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jessamine-rose · 6 months ago

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˚♱ଘ Faustian Bargain ଓ♱˚

Welp here we are with the fourth entry in my Yandere Church AU. Let’s fall into depravity once more, this time with Demon! Pantalone x Contractee! Darling (˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ )

Tw:: yandere, manipulation, blood, violence, slight self-harm for summoning purposes, spice, mention of nsfw, MDNI

Note:: fictional depictions of religion, guest-starring Demon! Scaramouche <3

♡ 2.5k words under the cut ♡

♡ Since their creation, humans have ruled over the mortal plane under the influence of spiritual beings. But while angels are venerated as divine saviors, demons are fallen sinners who corrupt humanity through temptation and curses. It is for this reason that humans live in fear of demons, with the Church condemning all forms of unholy covenant. But time and time again, that warning has fallen on deaf ears.

♡ Throughout history, several individuals have formed pacts with demons in exchange for divine favors. Favors vary across demons but in all contracts, the price is clear: The human gives up their soul and any chance at salvation. Once the pact has been made, the human is granted the ability to summon the demon as their lifelong companion. But upon the human’s death, the pact is broken and the demon is free to seek out new souls.

♡ It is through these contracts that the Harbinger of Fortune rose to prominence. He is a “young” demon in the sense that his earliest records only date back to three centuries; but in that short amount of time, Pantalone has tempted many fools and heretics with the promise of material wealth. And it is through this tactic that he attained power, recognition, your soul.

♡ In your defense, you had no other choice. Born to an elite family in Liyue, you had enjoyed a life of luxury until your parents squandered their fortune. After a failed attempt to flee to another nation, they were murdered and you were told to repay their debts lest you meet the same fate. It was a hopeless situation—you had no assets to pawn off and even then, your remaining days would be spent in poverty. So when you recalled the local stories about the demon who deals in prosperity, you were desperate to summon him.

♡ It is difficult to find authentic records of his summoning ritual, but you manage with what little time you have left. There is an illustration of his sigil, to be copied on the floor with blood from your own palm. A table is arranged with incense, gold coins, freshly-brewed tea, a mirror, and the dagger used to extract your blood. Once everything is in place, you clasp your bloody hands together and utter the sacred incantations.

♡ As soon as Pantalone’s true name leaves your lips, the incense sticks emit a dark fragrant smoke. The summoning circle glows violet and within it, a brilliant figure emerges. Dark horns, adorned with silver, curve back along his raven hair. His garments are styled with violet jewels, serpentine motifs, an iridescent cape embroidered with a scene from the Garden of Eden. He is beautiful, so beautiful that you feel unworthy when his bespectacled gaze meets yours.

♡ Before you can look away, he is already onto you. In a polite voice, he introduces himself and asks for your name. Next, he tells you to disable the barrier of the summoning circle; he prefers civil negotiations. It takes some reluctance on your part but eventually, the two of you are seated together at the table. There is a critical look on his face as he surveys his offerings and explains his contract in detail.

♡ Aside from the general rules, there are clauses specific to Pantalone’s pacts. He can only be summoned twice a week, and never on Sundays. Contracts with other demons require his permission. Any attempt at breaking the pact will incur severe consequences. All of this is said with honeyed words and a kind smile.

♡ So perfect is his facade that you fail to notice an undertone of condescension. A glimpse into your soul was all it took for Pantalone to regard you as a hopeless fool hindered by your worldly upbringing. But that is fine—fools are easier to deal with, and you’d make a pretty addition to his collection of souls. Plus, it was only yesterday that his previous human died, and he is always quick to move on to the next pact. With that, Pantalone tells you to make a choice.

“A fair exchange, don’t you think?” he asks. The smile on his face is deceptively angelic. “In return for your soul, I will provide you with wealth, prosperity, everything your heart desires. Do you believe it is worth the price, ______?”

♡ You say yes. That is when Pantalone takes off his rings then his gloves, revealing multiple scars slashed across his palm lines. Gracefully, he picks up your used dragger, draws a new line, and clasps his wounded hand in yours. Then he wraps the same hand around your neck, staining it with a mix of your blood.

♡ There is a burning sensation followed by a burst of pure ecstasy. Once the euphoria subsides, Pantalone lets go of you and holds up the mirror. The front of your throat is branded with his sigil while a diamond pattern encircles your neck. It glows violet before disappearing altogether, a sacred collar invisible to mortal eyes. Thus, the pact has been formed.

♡ The next few minutes are calm. Pantalone’s scars are concealed once more. The two of you finish your tea. He takes a coin from his offering, now magically engraved with his sigil, and explains that you need only flip it to summon him. Then he offers one last smile, says he will look forward to your partnership, and disappears with the remaining coins.

♡ In the morning, you wake up to find bags of coins and jewels on the table, the exact amount needed to pay off your debts. Once the money has been given, you eagerly summon Pantalone to thank him. He merely smiles, leads you to your parents’ office, and tells you that the next step is to rebuild your family business. After all, while he can create material riches out of nothing, a mysterious source of wealth may attract the suspicion of your fellow humans.

♡ Soon enough, the company is flourishing under “your” authority. In reality, it is Pantalone who instructs your decisions and eliminates competitors. During meetings with clients, he attends in his invisible form and whispers to you the necessary responses. With success comes your return to high society, and Pantalone is all too happy to escort you to galas as your plus-one. His human form attracts several admirers, but his attention remains on you.

♡ He is also pleasant company. You can’t help but summon him often—your house feels empty without your parents. As for friends, you refuse to trust anyone after they turned their backs on you during your financial crisis. Pantalone is always nice about it, listening to your woes and participating in your hobbies. Once in a while, he will activate your pact mark and comment on how needy you are.

♡ He even fulfills your carnal desires. Over the months, Pantalone has toyed with your physical attraction towards him, teasing you with light touches, seductive whispers, sinful smiles…and a deep kiss when you shyly proposition him. That kiss is soon followed by heavy makeouts, long nights in your bed, physical marks all over your body. Greedy as he may be, he always makes sure to repay the pleasure you’ve given him.

♡ One night, you ask him about his divine nature. He confirms the popular belief that all demons are fallen angels; in his case, he was created for the Ninth Order, the lowest rank in the angel hierarchy. For the first century of his life, he could only settle for the inferior powers and duties assigned to his status. Neither could he enjoy the freedom which humans were born with.

♡ Thus, he set his sights on Hell. For angels are not created equal but demons can earn their powers through individual efforts. But leaving God always comes with a price, and Pantalone’s was paid in blood and tears.

⬩◈⬩

“Is that how you lost your wings?”

In the dark, your demon’s scars remain apparent. A pair of rough, featherless, ugly lines which you are careful not to touch, lest he flinch—from pain or shame? During your first night together, Pantalone refused to talk about it and you took the hint.

Even now, he flips over in your bed to hide his imperfections from you. When he answers your question, his voice takes on a light tone.

“Yes. It was God who ripped out my wings, and He even had the ‘mercy’ to cast them out of Heaven after me. But that was a long time ago, and I’ve since put my old feathers to good use.”

His capes, he means. They are his signature accessory, all crafted with sheer fabric, tiny jewels, and iridescent embroidery. Each cape is its own masterpiece, bearing fantastical images of God’s creations. It was during a casual conversation that Pantalone told you the threads were sourced from his old feathers.

He looks past you, and you know his gaze is on the coat rack. Tonight’s cape depicts a celestial paradise filled with winged figures. Beneath Heaven, separated by dark clouds, demonic figures descend into a fiery sky.

“Still, it must’ve been painful,” you tell him. Hesitantly, you add, “I mean, you didn’t only lose a body part that day. You also lost your former appearance, your ability to fly, your siblings—”

At that, a smile makes its way to his face. A large, genuine smile that isn’t directed at you.

“My former brethren were not dearly missed,” he replies. He sits up, combing the strands of hair tangled around his horns. “After I landed in Hell, I was taken in by an older demon. Let’s call her Jiejie, since she does not appreciate needless declarations of her true name. She is the one who treated my wounds, the one who cared for me using her own resources, the one who welcomed me into her home with open wings. And for that, I am eternally grateful.”

A soft breeze rustles the cape, threads glittering in the moonlight. Some threads, however, lack the iridescent quality of Pantalone’s feathers. Instead, they are silvery shades of black and gray.

His tone softens. “I will confess that I had an easy start in Hell thanks to her influence, as did Scaramouche who fell before me. But everything else—my contracts, my current status—are the fruits of my own labor. Perhaps someday, I may even reach Jiejie’s level of power.”

“I see…” You look into his eyes this time. “So what do she and that Scara demon specialize in? They sound nice; am I allowed to form pacts with them?”

“No.” He says it firmly, with no room for argument. Bare hands pull your body closer to his. “Even speaking as their brother, that sounds very unconscionable. Don’t get too greedy now.”

“Oh, I…okay!” you squeak. A faint violet light takes up your peripheral vision—your pact mark? “I’m sorry for asking. I’ll remember that.”

“Good.” His hand moves to your throat, tracing your sigil. When your eyes meet, his are bright with desire. “Never forget, you are mine first and foremost.”

⬩◈⬩

♡ In the following years, Pantalone grows more fond of you. Gifts begin to appear in your hands, from violet jewels to stylish garments. He accompanies you to more meetings with your fellow humans, his arm wrapped around your waist in a possessive gesture. His physical affection intensifies. On a few occasions, he even visits you despite not being summoned.

♡ It’s a nice change, but an overwhelming one. As time passes, you meet new friends and suitors, only to reject them after Pantalone claims to have glimpsed malice in their souls. Neither can you summon other demons, not when he is confiscating your demonological texts under the pretense that you’re too “impressionable” for another pact. And who can forget the time you were caught looking for information on the Tree of Life?

♡ It wasn’t your intention to seek a way out of your debt. It was by pure coincidence that you ran into the heretic who sold you the grimoire with information on Pantalone; and the conversation naturally shifted to the topic of your eternal damnation. Unsurprisingly, many humans have attempted to go back on their deals; and according to your “friend,” the best solution is to become immortal through the Tree of Life. You only asked them to contact you if they ever find the mythical tree, but that was enough to anger Pantalone.

“Do not lie to me, ______,” he snaps. His smile appears calm, but his tone sounds absolutely venomous. “I glimpsed your memories of last night, and I know you tried to violate our contract.”

“I…” You fearfully shake your head, only to cry as your throat constricts. It hurts, as though his sigil is burning your flesh, and your knees hit the floor. “I didn’t mean to…”

Your voice trails off. A gloved hand tilts your head upwards, forcing you to meet his death glare.

“Speak up, darling. My time is precious.”

♡ After that, you apologize and make no attempt to evade your fate. The next time Pantalone becomes angry, you at least have the luxury of not being the target of his emotions. It is a seemingly normal day, and you are served tea by a long-time servant. Suddenly, Pantalone appears and pulls you away from the individual, not bothering to hide his true form. When he tells the servant to “drop the act,” there is an indigo glint in their eyes.

♡ And that’s how you learn that the Puppeteer specializes in demonic possession. The servant’s body falls to the floor, unconscious, and it is Scaramouche’s turn to make himself known. He has asymmetrical horns, a single skeletal bat wing, and an expression which is far from friendly. A silvery black-and-gray feather dangles from the brooch pinned above his heart.

“Tell me, Scaramouche, what are your reasons for spying on my precious jewel?”

“Hmph, as if you need to ask. I just wanted to see if your little pet is worth Nee-san’s blessing. If you still desire them when that time comes, you’re on your own.”

♡ You don’t understand what they’re talking about, but it’s clear that you have no part in the conversation. After a few insults, Scaramouche leaves, but not without telling you to “know your place” in the future. That is when Pantalone sighs, pours a cup of tea for himself, tells you that it is none of your concern. Don’t worry, darling, he has it all under control. So just sit down, drink your tea, talk to him about anything under the sun. You still have a long life ahead of you, and he shall give you Heaven on earth until the day your heart ceases to beat.

♡ And perhaps if you are good enough, he will act on his desire to keep you as his pet in Hell. It’s been centuries since Pantalone has tortured a sinner, but he does know the best ways to break your mind. And is eternal suffering in his home not preferable to another demon laying their hands on you? At any rate, it’s not like you have any other choice.

“In the name of love, I will respect the contract between us and the fate you put in my hands.”

♡

More Church AU here!! Dottore ๑ Capitano ๑ Arlecchino ๑ Pierro ๑ Dainsleif

Note:: Please do not send me any Church AU asks/ requests involving characters or dynamics not included in my masterlist.

Aahhh I hope y’all enjoyed my take on Demon! Pantalone!! He ended up with the most tame + lore-heavy fic, and I swear that the character of “Jiejie” will make more sense when I write the remaining stories for Church AU. Also, fun fact, Pantalone’s capes are inspired by Rusly Tjohnardi and Hieronymus Bosch’s triptychs~

Moving on, thank you to @diodellet for beta-reading this and supporting me through every step of writing hell. Now if y’all excuse me, I’m must avenge myself and whack Pantalone with the biggest cross I can find o(^▽^)o

Tag a Pantalone enjoyer!! @navxry @beloved-blaiddyd @leftdestiny-posts @meimeimeirin @euniveve @lychniis @teabutmakeitazure @stickyspeckledlight @mochinon-yah @zhongrin @harmonysanreads @oofasleep @theinnerunderrain @ddarker-dreams

#pantalone #yandere pantalone #yandere pantalone x reader #pantalone x reader #wanderer #yandere fatui harbingers #scaramouche #fatui x reader #genshin x reader #yandere genshin #tw: yandere #tw: dark #tw: blood #tw: violence #tw: sh mention #spicy warning #mdni #g/n reader #jessamine-writing

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rainytomorrows · 15 days ago

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Deadpool / Wolverine x reader | Domestic headcanons

I am legitimately moments from collapse so I will cope. Again. Domestic headcanons!! Can't lie to y'all I'm a big fan of the poolverine x reader poly trope so. This is all made with that in mind.

Part two

Words: 950

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Wade > Will make you food sometimes to cheer you up, but it's just straight childish. Hot chocolate with a mountain of whipped cream and chocolate shavings, a stack of pancakes (a full foot taller than it needs to be) with yet another mountain of whipped cream and syrup, the type of stuff you only expect in some old cartoon > Comes home with the DUMBEST socks. You have to physically pull him away from those stores that specialize in funky socks. He came home with 5 different hero themed socks once (One was him, obviously. He had a wolverine one, Spiderman, Thor, and one pair of Jesus socks whom he claimed was also a superhero) > Butterfly kiss bandit. One kiss is NEVER enough for this asshole. At the least, if you dare try to give him one (1) kiss on the lips before going somewhere, he follows you when you pull away. Does that make sense? Like, you kiss him and as you're pulling away he'll follow to press another kiss, and however many he can get in before you're actually pushing him away. > Or Logan has to punch him to get his own kiss in > So annoying. If you spend too long without giving him attention, you can't expect to work on ANYTHING alone > Laying on your lap when you sit to work, draping himself over you if you stand up to work on something, practically a blanket if you're laying down to work on something > Very thoughtful gift giver though. Maybe he can't always afford some expensive gift, but, he always comes back from cheap stores (Dollar tree, Salvation Army, that strange family owned second hand store that Logan swears smells like blood somewhere) with something strangely catered to you. Funny trinket weirdly related to a story you told about one you'd seen in a store back on a trip out of state when you didn't have enough money and was heartbroken to come home without. A shirt that would fit perfect with those pants you just bought (he adores everything you wear and can only hope to cheer you up with more) > For SURE replaced your underwear with the dumbest merchandise you've ever seen once. I'm fully convinced. At least put it in with the rest. I can't imagine he wouldn't find some corny ass Deadpool thong and beg you to try it on. No one is sure if he just finds it funny or actually thinks it's cool.

