#shipping is old fashioned and rude for them

[pavedinashes-if]

Paved in Ashes

The only constant in your life is the board beneath your feet.

Slice of Real Life Drama Focus: Romance and Life Struggles

⫸ STORY:

You're only 20 when suddenly your life goes bam! Throwing you into a whole new city, a different country even. Wasn't part of the plan, but you know how life loves to mess with plans. People happened, stuff happened, and suddenly you're on the move. The new chapter ahead? Buckle up, 'cause it's not gonna be all sunshine and rainbows. And guess what? Your step-mom? Yeah, she's right there in the same city. She's always had this knack for trying to steer your ship, like every decision's a GPS checkpoint.

But hey, there's this one thing that's never let you down—your skateboard. It's like the buddy that's been with you through thick and thin, the one that never bails. Among all this craziness it's like your anchor. So, the big question is—can you break out of the loop you got in? Find your place in the world and restart or lose yourself in temptation? Time to find out.

⫸ LOCATION:

Hamburg, Germany - Known as the Gateway to the World, featuring Germany's most sinful mile. Welcome to your new home!

⫸ YOU: Customize your own Main Character

Looks: Hair, Body, Scars, Piercings & Tattoos and much more

Gender identity and sexual orientation

Personality: Sarcastic / Genuine, Rude / Polite, Grumpy / Friendly, Aggressive / Peaceful, Stoic / Emotional, Shy / Bold, Deceitful / Honest, Arrogant / Humble, Selfish / Generous, Oblivious / Aware, Disinterested / Curious, Cautious / Reckless

Nickname: What do people call you?

Fashion: Pick your clothes to match your personality

Custom Skateboard: Design the look of your board

Skate Style: What's your riding style?

Vices: Alcohol, Drugs, Smokes, Gambling, Aggression, Self-Harm

Job: pick one of several professions - or don't

Hobbies: pick a hobby that makes you happy

Housing: live with your step-mom, find a place for yourself, share a flat - or don't

ATTENTION - Regarding Qs

inbox open for game-related asks, No scenario asks, what if asks Progress updates will be posted once there is something to announce

DEMO: Prologue, 24. October 2024—Dashingdon Link [23k words]

⫸ FEATURES: Juggle a new home, new friends, new romance, new profession, new temptations, old and new vices, crazy night life, your stepmother and build yourself a reputation out there.

⫸ ALL 12 DATEABLE & OTHER NON-DATEABLE CHARACTERS BELOW All romance in this story is optional and can be skipped all together if preferred. Still, the platonic relationships will be rewarding and deep on a different level. There are poly options available and each character has their own expectations, needs, wishes and desires, which you'll have to discover.

Note: Throughout the story, you'll encounter the ROs at various points. However, not all of them are destined to remain in your life; some seek fleeting enjoyment while others might become sources of annoyance. Just like reality, there's a mix of success and setbacks, reminding you that heartache is an authentic part of the journey. #heartacheisreal E.g.: If you behave like an a*hole, there's a chance they'll break up with you.

⫸ DATE OPTIONS - Overall 12 ROs & flings available

Samual / Samantha "Sam" Peters, 25 - 💙

Your Neighbour [m/f]:

Occupation: Police Officer - Life's flipped you into a whole new city, right? Newsflash! Next door's got a friendly face that's making things a bit less chaotic. Only thing is, you're starting to wonder if there's more to this neighbor than the casual chats. Are they keeping something under wraps? 💬 "In front of my eyes? Are you serious?" ♡ Loyal, Observant, Dedicated, Reliable, Friendly & Approachable 🚩Overprotective, Controlling, Difficulty Switching Off 🛹 Does not skate Looks: tba Social Media: Samantha Playlist: Spotify #pia: samantha #pia: samual

Felix / Felicia Nowak, 21 - 🩷

Your Ex [m/f]:

Occupation: Rich Kid - Old flames flare up as your past strides right back into your life in this brand-new city. Sparks are undeniable, but so are the reasons things didn't work out. Can you give this a second shot, or is it just history playing its track again? 💬 "Your mother always loved me, you know it." ♡ Confident, Generous, Driven, Charismatic 🚩 Impulsive, Superficial, Entitled, Manipulative 🛹 Does skate Looks: here Social Media: Felix (xF!MC), Felix (xM!MC) #pia: felix #pia: felicia

Alex Czarnecki, 25 - 🧡

Your New Foe [m]:

Occupation: Lawyer - None other than a face that seems to have it out for you. Every encounter feels like a clash, sparks flying in every direction. But hold on, could there be more to this hostility than meets the eye? 💬 "I am looking forward to making your life a living hell." ♡ Sharp-Witted, Analytical, Passionate, Perseverant 🚩 Stubborn, Guarded, Confrontational 🛹 Does not skate Looks: tba Social Media: Alex Playlist: Spotify #pia: alex

Noah / Naomi Cho, 20 - ❤️

Your Best Friend [m/f]:

Occupation: Photographer - Your ride-or-die best friend's on the other side of the world. They're just a text away, keeping your spirits high as you dive into this new city's chaos. The catch? Obviously the distance, but: Is there more to this bond that's worth exploring, or should it stay in the "friend zone"? 💬 "Pah, plane tickets are so cheap these days." ♡ Optimistic, Spontaneous, Loyal, Empathetic, Playful 🚩 Conflict Avoidant, Flakey, Jealous 🛹 Does skate Looks: tba Social Media: Naomi(xGF) #pia: naomi #pia: noah

Xavier Hoffmann, 22 - 💚

Your New Friend [m]:

Occupation: Musician - So, you meet this new friend at an event, and suddenly life's got an extra splash of excitement. But hold on—there's something about this new buddy that's keeping you guessing. Can you really put all your cards on the table, or is there some trick up their sleeve? 💬 "See? Super easy and nobody will ever find out." ♡ Inspiring, Free-Spirited, Passionate, Charming 🚩 Attention-Seeking, Impulsive, Unreliable 🛹 Does skate Looks: tba Social Media: Xavier #pia: xavier

Bianca Wolf, 19 - 🩵

Your Childhood Friend [f]:

Occupation: Student - A chance encounter brings back memories of your childhood friend. It's like life's throwing surprises your way, and this friend's becoming more than just a blast from the past. Can you pick up where you left off, or are you diving into uncharted territory? 💬 "I have to admit, seeing you kind of...messes with my head." ♡ Supportive, Empowering, Trustworthy, Honest, Kind-Hearted 🚩 Mood Swings, Stagnation, Drama-Prone 🛹 Does skate Looks: tba Social Media: here #pia: bianca

Laurenz / Laura Svenson, 20 - 💛

Your Rival [m/f]:

Occupation: Pro Skater - Rivalry's a familiar tune - Drama is to be expected 'cause they don't give you an inch of space. Competition's getting a different flavor once you both aim for the same goal. Can you navigate these uncharted feelings? 💬 "Oh, you will so damn fuckin' much regret it!" ♡ Spontaneous, Humorous, Enthusiastic, Entertaining 🚩 Egoistic, Control-Freak, Insecure 🛹 Does skate Looks: tba Social Media: Laurenz Playlist: Spotify #pia: Laura #pia: Laurenz

Francesco / Francesca Moretti, 22 - 💜

Your Best Friend's BF / GF [m/f]

Occupation: Model - They always knew what they wanted, and they always got it. Truth is, you fell for them even before they got with your best friend. Then, you behaved - but your friend is not here now. As their gaze draws you in, loyalty falters in the face of desire. Can you resist, or even want to? 💬 "Not even they know about it." ♡ Artistic, Sensual, Inspirational, Ambitious 🚩 Dishonest, Neglectful, Envious 🛹 Does not skate Looks: here Social Media: Francesca Playlist: Spotify #pia: francesca #pia: francesco

Dima / Dalia Petrov, 34 - 🖤

Your Boss [m/f] *

Occupation: Club Owner - As you step into the dark world of nightlife your paths cross. Soon you'll navigate the complexities of the club scene with all its secrets. Can you decode the hidden motives and stories behind their actions? 💬 "I bet you have never seen anything like this before." ♡ Confident, Assertive, Initiative, Alluring 🚩 Possessive, Aggressive, Manipulative, Deceitful 🛹 Does not skate Looks: here Social Media: Dima Playlist: Spotify #pia: dima #pia: dalia

Dr. Michael / Michaela Sturm, 29 - 🤍

Your Doctor [m/f]

Occupation: Doctor - Unfortunately, your meeting is based on an accident. Will your face stand out amidst the sea of faceless patients? Can you unravel the layers of their identity and unveil the person beyond the white coat? 💬 "How did you even survive for so long?" ♡ Charitable, Open-Minded, Witty, Empathetic 🚩 Restless, Workaholic, Burnout 🛹 Did skate Looks: here Social Media: Michael #pia: michael #pia: michaela

„Sparks“, 24 - 🩶

Your Supplier [m/f] *

Occupation: Drug Dealer - You heard a name, often, by many people, some you trust and some you don‘t - but they all agreed they are the one you should talk to. Sometimes it seems they don‘t offer earthly goods only. Soul for sale? 💬 „It‘s actually kinda fun and I make tons of money. But if I had been given the choice…“ ♡ Outgoing, Spontaneous, Genuine 🚩 Non-Reliable, Trust Issues, Volatile 🛹 Does skate Looks: tba Social Media: Sparks (M) Playlist: Spotify #pia: sparks

Paul / Paula Gerwig, 38 - 🤎

A Stranger [m/f] *

Occupation: Executive Vice President - There‘s no way you can read their true intentions, but why would you want to? They manage to surprise you in the craziest - good - ways and even allow you to cause some chaos. 💬 „My chauffeur will pick you up at 9pm.“ ♡ Generous, Attentive, Driven, Reliable 🚩 Hard-To-Read, Provocative, Hot/Cold 🛹 Does not skate Looks: tba Social Media: Paula Playlist: Spotify #pia: paula #pia: paul

⫸ OTHER CHARACTERS (non-romanceable):

Kassandra [redacted], 45 - Your Step-Mom [f]

Occupation: CEO - She changed. Though she was never an easy person and always particularly strict towards you, she once had the kind heart your father fell for. But that was long ago. Now all that matters is that everything meets her expectations. At any cost. 💬 "You need to grow up before you are a shame to us." ♡ Responsible, Committed, Vigilant, Perceptive, Ambitious 🚩 Controlling, Obsessive, Dismissive, Authoritarian 🛹 Does not skate #pia: kassandra #pia: step mom

Manfred von Kulversteyen, 56 - Your Step-Mom's Partner [m]

Occupation: Lawyer - You have no idea how he ended up with your step-mom. Seriously. He seems to have it out for you and in some moments you are very lucky she is around. 💬 "If you were my blood, I would have beaten you into shape already." ♡ Driven, Efficient, Confident 🚩 Intolerant, Choleric, Arrogant, Unpredictable 🛹 Does not skate

Henric [redacted], 44 - Your Dad [m]

Occupation: Documentary filmmaker - Choosing happiness and authenticity over material pursuits, your father's separation from your stepmother revealed his unwavering commitment to a meaningful life. Unfortunately that also meant sacrifices. 💬 "I couldn't be any prouder of you. And I don't care what they say. I love you." ♡ Patient, Understanding, Affectionate, Supportive 🚩 Worries a lot, Inconsistent, Overcompromising 🛹 Did skate

Nader / Nazrin Davani, 23 - Your Roommate (#1) [m/f] *

Occupation: Art Student - They moved from London to HH a few months ago, when their parents opened a new hospital in Hamburg. Their parents try real hard to push them in the medical direction, but all they want is to shape a destiny distinct from their family's expectations. Be their muse? 💬 "I wouldn't mind settlin' in 'ere for the night, just to paint you." ♡ Trustworthy, Hilarious, Fun-Loving, Rebellious, Creative 🚩Over-Sensitive, Perfectionist, Self-Doubt 🛹 Does not skate

[redacted], 21 - Your Roommate (#2) [f] *

Occupation: [redacted] 💬 "I have to admit I did not expect to see you again under such circumstances, but I must admit it is a pleasant surprise nonetheless." ♡ Spontaneous, loyal, affectionate, protective, confident 🚩Perfectionist, self-reliant, argumentative 🛹 Does skate

„The Queenpin“, 58 - A Stranger [f] *

Occupation: ??? - Here's the scoop—an accidental run-in with a total stranger's changing the game. But there's this vibe you can't shake, a sense that there's more to this stranger than meets the eye. Is it fate playing games, or is there a hidden agenda in the mix? 💬 „Who clipped your wings little bird?“ ♡ Caring, Protective, Patient, Nurturing, Enigmatic 🚩 Controlling, Unpredictable 🛹 Does not skate

??, 18 - A Stranger [nb] *

Occupation: Barista - soon 💬 "If you were my type I would totally smash you. Right here, right now." ♡ soon 🚩 soon 🛹 Does skate

??, 35 - A Stranger [m/f] *

Occupation: Tattoo Artist - soon 💬 "Ha, THIS one will definitely surprise them!" ♡ soon 🚩 soon 🛹 Does not skate

??, 24 - A Stranger [m] *

Occupation: None - soon 💬 "I love my life. No restrictions, no nothing. I can do what I want." ♡ soon 🚩 soon 🛹 Does not skate

People working at Laces - Club* :

Sasha* Fernando* Pat* Pepe* Hana* Anders*

* the appearance of characters with an asterisk depends on your choices

⫸ WARNING: Paved in Ashes will be rated 18+ because of explicit language, explicit sexual themes, drug and alcohol (ab)use, violence, moral ambiguity, and more. Full list here: PiA Trigger Warning

[marlynnofmany]

Clues

Even though it was mid-afternoon on our spaceship, the local time for this part of the planet was early morning. Zhee and I strolled over from the spaceport to the store where a package was waiting for pickup, expecting to arrive right when it opened, but nope: we were early. Most of the stores on this city street were still closed and dark, lit by the vivid pink sunrise and ignored by passing hovercars. Window cleaners soaped up the big front windows of our destination: a good-sized jewelry/accessory store.

The cleaners were a pair of Strongarms, which made this a fascinating career choice. I’d seen Mimi climb all over the engine parts on our ship. I knew his tentacles had good enough suction for this sort of thing. But these two were small and particularly athletic, and they had climbed to the top of the window, cleaning from the top down, erasing their suction cup marks as they went. If their cleaning tools had been the messy old-fashioned kind, there probably would have been too much dripping to make that possible, but these professionals were cleaning fast with nary a slip.

Zhee didn’t care. “How inconsiderate of the proprietor to not be here early to meet us,” he said with an irritated click of his pincher arms. The pink sunrise reflected off his purple exoskeleton, making him more colorful than usual. He probably would have been proud of that if he wasn’t busy being annoyed. “Waiting here is boring. Let’s see if that shop has anything worth looking at.” He flicked an antenna at the storefront two doors over, which had just turned on its light.

“Sure,” I agreed, “We can at least look through the window if they’re not open yet.”

Zhee grumbled something that made me suspect he might badger them into letting us in even if they weren’t.

Luckily I didn’t have to talk him out of being rude; the store was open after all. It was a little shop full of miscellaneous knickknacks and multi-species food items. Plenty of things to look at. The Frillian shopkeep was delighted to sell us both snacks: gummy intestine candy for Zhee (ew) and mixed nuts for me. I’d had that brand before, and was sure that it didn’t hold anything alien that would give me unexpected allergies.

(I haven’t been allergic to any food yet that was rated for human consumption, but I wasn’t about to take chances.)

I also picked up a packet of the heat stickers that Paint and the others liked, since they were on sale and the shopkeep was excited about this new item.

“Do you get a lot of Heatseekers here?” I asked.

“Oh no, but these have many uses,” she told me, typing in the price. “Other species like to be warm as well, especially if they are headed in a cold direction. And my cousin uses them to warm food! I expect these will be very popular.”

“I expect so,” I agreed.

Zhee was at the door, looking toward the other shop, and he made a little “aha” noise. I finished my purchase, thanked the shopkeep, then joined him in heading back toward the place we’d meant to visit.

I carried my purchases in a nifty Waterwill bag; the shopkeep hadn’t been as excited about that as the heat stickers, so maybe they were old hat here. But I still found the concept of hard water fascinating. It occurred to me that the waterbag and the heat stickers could probably make an awful lot of steam together, especially if handled improperly. I’d be back on the ship soon, though, and the bag could melt into regular water safely in the sink.

The window cleaners were just packing up as we arrived, and the angle of the sun made their work shine. Not a suction cup mark to be seen. I gave them a polite nod while Zhee tried the doors. Still locked, but lights were on inside, as well as the morning sun. Someone moved near the counter. When Zhee rapped on the door and waved a pincher, they hurried forward. It looked like another Mesmer.

The door opened. “Are you the couriers?” snapped a blue-white bug man who was slightly shorter than Zhee. I was a terrible judge of Mesmer ages, but he sounded older. He spoke directly to Zhee.

“Yes,” Zhee said. “From the good ship Slap the Stars.”

“Great. Come with me.” He ushered us inside and re-locked the door, not so much as batting an antenna at our excellent ship name. No sense of fun, this guy.

As we walked between the aisles of shiny merchandise — bracelets and bangles and exoskeleton accents — distant shouting filtered through the closed door in the back. Somebody sounded mad.

“Wait here,” said the Mesmer, gesturing toward the front counter. Then he disappeared into the back room.

Somebody was definitely mad. When the door opened, I caught something about professionalism, in a tone that suggested this was a boss dressing down employees.

A glance at Zhee told me he had no idea either.

When the Mesmer came back — who never did introduce himself, I realized — he was carrying a high-end stasis case for shipping, and he walked quickly. I still caught a few words that sounded like a demand for someone to fess up.

“Everything okay back there?” I asked.

He ignored me. “This must arrive in pristine condition,” he told Zhee, setting the case on the counter.

“Of course,” Zhee said.

I had the tablet for him to sign for the pickup, and I held it out wordlessly. The guy snatched it out of my hands, holding it with one pincher arm and typing with the little wrist fingers on his other. His antennae were scowling.

Zhee gestured to the back room. “Is someone being disappointing?”

“Yes!” he snapped. “One of the night workers has been coming out to the storefront, and leaving display items on the floor! And they refuse to admit who!” He shove the tablet back at me, waving at one of the aisles. Now that he mentioned it, there was an empty display case at the top, with the glass door swung wide.

“Foolish thing to do,” Zhee said.

“Extremely! There is no reason for it, and we are going to find out who!”

Since he was ranting at Zhee and not me, I stepped over to where I could see better. A half-dozen glittery arm cuffs were arranged in a circle on the floor. Weird.

He kept going. “I’m sure it was a human, because of those filthy little marks they leave on everything they touch. The only reason we employ them in the crafting sector is because all the items are cleaned before they’re presented to paying customers. The only one who works up front is under strict orders to wear gloves at all times. But now one of them is sneaking out here and fondling the merchandise! And leaving it on the floor!”

I took a closer look at the door to the display case. Yeah, those looked like human fingerprints, lit up guiltily by the morning sun.

Zhee asked, “Any clues about which human it is?”

“No. I’m not even ruling out the one with the gloves, because this behavior makes no sense, and gloves can be taken off. I swear, I’m this close to firing the lot of them.”

I walked back over to join them. “You know every human’s fingerprint is different, right?”

They both looked at me in silence, which was answer enough.

I said, “If you have your employees all leave prints on something else, you should be able to just match them up.”

The shopkeep’s antennae and mandibles flared into a complicated shape. “WHAT.”

“Sure.” I looked at my own fingers. “Mine are a kind of oval loop, though some people have perfect spirals or a gentle wave.”

He clacked both pinchers. “And you would be able to say which one matches those marks?”

“I should be,” I said, hurrying back over for a closer look. “At the very least, I can narrow it down for you. These are nice and clear. We just need to get a clean set from everybody else that’s not smudged.”

“Yes.” He looked around the storefront full of shiny, valuable things. He frowned. “We’ll have to let them touch something.”

I looked too. “Oh! What about the window?”

He stared at it for a moment. “Acceptable.”

