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thechaoticdruid · 2 months

Note

Hello! A scene rewrite for your consideration (no obligation of course!):

Astarion’s siblings’ reactions when they break into the party’s camp at the Elfsong Tavern and see Astarion and Winnie cuddling in bed. After the fight, Winnie asks him about not having empathy for the other spawn and Astarion says his line, “No one ever looked out for me. No one ever said a kind thing to me…you’re the only one.”

angst/hurt/comfort?

Thank you for your amazing writing! ❤️

Forever

Pairing: Astarion x Named!Tav (Winnie)

Note: I hope you don't mind, but some of it is word for word from the game while some is changed a bit, but it's pretty much the same context. This is literally one of my favorite scenes in the game! Also please ignore that the photo is not set in the same place as this oneshot. The oneshot takes place in the Elfsong!

Content: Violence, Fluff, slight angst with comfort. Nothing too bad!

Winnie had never thought she'd feel safe enough to sleep peacefully, undisturbed. Not since before the attack on the Lost Grove, her childhood home, did she ever truly feel safe. Today had been particularly tiring since Winnie, Astarion, Jaheira and Karlach had been on the trail of Jaheira’s friend Minsc. Karlach seemed super excited to meet him, apparently he was some great hero or something. Winnie had never been too educated on Faerûn’s heros. They didn't tell stories of them in the Lost Grove. Now she was resting up in their room in the Elfsong, snuggled up in Astarion's arms as he played with her hair, face nuzzled into his chest. The two of them laid on the bed together hidden away from the view of the others as the drapes closed off the room they were in.

Astarion was awake watching over the human druid as she dozed off in his arms. The sound of the Elfsong’s ghostly songstress lulling her to sleep. Astarion leans over and plants a chaste kiss on her neck, inhaling the sweet scent of lavender and cherry blossoms, the druid’s signature scent.

For a while she was in a peaceful slumber, but the wicked don't sleep, someone was here to disturb her rest.

Astarion’s pointed ears detected the sound of footsteps and the scent of undeath hit him hard.

His siblings had come for a visit, slipping in through the curtains that separated them from the rest of their sleeping companions. Glowing red eyes gazed over at the couple in curiosity.

“Astarion? Finally we've found you.” A tiefling female said as she stepped through the curtains. She was followed shortly by what appeared to be a shirtless human male. The two immediately noticed Astarion curled up around his sleeping human love. Astarion mentally cursed himself for allowing his siblings of all people to witness him in such a vulnerable moment. Cazador was the last person that needed to know of his relationship with Winnie.

“Looks like he found himself a pet mortal.” The man murmured. Astarion slipped away from Winnie and stood in front of her.

“Oh, her? She's more of a convenient blood bag, really.” Astarion bluffed, hoping his lie would make sure Cazador didn't see Winnie as a means of leverage to use against him. Winnie shifted, exposing the faded bite marks upon her neck.

“Nevermind that brother, you're coming with us.” The tiefling said before she and the male began to corner Astarion.

Winnie slowly shifted, unconsciously feeling around her bed for her lover. Her eyes blinked open as she suddenly heard the sound of shouting.

“GET THE HELLS AWAY FROM ME!” Astarion snarled. Winnie leapt out of bed now wide awake as she noticed Astarion backing away from two unfamiliar intruders with his fangs barred.

“Peace brother, we've come to take you home.” The tiefling said. Winnie glared at them and moved over towards Astarion's side.

“The master needs all seven of us for the ceremony, come with us and be reborn. We'll live again.” The man said.

“You're not taking Astarion anywhere.” Winnie growled out, taking a step in front of him protectively.

“Our master needs him for the Rite. He must attend.” The tiefling woman said.

“Oh, I'm well aware of what the master needs. But don't we deserve better?” Astarion spoke up.

“Better? What do you mean?” The other male spawn questioned.

“After these centuries of torment, I know what you all want, more than power, more than to walk in the sun.” Astarion looked at the other two spawn before a devilish grin formed upon his lips. “You want to see him dead.” The other spawn looked at one another as Astarion continued. Winnie rose an eyebrow at Astarion, curious about what he had to say. “The Rite of Profane Ascension will be mine and he won't see a scrap of its glory. I am going to complete the ritual as the Ascendant and then I am going to kill him!”

Winnie's eyes widened in surprise. He was really still trying to go through with this despite all of her warnings. Winnie wasn’t a stranger when it came to killing, but his siblings were under Cazador's control just as much as he'd been. Whatever their sins were, they weren't their own. At least that's how it was in Winnie's mind.

“This is your chance. Name me your new master. We will get our revenge and you will live again.” Winnie could see the lie in his smile, the hunger for power was clear as day. He'd throw them to the wolves for his own gain. Normally Winnie would be sickened by such a rotten scheme, but being that it was her lover cooking it up she just felt disappointed.

“Astarion, you can't be this cruel. You're asking them to die for you in that ritual.” Winnie looked at him, eyes saddened. Astarion tensed as he looked back at his lover's round puppy-like eyes, the soft pout of her lips nearly making him cave.

“Don't look at me like that. With the sweet little ‘disappointed I'm not getting cuddly Astarion’ pout. I can't take it.” He glared back at her slightly. “I can't be what you want to see in me.”

“Die in the ritual? Whatever are you speaking of? We're going to cheat undeath.” The tiefling said, looking quite puzzled.

“Cazador is lying to you. He needs your souls to complete this ritual!” Winnie exclaimed, “why else do you think he wants Astarion back so badly?”

“The master doesn't need to lie to us. He controls us completely. Why go through the trouble of giving us hope?”

“Oh, I don't know…Maybe because he's a sadistic piece of shit?” Winnie crossed her arms and rolled her eyes at their ignorance.

“Shit. She's right, we're doomed.” The male spawn said. “Alright, we'll help you. Just tell us what to do.” Just as he was about to speak further the tiefling woman began to cry out in pain, her body glowing red.

“The bond’s hold. He owns us. We have no choice, we must obey. Get out of here, Astarion!” She shouted before the other male began to glow red as well. Winnie tensed, the sound of the front doors to the connecting rooms slamming open sent her into survival mode. Almost immediately she dropped down, wild shaping into her direwolf form with a loud howl to alert the others.

Astarion quickly grabbed his rapier from under the bed as his tiefling sister came at him with claws. Astarion's blocked her with the blade, slashing her across the chest and kicking her back. Winnie immediately jumped on Astarion's brother and sank her teeth into his shoulder. While the other members of their group fought with the other invading spawn, they were able to slip right past them and make their way towards the room where Astarion and Winnie were locked in combat.

They lunged at the transformed druid, sinking their fangs into her flesh and draining her of her precious ichor. Winnie released the spawn, jerking back with a high pitched dog like whine as the other spawns mobbed her.

“Winnie!” Astarion pushed his sister out of the way and rushed over to the druid as she was forced out of her wild shape and into her human form. The arcane trickster kicked one of his siblings off her before casting scorching ray and hitting multiple of them with it. Winnie had to take a moment to regain her composure as her head was spinning from blood loss.

This is bad….Fuck…If only the sun was….Wait a minute!

“Sol Invictus!” Winnie suddenly cast daylight on one of the nearby chairs, sending intense beams of light at all of the nearby vampire spawn. Their skin began to sizzle and scorch. Astarion's siblings immediately made a run for the exit, disappearing into mist before they could be turned to ashes. Winnie huffed a bit, eyes glancing around at the blood and damage caused by their uninvited guests.

