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tswaney17 · 23 days

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I Do Bad Things with You - Part 46

Sorry all, the last week got a way from me. But here is the next part of IDBTWY as we count down to the finish. Can't believe we're almost there. 🥺🌸💙

My fanfic account: @tswaney17fics

My ao3 account: tswaney17

Please let me know what you think about this update. I love getting your feedback. Constructive criticism is always welcome. 💕

Catch up here.

Credit to @featherymalignancy for Cassian’s nickname, Cash. 😘

Trigger warnings: violence, sexual assault , language, NSFW (minor descriptions)

Word Count: 5,177

It had been a long day and it was only noon. Elain leaned against the nurse’s station, swigging from her water bottle. She already attended three surgical consultations, two patients who required stitches, one who needed theirs removed, and a laceration of an abscess.

The work wasn’t hard, but at six months pregnant, the almost five hours on her feet were putting her through it. She knew her ankles were swollen, and even with Azriel’s daily foot massages, the swelling wasn’t going anywhere until after the birth of the twins.

If she were being honest with herself, Elain was predicting her OBGYN to advise her on beginning her maternity leave early, rather than waiting till the week before her due date, which was the last thing she wanted. Elain loved her job, even if it made her sore and achy by day’s end. She wasn’t quite ready to go on leave just yet. But the swelling was concerning and she knew her blood pressure was up higher than it should be, so she was likely going to be left with no choice in the matter.

Setting her water bottle down, she grabbed the iPad, checking the charts for her next patient when she heard Fenrys calling her name. Elain glanced up to see the golden twin jogging over to her, two police officers following behind with Connall.

Her brows furrowed in confusion as she made her way over to her security detail. “Fen, what’s going on?” she asked once he reached her.

“They’re here to talk to you. They have a few questions for you.”

That surprised her. Eyes widening, Elain realized one was the same man from the bank robbery nearly two years prior. And if the way he was watching her, she knew he recognized her as well. “They didn’t say what they wanted?��

Fen shook his head. “No, said it was confidential.”

She pursed her lips. “We’ll see about that.” Elain stepped around her security detail, approaching the two officers. “Hello, can I help you?”

The one she recognized stepped forward. “Miss Archeron, can we have a word in private? We have some questions to ask you.”

“It’s Mrs. Archeron-Knight, but I’m sure you knew that,” she corrected, a warning in her tone to not make that mistake again. Motioning for them to follow, she led them to the employee break area, shutting the door behind them.

Both officers looked at the two men standing behind her warily. “This may be better off in private,” the younger one said. He looked even younger than her, maybe mid-twenties if she had to guess, and most likely fresh out of the academy.

But Elain waved off their concern. “Fenrys and Connall have signed non-disclosure agreements with my husband and are my protection detail. Whatever you have to say can be said in front of them.” A pillar of force, those two were. She could feel the intensity they radiated, dedicated to her safety as they stayed close to her backside, guarding her even if it was from the police.

The older man shrugged as if whatever he had to say to her wasn’t worth arguing about the privacy of this conversation. “What was your relationship with Elias Hewn?”

The warning bells in her head sounded and she felt both of the twins tense behind her because the question sounded more like an accusation about something else. “Excuse me?” she demanded.

“What was your relationship with Elias Hewn,” the fucker repeated like she was deaf and not in utter shock.

“There was no relationship between Elias and myself. He was my husband’s business partner, and now he’s not.”

The younger officer, wrote down her words before asking, “So, you weren’t in a physical relationship with him?”

“What the fuck did you just ask me?” Elain hissed, taking a single step forward before Fenrys’s large hand came down on her shoulder and halted her movements.

The kid looked taken aback by her hostility like he didn’t just accuse her of infidelity. “Apologies, ma’am. We’re just trying to collect all the pieces.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” she snarled, growing angrier by the second. How dare they come in here asking such vile questions. Azriel would have a field day once he found out.

The elder officer crossed his arms. “Elias Hewn was found dead by a private investigator a few days ago.”

She stopped in her tracks. He was dead? That was news to her. But Elain has a sinking feeling it wasn’t news to her husband. “How did he die?” she asked instead.

“We’re still determining the cause.”

Lie. Elain could smell the lie on his tongue. They knew exactly how Elias was killed and were just seeing if she’d reveal something to them. “So, why am I being questioned?”

The older officer nodded at his protégé. “We found a connection between Elias Hewn and the teen involved in your car accident a few weeks back. A wire payment transferred through multiple offshore accounts in the amount of five hundred thousand dollars.”

Was the floor moving beneath her feet or was she swaying? Her world tilted throwing her off her axis. Words were being said but she couldn’t hear anything but muffled sounds like she was underwater. Her chest constricted; she couldn’t get in enough air. Was she suffocating?

“Elain,” Fenrys voice broke through the fog. “You need to sit down.” His careful hands guided her into a chair that Connall brought over for her, both twins fluttering around her like two fussing hens.

She was definitely swaying then. Elias paid a teen half a million dollars to kill her and Azriel. She was going to be sick. Her chest grew heavy.

The younger officer stepped forward. “Elain—”

“You do not address her like that,” Connall snapped.

His face turned red, but before he could correct himself, Elain asked, “Where is the teen now?” She had a feeling she already knew the answer to that question.

“He turned up dead a week ago,” the older one replied.

Her heart ached for the boy, not because he was innocent, but because she knew he likely had no choice and was searching for a way out. She sighed heavily, feeling her racing heart slow as she took a few careful, measured breaths. Elain turned over the information in her head, still trying to determine why, exactly, they were here asking her questions. “Why are you here?” she asked, finally looking back up at them.

A pause before the older man gave in. “I know the kind of man you married.” He said it so casually, that her temper flared. “Did he kill Elias Hewn because you were sleeping with him, or because he tried to kill you?”

Elain launched herself from her chair and sent it toppling backward from the force. “Are you asking me to incriminate my husband?”

“Are you willing to protect a murderer while maintaining your oath as a doctor?” he shot back, head cocked in a predatory way. She knew after that first conversation, he had it out for her, but more so for Azriel. He’d be recognized for his work in taking down an organization. That’s all this was for him.

But then she realized why they were here, asking her questions without Az’s presence. Because they had nothing on him and were looking for her to slip up. Elain’s lips turned up at the corner in a menacing grin, something she’d learned from watching her husband work. “You’re here because you have no evidence to back up your wild claims.” She shook her head, laughing to herself. “Let me go ahead and tell you that this conversation is over. And the next time you even dare come to question me, you will have to go through my husband’s team of lawyers first. And if that doesn’t scare you, perhaps tossing in my sister, Nesta Mazaei, will. I know the havoc she wrecks in your cases and she’ll tear you to shreds when she finds out about this.” Elain flicked her chin towards the door. “See yourselves out.”

Connall moved without her asking, flinging the door open to escort them out.