Logan > Much more sensible when it comes to making you food. Knows how to make a good home cooked meal, some recipes he gained along the way like some grandma with a box of old stained recipe sheets > Makes tea for sure. Gruff as hell but, when he's really needed, he shows up with a hot cup. Tries to make himself all tough, like if it's been a long week. "Chamomile. Helps you calm down, or some shit." > He has pride. He might act like he's constantly annoyed by the two of you, but god forbid he seems like a bad boyfriend. Ever. > "I can hold my own bags?" "Fucking give them to me." > Like aggressively gentlemanly. Has the spirit just not the vocab > Lets Wade know if he thinks he's doing a terrible job as a boyfriend. Don't get me wrong, they love each other. They're each other's boyfriends too. But sometimes Logan feels like a glorified coach. > Wade will be particularly annoying one day, you had a LONG ass shift, and he's attention starved. You're clearly not having it, when Wade's draping himself over your shoulder while you're cooking and Jesus Christ this guy is heavy. You barely have time to react when Logan is throwing him over his shoulder lumberjack style. "Get the hell off" (He's already off, thanks to Logan) > Wade convinced him to wear a cop outfit once as a joke because of how he acts on dates and the such ('policing' wade and his behavior), but, ended up being too into it. Both of them. While still a little embarrassed, Logan could fit the role and Wade couldn't fit in his pants anymore. > Definitely tries to get you to the gym with him, however hard that is > If you like going: He just kinda tries to join you, almost lost puppy esque. If you don't, he's nearly bribing you to come along with him. I feel like he's the type to just have a little home gym though. Doesn't strike me as a public workout guy. I wouldn't know. > I'm unsure how to word this- I think he's a demanding cuddler. You are NOT in charge. He's holding you like a teddy bear, not as in like hugging- like you're his stuffy or something. You're almost unsure it counts so much as cuddling, so much as him just holding you. Does that make sense? You're near rag dolling when he cuddles with you because he just refuses to let someone else have control while cuddling, not as an insecurity thing that's just how he likes to cuddle > He will let you have control on occasion if it's clearly been a hard day. You may hold him if someone was a jerk to you today (Wade doesn't count. "you chose to let him live here instead of sleeping outside." "Hey!") > Don't try and excuse it with "I have to make breakfast" he'll just get up still holding you. Like the stubborn ass he and Wade always are. He's awkwardly holding you under your armpits (hugging you like a kid in the hallway holds their stuffy) as if that's supposed to be the optimal way to cook. Still has that gruff look the whole time btw ♡~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~♡

Hope you guys enjoyed, as always! I live to fill the heart and soothe the soul. Let me know if you guys want a part two- I may be able to crank some more out. Have a good day/night, and a great life!!

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lisenberry · 3 months ago

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WIP Wednesday Thoughts

Working title: There’s smoke seeping out of your bloody teeth (but you’re home somehow)

(From 28 by Zach Bryan)

Recovering Price x Recovering Reader

A/N: I have way too many WIPs at the moment, but this one came out of nowhere and I’m wondering if there’s something more here.

It’s a little darker than my usual, but somehow rides the line of more fluff than angst if you can bear with me through the backstory. I’m also seeing a trend where I love to paint Price as a complete mess and struggling with himself. I just know he has some Big Repressed Feelings buried deep in that broad chest. Like, the Captain takes care of everyone else on missions but needs more help than he lets on in the real world.

CW: Accidental overdose, Addiction/Recovery, Alcoholics/Narcotics Anonymous, a whiff of PTSD, single parent/recovering addict Reader, written with afab/fem reader in mind, but it came out fairly neutral. Overall heavy subject matter, but with some hope/humor to follow.

John fucked up. He knows it, Kyle knows it. And now Kate does, too.

He’d promised his sergeant that he’d lay off the whiskey, but he didn’t tell him about the pills. The oxys and the benzos. And sometimes, when things got really bad and he got in a little too deep, the ketamine and fentanyl.

It was pure luck that Kyle found him. That he was worried enough to kick the door in, strong enough to pull him out of the bathtub, and quick enough to do CPR until the ambulance arrived with the Narcan.

He hadn’t meant to end it. His life, that is. Just the never-ending pressure in his brain. The headaches, the sensitivity to light, everything being so bloody fucking loud. Two decades of explosions, gunshots, and crashes had racked up on him, each one a tithe to be repaid down the line. And it seemed they’d all come due at once.

In the aftermath, Kate had paid him a visit when he’d been ready to check himself out of the hospital, and she’d given him a directive. It wasn’t even an ultimatum. There was no other choice.

Get help.

She wasn’t kicking him off the team. She wasn’t even putting a note in his file. The military wouldn’t know, other than an extended personal leave signed off on by high enough names no one would question it. A 30-day stay in a doctor-supervised substance abuse treatment facility, and another 60 days at home with weekly check-ins.

Who he told other than Garrick would be up to him.

He agreed, of course. It was his last chance to get his shit together, maybe even more than he deserved. The look on Kyle’s face when he regained consciousness would be ingrained on his brain for the rest of his life.

“I always thought it’d be Ghost. Never you, Captain.” It wasn’t disappointment that clouded the kid’s eyes with tears, but fear. That it could happen to any of them if they weren’t careful. That the danger didn’t end when they came home.

Price hadn’t asked for help, but he knew when to take it.

Which is how he met you...

He tried to attend four to five meetings a week. They were usually at night, after dark, when the urge to settle into his chair with a bottle of scotch and a few extra Percocets was all he could think about. When the distractions of the day faded and he was alone with himself.

If he could hold the urge at bay long enough, in the company of others, even if he just sat and listened, then it would pass like a mad dog thrown a bone. And then he could go home in peace, until the dog came back around again.

In the beginning, he jumped around to a new meeting each night. There was St. Stephen’s, St. Giles in the Fields, St. George’s, the Salvation Army, and the Tenant’s Hall. Some were for beginners, and others just for men. He didn’t want to become familiar with any particular one, preferring instead to lean on the Anonymous side of the program.

He sipped his tea and ate his biscuits, all from the back row. Quietly reflecting on the opening speaker, and the stories of hope and struggle that followed. At first, he found it hard to relate. Kids who got hooked on drugs in school to escape from abusive parents, or former gang members and dealers looking to buy their way out of poverty and the system that abandoned them.

He’d been born into money, went to good schools. His demon didn’t come at him until later. It had taken its time and made roots into an already established foundation. Like a parasite, it didn’t take him young, or weak. It took him when he was at his strongest and broke him down from the inside out. He was already infected long before he saw the signs.

He had no one else to blame, and didn’t think he’d find much sympathy from telling his story. He didn’t want it, anyway. He just needed to get through his 60 days and be back on a mission again.

But then one Friday evening, he walked into your regular 7pm meeting in the basement of an old church and everything changed...

It was the best around, because they had a small children’s area in the next room, with a library and a sweet old nun who would read books and watch the kids for free. It had become a local favorite for parents without childcare, and the group had grown as close as a family.

There were a few of you who took the snack duty very seriously. There were no stale, day-old donuts or flavorless boxed biscuits. Instead, the spread was enough to rival the set of the Great British Baking Show. Cakes and puddings, shortbreads and tartes. The coffee was freshly brewed, not the cheap instant granules.

It had made you very protective, still always a little wary of newcomers, as against the spirit of the program as that was. It had become your safe space. Where you brought your children, and shared your biggest regrets and darkest moments. And mainly because, despite the progress you’d made in your recovery, you’d never fully be able to trust again. To look at another person and not see a potential threat.

Outside the church, you knew where the dealers stood waiting to find you on an off day. Where the pimps lingered in the dark alleys ready to meet you when you were broke and desperate. They were the obstacles you could see. Like a video game level you’d failed so many times you could jump and duck and kick your way a little further with each respawn. You already knew there was a bad guy waiting on the other side of that door and all the tricks to avoid him.

It was harder to tell with the quiet, six-and-a-half-foot tall, bearded man in the beanie hat and combat boots slumped in the back row. He’d popped up about a week ago, and always arrived exactly five minutes early. He'd wait patiently until the snack line died down and load his plate before sitting in the same seat, closest to the door.

He hadn’t shared with the group yet, but offered a few pleasant nods and greetings to anyone who’d initiated a conversation. It seemed rude not to reach out, if for no other reason than to gauge his intentions for yourself. Was he here because he was serious about his addiction, or was someone forcing him to come? Some set number of days on his coin before he’d be free from his sentence and never be heard from again.

It didn’t matter, and it wasn’t any of your business.

But that didn’t stop you from looking over at him a few times during your share, only to find him paying close attention. His serious features unreadable. Enough to make you stumble on your words and lose your train of thought. Everyone there knew your story already and could probably recite it for you. It just helped to recount the good parts, along with the bad.

“Did you make these?” he asked afterward, a rumbling voice breaking through your thoughts as you sat in a folding chair sipping the last of your coffee.

He held up a half-eaten salted caramel chocolate chip blondie.

“Yes, those are mine,” you answered with what you hoped was a polite smile.

“I thought I saw you bring them last time I was here. Fucking delicious.” He popped the rest of it into his mouth, catching the crumbs with his thick dark beard. “But your hair’s different, isn’t it?” he added, once he’d swallowed his bite.

You reflexively raised a hand to your head, remembering with a laugh the events of your day. You’d nearly forgotten the fiasco at work a few hours before.

“I work at a training salon. I let the students experiment on it when there aren’t enough dolls.” You didn’t have time to fix it before you had to pick up your kids from their afterschool program.

“It’s green.”

“Very green, yes.” You found yourself smiling again. Before that, it’d been black with purple tips. “Who knows what color it will be next time.” You stood and folded up your chair.

And tried not to read into it as he took it from you promptly and stacked it over with the others.

“Reason enough to come back and find out, then,” he called over his shoulder.

And you didn’t miss when he stopped to grab the last blondie on his way out.

#call of duty #john price #captain price #captain john price #price x reader #parent reader #addiction #substance abuse #recovery #john price x reader #captain john price x reader

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silverynight · 4 months ago

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Nesting

Aoi can smell it in the air; the sweet scent of green tea and honey. There are a couple of flowers mixed in it as well, but she has never been really good at knowing all the types of flowers so she can't describe it exactly.

However, she knows it's the scent of their sweetest omega, Kamado Tanjirou. Which is usually a problem for the slayers around, but especially for the Pillars.

She knows the boy has taken enough suppressants to deal with his heat, but he probably still feels the need to make a nest.

What is incredibly surprising and slightly alarming is that the suppressants are not doing a really good job at hiding his scent.

"I'll be staying here a couple of days, if you don't mind," he tells Aoi, even though he doesn't need to ask for permission; she knows Tanjirou is tired and probably is fighting the need to ask the alphas around for a piece of clothing with their scent.

Now, another problem is that all the hashira are having a meeting in the headquarters soon, which means they'll be close enough to smell him.

Aoi is not surprised when she sees Kyojuro's crow flying above the butterfly estate and leaving as soon as he spots Tanjirou.

The slayers around watch with longing as Tanjirou starts gathering a couple of clean sheets and some pillows for his nest.

He moves around the estate, unable to feel satisfied with his work. Nezuko is not there at the moment so he doesn't even have a "pup" to cuddle with.

Aoi starts preparing suppressants for the alphas, not the ones around (they know they can't touch the pretty omega with the scar on his forehead if they value their lives) but for the Pillars themselves.

They'll be coming soon. She is almost sure they'll end up canceling the meeting too, because, like everyone else, Ubuyashiki knows exactly that all his hashira are head over heels for Tanjirou and he's kind enough to let them spend time with him.

"Aoi..."

"Yes?" She feels sorry for Tanjirou as she realizes he's too far gone now; he's tearing up, but his eyes are completely white, which means his inner omega is in charge now.

"Where's my pup?" He sobs, trying to wipe the tears off his eyes with his sleeve. He looks so cute, Aoi feels the need to give him anything he wants and protect him even though she's not an alpha. "I can't find her!"

He thinks Nezuko is his pup.

"She's safe at the moment, Tanjirou, I promise. You'll see her tomorrow."

The omega nods, but the tears keep sliding from his big eyes. Now she kinda understands the Pillars and why they always look like they're being tortured whenever they are with Tanjirou.

"My nest is wrong," the omega continues, clearly overwhelmed by his own hormones. "I'm not safe. It doesn't smell right. I want someone to hold me."

Maybe she should send a crow so the Pillars come faster, or at least one of them will be enough.

"Why don't you try to sleep for a while, Tanjirou?"

The omega bites his bottom lip in a way that makes her worry he'll make himself bleed; the Pillars are not going to be happy about it.

"I don't think I will be able to sleep alone. Where are my alphas?"

Now that is really interesting. Tanjirou has no idea all the hashira are in love with him; he thinks all of them consider him a friend and the things they do for him are out of friendship and nothing else.

However, his inner omega seems to know more than Tanjirou himself.

"How many alphas do you have?"

"Nine. They love me. They keep me safe," Tanjirou smiles, although his eyes are still completely white. "Why aren't they here with me? I don't even have their clothes! I miss their scents!"

Aoi regrets asking that question immediately because Tanjirou starts sobbing again.

Her salvation comes in the form of Kiyo, Naho and Sumi because as soon as Tanjirou sees them, he stops crying and hugs them.

"Are you alright, little pups? Do you need anything?"

It's incredible how his mommy instincts kick in as soon as he sees pups, even though he doesn't have any himself.

"Naho, please give Tanjirou this and take him to his nest. He'll sleep for a while," she whispers to the girl while the omega gets distracted by the other two.

"Let's go to the nest!" Sumi says, taking Tanjirou's hand in hers.

"But it's all wrong!" The omega argues, making a devastated expression.

"It's okay for now!" The three girls assure him and manage to convince him to go back to his room.

Aoi sighs in relief, at least he'll be able to rest for a while.

***

The Pillars arrive at the estate a little bit after that and Aoi, along with the three butterfly girls, have to stay at the entrance and physically stop them.

"What are you doing?" Iguro asks, slightly irritated by the way his scent is changing. "We want to see our omega!"

"You can't," she stands her ground despite being afraid of them. "Not until you drink these and wait for the medicine to kick in."

"Huh?" Shinazugawa bares his teeth, inner alpha already desperate to get to Tanjirou. "What the hell is this?"

"Tanjirou's scent is too strong at the moment; he won't go into heat, but you still have to take suppressants so his scent doesn't trigger your ruts. To keep him safe."

From you. She doesn't say, but they all hear it between lines nonetheless.

However, Tanjirou's safety has always been a priority for the hashira, so they all nod and drink the medicine quickly.

"Wait a couple of minutes in the backyard. I'll call you when it's time." She says, feeling a lot relaxed now.

"Is he alright?" Tomioka asks, worried.

"Yes, but he wants cuddles."

She rolls her eyes as soon as she hears them fight over who gets to cuddle him first.

"Also, you should give him your haoris or something so he can finish his nest. He's very upset about not getting it ready."

Since Tokito and Uzui don't have a haori, they end up shirtless, but that doesn't surprise her at all.

Aoi leaves for a while, mostly to check on Tanjirou; he's still asleep, although she knows he'll wake up as soon as the Pillars walk in the room.

"Alright, it's time!"

They basically jump up, ready to follow her like lovesick puppies; she rolls her eyes again, glad her back is on them.

"One more thing: he thinks you're his alphas."

"Well, that's because we are!" Uzui smirks, although his expression changes when Kocho throws her butterfly clip at him and hits him on the back of the head.

"We are not... yet," she says. "We promised we were going to court him properly. Besides, his inner omega might have caught on to our feelings for him, but Tanjirou has no idea."

Despite knowing that, Aoi notices they all seem really happy about the omega's assumption and she knows they're going to play the alpha mates role quite well.

"Be careful. Only cuddling!" She warns them, although she knows she's being unfair because they would never hurt their sunshine.

They all melt at the sight of Tanjirou curled up in a pile of sheets and pillows. Honestly, his nest looks quite comfortable, but it only smells like him at the moment.

"Darling?" Kanroji mumbles quietly, getting closer.

It's all the omega needs to open his big eyes; they're still white, but Aoi knows it'll probably last a day or two.

"Alphas!" Tanjirou beams, making grabby hands at them.

"Someone pinch me, I think I'm dreaming," Tomioka blurts out, only for Kocho to do exactly what he asked. "Ouch! I didn't mean it literally!"

Kyojuro, always desperate to touch Tanjirou, pulls the omega into his arm in a hug that makes them both purr.

"I want your haoris."

They immediately offer a piece of clothing to him, like the good, whipped alphas they are.

He hugs all the garments with the sweetest, most content expression on his face before rubbing every single one against his cheeks.

Then he patiently arranges them as all the hashira watch with undivided attention.

"It's done!" The omega beams, clearly satisfied with his work before turning towards them again. "I want someone to cuddle me!"

Himejima is the first one. They both fit perfectly in the nest; Tanjirou did such a good job, Aoi is sure each and every single one are going to be really comfortable when their turn comes.

She leaves then, but she keeps checking in on them every once in a while, and that's how she finds out Iguro and Kanroji decide to cuddle Tanjirou at the same time. During Tokito's turn, he lies over Tanjirou's chest the whole time. Shinazugawa likes to bite the omega's cheek to make him giggle, Kyojuro embraces him in a way that makes it look like he won't ever leave his side and Tomioka hugs him from behind, breathing into Tanjirou's red hair.

Kocho does the same as Tokito because she's smaller than Tanjirou, Uzui encourages the omega to hide his face under the curve of his neck until he purrs.