“What a mess. Well at least you've met my family now.” Astarion sighed, running a hand through his hair. Winnie crossed her arms and glared at Astarion.

“Oh come on, you're not still pouting over this!” Astarion whined.

“That was low Astarion. Lying to them like that.” Winnie huffed out.

“I don't know why you're so upset. They're only six vampire spawn!”

“Can’t you at least be a little sympathetic to others who suffered the same as you?”

“None of them would do the same for me! 200 years or torment and no one ever said a kind thing to me! You're the only one.” He said, gesturing towards the brunette haired druid.

“Astarion.” Winnie frowned, a saddened look in her eyes.

“Other people don't have a heart like you….You're you….No one is like that.” Astarion said softly before suddenly feeling a soft hand on his cheek as Winnie looked into his eyes.

“Star, there are so many wonderful people in this world who will love you as much as I do. You just need to open your heart to them.” Astarion placed his larger hand over Winnie's.

“Don't sell yourself so short. I'm doing this for you too, you know. To make sure we're both safe. Forever.” Astarion smiled sweetly as he gazed lovingly back at his druid before adding a firm, “for good.” Winnie smiled at him, eyes growing soft.

“Your sweet words aren't gonna change my view on this I'm afraid.” Winnie smirked, “but I am rather happy to hear you want to protect me.”

“Stubborn little thing.” Astarion murmured before leaning in to kiss Winnie's forehead. “I saw you get bitten quite a few times. Are you alright?”

“I feel woozy I guess, tired.” Winnie admitted, before receiving another forehead kiss.

“Wait here, I'll go get you something to eat.”Her vampiric love hummed.

“Ooh! Ooh! Cheese!” Winnie said giddily as her partner rolled his eyes with a smile before walking off to fetch her some food.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

Taglist for Winnie's during campaign oneshots:

@vixstarria , @paganwitchisis , @kerwin290710

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betweenlands · 6 months

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Impulse thinks he might've started seeing things early this time.

It happens at least once a season at this rate, so it's not really a surprise on that side of things. And it's not as bad as the boogeyman clock-ticking he's heard twice now, so, he'll take it, just... it hasn't even been a full session yet?

He'd like to say it started when he ended up tag-teaming with Gem and Scott, but the truth is, that's not quite it. It started when he got his task and ended up in the cherry grove up there, and that little part of him he knows is basically a ghost detector went this task isn't so bad -- maybe people will actually trust me this time! There's never been a bad guy who built with cherrywood, right?

Really weird thing for a ghost detector sense to say. But then Gem and Scott caught up, and they sort of just fell into a natural alliance, and yeah -- Impulse looks at their location-in-progress and thinks we're gonna be the good guys this season, and for a split second feels this headache.

Then it's gone.

It happens again when Skizz visits, which is probably part of a task, but all Impulse knows is... he walks up to Skizz while he's saying "I've been that guy, that all I do is tell the truth, and I'm a loyal sword -- I think I might be the guy that just wants to lie to everybody and just be a jerk!"

Knee-jerk response: "Nah. Don't love that idea. Hate it."

Internal ghost-detector response: I mean, who says those things are mutually exclusive?

Impulse has to stop himself from whipping around fully at the voice, which sounds almost like Scott, except Scott isn't behind them right now -- just Jimmy, and past that the cherrywood trees. He thinks for a second there might be a flash of red among all those pink blossoms. He shrugs it off as Grian skulking around, even though he knows Grian doesn't have pink hair.

A few minutes later, he knows it definitely wasn't Scott, because the guy shows up to immediately point out a zombie villager appearing on the mountain -- there's a librarian, right there, aggroed more or less directly on him. They scramble to get it in a boat and cover its head. Some part of him suggests they should bury it underground, just in case. They only need one more.

Next sighting is a bit more difficult to ignore, mainly because Impulse knows when he's being made fun of, and when a goat smacks him while he's trying to wrangle it into a boat, he catches sight of someone with long blonde hair cackling like a maniac about it from the other side of the border wall, and before he can do anything more than think huh, how'd False get past the border? they're gone.

False is not in this season. He tries his best to put that behind him and inform his teammates of the real issue, which is:

"YOU SAID THAT GOATS WERE NOT A PROBLEM," Impulse yells, trying to pretend the panic is about the loss of a half heart. "I JUST GOT GOATED." He can see the campfire Gem and Scott set up over their shoulders. Someone wearing red is sitting at one of the seats. Impulse resolutely ignores the fact that he hasn't seen Grian at all so far.

That's it for the ghosts for a while, enough to lull him into a false sense of security. Maybe it is just Grian sneaking around. (Maybe the guy in a red poncho he sees in the distance in the badlands Scar has based just outside of is just Grian reliving his glory days.)

"By the way, this is Traitor Scar's!" Scar says brightly.

You think his partner's Grian again? a voice says wryly. It's not either of their voices. It's not the voice of anyone Impulse even knows, for that matter. It sounds like it came from over by the badlands.

"Trader Scar's," Impulse repeats, realizing he's misheard what Scar actually said.

Eh, the voice says. Like recognizes like.

#secret life #secret life smp #impulsesv #i have gone certifiably off the shits in case anyone was wondering #yall 3l impulse and d1 legundo have STUFF in common #source dude TRUST me #trafficseries #slsmp #secret life spoilers //#i think normally i wouldn't maintag this but i wrote this FOR the besties that see the cinematic parallels so #deceit smp #deceit #yt #txt #orig #solar scrawls #solar scraps

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atamascolily · 6 months

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One thing that I've never seen anyone adequately explain (and rarely if ever comes up in fanfiction) are Walpurgisnacht's trees. What's up with those things, anyway?

They don't seem to fit with either the cogs or the circus motif or anything, they're just kind of... there. So why the arboreal theme? Kinda random, right?

They also seem to persist after Walpurgisnacht herself has vanished.

Seriously, what is this tree doing here??? Why would Walpurgisnacht make these in the first place? They certainly don't show up in Homura's big showdown later on. And okay, fine, maybe Homura intercepted Walpurgisnacht before she could start causing botanical mayhem, but still... their presence in these scenes perplexes me.

It took me a ridiculously long time to figure out the connection, but I think the trees represent branching timelines radiating out from a single point--just like a model of parallel universes. And of course, the fact that its branches are bare and seemingly dead implies that none of these timelines will bear fruit. No life can arise out of the wreckage, just as there is no future for Homura in any of these timelines.

The only other time in PMMM we see this same tree imagery is with Homura. In a scene added for the Blu-Ray (not sure if this is the original series or recap movie), Homura walks through a grove of similar trees immediately after confronting Kyubey about Kyouko's death.

A similar mist appears right before Walpurgisnacht arrives in episode 11, but I don't know if that was meant to be an intentional reference. Regardless, the monochromatic palette in all of these scenes is evocative of depression and despair as the world is literally drained of life, vibrancy, and hope. This is Homura's existence now, trapped in an endless series of loops she cannot break and unable to do anything but keep on fighting.

In keeping with my theory that trees = branching timelines, the next shot immediately afterwards begins to flicker like a piece of film (another recurring visual motif in this series, especially with Homura), eventually resolving into multiple silhouettes of Homura.

After that, we cut to a series of film leaders (the numbered countdown signs), which are yet another visual parallel between Homura and Walpurgisnacht, and one not included in the original TV broadcast.

