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ohmyeyesmyeyes · 7 months ago

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IT'S NEVER OVER - PROLOGUE (sept. 2005)

summary: if anyone asked sid, he wouldn't say that he liked pittsburgh more after meeting nat. no, that would be absurd.

warnings: short and sweet! (none)

a/n: hi, hello! am i posting this without having finished it? yes. i don't know how long it's going to be but i'm slowly chipping away at it and i'm pretty excited about it. it might even be my favourite series thing i've done so far, and weirdly my first one? i've had the entire thing outlined for months but i've been too busy to even think about posting it, so...here you go! i can't promise posts for this will be regular because the chapters are so long, but i'll try my best to keep you posted! hope you enjoy (a series mastrlist will be out soon too so you can get the gist of where i'm at in the entire process) xo

sneak peak | pinterest board

(It started with music, but Nat didn’t know that.)

It was a total accident, a random encounter that Sidney couldn’t possibly have predicted – one that, without exaggerating, changed his life to an extent. On a whim, he’d decided to go into that coffee shop he’d walked past everyday for the past three weeks, and it was also on a whim he actually made it to the counter to order an uncharacteristic coffee – he was newly eighteen, being pulled in all sorts of sports-diet directions, the confinement of which kind of irked him, so to him, buying that coffee was a subtle rebellion.

It was also a complete accident that he’d wandered off to the right after taking his coffee from the counter, instead of left, or forwards, or even backwards.

Sidney wasn’t one to believe in fate or destiny: he believed those terms were too magical – they alluded to some other worldly forces coming into play, and he liked to stick to facts. Coincidences. Accidents. Nevertheless, he did find it almost inexplicable, the way that his life hurtled into a completely different route after a mere forty minutes inside a coffee shop that he’d just spontaneously decided to make a trip of. He couldn’t quite get his head around it all.

To him, it was a coincidence that he’d walked past her table. A coincidence that she happened to be blaring the only song he’d been able to listen to for the last four days. He’d barely made it three steps past her before he froze.

She was wearing those over-the-ear headphones, the ones with orange sponges from the 80s, plugged into the iPod that had come out a few years back. He recognised it because everyone that had one in his high school before he left never shut up about it. Sidney admittedly did own one at the time, but he never really felt the need to show it off – it was much easier than lugging around a cassette or CD player with songs burnt in.

The song still had him halting in his tracks and turning around, his body much further ahead than his brain because he had to steady his mug of coffee; his sharp actions had the liquid almost sloshing over the edge, but he managed to catch it just in time.

He wouldn’t have done either of those things: stop and turn, if it had been any other song he’d heard. He was just so taken aback by it – the exact, precise song.

The girl at the table didn’t pay him a single dime of attention when he froze, despite the fact that his hip was practically nudging her table. She wasn’t even looking in his direction, her eyes gazing out of the window on her right, skipping over empty faces as people walked past. It was clear she was supposed to be doing work of some sorts: there were textbooks, novels, and flashcards scattered across the entire table, a pencil case half emptied with pens strewn all over. She had a pen clutched in the fist she was resting her chin on, not caring for the study cards at all – entirely enamoured by the view.

Sidney followed her eyes. There wasn’t much to look at, just a street, and her chair was directly facing the side of a retail store, clothes and mannequins displayed in the window.

In hindsight, Sidney didn’t really know what compelled him to do what he did next.

He couldn’t tell if she was bored and just looking out, not paying attention to the music flowing into her ears, or if she was just so absorbed in what she was hearing that she couldn’t physically bring herself to think about her work – that she’d tuned out the outside world entirely.

What caught his attention the most was the crease between her brows. It drew him to look straight at her; an alluring combination of chestnut hair and pale eyes – though not too pale that they made him uneasy. She was also probably the only person in the establishment that was around his age.

She had impeccable music taste, if he did say so himself.

Yet, he couldn’t shake the inkling that this girl was wholly feeling the brilliance and soul-crushing heartache of Jeff Buckley’s genius – and he found himself hoping she was.

That was why he cleared his throat and took a small step to the other side of the table. He threw a quick glance over his shoulder, noting that the cafe was pretty busy, so he knew he could at least try to get away with what he was about to do.

He made sure to tilt his head up, because the hat covering his face would be nothing short of slightly suspicious in a public setting, and it wasn’t until he purposefully knocked into the chair that she flicked her eyes to look at him.

He held his breath, a moment when all they did was look at each other, until the crease in her brows disappeared and she reached to pause her music on her iPod, slowly sliding her earphones off so they rested around her neck.

“Hi.”

His assumptions had been correct. She was around his age – her voice was deeper than he’d originally anticipated – and when he found himself slightly closer than before, he was able to make out that she was studying for her SATs.

It was September.

“Hi.” He replied, forcing a smile that he hoped would convey the apology he felt for intruding on her personal time and in her personal space. Her clutter was all over the table, and he knew that if she was hopefully as kind to strangers as he hoped she’d to be, that it would be somewhat of a hassle to shove some of it away, “I’m really sorry, but there aren’t any other tables free. Would I be able to–”

“Oh, sure.” She interrupted, immediately going to reach to sweep a space clear for him over the other side of the table. Sidney watched with a mildly amused gaze; she didn’t seem to care for the way her flashcards seemed to mix themselves up, or the way her textbooks snapped shut and she lost her page.

She flashed him a welcoming, slightly embarrassed smile as she piled the books on top of each other, and before Sidney knew it, he was sitting in the chair opposite, accidentally knocking their knees together in the process, and sipping from his coffee mug. He fought to maintain the thankful smile on his face, despite the utterly bitter taste of the coffee that seemed to fester on his tongue.

No wonder he’d never tried coffee before, it tasted like dirt.

The girl broke a small chunk of a muffin off, a smile breaking out on her face as she fought a small laugh.

Sidney blushed, “I’m not a big coffee-fan.” He reasoned, shrugging.

“I can tell.” She pressed her lips together momentarily, looking down at the plate before turning her attention back to him. Sidney felt stunned at the colour of her eyes. He’d never seen grey eyes before, but hers seemed to balance more on the green side – only when the sun struck the side of her face, they turned a watery, clear blue. There was also a tinge of brown thrown in there.

What was that called? Heterochromia?

He felt his mouth dry, and before he could stop himself, he was taking another sip of his coffee, this time managing to control the urge to wince, “Thanks for letting me sit here.”

She shrugged, gathering the flashcards and lining them up, “It’s no problem. Sorry for the mess.”

He let his eyes wander over the books once more, the green ‘SATs’ letters jumping out at him, “You got an important date?”

The girl swallowed, not entirely understanding what he meant. That crease formed between her brows again, and she opened her mouth to question him, but Sidney beat her to it, a finger pointing at her stack of books.

She sighed, “Not entirely, they’re at the end of the school year, but one of my teachers gave us an assignment to get some study material done early.”

Sidney couldn’t say he understood her stress – it was something displayed across the planes of her face; evident when she looked rather tiredly at the stack of books, and hesitated at the flashcards, before throwing them to the side. She folded her arms across the table, then switched so that her hands were interlocked in front of her.

She looked as though she didn’t quite know what to do with herself, and Sidney couldn’t tell if it was because of the presence of a stranger, or if she was already feeling some sort of academic guilt for throwing her attention away from her studies for a couple of minutes.

He saw her jaw clench, and at that observation, the thought that maybe he was paying a little bit too much attention to her crossed his mind, so he turned his focus to the cup of coffee. He was beginning to feel its effects; his knee was shaking softly under the table and he could feel an influx of energy spark at his fingertips. Or maybe it wasn’t the coffee at all.

He hadn’t thought about hockey for five minutes.

He saw her turn her face towards him out of the corner of his eye, and he looked up, “What about you? Are you in school, or…?” She trailed off, her eyes skimming over the logo that had flashed itself from the safe and unzipped confines of his hoodie.

He felt his heart quicken at having been caught, worried that perhaps she’d shout out who he was – if she knew – across the entire cafe. He remained optimistic; she didn’t seem the type.

He cleared his throat, “Not anymore.” For some reason he hesitated. He could play off the logo as merchandise – he could be someone other than Sidney Crosby, the New Rookie of the Pens – or he could be honest. When he looked back at her, there was a challenge in her eyes, and Sidney knew then that she already knew who he was. “I just got drafted to the Pens for my first NHL season.”

She sighed, “Can I tell you something?”

Sidney furrowed his brows, his mouth tilting down in a smile. He was new to the whole ‘local celebrity’ deal, but this by far, is probably one of the least impressed reactions he’d ever had. She clearly knew he wasn’t in school, but had still taken the kind courtesy to ask him the question, despite the futility of it.

He nodded.

“I only know one Pens player.” Then she pointed to something out of the window, “That banner has been staring at me every week for the past three months.”

Sidney huffed a laugh, thinking she was joking, but followed her finger anyway. He was immediately faced with a street corner, tens of people walking past each other – he could even make out their voices if he concentrated hard enough, and it took a while to figure out what exactly she was pointing at, until his eyes settled on a billboard at least a block down.

He’d been told that for press reasons, the Pens had come up with the idea of a way of promoting him as a player, and a ‘person of Pittsburgh’, by plastering some action shots of him – still staged – around the city. He’d neglected to look up lately, fearing that if he did, he’d be faced with some images of himself, but he hadn’t escaped that entirely.

