#pocket sized critters please hold carefully

[fiodoodlebug]

liddol creatures.............

[keeshya6]

Worth the Effort

Joel Miller x F!Reader Insert

4.8k words

(18+ only. MDNI. To continue, please click "Read More" below.)

This fic is strongly inspired by the Raider Joel series by @toxicanonymity. My own take on him, of course, but Toxic's version of Joel definitely got the idea bouncing around in my head! Love your Raider Joel, Toxic!

If you aren't familiar with the series, you can find it here: Raider Joel.

This fic takes place a few years after the Cordyceps infection outbreak. I'm not entirely sure of the canon timelines for this time period, but this is canon divergent anyway. In my head it's before Joel gets to the Boston QZ, and Joel hasn't met Tess yet.

There is an element of dubcon to this, due to some glaring imbalances in the power dynamic. However, ultimately, Reader is a willing participant. So it's dubcon-ish.

This is meant as a stand-alone one-shot. However, depending on how ya'll like it, I could see turning it into a series of one-shots.

Please let me know you're thoughts! I hope you enjoy!

CW: Plot-what-plot?, plot-maybe-if-you-squint, dubcon-ish, power imbalance, gruff Joel, blow job, rough blow job, oral sex (male receiving), deepthroating, cum eating, breathplay, hair pulling, manhandling, D/s tones, dirty talk, tears, saliva, size kink, sexual acts outdoors. Please let me know if I missed any.

Edit: Part 2 is up now! What to Expect

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The snap of a twig is like ice water thrown over you. It makes your blood run cold with fear and your eyes widen as you straighten up from adding another log to the fire. You turn towards the sound, unsure of exactly where it came from, your breath caught in your throat, eyes searching the surrounding trees.

Other than the occasional sounds of a bird or small critter, it’s been quiet since early morning. So much longer than normal. You wouldn’t usually have started a fire before the rest of your group got back to camp, but it’s going to be dusk soon and the autumn chill will settle in. You figured it would be nice for them to have a warm fire to return to. Maybe some of the ones that don’t really like you would even appreciate it.

Not that you’re exactly looking forward to when they return. The leader, Phillip, always likes to ‘celebrate’ a successful run by leading you off to his tent. You play along, make him feel wanted, even if he’s about the furthest from your type as you could possibly imagine. Still, you’re not much good with a gun, so you’re no use out on their raids. You figured out a few years ago that you had to have something to offer in exchange for protection. You’ve gotten pretty good at stitching up gashes and cooking over a fire, but getting ‘friendly’ with the leader of a group like this one has been your best bet, and it's worked out alright so far.

Sure, definitely not the life you imaged for yourself but then again no one ever expected the world to end.

So yeah, you don’t look forward to them coming back to camp, but you also know you’re safest when they are in camp.

But if they were the ones approaching, you know they would be making more noise than whoever… or whatever… is out there right now.

Your eyes dart around the trees and you carefully back away from the fire towards the opposite tree line of the small campsite. Meanwhile you pull a small revolver from the pocket of your jacket, hands trembling and eyes wide.

The soft crunch of fallen leaves to the left has your focus snapping that direction, shakily raising the pistol. There’s an inhuman groan from beyond the brush and a terrified sob lodges in your throat.

Shit. Where the hell did an infected come from? This area has been clear for weeks!

A startled cry nearly tears out of you, though it’s cut off by the hand suddenly clamped over your mouth from behind, as you’re pulled roughly back into something firm.

“Don’t move or make a fucking sound,” an unfamiliar voice growls softly into your ear as the stranger’s other hand snaps out to snatch the pistol from your hands. He holds the gun out in front of you, his hand much steadier than yours ever would have been, as you freeze against him, mind whirling and eyes wide above the hand over your mouth.

When an infected stumbles into view beyond a large group of bushes you bite back another terrified sob. The unfamiliar hand stretched out before you doesn’t hesitate though, squeezing the revolver’s trigger.

You wince as the gun fires, and the infected turns towards you, only for the bullet to lurch its head around before it unceremoniously drops to the leaf strewn ground with a thump.

You, and the stranger you’re still pressed against, remain frozen for what feels like forever, listening and watching the trees.

“Looks like it was alone,” he says lowly, finally unwrapping his hand from across your mouth and stepping back from you, taking your pistol with him.

Trembling, you spin to face him, eyes widening again as you come face to barrel with your own pistol. Your hands lift into the air and you tear your eyes away from the gun and to the brown eyes of the man holding it.

“Please…don’t…”

Those dark eyes glance over you, hard and cold. “If you’ve got any other weapons on you, I strongly suggest you let me know and drop them right now.”

You give a quick, negative shake of your head. “I-I don’t. The pistol is all I had.”

His eyes leave you for a moment, darting around the camp before leveling on your face again. “Where is everyone else?”

“I…I don’t know,” you admit, daring to barely shrug. “They left early, to go find supplies. Left me to watch the camp. They…they’d usually b-be back by now.”

A relieved sigh escapes you as he barely lowers the pistol. At least you don’t have to look down the barrel any more.

His head cocks to one side slightly. “What’s this group look like?” he demands.

“Um…” you hesitate, biting your lip. Giving information to a complete stranger seems like a bad idea. You know Phillip will be pissed off if he finds out.

The stranger gives a faint snarl and lifts the gun again, making you anxiously pat the empty air between you.

“Okay… okay. There’s seven of them. Five men. Two women. The l-leader is kind of tall, bald, and lanky… like, like a skinny biker guy…”

He pauses and then nods, lowering the gun between you and straightening up to his full height as he looks around the camp again. “Well, they ain’t comin’ back. Took them out a few hours ago when they tried to jump my group. Sorry, Darlin’.”

That might be the coldest and most insincere “Sorry” you’ve ever heard in your life.

It takes a few moments for your thoughts to catch up with the news as your heart hammers and your eyes widen, darting around frantically. “Oh fuck…” you barely whisper.

The stranger studies you as dread settles over you and then, apparently deciding you aren’t a threat, he tucks your gun into the back of his pants and steps off to the side to kick at a couple of the sleeping bags laid out around the fire.

You don’t notice at first, your mind running rampant with the implications of Phillip’s death, but when you do notice you turn towards him with some measure of indignation. “Hey! You can’t just-”

The words lodge in your throat as he spins on you again in the middle of rummaging for supplies, the pistol materializing back into his hand, though he doesn’t bother to raise it. You also can’t help noticing that he has a rifle slung over his shoulder, so obviously he didn’t need your gun.

“I ‘can’t’ what?” he snaps back at you.

Eyes wide, you stare at him for several moments before speaking again, keeping your voice as calm as you can. “Please. This is all I have now…”

He huffs at you and looks down to kick at another sleeping bag. “Tough luck, darlin’.” His dark eyes lift to you again, brows drawn together in obvious confusion. “How did you even end up left here? Don’t seem much use to watch camp, if you can’t hold a gun without shaking…or much use at all, for that matter.”

You bristle a little at that, but then sigh. He’s not exactly wrong.

“I…do other things. Cook, first aid, wash clothes…other things…” Your voice trails off.

His head cants at you again and, for the first time, he seems to really look at you. Study you. In fact, his eyes drag over you and then he arches a brow, obviously guessing at what you’d left out.

“Oh really? ‘Other things’?”

Your cheeks flush with warmth, but you tick your chin upward slightly, holding your head high and narrowing your eyes at him. “Fuck you and your judgement.”

The first hint you’ve seen of any emotion crosses his face. Amusement. He smirks.

“Oh, I ain’t judgin’ you, Darlin’,” he says, crouching down to scoop up a can of baked beans that had been under a sleeping bag. His eyes quickly return to you as he straightens up again, stepping over to a backpack you hadn’t noticed before to tuck the can into a side pocket. “Difficult times and all that. Just got me wonderin’ if those ‘other things’ are worth the effort of takin’ you back to my camp with me… or if I ought to just leave you out here on your own.”

That sets your mind to reeling again and your haughty expression disappears as your brows pull together with concern.

What are you going to do now?

It’s your turn then, to really look at him for the first time. To study him.

Tall and broad. About forty, you would guess, with dark curly hair and a patchy beard, both just starting to sport a bit of gray. Plush lips. A strong, curved nose. You’re guessing the tan is natural, though you can’t see much of it given that he’s wearing a long sleeved, buttoned up flannel shirt and jeans with boots and a jacket. And then there’s those dark eyes that seem to pierce through you.

He’s handsome. You can’t deny that.

Then again. Does that matter, given your predicament? It’s just a bonus, really. At least, unlike Phillip, this guy is actually your type.

Biting your lip, you take a deep breath and let your eyes meet his once more. Your head slants and you let the faintest of smiles touch the corners of your mouth.

“I am good at the ‘other things’,” you admit.

That makes him laugh and you’re surprised to see a dimple crease his cheek. It’s not a mirthful sound though. If anything, it’s condescending.

“Oh, Darlin’. You’d have to claim that, wouldn’t you? To save your own skin?”

Biting back a retort, you manage to keep the pleasant smile on your face even as your thoughts jump through a few hoops to consider options.

Turning more fully towards him, you realize your hands are still held up and you slowly lower them to clasp behind you, consciously giving a slight arch to your back to accent the curves of your chest through your own jacket as you look up at him.

“Well, yes,” you admit, “but I could also… show you.”

He gives another chuckle, letting his gaze drop to your torso for a moment before meeting your eyes again. “No lingerin’ loyalty there, hm?”

Your shoulders lift in a slight shrug. “We weren’t exactly close. Plus, if they’re dead, what’s loyalty going to get me? Other than dead, too?”

He studies you again for a few moments, a smirk still touching his lips, before he nods in agreement. “True. So…” He pauses, his tongue tracing his teeth behind his lips. “...what are you offering?”

“Pretty much anything you want,” you say, keeping your tone as steady as possible despite your nervousness, “but only for you, as long as you can keep me safe.”

There’s another pause and then he chuckles darkly. “Oh, that’s a wide net, Darlin’,” he says, his voice taking on a rumbling note. “But I meant right now, to prove you’re worth the effort.”

You blink a few times, biting your lip and letting your eyes dance down his tall frame again. At noting the slight bulge at the front of his jeans that wasn’t there a moment ago, you barely manage to keep from smirking. You obviously have his attention, but his agreement isn’t close to secure yet. No need to get too confident.

Returning your eyes to his, you do let a coy smile tug at your mouth as you dare to slowly take a step closer to him, glad to see he doesn’t tense or lift the revolver again.

“Well… the offer is the same. ‘Pretty much anything you want’.”

It feels like it takes forever for him to respond, and he does by tucking the pistol into the back of his jeans again and stepping closer to you, closing the distance so you have to tilt your head back to look up at him. His hand lifts to adjust the strap of the rifle on his shoulder and you notice he’s wearing a broken wrist watch. Before you can even think to comment though, he reaches out to catch your chin in that hand, and he turns your head side to side, taking in the details of your face.

You don’t realize you’re holding your breath until your lungs start to burn and you slowly force yourself to inhale, all the while keeping your eyes on his.

“What’s your name?” he demands lowly.

You tell him, and then barely arch a brow at him to silently ask the same.

He hesitates while his eyes linger on your lips. “Joel.”

“Joel…” you repeat his name softly, after swiping your tongue out across your lips to wet them, forming the word like it’s something decadent.

His eyes darken and a faint smirk appears again after a few heartbeats pass.

“Oh… you do know what you’re doing.”

You can’t help returning his smirk and giving a faint shrug. No point in denying it.

Joel’s thumb brushes over your lower lip then, stopping in the center of it and barely pressing down, watching the tender flesh pillow to either side. Then those dark eyes lift to look around before coming back to yours and his voice takes on a slightly deeper tone from in his chest.

“How about you show me what this pretty mouth can do, Darlin’? We’ve got maybe half an hour before it gets dark. So you’ve got that long, before I head back to my camp…with or without you.”

You study his face as you consider, briefly.

There was a time when you would have been appalled at the thought of going down on a complete stranger, but like he said, ‘difficult times’. Besides, now that you’re close to him you can see that he at least tries to keep clean and doesn’t even smell badly. You could never claim the same of your now, apparently, deceased protector.

Maybe Joel is an upgrade?

That faintly optimistic thought lingers and you give a little nod of your head with another coy smile, letting your tongue trace over your lips once more. “Okay…”

With a smirk, Joel’s fingers give a firm squeeze to your chin before releasing it, and then he holds his hands out and down at his sides, his head tilting to the side.

An invitation to proceed.

Swallowing thickly, you take a deep breath and nod, hesitantly reaching out to him. When he doesn’t move to stop you, your hands slip under the edges of his jacket to touch his chest and then trace your fingertips downward. You can’t help noticing the muscles beneath the fabric, even where there’s a little softness at his stomach. It reminds you of working men you used to know, before the world ended, and briefly has you wondering what he was before that fateful day.

Pushing those distracting thoughts aside, you focus on the task at hand, your fingers deftly working open the belt looped into his jeans while you shift your weight and sink down to your knees, your eyes lingering on his face as you do.

The smirk on his lips lifts a bit, his tongue darting out over them as his hand cups under your chin again briefly. “Hmmm… lookin’ awful pretty down there, Sweetheart.”

