#the beast is child protective services

[whoisthatstrangeimbecile]

lantern custody

omg omg i had a stupid au idea i talked with a friend idk if thats you lmaoaom

where the beast really did put the woodsman's daughter's soul in the lantern and beast does try to help (hes still a fucking asshole manipulative bitch) and they keep fighting each other on who takes care of the lantern best insulting each other having divorce arguments its absolutely fucking buck wild

[loveinhawkins]

There’s perks to working a summer job where there’s seemingly no manager. Steve got an at most five minute interview with an overly smiley dude who said, “An independent workforce is very important to us,” and didn’t even check his references before telling Steve that he was hired.

So it’s down to him and Robin alone to open and close Scoops Ahoy. And the lack of any boss—not even a supervisor—is mostly great, means that no-one’s hovering over their shoulders droning on about ‘company policy’, means they can take their breaks as and when, and no-one’s tapping their foot with an eye on the clock.

But then there’s the times where it’s absolutely swamped with customers, and the statistical likelihood of having to serve an asshole skyrockets; and most assholes don’t tend to think of teenagers slinging ice-cream as being worthy of even the tiniest shred of respect.

“Are you wilfully this stupid, missy?” a douchebag snaps at Robin during the lunchtime rush, after she added chocolate sauce on his sundae instead of raspberry.

She remakes the order with a look that, if there was any justice in the world, would make him drop down dead on the spot. But instead, he just scoffs when she passes him the new sundae.

“Have a spectacular day,” Robin says acerbically, and if it was any other time, Steve would be ducking down behind the counter, pretending to check on stock levels so he can hide his laughter.

Except Robin’s also doing that thing where she blinks a lot, and Steve knows she’s fighting tears of frustration because he privately does something remarkably similar.

There’s a sinking feeling in his chest coupled with what’s becoming a steadily frequent flare of protectiveness. That one usually comes with the kids and The Upside Down—except Robin is a girl who’s round about his age, so he half-heartedly assumes it must be because he has a crush on her.

But he’s not even thinking about said crush at all when he gently bumps her towards the break room with his hip and says, “Take yours first, I’ve got this.”

For half a second, Robin’s eyes seem to shine in gratitude before she puts a hand over her heart and declares, dripping in sarcasm, “You’re a god among men, Harrington, I never believed what anyone said about you.”

“You’re wel—hey, what did they say about me?”

The door to the break room shuts, but not before he hears Robin let out a genuine snort of laughter. He smiles and pivots back to the register.

The line’s calmed down; Steve recognises a substitute teacher waiting to be served: Mrs Greeves, who’s been at Hawkins High since the sixties, at least. There’s no other adult in the shop, so it’s presumably her little granddaughter who’s running about the place, without so much as a glancing eye on her.

But Steve doesn’t have to worry about a potential lost child scenario, because a guy suddenly slips out of the booth he’d been sitting in, bending down to the kid’s eye level and subtly ensuring that she doesn’t hightail it out of there.

It takes a few seconds for Steve to recognise him; he’s still getting used to the whole phenomenon of seeing people without the high school setting behind them. Like, Robin used to be just a name from a class he can’t even recall, and now he knows her for her dry wit and love of cryptic crosswords.

And this Eddie Munson is sort of a different beast from the guy Steve saw stomping around the cafeteria tables.

He’s dressed pretty much the same, (Hellfire shirt sans the leather jacket must be the ‘summer look’, Steve reckons), but he’s quieter as he chats with the little girl, letting her try on one of his skull rings to distract from her obvious boredom. His grin is softer, too.

Mrs Greeves clears her throat, and Steve promptly puts on his vacant ‘delightful customer service’ smile.

“Afternoon, Mrs Greeves, what can I do you for?”

She orders a simple strawberry cone for the kid, Abigail, and two scoops of lemon and vanilla in a cup for herself—appropriate, Steve thinks, because her face looks like she’s sucking on a lemon half the time.

As he prepares the ice-cream, he’s quickly remembering why she’s on the list of substitute teachers that students dread, even if he’s only had the ‘pleasure’ of being in a class supervised by her once. He has vague memories of how she’d talk with other teachers in a scandalised stage whisper about students from ‘broken homes’—he’s pretty sure she’s still an austere teacher at the Sunday School, too.

“Abigail,” she says sharply, when Steve finishes the cone, and she finally seems to realise her granddaughter isn’t by her side, “what have I told you about—”

“Oh, it’s okay,” Eddie says hurriedly. Abigail hands him the ring back, very carefully dropping it into his palm, and he gives her a gentle smile. “I don’t mind—”

“—not talking to strangers?” Mrs Greeves finishes, as if Eddie hadn’t spoken.

“But,” Eddie says with tiny frown, “you know me, ma’am, I’m—”

“Let me be plain then, Mr Munson.” She finally turns to favour Eddie with a scathing look. “I meant that I don’t want my granddaughter around a corrupting influence.”

There’s an awful silence while Abigail collects the cone.

“Oh,” Eddie says, still crouched down by the booth. He sounds very small.

And Steve’s view of Mrs Greeves quickly turns from a general dislike to an icy hatred.

“And here’s yours,” he says, sliding the cup over.

She looks down. Her mouth goes all pinched in displeasure.

“What’s the meaning of this?”

“It’s your ice-cream,” Steve says, playing up a confused blink. “Is—is this not what you ordered? I’m terribly sorry for the—”

“Don’t be obtuse, Mr Harrington. These scoops are tiny; they barely fill the cup!”

Yup, Steve thinks with a savage satisfaction. They’re the size of a melon ball, and even that’s being generous.

“Mrs Greeves, I’m afraid it’s store policy. Nothing to do with—”

“What kind of policy could possibly justify—”

“Rudeness,” Steve says smoothly.

Eddie’s head jerks up at that, his mouth slightly agape.

“Mr Harrington,” Mrs Greeves says, her face turning puce, “I would like to see your manager.”

“The manager,” Steve says flatly. “Okay, sure. I’ll go get him.”

What he does next, compared to everything else that’s happened in his life thus far, isn’t all that stupid.

Well. Maybe a little.

It’s worth it though, to see the way Eddie Munson’s eyes widen at the sight.

Making sure to have zero expression throughout, Steve mimes walking downstairs, throws off his hat while crouched behind the counter, then re-emerges with a quick ruffle of his hair.

“How can I help you?” he asks, like they’ve only just met.

The cup of minuscule ice-cream is soon up-ended as Mrs Greeves storms out, barking over her shoulder, “Abigail, come here!”

Eddie stands to let the kid out of the way, who seems blissfully ignorant with her cone. Steve’s sure he hears him mutter under his breath, “Jesus, she’s not a dog.”

“I’ll be reporting you, Steve Harrington, make no mistake!”

Yeah, good fucking luck. I sure as hell don’t know who really runs this place.

“Uh-huh,” Steve says. “Looking forward to it. Harrington with two ‘r’s one ‘n’, ma’am.”

“Shit, Harrington,” Eddie drawls. He’s leaning next to the booth, hip cocked, and if it weren’t for the fact that he’d seen it himself, Steve might’ve been convinced that the Eddie from a moment ago was a different person. “That was not worth getting fired over.”

“I’m not getting fired,” Steve says—although honestly, if that had been a real threat, he thinks his actions would probably have been the same. Huh. “I meant it, dude, there’s no manager here.”

Eddie nods slightly, looks up at the Scoops Ahoy sign and grins. “So you and Buckley are the skeleton crew on this ship.”

“Uh, I guess?”

Come on, man, Steve thinks, as Eddie keeps up the wide grin like it’s a shield. This isn’t the high school cafeteria; I’m not about to hit your lunch tray or whatever.

Out loud, he calls into the back, “Hey, Robin, the chocolate’s low. I’m just gonna put in a new batch if you want some of the old stuff.”

The sliding doors open.

Robin sighs as if she’s just had a very relaxing facial, but she’s actually holding a folded newspaper with the cryptic crossword all finished.

“I am so chilled out,” she says, with a delivery that could rival Eddie Munson’s trademark dramatics.

“You’re so weird,” Steve says mildly while making up a cup with the leftover chocolate ice-cream.

“You’ve just got no taste, Harrington.” She waggles the crossword at him. “You should give ‘em a try.”

Steve wrinkles his nose. “I’m no good at that code-breaking stuff.” He passes her the cup, goes to start assembling his own and pauses. “Hey, Munson, you want some?”

“Oh, uh, I’m good,” Eddie says, sounding suddenly wrong-footed. “Sorry, I’m just, uh, killing time before my movie starts. The other stores said if I wasn’t buying anything I should get out, so…”

“So you’ve come to our oceanic sanctum,” Robin deadpans.

Steve rolls his eyes. “You know, just ‘cause you do crosswords doesn’t mean you have to turn into a dictionary. Ow.” He doesn’t quite duck in time to avoid the newspaper smacking him in the face. He turns to address Eddie again, who appears to be fighting back laughter. “What’re you gonna see, Munson?”

Eddie’s eyes glance away for a second. “Something very scary and befitting of my stature, Harrington.”

Robin, who’s made a habit of memorising the mall’s movie schedules, checks her watch and narrows her eyes. “Return to Oz?”

Eddie’s cheeks start to glow. “Fuck off, Buckley, I’ve never liked you.”

“You’re such a liar, I’ve heard your applause at band practice—”

“Okay, but,” Steve cuts in, jumping up onto the counter with one hand. “I thought the whole point was Oz was a dream. How can she return to—?”

“Christ, I don’t know, Harrington,” Eddie says. “I didn’t pick it for critical analysis; the poster had a dude with a pumpkin head on it, and I thought it looked cool.”

“Oh, I saw that,” Robin says. “Made me think of when all those pumpkins went bad. Like, imagine if they had faces.”

Unthinkingly, Steve says around his ice-cream spoon, “No way, I’m not dealing with that, too.”

“Excusez-moi?” Robin says.

“Hmm?” Steve says innocently.

“Hey, you missed quite a show earlier on, Buckley,” Eddie says. “Reckon Harrington deserves a tally in the ‘you rule’ column.”

Steve glares at Robin. “I told you to keep that outta view of the customers.”

“Ah, but I’m not buying anything,” Eddie points out, “ergo, not a customer.”

“Ergo,” Steve mimics.

“That board is strictly for romantic successes,” Robin says.

Eddie snorts. “Aw, that’s hardly fair. I think it should have more… rounded criteria.”

Robin’s eyes narrow again. “Eddie Munson, you’ve never complimented a jock in your life, don’t start now.”

“Hey,” Steve says, overselling a ‘wounded’ expression. “I’m more than that, y’know. I contain multitudes.”

“Sure,” Eddie says, smiling. “Folks, we’ve got Hawkins’s own Whitman right here.”

Steve flips him off and, on a whim, decides to channel his inner Dustin.

“Maybe I just see the world more clearly than you two ‘cause I’m free of societal constraints.”

“You’re working in a mall,” Robin says.

“High school societal contraints. I am unshackled and ergo, free.”

“Damn,” Eddie says, patting down his pockets for an imaginary pen, “I should use that.”

“Stop inflating Harrington’s ego and go catch your totally scary movie,” Robin says.

Eddie checks his own watch. “Oh, shit. Um.” And Steve thinks that it almost looks like he’s reluctant to leave. “Time flies, I guess. Better go ashore.” He catches Steve’s eye, gives a tiny little salute as he leaves. “May your summer continue to be mundane and manager-less.”

“You’re a poet, Munson,” Steve says, even though Eddie’s already out the door.

“So what was the show I missed?” Robin says. “I couldn’t hear anything back there.”

“Nothing that exciting.”

Steve tells her, and even though a smile tugs at her mouth as he re-enacts his mime, for some reason her eyes are kinda sad for most of it.

“Good job, Popeye,” she says thoughtfully—and though it directly contradicts her own words, she marks up a singular ‘you rule’ tally for the rest of her shift before wiping it off.

Eddie doesn’t re-appear after the movie—not that Steve’s keeping track of time, or anything—but at least they don’t have anymore nightmares for customers. As Steve mops, he thinks about how Dustin’s return from Camp Something Something is approaching—and the fact that he’s circled the date with a goofy smiley face is between him and his bedroom calendar.

He smiles to himself while clocking out of the now ghostly mall, recalling Eddie’s parting words.

The thought of a mundane, manager-less summer stretching before him sounds pretty damn good.

[wangxianficfinder]

In the mood for...

Nov 11th

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1. hi this is for itmf!

I'd like to request fics focusing on/from the pov of Nie brothers! anything like nhs conspiring to save nmj or nmjs thought process. would be nice if nhs was also friends with wwx and they were sort of working together!

thank you @bunnycoffeeumcat

The Threads of Fate by WaitForTheSnitch (E, 86k, WangXian, WIP, Time Travel Fix-It, Canon Divergence, Not Everyone Dies, Cloud Recesses Study Arc, Cloud Recesses Shenanigans, Good Uncle LQR, Protective LWJ, WangXian Get a Happy Ending, Pining LWJ, WWX in WWX's Body, JC & WWX Reconciliation, is it reconciliation if WWX doesn't know they were estranged?, Oblivious WWX, WWX Deserves Better, WWX Deserves Happiness, Siblings JC & WWX, Supportive JYL, Protective NHS, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Comic Book Science)

This Time Around by KouriArashi (T, 83k, JGY & NHS, NHS & WWX, JGY & WWX, Time Travel Fix-It, Kid Fic, Families of Choice, Angst, Grief/Mourning, Politics, Class Issues, Past Child Abuse, Moral Ambiguity, Everybody Lives, Eventual Happy Ending)

Heart of the Beast by WaitForTheSnitch (E, 488k, WangXian, WWX Isn’t Adopted by the Jiāngs, Adopted WWX, WWX is a Niè, Canon Divergence, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Oblivious WWX, Protective NMJ, Scheming NHS, Protective NHS, Soft NMJ, NMJ is So Done, NHS Is A Little Shit, Pining, LWJ Has Feelings)

shades of grey spill from my veins (bleeding ink all over the page) by Reverie (cl410) (M, 58k, NieLan, WangXian, SangNing, POV NMJ, Canon Divergence, Joining the “Wei Wuxian raised by the Nie Sect” Club, Mentions of WWX’s life on the streets, Hurt/Comfort, Accidental Sibling Acquisition, Single Dad NMJ, NHS & WWX Friendship, Fluff, Humor, Happy Ending, Everyone Lives AU, Protective NMJ, Sunshot Campaign, Some angst, Blood and Injury, Kidnapping, Protective Siblings, Found Family)

Third Sun by PhantomWriter (T, 57k, NHS & NMJ, Canon Divergence, Time Travel Fix-It, Fake Marriage, Fake/Pretend Relationship, Crack Treated Seriously, BAMF NHS, Protective NHS, Protective NMJ, Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, LWJ is a Wēn) Note that while one of the latter fics the the series explores true Niecest in a "what if" au, the brothers' relationship in the main story is purely platonic and co-conspiratorial.

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2. in the mood for maybe yllz!wwx suddenly time traveling/finding himself in a world that has cleared his name?

🔒Confusion by Vrishchika (Not Rated, 4k, WangXian, Time Travel)

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3. Hii! A) May I ask if you have any other aftercare wangxian fics ? Try a little tenderness was amazing! B) Also any fics with Wangxian cuddling or comforting each other when they cry or get sick (especially modern au). C) Also, anything modern AU to recommend? Preferably completed, though I feel like everything completed has already been recommended or mentioned before? Thank you SO MUCH!!

A Sure Thing by vesna (mrsronweasley) (E, 95k, WangXian, Modern, Sugar Daddy, Sex Work, Light Dom/sub, Aftercare, Semi-Public Sex, Exhibitionism, Bondage, use of sex toys, boundary setting, Relationship Negotiation, many baths, Barebacking) fits a, b, c

3C)

spoke like we meant it by BlackWiresOnHerHead (T, 10k, WangXian, Modern, 5+1, Fluff, oh my god they were roommates, Friends to Lovers, Getting Together, Pining, Cuddling, Accidental Confession, Humor, Abandonment Issues, Light Angst)

Many happy returns. by orange_crushed (E, 25k, WangXian, Modern AU, Mistaken Identity, Misunderstandings, Grief/Mourning, Loss of Parent(s), Implied/Referenced Suicide, Past Suicide of a Parent, References to Depression, Anxiety, Therapy, References to Anti-Depressant Medications, Escort Service, Loneliness, Everybody’s Abandonment Issues, Angst and Fluff and Smut, Angst with a Happy Ending, Domestic Fluff, Moving In Together, Oral Sex, Penetrative Sex, Hopeful Ending, Recovery, References to Escorting/Sex Work but No Actual Escorting/Sex Work)

Deep Dive by MimiSpearmint (E, 24k, WangXian, Modern AU, Twin Prides of Yunmeng Feels, Are Bad at Communicating, LWJ is a Panicked Gay, Therapy, Fluff and Humor, Getting Together, Angst with a Happy Ending, Career Ending Injuries, counsellor!lwj, give lwj friends agenda, background NieLan, Melbourne, Eventual Smut, Crack, Baby JL, domestic abuse is discussed but does not happen, Baby LSZ, Baby LJY, Anal Sex, Blow Jobs, Good Sex Practices, Implied Slight D/s, WangXian Have a Breeding Kink, Cameos by various minor characters)

Close to the Truth by Winglesss (M, 14k, WangXian, Christmas Fluff, Christmas Party, Ugly Holiday Sweaters, Romantic Comedy, Modern, Fake/Pretend Relationship, Fluff and Angst, Homophobia, Tooth-Rotting Fluff)

Ticket to Ride by mistresscurvy (E, 18k, wangxian, Modern, Online Dating, Road Trips, Service Top, Phone Sex, Dick Pics, Wedding Banquet)

Previously, on LEGO Masters by trippednfell (M, 55k, wangxian, Reality TV Show Contestants/Judges, Modern, Mutual Pining, Forced to compete together, strangers to reality show contestants to lovers, there's only one bed, Platonic Cuddling, Autistic LWJ, WWX Has ADHD, Grief/Mourning, Wangxian miss their moms, so much pining, More Pining than LEGO in this LEGO fic, Additional Warnings In Author's Note, POV Alternating, Lego Masters AU, Not YZY friendly, Dysfunctional Jiang family dynamics)

Just Ask Me To Stay by mrcformoso (M, 20k, WangXian, Modern AU, Former JZ/WWX, Minor NieLan, Minor XuanLi, No Powers, Dancer WWX, Musician LWJ, Roommates, Best Friends, Friends to Lovers, Break Up, Post-Break Up, Recovery, WWX Has Self-Esteem Issues, Fluff, Light Angst, Anal Sex, Anal Fingering, Oral Sex, Domestic Fluff, LWJ Has a Big Dick, WWX Has a Breeding Kink, Size Queen WWX, Belly Bulge, Porn With Plot, WWX Has Friends, LWJ Has Friends, Hurt/Comfort, A lot of comfort, Romantic Comedy, Cuter story than the summary makes it out to be, Feel-good)

The Art of Communication by mrcformoso (G, 4k, WangXian, Modern AU, College/University, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, Meet-Cute, Engineering Student WWX, Music Student LWJ, Swimmer WWX, Martial Artist LWJ, POV Outsider, POV WWX, POV LWJ, Everything is Beautiful and Nothing Hurts, Communication Issues, But Wanxian Makes it Work, LWJ has limited words, WWX has too many words, Falling In Love, First Kiss, Love Confessions, Love Languages, Requited Love)

~*~

4. Itmf, A) untamed au (where wwx and xue yang are aprox same age), they knew each other as street children but lost contact when wwx was taken by the Jiang. Wether they were on good terms or not is up to you. They're reunited when xy is tied up and searched for the yin iorn. (Is xy still/became a villain? Or is there more going on/framed by the sects?)

B) untamed au (where wwx and xy are aprox same age). Diverging au where dif types of soulmates exist, wwx accidentally touches skin when searching xue yang, and a soulmate mark/reaction happens.

~*~

5. Itmf fics with good platonic part and plot along with ofcourse our dear wangxian as the mains. More specifically I'm looking for fics where there is huge platonic relationship in the plot . I want it between: Wei Wuxian with maybe Jiang cheng or Wen Ning or Wen Qing or any other character in the book. It can even be some oc. NO modern au please. @constellationdks

Episode 51 by Fool_on_the_Hill_2528258 (G, 27k, WangXian, Canon Compliant, Post-Canon, Feelings Realization, Happy Ending, Closure, Epilogue, The Untamed (TV) Compliant, The Untamed (TV) Ending, Post-The Untamed (TV), JC & WWX Reconciliation, POV LWJ, POV WWX, POV Third Person Omniscient, WangXian Get a Happy Ending, Oblivious WWX, Soft WangXian, Supportive LXC, Sect Leader JL, LWJ Has Feelings, Supportive JC) try my fic “Episode 51”! Wangxian is main but I deal a lot with Jiang Cheng/Wei Wuxian’s relationship too!

