#technically its those catagories so 👀

[yearningaces]

... So uh

I understand my current want story wise and it's nothing sexual as always, but idk if it's wholesome either ...

But how many stories have the villain, the monster offer a hand out to the heroine, the hero? 'Join me, leave them, we can rule together!'

Is no one else tempted by that? No? Just me?

What if I say the villain is a creature of eldritch domain? That when they extend their palm to the sky, eyes open across the cosmos, that they are the ancient evil held at bay by sticks and twine and are freed by you.

Because you're the underdog of your team of heroes. You, the one that everyone feels they have to look after. You're still helping people, if anything more ernest than those you work with.

But in your frustration over being overlooked, you leave into the twisted forest that always seems to welcome you with overcast skies and curving shadows.

Your team is scared of this place. They say it feels unwelcoming.

You, however, have not once, not twice, but over a dozen times fell asleep out there. No bugs to crawl over you, no birds to swoop over, no animals at all really. Yes, it's strange, but in a way it feels safe, and the very ground seems to soften under you each time you sit back against a tree that feels more like a bed than hard dead bark.

Only today while exploring, you find a cavern opening. And something draws you down, the alarm bells in your head soothed by something unknown as if silenced.

The cavern leads into a chamber, massive and dark. Ancient depictions of something looming over the lands with a face in the clouds.

And in the center of this ornate chamber, is a pedestal. On top of it, a wooden, obsidian, and silver box. There's multiple languages carved into it.

'Öppnas Ej, لا تفتح, Не відчиняти, No Abrir, Älä avaa, Neotvírat, Mawungavuli, 请勿打开. Do Not Open.'

At the severe warning, you attempt to step back, until-

'Such a precious jewel you are. Have you finally found me?'

The words ride the breeze that flows through the chambers. Just reaching your ears, tingling your brain as you're frozen.

'Quite a pretty box, no? It would be a shame to leave it unadmired.'

You can't stop your hands from reaching out, as if something guides your motions.

The box is heavy, and warm.

'So lovely you are, and you listen so very well. Aren't you a treasure to be found?'

Does anyone even give you a second glance? Or do they only look at your team and brush you off. Don't you want these soft words, even for just a moment or two? It can't hurt you ... It's just words.

'I was like you, beloved one. The forgotten.'

The chamber shakes as the voice twist from soft to a harsh rumble.

'I made it so they could never forget myself again.'

And instantly, everything stops, and the haze over your mind softens even further, warming you, settling into your very bones.

'I would never forget you, I would care, I would hear you. Would you allow it?'

"... How?"

The voice croons sweetly in your ears, the box pulsing in your hands as if you hold a beating heart. 'My darling, I would craft you a throne of jewels to be placed beside my own of bone. I would forever be beside you as we ensure our names are no longer forgotten, together.'

And with just a hint of 'i don't believe you', you respond. "What if I want a bone throne too?"

The voice rumbles a deep laugh, shaking the chamber once more. 'Then I will drag a skull and jaw of the largest beast that has walked these lands up from its earthly grave and fasten it as your throne. Would this please you my sweet?'

"It would." You state after a moment because fuck yeah you deserve a metal throne too.

'Then open the box. And I will do all of this, and more.' The voice responds, stronger now but just as sweet.

Your hand nearly automatically grabs the lid, and before you can think-

"STOP!" Your team is behind you, hands out, enraged faces and expressions as if they're about to step forward and lash out at you.

But the chamber seems to tear itself apart, ceiling crashing down around your team, trapping them away from you as the voice so sweetly rumbles in your ears.

'Open the box, precious one. Open it and you will be safe, and adored. You will rule beside me as we ensure we are never forgotten again. Open it open it open it-'

"If you open that, we'll have to take you down as well!"

'Listen to your so called 'team', they threaten you, they belittle and mock you, and they believe that they could stop me-' the voice breaks into laughter as if amused while it continues. 'They do not care for you as I do. I have seen you in my domains, have I not welcomed you? Granted you safe passage and rest? Have I not cared for you before you even know my name? I will care, they never will so much as pretend.'

"Don't open it, it's lying to you, it's just going to kill you along with everyone else here! You can't trust that thing!"

'Can they be trusted then?'

With so many voices growing in volume, crowding the once silent room it's too loud, you can't think, you want to leave, but you have to do something and any chance for a better life is worth it and-

"You did it." The voice rumbles in approval. "My precious little human. You made the correct choice."

You can hear the suddenly real and tangible voice murmur in low tone before the now opened box erupts with darkness and living shadows bursting from it. Like Pandora's box, everything contained is freed now.

The room swirls with a dark storm, blowing your teammates out of the chamber, bursting the rot and root and soil aside as a figure tall enough to reach the clouds forms, letting out a loud bellowing roar as it forms. Darkness swarms from it, the sun concealed in shadow.

You start to fumble back as it easily swats aside those it deems too close.

And then it looks down.

It looks at you.

Instantly a hand of darkness forms under you, bringing you up until you're before these eyes that glow with colors that make your mind fuzzy because you shouldn't be able to see this, these aren't colors you can describe or understand but you're seeing them somehow and your brain tingles, your eyes water at the sight. The eyes ripple, and the booming voice of the sky dwelling face speaks. It's mouth opening as a world of fuzzy, glowing hues seeps from the cracks in its maw.

"You have done well, my dearest."

You feel your bones tremble.

The world shifting and churning from the influence of this ... Thing.

"As promised, your reward, a lifetime of everything you deserve, and more."

This is it. This is where you're tossed into some pit for listening and betraying your own, just like in the movies and in the books. The thing waves it's hand and you're eyes flicker to see what sort of eternity of anguish you'll have and-

...

... It's a temple. Marble and quartz colums holding up high arching walls that stretch so far up you can't see the end. Dark colored draperies line the walls, and an expansive table of every food known to man is perfectly prepared, steaming hot to ice cold, stagnating in that perfect time, waiting to be eaten. The hand holding you gingerly places you down into a chair as the being condenses itself as best it can into a figure that's three times your size but far more manageable.

It looms over the back of your chair, lowering to press a soft kiss to the top of your head, taking your wrist into its hand to guide your hand to your plate.

"Feast now, beloved. We may not lay ruin to this world when you have not eaten yet this sun cycle. A nap afterwards, as we must be at our best before I bring you to your throne. Now, why don't you tell me all about what you adore in this universe so I might spare it in the name of my savior and darling."

...

Well, you're not going to complain, are you?