#the finest specimen ALIVE

[benijbol]

OHHH GOODDD I CANT TAKE IT ANYMORE I NEED HIM IN MY D R A W L S

[altocat]

I’m sorry to bring up more Hojo but your take on him is fascinating. Do you think Hojo has saved Sephiroth’s life? What do you think Hojo’s original plan was for Sephiroth?

Hojo's hold on Sephiroth's life was always his greatest piece of personal pride and fulfillment. Part of him genuinely took pleasure in bending Sephiroth to his will, molding Sephiroth into the perfect weapon. And yes, that includes taking pleasure in causing Sephiroth great pain, breaking him down, molding him into Shinra's finest warrior--a TOOL for them to use at will.

That said, there is a duality to Hojo's actions. And maybe in ways he's not fully aware. Hojo's greatest desire to keep Sephiroth alive and thriving. He has spent Sephiroth's entire life fighting for him, propping him up, pushing him forward, fighting for Sephiroth's survival. It was risky business--President Shinra could have ordered that his son be euthanized at any time should Sephiroth fail to live up to expectations. Hojo defied the odds, forced Sephiroth into becoming a killing machine, pushing and goading and ravaging him physically and emotionally in order to ensure that Sephiroth was simply too strong too die, too valuable to be discarded. He has saved his son's life countless times, whether directly or indirectly. And would have sacrificed himself just so that Sephiroth might continue to survive. Sephiroth is his greatest experiment, his legacy. He will preserve him at all costs, carry him to greatness. Even at the cost of his own morality and soul.

Long term, Hojo was very flexible in his options. Sephiroth could have been Shinra's weapon to the very end of his days. He could have retired, mated, and provided Hojo with a host of new specimens to study. Or Hojo could have chosen to see what would happen if he pushed Sephiroth to his psychological limits, revealing the truth, reuniting the boy with his precious "mother". It would make for an engaging experiment, if only to see how much greater Sephiroth would shine, how greater his power would grow.

Eventually, Hojo settles on the third option. And regrets nothing.

[worldwhightnight]

The best trophy 1 part

AU Different ending of the Hidden world

Many hunters were confused and frightened by Grimmel's favorite trophy, but the man himself was proud of it. The former leader of the Berk, rider of the Night Fury was crucified and hung in the most important place among the other trophies like an outlandish bird. Only the costume, the body was burned with honor. The hunter would often freeze and sink into memories as he looked at costume. Many say there was a special and strange love in the man's gaze that a collector has when he looks at his rarest and finest specimen. In those moments, when he remembered the last hunt, Grimmel seemed alive. When the memories ended, the man became bored and cold again.

Second part in process!

[kurishiri]

10 . . . “ that which the avaricious madness seeks ”

— ⛓️❤️ elbert’s main route chapter 10 premium story.

— this translation may not be 100% accurate or may contain creative liberties. if you enjoy, please consider reblogging, but don’t repost or claim these as your own!

— cw: obsessive or possessive behavior, objectification.

Elbert: Kate——I want you.

Kate: ...!

——It was not a confession of love.

That was the one thing I understood very clearly.

Kate: But why, so suddenly...

Elbert: Because, you are beautiful.

I couldn’t hide my hesitation at that answer, which did not waver once.

Kate: But... didn’t you say that... you couldn’t tell if something was beautiful or not?

Elbert: Yes, but I feel I understand it now.

E: You are beautiful.

E: ——That’s why, I want to have you.

E: So, become mine, Kate.

Kate: ...

No matter how much I searched his eyes, I couldn’t sense any lie nor deception.

For a moment, I almost took his word for it, but I stopped myself.

(No, there... there is something off...)

What I felt from his eyes wasn’t something sweet like love.

Rather, I felt the same as the time when, at the party we infiltrated, Lord Elbert had poured obsession and madness over the painting of the sea.

——The reason why he seemed to want something was to atone for his sin.

(If what Alfons said was true, then...)

—— Flashback ——

Alfons: Let me just warn you, though — the more you wish for happiness, the more Elbie will try to hurt himself.

—— End flashback ——

(Could it be that now, he’s...)

(...trying to hurt himself in order to have me...?)

Because when I’m with him, he is completely able to breathe.

Because he shouldn’t be able to.

Kate: To use words like ‘have’ toward another person...

K: That’s not like you, Lord Elbert.

Elbert: ...Really? ...I have a deep greed, so... it’s a word I use often.

E: I want the beautiful you. So, I want to ‘have’ you.

E: ...Is there, something strange about that?

I understood his flow of logic, but seeing him treat people as objects clashed with my image of the Lord Elbert I knew.

(When I was being treated like an object myself, Lord Elbert protected me.)

—— Flashback ——

Middle-aged gentleman: Now, that just won’t do, a rubbish stone like you, standing among the finest gem in the showcase.

White-haired lady: Truly… she is a disgrace to beauty.

Elbert: ……Could you stop?

E: Touching her, criticizing her… please stop that.

—— End flashback ——

(He should know that being treated like an object is discomforting.)

And yet, to use such objectifying words himself on others... it makes me wonder if he doesn’t really mean those words.

Kate: When you say ‘become mine’... what exactly, does that entail?

Elbert: ...Exactly as it sounds.

E: For a start, I... want to keep you in that room.

Kate: ...

E: I want to keep you inside, and... so that you won’t ever escape, lock the room.

That lonely room where there is no moving thing, no living thing, filled with beautiful things,

and those hollow eyes of the taxidermied animals and specimens, all passed through the back of my mind, and I felt a chill run down my spine.

Kate: What... will happen to me, in your room?

Elbert: ...I don’t know.

E: Because, this is the first time I thought... of having a human.

E: But... maybe we can find out... ‘how far to go.’

E: It’s okay... I won’t do anything to hurt you.

But when I saw those empty eyes bely his smile, my heart stung.

(Even if I’m locked in his room alive, or I’m killed and put up as decoration...)

(‘Having’ me will surely... not make Lord Elbert happy.)

(Lord Elbert himself even said so...)

I don’t know what sin he is trying to atone for.

But, if his atonement is wanting beautiful things, having them... hurting them...

(If I don’t want to see him sad anymore,)

(I——must never become his.)

Kate: If you lock me, and you have my body,

K: I won’t ever become yours, Lord Elbert.

Elbert: ...Why?

Kate: If you really want me, then start from my heart.

Elbert: Your heart...?

Kate: T-that’s right.

I know it was a desperate excuse, but right now I need to stall for time.

Time to get my thoughts in order, and think about what I should do.

With this resolve, I searched for words.

Kate: If you capture my heart first, then I will happily give you all of my body.

(This almost feels like... deceiving a devil from one of those stories.)

(But, Lord Elbert will surely hear my wish out.)

(Because, he is... a kind person.)

Elbert: ......I see.

E: Then, I’ll take your heart. So that, all of you can become mine.

That smile, which seemed to be filled with a madness that resembled being possessed, was so beautiful it sent shivers down me.

(...But thank goodness. With this, I’ve bought some time.)

(Time to think of a way Lord Elbert doesn’t have to hurt others any more.)

I placed my hand on my chest in relief, and Lord Elbert tilted his head.

Elbert: ...So, how will I know if I have your heart or not?

Kate: Eh? Umm...

(I need some action to show it. Something I would never do against my will—)

Kate: If I... kiss you.

I said the first thing that came to mind.

Kate: If you take my heart, I will show it with a kiss, from me to you.

Elbert: ......Alright.

With that, Lord Elbert finally averted his eyes from me...

...and he collapsed onto the bed.

Elbert: ...I’m, a little tired.

His whisper seemed to contain a trace of hurt, and when I remembered the things that happened here just before, it made my own heart sting.

Kate: Please get some rest now.

Elbert: ......Thank you.

At our gentle exchange now, the madness in his eyes just before seemed like a lie.

(But...)

That dark, heavy obsession I felt lingered on the palm of my hand, which was being held by Lord Elbert’s.

Elbert: Kate... what is this?

Kate: Hm?

Elbert: Your finger is hurt. ...From when?

When I looked down at my finger, I could see that, as if my index finger had been grazed, it had turned red.

Kate: Ah... maybe from the doorknob.

Elbert: Doorknob...?

Kate: When I put my hand on the doorknob, the door opened from the inside, so it was probably from then.

(I was so caught up on making sure Lord Elbert was alright... I didn’t notice I’d gotten hurt.)

Kate: There’s no blood, and it doesn’t hurt. It should be fine.

Elbert: ...It’s not fine.

Kate: Eh...

Elbert: It’s not fine, for you to be hurt.

Lord Elbert’s lips slowly approached the red wound on my index finger.

Kate: ...Nn...

Elbert: ...May you feel better soon.

He left a fleeting kiss on my finger, as if casting a spell to make the pain disappear, and my heart fluttered.

(You say things like how you want to lock me and how you want to make me yours...)

...but the way he gently soothed my wound, was surely a part of the Lord Elbert I knew.

And that’s why, my heart hurt so bad, I could hardly bear it.

Kate: Um... Lord Elbert, I’m fine now, so, your hand...

Elbert: ...I won’t let go.

Lord Elbert’s hand doesn’t loosen, but rather tighten around my palm.

Elbert: Because, someone else might steal you away while I’m sleeping...

Kate: ...I won’t be taken that easily.

Elbert: That’s not true. It would be easy.

E: The people in the manor know, that you are here in this room.

E: If anything happened to you, I would not like that.