The billboard was small, and he wasn’t the only player on there, either, but he saw it nonetheless.

When he spun back around to look at her once more, the only thing that came out of his mouth was, “There’s two other players, not just me.”

She shrugged, “I was talking about Sergei Gonchar.”

Sidney felt the blush colour from his chest to his cheeks as he slowly put his hands over his face, consumed by humiliation. He felt himself smile into his hands when he heard the girl huff a snicker. He’d had quite a few people as of late kissing up to his ego, and apart from his teammates, she was the first one to really deliver a considerable blow – and he was thankful for that; that at least someone still had the ability to look past who he was and tease him like he was a normal person. He was aware of the irony that lay there.

He gathered himself, unabashedly removing his hands and displaying the creeping blush for her to see, and sticking his hand between them, “Sidney Crosby, rookie center for the Pittsburgh Penguins.”

She rolled her eyes, not commenting on the state of his cheeks, her smile fading slightly but still remaining, “I was joking, I know who you are.” She took his hand in hers, gripping it tightly, “Nat Brooks. Student.”

Sidney swallowed, his blush remaining for other reasons, and pulled his hand away, flexing it under the table, “Is Nat short for anything?”

“Natalia.”

“‘S very pretty.” He mumbled, and she smiled sweetly.

“Sidney’s very pretty, too. It suits you.”

Something clenched in his chest.

#sidney crosby x oc #sidney crosby fic #it's never over prologue #nhl fic #nhl series #sidney crosby imagine #sidney crosby oneshot #sidney crosby x reader

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wafflesex · 1 year ago

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Spoilers for Floyd's Stitch Event SSR

I wrote this all down in a hurry so certain nuances aren't 100% accurate, but this is the gist of Floyd's Stitch vignettes! It starts with Floyd surfing. Azul and Jack tell him it's time to head back to the cottage but Floyd complains about wanting to do an activity that can only be done at nighttime. This is when he gets the idea to make fireworks! He goes to Stitch's spaceship and asks him to turn any excess scrap metal into a fine powder. Floyd: A'ight, time for Dr. Floyd to experiment! This will be yellow and this will be red... Aha~ I did it! I'm a genius~ Stitch: ? Floyd: Are you interested in what I'm making? This is called a "flying jellyfish." Oh wait... what's it called on land again? Ah! That's right. Fireworks, fireworks! D'you know about 'em? (seems to be a reference to Part of Your World: "... What's that word again? ... Streeet~") Stitch helps Floyd make a ton of fireworks. As they build, he tells Stitch about Jade.

Floyd: You know, a long time ago, Jade and I went to the beach to watch the fireworks. Jade's my brother. Stitch: Ohana! Floyd: Hm? Jade's not a flower. He's the same moray mer as me. ("hana" means "flower" in Japanese, so whenever Stitch says "ohana," everyone thinks he's saying "flower") Floyd: Didn't I tell you? I'm a merman. I used to live in the sea before I went on land. Back in elementary school, I secretly went up to the beach to see the fireworks. Dad and mama always used to say "It's dangerous for kids to go alone, so don't go anywhere near the coast." Stitch: GRRR! Floyd: Nah, it's been a long time since merfolk and humans have been afraid of each other. After the sea princess and the land prince got married, merfolk come and go as they like. But little merfolk shouldn't wander close to shore alone because they could be swept away or beached. Floyd: Adults can survive that alone, but not a kid. Anyway, there's lots of shops for merfolk along the coast now. They're like the cottage we built where they stick out into the sea. They sell things like hoodies and accessories. ... My parents have several shops like that. Floyd: Those are for the grownups to go near though, not children. ... But Jade and I used to go to the beach a lot anyway and not tell our parents. I mean, when someone tells you not to do it, you want to do it anyway, don't you~? Stitch: WEHEHEH Floyd: There's tons of rare stuff by the coast. Flying jellyfish are our favorite though. Watching 'em from the sea is the best! They light up like stars on the black water, the reflections are so sparkly... It's like swimming through the nighttime sky! Floyd: Stitch, you came from space, right? You should try swimming in the starry sky then! Even going from sea to land was exciting for me. I'd always be like "What's this?" or "Is that guy really like that?" It would be cooler if I could go to space. I'd get to see even more! Floyd: Are there other aliens in space like Stitch and Gantu? Ahhh, if I say I met an alien on a deserted island, there's no way Jade would believe me. "It seems as if Floyd had a very unique dream," he'd say.

Floyd: So since I'm going back to school soon, make sure you come and play, Stitch, ok? And bring a really weird alien with you! Liiike... an evil genius scientist who created you or a guy with one eye or spies who like to disguise themselves! Something like that. (very obviously a nod to Jumba, Pleakly, and Cobra Bubbles in Lilo and Stitch)

Azul shows up and asks how the firework arrangement is going. He's surprised to see A LOT of fireworks. Floyd: This is the sparkler type Azul taught me how to make and this one is a disc that rotates. But THIS square one is a design of my own!

Azul: Floyd's original fireworks arrangement...? I hope it doesn't spontaneously explode. Floyd: Don't worry, don't worry~ It's made properly with magic.

Azul: Honestly... when he has a "I want to do this" attitude, Floyd's focus is incredible. I hope it can always be like this, especially at work. Floyd: Enthusiasm got me hungry. Can you guys help me carry the fireworks? We'll hide them on the beach and surprise the others~

Back at the cottage, everyone sees all the lights are off. Floyd and Stitch have also given them buckets (I'm assuming to extinguish the sparklers afterward.) They're then led to the beach. Jack: You're not planning on surfing at night, are you?

Floyd: Buuu buuu~ (buzzer sound) The correct answer iiis... this! A large orange firework shoots up into the sky and explodes. Lilia: What a marvelous fireworks display! Floyd, how did you prepare all this? Floyd: Stitch turned the junk parts into a powder~ Everyone: YOU MADE THEM? Floyd: Stitch, bring me the rest of them, ok? Jack: Uwa-! You mean the big pack Stitch was carrying was full of fireworks?! Floyd: Yup~ I wanted to do this at night so I made 'em in my downtime earlier. Grim: Whoa! With this many, we could play all night long! Lilia: These long and narrow ones are handheld fireworks... But what's this square one? Floyd: That's my original one~ You do this and then you put this away-- Goldfishie, gimme some fire! Riddle: Don't go using people like matches. Honestly... There~! Floyd's firework explodes and it's a gentle rain of blue and white sparks and stars.

Everyone: Woooow~!! Floyd: Right? Aren't the reflections of it on the nighttime water pretty? Ace: Floyd-senpai is really freaking incredible~! You're a genius! Can I light one up too? Floyd: Go for it~ Do as many of them as you want. Lilia: Ohh! This sparkler lets off a green color like Diasomnia! Jack: And this one is yellow... Amazing. How did you change the colors? Riddle: This is my first time doing fireworks. So, I just light the tip of this stick on fire? Azul: Inside Mostro Lounge, it's common for us to set up fireworks on cakes and for celebrations. ... So it's refreshing to do it outside like this instead. He then walks over to Floyd who is quietly watching everyone else play.

Azul: Even though you were so enthusiastic about making them earlier, you're not doing a firework yourself. Floyd: Mm, now I feel like watching instead of doing. Azul: I didn't think you were the type to get all sentimental while watching fireworks. Could it be... that if Jade was here, you would do them then? (he has a mischievous smile here, so he's probably trying to embarrass Floyd) Floyd: Why're you talking about Jade? He's probably running the Lounge alone right now so I'm gonna hear a lot of complaints when I get back. I'll hear that instead of "I wish I could have been there~" Anyway, isn't it more fun if he and I do our fun things separately and then come back with souvenirs and stories? If you like those stories, then you'll wanna visit those places. If you don't like 'em, then you won't go. Floyd: Jade is the same as me. With mountain climbing, one day he got hooked on it and started doing it alone. It's always more interesting if we do different things separately from each other. Besides... if we were together 24/7, I think things would be pretty bad between us.

Floyd: In the past, it was common for us to get into big fights and beat each other up. Azul: The way you brothers quarrel truly is ferocious. I was terrified the first time I witnessed it. Floyd: It's been a long time since it's been like that. When we get serious with each other, I know my life's in danger~ Well~ If I have to fight, then I'll do it~ Riddle: HEY, STITCH! GRIM! Don't go fighting with fireworks!

Floyd: Oh, looks like Stitch is having a good time! I'll join in too! Azul: Fu~ Doing something like this at night on this island certainly is refreshing. A fun game that sparks and pops at the tip of your fingers... huh... Are you satisfied, Floyd? Floyd: Ehh~? You think I'd be satisfied with only this much? Azul: Yes, that was a stupid question, wasn't it... By tomorrow you'll be looking for another stimulus.

Floyd: Hmm what should I do tomorrow~? Doing this on a deserted island is really rare, you know. So I wanna do something that'll make Jade say "Please take me with you next time~" Play, rampage, do whatever I want! Gotta enjoy myself so much that I don't have time to be bored!

And that's it! Very happy to have more crumbs of tweel lore......

