#sleep token au

[darksideoftheshipps]

So, who do you think would be which natural element? I was talking about it with my sister @non-human-feelings and I was very amused that we didn't agree on a single thing. :')))

So I'm curious. What's your opinion?

Here is an original image of the elements if you want to make a collage too.

[cybrfang]

Have my finished little man 🖤🖤 I think about Ram Vessel a normal amount 🐏🍎

[dozecoin]

dream wanderer sleep token au (im obsessed with him RAGH)

also i forgot his hood so we'll just pretend it's there

[politemagic]

The Haunting of Sleep Manor: Chapter III

II has a strange dream. A priceless chandelier is destroyed. Vessel knows he needs to tell the others about what he's experienced, but there are still things left to uncover at Langley Manor.

Masterlist

2.2k words | ao3

a/n: this story is turning into a much bigger beast than I initially intended, so I thank you all for your patience & support as I've been writing! your kind words have meant the absolute world to me, I hope you continue to enjoy the spooky adventures.

II was trudging down a path in the woods, the ground slowly turning from coarse dirt to a thick black sludge that clung to his bare feet, reluctant to let go with each step he took. But II had to keep going. He always had to keep going.

Vessel’s voice bounced off the tree trunks, his shrieks stabbed themself into II’s ears and blood began to trickle down the column of his throat. It was unlike any sound he’d ever heard from Vessel’s mouth: it was a soul-crushing, heart-wrenching wail filled with a pain that was so palpable it made it difficult for II to breathe. When he tried to call out to him, he found only silence in the space where his voice should have been. 

The woods grew dark around him, a kind of unnatural darkness you’d imagine comes to you on your deathbed. II could feel tears streaming down his cheeks, blood oozing from his ears, he continued to fight against the seemingly sentient ground beneath his feet. The black sludge beneath his feet grew thicker, tearing the skin from his soles, gripping his ankles like a demon determined to drag him down to Hell.  He tried again to call out to Vessel, determined to find him in this horrific place, but once again his voice box was empty, no sound passing his lips. He wrenched his foot from the sludge, yet this time it did not let go. Instead, it snapped II’s foot right back beneath its opaque surface, sending him toppling backwards.

The sludge welcomed his fall with open arms. The mysterious substance quickly engulfed him, and II watched in horror as his body disappeared before his own eyes, sinking lower and lower into the void of darkness until only his face remained above the surface. Vessel’s wailing cries grew louder as he was submerged. He tried to wriggle free, desperate to free himself and find his friend. But he knew he didn’t have much time as he felt the pressure of the sludge around his chest mounting quickly. It began to creep into his ears, teasing the seam of his lips as it consumed him, dragging him away from Vessel. The only consolation was that the sludge managed to muffle the sound of his screams, the sound of his failure, though it seemed to have a voice of its own that flooded into II’s mind as he lost himself in the darkness.

“You have finally come home to me, II.”

The sound of the familiar voice nearly stopped II’s heart. Without thinking he parted his lips to reply, and the sludge wasted no time in claiming his insides as it had claimed his limbs. It rushed down his throat, flooded his veins and began to devour everything that he was, everything he knew.

II’s eyes shot open, his breath coming out in short gasps as his body thrashed against the couch cushions, believing them to be the same darkness from his dream. It took him a moment to collect himself and regain full control of his limbs, the cold sensation of the sludge still receding from his body. Finally he swung his legs over the side of the couch and the sensation of the cold floor against his feet snapped him into reality. He glanced around the empty living room which was faintly illuminated by the warm morning sun leaking in through the curtains. He assumed everyone else had already woken up and tried to push himself to his feet but felt a sharp pain shoot up his legs from the bottoms of his feet, causing him to drop back down onto the couch in surprise. He carefully lifted his foot to examine it, and found the sole stained completely black, with small pieces of skin peeling away to reveal the raw, red flesh beneath. He found the other to be in identical condition. 

He had to find the others.

II carefully raised himself from his seat, wincing as he felt the sting of the broken skin against the cold floor. He padded out into the hallway, where he could just barely make out a set of voices coming from the kitchen. He poked his head around the door frame, expecting to find the others sitting around the kitchen table chatting like normal, but he found the room empty. He furrowed his brow and began to turn to walk back towards the foyer when he heard a loud crash. He walked as fast as his aching feet could carry him towards the source of the sound, a slight panic blooming in his chest.