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6. Hi hi! Are there any spiderman! wwx or lwj fics?

let your colours bleed and blend with mine by ravenditefairylights (T, 13k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Superheroes/Superpowers, Spiderman AU, Secret Identity, Angst with a Happy Ending, Romance, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Crossdressing, Yunmeng Bros Reconciliation, There Was Only One Bed, Fluff)

wangxian spiderman AU by amisfitm (Not Rated, 1k, WIP, WangXian, smut, Fluff, spiderman au, spider wangji)

lookin' at you sideways by starries (T, 15k, WangXian, Modern AU, Superheroes/Superpowers, High School, basically spiderman!wwx, Fluff, Getting Together)

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7. hello! are there any fics in which wwx tells someone about the kiss on Phoenix mountain? like jyl or something? or at least him like, still thinking about it and trying to find the 'strong maiden' who kissed him.

the breaking of your soul (upon my lips) by sunsandships (M, 40k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Fix-It, Mutual Pining, Golden Core Reveal, Happy Ending)

There’s A Molester On The Loose At Phoenix Mountain!! by sweetlolixo (G, 3k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Humor, Crack, Romance) There's also this one if the requester doesn't mind a humorous story about the Phoenix Mountain kiss

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8. idk if this is too specific but itmf for old friends wangxian reuniting either due to the juniors/lan yuan or them being witnesses to it? but they didn’t know this wei wuxian guy is the person lwj has been missing and stuff? or vice versa? thank u !!

~*~

9. itmf wangxian modern royalty aus? would love the arranged marriage trope specifically but im open to anything!

(no jc/wq please) thanks for your help, always! <3

They aren't modern au, only royalty and sometimes arranged marriage. All very good though I recommend them:

To Deliver an Heir by cerbykerby (E, 49k, WangXian, slight dubcon/noncon but wangxian are into it, A/B/O, Alpha LWJ, Omega WWX, Heat Sex, Knotting, Royalty Medical, Emperor LWJ, Physician WWX, Mpreg, Postpartum Depression, Breeding, Creampie, LWJ literally cannot stop himself from coming in WWX, Breastfeeding)

我的皇后是農民 | sowing seeds in the cold palace by sweetlolixo (E, 84k, WangXian, Imperial Palace, Emperor LWJ, Imperial Consort WWX, Farmer WWX, Angst, Romance, Wingman LJY, Wife-chasing-LWJ, Arranged Marriage, Best Boy A-Yuan)

願陛下 | by his majesty’s decree by sweetlolixo (E, 40k, WangXian, Imperial Palace, Emperor LWJ, Concubine WWX, Harems, Pining LWJ, LWJ is not a dragon in this one but he descended from them :), Childhood Sweethearts (sort of), Romance, minimal angst, Happy Ending, NHS & WWX are concubine BFFs, LWJ has NO EYES for anyone besides WWX don’t worry the harem is only for the plot setting, Fantasy, Pregnant WWX, Possessive LWJ, Fluff)

True Gold Fears No Fire by defractum (nyargles) (M, 75k, WIP, WangXian,  Royalty, Ancient China, Wuxia, Historical, Historical Inaccuracy, Arranged Marriage, Identity Porn, Mutual Pining, Emperor LWJ, Empress WWX, Eventual Happy Ending, Misunderstandings)

travelers through the empty gate by stiltonbasket (M, 112k, WangXian, royalty au, mistaken identity, emperor WWX, poor LWJ, forced marriage, (by LWJ himself), confused WWX, parenthood, misunderstandings, empress LWJ, fluff & humor, married life, angst w/ happy ending, WIP)

A Blade By Your Side by athena_crikey (E, 77k, WangXian, Historical, Royalty, Forced Marriage, Bodyguard, court intrigue, falling in love with the person you're married to, Hurt/Comfort, Misunderstandings, Politics, Drama, Compulsory Heterosexuality, Slow Burn)

Gotta die to come alive by Less_Ginger (M, 80k, WangXian, LWJ & LSZ & WWX, JC & WWX & JYL, WWX & WQ, LXC & LWJ, JYL/JZX, WIP, Graphic Depictions of Violence, Major Character Death, Not Really Character Death, Misunderstandings, Post Mpreg, Parent-Child Relationship, Brotherly Love, JYL is great big sis, Not Actually Unrequited Love, emperor lwj, and his empress wwx, and their legitimate son A-Yuan, Heabvy Angst with a Happy Ending, Slow Burn)

The Mummified Emperor Wants To Marry Me by sweetlolixo (E, 74k, WangXian, WIP, Modern, Historical Fantasy, Royalty, Emperor LWJ, Mummy LWJ, Reincarnation, Size Difference, Archaeologist WWX, Simp LWJ)

🔒 of all the hands by Anonymous (E, 51k, WangXian, Arranged Marriage, Canon Divergence, Emperor LXC, PTSD, Nightmares, Dual Cultivation, Mental Health Issues, Fluff and Angst, Dom/sub Undertones, Consensual Non-Consent, Bonding, Mutual Pining, Orgasm Delay/Denial, Politics, Improper Use of the Lan Forehead Ribbon, the get WWX some sleep agenda, yunmeng trio reconciliation)

~*~

10. for the next 'I'm in the mood for': I'm in the mood for a Wangxian fic where Lan Wangji is a ghost and Wei Wuxian just, lives with him and can see and interact with him? I would pretty much like that. @saiaisaiko

lovers be lost (but love shall not) by la_muerta (T, 13k, WangXian, Arranged Marriage, 1910s, Case Fic, Ghosts, Happy Ending, Background Relationships, Ghost Marriage)

Red Is Just Black Remembering by Zizzani (E, 41k, WangXian, Angst with a Happy Ending, Fluff, Homophobia, Necromancy, Ghosts, Modern, Cuddling & Snuggling, Sharing a Bed)

lan wangji sees dead people by mountainrain898

of ghosts and graveyards by DiRoxy (T, 10k, WangXian, Pre-Relationship, Pokemon, Case Fic, ghost WWX, Happy Ending, LWJ and JC Work Together, Depictions of Science Experiments on Pokemon, Shadow Pokemon, Clone Pokemon)

I Really Must Be Dreaming 'Cause I Don't Believe In Ghosts by bodysintheabyss (Not rated, 7k, WangXian, Ghosts, Halloween, WWX's Birthday, Ghost WWX, Witch WWX, POV LWJ, Living Together, (kind of?), Roommates, Magic, Dark Magic, spells, Witchcraft, Pining, Autistic LWJ, Getting Together, Kissing, Boys In Love, Boys Kissing, Modern)

~*~

11. Hi :)) thank you for all of the hard work you have done for all of us who use your blog. I was wondering if there was a modern with cultivation au fic that has events similar to canon, or where there's a whole secret cultivation world and there's the sun shot campaign.

the journey is far from over series by thelastdboy (E, 164k, WangXian, WWX & Wen Remnants, LXC & LWJ, LWJ & MM, Madam Lan & LWJ, LXC & JGY, Modern Cultivation, Canon Divergence, Madam Lan Lives, JYL Lives, WQ Lives, Post-Sunshot Campaign, POV WWX, Slow Burn, YLLZ WWX, Recovery, Hurt/Comfort, Healing Is a Slow Process, therapy is good actually, All women deserve better, mlm/wlw solidarity, the mortifying ordeal of discovering you're into bdsm while you're caught up in political intrigue, Kink Negotiation, Kink Exploration, Not Everyone Dies, WWX Lives, Mental Health Issues, References to Depression, Additional Warnings In Author's Note, Burial Mounds Ensemble as Family, Single Parent WWX, Selectively Mute LWJ, Eventual Smut, Light Dom/sub, WangXian Get a Happy Ending, es, LWJ & MM Friendship, Pre-WangXian, Wen Remnants Live, LWJ saves the Wēn Remnants, LWJ's Punishment, Whipping, LWJ Needs a Hug, POV LWJ, Neurodivergent LWJ, Stimming, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Coming of Age)

transmuter by WithLoweredVoices (Not rated, 113k, wangxian, Modern with Magic, Magical Realism, Angst and Fluff and Smut, Angst with a Happy Ending)

~*~

12. hello! I've recently got a craving for canon divergence fics where jyl doesn't manage to push wwx out of the way of that sword and dies OR he dies at qiongqi pass and jzx lives

Golden Phoenix by Alineko (G, 34k, WangXian, JYL/JZX, JL & WWX, JC & WWX & JYL, JZX & WWX, JL & OYZZ & LSZ & LJY & WWX, MXY & WWX, WIP, Reincarnation, Reincarnated WWX, Jin WWX, Child WWX, Minor WangXian but when he is older, Protective JYL, JC Gets a Hug, WWX is JL's Brother, Protective Siblings, Sibling Bonding, Cute WWX, Stressed JC, Light Angst, Fluff, Domestic Fluff, Family Fluff, Protective WWX, WWX Shenanigans, Crack Treated Seriously, Golden Core Reveal)

in this place where we don’t have a prayer by Cerusee, Mikkeneko (T, 42k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, WWX dies at Qiongqi path, Demonic Cultivation)

To Be Named by Suibian_613 (T, 39k, WangXian, XuanLi, WIP, Canon Divergence, Out of Character, WQ is out of character, Everyone is probably ooc, canonical violence, Canonical Character Death, JYL lives, Somewhat Sentient Burial Mounds, WN and JC Rivalry, Sibling Rivalry)

ius in bello by Lise (T, 2k, JC & JYL & WWX, Canon Divergence, Tearjerker, Sad Ending, Heavy Angst, Grief/Mourning, Originally Posted on Tumblr, Not A Fix-It, POV JC, [Podfic] ius in bello by flamingwell)

後悔莫及 (Too Late for Regrets) by liverbiver9 (T, 20k, JYL/OC, WangXian, Time Travel Fix-It, Canon Divergence, JYL-centric, POV JYL, Genderqueer WWX, Trans Male Character, Kid Fic, Child WWX, Fluff and Angst, Family Feels, Found Family, WWX is a Wen, technically, Assassination Attempt(s), WWX Isn't Adopted by the Jiangs, Minor MianQing, No Sunshot Campaign, No Golden Core Transfer, Everybody Lives, mentioned minor character death, Gender Non-Conforming WWX, Trans WWX)

~*~

13. Hi! Thank you for your hard work! I am sending in a request for next In the mood for. I’m looking for fics that include

A) JinLing getting his parents (either or both) back (either by time-travel or fix-it fic or them coming back to live)

B) JinLing learning about his parents from JC and WWX.

C) LWJ and JC getting along

1 and 2 can be combined. I’d prefer canon era but okay with modern era fics too. Thank you! @bitemepotter

13A)

Time, Time, Time by skeletonofaplant (G, 44k, wangxian, JYL/JZX, LSZ & WWX, JYL & JL & JZX, LJY & LSZ, Time Travel Fix-It, Burial Mounds Settlement Days, Identity Porn, Identity Reveal, Angst, Fluff, Junior Quartet Dynamics, Time Travelling Junior Ensemble, Junior Ensemble Shenanigans, Humor)

❤️ Tragedy is Not the End by Hobbsy3 (T, 358k, wangxian, Time Travel, Torture, Hurt/Comfort, Golden Core Reveal, Canon Divergence from Qiongqi Pass, Angst with a Happy Ending, Implied/Referenced Rape/Non-con, Yunmeng sibling bonding, good dad wwx, good dad lwj, JZX Lives, JYL Lives, Junior Quartet Dynamics)

And They Lived Happily Ever After… by Morgana_avalon (G, 51k, WangXian, Zhuiling, Time Travel Fix-It, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Canon Universe, Canon Related, set before the ambush happens at Qiongqi Path, Canon Divergence, Bunnies, Good brother JC, Good JZX, CQL Verse)

13B)

Rotten Work by ShanaStoryteller (Not Rated, 63k, WangXian, WWX & JL, Post-Canon, Protective WWX, Protective JL, Yunmeng Bros Reconciliation, Reluctant Matchmaker JL)

climbing up that coastal shelf by Sour_Idealist (T, 15k, JC & JL & WWX, JC & JL, JC & WWX, JL & LSZ, JL & WWX, Post-Canon, Mutually Unrequited Forgiveness, JC & WWX Reconciliation, Family History, Generational Trauma, Discussion of Canonical Abuse, Awkward Attempts at Communication, mentions of past JC/WQ, Fairy is a good dog)

❤️ The One-Body Problem by metisket (T, 29k, LJY & WWX, LJY & LSZ, wangxian, possession, cohabitation, The One-Body Problem by SeaNoodle)

💖 Grey Area by pearliegloom (M, 31k, wangxian, yiling wei sect au, sect leader WWX, LWJ stays at Burial Mounds, found family, secret marriage, angst, eloping, reconciliation, fix-it) Chapter 15

13C)

Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji being bros series by JiangChengLotus (Mostly T, 99k, JC & LWJ, wangxian, JC/LXC)

found your writing on my wall by howodd5ever (T, 25k, WangXian, JC & LWJ, JC & WWX, Accidental Baby Acquisition, De-aged WWX, Post-Canon, Getting Together, Referenced Child Neglect, discussion of parental loss, child food insecurity, Case Fic, kind of, Nightmares)

Orchids in Lotus Pier by Vamillepudding (G, 21k, wangxian, canon divergence, romantic comedy, pining, protective JC, friends to lovers, misunderstandings)

~*~

14. Hi, you wouldn't happen to know of any fics where lan wangji defends wei wuxian. The persons he's defending wwx against can be anyone, but preferably an angry lan wangji rant towards jiang cheng or lan qiren/lanxinchen would be most interesting to me. Many thanks! @palmnix

~*~

15. In the mood for fic: I wonder if there is some fic with amnesiac Lan Zhan. It could be that by some spell or something Lan Zhan loses his memory (temporary or otherwise). I feel like there is a lot of amnesiac Wei Wuxian but I haven't found any with Lan Zhanlike that. Also please no modern au. Thank you.

Unavoidable by diamondbruise (T, 18k, WangXian, Post-Canon, Amnesia, Jealousy, lwj just is like that idk what to tell you, Misunderstandings, Falling In Love, Again, Happy Ending, it’s that thing where they’re married but lwj can’t remember wwx and they meet again)

These Two Most Powerful by stiltonbasket (G, 4k, wangxian, LXC & LWJ, Married Life, Family Feels, Parenthood, Temporary Amnesia, Time Travel, it’s amnesia but it feels like time travel to LWJ, wangxian have more babies, and they are the cutest buns, not your average amnesia fic? there’s no drama here tbh, just soft husbands carrying on with fatherhood, And loving each other, Mild Angst, Happy Ending)

Forget Me Not by Vamillepudding (T, 10k, wangxian, post-canon, temporary amnesia, romantic comedy, misunderstandings, protective JC, light angst) features both Wei Ying & Lan Zhan getting temporary amnesia but thinking they're at two different points in time.

the gift of sincerity by lariyats (T, 40k, WangXian, Fluff and Angst, Post-Canon, Amnesia, or more specifically, the lwj amnesia au, where he regresses back to the 13 year period, but actually, Surprise!!, Established Relationship, very mild angst, Implied Sexual Content, ok maybe it’s not as mild as i said it was but it’s still v fluffy, Hurt/Comfort)

💖 I would wait for a thousand years by bleuett (T, 10k, wangxian, Post-Canon, Canon Divergence, Memory Loss, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Reunions, Curses, Intimacy, Yearning, Happy Ending, Chinese Mythology & Folklore, Immortality, Fluff, Angst)

long have you been alone by martyrsdaughter (E, 56k, WangXian, Modern Cultivation, Amnesia, Curses, Hanahaki Disease, Not Actually Unrequited Love, Workplace Relationship, Light Angst, Sexual Content, Mild Painplay, Overstimulation, WWX Has a Breeding Kink, Light Bondage, Mild Gore, Mild Breathplay, Brief Mentions of WWX/Others and LWJ/Others, other relationships are past tense and off screen exclusively)

🔒💖 hello my old heart, how have you been? by ravenditefairylights (M, 10k, WangXian, Post-Canon, Temporary Amnesia, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Domestic Fluff, Trauma, Unreliable Narrator, Pining, Hair Washing, Hair Brushing, Hair Braiding, Soft WangXian, LWJ Needs a Hug, Sleepy Cuddles)

Blue water by huxiyi (E, 25k, wangxian, Post-Canon, Temporary Amnesia, Case Fic, Curses, Cultivation Sect Politics, Established Relationship, Angst with a Happy Ending, References to Depression, Discussion of Grief, Discussion of bodies, Explicit Sexual Content, Dom/sub Undertones, Under-negotiated Kink, Additional Warnings In Author’s Note)

🔒 Memories of Marriage by DC_Derringer (E, 15k, WangXian, Amnesia, handjobs, Kissing, Anal Sex, Very light angst with a happy ending, Loss of Virginity, First Kiss, Second-Hand Embarrassment, LSZ is the best boy)

I'll sleep when I'm dead by verybadidea (G, 2k, WangXian, Temporary Amnesia, Memory Loss, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff, Comfort, Post-Canon, Cuddling & Snuggling, Canon Compliant)

Falling in love with your Husband(Again) by ImTaakofromTV (T, 17k, WangXian, Temporary Amnesia, Fluff, Angst with a Happy Ending, they're in love, Case Fic, Falling for your husband after one day who you don't remember marrying)

tonight i can write the saddest lines by sarahyyy (G, 3k, WangXian, Post-Canon, Established Relationship, Amnesia, Falling In Love, Domestic Fluff)

(( Unforgettable…to me. by Liebing (T, 3k, WangXian, Fluff, Modern, Amnesia, wangxian footballers, college or university age wangxian, Soft, Sweet, Funny, Happy Ending, meddling LXC, small mentions of sex, One Kiss, Holding Hands, lots of time jumps backwards and forwards, teasing JC; LWJ is injured but he’s fine just some small memory loss, well technically an extra memory of a boyfriend he doesn’t have…yet, Canon WWX who thinks LWJ hates him…sigh) ))

(( 🔒 Overboard by celerydragon (T, 51k, WangXian, Modern AU, Misunderstandings, Temporary Amnesia, Comedy, hopefully, Fake Marriage, Fake/Pretend Relationship) ))

(( 🔒 The Heart Remembers by Setyourlazerstopew (G, 2k, WangXian, Soft, Temporary Amnesia, Memory Loss, temporary memory loss, Fluff, Modern, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, LWJ is a softy but so is WWX, they deserve each other, Happy Ending, not a serious injury don't worry) ))

(( Across the street to another life by danegen (M, 99k, WangXian, Modern AU, unleashed au, Family Fluff, Set in America, Hurt/Comfort, Past Child Abuse, Addiction, Crime, Amnesia, Ableist, Language, another fridged mother, POV Alternating, past wwx/ofc, past wwx/omc, Medium parent YZY, A-Yuan is wwx’s biological son, Musicians, Happy Ending) ))

(( voidable by sarahyyy (M, 2k, wangxian, modern, amnesia, misunderstandings, love confessions) ))

((🔒 remind me why I love you by AG1234VL (M, 44k, WangXian, Minor XiCheng, Past XiYao, Modern AU, Temporary Amnesia, Light Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending, sort-of crack treated seriously, WangXian Pining, Except They’re Already Married, Hair Brushing, Childhood Trauma, Past Abuse L, Fluff and Angst, Crying WWX, Jealous LWJ, Forehead Kisses, Family Feels, Bottom!LWJ, versatile!wangxian, smitten!lwj, flirty!wwx, horny!wangxian, Mental Illness, Non-main Character Suicide, Non-Sexual Intimacy, but also sexual intimacy, brief discussions about grief) ))

~*~

16. Hey ,ITMF, a modern AU that is slow burn . I know my description is kinda broad and vague, but I'd really like something along those lines

Thank you!

Lovesong of the Square Root of Negative One by honeydrip (lmeden) (M, 55k, WangXian, JC & LWJ, JC & WWX, Modern, Blood and Gore, Elements of Horror, Elements of magical realism, Layered Narratives, A Story Within a Story, POV Multiple, Slow Burn, Not Everyone Dies)

he gets under your skin by Skadiseven (M, 87k, WangXian, XiXian, (sort of), Inspired By While You Were Sleeping (1995), Modern AU, Accidental Engagement, Chicago (City), lan typical communication skills, wangxian’s tendency to self-sacrifice, Christmas, Cats, Mutual Pining, Slow Burn, Angst with a Happy Ending)

Légèreté by perkynurples (T, 65k, WangXian, Modern au, Horse riding, Swords as horses, Crack treated seriously, Friends to Lovers)

Waiting for Spring by thievinghippo (E, 130k, WangXian, Modern AU, MLB AU, Baseball AU, Mutual Pining, Pining while fucking, slight angst, Happy Ending)

other earths and skies by binghecarer (T, 53k, WangXian, Modern with Magic, (but not in the typical way?), Slow Burn, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Canon-Typical Scars and Injuries, Curses, making a deal with a mysterious mountain spirit (?) to help your found family?, there was only one bed and it had narrative significance, (oh my god it had narrative signigicance), Hurt/Comfort)

like wildflowers (we grow) by moonsteps (T, 80k, WangXian, Modern, Teachers, Kid Fic, Single Parents, Slow Burn, Fluff, WWX & WQ are bffs, feelings and cute kids and softness and pining, Getting Together, Friends to Lovers)

The Simplest Way Forward by harriet_vane (E, 70k, WangXian, Modern AU, Accidental Baby Acquisition,Kid Fic, explicit in much much later chapters, green card marriage (but not really), pining for your own husband, endless pining, Slow Burn, Happy Ending, Nothing else bad or traumatic happens to the baby, [Podfic of] The Simplest Way Forward by knight_tracer, a Spanish version of the fic, Turkish translation, Translation into Русский availabl)

🔒 Definitely Unreturnable by 3neetee (T, 44k, WangXian, Modern, A/B/O, Omega Verse, Alpha LWJ, Omega WWX, Domestic Fluff, Angst, Adoption, Mutual Pining, Roommates, Slow Burn, Mentions of past child abuse, Eventual Smut, Mating Cycles/In Heat, A lot of hospitals, Slice of Life, Kid Fic)

~*~

17. Hello! For the next itmf I had some requests:

A) I was hoping for some recs in which wwx is sensitive after sex and someone is mean to him, making him cry/emotional

B) wwx going into subdrop, with wangxian being the main couple and the subdrop not tagged

C) some modern au's with wwx having depression but people brushing it off as laziness/not recognizing the signs until it's too late

D) wwx shaking, like, it could be after good/bad sex, being too emotional, being hurt, being cold after losing his core, etc.