She would be eternally grateful that the Moonbeam twins had her back without question. Through the glass, her eyes found Thesan, watching as the two officers were escorted out of the employee area. His gaze caught hers and then he was moving, stepping into the room and shutting the door behind him.

“Elain…is everything all right?”

No, not really. But she wasn’t going to tell him that. “Is it okay if I take an hour to run an errand?” she asked instead.

Her boss saw the deflection for what it was but let it slide. “Of course. I’ll have the residents come down for consultations. Take whatever time you need.”

~~~

Twenty minutes later, she was riding up the elevator at Knight Securities to her husband’s private floor, the doors pinging open to announce her arrival. Like a woman on a mission, she strode—okay, she waddled with a purpose—into the lobby area.

“Elain!” Nuala started. “What are you—”

“Is he in his office?” she interrupted, storming past the reception desk.

“Er, yes.”

“In a meeting?”

Keyboard clicks, then, “No. Nothing scheduled till this afternoon.”

She was entering the hallway that led to his closed doors. “Good. Block his calendar for the next hour and ensure nobody enters this floor.” That was all she got through before swinging open the heavy oak door to his office.

Azriel looked up from his desk, surprise dawning on his face. “Elain, love. What are you—”

“Did you kill Elias?” she demanded, stopping in the middle of the room across from his desk and crossing her arms over her heavy breasts.

His mouth dropped open before he caught himself, leaning back in his seat to steeple his fingers. “Yes.”

He said it so casually that she saw red. “What the fuck, Azriel? How could you be so careless?”

Despite her attitude, he kept his composure calm. Azriel never dared to raise his voice at her no matter how mad she got over something. “Careless? No, love. Killing him wasn’t careless. Letting him live after what he did to you, to us, was careless. I should’ve gutted him when our merger ended but I didn’t and look what happened. He went after you. He tried to kill you while you were pregnant.”

“He didn’t know I was pregnant,” she said feebly.

“Do you think that would’ve made a difference? Because I don’t.”

She sighed in frustration, knowing most of her emotions were hormone-driven but was still angry anyway. “We are about to have three children, Azriel. Three! Kaden’s adoption is finalized in a matter of days and the twins will be here before we know it. This life does not bode well for them if we don’t play this smart.”

His face softened at the mention of their children. “I am playing this smart, El. Elias would always be a threat to us, to our kids. He had to be eliminated and now that he has been, it’s over.”

Her fury resurfaced. “Only it’s not over, Azriel. Whatever you did, wherever you tried to dispose of the body didn’t work.”

He frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I mean the police came to question me. I mean that they are looking at you and are trying to use me as leverage to point the investigation in your direction.”

That had him rising to his feet. “What did they ask you?” he demanded.

For a second, a split second, she debated whether or not to tell him the truth because she knew it would set him off. But she couldn’t do that to him. They were a team through this even if she wanted to scream when he made decisions like this without consulting her first. “They asked if I was having an affair with Elias, which pushed you over the edge in blinding rage.”

Azriel’s face darkened to a deadly place she had only seen once before. When they were in that warehouse fighting for their lives. “I will fucking rip that police force to shreds,” he growled viciously, storming from around his desk as if he would go there to do just that.

But Elan stepped into his path, forcing him to stop. “Az, look at me.” He did. “I handled the officers. They won’t get to me again without going through the lawyers, but you cannot take the bait. They want a reaction from you. It will help their case. Let it go.”

His temper flared. “I will not let it go!”

She placed a calming hand on his chest. “Please, Az. For me. Let it go.” Elain saw the internal turmoil behind his raging hazel eyes. She knew what strings to pluck to bring him back down when he became this angry. Because right now, the last thing they needed was for him to add to his kill count.

He let out a heavy breath, dropping his forehead to rest on hers. His body shuddered with restraint, his need to defend her overwhelming his every thought. “I’m still furious that they accused you of that,” he murmured, cupping her face between his scarred palms.

Elain twisted her head to kiss the rough, damaged flesh. “I know, I am too. But whatever they want to believe doesn’t matter. We know the truth and they can’t prove otherwise. Besides, we have other things to worry about.”

Azriel’s brows furrowed. “Like what?”

She stepped out of his embrace, aiming for a chair to get off her aching feet. Az was instantly there, hand under her elbow and guiding her into the leather seat. “The police told me that a private investigator found Elias’s body,” she said, giving him a moment to take in her words.

His eyes widened in the realization of what she was hinting at.

“Somebody was looking for him.”

Az swore, running a hand through his thick hair. “It has to be the Illyrian Mob. Nobody else would be searching for him.”

“I’m assuming he didn’t have a wife, though it wouldn’t surprise me if he did and still acted that way.” She leaned back in her seat. “No other family that could have hired somebody?”

His head shook. “No, he pushed his parents away when he followed in his Uncle’s footsteps. And where he was found would’ve only been something that somebody in my…line of work would’ve figured out.”

She was almost afraid to ask. “Where did you dispose of his body?”

Hazel eyes bore into hers. “I buried it,” he said matter-of-factly. Well, that wasn’t very unpredictable. “On top of Kier Hewn’s body in his grave.”

Oh. Elain pursed her lips. He was right. A private investigator wouldn’t have looked in a grave unless they were prompted in some way shape or form. And that prompting had to have come from the Illyrians if not Nicklaus or Frankie themselves. She said as much out loud. “Which means—”

“Which means killing Elias may have just started a war with the Illryian Mob,” Az breathed. “Fuck,” he swore, leaning against his desk.

Fear clenched her heart in a vice-like grip, threatening to choke her. “Azriel, I need you to look me in the eyes and tell me that the Illyrian Mob follows the same morals as you do. That they won’t go after our kids as an act of revenge against you.”

Devastation lined his beautiful face. “I can’t.”

The emotions spilled out of her before she could think about reining them in, tears welling in her doe-eyes. “I can’t let anything happen to them, Az,” she croaked. “Oath be damned, I’ll torture, maim, and kill anyone who comes for our babies.”

He was on his knees in front of her in an instant, hands gripping hers in comfort. “That won’t ever happen, Elain. I promise you that nothing will ever touch our children.” He brought her knuckles to his lips, brushing them in the lightest of kisses. A reassurance to her no matter how ineffective. But still a reassurance nonetheless. “I’ll figure something out, Elain. I promise you I will.”

She sniffed, releasing his hand to wipe under her nose. “No offense, Az, but you ‘figuring something out’ is what put us in this spot,” she huffed a laugh. “You once said I was a Mob Queen…perhaps it’s time you start letting me help you make decisions for it too.”

Azriel gazed at her, thumb running along the back of her hand. “I didn’t want this life for you, El,” he said carefully.

Elain released his hands to cup his face, his stubbled skin scratching her palms. “I walked into this relationship—this marriage—with my eyes open, Azriel. There is no part of you I can’t handle. That I don’t love and admire.” She leaned forward to kiss him softly. “You vowed to share your life with me, Az. So, share it. Let me help you wade through your burdens, the messes. Whatever it is, I’m here for you.”

Tears lined his eyes as he surged forward, capturing her mouth in a heated kiss. “I love you,” he breathed against her lips, the words sending sparks cascading down her spine until they found a home in the depths of her soul.

Oh, how his words made her burn. His touch could set her on fire, but nothing could compare to how his words branded her very being, marking themselves into her essence so she lived and breathed him.

Just as their kiss turned deeper, more passionate, his phone rang from inside his pocket. Azriel groaned, dropping his forehead onto hers as he fought to catch his breath.

Elain giggled at his expression, tipping her head up just slightly to kiss the tip of his nose. “You should get that.”

“I should throw it across the room,” he growled, but still slid the device from his pants and checked the caller ID. A contemplative noise escaped him before answering. “This is Azriel.”

She sat back in her chair, readjusting her scrub top that had been skewed from her husband’s wandering hands as she listened to the one-sided conversation.

“Really?” he said to the other person. “Yes, we’re interested. No, not Friday, but we can come Saturday.” He glanced at his watch. “Yes, ten AM should work. Great. We’ll see you then.”

Her brows furrowed at the odd phone call. “Who was that?” she asked when he hung up.

His eyes locked on hers, the hazel brightening to pools of amber. If Elain could describe her husband with a single word at that moment, it would be giddy. Which was peculiar because Azriel was anything but giddy. “That was Amren, our realtor…She has a house for us to look at.”