II emerged from the hallway to see III careening down the stairs, IV close on his heels. They all stopped dead in their tracks at the sight of the remains of the chandelier that once hung from the ceiling scattered across the floor of the foyer. Vessel was in the doorway to the library, eyes wide in fear as he stared at the broken light fixture, only feet from where he now stood.

“What the hell happened?” II asked, looking between the shards of shattered crystal and Vessel.

“Are you alright?” IV asked, skirting around the broken shards to stand before Vessel, resting a gentle hand on his shoulder.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I was just coming out of the library when…” He trailed off, gesturing from the ceiling to the floor with his hand.

“It’s probably just an old chandelier,” IV said reassuringly. Though something in II’s gut told him that the chandelier didn’t fall from the ceiling at random.

“Oh sure. Yeah, that was just an old chandelier and those were just rats that I heard upstairs yesterday, right?” III replied sarcastically, crossing his arms over his chest. II looked pointedly at Vessel, who was already looking at him when he spoke again.

“There’s some things I need to tell you about.” Vessel said seriously, looking between the three of them before walking into the living room, nodding his head for them to follow.

“What’s going on, Ves?” IV asked softly as he, II, and III sat shoulder-to-shoulder on the couch in front of Vessel, who took a seat on the floor. 

“There’s more. About the house.” Vessel started, taking a deep breath.

“What? Not structurally sound after all?” III said in an attempt to lighten the mood, but the look in Vessel’s eyes had him clamping his mouth shut.

“The house is haunted.” Vessel said simply, and the others looked between each other with concern.

“So, The chandelier…” III began, trailing off when Vessel nodded.

Vessel began to explain what he had seen in the kitchen the day before. The others listened intently, nodding along as Vessel described the ghosts he had seen, the way the one had spoken to him so coldly. 

“I felt unwelcome the second I stepped inside, but she made it abundantly clear herself, too.” Vessel said, rubbing his hand over his chest where he could still feel the unease clenching his chest.

“Well they’re going to have to get over that.” III scoffed.

“She said something about ‘our kind’ making things worse.”

“Fuck’s that supposed to mean?” III asked, feeling anger bubbling in his chest at the thought of being unwelcome in their own home. “She doesn’t know shit about us.”

“Perhaps we’re not the first that Sleep has brought here?” II offered, and Vessel shrugged.

“Whoever came before us, I don’t think Sleep guided them here in the same way… But there is something strangely powerful about this house. I just know it.”

“What do you mean?” IV asked, and Vessel glanced over to II, who nodded his head encouragingly.

Vessel began to tell them the story he’d told II the night before of his encounter with Sleep. III sat perfectly still for a change, only moving to rest his elbows against his knees as he listened to Vessel describe the realization that he was no longer in his physical body. As II listened he felt that same cold from his dream begin to lap at the lesions on his feet, sending a shiver up his spine. When Vessel finished his recollection, II spoke softly.

“He came to me, too.” Vessel’s eyes widened at II’s admission. 

As II told his own tale of his interaction with Sleep, he felt that dreamy cold crawling up his legs, leaving goosebumps in its wake. Is Sleep listening to us? He thought to himself, and a faint voice in his head told him that He was always listening.

“And when I woke up, I noticed this.” II said, looking between them hesitantly before he lifted his foot from the floor. IV and III leaned closer so they could inspect the raw flesh coated in black. IV glanced up at II with a hint of fear in his eyes.

“How could He have done that to you? I’ve never even felt His physical form…” IV trailed off.

“I think something about being in this house makes our connection to Him stronger,” Vessel started, and they could see the gears turning in his mind. “He was able to induce a dream state and He’s never done that before, so I don’t see why He wouldn’t also be able to physically touch us.”

“Maybe that’s why we were led here, if He’s more powerful here.” IV offered.

“I think I know the first step to figuring this whole thing out,” III said, the others turning to look at him. “I think we need to get up to the fourth floor. See if what you saw in your dream was real.”

“It seemed like His living quarters,” Vessel said. “It felt almost like He was inviting me into His bedroom.” 