Zhee was skeptical. “Will the culprit deliberately smear their marks?”

“Then that will be a sign of guilt,” the shopkeep hissed.

“What if there are multiple smudges from clumsiness? You might want to prepare for more than one round of dirtying your window.”

He hissed again. “I will make them do it right the first time.”

I had an idea. “What if you told them they were touching the window for a different reason?”

Both sets of bug eye turned toward me. “Such as?”

I fished the pack of heat stickers out of my bag. “Do you think they know what these are?”

The shopkeep leaned his head forward. “What are they?”

“Heat stickers. But! We could pretend they’re lie detectors.”

We could, and we did. It was a silly way to get fingerprints, but I’d read about fictional detectives who’d gone to more elaborate lengths to solve a mystery than this. And it might even work.

The big front windows had a row of shelves under them that meant our suspects would have to lean forward slightly in order to whisper their statements of innocence. They would need to press their hands against the window for balance.

I let Zhee pretend to be the visiting expert while I stuck heat stickers to the window. He did a good job of acting mysterious and aloof while he explained things to the gaggle of employees that the other Mesmer herded out.

As promised, only some were humans. The others were Strongarms with a couple Waterwills. No Heatseekers ready to ask awkward questions about the suspiciously familiar looking “lie detectors made for banks.”

(They had to be mounted somewhere stable, you see, and the suspect had to be close enough to breathe on them. They were normally warm, and would change colors and turn cold when they detected lies. Totally believable.)

Really, it didn’t matter if they believed it or not. They all lined up, looking baffled, and did as their two hissing bosses commanded. The Mesmer from the back room, a large green-and-brown lady who would have been great at hide and seek in the forests of my home, told the humans to go first.

Then when they had all left prints on the window, she told the rest not to bother. While they looked even more confused, she waved me forward with the door to the display case. It had detached neatly, perfect for carrying around and comparing fingerprints.

I held it by the corners and took a close look at the first set. “Not this one,” I announced. “Too triangular.”

Behind me, a human woman asked incredulously, “Are you checking fingerprints?”

“Yup!” I told her, moving on to the next.

The other humans had a variety of reactions to that. An older guy laughed, a younger woman was worried that her hands might be dirty with crafting materials, and others made indistinct noises. Some of the non-human employees asked for an explanation of what was happening.

I kept up my sleuthing, hoping that the prints were all as different as the first couple. I didn’t want to look like I didn’t actually know what I was doing.

“OH MY GOD,” a guy burst out. “It was a marriage proposal, okay? I thought Sierra would be the one to find it.”

I turned around at that, and found one of the humans spilling the beans.

“I’m sorry I didn’t just ask you,” he said to the woman next to him. “I wanted it to be special, like the rock circles we used to leave each other under the tree. I put a note at the top of the earring display, because it looks like a tree.”

I looked at the display he pointed at. I couldn’t see a note from here, but it was distinctly tree-shaped.

The two Mesmer bosses loomed over the guy. “This was courtship?” asked the tall one. “Not a deliberate effort to let our valuables get stepped on or stolen?”

“No!” the guy said. “I’d never do that! I really thought she’d be the only one to see it in the morning, and she’d just put them back and find my note.”

The woman, Sierra, shook her head. “I got moved to the adhesives section. I haven’t been over here all week.”

The man put his hands over his face while the bosses conferred.

“If you promise to never tamper with the displays again, you may keep your job,” the tall one told him.

“I’ll never do it again,” he said. “I don’t have to — I think?” That last was aimed at Sierra.

Her answer was a dramatic kiss that made the rest of the humans applaud and the Mesmers step back in distaste.

“If you are quite done eating each other’s faces,” said the smaller Mesmer, “You are both assigned to cleaning the window and the display of all traces of human filth. Do not leave more.”

“Yes sir,” they chorused.

The other humans gave them congratulatory pats on the back, and exclamations of relief that the whole mess was over. The non-humans seemed mostly relieved. A couple still looked confused, but clearly didn’t want to ask for details.

I handed over the display case door, then peeled a heat sticker off the window. “Guess we won’t need these anymore.”

Everybody went back to what they were supposed to be doing. The night shift got their things together to go home, while the day shift took over the crafting section and opened the store for business. More lights came on. Someone unlocked the front door. Zhee convinced the bosses to reimburse us for the heat stickers. That was nice; I still had more in the pack. And these would be warm for a while still.

I peeled off the last one and decided against putting them in the waterbag. No good making the thing evaporate on the way back to the ship. Instead, I stuck a finger between each and got a fistful of stickers held by their edges. My hand was only a little hot, and it would be a short walk. Speaking of which…

“Let’s go,” Zhee said, pincher arms full of the shipping case.

I opened the door and held it while he passed. Taking up my position at the window was the happy couple, equipped with their own window-cleaning supplies. Luckily they wouldn’t have to reach as far up as the Strongarms had.

They were talking quietly about finding new jobs where they could have the same sleep schedule. And hopefully bosses that didn’t mind a fingerprint or two.

