#red vox in the garden

[longelk]

just curious, are there any songs you associate with Kaycee? I was listening to Jack Stauber's "There's Something Happening" and thought about your Kaycee :]

i have so many..

[airghoul]

I'm to blame for this, I hide away until the day is through.

I will pay for this, won't find a way to push the blame on you

I won't run from this, Hide away until the day is through

[zekkopunks]

how it feels to be a fan of a band’s most popular song that doesn’t sound like the rest of their music

[respiteresponse]

favourite album?

this is the hardest question to answer ever but i think im gonna go with another light by red vox. that shit got me through soooo much . it's so deeply important to me . . oh my vinogie

[my-name-is-siduri]

"In the garden, where my friends plot to bury me."

[vilelittlecritter]

OH MY GOD RED VOX DELTARUNE

[writteninlunarlight-years]

What would like, making flower crowns for hazbin guys(at least specifically lucifer, Vox, and Adam) be like? Or just a reader that really really likes flowers, and gives them to people as part of their love language?

Making mini flower crowns for Lucifer's ducks? Vox's pet shark? Just being cute n stuff

Vox

He was never really a flower person. Although he bought flowers for women plenty of times in his life, he had never wanted flowers, so that never really crossed his mind to keep them around.

When you started coming over to Vee's tower, either by request or desire and handing out flowers, he didn't know what to do with the gifts.

He let the first few die within days but would eventually ask you how to properly maintain the flowers so that he could keep them around longer.

You used seaweed and waterlily to make a flower crown for his shark, and he was absolutely amazed. He watched your hands weave around the materials so easily, then plopped the crown on the shark's head.

He asked you to make him one, and you happily obliged, using various white and blue flowers to make him a pretty little crown. He took to Instagram later that night with a caption 'whos the king now bitches.'

He began buying you flowers not just so you could make him more crowns but also to show you his gratitude for your closeness and personality.

Lucifer

Lucifer hasn't experienced kindness like the gift of flowers in a long time. Not many flowers live well around him because he is so depressed and forgets to care for them.

However, when you come around and always leave him with one rose, apple blossom, or even a daisy, he is overwhelmed by your kindness and will press them so he can keep them forever.

He tried to hide his excitement when you would come and visit yet he always failed because as soon as you left his office he would be rushing in to see what new treasure you had gifted him.

When he caught you making baby flower crowns out of baby's breath and lavender, he was amazed at the dexterity of your fingers. He was even more amazed when you planted the crowns on his ducks' heads.

He began to take better care of the plants in his home and the hotel so that he could give you more plants to work with. He wanted you to make him a crown, too.

The day you came in with a large, intricate flower crown for him to wear, he was so excited. He kept it on for days, and the reds and yellows complimented him well.

Adam

He had seen many flowers in his lifetime. From Eden to Heaven, there were plenty of stupid, colorful, disgusting-smelling things all around him.

Yet when you came around and always had flowers in your hair or were handing them out, he grew to not mind those flowers as much.

The first time you handed him a flower with a smile on your face, he was shocked that you even considered him. He took it home and immediately put it in a vase safely, as Eve used to do.

When you would pass out flower crowns, he would always decline them when he wanted one, too. Of course, you noticed his longing look but never forced it on him.

Adam began to love flowers again when it came to you and you alone, so he would make a little garden in heaven to watch you pick them.

When you finally gave him his own flower crown, he preserved that bitch like it was the last gold on earth. He would be so proud of it and brag about getting a custom special one.

[sciencebecameouraddiction]

my lucifer headcanons

note: these are just my own head canons. things i’ve noticed, how i write lucifer, what plays into why i write luce the way i do… etc. purely my own opinion.

- i think michael was very fond of his brother

- when the time came though to listen to dad and fulfill his duty or be a brother to lucifer michael chose duty

- the betrayal is still a sore spot for lucifer

- during lucifer’s “youth” he was curious, always dreaming up incredible creations… it was why he was dads favorite.

- he made the star fish, “because the sea deserves its own stars!” and he also made the duck. the ducks first iteration was quite a bit larger… lucifer and god compromised on a smaller duck. (more like god bribed lucifer.)

- he watched adam be made…. so he was always fond of him and lilith… until he fell in love with lilith…

- he didn’t realize it was love

- but michael knew and michael was scared. so he would draw lucifer away from the garden every chance he got

- lucifer was very naive when he was cast down to hell. he knew so much, he had been alive for so long, but there was so much life experience he didn’t have.

- the first few years in hell were horrible…

- he had hope at first

- maybe it all wouldn’t be so bad

- it was really bad. like really bad. the people who came down to hell were unspeakable devils

- (this is based off a fic i read and i can’t find it, if this rings any bells pls let me know the fic name) but lucifer is continuously appalled and distraught by the atrocities committed in his name.

- it’s one of the reasons he so powerful. he has the angelic power but also the power from those who worship him and make sacrifices for him

he really hates it. a lot. makes him feel no better than the worse overlord (cough alastor cough)

- charlie has no idea and she’ll never know if he can help it

- lucifer smells like apples and vanilla musk, a hint of cinnamon and something floral or citrusy.

- the floral or citrus changes depending on his mood

- he has a huge library. he actually pops up to earth with Asmodeous sometimes and takes books.

- he saved the whole Library of Alexandria’s books before it burned down

- he’s great friends with all the sins

- arguably closest with Beelzebub and Asmodeous

- he loves claw machines. the lights, the sounds, the prize winning???? he’s so fucking happy

- he actually wears glasses to read. he doesn’t need them but he says they make him look smarter.

- is actually a pretty good leader, is not nearly as forgiving as charlie is, but he’s not inherently cruel

- his third favorite color is pink

- his first and second are yellow and red, obviously

- he has expensive ass, maximalist taste.

- he doesn’t use tech because he knows what vox does to said tech.

- he’s always wanted a dog

- he’s very touchy. shows love physically. is only this way if he likes you though

- he has nightmares almost every night

- coffee addict

- because after not sleeping he wakes up looking like death warmed over

- and that’s if he didn’t forget to eat the past few days except for random snacks and didn’t do a 48 hour blitz of staying up working on ducks or the bit of kingdom shit he does.

- he has a handful of servants who he trusts and they are the only one in the house. there’s no team. nothing like that. he keeps it very close

- this was after someone who was a servant tried to throw an angelic dagger at his head because really they wanted to kill him and thought working for him would get them close enough.

- he homeschooled charlie. he knows a lot of stuff and even knew the guy who created calculus!

[cheesyv]

Rating Hazbin Hotel & Helluva Boss Ships

——————

I was originally going to post 2 different things (one for HH & another for HB) but I decided I would bring them together cause there are some ships involving characters from both. So This is gonna be a long behind post :]

-

This should be obvious but for those who might get confused about the colors:

Green - For the higher rated ships. I love or think that ship could work

Orange- For both high and low rated ships. I’m on the fence for that ship. So I could have easily given it a lower or higher rating

Red - For lower rated ships. I hate or think that ship couldn’t work

-

——————

HH

Alastor/Lucifer 10/10 I’m a sucker for enemies to lovers tropes 😭 like I know it’s most likely not going to be canon (and let’s bfr a lot of our ships won’t be) but that’s part of the fun. I find the fics and art hilarious and absolutely adorable. I think the cutest thing is them being in a QPR 🤭

Husk/Angel 10/10 They are cute. Husk and Angel talking, bonding and all that fun crap lol

Alastor/Rosie 10/10 I ABSOLUTELY LOVE the idea of them being in a QPR.

Charlie/Vaggie 9/10 They are so cute and supportive, and fit well together

Vox/Lucifer/Alastor 8/10 Lucifer and Vox become Alastor’s simps, and pull him into all their crazy ‘adventures’ 💀 They start dating but Alastor doesn’t fully comprehend it. I find it kinda funny to imagine Lucifer & Vox thinking they’re all dating but that doesn’t even pop up in Al’s head. (Let’s be for real, Alastor is just barely holding himself together and “tolerating” them and maybe eventually growing fond of them)

Lucifer/Vox 7/10 I like the idea of them partnering together (in fake dating or partnership in hating and fighting Al) to spite Alastor.

Alastor/Vox 6/10 I’m not the biggest fan of this ship. I enjoy the art I see and find some of the comics funny/cute but truly my heart will always belong to radioapple 😔

Vox/Val 10/10 They are most likely already sleeping together and act like a old married couple in the show, just work on Vox’s obsession with Alastor (and Val’s character but you know that probably ain’t happening) and BOOM could be good (tho I think Val finds amusement in Vox’s obsession so idk).

Val/Vox/Velvette 3/10 Don’t really see them all actually dating or being more than business partners/family.

Adam/Lucifer 4/10 Yeah that would totally work 💀 cause Lucifer totally didn’t fuck both of his wifes and I wouldn’t be surprised if he tried it on Adam too. Plus I feel like there would be alot of beef between them. (Adam did attack the hotel and Charlie, they might have some more history then just wife stealing cause you know heaven/earth stuff) But i must admit I like the fan art of them.

Alastor/Angel 4/10 I just don’t like the idea of them together very much. 🤷‍♀️ no specific reason honestly, I never liked the ship even during the plot

Val/Angel 1/10 You understand. Val is shit and treats Angel like he’s shit.

Lucifer/Lilith 7/10 Im suspicious of Lilith. 🤨 I really hope she actually cares about her family 😔 I like seeing them in the garden of Eden and raising Charlie like a happy family but idk, something is off about her. I also love the angst 🤭

Rosie/Lilith 6/10 Is kinda cute but I don’t know enough about both characters (especially Lilith). 🧐 If they are even actually who they say they are (theory post) 🧐

Adam/Lute 8/10 I like this ship, they obviously have history and some sort of chemistry. The relationship might be alittle unhealthy tho. I also like to think of them in a father/daughter or mentor/mentee type relationship.

Cherri/SirPentious 7/10 Sir Pentious likes it and deserves love. I’m a little fiffy on this one cause of Cherri. But she can definitely gain genuine feelings (too bad he’s not within her reach anymore 😏) so I’ll give her some slack lol

Zestial/Carmilla 8/10 I ship it. They obviously have some sort of history and are friends.

Charlie/Emily 1/10 They’re so alike that I see them more as sisters than anything.

Charlie/Alastor ?/10 I don’t know anymore 😭 I used to not like it but now this ship is slowly growing on me. Especially after reading this. <- That post just makes sense and honestly I wouldn’t be mad if it was canon. It’s making me question “everything” lol

Husk/Lucifer 8/10 I like it as a platonic ship. I think they be good friends and can easily talk to each other. I really like @drazhaq’s comics of Lucifer cuddling Husk and him not being overwhelmed talking to husk.

Husk/Alastor 3/10 Not a big fan, I prefer Huskerdust

Cherri/Angel 2/10 They are best friends and I don’t think Cherri would be a good partner for Angel. Plus he’s gay.

——————

HB

Striker/Chaz 6/10 Honestly? They both got some sex drive in them lol. Wouldn’t be to bad if Chaz wasn’t dead ☠️

Chaz/Moxxie/Millie 1/10 I don’t like it. You can tell Moxxie and Millie didn’t like it either

Chaz/Blitzo 3/10 wouldn’t have worked out 🤷‍♀️ plus Blitz ?loves (?that’s what imma use lol) Moxxie and Millie to much to go dating someone who’s hated by them and (I must add) a lousy fuck/fucker.

Martha/Mayberry 7/10 😭 They realized the man wasn’t worth it so they hooked up instead. I’m not against it 🙌 if they got over their differences then sure, go for it ladies.

Stolas/Blitzo 7/10 ugh 😩 Honestly hate the way things are going and how they treat each other (specially Blitz). If they can’t figure it out, it’d be better to just split up and go on their separate ways. But I do want them to work out their issues and become happy together. They are so cute together when they ain’t doing the toxic tango.

Loona/Octavia 2/10 See them more as siblings, friends or mentor/mentee

Stolas/Stella 1/10 Hell no :)

Stolas/Striker 1/10 Striker was literally paid to kill Stolas. Even tho Stolas finds him hot doesn’t mean it’d work out lol.

Stella/Striker 4/10 They can go fuck off with each other :)

Fizzaroli/Blitz 10/10 As a romantic ship, hell no. As a platonic ship, hell yes. I’m glad they made up and are friends again, they are such a good duo :) (Tho I won’t complain if there’s some platonic make out sessions between the two /J)

Fizzarolli/Ozzie 10/10 They are ADORABLE together 😭 They way Ozzie is with Fizz makes me happy.

Moxxie/Millie 10/10 They are perfect for each other. If you ship one of these characters with any one else, how dare you 😠

Verosika/Blitzo 3/10 Obviously Blitz doesn’t like her like that and Verosika doesn’t anymore. They had their struggles and I’m glad in the end it was somewhat “sort out”. I hope they can be friends at least, if not that’s understandable.

Mammon/Fizzarolli 2/10 Mammon’s true love is money 🤑 and he treated Fizz like shit just to get more.

Stolas/DudeThatAskedHimToDance 6/10 Ah. I think it’s cute and could be healthier and less harming than the relationship Stolas has with Blitz. If Stoliz doesn’t work out then this could be an option. 🤷‍♀️

Loona/Vortex 7/10 I think they’d be cute together but you know he’s already in a relationship with bee

——————

HH & HB

Lucifer/Stolas 7/10 Two emotionally damaged dads? They’d be cute and would bond over being hurt by someone they love and their relationship with their daughters. But I think I like the idea of them being friends way better.