Vessel heard a gasp, and his eyes snapped to the doorway, where he saw a female ghost he hadn’t seen the day before, and surely he would have remembered her. In contrast to the air of authority surrounding the woman he’d seen in the kitchen, she had an aura of love about her. She was beautiful, the kind of beautiful that would have dropped jaws and turned heads in her lifetime. Her hand was pressed against her chest where he imagined her heart once beat, and she shook her head furiously at him.

“Whether your dream was real or not, I think we can all agree that there’s something up there.” IV said, oblivious to their new listener.

“Oh, so we don’t think they were rats anymore then?” III said with a slight smirk on his lips, earning him a thwack! on the chest from IV.

“We won’t know until we look, will we?” II added with a shrug, turning to see Vessel’s eyes transfixed on the doorway.

“You must stop them!” The ghost cried, breezing into the room to kneel on the floor beside II’s legs. “Please, you will only make things worse.” 

“What do you mean?” Vessel asked her, scrunching his brow.

“I mean, I think the only way to-” II began explaining, only to be quickly shushed by Vessel. II furrowed his brow in confusion, following Vessel’s fixed gaze to the empty space beside the couch, his face melting in understanding.

“You will not learn anything. He will only use you to become more powerful.” The woman replied. 

“What do you know about Sleep?” Vessel asked, his eyes not leaving hers. The others sat in silence as they watched Vessel converse with the invisible woman.

“Is that what you call Him?” She asked softly, almost thoughtfully. “I’ve heard Him called many names over the years.”

“What do you know of Him?” He pressed.

“I think the question here is not what I know, but rather what you know. He has never been so forthcoming before, never shown Himself to anyone. You four seem to be… different from the others.” She conceded, letting her eyes drift over the other three beside her. 

“Different how?” He asked, but she only shook her head.

“The chandelier was supposed to be a warning. You should get far, far away from this place, it is not your home.”

“We were brought here with divine purpose,” Vessel said pointedly to the ghost. “We were brought here in service to Sleep, and we have every intention of staying.”

“Vessel?” III said hesitantly, wanting to understand the context of the one-sided conversation. The ghost’s eyes snapped back to Vessel.

“You’ve given him your name, haven’t you?” She whispered, her eyes widening. She shook her head vigorously, making a cross over her chest as she stood. She cast a pitying glance over the four of them before she disappeared from Vessel’s sight. Vessel felt a sinking feeling in his chest at her reaction and he fully turned his attention back to the other vessels.

“Ghost?” II asked, to which Vessel nodded.

“She seemed afraid of something. She said it was a warning, the chandelier.” Vessel answered. 

“Some fucking warning.” II muttered, shaking his head.

“They’re going to have to do a lot worse than that if they want to get rid of us.” III said loudly, turning his head just in case there was another eavesdropping ghost.

“What are we going to do?” IV asked worriedly, and Vessel just shrugged.

“We’re going to find out what the hell is going on, is what we’re gonna do.” III said with determination, standing from the couch and walking out of the living room.

as always, any comments/feedback are greatly treasured and appreciated <3

taglist: @bucchiarati (if you would like to be tagged in future updates, just let me know🖤)

[loverboyjune]

Mmm mind control with bits of 'this is more than devotion'

[cr1ms0n4nd-ac3]

Class of 14:

Basically an Class of 09 AU spinoff and also based on my ST OC's past and present.

[wispmotherr]

eeeuggghhh here’s some more sight of the sun/with somebody who loves me au smut. this time it’s non-canonical!

[spoiledleaff]

got my silly little poll results in for some possible future sleep token fantasy au installments!!! thank you to everyone who participated because now i’m so excited, haha!! i’m already rough drafting and polishing up the ascensionism piece because the idea for that one hit me like a goddamn vISION and wouldn’t leave my brain until i started writing it, haha!! but this one also features a little more worldbuilding than the vore piece, specifically through one of eden’s monsters uwu also some extra smut for you guys i’m sorry, i know the vore piece was mostly just me gushing about vessel and ii’s relationship dynamic, haha!