I smiled and let the door shut, leaving fingerprints only on the handle.

~~~

These are the ongoing backstory adventures of the main character from this book.

Shared early on Patreon! There’s even a free tier to get them on the same day as the rest of the world.

The sequel novel is in progress (and will include characters from these stories. I hadn’t thought all of them up when I wrote the first book, but they’re too much fun to leave out of the second).

[fluffernuttermushroom]

KND Community Challenge

1: when did you start watching the show?

 I think it was near the end of 2023? I was introduced to the fandom by one of the comics that @fallen-gabrielle posted. I was a fan of old fashioned cartoons already and loved the unique art style! A few comics and several episodes later, I was hooked!

2: favorite season?

I haven’t watched trough the entire series yet(Currently on season 3). But Iike season three for all the new characters introduced!

3: favorite episode?

T.U.R.N.I.P.

T.H.E.-F.L.Y.

Q.U.I.E.T.

G.R.O.W.-U.P.

D.O.G.F.I.G.H.T.

F.U.T.U.R.E.

U.T.O.P.I.A.

4: hated episode?

P.I.N.K.E.Y.E. (ick)

5: favorite character?

Favorite character(s)!

Rachel(I often feel her ‘I have been everyone’s councilor at this point and I am tired of people’ feeling. Is this an INFJ thing?),

Hoagie(He reminds me of my cousin + we have the shared love for bad puns & dad jokes!),

Abby(Cool!),

Sally Sanban(I am obsessed with her for some reason),

Nigel’s grandson(Same reason with Sally. Dunno why), 

6: did you cry when you watch OP INTERVIEWS?

I didn't cry but It felt quite bitter sweet. I’m the sort of person who watches the end before finishing a series. So I kind of scrolled through the entire wiki and watched I.N.T.E.R.V.I.E.W.S. before actually watching the C:KND. It is an inevitable fate for all kids to grow up to grow old and gray at some point. But I have never seen characters grown up in a cartoon before. The whole episode made KND hit a bit too close to home to me. 

Ironically the episode that made me upset the most ended up being one of the reasons that I like about the KND. 

You will grow up

But you will never grow out of some things

7: funniest moment?

Wally saying “C’mon she already has every single rainbow monkey there is!”

And then watching in horror as the rainbow monkey aircraft coming into view before saying;

“Oh yeah, except that one.”

8: saddest moment?

Abby giving up in Operation M.A.U.R.I.C.E. after facing that every one she knows and loves in the KND will turn into teens & forget about her eventually. 

9: favorite KND artist?

Again, can’t pick just one! This is going to be long so the list of artists and why I like them are listed below

10: favorite canon KND ship?

3x4 and 2x5

11: favorite headcanon KND ship?

Ummm... can’t choose! Straight, Gay, Lesbian, Pan, Poly, Platonic I love & have them all!

I have a lot of different head cannons for different scenarios.

But the ones in my fanfiction are currently 1x362, 60x86, 2xAce(the kid), 83x84, 23x35

12: what's one thing you love about the fandom?

The thousands of fan theories, fan fiction with their own interesting head cannons, multiple aus and crossovers, and of course the beautiful fanart with unique art styles!

13: what's one thing you hate about the fandom?

Those weird pedo & insest shippers that keep spawning out of nowhere

14: do you wish there were more die hard KND fans in the fandom?

YES. A thousand times YES.

15: when did you start drawing KND art?

Near the start of May 2024 and have been drawing almost daily ever since! But It’s mostly animation plans and sketches so I don’t post often nowadays 

:P

16: how old were you when you started drawing KND art?

Hm, will answer that on my birthday.

17: how old are you now and are you still drawing KND art?

Same with the answer above! I will answer on my birthday

18: what's one thing you wish would stop in the fandom?

The pedo & insest ships, art thefts, rude requests and just disrespecting other people.

19: quick pick your favorite 2×4?

M.A.R.B.L.E.(Mustardy Armament Releases Big Loud Explosion) and 

G.A.R.G.O.C.Y.C.L.E.(Granite Augmented Rocket Glider Outstandingly Creates Your Cool Looking Escape)!

20: what's your Codename?

Numbuh 9.24!

(KND Community Challenge Template Credits To @arudan)

+Answer to question number 9

@fallen-gabrielle: The one who brought me into the fandom + has a lot of lovely AUs!

@midnight-the-goth-artist: Satisfies my inner goth, has helluva boss inspired art

@gen-toon: Beautiful angles & poses

@numbuh02: The scratchy art style!

@artsygirl0315: Her OCs remind me of ENA! And they interact with the fandom often

@elijaheldridge: FLOOF EVERY WHERE

@mixxxerlyishere: OC with a unique design! 

@scarlett-v-the-fox: The head cannons for minor KND characters are really intricate

@bluccoli: Rare fellow Korean KND artist & takes a lot of requests!

@gettan49: Still reading ‘Operation:  BEYOND’ it’s a really well made fanfiction

@parasite-doll: Always love the creepy art style

@mixx0: The sillies (OCs)

@kandykatz: Uses the tumblr aesthetics to it’s full extent + draws hair really well!

@bluepastels29: Insane attention to detail to her cloth designs

@numbuh900: G:KND OCs!

@numbuh-72: Great at KND edits! It looks like a part of the show if I don’t look closely

@ohlookanothercartoontofallinto: Lineless art. LINELESS ART.

@kndrules: Sector V as grown-up comics!

@sok-knd: Uses brushes really well & has a lot of different art styles 

@kukiiisblog: 3x4 art in webtoon + old cartoon style

@numbuhinfinitys: Reyna and their  cute shenanigans with the delightful children

@your-genious-artistic-girl: I dunno how she makes line arts that clear! Mine are always squiggley

@pennywhistle2021: Numbuh 30c art! Most of the fan art of 30c that I find on deviant art is theirs

@knd1234isme: Numbuh 4 in every form possible

@torra-and-the-toons: Has really specific Nigel head cannons + old cartoons!

@spicedwatermel0n: Not picky with ships & is understanding with others 

@kidsnextdoor-doodles: Moonbabies :)

@pinkmeanschaos: KND genderbend everything! And a fellow 60 x 86 shipper

@bugtoonz: Pastel art! Their art is always easy on the eyes

@rubiisun: The art style always gives me a fluffy feeling

@kommandonuovidiavoli: Everyones favorite grandma :) Penny’s chaotic nature always tickles me

@rainbowbeam231: Uses colors really well with her OCs!

@totallynoteggos: Unique concept with making the (Y/N) self insert as and OC!

@some-loozzr: Good with lighting! + The spank-happy sector V members look so scrappy I love them

[shesjustanothergeek]

His Love

|Aegon II Targaryen x Fem!Reader|

Part Fourteen

Master List of Series

Summary: Being a bastard born in the slums of Flea Bottom was all you were known for. Not the streak of white you had in your dark hair, the violet ring around your pupils, or how your sharp tongue and skills with the blade resembled your father, Daemon Targaryen. You were just a bastard, nothing more, but to him, to Aegon Targaryen, you were everything. You were his love.

Author's Note: I'm so sorry for the late update. Life has been pretty stressful these past three weeks, but not as bad as before. I finally finished all the required exams to become licensed in what I do, and now I have to wait for the results. I'll probably be starting a job in the coming months, so I might have to go back to uploading every two weeks like before. I'll keep y'all updated. Also, while researching, I realized this story has a cannon time frame. It's 127 AC to 129 AC, so everyone has a definite age. You're welcome. :)

Chapter Warnings: Period accurate sexism. 

"He was pointing at the moon, but I was looking at his hand." - Richard Silken, The Worm King's Lullaby.

It was two days before you woke. The stars were sparkling in an endless sea of the night sky, the waning moon reflecting a mirror image of itself over Blackwater Bay. You were surprised no one had come to wake you. It was rude for a guest to sleep the days away in someone's home, but you were exhausted.

So much had happened when you arrived at Kings Landing, resurfacing old memories you desperately pushed down. The pain was too great to sift through, tears heating your eyes whenever you thought of them. It was easier to ignore your hurt and squash it into a hardened cluster of untouched emotions, constantly pushing it deeper and deeper until it cracked from the pressure, exposing it raw.

You went to the great wardrobe on the other side of the guest chambers, wrapping a robe around your shoulders as you headed to the balcony. The small ship with your belongings arrived a few hours after you did, and everything was neatly organized into its designated place as if you had lived there your whole life. You supposed a part of you did, a piece never entirely leaving the haunting red rock walls.

There was a thickness in the air. The heavy humidity clung to your skin, making you feel sticky and damp, sweat accumulating in the warmer parts of your body even with your thin nightgown. Your room was on the upper levels of the palace, overlooking the never-ending labyrinth of sandstone and mudbrick houses. The ones closest to the Keep had tile roofing. Thoughtfully crafted peaks sloped down to let water drain on the rare occasion it rained, but the further you looked, the more you saw that foresight was lost. Straw and flat stones comprised the cupolas as timber support beams stuck out of the foundation, built for longevity and not fashion.

You were mainly awake now, although sleep still clung to your eyelids. A leaf had snuck its way onto the railing before you, a crispy tan color with holes in its body, a sign of the changing seasons. You watched it drag across the intricately crafted banister before being swept away as quickly as it landed. A strong breeze brushed your bare legs, feeling it weave through your long gown; you pulled your silken robe tighter.

Your limbs controlled themselves as you moved to your chamber doors, slowly opening them as you peeked out. As you suspected, the guard was slumped over, the hour of the owl upon him as you slipped out. You still recalled your time in the guest wing, traversing the long hallways to your intended destination.

The leaf reminded you of your brief moments spent at the Godswood. Your fleeting moments had you longing for a genuine opportunity to appreciate the acre of land it stretched on. You never had enough time to truly understand the beauty of it while you were here, caught up in the constant rotation of lessons and duties before your legitimization.

Elm, alder, and black cottonwood grew there, looking over the Blackwater Rush. Your old Septa Mariam had explained the history of a Godswood. You could remember her lecture as you sat in the lesson room, staring longingly out of the pane-glass windows.

When the First Men converted to faith in the Old Gods, after the Pact between the Children of The Forest, they created Godswoods. They were groves within their castles and villages where a single Weirwood, also known as a Heart Tree, would be planted so the Gods could be worshipped. Each tree was carved with a face, said to have been done by The Children during the dawn, centuries before the First Men. Before the treaty was made, while the war was waged between the Children of The Forest and the First Men, they cut down every Weirwood they found. They thought the greenseers of the Children, who could influence plant life and have prophetic dreams, could see through the faces.

The most severe oaths and vows are said before the Heart Trees, believing you are standing before the Old Gods when you do. To break a promise that was noted in the presence of the Gods was a means to a fate worse than death. Septa Mariam did not believe that to be true, going as far as to demonize the unpopular faith for believing in what she said were false idols. The dedication of the Seven was the only truth to her.

You didn't care or know much about religion before being found, only knowing the Seven as that was the most common belief and what the people of Kings Landing practiced. You didn't believe something so transcendent could reside in such a lecherous place, but when you stepped into the Godswood for the first time in years, the wind blowing through your ebony hair, you couldn't help but feel everything was true. 

Even in the heart of a secular city, you could feel the Old Gods watching with their unseen eyes, hidden within the rocks and the trees, settled into the blades of grass and dirt under your shoes. Their stares did not frighten you. Strangely, within their watchful gaze, you felt comforted. It felt mystical, a blanket of infinity enveloping your flesh in something otherworldly. You were welcomed in a place full of people who did not want you.

You walked to the Weirwood tree that stood ghastly in the darkness. Its bark was as pale as bone, its leafs as red as the blood coursing through your veins. The slender white branches shook in the autumn wind, the crimson foliage floating onto the sod beneath it.

You traced the tips of your fingers delicately across the truck, feeling its rough texture as you placed your forehead upon it. It had only been a short period in which you resided at the Red Keep, but your mind felt like it had been an eternity. You longed for the smell of brimstone and salt, a sulfuric scent no one besides Aegon the Conqueror was thought to enjoy. That scent was home to you, a place full of family, where you had fond memories of love and belonging. Your heart ached to see them again even though you had barely left.

You wished to ruffle your digits in Luke's curly brown hair, grab Jace by the scruff of his neck, rub your knuckles on his scalp, and pinch Joffrey's cherubic face until he swatted your hands away with his much smaller ones. You yearned to see your kin again. The people here that called themselves were anything but.

Peace had finally set into your limbs as you sighed through your parted lips, the isolation sinking into nothingness. You lowered yourself to the damp ground as you nestled between two winding roots and peered through the gaps of leaves above you, looking into the vast amounts of stars that twinkled in the darkness.

You thought about nothing anymore, staring into the sky as you heard the faint scraping of shoes. Assuming it was just a servant or perhaps a guard, you ignored them, breathing deep into your chest. The clatter of metal against stone rang through the night, disturbing your harmony. Barely audible sounds of dissatisfied rumblings caused you to sit up with a scowl, squinting to see the disturbance.

Almost imperceptibly, you saw the silhouette of a man bent over as he gathered a pitcher off the ground. You knew without a second thought who it was, debating with yourself if you should lend a hand. He seemed well enough as he scooped it up, stumbling to gather his footing. You settled back into your spot, sighing as you nestled your head back onto a pale root.

Just as your body had begun to slip into a relaxed state, the same piercing metal sound happened again, and you opened one unamused eye, sighing.

"Having difficulty?" you questioned with a snark into the night, not moving.

"Fuck," you heard him mumble, a dull thud following.

At that, you finally moved, propping yourself up on your elbows as you glared at him with a hooded gaze.

"Aegon, must I fetch your Mother?" you taunted, a wicked grin burning your cheeks.

Aegon snapped his head from his place on the ground towards you, a surprised look on his face. He believed you were in his mind at first. The cups he had lost himself in filled his head with thoughts of your gentle touch, your lips brushing against the shell of his ear as you whispered his name. He now knew it was the Arbor Red talking.

"I..." He staggered upwards, brushing his palms on his trousers, recovering quickly, much to your chagrin, "am perfectly well, dear heart."

Your stomach flipped for a reason you did not know. You didn't like how he spoke, uncomfortable with what they made you feel. It reminded you of something Rhaenyra would say, an intimate person you longed to be with again, as your eyes looked anywhere but at the drunken prince.

"You certainly appear so," you commented sarcastically, leaning more weight onto your elbows as you sighed. "Why are you awake, my Prince?" He did not indicate if he had heard you, only gazing into the vast acre of the Godswood.

Despite your voice's calm, almost emotionless tone, the flesh of your bottom lip found its way between your teeth as you sat up, pressing your knees to your chest and resting your chin on them. A short silence fell as Aegon gathered his bearings, stumbling over to you as you pulled your legs closer.

He stopped beside your slippered feet, staring at the shaking leaves above, some falling onto the soft grass as a cool breeze swept through the grounds. You couldn't understand why your toes curled at his presence, your hands suddenly sticky and uncomfortable and griping the hem of your nightgown. You wondered if he could sense it, your whole body tensing as he grew bored of the leaves and plopped next to you. You hoped he was too drunk to notice.

You swallowed thickly, the sound loud and audible as you picked at the blades of grass. Aegon didn't hear the loud clicking in your throat, focused on flipping the metal pitcher upside down as the last few drops of Arbor Red dripped onto his pink tongue. Unlike you, he seemed comfortable in the silence, quietly humming to himself as he wiped the excess drink with the back of his hand.

The guilt from how you treated Aegon when you found him crept up your spine, stinging your ears as your face burned at the memory. He was kind to you, albeit obstinate at times, but nothing terrible. He defended you before his mother, the Queen Consort of the Seven Kingdoms! On the other hand, you had spat such vile insults—words he did not deserve within such a vulnerable state. You regretted them deeply, but your pride refused to admit it aloud, your mouth opening and closing with slight intakes of breath as you fought to apologize.

"Why did you not return my letters?" Aegon abruptly asked, distracting you from your inner turmoil.

"I did not receive any."

And that was the truth. No raven from the Red Keep was ever directly for you until Queen Alicent. They were all intended for your mother, father, and the few Lords that spent their time at Dragonstone.

"Do not think me a fool," he spat without warning. "I sent you a letter every moon for a year, and even then, when you did not respond, I sent one to my half-sister, begging her for you to write to me." You stared at him bewildered, your mouth slightly agape as your heart sank. "I just..." he began, cutting himself off as his mouth became wet, "I only wanted to know if you were well. After everything that happened all those years ago, I would expect one to feel a need for comfort and companionship."

Aegon had no intention of belittling you; he only wanted to show you the compassion which you had been neglected of. Your instinct was to deny any need for sympathy, feeling offended that he thought you could not handle yourself, but you realized that was not the truth. The bitterness you harbored for his mother and grandfather had muddled together into a mess of resentment and rage for all who surrounded them, even those who had no part in it.

The moonlight reflected in his glassy eyes as you touched his cheek. You had never realized how pink and plump his lips were until they trembled in the silver lighting.

"I swear to you, Aegon, on the Seven, upon my late mother's grave, that I had no knowledge of the letters you sent me." You had to bite your tongue not to add that even if you did, you wouldn't have written to him anyways. The blinders of anger kept you from reason back then.

You saw how his face fell from the contorted pain your supposed rejection gave him to one of sad relief. "I must extend my apologies then," he said, attempting to move his cheek from your hold. You did not let him, leaning closer to him as you brought the other one to keep him in place.

"No, Aegon. It is I who must apologize." He stared at you in confusion, his light brown eyebrows furrowing together. Rubbing your thumb over the creases between them came naturally to you. You had done it with your brothers when they were upset, tracing over the lines and structure to calm them.

"Despite my lack of patience and disregard for you, you have continually shown your heart bare, and I..." you paused, willing your voice not to crack, "cannot thank you enough. You have only showered me with kindness and hospitality since I have stepped foot in Kings Landing. Even when I did not deserve it, you defended my honor so valiantly it would put my brothers to shame." You smiled, picturing Jace and Luke's faces as if they had heard the Queen call you a bastard. "Although I must admit my confusion surrounding your ravens. I never received any word from you, and I cannot fathom who would bar them from me."

You did have some ideas of who it was and why they did it, but it still upset you, even if you would have burned the letters anyway.

The tension in Aegon's brow loosened at the delicate swipes of your thumbs, shutting his bloodshot eyes in appreciation. He still looked the same boy you left for Dragonstone, though the dark circles on his porcelain skin were more prominent, and his hair was shorter. You watched him tuck his lower lip in his mouth, still quaking. You couldn't stop the way your hands slid back down his face, cupping his jaw in your palms as you tugged his wet lip from between the confines of his teeth, the dry pad of your finger sticking to the soft skin.

He opened his eyes at the movement, his violet irises nearly black to focus in the darkness. You gave a small smile, not fully stretching your face as you dropped your hands, finding his clenching the loose fabric of his trousers; his knuckles blanched as you took them in your own. You inhaled sharply to speak but thought better of it as you shuffled closer to Aegon, the fine hairs on your arm tickling his.

***

You weren't sure when you had fallen asleep within the Godswood, the birds chirping as the morning sun rose above the trees. Your back ached as you attempted to stretch your body, only to find the silver-haired head of a prince on your lap. You didn't remember inviting him to rest there, but you didn't wake him, his pouty lips slightly parted as he softly snored.

Aegon looked so sweet like this, like an innocent child who had yet to discover the atrocities of the world. Your fingers itched to run through his hair, to scrap his scalp until he purred into your touch. This was wrong, and you knew it, having the notoriously hedonistic prince lying like a babe on your plush thighs. You wondered what your father would do if he caught you.

The most obvious answer was that he would be furious, most likely at Aegon, and pull him by the short locks attached to his head and onto the ground. Deamon would spit pure venom from his lips, a fit of anger you had only ever seen him display once before, and then he would turn to you. He wouldn't say anything. He wouldn't need to. You could see everything he wanted to convey in his eyes. There would be a mix of frustration, confusion, and disappointment. You would explain what had happened and try to convince him his wrath was directed at the wrong person.

Aegon was just a byproduct of the people he hated, the green bitch and her cunt of a father, Daemon called them. You would explain that Aegon had no desire to rule nor the capability, even though he had not said that himself. Your father would argue that no man will turn away the opportunity to be the most powerful being in all the realm. Once Aegon understood he could have everything he desired, there would be no refusal. Would a man lost in the desert refuse a drink of water simply because it was not from the springs?

You would agree with your father. He was right, after all. He was always right. Daemon knew of the darkest wants everyone had. He could read people and bait them to reveal whatever he wanted them to. You admired him for that. It was a trait you hoped to possess eventually. You realized then that you needed to find something Aegon would covet more than unlimited power. You had to make him crave something more intoxicating.

A lump formed in your throat as you gazed down at the sleeping prince who had not stirred during your dissociation. You knew that only one thing could sway him from saying yes to the crown, and your eyes burned with tears at the thought.

You inhaled a shuttering breath, willing the water not to spill as you brought a shaking hand to Aegon's frizzy hair, running your fingers on his scalp.

"It is time to wake up, my Prince," you leaned into his ear, gently whispering. "The sun has risen, and there is much to do."

Aegon still refused to open his eyes. He groaned, rolling onto his side and shoving his face below your navel. You grinned, quietly laughing as you lifted his chin to meet your gaze.

The angle you moved him to caused his neck strain, a bright blue vein popping on his milky skin. You could almost see it throbbing as the flesh thinned. Your finger found its way to it, tracing the turquoise line that expanded from his jaw to his clavicle to where it joined the rest of his body. You caught his twinkling lilac eyes in your brown ones, the vessels within them no longer prominent as he blinked sleep away. Aegon sat up, shifting his body weight onto his palm as your finger stopped its movements on the stained undershirt he wore.

He said nothing as he moved to his knees, his free hand cupping the underside of your jaw in the juncture between his thumb and index. His touch was not quite as tender as yours was, squeezing the area tightly, almost as if he was afraid you would turn away. You felt your heart rate quicken, your lungs suddenly telling you to fill them with more air as his thumb stroked your chin, extending to expose the raw flesh from your nervous habit.

You didn't register that Aegon had moved, his face closer than what you would deem appropriate, as your lips quivered.

"You are shaking, little one," he stated, the gravel of his tired voice rumbling in your chest.

"I am?" you breathed, your body feeling powerless.

You wanted to be strong, as you were taught to be. Yank your face out of his grasp and dust off your dress as you left, but you couldn't. He made you weak. One look at his angelic face and your limbs were putty. Your eyes began to heat with tears again, your stomach fluttering with unfelt emotions.

"Princess," a man called from the entrance to the castle.

You jerked away faster than you thought possible, wobbling to your feet, lightheaded. It was only because you stood so quickly, nothing else.

"My Lady," one of the Cargyll twins stood, bowing his head stiffy as you approached him. "I was altered by her Grace Queen Alicent that there is to be a Council meeting at high noon. She wishes for you to attend."

"Thank you, Ser Erryk." A self-satisfied smirk curved your lips as you spoke, partially because you knew what Alicent had to do for you to be invited and the other because you had guessed to twin correctly based on how his blue eyes widened at the correct name. "If you have time, alter my maids that I wished to have a bath drawn. The air here is not what I am accustomed to."

"Why does Mother want her at a Council meeting Erryk," Aegon questioned too late, you already walking underneath the stone covering of the Keep.

You bristled at the informal way he addressed the knight, raising your eyebrows as you turned to watch the pair.