You snort a faint laugh at him, which has him giving you a shameless grin that shows off that dimple again. It doesn’t quite reach his eyes, but at least he isn’t completely without humor.

When he releases your chin again you finally let your eyes drag down his torso to where your hands work open the front of his jeans. You find boxers underneath them and tug the jeans down just enough so you can reach your hand into the flap of the boxers and wrap your fingers around his hidden cock. Your eyes widen a little again as you carefully pull him free, a hiss escaping above you.

He’s only semi-hard but already impressive. Long and thick with a slight curve. Once he’s fully hard (and he’s hardening more just with your hand wrapped around his base) you have little doubt he’ll be larger than any you’ve taken before.

Well, shit, what have you gotten yourself into?

There’s a dark chuckle above you and you glance up at his face, finding his head canted to the side again.

“Think you can handle it, Darlin’?” he teases.

You blink up at him a few times and then smirk.

You’ve never been one to back down from a challenge.

So, in answer, you lean forward and nuzzle your mouth and nose against the underside of his length, eliciting a faint moan. You toss him a smile and he just quirks an eyebrow at you in return. Tilting your head, you mouth at him softly, starting just below his glans and moving downward, all without breaking eye contact.

You can't help noting that your earlier guess had been correct: he at least tries to keep relatively clean. His scent, while decidedly masculine -musky and earthy-, isn’t overpowering or dirty.

A definite upgrade.

Darting out your tongue past where he disappears back into his boxers, you lick at the tender skin where his shaft meets his sac. Watching his face as you do, you’re gratified by the way his teeth clench and a low growl escapes him.

With another coy smile, you let your eyes lower to focus your attention on his dick then, giving him a firm stroke with your hand before flattening your tongue and leaning back in to slowly lick a thick line from base to head, tracing a prominent vein along the underside of his length. The end of your tongue teases the ridge of his glans, before you continue to lick up and over the smooth, blunt tip. You flick your tongue through his slit, getting a taste of tangy, salty precum, and drawing out a rumbling hum from Joel as his cock twitches in your hand.

Glancing up once more, your breath hitches in your chest at the way Joel's eyes have darkened even more and you give a little start at feeling his fingers slip into your hair, his big hand cradling the back of your head. He urges you closer again.

“Come on, Darlin’,” he growls, “time's a-wastin’.”

You hesitate only a moment, finding yourself a bit enthralled by that look in his eyes. But the pressure of his hand increases and you gasp in a breath, snapping out of your stupor and nodding quickly, focusing once more with your heart hammering in your chest.

Wetting your lips with a sweep of your tongue, you part them to feed his cock into your mouth with one hand wrapped around his base. You have to open wide to accept his girth and your brows arch in surprise as you realize he's still growing harder in your hand and on your tongue, for the first few moments he’s inside your mouth.

Fuuuuck… He’s big.

You're grateful when he seems to finally come to full erection a few breaths later, feeling like steel wrapped in velvet. Much more and you might have had to spontaneously learn to unhinge your jaw.

Massaging the underside of him with your tongue, you draw his turgid length further in and hollow your cheeks around him. You give as much suction as you can as you take more of him, breathing through your nose shallowly.

The deep groan he gives is encouraging, as is the increasing pressure of his hand on the back of your head, pushing you further down on him. When his cockhead bumps the back of your mouth, making your gag reflex kick in and your body jolt, his voice is an unsympathetic snarl above you, between breaths that are getting more jagged.

“Better relax and take it, Sweetheart. You got…one shot at this…and tossin’ your dinner on me will be a…sure way of gettin’ left behind…”

You give a muffled mewl around the hard flesh in your mouth, earning you another dark chuckle. He doesn’t relent though.

Gulping in a bit of air at the last moment, you will your jaw and the muscles in your neck to relax, as he pushes past the constriction and into your throat. You can feel the tender skin stretch around his intrusion and tears prick at your eyes. Soon the rest of your body tenses, urging you to struggle, to fight for air. Your eyes flutter as you resist that urge, forcing your throat to accept more as he pulls you in, until your nose is nestled into the cotton of his boxers and pressed against the coarse hair underneath it.

He holds you there.

Every muscle begins to tremble as you fight against that instinctual imperative to lash out until your lungs taste sweet oxygen again. You look up at him, his towering form obscured as more tears fill your eyes, a few escaping to cascade downward.

And yet, with every ounce of control you possess, you hold still and accept.

A pleased growl passes Joel’s lips as he finally relents and lets you back off, coughing and gasping in air.

“Atta girl…” he rumbles.

Your chest heaves and more tears trail down your cheeks. Your blurred eyes lift back up to his face and, despite it all, you’re surprised by the thrill that darts through you at that tiny bit of praise.

But then his fingers are fisting into your hair again and he’s pushing your mouth back onto his cock.

“One more time, Darlin’,” he husks, “and then you gotta get me off.”

You whimper and frantically inhale again through your nose as he fills your mouth once more, your hands lifting to splay on his thighs. It takes conscious effort to just rest them there without pushing back.

He’s not nearly as patient this time, not only pulling your face down around his length but also flexing his hips to push into your throat faster. You gag again but somehow manage to get it under quick control as his cockhead invades your throat once more, cutting off an involuntary whimper. As he holds you in place this time, your head swims and your lungs burn, your fingers curl into fists against his legs, though you still don't push.

Instinct has you trying to swallow around him and he gives a loud groan.

“Fuuuck, Sweetheart…if your pussy is as wet and tight as your throat…you might be worth the trouble after all,” he grinds out.

You blink rapidly against the tears streaming from your eyes, startled by the heat that spears through your body at his vulgar words, despite the oxygen-deprived haze filling your head.

The next thing you know, you're coughing again, pulled off of his dick, desperately drawing in air. His fingers still hold cruelly tight to your hair as you try to catch your breath, though you’re somewhat glad for it, otherwise you might just collapse.

Joel leans down, his stiff cock bobbing heavily between his strong thighs, and reaches with his free hand to cup under your chin, saliva mixed with his precum dripping down it. He guilds your chin up to tilt your tear stained face his way, your lips parted as you pant for air.

“Hmmm…gotta admit, Darlin’, you look awful pretty…with those lips wrapped around my cock,” he softly growls between shallow breaths of his own, a smirk on his lips and a thumb roughly rubbing across your lower lip. “Sun’s almost down though…think you got it in you to make me cum?” he asks with a quirked brow.

You take a few more heaving breaths and then lick your lips, swallowing thickly with a slight wince. Despite the raw ache in your throat, you give him a coy smile and a nod. “Yes…” you rasp.

A cold grin crosses his face and he straightens up, stepping in closer again to let his cockhead bounce against your chin and lips. “Good girl. Show me what you can do.”

Blinking more of the haze out from your eyes, you reach up to wrap your fingers around his saliva slicked base again and guild him back into your mouth. Hollowing your cheeks once more, you suck firmly and quickly begin to bob your head in towards his hips, stroking along his shaft and over the head with your tongue. Your hand moves in time with your movements, fisting him so every inch of his impressive length is stimulated, lips meeting fingers, more saliva easing the glide of skin over skin.

When Joel’s hips begin rocking forward to push a little deeper, you chance a glance upward at the top of one long stroke.

He’s watching you over the curve of his broad, muscular chest, which heaves as he shallowly takes in air, plush lips barely parted. Meanwhile he’s still holding your head with one hand buried in your hair, but he doesn’t try to take control of your movements again.

Oh no, he’s definitely going to make you earn his protection.

You redouble your efforts. Stroking your mouth and hand over him faster. Sucking harder.

His stoic facade finally cracks as his eyes flutter and then close, a loud, drawn out groan escaping. Tilting his head back, his hips begin to rock a little faster to meet the rapid glide of your hand and mouth, his cock throbbing on your tongue. Both of his hands are buried in your hair now, lightly tangled in the locks. He's still not trying to control your movements though; it's still all you doing the work to bob your head and meet his thrusts. They seem more like insurance, in case you change your mind.

Not that you will. You've come too far for that.

When his movements finally start to stutter with soft grunts filling the quiet clearing, you draw him in deep once again. Ignoring the ache it causes, you urge him over the edge, your hand and mouth squeezing around him.

Strong fingers suddenly twist in your hair so tightly that stinging pain erupts across your scalp from the pull, at the same instant that Joel erupts into the warm cavity of your mouth.

Hot ropes of salty semen coat your tongue and the back of your mouth. He holds you there, his length pulsing, giving a couple more shallow thrusts and emptying himself into you with a deep moan that can only be described as obscene.

Then, he’s looking down at you, eyes impossibly dark, skin flushed, panting for breath. A languid smile tugs up one side of his lips as he cups your chin again and traces the side of your mouth with his thumb, where the tender skin is still stretched around his dick, even though it is starting to soften.

His voice is breathy now, but no less commanding.

“Swallow.”

You slowly and carefully inhale through your nose as you meet his intense gaze. Then you tighten your lips around his softening shaft and swallow down his spend, feeling it coat your throat as it disappears.

A pleased hum meets your ears and Joel’s rough thumb brushes across your cheek, wiping away a streak left by your tears. With a nod, he takes a half step back, letting his dick slip free of your mouth with a lewd wet sound, before he releases your face and your hair.

He gives an upward jerk of his chin as he tucks his cock back into his boxers and zips up his jeans. “Get up.”

Still breathing hard, you nod and push yourself to your feet, briefly stumbling. As you find your footing, your eyes widen for a split second at the distinct feeling of slickness gathered between your thighs, no doubt soaking your panties.

You had been so focused on getting him off, that you hadn’t even realized just how turned on you were by the unexpected situation.

It's been a while since that happened.

Pushing the realization aside, you swallow hard, and wince again from the rawness in your throat. Wiping drool from your chin and red, puffy lips, you focus on the man in front of you as he finishes buckling his belt.

If feels like it takes him forever as your heart keeps hammering in your chest, waiting to hear his verdict on your…performance.

Joel’s dark eyes lift back to you and linger (you can only imagine how debauched you look), as his thumbs hook into the pockets of his jeans, his head canting to the side. The corner of his mouth twitches into another faint smirk before he turns on the balls of his feet to take a few steps and scoop up his backpack, slinging it onto the shoulder that isn’t occupied by a rifle.

Your breath stutters, brows pinching together, as a ball of dread drops into the pit of your stomach. Watching him pick up a pack of cigarettes from a sleeping bag and pocket them, your entire body tenses as your mind begins reeling.

What had you done wrong?!

Joel pauses and looks back at you over his rifle shoulder, his voice gruff.

“You’ve got five minutes, Darlin’. Gather up whatever you need to bring along. We're heading out.”

[latte-fairytaekwoon]

Chosen (Park Seonghwa) Rated

Pairing: Creature! Park Seonghwa × Human! Reader (Female)

Genre: Smut, Angst, Fluff, Sci-Fi/Fantasy AU.

Summary: Symbolizing purity, innocence, and daintiness, the Daughters of Aster had been hand-picked since a young age to be brought up and raised for a very special task: to carry the offspring of the nobility in the kingdom, which just so happens to consist of cold-blooded humanoid creatures. And now that she's become of age, it's Y/N's turn to be auctioned off to the highest bidder.

Word Count: 5.6K

Warnings: Tentai content including tentacle bondage, tentacle sucking, breast play, suction play, breeding kink, penetration with tentacles, multiple orgasms, semi voyeurism, reader is a virgin and Seonghwa is whipped for her, mentions of eggs, and stomach bulges. (It's my first time writing actual tentacle smut so I apologize if it sucks.)

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Gulping harshly as she pressed a hand to open the large, metal gate that guarded the huge mansion, the young woman hesitantly stepped inside the spacious and grim-looking garden. Underestimating the weight of the gate, she softly jolted back when it suddenly slipped out of her grasp and clashed back into place. She winced momentarily when the loud noise seemed to resonate, spooking several of the small critters and ravens that roamed around the small terrain. Glancing back, she half expected an old groundskeeper to swoop out of one of the trees and chastise her reckless behavior. But nothing surrounded the area except the foliage, trees, and rose bushes that added to the beauty of the grand estate.

Gathering back her courage, the quaint young woman took slow and careful steps across the small dirt path that led straight to the front stairs of the mansion. It was a somewhat terrifying architectural design, reminiscent of the old gothic-styled cathedrals from ancient times, not at all fashioned after the pompous and outlandish French designs most of the other members of the aristocracy preferred. The gray stone walls made the place seem cold and distant, the hardly lit windows signaled that it was probably rarely inhabited, and the black ravens perched on the top of the sculpted angel monuments lined up through the staircase only made the sensation feel more haunting and chilly.

Finally, in front of the main entrance, she hesitated as her fingers brushed along the round metal door handle. She felt frozen with fear as she realized there was no returning after all. This was the moment she had been prepared for her entire life. In a few moments, she was about to meet.....

Her master.

Just that thought sent shivers down her spine. She did not wish to ponder too much on the various horror stories she often heard back in the institute, nor imagine what kind of life she would live now as a surrogate to one of...their kind.

In the very moment she lifted her hand once again, she took a jerked back when the door seemingly opened by itself, a young maid looking surprised to see her standing there. Upon inspecting her attire and recognizing the crest that held her dark blue cloak in place, the maid's expression beamed with joy.

"Oh! You must be Miss Y/N correct?"