Verosika/Valentino 3/10 I don’t know 💀 I’ve been thinking about this one for a day or two. I’m just gonna say no

Ozzie/Angel 3/10 like the idea of Angel going to Ozzie for help/work, but nothing more

Loona/Cherri 7/10 Honestly? Two badass people = badass power couple lol

Loona/Charlie 2/10 not a big fan 🤷‍♀️

Blitzo/Angel 6/10 It could work, both are vulgar and brash. They got issues that could be worked on together. But those issues they got can also be a big problem in the relationship (as it is in helluva boss between Stolas & Blitz). But, if not romantically, then they could be great business partners.

Stolas/Angel & Fizzarolli/Angel 6/10 Platonic ship! Could go two ways: a good fuck or besties for life. I love the idea of them shopping and gossiping together. I don’t particularly think they’d work as a couple tho.

Fizzarolli/Angel/Stolas 6/10 Platonic ship! Could definitely be besties. Bonding over the lovers and tyrants in their lives, going shopping etc. Don’t think they all would/could be lovers.

——————

What’s your favorite/least favorite ship in HH & HB?

✨ Thanks for reading :) ✨

——————

[quietblueriver]

Dimples, Imodna please ☺️

Thank you so much for the prompt!!

Short thing set after the interaction with Gwendolyn but before the witchy adventure. During their nappy-nap, I believe Ashley called it.

This got angsty, somehow. Laudna-specific angst, not Imodna angst, but still. Know that's probably not what you were shooting for with dimples, and if you wanna drop another prompt, I'll try for something fluffier lol.

-

Laudna stares through the window of their room in Whitestone, hands crossed tightly over her body and bottom lip, already worn ichor-black, trapped between her teeth. 

“Laudna?” 

“Hmmm?” 

No part of her moves and her eyes don’t shift from whatever they see outside, so Imogen is uncertain whether Laudna actually heard her or whether her brain recognized Imogen’s call and responded on reflex, the equivalent of a “pardon me” in the crowded market. 

She steps closer, lets her footsteps be loud and moves a hand to hover near Laudna’s shoulder, tries again. 

“Are you alright?” 

Black eyes do move now, catching sight of Imogen and whatever look is on her face must bring Laudna back to the moment, because she turns her body from the window, hands dropping, and asks, voice concerned, “Alright, darling?” 

Imogen tilts her head and closes the last of the distance between her hand and Laudna’s body, starting with a squeeze of her shoulder and skimming down until she links their fingers. 

“I asked first.” 

A crinkle forms between Laudna’s eyes. 

“Did you? I’m sorry. I’m a bit distracted.” 

Imogen takes another step, putting herself at an angle so that she can see outside the window. Reds and golds bathe the beautiful gardens as the sun sets, and a figure stands silhouetted against a wall of green, arm stretched strangely behind them. 

Imogen blinks, eyes adjusting, and the form becomes Lady Vex’ahlia, a bow in her hand. It hangs at her side as she turns to the massive brown bear that has sprawled out beside her and says something that makes it raise its head, slowly but with purpose. 

They hadn’t seen her at the meeting, earlier, although Imogen knows she’s busy with other things. Political things? She has about a dozen different titles and Lady Allura said something about a council, maybe.

But she's back now, if she was ever gone, stretching her shoulders and raising her arms above her head. Her clothes look familiar, and it takes a moment but Imogen recalls the stories strung along the walls. Vox Machina. New versions, surely, but the Lady looks like she could’ve stepped from one of those panels, proud and hardly aged, the string of her bow pulled taut.

The arrow knocks some small thing from the top of a bench straight into the tree behind it. Imogen wonders whether Lady Vex’ahlia ever wants to put her bow down. What she thinks of when she shoots. Her own scars tingle.

“She’s very beautiful.” 

Laudna’s voice is more subdued than usual, and Imogen aches for her, sees again the heartbreak in her eyes as Gwendolyn recoiled. 

“She is.” Imogen rubs her thumb over Laudna’s knuckles and pulls her eyes away from the Lady of Whitestone and back to her favorite person. “You are, too.” 

The smile she gets is more than a concession but less than the flustered, happy thing that Laudna typically favors when Imogen compliments her. She’s just telling the truth, not fishing, but Laudna’s reaction is a good gauge of her mood, and Imogen closes more of the distance between them in an attempt at comfort. 

“Thank you, darling.” 

“Just tellin’ the truth.” She presses a quick kiss to Laudna’s cheek. “Wanna talk about it?” 

The smile Laudna gives her then is full of fondness, enough to make Imogen’s stomach flutter. Laudna’s hand moves to scratch at the nape of her neck, which she knows Imogen loves, before pulling her closer, and Imogen doesn’t fight it, settles into the crook of Laudna’s neck. 

Laudna strokes at her hair as she speaks, the sharp cut of her jaw moving against Imogen’s temple every now and again with her words.

“Did you notice that Gwedolyn has dimples? She looks so much like her parents. Although I don’t think Lady Vex’ahlia has dimples. Maybe Lord Percival. He doesn’t really smile often, so I suppose it’s hard to know.”

She speaks softly, aimlessly, an unhurried stream of consciousness that feels intimately and beautifully familiar to Imogen.

“She does, though. Gwendolyn. And her smile does look like Lady Vex’ahlia’s. Something about her chin, I think. And both a little mischievous.”

When it’s clear she’s finished for the moment, Imogen says, breath against Laudna’s collarbones, “Yeah. Pretty cute. Think she does a good job keepin’ the Lord and Lady busy.”

She bites her lip, pushes back against Laudna’s hand until they’re face to face again. They’ve talked about it. They’ve talked about it. But Imogen knows that Laudna is still hurting, can’t imagine how it must feel to have Delilah to deal with always, but especially in this place, and then to have her scare a child, hate a child, from Laudna’s own body. It’s too much, and she doesn’t know what to say, but she wants to tell Laudna that she’s here to listen, that it’s okay if she wants to talk more. “Laudna, I know we…” 

At the shake of Laudna’s head, Imogen stops, and when Laudna turns her head back to the window, Imogen’s eyes follow hers, catch on Lady Vex’ahlia bent down over the bear, head pressed to his. Her mind moves immediately and naturally to Laudna’s fingers and their ichor strings dancing Pate through the motions of conversation so many nights before they joined the Hells.   

“There were much prettier girls than me.” A beat. Imogen’s breath sticks in her throat, and she waits, watches as Laudna drifts somewhere Imogen can’t follow. Her eyes stay fixed on the world outside, on Lady Vex’ahlia. I always wanted to be a lady. “They had,” she pauses, adds an aside that seems not to be directed to Imogen or to anyone in particular, “not that I wish it on anyone, of course, but—they had options. There was another girl in my class, Alene. Dark, shiny hair. Tall. She had dimples, like Gwendolyn. Her chin wasn’t quite the same, but…”Her hand comes to her own chin, fingertips coming to rest just under her bottom lip. “She had the nicest dresses. Her parents owned a fabric shop, I think. Or maybe it was the bakery? And a little inn.”

Imogen’s whole body is tense now but she forces herself to relax and keep breathing as naturally as she can, to leave space for Laudna to keep talking. It’s rare, for Laudna to speak about her life as Matilda, her death, like this—voluntary, undirected, without caveats or the shining positivity that dulls the impact of the horrible details. Laudna is thoroughly genuine, but that doesn’t mean she makes every part of herself available, that she doesn’t curate like everyone else. This is something different than a necessary disclosure to the Hells or even a detail given in trust.

This is Laudna on her own, giving Imogen room to be with her, if she’d like. It’s a gift, and Imogen doesn’t want to do anything to stop her, to risk it. If she wants to talk, Imogen wants to listen.

“I think, perhaps, with my parents, with,” a wave of the hand not caught in Imogen’s before it fists in her skirts, a familiar scrunch and release of fabric, “all of it, I was…the easiest option. Less outrage. No outrage,” she finishes with a whisper. 

Imogen wants to wrap her up. She doesn’t. She thinks of Matilda, alone in this place, confused and in pain and imagines wrapping her up instead. She would have been outraged. She’s outraged now. And she thinks, for the thousandth time, that she will kill Delilah Briarwood, and she will enjoy it.

Laudna clears her throat. “Anyway, they must have thought…Well. Even if there were better options, it’s flattering, that anyone would think I look anything like her.”

Laudna is generally too earnest to be wry, but it’s the word that comes to Imogen for the shift in her expression, the half-roll of her eyes and motion of her lips. “Flattering might not be the word,” she breathes to herself before continuing, “I’m nothing like Lady Vex’ahlia. Like any of the de Rolos, really. They’re all so beautiful, and I…”

The hand rises to her hair, but instead of the usual anxious motion, Laudna pulls a lock out in front of her and looks at it, a little lost. Her voice is confused but stitched through with a sadness so profound it takes Imogen's breath away. “I was never beautiful, but now, I…”

Imogen cracks open, overwhelming love and righteous fury and deep desire fighting to escape, to reassure. She beats them back and says nothing, stays quiet and close.

Laudna shakes her head and turns her eyes to the gardens again, and when she speaks, it's low and far away, caught in another life. “There were much prettier girls than me.”

[macabr3-barbi3]

PrideRing and Prejudice Prompt Challenge!

hello everyone! the Bapple's Orchard Discord Server had a Regency Prompt Challenge that a lot of crazy talented artists and writers have contributed to: here is the Masterlist of everyone's submissions that will be being updated through the day as more people post! There's something for everyone, and will be including RadioStatic and x Reader fics and music!

With that said, here are my submissions! First, have a string quartet arrangement that I did for a Bapple Approved™️ RadioStatic song, Something About Us by Daft Punk 🦌📺

And a short and sweet Alastor x Reader fic- enjoy! 💕🦌

Moonlight on Canvas (Hazbin Hotel Regency AU)

The ball hosted by the Morningstar family had been, as always, a fantastical soiree until you had spotted Alastor.

You give Lord Morningstar’s daughter Charlotte a wave across the room when she spots you, her own arm waving furiously, and as she turns away you see Alastor behind her, caught in conversation with the eager viscount, Vincent Vox. He strikes a silhouette like a portrait, one you’ve painted countless times before; tall, lean, the red of his outfit a charming contrast to his dark hair and eyes. You can see it in your mind now, the brushstrokes you could use to mimic the beauty of him in the lights of the ballroom, the burgundies and crimsons for his jacket, hickory and mahogany for his hair and the darkness of his eyes where they watch the viewer under the shadow of his fringe. It would make a stunning painting, and yet still be a poor imitation of what stood in front of you.

He looks like he would rather be anywhere but where he is, taking cautious steps backwards that Vox follows, and when he casts a desperate look behind himself he catches your eye, brows rising when his gaze settles on you, resplendent in your evening finery.

You bolt when he turns to make his excuses, ducking into the hall that leads to the garden before his eyes can track where you’ve gone.

The cool air of the night is a soothing balm on your nerves as you settle on the bench amongst the roses and tulips, off the main path where married couples and chaperoned groups pass by. Your heart is racing and you wish you had given enough thought to your escape to grab a drink before fleeing. You couldn’t face Alastor tonight; maybe you never could again. Once a close friend, he had been gone for seven years. You had written him countless letters, asking of his travels, when he would be coming home, why he had left so suddenly- every one of them left unanswered, the Viscount having assured you that he was passing your messages along since they had also been tentative friends before he left.

Surely you had done something wrong. He had changed his mind after leaving, your last conversation one about his marriage prospects- “if I must marry anyone, a lifelong commitment to a friend that I have grown fond- to you- would be far more desirable than one thrust upon me by the demands of society,” he had said, and while it wasn’t a dramatic declaration of love you knew what you expected of one another. You wanted him, but you would settle for being part of society, not pushed to the wayside as a spinster as your age went on; he wanted to be left to his own devices, no longer bothered by the mothers of eligible women or fathers looking to make a marriage for business connections. You had thought that he meant you- you must have been mistaken, if his blatant ignoral of your letters was anything to go by.

You wouldn’t let it bother you. You had been waiting for him all this time, but perhaps the time had come to set aside matters of the heart and focus on your life. Sir Pentious, a charming (if clumsy) man was present at the ball, and had made an offer for your hand once that you had declined, no father or brother to convince you on the matter and your mother uncaring of your choices- perhaps you could speak with him and see if the offer still stood… 

A branch cracks behind you, tearing you from your thoughts, and you turn to see Alastor behind you, two glasses of champagne held in one hand. “I thought I might find you here,” he murmurs, giving you that familiar smile of his. “Where else would an artist be but amongst the most beautiful scenery on the grounds?”

“Alastor.” You glance through the bushes and trees, not seeing anyone in the immediate vicinity. “I didn’t know that you were back!”

His head tilts ever so slightly. “Oh? So your record setting sprint from the ballroom was for another reason then; I see.” Despite his smile you can see that he’s a bit irritated, his grip on the stems of the champagne glasses making them clink together before he hands one to you. “I had hoped that we could speak tonight- I meant to inform you of my return sooner.”

You take the glass from him wordlessly and down it, ignoring the amused look on his face. “Perhaps you should have informed me of your departure sooner as well, rather than disappearing into the night without so much as a ‘farewell.’” You use your glass to keep you grounded and turn to inspect the flowers, fighting to keep the ire from your voice. You weren’t ready for this conversation with him, hadn’t been planning on talking to him at all really, after his absence. 

“Darling.” You hear the compression of the grass as he steps closer to you, entering the peripherals of your vision. “What have I done to earn such a dismissal? Do you not wish to see me at all?”