#twisted wonderland #twst #twst spoilers #lost in the book with stitch #floyd leech #azul ashengrotto #jade leech #octavinelle #my translations

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sleepingdeath-sapphic · 6 months ago

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Hi can I request some relationship headcanons for Briar Beauty from Ever After High x reader?

dating hcs ; ever after high

thank you for requesting anon <3

this includes briar beauty <3

reader is assumed as gender neutral <3

my account is 16+, please interact accordingly <3

briar is a partner who loves to keep things in your relationship as fun and enjoyable as possible for the both of you (got to make the most of the time she has before her century-long slumber, after all) — this usually translates to spontaneous dates, frequent sleepovers (wherein, naturally, neither of you actually get much sleep for all the fun you’re having), surprise drop-ins when you least expect them, lots of pda and just lots of physical affection in general, and the two of you just being a very playful and adventurous couple that’s the envy of everyone else around you

if she could, briar would happily spend her every waking (and even sleeping) moment by your side, but as that isn’t really possible due to your different schedules and separate housing she instead settles for making the most out of the time you do get to spend with her — which means you ought to expect every day out, lunch date, evening hangout, and sleepover to be spent with your wonderful girlfriend either cuddled up against your side or just outright perched on your lap (really it depends on your company)

she struggles a lot with reconciling her love for you with her destiny (the 100 years of sleep and the supposed love of her life that will save her from it), particularly the idea that one day she’ll close her eyes and then she’ll never see you again, and worse yet she’ll be expected to be happy about it and live the rest of her life with someone else long after you’re gone — she has a lot of nightmares about this scenario, and you’ve woken up to her sobbing and clinging desperately to your nightclothes many many times after you’ve shared a bed

(she’s never actually told anyone about these fears, she’s a royal after all and is expected to accept her destiny with grace and open arms, but you manage to get the gist of it from her body language and the sparse few words you can make out amongst her sobs and whimpers)

your contact name in her phone is 100% something super cute and sappy, think along the lines of ‘my happily ever after’ followed by one or two heart emojis — she really, really, hopes that you’re the one that will be able to wake her up and her ‘hundred years�� will just be like ‘a hundred days’ instead… she really doesn’t want to lose you

being with briar all but necessitates that you get accustomed to her sleeping curse, and more specifically that you get better at helping her work around the limitations she faces because of it — after all, with an attentive partner by her side to help her out she’s much more able to do the fun and adventurous things she wants to without anyone trying to limit or stop her because of that inherited curse

she loves going shopping and will take any and every opportunity she gets to spoil and pamper you (gotta make a good impression so you don’t forget her when she finally goes into her hundred year slumber) — needless to say you’re not left wanting for anything so long as she can help it, whether that means making sure you have the latest fashion collection pressed and ready in your wardrobe the same day it releases, or going out of her way to order something you’re interested in from one of the far away lands she wants to see one day, just say the word and briar will have it in hand as soon as royally possible

as mentioned previously, briar is extremely physically affectionate and is always touching you in one way or another when you’re together — but above all else she loves kissing you, and her favourite places to kiss you are as follows: your lips (this is also her favourite place to be kissed by you… which i’m sure has nothing to do with her fairytale of origin and her wish for you to be her soulmate… nothing at all), the apples of your cheeks, the tip of your nose, and the backs of your hands

#sleepingdeath sapphic #sleepingdeath #gender neutral reader #fluff #fluff hcs #eah x reader #eah fluff #ever after high x reader #ever after high fluff #briar beauty x reader #briar beauty fluff

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gardensnakie · 9 months ago

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whats the faraway au abt? like uhh

summary? cuz it seems really interesting :D

Of course :>

The Faraway Stranger AU is centered around Stranger. Taking place a few months after the good ending, Stranger is spontanously taken from the mindscape and dropped into the town of Faraway. Cheating death, avoiding complete erasure, and the opportunity to have a life is something he wasn't going to pass up. Stranger turns to Basil for navigation since Sunny had already moved away. And the sudden change in worlds affected Stranger's body where in the day, he looks somewhat human (he just has to hide his shadowed arms and legs in public), and in the night, Stranger looks like his original form.

I have some ideas for the plot as whole story that I am still developing, but its basically Stranger learning to adapt in reality. A fish out of water story. Thats basically the gist of this Au, thanks for asking :]

#omori stranger #stranger omori #faraway stranger #snakie goes insane

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auraeseer · 1 year ago

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No, I'm the river . . .

#lindemans #spontane gisting #cuvee rene #oude kriek #blend #2021 #100 posts #100% authentic lambic #vlezenbeek #belgium #lindemans brewery #world beer awards #belgian family brewers #pajottenland

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starsomens · 1 year ago

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Homeboy is probably ready. He has already read all the books on the topic, hell maybe even read something like 'When There Is No Doctor' which is a real book btw by Gerard S. Doyle and good. He's nervous cause a lot of shit can happen but he's ready. Called 911 first, called the police, and after just got ready to assist you as best he could. Btw that would be an interesting little story..😬

@nyxthedestroyerofworlds HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHHEHE very short but you get the gist

“I need to push now”

Noah stops completely in his tracks

“…what?”

Currently at exactly 40 weeks pregnant, just about 3 days past your date you had finally gone into labor. You didn’t tell Noah until he had gotten home since you started laboring around the morning and wanted to surprise him. Of course you’re weren’t able to since you started to get the strong contracts plus your water breaking, which was clear enough what was happening

Noah had demanded you sit down while he went and get the hospital bag and anything else you might need. He helped you change into a pair of sweats and one of his shirts and got your slippers on. He had gone the bag both of your IDs and wallets and the car keys. Right when he was at the door and ready to open it and leave ready to welcome your baby, the world you stayed, sat in your place.

“Babe come on your water broke and we can’t be wasting anymore time we have to get to the hospital” you were right your husband was a lot more nervous than you were. But all honesty you just could not get up. Even if you have forced yourself, you stayed in your place and you knew what was happening.

“ we’re not gonna make it to the hospital. This baby is gonna be in the car or here, but definitely not in the hospital.” you try to keep your cool to your body, knowing that you would not make it in the hospital. The pain only increased, and the time between them decreased it felt like you were on a roller coaster that kept elevating and elevating you can see where it finally stops and you knew what was gonna happen.

“Noah…” you pant “ the baby’s coming now and we have to stay here and call an ambulance because I don’t want to deliver our child on the road” tell him in a more demanding tone mostly out of sheer fear and pain mixed in

“Okay….okay okay! Hold on!” he dropped whatever he was holding and runs up into his studio. He grabs a couple of items and comes running back downstairs. His phone is between his shoulder and his ear as he speaks into the microphone “ she said that she’s not gonna make it to the hospital and we might have to deliver here…. Yeah that’s the right address….mhm this is my phone… okay”

He sets down some books and opens them to specific pages as he sits on the floor in front of you. He put the phone on speaker and rest his large hands on your knees.

“Princess, on the phone with a paramedics they’re on their way right now just in case they’re single phoning case we have to deliver the baby and have the books that I read on childbirth so in case, if things do escalate, I’ll have to deliver the baby okay?” he said it in a whispered tone. He felt like he was in controlled the situation, but he still felt like it was so spontaneous and he was honestly scared.

You nod your head as your breath starts to hitch once more, Noah takes your hand in his and lets you squeeze as hard as you needed

"Ah Noah! I-it's coming!" Noah grabbed a towel he brought with him and some pillows, he helps you to kneel on the floor and hold on to his shoulder while he held the rest of your weight. He hated to hear your screaming and clawing at his shoulder in pain, but he knew he had to help you get through this.

“Come on Y/N, you got this I’m right here” he held you up and made sure to keep a hand underneath you in case anything were to just happen suddenly.

“Fuck Noah! Ah it hurts!” Your lung empty whatever sir was left in a loud scream. You’re going to have explain to the neighbors what happened tonight

“I know baby, but you’re almost there come on! I’m right here” he was red to encourage you while also giving himself the confidence. After about 4-6 pushes on the 7th you give a final push and Noah catches your baby. Mucus, blood, cries and all you had given both and your husband delivered your baby on your living room floor in just a few pushes. Noah had gotten some extra soft and warm towels to keep your baby warm from the coolness of the home, while he turned the temperature up. Just in time the paramedics arrived and gotten you into the ambulance with Noah to take you to the hospital to be checked out.

#bad omens #noah sebastian #noahsebastian #badomens #noah sebastian x reader #bad omens cult #bad omens band #star’s mutuals✨#Noah Sebastian x pregnant reader

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thorburned · 2 years ago

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Big fan of fantasy settings that turn classic monster types into more abstract archetypes that fit within the magic system.

Dragons in Pact aren’t just big magic lizards that sometimes fly or breathe fire, they have a specific place in the universe, with each one being an ouroboros, a perpetual motion machine, an infinite feedback loop of some kind of power, often but not necessarily elemental. A god that worships themself, a fire that burns itself as fuel, a spring that acts as its own water source, a battery that powers itself. They aren’t always reptilian, but default to forms reminiscent of dinosaurs as the last dominant group of organisms before the rise of mammals and humans. They’re one variation on a broader concept in the universe, of knots, places or beings or circumstances where the usual balances and flows of the universe have stopped working as they should.

Bogeymen in Pact are a way of unifying the wide variation in specifics of horror movie monsters and slashers, preserving the uniqueness of each one while keeping the shared themes of fear and implacability and refusal to stay dead in the sequel; each one is someone who fell into the Abyss, a dimension that feeds on pain and fear and specializes in forcing its victims to sacrifice their humanity to improve their own situation, and got out by agreeing implicitly to become the Abyss’ agent in the mundane world, dragging more people down to keep themself afloat.