Nodding her head and affirming it was indeed she, Y/N felt puzzled when the tiny maid practically yanked her inside, albeit not intended to harm her, she simply seemed excited about her presence, which frankly made no sense to her. It was not as if surrogates were treated with kindness let alone respect. When her hands reached up towards her neck, the young woman was quick to stop her.

"Oh please! Let me do that for you."

Although she was not particularly fond of people coming up so close in her personal space, she maintained a calm demeanor whilst the maid removed the long cloak off her frame, delicate hands folding it perfectly and tucking it under her arm.

"I'll have this cleaned and ironed out for you Miss before taking it back to your room. You must be famished after coming here after such a long journey." She paused briefly and examined Y/N's complexion, which seemed rather pale and depleted, making her pout rather sadly at the state their new guest was in.

"If you would like, I can ask the cook to prepare a meal for you. Do tell, what is your favorite dish?"

Y/N waved a dismissive hand at the kind lady's offer.

"Please, do not trouble yourself. I am not the least bit hungry." Indeed, it was not a lie. She was overly anxious and uneasy that she did not believe it to be possible to even fathom stomaching any sort of sustenance at that moment.

"If you do not mind and if it is allowed... I would much prefer to retire for the evening." Y/N humbly requested.

Nodding with the understanding that the new company was weary, the young maid took hold of a golden bell tied around her waist and proceeded to ring it moderately. In mere seconds, a tall sharply dressed gentleman came up and bowed towards her.

"Cedric would you please escort Miss Y/N to her room?"

Gesturing for her to follow, the butler guided her up the flight of stairs into the second story of the house. Passing through a long corridor, Y/N glanced now and then at the outside patio through the windows that overlooked the gardens. They were much larger than what she initially thought, and the longer she looked, the denser the trees seemed to appear. She was so distracted by the scenery that she nearly collided face-first into the poor butler's back had he not spoken up first and made her steps come into a screeching halt.

"This will be your room from now on miss." Producing a string of keys out of his pocket, Cedric unlocked the door and gently pushed it open, stepping inside to make room for Y/N to pass.

Her breath was nearly taken away by the sheer size of the room. It was double the size of the old living space she used to share with 6 other girls back in the institute and was furnished with more than what she'd ever need. The decor too seemed like something more befitting for someone of the family than for someone of her station.

"If there is anything the matter with the decor or should you prefer a different pattern, you may simply speak the word and the Master shall arrange for the room to be modified as you like."

At the mention of the Master, Y/N felt that nerve-racking tingle travels down her body once again.

"Shall you need any assistance, please feel free to ring the bell attached by your bed and one of us will be more than happy to aid you?" Reaching for the door handle, Cedric bid her good night before closing the door to leave her to her thoughts.

Still feeling cold from the long walk, Y/N stepped closer to the fireplace, outstretching her hands in hopes of warming them up. She was grateful that although not expecting her early, they had prepared a nice fire to warm up her room. After getting filled with the heat, Y/N went over to one of the dressers so that she could change into her night attire. Upon opening the many drawers, she was shocked at not finding any of her old clothes, instead, there was an abundance of luxurious clothing which she did not recognize. Storming over to the large wardrobe, she too found that none of her personal belongings had been delivered, they seemed to have all been replaced with new apparel. Knowing that she had no choice, she went back to the first dresser that she had looked in before and rummaged through to find the plainest and simple nightgown she could find. Reaching for the row of buttons training down the middle of her blouse, she undid them one by one with utter care before slipping it off her body, letting the garment fall on the floor. Running the zipper down, her long and flowing skirt joined her blouse, one foot delicately kicking them away for the time being. Standing there in nothing but her undergarments made Y/N suddenly feel apprehensive. She carefully looked around the room again, feeling the strange sensation that someone was watching her. Shaking that thought out of her head, she quickly threw the nightgown over her head and finished dressing. The fabric was soft to the touch and it didn't scratch against her delicate skin, but the most surprising factor was that it fit like a glove on her body. It made her wonder if perhaps they had prepared it in advance or it was merely a coincidence.

Picking up her discarded clothes, she neatly placed them on the table near her, slightly folding them and smoothing them over. Going over to the bed, she pulled back the covers before sliding her body onto the mattress and covering herself. She couldn't help the small blissful sigh coming out of her mouth as her sore limbs welcomed the soft and comfortable bed, the pillow feeling like a fluffy cloud. As she laid there, she began to reminisce about all the events that led up to that very moment, or more specifically, that very morning during the Auctioning.

Hearing the loud applause coming from the other end of the room, Y/N tried to calm her nerves, knowing she was the next one in line to face the crowd. As soon as she took one step forward, she was stopped by none other than the Head of the Institute, who took hold of her wrist and looked at the girl behind her.

"Abigail, you go next. Y/N, you're coming with me."

Without so much as a further explanation, Y/N found herself dragged away from the waiting room where her fellow inmates also looked at each other in confusion at the sudden interruption. Y/N wanted to speak up and ask what was happening, was she not to be auctioned off to one of the many noble families? The old woman of course knew all the questions Y/N had, but she didn't say a word until they were outside in the front of the building, where there was a carriage awaiting her.

"Your personal belongings have already been sent out to your new home. We've received word to have you delivered as soon as possible." Even with that brief explanation, Y/N still didn't understand anything. Noticing her distressed state, the Headmistress sighed softly.

"Y/N, you are not to be auctioned off like the rest of the girls. Someone has already purchased you many months back, but it seems they accidentally forgot it and thus added you to the lineup. Luckily, I managed to find you before you stood up on that platform. Certainly avoided a disaster." The old woman chuckled, yet that did not relieve Y/N's worries.

What did she mean someone had already bought her? Who were they? Where was she sold off to?

Unfortunately, none of those questions were answered, instead, she found herself being pushed inside the carriage and speedily taken away to an unfamiliar side of the country that she had never seen before, away to who knew where until she ended up right in the place she was currently in.

Drowsy and tear-filled eyes eventually closed even whilst remembering the events of the day. Y/N knew she was more than likely lucid dreaming as she slowly drifted off to sleep. She didn't feel fully unaware of her surroundings though, and perhaps it was that skeptical feeling that kept her on edge and guarded against anything around her. It especially came into help when she seemingly felt something stroke her cheek, gliding down to caress the outline of her jaw. At first, she believed it was nothing more than her imagination, but when she felt a thumb running across her bottom lip, she opened her eyes, screaming and sitting up when she saw a dark figure standing right in front of her. He was started himself by her outburst, immediately retracting his hand when he witnessed how agitated his innocent act had made her.

"I'm sorry..... I didn't mean to frighten you." His voice was soothing and low, clearly intended so that she'd calm down.

"Would you mind if I..." His gesture indicated that he wanted permission to come near her again, which she felt like she had no choice but to give.

Sitting down on the edge of the bed, the handsome stranger reached out and cupped the sides of her face, moving it slowly to the left and then towards the right, eyes drinking up every detail of her countenance.

"My God, you're even more beautiful than the last time I saw you tending to the gardens in that place."

Hearing those words made Y/N widen her eyes. How did he know about that? Unless...

"Are... Are you my new master?" She couldn't even believe it.

The young man giggled softly.

"If you don't mind, I would much rather prefer if you called me by my name, Seonghwa." He introduced himself. Y/N briefly nodded, but obviously, it wasn't enough for him as he leaned in close, nose nearly bumping into her own.

"Please say it." He urged her to.

"Seonghwa." She breathed out his name, to which he let out a gentle smile as one of his hands moved to tuck some of her hair behind her ear.

"Once again, I apologize for startling you, my dear. I just got impatient and couldn't resist myself. I just had to see you." He confessed before getting up out of her space.

"You must be tired so I'll leave you be now. Get some rest love and I'll see you in the morning."

Y/N expected him to walk towards the same door she had come inside from, but she looked with astonishment as Seonghwa went over towards another door which she had mistakenly assumed to be her bathroom, and opened it up.

"My room adjoins to yours, so if you ever want to come and see me, I'm just a knock away." He fought hard to not laugh at her flustered expression, whispering out another good night before retreating into his chambers.

Y/N released a breath she didn't know she was holding. So far her new master looked...normal? Nothing at all like what she expected from the many tales that roamed back at the institute. Seonghwa was nothing that she expected, exceptionally beautiful, poised, kind, and gallant. But she knew she could not be fooled by his charming manners, after all, none of the members of the aristocracy were actual humans...

And it was only a matter of time before she figured out what sort of monster Seonghwa was.

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Y/N tried to steady her heartbeat as Seonghwa drew closer to her, lips brushing against her own. Although this was the exact moment she had been prepared all her life for, she still felt a tinge of nervousness as she felt Seonghwa's hands clasp around her waist, his body, which was all bare save for the briefs between his thighs, pressing against her own.

"Tell me, my dear has anyone ever kissed you before?" He smiled when she shook her head.

"May I kiss you?" His inquiry sounded so sweet and pure that Y/N didn't think twice about lifting her face and closing her eyes.

Seonghwa's lips were soft, reminding her of the soft petals belonging to the different roses in the gardens outside, precious little buds that she had been granted permission to take care of in the month she had been living with him. He had never once denied her anything and had been very attentive to her every need. And now as he tenderly kissed her, pouring his heart into the loving kiss, Y/N wondered if this is what love felt like, that foreign emotion that she'd often hear spoken about yet always been told it would never be something she or any of the other girls at the Institute would ever experience. She didn't know, but she knew that she enjoyed whatever this was, this feeling of Seonghwa's lips closing over hers, only to pull away and then dive back in, each minute that passed enabling his kissing to become more ardent and passionate. It was truly breathtaking for her, as she'd often find herself gasping for air each time his lips would pull apart from her mouth.

Starting at the corners of her lips, Seonghwa began pressing butterfly kisses down towards her jaw. Y/N's breath hitched, neck tilting back when she felt him nibbling against her skin. It seemed as if he knew exactly where to direct his attention towards, her sharp breaths an indication that she was warming up to his touches. Releasing one hand off her face, he moved it down until his fingers brushed against her collarbone, treading dangerously close to her covered bosoms.

"Now tell me, love has anyone ever touched you here?"

As if on instinct, Y/N arched her back towards his palms when they lightly squeezed at her pillowy mounds, a light, and embarrassed moan being uttered by her for the first time in her life.

"N-no, no one's ever touched me there." Her shy confession made him smirk as he then dropped his hand down to lift her flimsy nightgown.

"What about here? Has anyone touched here?"

Cupping her sex, he found it warm and inviting, his body aching to be inside of her, to fill her up and breed her as he wanted to. He didn't need her to answer, just her mouth going agape and emitting the cutest whimpers he had ever heard was enough of an answer.

"No of course not. You're pure and completely untouched by anyone else....." When she felt his fingers slide across her wettened folds, her hands reached out and gripped against his biceps, using them to keep herself steady as they continued exploring her deepest places. It felt so unusual yet wonderful to have Seonghwa pry open her lips, fingers ever so gradually slipping past her tightness to lodge inside her warm cavern. Once settled, they began moving, pulling themselves out before coming back in. To distract her, Seonghwa stooped down to kiss her once more, it felt more rushed than before, tongue occasionally poking outwards to scrape against the roof of her mouth. As his fingers worked hard to stretch her open and mouth busied in devouring her adorable whines, it was all to prepare her and get her to ease up before he continued with anything. Pulling away with a deep inhale, Seonghwa used his free thumb to wipe away the excess saliva on her bottom lip, breath ghosting over her own.

"Y/N... I'm going to need you to stay calm and not freak out. All right?"

By his tone, Y/N deduced that she was about to figure out just what exactly it was that made him different from her. She could feel him hesitate, looking just as scared as she did the first time she arrived at the estate. Just as she was about to assure him that she was not afraid, she felt something crawl up her legs, it was somewhat slimy and had a couple of ridges along the underside of it. Glancing down, she nearly fell back onto the bed when she witnessed two long tentacles wrapping themselves around her thighs, tearing up part of the silk fabric of her nightgown. Before she could stumble back, another tentacle launched out to wrap around her waist, pulling her forward to help her regain her balance. She breathed heavily, looking visibly shocked as she realized they were coming out of none other than Seonghwa himself. He scanned her face, trying to read her reactions. Scared? Disgusted? Apprehensive? It was rather difficult to make out exactly what she thought about his tendrils holding her steady and tightening around her body. Wanting to test something, he produced two more tentacles, these slightly thinner than the previous ones. They moved closer towards Y/N, who of course, instinctively recoiled from the unusual limbs.

"Don't worry. If I were in your position, I'd be utterly revolted as well." Although he spoke out those words with a dry smile, they held a lot of pain within them and it made Y/N saddened to hear him. Wanting to make up for it, she outstretched her hand towards the nearest tendril, the very limb slightly pulling away when it felt her come near. No doubt Seonghwa was hesitant about having her touch him. Undeterred, Y/N reached out once more, this time the tentacle didn't recoil but subtly leaned into her touch. Ever so slowly, it began to wrap around her arm, looping itself around her wrist, and settling itself on top of her palm. Y/N couldn't resist herself as she softly squeezed at the tender limb, thumb curiously playing around with the tiny suction cups along the underside of it. She couldn't help but giggle when it slightly slithered itself to attach some of the cups onto her palm, applying light pressure that had a rather pleasant feeling. So amused by the bizarre member, she didn't realize that the other thin tentacle had moved until she felt it loop itself on her other arm, the same as the one on her right side. Seonghwa felt relieved when she didn't seem afraid anymore, instead, she now smiled up towards him, fingers gently caressing the smooth surface of his tentacles. Unbeknownst to her, he could feel every touch ministered on them, the tentacles being a part of him, an extension of him. And they were highly sensitive to any sort of contact made with them.