“No,” you say truthfully, and the flash of hurt across his face strikes anguish into your heart. “I didn’t- I wasn’t ready to see you tonight.”

Even now he is beautiful, especially now; he stiffens his shoulders, his face upset, eyes still bright in the darkness of the night. Amongst the flowers, the yellows and reds contrasting so stunningly with the image of him, you could paint this scene a hundred ways and still never quite capture the raw emotion that overtakes his expression. Depending on how the rest of the conversation goes, that might be the only way that you can gaze upon his beauty going forward- paintings done from memory, sketches on ballroom napkins when you spot him at a party and can’t stop the itch in your fingers that demands you bring the vision to fruition.

The tension seeps from his frame, not in relief but defeat. “I wish you had come to me,” he whispers, pain evident in his tone. “About whatever I did to cause your apparent frustration with me. Before simply deciding to cast me- our friendship- aside. So that I may have had some attempt at salvaging it.”

“What are you- Alastor, you cut me off!” You whirl around to face him fully, hating the sting of tears in your eyes. “I sent you countless letters when you left and you never responded-”

“You’re one to speak of unanswered correspondence,” he huffs. “‘Countless,’ you say- can you not count to ‘zero?’”

“What?” The tension in his frame has returned while he struggles to keep his composure, and he looks away from you, casting his eyes out across the garden rather than facing you. “Alastor, I sent you hundreds of letters over the years- I had to send them off through the Viscount since you didn’t deign to even tell me you were leaving. So many letters asking where you were, why you left, when you were coming back. If you were… okay. I thought you might have died and I was devastated until I saw you today and I thought that you just-” You cut yourself off when you hear the quiet clamor of other voices, and you duck into the shadow of the apple trees that line the path. You watch Alastor track their movements down the path before he turns back to you as they get out of sight, his expression now curious rather than pained.

“What did you think?” He sets his glass down on the bench and steps closer, maintaining a respectable distance between your bodies but reaching his hand out to take yours, pulling the champagne glass from your own tight grip with his free hand and setting it beside his. Your heart is hammering in your chest while you stand there together; if someone so much as saw you out here together-

“Dearest.”

“Don’t call me that,” you manage despite your breath being caught in your chest. “Not now. You’ve clearly changed your mind, if you meant it at all, and I was foolish to-”

His unoccupied hand comes up to cup your face, his thumb brushing across your cheekbone and effectively making your brain stutter. “What did you think?” He asks quietly, his eyes lidded as he looks down at you, his familiar smile looking like it means to come back, twitching at the edges of his lips. “Grant me this clarification if you would- a proper conversation might help to clear up any lingering uncertainty between us.”

You can’t bring yourself to step back from his hold on your skin. “I- our last discussion,” you breathe, not daring to speak any louder lest you break the spell that’s fallen over the pair of you. “You had said that were you to marry anyone you would want it to be me, and then you vanished for seven years without so much as an ‘adieu.’ I thought…” You swallow the lump in your eyes, distantly thinking that the blurred image of him before you would make another lovely portrait. “I thought you changed your mind; that you had said something reckless and wanted to take it back without having to have such a discussion with me.”

“It would appear that the charming Viscount has played us both for fools, darling.” He looks like he wants to step closer to you but thinks better of it as a peal of laughter escapes the hall leading to your little platform in the garden. “I am not one to change my mind once I have made a decision; I sent you letters as well. Tales of what I could divulge of my travels- and I will provide more details when I am able to- and questions about what you were doing without me, mentions of how I missed our chats and teas. I inquired multiple times if you had considered what I said, blatantly verified that I would be interested in marrying you whenever I was able to return. I thought your lack of a response was a refusal.”

“Oh my God, Alastor.” The nervous laughter that bubbles out of you is so refreshing it takes over your body, stomach not able to heave the way it wants with the corset in the way of your air intake. “You tried to send your letters through Vox as well?”

“Not directly- I had my aide, Husker, coming into town with my correspondence. He left them with dear Vincent who assured him that they were going to the proper recipients. I suppose I can only hope that no one else was subjected to the same discourtesy and received my letters as intended.” He removes his hands from your face and wrist to clench his own into fists at his sides. “This blatant disrespect of not just my matters, but yours as well, will not stand.” He turns like he means to head back into the ballroom and your hand darts out, grips his arm like to let him go would be a grievous mistake.

“Did you really mean it?” You ask him, and the look that he gives you you want to find a way to paint on the back of your eyelids- fond and amused and relieved, tinged with anger that is not directed at you but on your behalf. “You- you would marry me?”

He hums a bit, glancing back at you with that fond look in his gaze. “As long as you'd still want to marry a man potentially convicted of manslaughter after I've seen the Viscount, then yes, darling. Seven years might have changed a lot, but neither my feelings nor my intentions.” He pulls you closer, almost into his arms then, his embrace so light it’s hardly there, the fabric of your clothing just barely brushing his. Your gasp is lost against the soft material of his coat before you look up at him, smile soft when he directs it to you. “Would you think me a scoundrel should I steal a kiss from you before my possible imprisonment?”

Your heart stutters in your chest. “I could never think anything but the best of you, Alastor,” you tell him, and then whisper, “please,” tilting your face up and closing your eyes, the thought of someone seeing you far from your mind. This moment would make a beautiful painting, you were sure of it; anticipation clear in the strokes of the brush, the colors making the tension and relief between the two of you evident, your emotions bleeding through the canvas into the eyes of whoever looked at it.

His lips press to your forehead, and when your eyes fly open he’s chuckling at you, grin mischievous as he steps away. “I’m afraid this is all I will allow myself, dearest- I can’t be causing too many scandals in one night.” He brings your hand to his lips and presses a light kiss there as well before releasing you entirely.

“Now that things have been cleared up between us, I do believe the Viscount is owed a visit!” Alastor says this cheerfully, a wink aimed in your direction before he's striding back down the hallway to the ballroom, his long legs making it difficult to catch him before he can do something reckless.

You’ve just entered the room, cheeks flushed, when you see Alastor stroll up to Vox as casual as can be. “Alastor!” The Viscount exclaims, gesturing beside himself to a tall companion, dressed in a gaudy shade of purple. “I was just telling my friend here about-”

The crowd never hears what Vox was telling his friend as Alastor’s clenched fist connects with his face, sending him flying backwards into a table and spilling punch and hor d'oeuvres across the floor. His friend looks outraged, a young woman nearby failing to stifle a chuckle into her glass of champagne, and everyone is watching Alastor like some feral animal as he straightens up after dealing his blow and stretches his hand out. “This man,” he says, his voice full of contempt like you’ve never heard from him before, glaring down at Vox’s bleeding form, “is a cad. An encroaching fungus that has wheedled his way into the fine community that we have here and should not be spared another thought. Viscount or not, a wretch will remain a wretch; things such as honor and loyalty cannot, apparently, be taught. I implore you all to keep that in mind!” He offers a smile and a low bow to some of the nearby ladies as a couple of the Morningstar guards are shuffling over, and he puts up no resistance, holding his arms out amiably for them to take and lead him away. 

When the guards have led Alastor away, the Morningstar patriarch following out the way they had come, you watch as Vox is helped to his feet by his companion, furiously wiping blood off his face before storming out of the ballroom. You wonder if there’s a way to get your letters back- to give them to Alastor, provide him with the words that you had tried telling him for so long before the opportunity was forcibly taken from your hands. You find a glass of punch from a table that hadn’t been buckled under the weight of a man and sip it while you make a lap around the ballroom- unsure if Alastor will be able to return but not yet willing to let the magical feel of the evening end. There are whispers all around you, about Vox, about Alastor, and you look again to the broken table that hasn’t yet been cleaned up, wondering if they would allow you to take the stained tablecloth to use as a canvas if you stretched it properly.

“Excuse me, miss.”  A man speaks behind you, and you turn to see an older gentleman- Husker, if you remember correctly of your tea and chats with Alastor. “His Grace has asked me to reassure you that with the exception of his being thrown into a jail cell, he will come to call on you tomorrow at your mother’s residence; to ask for your hand properly.” He gives a heavy sign, glancing at the rest of the occupants of the ballroom and the group of people that stand to your left. “I was also asked to inform you that should you decide to paint the events of this evening, he would be more than happy to hang the resulting portrait in the manor’s foyer.” 

Your face lights up with a genuine smile, something that Husker eyes suspiciously before he walks away, muttering under his breath. You look around the ballroom and find Charlotte talking to a friend and make your way to her- she could be convinced to part with the tablecloth, you were sure of it, and you would use it to make a beautiful piece of art that hung in your new home and marked the start of something that had been worth waiting for after all.

[anonymous-rendezvous]

Dancing in Red

❤️ Vox Akuma x GN!Reader

✦ — Written by Mod S 👿. Beta Read and Edited by Mod I ✨.

✧ — Contains: Established Relationship, fluff, NSFW 🔞, semi vanilla, light dirty talk, & multiple rounds

✦ — Word count: 13k+ | Ao3

Intimate moments with your demon lover, Vox Akuma, weren’t far between. Him being as affectionate of an individual as he is. The two of you have been dating for a while, yet you haven’t tried taking anything further in your relationship. That may change when you ask to visit his home for the first time.

Mod S 👿: There needs to be more soft Vox, so I’ve taken matters into my own hands. Enjoy this 13k mountain of softness and smut.

Reference for his room, and we semi-reference the first few minutes of his first date scenario.

─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───

The trees and scenery around you passed in a blur as you drove down the long road. “Come on, me.” Your grip tightened around the steering wheel. “Don’t be so nervous. Your boyfriend has invited you over to his house for the first time. No need to panic.” It took a few moments before your own words seemed to process in your head. “Oh god–” Your eyes widened and your breath caught in your throat. “I’m going over to his house for the first time!” Quickly and carefully, you pull over to the side of the road, putting the car into park so you could get your breathing under control. Once you start to calm down, you can’t help but chuckle at yourself. Putting the car back into drive, you continued on your way.

Although slightly ridiculous, you felt valid in your feelings of nervousness.

Vox Akuma, voice demon and clan leader of the former Akuma clan, was your boyfriend. As fierce as he is as a demon, he still manages to maintain an incredibly soft and comforting demeanor. Always the first to give encouraging words to those he cares about. When you think about it, it was truly inevitable that you’d fallen for him all those months ago.

The previous times the two of you had spent time together, it was either out in public or in the comfort of your own home. When you had questioned him about it, the demon had explained that he’d wanted you to be comfortable and feel safe when you were together. As a result, you had never visited his home before; waiting till he knew you’d be comfortable. It hadn’t been until last week when you breached the subject that he knew for sure. Asking if he would be okay with you finally gracing his home. Vox seemed ecstatic at the idea, giving you a designated hour and everything. Said he needed time to make his house as welcoming as possible for you. The concept was incredibly sweet, which only caused the butterflies in your stomach to double.

You took in one final deep breath as you watched his house come into view. Even from a distance, you could tell the building was very intricate on the outside. A large garden encompassing the front with a lovely bench placed on his front porch. It was very traditional Japanese in appearance. Which made sense, of course, with him originally hailing from Japan. Though you still couldn’t help but think it was immensely fitting. Parking your vehicle in the driveway, you text Vox about your arrival. Sliding your phone back into your pocket and exit the car, locking it as you make your way up to the front door.

As you approach the door, your hand raises, fully prepared to knock when the door suddenly opens. Your eyes widen slightly as you watch your demon lover casually lean against the door frame; almost like he had been waiting for you. A gentle smirk tugged at the corners of his lips, eyes dancing with delight. “Hello love, I hope the drive here wasn’t too hectic.” His voice was deep and smooth like always, but there was a sweetness in his tone that he reserved only for you. Vox opens the door wider, stepping aside so you have room to enter his home.

The surprise melts away quickly as you offer him a smile, shaking your head fondly. “It was a pleasant drive, actually. The forest on the way here is very pretty.” You stepped inside as you spoke. After shutting the door, he helped you remove your coat, hanging it on the coatrack beside the door. Slipping your shoes off before setting them away, out of the way next to the door as he responds.

“I’m glad it wasn’t a hassle. I admit, one reason I was hesitant to invite you is because my home is fairly out of the way.” He reached out to place his hand gently on your arm, silently asking you to follow him. You give him another smile in silent acceptance, allowing him to guide you further into his home as you continue to converse.

“Well, since you make the effort to come all the way to my house, I should make the effort to come to see you as well. It’s a two-way street Vox.” He smiled at you so warmly that you swear you felt the heat radiate onto your face. Or maybe that was just you getting flustered. Unable to hold his gaze, you look away bashfully. Vox can’t help but chuckle at your reaction. He had merely smiled at you and you were already embarrassed. ‘Utterly adorable,’ he thought to himself.

However, instead of teasing you about it, as he typically would, he just leads you to his living room. As this was your first time here, you couldn’t help but let your eyes wander, taking in all the furniture and decor. It wasn’t long before you noticed that he had two mugs, presumably with tea, sitting out on the coffee table. Ready for both your enjoyment as they steamed lightly. What truly caught your eye, though, was the controllers next to them.

Unable to help yourself, you playfully roll your eyes. “I didn’t think you were gonna invite me over just to kick my ass, babe.” Your lips twitch as you attempt not to smile, keeping your fax seriousness. “That’s pretty ruthless.”

Vox pauses before chuckling, shifting his hand from your arm to lightly pat your shoulder. “It’s only me kicking your ass if you suck today~,” He only laughs harder as you turn to pout at him.

“You’re lucky I like you.” You grumble, lightly smacking his arm.