@artbyblastweave also has a great non-Otherverse concept of Minotaurs emerging from mass death in a labyrinthine area.

So I was thinking about Gorgons. There’s a lot of variation to this Greek myth, but the gist is that if someone looks at a gorgon, they turn to stone. Also they have living snakes for hair which is sick. The Basilisk and Cockatrice are other monsters that are usually described as having similar powers, though in some versions they poison or burn rather than petrify, and in others it’s what they look at that ends up poisoned/burned/petrified, instead of what looks at them. Also they tend to be more bestial and might incorporate some bird parts in addition to the reptile parts.

The reason for why they have this power ranges from “cursed by gods” to “they’re just like that”, but I think an interesting interpretation would be in a similar vein to Pact’s dragons. They’re beings that embody such a potent source of a particular element or substance or power, that they’re incredibly reactive or contagious, so much that even looking at them or being seen by them provides an avenue for their essence to cross and infect. They arise from too much power being forced into too small a container, until pressurized enough to burst out along any path of least resistance, rapidly conducting along any connection. The ‘snakes’ seen in some gorgons are in fact plumes of their energy leaking out, like the corona of a star, reptilian emission spectra. The heads of some gorgons may appear to those who manage to view them indirectly as like blooming flowers, bristling with invertebrate legs, pierced with spikes, or radiant with halos; these are only ever brief glimpses however, as even indirect viewers are almost immediately blinded. The ‘crown’ that gives basilisks (from basiliskos, ‘little king’) and cockatrices (spelling influenced by resemblance to a rooster’s comb) their names is the same phenomenon.

‘Gorgon’ could be interpreted as specifically the stone or earth infused variant of this being, while ‘Basilisk’ could be fire and ‘Cockatrice’ poison, or they could all just be treated as interchangeable. A fire gorgon cause viewers to spontaneously combust, a water gorgon melts its spectators, to look on an air gorgon is to vaporize. Gorgons vary in power, and not all are able to instantly convert the whole body, but even the weakest are usually fatal due to the close proximity of eyes to brain. The victims that escape direct eye contact with only blindness or nonlethal brain damage are few and lucky. Even a reflection of some more powerful gorgons can be enough to turn eyes to stone or melt them out of their sockets. A potentially related phenomenon is seen elsewhere in Greek myth, with Zeus and Semele, and in the Bible, with Lot’s wife. While mortals gazing on Lovecraftian horrors may lose their minds, those who witness the true power of a god are annihilated or become a pillar of salt.

#wildbow #otherverse #there's some demons in pact that do similar things to what's described here #a lot of demons are abstract and able to possess or appear from reflective surfaces including eyes that look directly at them #and also in the bit discussing how demons only destroy never create there are some examples #about how demons that make statues or noise when annihilating people is actually just the universe backfilling terrain or air #also sight/eye contact functioning as a detectable or exploitable connection that magic can conduct along is also an established thing

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wolven91 · 1 year ago

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The Predator Café - Chapter 5

The giantess's eyes blinked a couple of times as she seemed to consider how to reply to his question. Pip pulled the t-shirt she had lent him around himself as he sat down, still mere inches away from the tip of her nose.

"Well... where I'm from; it's not unusual for folk to eat a mixture of both meat and vegetables. If ya' don't supplement whatever nutrition one of them gives you ,with something from the other side, we can actually get sick eventually..."

It was as if a mountain had stated it could be toppled by something as small as a stream, the idea that anything could affect his goddess was a concept that he struggled to accept. He still listened, he had to know the important aspects about her if he was to host her at some point; he'd need to know these things.

He lost concentration for a moment at the idea of having her over. First an image of her sat on his dorm room bed, she was his height and alone with him, before the image corrected and he addressed the idea she'd have to eat from the window if she was to come over.

"-so, they probably came about because of this food scarcity, ya' know? Eat what ya' can, when ya' can." He turned back in at the end of an explanation, but he got the gist of what she was saying.

There were stories of how inhospitable their home world used to be. Apparently, people his size, prey or predator, would have had to have a human escort at all times. Whilst they had tamed their world completely, they kept feral predators as pets and couldn't promise that these pets wouldn't brutally murder visitors to the little blue green marble. Still, that wasn’t a problem anymore, not with Sol-3 being a collection of cold, dead rocks now.

Pip's stomach took this moment to remind the both of them that it hadn't had anything to eat in several hours and all the excitement had rendered him quite hungry. He'd come to the premature conclusion that she wouldn't be able to feed him, but with the revelation that the Humans were even weirder than initially thought; his body didn't want to delay any further. Pip died slightly inside as it spoke up to completely interrupt Natasha mid-sentence.

She abruptly stopped, freezing in place, as her eyes darted to his belly and back up to his face before breaking out into playful, spontaneous laughter.

Pip couldn't help but join her. Her laugh was the most beautiful sound he had ever heard. Morning bird song would never gold a candle to it nor would the grandest of symphonies match the butterflies it caused to flutter deep within him.

Pip swore he'd do anything he could to hear it again, but right now, perhaps addressing his rather rude stomach would be for the best.

"Wait right there sugar, I'll get ya' somethin' right away. Ma and Pa would kill me if they thought I was starvin' ya'."

Her massive bulk rolled abruptly away from him, her tree trunk legs twisting to catch her. She walked away into another room of her home that he hadn't seen yet. He heard her call back from, what he assumed, would be a kitchen.

"Anything ya' need? I got a bit of everything, just nothing too fancy.."

He replied with; "Any fruit would be nice please? Ah, thank you!"

A moment ticked by.

"Hun'?" She asked peeking her head around the door again.

"Sorry, I said any fruit would be lovely thank you?"

"Oh okay, I just didn't hear ya' love." And she disappeared again, leaving him alone on the bed.

He rubbed his eyes again as he tried to process how quickly his life had gone completely off the rails.

So much for being a respectable Prey.

Glancing around himself now that he had a moment, he looked at the strange plush again. Gathering up his 'toga' around himself he made the hike to the pillows. In all honesty, it wasn't that far to go, it just wasn't an easy amble as the floor moved and dipped with every step.

The plushie was almost a match for his exact height and seemed to resemble a known space faring species, long ears, buck teeth and a comically rotund belly. Pushing a finger into said stomach deformed it readily.

He didn't know how to respond to finding a life-sized stuffed doll of a Prey on her bed. No judgments of course, she was perfect in every way, why would he judge her for whatever made her happy?

But what if that was it? Was it decorative? Was she just talking to him because he was the next best thing? Did she even like him? Was this real?

His mind left to its own devices without a significant source to his happiness, left him doubting everything positive that had happened to him in the last twelve hours. It was an awful trait of his, but without his goddess being present, all the dark and moody thoughts crept back in to threaten the positive ones that she had brought to him.

Pip tried to go through some breathing exercises like he'd been told to do when he began to spiral. His mental health had become such a fragile thing of late.

"Here we go darlin'! Oh, where'd ya' go?" She asked as she strolled into the room holding a bowl alongside a set of clear packages on the other hand.

Putting two fingers in his mouth, he blew hard, releasing a clear whistle that brought those eyes back to him instantly. A relieved and warm smile broke out.

"I think it's time I put a bell around ya' neck or something. I'm terrified imma' step on you or somethin'."

'I'd willingly let you put the collar on, if it would make you happy.' Pip thought silently to himself.

She placed the bowl next to him, near the pillows and laid back down on the bed on her front.

She placed the two other packages down next to her.

The bowl contained a pile of red pitted fruit that Pip had never seen before. They had been cut up and on review were dry on the outside with a juicy inside that left red stains along the sides of the white porcelain. Her food however, gave Pip pause.

One packet seemed to be individual lumps of a white solidified paste with green or red herbs sprinkled on top, while the other was evidently something made of meat. Multiple overlapping circles of thinly sliced blotchy red meat.

"Ah, ya seen it. Well, here's my question, if ya' don't mind answering it. Can you handle me eating meat in front of ya'? If ya' can't, I don't mind none, but I need to know now before I end up upsetting ya' in future."

She extended a finger and using a knuckle brought his head up to meet her eyes.

"I need honesty, now hun'."

Pip blinked and swallowed past the digit holding his head up. She was trying to think about him, she was concerned and conscious about how her own eating habits might affect him. Nobody had worried about that in the past; he'd been present to gangs of predators tearing into what was obviously once a living breathing creature whilst he'd been sat there with neither a care nor a glance at him or his feelings.

He felt…

He felt seen by her, like she wasn't just pretending, like he was just as tall as everyone else in the world when he was under her gaze.

"It's okay, I trust you." He whispered.

In hindsight he wondered if she'd even heard him, but she nodded and her knuckle released his chin, but her fingers gently stroked his cheek before they retreated and she grabbed the edge of the plastic wrapping. With a violent jerk and a tearing noise, a spicy rich smell emanated from the meat.

He had no desire to try it, the thought made his stomach roll like normal, but it didn't smell bad. The 'white-lump' package was opened next. Pip, not wanting to be left behind, reached into his bowl and retrieved a large chunk.

He wasn't sure just how hungry Natasha thought he was, but the small pile of diced fruit was almost as large as he was. If he were to eat all of this, he would technically be more fruit than Chintian.

'Maybe she's fattening me up...' he mused as he tentatively took a bite of a reasonably sized piece. It was sweet, incredibly sweet. His cheeks hurt from how sweet it was, but this of course, did not stop him from taking a second bite.