For all of these wangxian has to be the main couple preferably but I'm okay with other people joining them (like nmj/nhs/etc) my only limit is Jiang sibs or lxc, thanks! @menimimimeni

17B)

The Damage You Do by stiricide (E, 188k, WIP, WangXian, Modern AU, Dom/Sub, Dark LWJ, Mobster LWJ, Possessive LWJ, Sex Worker WWX, Sugar Baby WWX, WWX adopts LSZ, Dubious Consent, each chapter has sex tag notes on it, BDSM, Sounding, Panic Attacks, Angst with a Happy Ending)

~*~

If you didn’t get an answer to your ask here, don’t forget to make use of @mdzs-kinkmeme and MDZS KINK MEME on Dreamwidth. Authors actually do use them for ideas. You may get what you order!***Your prompt doesn’t have to be kink! Fluff, crack, whatever - it’s all good!***

[multidimensionalguidance]

Anuradha - The Bridge To All Paths Pt.2

Services

As mentioned in the first part, the light aspects of Anuradha are almost always easy to identify through films or by paying attention to the major themes in their life. Now, with all Scorpios there is always a much darker side despite the already observable shadows.

Scorpio placements always carry an intense and intimidating aura, yet out of all the nakshatras the one that carries the most harsh attitude and presence is Vishakha ruled by a male tiger. Both Anuradha and Jyeshtha are ruled by the deer, which makes them more skittish, sensitive, and paranoid.

An observation was made by a fellow astrology account "v1rginldy" on Twitter, and I wanted to expand further on it because it speaks volumes of this nakshatra. They pointed out how there seems to be a connection between Anuradha and demonic possessions, specifically in a context with nuns or women getting pregnant by evil forces.

Anuradha is the only female yoni nakshatra among the others, so perhaps this is why there is such an association with gestation and birth. The corruption comes in from the shadow that speaks and lures in Scorpio placements.

All Scorpios seek power in some way, and in this nakshatra they attempt to obtain it by becoming devoted and subservient to a goal or individual that can give them the authority they seek. Their much softer, innocent, gentle, and servicing nature makes them an easy target.

There seems to be a pattern of young girls who wish to devote their love and energy to God, divinity, or a mystical force yet get deceived to unwillingly participate in dark rituals. They are used as a vessel who is willing to sacrifice anything in order to achieve what they consider to be their inner purpose.

Sydney Sweeney from "Immaculate" plays a young novice nun, who basically ends up getting possessed, lied to, and manipulated to carry the antichrist. She has her Ascendant in Anuradha.

Nell Tiger Free from "The First Omen" plays a young woman who is also a young nun that is selected to bring about the birth of evil incarnate. She has her Moon in Anuradha.

Juliet Mills from "Beyond the Door (1974 film)" has Sun in Anuradha and played the role of a young pregnant woman in San Francisco who is going to have the devil's baby during her strange possession.

Laurel Vail in Delivery: The Beast Within has Moon in Anuradha and plays as a young couple documenting their first pregnancy for a new TV show discover that a malevolent entity has taken control of their unborn child.

Laura Harris from The Calling (2000) has Sun-Mercury in Anuradha and also plays as a young woman who has her child under abnormal circumstances. She pieces together clues that lead to one conclusion, her son is the Antichrist.

It seems that the pure intention and services of these natives are often misused by those who have hidden agendas. They push the narrative to Anuradha natives that suffering for love is the ultimate expression of devotion.

This is why the long term alliances they choose to make are essential not just for their future, but safety. It is the guidance and protection of those who are their partner/s, friends, family, and even coworkers that keep ill willed individuals at bay.

The nun and religious associations are very interesting considering that their whole life journey is about devotion to a higher calling, and it is the corruption within these institutions that take advantage of their natural gifts.

Hope y'll enjoyed these observations, and if I encounter more patterns with this nakshatra, I'll be continuing further.

[macsimagines]

Yandere toman [draken, mikey, baji, chifuyu, mitsuya] but everyone bar darling is an alpha.

Please forgive my lack of clarification 😅

(Ok so I'll do this because of all the confusion but next time, please read carefully because I did ask only three and i did ask you to specify multiple times. try to be courteous next time)

TW: ABO, Breeding kinks, Smell kink, Stalking and generally ruuuude behavior.

Alpha!Mikey

Smells like iron and blood. Others hate it but its such a powerful and intimidating scent that others know to back the hell off.

You were Mikey's first. He's a prime alpha and when he smelled you as a child when you first met he knew you were gonna be his it was like an unspoken rule.

Strangers are surprised he's a prime alpha with his baby face but Toman knew there was never gonna be any other way.

You being an Omega was also a no brainer. He'd been preparing you since your children to match his designation, he wasn't going to accept anything less.

Slowly he started to build his pack. It wasn't that he had any biases for the other genders, but he did have preference for alphas. Ruling over a powerful group of apex predators made him feel like a real beast.

Mikey isn't as possessive over you as one would think. Everyone in the pack belongs to him and therefore he groups you all together. He likes it when you smell like the others because he makes the others smell like him. All the scents mingling really pleases him.

Favorite thing to do is to hold you still while one of the other's scents and marks you. He wants you to smell like all of his men and he wants his men to smell like you.

Really likes watching you get drunk off the collective pheromones. Thinks your flushed face as you get high off of it is the biggest turn on.

You're such a good omega, your body knowing that your alphas are all gonna make you feel so good. And that's another big thing, his pack needs to be servicing you and him.

There's so much love to go around you'll never feel the need to leave...

He loves it when you nest and you've got two or three of his alphas there to protect you. Such a good pack looking out for the Omega

Alpha!Draken

Smells like fresh cut grass, so soothing and calming.

Submits to only Mikey. Everyone else can go die, but he does make an exception for you. He likes to let you scent him more than he does Mikey because you're so gentle when you rub against his neck.

Is very perceptive of smells though, the second he gets a whiff of someone not Pack on you he's quick to memorize the scent and wipe it away with his own.

That punk better hope to god Draken never finds him, Toman's Omega needs to smell like Toman and he's got no right to fuck with you.

Knows his place is keeping everyone in line, and keeping you pleased and safe, makes sure they all know that too. If you're feeling scared he's making sure that the Pack alphas have you surrounded and protected.

Makes sure you fulfil your job as well though. The Pack needs their omega ready for them and he's got you presenting and ready for whoever needs you. Makes sure to clean you up but also keep you stuffed.

Mikey likes to know Toman is taking care of it's sweet girl, and Draken is such a good boy he makes sure their leader can see that his Omega is well full of her alphas.

But this boy also takes his rewards too. He gets second dibs after Mikey when your heat hits and your nest is guarded and ran by him. No one gets in without Draken saying its ok and if you haven't earned the privilege then fuck right off.

Yandere!Baji

Somehow smells like a car crash. A huge warning sign about him.

Takes no shit type of Alpha. He very rarely submits voluntarily because he wants to be made to submit. You want to be in charge or on top then prove it to him.

Is constantly scenting you, and has gotten checked by Mikey and Draken multiple times. It's not his fault his scent is so strong right?

Needs his omega often. You're his stress relief and he's such a good alpha that he deserves it right?

You want a knot? He's there to give it. Also gets into trouble for not asking permission to have his way with the omega.

Can't stand other alphas outside of the pack being near you, nearly tore off Pah's arms for holding out his hand to you when you tripped.

Gets into huge trouble for not asking permission to be in your nest. You've bitten him multiple times and Mikey's kicked him across the room for not listening.

Subconciously scents everyone's possessions. Everyone's bikes, their jackets and bags. Everything. He needs people to know who they're dealing with.

At least he's good at warding people off.

Alpha! Chifuyu

Smells like citrus. Lemons and Oranges so fresh and clean.

Suuuuuch a good boi. Always chirping after you, making sure you've got food and blankets for your nest.

Very responsible alpha! Also very good at submitting to the others. Knows his place and sometimes is rewarded with second dibs during your heat. (Mikey is always first)

BUT he is also the residential snitch. Caught you scenting someone else? He's telling the others immediately, doesn't matter if it was your kid cousin thats NOT ok.

Has got a tracker on your phone, and makes sure the other's can see where you're going.

Finds out you're alone and without one of them and makes sure he's there or one of the others knows you're unsupervised.

Goes crying to Baji when you try to give him the cold shoulder for being a good Alpha, then lets Baji talk him into knotting and scent marking you to teach you a lesson in loyalty.

Really like's it when you scent him, and when you don't he eats you out so he can smell like you for the rest of the day.

Really really really like eating you out after everyone else got to have you. Especially licking you clean after Baji. You all taste so good he can't help it!!

Alpha!Mitsuya

Very weird smell of clean linen and paint chemicals, but it works.

Makes a lot of your sweaters and when he doesn't do that he's approving of your wardrobe first before you wear it. He wants to make sure your clothes are comfortable and markable. Certain fabrics retain their smells longer.

Is in charge of your nesting materials and makes sure it gets delivered and scented by all the alphas before giving them to you.

Has on occasion helped build your nest. Mikey and Baji get jealous but Draken actually defends him stating he know what he's doing.

Has the most important job of panty patrol, where he takes whatever undies you've been wearing that day and delivers them out to the other alphas.

Mikey gets first dibs on the one's when you're about to go into heat because those are his favorites.

Feeds you often like a good alpha should, after making dinner for his family and of course you.

Usually takes you to the other alphas because you can't be trusted to not wonder off and they're not reliable about sharing you with each other.

He's got the biggest breeding kink out of all the others though. Seeing you with his sisters makes him want puppies out of you the most...

[thewritetofreespeech]

hi! saw your reqs were open so wanted to ask,

hector x werewolf! reader? since i know (it was mentioned somewhere i think) that werewolves do exist within the universe of castlevania!

headcanons for how their daily life would be, since i imagine reader to be pretty engaged / enthusiastic with wildlife and he adores animals!

and if your up to more than just headcanons, maybe hector meeting them in the cells in styria?

don't feel pressured! i love your work, i wish hector had more fans and was enlightened to know you wrote for him lol!

Hector was unaware that werewolves existed in this way, as actual shapeshifters.

The wolves that Dracula kept were more mindless beasts then men. Adequate guard dogs to keep him and the other noble vampires safe during the day.

He didn’t know that they could change back into full human form. Nor that that form was so attractive.

[Y/N] tells Hector that he’s an idiot. A child not willing to look beyond his own self or past the cover of a book to see beyond. Their first meeting does not get off to a good start.

Over time, and in the cells, they come to a better understanding of one another.

They tell him the story of the werewolves. How most were taken in or simply abducted by vampires as the aforementioned guard dogs. Charmed into mindlessness not to change back.

The Styria Queens seem to think it’s more amusing that they have a ‘choice’. They can’t leave over threat of their kin and others in Styria. So they have to stay here and protect their capture.

When Hector is ‘freed’, sharing a similar lot to [Y/N], they spend their days together while he spends his nights with Lenore. Biding his time while he works on a path to free them.

Through great sacrifice they are eventually freed. [Y/N] can’t stand to stay in the palace after it is liberated by Isaac & Hector and chooses to leave.

Hector chooses to leave with them but offers his services and council to Isaac in his plan to build this new world. Which he accepts and lets them go.

They travel to the countryside. Far enough south that the winters aren’t as harsh but still northern enough where it’s not too warm.

They do travel to visit some of the remaining packs in the area, but none of them feel like home to [Y/N] anymore.

They take up in a small cottage with a farm, lots of animals, and a new forge. Though Hector only creates new life into their fallen, not nightcreatures.

[Y/N] spends most of their time outside. Breathing the air. Warming in the sun. They would spend both day & night outdoors happily, if it wasn’t for Hector.

They often take walks together. Enjoying the stillness and peace of the forest.

[Y/N] is now free to shift at will and will change to run around ahead of Hector or bound about when they are excited. Hector is envious of it.

Their larger wolf form is nice on those cooler nights, and Hectors likes to snuggle with them.

All in all, they live out the remainder of their lives in peace. Content and safe after all the struggle. Hector can’t say that the suffering was worth it, but he does not regret the path that brought him here.

[memoiich]

Hey !!!

i just wanted to ask if you could write a Captain Rex x reader where reader is a medic? Thanky you so much i really liked the last fic

POLL WINNER DING DING DING

(thank you for the request ❤︎︎)

In service of serenithy

Medic!reader x Captain Rex

Wc: 1,2k

Tw: light angst and setup

Read on ao3: here!! ->Part2

It wasn't an uncommon sight anymore. Covered in cuts and quickly mended bones, troops staggered out of their ships at the coruscant plaindoc. Wayworn faces that all carried a sole sadness. Maybe they had lost friends and companions or their own blood. Your heart couldn’t help but burn for them. Yet they wore the knowledge that battle would call in a fourth night as a protective shield against their own tears. Brave eyes almost all the same color shined true.

Sure it has shocked you the first time, but after the last 4 months the med-bay got used to it. Some of your colleagues grumbled about the clone’s recklessness, others complained about their medic’s competence. The odd one here or there questions the need to heal a dying army. Almost all saw the downgrade from the hall of healing to army medic as an insult. A strange sentiment for a bunch of healers.

You put on a more welcoming face. All you cared for was to help the wounded, clone or jedi it did not matter. Both had shed blood in the endless war and both carried scar far deeper than skin.Your hands dropped to the bag on your hip. Having been taking in as a child in the halls,you had the time to create your own personal medkit. You skimmed past the bacta patches. They clearly needed more than that.

A clone like many others made his way over with a small wobble to his left leg. You quickly walked over in hope to not burden him. Before you could form a sentence he spoke panicked, “Could you please follow me our captain is in dire need” you nodded immediately.

“I tried to suture the wound as best as I could but we were running low on supplies” the man added while jogging you through the port to a white ship. As you stepped inside you noticed the trooper's medic logo on his arm. That explained why he carried the monster known as guilt with him “Sadly a common problem Sir” Your tongue cut through the claws of the beast leaving the poor medic to breath for a second.

You were brought to a chamber that looked like a very small version of the floor you worked on. By a centered bed there sat a Jedi master you presumed with his padawan. You were confused for just a second, they both looked fine. The medic next to you spoke up once again “General Skywalker, I brought the medic from the heeling halls.” “Thank you kix” as he spoke, the Jedi and his padawan both sat away from the bed. Leaving you space to slide next to the bed.

As you laid your eyes upon the man you quickly started to take the wraps of the cash on his abdomen. You were used to these kinds of injuries, blasts that were strong enough to pierce their breastplates. You opened your medical kit near your hip when a squeaky girl voice spoke up, “Is he going to be alright?” The padawan to your left asked.

You took a second to assess the damage better. “He should be” a wave of relief came over the room. Whoever this man was, he was well loved. You moved quickly cutting open the stitches Kix (as you now know) had inserted. Maker, this man was lucky, as far as you could see no vital organs were hurt. You drained the wound knowing that infection was a painful silent killer. After that, you dressed and tended to the wound. Once you were done you wiped your forehead with your sleeve.

You finally looked over to his face. He was truly lucky. His blond short hair suited him. You could not deny that he was handsome. You quickly avert your gaze to Kix. “Here” you handed him a bottle out of your pack “he should take these 2 times a day for the next 2 weeks” Kix nodded as the Jedi stood up next to him “And make sure to redress that wound every 2 days. If he doesn’t improve in 3 days, bring him in straight away to the med-bay” Kix was about to turn away to what you presume store away the bottle. “Kix” his head whipped around “You did well with what you had. You should bear no guilt” You wanted him to know that. He looked a little less lost. A soft smile appeared slowly as he left the room.

“ How long would it take before he is able to work again?” The jedi to your left asked guilty. Normally who would recommend 3 weeks but you knew they didn’t have time. No one has these days. “ In a week he should be able to stand and the pain should be subdued a little” they both looked hopeful but you couldn’t send a wounded man out “ give him at least 10 days general skyewalker “ the young togruta still looked a little stressed. You gave her a reassuring smile “ he will heal and if you would be sent out before those 10 days, he’s always welcome in the halls of healing”

You took one last glance to the man’s abdomen to check your work of course. The jedi cleared his throat to catch your attention. “Uh, could you take a look at my other men?” He asked while a knowing smirk played on his lips “Of course” you answered far too fast. You walked out to go help the others who only had minor injuries.

Rex woke up groggy. He tried to sit up straight but was held back by a stabbing pain and the sour muscles from the last 5 months of labour.A dumb reminder of an even dumber mistake. Jumping between a crossfire is as stupid as can be . Ahsoka was in the middle of a battle herself when a blast was aimed at her back. He understood that she could have parryd it easily but the risk wasn’t worth it to him.

An image of Kix Frustrated state trying to stitch him up fleshed to his mind. He pulled the blanket off him, expecting a festering wound but instead he found his stomach neatly wrapped in soft, white cotton gauze. Before he could question where those supplies even came from Ashoka rushed in.

“Rex! You’re finally awake!” She yelled excitedly as she raced past the door. He looked back up to her confused by his mended middle. Ahsoka wiggled her eyebrows “That was done by this really pretty medic.” She was about to continue when her face went a little blank “Now that I think about it she didn’t give me her name.” “Y/n” Anakin said smugly as he walked in “but that doesn’t matter. You could always go visit her in the halls of healing” Both of his commanders gushed out in fits of giggles.

Rex was even more confused than before. He knew of the healers, having accompanied Anakin on one of his many injuries. They were the top of the medical world, specifically for the Jedi. Years and years of knowledge filled those halls, when you walked past them (as Rex had done a few times) you could smell the old ink and parchment flowing by. Libraries filled with hopeful students patiently studying their teachers' brilliance with passion that could rival the jedi they so cared for .So why did they help a clone?

Rex ended up too far in his own thoughts again, he didn’t hear Anakin or Ahsoka speak or really anything for that matter. Finally he decided to lay his head back. Sleep would not quiet the storm raging in his head; it would also help his injury.

꧁Masterlist꧂

I am going to make this a tiny series just because its set through a few weeks and otherwise it would be a lot of timeskips and past days.

I hope you enjoyed it and thank you for reading ❤︎︎

[thienan1s]

Yandere platonic Dark Cacao alphabet ( A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H ) :

A : 1) Authority: Do they see themselves as above their obsession?

- Yes, he is Dark Choco father, he see himself absolutely above his son and Dark Choco should do obey everything he said. His son is young, stupid and reckless (regardless of whether is the young or old version of Dark Choco. In Dark Cacao's defense, he's 100+ years old, it's hard not to see your son as a child) and he is his father, he always know and do best for him.

2) Affection: How do they show their love and affection? How intense would it get?

- He love languages are Acts of service and Quality time. As a king he is very busy, his free time is precious and he likes to enjoy it with his son ( especially when Dark Choco returns to his arms ). He is very protective of Dark Choco and would not hesitate to risk his life to protect his son, but Dark Cacao's acts of devotion for love can become very extreme (which is not a light thing even at begin since when he became a yandere), he can go from imprisoning Dark Choco to cutting out the tongue of anyone who dares to speak ill of him no matter how true or light it is.

B : 1) Can they cook or bake? Is they children responsible for their own food?

- Can cook but normal level, he wasn't born royalty and was an explorer, of course he knows how to cook for himself but i don't think he's very good at it considering i don't think he cares too much about whether his food tastes good or not but this may change when he starts cooking for his son. He doesn't cook for Dark Choco often because he's busy managing the country and increasing Dark Choco protection measures, actually at first during the early days of Dark Choco's life he never cooked for him that was the job of a servant, but gradually he changed because he realized how distant he had been to Dark Choco and wanted to change, you know cooking is also a language of love and even later all of Dark Choco food had to be cooked by him because Dark Cacao's mental state escalated, he slowly became a severely paranoid yandere, acting as if every food Dark Choco put in his mouth wasn't made by him then there was a 99.99999% chance Dark Choco would die from poisoning.

2) Blood : How messy are they willing to get when it comes to their darling?

- War, genocide, dismemberment people ,... In short, he doesn't mind being a Beast.

C : 1) Cruentus- How do they respond to children being hurt, both slightly and severely?

- Hell, the person who did it should wish that they and their family, those related to them have a quick death. Bonus : Their bodies will not be treated well, it is a pity that even innocent people do not have the right to wish for an intact corpse and a proper burial.

And did you know that in ancient times, in Asian cultures, if you committed a crime against the royal family, your entire living family generation would be killed, including your father's, mother's, and wife's (or husband's) relatives. (In my country, this is called "tru di cửu tộc")

2) Cruelty: How would they treat their children once abducted? Would they mock them?

-No, he will never mock Dark Choco. The closest thing he got was scolding Dark Choco when he thought his son did something stupid and potentially harmful to himself like trying to escape.

- He really tries his best to give Dark Choco the best he can, he pampers him as much as he can and treats him like a diamond with the strength of glass. Those who cause even the slightest scratch to Dark Choco will pay dearly.

D: 1) Disengage : What's their response to being ignored?