It takes them a while, but Tanjirou gets to cuddle with all his Pillars, one at a time.

***

Tanjirou wakes up feeling well rested. The nest he made smells better than ever, and even though he's in a pile of comfortable clothes alone, around him on the floor, all the hashira are sleeping.

Then, bit by bit, he remembers what happened while his inner omega was in control.

And he feels terrible about it. Tears start falling from his eyes because he's still on his nesting period, and his hormones are crazy even though he's completely conscious now.

"Tanjirou, what is it?" Muichiro is the first one to wake up. Cradling the omega's face in his hands, he leans closer. "Are you hurt?"

They all are awake now, gathered around him, with such concerned looks in their eyes, Tanjirou feels even worse.

"I took advantage of you!" He sobs. "Of your friendship and valuable time! I'm so sorry I made you give up your haoris, I'm sorry you had to act like my alphas to make me feel better!"

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?"

Sanemi is angry, of course he is. He should be.

"You can... I mean I understand if you want to stop being my frie–"

"Tanjirou, my boy, my beloved, my darling," Kyojuro cuts him off, moving closer until the tip of his nose touches the omega's. "We are in love with you."

"What?" He blinks, as his tears finally stop sliding down his cheeks.

Gyomei kneels in front of him, finds his hands, and takes them in his.

"Tanjirou. You didn't make us do anything," he says, smiling softly at him as he tears up. "In your hands, you hold our hearts, all of them, and it's not because you took them; we gave them to you willingly, after getting to know your gentle soul and seeing the kindness you treat everyone with. Tanjirou, we have been yours for a while now, and we've been trying to let you know about our love for you. Please, let us court you."

Tanjirou takes a deep breath before touching Gyomei's hands with his fingertips gently and then looking at every single one of... his Pillars.

They are his Pillars now, aren't they? Tanjirou can finally see it all in the glimmer of their eyes.

It has always been there, he just... wasn't paying enough attention.

But he will from now on.

"Yes, you can court me. All of you."

He gets a lot of kisses and hugs after that, at least until Aoi comes in and reminds them Tanjirou is technically still nesting so they should be careful with the displays of affection.

Tanjirou makes a mental note to give something to Aoi for taking care of him.

She deserves it.

***

Patreon

#demon slayer #kny #kimetsu no yaiba #tanjiro kamado #mitsuri kanroji #muichiro tokito #sanemi shinazugawa #shinobu kocho #gyomei himejima #tengen uzui #kyojuro rengoku #giyuu tomioka #obanai iguro #giyutan #kyotan #omegaverse

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warabidakihime · 4 months ago

Text

★ characters: levi ackerman x reader | modern au

★ plot summary: levi helps you get through an episode

★ content warnings : implied su!cidal ideations, talks about mental illness (panic attacks, anxiety, and depression).

★ a/n: just a lil something i wrote out of sheer indulgence cause i am going through it ૮₍ ˃ ⤙ ˂ ₎ა . so i guess you could say this is true to life and the only difference is, i don't have a levi by myself doing all these for me LOL. BUT YEAH, i hope you like this one and i hope it could help other people who might be going through the same thing.

sending everybody hugs!

Title: Until When Do I Need to Run?

"What if I'm too tired by the time I reach the 'pinnacle' of my life?"

Your voice sounded soft and vulnerable as you let those words slip through your lips.

Normally, you wouldn't let these kinds of thoughts escape the confines of your mind, but today, your heart was desperately screaming for any semblance of salvation.

Anything that could shed light on your ever-gloomy world.

From the dining table where your boyfriend sat, enjoying his freshly brewed jasmine tea after dinner, Levi raised an eyebrow in your direction. "What?"

You were at the sink, washing the dishes, as it was your turn this week. You chuckled humorlessly as you rinsed a plate rather mindlessly. "It's nothing. I was just thinking out loud."

"And thinking ridiculous things too," Levi said, his voice louder than usual. It didn't occur to you that he had moved until you were spun around, facing him. He was already behind you while you were racking your brains for a response.

"What's wrong with you? Did something happen?" His frown was deep, his gray eyes piercing. Despite being shorter, his presence loomed over you.

Reaching for the kitchen towel to dry your hands, you stayed mute for a few minutes in an attempt to gather your thoughts.

"Work has just been... rough lately, and the stress is getting to me. But today was especially hard," you started. You were speaking slowly, trying to articulate your words as best as you could.

It was something your therapist had taught you years ago. Because of the things you went through growing up and the trauma you'd accumulated, you'd unfortunately lost your ability to speak coherently at times, almost to the point of being considered a person with a disability.

Having such a handicap was frustrating and humiliating, to say the least. It angered you when you couldn't get the right words out or when your mind went blank mid-sentence, rendering you temporarily mute.

Thankfully, you had Levi. He'd been your boyfriend for eight years, and since you got together, life wasn't as draining as it once was. You couldn't be more grateful to him. The two of you had met while you were on a coffee run at work. He was behind you in line, and when your card was unfortunately declined and you didn't have cash on you, you almost had an anxiety attack.

In his own way of displaying kindness, Levi scoffed from behind you and handed the cashier his card to pay for both your orders.

"If you don't want to go through something like that again, make sure you have cash on you, dumbass."

And the rest was history.

You went quiet again, and while Levi waited patiently, he took your hand, gave it a loving squeeze, and led you to the living room so that you could sit and talk comfortably.

Once you were settled, you took a deep breath, which sounded shaky as it escaped your lips. Your emotions were clearly piling up inside, and it was just a matter of when they would burst.

"Steady your breathing first, Y/N," Levi said as he rubbed your back gently, doing his best to comfort you while you grounded yourself. "Take your time."

Smiling sheepishly at him, you did as told, and then finally, you continued to confide in him.

"Nothing major happened, but work has been really hectic recently due to the amount of things we need to do, and it doesn't help that my team is severely understaffed. So, I guess the fatigue and stress have been piling up, and it's getting to me."

Levi noticed the tension in your shoulders and the way your hands were trembling slightly. He reached out and gently massaged your temples, his touch soothing.

"Any word on that incompetent manager of yours? They're looking for a replacement, right?" Levi asked, his voice tinged with annoyance. He knew the lore of what was happening at your workplace, and to say that he was pissed was an understatement.

Not only were you neglected by your immediate supervisor, but you also had to catch up and do his workload while still getting paid less than him. The whole thing was a mess, and to be completely honest, Levi was on edge, worried for your well-being. It sucked that his worst fears were manifesting.

"They're doing the best they can, so I'm just waiting patiently on that."

Levi let out a 'tsk' and rolled his eyes, clearly more annoyed for you. The gesture caused you to giggle a little.

"And to sum it all up, the whole thing kind of shoved me into another episode, and I started to overthink things again." You said with a pout, then continued, "I started to think of negative things again, like the fact I literally have to work like a horse just so I can survive for another two weeks. From that, I started to get dizzy because it dawned on me that it would literally take me years to succeed. And then I thought, what if by the time I reach the most successful point of my life, I'm too tired to celebrate or to even continue living because that's what I've been striving to achieve for so long, and that's where I've been pouring all my energy—"

"Okay, stop. Stop right there," Levi interrupted, his voice firm. He let out a frustrated sigh and pulled you closer, taking your hands in his. "You're spiraling, Y/N. You're making a mountain out of a molehill. We're going to tackle this together, one step at a time. Right now, you need to breathe and relax."

His gray eyes held a stern yet caring expression. "Focus on the now, Y/N. We deal with problems as they come. I'm here. I'll be your anchor, but you have to let go of the rope a little."

You looked into his eyes, feeling the weight of his words. Levi had always been your rock—the one who grounded you when your mind spiraled. You knew he was right, and his presence always brought you back to reality.

As you sat there, hand in hand, you felt a sense of calm wash over you.

"Thank you, Levi," you whispered, leaning in to rest your head on his shoulder.

Levi noticed the shift in your demeanor. He squeezed your hand reassuringly, his other hand coming up to stroke your hair gently.

"You know, Y/N," he started softly, his voice a stark contrast to his earlier firmness. "You're incredibly strong. You've faced challenges I couldn't imagine, and you’ve come out stronger for it. But even the strongest people need to recharge."

He paused, giving you a moment to absorb his words. "It's okay to not be okay sometimes. It's okay to feel overwhelmed. What matters is how you deal with it. And right now, you're dealing with it by talking to me instead of keeping all that to yourself, and you've also been really consistent with it, which is a huge step. Good job."

Levi squeezed your hand gently again. "We'll figure this out together. Maybe we can start by setting some boundaries at work. Or maybe we can find some ways to de-stress outside of work. We can try new hobbies, or just spend more quality time together."

You felt a lump form in your throat as you listened to Levi's words. Just him being there for you brought so much warmth; it's as if he's hugging you from within.

At that moment, you realized how lucky you were to have him in your life.

You looked up at him, your eyes filled with a mixture of gratitude and vulnerability. His words, spoken with such gentle sincerity, had a profound effect on you. It felt like a weight had been lifted off your shoulders. You realized how much you had been bottling up and how much you had been neglecting your own well-being.

"Thank you," you whispered, your voice barely audible. "Thank you for always being here for me. I don't know what I would do without you."

Levi smiled softly, reaching up to brush away a stray tear that had escaped your eye. "You don't have to figure it out alone, Y/N. And never, ever hesitate to reach out to me. I am the last person that would push you away."

A comfortable silence settled between you as you both took a moment to appreciate the connection. The soft glow of the living room lamp casts a warm ambiance, creating an intimate atmosphere.

"I know I've been a bit of a downer lately," you admitted, your voice trembling slightly. "I hate that I let this get to me. I hate that I'm becoming this person who's always stressed and overwhelmed."

Levi squeezed your hand tighter.

"You're not this person, Y/N. You're going through a tough time, and that's okay."

You nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over you. It was comforting to know that you had someone who understood and supported you unconditionally.

The conversation continued, flowing naturally as you shared your fears and worries with Levi. He listened patiently, offering words of encouragement and practical advice. You felt a sense of peace as you opened up to him, something you hadn't done in a long time.

Hours seemed to fly by as you talked. The initial darkness outside had given way to the soft hues of dawn. Levi's grip on your hand never loosened, his presence a constant source of comfort.

Eventually, the weight of exhaustion began to creep in. You yawned, your eyes heavy with sleep. Levi noticed and smiled gently.

"It's late, Y/N," he said softly. "Let's head to bed."

You nodded, your head leaning against his shoulder. "Mkay. Thank you, Levi."

Levi kissed the top of your head. "You're welcome. We'll talk more about this tomorrow if you want, alright?"

You nodded, a sheepish smile on your face. "Okay."

He stood up and stretched, a yawn escaping his lips. "I'll get us some water."

You watched as Levi moved toward the kitchen, feeling exponentially better, all thanks to him. When he returned with two glasses of water, he handed you one and sat back down beside you.

"Drink up," he said, his voice soft but firm.

You took a sip, feeling the cool liquid soothe your throat. After finishing the water, you placed the glass on the coffee table and turned to Levi.

"Thank you, Levi, for everything," you said, your voice full of sincerity.

He gave you a small smile, his eyes reflecting his affection for you. "Always, Y/N."

Setting his glass aside, Levi suddenly cupped your face with his hands, his touch gentle yet commanding. He leaned in, his lips capturing yours in a kiss that was more passionate and eager than usual. His kiss conveyed all the love, support, and reassurance he wanted to give you, grounding you in the moment.

You responded in kind, your arms wrapping around his neck as you melted into the kiss. The intensity of the moment made your worries fade away, replaced by the warmth and love radiating from Levi. He pulled you closer, deepening the kiss, his hands moving to your waist, holding you securely.

When you finally pulled away for air, you rested your forehead against his, your breaths mingling. Levi's eyes were soft but intense, filled with a promise of unwavering support.

"You're not alone, Y/N," he whispered, his voice husky with emotion. "I love you, and I'll always be here for you."

Tears of gratitude filled your eyes as you looked at him. "I love you too, Levi."

With that, he took your hand and led you to the bedroom. You both settled into bed, the weight of the day's worries feeling lighter. As you lay there, wrapped in each other's arms, you felt a sense of peace and security that only Levi could provide.

"Goodnight, Y/N," Levi murmured, his breath warm against your ear.

"Goodnight, Levi," you replied, your voice barely above a whisper.

The room fell into a serene silence, only your steady breathing filling the space. Levi’s arms around you felt like a shield against the world’s troubles, and the steady beat of his heart was a comforting rhythm that lulled you into relaxation.

As sleep began to pull you under, you felt a tender kiss pressed to your forehead while Levi’s fingers lightly traced soothing patterns on your back—his way of reminding you that he was always there, ready to lift the burdens you carried.

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profoundbondfanfic · 2 months ago

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Hello there! Your blog has become a daily addition to my life. I look forward to your recommendations everyday. Thank you for the work that you do.

I was wondering if you could recommend some Historical AUs. If there's pining an it's slow burn then great!

Thank you so much!

Hey! That means a lot, thank you for the kind words💜

A Ghost Story by emmbrancsxx0 (Explicit, 261k words)

On a dare, Dean spends the night in an old house supposedly haunted by the ghost of a man awaiting the return of his lost love. Once inside, the place - and one certain dark-haired man in a 19th-century photograph - seem awfully familiar. But that’s impossible, right?

A Novel Affair by EllenOfOz, MalMuses (Explicit, 77k words)

Castiel Novak is the new proprietor of a tea room in Cheltenham—a business he inherited from his Great-Uncle Balthazar. His uncle expressly wished for the tea room to continue to offer a modest reading room to its customers, complete with a shelf of popular novels that people often mark with their favourite passages, or tuck notes between the pages for others to find. But there are some in the town who do not approve of the corrupting influence of novels. Dean Winchester, newly arrived in the country for the summer, is not about to let the handsome gentleman with the pretty blue eyes lose his business—especially not now that he's corresponding with a charming, well-read stranger through the pages of one of the novels on his shelves.

All Things In Succession by everandanon (Explicit, 331k words)

When thirteen-year-old Castiel unexpectedly presents as an omega, everything changes. Worst of all, his older brother is sending him away — to be married. Still, though everyone insists Cas can’t be a knight anymore, maybe his new husband will feel differently. As for Dean, the last thing he’s expecting his mysterious husband-to-be is a child. Though he’s furious with his dad and Cas’s older brother, Dean goes through with the marriage, anyway. If he doesn’t, they’ll give the poor kid to someone else, and who knows what will happen to him? Nah, Dean’ll just stash the kid in the barracks to train to his heart’s content, and life will go on. Of course, Cas can’t stay a kid forever, but as the years pass, Dean seems more and more determined to pretend otherwise . . .

Angel in the Iron Mask by MalicMalic (Explicit, 58k words)

Finally free of his actual shackles, Castiel finds himself in a situation a lot worse than being locked in the dungeon with an iron mask to conceal his face. The intrigues of the court will make his head ache, but it would all be worth it if he could just find a way to save the omega that had been enslaved to him.

Captive of the Viking by jhoom (Mature, 19k words)

Dean the Ruthless is consumed by his need for vengeance. He takes his enemy’s widowed nephew, Castiel, as his slave… His captive might fight him at first, but Dean knows he’ll soon tempt Castiel into his bed. Castiel’s marriage only ever bought him fear and pain, but powerful Viking Dean is nothing like his cruel wife. And the longer he stays with his captor, the more he wants to give in to the new sensations the ferocious warrior evokes in him. Will he give in to this ferocious warrior’s seduction?

Dear Father by Salamitsunami1 (Explicit, 68k words)

It’s 1973, and it’s the middle of spring, and each passing day is warmer than the one before it. The troops are returning from Vietnam in droves, and the American shores they stumble upon are just a little more accepting of homosexuality than the ones they left all those years ago. But Father Castiel Novak has never even stepped foot out of Salvation, let alone out of the Midwest, and as the only priest in this very small town, he’s determined to remain in the closet until his very last breath. Things take a turn when Salvation’s newest resident confesses to having urges for other men. Dean Winchester wastes no time in asserting himself as both intolerably arrogant and an ungodly temptation, and Castiel’s only defense is to keep his distance. Despite his best efforts, a friendship still ensues, and it’s a very slippery slope then, with things going from bad to worse when Dean offers his self-proclaimed good hands to help bring Castiel’s family home back to life.