Ser Erryk was stiffer than you when you had spoken to Ser Criston Cole a few nights prior, tensing as Aegon came closer. "I am not certain of the reason, my Prince. It is not my place to question the Queen's decisions."

Aegon scoffed, stuffing his loose shirt into his pants to seem somewhat put together. He turned to you, his face asking if you wanted to spend hours deliberating with a bunch of stuffy, rich old Lords and his mother.

You made no protest like he had expected you would, remembering how much you disliked the small meetings you had to attend for your legitimization. He frowned deeply, childishly stomping as he sat on a wooden bench against a pale red rock wall.

"Do not sulk, Prince Aegon. It is unbecoming. I would hate for you to be in such a sour mood when we meet again." Your face and voice were stoic, but there was a light behind your eyes, only one that Aegon could see.

He crossed his arms, flipping his hair out of his vision as he continued to pout, though you swore you saw a hint of his smile ghost his lips as he turned away.

***

Once your maids of the Keep had brushed and washed your tangled hair, smoothing lavender and clary sage oils into the long strands and on your skin, they put the black tresses into a braided style similar to the one Visenya wore. It was simple yet regal, and when paired with the deep crimson of your dress, a golden three-headed dragon curling around the expanse of your breasts and wide neckline, it was sure to conjure the image you wanted—a fierce Targaryen princess born and bred of fire and blood.

The Small Council had to respect you in the sense of your rank, bowing and calling you a lady of the realm, but that was all pointless, nothing but supercilious words inside the Chamber. Lords would not adhere to the opinions of a woman, no matter if she was queen or not, and with Rhaenyra residing in her self-imposed isolation for the past years, neglecting her courtly duties, it only made things more arduous.

Your father had mentioned Grandsire appointing him to the Small Council in times past, but the positions always bored him. He felt the call to act while the other members sat and only wanted to debate. The world was moving faster than the Lords could discuss, and with how lawless Kings Landing was at the time, Daemon knew only action would fix it. He had created the Gold Cloaks, and after the night of bloodshed and savagery you had heard about when young, he was never allowed a chair again.

A guard had come for you when you were ready, leading you to the Council Chambers.

The doors were already open, and a few men sat discussing amongst themselves. You recognized one, heart-stopping and body freezing, his image forever seared into your memory. Ser Otto Hightower had greyed some, his hair was still the same wiry brown, curly beard brushed neatly as allowed, and hair slicked back with oil. The bronze hand pin poked proudly through his lapel's embroidered deep green fabric.

You felt your lungs shrink, refusing to let you inhale. Your chest began to hurt, your mouth becoming thick and your jaw quivering as you stood in the doorway, your presence so unimportant as not to go announced.

You couldn't think. You couldn't breathe. You couldn't move. All you could do was stare at the man who sentenced your loved ones to death. He shoved their heads on spikes and placed them on the battlements of the Red Keep for all to gawk and ogle. A punishment that was only served to those who betrayed the crown.

Everything seemed to move slower, your eyes focusing and unfocusing on the Lords surrounding the table. One laughed, a man with golden hair lifting his head back lightly to bellow one out. Another sniffled, wiping his nostril with his forefinger and running a hand through his thick beard before continuing his conversation with the nearly dying man beside him.

You were terrified, a fawn left alone in the woods, helpless to watch as a pack of wolves feasting on its mother's corpse. Your instinct was to run from the danger, run as far and as fast as your legs could carry you until all you could see was the top of the Tower of the Hand. You wanted your mother. You wanted your father. You wanted your brothers... You wanted your family. Why couldn't they be here with you? It was high time Rhaenyra took her place as the heir and ran the kingdom instead of the Hand, but she wasn't. She wouldn't. She felt her place was with her family on Dragonstone, eating candied lemon cakes and fish as she taught Jace High Valyrian, uncaring of her future simply because some Houses swore allegiance to her.

Daemon was wise to send you here without telling her. If he had, you were sure she would have attempted to impose her self-ideology and keep you on the volcanic island while Otto Hightower and his daughter continued to run the Seven Kingdoms in their vision.

"Her Grace, Queen Alicent of House Hightower."

Ser Harold Westerling's voice caused you to jump in fright, moving nearly three paces away from the door just in time for Alicent to make her entrance, her hands clasped together.

The Council members all stood from their chairs in respect for her title, but they couldn't help but wander away from the Green Queen and onto the Black Princess, dressed in rich Targaryen red and adorned with golden jewels. You caught the gaze of the black-bearded man, averting your eyes as you bowed to Queen Alicent. She only regarded you with a frown, like you were a frayed string on the seams of her emerald gowns.

She walked further into the Chamber, her back like an iron rod, as she sat at the farthest end of the table. The one meant for the King or the Hand, not the Queen. Her place conveyed a message to the entire room without words, and you made a small expression of disgust as you understood the meaning.

How many doubts for Rhaenyra's claim were planted by Alicent Hightower and not her father?

You finally comprehended how much you had underestimated her sway in the line of succession. You had thought Alicent still had some honor and sense of duty to do what was right, remembering how she could not stand Ser Otto's decision regarding Lyra and Sara. You were wrong. She was just as wicked and conniving as her father, a product of his greed and lust for power. The slight warmth you regarded for Alicent was gone.

During your displeased state of being, you realized that you had not taken the empty seat across from her at the other end of the table. The Lords stared at you, expecting you not to be told what to do as it was apparent. You brushed off their looks as you rolled your shoulders, straightening your posture and taking your place in the oversized wooden chair. A ball was already in its designed hole, reflecting a deep obsidian color as Queen Alicent began to speak.

"I am sure, my Lords, you are all curious about the presence of a new member," she paused, perched on the edge of her wooden seat as she placed her hands on the table. "Upon the orders of Princess Rhaenyra," Alicent lied as you narrowed your eyes at her, "she has sent her daughter as a ward to sit in her stead as the heir." The men all stared at her with wide eyes but kept their mouths shut, knowing it was not their place to question the child of the King.

She nodded to you, signaling she was finished with her short introduction and was allowing you to speak. You flashed a smile at the shocked looks of the grown men, and they all stiffened, a bolt of fear running through them as they saw Daemon sitting before them.

"My mother does send her sincerest regards for neglecting her duty for so long. As many of you know, she has been with child consistently these past years and has felt it unsafe to travel for her and a babe. Most of you sitting here are fathers yourself and I am certain you can understand how tumultuous childbirth can be." You placed your hands on your womb, looking down at the mahogany table with a slightly sad but wistful look, pretending to swallow tears back as you discreetly glanced up to see their reactions.

You had to hold back a snort as they all shared solemn looks, no doubt remembering how the former Queen had lost her life. All men were the same when it came to it, hypocrites and easy to fool with a few sighs and batting of lashes.

"As her Grace mentioned, I am here in her place, and the Princess expects you to extend the same treatment as you would to the heir of the Iron Throne. She has entrusted me with upholding her opinions and desires on matters of the realm." You raised your head, the sorrowful look you had passed now gone as you met each pair of eyes surrounding you. "And I intend to uphold them with unwavering devotion."

Leaning back in your seat, you signaled that you were finished with the introduction, resting your fingers on the shiny obsidian ball before you, but you were not done with your words.

"I realize that it has been some time since our King has set foot in these chambers," you traced the cool orb with your digits. "I, regretfully, have only heard on parchment of his health and wish to be informed of his most recent state."

It felt like all the men could do was stare at you, unable to form coherent thoughts with the upheaval in the order of things. The hand was the first to speak, unsurprisingly.

"The King is well and sends his regards for being unable to attend today. His health has continued steady progress." You kept your eyes down, waiting for the lies to ensue. "Now, I wish to speak on the matters we discussed yesterday of the outdated infrastructure of the Royal Sept. The benches are-"

A scoff left your mouth before you could catch it, interrupting Lord Hightower. "The well-being of the King is not as important as remodeling a sept?" You asked rhetorically, looking at Otto incredulously. "Are you serious?"

"Princess," he spoke to you condescendingly, as if you were a fool, "if you wish to inquire about the King's health, I suggest you visit him yourself. We have matters to discuss that you are unaware of due to your sudden attendance."

Otto had practically just told you to silence yourself in much more elegant words. You could barely contain the rage that shook your bones at his rudeness, wanting to jump across the table and strangle him until he turned blue. Instead, you clenched your jaw, settling him with a stare that would kill.

"The King's health is a matter of continued discussion. Should he not be here today? Sitting across from me with his golden crown? Our utmost desire should be to bring King Viserys back to his former self. I believe that takes precedent over the benches in the Royal Sept."

"Your Grace," the frail man spoke, his voice shaking from use during his decades of life. "I am Grand Maester Mellos. I see to the Kings in matters of his health." You nodded to him, waiting for him to continue, his words slow. "I can say with certainty that our King only proceeds to regain more strength and vigor that he had only possessed in his youth." You saw Alicent shift her hands into her lap, focusing on them instead of the old man. "You need not trouble yourself with handled matters."

"Good," you replied with a polite smile, quickly replacing your irritated demeanor as you looked over to Ser Otto. "I will be sure to see him attending the meetings soon, then."

Alicent twitched, her lips tightly pursing as she inhaled deeply. You relaxed lazily in your seat, the wood creaking as you become comfortable in her discomfort. Her anxiety only solidified your conclusion as you saw her pick her nails. They were lying.

You were silent the rest of the two hours the boring lords spoke. Your father's opinion was correct about the dullness of things. It was all frivolous discussion about updating the castle and Sept, replacing the "out dated" tapestries with more modern ones to showcase the future and wealth of House Targaryen. No action. Just talk. You knew that now more than ever, you were needed. If not for the sake of your family's claim, then for the sake of the realm. 

Master List of Series

Spotify Playlist

YouTube Playlist

Thank y'all so much for your support!! I'm so grateful for all the likes and reblogs. I hope everyone who has been with me since the beginning knows that you have a special place in my heart, and to anyone who just now tuned in, make sure to leave a comment so I can tag you! I would hate for you to search for your likes or reblogs for the story. I only say that because I hate doing that myself. XD Also, check out the Spotify playlist because I've added new songs and changed stuff around. I am trying to decide which is my current fav. It's either Little Red Riding Hood by Aeseaes or Fairwell Wanderlust by The Amazing Devil, or maybe even Souls on Fire by Mad Gallica. I seriously can't make up my mind!

Tagged Peeps: @zeennnnnnn, @malfoytargaryen, @targaryencore, @justasmallbean, @alexandra-001, @omgsuperstarg, @sommornyte, @silverslive, @unclecrunkle, @prettykinkysoul, @duesobabe, @djlexi, @ynbutbetter, @honestlykat, @graykageyama, @legolas017, @iiamthehybrid, @brezzybfan, @dd122004dd, @ladybug0095, @millies0bsimp, @kalfild, @sheislonelyalways, @tempt-ress, @bellameshipper, @minttea07, @trikigirl271, @esposadomd, @buckylahey, @justarandomflowerchildofthenight, @partypoison00, @please-buckme, @pastelorangeskies, @joliettes, @existential-echo, @priyajoyy, @valaenatargaryensdragon, @merovingianprincess, @rachelnicolee, @candy12110, @w3ird11, @ruhjkie, @fatalewomen, @somemydayy, @ariana-dumbledore8, @marikkjj, @zillahvathek, @adelusionalwriter, @sunny-boy-06

Bold means I couldn't tag you for some reason :(

[hannahbarberra162]

Country Mouse, City Mouse Chapter 9

Shanks is like a cat- the more you try to keep him away, the more he wants to be with you. Mihawk should have figured that out by now.

On Ao3

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5

Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10

Red Haired Fool

You were eating lunch outside with Mihawk, Perona and Zoro, basking in the early afternoon sun. Mihawk had made some excellent paella, which you couldn’t get enough of. You were enjoying the food and company, when all of a sudden Mihawk sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

“What’s goin’ on lamb? You feelin’ OK?”

“Yes, I feel fine. The fool is approaching the island.”

“The fool?”

“Red Haired Shanks is who he means.” Perona supplied helpfully. “He comes by sometimes with his smelly ship and smelly crew,” she said, sticking out her tongue. “Though Benn is cute,” she mused with a finger on her chin.

“Ah.” You weren’t sure what the protocol was for guests who seemed to have a poor reception. Mihawk seemed annoyed, not excited. You thought Red Haired Shanks was one of the Emperors, but you never really paid attention to pirate matters. You’d roll with whatever happened.

“Benn Beckman is old enough to be your father, Perona.” Mihawk said like he was chewing a lemon. 

“Doesn’t change the fact that he’s cute,” Perona said with a shrug. 

Zoro was acting even more reserved than usual, which was saying a lot for the swordsman. Whatever he had going on, Shanks’s arrival didn’t seem to be helping. You better keep an eye on the rubbing alcohol, you thought dryly. Well, how much trouble could a few pirates cause?

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

Famous last words, you thought to yourself. After lunch, you returned to work. It was harvesting time, and you were gathering beans in a bushel basket. You heard the rustling of leaves, and looked up to see a rotund man reaching for a groundberry. 

“Hey! What you think you’re doin’?! How rude! Just stealin’ my produce?”

“Best looking groundberries I’ve seen! I wanted to try ‘em,” said the man apologetically. He was eating a large hank of meat right off the bone.

“Well you can’t. It’s not for you. Are you Shanks?” He was wearing a bandana, so you couldn’t see the color of his hair. The man laughed.

“Ha! Never heard that before! No, I’m Lucky Roux.” He continued eating and inched his hand back towards the berries.

“You’re gonna be unlucky if you touch them berries,” you said flatly, gesturing with a trowel from your pocket.

“Yeah! Show some respect!” said another voice. Joining in the conversation was a tall man with red hair and only one arm. This was likely “the red fool,” as Mihawk called him.

“Leave the lady’s fruit alone, Lucky. She’s working hard!” The red haired man beamed at you. Another handsome pirate, you thought. Are all pirates so good looking? Or just Mihawk and all his acquaintances? You put the bushel down and dusted your hands off.

“I’m Y/N, I’m a farm hand here,” you said, extending your hand.

“I am Shanks, captain of the Red Hair Pirates, one of the four Emperors of the seas,” he said with a flourish, bringing your hand to his mouth. You pulled it back.

“That’s nice, hun. You’re steppin’ on my row of grinder beans. Either help or leave.”

Mihawk POV

You had Shanks’s crew working in a more organized fashion than he’d ever seen them. Even Beckman was reluctantly picking gourds. Shanks would occasionally wander off, trying to get out of working, but you always roped him back in. This was likely the most he’d ever worked in his life, Mihawk thought to himself. You were engaging them in conversation while overseeing their work, and they seemed to be in high spirits. He supposed he should make an appearance, though he was enjoying watching you command them about. He walked up behind you and put his hands on your shoulders. You craned your neck up to look at him. 

“Oh hi, honeysuckle. I met Shanks. He’s over yonder, tryin’ to get out of workin’!” you yelled the last part towards the slacking captain, who was sitting in the chair you had made for Mihawk.

“I only have one arm! It’s hard!” the Emperor whined.

“You can drink well enough with one arm, can’t ya? So you can work too. C’mon now!” His crew laughed. Mihawk did not. He was displeased that Shanks was sitting in his chair. Shanks saw Mihawk, grinned, and waved. Why must everyone tempt him to violence?

“Mihawk! I met your lovely lady! Why have you been hiding her?”

“I have not been hiding her. She has a profession that requires daily work, which is something you may be unfamiliar with. Why are you on my island?”

“Can’t an old friend stop by to say hello?”

“No.”

“Aww, Mihawk, you wound me.”

“I shall, if you do not get out of my chair.”

Shanks looked down at the chair and pouted. “But this chair is great! It’s comfortable and spacious. It’s like it was built exactly for my height! Has a great beach vibe, too.”

“Yes, it has many redeeming qualities. The primary of which is that it is mine. Vacate it immediately.” He was using the same tone he issued challenges with. 

Shanks shrugged and stood up. “Well, I think we deserve a reward after working so hard. What do you say boys? Time for a party?” The men cheered, finished up the last of what they were doing, and started to amble towards the shore. You looked confused. “It’s 3 in the afternoon,” you said with a questioning glance at Mihawk.

“The fool’s drinking is not bound by time. Come, Y/N, I will help you finish the tasks.”

Shanks gave Mihawk a pointed look but didn’t say anything as he meandered away.

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

Later that night, you had accepted an invitation to come to Shanks’s party on the beach. Naturally, Mihawk attended as well. It was an informal affair, with the Red Haired pirates drinking alcoholic swill by a fire. You and Mihawk were enjoying an excellent full bodied wine, which he was unwilling to share with the Captain. The conversation flowed easily in the group, which did not surprise him given how friendly and fascinating you were. Shanks in particular was interested in your stories, your history, and your life. Mihawk pulled you closer to his side. 

“So, what are you going to do now that the season is almost over?” Shanks asked you. You swirled the wine in your glass in thought.

“Not sure yet. I’ll see where the tide takes me,” you said lightly. 

“Do you want to come aboard the Red Force? You could sail with us for a while,” Shanks said with a grin.

Mihawk was aghast and answered before you could. “The very nature of her profession excludes extended time spent sea faring. Besides, if she were to engage in piracy, I doubt it would be on your ship.” Mihawk couldn’t help his acidic tone - he could not bear the thought of you aboard the fool’s ship. Shanks laughed, and said “Relax, Hawkeyes. Didn’t know you were in love. I’ll leave your woman alone.” You blushed lightly when Shanks called you “his woman.”

Despite his irritating nature, Shanks had said a few sobering thoughts. He had mentioned the nearing end of the growing season, and the thought was disturbing. He had put off thinking about it, not wanting to conceptualize that you would be leaving, and soon. Downing the rest of his wine, Mihawk turned his thoughts inward as he watched you easily entrance his undesired guests. 

[wizard-finix]

Ao3 tag game!

THANKS @ragecndybars FOR THE TAG I APPRECIATE IT

*cracks knuckles* lets do this

How many works do you have on AO3?

24 works! I would have never expected to have that many 5 years ago, hahaha

What's your total AO3 word count?

186,291! oh wow, almost 200k!! (unsurprisingly PT minato takes up over a third of that LMAO)

How many fandoms have you written for, and what are they?

10 fandoms! I'm counting Persona 3, 4, and 5 and separate, but I'm grouping all the Zelda fandoms together since it's all Linked Universe fic.

Here's the breakdown!

The Legend of Zelda & Related Fandoms (6)

Persona 5 (5)

Persona 3 (5)

SPY x FAMILY (Anime) (3)

Wizard101 (Video Game) (3)

SPY x FAMILY (Manga) (3)

Runescape (Video Games) (3)

Pirate101 (Video Game) (3)

Persona 4 (2)

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild/Tears of the Kingdom (2)

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood & Manga (1)

Star Wars - All Media Types (1)

The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Warriors (1)

Top five fics by kudos:

The Ghost of Mementos/Stygian Ringlet (Persona3/5) - to the surprise of absolutely no one, since this is currently my longest fic. I'm very happy with Stygian Ringlet being the top because I love my boys :)

True Crime Special on the Midnight Channel (Persona 4/5) - my Ren has a TV Dungeon fic! also very proud of the dungeon concept for this one, I really need to finish the last two chapters

Dark Clouds on the Horizon (Linked Universe/TOTK) - I feel like this one got a lot of momentum partially because it was directly in the wake of TOTK's release, but I'm happy with how it turned out :)

Strangers Are Just Friends You Haven't Met (Persona 3/SPY x FAMILY) - this was a collab series with mewrose and a few others in the marigolds discord! we were throwing ideas at the wall to see what stuck and I really had a lot of fun with Shinjiro-related prompts, because I LOVE him and hitting him with the isekai baseball bat into a universe with Anya brings me great joy

Salt Tears and Raindrops (Linked Universe/TOTK) - directly related to Dark Clouds, and I'm glad people enjoyed good ol' fashioned angst >:) (I do need to post more of my wips, I do have a couple more roleswap AU wips that I want to post)

Do you respond to comments?

Yes! I almost always do because I really appreciate them and its my way of saying thanks for the comment! If I don't comment it's because I lost track of it or because I can't think of a response.

What's the fic with the angstiest ending you've ever written?

Probably Salt Tears and Raindrops. I was in a Mood and decided to go for the tried-and-true method of putting fictional characters I like through the emotional wringer. That's how I got the rough draft for this fic :)

Do you write crossovers?

*looks at my persona fics and recent LU fics*

...I think it's safe to say most of my fics these days fall under crossovers lmao

Have you ever gotten hate on a fic?

I wouldn't say I have? One or two comments that came off as rude, but no actual hate, thankfully. If I did, I forgot about it. I've been blessed by wonderfully nice readers <3

Do you write smut?

Nope. I don't read it, so I wouldn't know how to write it anyway.

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I know of? I sure hope not.

I have seen a couple short fics slightly imitate Ghost of Mementos though, which I thought was really sweet that they liked it enough to inspire their own writing.

Have you ever had a fic translated?

Nope, but I'd definitely be open to it!

What’s your all-time favorite ship?

RYOMINA. Hands down. I love them so much, I am so mentally unwell about these two

What’s a WIP that you want to finish, but don’t think you ever will?

My two Runescape fics, Whispers in the Temple and Welcome to the Jungle. I absolutely loved going hogwild with rewriting old quests in Runescape, but I psyched myself out of Welcome to the Jungle because I got overly anxious about accidentally doing bad representation.

(in hindsight, it probably wouldn't have been as big a deal as I thought; it's hard to make it worse considering how bad Legend's Quest was with the british-african stereotypes. that quest DID NOT age well.)

I also want to finish Snake in the Grass; that was my first attempt at a genuine mystery plot and I really liked playing with Warriors in that fic in the context of the gang trying to figure out who the heck is trying to murder him.

What are your writing strengths?

I feel like I'm pretty good at dialogue! I try to make sure it matches the character's speech patterns and personality. Really well-written dialogue can tell you who's speaking without actually telling who it is. (For example, the way I write them: Minato speaks as few words as possible and has very little filter with his observations when he does share them, and Shinjiro is pretty rough around the edges, with shortened words and the occasional swear. Warriors is good with words and wit, but he has a certain military-esque directness and doesn't dance around the topic.)

I do try hard to keep the plot clear and understandable over everything else, so probably that as well.

Also, now that I think about it, maybe fight sequences? I don't do them much, but I do enjoy the challenge of making a clear sequence of what happens in a fight and trying to make it understandable. Fight sequences are easy to skip or gloss over, but I think of them like their own miniature plot. What happens? What surprises are there? What are their movesets? How do they get the upper hand? (and of course, what looks cool as fuck)

What are your writing weaknesses?

Time management. I tend to over-proofread since I beta my own work, and often I'll go back to tweak stuff if I had additional thoughts to add to it, or extra insight. Lately, it takes longer to write chapters than I'd like.

Also, dialogue-heavy scenes often get very chaotic in my WIPs because of the way I rough out fics. I'll throw together a bunch of dialogue bits I think would be cool to include, and sometimes they'll clash or get really messy, especially if there's lots of characters (looking at the latest two chapters of Stygian Ringlet)

What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fics?

I think it's cool! It adds flavor to fics. If it's more than one short phrase though, or if it's story important, then I do prefer that there is a translation in the author's notes. I haven't done any non-English dialogue in fics, save for one memorable adventure into trying to figure out how Latin grammar structure works for a character that didn't speak English.

What was the first fandom you ever wrote for?