Lord Elbert shifted his attention to the door, fixing his eyes on it.

It was like he was a being of the wild that was wary of a predator that might come in.

(...Has he always been like this?)

Seeing him like that squeezed my heart to the point it was painful.

(Lord Elbert was... not able to relax in his own home.)

(When did this start... and why?)

For that, I had to know what was the sin that had burdened Lord Elbert, who simply accepted the mistreatment he faced.

But, Alfons said digging deeper would be dangerous.

Maybe... I would end up reaching a point where we could no longer laugh or smile together.

(But, I can’t simply sit here and watch Lord Elbert suffer more than he already has.)

I didn’t want him to be sad.

You are a very kind soul, and so——I want you to smile.

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[katyspersonal]

I played more SOTE today!! I have mixed feelings because today just happened to be pure RAGE because of my awful skill issue.. but at the same time I feel so ALIVE xD (two parter)

1) So first of all, I got back to Specimen Storehouse to finish whatever was that business with Ansbach and Freyja! She gave an interesting dialogue about how yeah honor and shit but what Radahn would actually like is to live so he could wage war forever 💀 Definitely the character of all time gghguj

2) So I decided to explore a little more of that Church District below before I continue to seek my way to upper area! Turned out that Tree Spirit did NOT die due to a bug..... but it did now. XD

And dropped edgy (literally) sorcery lol

3) NEW NAMED CHARACTER!!!!!!!

Yeah, I've been noticing that this area has Fire Knights with another variant of the head piece! I even had an idea to grind these guys for it, but I just felt as thought it'd be pointless. And I was right! This mask dropped from non-respawning enemy! So yeah, the fire zombies raising in this area were given lore, I was pleased by such amount to detail yet again 🤔

4) So I kept looking for the way back in the Storehouse, but took the turn I did NOT try to take, and ended up in that weird golden-black area on the map that has been making me curious for a while!

5) ....ъ_ъ So, I was running around, surprised by how empty it was, and even questioned whether it was pointless sort of? So I decided to just check the giant flower and.. ..... oh my fuuUCKING God.

6) So it was another time where I kept howling about how awful/unfair/hard/etc this battle was and wanted to quit except I didn't! You see, at first I was playing as usual, and the stage 2 was a surprise. But the LEVEL of my skill issue started to show up at its finest here, because I absolutely could not dodge its briars attacks and I barely managed to heal in time!

I had to die MANY times, learning from my mistakes and just trials what to do and slowly adapting.. You see, it SHOULD have been obvious that hitting the "face" was the most effective, but nope! I only figured many attempts later! Just as how """pointless""" critical hit before phase transition was not pointless at all! At least I learned to 1) block strike attack and roll magic attack 2) that I can't use magic so it'd be better to place all 14 flasks at Crimson 3) figured to summon mimic in a creative way; since it gets summoned in the equipment I had at THE moment of summon but AI can't be trusted with blocking normally, I summoned it while two-handing the weapon so it hits stronger and then got my shield back XD

7) .........

I swear, sometimes I regret not being able to stream, because y'all should have seen my reaction when it turned out that this enemy had THREE stages, not two...... :')

8) I actually died just just JUST the very last moment ;-; I screenshotted it, it is on PS for now, it was SOOO infuriating. I can't even explain how I resisted the urge to scream and throw my controller because that required inhumane willpower. But hell if I didn't feel ALIVE at that moment xD

9) AND I KILLED IT EVENTUALLY FGFGCGGB

^ Got genuinely surprised by this drop!

10) I came back at Storehouse, FINALLY, and THIS TRAITOR @val-of-the-north IS NO LONGER MY FRIEND!!!!1

I asked him about this symbol being here since as I said earlier, I assumed that the reoccurring symbol with a fire and a circle on flags and such found here and there represented Messmer and Rellana; an impression I've got because I first saw it in her castle!

....but then Val, this RAT, casually said that it is actually likely another symbol of Messmer: snakes rather than fire. And of course. God of course it makes much more sense. It is all over this Storehouse. Yes we found a shield Rellana used for the ritual to prove loyalty to the Erdtree once here, but the overlapping circles straight up coil like snakes. And yet you TRAITOR never corrected me when I wrongly assumed that the symbol of fire + two circles overlapping meant Messmer and Rellana being allies. Goddamit STOP LETTING ME LOOK STUPID ON PUBLIC *bonks you with the newspaper*

11) So after some running and collecting (got a golden spell that some Fire Knights use), I've found my way out and first ran into some really strong knight that used GRAVITY MAGIC! I attempted to fight him but like, no. Nope. So I left him for later, and Val recommended me to use 'O, Mother' gesture to finally open the secret passage to where I was actually looking.

12) And hoooo boy... I already suspected where this was going because even on the map there were depictions of Golden leaves (on the Finger Ruins) part.

It was THE spoilered area itself!

13) What instantly struck me was that I could SWEAR it had to be the exact same flowers as on the painting of 'healthy' Midra Manse. I did not have a good image as I hit it early by a mistake, so I asked Val to fetch me the image, annnnd....

Look, sure, it could simply be blue curtains and obviously just a 'normal' flora of this realm, so of course it still exists in THE one place Messmer didn't burn, but dead everywhere else. (Here because of Frenzy + no sunlight). But also Hornsent Inquisitors did bully Midra and his followers (which did lead to Frenzied Flame business), and Ymir mentioned something about Marika's roots being placed in madness? Who the hell knows anymore...

14) NOOOOO WAY, WHEN YOU GET TO THIS POINT, A FRAGMENT OF THEME OF MARIKA/RADAGON STARTS PLAYING ;-;

THE IMPACT

15) Definitely visiting this place by myself felt more impactful than simply reading/watching this part of the lore..

16) I got SO angry at the Tree Sentinel though that for the first time EVER I decided to try and fight while on Torrent! And it was so effective that it gave me an idea to not follow further today but go and get that boss' ass from earlier like this! Which was the start of a big waste of time, but perhaps I am getting ahead of myself.. -_-

(Will share in the next post because Tumblr doesn't respect the way I choose to share screenshots for the girls ( @heraldofcrow ))

[honey-minded-hivemind]

hi again I hope you can do a yendere mer parents Scott and jean [ animated series ] [ Scott and jean are sirens, beautiful but deadly ] x baby reader and how would they react when they baby gets kidnapped by big game hunters who want to sell reader as a pet,but the hunters become the hunted.

Ohoho, that's good- Let's try it-

• The waters were deceptively calm. The water lapped at the boat, salty and green, while they sky was cloudy and tranquil. Birds cawed lightly overhead, fish swam by in shining schools, the wind smelled of salt and tangy ocean water, not a hint of rain... Yet there was a darkness on the boat, something sinister...

• Held within its bowels was a tank... and in the tank was a small siren pup, not even old enough to leave the nest. Its scales shone brightly, and its small hands were pressed to its face, trying to quiet its cries. And watching from the shadows, smiling cruelly and laughing, were the ones who put them there...

• The two were game hunters, humans who hunted the biggest, baddest, largest animals, and kept them as pets or stuffed them and kept them as trophies. Yet these ones were even worse, as they were poachers as well. They'd caught Reader while their parents were gone, infiltrating their nest and capturing them. Their hands had been rough, their nets biting and tight, their knives sharp and cold- It left Reader a trembling, crying shell, calling out for their parents and pod... And the two hunters were gleeful over having such a rare specimen. They had plans to sell the small siren to the highest bidder, be it a human who wanted a pet or one who wanted a taxidermied siren...

• Yet in the deceptive deep, Reader's parents hadn't forgotten them... No. They had found their nest ransacked, their pup gone, and the ugly scent of human in the wreck... And the two, snarling and crying, started the hunt. They swam for miles, going as fast as they could, not stopping for anything as they tracked their pup. The waters became colder and colder, going from pleasant to lukewarm to freezing. It didn't deter them, though. Their pup needed them, their baby was alone and possibly hurt, and they wouldn't rest until they were in their arms and their assailants dead and rotting...

• Approaching a large, floating vessel, they could smell the scent of siren blood on it, along with the sickly oil and metal that coated it. They could hear the humans above, gloating to each other of their catch, the finest specimen, a siren... They discusses how to keep it alive, or if they preferred, how to stuff and mount it... They didn't notice the two angry, murderous parents listening below, plotting their demise.

• A soft song started, longing and inviting, calling for anyone who could hear it to follow it. It wailed, loud and long, begging them to go to it, to embrace it, to fall in. And the two humans did just that, falling into the freezing waters, and right into the path of the siren pup's parents... It didn't take but a moment for the two to realize their fate, who had caught them- But it only took a moment to cut through their throats, to tear their limbs apart, to drag them under and down and to let them sink to their watery tomb... Their song became more joyous after that, promising safety and love and asking where their young one was, coaxing them to respond. And respond they did...

• Scott was the first to get onto the ship, changing from a siren to human, then helping to pull his mate up, the powerful Jean... They could hear the soft cries of their pup, their baby, echoing in the dark hull, and they ran as fast as they could down into the darkness. The ship stank of blood and death, bones and pelts and stuffed, dead creatures lining the rooms and halls. It didn't take them long to figure out what those humans had planned for their little one... Yet they smiled, all teeth, knowing those two were dead and gone, and that their little one would be safe in their arms soon. It warmed their hearts, making them chirp out for their pup.