"What is this?" Pip asked between mouthfuls, mentally noting that he probably needed to wipe his mouth.

Natasha paused in her actions as she was about to drop a lump-wrapped-in-meat package into her maw.

"Strawberrys! My family grabbed a whole bunch of seed packets during the evacuation. They send me care packages every now an’ then." She explained before popping the red parcel into her mouth and began to chew it.

“Them there is prob’ the most valuable thing’ I got here.” She admitted with a shrug.

Pip couldn't help but stare. He was confused how they would develop to handle everything. Was there anything they couldn't eat? How were their teeth set out? It was like finding out that gravity was optional.

He had so many questions.

“What have you got?”

“Pepperoni and cheese, or close ‘nuff”

There was a lull in the conversation as Pip watched her.

She was staring at him too as she slowly peeled slices free from one package before picking up a white lump and rolling it up in the meat with a practised dexterity.

"You're staring hun'..."

"So are you." He replied, immediately pausing to apologise for his curt response, but she giggled with her mouth full.

"Mm, I think, mm.. just a sec'."

A swallow.

"I think we need to get our curiosity out the way, what do ya' say?"

Pip paused as he finished his own mouthful.

"And how do we do that?"

She held up a finger to emphasise her idea, it was stained orange with grease. He watched her lick it clean before she continued.

"We take it in turns to ask questions. One at a time, no judgments and full honesty. Thoughts?"

A chance to ask any question he wanted? What would she want to know? What if it was embarrassing? What if she didn't like his answer?

'Lie' a oily dark corner of his mind suggested.

Pip couldn't do that to her, not just morally, but he honestly felt like he would wither away under her gaze if he deliberately misled her.

"No judgement?" He enquired.

She blinked slowly as her head tilted to the side with a smile and her shoulders slumped as she relaxed;

"No judgment. Honestly babe, I don't think there's anythin' ya' could say that would shock me."

"Okay, full disclosure." Pip agreed, oddly feeling like he'd just signed a dubious contract.

"Full disclosure then, do you wanna' go first?"

"Er, no. L-ladies first, please."

"Ever the gentleman, ya' lil' cutie. Okay, this one's been burnin' at me since I learnt about it. How come ya' all call yourselves 'Prey'?"

Not how he thought the questions would begin, he wasn't even sure if he was understanding her question right, so he started to explain slowly.

"Well, it's because we're not Predators? I mean, aside from Humans being weird and all that, if you're Prey, you're a Prey, if you're not, you're a Predator?"

"No! I meant, like, is that not a negative thing? Why would ya'll put ya' selves down like that?"

It took a moment for Pip's mind to jump from one train of thought to another.

"Oh! Oooh! I see what you mean! Oh, this is good that you asked, you'd look a bit odd if this came out in conversation." Pip stepped around the bowl as he began to explain, using his arms to emphasise his points. His nervousness and subconscious desire to keep the bowl between himself and Natasha was forgotten at this moment.

"So that way of thinking is considered archaic nowadays. Way back when it did have those connotations there were plenty of Predators who used it as a term of insult or to put people 'in their place'." He said, creating air quotes with his fingers before continuing.

"After the war it was re-examined and it gained a new meaning. Rather than referring to something weak, it was used as a symbol of pride; a mark of resistance and resilience and coming together. The Predators had this too, but in a different manner, they weren't to be referred to as if they were feral drooling monsters, but proud and brave creatures that could use their strength to protect those who couldn't."

Pip shrugged and made a face as he conceded; "Sure, there are those who still use the words with the old inflections and meanings behind it, but they're an old and dying breed. Racists like that always die out eventually, it's just a shame they make so much noise before they go extinct."

He didn't want to talk about the rumours and the missing folk, not yet. He wanted to impress the Human with their respectful ways for each other, not the criminal element.

"Okay, your turn." She pointed out whilst putting another lump of food into her mouth before resting her chin on her hands, staring at him. Pip felt it should be more off putting to be stared at in that way, but he just didn't feel as scared as before.

"Okay, my question, err... why the Café? You could walk into any job within reason just for the sake of being Human, take into account how you seem sharp to me, I bet there's not much you couldn't do?"

She 'hummed' and thought for a moment.

"So, I didn't know where I wanted to go or even what I wanted to do. If I’d stayed at the station; then chances are I would have ended up as a 'Robot Wellness Monitor' in one of those god-awful warehouses." Her nose crinkled at the thought, Pip assumed it wasn't a pleasant role.

"But then we weren't stuck there. The TGC just up and let us travel an’ we suddenly could go anywhere we wanted and not only just survive but thrive on alien worlds far beyond what we ever dreamed."

She had slowly drifted away to look off into the distance at this point, but her eyes came back to Pip.

"I let fate decide where I was to go." She said mysteriously, 'which fits her to a 'T'' he smirked to himself.

"I got on the first transport I could after securing this place. It only took a week of travel, I honestly thought it would take far longer so I could get to know folk and develop an idea of what I wanted to do. But I ended up sat here with some coupons that ya' government gave me to tide me over and a complete and overwhelming sense of being hopelessly lost.”

Pip tilted his head up at her;

“Lost?”

“I was so desperate to get away I hadn't really thought about what I'd do. I didn't realise how easy it was to get a job out here was though, ya' government even offered to put me in a couple of glorified mascot suits. Eventually I just went for a walk to get some air when I saw the Café."

She laid her head on the bed on top of her hand, now she looked at him from below, he remained still as he patiently waited for her to continue.

“I thought it would be perfect to meet plenty of new people; I could get to know the staff, maybe make some friends. Turns out the first customer I got to stay and order was the best I could have hoped for. I kinda' hope he wants to be friends with me. I'd like that; it's lonely out in the stars.” She said as some of her hair fell over her face, a smile lop sided smile had grown on side of her lips..

“I think if they were smart, they'd want to be friends with you too Natasha.” Pip said at barely above a whisper.

“Your turn hun'.” Her smirk developed into a full smile. Was her face going red?

“Did you not get any friends out of the staff? I thought the Predators all stuck together?”

She gave a half-hearted smile;

“They were nice, don't get me wrong, but they were so intense all the time. It's like they just didn't take a breath, ya' know? I doubt any of 'em would be chill to get a beer with.”

Now it was Pip's turn to smile ruefully; “Yeah, that's what a lot of Prey 'folk' say about them. It puts us all on edge. It's like you're expecting them to snap?”

A broad grin from her again;

“I know, right!? Well, I think I want to know a bit more about you Pip.”

He swallowed as he sat down crossed legged and steeled his nerve.

“I'm yours to discover. What would you like to know?”

“Hey that's a question!” she teased, breaking Pip's serious expression.

“Okay, so, I know what ya' look like, but I have no idea; what are ya' Pip?”

“I'm a mammal.” He offered uselessly.

She fixed him with a penetrating stare through her eyebrows.

“Okay, okay! I'm a Chintian male. I'm 20 and I'm currently trying to get through college to get a glorified engineering degree. My kind hail from a savanna-like planet called 'Cinroul'.” Pip counted his points off his fingers as if checking bullet points off a list.

”We are an extremely social species, being on our own is very unhealthy for us. Our families are typically numerous, my own currently sits at around 150 cousins or nephews at last count. I can confirm; It is pure hell when we meet for a family gathering, especially for whatever poor unsuspecting town we settle on to descend upon!” He joked.

“Honestly, what you see is what you get. I can't talk for the rest of my kind, but what am I in particular? I'm... I wasn't in the best of places the night I met you, but now? What I am is grateful you wanted to talk to me and that you let me stay over.” He finished deliberately meeting her eye. He hoped he would impress upon her the depth of his meaning.

“I'm not sure how to word my next question... How- Are Humans Predators?”

“Ooh, a good one. Yes, but also no.”

“Perfect, thanks.”

“Oh shush, I'm trying to figure out how to explain it to ya'.”

Pip licked some of the strawberry's residue off his fingertips, wholly dyed red.

“Okay, so we started as 'prey' to a degree. But we figured out how to hunt in our own way? We have characteristics of both groups. Even as kids, we play 'hide and seek', you could interpret that as children acting as both prey and predator in practice. If we see a shadow overhead, we'll look up to see what it is, is that us checking for danger? Do Predators do that?”

Pip didn't answer but conceded the point to her, it was odd for these traits to exist within someone who just 'looked' like a Predator.

“I don't get it though, your eyes are forward facing? Even without seeing your teeth, that's a pure sign of being a hunter!”

She shrugged into the bed; “I don't know what to tell ya' hun'. You'd need to talk to a biologist or somethin'. And my teeth ain't nothin' like the proper Preds. My back ones are flat.. ish.. they're for plants and all that.”

He didn't know that, he hadn't the opportunity to count her teeth yet and whilst he trusted her at this point, he still didn't feel the need to ask to see them.

“Can I touch you?” She asked quietly.

Pip looked up as his train of thought derailed completely.

“I.. er.. you've already touched me?”

“I meant, I want to feel ya' fur, I've picked ya' up when I've needed to because ya' said I could and I had to, to fix ya' issues at those times. I want to know what ya' feel like without me holding ya' or nothin'.”

He hesitated. Impossibly, he hesitated despite this being a lingering fantasy at the back of his mind.

“Okay.”