~~~

Elain earmarked a few moments from her life in her memory bank. Special occasions she never wanted to forget. The day she graduated from college and earned her doctorate. Her first day as a resident. When she and Azriel got back together. The day of his proposal and then their marriage. When they found out she was pregnant. And the day they decided to adopt Kaden.

Today was one of those days that would get earmarked forever. Because today was the day they got to officially make Kaden their son. They had a court appearance at eleven that morning, but seeing as it was Friday, both Elain and Aziel took the day off to celebrate the momentous occasion with their boy, starting with breakfast.

“How are your waffles, Kaden?” she asked, seeing the syrup smeared across his pink lips.

The sweet boy flashed her this biggest grin. “They’re good, momma!”

She leaned over to press a kiss to his hair, loving every time he called her that. It had only been about a week since he started, but he had yet to give Azriel a fatherly name—her husband being equally happy for her and jealous at the same time.

“We are adopting him tomorrow and he still won’t call me dad,” he had complained the night before while getting ready for bed.

Elain was already tucked under the sheets, watching the bathroom doorway where her husband had disappeared. “You know how he is about men, Az. It’ll come at the most random time, but it will come. I promise you.”

The bathroom light switched off and then he approached, crawling up the bed to plop down next to her. “I know what else could be coming tonight,” he teased with a wicked smile, digits trailing over the swell of her stomach. His mouth began to place featherlight kisses along the delicate skin of her neck.

She laughed softly at the terrible innuendo, melting under his machinations. “Is that so? Pretty cocky are we?” Elain’s fingers threaded through his dark hair, tugging the inky strands until he was groaning into her throat.

“Who said anything about a cock?”

That had her freezing. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to have sex with him. Her drive was still fairly high and even with the new kid in the house, they still had sex pretty regularly—just typically at night after Kaden had gone to bed. But Elain’s stomach was large enough that grooming had become too difficult to manage. She was a bit embarrassed and had been avoiding letting Az go down on her ever since.

He noticed her hesitation immediately, bringing a scarred palm up to cup her cheek. “Talk to me, Elain.”

She sighed, feeling heat rush to her cheeks and making a blush spread across her body. “I can’t exactly reach down there anymore.” At his blank expression, she added, “To maintain…”

Azriel blinked at her in confusion. “So, what’s the problem?”

Elain groaned, head falling back into her pillow. “Because it’s embarrassing!”

He shoved himself up to look at her better. “Do you think I care about that? I told you that what you do with your body is up to you. I don’t care either way.”

“I know you don’t,” she admitted, feeling her emotions rise until she had to blink back tears. “I’m just uncomfortable with myself right now, is all.” It was more than that. Even though Az consistently showed her how much he loved her pregnant, told her how gorgeous she was, Elain was at the point in the pregnancy where she felt like a beached whale. And it was messing with her head.

Her husband stared at her, reading between the lines of what she was saying, and what she wasn’t. “Elain, you know that you have always been, and always will be, the most beautiful creature to ever walk the face of this earth, right? That I’m practically on my knees whenever you enter a room? I mean, fuck, El, you’re glowing right now—”

“That’s sweat, Az,” she muttered.

He waved a hand. “Semantics. The fact remains, you are gorgeous, and I want nothing more than to let my mouth show you just how much I mean that.”

Well, it was hard to resist when he put it that way. She gave him a single nod, just a small dip of her chin, before he pounced, crushing his lips to hers in a bruising kiss; slowly making his way southward until he made a home between her thighs.

Azriel spent a good half hour feasting on her, bringing her over the edge several times until her body went limp with pleasure and she dragged him up her body to taste herself on his mouth.

Too tired and sensitive to fuck, Elain reciprocated by leaning her head off the edge of their bed until he spilled down her throat.

“Elain?”

His voice drew her from her memory and she found him smirking at her, having already picked up on where her mind had wandered. “Hmm?”

His deep chuckle had goosebumps erupting over her skin. Fuck, maybe she was hornier than she thought.

“I asked if you were ready to go?”

Her face heated. “Oh! Yes, I’m finished.”

Azriel grabbed the bill to sign the receipts, slipping his black card back into his wallet.

“Kaden?” she refocused her attention on her son. “Do you have to go potty before we head to the courthouse?”

He was already nodding. “Yes, pwease!”

“I got it,” Az said, lifting the boy from his seat. “Come on, Bubba.”

“Clean off his face, too. I think he has syrup on his temple.” His answering laugh made a smile bloom across her face. He was such a doting father already. Elain had never questioned the amount of love he could give, even when he had. Wiping her hands clean, she took one last sip of her decaffeinated coffee—oh what she would give to have a cup of the real stuff again—and shoved her way out of her chair.

She turned her back to the crowd to grab her bag, the bell over the door dinging to announce a new customer when she heard a voice that she hadn’t heard in nearly seven years.

“Ellie-belly.”

Elain whipped around, brows raising as she beheld her father. “Dad,” she breathed. “Wha—what are you doing here?” The last time she had seen her dad, he was being placed in handcuffs for convicted DUI manslaughter and was sentenced to ten years in state prison.

He grabbed her shoulders, pulling her into a stiff hug. “Sweet baby,” he said, his brown eyes lighting up—her eyes. Elain was a spitting image of her father. “Look at you, all grown.”

When he tried to kiss her cheek, she stepped back, bumping into her chair. “What are you…how are you…” She couldn’t quite catch up with her mind, his presence shocking her to her core.