"Can we...can we continue?" There was a slight quiver in his voice that did not go unnoticed by the woman held hostage by his slimy tendrils. Understanding exactly what he was referring to, Y/N nodded, eagerly awaiting to see just how Seonghwa would impregnate her.

Feeling herself lifted off the floor, the tentacles gently laid her down on the bed, detaching themselves momentarily off her body as they began poking around at the semi-ruined fabric of her attire. Grasping at several ends, Y/N gasped astonishingly when they tore off the rest of her dress, discarding the remaining pieces on the floor. Laying there completely naked in front of Seonghwa, who did not hide anything in his stare as they raked her entire body. Feeling self-conscious, Y/N moved to cover herself but the tentacles were faster as they wrapped around her wrists and ankles, holding the first ones above her face while the other ones kept her legs apart, allowing Seonghwa to fully gawk at her wetness. The thought of burying himself deep in her and breeding her made him uncontrollably hard.

Y/N squirmed as several more tentacles sprouted out of Seonghwa's body, making her question just how many he could produce. Two medium-sized ones traveled up her sternum, oozing out some sort of secretion that trickled onto her breasts. The tentacles then latched themselves onto her perky mounds, twisting and pulling at her nipples until they hardened and poked out. They continued to toy around with her boobs, flicking against her sensitive nubs now and then before going back to clamp down and attach their suction cups to her tender skin. Y/N shuddered as she felt them slightly vibrate, adding to the daze-inducing state she was drifting off to.

Just as she was distracted in enjoying the pleasure the two tentacles were giving her, she let out a shriek when she felt another slimy organ come up and flit at her clit. The tentacles around her ankles kept her from closing her thighs, leaving her with no choice but to succumb to the movements made in her delicate button. It felt so surreal, so extraordinary, and she writhed around on the bed as much as she was able to when the tiny end of the tentacle sped up and rubbed faster against her swelling clit, the delicious friction making her mouth water. She wondered if this was the bliss some of the girls back home talked about, the ones who had gone out of their way to break the solemn vow they swore about remaining intact and pure, forcing them out of the Institute as they were no longer considered valuable vessels for future buyers.

"If this is what they enjoyed then, I would have gladly broken my vow too." Y/N mused to herself. But then she remembered had she broken her vow she would have never been able to meet Seonghwa, and she'd grown attached to him in that short period of meeting him.

"No... It's better this way. Having saved my body just for him so he can use it as he pleases. Have me carry his children. Oh, God." She felt herself clench around nothing as she thought about being stuffed by him, carrying his babies. Months before, the idea of carrying the offspring of some humanoid stranger horrified her. Now, it thrilled her and she looked forward to it.

"I'm going to slide a few more inside of you now, ok? It might feel uncomfortable, but I promise I'll make sure you don't feel any pain." Y/N vigorously nodded, the tentacles around her ankles spreading her legs further and bringing them up so her knees were bent.

Two thinner tentacles, even thinner than the ones around her wrists came out and began probing around her hole, stretching it ever so slightly before sliding inside her. Y/N felt them scraping against her tender walls, leaving her flabbergasted at feeling them creep deeper and deeper against her right muscles, stopping once they reached her cervix. Ever so carefully, they position themselves at her opening, prying her cervix open. A dull sting shot up her body, not exactly painful, but it wasn't exactly pleasant to feel. Noticing this, Seonghwa made the tentacles release their hold on her tight rim.

"Perhaps I might need to make use of this after all."

Y/N didn't know exactly what 'this' was, all she felt was the two tentacles lightly thrust inside of her, tips flicking up to tease at her sweet spot. And then she felt it, the tentacles oozed some sort of secretion to coat her inner walls, even moving to spread some of the liquid against the entrance of her womb. The tentacle working on her clit had to momentarily stop when Y/N began spasming, small gasps and moans spilling out her lips, not realizing that she had just had a subtle orgasm, but Seonghwa knew. He felt when her juices covered her walls, causing them to become more slick and wet, an effect produced by the natural pheromones his tentacles had just sprayed inside her, helping her to relax and not feel any more discomfort. Although it would also make her highly sensitive, meaning she would become a sticky and panting mess by the end of it, every stroke or brush inside her body would be heightened considerably. And Seonghwa was rather curious to see how that would play out.

Finally, a rather large and thick tentacle sprung out, heading directly towards her opening. It contracted itself as it skimmed past her entrance, flowing smoothly thanks to the previous tentacles that had worked Y/N's core open and the pheromones he had induced into her. At first, nothing seemed to happen, then Y/N's mouth flew open as she felt the tentacle start expanding, bottoming out inside of her, forcing her stretched-out muscles to widen even more. Unable to resist the urge, she looked down, nearly wheezing as she looked at the tightly nestled tentacle inside of her, pulsing inside her slick covered borders. Just those small pulsing vibrations had her throwing her head back as more liquids seeped out of her. Feeling her arousal coating its skin, it seemed to rile up the large tentacle as it began pushing itself further until it reached the entrance of her cervix.

"Usually humanoids of my kind would place as many eggs can fit inside their surrogate's womb... But I don't wish to overwhelm you with that, especially since it's your first time." With a smug grin, Seonghwa stooped forward and placed a hand on top of her abdomen.

"So let's just try it with two."

The large tentacle began contracting once more, wriggling around as if trying to get something out. Y/N soon felt what it was as a smooth, round, and semi-hard object began pushing itself inside of her. The two smaller tentacles, which were still lodged on the sides of her walls, went back to pry her cervix open, allowing the egg easier access as it traveled through her tunnel and nestling itself inside her womb. Seonghwa watched proudly as her belly swelled up as soon as the egg lodged itself in her, fingers brushing against the oval outline bulging out of her skin.

"So pretty, so beautiful." He praised her, teeth tugging down at his bottom lip as a hidden tentacle had come out to rid him of his last article of clothing, stroking his hardened cock generously, the suction cups paying close attention to his leaking head.

"How are you feeling so far love?" Seonghwa wanted to make sure she was fine before proceeding.

Y/N fluttered her eyes open, soft pants spewing out her mouth.

"Please...more." That was all she could manage to mumble out.

Satisfied by her answer, the massive limb started wriggling once more, popping out another egg that scraped deliciously against the roof of her cave, journeying past her barriers and plopping next to the previous egg, joining it inside her womb. With slight embarrassment, Y/N cried out as another wave of pleasure poured out of her, hands wanting to cover her reddened face at the thought of so easily cumming by the mere thought of Seonghwa's eggs inside her while his tentacle continued throbbing inside her.

"Don't feel ashamed my love. I just so happen to enjoy watching your face contort with pleasure." His admittance only made her more sheepish and flustered.

"We're almost done, love. I just need to fertilize my eggs."

Y/N groaned loudly when the tentacle began moving, thrusting itself in and out, her previous juices seeping out every time it pulled out her body, creating a wet stain on the sheets underneath. Maybe it was her imagination, but Y/N swore she could feel the eggs move inside her, bouncing each time the tentacle pushed back inside her. The tendrils around her ankles and wrists tightened themselves, holding her steady as the tentacle started to plunge itself faster and deeper into her, twitching every so often, a sign it was getting ready to squirt into her womb.

Seonghwa was also enjoying the spectacle, watching closely as he was about to impregnate his darling surrogate, the tentacle wrapped around the shaft matching the movement the larger one was doing. He felt blessed to be able to feel both sensations at once, one being his cock stimulated while his tentacle had to endure Y/N's tightness clench unbearably around his slimy member. It was ecstasy for both of them, their grunts and moans echoing inside Seonghwa's room. Wanting her to experience the maximum pleasure he could offer, the tentacles laid out across her chest went back to their previous task of playing with her nipples, suckling on her tender flesh whilst the one between her legs toyed with her swollen clit. It was all so much for her that Y/N couldn't help it as her third orgasm of the night overtook her, this one more intense and prolonged by the endless amount of attention her body was receiving.

"Seonghwa!" She cried out, tears of over-stimulation brimming at the corners of her eyes.

Hearing her call out to him, Seonghwa himself hissed as the tentacle worked him over the edge, spurts of cum trickling down onto it as well as splattering onto the floor. The tentacle that was now coated with his cum moved towards Y/N's face, lightly tapping on her cheek. Turning to face it, she inhaled sharply and didn't hesitate to allow it to slide past her lips and wiggle inside her mouth. She moaned around the appendage, sucking on it, the sensations flowing back to Seonghwa's cock.

"Oh fuck." He exclaimed, the tentacle pushing itself on the back of her throat while the one between her legs rapidly moved to finish its final task.

Y/N's wailing was partially muffled by the tentacle stuffing her mouth, her body and mind spiraling out of control as she felt thick ropes of warm cum being gushed out of the tentacle and shooting straight into her womb. She could even feel her stomach swelling up even more by just the liquids being poured into her. It was enough to have her crying out once more, a state of euphoria clouding her mind as her 4th high shocked her senses, numbing everything except the feeling of the tentacles around and in her. Seonghwa himself didn't need further stimulation, cumming untouched for the second time when he finally finished breeding her, mouth drawing out long and labored breaths as he started to come down from his high.

Slowly, one by one the tentacles started pulling away from Y/N's body, disappearing back into Seonghwa's body. Both of them groaned deeply when the last tentacle pulled out of her agape hole, some of the leftover cum dribbling out onto the bed. Y/N felt so sore and so full, her hands reaching down to caress her now swollen stomach, surprised at how big it looked. She felt ready to pop at any moment. With utmost care, Seonghwa moved her further into the bed, helping her rest her head against one of the pillows and covering her up with the warm blanket. It wasn't long until she felt his body press up against hers, pulling her as close as was possible as one hand protectively wrapped around her belly.

"Thank you..."

She was so weary after that intense session that she could only mumble a barely audible 'huh?' at his words. Chuckling, Seonghwa pressed a kiss against her cheek.

"Thank you for carrying my babies. You have no idea how happy I am at this moment."

She could only manage to give out a faint smile at his words, fastly falling asleep when she felt him hum a soft tune against her ear.

"I'm so glad I chose you."

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Taglist: @little-precious-baby @multidreams-and-desires @yunhofingers @deja-vux @brie02 @daniblogs164 @couchpotatoaniki @a-soft-hornytiny @yunsangoveryonder @minhyukmyluv @nanamarkie @mingismoon @ateezbabysitters @rainteez02 @harry-the-pottypus

[sarcastic-bubbl]

A New Pet

Paring: Cal Kestis x Reader

Word Count: 1.7K

Warnings: None

Requests:  Could you write something for Cal?🥺 Something fluffy and playful, maybe like teasing each other, having small competitions, goofing around etc (just some examples, you might come up with something cute on your own🤗) - Anon

A/N: I know I had said something about snow and stuff when I first answered this request but I sorta changed my mind. Hope this is cute enough for you anon! 

Masterlist

--:::------::------------------->◇<--------------------::------:::--- "Try relaxing your Shoulders."