• A scared, hopeful chirp came from a locked room, asking parents-mom-dad-help-here? Scott broke the locks, wrenching the metal in two, while Jean knocked the door down, sending dust into the air. The room was dark, only lit up by the lights of the tank... And sitting in the tank, scratched and bruised, was Reader... Jean was swiftly pulling them out, checking them for injuries, while Scotf was kissing their head and stroking their tail, cooing softly. Both parents kept it up, trying to look over Reader and trying to calm them, assuring then they were there now, they were safe, those nasty humans were gone...

• Once they made sure their pup was well enough to travel, they left the dark, stinking ship, sinking it and letting the ocean hide any evidence a pup or the humans who captured them... Swimming in the chilled brine, the two parents sang to each other and to their child, happy and loving and promising nothing would take them ever again. When their baby started to yawn, tired and exhausted, Scott held them while Jean lulled them under, sending them into peaceful dreams, and ensuring they wouldn't wake for the next several hours...

• The two swam for miles, going back home, calling out to their pod and telling them they were moving, to better, safer waters, and that their little one was safe. Their response was loud, joyful cries, the other sirens singing of warmer waters and plentiful food and bloody vengeance, their scales flashing in the darkness and their eyes bright and watchful... And the humans who heard the song shuddered, knowing it was a night of sirens, a night of blood, and any who crossed them would meet their doom at the hands of the Moon's children...

[superscd]

closed starter for @eulcgizeme continued from here!

"Ah, what more would you hope I be doing, princess? Was saving your life not enough to earn your gratitude?" Khol wore arrogance well, his smirk evident as he glanced back. The horse beneath him, a mare, was not the finest specimen he had seen, but it was sturdy. The ride would be a long one and she'd be carrying the both of them to the end. It wasn't ideal, but it was what they were left with. "Let's just say they could not give me enough to put up with your charming disposition, and yet, I've clearly done what was asked of me. More than what your husband has done for you, I'd say. Perhaps your new life will teach you to have a bit more appreciation for things. Like the people that are keeping you alive."

[lesbianpepsi]

ur jock amber x reader was so freaking good so this is me asking for another one please 💁‍♀️!

jock!amber is just finest piece of specimen alive, nothing can change my mind on that. and ofc, when i get the chance i'll make a prt2 :-)

[nahimarchive]

“ones with sense do,” nahim’s tone was indifferently light, as if they were discussing something as mundane as the weather. “ones with more bark than bite tend to… fall short of the mark.” his grasp on nikola’s jaw tightened as the last syllable was uttered, the tips of his claws manifesting to press against the slave’s skin, not hard enough to break the surface but enough to instil a subtle warning. the sweet thing was coiled tight, that much was clear. it was impossible to ignore the uncertainty practically radiating off of him and the realisation of such a fact coaxed a near-predatory grin onto the councilman’s face within seconds. this one seemed to be the gift that kept on giving and he didn’t even realise it yet – what a phenomenal creature he was. 

nahim could barely suppress his delight as the encounter continued. with each passing moment, nikola seemed to grow distinctly more uncomfortable and for a split second, nahim wondered if it would be frowned upon if he took the poor thing back to valletta with him by the time the feast of all saints came around again. it had been some time since the palazzo’s basement pit had housed a truly worthy contender. typically, he plucked only the finest of sacrifices to toy with, watching from the balcony above as panic began to settle in for those trapped below. the wait was almost the sweetest part – very little compared to studying the mass of writhing mortal forms desperately crying out to be freed, clawing at the cold stone and tugging at the locked gates in a pathetic attempt to free themselves from the inevitable after being entombed for days on end. on the evening of the feast, the captives would typically have reached the brink of their sanity and nahim would idly wander to join marcellino’s other fledglings on the balcony, observing those who maintained enough strength to wander aimlessly. with a little persuasion interwoven into his tone, the sharp command to fight for their freedom ignited a violent display and survival of the fittest became paramount to those kept below. when the initial display lost its entertainment value and the scent of blood became too tempting to ignore, a faint nod was all that was required from nahim before the other fledglings would descend to feast upon those who remained alive. a select few were always kept aside for him, naturally, but this one… nahim wouldn’t let such a fate befall him. he’d be an invaluable asset. 

with the offer of physical pleasantries seemingly rejected, nahim made a mental note of the slight and tucked it away for further rumination at a later date. “oh, there’s plenty in there,” his tone was unnervingly high-spirited as he waved a hand dismissively. “once i’ve pulled it apart, i’d be happy to report back. just to check for any inconsistencies, of course. it might help to jog your memory a little.” there was undoubtedly a wealth of information to uncover and with nikola’s faculties clearly struggling, what better pastime was there than re-educating one so clearly in need? as he tightened his grasp on the slave’s jaw, nahim could finally understand the depths of nikola’s discomfort and it was nothing short of delightful, the sensation of his muscles tensing beneath his hold making him all the more alluring. the councilman’s eyes practically shone with intrigue as a name was finally offered and he repeated it quietly to himself to see how it felt on his tongue. attaching a name to something usually fostered some sort of emotional attachment but in this instance, nahim was delighted to simply have something to utilise. the assertive edge to nikola’s tone prompted another quiet laugh within seconds, his amusement entirely genuine as his gaze burned into the specimen before him. at least he'd had the sense to restrain himself for the time being – that, at least, was commendable. 

as the hazy recollection was shared, nahim finally loosened his grip on the slave’s jaw and moved to inspect his nails as he listened. it was no surprise that extra measures had been taken to sedate nikola if that was what his grand entrance had consisted of. still, it was a valiant effort on his part and nahim couldn’t fault him for it. it showed just how capable nikola was, after all. “good for you,” nahim commented idly after a pause, lifting his gaze once again to watch nikola carefully. “if the sight of you is anything to go by, you clearly put some effort into it. it’s a shame it wasn’t enough to actually make a difference.”

the laugh that left the slave mere moments later came as a surprise but nahim revelled in it regardless, an amused smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he held the challenging stare. if nikola wanted to play, nahim certainly had no complaints, but he wouldn’t be the one to make the first move. that was a decision only nikola could make – though the concept of it excited the vampire more than it should have; it had been far too long since he’d had a worthwhile plaything. the undercurrent of bitterness remained a staple in the slave’s voice as he spoke and though he should have felt affronted by such a careless display, it only served to heighten nahim’s interest. “you’re not the centrepiece yet,” nahim corrected lightly, his eyes narrowing as he moved to circle nikola again, his movements languid as he made his assessments. “you’ll know when you are, though. don’t worry.” the lack of any definite clarification didn’t come as a disappointment; he’d expected as much given the pitiful state nikola had been in when nahim had first spotted him. if anything, it meant there was so much more to explore than initially thought. nahim was silent for a long moment as he mulled over nikola’s words. “disappointment isn’t something i tolerate,” he stated firmly, his gaze hardening as it lingered. “but that’s not something you need to concern yourself with for now. one way or another, i’m sure we’ll find a coherent conclusion to come to.” 

at last, nahim tore his gaze away and took a few steps back, glancing around the undercroft to survey the other available options before he glanced back at nikola curiously. “you won’t heal comfortably down here. you likely won’t heal in good time with that thing around your neck, either." as he took in the array of bruising littered across nikola's body for a final time, nahim seemed to come to a sudden conclusion. "get up. you can come back with me. for respite, if nothing else.”

Nikola shifted uncomfortably in his human form, his muscles tensing as he listened to the vampire's words. The memories that stirred under his gaze were fragmented, like pieces of a shattered mirror reflecting distorted images. He remembered the sensation of waking up, disoriented and confined, the metallic taste of fear mingling with the dryness of his parched throat. Dehydration had been his relentless captor before he found himself within these imposing walls. A deep unease settling within him as he heard the sound of the older's laugh. Generous? "Sure, s'one way to put it." Would he still be laughing with Nikola's jaws imbedded in his flesh? His instincts were on edge, and the subtle sarcasm in the vampire's voice only heightened his discomfort. As Nahim spoke, Nikola couldn't shake the feeling of vulnerability in his human form, a vulnerability that clashed with the instincts he had embraced as a malinois. His memories were a fragmented puzzle. The recollection of those disorienting moments flashed before him, a disconcerting mix of fear and confusion. He hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal to this enigmatic vampire. "Do dogs have the luxury of time?"

Nikola's discomfort in his human form deepened as Nahim's intense gaze met his own. The way the vampire locked eyes with him felt challenging, almost instinctively wrong. It triggered a response deep within him, an unease that echoed with his canine instincts. You never looked a dog in the eyes so intently unless trust had been established – it was a fundamental rule in his world. When Nahim introduced himself as Malta's councilman, Nikola remained silent for a moment, processing the information. Dark eyes looking to the outstretched hand, which, he let hang before him. "I don't know what could possibly be in that file," Nikola confessed, his uncertainty and discomfort evident in his voice for a moment. The concept of a file containing information about him was concerning. He hesitated, his gaze flickering from Nahim's face to the scars that adorned his own skin, remnants of a past he couldn't fully grasp. The touch on his jaw, while light, felt invasive, and his muscles tensed beneath Nahim's grip. A part of him longed to bare his teeth in response, to establish a boundary, but he fought against the instinct, feeling the weight of unfamiliar social nuances pressing down on him.