Her arm extended from her side and her hand approached from above. Her index finger was lower than the rest as she brought her whole hand down towards him. He tensed as he felt her get close, before a soft, warm pressure touched the top of his head. It trailed down the back of his skull, past his neck and down his back. It pushed the t-shirt downwards without effort as she traced his whole spine before stopping just before his tail.

His whole body shivered.

“Can I touch your tail too?”

He felt bold, bringing the sensitive appendage round into his hands;

“That's a second question... “

Her hand dropped onto the bed behind him. She wasn't touching him, but she was surrounding him none the less.

“Go on then hun', make it a good one.”

“W-why do you like me, Natasha? I'm glad you do, but.. we're.. we're very different. You could be friends with anyone, you know?”

He worried himself with his tail, avoiding looking at her.

“Because ya' were honest, Pip. Intentional or not, ya' can't hide what ya' feeling, I can see what ya' emotions are from just lookin' at ya' ears, ya' tail or how you scratch at ya' neck or arms.”

She sighed through her nose before continuing.

“Back home, I didn't have a great taste in guys, I trusted 'em, when I should have run. Then here's a guy who's as transparent as they come, but he's genuine. He's not human, but what does that matter? I've only known ya' a blink, but I honestly think I can trust ya' Pip. I want to trust ya'.”

“You can Natasha, I want you to know; there's not a lot I can do, but you can rely on me. I promise you...”

“I believe you honey. So why do you like me then?”

Pip smiled as he met her gaze this time.

“You treated me like I was the same as you. Like I was a Human or a Predator or-or-or someone tall.” His words failed him briefly before he picked his thought back up.

”I wasn't... I wasn't 'me' when you looked at me. I suddenly existed, Natasha, because you could see me. My life is one of being unseen by most people because that's the way of things. I don't know anyone else who makes me feel like I matter like you do when you look at me. It's not just an acknowledgement that I'm there, it's like you breathed life into my life again.”

He couldn't stop the words once they started to flow. He thought back to the grey world of his life without her. He had to express what she meant to him, honestly and completely exposed to her.

“When you're in the room, you're the whole world. I-I don't know how else to explain it.”

She was silent for a moment and a second one too. Her hand came round and gentle fingers worked their way under his arm, running down his forearm and wrist to grasp his tiny hand in her massive hand.

“Please understand; that ya' perfect Pip. Don't ever wish to be different, ya' as perfect as they come honey. I didn't know that you felt that way about ya' self babe and it's not healthy.”

“I know... but that's not.. it's not something you need to worry about. I'll be fine.”

“Friends worry about friends Pip; I'm not going to let ya' work through this on ya' own.”

He couldn't say anything, he felt a lump in the back of his throat and all she did was lay there rubbing her great fingers back and forth across his arm.

She didn't rush him or judge or make light of his struggling to get himself back together.

He didn't know how long they were there like that until he felt like he could survive meeting her gaze again. But she was still there, eyes filled with naught but care and support.

He gave a smile of his own that reached his eyes.

“I think we need to think about getting some sleep hun'. It's been a long night and while it may technically be 'morning', I think it would be better if we just lay here for a bit.” She suggested as she stopped rubbing his arm, but kept her hand directly next to him.

He lowered his arm on top of her hand as he nodded;

“I think that would be a good idea. I kind of need noise though, do you have a television we can put on quiet?” He asked hopefully, it was one of the few ways that put him to sleep without fail.

“Of course, let me just clear this stuff.” She collected the remnants of the food packages and bowl placing on her desk before turning on the screen that was attached to the wall above the desk and flicking through the channels.

“-Now with additional benefits!”

“-ain't big enough for the two-”

“-napping of an unidentified male-”

“I aim to misbehave...”

“Oh, this one is a fine show to fall asleep to.” Natasha stated putting the remote down on the bed and clambering back onto it with Pip.

He settled himself leaning against her pillow at the top of the bed with Natasha resting her head on the pillow proper. She had removed the plushie, she had said it was a 'rabbit' that was a gift she had kept since childhood and never really wanted to be rid of it. Pip thought of the coincidence of its appearance, but didn't dwell on it.

It didn't take long before Natasha's breathing became deep and even, this gave Pip a rhythm to listen to, which slowly lulled him to sleep.

His slumber wasn't uneventful however; his dreams were ones of running, of trying to keep up with Natasha as she walked away from him along the surface of his home planet. No matter how fast he ran, he couldn't keep up with the colossus.

He woke with a jolt as a hand landed on top of him snapping him out of his distressing dream. He had slipped down from the pillow so he was flat against the mattress now. Looking to his left he saw Natasha was still sound asleep but her hand had landed on him and had gripped slightly. He placed his hands underneath himself and attempted to extract himself from her grip.

This caused an immediate response as she gripped tighter before rolling towards him. It was quite intimidating watching a wall of giant fall towards him, but she stopped and merely pulled him towards herself in her sleep.

===

Natasha rested soundly as she held her favoured 'rabbit' to herself like she did most nights.

#conservationverse #cuddleverse #human #hfy #haso #humans are space orcs #chintian #chipmunk #size difference #sizeplay #sizetumblr

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silverinkbottle · 9 months ago

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Chapter 3: Shopping Around

A/N: Delayed chapter, but here it's here! We get a glimpse of Reader's Past, Alastor's introduction and Vox's unwelcome arrival.

Word Count:4.8K

Chapter Two <- Previous Chapter

Darkness. A muted scream in the void, curling pressure around your thighs as if something was trying to drag you deeper into the black. You awoke with a sputtering cough as you jolted upward in the cozy bed. Unconsciously loosening your fingers from around your throat as you took another ragged breath. Dreams, once little escapes for the living, but in your mind a consistent reminder of the present. Black ink stained your fingertips as you looked down at them. Little delicate hands that hadn’t seen a spot of hard labor as you relied on your wits to get by. That hadn’t changed as you could feel the bitter taste of ink fading over your tastebuds. Was it getting worse? Or was it from waking up in an entirely new place that amplified your awareness?

It was all too tempting to fall back into the warm sheets as you fell back down with a huff. The weight of the bags under your eyes made it clear that you hadn’t slept well. Or if at all as you tried to remember the events of the night before. The mere fraction of movement as Lucifer tried to find the ideal spot for his desk. The chicken-scratch quality notes as he flipped through catalogs of furniture featured in the various Rings. Did he really want your opinion on flowers that had potentially fatal side effects? You could all but feel the slow pulse of headache from the mere memory of it as it reared its’ strength as your bedroom door slammed open.

The blonde tornado was in rare form today as you scrambled to keep your bedsheets up around you, while still reaching for the little black book on your nightstand. Boundaries, the King of Hell hadn’t a clue about boundaries as he continued oblivious to your discomfort. Your fogged mind managed to sort out the gist of the conversation. A shopping trip between daddy and daughter. Did you think Charlie would let him buy her new furniture? Her quarters were sparse, she deserved the world. But what if she said no? Should he take her to the boutiques of Greed first or would that opulence be too much? Was it better to ease her into it with Gluttony slow temptation?

Half of that was a muffled mess as Lucifer tripped over the edge of the floor rug into the end of your bed. His hat in disarray as you did your best to hide your laughter at his feeble leg kicks. Looking very much like his beloved waterfowl in the water as you were quick to smother your smile when he managed to right himself.

“Well. What do you think?” Lucifer huffed as you slowly trailed your pen over the hastily scribbled notes. You only knew the Princess through Lucifer’s biased views, but you could only imagine the chaos if the pair were unleashed in a Greed department store. It would be better for them to warm up, it seemed.

“Perhaps, a trip to Guttony for a spot of breakfast would be best.” You cautioned as Lucifer nodded in agreement. A full stomach would dissuade even the most determined of shoppers. It was an unfortunate flaw that even you admitted to as you became quite sluggish in the morning if it wasn’t a light meal.

“But I don’t know what she would like..what if-”

“It's the Gluttony Ring, sir, I am sure she will find something that tickles her fancy..” You were quick to cut off the words with a firm, but kind tone. The last thing you needed was the misanthropic man agonizing over if his estranged child would prefer pancakes over scones. Discreetly pulling on your robe, you were quick to usher him out of your quarters with a few nods of affirmation and hums.

There was a distant screech of protest and shouts as Lucifer had taken off to find Charlie without a second glance. Did she know about the trip? Far coarser words bounced off the walls from Vaggie, as the answer came in a resounding NO. Spontaneity ran in the family as a loud squeal came from Charlie as who knew what sorts of ideas Lucifer was filling her head with.

Quickly slamming your bedroom door shut, to prevent you having TWO issues on your hands. Charlie, at least, seemed to have a sense of space compared to her father. An eerie sense of calm trickled through you. A day off? It wasn’t as if Lucifer would drag you along to intrude on a bit of family bonding time. Still, the concept almost felt foreign to your workaholic mind as you trudged over your wardrobe with little flair. You couldn’t lay in bed all day, it was far too indulgent. Nor would sleep find you as you could feel your throat tighten at the thought.

No, there was a far more appealing option. A nice drink and your little black book.

The parlor of the hotel was strangely quiet aside from the faint click of glasses from the bar. Even its usual barfly was out for the day as you fiddled with the collar of your coat. Husker acknowledged your presence with a grunt before taking a better look at your outfit.

“It's a bit morbid isn’t it?”