Her dad didn’t seem to notice the tenseness of her shoulders, launching into a casual conversation like it was normal. “I got out for good behavior about six months ago. My weekly sobriety meetings are just up the street. I like to come here after for the cranberry-nut muffins.”

He stepped closer into her personal space, an endearing smile pulling at his lips. “Look at you so pregnant.”

She glanced over his shoulder, spotting Azriel stepping out of the men’s room with Kaden’s hand clutched in his. He paused, immediately recognizing the man in front of her, and raised a brow in a silent question of if he should interfere.

But before she could signal yes or no, her father reached out to try and touch her rounded stomach. Elain pushed his uninvited hand away, and that was enough to have her husband moving across the room.

Seemingly oblivious to her obvious discomfort, he asked her, “And how is my son-in-law, Graysen?”

“They’re not Graysen’s.”

That had his eyes snapping up to look at her face. “I beg your pardon?”

He didn’t know—hadn’t seen the engagement blasted on the front page of every magazine and newspaper in the city. Didn’t see the press release Azriel’s PR team dropped the day they left the Summer District for their honeymoon, announcing that they had been wedded. Or the single wedding photo that she and Azriel agreed to be a part of the announcement that was headline news for two solid weeks.

It had been a tactical plan to reduce the likelihood of them being ambushed by paparazzi on their return—and it worked. But as Elain stood staring at her father, she realized he had been released after they returned home from their honeymoon, therefore missing the tabloids and believing she had married that scum of an ex.

Either way, it needed to be corrected. “I’m not carrying Graysen’s children. I never married him.”

A look of confusion crossed his features, followed by what could only be described as disdain. “Well if they’re not his, and I’m assuming you didn’t let some bastard impregnate you because you have a ring on your finger, then by all means, tell me who my son-in-law is.”

The corner of her lips turned up in a smirk as she indicated to the looming presence behind him, “You remember Azriel.”

Her husband stepped around her father to take his place at her side and gently tucked Kaden between their bodies. “Mr. Archeron,” he said, voice deep and threatening. “Lovely to see you again.”

From his tone, it was obvious that was a lie.

Her father looked him over, taking in the man Az had grown into, from the size of his body to the expensive clothes. “Didn’t you break her heart some decade ago?”

“Dad,” she hissed, but Azriel just waved a hand.

“It’s fine, love. It’s no secret that I hurt you back then,” he said, taking her hand in his to let his thumb brush over the back of her knuckles. “But I am doing everything I can to make up for that mistake.”

He scoffed. “Like taking her from a perfectly good man.”

“That man,” she spat, “attacked me. Good is not an adjective I would use to describe him at all.”

“A mistake he could’ve made up for.”

Elain blinked in shock. “Why are you defending him? I am your daughter.”

“His father and I are good friends, Elain. We had set you two up as a perfect match. And then you blow it for this?” he waved a hand in Azriel’s general vicinity who so much as didn’t even flinch at the remark.

Actually, her husband looked quite bored with the conversation, and well, she was finished with it too. Elain knew how stubborn her father was, alcohol or not. If he was set in his ways and opinions, there was no swaying him.

“I think there is nothing left to discuss here. We have a family court appearance to get to.” She turned to walk away when his hand reached out and snatched her around the crook of her elbow.

“I can fix this, Elain. Let me talk with Nolan and make this right?”

Azriel’s scarred fingers shot out to encircle his wrist. “Take your hand off my wife,” he spoke with a deadly calm she’d only seen used on Elias.

But it worked, her father’s grip loosening until he let go of her completely.

“Here’s the thing, Dad. There is nothing for you to fix here. I am the happiest I have ever been with Azriel and this family we’ve grown together.” Her hand settled on the swell of her stomach. “If you cannot find peace with that, then you are not welcome to be a part of it.” Elain looked down at her son who had been quiet the entire exchange to ruffle his hair and then back up at her husband. “Let’s go.”