"H-" The shifter caught himself, racking his brain for a minute. His designated name feeling oddly detached from the essence of his being. His voice was rough, unused to human speech. He struggled to maintain eye contact, his gaze shifting slightly as if seeking an escape from the piercing scrutiny. "Nikola." He stated once more, his voice carrying a subtle undercurrent of assertiveness, an attempt to assert a sense of self in the face of this unsettling situation. Nahim's inspection prompted a suppressed growl, but Nikola restrained himself, reminding that aggression might not be wise in his current predicament. Nahim's casual demeanor belied the underlying threat, and Nikola found himself cautiously choosing his words. "My mother always told me not to stick my muzzle where it doesn't belong..." Nikola laughs humorlessly, his eyes narrowing slightly, the challenging spirit of the dog in him asserting itself despite the human guise. "I… woke up here, dehydrated, confused. Drugs prolly... I bit a guard, maybe another slave. It's all a blur." The urge to bare his teeth, to growl in warning, simmered beneath the surface of his human facade. But he suppressed it, knowing that such primal displays would only serve to worsen his situation.

The mention of bruises brought Nikola's attention to his own battered form. The unsettling reality of his situation weighed heavily on him, and Nikola couldn't shake the feeling that Nahim's interest in him was anything but benign. "Oh, I look awful?" Nikola echoed Nahim's words with a dry, sarcastic chuckle. His eyes held a glint of defiance, a subtle challenge to the vampire's probing inquiry. "Well, thank you for the keen observation. There goes my hopes of competing at Westminster Kennel Club." He paused, the sarcasm giving way to a bitter edge. "But in all seriousness," The shifter continued, his tone dripping with sarcasm, "I'm thrilled to have become the centerpiece of your curiosity. As for what I remember," he added with a sardonic grin, "As I stated... it's a delightful jumble of confusion and chaos. So, if you're looking for a coherent story, I'm afraid you'll be sorely disappointed. But hey, isn't that half the fun of it?"

[ebonyslasher]

Haircut 💈 Love

Various characters (including some slashers) react to their S/O getting a new haircut/hairstyle

This is specifically for black male! readers

Wrote something for my black brothers out there- Hope y'all enjoy

~

"Wow, that really brings out your features"

Jen is staring at you constantly, she realllllyyyyy likes this new cut/style you got going on

When y'all go to school, she makes sure everyone sees you two are together.

Everytime you look at her -boom- instant bedroom eyes

The demon 😈(succubus) likes you too so she won't eat you. But she's gonna go crazy with trying to get you in another way 😜

Jen will take pictures- get ready for a photoshoot. The picture she likes the most will be her phone background.

And she'll change her background everytime you get a new style/cut

Lady Dimitrescu

" You look extremely handsome"

First of all, how did you find a barber/hairdresser out there? Well however you did, they did a great job

You were feelin just as fresh and icy 🥶 as the snow outside.

On top of that, Lady D loves that crisp and sharp look of the style.

If you get a unique hairstyle, she'll be entranced by it and want to take a closer look.

So she'll put her hand under your chin softly and have you look up at her (like always) so that she can get a full view of your beautiful self 💕.

She smiles at you more often than usual when you get your hair done. Especially if it's something new.

Mileena (Mortal Kombat)

She's already flirty as is. Seeing you with a new hairstyle/cut just amplifies it to another level- which you thought wasn't possible!

Mileena thinks you look awesome 😎. And she loved every second of looking at you 😉

"Now who is this.....fine specimen of a man to bless my grounds today"

This girl better stop 🛑 before she get herself in some trouble in front of all these folks 🤣

Comments like that will be heard all day cause you really got her feenin' for you

And talk about bedroom eyes! As far as you know, she already gotchu in the damn bed 🛌

That look is powerful

She feels like you can wear any cut/style well, your face is the perfect shape.

She might rub her thumb at the edges of your hair as she looks at you. That's her sign that she's ready to go

Ororo Munroe (Storm)

"So you think you can walk around looking like that and not get my rain 🌧��� started?"

Ororo is loving the look and is all over you the moment she sees it.

She touches on you a lot more than usual

Thinks you're the finest man alive 😍

Storm will walk around and make sly comments that'll take you a minute to get.

Not only is she the goddess of weather but she's also the goddess of double entendres too

You'll catch her glancing at you a lot and she's not ashamed of it

She tries to act calm but you can tell she's excited by the little clouds that start to form whenever you walk by

[dwollsadventures]

The awakening spell is, by all accounts, a marvel of magic. By definition magic breaks the normal natural laws and exceeds them. An understanding of "awaken" shows just how true this is. The spell, when cast on an animal, endows it with human intelligence. It does this not by increasing the brain size or number of folds within, but by creating a second "brain". The affected animal has two brains: a biological one and a magical one. The true brain handles everything a brain normally does and is relatively unaffected by the spell. The magical brain, meanwhile, can be understand as an incorporeal consciousness tethered to the body of the awakened animal. It is by all respects a humanoid brain, just without matter to accompany it. It is what allows sapient thought. From there, the animal can exercise a degree of control over its body that would simply not be possible otherwise. The most notable case of this is with the manipulation of vocal cords to speak. What then, does the awaken spell do with plants?

Plants have no brain. They have no vocal cords to speak, or even any muscles to simulate speech. Plants are alive, but they are not active at the same level us animals are. Which is why witnessing an awakened shrub walk across the landscape is so weird. The spell's effects on flora are even more incredible than on fauna, as it fundamentally restructures their biology. Shrubs, as well as trees, are able to bend their cells without the need for muscles or ligaments. The woody bark is usually rendered immobile, but soft shoots and roots are capable of an astonishing degree of flexibility, given the lack of any internal skeleton. Many specimens see four roots become prioritized as walking legs for convenience's sake. Convergent evolution (or adaptation?) at its finest. The next major hurdle is interacting with the environment. Plants have no eyes or noses or ears. However, nothing much needs to be done for this. Plants already have finely tuned senses for "looking" at their environment. The fine hairs on roots are able to detect chemical signals even through many feet of soil, giving them both superb smell and taste. Leaves are able to detect minor degrees of sunlight, though they are effectively blind otherwise. Both leaves, shoots, and roots can detect movement and vibrations. Sound is only vibrations through the medium of air, so plants are two for two. Touch, or tactile sense, is something they lack entirely. As we know it, touch relies on a nervous system, which plants don't have. Awakened plants have described a faint sort of sense similar to touch, but it seems utterly dissimilar to anything we animals can perceive. Those who are transformed into awakened plants describe stiffness and bafflement with the world around them, leading to a paralyzed state.

What do awakened plants do in the wild? Despite possessing sapience, many do not integrate into humanoid society due to the sheer difference in anatomy and psychology. Some may hang around rural areas as points of interest, pointedly turning them into objects rather than people, as humanoids are so used to plants as inanimate objects that even when they walk and talk it is hard to reconcile that with the norm. So, awakened shrubs may slowly lose their inclination to talk, preferring instead to use only their ability to walk. Walking shrubs are actually very successful organisms. Plants are normally stuck in whatever place they place down their roots. Changes in weather and herbivorous animals are free to do as they like. Rather than using costly physiological weapons against these threats, the awakened shrub can simply unearth itself and move away. Got a drought in this valley? Walk for a few hours or days to where it's wetter. Another plant is creeping into your space and siphoning your soil? Uproot the thing and toss it somewhere else. Deer munching your leaves? Shake yourself a little, or push it with a root. Deer are so jumpy they'll leave well enough alone. Even forest fires are usually slow enough that the shrub can flee without hurt. It is perhaps a blessing the awaken spell is not transferable to offspring, as otherwise the shrubs would be so successful that they would surely take over entire forests.

[fusrodie]

ash & soot

Long before the Winters come into play, a monster stalks the Forbidden Forest that surrounds the Village. Karl Heisenberg is sent to investigate, and heads deeper into darkness to find his prey, a thorn on his side and someone just like him.

chapter 1 - grisly reunions

SFW, canon-typical violence, blood, mention of death. 2K words.

link to ao3 (or read down below)

Nothing ever happened in this boring old village. Every day he would wake up to the same dull sky, the biting cold on his skin, the smell of blood in the air. And the chanting, for fuck’s sake, the goddamn chanting. In the silence of night, you could hear them if you listened close enough. Even cooped up in his factory, trying to focus on bringing his latest creation to life, through the humming of engines and rattling of pistons, he could hear their voices pleading forgiveness and salvation.

It paints a perfect picture in his mind: a bunch of old farts holding hands in a circle, standing over a creepy-ass painted crest of an unborn baby, pouring their heart and soul into their prayer, accepting death and giving glory to their murderer. The prayer itself never made sense to him, not really, but he had to admit it was a damn good way of justifying their atrocities. Nobody batted an eyelash when someone was taken away, went poof overnight to never return. Something about the sacrifice having been made, fate had led them to the light at the end or some shit. It used to fascinate him back in the day, when he was just a child watching everything unfold hidden behind his mother’s skirt. But he was no longer a child, and after almost a century of bullshit, it was hard not to impale every single fucker who talked about devotion and destiny.

Not that anyone would care about it, of course - sister dearest routinely kidnapped girls from the village and no one seemed to notice the Castle was a death trap. Boxes and boxes of wine would make their way into the village and out into the world, the truth right there in the label, and no one seemed to put two and two together. Dimitrescu had offered him more than a few bottles as a courtesy, an attempt to bridge the gap between them - even he had limits, however, lines that he would not cross. The very thought of bringing a goblet of blood-infused wine to his lips made his stomach turn; he had never been one to experiment much with food. He drew the line on frozen pizza and energy drinks.