but because i can’t contain my excitement any longer and i wanna talk a bit about it!! just a bit!! here’s what i have so far for the ascensionism installment!! ♡♡

ascensionism will be another character study/porn fic that takes place before vessel’s ascension + before the events of the vore fic. primarily focusing on ii i’m sorry, the brain rot is real with all those drumeo interviews i can’t get him out of my brain!!! as well as introducing iii to the au! yippee!! haha! this fic will also feature some extra lore surrounding vessel’s future military once he’s king + some extra lore for ii and iii! i’ll also be introducing this fic’s monster — the forgotten embrace, ascensionism!

i kind of wanted to challenge myself by writing a god complex, haha! i felt it was the most appropriate, haha! but, for this fic, i’m adding a little extra challenge by writing both a physically manifested god complex as well as an internalized superiority complex featured in two different characters uwu since pretty much everyone in this fic is a soldier/fighter of some kind, there’s gonna be some mentions of combat, some wounds, some ✨wound cleaning✨, as well as some general homosexual things, haha!! it’ll have a primary focus on ii/iii, but!! this actually brings me to my next poll, haha! if you’ve managed to read this far, kudos to you!! i’m smooching your silly little brain cells as we speak, haha! ♡♡ but i’ve also got one more poll for you :3

the ascensionism installment does primarily focus on ii/iii but… i couldn’t resist the idea of adding ascensionism into the mix as well, haha! this poll is honestly just for me to have a pretty good idea of what people might be looking forward to with some of these fantasy au pieces :) that’s all!! ♡♡

[the-artist-grimm]

COTLTOBER DAY 6 - "Ritual"

You get what you give, you reap what you sow-

I just think using a dance to trace the blood runes for a ritual would be pretty~

[hopesangelsprite]

The Summoning

Pairing: Vampire!Illumi x Reader

Summary: Being immortal can grow very old, very quickly and Illumi's found that out the hard way. The only reasonable solution would be to find a suitable playmate, right?

Warnings: mentions of blood/death/murder, biting, size/strength difference, fingering, oral (m receiving), unprotected p in v, dacryphilia, breeding kink, degradation, female ejaculation, manipulation (vampire compulsion)

MINORS/AGELESS ACCS DNI

Viewer discretion is advised.

Oh, and my love

Did I mistake you for a sign from God?

Or are you really here to cast me off?

Or maybe just to turn me on

Illumi watched with half-lidded eyes as his servants removed a corpse from his feet, nothing left of the younger male but an empty, soulless husk. How many had he gone through now? 30? 300? Whatever the death toll was, it didn't matter. Illumi no longer cared for numbers, the sheer quantity of his years on earth drawing him to the conclusion that they were overrated.

"Bring me the next one.", he ordered while leaning further into the large throne chair he'd taken residence in, "If this one doesn't satisfy me, I'll be draining one of you in their place.". Illumi let threat roll off his blood-stained lips easily, keen on fulfilling it should he be presented another weakling.

There was a brief silence before the doors to his quarters opened, your figure edging closer uncertainly. The closer you got, the better he was able to analyze you. Unlike his previous victims, there were no tears in your eyes or trembling in your limbs. Though you eyed him warily, he sensed you were more curious than afraid. You were quite attractive, as well; with smooth curves just barely concealed by what was left of a skirt and halter top. As you finally got within arm's reach of him, you sank to your knees with fluttering lashes.

Illumi's cock twitched at the sight, the position giving him a perfect view of your tits and exposed thighs. "Do you know why you're here, pretty thing?", he inquired whilst making a mental note of just how fragile you were in comparison to him. To any mortal man, you'd be considered healthy, maybe even too much so for those on the weaker end of the male spectrum. To Illumi, however, you were nothing but a doll, a plaything he could bend and contort to his undead heart's content.

"I was running from my old life... I was promised shelter.", you answered after a moment and Illumi chuckled. He leaned forward, crimson tongue flicking over glinting fangs, and grasped your face with a large, ring-laden hand. "There's no safety for you here, little doll, only death or imprisonment.", he drawled out, keen eyes catching the way your thighs pressed together at his touch. With one hand, you removed his hand from your face, head turning to place a kiss on his palm. The other you placed on his dark denim-clad thigh, fingers tracing patterns into the coarse material. "Then I should aim to please, no?", you inquired as your hand crept closer to his belt.