Wizard101 and Pirate101. I was obsessed with those two for YEARS. I really, really liked pirate stories in high school, and having a cast of crewmates that accompany you throughout the game really inspired me to write my first fic featuring my OC. (I was also into One Piece at the time, but I never wrote for it.)

What’s your favorite fic you’ve written so far?

Stygian Ringlet. It's really dear to my heart. I have poured so much love and effort into that fic, and the reception on it has completely blown me away.

THANKS FOR THE TAG!! Uhhhmmm for tags I'm going to go with @skyward-floored, @catreginae and @breannasfluff (but only if you want to!! no obligation of course)

and of course any other writers that want to do it as well!! go forth

[antianakin]

@theneutralmime

I think everybody has certain things where they prefer the fanon/headcanon version and certain things where they prefer canon. I know I do.

For example, I like to headcanon that, in a scenario where Anakin turns back earlier and he and Obi-Wan are both still alive but Order 66 still happened, that Obi-Wan would not and could not remain friends with him. He might forgive him, but that forgiveness would look more like choosing to let go of his own anger and do what he could to help Anakin let go of the darkness for the sake of the galaxy. In canon, we see Obi-Wan seem pretty happy to stand next to Anakin as a ghost, with the implication that he's decided bygones are bygones and he's just happy to have his brother back or whatever. But that doesn't work for me, so my headcanon is that the only reason he can do that is because they're both dead and still semi part of the Force at that point, so there are things Obi-Wan can let go of in death that he couldn't have done in life.

A LOT of my favorite ships are ships that don't exist in canon because I don't LIKE the ships that exist in canon, and I prefer to allow my faves to find happiness with characters I like better.

But I also prefer the way Lucas's canon handles the Jedi, their culture, their teachings, their position within the narrative, etc. I tend to HATE the way fandom treats the Jedi, I hate their headcanons about the Jedi being "dogmatic" or "old-fashioned", I hate the headcanons about their relationships with the clones most of the time because so often it treats the Jedi either like abusers or like children.

And there are some canon ships I absolutely ADORE and never want to change anything about them ever.

So I don't think it's inherently a bad thing for people to prefer their own headcanons or a popular fanon over canon. It's not even inherently bad for fanon to become so popular that people might not realize it's fanon sometimes. What gets frustrating is when people act like it's canon and get rude at people who don't adhere to a particular fanon/headcanon in their own interpretations, whether they prefer their OWN headcanon or canon itself. You see this primarily in the debate over the Jedi and the way this idea of the prequels being about how the Jedi were corrupt was always the intended message, and people are just SO attached to this that even when they're shown multiple quotes from Lucas himself saying otherwise, they'll refuse to believe it or they'll just dismiss Lucas's intentions and decide that their interpretation means more than the author's actual narrative. And like, if the only way someone is capable of enjoying Star Wars is to view the Jedi as abusive monsters, then fine, whatever, that's their deal. But it should be recognized AS A HEADCANON, as a personal interpretation of the media, and NOT peddled as the intended narrative of the story when it's so easy to find examples of the author saying otherwise.

Headcanons and fanon can be SO MUCH FUN, there's so many that I've seen people come up with that I have adored, I've come up with a lot of my own that I still really like and have fun playing with from time to time. But headcanons being fun doesn't make them canon. It never has.

[n3kk1tty]

Beasts of Santa Carla

This story includes a lot of original characters. Photos of characters and favorite scenes will be drawn. You can find their photos on the masters list along with the prologue and past chapters.

( Masterlist )

Original Characters: Yutaj , mentions of Veve, Volk

(Beasts of Santa Carla is a AU of the Lost Boys. It involves adult themes, poly relationships, and is definitely not made for the underaged. If you don't like poly content, queer representation, shipping of the boys together or heavy sexual themes and violence. This story is not meant for you and that's okay. This story is made solely for my own enjoyment and anyone else who's along for the ride. )

ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 5

You stare down at the mark on your wrist tracing it lightly with your finger tips. The chain tattoo a permanent reminder of the bet you had made with that foolish man.  How could they barge into your life and demand you'd fall in love with them. It was a ridiculous notion to someone who had been alive for 181 years and had been treated cruelly by love. The last time you were asked to be courted was in the Victorian era when you were still young and foolish. This was a foolish endeavor in the end but at least it would keep you from being bored you thought as you stared at the sun setting. Laddie was ecstatic at the idea of you going on a date with Paul and Marko. 

He had been dragging you around all day buying new shoes and makeup just for the event. You two had even gone into a fashion store in Santa Carla that served underworlders so you were able to snatch a new outfit from the current fashion trend for elves and angels. It was kinda fun running around with the child as you nervously looked at all the new things prepping for your first serious date since Queen Victoria was in power. You had plenty of wealth accumulated from the years working but you never had a reason to spend money on yourself frequently other than a passing want. So as you spoiled and taught your new little partner in crime you welcomed the change of pace with open arms nervously.

While Laddie was dragging you around Santa Carla all day playing dress up you had stopped in a witch shop after lunch. It couldn't hurt to present the pack with a courtish gift as a show of good faith and effort to this bet of romance. Though this gift was mostly for your own personal benefit. You place the carefully wrapped gift back into your pocket as you and the small Vampire walk the old steps down to the cave entrance. Laddie was running ahead excitedly with the makeup case as you swallow your nervousness and prepare for your first day of courtship. You were walking straight into the fire of the lion's den but you weren't going to be afraid. You were dead set on proving to David that this falling in love thing wouldn't happen plus you had to repay him for kissing your neck in the bath so an early wake up was for your favorite bottle blonde.

“WERE BACK! “ Laddie screams in excitement as the sun is swallowed by the sea and sleeping vampires stir. You shake your head at your trouble maker as you stand at the entrance before walking in confidently. “ I’m coming into your cave. Pardon my rudeness but I’m here for Paul and Markos date. “ You say in a reasonable tone pulling the young vampire with you to an old couch. You use the time to light up one of the barrels in the cave for lighting. Shushing the boy playfully, you ruffle his head gently .“ Laddie, it's impolite to wake people so harshly. You'll need to apologize to them when they get up, okay baby fangs. “

“ Okay big sis. I just wanted them to see your outfit I picked and the clothes I got!” You smile gently at the boy, hands caressing his chubby cheek. “ Well we don't wanna show them an incomplete look now do we. Why don't you help me put my makeup on before grumpy David ruins the surprise. “ Speaking of grumpy vampires, he was currently stammering out of his nest after Laddie's shouting had startled him awake. Following the sound of you two's hushed giggling and sweet scent wafting from the shared quarters of the cave. David stopped in his tracks as he looked at the sight of you on the couch smiling ear to ear as you walked Laddie through putting eyeshadow on your eyes.

“ Well good morning starshine did sleeping beauty enjoy his rest. I must have really tired you out for you to sleep past sunset though I guess when you don't work waking up on time doesn't matter.“ You teased David as you sensed him drawing closer. “ And I thought you'd be too scared to even enter our nest little moth. Must be bold to think I won't just keep you here while I have the chance. “ A fit of laughter bubbles out of your chest in response to the man. “ David, we are not on the same level. Plus I think I'd win our little bet quicker if you did.“ You flash your wrist at the man smirking as two blonde vampires come barreling out of the back towards you in almost comical manner.

“ A miracle must be happening Marko because there's an angel in the cave. “ Paul stretches out his arms along the back of the couch as he eyes your frame. The curly haired vampire whistles as he stalks behind David leaning against him.” Pauly I think you may be right. I do believe I see the most heavenly being in front of me now. “ You ignore them as you finish applying your eyeliner and massacre. “ You boys know damn well I'm no angel. Or do we need to go another round in the ring to prove it “ Paul Snickers as he moves in close to your ear. “ I could go all night with you in the ring. “ This comment sends shivers up your spine and a light blush to grant your face as you pinch the vampire's nose pushing him away from you.

“ No horn dog behavior In Front of Laddie. I ain't giving the birds and the bees talk today. Now shouldn't you be getting presentable for our date you so harshly fought for. You two smell like dogs. “ Marko pauses for a moment to sniff his pajama shirt before shrugging. “ Guess ocean rinse it is. “

“ Fuck no you ain't washing your ass in the ocean! What is with you hooligans and thinking that's a proper shower.” You stand up pulling the small item from your pocket looking around the room as you fume in annoyance. “ David y'all don't happen to have a door in this sink hole do you. “ A puzzled look crosses the three vampires as Dwayne comes around the corner lifting an old one up that's scribbled with graffiti. “ Princess I don't see how an old door is gonna help their odor. “ David chimes as you tug Dwayne over to a cleared wall for the door to lean against. “ If you give me a moment. I'll gladly show you your courtship gift as I seem to be the only responsible adult in this cave at the moment. “

David's eyebrow twitches at the comment but he can't chime in as Paul and Marko are currently smelling each other questioning who smells the worst. Maybe showering more frequently did need to occur. You thank Dwayne as he nods in response, a small smile to his face as your hand pats his arm. Fingers trace against a key of bone as you place it near the door knob. A keyhole appearing as everyone in the cave gathers around in amazement as unlocking can be heard before the door swings open revealing a bathroom within. “ Tada. Your very own bathroom with laundry facilities. Now for the love of all the underworlds below wash yourselves and clothes regularly like the rest of civilized society. Laddie cannot keep getting hose baths, it's getting outta hand. “

The five vampires rush in to explore as Micheal and Star inch closer in amazement. They had heard the commotion and had come to investigate only to be met with a mysterious woman opening a door against the cave wall into a futuristic bathroom. “ What is this? How is this. “ Marko says as he starts opening drawers full of things like band aids, medicine, hair styling products, and even makeup. Paul rummaged through the closet to see towels of all sizes in awe of the softness. Dwayne looks at the mirror feeling his face as he sees everyone's reflection. “ Not made of silver. Good attention to details, beautiful. “

“ It's the wonder of spacial magic. Most species utilize this now after it's founding back in the dark ages. All you need is the key to the room and anydoor you unlock with it will lead you right to this room. Even if the door is a graffitied old hotel door crudely leaning against a cave wall. “ The chaos twins rush through the other doors in the room to reveal a huge bathtub and a stone shower. Paul holds Laddie up in the mirror as they make faces and laugh something about it so sweet that a smile graces your face. “ So this and everything in here is a gift for all of us. We must be special to you. “

David looms behind you fingers tracing shapes into your back as he leans into your ear enjoying your scent. “ Laddie is special to me. And you must have not been taught proper etiquette in your lifetime as when you court someone it is polite to present gifts.” A hand snakes around your waist tugging your body against his form as he practically purrs into your ear. “ Seems a little extravagant for a simple courtship gift don't you think love. Or do you just like the idea of spoiling us. “ Your face heats up and annoyance finds its way quickly behind.

A sharp jab of your elbow gets the vampire off of you as he hunches slightly over from shock. “ It's because you feral hellions don't know how to properly wash your ass frequently. I can't even imagine how you use the bathroom or that you brush your teeth every night. Would it kill you to wash your coats you smell like old blood, body odor, and cigarettes.” You start tugging on David's cheeks as he returns the favor grabbing your horns as you two snarl at each other. One vamped out and the other hissing frustrations at the man mentioning cologne is not a bath. “Well how sweet of you to provide us the ease of this access. Maybe you should join us and take care of us sweetheart. You really seem to enjoy telling us what's proper. “

“ Oh gladly I'll whip manners into your behind. Though I think you'd like that too much , my bottle blonde. “ You and David start pushing out of the room into the cave as now you've acquired an audience in your little spat. “ Are you flirting or fighting?” Laddie says standing in the door frame. This gains a laugh from Paul and Marko as they have never seen David being treated like this. You and David freeze in your fight as your face is red as can be trying to not upset the little one.” We're definitely flirting, Laddie. We're getting along swimmingly; this is how romance works isn't it David.” David grabs your face placing an aggressive kiss to your lips, you growl back glaring at him as you press in further pulling back with a sloppy pop sound.

Your face is red as you hiss at the man a smug smirk on his face in his satisfaction. “ See, we were flirting, little man. Just some play fighting. “ You curse at the man in your native tongue high pitched clicking and chirping coming from your mouth as you growl. “ Wanna repeat that dollface didn't quite catch that. “ David's smirk grew larger as the blush on your face intensified, grabbing your wrist with your matching tattoos on full display. Marko jumps at the sight grabbing your arms holding the tats to each other. “ This totally isn't fair! We got our asses kicked for a date and you paid for a night now you have matching tattoos openly kissing and totally cosy with each other! Where's my kiss for my broken nose huh.”

Paul slides in grabbing the smaller vampires shoulder pouting himself. “ Yeah weres our kisses. We've been flirting with you all week baby.” You shrink into yourself as the three vampires circle you blush still heavily on your face. “ You two horn dogs can get kisses when you finally wash your ass! Now hurry up or we will never go on our date. “ The two run away from you laughing as you chase after them kicking at there bodies with your foot. The pair dodging haphazardly as Star and Micheal watch from the side lines both enamored by your sight. You were confident around the boys even though you were new and you didn't take shit from them something about that they liked.

They just couldn't figure out what you were as you definitely weren't a vampire nor were you human. “ If you two keep undressing me with your eyes I'm gonna catch a cold. “ Micheal and Star froze as you walk closer. Your scent was intoxicating to them and it definitely wasn't helping the hunger within them. “ We weren't meaning to stare.” Micheal said, turning away from your piercing gaze nervously. “ It's nice to finally properly meet you. I’m Star and this is Michael.” You grab Stars hand bringing it to your lips you place a kiss on her knuckles. This makes a feverish hue spread across her soft features .“ It's a pleasure to meet my sleeping beauty. Sorry our first few chats have been through pen and paper. You must be exhausted spending time with these boys all the time.”

You smile as you blatantly flirt with Star In Front of David knowing well the feeling of his jealous eyes burrowing into your back. You'd have to be stupid to not know David wanted you to treat him like this again but it's just too fun to get under his skin and knock his ego down a peg. This man was gunning for your heart and you weren't gonna make loving you easy for him but he liked this game and so did you. “ I enjoyed the letters and food you brought for me. It was kind of you to help me out when you didn't even know me. “ Star tucked her hair behind her ear as your smile grew wider the more jealousy you could feel from a certain blonde. “ Oh well of course. I don't mind spoiling a beautiful girl like yourself. I have plenty of money to provide and Laddie practically demanded breakfast before his teachings. If you don't mind I'd love to chat with you two to see how your education is going as well. “

You walk back over to the couch you were previously sitting on as Laddie opens the makeup case selecting nail polish to put on your nails. Micheal and Star follow sitting on the water fountain staring back at you as David sits in his wheelchair fuming. Dwayne lovingly pats David's shoulder before heading to do some laundry in the new washers you provided. “ Now handsome I can tell you're just dieing to ask me some questions, no need to be shy. I won't bite. “

“ Unless you want me to. “ You wink as the Micheal feels his heart skip a beat in excitement. “ Who are you. What are you. “ Your tail moves to display In Front of you spikes flailing up to be on display. “ My name is (Y/n). I don't have a human last name but I belong to the vermilion house. I am a succubus hybrid. My father is an incubus and my other father is a jorogumo making me a hybrid of an incubus and spider demon. “

“ Wait, you have two fathers. How does that even work? “ A eyebrow raises at the halfling's response, gaining a flicking of your tail from you. “ If you were reading the materials I provided in the section about Santa Carla residents you'd know succubi are a breeder species. We can bend our genders to our liking since birth and at will. “ Pheromones swirl around you before laying on the couch in front of them is you in your male form. You were bigger, more muscular, and had a deep sultry voice. “ And once we are marked and have mates. It doesn't matter if we stay in incubus or succubus with partners of the same matching gender. A simple kiss can cause a pregnancy to occur as once we are in heat cycles any shred of DNA can be used to make what humans refer to as sperm and egg cells. The beauty of a succubi is our ability to breed with almost anything; we can also produce offspring from multiple partners.”

You raised your hand transforming back into your female form as it suits you much better. “ I prefer my female form so I present it to mortals and immortals alike as female. “ Star looks on you with curiosity as David's eyes never come off of your form. “ What's those tattoos on you and David's wrist? They seem to be important for you to just now be revealing yourself to the group after hiding so much.” This question ignites a playful fire in you as make eye contact directly with David glaring back at him. “ A certain grumpy vampire thinks your whole group can win my heart. So we made a binding vow that I have to try spending time with you all in the chance we will fall in love with each other. While our little bet is going on I'll be your group's teacher and personal juice box of sorts. If he wins I become your mate permanently and obey him. If I win David gets to know the sweet defeat of being wrong and I'll know for certain love will never be possible for me. “

Pheromones swirl around you as you send them directly the vampire's way. “ But don't think I'll make it easy or that you get my blood and knowledge for free. I'm going to savor every moment getting personal and feeding off of you all. Specifically I'm savoring being a pain in David's ass till he caves and admits he can't love me. I just need one of you to say it and I'll be gone like smoke in the sky. “ David smirked evilly back at you staring you down. “ You keep trying to get under my skin but the more you deny your heart the more I'm going after it. “ Star and Micheal couldn't believe what they were hearing. You were trying to fall in love with everyone in the group because you and David made a bet. This is not what they wanted when they wanted your attention. They wanted your feelings to be genuine for them.

“ If you don't like David, why would you make a bet like that? What's stopping you from leaving and did you two not consider our feelings in the matter. “ Laddie looks up from painting your nails as he stares into Michaels, almost unnerving the poor boy. “ You can't break a binding vow Micheal. It's like breaking a pinky promise.“ The man becomes frustrated as he stands up in a huff. “ You can easily break a pinky promise. It's just as easy as getting up and leaving like we're doing now. “

“ I'd sit down if I were you. “ Your pheromones hit the pair of half vampires as their vision gets dizzy and they slump back down to sit on the cool water fountain edge. They cover their mouths as your scent was making them ravenous. They wanted to bite you, they wanted to do things to you, they craved you but your words angered Micheal like you weren't considering how he would feel about this. Just like David didn't care about how he felt about having to kill people to stay a vampire with him. “ I see you still need a little convincing Micheal that my words are true. I enjoy your feedback on the matter. I know this deal happened without your consent and that pisses you off but moving forward I promise anything between us will happen at a pace you're comfortable with. “ You stand above the brunette hooking your fingers together, you stare down into his confused longing eyes.

“ How about our first lesson, handsome? I show you what a binding vow is. “ You hold a piece of gum up between you as blood encircles your intertwined pinkies. “ Micheal I pinky promise I'll give you this piece of gum. “ A red line forms on your fingers as you pull away from him flashing the gum. “ And what will not giving me the gum do. I don't see the importance of this red line you've put on my finger.” You place your finger In Front of him as you pop the gum in your mouth biting down. Suddenly and violently your finger is absolutely obliterated right before his eyes like it had been pierced and smashed all at the same time. You winced as your blood sprayed the two in the face Micheal looked in horror at your mangled finger he just helped destroy.

“ People with power have a hard time doing what they promise unless something is on the line for them. So the heavens made binding vows. If a party breaks the vow depending how serious the vows deal is, say like falling in love. The more the punishment will be. “ You smile at the man as your blood flows back to you and with a sickening pop and twisting your pinky is back to it was before flesh healing before his eyes. “ And what's gonna happen if you don't follow David's bet or he doesn't follow it either. “ The blonde smiles behind his cigarette as he takes a long drag staring his favorite halfling down. “We will probably turn into inside out porcupines. “

You place a hand on Michael's head ruffling it a bit as the boy looks pale. “ Don't look so pale baby face. One may start thinking you care about us. It's best not to think about the deal in general. It only involves me and David playing a game of chicken. You can love me, hate me, I don't mind, I just hope we can at least be friendly for you and Laddie's sake. I’m only here because I'm bored and y'all are cute.” A soaking wet Paul suddenly lifts you in the air as a towel is tied loosely around his waste twirling you around as you squirm at the sudden wetness. “ I knew you couldn't stay away from our group's good looks. Us vampires are irresistible.” David rushes to help hold up Paul's towels as Laddie tries pulling you off of his older brother, you kicking and squealing in protest.

The tension in the cave has disappeared completely as the scene of you three. Star leaned against Michaels arm gently looking at the commotion and sharing a look with the boy. With just your presence you lightened the group up, especially the tension between David and the two. It wasn't a fight about if David actually cared what they wanted and it wasn't another night of being pressured by their companion to join them in eternity. It was just the group back to how it used to be before Michael, it was fun. It was intoxicating to be back in this peace. With David too busy with you that took the heat off the halfling's and to say they weren't planning to use you was a lie. They had planned to accept your blood and become day walkers and get themselves free from having to eat humans. They just didn't know how but with you not afraid of David and him currently at risk of becoming a porcupine they could relax.

They had a hard time standing up to him. He was controlling and sometimes forceful with what he thought was best for people he loved. It made it hard to hate him as he never did anything to the group outta malice but instead twisted devotion. You get tired of wiggling against the naked wet man as you let out a high pitch whistle which makes Laddie stop in his wake, eyes turning yellow and vamping out. Before anyone could process what is happening you give the child one command. “ Double team.” Laddie jumps up grabbing Paul's arm on you before he jumps swinging his whole body weight like a battering ram against Paul's leg knocking the vampire over. You place your legs on the ground in a stance grabbing Paul's arm before you use the momentum to fling him over your shoulder and onto the couch. David looks down in his hands where Paul's towel is and he instinctively drops it to cover Laddie's eyes. 

He may have succeeded at saving Laddie's eyes but definitely not Star or Michael who got full front seats to Paul's show. “ How the fuck did you teach Laddie to do that. “ Paul says as he's flopped over upside down on the couch still on display as Star and Micheal are covering their eyes but laughing a bit at the display. Marko and Dwayne come out of the bathroom to the scene on the couch. The poor silent vampire almost drops the laundry basket while Marko starts laughing so hard he flops onto the floor. You grab the towel tossing it over Paul's unintentionally spread eagle as you let out a wolf whistle admiring his barness. 