It’s a wonder the village still had people in it, really; between Alcina’s obsession with maidens, the poor sods taken to Moreau for Cadou experiments and the failed vessels Miranda would discard like common garbage, he figured at this point there were more lycans than people around. More for him to experiment on, he figured, though digging up corpses in the dead of night had done a number on his back. Haulers could only do so much, and more often than not he would have to get his hands dirty. Not having a proper bed, sleeping on a bare metal cot and decades of living on borrowed time had nothing to do with it, of course.

The Castle drawbridge lowered as he approached, hammer thrown over his shoulder, one last peaceful drag of his cigar before he was thrown into yet another boring council meeting. The vineyard greeted him with the bleak vibrancy of a cemetery, scarecrows drained of color, barely recognizable but eerily preserved in chunks of ice. A waste of perfectly good specimens, really.

The halls were quiet for a change, no tormented screams and blood-curling wails, no giggling sisters running around in the hallways. It all smelled of death and old people, expensive perfume and a good dose of arrogance.

He flashed a charming smile at one of the Castle’s servants, laughing when the girl turned a bright shade of red and scrambled away from him. Heisenberg could hear the bickering as he pushed the doors open, Angie’s joints clicking incessantly as the doll moved about. Moreau’s breathing sounded as loud and disgusting as ever, yellow teeth and the smell of a polluted riverbed with a hint of fish. There they were, his beloved little family, waiting patiently for him, staring at him like he had fucked every single one of their mothers.

“You are late, Heisenberg.” Alcina began, as she always did, eyebrow raised in contempt. “As always. Mother,” she turned to Miranda, gesturing towards him with her hoity-toity, stupid cigarette.

“You are obnoxious, Dimitrescu.” He replied without sparing her a glance. “As always.”

He could practically hear her seething as she finally placed her humongous backside on her chair, having given up on chastising him when Miranda paid both of them no mind. Mother sat at the end of the golden-trimmed table, looking awkward in her great black gown and modly crow wings. Dimitrescu’s finest china was laid perfectly for their little afternoon tea party, cup handles that were too big to fit his fingers, minuscule spoons that were fit for Angie’s creepy hands. The servant that had scurried away at the sight of him had come back with a tray of hot tea, biscuits and blood - the house’s specialty. Miranda began speaking as the girl poured her drink, some small chitchat about the state of the village, the influx of foreigners and progress on her grand resuscitation project.

“Thank you darling, but I brought my own.” He started as the girl circled around the table to serve him, pointing down towards his belt buckle to the whiskey flask he always carried around. She couldn’t help but look down, and then up at his sly smile, the blush returning to her cheeks in full force. Dimitrescu’s reaction was swift, a well placed slap with the back of her hand square on the girl’s cheek. He felt sorry for her for a moment, but it was good training - if she wanted to survive the Castle, she would have to learn that it was better to be blind and deaf, and that she had much more provocation coming her way than his harmless flirting.

Heisenberg tuned out of the conversation as he poured his whiskey, pinching the teaspoon between his index and middle fingers, swirling it slowly, scraping the sides of the porcelain. Alcina’s displeasure at his use of her china for such vile beverages made it all the better. He slurped it loudly to add insult to injury, savoring the drink for a second, sloshing it around his mouth before swallowing, a satisfied “ah” escaping him when the liquor burned down his throat. If Alcina didn’t already look like a corpse, he felt like she would have turned purple. When he unceremoniously shoved an entire biscuit in his mouth, crumbs falling all over the tablecloth, he thought she would vomit.

“The latest vessel, unfortunately, has been a failure.” Miranda announced with sadness in her voice, which prompted all of his other siblings to sigh collectively in sympathy. What a bunch of morons. “However, we have made some progress. It seems my theories were correct - younger subjects are far more receptive to the Cadou.” Kidnap babies, got it. There was no limit to how low Miranda would get to fuel her quest for a daughter that had been dead for longer than she was alive. “I regret to say there are no suitable infants at the moment,” she stopped to sip at her tea. “We can only hope the harvest fares better in the coming months.” Had she seen them as nothing but guinea pigs back then, too? No doubt in his mind she did. The only reason she kept them around is because she might not be able to kill all of the monsters she created - better to keep them close than risking losing it all.

“There is but one more matter I would like to discuss, Mother Miranda,” Dimitrescu began, a lilt in her voice, the telltale sign that whatever would come out of her mouth next would be positively foul. “My girls have brought me troubling news.” Troubling, he repeated to himself, but she had a smile on her face as she said it. Miranda gestured at her to continue, which she gladly did, excitement rising with every new word. “It would seem a monster prowls near our blessed haven. There is talk among the villagers of bodies being found drained of blood, organs harvested, but without a single cut left behind.” She stood up to pace the room, one of her favorite displays of grandiose that made her look like the world’s biggest buffoon. It suited her. “At first I believed this to be a mere rumor, a lycan attacking the livestock, a corpse refusing to rest. But then,” she clapped her hands, the doors to the room promptly opening to give way to Crazy, Dumb and Ugly, giggling in their flowing black dresses, dragging a corpse along like it was a treasure they had found in the forest. Angie tagged along with their excitement, pushing Moreau away to get a better look at the stinking body thrown onto the hardwood.

There was no mistaking the lycan, all teeth, claws and complexion of the finest of silver poisonings. It smelled just as bad dead than it did alive; bruises and injuries and gums that stuck out of its mouth. How, pray tell, was this thing still in one piece? Heisenberg rose to take a closer look, pushed its stringy hair away from its face to reveal glassy eyes poking weirdly out of their sockets. He tested its consistency with a slight kick, stabbed it with the butter spreader, shoved a gloved hand in the cut to pull it apart and open. It looked fresh enough, but nothing but a foul vapor oozed out of the body. Crystal dust lined its insides, shards poking out of muscles. He pushes his arm deeper, feels around the chest cavity to find nothing.

“No cuts, no holes,” he begins as he pokes and prods. “No bites, either. Heart’s missing. This your handiwork, Alcina?” Heisenberg quips, suspicion seeping through his stoic facade. For a moment, he swears he can see the lycan’s flesh pulse, the smallest contraction of a muscle. This whole situation got weirder by the second.

“The technique is truly admirable, is it not?” She offers with a gleeful smile, picks up her cigarette and places a hand on her hip. Here we go again. “I simply must have it. Besides, we must know if it poses any threat to us.” She was right, this time. After decades of experimentation, none of them had ever managed to keep an infected subject whole after death.

His shoulders slumped as she spoke, head bowing to hide his discontentment behind the brim of his hat. He knew what this meant: being sent on a stupid adventure in the ass-end of the woods, because he was the only one out of this freak show with the brain and brawn to venture out into the world in broad daylight, without dying to the cold or stopping every five seconds to infect and pet wild animals. Some of these missions he did enjoy, like being sent to nearby towns for special supplies - or special victims. He was never gone long, nor would he stray far, but those escapades never failed to serve as a reminder that he had a reason to keep going, that maybe one day he would be free and the world would be his to explore.

The four of them eyed Miranda quietly, waiting for the verdict that was certain to come. Moreau cut the silence by volunteering to investigate, the pathetic pitter-pat of his feet filling the room when Mother smiled at him.

“I would not risk you in such a way, my son,” she patted his head without a hint of affection. “Not when we are so close to answers. You must continue your research - Heisenberg will look into this… Whatever it is. You are dismissed.” Her tone was nonchalant, her confidence rock solid. This was merely an obstacle, not real danger. At least, that is what she wanted them all to see; if one looked close enough, they would notice the slight furrow in her brow through the slits of the golden mask.

“As you wish, mother.” He tipped his hat before taking his leave, chewing on his unlit cigar, feet pressing hard against the gravel underneath.

Heisenberg never thought he would come to regret having a proper spine and a functional pair of legs.

[bitchofsteel]

“That’ll be the easier part. I seek out my sources, I know where to hunt. My people are like the wolves, Fabius. Once we catch the scent of fresh blood..”

Freyja needed not say anything more. Her intent was evident. She would track one of these enhanced Astartes down. Whether her prey came before the Clone Lord alive was up to him.

Assuming Freyja even survived the ensuing duel.

These specimens were said to be larger, stronger, and more durable than the garden variety Loyalist. They were crafted from the finest among their warriors, as such enhancements were unlikely to be wasted on rank and file battle-brothers. Capturing one would be a challenge like no other.

Challenging, but not impossible.

Freyja Vestraddon of the Noosemen, gene-daughter of the one true Warmaster had something that the corpse-worshiping scum did not. She was far older and more experienced than they were. Even the eldest of the Loyalists were like children compared to the veterans of the Long War. Freyja would know, she’d cut a great many of them down, enough to make a mosaic of their armor on the prosthetic arm she took to battle.

“But, you have a choice to make. What state would you like your samples in? Whole, or in pieces? Warm or cold?”

"Your people ruined me!" Freyja accused, pointing to incision scars along her right arm that could have only been the handiwork of a third legion Apothecary.

"Your underlings gave me this affliction and you will undo it!"

Her flesh was marred by hundreds of self afflicted scars, memories of lacerations and puncture wounds she'd wrought in an attempt to relieve her thirst for pain. Thousands of years ago, she'd been spared the shame of a dishonorable death.

This was the cost.