His Imperial Guardian by Briston (Explicit, 41k words)

Mr. Dean Winchester would do anything so that his brother might become a successful barrister. After years of personal compromise threatens to bring them both to ruin, Dean is left with but one option to save his brother. His Serenity the Count Castiel Novak is the recently installed Russian Ambassador to St. James’s Court in London. The cold brutality the English display toward those who share his preferences leaves him incensed and wanting to lash out. Looking for a wrong to set right, he ventures into a dangerous part of London to find a way to dispense with some of his anger and frustration. What he finds instead, is a man close to death and in need of his protection. A man he very much suspects shares his natural proclivities. How will Castiel convince the mysterious man that he is safe under his protection?

Ninety One Whiskey by komodobits (Explicit, 401k words)

In the spring of 1944, the 104th Medical Battalion of the United States Army is disbanded, and its men reassigned to various infantry companies in preparation for their invasion of occupied France. For First Lieutenant Novak, this is less than helpful, as he has so far met his platoon’s designated medic a grand total of twice, and has both times found Sergeant Winchester to be the optimum combination of reckless, arrogant, and downright insufferable so as to make cohesive platoon function near impossible. When the time comes to move out, however, Castiel has to reconcile himself to the fact that men are going to go down and trust that Dean Winchester may well be the only person who can put them back together again. WW2 ETO infantry AU.

o weary traveler by dothraki_shieldmaiden (Explicit, 107k words)

Still reeling from the death of his father, Dean Winchester has one goal: make it home to Lawrence, where his kingdom and the rest of his life are waiting for him. His task is made infinitely more difficult when he shipwrecks on a mysterious island. When his crew and then his brother disappears, Dean enters into a deal with the island's mysterious inhabitant, Castiel, to keep them safe. The catch? He can never leave. Bound by his deal, Dean has no choice but to get to know Castiel, and what he finds is surprising. Castiel is kinder than he originally thought, even though he's harboring his own secrets and guilt. Dean needs to return to Lawrence, but he finds himself reluctant to leave Castiel behind. Meanwhile, Castiel knows that the kindest thing to do for Dean is to let him go, regardless of his own feelings towards him. As their relationship deepens into friendship and then something more, Dean and Castiel face both outside dangers as well as their own doubts. Can Castiel find it within himself to let Dean leave? Can Dean find it within himself to go? Or can these two create their own destiny?

Rapscallions by the_scrubjay (Explicit, 106k words)

Castiel was expected to be the Omega heir to his father’s kingdom. Upon presentation as an Alpha, he was stripped of his title and privileges, now a pawn to be used as his father saw fit. Dean, as his father’s eldest son, was expected to present as an Alpha and eventually assume the throne. When he presented as an Omega, he became just another bargaining chip at his father’s disposal. When the Kings strike a deal for an alliance, Dean and Castiel are expected to mate to join the two nations together. On the night, the two find themselves unable to follow through and instead agree to play along to avoid the wrath of their fathers. Once settled in the joint territory they’re intended to oversee, they find that the world is much different than it is at home. And maybe back home wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.

Rescue Me Tonight by superhoney (Explicit, 40k words)

In order to secure his chance at a better life, he’ll have to ruin the best man he’s ever known. When Dean first hears the proposal, he fears it’s a joke: he’ll be paid to seduce one of the most well-respected bachelors in London, Lord Castiel Milton, and then break his heart. But Lord Castiel’s enemies are ruthless men, and they’ll stop at nothing to see him humbled, including hiring Dean to play the role of a lifetime. Transforming himself from a lowly prostitute to a well-bred country lord won’t be easy, but if all goes according to plan, Dean will finally be free from the life he despises. He never expected to fall in love along the way.

The Leap by FriendofCarlotta (Explicit 82k words)

1961: Sixteen years after the end of World War II, Berlin remains occupied by the Allied Forces — America, Britain, France and the Soviet Union. Castiel Krushnic is a police officer in Soviet-occupied East Berlin. He is also gay, in a city where that’s a dangerous thing to be. One night, he meets Dean Winchester, a mechanic from the American sector. Their mutual attraction is instant, and a convenient hookup quickly turns into a passionate love affair that defies all rules and expectations. But Cold War Berlin is a troubled place, and as more and more residents flee Soviet-occupied territory for the West, Castiel’s superiors begin to make plans to build a wall. The wall would cut off East Berlin from the rest of the city — and leave Dean and Castiel on opposite sides.

The Omega Classifieds by ValandraWrites (Explicit, 73k words)

Life isn’t easy for a single Omega. Without an Alpha on record, Dean can’t work, can’t mate, and by law, should have been turned over to The Omega Center to be trained and auctioned off for mating. To avoid that fate, Dean resorts to the Omega Classifieds to try and find a mate. The enigmatic and charming Castiel Krushnic catches his eye and maybe his heart, but will he make his claim official before Dean’s luck runs out?

The Sun of Huntra by Inkblooded_Witch, PetraAmia (Explicit, 162k words)

Castiel, firstborn prince to the Enochian crown, has lived his life largely out of public view. His father is a staunch supporter of tradition, and to have an Omega as your firstborn is shameful. Castiel didn’t even inherit the king’s Shifter breed. The first time he’s truly useful in over thirty years is when a strong treaty must be made with their northern neighbors, and to secure it Enochia needs an Omega to mate off to Huntra’s crown prince.

You can check our historical tag if you're interested in more. Also, there's the Noir Bang coming in late fall with excellent 1940s fics.

#asks #group rec #historical

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sky-kiss · 11 months ago

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The House Always Wins

On the sixth day of any third tenday, you were liable to find god and the devil taking tea in Sharess’ taproom. An overstatement, perhaps, but dramatics suited both parties particularly well. In truth, you would find Raphael, a cambion. Seated across from him, the deva. The creature had never provided a name, and he’d never bothered to ask. They were his pretty bird; what else could matter?

“You’re quiet today,” they say, leaning back in their seat. Flame-colored hair spills over their shoulders, nearly to the waist. Raphael quite likes it. He thinks, with no small amount of frequency, how wonderfully their head would match the decor in his House. Over the mantle, perhaps? Or in the Boudoir. He remains undecided. “Are you dying?”

“You wound me,” Raphael replies, moving a piece on the lanceboard. The deva plays an achingly conservative game. It’s the position Raphael prefers to occupy, preferring defensive to outright aggression. But the little shit has tucked their Cyric safely away behind a wall of troops. How very suited to the Heavens. Isolationist, tedious, stagnant. “Is death truly the only cause for silence? I might be contemplative.”

“You contemplate loudly. You do everything loudly, devil. And with a hundred words where ten might serve.” They move a piece back, ceding the center of the board. The solar glares at the board, taking an arch sip from their tea. “Why are we still playing this damned game?”

“I like it. You always lose.” Raphael folded his hands low on his belly. “And I do love watching you celestials squirm.”

The pretty bird scoffs, tossing their head. Still, they tip over their king gamely enough, holding their hands up in surrender.

Raphael sets the board again, knowing full well they won’t play. It’s a practiced dance, centuries old at this point. They are here on business, this celestial emissary and their infernal counterpart, and their business is…

…less than savory. They speak on the only currency that matters: souls—the solar, tied to the heavens and salvation; the cambion to the hells and damnation. Raphael holds up his glass in salute.

His voice is entirely fond, the respect genuine. They are, simultaneously, the oldest of friends and the most pitched of enemies. He says, “Every day, the city turns its cheek a little further from your light. Another month, another year, and they will be cast entirely in my shadow.”

The solar waves him off. “The mortals shift like the tide. Today, they wash up on your shores. Tomorrow?” They shrug. “Tomorrow, they might wash up on mine.”

“How delightfully naive.”

They chuckle, shrugging. The air around them shimmers and brightens, tinged with citrus and floral notes. Bright, as they have always been. “You need these wins, half-blood. What other bright spots do you have in your miserable Infernal Life?”

“To me, then, pretty bird. Inferna victoria.”

“To you, you miserable devil.”

It is an epithet Raphael wears all too gladly. The Heavens see him for what he is, even if the Hells will not.

#bg3 raphael #raphael bg3 #angel x devil #kind of?#Raphael just drinks coffee with some celestial weirdo #I had an urge #my fic

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blueink01 · 8 months ago

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Ch. 5: Radio Killed the Video Star

The next day at Hazbin Hotel-

Charlie Is pacing back and forth in panic mode with Keekee walking alongside her owner.

"Okay. So the extermination is coming in six months instead of a year. No big deal. Just a little setback. Nothing we can't handle. Just angels cutting our timetable in half. But who needs a whole year to save souls? Am I right?!" Charlie starts to panic, "And next time when they cut the time in half again, and again, we'll just handle it, right?!"

Vaggie grabs Charlie, calming her down, "Yes. We will."

"This is nothing more than a minor set back." Yn added as she rubs her head, calming her down.

"Oh, please, ya had less than half a chance when you started all this salvation bullshit. And now..." Angel Dust's phone vibrates with violent threating messages such as 'fucking bitch', "Ain't no silver lining this time toots."

"Angel...Come on.. There's always a bright side!" Yn smiled as her phone vibrated with panickeing messages from IMP. "There's..always hope."

The messages on Yn's phone:

Blitz❤️: "Lovey, have you heard to news!?!"

M&M: "Sweety are you okay?! me and Moxxie have been trying to contact you?!"

Tweety Bird👑🪶💙: "Yn when will you come and visit me?, I've been feeling lonely here~"

Big Daddy Ozzie: "Yn by any chance have you seen Felix's favorite earrings?"

+15 More Messages Etc.

"Yn is right! We just...have to look a little harder for it!" Charlie smiled widely.

"Well, while you're lookin', the rest'a hell's goin' nuts." Angel waves his phone in their faces, "People are already freakin' out about the news. Look at what's happenin' in the Doomsday District."

He scrolls down an article with the bottom showing a demon screaming in front of a fire. Suddenly a pink message appears. Charlie gets closer to read it.

"Err, what is a. Donkey Show?" Charlie question.

Angel panics and retreats the phone back, "Aah, heh, nothin'. My boss, Val, is just freaked out about the news too. Like I said, everyone's losin' their shit." Angel Dust laughs nervously.

"Yeah, that's true. Sinners are desperate." Vaggie stated.

"Maybe desperate enough to try anything to escape the extermination?" Yn smirked.

Charlie gasps, "This is the perfect time to recruit more sinners for the hotel!" Charlie squeals.

"Cute idea and all, but you really gonna go out in all of this?" Angel Dust waves the phone with the place still on fire and demons in panic.

"Well, it's not like people are just gonna show up on our doorstep..." Yn texted on her phone as she smirked.

Suddenly, a massive explosion made Charlie scream in a fight from behind, getting their attention. They turn to see a freshly made hole in the wall.

"What the what?!" Yn shouted.

Outside the hotel Sir Pentious him and his Egg Boiz zeppelin armed for battle.

"Show yourself Alasssstor." Pentious slithers.

"Come and face..." Pentious pauses for a moment when he notices Alastor absent from the freshly made hole. He then looks to see him sipping coffee on the balcony of the second floor.

"Oh there you are. Face my wrath!" Pentious exclaims.

Alastor sips his tea, "Who are you?"

"Who am I? Who am I?! I am the great Ssssssir Pentiousssss!" Alastor dissolves into fog as he descends to the ground, materializing aside Yn, Angel, Vaggie, and Charlie who are in the scene watching Sir Pentious's zeppelin.

"Inventor, architect of destruction, villain extraordinaire!" Pentious smirked.

"Ooh you tell 'em boss." The eggs bois cheered on.

Niffty appears on Yn's right shoulder, clearly starstruck, "Ooooooh, he's a bad boy.." Niffty smirks.

Yn pats Niffty's head as Niffty smiles widely and seems so free.

"Ha, well if all that's true, you'd think I'd have heard of you." Alastor crossed his arms.

"I attacked you literally last week." Pentious blankly stated.

Alastor cocks his head, "We've done battle, like... 20 times...once while you were on a date with-" Pentious looked at Yn as his whole demeanor changed, "HI QUEENIE!!!!" Yn wave back.

Charlie and Vaggie looked at her with a confused expression and then change their expression again looking back at Pentious.

"Well, you must have been really bad at this." Alastor noted as his blood slowly boiled due to how Pentious was speaking to Yn.

Sir Pentious' went back to his usual demeanor, "Silence! Now cower! For when I've ssslain you, the almighty Vees will finally acknowledge me as their equal."

Niffty picked up from Yn's shoulder, "Ooh! Wait, who are the Vees?"

"Oh, nobody important." Alastor smirks. Yn nodded her head in agreement.

Vee's Headquarters-

A large crowd is in front of a store as they watch an advertisement on the tvs facing the window showing off a spy drone.

"New VoxTek designer voyeur scopes, Peeping on the neighbors has never been more stylish. VoxTek! Trust us with your money!"

Crowd immediately enters the store and stampedes out with boxes with voyeur scopes. then cuts to random people watching their computers laptops and phones, and reveals their eyes signifying the work of hypnosis.

"This week's episode of "Teah, I Fucked Your Sister, So What?" is brought to you by VoxTek. Trust us with your entertarment!"

A tv demon starts tapping his fingers in a large room with tvs showing off numerous consumers as "trust us" repeats and overlaps. electricity courses as Vox stands up from his chair laughing maniacally from his viewer's consumerism. Vox had a ring around his left ring finger, it had both a sun and moon engraved on it.

"Muhahaha! Now that's good television!" Vox laughed as he heard his phone ding, he checked it as he groaned.

Suddenly his screen-face shifts to reveal an icon of Velvette, another one of them Vees, signifying she's calling, with a clown horn ringtone. Vox puts his phone down. Vox courses the call from his screen to his hands via his electric powers and transfers it to one of his many screens to reveal Velvette in her studio, her hair into a large ponytail. Vox then sits down on his chair.

"Hello there, Velvette! How are you this hellish morning?" Vox crossed his legs.

<Oh, cut the shit, Vox. I need you up here now!> Velvette exclaimed.

Vox looks to one of his screens as he gets his coffee cup and drinks from it, "Whatever could be the problem, my dear?".

<Your little boy toy is wrecking my apartment, while I'm trying to pull together a show and...> Velvette pauses.

Off-screen we see several workers running and screaming, and objects being tossed, as Valentino is heard cussing. "FUCKING BITCH!"

<Just get your ass here! NOW! Damn it Valentino!> Velvette yelled.

The call ends, and Vox's smile fades away as he gets up, sighing, fixing up his bowtie. He quickly texted on his phone before shoving the phone into his pocket.

"Oh god. Here I go, Valentino. Just another fucking day with Val." Vox walked to a platform with a forced smile, "Hey hey hey. Fuck my life." Vox had a dead expression as the platform raised up.

An elevator with a smiling Vox with the world bubble saying trust us!', before opening to reveal a frowning Vox sighing, and putting on a smile for a crowd of reporters that overlap one another before pointing their microphones to him.

"Mr. Vox! What are your thoughts about the new extermination deadline?" A reporter asked.

"When is Yn coming back on the program? People miss her fashion show & competitions!" Another reporter asked.

"My dear people! We at VoxTek Enterprises have always been at the forefront of innovation. And now, with this new oncoming threat, we are shifting our focus, to your protection. We are pleased to announce..." Vox ignored the second question, answering the first.

The screen zooms to him and an ad featuring the VoxTek logo, now gold and with angelic wings, with the tagline reading.

"VoxTek Angelic Security is coming soon! Trust us, with YOUR safety." Vox forced a smile.

Vox uses his left eye to hypnotize the crowd the same way as his consumers. Vox's manager quickly rushed up to Vox.

"Uh sir, when did we begin working on Angelic Security?" The Manager asked in a soft voice.

"30 seconds ago." Vox speaks in a strained voice as he walks off, "Try to get that bitch Carmilla on the books and cancel all my appointments today. I have a fire to put out upstairs." Vox noted.

He then morphs his body into electricity and generates itself into the security camera on the wall.

Velvette's Studio-

The staff cleans everything up as she looks to four designers holding up dresses to show her.

"Ugh. No. Unacceptable. You're fired. What is this? WRIST RUFFLES?! Is this 1750?! Burn it like the witches who wore it!" Velvette groaned, "UGH I miss babycakes.. She was the best fucking designer I ever had." Velvette rolled her eyes.

As she sends the designer away, Vox appears next to her, "Velvette! I can see you're busy. Tell me, where's our hot headed friend now.?" Vox looked around.

"Up in his room, waiting for a flat-faced prince to calm him down!" Velvette noted.

Vox sighs, "And uh, what's got him so out of sorts today?"

"Who knows?! But he tore up my second best model! And you know, the show can't wait for that unlucky bitch to pull herself back together! Melissa! Get over here!" Velvette yells.

Melissa gets onto the platform, and Velvette uses her overlord powers to change her outfit one after another until she spots the one she wants. "No. No. Hideous. I want to die. Eww." Velvette gasps, "Yes! That's the one."