'Cause these days

I would be lying if I told you that

I didn't wish that I could be your man

Or maybe make a good girl bad

A smirk graced Illumi's lips at your insinuation, lust deepening within him as you carefully undid his belt's clasp. So, he leaned back, dark eyes watching you like a predator behind inky tresses. He pushed his hips forward to allow you better access to him, reveling in the tiny gasp you let out upon freeing his cock. His skin was milky, fading into a pretty pink closer to his weeping tip; a few veins adorned his shaft, a little longer than he was thick. Your mouth watered at the sight, core moistening as you took him into your hands.

Illumi groaned at the softness of your skin against his, catching his bottom lip between a fang as you gave him a few experimental strokes. You shuffled closer, knees no doubt bruising from the floor's harsh surface. You placed your chin on his knees, inquiring eyes boring into his as you swiped a thumb over his leaky slit; you were seeking permission, how wonderfully submissive of you. "Go on then, have a taste.", he permitted with a lazy nod.

His breath caught in his throat as your warm, plush lips enveloped his cockhead, your tongue following shortly afterward. You kissed him wetly, the taste of precum unfamiliar yet welcomed. You took him into your mouth once more, this time sucking him as far back into your throat as you could. A deep, satisfied hum rumbled through Illumi's chest as he watched you begin to come up for air, a blood-stained hand tangling itself into your hair to stop your rising and push you down further. "Now, now. Don't underestimate yourself, darling, you can take a little bit more.", he mewled over the sound of your gagging, "Can't you?".

Illumi finally let you up after a few moments, cooing at the sight of tear-streaked mascara kissing your cheeks. Still, your eyes only held a strange look of awe and adoration; one that Illumi found himself mirroring as you continued to suck him off ever so sweetly. Illumi hissed as he pulled you off his cock, leaning down to catch your lips with his. He deepened the kiss as he guided you from the floor onto his lap, the taste of his arousal on your tongue only making him harder.

As Illumi broke the kiss, lips dipping to nip at your neck while his hands slipped underneath your skirt, a low curse escaped him as his fingers met your bare, soaked core. He found his sanity waning. "Nothing underneath?", he hummed as he brought your face close to his, "What a pretty little slut you are.". He locked eyes with you, eye contact unwavering as he pushed two long fingers past your entrance and began searching for that soft, spongy spot he knew would have you singing praises.

You whimpered upon the intrusion, thighs quaking as he began scissoring you open. Illumi took your bottom lip between his teeth and tugged, enjoying your breathy moans and the noises coming from your sopping cunt. "Feels good, doesn't it.", he chuckled as your hips began rutting against his palm, "I think we both know what'll feel much better, though.".

I've got a river running right into you

I've got a blood trail, red in the blue

Something you say or something you do

The taste of the divine

Before you could reach your high, Illumi pulled his fingers from your cunt. Without a second of hesitation, he shoved those same fingers into your throat as he pulled you down onto his cock, allowing very little protest as your pelvises met abruptly. More tears welled behind your lash line as you adjusted to the stretch of him overfilling your pussy, tip nuzzled snuggly against your cervix and g-spot. "Filthy fucking whore.", he spat as he pulled his fingers from your mouth and began manhandling you up the expanse of his shaft, "My filthy fucking whore.".

You cried out in pleasure as he pulled you back down, setting a quick and unforgiving rhythm. Illumi watched your tits bounce beneath the fabric of your top ruefully as he continued to use you like a doll. He growled as he tugged at its neckline, hips bucking up into you as it freed your breasts with a loud rip. You shivered as Illumi leaned forward to take one of your nipples between his teeth, gently tugging at it before swirling his tongue around the sensitive flesh. He continued his ministrations, switching between left and right, with a single hand keeping a bruising grip on your hip while the other busied itself by rolling your clit between its thumb and index finger.

Illumi felt your soft walls flutter around him and he groaned into your skin, pulling your body impossibly closer to his. He released your tit with a loud pop, hips pistoning his cock into you faster as he licked a stripe up your chest and neck. It didn't take him long to find your pulse, suckling over the skin while imagining just how sweet you'd taste. Soon, his cock was throbbing in perfect time with your moans, his high growing closer and closer the more you called out his name and begged him to slow down. Instead, he removed himself from your neck, pulling your forehead against his to lock eyes with you.