@bitchofsteel

It is rare to get an emotional response from the Chief Apothecary. He tends to be almost notoriously secretive and his will to deny Slaanesh even the slightest sacrifice in the form of feelings is ironclad. But this time he seems to allow himself an exception. A smile as if cut into his face with a scalpel shows amusement. He puts his fingertips together and rests his chin on them. "Do you know the old Terran tale of the people who wanted to eradicate a nick by cutting it away? That's the perfect analogy for your situation. Of course I can cut off your arm and replace it with a weapon of your - or better: my - choice. This is no more than a finger exercise. But what exactly is the point?"

[cant-blink]

My Gigan’s Backstory

Gigan hardly knew his real parents. He still has memories of them, vague memories deep in his data banks. He knew enough to have imprinted on his own kind; he knows he’s a space-duck.

His Masters, the Nebulans, has taken him from his nest before he was even old enough to leave it. They took him in, fed him, raised him. They took lots of pictures of him, in all his babu floof glory, and made sure to save those photos for future use...

Gigan as a babu was damn near the cutest thing in existence, a cottonball with a face. He would instinctively seek cuddles for warmth and would waddle after anyone he laid eye on, chirping and peeping the entire time. He quickly won the hearts of every Nebulan that came in contact with him, and a great bond was formed between him and his adoptive ‘family’.

But good things don’t last long in my universe and when Gigan began approaching pubescence, he became increasingly more aggressive and violent. Tis a normal part of space-duck development, as the young start to learn how to hunt and fight amongst themselves. 

For Gigan, though, this natural change would become anything BUT natural. His Masters not only placed him in complete isolation in a ready-made enclosure, but also placed a ‘mind-control’ chip in his brain. A weak one, just there to ensure he doesn’t turn that aggression towards them. They deprived him of physical company, but still spoke to him through the chip. Although obviously, the conversations were rather sparse and one-sided. Most of Gigan’s days were spent sleeping or restlessly pacing around the enclosure. His only source of entertainment was when the Nebulans would teach him how to ‘hunt’. Aka, to attack anything that went through The Door. 

The Door was Gigan’s only contact with the outside world beyond his enclosure. The Nebulans would give him whatever he needed through The Door. Food, toys, or (his favorite) live prey to serve as both. He lived like this for many years, until he was a fully-grown adult. Then the Nebulans, his ‘parents’ that he came to look up to, told him that it was time for the Change. He didn’t know what this entailed, but he was excited and ready for this Initiation!

He was put under, and the modifications were made to his body, his senses, his brain. They took his natural weaponry and made them even more deadly by coating them in powerful alien alloys. They gave him power, in the form of lasers, fire, flight, teleportation, and a buzzsaw implanted into his chest. They gave him knowledge in his brain, able to access whatever information he could possibly desire (that they already had on record, of course). And most importantly....

... They downloaded his baby pictures into his memory bank. Just to humble him a bit, remind him of how cute he was.

Gigan was quite overwhelmed at first. His body stayed mostly the same in appearance, but the changes made took some getting used to. After giving him recovery time in his room, this overwhelmed feeling only increased as they FINALLY began letting Gigan out of his enclosure to practice in a training room.

This overwhelmed feeling quickly went out the window when he learned he was going to fly for the first time. He also began learning how to control his powers, and he took to the lessons pretty well. So many new ways to kill his prey, it’s great! He loved every moment of it!

Once he mastered his skills, he was finally allowed to venture into the real world to carry out missions. Much death and destruction was waged at his claws, all in the name of ‘peace’ as the Nebulans called it, and he loved every moment of it. After being confined to his room damn near his entire childhood, it was like he was able to release all that pent-up aggression on something other than his prey. And once it was all over, and his mission was a success, he would retire back in his enclosure and rest. Despite having been a prisoner in there for the longest time, he still took comfort in his nest. 

He was content living with his Masters for a while; he had food and shelter, and a purpose in carrying out whatever missions the Nebulans sent him on. 

But as time went on, he began to find that he wanted something more. He didn't know what he was missing, but something was wrong. There was a need in him, ever since he grew to adulthood, that he couldn't fulfill. It got so bad that just the sight of anything colored gold got him bothered and only agitated his aggression further.

Taking note of Gigan's increasing frustrations and unhappiness, the Nebulans came to the conclusion that he must have a mate. He deserved it and they pulled strings to obtain the finest specimen they could find, only the best for their pet space-duck! Importing the specimen, they let her into his room using The Door, and for the first time since being taken from his parents, Gigan saw another of his own kind. The Nebulans had their hopes up, for the interaction seemed peaceful as the two curiously met. All Gigan had to do was fluff out his feathers, fan his sails, and strut his stuff!

But that never happened. For this bioweapon did not court her and instead tried to force himself on her. It’s typical behavior for male space-ducks without a mate, but to not even try courtship? What's worse, when the female rejected his advances (who did this cyborg asshole think he is?!), Gigan only got increasingly more violent and with his enhanced strength and weaponry, it got real bloody really fast.

So fast, the Nebulans couldn’t even stop it from happening when Gigan killed his potential mate. It was horrified silence from the roaches, as their beloved pet finally found release on the corpse. He continued this until he tired himself out and turned to cannibalizing the remains.

Now that... was not normal.

But maybe the Nebulans did something wrong? Perhaps using The Door triggered Gigan to view her as a toy, as live prey? They tried again, and again, with different locations but with the same results. If anything, Gigan only learned how to keep his toy alive for longer. Kept in isolation most of his life, and trained to choose violence at every opportunity, Gigan had no real social skills among his own kind. His instincts to court and breed like a normal space-duck was severely stunted and the Nebulan’s repeated efforts only really reinforced in Gigan’s psychopathic mind that other creatures existed for his own personal pleasures.

They did come to accept that trying to breed their prized weapon was a lost cause. If anything, they’ll reward him with an opportunity to mate if he does a good job at his missions. Whatever makes him happy.

This arrangement made him very happy, and for a while, he thought he needed nothing more in life.

But one day, was the day something new awakened within Gigan.

It was an unusual mission; the Nebulans wanted him to help them capture a target, alive and unharmed. Their target was another bioweapon, just like him, created by a long-extinct race and flying around the cosmos destroying worlds. That kind of power could be useful, and best of all: it came with a mind-control chip of its own.

His name was Ghidorah. King Ghidorah.

The pictures did not do this dragon justice, as Gigan and the Nebulans tracked down the mind-control chip’s signature, and found the massive asteroid. From it, emerged the three-headed dragon. The GOLDEN three-headed dragon with MASSIVE sails that caught the light beautifully.

Setting his eye on the creature woke something in Gigan, for the very first time. He... He WANTED this creature, all to himself. Alive. And he can have him, once they brought this creature into Nebulan control. That was all the motivation he needed.

The battle was a dangerous one. The dragon’s intentions to kill were obvious, and for once in his life, Gigan had to hold back. He had one goal in mind, to incapacitate the dragon and bring him into Nebulan captivity. A swift and powerful strike to the middle head was all that was needed to finish the job.

The Nebulans went right to work with that mind-control chip. Gigan wanted something else, but was forced to sit out while the dragon was prepared. And when they finally did meet, the dragon spoke not a word to him. He just needed time to adjust, the Nebulans reassured the cyborg. They’ll be spending plenty of time together once their plan was ready to set in motion.

Their first mission was to Earth, to dispose of a creature called Godzilla. Ghidorah apparently already had run-ins on this planet, but was swiftly outnumbered. But now with Gigan at his side, surely the odds will lean in their favor.

And it very well nearly did. Together, Gigan, Ghidorah, and the Nebulans almost killed Godzilla. 

Until...

Something went terribly wrong. All of a sudden, Gigan lost contact with the Nebulans, for the very first time. The mind-control chips in both kaiju was de-activated, and Gigan was left on his own. Unfortunately for Godzilla, Gigan was no innocent victim under the control of malicious aliens. Mind-control or not, he functioned largely of his own accord and he quickly resumed torturing the fuck out of Godzilla.

Even dragging him to Ghidorah’s feet like a proud suitor showing off prey. 

Which Ghidorah promptly rejected and punted the fat Earth lizard away...

That’s okay, it was funny watching Godzilla fly anyway.

However, it quickly became obvious that Ghidorah was no team player and had a great disdain for Gigan. He made little effort to involve himself in the fight, beyond warding off Anguirus’s advances. This hatred even seemed to outweigh his beef with Godzilla as Ghidorah ignored his Earth-side enemy to argue against Gigan. Such vitriol from the dragon for what was an accidental collision- Wait, this wasn’t about Gigan accidentally flying into him. No, Ghidorah was blaming HIM for this whole entire mess?! THE FUCK!! 

This argument costed them the mission, Gigan attempting and failing twice to retreat back to the Nebulan ship. Only when Ghidorah was allowed to retreat did Godzilla finally let the cyborg flee alongside him.

It was a bitter blow to Gigan’s ego; not only was his attempt to impress such a beautiful mate a complete failure, but he never lost a mission so miserably. But things go from bad to worse, when Ghidorah followed him back to the ship and to his horror, proceeded to destroy it. Revenge for keeping him hostage.

It was at that moment Gigan had to choose, between his Masters, who were essentially his parents, or this beautiful dragon that he wanted so badly but whom didn’t seem to return the favor...

He chose his Masters and, despite being injured, he rushed to defend the ship with everything he’s got. Ghidorah seemed reluctant to engage in teeth-to-claw close combat, and when the hydra saw that it would take more than Gravity Beams to keep this cyborg at bay, it was what allowed Gigan to chase him off. The Nebulans were safe...

... For now.