"Ahh, looks like you have everything under control here." Vox noted.

"Of course, I do! Fuck you!" Velvette flips him off, "Now shoo! Take care of the piss baby!" Vox goes upstairs and is greeted by two moth demons who open the door for him. Once he enters.

He finds Valentino sitting on his couch surrounded by a fog of red smoke. When Val notices Vox, he sits up with fury in his eyes.

"Fucking FINALLY!" Val throws his drink, "Kitty! Another drink!" The Robo Fizzie next to him nods as it quickly heads off screen and reappears with the drink.

"Ugh! Can you believe what that piece of shit did? THE UNGRATEFUL WHORE!!!" As he speaks, he tosses the drink at Vox, who moves away making the drink, hits the door, and shatters on the floor.

"Uh, which whore are we talking about this time?" Vox questioned, crossing his arms.

Valentino gets up, "Fucking Angel Dust!” He walks up to Vox, "Who the hell else would I be talking about?!.." Val walks past him, "..fucking SLUT walked out on me!" He turns to Vox, "ME! I fucking made him!" Vox walks a little way away, "Without me, he's just a bag of meat with some mildly entertaining holes."

"Oh! Angel quit?" Vox sounded surprised.

"NO! He didn't fucking quit! It's worse!" Val takes Vox's phone, "He MOVED!!!"

As he says that, he tosses Vox's phone to the wall making it shatter in half. Vox seemed pissed about that, that being his only communication to his girl.

"He thinks he can just walk in here, work, and then go home somewhere else? Can you FUCKING believe that?!?!?!?!" Val walks to the closet, "He thinks he can run off and shack up with Lucifer's BIMBO daughter!"

"Angel is living with Lucifer's daughter?.." Vox paused and smirked.

"YEAH! That BITCH Chuckie or Chandler, or I dunno. Something manish like that, she's got this hotel and..." Val stopped.

As he speaks, he opens the closet full of guns, drugs, and pictures including a poster of himself. Valentino brings up two long pistol guns: a long revolver and a semi-pistol.

"Which of these makes me look sexier?" Val turns to the closet. (The pink one obviously)

"Heh. What are you doing, Val? You're not going over there." As Vox speaks, his left eye starts its hypnotizing spell, but Valentino is busy loading his guns.

"That slippery twink is gonna remember who owns him. I'm gonna FUCK everyone *except Yn* in that rancid shit hole, I swear to god!" Val starts.

Before he finishes, Vox grabs him by the collar and shoves him to his face, clearly furious.

Vox's voice was distorted, "VAL..." He calms down, "Hehe. Think about it." Vox then walks Valentino towards the window, taking one of his guns, "Our brand is... perfection. And what do you think chasing whores around town will... do for our image?"

"Um....fuck it up?" Val replied.

"Right! Do you want people thinking you can't control your employees?" Vox questioned.

"No!" Val exclaimed.

"Exactly! And hey, you still have him under contract. He isn't going anywhere! SO.. you should.." Vox waited for Val to get it.

"Do nothing?" Val questioned.

Vox smirked, "Great idea! Now that's why they pay you the.." He pinches Val's cheek on his face, "Big bucks."

"Ugh. But I really wanted to shoot someone." Val whined.

As he speaks, Valentino gets a cigarette holder, and Vox lights it with his electricity powers.

"Well, lemme call up the lowest earners this month." Vox walks to TVs.

"Ohh, you know me too well." Val chuckles and blows smoke, "Ya know.... Angel isn't the only one spending time at this Ratty Hotel with the devil's princesa..." Val smirked.

"Oh? Who else is there? Someone who, owes you money?" Vox smirked.

Valentino chuckles, "Someone who owes us much more than money and someone very dear to us... the Radio Demon and babycakes is there..." Val smirked.

Upon hearing those words, electricity courses through Vox's head, and he scratches the desk so hard it leaves scratch marks. Vox made small ominous chuckles before turning to Valentino, two red lines appearing on the left side of his lower lip.

Vox's voice was distorted, "What did you just say?"

"You heard me." Val smirked.

"Alastor.." Vox walks to Val, "came back..and he is with Lucifer's..." Vox glitches, "..daughter and and not only that, but he's with our Yn? And that wasn't the..." He grabs Val by the collar, "FIRST FUCKING THING YOU TOLD ME?!!"

Valentino frees himself from grip, "Hey! killing Alastor is your kink and Yn existence is all of our kink."

As he speaks, he walks to the desk and turns on the television. Vox teleports to the center screen, which is a recording from a VoxTek Voyer scope.

From Drone POV-

Yn chuckles softly and Alastor using his powers to attack Sir Pentious zeppelin, laughing as he hears Pentious screaming.

"Arrgh! Oh! Please! Stop!" Pentious cries.

"Um...Alastor! I think he's had enough." Charlie noted.

"Nah. He's got a few more hits in him." Angel added. As much as it was entertaining, Yn whispered in Alastor ear, "I think he's had enough Al." He looks at her than back to Sir Pentious who falls from the zeppelin in front of Alastor, face first on the ground. Alastor twirls his staff.

"Thanks for another forgettable experience." Alastor smirked.

An Egg Boi falls and breaks into pieces in front of Charlie.

"Thank you... for letting your guard down!" Using his tail, he grabs a bit of Alastor's suit, "Haha! Yah! Oh, shit..." Pentious' eyes widened.

"That was a mistake little snake~" Yn warned. Sir Pentious looks up to see Alastor's shadow transform in front of him. The next shot shows a massive green explosion as Sir Pentious is seen flying off to the city screaming as he disappeared from sight.

"Well, it looks as though I need a visit to the tailor! Would you care to join me my dear Yn?" Alastor asked extended his hand to her.

"Of course and maybe we can get some tea." Yn takes his hand, "Best of luck, chums." Alastor waved. as he holds Yn's hand.

"Wait, you're LEAVING?! Alastor! We need your help! We need you to do your job." Vaggie yelled.

Angel Dust gestures to the hole on the wall, "We need a wall."

Alastor sighed, "Of course! Can't let my new project fall into disrepair already. What would the papers say?!" With a snap of his fingers, black ink demons appear with construction tools as Alastor walks away. Angel takes an interest and looks at one of the larger muscular demons, shoving Vaggie away as he walks up to him.

Angel Dust giggles, "Hey, sweet cheeks. Whatcha doin' later? I love me a man with a giant...tool."

The screen zooms out to reveal Valentino scowling at the current events, leaning his face against the screen.

"See?! Look how he flirts with that guy, and he's not even paying! Who is that? I'm gonna fucking kill his whole fucking family while fucking Yn in front of them! Vox?" Val slams his fist on the table, "VOX!?"

Vox was paying little attention, as his left pupil turns into a tilde as he eyes Alastor leaving, his appearance static and out of focus as the screen becomes a bit static. He glitched rapidly at seeing Yn with Alastor.

Vox glitches, "That FUCKER is back! AND HE'S WITH YN?!"

Valentino grins as he realizes the situation and walks to him, "Yeah! I thought he was gone for good too!"

"It's been 7 years!" Vox clenched his fist.

Valentino leans up to him and pinches his cheek, Vox clearly pissed to care.

"You still pissed that she almost beat you and "took" Yn from us that time?" Val smirked.

Vox grumbled, "Uh, FUCK YOU."

"Just saying." Val walks around him.

"Things have changed a lot since he left town!" Vox clenched his fist, "THAT'S for sure." Val smirked.

"I gotta send a message of who's REALLY in charge of things now!" Vox's face fills the screen as Valentino laughs in the background.

Vox grins as he marches to his chair.

"~Welcome home! I'm gonna make you wish that you stayed gone!~" As Vox sang, electricity courses through his arm as he sat down, and turns to face the numerous screens.

"~Say hello to a new status quo.~" Vox presses a button, and cords latch themselves to the plug-ins on the back of his head, connecting himself with the tv networks. "~Everyone knows that there's a brand, new daren, turn the TV ON!~"

"Camera, speeds, rolling in three, two..." The director counted down.

Chorus: "Welcome to the Show!"

"~Top of the hour and we're discussing a certain had-been who has been spotted cavorting around town after a seven-year absence.~" Vox had a horrible drawing of Alastor as he snapped to be on a night-late tv show with himself.

"~Did anybody miss him, did anybody notice? More on tonight's program. So, the Radio Demon is back in town! Why is he hanging around? What does that mean for your family? Well, handily, I've got good news!~" Vox appeared in front of a red curtain now.

"~He's a loser, a fossil, and I don't mean to sound hostile~" Vox now appeared on multiple TV's and each dressed like a gospel choir. With the words 'Obey N' Pray'.

"~But the demon is a coward! You can take that as gospel. Pulling my viewers? Impossible! I'm visual, he's barely audible! Stop giving him the time of day! Don't listen to a word he'd say. Hope he had a nice vacay! But he should have stayed away!~"

While Alastor finishes getting his coat tailored. He notices the crowd watching the advertisement of Vox. Yn noticed as well as she frowned a bit, Alastor noticing this. He smiles and walks away with an idea, pulling Yn along. as Vox continues singing.

"~While he hid in radio, we pivoted to video! *pulls out a deer head* And now his medium is getting bloody rare! Hell's been better since he split. Where's he been? Who gives a shit?!~"

Guts to Alastor making his reappearance, as he starts his radio broadcast from the Hazbin Hotel as he puts YN on his lap.

"~Salutations! Good to be back on the air. Yes, I know it's been a while since someone with style treated Hell to a broadcast. Sinners rejoice!~"

"~What a dated voice!~"

"~Instead of a clout chasing mediocre video podcast.~"

"COME ON!" Vox exclaimed as he paused hearing Yn's laugh, "YOU FUCKER..."

"~Is Vox insecure, pursuing allure? Flitting between this fad and that. Is nothing working?~"

"IGNORE HIS CHIRPING!" Vox yelled.

"~Every day he's got a nere format!~"

"YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE FUTURE! HE'S THE SHIT THAT COMES BEFORE THAT!~" Vox exclaimed.

"~Is Vox as strong as he purports.? Or is it based on his support? He'd be powerless without the other Vees!~"

"Oh, PLEASE." Vox crossed his arms.

"~And here's the sugar on the cream. He asked ME to join this team!~"

Vox grumbled, "Hold on!"

"~I said no, and now he's pissy! That's the tea.~" As Alastor continued with his radio broadcast, Vox was getting so pissed that his screen face was starting to glitch with anger rising.

"~You old timey *Glitches* PRICK! I'll show you suffering!~"

"~Uh oh, the TV is buffering!~" Vox couldn't handle his anger, causing him to overload his circuits with static electricity.

"~I'LL DESTROY *Signal breaking up* Y0000U LITTLE.....~" The camera head could not get anything loaded, and Vox lets out an outburst that overloads everything from the TV screens to Valentino and Velvette's phone to everywhere in Pentagram City, causing a citywide blackout with the exception of the Hazbin Hotel.

"~I'm afraid you've lost your signal. Let's begin.~" Alastor smirked as he slowly turned into his true demon form with every sentence. His arms wrapping around Yn.

"~I'm gonna make you wish that I stayed gone! Tune on in. When I'm done, your status quo will know it's race is run! Oh, this will be fun!~" Alastor makes one last evil laugh before cutting off Vox's signal throughout the city, leaving the Overlord dismayed that Alastor is still popular and powerful than last time plus he had Yn on his side.

"FUUUUUCK!" Vox yelled.

Vee's Meeting-

Vox, Velvette, and Valentino are at a table together discussing a matter about Alastor as a Robo-Fizz, Kitty, passes out drinks to each of them.

"We have a problem. Alastor is getting close to Yn and little princess Morningstar, so our main concern now is ensuring that no deal is ever struck between Lucifer's.." Vox slams the table, "BRAT, and that smiling freak! AND HIM STEALING OUR BABYCAKES!"

Velvette paused before taking a deep breath, "Well, how exactly are we supposed to stop them?" Valentino was putting so much glue on his revolver to decorate with glitter and marbles.

"Put something inside them. That's how I get the bitches to behave." Val smirked.

"Well, maybe someone on the inside isn't such a bad idea. Do you think Angel would?" Vox crossed his arms.

"That lanky prick won't even return my calls." Val sighed.

"We need someone who Little Miss Bleeding Heart would take in." Vox grumbled.

"Someone... pathetic, desperate, with no direct ties to us?" Velvette noted.

"I employ every down on their luck loser this side of Hell. Who the fuck is left?" Val questioned.

Vox scoffs, "I think..I have JUST the one."

As Vox slowly turns around, his right-hypnotic eye gleams with a sinister grin for a plan he has in stored but before they could do anything one of Vox employees comes into the room.

"Sir!, The crimson queen is here she is waiting for you in the guest room." He said out of breath informing the Vee's.

After hearing that all three stand up wasting no time and sprints towards Yn.

While the Vee's were on their way. Yn is smiling and hugging old friends and coworkers who work or used to work for her. Every demon there loves seeing her when she came by to the studio, she would always bring gifts for them and I mean ALL of them.

"How have you been?!" "What is it like living in that Hotel?" "How come you don't come so often?" "Did you come here to see us?" A lot of questions were thrown at her. She couldn't decide who to answer first.

Doors slammed open revealing Velvette who makes it there before Vox or Valentino. She scans the room until her eyes land on Yn's.

"BABYCAKES!~" she shouted.

"Hi Velvet-" Velvette jumps on her with a tight hug.

"It's so great to see you again! It hasn't been the same without your lovely presence." Velvette held on to her tightly.

Yn chuckled hugging her back signaling everyone in the room to leave them alone for a moment.

"It's nice to see you to Velvette." Yn chuckled hugging her back, signaling everyone in the room to leave them alone for a moment, "Did you get the new clothes I've been sending you? I hoped you like them."

"Like them? I LOVE them!" She smiled. She lets go Yn and hold her arms.

"Sit down sweety, I've been dying to see you again, how you've been? Did you come to see us?" Velvette gestured to the couch, as the sat across each other "or did you come here for something more~" she said teasing as she ran a hand on her on her leg under her dress. Yn blushed that the thought but clear her throat.

"No~, I just came here to bring you guys some gifts and have a word with-" the same doors Velvette came though slammed opened again with Vox and Valentino finally showing up.

"Vox." Yn frowned as she crossed her arms. Velvette looks at her for a moment wondering why she looks upset. Vox notice her expression change when she sees him.

"Hey Yn! What brings you-" He is cut off as glowing fc with fancy chain appears around his neck with a lock. Vox grunts as he falls onto his knees, Velvette takes a photo while Valentino bites his lip with a blush. Yn yanks the chain causing Vox to get dragged up in front of Yn, he chuckles nervously and looks up at Yn.

"Sit." She order him with glowing eyes. He does as his told not wanting to upset her more.

"Val, Velvette, could you two please wait for us outside, i like to talk to Vox alone for a moment." Yn said with her tone sounding dark at the end of her sentence. This made Vox nervous hearing her say it like that.

Valentino and Velvette do as she said, looking back to see a now frighten Vox looking at them with a 'please don't leave me' expression, Velvette took another picture with a thumbs up and Valentino had a sweat come down his forehead and both the Vee close the doors behind them.

Both of them put a ear on the door to hear what's happening inside. Now it was just Vox and Yn in the room.

"Do you know why I came?" Yn asked

"Ummm... No...? Heh..." Vox replied.

"Because of yours and Alastor's little "fight", all electricity across the Pride Ring has cut off!" She tightens her grib on the fc chain..

"Your screw up has cost me alot of money! These little shits will soon start complaining and rioting because of what you did, flat face! And we do not want that." Yn lectured him.

"Baby relax, look if money is the problem here don't worry about. Whoever you are getting your money from I can give you-" Yn interrupt him. Not letting him finish his sentence.

"You know I never take your money, nor will I ever. You are missing the point of this conversation Vox, your little 'fight' cause me money and I'm not okay with the fact that you still pick fights with Alastor." Yn said. Vox seemed annoyed hear the Radio freak's name coming from her mouth. He then gets up and pass back and forward in front of her.

"Ah here we go again with Alastor, you know ever since you moved out, all I hear from demons is how 'close' you and that radio freak are getting. you know how that makes me feel?!" Vox argued. His screen glitches at bit as he looks at Yn with a distasteful look.

"Don't go pointing fingers on me Vox, I wouldn't have moved out if you and those two didn't try to put a 'spell' on me 3 months ago" Vox flinched with guilt at hearing her mention that, but he didn't make it noticeable to her. Val and Velvette had the same guilt look on the faces outside the room hearing their conversion further.