Similar trees also appear in Rebellion. The first one is in the glass dome where Homura meets with Kyouko, its branches full of bells. Notably, it's by the river, which is likely where the trees from the original series were located (at least the second and third examples above).

The second one is... in Homulilly's skull:

And this is where it gets interesting, because this is immediately after Homura has burst free from her purple-goop-form at Madoka's touch. The tree is either the result of their combined magics, or triggered by it, because it immediately bursts into bloom--the first time we've ever seen one do so over the course of this series.

It's a cherry tree, of course, with all the symbolism that comes with it--full of pink ephemeral flowers (just like Madoka) that bloom on otherwise bare branches. Beauty has emerged from ugliness as the result of Homura's love for Madoka, just as she herself has emerged from her grief thanks to that same emotion--which she will later describe to Kyubey as "more passionate than hope, far deeper than despair".

Thus, it's not surprising that when Homura remakes the world, the first thing we see are blooming cherry trees--even though they were always green and leafy in earlier versions of this scene. The flowers are a symbol for her love even if no one else recognizes it.

So here's the question I wonder about: what would it take for Walpurgisnacht's trees to finally bloom? Or is such a thing even possible in the first place?

#puella magi madoka magica #walpurgisnacht #homura akemi #pmmm analysis

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awpieredactedart · 9 months

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Prints and Stickers for Sale!!!

Here's a list of all items I currently have for sale in my shop! If you are interested in purchasing any items please head over to my Ko-Fi shop.

FYI: THE PRINT LABELED "LOST REEL" WAS AVAILABLE ONLY AS A SPECIAL OFFER FOR PERSONAL FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES AND IS NOT AVAILABLE ON MY KO-FI SHOP.

[ID: An information sheet formatted as two purple boxes outlined in green over a black background. The first box is at the very top of the page and takes up only a small portion of room, containing only one line of text written in light purple font. The text reads "Awpie Redacted Prints". The second box taking up most of the rest of the page contains a series of images and text.

The first and largest image, in the top left corner, shows a realistic scene of space, with a large Jupiter-like planet taking up the foreground, a smaller Mars-like planet aligned to the first further towards the background, and a pinpoint of light like a close star aligned to the two planets further in the background. And in the background itself can be seen distant stars. This image is labeled with text next to it as "Convergence / 18x15 / $30".

The next image is to the right of the first and it shows a stylized drawing of a black fluffy cat with bright green eyes sitting up and looking to the viewer's right. The cat's head and tail both wisp off its body like smoky goo, and the head and tail and underbelly of the cat are all painted with a purple/pink/blue nebula. The cat is outlined in the same greenish yellow as its eyes, and the background behind the cat is another, more pinkish scene of a nebula in space. This image is labeled as "Void (holo) / 6x9.7 / $20 + free Pride Kitty sticker".

Below the left-side image are two more with a shared label beneath them. The image on the left shows Chell from Portal falling through a portal with another above her as she points her portal gun downwards, and is wearing a smiling, almost excited expression. The image on the right shows The Prisoner from Outer Wilds: Echoes of the Eye as a burnt photograph looking outside a large viewport aboard the Stranger towards the Eye of the Universe, with the signal blocker mechanism next to them. These two are labeled as "Freefall" and "Lost Reel" respectively with "11x14 / $20" underneath.

Two more smaller images take up the right side of this section. The top of these two images is a morning sunrise painted scene with colorful dense foliage framing the view. The bottom of these two images is another painted scene showing snow-capped mountain peaks and dense snowfall, with a night sky filled with a vibrant view of space and a large moon above. These are labeled as "Sunrise" and "Snowy Peaks" with the additional information of "7.2x6 / $10".

The last section of the page shows two sets of nine stickers each, both ordered in columns and rows of 3. The stickers on the left are all of a fluffy cat's face colored in with various different scenic backgrounds. These backgrounds include, from left to right/top to bottom, a scene of a bright green meadow, a blueish pink scene of space with a bright star shining down from the center, a purplish view of a cityscape through a dusty window, the cat's face painted in bright neon colors evoking an abstract vaporwave vibe, a view of a black hole and its accretion disk in purples and yellows with the face's outlining inverted from black to white, a pink and orange sunset with clouds, a blue and pink underwater scene with coral in the foreground, another sunset scene but with vibrant plantlife and in colors of the whole rainbow, and a midday scene of a grove of cherry blossom trees in colors of pink and blue and yellow. The other set of stickers all show the same simplistic drawing of a black fluffy cat much like the Void cat above, all holding a flag in its mouth but each flag showing a different pride flag. In order from left to right/top to bottom those flags are ace, aro, nonbinary, lesbian, rainbow, trans, pan, bi, and progress pride flags. This whole section is labeled with "Painted Kitty / 3in / $5" and "Pride Kitty (holo) / 2.3in / 1 - $3 / 2 - $5 / 9 (full set) $22" respectively. End ID.]

#art #space art #scenery #cat #cat art #space cat #stickers #cat stickers #pride cat stickers

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panie-wanie-dean-bean · 8 months

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hmm... by any chance how would you imagine MC met each of the MinecraftHybrid! boys? Like was Joseph violent at first like how wardens normally are in the Ancient City and chilled as he got to see they were harmless? I think I saw you mention how they met Shaun and he probably helped them meet Jack and Rory soon too if I'm guessing, but I am just interested in learning how MC got to know each of the boys.

Ok, so you actually meet Ian first! You two meet in the cherry grove where he lives. He didn't talk to you for the longest time, simply watching you as you did your thing. The first time you catch more than a glimpse of him is when you save him from a zombie hoard

After a while Ian tells you about this wolf that will not leave him alone so you go out to deal with it. Bo doesn't trust you for anything until you pull a few bones from your bag. The bones worked a bit too well because now he keeps calling you master and refuses to leave your side

Bo kept asking you for a leash for his collar so you found a mangrove swamp to get some slime. What you didn't expect to find was a whole ass man just out in the woods. You could tell he was trying to play down his own excitement at seeing you so when he offered for you to come over some time you couldn't say no

During one your hang outs with Shaun Nick stopped by for his medicine. He loves water but it burns his skin if he touches it so Shaun makes him water res potions so he can take a bath every now and again, and not die in rain storms I guess. He's not very talkative but he gives you a poppy by the end of it so you think it went well

Seeing as you wanted to beat the enderdragon at some point you need to go to the Nether for blaze rods but Shaun stops you before you go. He says there might be a different way to get blaze powder that doesn't involve you getting in danger. He has a portal that leads right to a fortress and a very friendly man. Jack thinks you're great, doubly so when you and Rory get along, but he doesn't know about you taking his blaze rods. You two strike a deal that if you help him color-ify the fortress he'll get you those blaze rods

While stocking up for your battle with the enderdragon Shaun asks you to come with him while he gets more dark oak wood. He says there's ghosts in there but you're skeptical. That is until you meet the guy Shaun is so scared of. He looks like an allay but once you start to trust him he tries to stab you, so not the best first impretion

After finally killing the enderdragon you meet Jean, or Jean Jr seeing as his now dead mother was also named Jean...Wait what? "Yeah, that was my mom, thanks by the way, she was real bitch" Jean's kind of a hot mess in the overworld having never seen anything outside of the End but he's pretty cute

And, finally. You knew it was stupid, you knew it was a bad idea but you just had to. You had to find an ancient city. Once you get there you get a bit reckless and summon a warden. It's terrifying, your vision goes dark and all you can hear is your heart racing in your ears as you try and hold your breath. As he comes into view you see this warden looks more...person like than what you were expecting. In a last ditch attempt at saving your own skin you whisper a small apology. After that Joseph calms down, he didn't know you were a person, he doesn't think he could live with killing a person

And that all of them!