For it was barely over a year later, after yet another failed Earth mission with an ally named Megalon, that Gigan returned to his Masters even more damaged than last time. And that’s when Ghidorah, lying in wait for the perfect opportunity, decided to strike.

The Nebulans were defenseless and a weakened Gigan could do nothing but watch as his Masters were destroyed. His home... The sight of it all was horrific, and yet... somehow beautiful, seeing this dragon’s full destructive power unleashed first-hand. After the carnage, Ghidorah turned to him, regarding him with six blood-red eyes. Gigan was ready to go down fighting, but to his surprise, the dragon turned and flew off into the void. Leaving him alone for the very first time.

His mind-control was lost completely. No orders, no reassurance that everything was okay. Nothing but silence. With everything he’s ever known gone, Gigan knew not what to do. Is this what it feels like to finally leave the nest? Was he ready?

........

Of course he was. His Nebulan ‘parents’ taught him all he needed to know in life, and he went forth to make his own path. He forged his own way, making a living as an assassin and a pirate. He met with old friends, recruiting Megalon into his crew, and made new ones, meeting a grumpy ol’ centipede. He also took those same friends and threw them under the bus when the law finally caught up with them.

He was totally going to come back for them, honest....

His career as an assassin came to an end, however, when the worst day of his life happened. It was like any other, coming to meet those who wanted a job done. However, this turned out to be nothing more than a means to trap the cyborg and put him through another Change...

This one, for the worst, as it completely stripped him of his space-duckness, his feathers gone, his sails tainted red. His new ‘Masters’ wishing to enslave him...

Needless to say, it didn’t end well for them, when they learned the mind-control chip was only ever mild and served more as a means of communication than anything. The Nebulans never needed complete control, like Ghidorah’s mind-control chip was designed for. They had Gigan’s loyalty because they were all he’s ever known. Like hell, he’s letting his freedom go for some no-name low-lives who think they’re hot shit.

Still, the whole experience left its mark. He quit the idea of working as an assassin, and went full-time pirate. Taking out all the anger and frustration on innocent ships, innocent worlds. Stealing their most important resources to sell on the underground space-market. Accumulating riches in the most dishonorable of means.

But every so often, the thought of a dragon would enter his mind. Those gold scales, those massive wings, a complete disregard for life. Everything he could ever want in a mate...

... He would have extra fun with his victims whenever he got that bothered.

Until one day, he decided he was finally going to act on those desires, make those fantasies a reality. He had the tracking information on Ghidorah, he just needed to catch up to him. Not too hard when the dragon would spend so much time destroying any life-bearing worlds he came across.

When he finally did meet his Master’s killer once more, he... didn’t really know what to do from here. His new Final Wars form made him a freak; even if he were to do a proper courtship, he was certain it wouldn’t be successful. Maybe play off his new look like it was an intentional change, something he labeled a “work-in-progress”? 

Would Ghidorah even recognize him?

Turns out, yes, yes he did. Despite Gigan’s attempts at friendly re-introduction, Ghidorah seemed just as hostile towards him as before, making it clear that he was still holding a grudge against the cyborg. But the dragon never really escalated that hatred into an actual fight.

This was something he can work with. 

And he was nothing if not persistent. Unlike all those other females the Nebulans would try to pair him with, this one was special. He wanted him, forever and not just for the night. For that, he knew he had to earn Ghidorah’s forgiveness. Maybe then, the dragon will be willing to give him a chance.

Worst case scenario, he still remembered how to activate that mind-control chip... 

[intcrpol]

@vindictes

Ginjiro had agreed to a brief appearance at the gala, as Shirogane Textiles had offered no small amount of funds and a masterpiece kimono to the list of items the charity auction availed that evening. In truth, he would have rather stayed at home (or in the office) rather than silently enduring the excruciating pain that came with standing and sitting for long periods of time, but his pride would never allow him the peace of mind.

The sweeping twin marble staircase of the ballroom was an antiquated feature of classic Unovan architecture, much like the stench of scotch, cigars and tuxedos of the elderly social elite- a culture forever stuck in the ‘glory days’ of ages past like one of their pre-civilization specimens encased in amber. Still, the former Chief Inspector wasn’t about to allow torrid whispers about his physical state to drift about the floor amidst the gossip-hungry one percent of the population the event was meant for. He strode across the hallway with purpose and confidence, easily descending each step with an accompanying click of the metal tip of his walking cane. His congenial expression masked the innate pain from exertion of his body’s already limited abilities, so by the time he’d reached the ground level, the finest creep of sweat had begun to dampen the back of the collar of his dress shirt. 

Good enough time for a drink as any, he supposed.

With a highball of Kyushiki in his system, the little crackles of searing agony racing up the length of his right leg and through each joint began to fade. He couldn’t say the same for the hyper-vigilance that honed his already sharp mind, as the sight of an ‘old friend’ overtook the casual ease of his current mood. 

Had Atsuhi been at his side, the Arcanine would have bristled at the scent of the other male’s cologne, hackles raised and fangs bared. The elder pokémon rarely ever forgot the distinct mark of his master’s quarry, already having survived near death at the claws of Giovanni’s Nidoking. That had been an unforgettable battle, yet sadly the damage to Atsuhi had effectively weakened him as Shirogane’s choice for an all-out attacker. Kapena was still too young, too inexperienced to take over the already overlarge paw prints in need of filling. If they engaged in a throw down here, that would certainly liven things up, though Ginjiro doubted his chances of winning- At least not with his current roster.

A shame, really. It had been too long since he’d engaged in a true struggle for survival, a bout that left him feeling more alive than he had been for the past near decade.

[saladejin]

Admire | 03

Seokjin x Fem!Reader | arranged marriage!au, husband!Seokjin | Strangers to lovers, angst, self discovery, loneliness in luxury, touch starvation (eventual smut), eventual domestic fluff

Summary: You’d never needed anyone else. Growing up alone, living alone, existing alone. It all came naturally and effortlessly, quite like breathing. That was until your somewhat distant parents finally decided it was time to make good on a promise. One they’d made before you were even born.

Warnings: Some very brief mentions of weight in the beginning, some internal angst & realisations 

Word Count: 2.8k 

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      Time passed a little quicker after that, and soon a couple of months had flown by. You and Seokjin had attended so many events and parties that you’d lost count somewhere along the line. You’d had so much practice in convincing people about your relationship that things just started to come naturally after a while.

Things like smiling at one other when speaking to the high-class attendees of the party, and giving each other small kisses on the cheek when leaving for a trip to the restroom or a drink break – even though it was only you giving, him receiving – and getting even better at dancing so that you could have a short debrief whenever you ended up in each-other’s arms on the dance floor.

Seokjin began to notice that after having some practice wearing heels and conversing with his peers, you could prove yourself quite resourceful and quick-witted. Sometimes you managed to divert a conversation or improvise upon an answer that he never could have even imagined. It made you giggle whenever you shocked him into a stupor, because it was easily passable as a love-struck gaze to anyone watching or listening to the conversation.

Tonight was going to be one of the last events for a while. At least you thought. It was someone’s cousin’s birthday? All you knew was that after this, you could take a breather from the rich population of the city, and Seokjin could too. 

“I’m starting to think I should lose weight. I bought this dress recently,” you whined lowly, wondering why you couldn’t zip yourself into the pretty blue gown. A figure soon loomed up behind you and in one swift motion the fabric was brought together tightly.

You met Seokjin’s eyes through the mirror in front of you and exhaled sharply in exasperation, trying to let the sudden fear ebb away into the hazy perfumed air.

“Don’t scare me like that.”

The tall broad-shouldered man left the room without a change in expression, saying in an impassive tone, “You were the one complaining. Women always go on about their weight, but there’s never actually a problem half the time.”

How should I react to that? Is it a compliment… or is he being unfair to women?

You grumbled and shook your head, leaving the bedroom to wait for Seokjin by the door. You’d gotten used to seeing him cleaned up and looking ravishing in a tailored suit, but even so it still gave you chills every time he stood close enough for you to get a good look. You wondered, for the first time, what he thought of you.

“Driver’s here, let’s go.”

~

The night went like most others, but something was different. Compared to the other events where there were mostly older adults and well regarded elders filling the venue, this one was a birthday party celebration for a young cousin, A.K.A a guest list mostly consisting of young adults while still being a formal occasion.

“This is Taehyung, he’s the one having the party,” Seokjin introduced in an almost bored tone, but you were absolutely enraptured by the man in front of you.

“Nice to meet you (Y/n), I’ve heard many good things.” Taehyung smiled, eyeing you up and down before moving on to ask Seokjin some general questions as a catch-up. There was no doubt about it, the man was a treat for the eyes.

No, he was one of the finest specimens you’d ever had the pleasure of looking at.

Your heart kept leaping every time the younger tanned male would gaze in your direction during Seokjin’s update, only being able to fix a smile on your face to try and hide the heat creeping up the skin of your neck and cheeks.

Why are there so many attractive people here?

Your eyes widened when you spotted another handsome man chatting up a group of girls nearby, and then another two were walking together towards the champagne table, acting as if they weren’t snatching the hearts of every young woman in the place.

“May I have a dance with the lady?”

You heard Taehyung’s low raspy voice as he made the request and snapped your gaze to Seokjin to see how he would react. You wanted to dance with the young man, but something about leaving Seokjin’s side felt weird. It’s not like you’d never left him at one of these events before, but tonight you were just brimming with all kinds of depraved tension.