The air between and around you quickly grew tense, a steady thrum of energy bringing you closer to your high as Illumi's dark eyes melted into a bloody, crimson shade. "Cum for me.", he moaned into your mouth, head dipping to pierce your skin with his fangs. Without warning, your orgasm washed over you like a tidal wave, curses and pleas tumbling from your lips as the stinging pain of being bitten melded into overwhelming pleasure. Your mind grew numb as you came, your arousal spraying over Illumi's lap as he drank you in. And you let him, body trembling and unable to come down from the violent high he'd brought upon you.

You've got my body, flesh, and bone

The sky above, the earth below

Nothing to say and nowhere to go

A taste of the divine

Illumi released your neck after a long moment, tongue lapping up a few stray beads of blood as he pulled your hips flush against his and filled you with his seed. Another tremor crept down your spine at the sudden hot, sticky substance filling your womb, Illumi whispering sweet nothings and pretty vows into your ear to coax you out of the trance he'd locked you in. You blinked once, then twice, to clear the white spots and tears from your vision.

"There you are, little one.~", he purred before placing a kiss on the now bruising bite mark he'd given you, "Was afraid I lost you for a second.". All you could do was whimper, slumping forward to rest your head in the crook of his shoulder. Your scent faintly mingled with sex and iron filled his nostrils, tempting him to finish draining and breeding you. He let you rest, though, leaning back into the chair with his cock still plugging you full as he, too, drifted into sleep for the first time in centuries.

Besides, the venom and cum in your system would need time to take effectively.

[cybrfang]

I'm not the biggest fan of this one tbh. First time drawing the rest of the boys. But more satyrs!

Click for better quality obvy!

[grylum]

Show me those pretty white jaws.

[politemagic]

The Haunting of Sleep Manor: Chapter I

For years, Sleep has promised Vessel that he would find a safe haven for himself and the other vessels, a home free from judgement and ridicule where they would be free to be themselves. Through his dreams, Sleep showed Vessel a beautiful home, the perfect solace for the four of them. When Vessel sees Langley Manor listed for sale in a local paper, it feels as if everything is finally falling into place.

Only Langley Manor is more than meets the eye, with plenty of secrets yet to be uncovered.

2.01k words | ao3

a/n: she's here!!! I am so very excited to finally get this series going. thank you everyone for your kind words on my haunted house headcanons, I never would have started this without you. I've been having a lot of fun writing this and I look forward to continuing the eepies' adventures at Langley Manor! I hope that you enjoy, any comments/feedback are always greatly appreciated 🖤

The realtor had expressed great concern on the phone with Vessel, insisting that he should come to view the home before making any final decisions. But when he continuously refused a formal tour, she decided it may be best to just keep her mouth shut and accept her commission, letting him discover the truths of Langley Manor for himself. What she didn’t know was that Vessel had visited the property, though not physically, on many occasions. Sleep had taken him there through his dreams, guiding him through its halls, showing him glimpses of what he believed to be a refuge for himself and the other vessels. A place where they could commune with Him in peace, free from the judgemental eyes of prying neighbors and passersby; the desolate region surrounding the manor allowing them ample privacy. When Vessel saw the familiar facade listed for sale in the paper, he dialed the number immediately, not hesitating to purchase the home from his dreams. 

They didn’t have much in the way of worldly possessions, so all of their belongings packed neatly into one moving truck. The four vessels of Sleep squished together in the cab as they barreled down the quiet country road. Vessel was humming along to the radio, II lightly drumming along with his fingers against his thigh. IV’s mind had wandered off, his eyes slightly glazed over as he took in the passing scenery, III snoring against his shoulder. At last, they could see the wrought iron gates of Langley Manor, their new home looming at the end of the drive beyond. Vessel veered off the road, pulling up to the gates and shifting the truck into park, causing III to stir from his slumber.

Vessel hopped out of the driver’s door, unlocking the padlock with one of the many keys from the keyring he’d received from the realtor’s office the day before. The old house came with a ridiculous number of keys, he couldn’t even begin to imagine the various secrets locked away inside the home. Sleep wouldn’t have selected just any home, he was sure there was something more to this place than meets the eye. He pushed the gates open at last, quickly making his way back to the truck. The gravel driveway crunched beneath the tires as they entered the grounds of Langley Manor, the vast expanse of land that surrounded the manor house sprawling out in luscious greens before them. The manor house itself stood four stories high, its once bright red brick walls faded beneath years of direct sunlight to a muted rusty hue. Vines of ivy crept up from the ground, draping the house in a shroud of green. Despite the slightly dilapidated exterior of the house, Vessel felt his heart leap in his chest. He could hardly believe that he was finally here, that any of this was real.

