Leave my mother out of this! It’s my choice and not hers,” she replied. “We don’t make a good match, Youngjae.” Her frustration increased. Of course, she hadn’t expected him to take her rejection in stride, but for him to act so erratically… It was unsettling.

“You can’t go,” he said warningly.

She got up and grabbed her purse, raising a challenging eyebrow. “Watch me.”

“Persephone,” he snarled. Fury erupted in his voice. She didn’t like his aggressive behavior—it was unnerving. “If you leave me, you will regret it.”

“How dare you threaten me!”

She was done with this man and left the restaurant in a hurry, fleeing into the night. Her heels clicked on the ground as she walked, turning her back on the establishment and her ex-fiancé. She curled her hands into fists, ignoring the chilly wind that caused her body to shiver. Whatever he had meant with his last words, she hoped she didn’t have to find out. She was distraught, her nausea worsening steadily.

Jieun didn’t know where she was going. This area was unfamiliar to her—but anything was better than staying with Youngjae. Swirling shadows manifested around her as she hurried through the night. She heaved a sigh, relaxing ever so slightly.

“I was hoping you would show up,” she said.

“You’re upset. Did something happen?” Baekhyun asked while he caught up to her. Exhaustion was written all over her face. Her cheeks were pale.

“I had an argument with Youngjae. We’re not engaged anymore,” she replied bluntly.

“Is that why you’re walking home alone at this hour?”

“Yes,” she said, her steps slowing until she stopped. The cold was uncomfortable, seeping into her limbs. She felt forlorn, and the tears pricking at her eyes were hard to hold back.

Baekhyun shrugged off his jacket and offered it to her. “Please take this. You’re trembling,” he muttered, brows furrowed in worry. She accepted it gratefully and put it on, sighing at the soothing warmth she was enveloped in.

“Are you okay?” he asked. His gorgeous onyx eyes gazed at her with concern.

“I… No, I’m not. I don’t know what to do,” she whispered. “Everything is such a mess.”

He hated how desperate she looked—like she was about to fall apart. The sight made his heart clench. “Jieun,” he sighed and closed the distance in between them. With a careful reluctance she wasn’t used of him, he draped his arms around her smaller form and pulled her in. It was the first time he touched her like this, and she welcomed his comforting embrace.

“We’ll figure it out together. It’ll be alright.”

She melted in his gentle hold and leaned into his warm body, closing her eyes. Laying her head on his chest, she heard the beats of his heart loud and clear. The sound was calming.

“Thank you, Baekhyun.”

***

Since he was worried about her, Baekhyun checked in on Jieun in the morning, encountering her in her favorite place in the woods. She sat on the grass amidst the trees, her hand caressing a blossom and making it bloom with a gentle nudge. Her features softened when he joined her.

Again, she wore the hairpin he had gifted her, the gemstones sparkling on her dark brown hair. “It looks good on you,” he commented, gaze lingering on her.

“The person who gifted it to me has good taste,” she said playfully. “It’s very pretty.”

“You’re prettier,” he flirted and winked at her.

“So cheesy. Who would have thought the mighty Hades is a lousy flirt?”

“Ouch,” he said, pretending to be hurt. “You wound me, petal.”

Her giggling filled the woods, mixing with the chirps of the birds. She inched closer to him, and he opened his arms for her, inviting her to cuddle up to him. Jieun only hesitated for a second before she leaned her back against his chest and let him hold her. His pleasant cinnamon scent surrounded her. He rested his chin on her shoulder, placing his hands on her stomach. Snuggled up to him, she looked at the treetops, spotting blue patches of the sky far up above them. It was peaceful by Baekhyun’s side. She let out a content sigh.

“Are you feeling better today?” he asked while his hand brushed her silky hair.

“Yes. I was afraid last night because I’ve never gone against my mother’s wishes before. She will be disappointed in me when she finds out what I did, but she needs to accept my choice. If I refuse to marry Youngjae, there is nothing she can do about it,” Jieun explained, her eyes spotting a particularly colorful bird on a nearby branch.

“Jieun,” he began. She heard him swallow. “Have you thought about my proposal? Four weeks are almost over.”

“I know. Time has passed so quickly. I do like you, Baekhyun, but the Underworld seems like a scary place to live. I don’t know if I could stay there for the rest of my life, so I’m not sure what to do.”