“Yes, I’m very lucky indeed.” He leaned over to plant a small peck on your temple. His giggling picks back up when you make a sound equivalent to a keyboard smashing. With an embarrassed huff, you quickly stride toward the couch and drop down on it. God, he can be so infuriating. This can’t be good for your heart. As you reach for one mug, Vox takes a seat beside you, making himself comfortable. He picks up his mug, taking a drink before speaking again. “Don’t worry about being bad at any of the games we’re playing.” He takes another sip before looking over at you with a teasing smirk. “If I really wanted to teach you a lesson, I’d have put in ‘Smash’.” He sets his mug back down on the table before picking up the controllers.

Setting your mug down, you accept the controller he offers to you. “If you did, I would think I had done something wrong.” Both of you laugh at that. As he gets the system set up, you take the opportunity to settle further into the couch. With a tilt of your head, you watch him for a moment before asking, “So… what are we playing? We rarely play co-op games.” 

Before he could answer, the game popped up on the screen. ‘Clubhouse Games’. A decent collection of some classic games. Vox leans back with you, slightly scooting closer to you as he did. “I’ll let you pick the games. I just want you to have fun while you're over here.” You couldn’t help the way your expression softens, yet another smile tugging at your lips. He was so sweet. Even when he teases you, he wants to make sure that you were still having a good time. Not that this was abnormal behavior for your boyfriend. No matter how much he teased, taunted, or egged on those he was close to, he never wanted to push to a point where any of you were genuinely not enjoying yourselves. Not for the first time, the nagging thought prodded at your subconscious that you had yet to find a way to repay him for all the kindness he has shared with you.

Though knowing the demon as you do, he’d likely say your company was repayment enough. Some way or another, you would still find a way to return his love in full.

─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───

Time passes quickly as the two of you have fun. Neither of you realize how late it was getting; the room getting darker as evening crept around the corner. Your only indication of the time is when your phone alarm sounds, causing the two of you to pause. You finish stretching before leaning down to retrieve your phone. Sitting in the same position for so long has started to cause your back to ache. It’s only when reading the time on the alarm that you realize how late it’s gotten. “Oh, crap…” You had set an alarm reminder for when you should probably leave. You still had a work-related project to finish. Even though there was still a lot of time before it was due to turn in, you wanted to finish it quickly so you could spend your time on other things. Turning off the alarm, you couldn’t help but feel this sinking sensation in your heart. ‘I… I don’t want to leave yet…’ you thought with a sigh. A warm hand resting on your shoulder snaps you out of your thoughts.

“Everything okay, love? Is it for something important?” His golden eyes were warm, yet you could tell he was thinking the same as you. Vox didn’t want you to leave either, which only made the decision to leave harder.

“It’s fine. I had set that for a work thingy. So I should… probably go soon. I still gotta cook something for dinner and then–” The more you thought about work, the tenser you got. You had so much to do and, jeez, you just did not want to do it. Not today. Why did you constantly try to make yourself as busy as possible?

Vox could feel the way your shoulders tensed beneath his hand. Shifting his hand from your shoulder to your arm, he began rubbing gentle circles with his thumb. “My dear, you know better than anyone that I can make you dinner. Not an issue at all. Plus, if I’m being frank with you…” He pauses for a moment before continuing, “I don’t want you to depart just yet. And,” he brought his other hand up to caress your chin, gently coaxing you to look at him, “I don’t think you want to either.”

Your lips trembled slightly as a lump formed in your throat. Exhaling, you avert your eyes from him. “Your way too good at reading me,” you sigh, albeit fondly, “but yeah I… I don’t wanna go. Not yet. I mean, I gotta milk how comfy your furniture is before I leave.” You joke in hopes of stopping the butterflies ever-rising in your stomach from how naturally romantic he is. His gaze was already fairly intense on a normal basis – maybe that just comes with being a demon – but it always caused you to feel a mixture of emotions.

Vox smiles and removes his hands from you, turning to collect your mugs. As he stands from the couch, he lingers, tilting his head as he looks over at you. “You know,” He seems to hesitate for a second, wetting his lips before continuing, “I wouldn’t mind you staying the night. Like I said earlier, my house is fairly out of the way. I don’t want you stressing yourself while driving so far when it’s pitch black.” There's a slight shift in his expression. His eyes lidded as his lips quirked in a faint smirk. “My bed is enormous enough for two.” His tone shifted with his last sentence. If you had thought longer on it, you likely would have caught on to the implications of his words. Yet, you were too worried about inconveniencing him to pick up on it.

“Oh Vox, I couldn’t–I don’t want to–” He gently interrupts before you could speak any further.

“Love, it’s okay. If it was inconvenient, I would just drive you home myself. I’m okay with you staying in my home.” Mouth opening and closing a few times, you can’t think of a solid argument. You huff, unable to stop yourself from pouting up at him. The demon chuckled at your expression, eyes filled with love. “If you’d like–” he gestures towards the corridor– “you can go rummage through my closet for some clothes to sleep in. I’ll get started on a quick meal for us.” Still unable to verbally respond, you give him a nod before scurrying your way to his room.

Though not even a second later, you re-entered the room. “Umm… which one is your room?” The laughter that pulled from Vox was boisterous. Once he gives you the directions, you make a hasty retreat.

As soon as you reach the room, you can’t help but stare in awe. It was a very beautiful, somewhat traditional, room. The floor was covered in a nice dark wood that reflected the few beams of sunlight that managed to sneak in with the setting sun. Your eyes can’t help but travel to the slightly elevated part of the room where a large pristinely made bed sat, tatami mats covering the surrounding floor, sliding doors able to hide the area from view. Taking a deep breath, you noted the scent of lavender and leather was much more prominent here than throughout the rest of the house. The sophisticated state of his room caused you to feel a twang of embarrassment over the times he’d seen your room in its occasional hazardous state.

Shaking the thought away, you maneuver your way toward Vox’s closet and drawers. Finding a fair-sized red hoodie and some shorts that were adjustable by a drawstring you could wear. Moving to his bathroom, you quickly change your clothes. Folding up your clothes, you set them aside on the counter before moving on to wash up. Once finished, you head back out to meet Vox in his dining room, where he was already serving the two of you dinner.

Sensing your arrival, golden eyes flicker up to greet you. However, it takes him a solid moment and a double-take before he fully takes you in. His eyes slowly trail over your body. Seeing you in his clothes affected him in a way he hadn’t truly prepared for. It wasn’t even in a lustful way. Seeing you move around his home, in his clothes as he prepared a meal for you… it felt so utterly domestic and his heart swelled with love. ‘Someday,’ he told himself, pushing those thoughts back for now. But someday? He would love nothing more than to make this permanent.

Blinking himself out of the slight daze he’d fallen into, he realized you were still standing in the doorway, shifting on your feet. His staring made you feel a bit embarrassed. With a soft chuckle, he gestured you into the room with a smile. “Sorry, love, you just look really cute in my clothes.” For a second, you could have sworn his expression changed. Yet, once you blinked, it was back to his gentle smile.

Clearing your throat, you finally move further into the room and take a seat before ducking your head to hide your sheepish expression. “U–um, the food looks really good, Vox.” The demon's smile grew at your praise as he took his seat across from you. “Thank you for the meal. Let’s eat!”

The pair of you eat silently at first, enjoying the food. Yet it’s not long before you start looking around, as though looking for something. Vox notices this, cocking a brow at you. “Something the matter, love?”

“Nothing wrong, just,” you sit back fully in your seat with a confused tilt of your head. “I’ve been here a couple of hours. Is Onigiri out today?”

Vox makes a sound of understanding before explaining, “Oh no, he’s actually gone home this month. Spending more time with his wife.”

“Aww, that makes sense.” You can’t help but smile at your next thought. “At least he gets a break from you, then.”

“And what’s that supposed to mean?” He scowls at you, except you can see the corners of his lips twitching. “In reality, I’m the one getting a break from him!” Your bright laughter fills the room.

The tension you had been feeling before faded as the pair of you have a pleasant conversation, enjoying your meal. Once finished, you help Vox with the dishes before moving back to the living room and reclaiming your spot on the couch. He joins you not a moment after, flicking through Netflix for something to watch. You let him pick what to put on as you leaned into his side. You were positioned somewhat awkwardly; feeling unsure about fully cuddling into him. You don’t know if it was because of your embarrassment or just wanting to be considerate and not cling to him if he needed to get up. Ultimately, you didn’t have to worry about it for too long. Feeling the weight of Vox’s arm shift around you, his hand lightly clasping the shoulder not already pressed against him. When you don't pull away, he pulls you further into his side, allowing you to feel just how warm he is. Releasing a breath you didn’t realize you were holding, you all but melt into his side. Basking in his warmth. Feeling extremely satisfied, Vox can’t help but press a light kiss on your head. The hand still on your shoulder runs soothingly over the fabric of the sweater– his sweater.

“You know,” your gaze shifts to find him already watching you, “you do look good in my sweater.”

“Mmm, it is very comfy. I might just steal it from you.” You joke; though you are a little tempted by the thought.

“Cheeky brat.” He mutterers with a fond roll of his eyes.

The two of you remain like that for a while. Snuggled against each other, silently taking comfort in each other's presence. Gradually, you can feel your attention shift from the TV to the demon beside you. Looking up at him slowly, you take in every feature of his face as his focus remains on the TV. Your mind drifts back to thinking of ways you could potentially thank him for loving you as he does. It might seem silly, and you know he would gently scold you for thinking you needed to replay him for such a thing. But you wanted to. The only problem is that there isn't anything you could physically do right at this moment.

Or at least that’s what you thought until an idea popped into your head.

Of the two of you, it was normally Vox who instigated physical affection. It wasn’t that you didn't want to; it was just that your embarrassment and nervousness more often than not overruled your wants of affection. Except tonight, you wanted to change that.

Feeling the heat of your gaze on him, he turned his head to meet your eyes. “Is something wrong, love?” As he spoke, you couldn’t help but let your gaze trail from his golden eyes down to his lips. Vox caught onto that immediately. Testing the waters, he intentionally wets his lips and feels incredibly amused as he watches you grow more flustered. The corners of his mouth twitch in a smile, bringing you back up to his eyes.

“Uh–umm, well I–” You cleared your throat, your attention subconsciously trailing back towards his lips. This time, his lips fully curl into a smile. The hand on your shoulder shifts down to your waist. The motion makes you feel even more bashful.

It’s not as if you haven't kissed before. You’ve done it multiple times. When he visits you. When you separate for the evening. Sometimes he’ll just be feeling affectionate and give you a random peck while the two of you are spending time with each other.

Except, this time, it felt different.

Raising one hand, you gently place it on his chest. The house was silent aside from the comforting white noise of the TV and the sound of your pulse rushing through your ears. Sitting up slightly, you slowly start inching your face closer to his. It’s clear what you want to do, and he’s not pushing you away. Except it seemed like he still wanted to tease you just a bit more. His eyes remained open, staying fixated on you. The expression on his face says, ‘ask me,’ which only causes you to feel more flustered. “Are you…” your voice is barely above a whisper, soft breath fanning against his lips. “Are you gonna close your eyes?” The words are shaky as they leave your mouth. You could feel his laughter more than hear it with the hand you still had resting on his chest.

“Not until you ask me, sweetheart.” His eyes are half-lidded as he peered at you. His gaze filled with love, but once again, that certain emotion you still couldn’t quite pinpoint. The look he’d given you multiple times throughout the day. More prominent now than ever.

He was messing with you again, the tease. You can’t help it when your lips purse into a small pout, but huffing in resignation nonetheless. “May I kiss you… please?” Pushing your face closer with the last word, hoping to entice him out of teasing you further. Your half-lidded gaze pleaded with him to finally let you connect your lips.

Vox chuckles, reaching a hand up to caress your cheek. His voice lowering an octave as he spoke softer. “Of course you can, darling.”

Finally, with permission, you softly plant your lips onto his with the lightest touch, closing the distance. You were still feeling a bit hesitant; not usually the lead in kisses. Vox, however, was calming you down with the circular motions his thumb was making along your cheek. Feeling a bit bolder, you push your lips a little firmer against his. Tilting your head to deepen the kiss as your hand slid up from his chest to his neck. Vox kissed back with the same enthusiasm, yet you could tell that he was fully letting you control the kiss. His motions do not pursue anything more than what you initiate. And you’re grateful for that.

Pulling back after a moment, you drink in the much-needed air, feeling a bit breathless. A mix of embarrassment and intoxication flutters in your chest over just how nice Vox’s lips felt against yours. With your hands still on him, you could feel the way he was also breathing a bit heavier than before. You dare to glance at your boyfriend's expression, only to find his intense gaze already focused on you. Neither of you dared to move. Hands remain firmly on the other, not wanting to pull away fully. A collective thought rang through both of your minds. 

‘I want more.’

Moving forward once more, you felt more confident in kissing him this time. He let out a deep sigh of contentment as he moved the hand on your cheek down so that both of his hands rested on your waist. Pulling you closer to him as he fully turned towards you, wanting you pressed against his chest. You also made an effort to get closer as the kiss grew more heated. Both your hands moved to caress his face. Wanting, needing his lips to be connected to yours. It became a priority higher than breathing. Yet you still didn’t feel like you were close enough. Shifting your weight around, you moved your legs, so you were in his lap; effectively straddling him. Being in such a daze, it had yet to dawn on you that you were now making out – Vox’s tongue making itself at home in your mouth.