- Sadness, but he did nothing. To others he may seem like the embodiment of Satan, the demon of wrath, one small mistake and you will be beheaded, even if you are innocent you can still be beheaded but for Dark Choco he has the patience of a saint.

2) Dearest : Aside from abduction, would they do anything against their children will?

- I can't think of anything specific right now but there will definitely be, right now I just have a vague idea that he can stop Dark Choco from doing things that he thinks are harmful to Dark Choco.

E: 1) Enclosure: Where do they keep children ?

- In his castle of course, but the concern here is that if his yandere level gets too bad he might even force Dark Choco stay in his bedroom ( please don't think something weird, he is just overthinking and there is not ( or don't care) concept of private space anymore ) . That would make Dark Choco's situation even more hellish, being watched by your father who is also your captor 24/7 (Dark Cacao would move his office into his bedroom if he was crazy enough to force Dark Choco to stay in his room, he would do that to monitor his son after all, he would probably even cut down on going out as much as possible to only going out for meetings or fighting to protect his country, his country is the only thing left he cares about besides Dark Choco which makes them always together for days, weeks, months) is not a comfortable thing. Remember Yandere not mean to be healthy, to make the one they love happy, even platonic yandere.

2) Exposed: How much of their heart do they bare to their children ? How vulnerable are they when it comes to their children ?

- All his heart, his soul, his life is for his son. You hurt Dark Choco you hurt Dark Cacao, it even worse than you directly hurt Dark Cacao exponentially and it increases proportionally to his madness.

F : 1) Facade: Are they good at hiding their true intentions?

- He doesn't usually hide his intentions, actually in this platonic yandere relationship i see Dark Cacao never hides his true intentions because he's too strong and that doesn't fit his personality, he can easily get what he wants by force so why need to be histrionic, something that makes him so tired. But if put in a situation where Dark Cacao feels he needs to hide his intentions, he can also act a little, like putting on and keeping still a serious expressionless face or acting as if nothing is happening but inside he is in turmoil or thinking about doing something sinister, well it's little but he's very good at it, years of being king require you to have some degree of control over your expressions and you'd be surprised how useful it can be in "taking care" of his child.

Fight: How would they feel if their children fought back?

- My man is gonna be going through the 5 stages of grief as badly as an overthinking yandere can do, anger will be first it will be like " How dare he attack his father AGAIN ? Still not learned a lesson ? I do everything for his sake, I do so much for him and he treat me like THIS ? " , next could be depression although this emotion can also be in other stages like 4,5 for example it like " How could he treat his father like that? Or am I really the one at fault? Haven't I done enough? I still haven't fixed my mistake? ?Doesn't he love me? " This stage is worse the further back you go can move from sadness to actual depression, denial will be 3 he will convince himself that his son didn't try to hurt him even though it was obvious, that it was just a misunderstanding just an accident, that Dark Choco still loved him, he was just a childish boy who lacked control and attacked his father (Dark Choco really still loved him, it was just that Dark Cacao thought that after what he had done to Dark Choco from childhood to adulthood, he no longer loved him and that's really why he locked Dark Choco up, he didn't want to lose him... not again) and justify himself that his actions were right, 4 bargaining after trying to justify what he did in stage 3 he will try to point out the benefits of the wrongdoing he did mainly to appease himself, 5 Acceptance no matter how things turn out in the end, he will simply accept it and then do nothing to change it, until the next time he goes through the 5 stages of grief and it all starts over again.

G : 1) Garment : Do they take control of their children clothes?

- Control like what ??? Is whether Dark Choco gets to wear clothes or not and whether his clothes are good or not (nice, warm, not torn) depends on his behavior ? if so then NO, Dark Cacao isn't that bad, no matter how bad Dark Choco behaves, he's still given the best things materially. But if it's about whether he chose Dark Choco's clothes or not, does Dark Choco have the right to choose his clothes or not, did he do anything to Dark Choco's clothes or not ? Dark Cacao does choose clothes for his son but not always, most of the time he lets Dark Choco choose his own clothes and only occasionally chooses a few outfits he thinks are nice for his son to wear but if his son doesn't like what he chooses, he won't force him wear the only times he forced his son to dress was when he saw that he was not dressed warmly enough and might catch a cold, the freedom to choose clothes is one of the few rights Dark Choco has under Dark Cacao control, the closest thing to control when it comes to Dark Choco outfit is that Dark Cacao is also very strick about poison checking (he's overthinking).

2 ) Game: Is this a game to them? How much would they enjoy watching their children try to escape ?

- No, this absolutely not a game to him and he certainly didn't like seeing his son trying to escape.

H : 1) Hell: What would be their children worst experience with them?

I have two answers which one do you want ? 1 is sure to happen and 2 only in the worst case. If 1 then is being constantly monitored and controlled if it 2 then broken legs.

2) Handicap: How do they handle children being or becoming disabled?

- Ha ha, hell. The person responsible for this better suicide now because no matter where you run, Dark Cacao will still find you and give you a life worse than death and Dark Cacao will fall into a bottomless abyss called self-blame and he will start self-destructive behavior. Of course he still tries his best to take care of his child, he is not the kind of parent who will drown in sorrow and abandon their children 'when it needs them most'.

[nekrotiize]

I’ve always been a huge fan of Fantasy Fiction, ever since I was a small child. I think it was the second genre I took a real interest in, right behind Horror. It’s been very important to me, and I wouldn’t give up my experience with Fantasy for the world. The first video game I ever played was The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, and it was a groundbreaking experience for me. I grew up with shows like Dragon Ball Z and Avatar: The Last Airbender, which were also absolutely instrumental to me and my development as a person and as an artist. Genuinely, words cannot express the impact Fantasy has had on me. I love it to pieces. I truly do.

But as someone who grew up Native American, with Black family and friends, it’s always been profoundly obvious to me that there’s also no other genre better as sowing and compounding biases against minorities - especially racial minorities - than Fantasy. Fantasy is, by and large, made by racists, for racists. It is often openly hostile to People of Color.

Fantasy is the genre most largely and openly concerned with matters of race. Metaphors for race relations are rife within Fantasy Media, most often fumbled. Badly. Uncountable quantities of the Noble Savage, dark-skinned ne’er do wells, foreigners portrayed as evil, frightening beasts. The heroes almost always white, often blonde with blue eyes. Crusades against supposedly mindless enemies with supposedly primitive, supposedly lesser cultures by the white hero always depicted as a common sense good. The monarchy must be protected. Colonization is the key to prosperity, purging the primitive natives or foreign monsters - all darker than the hero - is a necessary good, the bloodshed never questioned. Why would you? That’s the white hero’s right. It’s what needs to be done to save the kingdom. Besides, anything that doesn’t look like the white hero is automatically a threat, and must be dealt with.

Racial Segregation within Fantasy is treated as natural, both in universe and out. Awfully eugenics-y justifications are often thrown about - a primary one being that there’s such a wide gap in the races’ intelligence/mental capability that cohabiting with “normal” people would be simply impossible. There is an abject failure to recognize the real-world bigotry this language is caked in.

I have grown up my entire life seeing people of my race be depicted as primitive Others to the white hero. If we are not depicted as savages, we are simply a guiding hand. We serve no purpose other than to service the white hero’s story.

The white hero’s skin, and often his blonde hair and blue eyes, are marks of purity. Dark skin indicates evil. It indicates corruption, greed, wrath, a willingness to harm, an Other, a foreigner, a primitive, a lowly savage that must be slain on sight. We are nothing but mindless brutes, a number on the screen, a challenge to be pushed through.

It’s really frustrating when people who claim to be progressives, or woke, either fail to recognize the inherent poor politics of most Fantasy works, or outright refuse to see it. It’s even more frustrating when they start trying to argue with you, and just wind up sounding comically racist (or even ableist, in some circumstances!) without even realizing it.

Part of this is that Fandom inherently makes it so the fiction - or “content” - you are “consuming” is a critical part of your identity, and often discourage criticism - especially criticism pertaining to serious issues, such as racism, misogyny, ableism, etc. - because Fandom is supposed to be “fun and free”. So, even gentle critique of a piece of fiction, or a genre, even if you yourself are a fan of that work, is taken as some kind of personal attack upon every fan, ever. That supposed “fun and free” nature comes, like many things in this world, at the expense of the minorities within those spaces.

It is mind numbing, and difficult to navigate.

[sapphicrow]

The choices for the side enemies in each section of resident evil was very deliberate, and shows off both what Mother Miranda thought the lords deserved and what suits their characters. This may have been for difficulty purposes for each area, but still. I think it is a nice tidbit of flavor to our characters even if it’s indirect. Also I have brain rot.

Moreau doesn’t have any mobs. His reservoir is uniquely isolated. It’s evident from the way the other lords treat him that this is how they feel towards him as well. He isn’t a popular fella. As such, Mother Miranda granted him no special protection or privileges. Besides, I’m sure his bile would repel any creature, even a zombie or moroaica.

Lady Dimitrescu has many creatures within her castle because she interacts with more people on the regular. It’s canon that she had a whole service of female servants who were regularly harvested and experimented on. These subjects are later turned into one of two things: moroaica (the on ground creepy crawlies), or samca (the harpy looking things on the roof). Though we know Alcina isn’t Miranda’s favorite, she’s still pretty high up there. She had to make these critters herself still. Plus, her castle is huge and it only makes sense to have scattered security. I’d say Alcina’s daughters count as a high honor and another reflection of the characterization of Castle Dimitrescu.

As for Lady Beneviento, her situation is an interesting one. Angie doesn’t quite count as a mob, since she is technically an extension of Donna’s consciousness. This is obviously part of her as a person. Disregarding Angie, Donna has no major creatures. I say this because I don’t believe her dolls count as beasts bestowed upon her by Miranda. They’re handmade. She had to harness the skills of cadou experimentation, combined with the craftsmanship of doll making. This reflects Donna because she is isolated, but skillful enough to combat it unlike Moreau. She’s delusional, but evidently not to the same degree as Sal. She copes in her own fucked up, crafty way.

Last but not least, Heisenberg. Now, Heisenberg is Mother Miranda’s established favorite. The golden child. The sun of her sons. It’s also established that Mother’s fondness is by no means requited. Heisenberg loathes her. But nonetheless, even with his absolutely meh loyalty, he has a fair deal of power bestowed upon him. Disregarding his cadou abilities, he has the entirety of the lycan pack. That is no small force. Miranda practically trusts the most dangerous lord with an army. I’d like to believe she isn’t stupid enough not to realize his faulty loyalty, but I feel as if she treats him like a second true child. He’s the son that could’ve been Eva’s big brother should everything have worked out. Love is blind, and Miranda’s too busy to question cutie Karl. Karl also has the Soldats that he’s made himself. This is an intriguing view of him in my opinion. Karl lets Ethan slaughter Miranda’s creation because the entire time he’s been using the powers she gave him to oppose her. Silly guy moment.

Mother Miranda herself has no side mob which is very purposeful as well. She works alone. Her sidekick is the cadou, which we see in the form of all those root looking appendages bursting forth from the ground later in the game. Unlike Moreau who’s isolated due to his insufferable and odorous nature, Miranda is alone by choice. By grief, more accurately. Why bother with companions when Eva isn’t back yet? For her shattered mindset, I’m sure the thought of her daughter is companionship enough. Even with the mold making an appearance, Ethan only has to engage in combat with her herself. This is because even with the mold present, she’s still the vessel. It’s illogical and unnecessary for the megamycete to risk itself when Miranda is right there and so willing to take the blunt of the force.

The megamycete’s side mob is every single thing infected with the mold.

Thank you for reading :) hope it was coherent

[mouldycakes]

TRANSLATION:

Danny: I'm going to ask you to sit in silence and give this cinematic masterpiece the attention it deserves. Yes? Can you do that? Steve: Yep. Danny: Thank you~

Steve: Ugh, that's disgusting! ... Are you okay? Danny: Eh? Steve: Do you want a tissue or something? What's wrong?

Danny: Nothing's wrong, dear (!!!) . Weren't you moved by this moment in the film? This scene? Steve: Evidently, not as much as you.

Danny:I'm sorry, ok? I'm sorry I was captivated by a beautiful film about sacrifice and friendship. I'm sorry. Steve: That dude gave birth, I'm just sayin

Danny: He's an alien! They have different plumbing in their planet, alright?! I don't know, they're hermaphrodites or something.

Steve: I just don't get why you're crying, alright Danny? Sorry!

Danny: I'm not saying- you know what? Forget it, forget it, you don't know what it's like to be a father. You'd never understand. You know what? I'll put some cartoons. Steve: Speaking of cartoons. You plan to bring Grace here? Because if so, as an officer of the law I'll have to call Child Protective Services. Danny: Oh, you think you're funny! Half a point. Steve: Yeah, whatever you say. Danny: You're cultureless. Steve: Shh-shh-shh. McGarrett. Danny: Damn beast. Steve: We're on our way. Put your shoes on.

(!!!!) I put it as dear, but 'cielo' in Spanish means 'sky/heaven'. LatAm dub man *sigh* even though they unfortunately replaced a good amount of 'babe's' with 'buddy/friend' I'm happy they added these other unscripted endearments. Also! Danny calls him a beast instead of animal lol

@joudan-janai creo que esto es relevante a tus intereses? Según tus tags en el otro post XD Uno de estos días voy a mirar la serie en su totalidad en latino y me voy a hacer una listita con todos los nombres de cariño que Danny usa con Steve (y viceversa). TRES episodios he visto y la lista ya contiene: amor, cariño y cielo. Sobreviviré? Deseame suerte

[whinlatter]

Hi! Just wanting to say I adore Beasts. Well- I adore all your fics that I have been making my way through, but Beasts has just been marinating in my brain quite happily lately! I enjoy how you don’t shy away from the complexities of what it would be like for our characters in post, pre, current, and then post again war time conditions.

I was wondering since you brought up the McGonagall vs Kingsley or more specifically Hogwarts vs Ministry and who is responsible for the youth or the abuse that said youth experienced- how would that impact the canonical abuse/neglect Harry experienced both at the Dursleys but also the fact that he had an attempt on his life every year he was at hogwarts. I have always wondered in that ever really coming to light- who would the public be saying should be held responsible? I know people in fandom tend to place all the blame neatly on Dumbledore (which I personally disagree with) but how about the ministry? Child services?

Would his abuse by the Dursleys cause an upturn in anti muggle sentiment? I remember in the fourth book when Hermione was receiving hate mail in regards to her “hurting” Harry she had people simultaneously supporting Harry for stopping Voldemort but also being wildly blood supremacist towards her in the same breath. I could imagine for Kingsley, trying to face a wildly anti muggle status quo culture, if it got out the nature of Harry’s relationship with his muggle relatives people might actually riot.

Along with the “telling each other things” part of their relationship and Harry realizing how he needs to be better at providing more emotional support for Ginny and how much support Ginny already provides for him- if the nature of his abuse or even mentioning the cupboard ever came out how that could potentially shift things. The fact that we never know for certain if Harry ever even TOLD anyone about the cupboard in canon actually blows my mind

thank you so much for this interesting question, anon, and for reading beasts and and enjoying it and having a good ol think about it (every fic author's dream, having your story camp out for a bit in someone else's head - makes me beam). have tried to answer said interesting question - on what harry’s friends, family and a wizarding public would make of his time at the dursleys, and broader wizarding cultural ideas about child welfare and protection - below!

TW: generalised, non-specific references to child abuse and neglect

your question is interesting because it raises the question both of wizarding perceptions of muggle child-rearing and norms in wizarding society about the idea of child protection. i've written a bit before about how i tend to think about harry's abuse at the hands of the dursleys, which to try and put it in context as a literary trope in a particular genre (eg. the dursleys as roald dahl-esque pantomime anti-orphan villains) that the series outgrows and then tries to sidestep dealing with. harry's abuse at the dursleys is one of the most glaring examples of the series' tonal shifts and muddy, dissatisfactory space between genre conventions: a series that begins with harry as a matilda-esque figure dealing with pantomime cartoonish child-hating baddies and by the end is busy heavily implying the fact of egregious, gruesome violence against children (ariana dumbledore, for instance). morfin gaunt's violence against his daughter merope, as depicted in HBP, is absolutely not supposed to be farcical quaint slapstick, and as such it jars with the way harry's relationship with the dursleys is depicted early on in the series, which is a much more light-hearted story of ten years of dodging frying pans wielded by baffoonish, ridiculous cariactures of suburban english tories.

the dursleys exist for the young reader to jeer at and immediately hate rather than be taken seriously as portraits of child abusers. that somewhat colours how i personally tend to approach writing about harry's views of his upbringing - eg. don't spend too long trying to make the dursley plot consistent because the author certainly didn't.

i also tend to take cues from how harry the character canonically seems to reflect on and process his upbringing (ie. he recognises it was abuse, but he also recognises he didn't deserve it, and while he is certainly shaped and affected by it, he is not singularly traumatised by it, particularly relative to all of his other terrible teenage experiences). i think harry isn’t hiding the dursleys’ treatment of him from his friends. but nor is he talking about it all the time. as of book 2 the weasleys have decided his treatment is horrific and worthy of a jailbreak, which doesn't suggest they're all in the dark about it ('they were starving him, mum!') - i think they follow his cues on how much he wants to talk about it and have filled in the blanks well enough.

what a broader wizarding public would make of harry's treatment by the dursleys if they knew about it is tricker to think through, and asks us to read between the lines of the text re wizards' expectations/understanding of child welfare and children's protection, and how they might collide with wizards' varying attitudes to muggle culture, which range from polite fascination all the way to wanting to slaughter muggles en masse and hunt them down for sport.

(here's miss trunchbull from matilda, fulfilling genre conventions as only she can, also demonstrating what is likely a popular wizarding pastime: yeeting children).

on the one hand, there doesn't seem to be any kind of child protective services in the wizarding world or responsibility on the part of the state for child welfare. when it comes to children’s health and wellbeing, the wizarding state is hands off and happy about it. a few examples:

bob ogden's visit to the gaunts, for instance, ends in arrests, but seemingly not for child abuse - morfin and marvolo go to jail for attacking muggles and ministry employees, not for abusing merope, suggesting at a minimum there isn't much appetite for prosecuting child abuse or, in an unlikely but still possible reading, there are no express laws against abusing children in the wizarding world under which marvolo and morfin could have been charged.

muriel is critical of the dumbledore family's treatment of ariana ('though to take it to the extreme of actually imprisoning a little girl in the house and pretending she didn’t exist - '), but in the same breath also reveals that ariana was never examined or treated by any healer working at st mungo's, suggesting a distinct lack of scrutiny over children's health and wellbeing.

filch, longstanding school caretaker kept on under dumbledore (who, for all fandom’s ire at him, is a progressive among wizards on all sorts of things including on education and child welfare), frequently expresses a desire to 'whip students raw' and string them up by their ankles. the day umbridge tells filch she's going to sign an approval for whipping is clearly the happiest of his life, and filch exits the text having been outdone as a child abuser only by the carrows (eg. the two who literally encourage child on child torture), which is saying something. mcgonagall calls him a 'fool' (what are you like, argus!) and then lets him supervise the evacuation from the castle. just caretaker things!

does this mean witches and wizards don’t care about child abuse? i don’t want to say a flat no to that. as the muriel point on ariana suggests, even old-fashioned wizarding elders seem to think there is a right and a wrong way to care for children, and believe there are lines that can be crossed in terms of what’s fair and right to do to children under your care. umbridge cites a concern for the vulnerable children of hogwarts in making her case for more ministry interference at hogwarts, a case that makes her popular with many in the wizarding public, which implies some cultural sense of children as innocents who need to be protected. at the same time, though, we also see even progressive witches and wizards use corporeal punishment (the weasleys smack their children for particularly severe transgressions, as many middle class british families did well up to the millennium), and poor neville gets dangled out of a sodding window and his family are supposed to be kind of goodies. as we’re also told in canon witches and wizards are hardier and more durable physically than muggles, we also might expect that may shape wizarding attitudes to what you can do to a child in punishment without lasting damage or moral qualm. so it seems that wizards do have a cultural understanding of child abuse, even if they’re a bit hazy (or more forgiving) in what counts as abusive.

but. the example you mention - a wizarding public who are happy to hate harry but also happy to ride to his defence if they think a muggleborn tart has wronged him because of their kneejerk blood supremacy - is a really good one. canon is clear that hypocrisy is wizarding's britain's bread and butter. so i can absolutely see a right-wing commentariat doing what right-wing commentariats love to do most, which is selectively care about imagined or real violence against children only when it suits their political agenda. given the wizarding press canonically implies dumbledore has sinister intentions with harry potter the troubled youth (nonce allegations abound), i don’t think it would be a surprise if an anti-dumbledore camp seized on knowledge of harry’s experiences at the dursleys as proof of dumbledore’s hypocrisy, cruelty and dishonour.

as you mentioned ginny i will indulge myself and say a few remaining words about our girl. the question of how ginny would think about harry’s upbringing, and specifically what she would make of dumbledore leaving harry to the dursleys’ neglect for the greater good, is - i’m afraid - very interesting to me. ginny lives out ‘for the greater good’ in her war in lots of different ways; for one, she has to accept the likely prospect of harry’s death because of it. now, we know ginny names her son after albus dumbledore. i don’t think this is an act of charity, but a statement of how she and harry come to think of dumbledore and the sacrifices his plan demanded of them and others around them — ie. ultimately, they accept and support them, even if they acknowledge the terrible cost incurred. it’s not a particularly popular view in fandom at the minute, because (understandably and not entirely wrongly) audiences now see the surrendering of a very young child to abusive parents as part of a broader political and military strategy as perverse. that’s a changing-cultural-tastes-genre-trope issue as much as anything. but any of our revulsion at the idea is not how these characters - or even a wizarding public en masse - would necessarily would come to think of dumbledore’s decision to leave harry at the dursleys. (thinking of sirius’ very sad, very important line from OotP here: that ‘there are things worth dying for’).