"I know how to meditate, Cal." "I know, but you should try relaxing your shoulders more. You look tense." A pair of hands gripped lightly at your shoulders while fingers tried to loosen the myriad of knots that had formed there over the years. "I am tense," you flinched as Cal pushed against a particularly sensitive spot. "Sorry," he mumbled as his thumb rubbed soothing circles into the area," do you want me to stop?" You leaned into his touch and sighed," no. It feels nice." You revelled in his touch. It was soft, just like everything else about him, yet firm. A kiss was placed on the top of your head before strong arms encircled you and held you tight. The sound of a throat cleaning caused you and Cal to jolt apart in surprise. "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" Asked Cere from the entrance to your room. You mentally cursed yourself for leaving it open. At least then, you would have been able to savour a few more quiet moments with Cal before you opened it. Cal was the first to stand and offered you a hand up while he answered. "Nope. Need our help with something?" "Yes, actually," Cere reached into one of her pockets and pulled out a small datapad, "I have a few things I need. I was hoping one of you would be willing to grab them for me." "Sure, we can do that," responded Cal, reaching for the datapad. Once in his hands, he scrolled through the list. Peeking over Cal's shoulder, you were able to catch a glimpse of what one or two of the items were. "The nearby town should have everything," Cere turned to leave but stopped, "Thank you." You watched as Cere turned out of your room-- likely back to her own. "I don't want-" You were cut off almost immediately. "Come on. It'll be fun." "I thought what we were doing before was fun," you said pointedly. "Please." His eyes were pleading as he spoke. "You can wear one of my ponchos." You sighed as you scoped your bag up from its usual corner. "If you think I can be bribed that easily, you are absolutely right." Your boyfriend's expression broke into that dorky grin of his. The grin you had come to love so much and missed whenever he wasn't around. --:::------::------------------->◇<--------------------::------:::--- The errands themselves were boring. Cal's promise that it would be fun was only kept only in the sense that it was hard to be bored around him. While Cal was purchasing the large basket of goods that would be your food for the next few weeks, you looked idly around the front of the shop. A cluttered announcement board caught your eye. Worn edges and fading colours indicated that many of these posters were old, but one stood out. It looked much newer than the others. The shopkeeper must have noticed you eyeing the poster. "If you two are looking for something to do, I'd suggest checking that out," he gestured quickly to the poster as he spoke. "We have an animal breeder in town. Great guy, really. He's just had a new litter of something. I'm no animal expert myself, so I can tell you what it is for sure, but word on the street is that those little buggers are cute." Cal grabbed the bag in one hand and your hand in the other. "Thanks for the advice. Maybe we'll go take a look." You followed him out of the store and into the warmth of the bright sun. "We're going to go take a look, right?" You asked, turning to face the man at your side. "Sure!" Replied Cal with a smile. You scanned the marketplace. While looking at the poster, you had only caught a glimpse of the breeder's location. Near the end of the road, you were able to make out what looked like an identical poster. It was hard to be sure at this distance, but you felt confident that was where you needed to go. You pointed to the building and began to lead Cal down the road. "This way!" Upon arriving, you were quite pleased to see that you had been right. Hanging next to the colourful poster advertising all the animals the breeder had to offer was a small hanging sign that read 'Open'. Bells clanged against the door as you opened it, mixing with the sounds of various animals. "Welcome!" Greeted a man who was currently trying to coax a palm-sized tarantula into a dirt-filled tank. "Just let me know if you need anything. Oh, and ask before you try and pick anything up. Sometimes the cutest critters have the nastiest bite." The interior of the shop was relatively small but well light and clean. Except for the two windows by the door, the walls were lined with tanks and cages of every size, filled with animals both familiar and new to you. A large cage lining the back wall housed various types of songbirds, all trilling happily. In the center was a pen with an open top. Inside you could make out a group of tiny rodents playing together.  Their long bushy tails made them appear similar to squirrels. Their fur, however, was lighter, and their eyes a deep red. The way they rolled and jumped as they played caught your attention. One of the creatures was nipping at its siblings' tails before scurrying away. It would wait a moment and then repeat the process all over again. You knelt down next to the pen, and Cal followed suit. "You think Greez would let us get one?" You asked. "Probably not. He doesn't even like BD all that much," laughed Cal. "They are pretty cute, though." You reached your hand into the pen to pet one of the small rodents before remembering what the man had said and withdrawing it. Cal nudged you with his elbow. "Not as you cute as you." The day of blushing at every compliment made was long gone, but you still giggle as you pulled yourself to your feet. "I'm going to go ask that man if I can hold one." You walked across the store floor and to the counter the man was working at. He poked the spider gently, trying to push it forward into the enclosure. "I swear, if you try to jump off the counter again, I will let you, and you will die. Is that what you want?" He appeared to be talking to the tarantula. As if in response, the spider bolted past its enclosure and towards you. Without a moment's hesitation and reflexes comparable to those of a Jedi, the man plopped a cup down on top of the large spider. "Sorry 'bout that. It's been a very stressful day for her." Said the man now looking at you. "What can I help you with, miss?" You gestured over to the small rodents. "I was hoping I could hold one." "Ah yes, the Lava Meerkats are very friendly. Just let me show you how it's done." The man led you back to the pen and quickly scoped one of the small creatures up before it had a chance to escape. "Now, just make sure to supports its butt and be gentle. " He handed the animal to you before. "And if your friend here wants to hold one, he's more than welcome too," said the man acknowledging Cal. He turned around and, in a few moments, was back to arguing quietly with his spider. Carefully you handed the meerkat to your companion before kneeling down. Mimicking what you had watched the man do, you quickly grabbed one of your own and held it close to your body. It's fur felt rough against your hands. It wiggled at first but seemed to settle itself into a comfortable position and began licking at your hand. You couldn't help but smile at the tiny animal. Looking over at Cal, it was apparent he was enjoying himself. With the meerkat held a face height, it could lick lightly at the tip of his nose. His grin was broad, and your heart melted at the sight. "Do you think we could sneak one of these on the Mantis?" Cal asked, absolutely beaming. "I thought you said Greez wouldn't like it?" you laughed as the small creature nibbled at your fingertips. Its teeth were so small it tickled. "That's why we sneak it in. He hasn't noticed the bogling yet." You set the animal back down in its pen before sifting through your pockets and pulling out your few extra credits. "Think we have enough credits?" Cal pulled out a handful of his own. "I think we can make it work!" --:::------::------------------->◇<--------------------::------:::--- After purchasing the small Lava Meerkat, you had made a few more stops. The animal had cost less than you had both thought. With the leftover spending money, Cal had purchased a new poncho -- and you a book. As you walked into the Mantis, Cere sat on the large couch. "Were you able to get everything?" She asked as she stood to greet you and Cal. As you passed the bag of supplies off to her, something caught her attention. Unbeknownst to you or Cal, your new little friend had decided to peek its head through the neck of Cal's poncho. In theory, it had seemed like a great hiding place; it wasn't working so well in practice. "What's that?" Cere asked, pointing to the rodent. "A new poncho," replied Cal with a shrug. "No. I'm talking about the small animal. climbing out of it." Neither of you answered. You had been found out far quicker than you had expected you. Cal gently held the meerkat in place against his chest. There was no point in pretending it wasn't there. You waited for Cere to tell you it wasn't welcome, but instead, she said, " just make sure Greez doesn't see it. He's already upset about the bogling."

[nabsthevulture]

Bone Cleaning Aftercare "Oh no, my skull stinks!"

One of bone cleanings biggest annoyances is nasty smells being left in skulls and bones. It’s not an unfixable thing, but it can definitely be distressing and irritating. There are a few different approaches you can take to remedy this problem, and we’ll cover a few here.

First, go down a little list to figure out what could be causing the smell you’re dealing with. 

1. Is the skull fully clean?

-If not, then this is why your skull stinks. Any leftover rotting flesh or viscera will be not only a source of smell, but it can attract bugs, bacteria, and even start growing mold. Toss that critter back into maceration and let the rest rot off, unless you’re willing to pick it all off by hand. (No shame! I’ve done that plenty of times) 

2. Does the skull need degreasing?

-A greasy skull can definitely be a stinky skull. Make sure you thoroughly degrease your skull, and the smell should go away.

3. Is the skull waxy?

-That's grave wax, baby! Adipocere doesn’t usually smell, but sometimes it can really pack a nasal punch. You can remove it by scraping it off with a toothpick, an X-Acto blade, whatever you’ve got around. Even better is an old toothbrush; Brush away dry or under running water, it’ll come off relatively easy. Go ahead and use some dish soap as well, that’ll help give the skull a better smell.

4. Where is the smell coming from?

-This is probably the first question you ask yourself; Why does my skull stink? And Where is the stink coming from? Built up smell likes to linger in spots where the bone is dense, or where there’s a lot of small places for tissue to hide. The brain cavity can smell a lot like cat piss, in my personal experience. Brain likes to get really nasty while it rots. That’s one of the toughest smells I’ve had to get out of a skull, it’s just such a lingering scent. Smell coming from the nasal cavity could very well mean that there’s still tissue shoved up in there that needs to be fished out or rotted away. Locating the source will ultimately help you figure out what you’ve gotta do to remedy it.

5. Any weird discoloration?

-While not every bit of discoloration will smell, if you’re having a hard time finding the source of a smell, sniff the discolored spots. They would be stains from tissue or bacteria that occurred during the cleaning process, or could be hidden pockets of grease. 

6. Is the skull fully dry?

-Sometimes it can be hard to tell if a skull is all the way dry. The surface may be, but depending on how dense the skull is, water could take longer to dry out. If its degrease water, peroxide, or maceration water, it can smell. They may be cleaning process, but they can really smell bad. I personally have a degrease bucket that I haven’t messed with in a few weeks, affectionately nicknamed “Fart Bucket” because it smells horrible.

Now that that’s out of the way, let's get to the options you’ve got. There’s a few different things you can do, varying in involvement, chemicals, cleaning agents, and time.

Peroxide

A good starting place would be to give the skull a soak in warm water and peroxide. It can knock loose random dirt, and will begin to oxidize and puff up any remaining tissue. That’ll make it easier to spot and pick off if that’s what you feel inclined to do. You can leave the skull to soak for as little or as long as you want, though of course peroxide will begin to whiten the bone. If that’s not the desired effect, limit the soak to around 15-20 minutes. Give the skull a good thorough rinse afterwards to flush out anything that was knocked loose or that you decided to remove, and let it dry. If there’s persisting smell after that, move on to a different method! Peroxide will help with the little smells, but a bigger smell will need a stronger approach.

Heavy Duty Scrubbin’

Grab a bucket, some hot water, a scrubbing brush (Hard bristled toothbrushes are amazing for this) and your favorite smelling, strong dish soap. Lather up your skull and get to scrubbing! Don’t be shy with the soap, make sure you’re thorough. Scrub inside the nasal cavity (Carefully, if the turbinates are still in there), inside the brain cavity, around the sockets of the teeth, etc.. Rinse the skull off every once in a while and start again. It’s tedious for sure, but the results are what you’re after. 

The lower jaw will be an interesting clean job. The hole that runs through the mandible (Mandibular Foramen) can contain a lot of excess grease, build up, or left over meat. If you have em’, grab a couple of pipe cleaners and run them through that hole. Pour some soap into the hole, and keep flossing the pipe cleaner through.It’ll break the excess loose and clear it out on the way through. Make sure you have a few on hand, they’re likely to get really gross really fast.

Let your skull dry and give it a sniff. Still stinks a little? Try again! There’s no harm in scrubbing; Do it until you reach your desired result, or try something new. Either way, no harm done.

Soaks

If you want a less involved method, you’ll probably want to try soaking skulls in a couple of different mixtures. I excluded peroxide and made it its own category because of the chemicals bone whitening ability. It’s not a prolonged soak kind of thing, but these are! These soaks will also act as degreasing baths, given what you use.

Ammonia Soak

-Get yourself some lemon scented ammonia from the dollar store or wherever you may find it. (It doesn't have to be lemon scented, but citrus is an odor killer). Fill up a bucket with enough hot water to cover most of the skull, and then fill up the rest(about an inch or so over the skull) with the ammonia. Ammonia on its own isn’t a necessarily pleasant smell, but it’ll be diluted by the water and won’t ultimately smell like ammonia once dried. You can let this soak for however long you please, but if you’re in a hurry just wait until the water is cold and pull it out. Let it dry, and check it out. The longer you let it sit, the more likely the smell will dissipate. If you have one, a tank heater will keep the water warm and help the ammonia work it’s way through the bone and pull any residual grease out; Grease very well could be the source of the smell.

Acetone Soak

-You’re gonna do pretty much the same thing with this soak as you do with the ammonia, the biggest difference is that you’re only going to use a few ounces of acetone. It’s a strong chemical that works just fine in small quantities. Make sure the water covers the skull completely and then some, and then pour in around half a bottle of acetone (Standard bottle of nail polish remover) depending on the size of your container. Let it soak until its cold, or keep it in until you feel like taking it out. Acetone has a strong smell to it, and is also an agent used for degreasing. You’ll be looking at a two for one like with ammonia. If the smell persists, give it some more time. 

Dish Soap Soak

-Like the last two; Bucket and hot water, fill up above the skull, and then squeeze in some dish soap. Whatever smell you like, use that. Stir the solution up so it’s nicely mixed, and let it soak until its cold or longer if you wish. Let the skull dry, give it a sniff. The longer it hangs out in the soak, the more likely the smell will go. 

With soaks, you’re going to want to check the solution if you leave it sit for a long period of time. If it begins to smell nasty or get cloudy but you aren’t ready to pull it out yet, go ahead and restart your soak solution. The only thing worse than the smell leftover from bone cleaning processes, is the mixture between that smell and dirty degrease/soaking solutions. It’s like getting punched in both nostrils simultaneously. 

Obvious but mediocre solutions

(These are things my taxidermist friend has told me about clients doing in the past, and some are from personal experience. Some are good, some are just...not.)

-Spray em down with air freshener! It’ll help for a very short while before it wears off and goes back to smelling.

-Stick some dryer sheets in the back of the skull, why not

-Rub em down in coffee grounds (This can stain the bone)

-Stick em in a bag of coffee beans (This could also stain the bone)

-Sprinkle them with cinnamon (I have had this stain bone and it’s also like you’re just asking to get cinnamon in your nose)

-Soak them in rose petal water (Can’t speak to this method)

-Set it out in the sun for a few days, let the heat leech out the smell (This can bleach the bone if you leave it too long.)

Realistically, you can do whatever you need to do to get the job done. Just make sure you aren’t using agents that will damage the bones (or yourself) and you’re good to go! Keep in mind that bones that are already brittle, such as nature cleaned, sun bleached, boiled, or bleached skulls can be damaged by some of these processes. If they are brittle to the touch, flaky, easily scratch-able (As in you can put a scratch/groove in the bone very easily), or seem all around unstable, use your best judgement to decide whether or not you should clean them at all. Sometimes weird smelling skulls just need to be put in a display case or somewhere out of smelling distance and left alone.

These methods are applicable to all bones, not just skulls! But as i said above, use your best judgement to determine if the bone will hold up to any of these processes.

Hopefully this is helpful in some way to anyone looking for some help with stinky bones. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out!