They all clamored out of the truck, taking a chance to stretch and breathe before they began to even think about unloading their things. III groaned as he finally stood upright again, his legs severely cramped from the five hour drive from the city. II came to stand beside Vessel, glancing up at his obscured face with careful eyes as he watched Vessel tilt his head back to take in their new home, a deep sigh escaping his chest. II had become skilled in reading his body language over their years together, but there was something new in him now, something II had never seen before. When Vessel turned to look at him, the brightness of his smile made II’s heart skip a beat as he realized what that new emotion was. It was hope.

“What do you think?” Vessel asked softly, eager to hear II’s thoughts on their new home.

“It looks perfect,” II replied, shifting his gaze to look back up at the imposing structure before them. Vessel’s smile spread into an all out grin as he turned his head to see IV staring up at their new home in awe.

“Sure beats that dinky old cottage!” III exclaimed, walking up behind Vessel and II to throw his arms over their shoulders.

“Hey, at least that one was air conditioned.” IV argued, coming to stand on the other side of Vessel as the four of them silently admired Langley Manor. They all knew, as if Sleep whispered it into their ears Himself.

This was their home.

“Shit, Ves. This place is sick.” III added, letting out a low whistle.

“How far are we from town?” IV asked, looking to Vessel.

“About half an hour.” He answered, noting the way IV’s eyes lit up at his reply. As the newest vessel, he was still the most sensitive to the ridicule they were so often subjected to.

“He’s really blessed us this time.” IV mumbled to himself, noting the remains of a long dead vegetable garden to the side of the house. He silently thanked Sleep that they wouldn’t have to venture into town too often for groceries if they could grow some of their own.

“I can’t believe this is ours.” II said in quiet awe.

Vessel felt tears pricking the corner of his eyes, feeling a wave of satisfaction roll over him. He’d finally done it; he’d finally fulfilled the promise he made to the boys so long ago to find them a safe place to call home. They’d tried to build a home for themselves many times, though they always wound up getting chased out of town. People tended to fear things they didn’t understand, and no one ever bothered to try and understand the reasons behind their masks. Not that he expected it to make much difference, he doubted many of their previous neighbors would have been particularly receptive to the message of Sleep. It pained him that the others trusted him so fully to lead them, yet he felt as if he continuously led them in the wrong directions. He’d begun to doubt the visions Sleep had shown to him, and began to believe that maybe there was no safe place for them at all. But finally, here he stood, feet planted firmly on the ground before the home that Sleep promised to them, the home that He told Vessel would be theirs.

“Well, what are we waiting for?” Vessel said, making his way up the front steps. He singled out the master key from the jangling keyring, wiggling it into the deadbolt lock. When he heard the click of the lock disengaging, he turned back to the others before opening the front door, their eyes bright with excitement.

“Come on, let’s see it!” III encouraged, bouncing on the balls of his feet impatiently. Vessel shook his head, laughing quietly to himself as II elbowed him in the ribs. Vessel then dramatically pushed the door open, stepping aside to let them cross the threshold first.

III immediately went up the staircase that led to the second floor, shouting something about wanting to investigate the bedrooms first. IV took more tentative steps inside, being drawn straight to the library directly off the grand foyer. II walked in as if he was entering the home of a new acquaintance for the first time, hands folded behind his back as he admired the large crystal chandelier dangling from the ceiling, then decided to follow III up the stairs. Vessel paused in the doorway, taking a deep breath before he stepped inside.

The moment his foot made contact with the hardwood floor, an oppressive, stifling feeling came over his body. Once he was inside, the door slammed shut behind him, causing him to jump. 

“Fuckin’ hell!” He shouted, turning back to look at the door. 

“Everything okay?” IV asked, quickly emerging from the library.

“Everything’s fine,” Vessel shrugged, examining the door. “Door’s just real fuckin’ heavy I guess.”