#tyrian-bizkits #minecraft hybrid au #whispers of an angry god #sdj Jack #sdj Rory #sdj Jean #sdj Joseph #sdj Bo #sdj Nick #sdj Shaun #sdj Ian #sdj Barry

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pandoa · 2 years

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May irequest for your flower event

Asters ~ “i am willing to wait. i will remain by your side, loyal only to you”

And

Cherry blossoms ~ “your imperfections are what make you simply irresistible”

For azul but his s/o is saying this

Asters ~ “i am willing to wait. i will remain by your side, loyal only to you”

Cherry blossoms ~ “your imperfections are what make you simply irresistible”

~azul ashengrotto x gender neutral reader~ warnings: angst/comfort for our dearest octo boy <3 azul and the reader are also in an established relationship

hello anon! i just wanted to say that i absolutely loved writing this. azul deserves all the comfort he can get and i'm so glad that i was able to write for this side of him. enjoy!

♡Blossom Grove Prompt Event♡

♡know that i am here♡

It was one of those dreary days where the sun refused to emerge from the curtains of gloomy clouds in the overcast sky. The atmosphere was filled with a sweltering dampness that irritated your skin as the wind softly whispered its darkest secrets into your itching ears. Raindrops pattered against the windows with an uneven rhythm. Thunder roared and rumbled through the ground. No one wished to remain out in these unpleasant conditions, and you and Azul were no exception.

Maybe it was the colorless way the trees hung low over the creaking roof of your room at Ramshackle. Perhaps it was the howling shouts of the storm creating a crestfallen mood on all who encountered it. Or it mayhaps could have been the dreadful emptiness surrounding the usually lively Night Raven campus. Whatever it had been, all you were certain of was that it left your dear boyfriend, Azul, to be distraught by his occasional waves of insecurity.

Huddled underneath a sound blanket in your rather cozy dorm room, Azul turned his face away from yours, clearly trying to prevent you from spotting the flowing tears welling up from his eyes. It was moments like this where he wished your gentle gaze would divert its attention to anything that was not himself. He detested the feeling of your worried stares pointed towards him and loathed the fact that you had to see him in such a frazzled state.

“I’m afraid you do not understand,” Azul said as he buried himself in the warm covers of your bed. “I am weak, I am ugly. I may appear to be worthy now; however, deep down I know that I will always remain as the pathetic little merman trapped inside a silly octopus pot like the crybaby I truly am.”

Extending your hand out to cradle his contrastingly cold palm, you grasped Azul’s figure, determination evident in your demeanor. “Azul, look at me. You know none of that matters.” You proclaimed assertively as you peered into your boyfriend’s fallen expression, making sure to maintain an intimate eye contact with the young man. “I love you.”

“How could you love a miserable thing like me?”

“Well, first off,” you began as you placed a concentrating finger against your chin, “you are incredibly intelligent. Look at all the accomplishments your younger self has achieved. Your brilliant mind never ceases to amaze me.”

Azul then peeked his head out from the soft disposition of your blankets at the validating reassurance of your words. Did you really think that? A small part of him wished for you to continue, filling him with a certain sense of warmth gathering within his stomach.

“And your octopus form? All the more arms for you to wrap around my waist in a snuggly embrace,” you whispered into the light-gray locks of the fragile second year before you, caressing each troubling thought that infected Azul’s mind with your own sweet sentences.

“The tears you shed only prove that you are comfortable enough to let yourself be free around me. Do you know just how much pride I get from knowing that you allow yourself to lower your guard around me for the sole reason being that you trust me?” you asked with genuine fondness weaved into your heartwarming voice.

“Your imperfections are what make you simply irresistible. Please do not think that there is a need for you to hide them.”

Azul, who had finally emerged from his place burrowed in your bed, lifted his wavering gaze to your knowing one as he relaxed. “I will try… I suppose. However, there are no promises that I’ll expose them right away. I must have time.”

“Of course. Take all the time that you need. I am willing to wait. I will remain by your side, loyal only to you.”

Running an emollient hand through Azul’s hair, you pulled his form closer to yours in a long overdue embrace that left the Octavinelle housewarden yearning for more of your delicate touches of affection. The emotions you evoked out of Azul seeped out of the boy in an uncharacteristic manner regardless of whether he wanted them to or not. Feelings of a swelling passion growing in his heart, feelings of overwhelming courage in his step, and finally, feelings of weakness that was not necessarily a bad thing when only shown to you, his lover.

Vulnerability.

a/n: woooooo two azul requests in a row lol

#twisted wonderland #disney twisted wonderland #twst #disney twst #twisted wonderland x reader #twst x reader #twst imagines #twst scenarios #azul ashengrotto #twst azul #azul ashengrotto x reader #azul twisted wonderland #azul twst #azul x reader #azul ashengrotto x y/n #octavinelle #gender neutral reader #blossom grove prompt event #twst angst

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weilongfu · 4 months

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DeanPharm Nymph AU - Panther Hybrid!Dean protecting Human!Pharm from other prey animals up in the mountains

The sun had still not yet risen when Pharm set down his last order, wrapped in coarse brown paper, on his counter before checking the lot one last time. "One for Bohn in the grove, one for Sarawat in the forest, one for Ram in the western thicket, one for Team by the lake, and two for Pha in the woods." Pharm checked them off on his list and smiled. "And once these are all delivered, I'll be right by the mountain in time to pick ingredients."

Pharm pulled a large basket over with straps to carry it on his back. It was woven carefully to be light yet strong. Peeking inside, Pharm smiled at the pair of linen pants, tunic, and boots at the bottom. "Hmm... I wonder if I'll see him today too." Pharm said with a smile as he looked out the window of his shop towards the mountains. "It is his mountain after all."

Pharm carefully stacked his packages in his basket and hefted it onto his shoulders. After another minute to lock up his store, Pharm set off. The path through all his destinations was winding, but Pharm relished the fresh air, sweet smelling in a different way than the smell of cakes and sweets in his kitchen. Sarawat was the first one encountered, sleeping under a tree; however, his package was received by the sparkling eyed nymph Tine who drew a very pretty flower in Pharm's notebook as signature of receipt.

"You better make sure he sees it before you eat it all," Pharm said while patting the taller nymph on the head. Tine only responded by putting a bouquet of sweet smelling violets in Pharm's basket and patting Pharm's head in return.

Next, Pharm found Ram and Bohn up early setting traps. Both accepted their packages and signed, but only Bohn was amused by Tine's signature.

"Thanks Pharm," Bohn said as he carefully stowed his package into his bag. "Duen's been looking forward to these." Bohn then gave Pharm a bag of dried and pitted cherries. Ram nodded in agreement and offered Pharm his pick of several hares and game birds. Pharm pointed at the ones he wanted and Ram nodded again, setting them aside to be delivered later in the day except for one hare, which Pharm took with him.

Next, Pharm found Pha traveling into the woods with company, the mysterious partner most of the village only knew by the smell of roses. "Hello, Pha. Hello, Yo." Pharm said with a smile before offering them their packages. Yo accepted happily while Pha signed Pharm's notebook.

"I'm glad we caught you here," Pha said while Yo peeked inside the wrapping. "The kids stayed with Pete in the woods last night and we're going to pick them up so they don't miss their lessons. They'll enjoy these for breakfast."