Azriel wasted no time in swooping to lift Kaden onto his hip, wrapping an arm around her waist and tugging her toward the entrance. Not a single one of them looked back at the man she once considered her father.

~~~~~

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starrspice · 6 months

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Hey everyone I have a bit of a sad announcement

My cat Morty had to have an emergency vet visit early this morning, and the vet bill is a real hit to our tight financial situation

Because what happened to him is a bit graphic I'm not going to say it here, but if you're curious you can dm me or ask in my ask box and I'll flag it with trigger warnings

I'll be having a fundraising stream in the near future for it but if you want to help or spread the word I've got a fundraiser page set up here

Any amount donation is hugely appreciated and so are reblogs to help spread the word!

He come home Monday so I'll be sure to post an update then!

Thank you for any help you can offer ❤

Here's some more pictures of him for anyone curious about him

#fundraising #fundraiser #vet bills #donations appreciated #pets #my pets #cats #my cat #vet bill fundraiser #morty #my cat morty #please consider donating #reblogs appreciated #my poor baby #i love him so much and im just glad he's getting some very needed medical care #it went from fine to serious very quickly #im still kind of shaken by how it all played out

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zoeykallus · 1 year

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Gregor x Reader One-Shot – In Love And Pain

As requested by @palliateclaws A One-shot with sweet Gregor, I hope you like it :)) Warnings: Mention and description of sciatica problems, herniated disks /Pain/Comfort/Fluff/Romance

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Gregor got up very early in the morning, sitting on the sofa in your apartment and digging through holobooks and newspaper articles. Last night, after your movie date, you suddenly found it hard to walk again. Gregor was supporting you the whole time, you had to take some breaks, and you tried to hide your pain, but he knew. He rolled his eyes with a small smile at the thought of it. No matter how bad you feel, you never want to be a burden to anyone. He thinks it's unnecessary, it's not a burden, Gregor is happy to help you, anytime.

He reads through a mountain of info on sciatica problems and herniated disks, trying to memorize as much as he can. Gregor wants to understand you better, know what you are dealing with.

Symptoms: tingling, electric shock-like or pulling pains, numbness, paralysis symptoms

Treatment: depends on cause and severity; treatment options include medications, surgery, physical therapy, heat treatments, massages.

Causes: Herniated disc, vertebral body injuries, articular rheumatism, inflammations, abscesses, bruises, tumors, infections

Prognosis: With timely, proper treatment, the chances are good that the symptoms will heal completely.

Gregor nods silently. The symptoms sound really unpleasant, but he likes the idea of a possible treatment, at least as far as the problem with the sciatica is concerned.

He continues reading:

Sciatic pain and the accompanying symptoms sometimes occur gradually, sometimes quite suddenly. Doctors refer to the typical sciatic pain as neuropathic pain - meaning that it is not due to a structural injury in the leg or buttocks, but to the nerve itself.

More descriptively, many patients express themselves: For example, sciatica symptoms feel "like an electric shock" or "ants tingling in the leg." In addition, numbness or paralysis symptoms occur in some cases.

It is also characteristic that the pain radiates. This is referred to as radicular pain (pain originating from the nerve root). This distinguishes sciatica from lumbago, for example. The trigger here is often an unfortunate twisting or lifting that leads to a sudden, severe back pain. However, this does not move into the leg.

In case of sciatic pain, it also depends on exactly which nerve fibers are injured...

Okay, he doesn't understand it all, but most of it. He's about to bury himself deeper in another article when he hears the bedroom door open. Gregor gets up from the couch, hiding the holopad under a sofa pillow.

„Hey Mesh'la!“

You smile at Gregor, then rubbing your eyes and ask, "You're up already? When did you get up?"

"An hour or two ago," he replies with a shrug.

You frown. He is lying, he's up much longer than just one or two hours, you can feel it.

"That's early, why didn't you lie down with me?"

You can see he is coming up with a lie, he is the worst liar, you always see when he tries it.

"Um, I was a little restless"

You don't want to upset or expose him, so you nod slowly. You know he's cooked up something again, but it's usually loving things he comes up with, so you let him get away with this little white lie.

He gently takes your hand and leads you to the dining table.

"I've already prepared a little something for breakfast," he says enthusiastically.

A smile graces your lips.

"Oh yeah?"

Gregor sets the table, he's actually prepared a lot, enough for four people and plenty of choices. You blink in surprise.

"I didn't have that much in the house. Have you been shopping?"

He smiles, unperturbed, and says, "Yeah, filled your fridge. I thought after you weren't feeling so well last night, I'd do it for you."

You sigh softly, touched and a little annoyed with yourself. By now Gregor saw through it far too quickly when you were in pain again. But some days it was so bad that you could hardly hide it.

"That's very sweet of you, Gregor, but it wasn't necessary."

He looks at you seriously, "But it was necessary, you hardly had anything left, and I like to do it for you. I wish you would tell me more often when you need something."

You shrug your shoulders and say, "I can also order things to the house".

Gregor leans over to you and gently kisses your cheek.

"You could, but you have me, Cyare," he replies with a smile.

"You're incredibly cute."

He chuckled, showing you a small smirk.

"Indeed I am"

After breakfast, Gregor cleans up everything. He insists you freshen up and relax. You do him the favor, as he pushes you into the bathroom, spreading kisses on your neck. How could you resist his sweet ways? He runs you a hot bath and calls out as he hurries back to the kitchen, "I'll be right with you!"

In fact, it doesn't take long, the bath is just full and you carefully step into the hot water as he enters. He chuckles and lets out a whistle.

"Oh, mesh'la! Almost forgot how beautiful you are under your clothes!"

You say, laughing, "You did see me last night".

"I have a very short memory" he jokes.

Gregor takes one of your bath sponges and begins to wash you very gently while you sit back and relax.

"You spoil me, Gregor".

"So? That's something nice"

You sigh softly, you want to enjoy this, a lot, but you also want him to know that you can take care of yourself.

"Gregor"

"Hmm?"

"You know I'm not helpless, don't you?"

He looks at you, frowning.

"Of course I know that. Now, what makes you think of that?"

"Every time you're here, you shop for me, you cook, you clean, and.... now you even wash me. You know, I can do these things myself, just sometimes not as fast as you, or right away."

Now Gregor sighs softly. He seems to have something on his mind, you can see it in his face, something is bothering him. When he starts to speak, you almost hold your breath, somehow you are afraid he will say something negative. But he surprises you again.

"I do all these things so that you can see that I can take care of you."

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out something, a small box. Your heart almost stops. As he opens the box, you see the beautiful ring inside and finally hold your breath after all.

"Gregor..." you say almost in a whisper.

"I always want to be there for you. I do all these things for you at any time, you are the most important person in my life. It's important to me that you understand that I understand your situation, that I can deal with it, and that I'm always happy to lend you a hand."

You swallow and look up from the ring into his beautiful face.

He chuckles again and says, "I didn't know when and how to ask you, I had thought of a thousand things but, I can't wait anymore. Since I've been wanting to ask you, all I can think about is your answer, and it's starting to drive me crazy"

"Yes"

"What?" he asks, puzzled.

"I say yes, I want to spend my life with you" you say almost breathlessly.

Gregor beams all over his face. He is a little shaky as he puts the ring on you.

"It's beautiful," you say dreamily, looking at your hand.

"Then it suits you perfectly," Gregor remarks.

You laugh and kiss his chin as he leans toward you.

"Mesh'la?"

"Yes?"

"Do you have any room in this tub for me?"

You smirk and say, "Always."

Ko-Fi (If you feel like giving me some coffee)

@rintheemolion

@andyoufollowyourheart @clone-whore-99

@brynhildrmimi @kaliel2310

@misogirl828 @tech-deck

@meshla-madalene

@chxpsi

@thebahdbitch

@nahoney22 @ladykatakuri

@darkangel4121

@ttzamara

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@palliateclaws

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@hunterssecretrecipe

@heyitsaloy

@greaser-wolf

#one-shot #gregor #star wars gregor #captain gregor #clone commando gregor #CC-5576-39 #CC-5576 #gregor x reader #gregor x you #captain gregor x you #tcw gregor #star wars #clonelove #fanfiction #star wars fanfiction #asks #requests