“I see,” he murmured into her hair, breathing in its flowery scent. “Should I tell you more about my kingdom? It’s not scary, just different from what you’re used to. The rumors don’t do it justice.”

“I’d like to hear about it,” she smiled. “Please tell me more.”

But Baekhyun didn’t get a chance to. Disaster struck before he could open his mouth. From the corner of his eye, he saw a flash. It was his only warning. Every muscle in his body tensed. He acted on impulse, angling his body to shield her.

A glowing arrow shot through the air. It buried itself in his back. Pain exploded in his body, consumed him. He groaned, cursed when he realized it was one of Apollo’s arrows. Shimmering light coursed through his veins like poison, burning him from the inside.

“Baekhyun!” Jieun cried and supported his slumping body, cradling him to her chest. She pulled the arrow out immediately—but it was too late. The damage was already done. Hades was made of utter darkness. Light was his kryptonite, the only thing that could ever hurt him.

Jieun’s eyes frantically scanned the trees for the person who had shot the arrow. Her heart pounded in her chest—and nearly stopped when she saw a familiar face. “Youngjae! What have you done?” she screamed, her frenzied voice making the birds take flight.

Youngjae left the shadows of the trees, glaring at Baekhyun’s fallen form with contempt. “I’m setting you free. If he’s dead, his curse can’t affect you any longer.”

Resentment and dread grew within her. “You’re insane! There is no curse!” she snapped, glaring daggers at him when he dared to take a step closer. She held Baekhyun protectively. Her distress set the plants into motion. Tree branches reached out to Youngjae in an attempt to keep him away and thorn bushes sprouted from the earth, sheltering the Goddess of Spring.

Her thoughts raced in panic and fear. Baekhyun was shivering, turning pale as the light destroyed the very matter he was made up of. She watched him wilting away in front of her eyes.

“Don’t die,” she begged. “Stay with me, Baekhyun!”

His lips moved but he didn’t make a sound, contorting his features in pain. Slowly, his eyes closed. If she didn’t do anything, the light would consume him. She had to extinguish it—and there was only one way to do it. Jieun needed to bring him to the Underworld.

She was incapable of opening the gates to the Underworld herself, but she knew of another way to reach Hades’ realm. It was dangerous and it would seal her fate, but it was much better than losing him. Jieun used her divine powers to summon a pomegranate, cupping it in her hands. Her eyes watered and her fingers shook. Eating the seeds of this fruit would irreversibly change her life.

“Don’t! If you eat that, you’ll be ruined!” Youngjae shouted in horror and struggled to reach her, but the thorn bushes blocked his way. “Leave him and come with me! He will be reincarnated sooner or later anyway. It doesn’t matter if he dies.”

“He’s important to me! I won’t let this happen to him,” she said and swallowed the pomegranate seeds.

Instantly, the ground beneath her quaked and the earth split open. A rift emerged where she kneeled. Smoke rose towards the sky as shadows greedily reached out to take her. She glared at them and cradled Baekhyun’s limp body. Her determination to save him was stronger than her fear. Coldness overwhelmed her when she sank into the whirling shadows. The blue sky above her disappeared. She was swallowed whole.

Jieun awoke in a foreign place. She lay on the ground and gazed up at the sky, squinting her eyes at its dark violet hue. The events of the past minutes returned to her in an instant. She panicked, sitting up abruptly. Where was—?

“Calm down, I’m right here,” Baekhyun said. She discovered him next to her, shoulders sagging in relief.

“Y-You almost died,” she sputtered and started to fuss over him. “How is your injury? Does anything hurt?” He was pale, but he didn’t seem to be in pain anymore. Black shadows danced over his body, embracing him and smothering the light that had burned him.

“I’m fine now, but if you hadn’t brought me here, I would have died. You saved me,” he answered, gaze serious yet grateful.

“No, you saved me! Why did you protect me? You should have—”

“I should have what? Let you get hurt?!” His expression said more than a thousand words. He looked offended at the mere idea, and his steely eyes shut her up. “I don’t care what happens to me as long as you’re safe.”

This was one of the rare moments that rendered Jieun speechless. A rosy blush bloomed on her cheeks. He held her gaze, eyes narrowed and jaw tense. “Baekhyun,” she whispered, reaching for his hand and intertwining their fingers. “I don’t want you to get hurt because of me. Please don’t be reckless with your life.”