Pharm giggled while Yo snuck a piece of something. "I hope there'll be some left at any rate." Yo pouted at being caught and chastised by Pha, but left a small leaf-wrapped package of rosehips in Pharm's basket in thanks.

At last, Pharm came up to the lake and Team's camp beside it. Team was still snoring away, but beside him, another body stirred as Pharm approached.

"Oh, Win, right?" Pharm sat down a small distance away as Win eyed him carefully. "We met before, remember?" Pharm held out his hand and Win carefully took it and traced the lines of Pharm's palm.

Win's hands began to move further up Pharm's arm when a growl reverberated through the area. Win scrunched up his face and turned to look at the large panther stalking over. The panther nudged their hands apart before curling around Pharm and licking his face.

"Dean!" Pharm said with a giggle while hugging the large mountain cat. "Win is your friend, you didn't have anything to worry about."

Win made a variety of gestures at Dean while his mouth moved and Pharm was sure it was a particular brand of insult between nature spirits, or perhaps he was telling Dean to be irritating elsewhere and not disturb Team's sleep. Either way, Pharm gave Dean a scratch behind one of his ears before offering Win the package for Team. Win accepted and began drawing a crude picture in Pharm's notebook before Dean attempted to bite his hand. Win jerked away, looking scandalized before moving to lay next to Team again.

Dean huffed and then started grooming Pharm. "Dean! I took a shower!" Pharm rummaged in his basket and pulled out the hare from Ram. "Here, I brought you something too." Dean sniffed the hare and took it before walking off to the side to eat it. As Dean stalked off, Win returned, offering Pharm a woven basket filled with dried fish.

"Thank you, Win," Pharm said with a smile. "Next time, no pictures of people humping as your signature."

As Pharm rearranged the items in his basket to account for the things he'd been given, Dean returned and circled Pharm, rubbing the side of his body against Pharm's legs and his cheeks along Pharm's hips.

"Deaaaannn!" Pharm hoisted his basket up once more and pet Dean's head. "Come on, I'm not done yet."

Dean grumbled with a low, disappointed sound, but followed Pharm up the trail from the lake to the mountains. As Pharm began his foraging, Dean's ears stayed perked and alert. Once or twice, something sounded as if it was approaching, but Dean growled and the sounds turned into fleeing.

Later in the morning, Pharm caught the sight of wolves out of the corner of his eyes, in particular, one smaller one with fur in hues of gold and pink following a larger one in dark silver while being followed by one in light gray. Dean spared them no attention and the wolves came no closer, even though the gold and pink one did stop to stare for a moment.

At last, the sun was at its peak in the sky and Pharm looked in his basket, satisfied by what he'd managed to find. "This should last me for another week or two." Pharm turned to pet Dean once more and Dean stretched as he stood up from his position curled protectively around Pharm. "Will you want to come back to town with me?" Pharm asked as he scratched under Dean's chin. Dean purred and there was a shift before a tan and naked human lay where the panther had been. Pharm's cheeks turned pink as Dean's human form wrapped his arms around Pharm and kissed him properly. Pharm could only squeak before thrusting his hand into his basket and pulling out the clothes he'd kept there earlier. "You know the rules, no coming to town naked. I don't want Forth to try and explain things away again."

Dean pecked both of Pharm's cheeks before accepting the clothes and pulling them on. Pharm turned away but Dean still nipped at Pharm's neck, indicating he knew the effect he had on the smaller man.

"Deaaaannn!" Pharm turned around to give Dean the full force of his pout, but Dean had already dressed and Pharm had only turned his face into Dean's chest. Dean's arms wrapped around Pharm again, before nuzzling the top of Pharm's head. Another gentle kiss to Pharm's lips followed before Dean hoisted Pharm's basket onto his own shoulders. "You don't have to... I can carry it, Dean." Dean shook his head and took Pharm's hand before kissing the knuckles and leading him back down the mountain trail, hand in hand.

"Thank you, Dean," Pharm said as they continued back to the village. Despite not being able to purr in quite the same way in his human form, the sound from Dean still filled Pharm's chest with warmth. "Will you be staying long this time?" Dean kissed Pharm's knuckles again. "Just until I go back to the mountain? That's fine. But no keeping me up so late again!" Dean pouted and nuzzled Pharm's cheek. "I can survive letting you eat your fill of food, Dean. I don't think I can always survive your other appetite."

#until we meet again #uwma #deanpharm #nymph!AU #prompt spam weekend #winterpromptspam2023

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zahri-melitor · 4 months

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DC Rebirth Holiday Special #1

DC celebrated breaking the chains of the New 52 by going back to making annual specials. So we've got 8 more to get through. This one I am told does contain some Santas.

A Very Harley Holiday - Harley Quinn. This is the frame story for the issue. It contains some 'real' Santa moments - Harley watches a TV Christmas movie in which she arranges for Krypto to help fly Santa's sleigh as the reindeer have colds. (Just noting 'oh dear the reindeer are sick' is definitely a DC trope at this point).

The Last Minute - Superman & Batman. The usual 'oh no I've got to get the In Demand Present For the Child' fluff. In this case Clark's running around trying to find it, only to have the last one swiped by Damian, who proceeds to give it to Jon for Christmas. Maybe shop earlier or order it ahead of time, Supes? (Moral is "Damian gave Jon something more important - a friend")

For the Dog Who Has Everything - Superboy. Jon gets Clark to turn the belt from his first uniform into a collar for Krypto for Christmas.

The Night We Saved Christmas - Detective Chimp & Batman. I adore this story.

Bobo gets hired by 'Noel', the 'Santa over at the Grove Shopping Mall' to find his stolen 'dog'.

Bobo tracks the culprit down to Gotham and then takes Bruce out to hunt down the guy who stole the dog, incidentally proving himself the better detective several times, as he's Bobo. When the finally find the stolen dog...it's a REINDEER. Bobo calls Noel to say WTF, Noel says he'll be right there... and turns up immediately on the doorstep. (Hello Real Santa).

I adore Santa-I-mean-Noel’s look.

Dreaming of a White Christmas - Constantine & Wonder Woman.

Constantine is trying to track down a particular witch on the Winter Solstice at a Solstice event. He ends up teaming up with Diana who's also there tracking someone, and then calling the spirits of the 'Witches of Lancaster' (for the record this was WAY more women than the actual Pendle Witches, which I recognised as the Pendle Witches based on the imagery, and I am quietly playing red string theory board in my mind right now about Tamaki referencing the Pendle Witches).

They find their quarry together, and Constantine gets a spell on him lifted by telling the witch his nightmare - which is sitting on Santa's lap.

A Flash Christmas Carol - Flash. The Rogues and Barry Allen have a truce over Christmas so Barry can deliver presents to foster kids/anyone in need.

Day of Returning - Justice League of China. The team celebrate Dongzhi (Winter Solstice) by capturing a rogue trying to 'return the city to its natural state' and then eating festival foods together before returning her to jail.

Light in the Dark - Batwoman. Oh look it's the Hanukkah story. Kate's really taken over the role from Ragman. Kate remembers getting cherry pie with her father at a diner during Hanukkah as a tradition. Then she's given a mission to help secure some data from a company of arms dealers. After reconnecting with Kit and beating everyone up, she gets her pie, with some of her friends.

What a Year for a New Year - Titans. They celebrate the New Year together (and their returned memories) by battling some drag racers (including joining the drag race) and getting some team time relying on each other in. Fab Five minus Wally, plus Lilith. Then Dick realises he's late...