"Oh please, it's wasn't like the end of hell, it would have been great for us and knowing you,-" Vox claimed crossing her arms. He takes out his phone looking at something but is soon broken by a fc fly hair pin thrown his way.

"you would have liked it. It wouldn't have been that bad.-" Vox looks back at her to see a now teary Yn, Vox froze didn't say another word.

"Here I was hoping maybe we could fix our relationship and start over, but I guess nothing changes." Yn said, her head hanging down not showing her face. Vox tries to get close to her. But she stops him by holding her hand in front of him, stopping him on his tracks.

He wanted to hold her, apologize, anything to comfort her. But Vox was one who didn't know when to admit his wrongs or apologize at all so it was no surprise that he didn't dare show that to her. For someone who is a dangerous powerful and deadly overlord. Only he, the Vee's and anyone that's part of her harem are the only one who can see this side of her, her vulnerable side.

Yn got up from the couch, walk towards the door, not looking at Vox as she passed him. She stops in front of the door, "I'm leaving now, I'll be back in 2 weeks with the next transfer." She than opens the door seeing a guilty ears dropping duo trying to pretend they weren't listening.

Valentino walks over to Yn and caresses her whole body. Sensing his Babycakes is hurting, "There, there Babycakes~ I'm sure someone like you can forgive and forget our little problem~" Valentino in his weird way trying to stop her from leaving.

"As I said I won't be back until 2 weeks so take care of things here, yourselves as well." Yn said getting out of Val's grasp walks out of the building.

Vox, Valentino and Velvette stand there watching Yn walk away and out of the studio without looking back but not before she said her goodbyes to everyone she came across.

After she was gone from view, Velvette expressed changed to a pissed look, "Damn it Vox! Yn sure as fuck won't bang any of us any time soon because of you and that smiling ass!" Velvette groans loudly.

Vox just stood there wondering, why do I always fuck shit up, first he lost a fight with Alastor, and now he just hurt the love of his afterlife.

Back at the hotel-

Yn and Alastor make it back to the hotel while Alastor went upstairs satisfied, Yn sat next to Angel Dust laying her head on his chest fur while he was on his phone and he rap his arms around her.

the ink demons are currently fixing the hole in the wall as Charlie and Vaggie than returns. Charlie throws herself onto a couch, exhausted.

"Soooo? How'd it go?" Yn smiled nervously.

Vaggie sighs, "Not a single new recruit."

"'Yeah well, who would wanna use their last days not fucking and fighting?" Angel Dust groaned.

As Angel checks on his phone, Vaggie hears a knock on the front door. She walks over to it and opens the door, only to find Sir Pentious holding his hat.

"Why, hello my dear.." Sir Pentious is cut off by Vaggie punching him in the face.

He falls when Vaggie brings out her spear at him. Sir Pentious cowers in fear with the tip barely at his neck, and holds a peace sign gesture.

"Wait, wait, wait! I come in peace." Pentious cried.

"What are you doing here?" Vaggie asked. Charlie and Yn appears behind Vaggie, "Vaggie, what's the problem?" Charlie gasps, "Oh! Hello again!" "Pentious?"

"I didn't come looking for a fight. I uhh.. I heard that you're helping people, people who want to be better?" Pentious questions.

Charlie lets out a gasp and runs over to grab his hand and leads him to the door of the hotel.

Charlie gasps, "You heard right! Welcome to our home of healing, our resort of restoration, our..." Angel Dust appears from the door and cuts off Charlie, "Are you fucking nuts? This chump was trying to kill us like literally 6 hours ago! And now you wanna bring him in here to live with us?"

"Absolutely! This place is about second chances, and who deserves one more than this slithery... slippery. special little man!" Charlie forced a smile.

Angel turns to look at Yn and Vaggie, "Aren't you two supposed to protect this place?" Charlie gives Yn and Vaggie puppy-dog eyes, begging Yn and Vaggie to give Sir Pentious a chance to live in the hotel. Yn and Vaggie gives in as she sighs.

"I guess he's not much of a threat without the war machine." Sir Pentious' cobra head lifts with anticipation, "Or even with the war machine. Plus I guess Yn is here to make sure he doesn't do anything." Sir Pentious' cobra head flaps down with depression, sighing.

"Sure! I don't mind looking after him." Sir Pentious smiled.

Charlie was so happy that she hugged Vaggie, lifting her up in the process and twirling around once.

"Oh! Thank you thank you thank you thank you! Sir Pentious! Welcome to the Hazbin Hotel!" Charlie leads Sir Pentious to the door inside of the hotel.

"Oh no darling! Thank you! You won't regret this." He smiled sweetly as he slithers next to Yn.

Angel follows soon afterwards, "Eh, I give you a week, tops."

Charlie gives Sir Pentious the tour of the hotel, introducing Husk to him, the wall he blew up before it was fixed.

"So, this is the bar and the bartender. This is the curtain, and this is the new wall after you broke the last one, heh, and oh! Oh! This is the-" Charlie paused as Vaggie grabs Charlie to calm her down again, "Babe, you don't have to show him every detail."

"No." Charlie squealed.

Angel Dust put his arm around, "Uh, what the hell are I then?"

"you're an important part of our family here too, Angel, but you uhm, uh..." Charlie thought.

"Constantly make us look bad, sexually harass the staff, and have literally never once tried to improve?" Vaggie bluntly said.

"What she means is, it's just nice to have someone interested for once." Yn smiled.

As Charlie comes back to Sir Pentious, Angel Dust was having doubts, looking a bit upset at everything Vaggie described him to be. Nifty was playing Keekee with a string when Charlie and Sir Pentious approached them. Keekee hissed at the sight of Sir Pentious and scatters away while Niffty turns around to meet him.

"Over here we have our maid Niffty." Charlie gestured to Niffty.

Niffty gasps, "The bad boy is back!"

Niffty gets up on Sir Pentious and holds his collars, looking at him with insanity in her red eye and a very sadistic smile, which creeps out Sir Pentious.

Niffty spoke in a creepy whisper, "Never leave me again."

"We're about 80% sure she's harmless, and over here we have..." Charlie nearly bumps into Alastor, "Oh! Uh, Alastor! Our gracious facility manager! You've met our newest guest Sir Pentious... hehe.."

"Ah yes! You're the one who ruined my coat!" Alastor's eyes glow red in the dark with a violent temptation to rip him apart as Alastor spoke in a sinister tone, "I definitely remember you now."

Sir Pentious gulps nervously.

"Well, I guess this is a great time for your first lesson!" Charlie clears her throat, "How to apologize!'... The first step to becoming a better person is to admit when you are wrong, why don't you give it a try?"

Sir Pentious took a minute, "Yes. uhm.. Mr uhm.. Radio Demon sir, please forgive me for attacking you and ruining your very lovely coat.. uhm.. Here." As a token of apology, Sir Pentious hands back the small fabric he tore from Alastor's coat.

Alaster takes it and inspects the damage, "Ah-Ho! Not many people have been able to take even this much off me, it must have meant quite a lot to you."

Despite being generous, Alastor burns the fabric tear in green flames, leaving Sir Pentious and Charlie stunned.

The group gather around for a introduction with Sir Pentious. "You obviously know Yn, somehow, but that's not important! Yn is also our facility manager and entertainer along with Angel Dust." Charlie smiled, "Now, with a new resident, I think it's important we all get to know each other! So we are going to play a little game. Everyone, follow me."

"My name is Charlie!" Charlie claps twice, "I like to sing!" She claps twice, "and when we get to know each other it's the greatest thing!" She claps twice.

"My name's Sir Pentious" He claps twice, "I like to build." He claps twice, "and despite my stupid Egg Bois, I think I'm very skilled!" Pentious claps twice.

"My name is Yn." Yn claps twice, "I like to dance," She claps once again, "And if an Angel dares to hurt you..." She clapped twice again, "They will meet their end." Yn clapped twice more.

When it was Angel's turn, he looked disinterested, looking up from his phone, "This is stupid." Angel Dust stated.

"This is not stupid!" Charlie claps twice, "It's just a game!" She claps twice, "Sir Pentious did it well so now please try to do the same!" Charlie claps twice, seeming annoyed.

"I am too sober for this." Angel Dust groaned.

"Well, get used to it and learn how to play, this is gonna be your whole day!" Vaggie smirked and clapped twice.

Next the group try role-playing with Angel Dust wearing a trenchcoat and a hat while he reads a script. Sir Pentious was also role-playing as an innocent child wearing a sailor suit, licking a lollipop. As Husk was an unattentive parent for some reason. Husk didn't mind, he'd got to drink with Yn as she pet his fur.

"Oh, I'm a bad man on the streets who never got enough hugs, now, where's an innocent kid I can sell crack to?" Angel Dust paused, "Wow, who wrote this.?" He whispered.

"Who do you think?" Yn question Angel.

"It's great right? Keep going!" Charlie squealed.

"Hey you." Angel called.

"Who, me?" Pentious pointed to himself.

"Yeah, you look like a kid who could use some... devil's dandruff??" Angel groaned, "Oh, for fuck's sake."

Yn paused her petting Husk's fur, looking at Angel with a chuckle. Husk stopped his drinking looking at Yn waiting for her to let him again.

"Not me! I have to go home and study!" Pentious stated. Husk twitch his ear touching Yn hand, Yn catching on what he wanted she had a small smile on her face and continue to pet him, which caused Husk to purr quietly.

"Come on kid, it'll make you cool like me...the crackhead." Angel dully said.

"The only cool thing here is to say no to drugs! Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to not have sexual intercourse before marriage!" Pentious smiled.

Charlie stands up and claps, "Yes! Oh bravo! Bravo!" Charlie chuckles, "Wow Pentious! At this rate, you'll be redeemed in no time."

"I... I'm going to bed." As Angel heads back up to his room, he overhears Charlie congratulating Sir Pentious.

"I am so proud of you Sir Pentious! That was amazing!" Charlie cheers.

"Thank you! Thank you! You like me! You really like me!" Pentious smiled.

"Good Job, Pentious." Yn smiled.

"Awwww!! Thank you!!!" Pentious hugged Yn.

Yn backed up from the hug and rushed Husk who was drunk, thinking about Yn petting him again later.

In Angel's room, Fat Nuggets is asleep on his bed until Angel accidentally throws his coat on top of him. Fat Nuggets grunts and crawls out of the coat as he watches Angel lie down on his bed. Angel looks at his phone and sees all his voice mails from Valentino. Angel sighs and begins to play them. Valentino's voice mails switch back and forth between a friendly, apologetic tone and a barrage of screams threatening violence.

Valentino's Voice Message:

"Angel baby, come home! It's not the same without you here, I miss you! Come back-"

"ANGEL, YOU BITCH! IF YOU DON'T COME HOME, YOU'LL BE FUCKING GREASY TRUCKERS FOR THE NEXT YEAR-"

"Hey, amorcito, I didn't mean to yell, but you know hore crazy you make me-"

"YOU FUCKING SLUT!"

"Hey; Angie! About earlier-"

"-KILL YOUR WHOLE FUCKIN' FAMILY!"

"Work's really stressful!"

"-LITTLE COCKSUCKING PIECE OF SHIT!"

"[dead serious] You actually think you can change? Addict trash like you doesn't change. I'll see you soon, baby."

Angel sighs as Fat Nuggets gets on the bed next to him.

"Sorry, not now, Fat Nuggets." Angel sighs sadly.

Angel gets up and leaves his room with Fat Nuggets looking worried. Angel goes to Husk's bar and starts drinking alcohol. Then he notices a slithering noise. He finds Charlie's office door opened, and takes a peek inside.

There, he discovers that Sir Pentious is setting up a small camera in one of the bookshelves, a camera that belongs to Vox. Angel realizes what he was doing and slams the door open.

"You slippery little shit!" Angel yelled.

Sir Pentious screams.

"You're working for the Vees? I fucking knew there was something shitty about you." Angel Dust narrows his eyes.

"I don't know what you're talking about!.. whore bug!" Pentious shots back.

Angel was ticked off, and tackles Sir Pentious on the ground. He punches him in the face before wrestling with him.

"Get your aggressively average body...OFF OF ME!" Sir Pentious's eyes spiral hypnotic powers to him.

Angel becomes hypnotized, "Fuck!"

Angel backs away. He then quickly snaps out of it. He now has Sir Pentious cornered. Right then, Yn, Charlie and Vaggie woke up after hearing the scuffle.

Charlie yawns, "What's going on?"

"It's too late for anything." Yn said who was still a bit sleepy.

"This little bitch is a traitor!" Angel Dust gestured to Pentious.

"Preposterous! I would never betray you. You... are my best friends!" Sir Pentious hugs the three girls.

"Uh huh, then explain this!" Angel Dust smirked. Angel lifts off one of the books to reveal a camera, much to Charlie's shock. Sir Pentious realizes that his cover was blown scurries away.

He brings out his wrist watch to make contact with Vox.

"Ah! Ah! Abort! Abort! S.O.S! Agent Pentious in need of immediate evacuation!" Pentious sounded nervous.

Vox immediately picks up.

"Pentious? Wait... you were caught?!? It hasn't even been a day!" Vox laughed.

"Please! You've got to get me out of here!" Pentious begged.

"I can't believe we thought you could handle even something this simple. Do us a favour, if they don't kill you, go ahead and do it yourself! You miserable failure!" Vox hung up.

Sir Pentious was crying, "I... I... just make it quick I guess.. not that I deserve it." Sir Pentious lies on the ground, with Vaggie holding a spear ready to pierce the skull.

"Gladly." Vaggie smirked.

Right before Vaggie could put him out of misery, Yn stops her. "Whoa. Let's not jumps to murder straight away."

"Yn's right. We're not killing anyone." Charlie smiles and starts singing.

"Pentious?" Sir Pentious looks up to see Charlie reaching out for him.

"~It starts with sorry, that's your foot in the door~"

"~One simple sorry, spoken straight from your core.~"

"~The path to forgiveness is a twisting trail of hearts!~"

"~But sorry is where it starts!~"

"~Who could forgive a dirtbag like me?~"

"~I don't deserve your amnesty.~" Angel comes with dual Tommy submachine guns in both hands with Vaggie tailing behind with her spear.

"~Can't we just kill him?~"

"~Shoot him and spill his blood?~" Yn stand in front of Pentious. As Pentious' eyes sparkle.

"That's an option you could choose." Yn answered.

"~Works for us.~" Yn puts her hand out to Pentious who takes it immediately.

"~But who hasn't been in his shoes? It starts verth sorry.~" Charlie added.

"~Sorry.~"

"~Dig down deeper and say one sincere sorry!~"

"~I'm so sorry!~"

"~And your journey's underway!~"

"~It'll take time to cover your/my vast multitude of sins, But sorry is where it begins.~"

"~It starts with sorry.~"

As the song ends, Niffty was also awake, but she was disappointed that Sir Pentious isn't whom she thought he would be: a bad boy.

"I hated that song! Why are you so lame?!" Niffty kicks him on the body and walks away, 'Not a bad boy'."

Charlie happily sighs, "Good first day! Let's get some rest!"

As Charlie and the others except Yn leave with a wrist watch communicator still in the office, Yn looks back at the watch and then to the dark hallway.

"Alastor be a dear and please get rid of the trash in here, goodnight." Yn said as walks away to head back to sleep.

Alastor appears from the shadow of the dark hallway with a smile. He comes and picks up the watch before contacting Vox on the watch.

"WHAT?!?" Vox yelled.

Vox paused when he realized that it was Alastor who was calling him, showing fear in his screen face as Alastor laughed evilly.

"You'll have to try harder than that next time ol' pal!" Alastor smirked.

With a maniacal laughter, Alastor crushed the watch with his bare head, and the only sound Vox makes was a raging scream before Alastor retreats back into the darkness.

Previous Page: Ch. 4: Overtune

Next Page: Ch. 6: The New Sinner in Town (CS)

Beginning: Front Cover

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katyspersonal · 5 months ago

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Another SOTE progress post!

1) Okay so like I said earlier in another post the highlight of today was finally defeating Rellana x) It felt REALLY rewarding to finally win after having to try so many things, Miyazaki forced me to use my brain AGAIN

2) After that I went to talk with the NPCs around the crosses by an advice by @val-of-the-north since not being able to summon Leda apparently meant that I've got the rune of Miquella broken. And hoooo boy.... At last I got to that part where Ansbach revealed the uncancelled Mohg's lore.

"Once, in an attempt to free Lord Mohg from his enchantment, I challenged Tender Miquella, only to have my own heart rather artfully stolen. I knew not how weak I was. I believed that with sufficient mastery, even and Empyrean would be within reach of my blade. I could not have been more mistaken... Miquella the Kind...is a monster. Pure and radiant, he wields love to shrive clean the hearts of men. There is nothing more terrifying."