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bottlecaprabbitgames · 1 year

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so uh massive trigger warning to anyone who's sensitive to body horror or extensive medical issues, but an update on my moms condition:

im on mobile bc im about to try to nap before lunch time and im hoping i can get the read more to pop up but

my mom had a skin infection that spread, I mentioned this I think. Today makes an official week she's been hospitalized because antibiotics weren't improving her condition enough.

and uh. my diabetic mother who's had a broken hip since December that's still healing has gangrene! Yeah! YEAH! LITERAL GANGRENE FROM A SKIN INFECTION! A BOIL started this.

In. In the groin area.

And when I talked to her wound care nurse, she told me ANY boil can do that. Quite literally, any boil, any abscess, any minor infection can do that, even to non-diabetics. So, please be safe. My mom is looking better, but she's also missing most of the tissue along her left thigh-groin crease. And more may need to be removed.

#health #gangrene #wound care

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penceyghoul · 2 years

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she’s alive!!! but trigger warning for sick animal talk

hey! this is my cat, her name is bubblegum and she is a literal angel who gets me through……pretty much everything. some of you know she has health issues that have been made worse by my family not properly taking care of her while she was in their care (i moved out of state and didn’t want to separate her from her brothers).

after recent batshit insane family events, she’s now safe at her new home with me but her health is a rollercoaster. she had an eye infection as a kitten, has allergic reactions that two vets and i haven’t yet found the cause of, rodent ulcers (which she takes medicine for!) from said allergies, and i don’t even know what else yet.

in the last week and a half — maybe two? — what was originally a pea-sized lump on left side of her neck has suddenly swelled to about the size of a ping pong ball, and the mass can be felt from her neck up to the side of her mouth. it’s hard to explain, even harder to get a picture of, but the last two pictures attached to this kind of show it.

her vet is going to see her on tuesday (5/24) where they’ll do a procedure to check out what this possible abscess is, which could be caused by anything. i don’t know how much it’ll be, but her last appointments have been in the $100+ range so it will probably be expensive. i don’t work right now and it’s already been stressful alone, but now this has added a lot and i have no clue wtf i would do if anything happened to my cat. idk i hate posting this personal shit but if anyone wants to donate a little to help out, my venmo is @ penceyprep. i also have paypal (dm me for that) and i think other options, but venmo is best. signal boosting this is also okay, though!!!

anyway, thanks for just reading this and listening to me panic about my cat. love u guyz

#ok to rb!!!#she’s so cute and kind and the most loving animal #she’s pretty much just my kid 😣

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appalachianinjurylaw · 8 months

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Understanding Skin Changes After a Dog Bite: When Yellow Skin Raises Concerns

A dog bite inflicts immediate puncture wounds and tears. But the skin around the bite can also gradually change colors over the next few days as you heal. While some variations are normal, yellowing skin can signal deeper tissue damage requiring medical care.

Common Early Signs

Initially, the bite area typically appears red as blood and fluid collect under the skin. Some purple bruising is also common as blood leaks into tissues. The bitten skin may swell slightly. These early signs are normal parts of the body's trauma response and clotting process. Keep the wound clean while healing begins.

When to Seek Treatment

If the skin around the bite loses color and turns pale, leathery, blue or gray days later, that indicates disruption in blood flow to the area needing attention. Any worsening pain, numbness, excessive swelling or foul odor also warrants seeing a doctor promptly.

Most concerning is if the bite skin takes on a yellow or orange discoloration. This distinct yellowing signifies an accumulation of bilirubin as red blood cells break down internally. Yellow skin around a bite strongly suggests developing infection.

Signs of Infection

Yellow skin means bacteria from the dog bite has infiltrated deeper tissue and triggered swelling and pus. Other symptoms of worsening infection include:

- Diffuse rash around the bite.

- Skin that is hot and extremely tender to touch.

- Red streaks radiating from the wound.

- Drainage of grey, yellow or green fluid.

- Enlarged lymph nodes near bite.

- Fever, chills, and generalized illness.

Do not wait with these advanced infection warnings. Get medical assessment and antibiotic treatment immediately to avoid complications like abscesses, blood poisoning and tissue necrosis. Healing will require time.

Let our experienced personal injury attorneys help if a dog bite caused permanent damage or disfigurement. You likely have legal rights to compensation that can aid recovery. Don't suffer alone.

#DogBiteInjuries #YellowSkinSymptoms #DogBiteComplications #SkinChangesAfterBite #SeekMedicalAttention

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akglobaldent · 1 year

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When Should One Consult a Dentist?

Experiencing mouth pain and considering visiting a dentist? Experiencing any pain in the mouth will undoubtedly draw attention. Living with mouth pain can make it challenging to get through the day. The sensation of pain is the body's way of warning us that something is wrong. It's time to make a dental appointment if the pain makes it difficult to carry out daily activities.

How can one determine whether or not dental work needs to be scheduled right away? Even though oral pain occasionally resolves on its own, it can also trigger additional dental issues. Therefore, one ought to seek dental care as soon as possible.

Seven warning signs that should prompt immediate dental attention

Persistent toothache: A toothache that won't go away is a serious sign of trouble. Since there are numerous possible causes of toothaches, seeing a doctor is essential to getting the right care.

Chronic headaches: A toothache that won't go away is a sign of a serious problem. As there are many possible causes of toothaches, coming to see us is essential to getting the right care.

Continuous bleeding gums: If someone's gums bleed when they brush or floss their teeth, they may have gum disease. People who floss after a period of time without flossing occasionally find a small amount of blood. There is no cause for concern if the blood only lasts one or two days.

a tooth with a chip or crack: One ought to visit a dentist as soon as possible in this situation. One's chances of successfully repairing a chipped tooth are better the earlier they seek treatment.

A tooth that is severely loose or has been knocked out: If a permanent tooth is very loose or is unintentionally knocked out of the mouth while one is doing something, seek treatment as soon as possible.

A crown or filling is very loose or has come off: Crowns and fillings protect teeth from decay and other issues. For continued tooth protection, they must be replaced as soon as they become loose or are lost.

An abscessed tooth or extreme swelling: An abscessed tooth or excessive swelling are symptoms of infection that necessitate a trip to the dentist.

Who should one consult with the doctor?

One can have beautiful teeth and a healthy smile with the best dentist at AK Global Dent. If one has any dental issues, such as an infection, tooth pain, or dental concern, get treatment from the best dentist in Gurgaon

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topdentaltreatment · 1 year

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The Value of Dental Treatment

Oral treatment is the process of maintaining your oral health and wellness by cleaning, flossing and seeing your dentist. It entails a regular timetable of examinations, x-rays and cleanings to guarantee that your teeth and periodontals are healthy and balanced. The mouth is a window right into the body's general health and exposes signs of dietary deficiencies, basic infection and also systemic illness such as cancer, diabetes mellitus and heart problem. Keeping your mouth, teeth and gums tidy as well as healthsome can assist you live longer and stay healthier. You can appreciate a satisfied, pain-free life if you take care of your teeth as well as gum tissues with routine oral sees as well as excellent dental health practices. These consist of cleaning your teeth a couple of times per day, flossing day-to-day and also preventing cigarette usage and alcohol. You can also get the most affordable root canal therapy north york here.