However, you're abruptly broken from your subconscious state when a whine tears itself from your throat. Frantically pulling away, you cover your mouth as you stare wide-eyed at your boyfriend before darting around the room in a flustered panic. Desperately thinking of an explanation before you heard Vox chuckle, your gaze was drawn back to him. His cheeks were a light dusting of pink, and his lips were moist and red from your previous make out. When you locked eyes with him, you caught sight of that emotion again. And finally, the dots connect and you swallow hard. Lust.

One of Vox’s hands shifted from your waist to your thigh. Sliding ever so slowly inwards towards a very dangerous place causing you to shiver. In anticipation – and panic. Your eyes dart towards the spot as one of your hands jumps to stop him. Immediately, his hand froze in place, and his expression shifted to concern. Removing his hands from you completely, he meets your gaze while apologetically asking, “I’m sorry love, am I moving too fast?” Except you can’t retain eye contact, dipping your head toward your chest. He moved his head forward to try to catch your eyes with his, hoping to get a read of your expression. It didn’t help much though, as you’d shut your eyes tightly. Too embarrassed to look at him.

“U–um yes, but no–I mean–” Your eyes open only to fixate on your hands as you fidget with them between your bodies. With a sigh, you try to swallow around the lump that had formed in your throat. Yet it still doesn’t stop your words from coming out a bit wobbly. “I’ve–uhh, never done anything like this before, so umm..”

Vox looked a bit confused, raising an eyebrow in question. “You’ve never made out with someone before?”

“Umm no, not that! I–uh, I’ve never…” You huffed at your inability to speak properly and quickly blurted out your next words. “I’ve never had sex before.” You were met with silence. The only sounds filling the room was your combined breathing and the no longer comforting white noise of the TV. Your eyes shut once more as you braced yourself for something. Anything.

Realistically, you knew Vox wasn’t going to make fun of, or degrade, you for being a virgin. Except your anxiety was begging to convince you he’d be disappointed. I mean, he’s a 400-year-old demon. It’s practically inevitable that he’s had partners before that were way better at this than you. You just didn’t want him to have a bad time. You heard a huff from him and almost deflated on the spot. Yet you weren’t expecting what came out of his mouth next. 

“Darling, look at me…” Vox gently raises his hands to hold your face, guiding your head to look directly at him. Blinking your eyes open, your breath nearly hitching in surprise. You feel a swell of emotions build up within you at the sheer amount of love you see in his eyes. “I know what your brain is doing. I am not disappointed that you have no experience.” He rubbed your cheeks with his thumbs and you put your hands on top of his, wanting the comforting feeling to stay. “I just wish you had told me a bit sooner. We could have had a whole conversation about what to do when you felt ready. If you ever feel ready.” He shrugged his shoulders as he continued. “If sex was not something you wanted, it would not make or break our relationship. I am more than capable of taking care of my own needs.” He laughed lightly, trying to lift your mood.

You take in a shaky breath, trying to calm your emotions. Though your eyes well with tears, you smile at him. He was so perfect for you and to you. Who knew a demon could be a better partner than most humans you’ve met. “I’m sorry, I really should have told you earlier...” Your eyes drift away for a second as you collect your thoughts. “I guess I just felt slightly embarrassed. Especially since I wouldn’t know where to start asking… I’ve never really had anyone I could talk with about it before.” The last part is spoken more so to yourself.

“It’s alright, love. Remember, you can talk to me about anything. There are no stupid questions in this matter.” He shifted the both of you slightly. “Here, lay back with me. We can just chill for the rest of the night.” He starts to remove his hands from your face. But, with your hands still covering his, you swiftly keep hold of them. Vox looks back at you with confusion, tilting his head slightly to express his feelings.

You can feel a lump in your throat but are determined in your feelings, wanting to be honest with him. “Vox, I–” The way your heart pounded so fast in your chest, you swear Vox could hear it himself “I’m ready now,” He looked at you seriously, pulling his hands away to place them on your shoulders.

“Are you sure? Don’t feel like you have to just because we got heated earlier.”

“I’m sure, I promise.” You tilt your head, pressing a kiss on the palm of his hand as your eyes remain locked with his. “I’ve been thinking about it for a hot minute, but like I said earlier… I just… I didn’t know how to ask.” Vox didn’t say anything else, but you could see the way his throat bobbed as he swallowed. He lets you go so he can reach over and turn off the TV. You were about to ask what he was doing, but squeaked suddenly when you felt his large hands on your ass. You’d all but forgotten that you were in his lap. He stands from the couch, causing your arms and legs to wrap around him in paranoia. He can’t help but chuckle at your cute reaction. The demon starts walking down the hall, taking the same route you did earlier, and it only takes you a second to realize he was taking you to his bedroom. You could feel heat begin to well up in your stomach.

Vox set you down as soon as he entered his room, closing his door behind the both of you. “Sit on the bed, love. I have a few things to say before we do anything further.” Confusion washed over your face, but you did as you were told. Moving across his room and past the sliding doors before making yourself comfortable on his plush bed. There's a subtle tension in your body as you watch him remove his suit jacket and put it on a dresser before rolling up the sleeves of his maroon dress shirt. Not really understanding why; you felt the heat between your legs flare up as you watched him, causing you to clench your thighs together.

The demon then proceeded to make his way toward you, sitting so close to you that his thigh brushed against yours. His hand rests on your shoulder before sliding down your arm to turn you slightly toward him. These soft touches weren’t helping your already hormonal brain from imagining all the things his hands could do to you. However, you take a deep breath and try to remain as calm as possible as he begins to speak once more.

“Alright, first things first, love. I need you to tell me how much you know about safe words and the color system.” 

“Uh,” your mouth shuts as you think it over. “Well, I know safe words are meant to be like a hard stop. The color system is like the traffic lights, right?” Vox nods his head at your words.

“Yes.” His tone was firm but still caring. “These are verbal ways for the Dom, or person leading, to gauge how their partner is doing without having to break out of a scene. Green is an ‘I’m okay’ or ‘I’m good to continue’. Orange works for a variety of things, but it still stands for ‘slow down, check in’.” He brings the hand on your arm up to your head, softly petting your hair, wanting you to be as comfortable as possible as he continues. “And as you said, red and safe words are for all play to come to an immediate stop. Aftercare should be immediately initiated, and at some point, there should be a discussion about what went wrong.” His free hand reaches up to caress your face. “Never hesitate to say red, or to use your safe word. Understood?” Immediately, you nod.

“Now,” he continues, “because this is your first time I will be taking the position of Dom.” Your mouth opened at that, however, you quickly shut it again. Untimely it would be for the best; knowledge from the internet does not equivocate experience in real life. “And because we haven’t had a chance to talk about this more in-depth beforehand, we’ll just stick to the color system for now. We will discuss safe words in the future. Now, Darling, do you know what a non-verbal queue is?”

“Well,” your head tilts to the side in thought, “I assume it’s a non-verbal… safe word?”

Vox smiles and places a kiss on your forehead. “Exactly love. It’s one of the best ways for you to communicate with me just in case–” he pulls back just enough for you to see a mischievous smirk curling at his lips– “I fuck you so good that you can’t speak.” You can’t help the immediate reaction of sputtering at his wording, your eyes widening as you try to look anywhere but at him. Even when explaining serious things, he just can’t seem to hold back from teasing you – the motherfucker. After a moment, Vox cleared his throat, steering you both back on topic. “Usually it's a certain number of taps with two or three fingers. At least that’s the most common one. You could also tell me to watch for a pattern, such as you clenching and un-clenching your fist, or you could blink rapidly.” Vox glided his hand from your hair, this time moving to hold your hand. The feel of his big palm enveloping yours was a desired comfort. “What would you like to use, my dear?”

Taking a moment to think about it, your free hand subconsciously begins tracing the structure of his hand wrapped around your own. Still a bit unsure, you sit up straight and hold up your hand, your fingers mimicking what you were saying. “I’ll hold up three fingers and tap you three times. Is anywhere on the body alright or should it be more specific?” You were still a bit nervous, your voice wavering at your last word. Though Vox answers you with another kiss on your forehead.

“That’s perfect, love. Now with that out of the way…” He releases your hand and moves it to rest on your back. You’re not confused for long, as he repositions himself before softly urging your body to lie back, sinking into the soft sheets beneath you. His body hovers over yours as one hand presses firmly on the mattress beside your head and the other slides out from under your back, making way to the buttons on his shirt. “I’d really like to indulge in your body and show you the pleasures you’ve been pining for.” The demon licks his lips sinfully slow, maintaining eye contact with you as he does, desire fully prevalent in his eyes.

You almost feel yourself explode on the spot, averting your eyes quickly as if his gaze itself would eat you up if you kept looking. This didn’t help how horny you already were. If your thighs were pressed together any tighter, you swear your legs would fuse into one. He finished unbuttoning his shirt with ease, chest becoming exposed to you fully. Your hands twitched forward before hesitating with embarrassment. Vox noticed this, his deep chuckle sending shivers down your spine.

“It’s okay, you can touch me, baby.” His hands guided yours to his pecs, letting you feel the warmth of his skin and the quick beating of his heart. Enraptured, your hands moved over his chest with a feather-like touch, drawing out a satisfied hum from him. He lowered his face closer to yours, causing you to grip his chest as he drew closer before he captured your lips in a kiss. Lips moving against each other in such a way that drew a soft sigh from you. When he tried to pull back, you could help but follow, causing him to smile. “You have no clue what you do to me, love…” Vox’s words came out in a low whisper, almost breathless, before he kissed you again.

Releasing another satisfied sigh against his lips, returning the kiss with just as much vigor. The smacking of your lips together only adds to the intensity, his tongue wasting no time in entering your mouth. Vox tasted immaculate to you – unsure if this was a normal demon trait or simply just your extreme attraction to him. Sliding your hands from his chest to his back, you pull him in closer; needing him closer. This drove another airy laugh from him as his hands finally graced you with a more intimate touch. One reached under his hoodie you were wearing, making its way to your bare chest. The other tugged at your shorts, to which you lifted your hips just enough for him to pull them down.

In between the passionate moving of your lips and tongues, Vox spoke up, his tone husky. “You can be a bit more greedy, love.” The hand on your chest fondled you, his fingers gracing your nipple. You let out a sharp gasp, hands balling into fists against his back. He leaned closer to your ear, breath tickling you with the warmth. “I want you to show how much you want me. I may be leading this, but this is your first time.” He follows his words with kisses down your neck, occasionally leaving nips that make you whine.

‘This man is way too good at riling me up, jeez.’ Your hands moved from his back to the front of his shirt, wanting it off so you could see all of his torso. He seemed to get the signal as you felt him smirk on your neck. He pulled back from you entirely, sitting back on his knees as he lets his shirt slide off his shoulders. You take this opportunity to remove his your hoodie, having some slight difficulty as your eyes are glued to his motions. ‘Why does him taking off his shirt look so hot?!’ You take a deep breath as you get the hoodie off; only your underwear remains. 

Vox takes you in as you lay before him, completely intoxicated by your entire being. Every little noise you’d make when he touched you, the way your eyes fixated on him anytime he did something. It was truly a wonder you hadn’t noticed the bulge in his pants. To be fair, he could practically feel your shyness radiating off you, preventing you from making any bolder moves. But he’d help you overcome that. He shifts forward for his hips to press and grind into you, smirking when he hears you gasp. Vox slid one of his hands to grasp the underside of your thigh, drawing it up to press the apex of your sexes even closer together. You reach a hand up to tangle in the base of Vox’s hair, slightly tugging at the strands as your hips twitch forward with his guidance. He laughs teasingly at your reaction, continuing to rub his hips against you as his bulge glides against your most sensitive parts, causing you to moan and gasp. It felt so different. So new. This was unlike anything you’ve ever done in an attempt to pleasure yourself. Physically feeling another person against you was way better than anything you’d imagined or could have tried to replicate.

Vox leans down to attend to your neck again, biting and sucking with the intention of leaving hickeys. Finally, you decided to take his advice and be greedier. Slowly, you start to push back against him, rutting your hips in time with his rubbing. The friction causes him to groan in satisfaction as you let out your own pleasurable sigh. Taking your free hand, you slide it down his chest, making way to the hem of his white dress trousers. You were in your underwear, so it would only be fair for him to match you. With slow movements, you unbuttoned and unzipped him, your hand skimming over his bulge as you do so.

Letting out a breathy moan of his name as he bit down harder at your boldness. “Vox–” You palmed at him, curiosity taking the majority of your thoughts. You wanted to taste him. If you could even fit him in your mouth, that is. He felt pretty large, and you had never attempted to try on anything before; much too embarrassed. He pulls back from your now surely hickey-ridden neck and hisses through his teeth. His eyes clouded with want, the hand on your thigh tightening its grip, lips parted slightly and bruised from putting his lips to work on you.

Taking this opportunity, you raise your other hand, pulling at his waistline. You can tell he’s about to speak, but still, you quickly verbalize what’s been in your mind since your hands slid down him. “May I, umm… suck you off? Please?” You bite your lip harshly, surprised that you even got that out of your mouth. And seemingly you caught your boyfriend off guard as well.

Vox was frozen in place for a hot minute, almost like he was fully processing what you had just asked. After it was processed, he took a sudden breath as he appeared to forcefully cease his movements. Almost like he was holding himself back from saying something – or, more accurately put, doing something. You swear you saw his eyes go from the beautiful gold you know to a flash of pink. You almost thought about totally backpedaling your statement, ‘I think I accidentally awakened a beast–’ Except before you could blurt anything out, Vox finally released his breath with a verbal ‘Hah’, before leaning back down to give you a gentle kiss on the forehead. Confusing you even more than before.