[bababonzer]

Golgotha (Elden Ring oc) sketches

Made a moodboard for her too

Lore dump below cut

Golgotha grew of age ages from the present day of the lands between. Beneath the earth she trained, prayed, and strove to become a night maiden. Her mother, ever sharp, urged her on her path. In her studies, she came across debris from the surface. Every interesting scrap she whisked away. Her studies began to falter. Her mother, ever cruel, encouraged her with punishments a plenty. Still, she could not release her dream of a glimmering surface. She hid her treasures away, further and further into the shadows. One night, she fell, and became lost. After a grueling journey, she found her way back home, but not before encountering far more evidence of life above ground. She could not help herself, and pocketed many trinkets. On her return, her mother, ever observant, discovered her hoard. What could Golgotha do? Or say? Like coming home with blood on her hands, she was sequestered from Nox society. The abuse grew, and Golgotha’s heart remained ever heavy in her chest. Her mother sank into madness. Punishments no longer stood as encouragement. Nothing Golgotha could do would please her.

Golgotha could not have known this, but something festered untreated within her mother. She became violent, hateful one moment and sweet the next. For as much pain as her mother had given her, Golgotha still loved her as a child would. One night, her mother set upon her. In a rage she maimed Golgotha. Golgotha, injured and weakened, protected herself. In this defense, her mother perished.

Once discovered, thin and bleeding, sobbing over the body of her progenitor, she was taken away. Found guilty for matricide, she was striped of her studies, her white mantle, and locked away. Whether through kindness or cruelty, they allowed her to keep her life, even if it was in a dark dank cell. There she rotted. She found the madness, given to her from her mother, deep within her. She succumbed to that dark and that madness, filled with rage and hate for her mother, her society, her subterranean life. And through it all, even to her final breath, she begged to be reborn as the smallest bug, the most cowardly beast of prey, the most vile living creature, if only it was topside, where the walls did not crush her.

When grace found her, her city was nothing but rubble. Her thin mangled body suddenly envigored with the life she had before the madness took her mother. While the hate burned deep in her gut, she pulled herself from the ashes, a prisoner to a kingdom long fallen, a mage of her own right, a child without her mother.

Renewed, she tumbled through the lands between. In awe, in fear, in passion, she wandered through eons of history learning of the plight of the topsiders. And when her journey took her back beneath the earth, to another city just like the one she came from, she wrested the pale mantle from one she fought. Never again would her triumph be taken from her.

And further on… she came to know the madness. Deep beneath Leyendel, she came to know the three fingers. She found that rage belonged to something older, something more grand than she could ever imagine. Scared by her meeting, shunned by Melina, faced with horrible revelations; she came face to face with her own rage, and with a needle stolen- quelled it.

This patchwork of times long past and powers far too grand- of the sweetness and sorrow of becoming.

In service to her lord of night, Lady Ranni.

I’m trying to imagine what they’d even do together- and it’s a lot of reading in the same room. Spirited conversations about magic. Golgotha would be very keen to learn about topsider culture, and I imagine Lady Ranni would be very curious about the eternal cities. Ranni would help her learn the language of the lands between. Golgotha would do magic experiments, combining elements of spells. Between the two of them there is no sanctity. Blasphemy abounds.

I imagine them to be happy with one another!

Thanks for reading 🫰

[thesilliestrovingalive]

Dilovar

POTENTIAL TRIGGER: Viewer discretion is advised due to references to death, torture, slavery, child abuse, pedophilia, incest, necrophilia, SA, and human experimentation.

Real name: Dilovar Renatvych Matviyenko (born as Kosmas-9)

Alias: Beast of the Great Jungle

Nicknames: Divo and Niney

Occupation: 1st Lieutenant of Division 6, double agent for the Ptolemaic Army, Captain of the Phantom Strike, and cadet for the P.F. Squad (formerly)

Retirement plans: He has no plans outside of military service because he doesn't believe he'll survive long enough to make it to his retirement day

Special skills: Proficiency in nanotechnology and espionage work, mastery of the jungle, dream walking, and glamouring, negotiating peace treaties, spear throwing, and systema

Abilities: A network of translucent, vein-like tubes, coated with a thin layer of blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and fatty tissue, facilitates the nanobots' movement throughout his body. These tubes connect to his central nervous system, cardiovascular system, and muscular system. Once activated, the nanobots rapidly regenerate torn muscles and amplify his strength during combat, visibly evident by the pronounced bulging of his veins beneath his skin and the intense flexing of his muscles. It enhances his physical strength, enabling him to shatter concrete, crush bone, lift and toss trucks with ease, and effortlessly immobilise and disarm enemies with his immense grip strength. It grants him eagle vision, stabilises his blood pressure, and covers exposed skin with a protective, translucent layer of fleshy slime.

He can vomit acidic orange goo streaked with blood and bits of white adipose tissue by altering the pH levels in the food he's digested. This process involves synthesising pigments to create the orange hue and releasing specific enzymes that break down biomolecules, leading to the production of acidic compounds. The nanobots can manipulate enemy nanotechnology and assimilate incoming nano-attacks by reprogramming them.

He can harness the nanobots to alter his mental state, transforming into a far more menacing, feral, and sadistic persona. In this state, he exhibits erratic behaviour, marked by maniacal laughter, heavy panting, animalistic sounds, uncontrollable drooling, and foaming at the mouth. His physical strength increases, enabling him to tear through skin with his teeth and hands, leap across vast chasms with ease, and snap steel bars with a tightened grip. Despite his ferocious transformation, he retains a semblance of rational thought, enabling him to distinguish friend from foe and revert to a more sane state of mind at will.

Hobbies: River tracing, smoking his hookah, exploring ancient cities and old temples, reading and playing ero guro manga and video games, and doing traditional Ukrainian folk crafts with friends

Likes: Sleeping with his old, torn, and dirty 36-year-old baby blanket, when he got the chance to test drive the Black Hound and Golden Slug, making friendship bracelets, liquidating enemies, and jungle wildlife

Dislikes: Hilde Garn, child molestation, gruesome sacrifices, people dictating his identity and life’s purpose, and being the Ptolemaic Army’s ultimate killing machine

Favourite food: Holubtsi with roasted bacon strips, jalapeno cheddar cream cheese, iron eggs, and garlic buttered poppy seed bublik

Favourite drink: Kaoliang liquor mixed with kvass

Sexuality: Sex-favourable, demiromantic pansexual

Gender: Male

Age: 15 (in 2022), 21 (in 2028), 23 (in 2030), 25 (in 2032), 27 (in 2034), 34 (in 2041), 36 (in 2043), 37 (in 2044), and 40 (in 2047)

Blood type: B-

Weight: 198 lbs. (89 kg)

Design: He’s a 6’ 4” (193.04 cm) Tajik-Ukrainian mesomorph of Taiwanese, Russian, and Arabic descent with a lean, powerful build, well-defined muscles, chiseled limbs, an upside-down trapezoidal chest, broad shoulders, a subtly rounded midsection, high cheekbones, and a Roman nose. He has copper-toned skin, pale azure eyes with flecks of mulberry, and three distinctive black moles: one near the right corner of his lip; a second directly below his Adam's apple; and a third above the centre of his right pectoral muscle. He has a slightly disheveled orangish-brown bowl cut with prominent curls and eye-covering bangs that fall just above the bridge of his nose.

He bears various scars, most of which he obtained in battle. These scars include: a severe grill burn covering the lower right quadrant of his face; a deep, downwards-curving gash that extends from the left corner of his lip to beneath his ear, revealing a portion of his teeth; whip lacerations and cut marks on his back and buttocks; a jagged scar running from the center of his right deltoid to his left lumbar region; a bullet graze mark on the center of the right side of his neck; and three bullet wounds located on his left kidney. In addition to these scars, his left thumb is entirely missing, the skin on his thighs has been flayed, he has a severed tendon (gastrocnemius) in his right lower leg, and a silvery stitch runs along his thoracic spinal segment. He has the name "Kosmas-9" branded sideways on his left upper arm from "K" to "9", which he attempts to conceal with worn gauze.

His military gear for the Regular Army consists of a metal dog tag necklace with his name, purple mountain majesty gloves, and two drop leg holsters for Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knives with jonquil straps. He sports a mauveine vest with four pockets, its original P.F. Squad logo on the back having been replaced by the Division 6 insignia. He wears a jonquil belt with a silvery white buckle, a sheath for his combat knife, a gun holster for his handgun, and an Islamic green scabbard engraved with the Orion constellation. He wields Zulfiqar, a saif sword with a dark blue hilt and wootz steel blade featuring a double-pointed tip. The weight of Zulfiqar is evenly distributed across the blade and hilt, allowing for optimal performance and enabling him to make swift, precise cuts. The blade is remarkably sharp, capable of cleaving through bone as well as the strongest vehicle and body armour.

He wears a cornflower T-shirt with ripped sleeves and it features a stylised black silhouette of a running, ghostly horse encircling a sunflower with seven male Mikado pheasant tail feathers extending behind it, resembling rays of light. He wears dark green, greyish-brown, and charcoal camouflage army cargo pants, which are tucked into the same boots worn by Walter and Tyra. The pockets of Dilovar’s vest carry around a pearlescent green lighter, a note pad, a blue pen, a pack of cherry-flavoured gum, and two medication bottles for familial hypercholesterolemia (liquid statin and Ezetimibe tablets). The pockets of his army cargo pants carry around his old, tattered, and overused dirty grey baby blanket, a jadeite adder stone, and a flask of arak.

Over his T-shirt, he dons a Soldier Plate Carrier System (SPCS) with a MultiCam pattern, which carries around his walkie-talkie and ammo for other firearms. He wears three dark brown bandoliers: one over his right shoulder for his handgun bullets, one over his left shoulder for throwing knives, and one above his belt for hand grenades. He has a submachine gun with a jonquil clip-on web sling and a bolt-action sniper rifle slung over his right shoulder. Dilovar carries a purple mountain majesty load-bearing backpack that contains camping equipment, tactical explosives, portable ammo boxes, a canteen full of water, 5 bags of weed (cotton candy, sugar cookie, birthday cake, black cherry, and strawberry), a bottle of kaoliang liquor, a disguise kit, his Ptolemaic Army uniform, a few throwing spears, and a Fire Gun.

It carries a remote-controlled faux Atlas moth that was secretly designed to record conversations of interest. This device is a superior version of the insectothopter, able to overcome light winds due to its heavier size and a gas engine that lasts for 25 minutes. It carries a modified fire gun that’s used to release thick, metallic purplish-yellow clouds of nanobots at enemies. He can alter the properties of these nanobots to either take control of enemy actions for 6 minutes through verbal orders and thought processes or cause organ failure by emitting lethal amounts of methamphetamine, ethanol, and cyanide. It also carries a Pacific cyan hookah, featuring a glass gourd-shaped vase adorned with two stylised golden wheat stalks encircling the centre of the body, a blood red bowl, a puce tray, a dark brown hose, and a pearlescent purple mouthpiece.

He wears two personalised friendship bracelets. One features Walter's name in letter beads, paired with alternating olivine, ultramarine, and red-orange beads. The other bears Tyra's name, accompanied by alternating fuchsia, burgundy, and pinkish-orange beads. He wears red-violet boxer briefs and a medium sea green tank top. On his left wrist, he wears a customised Rolex GMT-Master II wristwatch, featuring purple gold accents instead of the traditional Everose gold or yellow gold.

His military gear for the Ptolemaic Army consists of a black headset to communicate with snipers and bronze-plated sunglasses with pink-tinted lenses. He wears a distinctive mauveine peaked cap, adorned with a pearlescent purple band and a red-violet cap strap secured by two silvery white buttons. The cap features a cornflower visor and a central cockade emblazoned with a golden Chakana. It’s encircled by a black ouroboros with blood red eyes, which is reminiscent of a simple depiction of the ouroboros symbol created by toa267, but with its head positioned above the Chakana.

He wears mauveine overalls modeled after those of the SWAT elite police unit with the pant legs tucked into his boots. His footwear consists of a pair of black combat boots featuring spiked jonquil soles and knives concealed in the heels. He wears a thistle-hued Eisenhower jacket, featuring purple mountain majesty cuffs edged with jonquil and golden buttons that are often left unbuttoned. On his left arm, he dons a magenta haze armband featuring the insignia of the Ptolemaic Army emblazoned in the centre. He wears a gold-buckled leather belt with four silvery white pouches—two on the left and two on the right—which hold sticks of dynamite. Even in this uniform, he still has his bandoliers, drop leg holsters, combat knife sheath, gun holster, Zulfiqar, and other portable items on his person.

Character summary: He feels profound shame about adhering to the religious beliefs of Ptolemaios' cult, which he views as perverted and malevolent. Their beliefs promote aggressive militarism, nihilism, and depravity, and he wants to distance himself from them. Owning Zulfiqar further compelled him to turn to Islam, seeking a more positive and morally righteous faith. However, he keeps his Islamic faith hidden from the Ptolemaic Army, fearing they will label him a traitor and ridicule him for abandoning their beliefs. Internally, he struggles with doubts about whether Islam is the right fit for him, torn between conflicting beliefs and values. 

He feels profound sympathy and concern for children who were subjected to abuse and exploitation as well as the victims of the Ptolemaic Army's brutality. He’s quick to offer comfort, while also nurturing his strong desire for justice and accountability, ensuring those responsible face consequences. Although he's intellectually brilliant, his curiosity knows no bounds as he's still learning about many things, ranging from appropriate social norms to current political and ecological events. This is the result of extreme helicopter parenting and being indoctrinated into the Ptolemaic Army's depraved and oppressive ideology with the influences of a strict military upbringing and limited access to knowledge. He despises being called "Niney" in a teasing or joking manner because he finds it insensitive and it reminds him of his birth name, which he feels is dehumanising.

He's calculating and sly, using his wit to get himself out of tricky situations, manipulate targets into cooperating with him, and predict his opponents' next moves through careful observation of their behaviour. He's prudently watchful, staying on high alert for danger, keeping a close eye out for traitors, and taking deliberate action at the right moment to ensure tasks are completed effectively. He's a lively, fairly open-minded person who attempts to mask his inherent pessimism with excessive optimism and a radiant, gentle smile. He has a quirky sense of humour, ranging from lighthearted and hilarious to dark and bewildering. However, it can sometimes border on uncomfortable weirdness.

When he's in a goofy and happy mood, he becomes quite flamboyant, cracking jokes, flirting shamelessly, and engaging in playful antics. When intoxicated, he’s prone to temper tantrums, exhibits overly lascivious behaviour towards anyone who catches his attention, and becomes attention-seeking, extremely clingy, jovial, and boisterous. Despite being incredibly intimidating and capricious, he’s a surprisingly respectful, well-mannered, and affectionate peace negotiator. While he can be compassionate and easy-going, he’s also capable of apathy and has a quick temper, particularly when he feels paranoid. Furthermore, he struggles with uncontrollable aggressive outbursts and flashes of intense arrogance and lust.

He's fiercely independent and often prefers to work alone, but will team up with others when he deems it necessary. He’s extremely obedient and reliable, being able to keep secrets and easily follow instructions without rarely questioning them. Furthermore, he's stubbornly determined and hardworking, tirelessly pursuing his goals and fulfilling his duties. There are rare moments where he’ll rebel, especially when it feels as though things are being taken too far or something might actually put his friends’ lives in danger for no reason. As a thrill-seeker, he’s absolutely drawn to danger, which fills him with exhilaration and a sense of being truly alive. He's a sadomasochist driven by intensely heightened killer instincts and an unrelenting thirst for bloodlust. Additionally, he exhibits occasional voyeuristic tendencies and experiences vivid sexual fantasies that evoke strong arousal and deep-seated confusion.

Despite his unimaginable fearlessness, he has a deep-seated fear of punishment, making mistakes (no matter how minor), and abandonment by those he cares about. He's not particularly fond of people asking about his personal life and would firmly tell them not to ask such questions. However, he'll make an exception if he realises the person is trustworthy or if he believes sharing the information won't have significant consequences. He craves emotional and physical intimacy, but struggles to express his true feelings due to a fear of rejection. Although he often comes across as superficial, he rarely intends to be shallow. Instead, he struggles to genuinely express his true emotions and grasp complex, overwhelming feelings like heartbreak. His ultimate desire is to break free from his obligations to the Ptolemaic Army, discover his true purpose and identity in life, and find people who will love and accept him for who he is unconditionally.

He lives with PTSD, prosopagnosia, and bipolar disorder, which manifests in major depressive episodes that significantly impact his daily life and manic episodes that cause him to disconnect from reality. As a result of bipolar disorder, he struggles with overwhelming sadness, a profound loss of pleasure, and intense anxiety stemming from the fear of losing control. He’s a lucid dreamer that experiences sleepwalking episodes, which involves aggressive outbursts and bouts of crying during his sleep. Despite considering them trusted comrades, he harbours nihilistic, cynical, and indifferent views towards most people in the Regular Army, Rebel Army, Amadeus Syndicate, and Ptolemaic Army as well as humanity as a whole. Whenever he encounters a pair of glowing red eyes, he believes he's being haunted by a restless spirit sent by the Avatar of Evil to carefully monitor his movements. This deeply unsettles him, and he wishes it would leave him alone forever. However, he realises this wish is futile, so he tries to ignore it by pretending it's just a foolish hallucination.

Due to being able to speak Quechua, it aided him in being on excellent terms with the South Pacific K'antu Q'ente ("bird people" in Quechua) and Brazilian Nina Q'ente ("fire people" in Quechua). He empathises with their struggles of feeling exploited and misunderstood by others, and goes out of his way to assist them. He regards them as family because they welcome him into their community and reciprocate the respect he shows them. He doesn't care about Ptolemaios' deputies because he views them as "blind and moronic dogs" that only serve to please him and satisfy their own darkest desires. However, he secretly admires Anastasia and 1st Lieutenant Wired, viewing them as the most sane and human deputies compared to the others.

He harbours intense disdain for his father, Colonel Hilde Garn, due to the physical, verbal, and sexual abuse he suffers at his hands in private. However, he's afraid to defy him due to the numerous times he has been severely punished for doing so. He simply wishes that his father could treat him with genuine love and not view him merely as a killing machine and an heir to fulfill his role once he's gone. He feels most appreciated and cherished by his father when he praises him for his mission successes and recognizes his capabilities as a great fighter, which encourages him to be his best and try to please him. Strangely enough, this desire to please his father and gain his undivided attention and love has led to him developing a negative Oedipus complex at a young age, which remains unresolved. This fuels his neurosis, filling him with obsessive thoughts about brutally murdering his father and making love to his mangled corpse.

He’s close friends with Walter and Tyra, who were the first people to make him feel human and treat him with love, respect, and acceptance. Around them, he feels comfortable being himself, but if they express discomfort, he respects their boundaries, giving them space or stopping whatever caused the issue because he doesn't want to jeopardise their friendship. He’s fiercely protective of Walter and Tyra, willing to sacrifice his own needs to ensure their safety, happiness, and comfort. With their help and support, he was able to make a couple of friends and acquaintances with people like Gimlet, Allen Jr., and Nathalie. He cherishes every moment spent with those who bring joy and vitality to his life, such as Ralf and Hyakutaro.

Tyra's past abuse at the hands of the Ptolemaic Army evokes deep sorrow and fuels his intense hatred and desire for righteous vengeance against his employers. He’s deeply infatuated with Tyra, drawn to her gentleness towards him, the respectful manner in which she comforts him, and her remarkable bravery and steadfast independence. He’s the most affectionate with Tyra, often showering her with warm hugs and gentle nuzzles, as he feels profoundly safe and unconditionally loved in her presence. He has romantic feelings for Walter, but he's unsure how to express them and fears his emotions won't be reciprocated. He skillfully conceals his romantic interest in both Tyra and Walter, unsure of how to navigate these emotions or determine if his feelings for them are genuinely rooted in romance.

He maintains a neutral stance on morality, recognizing its inherent subjectivity. Nevertheless, he advocates for personal autonomy in determining right and wrong, allowing individuals to draw inspiration from others as needed. He believes that warfare is a futile and destructive tactic employed by political and militant powers to eliminate opposition and impose their national, moral, and personal ideologies. In his opinion, war instills fear in civilians, demonstrating the brutality of violence, expansionism, and capitalist greed. He believes that life and death are inseparable and interdependent, necessary for the universe's continued existence. To him, worldly life serves as a test of a person's moral character, encouraging individuals to accumulate good deeds and avoid evil, lest they face eternal damnation. Furthermore, he thinks that every person's death is predetermined, and upon passing, they embark on a journey into the afterlife, where their soul is ultimately reabsorbed into the universe.

Backstory: Kosmas-9 was born on June 25, 2007 in Kholodnyi Yar, Ukraine. His mother gave birth to him in the guest room of his father’s mansion, which was located in a remote area far from any major Ukrainian cities. His father, Renat Matviyenko, also known by his codename "Hilde Garn”, is a Ukrainian of Russian and Taiwanese descent. A highly respected and feared Colonel in the Regular Army, he possesses unmatched expertise in guerrilla warfare, honed from his experience as a high-ranking mercenary for the Theophylaktos Union. His mother, Farzona Qurbonova, is a Tajik of Arabic descent and a communications specialist and weapons technician for the Regular Army. She secretly works as a masked soldier, serving as a double agent and an expert in ancient technology for Ptolemaios' cult.