Dental wellness is also attached to your mental wellness and health as well. Having a healthy and balanced smile as well as favorable breath can enhance your self-esteem and confidence, assisting you feel much better regarding on your own. It can additionally decrease stress and anxiety as well as stress and anxiety, so it is necessary to see to it your mouth is healthy and balanced so that you can lead a delighted and healthy and balanced life. There are lots of factors that affect your oral health and wellness, including: Your diet plan (food as well as beverages you consume) is very crucial to your oral wellness and also the health of your gum tissues.

A healthy and balanced, well balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables and whole grains can help you maintain a healthy degree of germs in your mouth and also keep your teeth and periodontals strong. Staying clear of excessive sugar in your diet regimen is one more way to secure your teeth and also gums from dental caries. Tooth decay is a severe illness that can cause missing teeth as well as gum tissue condition. Having poor oral health and wellness can also result in pain as well as various other troubles with your body, consisting of gastrointestinal problems such as abscess or irregular bowel movements and respiratory problems such as chronic coughing, asthma or bronchitis. It can additionally boost your risk of cardiovascular disease as well as stroke. It is advised to see a dentist every six months for normal appointments as well as dental X-rays in addition to expert cleansings. These consultations can catch any oral problems that may be developing very early and also avoid them from worsening.

A good north york family dentist will likewise find the warning signs of periodontal condition, tooth loss and also other dental problems that could influence your overall health. A dentist can likewise recommend treatments to deal with these problems and also improve your oral health and wellness. The most effective way to avoid tooth decay is to brush and also floss your teeth two times a day with fluoride tooth paste. This will certainly assist to remove dental plaque, which is a sticky, anemic movie of bacteria that can trigger cavities as well as gum tissue illness. Brush your teeth after each meal to remove the food that can obtain stuck between your teeth or under your periodontals. You need to likewise swish as well as rinse your mouth with a fluoride mouth wash routinely.

Furthermore, be sure to drink great deals of water throughout the day as well as limit your consumption of sweets and also starchy foods. Those with diabetic issues should additionally avoid consuming too much sugar because this can boost the threat of diabetic person emergency situations as well as kidney failing. You can get more enlightened on this topic by reading here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dentist.

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aspiringfictionwriter · 1 year

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A Light in the Darkness: Chapter Nine

Trigger warnings: major character death, morbid transformation, childbirth, (please notify if these need to be changed)

Arachne looked in horror as the man she once knew became the twisted, spider-like version of himself, his neck cracking as he moved side to side in an unsteady convulsive pattern, although pattern was a daring word to use to describe such movement, as it lacked such a rhythm that would consider it to possess some form of pattern. Despite this, it was quite obvious that, in his transformed state, that Kethan, the former Surface Tiger, was in excruciating pain, and fighting against his own morals as he twitched and stumbled in front of the ivory gate.

Looking towards her, Kethan's neck snapped at the change in direction, his red eyes misdirected and crazed, as if he was struggling to find his designated target, if he was even looking for a target at all; that was the frightening thing. That was before his eyes met Arachne's once more, his pupils no longer drifted to and fro, but instead were set upon her own lavender eyes, his mouth beginning to foam at the mere sight of her, and her flesh, small scars lining what little of her arms were exposed from the years of torture and physical discipline.

"Food..." he mumbled wretchedly, his legs still skittering from side to side, small fangs growing outwards from his mouth, indicating his transformation was not yet completed. And all Arachne could do was watch. She couldn't even bring herself to move her legs, almost like she was seven again, paralyzed and unable to stop her brother from making the worst, and last, decision of his life. Not like she would have known, despite the fact that she had drawn the final blow, the only blow to be done to him with real steel that darkened cycle of the tower.

"Must..." Kethan reached closer to the gate, which stood tall as if it was guarding her from the damage that may be caused by such a creature, as if it would do anything to stop the drider when it did decide to attack the House, "eat..." Even closer now, his legs, if they could even be his own at that point, "must... have... Coborial blood!"

In an instant, Kethan was on her, figuratively of course, as the now huge mass of a creature had broken through the insignificant gates that had held their ground for over two thousand years, close enough for her to feel his own, uneven and dastardly breath. Stamping his feet in a hungry craze, a scream echoing through the entire city, the sharp eight legs digging into the rock hard ground, narrowly missing the heiress each time he moved.

Tucking herself from beneath a small alcove within the House's foundation, where, as Arachne recalled, she and Bemril used to hide in whenever they needed to talk to the other, and as such, she felt herself doused in tranquility as she closed her eyes in the painful recollection of the memories of her brother, which brought her abscessed flashbacks, which disturbed her very life any time they arose from their resting place. But, such anecdotes were not to be stopped, as within the very structure of the House itself, there were remnants of the fighter, from a spec of dried blood on the side of the library's entrance, to his sword, known as the Moonblade, which was displayed, in wait for its next worthy host.

The irony was, however, that it was always the soon to be priestess in need of aid in such a corner, despite the fact that she had found her warrior brother huddled there once, waiting for her, or perhaps for death to grace him with its sweet embrace. It had been something she had considered as well, seeing as it was quite tempting with the constant pressure of death, it seemed as if it may be better, however doubtful.

Charging in, as if by queue, was a dispatch of the Coborial army, archers knocking arrows in their hand crossbows before letting the string go of itself, lodging small holes in the flesh of the comparable drider, whilst two handed or singular handed fighters took the offensive as well, surrounding him by all fronts, slashing, stabbing, and throwing blunt objects upon the creature's skin, despite its futility.

A low chuckle, if it could be related as such, seeing as it was high pitched and uncontrolled, more in relation to a cackle that may be emitted from one of the many Night Hag covens within Abburth itself, seemingly to ignore the fighters all about him, and only focusing on her. "I know you are here, bard. No need to fright." And strangely enough, more disturbingly so, was that it was Kethan speaking, pulling Arachne from her shell of memories, instead occupying her mind with the one topic weighing on his own now cursed tongue: death.

Although, allowing her mind to wander to what he had referred to her as, that being a bard, caused her interest to be quite piqued, to say the very least. For Arachne had never even considered being a bard, as it would never be a part of her path in the future, and she knew and understood that, despite the fact that Arachne was such an avid listener of the drow version of "music."

All she knew was that at times, a small tune, all the same in one essence due to their frequent melody with the harp, and such tune led her to do the things within her best interest, or even protect those endangered.

Recalling something the words that Cazna wrote especially for her, and remembering the fact that Kethan, before his horrid transformation, knew her, and quite well if he was able to give her a nickname such as the one gifted to her.

"Happiness is within reach, if all you do is do the work to outstretch your grip."

Arachne took a deep, if not uncertain, breath, before closing her eyes, her eyebrows knitted together, trying to shake off the anxiety of rising to her feet and challenging the creature.

Holding herself tall, and stepping out from the shadowy nook, so as to create the illusion that she simply appeared from the darkness, watched as the archer's eyes deviated from the strings of their crossbows, while the warriors absentmindedly fought with their weapons, some of the unskilled variety being kicked away, their skulls cracked by Kethan's quick, fidgeting legs. Arachne rose her arm, preparing to call forth a weapon of her own, her voice demanding respect, one of the first times in quite a while that she spoke without her façade, her military prowess making itself known despite her otherwise introverted disposition. "I want a bastard sword. Now."

Finding one of a silver blade and a sapphire hilt fall into her outstretched sword arm, she rushed forward, taking another quick breath to steady herself, sliding under the barbs and legs of the creature, flanking him from against the gate, before digging her blade into his web sack, thick ebony blood spilling forth from the wound itself, oozing like a thick pudding on one of the Spider Queen's holy days.