“Sure, I’ll be over with Hoseok and Jimin.” Seokjin nodded, meeting your gaze briefly before turning away. You didn’t know why a small part of you wanted him to refuse the birthday boy’s wish, but you were going to enjoy yourself anyway.

“All good, I’ll take you over to them once we’re done,” Taehyung said to you as you both made your way to the floor. You looked up at him with a smile.

“Have you enjoyed the party so far?”

“Yeah it’s been great.” Taehyung smirked, “Became even livelier when you arrived, milady.”

You couldn’t suppress a gasp of surprise before huffing softly. You reached the floor and the tall man pulled you into his hold effortlessly.

“Your flirting could use some work, it’s a bit outdated. Plus, going for a married woman isn’t something you should practice.” You flashed him your own confident smirk, but he only twirled you around into a sudden dip that had your breath hitching again.

He chuckled, and continued to sweep you off your feet with his skillful dancing. “Come on (Y/n)-ah, it’s all in good fun.”

You already knew you were craving a man’s touch, because you’d been starved of contact for way too long and this dancing was not helping your situation. Taehyung was giving you everything you wanted and more. Letting you fall into him and lose yourself to the music and dance. It was absolutely exhilarating.

“Okay, I think you need to go back to Jinnie.” Taehyung laughed breathlessly as you stumbled off the dancefloor. You couldn’t wipe the grin from your face as you made your way to the food tables, one of Taehyung’s large hands resting on the small of your back and making your insides squirm in delight. At this point you just blamed it on really needing some attention.

“Wouldn’t it be funny if I called him that one day?” You chuckled airily after chowing down on some expensive tasting food to restore your depleted energy. Taehyung stifled his giggle of amusement and put on a serious expression.

“I would condone it, but I’m not sure you’d leave that conversation alive.”

You both let out sniggers as you imagined Seokjin’s deadpan expression, glaring you down before you ultimately met your doom. Though the older male was usually calm and composed when you were alone together, you’d seen him get annoyed or irritated more than a few times around his other more well-known peers.

“Okay I get it, it’s a strictly family or friend nickname. Speaking of, how are you related to him?”

Taehyung finished swallowing his piece of bruschetta and met your eyes calmly. You didn’t know why a sudden sadness had washed over his features, but it was quite jarring to see considering that the man was so bubbly and animated.

“Well I’m his cousin, my mother was known to everyone as Aunty-”

“You guys took an awfully long time getting back,” Seokjin’s voice cut into the sudden tension you’d created for yourselves, and the way you jumped in your skin was utterly embarrassing.

“Hyung you should have seen how much fun she was having! Don’t you dance when you go to parties?” Taehyung cleared his throat and beamed his boxy smile, once again returning to his lively attitude as he poked fun at Seokjin.

You pursed your lips and thought, when we go to dance, it’s to talk, not actually dance.

You exchange a knowing look with Seokjin and scramble around in your brain to try and figure out what to say to the young handsome man before you. How could he possibly know that you weren’t the happily married couple everyone thought you were?

“Yes, we do. Actually, I’m going to take her now.”

You balked as the black-haired man left no room for argument, he gently wrapped his fingers around your wrist and tugged you back towards the dancefloor. You had no choice but to wave a hasty goodbye to a puzzled Taehyung, not feeling the disappointment for long due to the feeling of Seokjin’s warm hand enclosing your wrist.

“This is sudden, is something wrong?” you asked softly, wondering why he appeared so agitated all of a sudden.

“I just needed to take you away from Tae. That conversation wouldn’t have led into anything nice. It’s not a story he should be going around telling people.”

Once again, I need to stop over-promoting myself here. I’m still part of his version of ‘people’, otherwise known as ‘not trusted enough’.

As you made it to the floor, a slow song started playing and there was no need for a proper waltz. You thanked God, because after Taehyung had taken you out you basically had no energy left for proper dancing. Your feet were aching too, and here you thought you’d mastered the art of heels at this stage.

“It’s okay, Seokjin.” You sighed. “If you want to tell me someday then you can, but I won’t pry into it. Just know that I’m here with you as your partner, not just a random girl off the street whose attention is completely paid for all night.”

In other words, I’m not an escort. I’m in this with you, not for you.

Seokjin seemed to be in one of his stunned silences, but when you looked up at him he was simply gazing forwards in some kind of daze. Perhaps he was reliving some old memories? You didn’t know, but you did know how handsome he looked under this lighting. You noticed how you felt at ease in his arms, and how safe and secure this sense of normalcy with him made you feel.

After months of sharing a house and outward appearance with him, things had begun to feel more like home.

When you snapped out of the deep train of thought, you found your arms sliding themselves up and around Seokjin’s broad shoulders, your head leaning into the firm warmth of his chest. Almost as if on instinct, his own hands came up to hold your waist with no sense of the shyness he’d had that first time.

He felt as strong and broad as his shoulders implied.

“What are you doing?” he asked, obviously confused as you just pressed your body closer to him, eyes unfocused as they settled on the sliver of exposed collarbone his shirt had to offer. With his hands keeping you anchored in place against his frame, you felt the most comfortable you ever had throughout the past few months of being together.  

“Well, you’re warm and I’m just craving human touch right now. You can blame Taehyung for this if you need someone to pin it on.”

Did I really just say that? I sound drugged.

“Human touch? Did he do something to you?” He repeated your words, sounding so unbelievably perplexed. You let your body sway with his for the next few moments before pulling away, almost losing your cool and snorting with laughter at how he had just gone with it.

“No, he didn’t do anything. I just wanted to know what it was like…” you tapered off, not knowing how to explain how you felt to this man who had never shown any signs of needing, or even wanting the same thing.

“How often do you have cravings … like that?” Seokjin murmured, still confused but keeping his hands firmly plastered on you so that you wouldn’t move away.

“Seokjin, don’t make it sound like some pregnancy snack. If you don’t let me step aside, I’m probably going to do something I’ll regret. I’m too unfocused right now,” you warned, somehow stopping yourself from laughing because you knew he wouldn’t find the humour in it.

“Okay, but answer the question,” he urged while drawing his hands back sharply, as if he’d touched a burning hot iron.

“All the time, okay? All the damn time.”

You sighed, stepping away from his well-built figure. “Growing up with no one around me meant that the only affection and contact I got was either from the staff at home or people at school. With my friends, I was always the reserved one because I was used to less touch and attention compared to everyone else. It’s just how I’ve grown up.”

You’d gotten progressively shyer the longer you spoke, and you were now rubbing one of your arms with a free hand to try and rid yourself of the humiliation. You’d made yourself so vulnerable to him after so many months of both of you just trying your best to coincide with no extra interactions. It was so strange suddenly opening up, and awkward to think that it was in public while being surrounded by many, many people.

Before the black-haired man could respond, the song changed and the couples around you started dancing a little faster. You quickly left the floor and made your way to the refreshments table for some water. Your mouth had become so dry it could rival a desert.

“Hey, you alright?” a loud but deep voice caressed your ear, accompanied by an arm slinging around your shoulders to massage your exposed skin comfortingly. Taehyung looked into your eyes with concern lacing his features, wondering why you’d become so pale.

“Yeah, I just need a drink.” You laughed, leaning into the tall man’s embrace slightly before detaching yourself from the alluring body heat.

“Okay well let me know-”

“Sorry Tae but I think we’re going to head home early.”

Both you and Taehyung whipped your heads up at the sound of Seokjin’s steady tone. You noticed he looked slightly tired, but it was unusual considering how early into the night it was. His beautiful eyes found yours and you almost felt your legs give way at the slight apologetic hint swimming in their captivating depths.

He’s taking you home because he feels bad after what you said, (Y/n).

He never cared before about problems as trivial as this, so why was he suddenly concerned for you? Why was he caring? After all this time, why was he still making your heart beat so erratically?

Yes, you respected him and yes, you wanted him to acknowledge you and have a similar sense of mutuality between you; that was how you built most of your relationships, but this was way too different to be cut from the same cloth. You craved this man in so many ways because you just valued him so fucking much, it hurt sometimes. You cared about him much more than he seemed to care about you, and you’d accepted that very early into the game.

So why was it hurting?

“Okay, yeah I’m feeling a bit beat.” You sighed, downing your cup of water before smiling weakly at Taehyung. The younger man seemed absolutely stunned at your abrupt change of attitude, but you’d already made your way to Seokjin’s side before he could really say much else.

Both of them had just seen you go through a million emotions at once, and it looked like you hadn’t been as skilled at hiding them this time around.

“See you Taehyung, it was really nice to meet you. Hopefully we’ll meet again at the next one.”

You waved, waiting for him to bid his own farewell before turning away. You didn’t want to show him the pained expression making its way onto your face.

Seokjin led the way to the car, as his longer legs meant he could walk that much faster. Usually you’d stop to watch him as he talked to the driver or packed a bag of gifts into the trunk of the car, but you couldn’t bear it for once. you just slipped into your usual seat and waited for your husband to get into his, slowly but surely.

Once he was seated, the car began to move. You and Jin gazed at one another in silence before you finally cracked and caved into the weariness clinging to your bones. You’d been torturing yourself emotionally for too long tonight.

“I’m sorry for what happened. I’ll get over this problem by tomorrow and things will be normal.”

Seokjin’s brows furrowed and he looked like he was going to say something to argue against your words, but then his plump lips pursed, and he heaved a heavy sigh.

“Whatever you say, (Y/n).”

Then he looked away, and you could tell he was thinking hard.

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