I Don't Wanna Be Late - Nightwing & Batgirl. To meet Babs. Babs is also running late from helping people, and they end up at the top of the bridge the planned to meet on at the same time, to watch the fireworks. I THINK this bridge is in New York, which stymies my 'guess which Gotham Bridge that is' game.

The Epiphany - Green Lanterns. It's Simon and Jessica! Aliens turn up and make the two of them face three trials, with Earth itself as collateral for their passing the trials.

#DC Santa read along

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the-starry-seas · 13 days

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top five leafy trees GO

oh hell yeah

First of all you simply cannot go wrong with a drop-dead gorgeous birch tree. I mean look at her. She's the runway model of leafy things. Absolutely nobody is doing it like her, they couldn't even try. AND have you seen her in the fall??? Can't be beat. Very beautiful, very powerful.

Second is aspens but specifically that tree in Salt Lake City, Utah, that cloned itself into lke 40,000 trees and allegedly goes back to the end of the last ice age. (Speaking of which: Ice Age the movie is an underrated masterpiece and I tell everyone to watch it. Unironically my favourite found family movie and my dad and I still quote various bits from it.)

Third is the pussy willow because there was one in my grandparents' backyard when I was a kid and I climbed that thing like a squirrel. Also the buds are SO soft. It feels like petting a fleece blanket. Crime against me personally that we no longer live in visiting vicinity of the tree.

Fourth is the cherry tree because it's just so friggin pretty. There's a few in someone's yard on the drive to the library and every time I'm the DiCaprio pointing meme. Ethereal. These trees are planted in the Undying Lands of the elves. So pretty.

Fifth is sweetgum! Look at that pointy little bastard. Even more beautiful when the colours start to turn because I swear this leaf is the one that always has 2-3 colours on it instead of just one. Living art piece. Majestic. Fuck those burrs though I can't say enough bad things about them.

Extra shoutout to my dad's favourite which is the yellow poplar. The leaves look like a cat's head when they're upside down. (Allegedly. I don't really see it half the time.)

Also extra shotout to the slash pine which is literally the only thing I miss about Florida. I am ambivalent to the pinecones (longleaf pines' are superior in every way but I do have a soft spot for pinyon pines because they just look like aliens). But there's something just really fun about seeing a whole grove of them and realising that yeah they just look Like That without anyone cutting the lower branches off.

#i have strong opinions about trees

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awesomerextyphoon · 2 years

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Ravenous

Summary: You’ve lost so much, but with Bucky’s help, maybe you can make something beautiful.

Pairing: Bucky x Eldritch-Enhanced Black Female Reader

Rating: 18+ / Explicit

Word Count: 6.4K

Warnings: Smut, Oral (f and m receiving), ‘Tentacle Job’ (I’m making it a thing), Fantasy Gore, Cannibalism (sort of), Body Worship, Suicidal Thoughts, Mentions of Torture, and a lot of Angst

A/N: This is my entry for the amazing @plaid-shirtsandvibranium-arms’s Cassie’s Make It Badass Challenge. This might be the darkest one-shot I’ve done so far in terms of violence/gore/angst. You have been warned. Dividers are by the lovely @firefly-graphics. Thanks to @bamposworld and @saiyanprincessswanie the beta.

Back to Main Masterlist

“And done!” you huffed as you wiped your forehead of sweat.

You had just finished making a feast of Bucky’s favorites. Heaps of: Baked Ziti, Honey-Tenderized Boeuf Bourguignon, Creamy Mashed Potatoes with Savory Mushroom Gravy, Five Herb Roasted Cornish Hens, Coq au Vin, Three Cheese, and Spinach Ravioli, Rosemary Braised Lamb Shanks with Polenta, Spinach Quiche, Chicken Pot Pie, Beef Stew, Hearty Beef Lasagna, Southern Peach Cobbler, Limoncello Ricotta Cake, Plum Cherry Galette, and Chocolate Cherry Brownie Layer Cake.

The colossal table groaned under the weight of the decadent dishes. You chuckled to yourself hoping you didn’t go overboard.

Your moment of triumph was interrupted by your ravenous appetite. Again.

“I know, I know, “you grumbled rubbing your voracious tummy. “I do hope Bucky comes home soon,” frowning at how you got to this point

You were on your way home from sending a package to the Post Office on behalf of your cousin Ngozika who was busy getting ready for Erinma’s, your younger sister, birthday party. You wanted to take a shortcut through the park so you could help with the decorations happy that you and your cousin were able to convince her to invite at least ten people; five said yes.

You were halfway past the grove behind the west playground when you felt a ping and the back of your neck as your world faded to black. The last thing you saw was three sets of shoes.

You woke up to a dingy, bare, windowless room with 12 other women aged 18 – 25. An eerily delighted voice announced that you passed the first round of Operation Hellcat. Later it was slipped that there were 50 at the start, but the others were not as lucky.

You spent ten years in that hellhole.

Every day you were pricked, probed, and prodded by perverted and sadistic scientists. All of you were constantly fondled by the guards whenever they had the chance. One scientist, Dr. Tomlin, mused that only you and another survived the fifth year of the project.

Sometime later, when the admins decided to throw you a bone, you met the other survivor. Roxana was a little timid with some fire left in her eyes; you smirked when she gave a guard a right hook after groping her ass.

You talked a few times, avoiding additional disapproval from your captors. You learned that she was the youngest of six who was on her way to a spring festival when they kidnapped her. Roxana would crack a few jokes offering what little levity one could find in your situation.

You talked about what you would do once you saw the outside. Roxana wanted to see her siblings again hoping they wouldn’t worry too much, especially after her parents died in a car crash. She talked about wanting to become a marine biologist regaling you with anything and everything she remembers reading growing up. You talked about your dream of becoming a travel writer backpacking through Europe and South America.

You gave each other hope, hope that was blissfully crushed.

It was the morning of September 28, 2008 (Ngozika’s 38th birthday), when you were both, dragged out and brought before a man in front of the usual row of scientists who went by the name of Braddock. He looked over the two of you with a menacing eye smirking as he molested you and Roxana. He turned to the former head scientist, Dr. Beecham, who nodded to the newcomer and grinned sardonically.

With that, Braddock announced it was time for the operation.

The guards dragged you past a set of double doors to a new hallway. The hairs on your arms raised as you felt Roxana’s fearful expression trying her hardest not to cry. You reached out your hand to grab hers, but a guard slapped it away.

One last set of bolted steel doors led you to a ghostly white room with two beds inside a pod connected to an arc belonging to a zany sci-fi novel and in front of the portal was a podium with a glowing electric blue cube.

The scientists and Braddock hid on the other side of the one-sided mirror, like the cowards they were.

Braddock motioned for the guards to strap you to the beds as he made some deluded declaration of HYDRA’s greatness.

Roxana smiled weakly reminding you to think of your family and your dreams while you did the same. You both hoped to see the outside, together.

Braddock bellowed to open the portal thinking that the results would lead HYDRA to greater heights.

He wasn’t exactly wrong.

The cube started to levitate as the lights dimmed. A beam of light shot into the gateway creating a portal. Braddock ordered the guards and workers to get back, but it was too late.

You and Roxana could only watch in horror as black mist filled the room and giant midnight purple tentacles, tendrils, paws with extended claws and talons erupted from the portal. They tore into the guards and workers who were still in the room. All of their body parts (impaled or otherwise) were flung into what looked to be a mouth in the center of the portal. You tried your best to block it out, but you could still hear the crunches, squelches, and cracks of bodies along with their muffled screams.