“Suppose we’ll just have to be careful coming in late, then.” IV responded, taking his own look at the large wooden door.

“You want to check out the kitchen?” Vessel asked, and IV nodded his head. “C’mon, I’ll show you.”

As he led IV down the familiar hallway Vessel couldn’t shake the feeling that they weren’t welcome in this place. That oppressive feeling he felt when he first entered wasn’t entirely unfamiliar to him, and he felt a pit forming in his gut. Ever since he surrendered himself to Sleep, he’d found himself particularly attuned to the spirit world. He had become sensitive to the energies of souls that had yet to pass on to the Other Side. Over the years he managed to train himself to ignore it, but something about the way he felt in this house was different, stronger, as if the spiritual energies were amplified. But surely the house wasn’t haunted. There was no way that the house they had dreamed of and waited so long to find would be haunted. Right?

As Vessel pushed open the door to the kitchen, his heart plummeted. Gathered around the kitchen table was a group of five translucent figures. IV gasped when they entered, and for a split second Vessel thought he might see them too, but he instead made a beeline to countertops, investigating the slightly outdated appliances that came with the home. Vessel stood rooted in his spot, eyes locked onto the gaggle of ghosts. One of them, a woman in prim regency attire, scoffed as she watched IV draw nearer, not yet looking at Vessel. She had an air of authority about her, and Vessel assumed she was the matriarch of Langley Manor during her life based on her polished look. Her hair was pinned neatly atop her head, her dress perfectly unwrinkled as if she was ready to sit for a portrait.

“Oh wonderful, more cultists.” She sneered, shaking her head, her eyes scanning IV from head to toe.

“Hey, they might not be like the last ones,” A man said hopefully, watching IV carefully as he examined the pantry space with an almost childlike glee. “They seem nice enough, right?”

“That one’s scary.” A little girl’s voice piped up, and Vessel could just barely see her small hand pointing at him from behind the leg of the kitchen table. He felt a pang of hurt in his chest at her words, his shoulders slumping. 

All the ghosts turned to observe him, freezing when they felt the weight of his gaze staring back at them. The man who’d spoken, a tall man dressed in dark coveralls, took a tentative step forward, eyeing Vessel suspiciously. When Vessel took a small step backwards, the ghosts’ eyes widened.

“Can you see us?” He asked, and Vessel nodded, eyes flitting over to IV, who was now opening and closing the various cabinets, checking for anything that may have been left behind by the previous owners. 

“He can see us!” The little girl shrieked, shrinking back behind the table leg.

“We want no part in… Whatever it is you’re here to do. We have enough problems of our own and I’m tired of cleaning up your kinds’ satanic messes.” The woman said as she placed her hands on her hips. Vessel just shook his head, not speaking as IV returned to him, eyeing his distressed demeanor carefully.

“Hey, you alright?” He asked, clapping a hand on his shoulder.

“Yeah, no I’m fine,” Vessel reassured him with a half-hearted smile. “Just, uh, think I’m tired from the drive.” 

“Are you sure? Because you don’t look so hot.” IV said with concern, eyes narrowing at the beads of sweat forming on Vessel’s neck.

“Just feel a little out of it, is all.” Vessel shook his head, eyes darting behind IV’s shoulder to watch the ghosts, who were still eyeing him with suspicion.

“Well, let’s find you somewhere to lie down.”

Vessel let IV lead him out of the kitchen, casting a final glance behind him at the ghosts as the door swung shut behind them. He took a deep breath and followed IV to find II and III. 

Well this should be interesting. He thought to himself.

Chapter II

[loverboyjune]

Hmmm...

Infection!Sleep Token

Might continue this later.

[a-s-levynn]

Get frogged, cunt

[spoiledleaff]

i know, i know— theoretically i should just take the results of the last poll and switch them for this one, but!! i was still curious as to what people’s responses would be knowing that these polls are being used for my silly little fantasy au! :>

so i guess i should rephrase this question to what tmbte song would you like a fantasy au piece to be inspired by the least?? does that make sense…?

i had such a blast writing this fantasy au fic for the song vore that, uh, well… i kinda wanna do it again, haha! soo… out of pure curiosity, solely for scientific reasons, haha!! what’s your favorite song from the take me back to eden record?? >:3c