Hearing the cry of pain, Arachne saw the half man half spider turn himself around, to look down at her once more, but all she did was meet him with cold eyes, focused only on the fact that he was attempting to harm her people, and nothing more. Outstretching her grip to grasp upon the happiness for the others that she hoped would be promised the same joyful fate as promised to her.

Her sword, still within the bowels of the sack containing Kethan's webs, still unused, most likely still in development due to his only recent mutation. This most likely meant that the victory was less hard to obtain, as he was still recovering from wounds received during the arena battle the same cycle.

Arachne balanced her hand against the pommel of the bastard sword, lifting her feet onto the lower body of the spider, still moving back in forth, as convulsive and unpredictable as ever, before using her powerful legs and jumping forward, swinging herself around, pressing her sword to the neck of the creature, watching culpably as it rolled to the ground with a dull splat noise.

Pressing a small cloth to her arm, stained with the blood of her first true monster kill, Arachne heard a small knock upon her door, she found herself almost relieved that she need not finish the cleaning process in silence. Thus, she quickly pulled down her hair to showcase her status to whomever may be at the door waiting, she made her way from her secluded lavatory to her front bedroom door, only in her robes, spider adorned as per the usual garments for those of her gender and status.

It was to her own unwelcome surprise that she saw her sister, immediately breaking the almost pleasant streak of serenity that Arachne had been building up over the house prior, due to the fact that monster blood, parts, and smell was quite the hassle to truly scrape off the body, her silent sympathies being sent to the poor male soldier who she borrowed the sword of, but besides that, she did see her sister, standing just as tall as she, but with much more confidence, bringing for the illusion that she was taller, adding to the fact that she was already bigger.

Chadra looked at Arachne with a smug look on her face, although her expression was clouded with focus, something that was uncommon to find in the depths of her younger sister's red eyes, as strange as it sounded. Thankful that she had put her hair down, she broke the silence, "What do you need, Chadra?" the poison monger's scowl deepened at her sister's query. "To barrage me with questions in regards to the recent attack? If so, you will not find answers. It would be better for you to take it up with the guard."

She scoffed, "No, sister. I come because Matron Aunerae is in labor. Elarra is aiding her currently, but this is the first birth since our own, as irritable as I am to admit such a thing, and it is our duty to be at her side to catch the baby. K'yornl," the scorn on her lips was harsh as she spoke their father's name, due to his irrelevance, and to the fact that over the past two female births, three if on considered Arachne and Chadra's separate, which was against the common rules of the drow hierarchy. "has been present for far too long due to the lack and insubordination of females before us."

There was a short moment that Arachne felt her heart jump at the tell of a new child being given out to the world, female or not, as the essence of birth itself was imperative to the drow way of life. For, an impregnated drow woman, especially one of Matron Aunerae's status, was given some of the most delicate treatment that anyone in the Underdark could offer, dressing in fine silks and satins, whilst wearing the shoes with surface sheep's wool within their soles. Such things were, as stated in all religious texts, just how Lolth intended her priestesses and closest children to be treated in their nine months of discomfort.

"Sister, you do not need to lecture me, as I'm sure you get enough of it as is." Arachne jived, almost begrudgingly so, but such things were expected between the two, for the two minute difference of whether or not Arachne was the eldest was whoever had managed to find their way to the front of the womb, and as such the rivalry was accelerated, more so than for any other couple of drow sisters. "Lead the way, if you should so insist."

Chadra turned on her heel almost immediately after that, either from annoyance or haste to the regards of the situation. Likewise, Arachne followed her, hastily slipping on an overcoat so that she would not appear to be an embarrassment to Matron Aunerae in one of the most pivotal moments of the House's power. It was in the same case throughout Abburth itself, the unspoken rule being that the most important part of any anecdote of a House's history was a child's birth. In House Coborial's case, no life would disappear that cycle, as the need for a Secondboy or another priestess was dire.

As such, the clothing worn during the birth itself brought good fortune upon the House should each woman dress properly.

Making their way to the pampered Chapel, walls lined with polished granite, each slate describing a certain moment in Lolth's extensive history. The floors, though, remained lined with fine white marble, some of the creases plagued with the blood of a poor sacrifice. It was almost surprising how such a little dot of fluid would pass through the Slave Overseer's well-tuned eyes, due to the fact that if the slaves were caught, "slacking off," they would find their lives cut short, and their souls unmourned.

In the center of the Chapel itself, was the summoning circle, where, as Arachne recalled, Dro had stood to be absorbed within the Demonweb pits, each line drawn in scarlet blood. Adjacent, and just a little bit behind the circle was the altar, made of hard iron, where, embossed within it was Lolth's crest, and the Coborial sigil.

Although, both Arachne and Chadra's attentions became directed, not to the scenic center, but to one, exclusive, side door, leading into a small room, where labored curses slipped past the metal of the door. Sparing each other a look for just a moment, an inkling of what some called twin telepathy, the two nodded despite their annoyance, and walked towards the door, its hinges falling apart despite the Church's overall well kept state.

Walking into the room, after being let in by Elarra, Arachne's former tutor in her youth, who held incense sticks in her dusky gray hands. This was no surprise, seeing as, in their lessons about the Ceremonies of Labor, it was a common thing for the scent of one's enemies to be let loose during the birth. The current stick, from what she believed, was one confiscated from House Caddath before its destruction twelve years ago.

Turning to Matron Aunerae, whose hair was up, her face swollen and sweaty, and her cheeks just as bright as her carmine eyes. Biting onto her lip, the twin's mother hissed in agony as harsh contractions fought against her indomitable will.

Elarra, placing the fragrant sticks on their handles after igniting them with a spark of magic, turned to the sisters for a moment. "Prepare the table for the Matron's viewing. I will handle the rest. Watch and listen." She said, rather angrily, as if she was more focused on the two, out of place, children, as they were considered as such, who stood confused.

Nodding, Arachne made her move to unfold and partially build the silver child viewing table, reserved for Matron Coborials' only.

Feeling the cold metal, she soon became aware of the fact that she had been sat beside Chadra at the moment of their birth on the very table in which she held. It was an unhappy deduction to make, seeing as despondent as it was to admit, that all children, even Matron Aunerae had been set upon the table itself. Cold metal against soft, untouched skin was most likely the first iota of torture any drow child would receive. The sad reality was frightening, as, even after birth, pain began before any child could recall.

Grabbing the outer edge of the table itself, Arachne pushed downwards, a mechanism inside clicking as the legs of the furniture made their move to support itself. She picked it up, moving it to Matron Aunerae's "bedside," despite the fact that she was in an angled chair, a cushion below her to catch the child. It was of no surprise, either, that she was playing off her pain, and instead pretending as if she was unaffected by the act of a child being forced out of her.

A groan of agony broke through Arachne's spell, as a head made itself known to the world, a cry escaping from the babe's mouth as air was funneled into its lungs. Elarra raced to Matron Aunerae, holding her hands out above the cushion, uttering holy words as she did so.

And, after about ten more minutes, which seemed to last far longer than they should, a boy had taken his first breath.

A boy of purple eyes, just like her; Arachne Coborial.

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You just read 2, 747 words!

I'm back! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, since I left you on a cliffhanger the last time I posted.

Seeing as I have two chapters in my drafts finished and revised with what little free time I have, and from sleepless and anxiety-inducing nights, I figured I'll post them in quick succession. Screw my break! We're almost done with my shit show of a week!

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