[foreverwcnter]

begonia — flowers mini-series / peter parker

| teaser | part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | part 5 |

pairing — peter parker x reader

warnings — blood, probably swearing, a bit of angst i guess

summary — part 4 in which peter learns that a flower can be more memorable and passionate than the words “I love you.”

author’s note — if you’ve made it this far in the mini-series, i can’t thank you enough for supporting it. i know my writing isn’t the best, but i’m still learning and improving. if you found this fic first, i recommend going to part one and starting from there. it probably isn’t the best thing you’ve read but feedback is always appreciated. writer’s don’t get a lot of support from just simple likes. small comments with reblogs always make their days. of course, it’s your choice to add comments for support. 

══════════════════

Sitting in your bedroom doing a facetime call with Michelle, you carefully sprayed a few plants with the spray bottle. You still had yet to bring up what happened with Peter the afternoon before, but Michelle was asking you questions about your gardening skills and so on. It was fine though, sooner or later you’d bring it up to the girl.

“So what did you and Peter plant last night? Peter told me he was going to help you with some gardening and I’m just curious as to what you planted,” MJ explained, leaning against the table she sat at, her hand propped up by her elbows and hands.

You leaned back against the wall by your twin-sized bed. “Well, we planted some sunflowers together, the kind that grows to like ten feet or something like that. But something surprising happened too.”

“And that is?” MJ hummed softly, arching an eyebrow in interest.

“Well, Peter went on and on about how it’s tough being a hero and it brings a lot of unwanted dangers and risks to the people he cares about. This was after I told him the meaning behind sunflowers and he said he wan- he is my sunflower. He also said he’s in love with me.” 

MJ just smirked. After a moment of silence, she let out a long sigh. “Finally!”

“W-What?”

“Peter’s loved you for quite some time, he claims it was love at first sight. At first, I thought it was just him being an idiot but seeing how you interacted, I knew it was real,” MJ explained, smiling at you through the screen.

“We’re going on a date tonight, we also kissed yesterday and it honestly was amazing,” you paused, raising an eyebrow curiously. “Wait- why aren’t you at school.”

“Didn’t feel like going, plus I’m going to some protest thing at lunchtime so-”

You nodded, zoning out for a second before MJ claimed she needed to go get ready. You hung up shortly after and stood up, ready to go to check on your plants in your garden.

Heading up the stairwell to the rooftop door, you ran your hands against the rusted railing, lost in thought. You entered the area you adored so much, digging through your supplies to pull on a pair of tweezers, deciding it’d be best to remove any unwanted critters from your plants, especially the edible ones you often used for cooking. As you walked over to the area, you couldn’t help but think about what Peter had planned for both of you. 

Maybe he was going to swing you around New York, take you to a cafe or a florist shop. It had to be something amazing. You knew Peter would strive to make it wonderful. It was who he was. You could tell by the way he was so interested in learning about what you learned. It was another thing you loved about the boy. He was always passionate about other people’s passions. 

You carefully picked up a small slug from a leaf, setting it in a small container so you could dispose of the critter safely. As you rose to your feet, a gruff voice came from behind you.

“Hello, little lady.”

Whipping around, you were faced with two buff and tall men, each holding some form of a weapon and a gun strapped to their belt. Every part of you seemed to stiffen with fear. 

“I see you’re close with our friend Spider-Man,” the first one explained, taking a step closer, which ultimately caused you to back up. “We just need a little motive for the guy and we’ll be on our way.”

“Yeah, I think the motive you’re looking for is somewhere else, so I’m going to go-” you trailed off, moving quickly towards the door to get away from the men. Two loud bangs caused you to stumble back. The door now bore two holes in it, both from the gun one man was holding. 

“Not so fast.”

You scrambled to the box of supply you hand, hoping to find something - anything - to defend yourself. Gripping a small hand spade tightly, you held it out in front of you, moving backward away from the men who pursued you slowly. The panic was really setting in now, shining in your eyes as you tried to getaway. One fired another shot, aiming only for your leg or any place to slow you down. It almost grazed your skin, hitting one of the rose bushes you had. 

“P-please just leave me alone, I won’t tell anyone anything,” you begged, tripping over a flower bed and falling hard against the concrete. They gave no regards to your garden, walking through it and damaging the plants you worked so hard to care for. One held a long machete, cutting off stems and small branches ruthlessly. 

“No can do, sweetheart. Spidey’s taken quite a liking for you no doubt and there’s no better way to catch the guy by using his love as bait,” the first man snickered, firing yet another shot, this time hitting your leg. You collapsed, crying out in pain. Your phone fell from your back pocket into a patch of pink flowers. Clutching your thigh, you felt the warm liquid stain your hands, still attempting to scoot away. It was no use. They grabbed you by your arms, yanking you up roughly. 

“It hurts, doesn’t it,” the one glared, grabbing your face with his calloused hands. A whimper left your lips before they hit you across the head harshly, knocking you unconscious.  They carried you away, heading to the outskirts of the city where they'd keep you, ready for Spider-Man to find you.

Only hours later, Peter had arrived on the rooftop, still in his suit. He pulled off his mask quickly, letting out a soft breath. “Hey y/n-” seeing you weren’t there, he paused, glancing around. “Y/n?”

The sight he saw was a nightmare. Your garden was destroyed. The previous sunflowers that already had been looking to the sun were all bent or cut down. Plants were trampled and broken. Petals laid across the ground ripped from the buds they rested on. This was not the doing of his new girlfriend. You were far too loving and gentle to do this to your own garden. He looked around, noticing a hand spade on the ground before seeing something he didn’t want to see.

Blood. 

“Oh my god,” he breathed out. Peter pulled out his phone, dialing your number only to hear the ringtone in a flower bed right next to him. Peter leaned down quickly, picking up the phone from the small bush of begonia flowers. The screen was cracked right beside the wooden row was a stain of blood on the ground. 

“No, no, no, no, no, no,” he muttered, clutching the phone tightly. Taking his own, he called Ned urgently. The boy picked up after a few moments and Peter began to rush out words. “Ned, Ned, Ned,” Peter rushed out, his chest heaving and breathing fast, showing his panic. 

“Slow down, Peter!” Ned exclaimed. “What’s happening?”

“Oh god, Ned, y/n is in danger. Her garden is destroyed, I don’t know what happened! I was coming to pick her up for our date and everything is ruined. All her work and there was blood and I found her phone. N-Ned, I’m scared. I’ve got to find her- I’ve got to call the police-”

“Peter, breathe.”

The brunet boy nodded as if Ned could see him, trying his best to take deep breaths. Peter was so scared for you. Only yesterday he was talking about losing a loved one and here he was, unsure of where you were and if you were even alive. 

“I’m going to call the police, get them over here and have them file a missing person report. Then I’m going to find her.”

Peter hung up and quickly called the police. He explained everything to them and it didn’t take them long to arrive. Peter had changed into normal clothes and was currently staring at your phone. The wallpaper was a selfie you and Peter took together. He bit his lip, frowning. It was adorable. You both had smiled at the camera and put flowers to your eyes. He wanted more photos like these, but part of him kept saying that might never happen because you could be dead. Looking away to stop himself from tearing up, he walked over to your father, who looked like a mess.

“Hey, Mr. L/n. Are you okay,” he asked nervously.

“I’m alright it’s just- my baby girl is out there hurt and scared and no one knows where she is. I’m worried about her,” your father explained to Peter. “She loves you, Peter. You’re a good young man and while my daughter thinks she doesn’t deserve to have another person to love, she does. She got what she needed. Thank you for being that person.”

Peter smiled sadly at this, looking down. “I probably need to head back home. My aunt will be worried once she hears the news.” 

Your father nodded and Peter looked back to where he had found your phone. Then it hit him. Begonias. It was one of the flowers you taught him about. Begonias meant deep thinking, but the other meaning haunted Peter. It meant beware. This made him realize he would have to beware the dangers ahead. The dangers that could easily get you killed. 

↳ taglist — @hey-its-grey @natalia-rushman @glimmering-gamora @lovesick-valkyrie @pufflypuffle @uglypastels @learning-howto-be-myselfx3 @spidermansmj14 @simi11 @abby-blxck@pxterbpxrker@softboydeacon @scoobieboobiedoo@euphoricmads @not-jay-c@bbyaubergine @marveley@jammelchinas @daphsingsalot

[warstang45]

Discovery Chapter 3 Preview

Posting this because I feel terrible at how long it’s taking me to get this chapter done! Please enjoy this little bit!

Upon their second meeting, Wanda introduced him to the countryside. The environment was peaceful and much different than the chaos of the city. Even his body took pleasure in the cleanliness of the air, noticing a vast difference in its quality. Children reveled in the openness of their land as the pair passed cozy farms and homes.  Truly, he could understand its appeal.

She brought him to a place where various animals were kept. The caretaker of the animals was kind in welcoming them to his home. A simple mention of Vision’s lack of interaction with livestock was all it took for the man to grant access to his pastures. Realizing it was strange that he had yet to encounter such creatures in his short lifetime, he eagerly followed Wanda as she introduced each animal. There were flightless birds roaming the land on their own terms, bovine grazing in the tall grass, and all sorts of creatures that roamed the farmstead. The goats were apparently comical in their mannerisms, as Wanda laughed at their attempts to butt their heads against her palm. He however, was displeased with the energy of such a small critter, having only desired to feel the texture of their course fur. In addition, the little beasts would attempt to gnaw at the fabric of his clothing while he was distracted with another.

“Hi beautiful,” Wanda rose to her feet at the sight of a new creature. He observed the two carefully, comparing the size of the beast’s head that nearly spanned half the length of her body. Wanda, so oblivious to how dangerous the animal could be, stroked the horse’s neck before reaching into her pockets for the treats she carried. “Vis! Come here.”

He obeyed, though his cautious eyes never left the giant beast. Offended by the distraction, the goats bleated in irritation before departing to play their games. The moment he neared the pair, the animal pricked its ears forward and began to dance in place. Wanda held its halter when the creature attempted to flee, whispering soft words to calm him. However, it simply flared his nostrils in fright.

“It knows I am different,” he observed as the animal snorted in his direction. Wanda, however, continued her quest of encouraging the beast to still.

“You’re just a stranger to him,” she smiled before gesturing for him to follow. He hesitated, still disturbed by the height of the beast in relation to Wanda’s small form. If frightened, Vision easily imagined the harm it could cause her. However, as she offered a more exasperated beckon he complied with her request. “Hold out your hand.”

He glanced at her in surprise. Could she not see the obvious distress that the animal was in?

“Don’t look at me like that,” she chuckled. “You can’t tell me you’re afraid of a horse?”

“I am afraid of his neglect to understand the harm that he can inflict upon you.”

“I could throw him over the fence if I wanted to be cruel,” she argued. “The last thing he wants to do is hurt me. Now give me your hand.”

She grasped it without warning and he nearly flinched at such a blunt action. Within his palm she placed the small bits of food and just when he feared her touch would abandon him, her hand ventured to the back of his.

“Don’t be nervous,” she smirked. Clearly misunderstanding the reason for his hesitation. As she focused her attention on the task at hand, he absorbed the warmth of her palm against his knuckles. The fingers, so willingly tracing the backs of his as they guided him forward. He had not even noticed how close he had come to the creature. “Keep your fingers flat.”

She commanded as its muzzle tickled his skin. He watched in awe at the sudden trust as it scooped the treats from his palm. When it had consumed the last piece, Wanda tightened her grip on him and boldly placed his hand at the creature’s neck. The fur was soft, much more so than that of the goats, but even softer was the skin that so graciously held his own.

“See, he just needed to meet you.” He tilted his head to meet her gaze, not realizing how close she had stood. He should have stepped away and provided her space, yet the smile she wore and the gleam in her eye dispelled such logic. Her smile widened as the stare drifted too long. “What?”

“You are happy,” he explained. Her brow raised slightly, contemplating.

“Yeah,” she smirked.

“I like when you are happy,” he admitted. Her features softened before her eyes ducked from his own.

“Me too.”

[goddesstrolls-archive]

Sort of a drabble, it got really long >v>’ It’s also 2:30 AM so it’s. Largely unedited and I didn’t fact check like, at all

Lyn crouched among the shadows cast by sunlit trees, hands planted firmly on a boulder as he crouched in an attempt to locate the lizard that had just escaped underneath it. 

"Come out," he pleaded softly, turning sideways to try to look under the boulder.

"Please?"

He was exhausted. Three consecutive days of working late and now this. He'd been trying to get a new potion right for weeks, and determined he needed plain lizard scales. Coming by a suitable lizard, however, was the hard part. Mostly due to having to brave the dangers of the day and snag one of the sun-loving critters. Moonlight often wasn't enough to bask in, especially in a dense and lush forest like this.

Lyn desperately wanted to just go hive and sink into bed, it must be just like a cloud waiting for him, he hadn't lain down on anything softer than the couch in three days and mostly slept at his desk. But he'd resolved not to go hive today until he'd caught just one lizard.

Pressing his chest against the ground Lyn squeezed his hand under the rock, ignoring the upset bugs and feeling blindly around for the lizard. Hearing an animalistic huffing and snorting he looked up, cheek pressed against the boulder, to be staring directly at a wolf standing not ten feet away. He froze, and the wolf bared it's teeth, saliva dripping from ivory fangs. It was a massive, jet-black creature, with a hunched back and abnormally long forelimbs. Lyn recognized it almost instantly. Werewolf.