As the last of the not test subjects were devoured, a golden orb traveled up the beam, through the cube, and split into two. The beds disintegrated as both of you were forced upright and facing each other with the orbs between you. Tendrils of golden light ebbed out feeling your souls deciding which one it will choose. Two of the tendrils paused in front of your eyes before glowing an ocean blue while Roxana’s glowed crimson red.

You shrieked as tendrils from both orbs shot into you. Their hooks pierced your skin through your fingers, eyes, mouth, toes, ears, and nose as the orbs shrunk to nothingness.

Roxana cried out to you in terror as rays of deep purple surged from your eyes and mouth and enveloped your form. The appendages deluged from the portal into the light. Your eyes became the abyss as several of the tentacles grabbed Roxana.

You didn’t register your dear friend’s screams until it was too late. All you could think of was hunger.

Once the mist dispersed and the remaining guards rushed in, all they found was you in the middle of the room tears streaming down your cheeks cradling Roxana's detached face. Everything else was gone.

You shouted at the guards to stay away from them only listening when your shouts turned into a legion of roars and tentacles shot out from your midsection capturing the guards.

Braddock commanded the restraining cuffs to be administered via magnetic force fields.

You didn’t fight back at that point. All that was on your mind was the anguish of devouring your only friend and the loneliness that will surely follow.

They moved you to a new base (you think) deep underground where they experimented with your new powers.

They found that you can manipulate various types of matter and energy. Braddock was pleased to find that Operation Hellcat wasn’t a complete waste.

Unfortunately, they could only get you to do damage control.

Though later, they found that you could turn various materials like limestone or plastic into something ‘useful’ such as gold, silver, moonstone, tungsten, uranium, titanium, and even a weird metal called vibranium after getting a starter sample from a man named Klaue.

They would ‘feed’ you once a month; usually, a target that needed to disappear. Fury was catching onto the disappearing bodies.

Not long after, you learned that you could absorb the memories and knowledge of those you devoured, but you kept that ability to yourself.

Your captors kept you well enough that the tentacles never came out. Made sense since they didn’t want a repeat of the time when you devoured ten guards when there was a lapse in the restraining cuffs. You chuckled when you overheard one of the guards saying that being sent to your cell was a punishment.

Two years into your ‘arrangement’, Braddock thought you deserved a ‘reward’ so they modified the cuffs to let you move around your cell. Though you guessed it was so that you would be less likely to lash out and devour more scientists.

You decided to redesign your prison into an amalgamation of your father’s home and what you glean from Roxana’s memories.

It was five months later when you met him.

You were starving as usual. They made you trans-mutate truckloads of sand into gold, titanium, diamonds, and vibranium. The guards mentioned someone called the Asset would be dropping off your meal soon.

You waited for 30 minutes until the door opened revealing a tall, somewhat shadowy figure of a man. He had chin-length Ponzu-colored hair with Seal Brown and Chestnut highlights; it was grungy yet silky. He was broad yet lean in shape, the perfect specimen to be their weapon.

But the most striking aspect about him was his eyes; blue, like the winter sea after a storm. Beautiful, yet frightened and forlorn.

What little cask of your heart broke for he too was also a prisoner.

You snapped out of your musings to hear him explain that your meal was of some diplomats that got in HYDRA’s way.

The exchange was terse, but you found yourself doing something for the first time in a while; you smiled and waved as he was leaving, if only meekly. He stopped and stared for about 20 seconds before the loudspeaker shouted in Russian for the Soldat to leave.

You chuckled as your smile grew. For the first time in over two years you were starving, and you hoped to see him again.

Your mystery deliverer visited you a few more times. After the fifth time, you were able to touch his hand and he reciprocated. It was exhilarating. No one has touched or wanted to go near you in years.

He stayed longer with each visit. It took some time for him to talk; he didn’t say much, but he had a deep, smooth voice. You didn’t really care. You just needed someone who wasn’t out to fuck with your life to talk to you.

The two of you would fall into a routine of you rattling on whatever occupied your mind’s eye and him listening sometimes smiling or touching your hand ever so often. The best visit was when he let you hug him loving the forgotten warmth it brought.

Once again, they had to eviscerate any happiness in your life.

Six months after the hug, your mystery acquaintance dropped off your meal but quickly turned to the door without so much as a glance.

You rushed over to greet him but stopped at the sight of his bitterly cold glower. Another man, Rumlow, butted in stating that the Asset could no longer be distracted finishing off with a cruel laugh at the tears that threatened to pour from your eyes.

They both promptly left before the tentacles could attack them as you fell to your knees consumed by despair.

Why did this have to happen to you?!

Your heart raged as your tears dried. You couldn’t keep living like this.

You wouldn’t.

You got your chance three years later.

The base was in an uproar; Project Insight had failed. HYDRA was exposed and going down in flames. The control room was bedlam with everyone scurrying like mice failing to notice the lapse on the monitors.

All it took was a clink to rouse you from your partial slumber. Your eyes shot open with a vengeful sneer marring your face. You sensed no one outside the customary three layers of your containment unit.

It seemed that your captors feared the cops more than you.

Their mistake.

You blasted the doors to your prison. Black mist filled the base. All 100 inhabitants stopped their scurrying in abject terror.

It was loose.

The guards closest to your cell were the first to fall. One of them cried out for help on his phone, but one of your tentacles ripped off his arm, grabbed his torso, and pulled his terrifying form into your voracious maws.

A science assistant could only watch in horror as tentacles seemed to grow out of their colleague’s navel increasing in size as they split the body with a vile crunch.

One of the higher-ups threw his secretary into the mist only for you to respond with a cacophony of shrills and impaling him with various-sized tendrils.

Their screams could've probably been heard for miles.

Only after you had your fill of every loathsome creature at the base and felt the welcoming warmth of sunlight did you regain consciousness with a massive belch.

You screamed as you fell to your knees tears streaming down your face.

Yes, you were finally free, but at what cost?

You had devoured Roxana, your only friend in this hellscape. You didn’t know if anyone from your family was still alive; you didn’t put it past HYDRA to hunt them down.

You never knew what became of the Soldat, your Soldat.

You had one thing though, the need for revenge.

Based on the memories you absorbed, HYDRA leadership was no more due to the utter failure of Project Insight and Natalia Romanova info-dumping the entire HYDRA archives.

There were still others associated with the now ‘shelved’ Project Hellcat.

You needed to find them and end them. If nothing else, to make sure no one else has to suffer like you.

Now you needed to make a plan. You found the closet functioning computer on the base and did some digging.

You finally learned of your Soldat. His name was James Buchanan Barnes, a WWII vet born in 1917.

“James!” you beamed as the front door opened to reveal your Soldat. Flying into his arms he pulled you in for a passionate kiss.

“Is this all for me?” Bucky peered over your shoulder at the feast on the table.

“Of course, silly!”

“You didn’t have to, y’know.” He scratched the back of his head, not sure what to make of your efforts.

“Nonsense!” you playfully swatted his muscled pecs, “I wanted to return the favor, and because I love so darn much!”

“Well, your feast is in the warehouse. I got a special treat just for you. I hope you like it.” Bucky pecked your lips pulling out your chair before his own.

“Oh thank you, Bucky!”you pecked his cheek before gesturing towards the food, “Now dig in before it gets cold.” you insisted grabbing a large plate of some of his favorites despite his protests.