“ Guess you are a shower not a grower. “  Paul blushes a bit smiling with a  wink before he gets off the couch. A fuming Dwayne hands him his freshly cleaned clothes before slapping his ass back into the bathroom. “ I leave to do laundry and you guys get into whatever the hell that was. “ You smirk at the man as David let's go of Laddie's face patting the kid on the back for the excellent leg sweep. “ In fairness you let the tall  lanky blonde escape the bathroom unnoticed. Paul hasn't exactly been the one to think sometimes.” Dwayne grumbles at David but is just glad the chaos is subdued for now. “ I was busy keeping Marko from mixing all the soaps into one to use on his head. “ 

“ I would have smelt like the Ultimate soap. “ Dwayne shakes his head before you chime in. “You'll absolutely destroy your curls doing that. Also I got you stuff for your curls. Why is your hair still wet?. “ Marko innocently smiles up at you before blinking a bit tilting his head. “ I just let my hair air dry. “ Of fucking course he did. You shake your head. You will absolutely not stand by and let him do that to his beautiful curls. As a woman with a cousin who you've helped take care of her hair since y'all were small, you are appalled at this blasphemy. Grabbing the man from the floor you usher him into the bathroom, having Dwayne find you a stool or chair. “Laddie, can you bring me the products over there? Marko who has been taking care of your curls for you. “

Star stands in the doorway watching you gently looking the vampire over. “ Well Star was giving me help for a little bit but she's been pissed at us so I've been just doing it the way I used to. “ The girl looks away, ashamed as you shoot her a questioning look. “ And what would Star be mad at y'all for. “ Marko hums to himself looking over his shoulder to make sure David wasn't nearby to make a fuss. You get the picture and bring Star in the room shutting the door so no one could snoop on your impromptu therapy session. If you were gonna be around these vampires all the time you would put up with no drama from this. “ Ever since Micheal came she decided she doesn't wanna be a vampire with us anymore. Her and Micheal won't feed and for a while so wasn't Laddie. It was kinda scary, their energy dropped and they started feeling sick.“

As you put product in the man's hair you make note of the girl's uncomfort as she holds onto Laddie. “ If you don't wanna talk about it sweetheart with me around, you don't have to be here. Though I think it's important as a pack, you talk about your problems calmly. Why don't you wanna feed or be a vampire?. “ You pulse calming pheromones into the room as you don't look at her, letting her decide if she wants to talk or not. “ We miss the sun. We don't want to kill people to survive. You guys are used to it but we aren't and I don't think I ever will. “ You look in the mirror staring at the beautiful girl shaking your head.

“ And your solution was to starve yourself till you found a way to not be one? Star I know that it's not any of y'all's fault for not understanding your own people's society or diseases and such. That is a job your sire was supposed to do.” You pause to grab the brush to start forming curl clumps in Markos hair as you go back to work. “ But starving yourself halfing or not. You'll eventually cause insanity to yourself. When vampires aren't able to feed on human blood or demons for a long while even if it's just a cup of it every six months they risk getting a disease called madness. You'll become worse than an animal. An uncontrollable ravenous beast who won't stop killing till you're put down.“ Star looks worried as she looks down at Laddie, coming to realize the severity of what she had been doing to him when she had him refuse to feed. “ But we've been eating alot of protein and animals since you gave us those books. We should be fine. We've been doing better. “

“ Sorry to break it to you. But that's only a temporary solution especially for halfling's. You'll have to choose eventually and going back to human ain't really a thing that happens after becoming a vampire. It's an incurable disease.” Star shakes her head, panic lacing her words as Marko shifts his eyes to the side, not able to look at her. “ But the comics said. That if you destroy the sire you'll return to a human. “ Paul hears this from behind the door in the bathroom he was changing in and your hands immediately stop. You go stiff understanding exactly what she's implying.

“ And you believed a comic book written by mortals of vampiric knowledge they've been taught through grape vine encounters. Do you understand what you just implied? The level of treason you'd face killing your own kind in this town.” You put down the brush and in an instance you're grabbing her face looking her dead in the eyes as Star's face turns to panic tears threatening to spill but only the people in this pocket of space can hear her whimpers. Your eyes soften, unable to stand the look on her face. “ Star. If you kill any underworlders in this town you'll be hanged from the peers and executed in the worst way possible. Any humans caught killing underworlders in this town would also be killed the same and have been. That book is wrong and will only bring you downfall. It will harm you and everyone you love with statements like that. “

Marko snarls from the chair pissed at what he has heard and so does Paul but before either can say anything or move your glaring them down. “ You two listen to me now and listen good. I don't care if you've known me for a lifetime or a few weeks or a few fucking hours. Any of you two start a fight in this room right now I'll sure as fuck finish it. Now y'all three need to sit your asses down and fucking talk it out. This discussion is not leaving this room. “ Laddie runs from Star holding onto your legs as tears pool in his eyes. Your hand falls to his head as he whimpers into your leg. “ Why can't all of you go back to liking each other? Why does everyone always fight now? “ The boy shakes scared of another brawl about to break out. He hated when the pack fought and ever since Micheal came that's all they ever did. No one had time for him anymore until you showed up and here they were ready to fight again.

The three vampires look down at the boy. Was this what they were doing to him? Was this what all there back and forth had done to their little unit. Star used to smoke with Paul all the time and watch the night sky over the ocean. Marko and her used to make homemade jewelry for their outfits and they would help take care of animals together. Now look at them. They were at eachothers throats all the time and their relationship had soured to the point of not talking to each other. All of them were too selfish to think about Laddie's feelings in this. That's how he got away that night. That's how he ended up a day walker because everyone in the pack forgot about him or the care for each other and just worried about their selfish wants. Your tongue clicked in annoyance.

“ You are all being stupid and selfish. “ The three look at you in shock. “ Someone had to say it. Paul and Marko you two are dumb for not listening to your pack members' worries and concerns. Star your stupid for thinking a comic book gave truthful information and that murder was a solution to not wanting to commit murder.” You grab Paul and Markos' faces , shaking them side to side. “ Which by the way news flash only these fuckers are some of the vampires who still enjoy hunting. There's a ton of vampires who don't kill you guys are just too ignorant of your own freaking species society. Do you know how much blood banks make by tricking humans into donating blood for money willingly. All you have to do is go to one and tell them you're a vampire they will sell you blood at a discount.”

The three faces are in shock as you rant at them like a mother scolding kids who just fought over a toy for nothing. “ Star if you wanna walk in the sun drink my fucking blood, eat my flesh, you can even suck my blood like a juice box every night. You don't have to go commiting murder, or doing something stupid just to get your ass sunburned. You don't even have to ever drink a drop of human blood. I’m sorry I can't make you human but I'll be your willing supply of food as long as you'll have me. Just stop hurting the people who care about you and you two fuckers need to learn to push your feelings to the side and talk it out.“ Stars face explodes into blush as she stutters at your proposal. You come closer to her flexing your chest up at her making her head spin as you get closer determination on your face.

Paul can't help but laugh at the scene as it looks like your two seconds from giving Star a gay heart attack. Marko begins to chuckle as well as you continue to push yourself forward into Star so stupidly determined you're not even noticing your two seconds from motor boating the girl like an angry tiny bird puffing it's chest. “ And what's so funny huh! Can't you see we're having a moment. “ You look at the boys as Star buries her face in her hands, turning away from you. The boys now even further in a laughter fit at the scene causing Laddie to look up at them in confusion. “ She's totally been eyeing your tits all night and now your shoving them in her face telling her to eat you. “ Paul chokes out from laughter as he slumps onto Markos shoulder.

“ I mean I'm sure Star has been thinking of eating you in other ways. '' Marko pokes fun at the female vampire, the laughter replacing all the negative energy in the room and it feels like the relationship is being patched even if just a little. “ Shut up you two. Geez. Don't you have a date to go on. Shouldn't you be getting ready. “ Star punches Marko lightly as she picks up the diffuser, finishing up Markos hair for you. Laddie starts grabbing makeup staring up at Paul with sparkles in his eyes while the tall vampire immediately understands the assignment. You and the young boy get to work with Laddie putting on makeup with your assistance and you styling Paul's hair.

It had been quiet, too quiet. David had left to put his actual clothes on and to try and fail at flirting with Micheal again who had been giving him the cold shoulder. Dwayne could sense the mischief in the air as well, as they were sure no one left the cave. That meant that four people of the crew could be up to no good in that bathroom as it was entirely too quiet. As they open the bathroom door they don't even get a chance to react. All they hear is your voice saying “God said let there be light!” And then what can only be described as a mini flamethrower In Front of them as Laddie squeals in amazement on the counter. Paul and Marko are going ballistic in chaos at the flame and Star is looking on in shock and awe.

“WHAT THE FUCK WERE YOU DOING IN THE BATHROOM. “ All five of you are sitting on the couch as Dwayne is spraying the bathroom with air freshener to get rid of the smoking hair spray scent as David chews you out for your pyromania stunt. “ Laddie asked what flammable ment on the hair spray. “ Paul says, rubbing the back of his neck. “ So (Y/n) had a lighter and she is responsible. “ Marko says, looking at the floor, not daring to look at his pissed off mate. “ And you two just went along with that! Laddie was in there !” David's voice is serious as he glares at you and Star down, her squirming in her spot while you confidently lean against the couch, legs spread out almost in a defiant stance.

“Yep” You reply putting emphasis on the end with a popping of your lips making the blonde glare down at you. He keeps making eye contact with you, getting closer as you blankly stare back, flipping your lighter around between your fingers. The man grumbles for you to explain yourself. “ If you had to know Laddie is more of a visual learner and kids will do stupid shit all the time why not do it with responsible precautions. I was holding the can and lighter plus the room has air conditioning and fire precautions in place. Anyone who could get hurt was standing behind me and well if I got my ass lit on fire I can just Heal myself up. So really you're blowing a fuse for nothing fussy fangs. “ David grabs your face roughly pulling you closer to him as his facial expression morphs vampiric and his tone low and threatening.

“ Just because you can heal yourself doesn't mean I want any of you hurt. You may not care about your body but I do. Now cut the shit and take this seriously. “ You look him in the eyes as you place a kiss on the tip of his nose laughing in his face as he looks confused and a little flustered at the display. “ Aw. David cares about my well being, how cute! You know David you're really hot when you try acting all angry with me.” Grabbing his face forward you place several kisses to his face as David is stunned and taken aback at the sudden affection. It's like the man is short circuiting as you've been not the least bit affectionate since yesterday and have been antagonizing him the whole time you've been around him.

With one last aggressive kiss to his cheek later and his face stained with blush, confusion, and lipstick. You pop up off the couch grabbing Paul and Marko in a rush while you walk back to the door against the wall pulling a paper out from your bra. “ Well it's been fun flirting with you Sweethearts but me and these chaotic boys have a whole night of mischief ahead of us. I'm just afraid there's not enough of me to go around for the night. “ You bite your finger drawing blood as you throw the paper to the door with blood on it. This causes the paper to turn black and dissolve into the door , demonic eyes and flesh taking it over as you fling the door open to a bustling market place beyond it.

Before David can protest and make it to the door you've already pushed the pair inside as you are closing it on the man winking to him you blow him one last kiss. “ You really shouldn't scold me In Front of the kid David. You know how much it turns me on” Just as he reaches the door it slams shut returning immediately to normal the paper And blood having disappeared as soon as it was shut. The man aggressively opens the door only to find the bathroom once again in there while a confused Dwayne and Micheal enter back in the cave after getting the bikes set up. Not only had you succeeded in flipping David's anger into extreme lust but now you had blue balled the man as well.

He didn't know whether he enjoyed this game with you or not sometimes. All David knew is the next time he saw you, you were definitely gonna have to take care of his needs.

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

The night market was bustling with all sorts of underworlders and heavenly alike. Stores lined with demonic, angelic, and human goods while people walked by in swarms. It momentarily distracted the boys while you were bent over against the wall trying to catch your breath from what you had just done. You weren't thinking, fuck you weren't even processing what had occured till you placed that finale kiss. You absolutely did not want to acknowledge that you had not only kissed David affectionately or that you were actually aroused by his care for you. But you got such a rush of energy and excitement that you peppered that man's face like you were seasoning him with your affection.

The worst part is you weren't thinking when you did it. It all happened on instinct after that man lit your heart ablaze with the statement he was scolding you because he was worried of you getting hurt. It was dumb. It was a poor move on your choice and you were faking it till you made it trying to deny something in your heart was touched. If this was a dating sim that man just scored a point and you practically had stars in your eyes when those words came out his mouth. Though luckily you were good at bluffing for the most part and was able to run off before you could meet the consequences of your actions.

Paul and Marko are in awe at the site before them. They had been transported to a world they had never seen before and it was busting with life and creatures like them. It was like walking straight through a story book and damn they were hooked. Marko freezes before patting his body down slowly coming to realize not only was he not wearing his favorite jacket but neither was Paul as they didn't even have time before they were pushed out the door to snag them. “ Fuck our wallets are back at home.” The pair turn around to the stone wall you're leaning against to see the door completely gone. “ Oh shit. How do we get back. “ Paul says also coming down from his shock to recognize he also had no wallet on him.

Your head shoots up as you pray they don't make a comment on what had just happened instead hoping to get this date started and far away from what just transpired. You grab their arms leading through the crowd as you smile cheerfully. “ Don't worry about it! I have a copy of the bathroom key so if we use that we can enter straight back through that door. But let's not worry about that now. I don't know about you boys but I'm starving!” The boys are confused but they quickly forget about it as they enjoy the feeling of your arm intertwined with theirs. “ How are we gonna pay for food though? This doesn't seem like the place dining and dashing will go over well. “ Marko says, making note of the angry looking demons guarding their stalls and shops with pride. 

“ Don't worry sillies. I’m paying tonight! My treat. I did kinda wanna apologize for breaking your nose Marko and almost crushing you with my ass Paul when we dropped out the sky. “  Paul smiles down at you cheekily as you strut along the streets. “ I think that would be my preferred method of leaving this world. “ The blondes laugh in unison as you smile gently back at them. “ I did wanna set some rules though you absolutely have to follow here. The night market is between the planes of existence so it's in a neutral zone. It's a lawless land held together by a code of sorts. Don't steal anything. Respect the staff. And if you start fights keep them outside the shops. “

As you say this you three witness a ghoul coming out in a bucket dismembered as an angry Harpy places him outside their store. A swarm of demonic children running up to it begin rummaging and eating through the pile of viscera. “ If not, you'll end up like that guy. Some necromancer will revive you but hope you have enough deadmans coins to keep yourself from slavery. This isn't really the place your money will be worth much anyway. The hells and heavens share a currency unlike the earth realm. “  Paul turns his head looking down to see a small devil child rooting through his back pocket. “ Hey! Scram kid!” The kid flashes his teeth at Paul in a huge smile before running off with his friends. 

This prompts you to reach into your bra pulling a black card out. “ That is why I have bags of holding sewn into my bra. An old succubi stage trick we borrowed from clowns. “ Marko takes the chance to peek in your bra's pocket as you show him the strange bag glowing with items inside. “ That's awesome babe! What things can you fit in there!” You laugh as you walk into a shop showing him the pocket attached to your skirt as well. “ Well my bra I mostly use to hold makeup, money, or my lighter. If I wanna hold objects from our shopping trip I need to be able to put them in there without flashing my tits to everyone here. So I had my spare clipped into my skirt. “  

You feel yourself tugged closer to the tall man's body as he whispers in your ear gaining a blush from you. “ Guess we will have to make sure not to undress you till we get home. “ You laugh pushing his face away as he licks your hand in retaliation. “ Well if it ain't my favorite regular! Where have you been (Y/n), I was worried you were gonna get thinner on me. “ In Front of you is a tall Yeti woman standing at the  restaurant's entryway, her white hair tied back by a bandanna. You raise your arms up and happily allow the 8ft woman to lift you up swinging you like a limp cat as she greets you. The boys looked shocked as the woman let's you go patting your head with her huge hands like you were a child. 

“ This would be my favorite place to eat in all the realms. This tall Yeti woman is my unofficial official godmother. “ The yeti woman proudly stands straight as she ushers you to a booth seat by the kitchen. “ How do you have an unofficial official godmother? “ Marko questions as he looks over the menu that's in a different language, you motion for one in English to the tall woman. “ Her father and aunt have come here since wee and small. They grow up in Yutajs shop, find mates, bring mates here, have babies, babies come here. Father gets drunk with newborn strapped to chest declaring me godmother. I am proud godmother. (Y/n) Where is Veve or wolf boy. Why bring vampires? “

You laugh as the boys try to decipher the image of an infant you strapped to your birth father's chest while drunk thinking of the implications of a parent doing such a thing. “ God mama meet two of the boys who are courting me. I figured for our first official date there would be no other shop who's food could compare to yours. “ The woman pauses before lowering herself down to the boy's eyes glaring daggers at them as she looks them up and down. Paul and Marko feel intimidated by her height alone but her bulging muscles and huge clever on her side also don't help. “ Tiny one. Last time courtship go horribly wrong. You sure these boys don't hurt you. God mama will gut them like fish if single hair is misplaced on your head. “

Paul audibly gulps as the yeti reaches for her clever before you grab the boys hands smiling at her. “ Don't worry about me, Yutaj. These boys are sweet, good boys. If you'd believe it they challenged me in combat for my hand in courtship and won. They are very strong. “ The woman gets closer before clapping her hands loudly. “ Aw! Proper yeti courtship! Lucky girl. You all must drink eat and be strong. I be right back!” The boys relax in their seats as they glance at the menus but back up to you. They could sense and see the past courtship comment made you uneasy for a second which worried them as the short time they known you, you hadn't ever cracked under the pressure.

“ Something bothering you sweetness? She mentioned you were hurt before. Do you wanna explain that to us? If not, you don't have to, okay?” Paul says grabbing your hand gently massaging circles into your palm as your leg bounces under the table anxiously. Marko slides in next to your side placing a hand on your shoulder massaging it as well. “ We just wanna know so we don't do anything to upset you when you're around okay. “ You look at them as you sigh a bit fiddling with fabric draping from your collar. “ This is only the second time I've been in courtship before. Courtship for succubi is a little more serious than just dating like humans due as matting is permanent for us. Let's just say the last one ended with some oni losing his eye and me spending the next 100 plus years running away from him and what happened. “

Marko tightens his fist in anger not knowing if he should push you further as your mood seems to be souring. They wanted to know you more. Know what brought you pain, what made you you. You had lived a life longer then there's and you know so much but it seems like you're keeping your cards close to your heart. They are staring at you and you know it. You don't want pity, you don't wanna be the victim forever. You just wanted to move on and this courtship was the first huge move you made in a long long time towards finding a sense of normalcy. You had settled in Santa Carla fifty years ago and was just now settled without being hunted down and hassled. You had friends, you had community, and you now were slightly comfortable at trying for love again. This was your opportunity to at least try to get a happy ending and stop living in the past. You sigh slumping back in the seat pushing them away.

“ For starters, thank you for the comfort but I don't wanna be touched when talking about it. I appreciate y'all trying to win me over. I really do. Just I stopped believing in love or any romance after what happened. Once you get your power taken away from you like that. You just never stop feeling powerless. No matter how much you get stronger, run away, or deny what happened.” You pause, taking a deep breath scratching your claws at your neck. Your foot thumps against the ground wondering if you should sour the night like this. Was it really their job to put up with your trauma? It happened ages ago. Why couldn't you just drop it. You hadn't seen that guy in over 60 years. “ Take your time. We are just here to spend time getting to know you. And if this is something you feel like we should know (Y/n) then feel free to let us know. “

Paul's words almost brought tears to your eyes with just how gentle they were treating you. They were strangers to you and they were treating you with such care right now. It was almost a complete contrast to how you had interacted with them before. “ When I was younger me and my cousin would sneak out of the underworld where we lived to explore the human world around the shrine my dads worked at. We eventually made friends with this oni boy who lived in the mountains around the temple. We all three grew up together and he would always tell me I'd be his wife when we were older. Of course I never did take it as seriously as I should have. “ A waiter comes with some water and you order appetizers while you try making it through this hard discussion. But a part of you knew maybe talking about it could help you let go of some of the pain it was causing you.

“ Well when I had my succubi urges finally kick in at eighteen we quickly discovered my hunger was much stronger then what one person could provide. I didn't know how serious he was about me being his wife, or how jealous he could be. When he found out I started feeding at brothels to keep myself alive after pre-saved essence stopped working, let's just say I found out the hard way how obsessed he was. “ This was painful to admit it was like a dam broke inside you. The words were flowing out of you like a nonstop ribbon and the more you tried to stop it the more came out as images of that haunting night flooded your brain. Part of you wished you could blame the two for mind manipulating you to be so open but truthfully it's just because you felt safe in the moment. You let out a laugh trying to stop yourself from breaking as you had no clue why you were being so open but it felt so right.

“ The only reason I got away that night unmarked was because I was able to claw his eye out before he had me completely pinned. These collars aren't full proof, a strong enough person can get through them and that was proven. Everytime he finds where I am without fail he shows up trying to force me to be his. He followed me halfway around all the realms, slaughtered anyone who was even slightly close to me, and has tried everything he can to get his hands on me. The only reason he hasn't succeeded is because I’m fast and constantly evolving to keep up with his endless pursuit.“ You reach in your bra pulling out a hand rolled joint with your red herbs in it gulping in the calming smoke as you could feel your anger bubbling. Trying hard to cope from your information dumping as the boys stair in a mix of sadness and anger. “ So if you wanna do something to avoid triggering me just don't try and fuck with my neck or collar. I'm happy y'all want to go the low and slow route but I think if you ever tried to get my collar off I'd kill you all before I even had a conscious second to think what I was doing. I'm that broken from this nonstop nightmare I've had to endure just because some fucker loved me. Now I don't wanna talk anymore about this depressing shit on our date. I've ruined the night enough. “