He’s the ninth attempt at a perfected clone for Colonel Hilde Garn because the previous ones were deemed failures. Due to visible deformities, high levels of defiance and impulsivity, and severe psychosis, they were terminated and improved upon in subsequent clones with the goal of creating one that more closely resembled its parent. Although Kosmas-9 was born with a couple of physical differences due to his mother’s DNA slightly mixing with Hilde Garn's dominant genetic code, his father considered him a success. He was glad that his plan to model the perfect heir was now in motion after eight failed attempts. Farzona would aid in Hilde Garn's plans for Kosmas-9, seeing him as a potential asset for Ptolemaios' ambitions.

As a result of inheriting his father's inhuman genes, he proved to be a remarkably intelligent child, despite lacking certain physical characteristics typical of a Tuatha Dé Danann descendant. At just two months old, he uttered his first words: "tato" and "maty". By the age of 1, he could identify all European countries without referencing a map and accurately pronounce their names. When he turned 4-years-old, he would sneak into his father's private office to read books on war history and a rare volume featuring international gun catalogues. Before his 7th birthday, Dilovar demonstrated a profound understanding of the philosophies surrounding morality and war as well as distinctive perspectives on life and death. At 8, he began seeing a pair of glowing red eyes and believed he was being haunted by an evil spirit, but he kept quiet about it, fearing harsh scolding.

Not wanting to continuously call him Kosmas-9, Farzona gave him the name Dilovar Renatvych Matviyenko in honor of his remarkable bravery and his lineage as the direct biological son of a well-seasoned military officer. She treated him with profound tenderness and consistently love bombed him, making him feel extremely special. She rarely scolded him for the mischievous and disturbing things he did, such as drawing on the walls with crayons and breaking the neck of a wounded wood lark she had brought in to care for. This was because she believed he could do no wrong and sought to shape him into the perfect servant for the Avatar of Evil. At midnight, she would sneak into his room and inappropriately touch him, claiming it was okay and that she was only showing him affection.

Hilde Garn was the exact opposite, preferring to address him by Kosmas-9 because he sought to distance himself from his son until he proved worthy of the name his mother had given him. However, on occasion, he would affectionately refer to him as Divo, particularly on days when his son exhibited good behaviour and successfully completed his assigned tasks. He was cold and distant, reserving praise and physical affection for instances where his son performed flawlessly. Despite this, he took his son's military training seriously, teaching him valuable skills such as hand-to-hand combat, safe handling of dangerous weaponry, survival techniques, and basic first aid. To broaden Dilovar’s experience, he often brought him to classified meetings, providing a glimpse into tactical planning and high-level military briefings. At the age of 5, Hilde Garn taught Dilovar all the Slavic languages, Taiwanese, Chinese, and some Arabic, which he quickly grasped without major difficulties.

When Farzona was away at work, his father would often subject him to physical, verbal, and sexual abuse. He would viciously berate him, using derogatory terms to belittle him and unleashing wrathful, long-winded lectures. These tirades would focus on his perceived inadequacies with his father berating him as a disgrace and pathetic for failing to follow instructions, particularly during training sessions on handling weapons or completing everyday tasks like chopping vegetables or doing laundry. When he became extremely angry with Dilovar, he would throw him into his bedroom, lock the door, pin him to the floor, and either smash his head with alcohol bottles or strangle him to the point of difficulty breathing during the sexual assault, while also verbally degrading him.

On one occasion, Hilde Garn caused his son to suffer a grill burn by pushing his face into the flaming hot grill when he became frustrated with Dilovar's struggles to flip an expensive steak. He also carved Dilovar’s designation name into the skin of his upper arm with his mother’s ceremonial dagger as a constant reminder of his perceived identity and purpose. He would manipulate his son into believing that the abuse was a sign of love and care, attempting to normalise the behavior, but Dilovar intuitively knew it was wrong.

Although he didn't fully trust his mother due to her non-consensual touching, he found the most comfort in her. She was the only parent who showed him affection, even though she never intervened to stop Hilde Garn's abuse. Whenever his father was away, Farzona would praise Dilovar after he successfully completed a task, adorn his hair with flowers, and bake delicious desserts with him. She also sparked his interest in arts and crafts, which led him to try traditional Ukrainian crafts that his mother had taught him. His mother had learned these crafts during her time in Ukraine. Notably, he was able to replicate each craft with very few errors. Farzona taught him about ancient cultures and technologies, the esoteric beliefs of the Ptolemaic Army, magical disciplines that fascinated him, and how to efficiently complete his chores.

His parents heavily restricted him from leaving the Matviyenko mansion, fearing that outside influences would undo their hard work and change him into a completely different person. However, he was permitted to venture outdoors and walk around the courtyard and backyard. The only visitors he regularly encountered at the mansion were Hilde Garn's aide-de-camps, Lieutenant Colonel Macba and 1st Lieutenant Wired. He harboured a strong dislike for Macba, who frequently subjected him to aggressive teasing and snarky comments. In contrast, he found Wired tolerable because he treated him with respect and kindness, despite his stoic and weary demeanor.

His mother would mysteriously disappear from his life, filling him with dread as he didn’t want to be stuck with his father. However, Hilde Garn managed to manipulate him into believing that his mother abandoned him because she never truly loved him. He also told Dilovar that his mother was only manipulating him, so she could use him for nefarious purposes, potentially planning to sacrifice him to a malevolent deity or condemn him to the "slave pens" when he reached early adolescence. This revelation deeply shocked him, who was grieving and struggling to accept her disappearance. He became disdainful towards his mother for taking advantage of him. As a result, he grew more accustomed to his father and learned to somewhat love and appreciate him, grateful that he hadn't abandoned him and was actually taking care of him. His father also became somewhat less abusive and more affectionate, although he remained somewhat aloof and would occasionally distance himself from Dilovar.

Shortly after the Ptolemaic Army's detrimental failure against the Regular Army in the Arms Deal Barrage, Hilde Garn introduced Dilovar to Ptolemaios. Although Ptolemaios was initially distrustful, he came to respect Dilovar as the biological son of Hilde Garn, one of his official deputies, and Farzona, one of his trusted and well-liked masked soldiers. As the son of a masked soldier, the cult lavished him with affection and praise. They believed he was worthy of their attention due to his supposed innate "sacred connection" to the Avatar of Evil, which was a result of his birth to a fertile and dedicated masked soldier. The cult would complete the indoctrination process his mother started during his young child years, fully immersing him into their beliefs and values. To achieve this, they isolated him from his father and potential comrades by taking him on a weekend retreat to a secret compound located on the outskirts of the Soursop Jungle. They taught him Quechua and introduced him to the Nina Q'ente, which would lead to a strong mutual bond with the Brazilian tribe.

Seeing great potential in him, Hilde Garn would be granted permission by Ptolemaios to put him through scientific experiments. These experiments included testing the nanotechnology that the Ptolemaic Army received from the Martians. His memories of these experiments are very hazy because he was often drugged with hallucinogens and anesthesia to distract him from what was happening. He can only recall that they injected nanobots into his spinal cord and the muscles of his thighs, and it was incredibly painful. It felt like his blood was flaring up, his skin was being crudely peeled off, and his muscles were painfully spasming. After the experiments were finished, he was put under rigorous training to hone his mastery over nanotechnology.

During his time in the Ptolemaic Army and Phantom Strike, he was utilised to eliminate traitors, conduct investigations into potential strategic locations and threats, breed new cultists and soldiers, and satisfy the sexual desires of the masked soldiers. His exceptional tactical prowess, strong work ethic, and fierce independence earned him a swift promotion to Captain of the Phantom Strike. Many of the female masked soldiers took a particular liking to him, citing his impressive physique and masculine charm. One of them even gifted him Zulfiqar as a sign of genuine respect and a gesture of admiration. Rumors circulated within the Ptolemaic Army that Zulfiqar was either a divine gift from the Avatar of Evil or the result of an abandoned Martian experiment in swordsmithing, fearing its power could thwart their future conquests. Upon discovering Zulfiqar's origins in the Islamic faith, he converted to Islam, but kept his new faith hidden from the Ptolemaic Army.

After receiving intel from an abyssal masked soldier with a contingent of special forces operatives about the K'antu Q'ente being located on a South Pacific island belonging to the Peregrine Falcons Squad, Ptolemaios and Hilde Garn decided that Dilovar should serve as a double agent. They hoped to leverage his skills to gather important, classified information about the Regular Army, which they could use once the Ptolemaic Army was prepared to launch its conquest. As Dilovar had no existing files, since Hilde Garn wanted to keep him a classified secret, his father forged his Social Insurance Number and birth certificate, and intentionally included false information. Specifically, his birth year was changed from 2007 to 2010, making him the perfect age to join the Peregrine Falcons Squad's cadet program. His school files were also forged to present himself as a worthy candidate for the Peregrine Falcons Squad. He also opened a bank account in Dilovar's name, depositing substantial sums of money into it each time he successfully completed a mission.

At age 22 (though his forged birth certificate listed him as 18), Dilovar was officially accepted into the Peregrine Falcons Squad after acing the written test with a perfect score. He was quickly assigned to the "misfit batch" due to his violent outbursts and manic highs, which often unsettled those around him. His misanthropic view of his fellow cadets, combined with his inhuman abilities, unnatural tactical expertise, and unyielding independence, made him a poor fit for the traditional cadet groups. He befriended Tyra and Walter, going out of his way to teach them important tactical skills like knife fighting and grenade deployment. As he did, he slowly began to trust his fellow cadets, seeing them as worthy and respectable allies. Through them, his eyes were opened to the corruption and moral ambiguity of the Ptolemaic Army, which proved to be far more flawed than he had initially believed.

Each training course was a walk in the park for him, but he decided to spice things up by teaching himself systema, a popular Russian martial art. Meanwhile, he covertly stole classified documents, accessed restricted data on building Slugs, and pilfered weaponry from the Regular Army. His two drill instructors didn't pay much attention to him because he outperformed the rest of the "misfit batch". However, the female instructor took a particular liking to him, showing him both flirtatious attention and maternal warmth in private. He eventually had a brief sexual affair with her, and in return, she shared valuable intelligence on the geography, flora, and fauna of the South Pacific archipelago, a region that would serve as the final training ground for the P.F. Squad cadets.

Upon arriving at the South Pacific archipelago with his fellow cadets, he plunged headfirst into the jungle. Venturing in alone, he utilised his weaponry and rations, which he had discreetly obtained from a Ptolemaic Army special forces operative before boarding the PA33-21 Boat. During this time, he honed his skills in navigating the jungle, developing a deep understanding of its biodiversity and geography. He was overjoyed to have the chance to work and explore in a jungle setting for the first time rather than just attending military meetings with Ptolemaic Army soldiers or taking solitary walks with high-ranking officials.

While trekking through the jungle to practice his stealth skills and locate food and water sources, he stumbled upon a group of K'antu Q'ente children being surrounded by Rebel Army extremists and bikers, who intended to use them as hostages. The children's plight reminded him of the Nina Q'ente, and he felt compelled to help. He quickly subdued the Rebels, choosing to knock them unconscious and scare them off with warnings rather than causing them harm. Overjoyed and grateful, the children explained that while chasing a Pacific swallow, they had become lost and inadvertently stumbled upon the "scary armed men". He escorted them back to their village safely, earning the community's gratitude for his bravery and humility. Over the next couple of days, he assisted the villagers with hunting and construction projects while learning about their culture, which led to them seeing him as a friend.

During his time with the K'antu Q'ente, he discovered that they possessed a mysterious monolith bearing cryptic writing that detailed ancient knowledge about the Avatar of Evil and Sol Dae Rokker. He persuaded them to take him to the monolith, and they agreed. Dilovar sailed with a group of K'antu Q'ente villagers to a remote area of the South Pacific archipelago, seeking to fulfill his request to visit the enigmatic monolith. However, upon arrival, the villagers were brutally massacred by Rebel Infantrymen, who had established a makeshift hideout in the area. The Rebels, residing in their half-finished "dungeon”, captured Dilovar. Recognising him as the man their superior had mentioned, the Rebel soldiers promptly transported him via helicopter to an abandoned building located beneath a staircase in a ruined area, near the jungle entrance. There, Dilovar discovered that his female drill instructor was secretly a Rebel ally named Sagan Glynis Armitage.

Sagan forcibly confined him to a cramped cage, and Dilovar offered little resistance, finding the situation oddly amusing and exciting. He was interrogated by her, who sought information about his purpose, army allegiance, and any valuable technology, weaponry or expertise his army possessed. Despite her offers of sexual favors and comfortable treatment, Dilovar remained resolute in his silence. When coercion failed, Sagan resorted to stripping him bare, subjecting him to whipping and cutting, and even amputating his thumb. The ordeal culminated in Dilovar being forced to witness the gruesome executions of a small handful of P.F. Squad cadets. Yet, throughout the torture, he refused to share any confidential information, remaining oblivious to Sagan's true intentions. He would often engage in playful teasing with Sagan, attempt to initiate conversations with suggestive undertones, make threats of death and rape during explosive outbursts of aggression or offer respectful compliments on her appearance.

One night, while Sagan was absent, two Rebel bodyguards were tasked to carefully watch over Dilovar. Seizing an opportunity, he cleverly deceived them into opening his cage, pretending he needed to relieve himself. Unbeknownst to the guards, Dilovar had secretly managed to free his wrists from the ropes. As the bodyguards unlocked the cage, Dilovar swiftly activated his feral persona and launched a ferocious attack, mutilating the guards. He then gathered his belongings and navigated his way back to the K'antu Q'ente. Once he found their village, he began formulating a plan to launch a counterattack against the Rebel forces.

He, alongside Hyakutaro and Issenmantaro, fought the Shoe tank before the entrance of the Rebel Army's latest base of operations after receiving intel from Rumi that Sagan was around. After destroying the tank and forcing the surviving contingent of Rebel soldiers to surrender, they learned that Sagan was devising an escape plan and used the Shoe tank as a decoy. Although he considered taking drastic action against the pilot, Torquil, to satisfy his bloodlust, Hyakutaro advised against it, stating it wasn't worth their time. He spared Torquil's life after the pilot offered encouraging compliments, showing respect for Dilovar and his team's tactical prowess, and revealed the location of the Cabracan.

Once the Survival Island Occupation was over, he bid farewell to the K'antu Q'ente and promised to visit them again. Following the incident, Dilovar graduated with top honors alongside Walter and Tyra. He then joined Division 6, having accepted Hyakutaro's invitation, and rose to the rank of 1st Lieutenant. During his visit to the Ptolemaic Army’s compound in Osaka, Japan, he secretly shared the location of the Monoeyes monolith and key information about the K'antu Q'ente, including their fighting style and beliefs, with Ptolemaios and his deputies. They decided to allow him to continue working as a double agent, seeking to gain insight into the Regular Army and their latest special forces unit, Division 6.

[arisenreborn]

The Tramont Family

Time for me to scribble down my thought-thinks about Olivia's family that have been kicking around in my head!

Lord Matthias Tramont. A stodgy man rumored to have once-upon-a-time been quite charismatic, but Olivia can’t believe that. He is all about maintaining the families position and adhering to tradition - or whatever Queen Regent Disa tells him will help their position. The family ascended to nobility through a history of service in the military (along with a few clever marriage arrangements), but in the recent past they took a slip down the political power ladder, which seems to have influenced him. He is at regular odds with Captain Brant and Watchhead Gregor. He took great pains to arrange a potential marriage to Regentkin Sven for Olivia, only for her to spurn those efforts and, to his mind, make an utter fool of him. As such, their relationship is quite rocky at the moment. Her becoming Arisen has in some small way ‘mended’ that, but now everything he’s worked for and the connections he’s made are being tested as Disa would rather be rid of Olivia, having seen how her bullheadedness makes her unpredictable and troublesome. So, Matthias presents an air of the most detached support; giving her the most cursory and basic of protections from the Tramont family, but nothing further, while biding his time looking for the most rewarding opportunities.

Lady Claudia Tramont. A noblewoman whom Matthias was arranged to marry by his father, she is the perfect image of a true lady - carefully concealed warts and all. She is deep down a little more understanding of Olivia’s desires to break out on her own and do what she wants beyond her fathers wishes for her. Yet outwardly she goes along with Matthias in all things, and regards Olivia coldly for acting out - something that may stem from a root of jealousy. She dotes endlessly on Ephraim and (not-so-)secretly loathes her youngest son being marched off to battle. Similarly she takes great pride in young Abigail for being everything Olivia failed to be.  As for Oliver… Yes, a mother should be so proud to have such a successful and formidable son… And she will say as much to any who would broach the subject of him, but there is a marked way in which she otherwise avoids ever talking about him that would suggest some level of discomfort. Perhaps even fear.

Oliver “The Bull” Tramont. As a child, Olivia idolized him; he was a strong and powerful knight who protected the people and would slay dragons, to her mind, and she would one day do the same. Now, however, the naivete of childhood is long gone, and she knows him to be little more than an opportunistic mercenary who upholds everything she hates about the nobility.  While his father prefers to bow and scrape to the other nobles, Oliver prefers a more hands-on approach, proving their indistinguishable value through the wholesale slaughter of any enemies. He is equally feared and revered on the battlefield, a beast of a man who sends monsters fleeing before him. While he gets his men out alive (and mostly unscathed), he will also hire Pawns for particularly dangerous work and bears them only the least amount of respect afforded them in Vermund, often enough using them as fodder.  While he seems to care only for battle, however, he secretly has designs on the throne, throwing in his lot with the likes of Allard… He also holds great disdain for his elven heritage, going so far as to cut the pointed tips of his own ears off, and 'encouraging' Ephraim to do the same.

Ephraim Tramont. Though your classic sickly Victorian child in his youth, he is now training to follow in his fathers and older brothers footsteps as a soldier in the Vermundian military. Perhaps needless to say, Olivia couldn’t help but to be jealous and bitter towards him for this, though she’d never actually act out in such a way towards him. Indeed they were very close, and in his youth she would often bring him trinkets and gifts when he was confined to his bed. Alas, eventually he started parroting Matthias and Oliver by telling her she needed to simply accept her lot in life - in part out of his love for her, and in part his jealousy. As much as he loves her, he also hates her for being so ‘free-spirited’ about everything. (By then, however, she was already enlisting under their noses.) He’s a rather weak-willed sort, doted on endlessly by his mother and not at all cruel at heart, but desperately tries to make up for his shortcomings by emulating the strength and demeanors of those around him.

Abigail “Abby” Tramont. The youngest of the Tramont’s and Olivia’s favorite. She is everything her older sister is not and more than happy to follow in her mothers footsteps, enjoying all of the dancing and needlework and such. But she loves her big sister dearly, ever enamored by the tales of adventure Olivia would put her to bed with, and Olivia’s romantic dreams of the ideal knight.  After Olivia’s return as Arisen, she would send her letters or even sneak to her house to visit her, gifting her embroideries she made. She loves to listen to all of Olivia’s own adventures now, while sipping on tea and the tasty treats she brought that she knows Olivia loves so well. And while she had next to no opinion on Pawns before meeting them so much more up close and personal through Olivia, upon doing so she’s quietly disturbed by how her eldest brother speaks of them in comparison to the reality she sees. She is very fond of Emrys and somewhat unknowingly regards him like a big brother - she’s certainly never had a brother like him, who is actually fun to be around.

[i-am-beckyu]

My Monster to Slay

WOOOOOOO! I DID IT! 8K+ WORDS! Here it is! My 100 follower fic special! Thank you all for 100 followers on my blog! I love you all so much and can’t believe we actually hit such a big milestone! You guys all mean so much to me and I love that you guys like what I create!  So without further a do, enjoy! cw: abandonment, child abuse, minor gore scene but no one dies (just a rando animal), fear, fear of death, panic and anxiety, fluff, hurt/comfort, and happy endings (you know me ❤️) word count: 8856

Disclaimer! This story is based on the characters of the Dream SMP and not the real life content creators. Anything that occurs in this story is purely fiction and should be treated as such. Thank you.

It was common knowledge that no one was to enter the Forest on the West end gate of the Village. Those who went in, never came out. What was beyond the shadowy cover of thick foliage was unknown, and those who dared enter were considered dead. So of course Tommy took an instant interest, when it was sung by a bard at the Winter Festival.

  Within the forest of the dark twisted wood,  A place no one can go, or ever should.

Lies a creature of mischief, filled with dire deceit,  Who wanders the woods, hunting to eat.

To the people who enter, full of pride and valour,  Though they see themself brave, will all hide and cower.

For the creature that lurks knows your presence is near.  It finds all who venture, through the smell of their fear.

And as it speaks, hot breathe spilling from their chin,  You know you’ve lost from its treacherous grin.

So listen to my tale, I tell all to thee   Leave the forest alone, let what’s within just be.

For all who enter have never come out.  Each one a strike, in the beast's victim count.

 Well if one song could scream ‘danger’ it was this one, and danger was Tommy’s middle name! The boy at 12 years old knew an adventure when he saw one! A strange unknown setting shrouded in mystery with a potential target to slay? Oh what a perfect opportunity to prove himself to the people of the village if he could bring back the head of whatever lived within the Forest. He’s seen many hunters bring back the heads of deadly creatures from beyond the village walls, and be praised for their services and bravery in protecting the village. But to bring back the head of a menacing monster, preventing the village from expanding their assets to the forest would surely result in an entire parade to celebrate his conquest! 