He swallowed hard, making an audible gulp, and slowly began to remove his hand from under the rock. An attempt to ease himself up so he could get to his wand earned him a savage growl.

Werewolves were not easy to work with. Unpredictable at best, they were driven by a cursed rage and insatiable hunger. This one seemed relatively tame considering it hadn't yet torn his face off, Lyn grimly noted.

"Hello." Lyn kept his voice level, hoping there was at least a portion of a troll's mind in there. Though he wasn't sure his face would remain untorn even if there was.

"I'll...I'll be on my way. Don't worry." He smiled nervously, again trying to push himself upright, and the beast charged. Startled, Lyn threw himself back, causing the wolf to misjudge it's snap towards him and sink it's teeth into his shoulder instead. Lyn fell backwards, the wolf landing heavily on his chest. The beast leapt over him, in too awkward a position to try and attack, and Lyn had already flipped over onto all fours to face the beast again.

He rammed his hand into his inside pocket and finally drew his wand, jabbing it at the wolf as it again lunged for him.

"Eilas ces!"

The wolf froze in place, and Lyn sank to the ground, partially from relief and partially due to sheer exhaustion. The spell was draining, and it wouldn't last long.

Lyn became aware of the blood streaming down his arm and chest and dared to look nervously at the bite. He could immediately see two deep, gaping holes, the grey skin and tissue torn in bloody carnage. Tucking his wand behind his ear and pressing his palm to the bite he got to his feet, finding his other arm to be entirely useless and practically limp. He couldn't bring himself to move it, and so it hung in front of him as he began to stumble away.

He'd leave the wolf where it was. He couldn't risk trying to take it back to his hive now, with only one arm and his innate magical fund practically spent. And he certainly didn't want to deal with the troll it would turn into during the night.

Lyn wondered how much blood he was losing. He wasn't terribly aware of all the veins in a troll's body, and for all he knew he was actively dying. He supposed it wasn't too painful, the adrenaline hadn't worn off yet. Though he wished it would already, he couldn't stop shaking.

He pushed open the door to the abandoned hive he'd temporarily taken residence in and closed it behind him, immediately leaning against it and sliding into a sitting position. Now the adrenaline was wearing off, and he wearily pulled down his jacket and peeled away the blood-soaked shirt to take another look at the injury. Lyn cringed again at the sight of it, and got weakly to his feet to shuffle to the bathroom. It needed to be cleaned, and a wolfsbane poultice applied. He pulled off his jacket and shirt entirely, rediscovering that his injured arm was indeed useless, and began the tedious task of cleaning the bite.

He hoped he actually had wolfsbane. With it's toxicity, treatments for lycanthropy were time-consuming and often misapplied.

Looking at the bite in the mirror, Lyn furrowed his brow. It likely needed to be stitched, which led to him digging further into the first-aid kit on the counter to get the suture needle. At least he kept it threaded for these kinds of emergencies. Smelling blood, Sera wandered from her bed in Lyn's room and whined worriedly. Lyn smiled nervously, weakly holding out his bloody injured hand to her, and she licked his fingers. He went back to pulling the suture needle from the kit and took a deep breath, before plunging the needle into his skin.

"Fuck!" 

Lyn swore under his breath, but pulled the needle through and pushed it into the torn skin on the other side of the puncture, successfully stitching the skin. Maybe he had wolfsbane, but he knew he had no numbing potions or anesthesia. Nor was there time to go looking for either.

Sera paced anxiously behind him, whining and crying increasingly louder as Lyn worked.

"Quiet, please, darling."

Lyn hushed her after snipping the thread on the first puncture, and shakily wiped his brow with a deep breath. Sera quieted with a final chirp and sat on her haunches to nervously lick her chest. Biting his lip, Lyn plunged his hand into the kit again for the surgical thread. His hands shook violently, and it took half a dozen tries to just get the thread through the hole.

Sera went back to pacing. Lyn spent a minute trying to tie the thread before grabbing his wand and swirling the tip over the end.

"Keta."

The thread tied itself, and Lyn went back to stitching his injuries. It took him an hour to stitch just the ones he could reach. He didn't dare ask Sera to fetch the wolfsbane for him, in case she accidentally ingested some. Leaving the bathroom and staggering towards the sanctuary, Sera followed and then darted to his side for him to lean on.

"Thank you, dearest."

He ran fingers sticky with half-dried blood through the thick fur on her shoulders, and continued his dizzy stumbling through the santuary doors.

He would have to treat the bite within three hours to diminish the effects of lycanthropy, and the more aggressive the treatments, the better the results. The sun was setting, which relieved him greatly as the light was far better on his remaining eye. Lyn made his way to the greenhouse, Sera waiting patiently at the entrance as he leaned on the counters covered in plants. Thank god he was so organized, he thought. The plants were labeled and ordered alphabetically, so wolfsbane would be at the back- If it was here at all.

And it was, thankfully. He pulled a few of the plants up by the roots, noting to plant more later, and returned to his hive with Sera allowing him to lean on her. Lyn worked feverishly, cutting away and cleaning the roots and grinding them into a meal for the poultice. His own blood would be enough to neutralize the poison; With the injuries already stitched, he cut into the back of his arm and let the blood drip into a vial and tapped it with his wand.

"Ces."

The blood immediately split into different parts in the vial, the plasma at the bottom and the bright teal coloration at the top.

"Keta-"

Lyn gestured, guiding the top layer out of the vial with his wand, and carefully added it to the wolfsbane meal. Blood naturally contained antibodies which would bind to and neutralize the poison...In theory.

Holding his still-quivering hand over the meal he closed his eyes and focused, gaseous strands of raw magic forming from his palm and fingertips and drifting into the meal. Embuing medicinal treatments this way greatly increased effectiveness and sped up the neutralization process. Of course, it would increase the potency of the poison if it were not successfully neutralized.

Too exhausted to be thorough, Lyn spread part of the meal on a gauze pad and applied it to the bite, and then bandaged it. Still shaking, drenched in sweat and blood, and too weak to even consider going to his room, Lyn collapsed against the wall and quickly fell asleep leaning against the table leg. Sera quietly padded over to settle her head in his lap, curling around him and folding a velvet wing over his lap as well as she could.

Lyn woke feeling dizzy and feverish. He reached blankly for his chest before realizing he wasn't wearing his jacket, and as such, didn't have a pocket to reach into. With a faint groan he closed his eyes again, and Sera raised her head. She gave his hand a reassuring lick and went off to the bathroom, returning with his jacket and plopping it onto his lap.

Lyn opened his eyes again, and gave a faint sigh.

"Thank you." 

He mumbled, reaching out weakly to scratch her head thankfully. She was further away than he realized, and he only grasped thin air. Quickly giving up he reached into his jacket to pull out a pocket watch, and stared at the face of it for a solid thirty seconds before accurately registering the time depicted. Only ten, he'd hardly slept three hours.

Lyn sighed, and used the wall to push himself to his feet. His knees felt like jello, and he barely got two steps even while leaning on the counter before he had to stop and breathe.

He dug into his jacket pocket again, retrieving a number of potions of varying sizes and bottles. It took him a solid minute to understand the words on each label, and he finally picked the fever-reducer. He chugged it, and immediately gagged, as he hadn't eaten and the taste was foul. He kept it down, however, and shivered. 

"Sera...Be a dear and...And get me something to eat, will you..?"

Lyn slowly sank into a sitting position again, resting his forehead on the cool edge of the counter. Sera huffed determinedly and marched over to the kitchen across the block, pulling open the fridge and nosing through it before picking an entire block of cheese. Failing to keep her fangs from sinking into the wrapper, she carried it over to him and dropped it on his lap with a chirp, and then returned to the fridge to bring an apple as well.

Lyn smiled faintly and laughed at her endeavor, and successfully managed to scritch her head this time.

"Thank you, you did wonderfully."

Sera huffed happily and sat down in front of him, watching as he broke off a chunk of cheese from the block and slowly ate. His nausea subsided after a few minutes, and he managed to finish most of the apple as well as another chunk of cheese.

He sat still for another few minutes, silently petting Sera, before regaining enough strength to get to his feet. Lyn shuffled to the kitchen to throw away the apple and replace the cheese in the fridge, and returned to the alchemical station where he'd fallen asleep, peeling away the bandages on his shoulder to take a look at the bite.

It didn't look infected, thankfully, and he felt glad that the fever could hopefully be accredited to just the lycanthropy. He changed the poultice and the bandages and made his way to his room, finally collapsing onto his bed to go back to sleep. Sera made one of her rare decisions to sleep on the bed with him, grooming his hair before falling asleep on the pillow next to him.

[idornaseminary]

Chapter One-Hundred Twenty-Three: Calix and Beatrice

“You’re so red!”

Ryker’s big grin beamed at Calix, the rapturous laughter of his younger brother muffled by the the mercurial two-way mirror that rested in Calix’s lap.

“Shut it,” Calix huffed, looking down at the fiery redness of his skin that glistened in the late evening sunshine and painfully contrasted the white printed shirt. His wand grazed the soft skin of his elbow, a cooling tendril of mist washing the rubor from the surface, the fair skin beneath tanned a rare gold. “You know I don’t take to the heat well.”

“Well?” Ryker scoffed, “You simply can’t handle the sun at all! You never could. I hope you enjoyed the trip more than your skin did.”

Calix smiled softly, looking over his shoulder towards the eclectic house, the inhabitants within saying their last goodbyes and dishing out their last hugs.

“Yeah, I had a great time, Ry,” Calix said, picking up the two-way mirror and showing his brother the cerulean-blue waters, lapping lazily at the rocks by his feet. “I mean, how could you not like this place?”

Ryker made some ridiculous passing comment on Calix’s Rudolph-like appearance when Calix lifted the mirror, the boy’s laughter drifting into nothingness as Calix thought back on his trip to Samoa, his attentive mind meandering.

Since his prickly conversation with Lanuola the day before, the witch had grown cagey in his presence. She still showed him kindness, especially when Beatrice was close by, but Calix knew she was trying to assess him, without making her interrogation more obvious than her blatant questioning had revealed. She, and Keise, wanted Beatrice to be happy and Calix, after a lot of thought, accepted that, even if he felt constantly pressed for information.

“Fucking hell, Cal,” Ryker gushed, but he quickly blanched as Cassandra’s sharp shriek of disapproval hissed from the other room. Ryker shouted out an apology, turning away from the mirror for a second.

“Has it been like that all the time?” he asked, as he turned back again.

“Pretty much. I’ve been surfing every day and relaxing every evening until the sun goes down,” Calix said, rotating the mirror, “It’s a magical place. That said, it’s no Ireland, but it’s a place you wouldn’t mind living in.”

“You’ve been surfing!”

Calix chuckled, nodding his head and pointing towards the canary-yellow surfboard embedded in the sand not far from the cluster of earthen-gold rocks where he sat.

He had not expected to enjoy the sport, Calix’s passions being academic and logical, and he was worried he would make a fool of himself. But, Mahana had insisted, practically threatened to drag Calix into the water, and Calix - initially scared of the colossal man - was glad he had. By the end of the few days, Calix was able to stand up on the board and enjoy the exhilarating, adrenaline-fuelled thrill of catching a good break.

Mahana had taught him well and Calix was going to truly miss the giant; he had gone above and beyond the call of a father’s duty to his daughter’s boyfriend. Perhaps he could see Lanuola’s pensiveness or Keise’s agitation, or maybe it was simply his nature, but he made Calix feel welcome.

“So, when are you coming home?”

“Jesus, Ryker,” Calix chuffed, answering the question for the millionth time, “Today! I’m literally just waiting on Beatrice and we’re going to apparate home.”

Twirling his thumbs, Ryker looked away from the mirror: “Sorry. I’m just excited to see you again.”

“I know,” Calix said, his heart plummeting to his feet as guilt dragged it downwards. “We’ll be there within the hour, okay?”

“Okay. Promise?”

“Cross my heart, buddy. And, Ryker?”

“Yeah?”

“When we arrive, please be cool.”

Beatrice sighed softly as she glanced around her bright yellow bedroom, double checking that she hadn’t left anything behind or brought anything extra that she didn’t need. Keise sat on her queen sized bed, her short tan legs hanging over the foot, swinging back and forth like twin pendulums. “So lemme just make sure I’m getting this right. Cedwyn’s gone for good, and you think Cal could be the one?” she asked bluntly, watching her sister babble senselessly to herself under her breath.

Letting out a soft sigh, Beatrice shrugged and pulled out her black fur cloak, draping it over her purse, having decided to leave her duffle at home with the onset of winter. “Well, I don’t know if he’s ‘The One,’ but I dunno, I do see a future with him,” she admitted, ducking into the shared bathroom between her and her sister’s rooms to grab the little clear plastic bag of toiletries.

“And you didn’t with Cedwyn?” Keise asked, braiding her thick mane of wild wavy hair back in a cattail plaid.

Beatrice huffed and set her hand on her torn skinny jean clad hip, tugging her black halter tank top down over her chunky leather belt. “Kiki, why do you hate Calix so much?”

“I don’t hate him.”

“But you don’t like him.”