"Righteous Tarnished. Miquella the Kind makes my blood run cold. I am loath to admit it, but even at this very instant I wish to run very far away indeed."

Soooo, yeah.. Apparently the bit I was spoiled is later game dialogue, this is a different one and I see it for the first time! Damn, trailer quote tho x)

3) What I did NOT know is that all these characters were under the spell of Bewitching Branch too ;-; Guess Leda is going after the hornsent guy's throat now gfhgjg Wild to see how everyone now does what they actually want, SPEAKING OF:

4) Thiollier now wants to go seek the part of Miquella he earlier had sealed away with the spell wall branded with his Haligtree symbol! There is now outright confirmation that Trina IS Miquella:

"Would Kindly Miquella chasten me? For falling for St. Trina, while knowing that she was the discarded half? The problem is... I simply cannot help it. I would sacrifice everything, just to gaze upon her, one last time."

Damn... either 1) Looks like both alters of Miquella have the capacity of compelling affection? Not just his Bewitching Branch, but whatever sleepy scent powers Trina is using or 2) Thiollier is Just Like This. Tea?

"I see you've thrown away... Something you should not have. Under any circumstances. How will you salvation offer... to those who cannot be saved? When you could not even save your other self? Kindly Miquella..."

5) The cross strangely has the message from Miquella, "I abandon here my love". All things considered it is not supposed to refer to his feelings, and recalling dialogue by Ansbach I'd say it maybe refers to his ability to wield love as weapon? Because look at how NOW Trina's power entices people into coma. Speaking OF:

6) Turned out my previous guess was wrong, and "bastardisation" of Trina's otherwise pacifist powers was not work of followers, but result of Miquella severing her from his being!

7) (or rather 6.1 lol) This is actually a good additional timeline clue! Earlier Freija mentioned that she received her Scarlet Rot wound in Caelid, so, as Malenia and Radanh fought, and Miquella was the one to heal it! So he was around that time yet. Then, change in Trina's powers happened as Miquella went to abandon his Empyrean entity, when Dolores has been using the powers as they were and she was in the Roundtable Hold! This I think will be useful for later to recover when could he have started with the plan! I already have a working suggestion for explaining events, just need more info!

8) Damn, not the area from the trailer ;-; Thiollier is so dead lol

By the way the boss in this area is RIDICULOUSLY difficult hghghg I gave up on him and kinda went to have adventures elsewhere just for the heck of it!

9) Discovered an actual dialogue by an old lady in Belurat, AND:

EMPYREAN?? I actually yelled at Val about it since I needed to know whether it is legit the same term or perhaps a loss in translation! And he researched Japanese script and confirmed that yes, indeed, this woman IS an Empyrean like GEQ, Marika, Ranni, Miquella and Malenia! @val-of-the-north be a dear and add the evidence you've found today in a reblog or another pose! Because HECK, WHAT????

10) So I went to look around in random places since that boss was too hard. Found a small piece of some ruins by Val's advice, using one of those blue Keyswords. Then I wanted to go down in a village down near Moorth Ruins but for the heck of it could not figure how to get down there. While waiting for Val's slow ass to instruct me, I started to run wherever, really. And ironically, found the exact cave leading me to the FULL version of those Ruins! Felt surprised to find the golden tree inside!

11) Went through second poisonous swamp in the game yet, truly Miyazaki xD

12) Stumbled into Kindred of Rot, but they are RED in color!!!

This was so bizarre?? Damn, still, what ARE they doing here? First turned out that Formless Mothers and rituals for her that Mohg is using originated in Shadow Realm, now this.. Makes me wonder whether all Outer Gods come from this place originally, so God of Rot too, so, Twinbird too?

13) Hey @heraldofcrow how did you lose your clothes?? Put them back on slut gdghvgbvbbh

14) I decided to explore later and instead went to bully Horned Knights and Ascetics for their sets and weapon in Belurat. Belurat has places very close to Site of Grace for both! Horned Knight farming went pretty fast and easy! Ascetic... not so much. :/ He did drop his weapon and arm piece, but past this point he's been only dropping leg piece over and over! Reminds me of that 'Seebass? No, it's at least C+!' meme vffhhhh I think I will return for his mask later :/

15) This type of posts becomes a bit too structured, I need to post more random items descs

16) However I got a note from Val that we surprisingly got lore on Fingercrawlers (lol at my recent theory post aging like milk xd) and @jarognieva said something about a couple of spots on the map looking like giant fingerprints + having many fingers within 👀 No idea what is going on yet, but I can see it now!

Okay that's it for now.. until the tomorrow's work shift ends xD

#elden ring #elden ring dlc #sote spoilers #gameplay log #screenshots

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password-door-lock · 1 month ago

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Mystictober Day 25-- Tea Party

Unknown hosts a little tea party (1.2k words). Content warning: manipulation

Unknown has his feet up on the table and a smirk on his face when the believer hauls Luciel in, wrists bound, and settles him onto one of the stiff-backed white chairs. You jump back, visibly startled by the redhead’s mere presence. It seems that Unknown’s hard work has paid off better than he ever expected it to.

“MC!” Of course Luciel would pay attention to you before even bothering to look at the brother he abandoned. You’re something that he wants, a prize he thinks he deserves, while Unknown is no longer of any use to him. Clearly, the bastard hasn’t changed one bit. “Are you— are you okay?” His voice sounds choked and strained, as though he cannot comprehend the magnitude of his loss.

You flinch away, plainly terrified of Luciel, and Unknown shoots his rival a smug look before redirecting his attention to you. Carefully, deliberately, he takes his feet off the table and plants them firmly on the ground before patting his thigh. “Here,” he orders, raising his eyebrows conspicuously at Luciel as he does so. This is absolutely perfect. Unknown is fully in control, and thus far, the execution of his plan has been nothing short of flawless.

You scramble to follow his command, seeking comfort in his arms. “That’s it, prince(ss),” Unknown coos, “I’ve got you. I won’t let that monster hurt you.” Then, he makes a big show of turning to Luciel. “Whatever did you do to make our prince(ss) so afraid of you?” He knows, of course. He knows every lie that Luciel poured into your head, every line of nonsense about keeping you safe and rescuing Unknown. When you told him that one, Unknown laughed out loud. Rescuing? That’s rich, coming from the person who got him into this situation in the first place.

The expression on Luciel’s face is absolutely fucking priceless. When he’s wearing such sheer devastation, nobody in their right mind would ever try to claim that this bastard is identical to Unknown. “Saeran,” he cries. That name coming out of his mouth is like nails on a chalkboard. “What… what did you do to MC?”

You were easy to brainwash, in the scheme of things. You were already terrified when Unknown got his hands on you, and you already didn’t trust Luciel. It really wasn’t difficult at all to get rid of the last vestiges of your affection for that redhead. You were the one who came up with the idea of seeking comfort from Unknown, and he simply ran with it to concoct the scene unfolding now. Should he be thanking you? Maybe he’ll get to that later, after he has his revenge.

“Ah-ah,” Unknown scolds, “I asked you first.” He rubs your back as you press your face into his neck, more to torture Luciel than to comfort you. Unknown supposes that in this case, it’s actually better for him if you continue suffering, since your pain seems to also hurt Luciel.

Luciel mutters something under his breath that sounds like a prayer, and Unknown snorts. He doesn’t think that God will be very impressed with whatever pathetic entreaties that redhead is trying to make right now. What kind of god would grant salvation to somebody like that? But just to be safe, Unknown will make damn sure that this liar suffers greatly during his remaining time on Earth.

“I left MC alone in the apartment with a bomb,” Luciel confesses tearfully. He’s already crying? This really is too good. “I didn’t say anything, I— It’s my fault that— Saeran, please, I— I’m sorry, I— I never— I didn’t abandon you, I—”

But Unknown just ignores him, instead using your hair as a handle to move your head and make you look at him. “Sweetheart,” he coos at you, “You’ve hardly touched your tea.” Sloppily, with one hand, he pours a cup for you. The teapot is unmistakably full of pale blue elixir; it runs down the side of the porcelain teacup and stains the lace tablecloth, but Unknown could not care less.

“No!” Luciel cries, playing right into Unknown’s hands. He’s really made this entire process all too easy.

“He’s yelling again,” you mutter. You’re still so plainly terrified, clutching at Unknown’s clothes like your life depends on your proximity to him.

“Mhm,” Unknown agrees, “He doesn’t want you to get saved. He’s trying to stop you from having the elixir so he can take you back from me and torture you.” Actually, knowing Luciel, that bastard would probably just abandon you when he got you in his hands, but the word torture seems to scare both of you into further compliance with Unknown’s plan. It’s too easy.

“MC, please,” Luciel begs, trying so hard not to raise his voice. Does he seriously expect that to work? “Please don’t do this. Please, you’ll never have to see me again, please—”

But Unknown continues to ignore his prisoner. “He’s already trying to manipulate you again,” he informs you, because it’s the truth. Luciel isn’t capable of caring about anybody, or else he wouldn’t have abandoned his only brother in that awful place. Unknown’s actions, then, are entirely justified— and you’ll be fine, eventually. Once Luciel is taken care of, Unknown will have time to properly welcome you to paradise, just as the Savior promised. But for now… “Why don’t you show him how devoted you are to the Mint Eye, hm?” He even goes so far as to place the teacup in your shaking hands for you. Wordlessly, you follow Unknown’s instructions— you always do, after all. You’ll be rewarded for your compliance in due time.

Luciel mutters more incomprehensible nonsense under his breath. “Saeran, why would you— please, just tell me—” He attempts to raise a question that he’s got no right to ask, but evidently, he can’t find the right words, because his sobs overcome him once again. Besides, Unknown doesn’t need to explain why. According to his Savior, Luciel knows exactly what he did. He’s just pretending to regret it right now because he’s finally facing consequences for his evil actions.

As you rest your head against Unknown’s shoulder, recovering from the burn of the elixir, he grins at Luciel from across the table. “I win,” he announces simply, slinging a possessive arm around you. But his revenge is only just beginning as he runs his fingers through your hair. “Now, go back to the intelligence room and wait for me, okay, prince(ss)? I’ll come find you once I finish this one thing.” There’s no need to traumatize you further, now that you’ve already served your purpose so well.

“Mm,” you look confused, but you seem to have at least some understanding of what’s going on. You only just took the elixir, and you didn’t even have very much. You’ll be fine in a few days, Unknown assures himself, and your small sacrifice was nothing short of necessary in the grand scheme of things. “Okay.” Because you’d never have any other response to instructions from Unknown.

He waits until the believer has escorted you out of the room to return his attention to Luciel. At long last, Unknown can now enact retribution for all of that redhead’s crimes.

#bad end bad end bad end #Unknown is downright nefarious here lol #mystic messenger #mystic messenger drabble #choi saeran #saeran choi #unknown mystic messenger #saeyoung choi #choi saeyoung #fanfiction #mm_mystictober2024

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sugurouge · 6 days ago

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hello this is your wild card to spill tea about you and bladie 🎤 TELL ME ANYTHINGGGGGG

NOOOOOOOOOO RYUUU not bladie 😩

like i told you before, i'm so awful at backstories or selfships... but as we know, i too have been living a lot in delulu land and my god, i love the drama i dream about with my dark haired harem. i fear blade is no better than suguru 😩

so recently i've been thinking about a comm for blade (again, yes, dont perceive me) and i definitely love the vibes of reincarnation, forbidden fruit, salvation, forbidden lovers for us mhm mhm. while his fate is to not be able to die but endlessly search for salvation, my fate is to die by his hands with every new life. between you and me (and the internet reading this), the fic i'm working on is extremely self indulgent as it's a very detailed part of my selfship with blade

we met while he was being held in the shackling prison. i'm bending the rules a bit and say through jing yuan i got special rights, idk maybe he just "recognised" me, and due to his weak spot for blade i got to talk to him. the bond was there ofc, mostly because he recognised me, obviously, but for me it seemed so like he understood me so effortlessly, like a soulmate, hah little do i know. mama i'm in love with a criminal. i just wanted to study the psychology of the special case mara struck. and that's how i got down there, a 'weird' obsession that led me to learn about medicine and psychology (definitely subconsciously caused by my reincarnations and blade) that's how i kept pestering him at first while he tried to hold up walls around him in order to not mvrder me again. because no matter the promise he made to himself to not hurt me again, the mara would always act on itself and eventually bring me my end. so this time he swears to himself that it's enough to talk, to see me through the safety bubble i'm protected by. but how could he escape hell and not visit me 🤭

it's a lot of commitment issues, a lot of illegal business going on, him sneaking back in just to see me, minor stalker vibes at times too since he tries to keep his distance at first, but also his eyes on me. oh god, i could actually ramble about this selfship for hours because i have a story!! BUT TO MAKE IT SHORTER: he gives in to the temptation to see me again and again, to get rid of the voices in his head through my presence. (i can fix him) it's just an awful lot of push and pull up until the moment he takes me with him. before that i tried to cut him off (that's part of my fic teehee the commitment and all that happens there) and we become fighting buddies and life happily ever after up until MY SELFSHIP ART HAPPENS OMG IM SO EXCITED TO GET ITTT YOU DONT UNDERSTAND THE VISION IS VISIONING OF HIM ACCIDENTALLY HURTING ME akdnsksk but in my head, with this reincarnation, while he fears he might have lost control and killed me again, i delulu about surviving and carrying a scar on my face (like mikasa has) because that means he scarred my face and has to marry me 🤸🏻🙂‍↕️

there are so many good songs for blade too, i have a playlist for him now as well 😩

thank you for stopping byyyy, ilyyy <33

#▣ — mutuals #˚ʚ♡ɞ˚ — asks #SSKCKSK DONT READ THIS IF YOURE NOT RYU LMAO #IM SO CRINGE ABOUT SELFSHIPS STILL #good morning 🤍#𓊆ྀི❤︎𓊇ྀི — for me

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jessamine-rose · 7 months ago

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⋆˚♱ଘ Red Sky at Night, Shepherd’s Delight ଓ♱˚⋆

*slides in with more Church AU ideas* May I interest y’all in Priest! Arlecchino x Devotee! Darling?? Do enjoy this sweet story ໒꒰ྀི´ ˘ ` ꒱ྀིა

Tw:: yandere, manipulation, psychological trauma, stalking, blood, violence, death, religious abuse, self-flagellation, harassment, MDNI, pls take note of these warnings

Note:: FICTIONAL depictions of religion

♡ 3.7k words under the cut ♡

♡ As with most nations, the Church is the highest authority in Fontaine. This is especially true for the Court of Fontaine, a city that boasts a strong faith in God. However, it is this same faith which has been corrupted by the Church to spin a web of lies, prejudices, and hypocrisies. Still, there is hope for that city, as provided by its head priest Arlecchino.

♡ Not much can be said about her previous life. In the past, she was known as Peruere, a quiet orphan from the House of the Hearth. Raised by her predecessor Crucabena, Peruere followed in her footsteps and claimed to have felt a calling to priesthood. There was a beauty to it, the idea of a child giving back to the Church by bringing its followers closer to salvation. At least, that is how the public perceived her vocation.

♡ In truth, Peruere’s motivations were different. Shortly after her ordination, Crucabena disappeared under mysterious circumstances and her authority was passed on to Arlecchino. Immediately afterwards, she began to reform the Church and the House of the Hearth. She challenged the Church’s falsehoods, eliminated the other corrupt priests, and preached a more compassionate form of worship.

♡ Despite her efforts, however, scars run deep within the city. The children weren’t the only ones harmed by Crucabena; her influence spanned the entire Court of Fontaine, from religious schools to devout families. In the latter’s case, it can be difficult for Arlecchino to reach out to individuals and correct their beliefs. But some have taken to her like a moth to flame, actively seeking out her enlightenment. One such moth is you.

☾⋆｡ ๋

“Excuse me, Father!”

The Church is silent in the wake of mass. Footsteps and voices echo as believers depart to go on with their daily lives. The children are walking through the exit connected to the House of the Hearth, their solemn demeanors giving way to laughter. Only two people remain.

As always, you linger behind Arlecchino, head bowed.

“Ah, ______.” She turns around to face you. “Is something the matter?”

You look the same—shy expression, modest clothing, rosary in hand.

In a quiet voice, you tell her, “I am in need of your guidance. Yesterday, I…can we discuss this in your office? I’ll try to keep it short this time.”

“Ah, of course. Follow me.”

By now, it has become routine for you to approach Arlecchino after weekly mass. She leads you down a hallway and into her private office, her confident gait juxtaposed by your meek footsteps. A few words are whispered to a passing nun—orders to prepare your favorite tea and desserts.