He brings a hand up to smooth over the top of your head, pushing your hair back. “Not this time, love. Maybe next time we do this. I want you to experience the pleasure, and I’ll take mine from seeing you feel good.” You gulped hard, but nodded in understanding. You were honestly a bit disappointed, but you fully understood where he was coming from. This is your first time, after all, and he didn’t want you to lift a finger while he spoils you.

You’re snapped out of your thoughts by Vox thumbing at your bottom lip, your eyes shifting back to his face quickly. He releases another breath and smirks at your reaction, his eyes looking mischievous as you once more notice a bit of the pink hue return to his eyes. “You’ve given me a good idea, though, love. How about I return the favor of you wanting to serve me–” Vox placed his other hand on your empty thigh, hands creeping up slowly to drag down your underwear as he moved his head down to kiss your chest– “by giving you some much-deserved service to your most precious places.” You trembled at the way his voice deepened, hands gripping tightly at the sheets below.

“I–I think I would like that very much…” You glanced away shyly, lifting your hips slightly to help him with his motions. “But… um, you might need to hold me down. I don’t want to kick you…” You knew how your body would react, at least somewhat from the times you’d touched yourself. Though you don’t doubt it’ll be ten times more effective with someone else’s touch.

Hearing a growl, your eyes snap back down to Vox, startled by the sudden sound. You were not mentally prepared for what came out of his mouth next. “Darling, you have no idea how much I would love to do that. You make it so hard to hold back, fuck.” You ascended on the spot, making your body go comically limp as you inhaled sharply. Vox openly laughed at your reaction, bringing his head back up to be face-to-face with you. “Are you alright, love? Am I teasing you too much?”

Shaking your head a bit, you pouted in his direction. “No, it’s just… god, your voice is so stupidly hot! I didn’t think the title ‘Voice Demon’ was literal.” You threw your hands up in exaggeration and huff. “I… I just need to get used to you talking like that, 'cause I know you. You’re not gonna shut up.”

Vox chuckles and you can feel his fingers tracing circles on your thighs. “It gets a reaction out of you, darling. Of course, I’m not gonna stop.” You lightly punch him in the arm, and he lets out his little gremlin laugh before speaking again. “Come now, let’s not stall anymore. I’m supposed to be giving you a memorable first time, love.” Once again, he moves his way down your body, leaving kisses and small bites with his fangs to reignite the fire in your body. Letting out small pants, your hands making their way back to his hair.

Vox makes his way in between your legs, licking his lips as he peaks up at you. His hands spread your thighs apart and up, putting you in a prime position to be eaten as his grip becomes firmer. Without even testing it, you knew if you even attempted to move at all, you wouldn’t be going anywhere, his hands tightly pushing on you. “Is my grip hurting you at all?”

“N–No, this is honestly perfect. Can I, um, can I keep my hands in your hair?” Vox's expression shifts back into one of lust at your question before leaning in and darting his tongue over your sex, making you gasp at the sudden contact.

“Please do.” His words came out more akin to a purr, causing you to shudder at the heat of his breath on you. “Don’t hesitate to pull and grip at it as well. I’ll be trying my best to make you squirm, love.” He punctuates his sentence by pressing a kiss to your thigh.

Biting your lip, your hands react to his words by tightening their grip on his hair slightly. He latched his mouth onto you and you can't help the way your body shudders as his tongue starts to flick and prod against you. Breathing out his name as your head falls back against the pillows and you moan. He can feel your thighs begin to tremble as he picks up the pace, getting into a steady rhythm with his mouth. Fuck, he’d love to sink his teeth into your thighs. Coat them in bruises and bite marks, a reminder that he was the one to bring you this pleasure. ‘Another time,’ he thinks to himself. Another time, he’d allow himself to act upon his wants; for now, this was about what you wanted. You felt like you were on cloud nine. The sensation was entirely new to you. And quite frankly, you couldn’t get enough. As your hands gripped his hair tighter, you eased your hips into him, wanting his mouth to be as close to you as possible.

Vox groaned against you, encouraging your movements. The deep rumble of his voice only made the pleasure increase. He kept his eyes on you, feeling his cock twitch at your expressions and how unashamed you were being with your voice. God, he wanted to break you. Wanted to show you the full extent of his desires. But shushes those thoughts, mentally shaking his head at himself. ‘Another time,’ he reminded himself once more. Vox was fully intent on making this about you. Showing you all the things he wants to do would have to come later on. ‘And what an exciting thing to look forward to.’

He pulls back for a moment and you whine at the lack of contact. Picking up your head to look directly at your boyfriend, desperation written across your face. Vox lets out a long breath, his nails slightly digging into your thighs. “You taste so fucking good, love. Can I make you cum like this?”

You wasted no time in responding, nodding your head vigorously. “Yes! Please please please, make me cum. I need it–I need your mouth–” You would have felt embarrassed over the words you just unabashedly moaned out if it weren’t for you feeling so overwhelmingly turned on. Enjoying Vox’s mouth so much more than you probably should’ve, but right now you just wanted the ecstasy to return, wanted to ride the high of this new feeling until you came. Luckily for you, the demon wasted no time in engulfing you with his mouth again, twisting and prodding his tongue twice as fast as before.

You both moaned without shame as Vox continued his actions, picking up the pace. He growled and groaned into you, making sure to leave no inch of you untouched by his mouth. Your legs kicked in the air, and your body reacted to the build of pleasure by trying to clamp your thighs close. Vox wouldn’t let you, however, his hands keeping you firmly in place as he kept you spread.

“Vo–Vox–oh god! Please, I’m gonna–!” Your eyes started to water as you felt Vox give you the last push you needed, his mouth moving rougher. He watched as your back arched and you let out a euphoric moan, gripping his hair tightly and tugging on it. He swallowed all of you, only making you whimper from the continued pleasure as his tongue slowly lapped you up. Refusing to let even a drop of your taste escape him.

Licking his lips, Vox could feel the way your thighs trembled in his hands from the aftershocks, and eventually, he pulled back. Sitting up, he gently helped guide your shaking legs down as you caught your breath. Your hands dropped down from his hair, reaching up shakily to push your hair out of your face. Even after a few moments, you could still feel yourself throb in aftershocks, and you swallowed hard. Your throat was dry from how hard you had been panting and moaning. “Holy fuck…”

Vox repositions himself above you, letting out a quiet laugh at your words. Reaching up, you wrap your arms around his neck, wanting to keep physical contact with him. You lightly tug him down with your arms so his chest makes contact with yours. Still taking deep breaths as your heart was continually beating wildly in your chest. Though the thing that surprised you most was that you were still very, very horny.

“I assume by that reaction, I don’t need to ask if that was good. Right, love?” All you could do was nod, averting your eyes from his. He couldn’t help but find the way you pout extremely cute.

“I… umm, I don’t know what came over me. God, I said such embarrassing things!” You take your arms off his neck, covering your face, which causes him to laugh.

“My darling, it’s totally fine.” One of his hands moves to play with a lock of your hair. “When you moan like that, telling me what you want–” A deep groan rumbles in his chest, cutting off his sentence. “Well, frankly, it is incredibly sexy. Just hearing the way you enjoy yourself almost made me cum.”

With how flustered you are, it takes a moment for you to fully register what he said. Once you do, your arms slowly move from your face before your eyes widen and you sit up quickly, causing him to recoil a bit as he sits back. “You haven't cum yet?”

He shakes his head calmly as he gives you a gentle smile. Your eyes trail down his body, gulping a bit as your eyes land on his hard cock. He follows your gaze before leaning forward and kissing your cheek before trailing his mouth closer to your ear. “I know you said you were ready, but I wanna ask again. I’ve already made you cum tonight, so if you're done, I will fully respect your decision. You don’t have to worry about me.”

Swallowing hard, you tilt your head to meet his eyes. “I do want to do this, Vox. I want to give you my body, I want to give you all my first…” You reach out to grasp his biceps, pulling him with you as you lower yourself back onto the bed. “...and even though it’s my first time, I want you to feel good, too.”

The look Vox gave you caused your heartbeat to race again. You let out a startled squeak that grows into laughter when he suddenly leans down and starts attacking your face and ears with kisses. He has so much love for you that he can’t even put it into words at the moment. He pulls back from you after one last peck on your lips, smiling brightly at hearing your giggles. “I’m very honored that you're so sure to give this old demon your first. Let’s get you prepped then, love.”

You tilted your head a bit, intrigued, as you watch him lean over and open his nightstand drawer. The first thing he pulls out is a roll of condoms; ripping one off from the pack and setting it away from the others. His hand reaches back into the drawer and proceeds to pull out a bottle of lube before closing the drawer with the back of his hand. Vox picked the condom packet back up and returned to his position over you. He muffles a laugh when he notices your curious expression, but couldn’t hide the amused tone of his voice. “What’s with those eyes, darling? You look a bit confused.”

You clear your throat before biting your lip in embarrassment. You hadn’t realized you were staring so intently. “Oh–umm, sorry. Guess I was just surprised, more so about the lube than the condom. Don't condoms come... lubricated?” The pitch of your voice raises as your sentence finishes, visually unsure of your words.

Vox blinked owlishly at you for a second before chuckling. “They do, but my dear, it’s never a bad idea to use more. Besides, spit doesn't make for the best lube, so trust me, this’ll make the… heh, fucking, a lot smoother.”

You huffed at the way he worded the last part, squinting your eyes at him. “Did you have to phrase it like that?” He chuckled, looking right through your mock annoyance.

“Of course, darling. If I know it’ll fluster you, I have to say it.” He doesn’t even attempt to hide his mischievous smile. “You like it~.” Vox laughs as he feels your hand lightly hit his arm, followed by a loud ‘shut up!’ directed at him. He leans forward, catching you off guard once more as he wraps his arms around you. Your embarrassed state was the perfect distraction for him as he captured your lips in a deep kiss. Your eyes widen for only a split second before fluttering closed as you reach your hands up to gently caress his face. Before you part, you can hear the snap of the lube bottle opening, and then the sudden feeling of a cold, slick finger circling over your hole.

Jerking in his hold, squeaking at the sudden feeling. “Holy shit, that’s cold!” swearing as you instinctively tense. Vox, however, is quick to distract you; peppering kisses along your neck and shoulders while easing his finger into you. Your eyes flutter, one of your hands reaching out to firmly grip his wrist.

“Don’t worry, love, just getting you ready. You’re being very good for me, baby.” The way he whispered in your ear caused you to have a full body shiver; your breaths picking up for what felt like the thousandth time tonight. You mentally smacked yourself for questioning the lube. The coldness was no longer a problem, a newfound pleasure rushing through your body. Touching yourself had never felt like this. ‘The internet actually wasn’t lying.’ You would have laughed at that thought, but, at that moment, Vox added another one of his large fingers. Sliding them deep inside you and moving them in and out slowly to stretch you for his length. 

“Darling, if your head isn’t too empty right now, could you open the condom? Your body is being so obedient for me.” Your breath hitches at the way he practically purrs those words. “You're just about ready.” Nodding your head, you let out a breathless ‘yes’. Reaching over, hand shakily patting the wooden surface before finally feeling the plastic beneath your fingers. Grasping the condom, you do your best to carefully tear the plastic from the slot; removing the condom from the packaging and, with a trembling hand, presenting it to him. Vox takes it with his free hand while simultaneously sliding his fingers out of you.

“Goood. Now just give me a moment, love.” You watch your boyfriend in wonder as he quickly and flawlessly puts on the condom. He hovers over you not even a second after, his hands guiding your legs around his hips.

You chuckled almost breathlessly and decide to try to get one last quip out before your thoughts would inevitably turn to mush. “Wow, that was fast. Almost like you’ve done this before.”

“My dear, when you’re 400 years old, you get good at certain things.” There is a heat to the way he stares at you through his lashes, his voice dropping an octave with his next words “Now, let me show you my years of experience firsthand.” All the confidence you had to try to tease him vanished. With your hands gripping his forearms, you let your gaze travel down to his cock, where it rested in between your legs. It felt easier to watch the way your bodies pressed together than to look into his eyes. Though the way his length rubbed against you made you gulp, you were extremely thankful for the prep beforehand, as it would make the process of him sliding inside you much easier.

Vox lifted your chin with his fingers, so it forced your eyes to meet his. “Color, dear?”

Your voice was already out of breath as you responded, “Green.”

He smiles as his thumb soothes your lower lip. “I’ll go slowly, love. You’ll still need time to adjust to me once I’m inside. Take deep breaths and if you need to, claw and grip me as hard as you need. If it’s too much, you need to tell me.” He places a soft kiss on your lips before pulling back to look into your eyes. “Do you understand, darling?”

You nod slowly, soaking in every syllable that comes out of his mouth. You respond with a firm ‘Yes’ and are already bracing yourself as you tighten your grip on his arms. He smiles and before he fully settles against you, grabs a pillow. Gently urging you to lift your back before setting it under your hips. You assume it’s for your comfort, or at least that’s what you’ve heard. You don’t have much time to ponder further on it as you feel Vox push against you, his hand guiding his cock into you slowly. Your mouth opens, except no sound comes out as you feel yourself clench down on him. This differed significantly from his fingers. Hell, this was a completely different feeling from any of the toys you had ever used. Feeling the way he stretched you, the way his cock twitched; it was all your mind was preoccupied with as your head fell back from the pleasure.