You look down at the table as the waiter comes with your food asking if you'd like anything else. You dismiss him stating you're not as hungry as you thought you were, sipping your water as you dare not to look at them. The table is silent as the boys contemplate the information they were given. Brewing in anger at the hard life you must have had just trying to keep away from that bastard. It was no wonder why you were being so push and pull with the group. You were trying to break past that trauma but it seemed like it was easier said than done. Marko takes the straws from him and Paul's drink as he fits them to his fangs. You two look up at the curly blonde only to try and choke back a laugh as Marko stares at you declaring very seriously he was not a vampire but a walrus now.

“ What's wrong (Y/n) can you not love me in my new found Walrus-ness. My fangs can not dare pierce your gorgeous flesh as my tusks are too long. Behold them in their glory. “ The man trys to take a drink of his water but can't get the cup closer to his mouth, choosing to instead try and fail smacking his mouth to it. Your mood lightens as you begin to giggle and chuckle as he keeps attempting to drink with the straws in his mouth insisting he is infact a walrus. “ Hey! That was my straw you jerk. You're getting your spit on it.“ Paul tries reaching across the table to retrieve it from his mates mouth only to have his hands batted away furiously. “ This isn't a straw, these are my tusks! How dare you try to take my walrus pride from me.” Your face turns red from trying to hold in laughter as the two bicker and fight across the table slapping each other's hands away before the straws fall out coated in saliva.

“ Oh no! My tusks!” Marko pouts as Paul scrunches his face at them deciding he doesn't want his straw back after all, trying to wipe Markos spit back on him. This causes you to completely break into a fit of laughter at their attempt to cheer you up. These boys were nothing but dorks after all and had done their best to cheer you up. You fall onto Markos shoulder giggling as you try reaching for the food at the table deciding that tonight's going to be fun no matter the hiccups as long as you were with these two. The pair join in your laughter and you spend the rest of the time in the restaurant enjoying stuffing yourselves full before your next adventure of the night.

When it's finally time for you to pay and leave, Yutaj comes running from the back with a drink for you. “ What is this?” You look down at the mysterious thick pink liquid in the small shot glass as the Yeti woman proudly smiles. She pats your back harshly telling you to drink quickly before it gets cold. Raising an eyebrow but not one to turn down a free drink you down it as the boys watch. “ Tis fertility drink. Must be strong for marriage and child birth. “ You almost choke as the tall woman states this and the boys bust into laughter as your face goes bright red. “ WERE NOT MATES YET! Jesus Yutaj are you trying to ship me off to the wedding bells already! “ The tall woman laughs ruffling your head in her hands. “ God mama, just happy to see tiny one finally smiling again. Good husbands make you smile and laugh for rest of your days. I approve of these two, must bring others for God mamas judgement though. I good sense of character.“

You leave the restaurant with the boys teasing you calling you their tomato faced bride placing kisses to your forehead as you elbow them in the sides making your way to the arcade.  You three spend some time exploring the game floors and looking at all the stuff to do before you start hoping onto machines eagerly. Paul and Marko become extremely competitive at the racing games hurling insults and trying to rile each other up while you keep eyeing the cute stuffed animals in the claw machines behind you. You three start racking up tickets in a huge pile as you play through game floor after game floor enjoying your time filled with competitive banter and light flirting. You show your skills off in pacman, street fighter, and waca-mole. You are able to effortlessly defeat Paul and Markos score while they do better in other games. Marko being way better at frogger, shooting games, and skeeze ball while Paul kicks both your asses in racing games, air hockey, and basketball. 

By the time y'all make it to the prize counter you're holding a pile as tall as you. Paul uses his share to snag a gaming console on the top shelf for the pack to enjoy at home while you use your tickets to try and get things for the others. Marko noticed you had been eyeing all the stuffed animals in the machines but you never stopped to get one for yourself. You hadn't even used your tickets on yourself at the prize counter. So while you and Paul are laughing shoveling your items into your bag of holding talking about how much everyone will enjoy the stuff you got them Marko turns to the biggest stuffed animal he can find.

“ Hey babe what did you get?” Paul says looking up to see a bear that was almost Markos height staring back. It was black with red eyes and had horns and a tail. The only way he knew his mate was behind it was Markos curls just barely sticking out from the top. “Tada! For our tomato bride a big stuffed animal that you can cuddle when we aren't around to help you sleep. “ You stare at the bear and the two blondes as your eyes almost sparkle looking at the big thing. You had eyed it earlier but didn't want to seem childish for wanting soft things. Tears pricked your eyes as your face flushed, emotions hitting you strongly. Without thinking you tackled both the bear and Marko to the ground as you feverishly squeezed the life outta the bear rubbing your face on its softness. When you pulled away your smile was from ear to ear as your tail swayed in excitement.

“ I love it Marko! I’m gonna name him brownie batter and he's gonna go on my bed when I get home. “ Markos stares at your face as his heart flutters in his chest. In this moment it felt like the world stopped and there was nothing but you and him. He swore to himself he would do anything to make you smile like this more often as his gaze softened on you. “ I’m glad you love it sweetheart . You know your face is the most beautiful when you smile like that.” His hand gently scooped against your face as he felt the warmth radiating off from your body. The air between you was electric as your gazes met and before you could think you placed a soft kiss to his lips.

Soft and plump lips pressed gently to glossed ones in a feathery embrace. When you pulled back your brain was light and fuzzy as you felt on cloud nine. Before you could think you were being hosted off the ground by the taller blonde who excitedly peppered both your cheeks with kisses and praise squealing about how cute you and Marko were but he wanted some sugar too. Marko gladly obliged, kissing his mate back with passion as you froze in place. The pair stopped to look at you wondering if maybe this was too much. You shyly scooped Paul's face down to yours as you gently kissed his lips. He let you guide the pace and with a quick soft moment of affection you pulled away before hiding your face in your bear refusing to talk to the either as steam came out your head.

“ I need a drink!” You shouted quickly turning from the pair darting away towards the nearest bar as they gladly skipped behind you allowing you your space to process what happened. When you three did finally find a joint to hit up for some liquor it was a struggle to get your new plush friend tucked away into your skirt pocket. Just as the last of his plush limbs tucked into your skirt your attention was pulled to the crowd at a table cheering with thunderous roars and chants. You three weasel into the crowd staring down at what was going on and at the table sat a dwarf, red oni, and orc. Your heart caught in your chest for a second but relaxed instantly as you knew that wasn’t your one eyed harasser.

“ What are y'all doing?” Paul asks the demon imp next to him who points at the wall where the most breathtaking electric guitar that Paul had ever seen stood hanging. “ There having a drinking contest for that guitar there. It's a one of a kind handcrafted instrument from Lucifer himself. Shit sucks, these three losers probably gonna win it”. Marko made note of Paul's staring instantly, agreeing with his mate how cool the instrument was and deciding if it was a drinking game he'd gladly win to gift his tall man that awesome instrument. “ Is the game free to join in?” The imp looks at him like he's crazy before a wicked smile appears on his face. “ Fuck yeah anyone crazy enough can join!” The crowd cheers as Marko sits down at the table filled with shot glasses stacked in all sorts of manners and succubi and imps bringing out shots on platters.

You finally snap out of it to realize one of your crazy bastards was at the table. You push close to lean down in Markos ear as he makes motions hyping the crowd up while Paul cheers him on as well. “ What do you think your doing!?” You whisper in his ear as the others smirk at him. “ I won you that teddy bear now I'm winning Pauly that guitar.” The blonde smiles at you as the glasses of alcohol are dishes out to opponents. “ Yeah I can tell that. But you do know what this game is and who your opponents are right?” The blonde is still innocently smiling at you as you take that as a definite no. “ They are playing devil's towers. You all have to drink the same alcohol proof level and stack the shot glasses ontop of eachother. Those are the three most alcohol tolerant species known to the realms and you're a cocky vampire.”

Marko quirks an eyebrow at you as he takes a shot of the liquor he was handed, it burns his throat momentarily with a slight sweetness coating his mouth,  he knocks it back quickly before definitely putting the glass on the table before you. “ What's got you worried babe I'll be fine. I drink plenty enough. And besides, the rules seem simple. “ You can feel your annoyance grow as you step back allowing this man to learn his lesson the hard way as you pull Paul in close. “ I bet three shots in and you're carrying the drunk bastard home. I ain't giving no one piggy back rides tonight in these heels.“ Paul rubs your back looking down at you as Marko takes a second shot stacking it, the crowd cheering in response. “ Why's that hun. It looks like he's just shooting back a cloudy liquor, can't be that bad. “ You turn to the table counting down after Markos third shot before both you and Paul hear a loud thump followed by a babbling vampire and the three demonic men laughing at him. 

“ Because that's definitely 200 proof shots he's taking.” Paul's face goes white as he retrieves an extremely drunk Marko who's about to puke as you shake your head in disappointment. “ That's what that sissy vampire gets for trying to drink with us real men. “ The oni chokes out as the other two men laugh with him in agreement. “ Hey sweetheart! Why don't you take a ride on something bigger then a tooth pick tonight. How much you cost for a night anyway whore.” The man reaches to try and fondly your ass as Paul instantly vamps out giving a nasty growl to the men, Marko growling as well through his stupor. You pat their shoulders reminding them they can't start fights here and that it's fine as your spiked tail smacks the drunkard's hand away. Paul softens a bit as he kisses Markos head beginning to walk away as you follow. All of a sudden a shot glass hits the back of Paul's head making you turn with a stare to the table of degenerates.

“ I ment to hit the little succubi slut but hitting the fruit bat there's even better. Running like a bunch of cowards. “ That was the last straw. You could put up with being degraded and treated like nothing but an object. But you'd be damned before you let anyone hurt these men who have done nothing but been nice to you all night and respected your boundaries. “ Actually Paul. You and Marko take a seat. I'm getting you that guitar baby. Mama has some trash to take out first though. “ The crowd cheers as you sit down at the table, a smile with so much ill intent behind it even the gods would be afraid plastered to your face. “Darlin, could you put fruit syrup in my shots? I prefer to actually enjoy my drinks. If you don't mind, are there any limitations to how someone can stack the shot glasses?. “

The imp woman smiles at you as she explains the rules to you. Last one standing with their tower still up and not boozed out wins. If your tower topples, you're out. If you pass out from alcohol or tap out you lose. You puke or get up from the table, you're out. You can use any ability to stack the glasses but you can't glue them in place. The woman smiles as you kindly thank her twisting your neck side to side with a sickening crunch. “ So the fruit bats whore gonna win them their honor back. Can't wait for when you get too drunk to make it home girlie. We will see if your little boy toys can keep you safe. “ The Red Oni smiles at you showing his yellowed teeth with a malicious tint in his eyes as you stop yourself from impaling him right there and then.

As soon as the tray comes out you down three shots right In Front of the men beginning your tower with confidence. “ Oh excuse me should I be going slow for you limp dicked fucks. I know how the senior citizens have a hard time keeping up.” The three growl slamming three shots in quickly behind you as it's changed from a slow paced game to a race to keep up. As the men take shot after shot trying to follow you knocking one after the other you pause to slit your wrist in front of them as blood oozes on the table. “ What the fuck are you doing!” The dwarven man stairs in horror as a giggle escapes your mouth. The blood bubbles and moves before a swarm of leaf cutter ants start to pull themselves out of the rusty pool. You knock back another glass as you pass the shot glass to your writhing black pile. Your little buddies take the glass and gently stack it in a stable position on your tower.

“ Sorry my hands just get so tired from having to stack these glasses. Having my ants do it is so much easier.” The dwarf makes a face at the pile turning away to try and not puke. The orc gets upset waving down the servers in a rush. “ Is this really fucking allowed!? Doesn't that count as someone else stacking the glasses for her!” The imp woman smiles evilly as she places more fruity shots In Front of you. “ Not at all. They obviously came from her blood so they are part of her. Would you like to fold sir? There is no rules against the matter. “ The man gets furious and before he can think his leg bumps the table knocking down his roughly stacked tower. “ Aw what the fuck!?” The bar keepers drag the orc out the bar cussing and fussing, tossing him in the alley like trash. The other two stare at you as you lazily down shot after shot. Making your tower quickly hit fifty. The dwarf keeps trying to avoid staring at the ants as they gingerly stack the glasses in a stable manner.

“ What's the matter? Don't like bugs, dwarven boy?” The man stares at you in horror as you open your mouth, centipedes, beetles, and worms wiggling in a furious frenzy before you slam your teeth down with a sick crunch in front of him. Blood oozing from your mouth in a sloppy display. This causes the man's stomach to flip as he runs from the table trying to make it out before he vomits. Paul is a little freaked from the display as well but impressed with how quickly you are knocking out shots and opponents. Your poker face was strong as you funneled shots down your throat like a conveyor belt. It was the rare occasion you were happy your father had taught you his drunken ways. If this man knew who your father was you were sure the whole bar would shudder at even the utter of his name. Devkar of The Vermillion clan.

In his younger days he traveled the globe bar hopping from country to country; relm to relm drinking whole communities dry while sleeping with any man who was even slightly feminine. Devkar would start fights and leave a wake of destruction wherever he went in his storm of chaos. It honestly surprised everyone he ever settled down and had a kid, let alone with only one partner. You knew your dad's dirty tricks and you were putting them to good use with the abilities he had given you. Your father was a master healer and had learned every healing magic he could get his hands on for one sole purpose. He'd use his ability to continuously heal his liver so he could out drink even gods. You weren't that dedicated as he was but flesh manipulation was your specialty so while it appeared you were drinking the shots you were actually funneling them into a makeshift organic bottle inside your torso right now.

The ants were made when you were mostly sober so they could keep doing their task while you attempted to keep the alcohol from hitting your bloodstream as much as possible. This meant you had to have complete focus on what you were doing as the drunker you got the more difficult it would be to keep this little trick going. “ Your little bug trick ain't gonna work on me little bitch. “ The oni man slurred as he was starting to show effects of being dangerously intoxicated making it difficult for him to stack his glasses in an effective manner. Your plan was working perfectly. You may not be as strong as your opponents but in a war strength wasn't always the winner. You had great knowledge of many different species from working frequently with customers and knowing what could make them break was pushing you in favor of winning.

Orcs were clumsy, big, and easy to anger. Making the orc knock over his tower in an angered state was the easiest way to defeat him. Dwarfs were strong drinkers and huge eaters but none of their cultures recipes ever included bugs instead usually involving meats and cheeses. So You had made a bet that you'd have to get the dwarf to vomit to win against him and you were right. Usually it unnerves non insect based creatures the idea of having live squirming insects in their mouth so your trick worked in flipping his stomach. Now for your last obstacle was the Oni. These fuckers could drink a lot but there was one biological trick to knock them out you learned from your father. Make them drink quicker then their muscles can burn or process out the alcohol and keep them talking so they don't notice before the huge amount of alcohol infused blood slams straight into their brain. This way they wouldn't notice and slow down preventing you from getting them too drunk to continue.

You smirked as you took your 70th shot as the man struggled to keep his eyes focused and hands from shaking as he hurled insults at you. You leaned against your palm making a gun shaped hand jester at the man. “ Bang!” The oni collapsed face first into the shot glasses as the crowd exploded into cheers. You let your ants return to your body as you stood up confidently grabbing the guitar before you looked at the imps and succubi for permission. Obviously this man had been treating them like shit before you got here so while he was passed out you'd do this one thing for your fellow service workers that they probably wanted to do to him all night. You transform your leg into an armored thorned boot as you stand over the collapsed giant.

Paul, Marko and the crowd cheered in joy as you repeatedly slammed your thorned foot into this man's crotch. Blood went everywhere as the crowd went crazy with patriots and staff alike singing praise for the abuse after you dish out sick blow after blow crunching visceral hitting the floor in a wet hot pile. When you finally do decide to stop, the man finally starts groaning in his drunken sleep as you are sure he will never get to reproduce unless he pays someone a pretty penny to fix him up down stairs. Though you are sure he's gonna be black listed from the night market after making enemies with almost everyone in this bar. You hand the boys the guitar and key home as you go use the bathroom to empty the liquor out of your torso as it starts leaking into your bloodstream. Unable to keep it together anymore, once you and the boys make it out of the line of sight of the bar you collapse face first as your body instinctively relaxes. All the liquor hits you at once and now you are too drunk to even stand let alone comprehend the following events.

Paul stares in shock as Marko bursts into a fit of drunken giggling, joining the curly blonde as you talk incoherently in a drunken babble. “ Oh sweethearts. What are we gonna do with you too? Time to get your drunken butts to bed. “ Paul gently smiles as he scoops you up in a piggy back as Marko hooks his hand to Paul's belt loop. The night ends with two giggling demons clinging to each other in a hazy bubble of joy and alcohol as Paul gently guides you into the nest in the cave whispering his praise for you both just as the others get home in time for the drunken chaos to begin.

Else were an abused drunk oni stands before a throne of skulls as his king stares down at him in disgust. Behind the man is your portrait in a golden frame. The drunkard in a fit of rage points to the painting shouting. “ THAT'S THE WHORE WHO DID THIS TO ME! THAT VAMPIRE DICK SUCKING BITCH-” Before the man can even utter another breathe the king crushes his skull in an instant blood and brain matter shooting out as everyone bows in fear before him. “ How dare you defile my bride with your filthy words and presence. You will pay with your life for tainting her light with your existence.“ The man turns to the painting staring at your faded image in a passion. “ Soon my goddess. You've returned to me again.“

Likes, Comment, and reblogged are appreciated.

( Previous Chapter)

( Chapter 6 )

[kdinjenzen]

Do you think people recognise Samus outside of the armor? Or would it be a Tony Hawk situation where no one recognizes her without it?

For my version of Samus? They do recognize her, but only kind of.

Her suit is as much a part of her as the rest of her body is, so she’ll often just forget it’s on until people are like “Uh… we don’t allow… whatever kind of weapon that is in here.” Which takes her a minute to fully understand the what and why of their reaction before feeling guilty and going back to the ship to take it off.

I think, for the propaganda of it all, the Galactic Federation Army uses what Samus used to look like when she enlisted as a part of their “you should enlist” non-sense. Sort of a “you could be the next Samus Aran” and they use her old pictures for it. Because that’s exactly the kinda nonsense the Galactic Federation Army would do.

So people look at her and go “Wait… is that… Samus?” because most of them remember the posters and it’s been decades since the GFA started putting them up so she must have aged by now so that totally could be her.

The obvious factors would be that Samus likely doesn’t have a lot of regular or “blending in” clothes so her Power Armor or Zero Suit are her “default” but when she tries to go incognito and not be that obvious her choice of fashion is so “wtf is that outfit?” she oddly stands out even more.

The other big thing would be “that’s obviously Samus’ ship, and that lady just walked right in without doing anything and didn’t look worried so that’s gotta be her.”

Even if Samus wanted to hide it, and she’d have tried for years - my headcanon is that her rapidly changing hair color from Metroid to Super Metroid is that he dyed in hopes that she wasn’t as recognizable, people will still can immediately tell who she is. So by the time Super Metroid happens she’s all but given up on trying not to “be Samus” when landing on peaceful planets.

The thing is that they see her and are like “whoa wtf happened to her? Did this just happen on her last mission or is that how she just looks?” They expect the Barbie Doll version of Samus that the GFA propaganda fed them and she is… not that.

She’s considerably taller than they imagined, she looks less “made up and bright” and a lot more “make up couldn’t hide these dark circles around my eyes even if I tried”, her body (and face) have scars and battle damage, and her hair is cut extremely short because maintaining long hair when you travel alone on a tiny spaceship isn’t easy not to mention when in the Power Armor it’s itchy as all hell.

Samus would likely get a lot of rude folks saying “wtf happened to YOU?” while pointing at a recruitment poster with her on it and she’d likely respond with a small sigh and a quiet, yet unneeded, apology before nodding to the person and leaving wherever store/establishment/are she’s at.

[gengarghast]

Lilith Dusk: The Wraith of the Leviathan

A short explanation of my Destiny 2 OC.

Warning: This post is going to be VERY LONG!! Do not open below the cut if you don't want it to go supernova.

TLDR: She was trapped on EVIL MUSHROOM SHIP and got dragon ghosts all up in her brain.

Background (For people new to Destiny)

A while ago in Destiny, there was this guy called Calus. Alien space emperor type. He hosted tournaments and games on this giant ship called the Leviathan, and he showered the winners in praise and treasure. And then, he vanished. Roughly around two years ago, during the Season of the Haunted, the Leviathan reappeared, covered in this gross shit called Egregore fungus that feeds on the psychic trauma created by death.

On the Leviathan

Anyways, Lilith was one of the Guardians¹ who were participating in Calus' games, but unlike the others she didn't leave the ship before it vanished. So she was forced to hide and skulk around and steal and survive all the while the ship was overtaken by the Egregore and the Darkness. Her armor is of her own creation, forged from stolen scraps of Ahamkara² bone as well as gold and silver and whatever else she could scavenge- Including the armor of other fallen Guardians who suffered the same fate as her.

Over time, the many, many fragments of Ahamkara bones that made up her armor began developing the ability to psychically communicate with her, and they forged an uneasy alliance- Her wishing³ for basic things in order for her to survive, and the bones keeping her alive so that she could keep wishing.

During that time, she also obtained her two favorite weapons, both also having Ahamkara bone modded into them- Dead Man's Tale, an old-fashioned lever rifle, and Bad Juju, a pulse rifle adorned with the skull of a small Ahamkara.

Eventually with the Leviathan's reappearance, she was able to escape the ship. During that time, she had grown fond of the collective Ahamkara voices that had been bound to her, and they had grown fond of her in turn. And so, she continued to wear that scavenged armor, with some minor professional tuning and tweaks to make it not just bones stuck to armor.

She also ate, like, a lot of Egregore. Like a LOT. Which is how all those Ahamkara bones formed such a strong bond with her mind, because Egregore spores open your mind up to outside influence, or in this case, psychic dragon ghosts.

Lilith "Lily" Dusk

In terms of her personality, her time aboard the Leviathan made her paranoid and jumpy, but very loyal to those she sees as trustworthy. Aside from that, she is also very prone to angry outbursts or getting overwhelmed when faced with confrontation and judgement. After being isolated on the Leviathan for years with only her Ghost⁴ and the Ahamkara voices to keep her 'company', she is terrible when it comes to social encounters and usually bungles it, being rude, blunt, and abrasive without even realizing it. Despite this, she tries her best to be nice.

Also, she doesn't like to take off the armor. She probably sleeps in it tbh-

Glossary