“I would be reincarnated if I died.”

“But your memories of this life would be lost. It wouldn’t be the same,” she frowned and stared at their connected hands. His was slightly bigger than hers, enveloping it tenderly.

Baekhyun was silent for a few heartbeats. “It sounds like you would miss me,” he mumbled. “I’m surprised you would go so far as to eat pomegranate seeds to reach the Underworld. Didn’t you know what would happen to you?”

“Of course I knew, but saving you was more important,” she said and furrowed her brows. “You told me the Underworld is not a bad place and I decided to trust you since you’ve never lied to me.”

Her eyes roamed over her surroundings with newfound interest, taking in the unfamiliar scenery. The colors were less vibrant than what she was used to but other than that, it didn’t look much different from the mortal world. “It’s really not as dark and gloomy as people say,” she commented, her curiosity sparked.

The smile curving his lips made him look proud, content with her opinion of his kingdom. “I’ll show you around, petal. There’s a lot to see, and I’m sure you’ll like it!”

Jieun wanted to answer him, but she was interrupted by an ominous noise. A growl rumbled through the silence. The ground shook. She shot Baekhyun an alarmed look, but he wasn’t bothered. On the contrary, he seemed amused.

“Ah, I knew he would show himself soon,” he chuckled. “He must be curious about you!”

Jieun’s jaw dropped when she found the reason for his amusement. It was a gigantic monster. The charcoal beast had three heads and a body the size of a truck. His paws could undoubtedly crush her. Reddish eyes stared her down as the creature opened his three mouths, showing his jagged teeth.

“That’s Cerberus, my puppy. I think he likes you.” Baekhyun’s nonchalance would have been comical had it not been for the enormous monster standing in front of her.

“You mean he likes to eat me,” she deadpanned.

“No, I’m serious. He definitely likes you, look!”

Jieun stared up at the guard dog and watched his demeanor change. He barked and lowered his three heads, his tongues lolling out. It made Cerberus look a little less like a murderous beast and a tad more like a (gigantic) pet.

She trusted Baekhyun’s judgment. Seeing how calm he was, she gathered her courage and introduced herself to his “puppy”. She reached out her hand and touched the silky black fur of his paw. It was soft, smelling of ash and fire.

“Hello, Cerberus. Nice to meet you.” She gazed up at his three heads, unsure which one she should address—Baekhyun’s pet was something else. Jieun was flabbergasted when Cerberus wagged his tail and barked at her. He showed his affection by bopping her with his huge snout, leaving slobber on her clothes.

“I told you he likes you!” Baekhyun grinned.

“I think I like him too,” she laughed.

***

Jieun spent the rest of the day getting acquainted with her new home. Since she had eaten the pomegranate seeds, she had irreversibly bound herself to Hades and could not leave the Underworld for long periods of time. So she thought she might as well take a closer look at the realm of the dead, and Baekhyun showed her around, taking her to his residence. From the outside, it resembled a traditional Greek temple, but the rooms inside appeared as they did in any modern house Jieun was used to.

Regardless of her initial reluctance to enter the Underworld, she didn’t regret eating the pomegranate seeds. Merely looking at Baekhyun, seeing the honest joy in his expression, made it all worth it. She didn’t know when exactly it had happened, but she had fallen for him. She was hopelessly in love with the ruler of the Underworld. Thus, Jieun had lost their bet, but she didn’t mind losing if it meant she could be with him.

The Goddess of Spring adjusted well to her new home, leaving flowers in her wake wherever she went. The garden behind the residence had become her favorite place to visit, especially when Baekhyun accompanied her.

He was eager to show her the most famous spots in his realm, and she was excited to find out that the Underworld was nowhere near as gloomy as it was rumored to be. It was a world where the souls of the dead found their final resting place, calm and peaceful.

During the first week of her stay, Baekhyun took her to Elysium and the Asphodel Fields. When she asked him about it, he also showed her the Styx, a majestic river separating the world of the dead from the living. However, he was reluctant to let her go near Tartarus, so she just got a glimpse of it since he deemed it too dangerous. Hidden in the deepest pits of the Underworld, it housed the evilest of souls and served as a prison for the Titans. After hearing about it, she decided she would rather explore other areas her new home had to offer.