Vox let out a deep groan as he pushed into you, eyes darting back and forth from your expression to his cock disappearing inside you. Your borderline painful grip on him only fueled him on, yet the sliver of rationale he had took over for a moment. He stopped about halfway, causing you to look up at him, lips parted as you pant.

You gulp hard before asking, “W–why’d you stop?” The hands you had on his forearms subconsciously loosened, thinking that maybe something was wrong. You’re surprised, however, when he brings a hand up to caress your cheek, able to feel the heat of your skin against his palm.

“I just wanna make sure you’re alright, love. Am I hurting you? Your breathing is too hard. Take slow, deep breaths.”

“O–oh! I’m okay, I promise. I just–it feels… it feels so good.” You do your best to even out your breathing after answering and he smiles at you, pecking your forehead.

“That’s perfect, darling. I’m gonna go all the way in, so prepare yourself.” And as he said, Vox shifts his hips forward slowly until his hips are flush against your skin. Biting your lip hard as you feel a whine build in your throat at the feeling of him fully seated inside you. It’s only now that you’ve finally realized what the pillow under your hips was for. The elevation of your hips helped him reach deeper inside, while also supporting your hips.

“Oh fuck–” Every word from your mouth was drawn out. Tightening your legs around his waist and pulling him in further resulting in pleasing reactions from both of you. Your arms slide around his neck as you meet his eyes, your own eyes misty from just the initial pleasure. “Vox, please move. I’m ready, please.”

Vox didn’t say anything in return, just slid his hands down your body to your hips, gripping them firmly. He thrust once, eliciting a loud moan from you before moving again. Picking up a constant pace and pushing your hips into the pillow and mattress. Every movement spurred a moan or whimper from you, your hands tangling in his hair, needing something to hold on to. The lube made the sound of your skin connecting echo loudly in both your ears, only driving him to move faster in you.

Vox leaned his body forward, wanting to engulf you in his scent–his entire being. His rough grip on your hips moved to your thighs, pushing them back as he leaned forward. He wanted to be deeper, wanted to hear more of your sweet moans that were stirring up the heat inside him. His mouth latched onto your neck. Taking up any unmarked skin with his fangs to leave visible reminders of his love along your body. The whine you let out was music to his ears. The way your hips rolled upwards into him was euphoria. He loved every ounce of your being, and having sex with you was now just another way he could express his love to you.

As he continued to kiss and bite at your neck, you couldn’t help but drown in the feeling. The myriad of sounds coming from your mouth likely would have embarrassed you at any other time, but you were currently too far gone to care anymore. You pulled his head in closer and spread your legs further for him, wanting to take in every inch of his cock. You understand now why people say they could get addicted to this. The ecstasy you were feeling was unparalleled. You moaned out his name as he sunk in deeper between your spread thighs, his nails digging into the skin to show his approval.

He pulled back from your neck but refused to let himself go far. His mouth leaves a trail of kisses and bites down your exposed chest, taking extra care to lick and flick at your nipples. You called out his name more frequently, realizing it seemed to rile him up even more. The coupled feeling of Vox’s cock pushing fully in and out of you, and constant attention to your upper half, had your head spinning. Your stomach began to feel tight, and you felt his rhythm start to waver as he went faster.

“V–Vox, I’m gonna cum!” Your hands slide from their grip on his hair to his back, nails digging in from the immense pleasure. He pulls his head away to look at you, lips swollen and pink from their work on you. The pink that you had seen earlier in his eyes was fully visible now. His expression is half-lidded and just as twisted in pleasure as yours. Yet, even with all of Vox’s visible pleasure and the way his hips rud into yours, he slows to a stop, causing you to let out a high whine.

“Baby,” you drew out the word, voice breathy as you spoke, “why’d you stop? We’re both sooo close…” Vox lets out a breathy laugh, and kisses your forehead, pulling back with a smirk on his stupidly attractive face.

“I’m sorry, love. I just had an idea.” He moves his hands off your thighs and places them next to your head. The way he looks hovering above you truly does not help your delayed orgasm. “I was just thinking about how–” he cuts himself off with a groan, clearly lost in his imagery before he continues, “beautiful you’d look riding me. I’d love to see you bouncing on top of me. Of course, only if you are willing.”

You swallow hard, your voice sounding a bit hoarse from all your moaning. “D–does that mean I’ll be taking control?” You wouldn’t lie, you’d had random thoughts about what it’d be like. But those were just passing thoughts. Topping isn’t just about physically being on top, it’s about knowing how to give pleasure and take the lead. It is a very appealing idea, but could you top Vox? You didn’t feel nearly as confident as Vox currently appeared.

Seeming to feel the anxiety radiating off of you, Vox clarifies, “No, love. Being on top of me doesn’t mean you’ll have control.” One of his hands rubs soothing circles over one of your hips. “Unless you want to try taking control. I will not force you to, though. We can just change positions.”

Averting your eyes from him, you take a moment to think it over. On one hand, it’d be good to get experience from it, but on the other… your lack of experience with all of this could cause you to overthink your actions. You know he wouldn’t be upset with you and would likely give you tips if you wanted to, but you still wanted him to get some pleasure from this. After weighing your options, you shake your head and meet his eyes again. “I would like to change positions, but I don’t think changing roles would be good right now. We… We can test it another time.”

He nods and gives you a light peck on the cheek. “Alright, darling. Let me lay back, then you can get on top of me.” Vox slowly pulls out of you, causing you to let out a deep sigh from the sudden emptiness. As you reposition yourself to sit on your knees to wait, Vox grabs himself a fresh pillow, placing it behind his head as he fully lays down. He looks at you with a soft smile and holds his arms out to welcome you to him. The second you are given the okay, you're already crawling over and straddling his waist, his hands resting on your hips as soon as you do. “Color?”

“Green. So, so green.” This causes you both to laugh.

“Go slow as you sink down on me. It’ll feel better that way, I promise.” Vox massages his hands into your hips, eyes filling with anticipation as he watches you closely.

You give a small nod and look down at his cock resting between your legs, still hard, if not harder, than before. Feeling a shiver run down your spine at the sight, you inhale deeply before you take a hold of his length. He lets out a pleased hum at the contact and you gently guide him inside you as you sink down. The new angle and already built-up tension made your hips twitch and your body shake, the ecstasy coming back from the contact.

Vox kept you steady with his hands, lifting his hips to help ease the process. Once his hips were flush against your skin, you both let out soft groans as he lowered his hips back onto the plush bed. Placing your palms on his chest, you give an experimental grind of your hips as you watch your own motions. The demon gripped you tighter, letting out a hiss through his teeth, his eyes fixated on your expression of pleasure.

“Go ahead, love.” Your attention snaps back to his face. “You don’t need to hesitate.” You hold his gaze for a moment before you nod, lifting your hips before pushing them back down to sink onto his length.

Your mouth falls open, eyelids fluttering at the new angle. A pleasurable shudder coursed through you at how much deeper he felt from this position. You could tell he enjoyed it as well; urging your hips up with his hands, needing the sinking feeling again. You start a steady rhythm, letting out hot breaths and moans as his cock pushes deep inside you. The sound of skin meeting skin resonated through the room, coupled with the heavy panting coming from both of you. Balling your hands into fists, your mouth hangs open as you bounce on top of him with vigor. Your moans only get louder as the tightening feeling in your stomach comes faster than before. 

“Fu–fuck…Vox, I’m so close again. I–oh–I’m gonna cum!” Your words come out shaky and breathless, as you leaned forward, sliding your hands onto the bed to pick up the pace easier. Vox moved his hands to your ass, groping and digging his nails in as he looked up at your ecstasy-ridden face just inches from his.

“I’m close as well, baby. God, I wanna watch you cum–” He gasps, before groaning in pleasure. “Please cum. Cum for me, sweet thing.” Shifting to get enough balance, he ruts his hips up into you, matching your greedy pace with his own. Vox could feel you tighten around him, trying desperately to reach that peak. He let out a low, gruff sigh, his eyes fixated on you as you moaned out his name. God, the way you moaned his name, like he was the only thing you ever needed, the only thing you’ve ever wanted.

You gripped and pulled at the sheets under your hands, your pace becoming erratic as you finally reach your climax. Burying your face in the crook of Vox’s neck, you let out a cry of pleasure as your body shakes from its second orgasm. Vox, with just a few more thrusts, presses your ass down on him further, reaching his orgasm as well. You shudder from the guttural moan he lets out, and the way his hands grip you, making you stay close. After a moment of collecting yourselves, you lift your head up to look at your boyfriend. You open your mouth to say something, but Vox is quicker, capturing your lips with his. He puts his hand behind your head, kissing you like he’d been waiting to feel your lips for years. You pull back after the impromptu make-out session and look at him in slight confusion.

“What was that for?” You tilt your head slightly to accentuate your question, but he just gives you a lazy smile and strokes your hair.

“I just really love you, darling.” He tries to maintain eye contact with you, but you refuse and sit up, a big pout on your face.

“Vox, please, you being so sweet shouldn’t be hot.” The demon just chuckles and sits up as well, keeping you in his lap as his arms wrap around you.

“Oh? Then maybe I should switch to being more down-bad?” The sweet smile on his face changes to a devious smirk as he moves his face closer to yours.

“I–That’s it. I’m done for. K.O.’ed” You cover your face with your hands. Bad idea, cause it just gives your boyfriend the element of surprise.

With a mischievous look, Vox smugly, purposefully, rolls his hips. “You’re done for? Oh no, that’s such a shame~”

The squeak that came out of your mouth surprised you, drawing your hands down to cover your mouth. With a muffled voice, you try to scold him, “H–Hey! Don’t move too much, I'm sensitive–”

Vox just chuckles and rolls his hips again, making you whine out his name. You were adorable, and he only wanted to mess with you more every time you reacted to his teasing. He shifted closer, lips ghosting your ear, his hot breath fanning against you as he spoke low. “Lift your hips for a moment, darling. I need to change this condom.” 

He stroked your thighs as you lifted your hips, letting out a breathy moan as you did. His cock slid out of you with ease, and Vox’s hands went from your thighs to his cock. Even after just finishing, he was still so hard. As he removed the used condom, you lean over and quickly grab another wrapper from the nightstand. Vox chuckles at your enthusiasm, glad he could rile you up again with just a roll of his hips. You both moved quickly; him tying the used condom and throwing it aside as you got a new one out and ready. As soon as you handed it to him, he tugged it on, making sure it was properly secure before you straddled him once again. 

“Come on sweet thing, let me inside you again.” The demon’s large hands gripped your hips as you let him guide you down on his cock again. Both let out a shuddering breath at how sensitive you each still were. He wasted no time; not even a moment after you’ve fully sunk down on him does he start thrusting into you again. 

You grip his wrist tightly, wanting him to keep guiding you as you desperately try to keep pace with him. Your eyes watering from the overstimulation, and your throat was becoming dry again from your panting and moaning. Your legs felt like jelly, and you could tell you were gonna be sore in the morning, but that didn’t stop you from grinding down onto Vox. His nails dug into your hips, the slapping of his thrust getting sloppy as he felt you clench around him again, ready for another orgasm. Your words came out almost unintelligible, and your tone was desperate as you told him you were going to cum again. “V–Vox! I–!” 

With him feeling just as sensitive, he was already right at the edge, ready to cum again. “I know, sweet thing. I’m right there with you.” He quickened his pace.

It only took a few more thrusts before you doubled over onto his chest, moaning loudly as his hips pushed up into you. Reaching your peaks together, hips stuttering as you breathed heavily. Bodies covered in sweat from the multiple orgasms. Vox looked down at you, your head buried in his chest as you tried to get your breathing under control. He moved one hand from your hip to your head, resting it there.

Lifting your head enough to rest your chin on his chest, gaze meeting his. You both stare into the eyes of the other for a moment, seeming to soak in all that just happened. Vox spoke first, having a content smile on his face. “My love… thank you for letting me experience this with you.” He raised his hands, cupping your cheeks with both his hands. “I am extremely honored that you trust me this much to give you the pleasure you desire. I’m happy that I now have another way to show you just how much love I have for you, my sweet thing.” Vox’s voice was filled with care, and you could see in his eyes that he meant every word, saying it with his full heart.

Leaning into his hands, you smile, one of your own lifting to rest over his as your thumb rubs over his knuckles. “I’m just happy you also had a good time. That was incredible and I couldn’t be happier to give you my first. I…” You swallowed hard, looking away bashfully. “I love you, Vox.” You looked back at him when you heard his soft chuckle and he leaned his head toward you to kiss your forehead.

“I love you too, baby… so much.” He leaned his forehead to rest against yours, you both closing your eyes to soak in the moment. Remaining like that for a few moments, reveling in each other's presence, before Vox spoke up again. “Come on, love. Let’s go get cleaned up.” His voice was soft as he nuzzled his head into you softly, coaxing you into motion. “You still need your rest. You have a project to work on tomorrow.”

“Good idea, besides I don't think we both wanna be sweaty and sticky.” You lifted yourself off of him, letting out a deep breath as his softening cock slips out of you. “Will you give me motivation by cuddling me when we sleep?” 

“I would cuddle you regardless, darling.” He laughs, pushing himself to the edge of the bed before getting up and properly disposing of both condoms. “But yes, I’ll give you all the affection you want and tell you just how proud I am of you.” He offers his hand to you and helps you get up when you take it. He’s frozen in place for a moment as he looks over at you. His brain conjures up other scenarios; ones where you wouldn't have to leave in the morning. Every day he could look forward to falling asleep and waking up by your side.

You tilt your head, asking if he’s okay. He just smiles; rubbing his thumb over your knuckles and envisioning a ring on your bare finger. ‘Someday,’ he reassures himself again.