Guardians are the player characters in Destiny, super-powered people who can come back from the dead with the power of Light.

Ahamkara are a species of 'dragons' in the Destiny universe- They wield paracausal abilities that allow them to grant monkey's-paw wishes and remain semi-sentient after death, whispering psychic messages to the one who wields their bones.

Wishing feeds Ahamkara, as they consume the cosmic chaos/energy that results from wishing.

A Ghost are a Guardians' companion, they supply their Guardian with the power of the Light and are able to resurrect them when they die.

[iwoszareba]

truthbound

Knave/Socothbenoth

cw: questionable use of trickster powers of mind altering variety. (if i'm allowed VtM terms something like incomplete blood bond level of problematic.) also this is love-hate, awful, evil people ship

Socothbenoth's first dialogue was taken directly from the game

_ _ _

'Satisfaction' could not begin to describe how Socothbenoth felt. How can you properly put into words the pure euphoria of seeing your plans, that were years in the making, finally come to fruition?

The look of defeat on Nocticula's face will warm his heart for decades to come. To think that all it took was the right person at the right time for everything to fall into place. That and his invaluable guidance, of course. Helping to make the Crusade a spectacle of madness was an enjoyable diversion but there was nothing more he could gain from it.

"Well, now that everything is decided... I will bid you farewell, Knave. It is time for me to look for a new frien... I mean, someone new and exciting... Someone I can lead astray. I will convince them to join the glorious ranks of fools, jesters, and lovers of funny and vulgar stories! It's been a pleasure! I know you'll miss me!"

That's what he needed: a fresh start. But for now he could just kick back and bask in the afterglow of his accomplishments until it's time to set more goals or readjust the old ones.

"Don't you want to ask if I have a parting gift for you?"

He was already reaching for the door handle but that question stopped him in his tracks. He could just leave. He should just leave. But after all the crazy things this Knave-Commander pulled off… he couldn't deny curiosity. He turned around.

"You got me something? Darling, you shouldn't have. Getting to see you grow from a confused, bloodthirsty puppy, into a distinguished creature of chaos was a gift enough."

He expected to see him as usual: all smiles, craving any scrap of his attention, practically begging. Instead Knave looked at him with an unreadable expression, head slightly tilted as if considering. Somehow that was more concerning than any of his touch too wide grins. Curiosity wasn't worth this.

"Really it's fine… just send whatever it is via messenger, maybe that mangy thief of yours can drop it off at my place when he comes to the Abyss."

He grabbed the handle and pushed but his relief was disturbed by the sharp, electric sound of magic. As he took one step through the doors, a portal brought him face to face with the Commander once again.

"I can't believe you thought you could just leave without my say-so. I would take offence at the rudeness if it wasn't so adorable."

This was not how Socothbenoth imagined this goodbye. Maybe he miscalculated, maybe he shouldn't have implied earlier that they probably will never meet again. He often forgot that some people can get attached so easily. No matter, he can play along for a while more.

"Can you blame me? I am a busy man. Especially now, when you helped to create so many new opportunities for me. Something I'll always be grateful for."

"Tsk tsk, tsk. Liar, liar pants on fire. Do you ever get tired of your own bullshit?"

Socothbenoth opened his mouth but before he could find words to rebuke such insolence Knave continued his little tirade.

"I wonder if there is a single person you have ever been truly loyal to? I doubt you see anyone in your congregation as worthy enough, your lovers are tools to be kept or discarded, the Council was always a sham… you couldn't even keep a semi-decent relation with your own sister."

Mentioning Nocticula in such fashion was a step too far and even now it made Socothbenoth wince. He gritted his teeth and tried not to snarl his next words, but they still came out as an angry hiss.

"Is there a point to this?"

There was a level of smugness to Knave that only people who delight in hitting a nerve can display. Normally an attractive trait, not so much right now.

"I know such things are not in your nature and I don't blame you for that but… I admit it does make me curious. What would happen if I took all the honeyed words you fed me and made them true? Wouldn't that be refreshing? The sense that you said something and actually meant it."

Was that something he could do? Of course Socothbenoth heard the stories of Knave's exploits in Alushinyrra. Changing someone's form was not far from fleshwarping the demon lord would perform himself or teach to his faithful, but while similar in effect, Commander's powers seemed to work under a completely different paradigm. And physical matter still was nothing compared to something as intangible as 'the truth'.

"We can just talk about thi-"

Something deep inside him hummed, as if his very essence started to slightly vibrate awaiting what is going to happen to it next.

"You already talked plenty enough. Mmm what lies have you uttered... Maybe when you said you've been looking for someone exactly like me all these years?"

He was standing still but the sensation escalated to scraping at the back of his skull and squirming inside his chest. Impatient search for remembrance followed by a swift judgement.

"That was the truth! It's not my fault the meaning wasn't quite what you desired."

Knave nodded despite not looking convinced.

"I see, then what about those times you called me special… captivating… irreplaceable?"

The last word was the one that fully did the trick and started to ring at Socothbenoth's core with near-painful veracity. He felt feverish, as if his body was fighting to reject this foreign element, something so at odds with his demonic nature. But it was too late, this… connection has already taken root, strong and true, but twisted by the environment it found itself in. Addictive in its cravings and covetous in its devotion. Socothbenoth started to laugh hard enough that tar-like tears formed in the corners of his black eyes.

"What's so funny to you?"

The look of smug satisfaction on Knave's face was first replaced by confusion and then visible distress. He grabbed his chest as if to check the sensations there. Despite everything Socothbenoth couldn't help but delight in having the upper hand again.

"Oh, I just remembered something else I've said: we were made for each other, you were made for me."

Knave blinked in surprise.

"What? I don't recall anything like that."

Socothbenoth smiled lecherously, closed the distance between them and wrapped his arms around Knave's waist bringing their bodies together.

"At the time I had you so deep in the throes of passion, no wonder you were a little… distracted."

"...You are lying."

It sounded as half-hearted bargaining of someone not ready to accept the reality.

"Does it feel like a lie?"

Knave was biting his bottom lip in frustration, quite a tantalising sight.

"No. I guess I made sure of that."

It was easy to expect this sentence to be punctuated with an angry groan but what followed instead was a soft rumble of laughter. Knave's next words were barely a whisper.

"It is kind of funny, when you start to think about it."

That was not really the word Socothbenoth would use to describe their situation, but if comedy is in the unexpected… he had to admit that in his long life as a demon lord he has never felt… this, whatever it was. They stood for a while in silence, both lost in their own thoughts, still wrapped in an embrace. Neither seemed willing to release the other but Knave was first to break the strange tranquillity of the moment.

"I still hate you, you know." 

Demon lord faux gasped.

"Shouldn't it be 'I love you more than anything else in this world'?" 

There was a pause for struggle between admission and denial.

"The two aren't mutually exclusive."

The amount of vitriol in his voice was delightful. The Commander was way more exciting like this compared to when he was acting all star-struck.

"I just thought you would be all pliant now."

He purred trying to rile him up more but instead Knave furrowed his eyebrows in consideration.

"I don't… fully understand what I did but I'm fairly sure it's not a compulsion nor geas. I don't have to do anything. And neither do you. If you wish, you are free to leave."

He waved his hand around in a specific but messy gesture and Socothbenoth could tell that the portal in the doors behind them deactivated. Which was a sweet sentiment but he was no longer in a hurry.

"I am a busy man but I may have another moment to spare. Other jesters and madmen will have to wait another day…"

He pulled Knave into a kiss that felt hungry to the point where it made him consider a crazy notion, that perhaps the two of them exchanged a fraction of their souls and would have to tear each other open if they wanted to get them back.

[olderthannetfic]

I'm tempted to send an ask asking if Doctor Pande is a real doctor or if that's a username, but I'd feel silly asking when I could just google. But the thing is, I don't actually care or want the answer. The point I want to make by sending such an ask is that I have no idea who this person is or why their opinions on Star Wars[?] fic are supposed to matter in discussions about offensive content policies for an archive.

The point is that the pushback against End-OTW-Racism has nothing to do with people's baggage with any of the people involved with the campaign (I don't even know if Doctor Pande is personally involved or if they're being used as an example of.... something).

The campaign is not going to accomplish anything, and we want to be able to discuss the reasons why it has the potential to do more harm than good and sort out ways to do actual good. A good old fashioned ship war has nothing to do with the conversations we should be having, even if the policies we want to develop would ultimately prevent such flame wars.

--

She's an academic, so yes, she has a PhD. I gather that some people feel, culturally, that it's rude not to use the title and that people are demeaning women of color by not doing so. Where I'm from, using "Dr" for academics is pretentious as fuck and just deeply embarrassing unless you're the university president introducing them before a public speech or something.

The reason she's relevant is that she's an academic who writes about fandom racism... and who also has a bad habit of thinking she's the one with less power when it isn't so.

[scryptids]

sofia wylie / she/her  ———  no way is that SUNNY KEENE.. they’re a 20-year-old SYNTH notoriously known for being CATTY  &  POSSESSIVE  but there are some people who have seen them being APPRECIATIVE  &  EXTROVERTED.  if you ask me, they remind me a lot of quickly depleting phone batteries, a large tote bag that’s always flung over her shoulder, a closet full of shoes that goes ignored in favor of the same pair, and a sprinkling of soft freckles across her cheeks, but that could just be because they’re considered the INFLUENCER around town. just keep an eye on them  &  see if their true colors shine through..

full name: sunny angelique keene birthdate: january 7th age: 20 height: 5’11” occupation: social media influencer ship status: closed bio:

sunny keene has never known misfortune a day in her life, and that both worked to her advantage and also screwed her for life

the only child to two synth parents, sunny was made specifically for them so they could live out their dreams of having a family

being the center of her parents’ world gave sunny a complex early on, and soon enough she was seeking the attention of anyone that she possibly could, and when she wasn’t the center of attention, she would throw an absolute fit

but despite her bratty behavior, sunny was also taught how to be humble by her parents

every week, they would volunteer at local soup kitchens and homeless shelters, donating any extras that they didn’t need in order to give back to those who were less fortunate

sunny always loved visits to the soup kitchens, and she even made a few new friends during her volunteering stints, always wanting to gather as many people as possible

at the playground, sunny always tried to make friends with other kids, but nobody ever took to her the way oberon langdon did

he had an older sister and wasn’t from the same district, and yet sunny still clung to him like her life depended on it, and they were practically inseparable

she could never go a day without talking to him, and whenever anyone tried to tease her about it, she would shoot them a dirty look

at school, sunny usually did the bare minimum in order to pass; she was a very smart girl, she just didn’t care enough to try

instead, she submersed herself in the world of social media, and she began to make her own content when she was just thirteen years old

she stuck mostly to fashion and beauty content, throwing in a slice of life vlog every now and again

it didn’t take sunny to gain a big following of both devoted fans and haters, with some in-between also following along

because she was getting such good views, it didn’t take sunny long before she was getting brand deals and commissions, and her bank account was slowly growing in number

most of her income went into a savings account, but she also put a large portion aside so she could donate to several charities and other people in need around the city

sunny figured if she was going to be making that much money, the least she could do was give back to the community a little

it’s been seven years, and sunny is still creating content to this day

she still has a fairly big following, and it’s opened the doors to so many opportunities for her

she chose not to go to college, because she knew it would just be a waste of money, as she hated every single second of being in school

she has a small group of friends that she goes everywhere with, and people often refer to them as her minions, but her best friend has always been and will always be oberon langdon

sunny still volunteers at soup kitchens around the city, and she does it happily

she can have a catty personality every now and again, but it’s usually when people are rude to her first, as they often assume she’s a bitch just by the way she carries herself

[thisispoggers]

What do you imagine a Geronimo Stilton Pirate AU to be like?

Soda you are about to awaken the AC Black Flag Whore inside me

The ship’s name would likely be The Rodent’s Voyage lol a little something from its original source

In true fashion, Geronimo is the unwilling captain of a ship lmaoooo but id say that Geronimo is gonna be hella different than usual since he is gonna be raised as a pirate

Pirates in history is known for catching navy ships and looting them so G would be a lot more aggressive compared to his other counterparts which is a saying something lmao

G would have to be really ruthless, strategic and has great fighting skills just to be able to lead a gang of pirates but that doesn’t mean that G has to be like hella rude (tho he has to be hella loud lol)

Which can be in their favour cuz if he can speak the gentleman’s language then he will be able to gain a whole lot of allies despite being a criminal of the sea

But while he is bound by contract on land, that doesn’t mean he is bound by contract at sea because it can be a lot easier to hide crimes at sea cuz many people in the old days are unable to swim (unless you’re a pirate or work on the water)

While Geronimo might be a pirate, he always is true to his promise because for him “a true man keeps his words” which is hella rare for pirates at the time so his crew would definitely be hired for a whole lot of dirty work by corrupted officials that doesn’t care how the work is done as long as it is on the down low and done quickly so he definitely has a lot of favours he can ask to be able to get out of certain situations

Of course G would not be trusting any of his allies with his life nor any of his family’s life so he always carries a weapon on him in case they try anything cuz he might be the only pirate captain working for anyone with money, he is still a pirate so if he gets caught or arrested, he will be shot on the spot

Anyways to the family!

Peepaw would definitely be retired but as he was the previous captain, he would definitely be the boatswain of the ship, essentially he is the manager of everything on the ship so he is always checking in on the ship’s condition, supplies, crew and most importantly Geronimo (the other option for him is that he retires somewhere nice and secluded but that’s boring I need Peepaw screaming at the crew)

Thea is gonna be the Helmsman of the ship as well as being the Sailing Master as she is great with navigation as well as finding new places to check out and loot from plus she is the best fighter of the entire crew, she essentially drives the ship as well as set the crew in the course that she agrees upon with Captain Geronimo

Trap is the cook no explanations needed screw this guy

Fine he is also the Master Gunner, he just maintains the ship’s weapons

Benjamin is most definitely and irrevocably gonna be somewhere else that is not the ship cuz as much as the family would like to be close to the little man, they ultimately will not want him anywhere in harm’s way so they got someone else raising him in a far away but safe location away from the pirate’s enemies cuz they will not take any chances that he would get hurt or worse

I think most of the family’s riches are concealed away from the rest of the world in the safest location and that location would be some type of mansion or villa they built in an extremely secluded but safe location known only by Peepaw, Thea and Geronimo in which there is a secret room where the money is in gold and precious items like gold swords, crowns and the likes (Trap is not to be trusted screw him)

This is also gonna be the place Benjamin will be living in and raised to not be a pirate by Aunt Sweetfur and eventually Professor Von Volt

Prof Volt probs got trusted because he is indebted to Peepaw or something like he grew up poor and he got what it takes for a medical degree and Peepaw pays for it or something and that’s why he is loyal idk

Which can also open up to some kind of storyline that Benjamin is now a grown young man and wants to learn about his family’s history only to figure out that his estranged family members were a bunch of pirates which can be a cool story or something

[sanchoyoscribbles]

These were the absolute fastest redesigns of my LIFE after writing that long alien clothes meta. The old ones weren't THAT old but given tmmn's latest ep giving us a LOT more looks at alien fashion...I Went For It and just. gave the ladies more clothes. actively fighting the urge to redesign ALL of my alien ocs...

I renamed Chiffon to Shebakia given we now have a canon Chiffon haha... 😶 I think people would call her Sheb for short. She LOOKs like a Sheb (compliment.) I really didn't give THAT much info about them in the old post, so...you know what? More info about them under the cut. 👇

Two alien ladies, Shebakia and Eclaire! The art of them in their 20s was around 20 years (ish...?) before TM2 starts, so they'd be in their 40s while TM2 is happening.

Eclaire is a seamstress and has a somewhat abrasive, self-centered personality. She doesn't get along with a lot of people, and doesn't bother to try. Her quality of work speaks for itself, and she figures the only friend she REALLY needs is Shebakia.

Shebakia is her absolute best friend since they've known each other since they were children, and Eclaire feels possessive/protective towards her because Shebakia is a lot more quiet and gentle. (....There may or may not have been a one-sided love there. :))

Shebakia is soft-spoken, but not actually a total pushover. She works as a gardener and doesn't mind getting her hands dirty or doing 'rough' work. She just really enjoys being outside and working in nature! Her and Eclaire are opposites in that way, and Sheb finds it really funny that Eclaire keeps making her such nice clothes knowing she'll just end up getting them dirty. (Eclaire says she'll keep making clothes for Her Girl so she looks nice even if she's 'rolling around with the worms'. Sheb is about the only person Eclaire isn't outright rude to, but she does tease her lmao. Almost flirtily. Almost.)

...Shebakia ends up betrothed to someone else, and Eclaire, not being able to stand that but also not willing to outright confess her own feelings, inserts herself under the guise of being a live-in nanny/helper with the intention of sabotaging the relationship. (Of course, Sheba is thrilled because living with the two people she loves most sounds great, she'd love for her best friend to help raise her kid with her and her partner! Oh, yeah, Shebakia is pregnant now. Whoops. Much harder to sabotage a relationship with a kid underfoot...it COMPLICATES things, just a tad.)

...But Eclaire's help is very soon necessary because Shebakia gets really, really ill, something Eclaire decides the pregnancy made way worse/sped up because it took so much strain on an already ill Shebakia's body. Her health continues to decline, but she lives for roughly 7-8 years after before finally passing away, with Eclaire dedicating as MUCH time as possible to trying to care for her and going into depression over this herself.

Eclaire is devastated, but in the way that she's numb and doesn't want to live on this stupid world without Her Sheb. She knew it was coming. But that doesn't make it hurt less. She hangs around for maybe another 7 years, making some very poor choices trying to cope and feel normal before deciding, nope, she can't hang around here with Everything Making her Think Of The Girl She Was Never Technically With but In Love with, no one on this planet can fix anything, she's too stressed and wants none of the responsibility she has now. She needs a new start. So... she steals a small ship and decides to explore the stars.

Eclaire is now a space pirate. Eclaire now has a crew of various alien species. Eclaire has now successfully entirely missed the Uchushi invasion, and her people evacuating onto Queen's ship and heading to Earth.

Eclaire Does Not Know About Any Of That. Missed the plot entirely. But she DOES know about Earth, duh, all the aliens do. Their people originally came from there, all the mew business happened there.

...Maybe she'll pop back into the story for a quick visit.

Surely that'll be okay! Just a quick tourism pit stop!

:)

(by the way, it's hard to tell bc her pose and her arm covering it but Eclaire's younger design's sash has gold stripe in the middle ><;; aaand she cut her hair short for ease of styling, but also..doesn't it resemble Shebakia's...? :") )

ALSO!!! I went scrounging around my old deviantart and found the very very first draft of Eclaire (...maybe not actually the first? but the..one I could actually find amongst my messy dA account, lmao) from 2018!! still the same idea, just...impractical mesh spacesuit, for the sake of boob window...? and yowch at those boots 😭 originally orange-eyed tho. Changed that...

[nathank77]

3/20/24

5:06 a.m

Now on to my glasses. They retested me. Both eyes at the sametime then both eyes individually. Per me asking for it. They even did distance.

So my distance is absolutely correct. My reading they said bc I see no difference that I shouldn't do progressives. That's a good thing bc obv in my last post i went over cost, frame size and choices. It will save me a lot of money and allow me to wear my glasses more fashionably.. I got the Ray-Bans and then my two half frames. The only other pair I want is rimless bc for some reason I think they'll look good. I can't afford them atm... but maybe soon... if they look awful I'll return them.

The best part about not having to get progressives eye wear is I can keep my lense height nice and short! In that 29-31 range. I prefer that but these Ray-Bans are 34. Either way I like them.

The second best part is I was right, if I got progressives my eye sight would go drastically downhill and I'd be so beyond depend on glasses within a year or 2. My lenses would get more expensive. I'd be a blind bat and it's better to wait until it's at that point where there is a difference and i could actually benefit from them than deteriorating my eye sight rapidly.

Beyond that UNFORTUNATELY my eye wear company processed that they shipped my glasses. So they are not a freebie. I called and yea they know I got them. So I guess there are no Oakley Airdrops, unfortunately... as theses were 270$ and my two half frames were 51$ together..

I'm not happy they they weren't a freebie despite the fact that the nose area got more comfortable now, i dont notice the "pressure." The part behind my ears are squeezed when I wear them all day. I'm trying to stretch them out but they seem unbentable... maybe I will switch to Oakley air drops as they are straight in the arm area but then I got to return the Ray-Bans and the Oakley are heavier so I got to consider that...

I guess I got to look at it like this, the Ray-Bans or Oakley if I decide to switch, are an investment in my future eye wear. When I get my new prescription in March 2025. I can get my insurance pair, I'm going to upgrade them to anti reflective and maybe polycarbonate but idk. Polycarbonate is 40$ extra. Anti reflective is 80$. The anti reflective is non-negotiable that's why i my old insurance pair seemed cloudly bc the anti reflective is put on both sides. I thought it was just for the viewer... and I was like who cares.. but it also controls reflections from my view point explaining the cloudiness.. although I got to make sure the frames are a perfect fit and style otherwise it isn't worth at least going anti reflective... I prob won't do polycarbonate.

But I kinda got off track. Instead of buying new frames whether I keep the Ray-Bans or switch to Oakley I'll go to a reputable eye wear company in town and have them replace the lenses. So the cost of the frames won't be a waste. I can wear them for years to come...it cost about 70-80 with low grade scripts. Obv I got to get the anti reflective with them and not from my eye wear place my insurance wouldn't cover replacing the lenses... I'll call around and find the best cost with the most perks for the lenses.

Then I'll probably buy a couple half frames and maybe a rimless in the new script as long as they are cheap. I really like being fashionable with my glasses since I have to wear them.

I still got to figure out if I should switch frames.. I'm going to keep bending them... idk if it'll work but it's annoying cause I can't apply too much pressure I can't afford to break them.

Also these are the rimless I'm considering.. I'm kinda mad at my eye wear company for 2 reasons they disregarded keeping my item on hold and fulfilled it anyways. And then the last employee I talked to was rude af and sighed at me. They are making me send them my script too... instead of trusting that my script is -.25 in both eyes... and the astigmatism in the right eye.

But yea. I hope I can try these frames and bend the Ray-Bans to be completely comfortable

These are 136 width so they could be tight. Also they are dorky but I kinda like them. I could always return them. Idk...