Sometimes, when Baekhyun was busy, she was visited by Cerberus who liked to follow her around. The large guard dog had gotten attached to her and loved receiving cuddles. She found this quite humorous, considering how small she was compared to him. Even though her hands were tiny next to his paws, he enjoyed being petted by her.

Today, Baekhyun traveled to the river Styx to take care of an urgent matter, and when he returned, it was late in the afternoon. Since he hadn’t seen Jieun in hours, he went looking for her, having an idea of where she could be. She must be working on the pretty garden she had created this week. Every day, it became brighter, filled with more and more exotic plants and flowers of all colors.

Baekhyun entered the sheltered garden, amazed at what he saw. He had been right; she had worked on her little haven today as well. Her divine powers had given life to a large cherry tree that held its branches over the other plants in the garden. A smile settled on his lips as he admired her work and the attention to detail. Even the smallest and most delicate flowers had found a place in her garden, growing near the walls that shielded it from outsiders.

As his gaze drifted around, Baekhyun found her. The smile on his lips grew. She was asleep, sitting on the lush green grass and leaning against Cerberus’ large body. The massive guard dog kept an eye on her, two of his heads resting on his paws while the third turned in Baekhyun’s direction.

“Did you take care of her while I was gone, big boy?” he grinned and patted the dog’s side. Cerberus barked in response. Baekhyun crouched in front of Jieun. She was so tired she didn’t even stir when he carefully picked her up, her head rolling on his shoulder. His Goddess had to be exhausted from all the work she had done today. Cerberus whined in protest when Baekhyun carried her sleeping form towards the house.

“Calm down,” he chuckled. “You’ll get more than enough chances to spend time with her in the future. Now go back to your job—you’re slacking off.” His tone was sharp, making it clear it was an order, and Cerberus obeyed. He got up and returned to the entrance of the Underworld to guard it.

In the meantime, Baekhyun brought Jieun inside the house where he laid her on the bed, covering her with a blanket so she could sleep comfortably. Before he left, he lingered for a moment, his fond gaze taking in her relaxed features. She seemed content in her new home—he couldn’t have hoped for more.

It wasn’t until two days later that Jieun approached him with a special wish. She knew she couldn’t leave the Underworld without his help, so she hoped he would do her a favor.

“I want to visit my mother. She needs to know I’m safe,” she said, a worried frown darkening her features. “We argued the last time we spoke, and I want to set things right between us.”

“I’ll open a portal for you,” he agreed. He wasn’t so selfish as to deny her wish. If she wanted to visit her mother, he would let her.

“Thank you,” she smiled and stood on her tiptoes to place a chaste kiss on his cheek.

He froze in surprise, almost forgetting to answer her. “I’ll be waiting for you,” he muttered.

His hand caressed her head, letting her go in slow motion. He watched her leaving with conflict raging in his heart. Baekhyun knew she valued her freedom, and who was he to take it from her? If he had earned her affection, she would return soon. With her departure, spring left the Underworld. The plants she had created with so much love died and Baekhyun’s heart sank like a stone.

***

As soon as Jieun had returned to the mortal world, she rushed to her former home. Dahyun was close to tears when she laid eyes on her daughter who had been missing for weeks. She opened her arms and hugged her, burying her face in her hair.

“Jieun, you’re safe,” she whispered. “I was so worried when I heard what happened.”

“Did Youngjae tell you…?”

Dahyun’s expression became icy. “No, I spoke to Zeus and Apollo. They told me he stole one of Apollo’s light arrows and tried to murder Hades while you were with him. Youngjae endangered your life with his actions—what if he hit you instead of Hades? You would have died!” she muttered, her voice breaking in anger. “Zeus has punished him for his deed. Trying to kill a God is a sin, so he has been stripped of his powers as a demigod and lives on as a mere mortal. He won’t come near you again, Jieun.”

Hearing this was a relief, as it also meant he could not hurt Baekhyun or herself. Losing their powers was one of the worst punishments a divine being could face. Jieun would be lying if she said she felt sorry for Youngjae—her blood boiled whenever she remembered Baekhyun’s injury. The Goddess of Spring was not one to take revenge, but perhaps this time she would have, had Youngjae not been punished already.

“How have you been? Why have you decided to go with Hades?”