In the meantime, she takes a seat on the sofa and gives you a polite smile.

“Go on. You have my undivided attention.”

☾⋆｡ ๋

♡ If Arlecchino’s trauma led to her disillusionment with the Church, then yours brought you “closer” to God. Technically, there is nothing wrong with your devotion—you pray daily, treat people with compassion, and derive a sense of solace from your religion. The harm lies in your blind faith, your total dependence on Arlecchino’s guidance.

♡ While you’ve accepted Arlecchino’s stance on religion, you still abide by Crucabena’s doctrine when it comes to your own religious life. You abstain from all vices. You repent for actions which barely count as sins. You are in a constant state of shame, guilt, paranoia, confusion. She can only imagine just how traumatic your meetings with Crucabena were.

♡ Still, you make for enjoyable company. It is common for Arlecchino to see you in the House of the Hearth bearing gifts for the children—and she can tell the difference between performances and your genuine acts of charity. When you aren’t confiding in her, you inquire about her hobbies, her favorite things, her life before priesthood. There is something so pitiful, so precious about your trust in her.

♡ Which is why Arlecchino is quick to notice a shift in your attitude. It begins with you sitting in the middle pews during mass, rather than your usual spot in the front row. During communion, you avoid eye contact and accept the wafer from her with trembling hands. There is a decrease in your private meetings. Fortunately, there is no need for her to investigate; rather, you provide the answer on a silver platter.

♡ Confessions are a wellspring of valuable information. Be it a direct admission or small details, such encounters have aided Arlecchino in punishing those who commit evil under the guise of virtue. Neither is it difficult for her to deduce one’s identity through their voice and mannerisms. So when she recognizes you beyond the screen, she wonders why you opted for the confessional rather than your usual face-to-face confessions with her.

☾⋆｡ ๋

“Bless me, father, for I have sinned. My last confession was one week ago.”

That is the first thing you tell her. From the center compartment, Arlecchino can imagine you doing the sign of the cross. The ritualistic gesture lends a short-lived grace to your movements, your hands honed by years of practice.

A pause. “Pardon my insolence but I must know: I am not speaking to Father Arlecchino, am I?”

Oh?

“You are not,” is her swift response, spoken in an altered voice. “And why do you ask? Does your confession concern the head priest?”

What secrets could you possibly be hiding from her?

She hears a hitched breath. “No! I just don’t want her to know. So please, what I’m about to tell you…don’t breathe a word of it to anyone else.”

“But of course. And what do you have to confess, my child?”

There is the sound of beads clicking together—your rosary, an old violet-and-black set designed by Crucabena. Arlecchino owned an identical one up until her death.

“These past years,” you whisper, “I have been consumed with carnal desires.”

She sits up straighter. “Desires?”

“It’s complicated,” you mutter. “There’s this person I’ve known for years, and I’ve always looked up to them as a fellow believer. Yet over time, I’ve been plagued with…impure thoughts of them. They captivate me. Their attention brings me joy and anxiety in equal parts. They haunt my thoughts in debauched fantasies. Yet we aren’t even married, much less lovers.”

Who are they?

A spider has taken up residence in a corner of the ceiling. It sits in the center of a silvery web, waiting for its prey.

She clears her throat. “And what is the matter with that? It is true that many view lust as a sin. But carnal desires are natural and not evil as to warrant eternal damnation.”

Silence. Most likely, you are mulling over what she just said; discernment isn’t your strong suit.

It’s just like you to fret over an ordinary crush. But who is this person that ensnared your heart? Do they know you as well as her?

Arlecchino continues speaking. “Moreover, no human is immune to temptation. From what you told me, it is clear that you have made active efforts to suppress your lust. So is it not possible for you to resist this so-called temptation, if not distance yourself from the object of your desire?”

“But how can I resist temptation when its very source lies in the Church?!”

Even Arlecchino is caught off-guard by your outburst. It is followed by your horrified gasp.

“What do you mean?” she asks.

Your next words are spoken in an even softer voice. “It’s Father Arlecchino. She is the one I desire.”

A fly buzzes through the latticed screen of the confessional. It briefly hovers around Arlecchino before she swats it away.

“Ah, now I understand.”

“She hasn’t done anything to me!” you add quickly. “I swear, it’s purely one-sided. And that is what distresses me most of all. She is a woman of God, dedicated to the salvation of His flock, yet here I am making a mockery of her righteousness.”

“And what do you see in her?”

“Where do I even begin? She’s kind. I know there are people who speak ill of her, claiming she preaches falsehoods, but I’ve witnessed her compassion with my own eyes. The orphans love her. The Church is warmer, more welcoming under her authority. And…”

The fly has taken a liking to the spiderweb. Spying its prospective prey, the spider begins its crawl towards the edge of the web.

You take a deep breath. “She knows of my religious struggles yet has never given me reason to fear her judgment. She is the one who helped me discern my vocation. She is the one who put a stop to my self-flagellation, even though that penance was assigned by Mother Crucabena. She is the one who has reassured me, time and time again, that I am worthy of God’s love. She…”

That is when you burst into tears.

For the next few minutes, the only sounds in the confessional are your choked sobs and rosary beads. Arlecchino herself remains silent but her thoughts are just as discordant.

Her gaze drifts to her necklace. It is a far cry from Crucabena’s rosary, a long chain from which hangs a silver cross adorned with ornate engravings and crimson jewels. When she presses down on a specific jewel, the pendant separates to reveal a hidden blade.

How long has it been since she struck Crucabena with that false symbol?

“I’ve tried so hard to be good,” you continue between sobs. “All my life, I’ve done my best to resist temptation and abide by the Church’s teachings. So why…? What I feel for Father Arlecchino—it’s disgusting, it’s not normal, it cannot be called love. But I…”

Your voice trails off. In her mind’s eye, Arlecchino sees you kneeling with your head bowed and your rosary looped around your clasped hands. If only she could wipe your tears.

“And I am truly sorry for all my sins,” you sniffle. “Now please, Father, what is my penance? If you tell me to distance myself from Father Arlecchino, then I will do so at once. If anything, I think she’d prefer it; I’ve wasted enough of her time.”

“Hush, my child,” she says sharply. Then, in a gentler tone, she adds, “Give me time to think.”

The fly is caught in the spider’s web. From her seat, Arlecchino watches as the spider bites down on the struggling insect and wraps it in silk, sealing its unfortunate fate.

Well, this was an unexpected answer, but not an unfortunate one.

In truth, she cares little about her vow of chastity. It is but a minor offense compared to those of her fellow priests. As for your attraction towards her, it doesn’t bother her at all. Her own sentiments require further reflection but for now…

“Why not put your desires to the test?”

There is the sound of beads hitting the floor. “Excuse me?”

In a calm voice, she explains, “There is nothing inherently sinful about falling in love with a priest. Rather, the fault should lie in the priest who cannot commit to their vow of chastity. But that, too, can be put into question—after all, nowhere in the religious texts is it explicitly stated that God demanded celibacy from His shepherds. It is for this reason that other denominations allow their priests to marry and procreate.”

“I see,” you mutter. “Though I doubt our Church would permit that anytime soon.”

“Who knows? As for the matter of your penance…like you said, it is impossible to escape the object of your desire. So why don’t you continue your usual interactions with Father Arlecchino? It will enable you to discern whether what you feel for her is truly lust or love. And should you ever confess your feelings to her, she will be the one to instruct you on what to do.”

“Is that all? Surely, there must be another—”

She cuts you off. “That is the only way. It is my belief that you need only desire something with sufficient intensity and God will answer. Or are you doubting my words as a priest?”

Your fearful “no!” puts an end to your confession. Thus, you recite your prayers and leave the confessional. After a while, Arlecchino makes a stealthy exit.

Just as she expected, you are still praying inside the Church. With your dried tears and tightly clasped hands, you make a perfect image of repentance.

Shaking her head, she walks down the hallway and into her office.

The tea table is empty. That will change tomorrow; she already has the perfect choice of desserts in mind. Cakes, tarts, macarons, all of your favorite treats.

The next day, an invitation is delivered to your doorstep. The envelope bears the official seal of the Church of Fontaine.

☾⋆｡ ๋

♡ Since then, Arlecchino has treated you differently. In the past, her religious counsel took the form of reassurances, open-ended questions, and reminders that only you can discern your own fate. But now she finds herself giving you more specific lessons and instructions. She invites you to more tea parties and private events in the House of the Hearth.

♡ She is also more…physical these days. During mass, she puts the communion wafer in your mouth, a gloved thumb brushing against your lip. On your walks to her office, she places her hand on your back, forcing you to match her pace. At one point, she even pulls you aside and tells you to disrobe so she can see if you are wearing your scapular properly. There is a moment of silence when your scars are exposed, followed by the warm sensation of her fingertips tracing your skin.

♡ However, it doesn’t take long for another issue to arise. One mass, Arlecchino notices that a certain individual has moved to the front pews to sit next to you. This continues for weeks, with him speaking to you before and after the service. You’re clearly uncomfortable around him, and it reaches the point that you mention it to Arlecchino during a tea party.

♡ Quietly, you explain that you are being harassed by one of your coworkers. For weeks, he has been bothering you at work, walking you home from mass, showing no signs of accepting your blatant rejections. Even worse, no one is taking your distress seriously due to his popularity within the Court of Fontaine. Normally, Arlecchino would be quick to eliminate him but she decides on another solution which would kill two birds with one stone.

♡ Her suggestion is that you stay in the Church for a few weeks. It is a convenient arrangement on both sides—the children are already familiar with you; the House of the Hearth has no shortage of rooms; and in the worst-case scenario, it can serve as a trial period for nunhood. In the past, Arlecchino did deem your personality fitting for a life of religious service, though you disagreed on the basis that you weren’t “worthy” of such an important role.

♡ It doesn’t take long for you to adjust. The House of the Hearth is quiet, secure, shielded from outside disturbances. The children are friendly to you, and they all agree that you’d fare well as their caretaker. Best of all, Arlecchino has more excuses to spend time with you—barbeque parties, walks along the sea, meetings with the other priests and nuns, nightly conversations in your room. It feels like home.

♡ One day, you are fitted into a nun’s habit. It looks perfect on you, with a few embellishments to suit your style preferences. Arlecchino personally helps you into the outfit, fixing the buttons and smoothing out imaginary creases. The final piece is a cross necklace identical to her own; she casually reveals the hidden blade and claims it is a self-defense mechanism. When you cast your gaze upon your shared reflection in the mirror, a flustered smile adorns your face.

♡ Still, you are undecided on your “true” vocation. Eventually, you decide to return to your job and think it over. Arlecchino personally escorts you to your house and insists that you keep your cross necklace, if only to replace your “missing” rosary. Once the front door is shut, she casts a harsh glare upon the figure across the street. Later, her children are assigned to keep watch over you and your stalker.

♡ For the next few days, all is well. Your daily life resumes. Arlecchino keeps a close eye on you through her children’s reports and her own inspections. After mass, the two of you enjoy another tea party, and you make no mention of your stalker. When the news reaches the city of an upcoming celestial phenomenon, you eagerly accept Arlecchino’s invitation for a viewing party.

♡ The crimson moon rises, bathing the world in a blood-red glow. While the children gaze at the moon, Arlecchino waits for you in front of the orphanage. Strange, punctuality is one of your virtues yet you’re late. Just as she is about to leave for your house, Freminet frantically approaches her and leads her to the Church.

♡ Red. It’s all over you, and not from the moonlight. The first thing Arlecchino sees is you curled up on the floor in a state of shock. In the heart of the Church lies a familiar figure—your stalker, writhing on the floor as blood pools from his chest. Lynette stands over him, ensuring that he won’t escape, while Lyney tries and fails to console you.

♡ All three of her children are wearing their crosses. Yours is on the floor, its blade exposed and tainted with blood. Lyney is the one who explains the situation to Arlecchino: They heard a commotion in the Church and by the time they arrived, you had driven your cross into your stalker’s heart. He had attacked you and paid the price.

♡ Calmly, Arlecchino tells Freminet to bring you to the orphanage. Once you are gone, she walks up to your stalker and stomps on his head, piercing his skull with her stiletto. Lyney and Lynette are told to dispose of the body, clean up the church, then return to the party. The crimson moon serves as a silent witness all throughout.

☾⋆｡ ๋

“Father, your face…”

As soon as he sees her, Freminet leaves your room and closes the door behind him.

“Freminet.” Arlecchino wipes the blood off her cheek. “That sinner has been dealt with. You may return to the party.”

“Oh? Okay.” He nods, casting a worried look at your door. As he walks down the hallway, one of his hands comes up to touch his cross pendant.

With that, Arlecchino enters your room.

Even in your change of clothes, your visage is painted crimson by the moonlight. Your body is slumped against the bed, knees on the floor. No sounds leave your lips save for short breaths. Tiny crescents mar your arms—a coping mechanism or an attempt at penance?

Wordlessly, she sits next to you and pats your head with a gloved hand.

“Father.” You are the one to break the silence. “What just…”

“That man is dead.” She says it plainly, her tone void of judgment. “He won’t be able to torment you any longer.”

You immediately look up, eyes glossy. “Are you sure?! Did I…?”

In the blood-red moonlight, your anguish is clear as day. Your hands tremble, nails digging into the mattress, before clasping together in a graceless effort to steel yourself. But the familiar gesture does little to calm you, all prayers futile in the wake of your sin.

“This is it. I’m really going to burn in Hell,” you sob. “I didn’t mean to—what should I do, Father?”

This time, Arlecchino spares no warmth in consoling you. She adjusts your body so that your head rests on her lap, letting your tears drip onto her cassock. Her hand remains on the back of your head, stroking your hair.

“There is no need to fret,” she says gently. “Before the moon sets, the Church will be purged of that man’s filth and it will be as though he never appeared tonight.”

You shake your head. “Even then, you…God knows what I have done.”

“Listen to me.” She tilts your face upwards, her expression firm. “All you did was use your cross necklace for its intended purpose—to save yourself from harm. And yet even in the face of evil, you claim to be the one who sinned. None of this is your fault, ______.”

Her other hand caresses your cheek, wiping away your tears.

“Perhaps it is all part of God’s plan,” she muses. As she speaks, she kneels to your level and holds your hands, intertwining your fingers. “We live in a cruel world and it is only in places such as my Church that safety can be promised. Should you take the veil, no other sinners would dare to violate your virtue.”

Your next words are soft, hesitant, filled with disbelief. “Are you saying that I can still become a nun?! That you…you don’t mind keeping me around?”

“And for what reason would I deny you sanctuary?” she asks, her expression shifting to a frown. “As a priest, it is my duty to shepherd God’s flock. And as a person, it is my desire to protect those I cherish. Everything I do is for your own good.”

For once, you are rendered speechless. All you can do is stare at your lap, at your hands clasped together.

When Arlecchino leans towards you, her grip prevents you from drawing back.

“All you must do is listen to me,” she whispers. “Until our mortal deaths, I will be the one to lead you away from true temptation and deliver you from evil. Does it seem agreeable to you?”

“I…I guess so,” you whimper. Nervously, you meet her gaze, your eyes alight with a glimmer of hope. “If it’s you, I can believe it.”

“Good. And remember this always, ______.”

The crimson moon shines brightly, casting a blood-red halo around your savior. And as Arlecchino pulls you closer, your lips a breath away from a kiss, a secret is divulged with the fervence of a sacred prayer.

“God still loves you. As do I.”

♡

More Church AU here!! Dottore ๑ Capitano ๑ Pantalone ๑ Pierro ๑ Dainsleif

Note:: Please do not send me any Church AU asks/ requests involving other characters or dynamics who are not listed in my masterlist.

…Don’t ask me how many times I broke down over Priest! Arlecchino. Just don’t. To all of the Arle simps out there, I hope I did your wife justice. And may you all suffer from brainrot bc I refuse to be the only one in pain (⸝⸝ᵕᴗᵕ⸝⸝)

Lastly, lots of love to @diodellet for beta-reading this fic and my mutuals for indulging my brainrot. I hope this was worth the wait <3

Tag an Arlecchino enjoyer!! @navxry @leftdestiny-posts @beloved-blaiddyd @ainescribe @vennnnn-diagram @stickyspeckledlight @harmonysanreads @ddarker-dreams

#arlecchino #arlecchino x reader #yandere arlecchino x reader #yandere arlecchino #yandere genshin #genshin x reader #fatui x reader #yandere fatui harbingers #tw: yandere #tw: dark #tw: blood #tw: violence #tw: death #tw: stalking #tw: abuse #g/n reader #mdni #jessamine-writing

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