“I don’t like the fact that he just wants to take you away,” she admitted flatly, casting her gaze down at her lap. A tense moment of silence passed between the two as the Welsh witch weighed the words carefully in her mind, a gentle smile curling onto her lips.

“Kiki, you know I’m always gonna come back, right?” she asked, sitting down beside her younger sister, wrapping a protective arm around her shoulders which she was proud to see her sister didn’t immediately shake off.

Keise smiled sadly and leaned in, resting her head on Beatrice’s suede clad shoulder, careful to keep her hair away from falling and getting caught on the zipper jacket. “I mean, I hope you do, but you spend so much time away from here, I’m worried I’m gonna lose you. Cedwyn at least was prepared to buy a summer home down the road so you could visit. Calix...I’m just worried that he’s going to keep you away like your dad did,” she said, stroking the worn daisy sheets on her sister’s bed.

Beatrice sighed and stood up, pulling Keise with her, enveloping her in a tight hug which was eagerly returned with a few tears shed between the two women as the reality of another goodbye set in. “I will always come home to you.” A soft knock on the door hanging ajar brought their attention back to the present as Lanuola sauntered into the room with a sad smile on her plump pink lips, her hair draw up into a tight bun as she adjusted her labcoat over a professional grey silk dress.

“It’s time to get going, Teuila. Don’t want to keep Calix waiting too much longer or he might start to fry under the sun,” she teased, though the joy refused to reach her despair filled irises, her hands clasped neatly in front of her.

Beatrice nodded and picked up her purse and her cloak, the soft warm fabric feeling heavy and unnecessary in the aggressive humidity. She leaned down and pressed a tender kiss to Keise’s forehead, waving goodbye as the younger witch sank back down onto the bed as her mother and sister walked out of the house once again. Swallowing tightly, Beatrice hung onto her mother’s arm, needing the extra strength with each step she took away from her childhood home, heading out to the beach where Calix sat in wait.

Lanuola sighed softly and patted her daughter’s hand, tenderly peeling it off her elbow as they reached the Irishman, holding it out to him. “If you ever get tired of working for my ex-husband and want to expand your knowledge about tropical magical maladies and more herbal ways of healing, there’s a spot waiting for you at my hospital,” she said with a kind smile, taking a small step back which caused her to sink into the sand.

Hearing voices, Calix placed the two-way mirror in his pocket and swung his legs off the rock formation, landing on the soft sand, his white over-shirt transfiguring into a soot-black, woolen coat, the small birds on the fabric taking live flight behind him as they peeled off.

He winked at Beatrice, the spectacle for her amusement, and took her delicate hand in his. He looked towards her mother, small tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. This was as hard for her as leaving Ryker was for him: “Lanuola, someday I might take you up on that offer. Who knows, my area is magical bugs - the tropics always have interesting critters. And thank you so much for everything you did over the last few days. I had a wonderful time.”

“Thank you for taking such good care of my daughter,” she said, smiling fondly as Beatrice tugged her cloak on over her jacket in preparation for the icy temperatures that surely awaited them. “I’ll see you soon, darling,” she added, watching as the younger woman took his hand in preparation to disapperate.

“Bye, mom!” Beatrice called seconds before a loud crack filled the place where she once stood, the only imprint of their presence left a barely discernable divot in the soft white sand.

I’ll always take care of your daughter. Don’t think anything less than that.

The air crackled viciously as Calix disappeared, with Beatrice pulled tightly to his chest, and apparated on Appletower Row. The thin layer of Samoan warmth that came with them vanished into the dense, cold-morning fog, the ever-changing orange sky casting a glorious glow over the quiet row of houses, the imperturbable facades staring down at him again.

Home once more.

He rubbed Beatrice’s arm quickly, building up heat, and pecked her whitening cheek: “You okay, love? I know it’s a bit chilly.”

She giggled and nodded, releasing her white knuckle grip on his shirt, inhaling the clean, crisp air fiercely trying to cut through her cloak to no avail. “I’m alright, darling,” she said looking down the cobblestone road at the grand homes that towered over them like great stone guardians watching over their inhabitants. “Which one is yours?” she asked her hot breath clouding in the frosty atmosphere.

“I’m the one all the way near the bottom, sweetheart,” Calix explained, pointing excitedly down the cobblestone road towards the evergreens that hugged his home and poked above the thick fog.

“Come on, my brother is dying to meet you!” Calix chuckled, a light spring in his step as he walked, taking Beatrice’s bag from her. “And don’t mind anyone who stares. The Irish like to stare. Especially at Galens.”

“Why’s that, my love?” she asked with a grin, following him down the road at a brisk pace, keeping the fur lined cloth taut against her jacket, protecting the delicate suede beneath from the light flurries that swirled about the air.

The two young men Calix had met when he first arrived home came towards them as they walked, their impertinent eyes following Beatrice and Calix as they rushed by. Calix smiled and nodded but continued walking. He was in no mood to speak empty pleasantries with them.

“Appletower is full of old-world pure-bloods,” Calix explained quietly, looking over his shoulder as the men stared unapologetically at their newest piece of gossip, “And, unfortunately, brother doesn’t sit well with their mindset.”

He rushed to the iron gate of his house, the glacial bite of the north wind harsh against his face, and shuffled towards the door.

Before he could knock, the red door swung open and Ryker appeared in the doorway, wearing a Christmas jumper and a huge grin: “Cal!”

He threw himself ferociously at his brother, wrapping his arms around him and unintentionally tugging Beatrice into the welcoming embrace too.

“Heya, buddy!” Calix shouted, wrapping his free arm around his brother and pulling him close.

Beatrice let out a small yelp as she was thrown hastily in between the two wizards like the filling in an ice cream sandwich, equally as sweet and cold in the brisk winter air. She chuckled and opened her arms, wrapping one around Calix’s waist and the other around his brother’s, fully embracing the delightful moment. “Nice to meet you, Ryker!” she said, grinning up at the easily excited boy she was unexpectedly pressed against.

Ryker jumped back into the house as Calix lifted him easily off the ground, the younger boy’s sock-covered feet wet and cold from the damp path. Ryker smiled brightly at Calix before looking at Beatrice properly for the first time.

His mouth fell open.

His eyes widened.  

“Woah… Holy fu...”

“Ryker,” Calix snapped, a cautionary warning not worth ignoring seeping into his chattering voice, “This is Beatrice. Be cool.”

At first glance, she would have easily mistaken Ryker for a younger version of Calix with the same dark wavy hair and bright grey eyes. He, however, unlike his older brother seemed more lanky and had a gauntness about him that made her wonder what specifically it was that put everybody on Appletower Row off.

He seems nice enough. Why is it people are wary of him and the rest of Calix’s family?

Swallowing tightly and pushing the questions back into the dark depths of her mind, Beatrice put on a bright, cheerful smile as they stepped out of the blustery winter wind and into the warm house, closing the door on the harsh world outside. “I mean, you don’t have to be cool, but ya know, just...cool?” she said, laughing nervously. “It’s wonderful to finally put a face to the name after all this time.”

“Yeah, it’s nice to meet you too,” Ryker agreed quietly, offering to take Beatrice’s coat. As he helped Beatrice slip the black fur from her shoulders, Ryker looked to his brother and mouthed: ‘She’s fucking hot!’

Calix shook his head and gave him a warning glance. He’s right though. “Is Cass home?” He asked, pulling off his own coat and hanging it in the hall.

“Yeah,” Ryker beamed, “Cass! They’re here!”

Beatrice chuckled and walked into the homey living room, admiring the exposed wooden beams in the walls and the ceiling as she approached the roaring fireplace, wanting to get a better look at the row of enchanted black and white photographs on the mantelpiece. It was a arranged quite like a timeline it seemed, a visual reminder of happier days long past though space still remained at the very end for the wonderful moments sure to come.

Minding the wrought iron gate sat at the edge of the slate hearth, Beatrice took a step closer, and admired an image of a handsome man she presumed was in his early forties standing beside a large Hebridean Black dragon whose tail was wrapped protectively around the man’s feet though he appeared perfectly at ease beside the beast.

Perhaps this is his father. I wonder if I’ll get to meet him.

“Cass! Come on!”

“Ryker, calm down, I’m coming,” Cassandra laughed, fixing her dark, wavy hair into a tight bun as she stepped from the kitchen into the sitting room. She sighed happily when she saw Calix, standing by the sparkling and starry Christmas tree, the faint light highlighting his golden-red skin.

“Welcome home, Cal,” she said, turning towards the young witch by the fire, a genuine smile of delight on her face. “And, my dear, you must be Beatrice, am I right? Cassandra’s my name.”

She opened up her arms and beckoned her guest, her brother’s girlfriend, towards her wide embrace, the importance of the day not lost on her.

Turning her back on the row of framed pictures and focusing her attention on the entirely stunning woman before her, Beatrice offered a polite smile and stepped forward into the welcoming hug. She shoved the slightly awkward feelings given life by a flock of nervous butterflies as Cassandra stood a good foot taller than herself in flats, forcing the Samoan Welsh witch to rest her head on her hostess’ chest as they embraced.

“You have a lovely home. I don’t know if I’ve ever felt this at ease anywhere before,” she said as they pulled apart, allowing her the chance to get a good look at the Greek goddess who stood before Beatrice claiming to be a relation to Calix. It wasn’t a stretch of the imagination to see the family resemblance, in fact is was as plain as if it were carved into stone. “And thank you so much for hosting me. It’s a true joy to be here and meet all of you,” Beatrice added, glancing at the staircase behind the woman in the hall. “If you don’t mind my asking, will your parents be joining us later for dinner or are they away?”

“Just mom, she should be down soon. But, please, don’t be so formal, sweetie, any friend of Calix’s is welcome here anytime,” Cassandra winked, glancing towards the couch where Ryker had driven Calix backwards, the boys locked in a laughter-wracked wrestle, “And, between you and me, if you ever need help getting your way with him or sorting him out, just give me a shout. He can be a handful, but we’ll break that.”

Beatrice raised an eyebrow, her ruby red lips curling into a curious smirk as she followed the woman’s gaze over towards the two brothers play-fighting on the couch. She opened her mouth, ready to say, ‘I don’t think I really need help in that department, but I appreciate the offer,’ before she thought better of it. “Thanks, Cass. So, Cal’s told me that you work with dragons. What’s that gotta be like?” she asked, peeling off her suede jacket as she went to sit down on the green corduroy loveseat beneath the large bay window overlooking the backyard.

“It can be challenging from time to time. Never work with children and dragons, you know,” Cassandra said, pleasantly surprised and impressed with the young witch. On first impression, Cassandra thought her a pretty little soul. Her brother had picked well. “But, I love it. There’s something exhilarating about working with dragons, something so naturally primitive and feral. Though, they’re easier to work with than those two.”

Shaking her head, she barked at Ryker, his arm locked around Calix’s neck, and scolded Calix for encouraging his younger brother, the tumbling boys hurtling towards the floor.

“Sorry, would you look at them. Like toddlers.”

Beatrice couldn’t help but laugh at the siblings’ wild antics, suddenly struck by the thought that she wished her own family was a little more like that. She let out a happy sigh and crossed her legs, draping one smoothly over the other as she made herself at home on the couch. This was what a home was supposed to feel like. “I don’t mind. It’s fun to watch, and then they tire each other out,” she added with a sly wink at Calix.

“Tire each other out?” Calix winked playfully, ignoring Cassandra’s disapproval and ruffling his brother’s hair wildly, “Nah, I think we’ve got pretty good stamina, huh, Ry?”

The boys hollered with laughter, slowly trying to stand on their shaky feet as a weak voice called from the doorway.

“Cal? Is that you?”

Calix looked towards the door, the whisper sending heavy shudders down his spine, his ageing mother sliding into the room, black rings of worry beneath her eyes and a worrisome shake to her shoulders.

“Oh, my Calix, you’re home.”

Uncrossing her legs and sitting up straight, Beatrice swallowed tightly, very aware of her all too casual attire for meeting his parents for the first time. I mean, he did meet your mother in a pair of khaki shorts and a Tommy Bahama button up. She delicately placed her hands in her lap, the finer points of etiquette her paternal grandmother Eira drilled into her brain from the time she was able to sit still resurfacing at an alarming rate. Though the rapid pace her heart thundered away at could also have had something to do with the frail woman standing in the doorway of the living room dressed in a simple black cotton gown, reminding Beatrice all too much of a grim reaper.

“Hi, mom,” Calix said softly, taking her skeleton-gaunt hands in his and delicately kissing her papery cheek, the colour long replaced by perpetual pallor. “I want you…”

“Cal, who’s the woman in my house?”

Calix squeezed his mother’s hands gently, his contact setting her restless and panicky eyes, wandering around the room: “Mom, that’s Beatrice. Remember, I told you about her before I left? She’s my girlfriend. She’s going to be spending Christmas with us.”

“Bea... yes, yes, I remember,” Lorelei Galen whispered, a painful lilt to her feeble voice as she reached for Cassandra’s hand, “I remember, I remember. But, I think I’ll go lie down, Cal. I don’t think I look my best for introductions. Your sister and I missed you so much.”

A sickening knot formed in Calix’s stomach as Ryker’s presence was ignored once again. He watched as his mother, guided by Cassandra, shuffled out of the room, repeatedly asking her daughter who the strange young woman in her house was.