“I prefer nostalgia. Mink was expensive in my time, don’t you know..” You retorted with a sniff. Your ears twitched as you could hear a rumble of activity from upstairs. Nothing fell through the second floor, so things seemed to be fine. Yet, the bartender had a point. The flattened empty skin of a fox’s head draped over your throat, while its brilliant coat of reds and whites curled around your body. The coat’s lower half mingled with warmer felts and velvets as it tried to conceal the poorer quality of the pelt. Clasped closed by the steel brooch as you crossed your legs revealing a sliver of fishnets beneath the pelts as you leaned against the bar.

“Now are you going to critique my choices in fashion or are you going to serve me a drink?”

“Gin n tonic?”

“Make it a whisky on the rocks. It’s my day off..” You muttered as Husker raised a furred brow at the drastic change in choice. A gin and tonic was light, botanical and easier on the tongue. Yet, whiskey burned like hot coals as it slid down the gullet. Even if garnished with a lemon twist as the little twist elegantly floated in the amber liquid. Oh, it burned, it burned away at the whispering thoughts as you were quick to order another. Then another. Burning away memories like a greedy flame licking away at fresh paper.

“And he thinks it’s alright!” Your voice pitched in emotion as you slammed your hand down on the polished counter as Husker looked more and more put out with each passing second. As if this sort of situation had been forced upon him frequently. He was a bartender afterall.

“So, we talking about the big boss or Al?” Husker growled

“That’s-not-the-point” You hiccuped as you could feel scarlet chase over your features. Warming your features in an entirely different manner compared to the liquor seeping through your rational thoughts. How did bitching about furniture and boundaries turn into this as you took another sip of your drink. Was this the third or fourth, you were losing count. Your tail lashed betraying your agitation as Husk’s keen eyes didn’t budge from your sulking form. He had a point. Fucker.

A cool burst of air ran up the back of your heated neck as the front doors slammed open. Husk visibly bristled as the intruder swept past them without a single word.

“Fucking prick. Don’t he know that-”

“Shorter than I thought he would be” You snickered as you drained the whiskey in one final draught. Swiving in your chair, you waited for the entertainment to start. The fruitless attempts of watching the one-sided dance between Vox and the unfettered guards. One step to the left, another tick of a typewriter as another pair of paperboys appeared to impede the Overlord.

“FUCK” Vox snarled as his hand was bitten into as he tried to shove one of the paperboy’s back by the shoulder. A further burst of giggles slipped from your loose lips as the Overlord cradled his injured hand. FInally he spun around on his heel to witness you almost falling off the barstool as you idly waved them off from pouncing on the overlord.

“Where the fuck is Lucifer and what the fuck is with these-” Vox’s hand bled freely as the crimson droplets flew through the air. The paperboys were all but trembling with anticipation, but didn’t budge a step from the stairs as you dismissed them with a short whistle. The creatures tipped their hands before vanishing into a spontaneous black burrow. Vox connected the dots with ease as he turned to the head up the stairs once more.

“He is out. Please, Mr. Vox do not make me call reinforcements. I can write a message for him if you insist.”

The words came out fluidly if a bit clipped as your job had molded around you like a cap to a bottle. Even in your intoxicated state, the script that left your lips was without flaw. Even if your amusement of the situation was betrayed by your tiny smile taking satisfaction in the entire situation.

“And when will he come back?” Vox asked politely, almost all too sweetly. Losing patience with the word ‘no’ it seemed or anything that impeded him from getting what he wanted. An Overlord at the base. There was a click of ice and liquor as you snorted unladylike into your fresh glass.

“Do I look like I know? I can’t exactly demand the King of Hell ignore his whims.” You sighed before taking a sip of the fresh drink. The kindly bartender had even garnished it with a cherry as you fished it out of the cold glass. Evidently taking as much joy in seeing the Overlord get stifled in his own plans as you did.

“And who the fuck are you exactly?” Vox growled as you could feel the static in the edge of your skirts cling to your skin as the Overlord leaned over you. A show of intimidation as you gently returned the glass to its coaster.

“Lucifer’s secretary. Now, would you like to leave a message?” You replied sweetly as that answer seemed to deflate Vox’ temper by a hair. You weren’t affiliated with the Hotel in any capacity beyond Lucifer, which meant you weren’t affiliated with HIM. Oh, wasn’t he terribly clever as he gestured to the ragged coat.

“You’re Lucifer’s secretary, but you dress like this? Take a position at Voxtech and you’ll be flush with cash. If you play your cards right.” Vox explained as he placed an unwelcome hand on your shoulder that you were quick to brush away with a scowl. He even had the nerve to spin you back around in your chair as you faced the bar. The Overlord crowding your space without a single notion of boundaries.

“Scotch.” Vox barked at Husk, the bartender huffed at the order. He wasn’t some sort of dog that did tricks on command. The rattle of scotch decanter was all too loud as fingertips brushed over your face to make you look at the Overlord.

“Come on, what’s a little tour around the King’s office gonna do. Come on now.” Vox teased as you bit down the urge to respond with violence. Bitter ink whispered over your tongue as the Overlord’s other hand slid over your thigh. Far too close for comfort as you swallowed the bitter ink. You couldn’t fall apart now.

“I would like to keep my job. Now if you would remove your hand from my thigh. I am married..” You hissed as Vox laughed at your response.

“Married. In Hell. Hate to remind you of that, sweetheart, not sure if those sorts of vows mean anything down here.” Vox tutted as his grip on your face tightened. His request for a tour was turning into a demand as you pulled your face away from him.

“Oh, do try telling that to my husband, can’t get it through his skull. As damaged as that is.” You retorted as you removed the gloves from your hand. The brass ring on your finger caught in the light as Vox rolled his eyes.

“Besides, now why would I want to work for someone like you. Called my work a fucking puff peace followed by the apparent ‘dismissal’ of over half of Velvette’s love potion staff after sources revealed what exactly was in them. Coddled, old, semen and burnt bedspreads if I remember my wording correctly..” You hissed as if the insults were laid against you yesterday instead of all those years.

“Truth hurts doesn’t it.” You snarled as the glass in Vox’s hand shattered. Now you have sent the Overlord into a little fit. The lightbulbs behind the bar shattered as Husk protest was lost in the groaning noise of the walls. Ink trickled from the corner of your mouth as you staggered into an upright position. The drinks weren’t the best idea, but neither was running away from the irate Overlord.

“Oh, I thought I heard something pathetic.”

“You’re ALIV-E”

The glitched snarl went mute to your ears as you were hastily dragged behind the bar counter by Husk lest you become a part of the damage to the Hotel. Steel cables ripped from the walls, snapping like electric snakes as Alastor descended the stairs, green energy crackling from the microphone. The world went silent around you as bitter ink spilled fruitlessly from your lips as Husk tried to ask you a question. His ears pinning back was the last sight you had before the world went dark.

New Orleans: 1923

Jazz, cigar smoke and patrons floated about you as you narrowly avoided running into a stumbling patron as your drink’s tray rattled ominously. It would be the last straw if you dropped this tray as the expensive whiskey swayed in its protective glass as if swaying to the trumpets. Your destination is a trio of chain smoking gangsters who greeted you with a cheer as you set the drinks down. A pat on the butt and earning one dollar bill was your reward as you clutched the money to your chest. Their attention didn’t last long as a busty blonde on stage burst into another number, backed by thundering trumpets. You were quick to retreat from the table, tucking the cash into your camisole as the bartender barked further orders at you. The rest of the night was blur as you blissfully took a break to sip water tinged with lime. Alcohol didn’t agree with your mother, it wouldn’t with you. You didn’t take that chance.

Unfortunately you weren’t alone for long as a strong-looking hand flicked at the feather in your cream headband. Benson? Bronson? Regardless of the gentleman’s name, he was quick to call your attention as you forced a polite smile on your face. He was quick to press a kiss to your hand as you caught scant words over the thundering music.

A date? With him. Tonight. He had just purchased a new vehicle that he needed to take a real drive. Get its wheels muddy as his fingers grazed your bare arm. Blushing prettily you were too quick to decline with a shake of your head.

“Come on now, don’t be like that. I saw how you pocketed that cash, baby doll. I could make it worth your while.” His words were a rasp against your ear as his other hand slid up your leg. The threadbare stockings and patch jobs gave him all the information he needed to know about your financial status. Struggling, destitute, so like the select other women here willing to ply guests with other ‘offers’. Your stubborn pride made you want to kick off at the idea, but rent and bills were coming due. It was just one time, right?

“Apologies for being late, the cops are sniffing about tonight. Be a shame if Harry’s was caught out in it all.” A smooth voice broke through your thoughts as your intended suitor cursed under his breath before backing off. His quick retreat made it all the clearer that the trio wasn’t under the control of Mob Boss Gisno, but someone else entirely as you watched them scatter like a group of rats.

Further to the point there was something familiar about your eevedropper’s voice. You didn’t recognize him at all. Brown almost black hair curled neatly, deep brown eyes and taller than average stature made him almost indistinguishable. Yet it was the voice that was striking a cord in your mind.

“Ha, I'm afraid this happens often. People hear the voice, but draw a blank in person.” Your eavesdropper mused as he drained his glass of rye within a single blink of the eye. A practiced drinker it would seem as the truth forced itself to the front of your mind.