 The young boy had eagerly gathered his satchel and a wooden sword before rushing to the West end gate. He would prove his worth, he would!!! For no one is greater than the one and only Tommy Danger Kraken Innit! But of course a quest for glory was not one so simple. The West end gate to the Forest was sealed off and had been un-open nor used for a long time. Heavy reinforced iron gates were chained and locked at their operating point, to prevent anyone from venturing out, or anything from getting in. But would this stop the great Tommyinnit? NO! Using all his might, he tried to break the chains, pouring all this strength into breaking the chains with his wooden sword. But after the 13th or 14th try, he decided to spare the chain and look for an alternative exit. 

 “You win this battle chain…” the young boy had muttered, as he began to search the surrounding walls.

 One benefit of the West end gate being so unused was that the walls weren’t attended to or maintained as well as other sections. So it wasn’t long before Tommy had found a gap just big enough for him to squeeze through and onto the otherside. Before him lay the Forest, the tree cover casting an eerie dark shadow. A last chance effort to keep intruders away. Repositioning his satchel, Tommy took a deep breath in and marched forward into the forest's depths, ignoring how his heart pounded as he began to journey deeper into the heart of the Forest. He would find the Beast, and he’d kill it.

 After walking for a while, the thick foliage began to even out and soon light was pouring through the treetops, giving its surrounding a soft, almost magical glow. Seeing this himself, Tommy’s heart slowed as he relaxed and found himself enjoying his new found surroundings. What a wonderful place this would be for the villagers to explore when he returned a hero! When he found a wide enough open clearing, only then did he stop. He’d heard hunters say the best place to find creatures or monsters to battle would be to lure them out into a big open space, and create a false sense of security of having their foe in the open, all the while preparing a surprise attack themselves. When he felt he was ready, Tommy raised his hands to cup around his mouth before shouting:

 “HEY! BIG UGLY MONSTER!!! HERE I AM! COME FIGHT ME!!!”

 He waited a moment, listening intently for the inevitable sound of the monster approaching, but was met with silence. Well that’s okay. They’re probably doing Monster things and are busy. Tommy could wait. He’d be patient if it meant he’d get to make the village proud.

 But as the minutes ticked by, Tommy’s calls were all but left unanswered. He didn’t understand. What could a monster possibly be doing that was more important than battling him? 

 “HELLOOOO! MONSTER?? I’M WAITING FOR YOU TO COME FIGHT ME!” He called again. 

 Suddenly a crack sounded from behind him, and Tommy whirled around to face the direction of the noise, hands perched on the hilt of his wooden sword prepared to draw it at a moment's notice. 

 “FINALLY! I’ve been waiting ages for you to show up!” He said in relief before his eyes settled upon a figure.

 Before him stood a tall man with curly brown hair in a long worn trench coat. Upon his nose were gold circle framed glasses that highlighted his sharp glimmering amber eyes.  

“You’re not a monster.” He stated blankly, as his face crinkled into confusion. 

 The man gave him a crooked smile. “I’m afraid not.” He said, his voice melodic in a way. “What are you doing in the Forest little one?” 

“I’m not a child and I’m here to battle the monster. Isn’t it obvious?” Tommy said huffing, crossing his arms in annoyance. The man looked him up and down before a smirk appeared on their face. 

 “I’m not sure a wooden sword is going to be very effective then.” they mused. “Unless the monster you plan on battling is a rabbit.”

 Tommy gasped in offense. 

 “You dare underestimate the power of the Great Tommyinnit?” 

 “Well I’m just not sure it would be very effective on anything else.” The man replied, stepping more into the clearing. Tommy drew his sword and raised it pointed at the annoying man, as he spoke with confidence. 

“It’d be pretty effective at beating up a Wrong-un like you.” 

 The man burst out laughing as he doubled over slightly clutching his middle as he did so.

“What on earth is a wrong-un?”

 “People like you thinking amazing people like me are weak. I’ll have you know I’m the strongest man alive d*******.” Tommy squawked in retaliation to the still laughing man as he tried to compose himself. 

 “Sure sure. You’re definitely the greatest man alive!” The man said as he began to calm down. 

 “I’m sorry for thinking otherwise.” 

 “As you should be. No one messes with Tommy and gets away with it.”

 Tommy re-sheathed his sword as the man continued. “So why are you in the Forest to battle a supposed monster? I thought no one was allowed in here?” 

 “If I kill the monster and bring back its head to the village, I’ll be treated as a hero and praised by everyone!” Tommy replied eagerly, striking a heroic pose as he did so. 

 The strange man's brows furrowed slightly as he looked at Tommy in concern, but Tommy didn’t notice as he continued on. “Then people will like me and I won’t be alone anymore!”

 “Did they send you in here?” The man asked.

 “Nope! I snuck out here all on my own! I had finished all my chores for the day and I wanted to prove myself!” Tommy said proudly. “Why are you out here though? Wait, are you here to battle the monster too?”

 “No, I actually live here.” The man said, raising an arm to scratch the back of his head as he looked away sheepishly. 

 “You live here???” Tommy replied eagerly, practically bouncing on the balls of his heels. “Have you seen it?” 

 “Once.” The man began, eyes drifting down to look into the boy's sparkling wide blue eyes. “It’s not safe to be out here, but I’ve lived here a long time and know this area well. The monster does not come to this part of the forest often.”

 Tommy’s heart sank. He’d spent so long waiting and the monster barely ever even came to this area? How could he fight them if they never show up? And he couldn’t really journey much further than this either or he would be unable to get back to the Village. 

 “Oh.” He said flatly, his shoulders deflating at the realization. The man came forward towards Tommy, stopping till he was just in front of him. They towered over the small boy.  

 “I guess the monster might come back one day..” They sighed. Tommy’s face lit up. 

 “Really??” he said brightly. “You think so?” The man shrugged his shoulders, giving him a knowing smile. 

 “Can I keep coming back until it does?” Tommy asked. The man thought for a moment, looking as if they were debating heavily with themself.

 “I guess so.” Yes! Success! He still had a chance then. With that answer settled, Tommy gathered himself up and turned to leave. 

 “I will be back tomorrow then!” He declared proudly, a bright determined smile plastered across his face. 

 “See you tomorrow then Tommy.” The man said, turning to watch the small boy leave. 

 “See you tomorrow uh, um. What’s your name?” Tommy asked, embarrassed that he hadn’t asked sooner.

 “Wilbur. Wilbur Soot.” The man- Wilbur replied.

 “See ya tomorrow Wilbur!”

 As promised, Tommy returned to the same clearing upon finishing his chores and waited for the monster to arrive. Just as before he called out for them and waited for them to appear. Nothing. That’s okay. Wilbur said they didn’t come around alot. He could wait. He would slay the monster! 

 A little while later, Wilbur appeared. Almost a little shocked to see Tommy at all, as if he didn’t expect them to return. But upon seeing the excited young boy, joined him in the clearing to wait.

 “Any sign of them?” Wilbur asked.

 “Not yet.” Tommy replied, as he scanned the surrounding tree line once more.

 “HEY MONSTER! IT’S ME! TOMMYINNIT! COME GET ME!” he yelled once more.

 “Ouch. Give a guy a little warning before you do that.” Wilbur yelped, clutching his ears. “I’ve got sensitive ears.”

 “Oops. Sorry. I’ll try to remember next time.” Tommy replied sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.

 “So how do you plan to beat this monster?” Wilbur asked inquisitively. 

 “Well when they get here, I’m gonna cuss them out for taking so long! Then I’ll draw my sword and slice them into tiny little pieces!” Tommy stated proudly, drawing his sword and posing dramatically, his weapon held high in the air. Wilbur laughed at the funny sight before him, as Tommy turned around to face him, stomping his foot in annoyance.

 “Oi! Quit laughing ya b****!” he said, as he marched over a little way away from the man, stopping next to a tree to sit on the mossy ground.

 “So, what's your favourite colour?” Tommy asked, wanting to change the topic.

 “Blue. Yours?” 

 “Red.” They sat in comfortable silence for a bit.

 “You got a favourite animal?” Wilbur asked.

 “Cows are pretty cool.”

“Cows? Seriously?” Wilburs face contorted into an amused look.

“Hey cows are pretty intelligent alright? What about you? It’s probably something dumb like a squirrel.”

“Mmm no but I like rabbits. They taste pretty good.” Tommy turned to Wilbur and gasped.

“I meant that you like to look at or find interesting! Not to f***** eat!!!”

“What! I’m just being honest.” The man said at least looking a little guilty. “I’ve gotta eat something out here! Besides, it's not like you don’t eat cows!”

Tommy fake gasped. “I would never eat a sweet innocent cow. They’re so endedible and loveable!”

 “I bet you’ve eaten beef in the last week.” Wilbur said, giving Tommy a knowing look as he rested his head into his hand, propped up on his knee.

“No…. I definitely didn’t...” Tommy said looking away, face going slightly red as he fiddled with his hands. 

 “At least I don’t think it was beef…” Wilbur just grinned.

 “Alright alright. How about an animal you dislike? Mine’s an Anteater.”

 “What’s wrong with Anteaters?” Tommy questioned.

“Oh Tommy. What’s not wrong with Anteaters?”

        (\_(\           (\_/) ?         (ง•-•)ง    ? (•-• )     ?       o/    |            |    \o ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It continued on like this for several days. Tommy would finish his chores around the village, then journey into the forest clearing and call for the monster where he waited. And not long after calling for the monster, would Wilbur appear and help call for the monster too. When they weren’t doing that, most of their time was spent chatting. Well mostly Tommy, with his rambles as he practiced his sword fighting skills, whilst Wilbur watched the wild child wave his treasured wooden sword around. Sometimes he would relax and nap in the warm sun's rays as the child spoke whatever was on their mind. Occasionally, Wilbur would manage to get Tommy to come sit still with him and would hum a melody or sing and a made up song, whilst running a hand through his blonde curls. The man had a soothing voice and it was almost hypnotic in a way. Tommy wished he could listen to it forever.

 Days turned to weeks and soon Tommy was spending almost all his time in the Forest, and while he still called for the monster to fight, he found himself going for a different reason. Wilbur. Tommy had become attached to the man. The man had a gentle presence and treated him in a way that not many in the village did. He treated him with kindness, joy, caring and what could almost be affection, from how often the man insisted they hug before he left after coming to know him. But he couldn’t complain when secretly he loved it. Part of him almost wanted to stay with the man and never leave. But that could not be. He had a mission! Kill the monster and return a hero! That was his mission, his quest! But maybe when he did, Wilbur could come too? 

 He’d asked the man once before about it, his answer being that the village didn’t really like people like him, so he chose to stay away. Tommy wondered if it was because maybe he’d messed up too many times and the villagers had kicked him out? When Tommy made mistakes, he’d get punished pretty badly. Some nights he’d go to sleep covered in bruises and dried blood. But that’s okay! He’d complete his quest and return as a hero and then never be punished again. But if that was the same reason why the village didn’t like Wilbur, he thought that returning a hero with him would perhaps fix all that? Yes! That would definitely fix everything. How could it possibly not?

 It was just another normal day for Tommy, as the young boy made his way to the usual clearing. He'd brought a pastry with him today that the nice baker lady had given him, for him helping her bring the flour bag order into the shop. He set his satchel down and cupped his hands around his mouth as he hollered his challenge to surrounding forest foliage. 

“HEY MONSTER!!! IT’S TOMMYINNIT! I’M READY TO FIGHT YOU B****!” 

 He was about to call again when a rustle of leaves from behind him had him turning on his heels. 

 “Wilbur!” He called cheerily, not expecting the man to appear so soon. 

 “You’re here ear-ly…” The words died in the boy's throat as his eyes widened to see not Wilbur stepping into the clearing.

 Stood before him huffing in a steaming cloud of rage, was a giant black boar with piercing red eyes. Tommy drew his sword, hands tight around the hilt, trembling slightly at the fierce animal before him. He could do this. He’d been waiting for a monster after all. This was just a uh- a warm up! Yeah a very big, scary looking warm up. But as the boar let out a menacing growl, and Tommy’s fear growing by the second, he took a step back. He-he couldn’t do this. Tommy’s hands loosened on the wooden sword, allowing it to drop to the grass floor below him. The boar taking this moment as its time to charge. Tommy sprinted for dear life. What was he thinking? That he could take on what was supposed to be a terrifying man eating monster alone and win? He’d bought a flippen damn wooden stick to a boss fight! And he wasn’t even trying to escape the supposed monster. It was just some ugly Boar!

 Tears began to stream down Tommy’s face. He didn’t know what to do. The Boar was quickly gaining on him and he had no idea where he was going. He didn’t have a decent weapon and he was getting tired quickly. So he did the only thing he could think of and screamed.

 “WILBUR! WILBUR HELP!!!” He shouted over and over again, in hopes the man was somewhere nearby and would be able to help. 

 “SOMEONE?! ANYONE?! PLEASE!!!” 

 Tommy kept running. He could feel the hot breath of the Boar growing on the back of his neck as the sound of hooves got closer and closer. He was managing to dodge his way out of the approaching jaws of the furious animal, but for how much longer?

 Tommy’s luck seemed to have run out, as he soon found himself cornered at the bottom of an overhanging cliffside. He scrambled about looking for a way up, someplace to hide, ANYTHING to help him escape his impending doom, but ultimately was left with nothing. The Boar slowed its approach, knowing its prey had finally been caught. 

 “WILBUR PLEASE!! WHERE ARE YOU?!?” He shrieked in desperation; one last time. 

 “Please.” he barely whispered as he backed himself up against the cliffside wall, breathing heavily as he braced his arms against the rocky stone walls. He heard the Boar grunting and scraping the ground, a sign it was about to charge and deliver the final blow. He scrunched his eyes firmly shut and braced for the end. He didn’t want to see it coming. 

 Suddenly something hit the ground with a heavy thud, creating a small shockwave, causing Tommy to be knocked to the ground from the impact. A blood curdling shriek along with terrified squeals were sent into the air, instantly followed by the sound of several loud cracks and hissing. Tommy lifted his head up and wiped his face of dirt from the ground, slightly dazed from the harsh fall. Tommy’s eyes widened in terror. Before him was a giant brown and yellowish scaled tail. His head followed the scales up, anxiety growing of what was to come as he looked on to where the tail turned to the back of a human torso, of a man with curly brown hair atop of their head. Tommy’s heart stopped as realization struck him.

 A Naga.

 That was his monster. 

 But before him is Wilbur.

 Wilbur was a Naga.

 His Monster is  Wilbur.

 The monster he’d been calling for and patiently waiting all this time to come, had been Wilbur the entire time.

 There was no doubt in his mind that now that the secret about Wilburs’ true form was out, would have them turn tail and devour Tommy alive. After all, that must be why he had come. They probably didn’t want their free meal to be snatched up by some other predator. The Naga had known the entire time why Tommy was in the forest. They knew Tommy wanted his head for the glory it would bring, but had indulged in his wild fantasies. They were probably letting him live till they got bored. That made the most logical sense. Besides, everyone always gets fed up with him eventually. It's how he ended up an orphaned street rat in the first place. People just put up with him till they’re sick of him, then make him get lost. It's why this hurt so much more. Because instead of being abandoned, Tommy knew he was going to be devoured.

 Slowly, Tommy struggled to his feet. He had to get out of here. He couldn’t die. He had to escape! He just had too! The Naga was still turned away from Tommy, the now dead Boar hanging limply in its grasp. Ever so quietly, Tommy crept along the side of the cliff wall, around the Naga. He couldn’t afford to be seen. He kept his head and shoulders down and tried to blend in with the wall, doing his best effort to be as unnoticeable as possible. He was almost in the clear when he glanced back at the Naga. He froze in place. Tommy watched as a giant fist raised the dead Boar up in the air, as the Naga opened its giant mouth. Sharp fangs glistened in the sun as he watched them drop the entire dead animal in the awaiting maw, only to snap it shut and swallow the entire thing whole. Tommy watched in horror, as the large bulge of the boar traveled down the Nagas throat. A thin pink tongue slithered out of its mouth and licked its lips in satisfaction. Oh Prime, he needed to leave NOW. 

 But one wrong step was all it took for a twig to snap sharply beneath Tommy’s foot. The sound rang out loudly in his ears. He didn’t need to look down to realize his mistake. Oh so comically slowly, Tommy turned to face the monster. The Naga’s head had snapped to meet his own, its amber eyes nothing but thin slits. However, upon seeing Tommy, their gaze softened. 

 “Thank Prime you’re okay.” the Naga said, releasing a heavy sigh. 

“I was so worried when I heard you calling that I-” They began to say as they turned to move forward. 

 Tommy bolted. 

 “WAIT! TOMMY!” The Naga cried as he lunged for him with an outstretched clawed hand, the small boy just narrowly dodging the giant appendage before the Naga crashed into the cliffside missing. 

Tommy booked it for the tree line. He needed to get back to the village. He wasn’t going to just wait to be caught and die!! Wilbur had said he lived in the forest and was the monster. 

 This was their forest.

 Its  domain .

 He wouldn’t be able to hide anywhere and not be found. It wouldn’t matter if he’d had a 100 meter head start, the monster knew where to go, where to look. Prime! It probably even knew what he smelled like and could track him! Tommy’s only hope of survival was to get back within the Village walls. He took every tight, confusing, twisting path he could take, ducking through small gaps that blocked off openings for larger creatures, praying that somehow this would slow the Naga down. Tommy could hear them approach from the sound of leaves crinkling from beneath the weight of the serpent that was giving chase.

 “TOMMY, PLEASE! COME BACK! LET ME EXPLAIN!!!” Tommy heard the Naga plea, as he squeezed through the gaps of several fallen trees, stopping the naga effectively as they were too big to follow. 

 “COME BACK!” 

 They were so close. But he couldn’t stop. He had to get to the village. Had to get back home. He just had too!

As Tommy ran through another thicket of bushes, he stumbled into a clearing, tripping over something, falling to the ground harshly and scraping his knees against the rough surface. He cursed to himself as he looked over the now slightly bleeding scrape, eyes narrowing on whatever he tripped on. 

 It was his wooden sword. 

 He paused as he processed his surroundings; recognition sparking in his head. It was the same clearing he’d first met Wilbur in. It’s a bit ironic? The sword he wanted to use against the big, bad monster used against him. Tommy felt tears bud at the edge of his eyes. It just wasn’t fair. NONE of this was fair. This was the spot he had met his first real friend. The first time he’d had a real connection. The first time he hadn’t been kicked out for being himself. The first time he had felt like someone actually cared, and it was all a lie. 

 “Tommy? Are you alright? That must have hurt.”

 Tommy whipped his head around to see the now human version of the Naga standing behind him. He turned to run again, but he was no match for the Naga’s speed as they shifted form and snaked around him, effectively trapping him within the giant coil walls. He ran to the edge of the coils and tried to climb out, but the end of the snake's tail trailed its way up the boys torso, wrapping itself around his frail form semi tightly and lifted the boy into the air. “Please Tommy. I just want to talk.” The naga said as Tommy began to thrash in attempts to  break free. Instinctually, the tail tightened around him, squeezing the air out of his lungs, causing him to cease his thrashing. Oh Prime! He was going to be squeezed to death! His lungs began to burn from lack of air as the pressure on his ribs slowly constricted tighter. 

 It  hurt . 

 It  hurt so much . 

 He let out a strangled whine of pain.

 “F***!” the Naga spoke above him as the tail immediately loosened, releasing its death hold around the boy, as they greedily gasped for air.

 “Oh Prime. Oh S***. I'm so sorry!” The world lurched as Tommy was lifted and placed on a rough, warm surface. He blinked his eyes open, trying to focus on his surroundings between black splotches from the lack of air. 

 Oh.

 He was in it’s hand wasn’t he? 

 “S***! Tommy! I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to squeeze you like that!!! Are you alright?” concern lacing the giant's voice.

 Now didn’t that just make Tommy’s heart ache. The jig was up! He knew what Wilbur was. This sick game or whatever it was was over. He had literally just tried to squeeze him to death. Why were they still pretending to care? 

 “Tommy? Please talk to me!”

“Don’t eat me!” Tommy pleaded, tears freely dripping down his face.

“Eat you?” the Naga breathed, taken aback.

“I don’t want to die!” Tommy cried, as he curled in tighter on himself. He didn't want to see the hungry look of the predator.

The Nags’s eyes widened in disbelief as a gasp escaped him.

 “Tommy! I’m not going to eat you! How could you think such a thing?”

“Because you will! You almost squeezed me to death just then!” Tommy wailed as he began to tremble.

They glanced away. At least they had the decency to look guilty.

 “That was an accident. I didn’t mean to and I’m so sorry I did!” he paused. “But I saved you from the Boar. Why would I want to eat you if I did that?”

“Because you lied.” Tommy whispered, the Naga taken aback; hurt by the statement.

“Please… I just- I can’t- I don’t want to die Wilby.”

 Why did Wilbur have to keep delaying the inevitable? Why did it have to be the first person he’d come to love like that was to be his demise? Why had he been so foolish in believing he could succeed in defeating a monster like him? In a way he’s lucky he hadn’t been devoured sooner. He’d practically been dancing with death every day for weeks. It's not like anyone would even care if he disappeared. No one had cared when he’d disappeared for hours at a time as it was. No one liked him. No one truly cared for him. No one loved him.