“Because I love him,” Jieun confessed. “He is not a bad person, not at all. If you knew him, you would agree with me. The Underworld is not a bad place either. I’m happy with my decision and I don’t regret anything.”

“Are you really happy?” Dahyun studied her daughter’s expression. She was met with an honest smile—Jieun was practically glowing. Had she ever seen her daughter so content?

“Yes,” Jieun confirmed.

“I see. Maybe this is for the best—Youngjae was not the right choice for you. I’m sorry, Jieun. I wanted to keep you safe and happy, but I achieved the opposite,” Dahyun admitted. “It seems like I have to let you go at last. I’m glad you found happiness, even if it’s in an unlikely place.”

“I promise I will visit you as often as I can! And I want to introduce you to Baekhyun as well.”

“I’d like to meet him soon,” Dahyun answered, giving her daughter a wistful smile.

***

When the wilted flowers in the garden came back to life, Baekhyun knew Jieun had returned. She hadn’t even been gone for a day. Cerberus safely guided her to their residence where Baekhyun awaited her. A wide grin brightened her expression once she spotted him. She ran up to him and jumped right in his arms, almost knocking him down.

“I take it your visit went well?” he chuckled.

“Yes! Everything has been settled,” she nodded. Her conversation with her mother had lifted a burden off her shoulders—she felt much better now.

“You returned sooner than expected.”

She avoided his prying gaze, a blush growing on her cheeks, coloring them pink. “I… missed you.”

His heart leaped. He couldn’t hold back a victorious smirk, overflowing with confidence. “How adorable.”

“No teasing, Baek,” she pouted, biting her lower lip. The action caught his attention and his gaze dropped to her mouth where it lingered. He licked his lip. A lustful red hue overtook his onyx irises.

“If you keep looking at me like this, I’ll kiss you. Don’t tempt me, petal,” he uttered huskily. The low sound of his voice was irresistible—how in the world had she rejected this man over a month ago? She must have been insane. The flush on her cheeks darkened and her heart thundered in her chest. Baekhyun was tantalizing. His deep voice and his seductive words ignited her desire for him.

She was under his spell, her gaze fixed on his stunning features. His charcoal hair framed his eyes. They held an entrancing fiery glow that left her breathless. She was captivated by him and in this brief moment, she forgot everything around them.

His fingertips brushed over her cheek, leaving a tingly feeling behind. Red eyes flickered to her lips once more and something in them changed. Jieun didn’t know what it was, couldn’t describe it. He leaned even closer. When his hot breath fanned over her sensitive lips, her knees became weak and her patience ran out.

“Kiss me,” she demanded, snaking her arms around his neck.

Baekhyun tightened his embrace and splayed his hands on her back. He crashed his lips on hers. Their first kiss was urgent and intense, conveying his yearning for her. He had waited so long for this moment, and he poured all of his love into their kiss. Jieun enjoyed every second of it. He tasted like cinnamon and fire; an intoxicating mix that clouded her mind. She closed her eyes, leaning into his touch, feeling his lips move on hers. The butterflies in her stomach took flight. A sense of pure bliss overcame her, making her smile. She loved him so much it was almost painful.

Baekhyun left a few feathery kisses on her swollen lips before he leaned his forehead against hers. “Jieun,” he whispered, cupping her cheeks with his warm hands. He was so close she saw tiny amber specks in his onyx eyes, losing herself within their depths. “Will you be my Queen?”

“Yes,” she said. A rosy hue dusted her cheeks. “I love you, Baekhyun.”

“I love you too.”

“I know,” she giggled, glowing with happiness. “You’ve reminded me quite often.”

“Because you’re stubborn and didn’t believe me at first, but I won our bet in the end,” he smirked.

“Fair and square,” she laughed. He seemed very proud of himself and radiated smugness, but Jieun couldn’t unsee the evident glimmer of joy in his eyes. Right at this moment, Hades must have been the happiest person in the entire Underworld.

“I’m glad you gave me a chance, Jieun. It means the world to me.”

“I grew up hearing nothing but lies about you… about us,” she said. “Your persistence and kindness are what made me see the truth. You’re an amazing person, Baekhyun. I wouldn’t want to be with anyone else.”

The colors of the sunset shimmered in his eyes. They glowed with pure affection. “Thank you, my Queen.”

Author’s Note: That’s it! I hope you liked this oneshot. Please leave some feedback 💖🥰

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