“It’s nothing, love. Let’s get you cleaned up now, shall we?”

─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───

Likes are nice and we do appreciate them. However, comments/feedback is what really motivates us to continue writing. Even just a keyboard smash or emojis are a joy to see!

We do not allow our stories to be translated or reposted/shared anywhere. The only places our stories should be found are on Ao3 or Tumblr. Nowhere else.

[bapple117]

Chapter 4 of Bluest Monday is now up!

A Radiostatic fic set in the 80s ~ AO3 Link!

Here's a snippet:

“Guess we’re sharing a bed before you stay over mine, after all,” The Television Demon says, very fucking happy with himself. 

Alastor shrugs and tries to maintain the high ground. 

“We’re probably not going to do much sleeping, anyway, I suppose,” Alastor says dryly. 

The Radio Demon smirks to himself at Vox’s immediate expression change. Alastor ignores this and begins to unpack his bag in his typical keenly-organised way. 

“W-What?” Vox stammers, throwing his own bag down into an armchair. 

“Well,” Alastor starts again, voice light. “I’m assuming there’s a lot we can do here?”

“In… In the bed?” Vox says quietly. 

Alastor rolls his eyes. 

“In this resort,” he says, retrieving a handful of books from his bag. 

“OH,” Vox coughs out. “Oh. Right. Yeah, sure. I’ve booked something good for tonight actually.”

The TV Demon perches on the edge of the bed. He bounces himself using his feet for leverage, seemingly testing the springs of the mattress. Alastor walks to the window, prising the blinds open with two narrow fingers; outside he spots wealthy-looking demons arriving out front in fancy vehicles. He catches the sight of Vox bouncing in his periphery and huffs in amusement. 

“Good buoyancy?” Alastor teases, not looking away from the window.

Vox immediately stops and seems flustered. 

“Yeah, I… uh. I think so,” he says. 

Alastor watches out the window as a demon couple walk, arms linked, through a nearby garden. It’s full of Hellish topiary; shrubs trimmed neatly into the shapes of well-known Hell icons. There are flowers, too; wild growths of red twisting vines and blossoms that snap when you walk near them. Alastor is enamoured at the sight.

Vox has laid himself back on the bed; Alastor regards this with an eyebrow raise. The Radio Demon did not think this through; how very unlike him. Alastor curses himself now for not realising this quandary; he’s going to have to find ways to deny Vox all weekend. Of course, Alastor knows that Vox wants and, indeed, expects physical intimacy; Alastor is betting on it. And, truly; he doesn’t mind. He’s interested in the idea from an experimental point of view. He’s willing, even; willing to find out what all the fuss is about. If he can’t do that with Vox, who can he do it with?

But not this weekend, no; Alastor needs to dangle that particular carrot for as long as he can. The sooner he gives Vox everything, the less he has to use as leverage. Vox will get cocky, complacent; he’ll want it all the time. Alastor loves the chase, he has to admit to himself; he adores the playful mind games of keeping Vox on his toes and hungry for him. Relinquishing that control now, this early into the game, isn’t an option. 

[vylad243]

Prompt: Vox is an angel who is one of Heaven's messengers. He is technically a human turned angel, like Adam was and like Adam usually wears a mask--(however his mask is just a regular bank robber's mask with slots where one Blue and one green eye peer out, and it covers his soft black hair.) He is also one of the few angels Lucifer genuinely likes and can come and go from Hell any time he pleases, and One Charlie knows very well. Unfortunately for Vox, over the years visiting and delivering messages for the Morningstars, he's attracted a bit of a stalker in the radio demon. Which leads the overlord to becoming Charlie's sponsor when she opens her hotel in an attempt to actually meet the angel that accompanies his mind, that makes his heart flutter when he sees him in the sky. When Vox comes by to see the hotel and give his thoughts on redemption, Alastor is ready. He's in a brand new suit, a new coat, and he's sharpened his antlers. He also unconsciously attempts to scent the angel--not that Vox minds, he's used to Charlie rubbing up against his wings at times too. It's fine if her friends do it too.

Husker immediately knows what's going on and attempts to warn Angel Dust not to flirt with Charlie's angel uncle, not because he's Charlie's uncle, but because Alastor's in love with him, and Alastor DOESN'T share.

Charlie, being the sweetheart that she is immediately offers Vox a room and he say yes, and gets the room across from Alastor's. He of course changes it to his preferences, so now the final floor of the upstairs only has 2 large rooms, and a warring color scheme of blues and reds.

Alastor of course just gets worse and worse now consciously scenting the angel when he can, and bringing Vix gifts (and paying I.M.P ridiculous amounts of money to get fruits seeds and coco seeds so he can start garden just so he doesn't have to keep paying said Imps for said fruits and treats!)

Vox of course doesn't realize Alastor's attempting to woo him. He thinks they're great friends and that friends obviously have eskimo kisses (scenting) around 5-6 times a day, and they help each other with grooming/preening (Alastor with Vox's wings and feathers by plucking out the broken feathers and massaging oil in them, and Vox by helping getting rid of any stuck velvet.) And obviously friends share beds, cuddling together, Alastor being the big spoon during the night. They're friends. Obviously.

Husker snickers as Vox and Alastor share another eskimo kiss in front of the bar.

Hi! While I greatly appreciate this prompt, sadly I don't really have the motivation to work on this and I don't want to leave it rotting in my inbox while you wonder if anything has happened to it! It's a lovely idea and I hope to he able to write it out one day when I have the motivation to do so!

[things-arent-what-they-seem66]

Hi I've returned with a Florian ask lol

Adam and Florian eating lunch in the garden

Florien: so I guess your type is short, stubborn, and horny?

Adam: -spits out his drink-

Florien, who has no room to talk liking Vox: called it.

Adam: FLORIEN! THE FUCK?

Florian: ....Am I wrong?

Adam, taking a deep breath: Okay, from now on no more talking about HIM while I'm eating. Nearly fucking choked to death.

Florian: Cause you want to choke on something else of his right?

Adam, red as a rose: FOR FUCK SAKES!? Do you want to keep for fucking job?

[sculptorofcrimson]

My Angel

@kit-williams I take FULL responsibility. Behold, more scary golden boys!

~~~~~

“Je prie les anges et les anges m'ont pris”

Translation from French: I prayed to the angels, and the angels took me. 

~~~~

It's not a pretty feeling, is it, when you are denied even the right to die?

The Aquilan Shields. The desire of any, the saviors of countless. The gilded heroes in gold and crimson, thundering from the skies. 

But they are not heroes.

They are not saviors. They are not angels, they are seraphims bathed in fire and brimstone and choking smoke. They do not chase off death, but rather prolong it, until you can die by their command. 

It is a tradition, they say, a practice that carried over from the First Custodian and into their Order. The First to seal what belonged to him in gold and crimson, the first lifebringer who preserved life in a dead man walking. The outcast dead, preserved beyond an end, beyond life, beyond even adoration itself, until love curdled into obsession.

He was the First of the Custodes, the First to adore so vehemently it was beyond even death itself. 

It is a tradition for them not to love, but to protect, to adore and nurture, to keep. It should be an honor. It should be adoration. Many want to be loved. No one wants to know. Many yearn for that pretty delusion, the warmth of the fire without fearing its heat. You cannot love a heartless man. 

It was hard to imagine Leinth had once wished for the stress of their regard. 

“You seem melancholy today.” He observed. His voice filters through perfect vox lines, yet she could detect no waver beneath it, no human imperfection. It was as if he had been mastered as a machine, without deviation, and without error. 

Leinth offered a wan smile, the girl kicking her thin shins out over the rooftop’s edge. He had found her with ease, as he always had, regardless if she was in the Palace’s grand gardens or had paid a civilian to carry her to the outskirts of Terra. He would always find her, after all. 

Sekhmet Andas of the Aquilan Shield made no noise as he shifted to a resting position besides her, making eerily little sound for one as large as he. For a moment they were silent, watching the setting sun bathe the slums of Terra to red, then crimson.

“I had thought Terra would be beautiful.” she spoke, after a long while. Sekhmet inclined his head. 

“What makes you think it is not?” 

“These.” Leinth gestures with one hand. Her fingers, still unused to the exercises she had been subject to, awkwardly form crude signs in thoughtmark. + These. The ones you never show. + Her voice had yet to be taken away from her in her ascension to a full Sister, but her freedom to roam certainly was. 

“You cannot drape wraiths in raiments and call them beautiful, Leinth. You cannot show the shadow of the sun.” Sekhmet, with surprising tenderness, gently nudges her index finger to the proper form. "Longer, Ley. Thoughtmark is not an unelegant language."

"But are they too not loved?" she bats his hand away. "These wraiths." Leinth couldn’t help but feel irate at the simple use of her endearment. It had once belonged to her brother once. 

"I cannot speak for them." he replied. "Only that they were not graced by His light."

"Like I wasn't?" Leinth chuckles softly, bitterly. "Like I wasn't blessed, for the first decade and half of my life? Worthless, until my gift was seen?" 

“No. You were…exceptional.” Sekhmet’s tone was as level as always, even in the face of Leinth’s capricious wrath. The thin girl was shivering, but seemed unnoticing of the setting sun’s cold. Sekhmet reached out, and wrapped his cloak around her shoulders. Leinth never looked up. 

“Oh, you.” Leinth’s giggle sounded far too jaded, far too cruel for a girl of her age, all of twenty-three and as bitter as a veteran. “You’ve spent so long in the gold, you’ve forgotten how to speak of the bronze.”

Sekhmet did not respond to that. He simply wrapped the cloak around her, and tried to fasten the clasp. Once more, Leinth shakes his hand away. Sekhmet contends with draping the fabric around her. 

When she next spoke, her words were laden with vitriol. “I had a brother once. Down here. We were together.” There was an old rancor here, an ancient ache. Her eyes had become unfocused, her legs swinging out into the void as she gazed upon Terra’s slums from the shelter of the rooftop. 

She sounded almost wistful. 

“We were together when Father died. You wouldn’t know. Of course you wouldn’t. You wouldn’t care how Liaser fed me, clothed me, fought off a gang and ended up losing a third of his index finger from a knifethrust that was meant for me. You never saw the bodies left in the streets to rot, the trashheaps we buried ourselves in to hide from the gangs, how he took in a pariah at the age of twelve and refused to abandon her. You never knew what it felt like to starve, not knowing if you’d live long enough to scavenge from the streets. But he refused. Not even when my gift suffocated him, not even if he hated my soul, but loved me enough even when I drew “visitors”. When my aura drew…others here. Visitors that beat him. Visitors that tortured him. Visitors that hated me, hated my mind. Visitors wanted me.” her eyes had become unfocused, bitterly embroiled in the past. Sekhmet placed a titanic hand on her shoulder. He could feel the Pariah’s pulse from here, beating fast and hard like a dying rabbit’s, her shaven head bobbing from side to side with seemingly no consciousness. She was shaking. His other hand, still clad in gold auramite, rubbed soothing circles next to her spine. 

She regained her voice after a few moments, still trembling. “One of them tried to skin him alive unless I showed myself, were you there to protect me from then?” 

“Ley, you know that-”

“Were you there?” She half screamed. “Were you there when they broke three of his ribs and I robbed a clinic with my gift, when I walked in and the doctor called me a soulless monster and ran? When I left that dingy, rundown place with credits in my bag, knowing they feared me, knowing they looked at me and saw nothing but loathing? Knowing how it felt like not to be unnoticed, but to be utterly hated?”

“The golden do not know hate, dear Ley.” His hand wrapped around her, tightening and dragging her close when she tried to move away. Leinth snorted in derision and annoyance. He continued on. “And they will never step foot nor hide, so long as you’re beneath my gaze, little Sister. Where love is made impossible for you, Pariah, then contend yourself with fear.” With more tenderness than thought possible for a creature so cold, he reached out and gently turned her head towards him, tilting her face up until they were eye to eye. Leinth saw nothing, not even the cold spark of life, behind those eyes. It was like gazing into the eyes of a corpse, a corpse that would hold her, love her, suffocate her, for eternity.

“Contend yourself with fear, little Pariah. Where they cannot love you, they will learn to fear.” 

Leinth pulled away from his grasp. “But I do not want to be feared.” 

She did not ask to become a Sister, she did not want to be plucked from her brother’s arms and paraded like a trophy before golden eyes. She did not ask to be in that alleyway when they came, her thin arms over her head as the blows rained down one by one, still hearing her brother screaming at her to run. Sobbing for her life, pleading to be spared, praying for the angels to come and save her. And she prayed, and the angels came to save her. 

“I do not want to be feared.” she repeated. 

“But you will be.” His grip was like iron. He did not allow her to turn away. Instead, he dragged her close, cold auramite upon her shoulders and her neck. “You will be feared, not loved. Because, after all, who else would love you except for I, little Pariah?”

Who else would love you, when the world itself has turned away in fear and horror? Who else could love her, when even the Emperor’s light could not warm her?

Who else would love her if not for him? 

Leinth tried to move away, but his auramite grip was unbreakable. He dragged her against him, and this time she didn’t even struggle. Unshed tears had dripped steadily from her lashes, her sobs too proud to be spoken yet too painful to be restrained. Her small frame was shaking, but her voice was bitter, and filled with more vehemence than either of them had known. 

“I prayed that night you saved me, you know. I prayed for you, Sekhmet. I prayed that you would find him and bring him back. But you never even tried, did you?”

The silence was his answer. 

“You never even tried to find him. You left him there. And you took me.”