 “Tommy, sunshine. Look at me.” The Naga asked softly. Tommy lifted his head slightly as he sniffled more wet tears into his knees. 

“Tommy. I’m not going to eat you. You mean so much to me. I could never imagine hurting you on purpose.”

  What?

 “Sometimes, my instincts get the better of me. I didn’t mean to squeeze you like that, I swear.” The Naga spoke gently. 

“I came to save you from the Boar because you needed help. Not because I was afraid he’d eat you before me or anything like that that you might be thinking, but because I was terrified I’d lose you.”

 Tommy’s whole body stiffened.

  He thought he was going to lose him?

 “Yes Tommy, you.” They chuckled almost as if he read the blonde's mind. 

“When humans enter my forest, I usually just leave them alone because I know they're afraid of me. But that day you came into the forest, I couldn’t help myself. I’d been alone for so long, and you seemed so determined to battle a monster, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by you.” 

 Tommy uncurled himself to get a better look at the Naga, them taking it as a cue to continue.

 “And when you found out it wasn’t around, I didn’t want to ruin that precious smile across your face. So I lied about the monster.“

  He had lied because he would have been upset about no monster?

 “I didn’t think you’d come back in all honesty. But when I heard you calling for me the next day and you kept coming back, I couldn’t stay away.” Wilbur lifted his hand up to his face so that Tommy was now at eye level.

“I care about you Tommy. 

 Tommy lifted his head fully, eyes wide looking at the Naga.

 “Really?” voice wobbly, he asked.

 “Really.”

 Tommy’s breath hitched in his throat, eyes scanning the Naga’s face looking for any sign of they were lying. 

 But all he saw was the man he had come to love. Despite everything, despite them being a Giant Naga, a Monster: It was still Wilbur. Still his friend. 

 Tommy let his tears pour as Wilbur began to gently stroke his back up and down with his thumb in reassurance. He was okay. They were okay.

    __       /) /) (\ (\   | ♡  >  ( ›.‹) (⋅.⋅ )           o( づ♡  ⊂)o ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tommy continued to visit Wilbur even after the incident. The two became closer despite the truth coming out, and they couldn't be happier. Wilbur could be honest about his true self, and Tommy had someone he could depend on. Tommy would still call for the Naga though. While he knew that he didn’t need to (since Wilbur revealed he knew when Tommy entered the forest everytime by his scent and how he walked from his crazy good hearing) he still did it as a sort of tradition. It felt wrong not too. 

 Although, some of his calls were a little less than polite…

 “HEY B****! I’M HERE!!” The 12 year old hollered for the snake.

 “Where the heck did you even learn to curse like that?” Wilbur laughed as he slithered into their clearing. 

 Wilbur didn’t shift to his human form a whole lot anymore either. There was no real need too now that Tommy knew. He would occasionally at Tommy’s request, but the boy rather liked the Naga at his giant size. He’d crawl all over the man’s coils and slid down his tail like a slide. Sometimes he’d laze about in Wilbur’s fluffy hair and ramble on while the Naga lazily dozed in the sun listening. Other time’s when Wilbur was being clingy from instincts, he’d hold Tommy in his hands close to his chest. Tommy would complain, scratch and bite for him to let go, before eventually submitting to hand cuddles in defeat. He’d never actually admit that he loved them though. It’s not like it made him feel completely safe surrounded in the comforting warmth of his hands or anything. Nope! Not big Man Tommy liking some silly hand hugs. Nuh uh. Not him!

 “So what are we doing today Sunshine?” Wilbur asked, as he lowered a hand for Tommy to step onto.

“Something awesome.” Tommy grinned mischievously as he stepped on and was lifted to sit on the Naga’s shoulder.

“Awesome or hey-OW! TOMMY!” Squawked Wilbur, as the boy launched himself off of his palm, grabbing onto one of the longer curls of his fringe, tugging it down as Tommy swung around wildly.

 “Let go, you Gremlin.” 

 “NEVER!” 

 “You are such a little menace.” 

 “Little??? I’ll have you know I’m the biggest man alive!” The boy pouted, as giant fingers gently pulled him away from the man’s face, dangling him in the air briefly before placing him back on the ground. “Yes, I’m aware Tommy. You’ve said so many times.”

“So you’ll let me back up on your shoulder then?”

“Ha! No.”

 It was moments like these that really made Tommy want to stay with the giant snake and never return. But despite the bond he and Wilbur had formed, Tommy couldn’t stay with Wilbur forever. He understood why he couldn’t, but he wanted to stay. Wilbur had told Tommy how much he cared for him and he knew that he did, but despite this, Wilbur still made him go home. The forest wasn’t safe for him even with the Naga’s presence, which was made very clear by the boar attack, and Wilbur voiced that he should stay with people of his own kind, within the Village walls where it was safer. He was still so young and he needed the care human’s provided him. Tommy of course had yet to tell Wilbur that he slept in an alleyway alone and all, but that’s okay. He didn't need to worry him like that. What could the Naga do about it anyways?

 Although while he couldn’t stay, Tommy would be in the Forest every chance he could! The villagers, of course, now seemed to take notice of their dear little street rats’ disappearance. They didn’t like how their source of free labor was suddenly not around so much. Didn’t like how they suddenly didn’t have a personal punching bag for when they were upset. Concerned their little orphan wasn’t around to control anymore. So of course, they started to ‘inquire’ about it.

 “Where are you off to?” The Fletcher asked him one day, as Tommy was leaving after helping sharpen the flint for the arrow heads. “Just going to practice my sword skills.” He replied simply as he turned and walked off.

“Disappearing to the West End District again rat?” The Butcher provoked. Tommy tried not to pull a face as he walked passed. 

 He hated that name. “What are you doing down there? Don’t you know what lurks beyond the walls?” “I like that it's quiet sir. Good place to practice my sword skills.” Tommy yelped in surprise, as he was suddenly grabbed by his shoulder. Pointed fingernails dug into his skin, as he was twisted around to meet the Butcher's face and a sharp cleaver poised dangerously close to his neck. “Make sure you stay within the walls, Rat.” Tommy’s eye’s darted from the Butchers knife to their piercing gaze. “When people go into that Forest, they don’t come out. Would hate for something to happen to you.” With a sharp blow to his back, Tommy stumbled forward out of the man’s grip and sprinted for the West End Gate, desperate to get away. He ran all the way to the gap in the wall and crawled through. 

 He didn’t tell Wilbur why he had run to the clearing that day or what had happened to cause the now-forming bruise between his shoulder blades. Simply lying instead about how a heavy book had fallen off a shelf that morning when he helped the Librarian. Wilbur had given him a concerned look before Tommy changed the subject to talk about cows. Tommy hoped that the odd interaction from the Fletcher and Butcher was a one time thing.

 But it continued to happen. 

 Everyday, a different member of the village would question him about where he was going and why. Some would get a little aggressive like how the Butcher had, but he managed to get away with just a mild bruise or graze. He tried to cover them up best he could before visiting Wilbur. The Naga was beginning to get increasingly worried about how many injuries Tommy was showing up with. “Tommy, are you sure you’re alright?” They had asked him one day, when he’d appeared with a poorly wrapped cut across his forearm (a cut he’d unfortunately been unable to avoid from the Cartographers drawing compass).

“Yeah I’m fine Big Dubs. Just got a little reckless with some of the other kids in the village playing swords.” Wilbur raised a brow. “Just, promise me to try and stay out of trouble Toms? I don’t want to keep seeing you show up covered in fresh injuries.” “I promise.” Tommy promised nervously. He hated that he had to lie about this to Wilbur, but it wasn’t worth worrying them over a little scratch.

~~~

 It only seemed to grow worse for Tommy as time went on. He’s not 100% sure, but he swore that he’d seen someone following him. Whenever he started to approach the West End District, it felt like holes were being burned into the back of his head. He had started to take back route alley ways to the gap in the wall after that, trying to avoid whatever had been tailing him. But you can only avoid certain things for so long.

 “Haven’t seen you around all that much lately, rat.” The Blacksmith stated, when Tommy was unloading a metal order for him one morning. “What are you up to?” 

 “Nothing of importance sir.” Tommy replied as he kept his eyes trained down. He knew not to establish eye contact. He’d had too many slaps to the face recently to forget that. “Just keeping to myself till needed.”

 “Hmpf. I know you’re up to something rat.” The Blacksmith said, stepping closer to the boy. “We know you’re sneaking off through the West End Gate.”

 Tommy’s neck bristled, as a shiver ran down his spine. So he’d been right. 

 Someone had been watching.

 “No sir. I would never do that.”

 “DON’T LIE TO ME RAT!” The Blacksmith yelled, grabbing Tommy by the collar and yanking him into the air. 

 “WHY ARE YOU GOING INTO THE FOREST? WHAT ARE YOU HIDING?”

 Tommy grabbed uselessly at the back of his shirt in hopes of getting free, as the Blacksmith held him high dangled in the air. 

 He couldn’t tell them about Wilbur! If they knew he’d been going in there to see him, they’d go after him! They would hurt him!

 “NOTHING SIR!” He cried desperately.

 “LIES! NO ONE THAT GOES IN THAT FOREST COMES OUT! HOW IS IT THAT YOU, A USELESS CHILD HAS!?”

 The Blacksmith flipped him around and threw him harshly to the ground and into one of the furnaces. Tommy jerked his arm back, hissing in pain as it came into contact with part of the hot metal, the skin on his arm immediately turning an angry red. The Blacksmith trudged forward, pressing a heavy boot onto his frail chest.

 “I’ll ask you again. Why are you going in the Forest?” They threatened, venom seeping into every word.

 “I’m not sir! I know not to go in! I never do!” Tommy wailed, as tears streamed down his face. 

 “Fine. Be that way.” they hissed, stepping off his chest.

“We’ll get the truth out of you eventually.” They raised their leg back before kicking him harshly in the stomach winding Tommy, before swiftly walking away. 

 Tommy didn’t visit Wilbur that day. 

 Or the next. 

 For 3 days he stayed huddled up, hiding in the shadows. He was in so much pain that he couldn’t even bring himself to move, let alone leave his little shelter in the alleyway .

 But even after he felt fit enough to move again, he didn’t return to the Forest. He was too ashamed of what Wilbur would say if he saw him covered head to toe in bruises and fresh wounds. He’d be so disappointed in him if he did. He was supposed to be looking after himself and staying out of trouble. Being good, and making Wilbur proud. Instead, he’d had to spend the  afternoon trying to find a shirt with long sleeves that he could use to cover his arms, and hide the would be scars from the Naga, only managing to find a slightly too small red sleeved shirt that was in semi okay condition.

 He was such a disappointment.

 ~~~

 The next morning, Tommy helped the farmer. He didn’t want to go back to the Blacksmith. His arm was wrapped loosely in a makeshift bandage beneath his new shirt and it hurt like hell. He was still finding it slightly difficult to breathe, but the villagers had work for him to do and they wouldn’t take kindly to his ‘excuses’. Especially after vanishing for a few days…

 The Farmer wanted him to harvest some of the carrots today. Normally, he’d be allowed to take a few of them when he’d finished the job, but today the Farmer had come as he was finishing up and was holding the small pile of carrots Tommy had set aside for himself in their grasp.

 “I hear the Blacksmith had a chat with you the other day.”

 Tommy stiffened.

 “Yes-yes sir.” He stuttered.

“We don't take too kindly to liars boy.” The farmer threatened. “So make this simple for both of us and tell the truth.” “But I’m n-not going in, sir. There’s n-nothing in the Forest!” He stuttered, taking another step back. 

 “WE KNOW THAT’S NOT TRUE! WE’VE SEEN YOU SNEAKING THROUGH THE GAP IN THE WALL!” The farmer accused stepping forward, raising their pitch fork up. “YOU EVEN DISAPPEARED AFTER SEVERAL DAYS AND TURN UP ACTING AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED!! TELL THE TRUTH! HOW ARE YOU STILL ALIVE?”

 “But-but I-I didn’t go in!!!” Tommy stammered, his voice wavering as he spoke. “I was in my alley trying to rest from my injuries!”

 “B*******! You expect me to believe that?” They spat. “Even if you were, that doesn’t explain why you’ve been going in!!!”

“There’s no rules that say I can’t go in! I’m just going there to practice my sword skills with a friend.” 

 “A friend?” The farmer asked incredulously. “Who on earth would be spending their time with a ratty orphan street kid like you? Stop making things up and tell the truth.”

 “BUT IT IS THE TRUTH! ” Tommy pleaded in desperation. “WE JUST HANG OUT AND TALK!”

 “B***S***! JUST TELL THE TRUTH!”

 Tommy pushed himself up off the ground and away from the Farmer as they made a move to grab him, and high tailed it for the West End Gate. He couldn’t take this anymore. He had to get out of the Village NOW. He had to leave. Had to get out!

 Even if Wilbur wouldn’t take him in, he had to get out of there. It wasn’t safe.  

 He ran through the streets, the sounds of angry villagers emerging from their homes to come after him and bring him back, trailed after him, growing in volume. He knew what they wanted him for. They didn’t love him. They didn’t actually care. They just wanted to have control over him. He hadn’t realized it at first, but after meeting Wilbur, he’d begun to recognise the choke hold they held over him. Making him work for approval. Making him work to prove his worth when it would never be enough. Using fake praise followed by belittling comments to control his feeble mind. He had thought that if he came back a hero, they would finally actually want him, accept him for him; not just claim that they ‘cared’. 

 Wilbur had shown him what being cared for truly looked like. And he’d take that over the s*** the village dished out any day.

 He ran and ran till he reached the gap in the wall but skidded to a halt when he realized what the villagers had done.

 They’d sealed the gap.

 He pounded on the freshly dried layer of concrete sealing the gap over, desperate to break through before eventually giving up. He turned and sprinted for the West End Gate exit and tried to break the chains once more on the operating point. 

 But it was futile. The Chains remained locked tight, and despite the little bit of muscle he’d built up by practicing with Wilbur, he still lacked the physical strength to even leave a dent in the chains.

 The sounds of angry villagers continued to grow louder as they approached and soon Tommy was surrounded on all sides.

 “Awwww. The little rat wants to go into the Forest.” One woman snickered.

 “Don’t you know you belong to us!” Another spat.

 Tommy turned and ran to the iron gates and began to climb his way up. If he could make it over, he’d risk the broken bones the fall down would cause. “Where do you think you’re going?” The Weaponsmith snapped, grabbing Tommy’s ankle, yanking him back down to the ground. 

 He tried to climb up again reaching for the iron gates but was torn away with a yelp.

“Uh uh uh. You ain’t going nowhere. Not until you tell us why you’ve been going into the Forest.” 

“LET ME GO A******!” Tommy shrieked as he struggled to get out of the Weaponsmith’s hold. 

“Oh we’ll let you go alright. Right after you tell us the Truth. No one goes into that Forest and comes out alive. We’ll find out what you’re hiding: even if we have to break you.”

“SOMEONE PLEASE! HELP!!! ANYONE!!!” Tommy thrashed about, desperate to break free. He felt helpless. No one in this damned village would help him no matter how much he pleaded. He didn’t understand why the villagers were treating him this way. They had never cared about him before, but now that he had entered and emerged from the Forest unscathed they cared? What the F*** was wrong with them???

 “LET ME GO!!” He screeched in vain, as he was dragged along. 

  Why won’t anyone help me? He didn’t deserve this. He just wanted- he just wanted…

 “WILBUR!” Tommy screamed out of desperation. “WILBUR PLEASE!!! HELP ME!!!”  

 He knew the Naga wouldn’t be able to hear him, but he wanted his brother. Even if Wilbur didn’t feel the same, he wanted to be swept up in the giant’s gentle hands. He wanted to be held close to their comforting chest. He wanted to hear Wil’s rhythmic heartbeat and soothing voice. He wanted to feel Wilbur’s fingers card through his hair, as he whispered sweet nothings. 

 He wanted to be with Wilbur. 

 He wanted to be loved.

 “WILBUR! PLEASE!!!”

 “Your imaginary friend is going to come save you rat.” The Weaponsmith mocked. 

 “You belong to us and we will do to you what we see fitting-” The words died in their throat as a thud was heard from behind. A flurry of hushes were sent amongst the crowd, as all turned to face the West End Gate. They watched in anticipation as another loud thud hit the gate’s door causing it to creak, as dust floated down from the upper walls like snow. 

 Something was trying to break in.

 “Oh Prime.” the Weaponsmith whispered, as the sound of hissing began to fill the air.

 “Go-go, GO! GO NOW!” 

 The villagers began to disperse into panic, as the thudding increased and the Gate began to cave in on itself, whatever beyond the entrance desperately trying to break in. 

 “YOU!” 

 Tommy tried to fight against the Weaponsmiths hold as they pulled him to their face. 

 “WHAT DID YOU DO?”

 But before he could answer, the Gates flew open, debris flying everywhere. Tommy tried to shield himself best he could, as bits of concrete were flung in his direction. The crowd went deathly silent. 

 Standing tall menacingly within the rubble, was Wilbur; hissing threateningly.

 “Where is he?” The Naga demanded.

 “Wilbur. WILBUR!”

 “Shut up.” Weaponsmith hissed as they shoved Tommy away from the direction of Wilbur.

 “WIL! I’M HERE! I’M MPHF” Tommy tried to call, but a piece of fabric was stuffed into his mouth, muffling his cries.

 But the Naga heard it all the same. 

 “TOMMY! I’M HERE!” Wilbur yelled, as worried amber eyes searched the crowd.

 The Naga’s eyes locked onto Tommy’s form, a warning hiss filling the air.

 “Give him to me now, and I’ll spare you.” 

 “Never.” The Farmer spat. 

 “Have it your way.” 

 Wilbur slithered forward, not caring for who or what was in their way. The villagers scattered beneath him, screaming in fear to avoid the giant snake's tail, some not being so lucky. Wilbur’s eye’s turned to slits, as they let instinct drive them forward. The Naga bared their fangs and hissed in warning as they approached closer. The Weaponsmith trembled as Wilbur raised his torso up, poising themself to strike. Fear had the Weaponsmith turn tail and run, as they hurled Tommy forward trying to put as much distance between him and the boy. Tommy stumbled forward, Wilbur shooting his hand out beneath him to catch him. The Naga’s eyes dilated as they brought Tommy up to their face, eyes searching every inch of the boy. Their frown deepened at the sight of every new bloodied spot, as Wilbur removed the makeshift gag. 

 “What did they do to you?” Wilbur whispered, voice tight as he gently ran a finger over Tommy’s forehead, brushing the hair out his eyes.

“Wil. I, I-I’m so sorry.” Tommy whimpered.

 “Shh shhh. It’s alright Sunshine. I’ve got you.” 

 Tommy felt himself being moved as Wilbur began to slither away. He kept the boy close as they moved through the Village and back to the Forest, Tommy clutching onto Wilbur’s giant fingers tightly the whole way. 

 “I was so worried about you Toms. When you stopped coming, I thought something horrible had happened to you.” Wilbur said, as he stopped to rest in their familiar clearing.

 “I’m sorry.” Tommy whimpered softly. “I tried to stay out of trouble like you wanted! Really! I did! But the villagers were so convinced that I was doing something wrong in the Forest because I came back! I didn’t do anything wrong Wil! I swear I didn’t!”

 “Oh Tommy sweetheart I know. I never should have sent you back. I thought that it would be better if you remained with your own kind. I thought humans looked after their young. But they hurt you. They hurt my Little Brother.”

 Tommy’s whole body stiffened.

   Little Brother?

 “Yes, Little Brother Tommy.” They chuckled, as if he read the blonde's mind. 

 “Every time you went to leave, I didn’t want to let you go. I just wanted you to stay with me. It was so hard to not just reach out and pull you back into my arms.”

 “I thought you didn’t want me.” Tommy sniffled as he looked up at the Naga in disbelief.

 “Oh Tommy! How could I not want you?” I love everything about you! Your smile, your laugh, your personality, EVERYTHING. I want you to come home with me. I want to hold you close,  protect you and never let go. I want you to be my little brother.”

 Tommy could feel tears budding at the edge of his eyes.

 “I love you Tommy.”

 And Tommy? He broke. Sobs ripped from his throat as he threw himself at the Giant Nagas nose as Wilbur brought his hand up to hug him back in an awkward way. 

 He  Loved  him. 

 Wilbur actually loved him. Finally, someone really loved him!

 “I-I love you too Wilby!” Tommy wept, clinging to the giant's nose. “I love you so so much Wilbur. You’re my big brother! No one has ever cared about me like you do!” 

 They stayed like that for a while before Wilbur pulled Tommy back from his face, tears threatening to fall from the giant's eyes as a fond smile grew wider across the Naga's face.

 “Let’s go home.”

            /)/) (\(\            ( . .) (. . )         o( づ 💗⊂ )o ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Within the forest by the West end Gate,    Journeyed a boy, led in by fate.

A monster they went a looking for.  A monster he found, but was not so sure.

Some say the monster took them to eat,  Other’s say the boy still searches to beat.

A once monster, fabled in fear,  But not to this boy, who holds them most dear.

For while glory they went, a looking for,  Instead they found something worth much more.

Within his forest home, the boy now sleeps,  With their monster brother, safe he keeps.  There they stay loved, never a part.  The boy who claimed the monster's heart. ❤️❤️❤️

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING! I KNOW SO MANY WORDS BUT I HOPE YOU ENJOYED!