“You’re that radio host. Aren’t you? Stirred up a bit of controversy last week in response to some bluenose housewife protesting your local news taking precedence over some hacksaw politician’s newest election numbers.” You mused as the radio host’s lips curled into a faint smile. His hands raised in surrender as you laughed softly.

“Unless she is blind, she can read print like the rest of us. As difficult as some of that is to swallow these days.” You grumbled as you rolled your eyes far too often reading the morning papers. Even worse still was when the little paperboys swarmed you with the ‘true’ gossip as soon as you purchased it. Half of it was powdered sugar and the other was full of shit. As if the public needed more excitement in their lives than the present.

“Not a fan of the papers?” The host mused as he leaned forward on his hand. As if he didn’t expect to find another admirer of the media tonight, but what was he looking for then? It wasn’t going to be found at the bottom of a bottle.

“Reality has tainted my taste for fairy tales..” You muttered as you took a long drink of your water. The host chuckled before gesturing to the chaos surrounding you. Men and women in states of intoxication seeking something to hide away from the truth or some old wound.

“Now you sound like some crone. I imagine you have quite a few more years to pass through, my dear.” The host tutted as you scoffed in response. Some here could forget their troubles for the night, but it would catch up with them come morning.

“A radio host and fortune teller. What an exotic career you must lead.”

“I have the smallest amount of my mother’s talent. Besides, it’s written all over your face, you want to be anywhere else but here. New Orleans isn’t home is it?” The host prodded as you sheepishly ducked your head. No, it wasn’t. You grew up in northern New York, away from the Big Apple. After your Pa died, Mother couldn’t manage the forestry business, so she packed up her brood of kids to head to the city. Picked up the bottle too.

“I didn’t mean to-”

“No. You’re right, I arrived here a year ago. Finding my feet still it seems. Work has been harder to come by than I thought. No one wants a secretary with a mouth or unwillingness to play second fiddle to a housewife.” You muttered as bitterness coated the words. It was after the third time you impaled a handsy employer’s palm with a pen point that had soiled your reputation. Despite your quality work, no one wanted to be bit by a rabid bitch.

“When I find myself stuck, I like to look up at the stars.”

“Here, in the city? Those must be some glasses you have there.”

“No. Even been to the bayou, Miss. Stars like fire and mangroves towering around you make your problems seem all the smaller.”

“You must be a radio host with such poetic words like that. Able to make a bayou sound like a fairy tale. It can’t be that fantastical.”

“It is, if you were with the right person.”

Charming. Smooth. Able to match your sharp words with gentle persuasion. That was the first night you met Alastor in that smokey speakeasy. Him plucking topics out of you like he was fox finessing a chicken’s feathers.

“You good?”

Husker’s rough voice broke you from your trance as you hissed in discomfort when you tried to move. It felt like every single part of your body had been pricked by needles as you wiped away the trickle of ink from your lips. Husk was quick to grab you by the arm to hold you place as you tried to stand up. It was for the better as plaster crumbled from the wall behind you. You didn’t dare imagine the carnage that waited beyond the safety of the bar. Glass, plaster and other materials littered the floor in front of you as you could hear the crackle of electricity in the air.

“How long was I out?” You muttered as you tried to flex your fingers. Ignoring the prickling sensation as you forced the fatigued digits to respond.

“Bout thirty minutes. Happen often?” Husker pressed as you blinked at him once. His scoff was all the answer you needed. He knew that Sinners carried their burdens in all sorts of ways. A bit of a black out wasn’t unheard of it.

“Motherfucker!” The curse slipped from your lips as liquor bottles were smashed by an errant tentacle emerging from the wall, swiping out at glass bottles as their sticky contents rained down on your sheltering forms. Ignoring the prickle of alarm up your spine, you knocked against the ruined floor, a black burrow appeared underneath it. A furry brown arm stuck out as if waiting for paper

“I don’t have paper with me. Quick go fetch Lucifer, lest these territorial dogs wreak the entire hotel.” You hissed as the messenger gave a thumb’s up. A bark of laughter and parade of insults baited your curiosity to peer over the counter, much to Husk’s low protests.

“Getting slow on your feet old man.” Vox snarled as you couldn’t help flinch as the crackling wires snapped at Alastor’s side. Searing a hole in fabric as the radio demon retaliated by slipping a tentacle around his opponent’s legs to trip him up. It was a miracle the parlor still stood as Vox’s dismantling of the electrical system left crumbling plaster in its place, while Alastor was less than careful on where he spawned the rampaging tentacles that swung at anything in their vicinity.

You weren’t an architect, but you knew any further structural damage would send the newly rebuilt hotel crumbling. Visible relief flooded you as bright light burst in the center of the room, putting both combatants on their toes. A first several bewildered, overburdened imps with packages appeared, followed by Charlie’s shrill screech of protest as she took in the ruins about her. Vaggie beside her looked less than pleased, but by the far the biggest reaction came from Lucifer.

“Now sweetheart, what’s got you screeching like you are being bathed in boiling oil. Did you want something else from-. Oh.” Lucifer’s words trailed off as there was a sharp yelp from Vox as he was tripped up by a tentacle. Falling flat on his face much to Alastor’s joyful cackles that turned into a hiss as he was snapped at by the wires.

“MY PARLOR.” Charlie cried out as her eyes prickled with tears before lightly placing her hand against the crumbling front door. A wail escaping her as that gentle action sent the elegant panes to fragment into pieces.

“Now what happened here..” Lucifer’s voice was deathly calm as his eyes flicked to you as you carefully picked your way over from the bar wreckage. Your manicured nail jabbed in Vox’s prone form.

“He asked to speak with you.” A grumble escaped Vox as the Overlord raised his head in response, only to be stunned once more by a brick of falling plaster.

“He decided-”

“I don’t need to understand the petty feuds between Overlords. Like fucking children in a sandbox fighting over toys. I am ASKING what happened.” Lucifer hissed as he tugged you down by the collar of your coat. Oh, he was in rare form now.

“It appeared the Overlord known as Vox showed up without an appointment.” You stated bluntly as you flicked through your black book with a single brush of your fingertips. Thankfully Lucifer’s grip on your coat dropped after that. Laughter bubbled up from the King of Hell that sent ice down your spine.

“Why is it that you Sinners think you can do whatever you want here. All but ready to barge into my OFFICE without an APPOINTMENT. Has the entire hierarchy of Hell fallen within half the day I have been gone.” Lucifer snarled as he gestured to wreckage around him.

“I will say this once. Only once. Sinners don’t get to make demands in my kingdom. They make fucking appointments.” Lucifer snarled as he began to drag Vox over the rubble by the throat. What limited brain cells the Sinner had were working overtime as the Sinner forced himself to be as limp as a rabbit caught in the jaws of a lion. Even if it was painful as his screen-like face flickered colors when the Devil’s grip dragged him through sturdy stone and glass.

“He is never getting that fucking appointment if this puff piece author has anything to say about it..” You muttered under your breath as Husker chuckled at the snide comment. There was a sort of smugness about the bartender now as you both took in Alastor’s rougher shape, he hadn’t come out of the little spat unscathed. His left leg limped along as he leaned heavily on the cane as he did his best to clear the grit from his voice.

“Now, Charlie no need to fret, I’ll-”

“MY FUCKING WALL ALASTOR. Couldn’t you have taken it outside for once.” Charlie snapped as she whirled on her feet to face the dimming smile of the Radio Demon. Oh, this was going to be delightful as you and Husk posted up on the overturned bar stools as the Princess of Hell’s verbal rampage ran roughshod over the hotelier. Evidentially that section of the hotel had gone through very short lifespans as Charlie’s voice pitched in volume with each interrupting attempt from Alastor. Tears ran freely down the Princess’s face as Vaggie intervened with a clap of her hands, gently comforting her girlfriend as she pointed at the wreckage.

“Fix it.”

“Done.” Flat, direct without a single hint of sarcasm as you spied his injured wrist spasm uncomfortably as little souls began the tedious process of cleaning up.

A much calmer Lucifer returned moments later as he was quick to coddle his upset daughter. The pair were able to usher her up the half surviving portion of the main staircase as you gave a slow clap in the deafening quiet.

“Quite the show. Alastor. A day off well spent.” You announced as Alastor ran an agitated hand over his face.

“You still have half a day, don't ruin it.” Alastor hissed through clenched teeth as you nodded in agreement. Ruffled, Alastor was beyond ruffled after that little bout of combat. He was all but scolded like a disobedient guard dog by Charlie and in turn Vaggie. Were Lucifer’s words of Sinners ringing his ears now? The clear definition of Hell’s hierarchy.

Oh. This was delicious.

“A bath I think would be perfect. Do enjoy your little chores, Alastor.”

“Enjoy your bath, wife. It’s rather entertaining to see YOU play that card.” Alastor hissed as you forced a neutral expression on your face. Of all the drunken conversations he would have heard during your rants to Husk. It was that one, he had heard. The subtle deflection of your marriage to dissuade an arch rival of your ex-husband.

It was with that simple knowledge that your leg was once caught again in a bear trap. So, you had two choices, free yourself in the long painful process of prying it open or allow yourself to bleed out.

The metaphorical wound sputtered once as the back of his ring finger grazed over your hand as you stormed past him. Now you really needed that bath as you could feel guilt seep in with the sticky alcohol covering your ruined coat.

He had to have the last word in at least one situation today.

#hazbin hotel x reader #x reader #Alastor x reader #alastor x you #hazbin hotel fanfiction

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