It only took one bite of lasagna for him to devour the food with a near animalistic vigor. You beamed with pride seeing something you made bringing some happiness again.

“How was your trip?” you inquired chiding Bucky to finish his food first.

Bucky stopped eating, placed his utensils down, and kept his head down. “I...I saw Steve again.”

Your smile faltered.

You knew Steve Rogers was a sore subject to James. He nearly killed him multiple times during HYDRA’s fall. Bucky didn’t think he was worthy to talk to Steve again.

You didn’t believe that for a second, though you didn’t have room to talk.

“It still surprises me how much that punk’s changed and somehow still remains the same.” Bucky chuckled as you gently squeezed his flesh hand.

After Project Insight’s failure to launch, James went underground learning as much as he could about Steve Rogers/Captain America. He went to the Captain America wing of the Smithsonian. He could’ve sworn he saw a few toddlers recognizing him tugging on their older relatives' pant legs in hopes they’ll see a living legend.

Bucky tried to find his old neighborhood in Brooklyn only to find that it was either destroyed or renovated beyond recognition. It wasn’t until he went to a hole-in-the-wall bookstore that he found some respite in the form of an art book from one of Steve’s classes. That led him down a rabbit hole of picture books from the 20s to early 50s. There were pictures of activities he and Steve would do in their spare time as kids, Coney Island, the cinema across from old man Roscoe's Deli.

The tears nearly fell from his eyes in a deluge.

Memories of eating a sundae with his sisters and Steve at the local creamery, getting groceries for his ma while making sure she wasn’t carrying too much, pushing his sisters on the swings in the park, winning his first camera in a bet against the Desmond Boys, Steve convincing him not to sell said camera so he could score a date with Meredith, Becca first word being his name, finally getting Mason and his boys to leave Steve alone, and the blunder known as Rockaway Beach flooded Bucky’s mind.

James had to leave the bookstore before he was discovered.

He meandered down the street wondering what was left of his life. What happened to his sisters? Were they still alive? Did they have children or grandchildren? What became of his mother? How did she take the news of his death?

Bucky couldn’t bring himself to visit the cemetery.

James felt ashamed of himself. He wondered if his 40s self would’ve had a sick laugh at his present self’s expense.

One day, Bucky walked around his apartment block and saw a group of young children playing in a daycare playground.

They reminded him of you, his angel. Your eyes would glow with joy at the memories of helping your cousin with children at her office. He didn’t say much at the time, but he smiled and held your hand.

You were the final embers of light in his life.

Life was relatively quiet albeit filled with nightmares until he started to feel eyes on him. Several HYDRA fragments found him, so with a heavy heart, Bucky was once again on the run.

James was in London when it happened.

He decided to take the fight to HYDRA and tracked down a task force to a warehouse a few miles outside the metropolitan area. Fifteen ops surrounding him led by one of the head guards of Operation Hellcat. Nothing he couldn’t handle.

Dark gray mist filled the warehouse followed by a storm of black, violet, red, and gold mists concealing the source of the tempest of beastly roars and otherworldly wails. The unearthly sounds gave way to cracks, squelches, crunches, gargles, and screams of the men filled his ears all the while focusing on a familiar warmth around his waist.

The storm subsided to reveal his angel hugging and kissing his face with tears streaming down her face.

You finally found him.

Gently tilting up your chin, he sighed into a kiss that was every bit as wonderful as he imagined and more.

You were together at last.

“He’s still looking for me.” Bucky croaked unable to conceal his sorrow any longer.

“I know, James. I know.” you consoled as you pulled him into your arms kissing away his tears.

The sad thing is that part of Bucky wanted Steve to find him. But another part of him wanted to stay hidden. He didn’t know how Steve and the rest of his team would treat you once they discover what HYDRA did to you. Would they accept both of you with open arms? Or would they turn you into the authorities? Would they take you away from him?

He couldn’t bear you getting hurt like that again.

“Umm,” you started annoyed at your stomach’s insistent growling and the voices were getting louder demanding that you feed them, “Could we finish this later? I’m starving.”

“Of course, angel. Don’t worry about the dishes.” Bucky kissed your forehead, “Now go enjoy your feast.”

You strolled out of the brownstone towards the warehouse. The whole place was a reconstruction of the base that held you prisoner.

<<LET US FEED>>

‘Not yet.’

Opening one of the side doors, you entered and flipped on the lights. Spread out in a multilayered heart pattern were: 12 freshly dead cows, 10 freshly dead bucks, six freshly dead moose, five dead horses, a preserved hippo’s body, and 50 humans bound, blindfolded, and confused.

Smiling to yourself you made a mental note to thank Bucky for such a feast.

After removing their bindings with a wave of your hand, the living occupants of your meal stumbled and scurried around like fragile mice. You recognized most of them as upper HYDRA scum who managed to evade imprisonment, political figures with serious HYDRA ties, and several scientists involved with Project Hellcat including Drs. Walters, Beecham, Tomlin, Lamberti, Kumar, Mertens, and Wagner.

Lastly, standing in the middle of the arrangement was none other than Braddock.

They all seemed to stop moving when their eyes landed on you. Good. You wanted them to know that you’d be the last thing these scum see.

Black mist seeped in from the ground as you walked towards them. Several of the bastards, knowing this song and dance, tried to distance themselves from the group eyeing the walls for any possible exit.

One of them, a politician, stepped forward, “You look like a reasonable woman. I’ll give you anything! Money, power, you name it!”

You pressed your forefinger to your chin and pursed your lips, “Hmm, I want you,” you began disintegrating your clothes. Somehow the politician got aroused which made you feel even less for what’s next, “to feed me!” you grinned revealing your elongated fangs.

The royal purple and gold waves of your stomach tattoo started to rotate. Barbed black tentacles, tendrils, and claws swirled out covering your body and you became one with the mist.

The horny politician ran as he howled to the heavens in despair his fingers bleeding as he scraped the concrete floor. He gave in to his fate when he saw no one move to help him.

Why hasten their own demise?

His shrieks of terror were soon drowned out by crunches, cracks, and squelches as well as your moans of finally eating something filling.

You returned to the rest of the desperate souls licking your fingers, rubbing your ‘food baby’. Everyone saw the man’s face screaming in your belly before a tendril sliced it in half.

“Whew, that hit the spot!” you exclaimed after a loud belch, “But not nearly enough! So who’s next?”

Everyone else was in complete chaos. Some pushed each other forward, four almost fainted, and the rest screamed and begged to be released. You could’ve sworn one of them pissed themselves.

You sighed and tried again, “Okay, I’m gonna level with y’all. Anyone who makes it out these doors,” you gestured to the open exits, “by the time I count to ten gets to live. Alright?”

Everyone shut up and nodded.

“Okay, then.” your body already halfway blended into the mist.

“One…”

It didn’t take long to eat the rest. It was easy once you pulverized their legs.

You noticed Braddock wasn’t moving, so you created a light above his person. He was coughing blood but refused to move. He thought he was going to face death with dignity.

Pompous Idiot.

“Was it worth it?” you asked sauntering up to him in your human form.

His response was to spit in your face,” HYDRA would’ve ruled this world for all time if it weren’t for your pathetic feelings! Such power is wasted on you!!”

Braddock’s mind snapped and screamed as you transformed into your other form.

“Better to be an emotional monster than a fascist piece of shit!” you retorted as you gleefully devoured him delighted to be rid of him.

“Are you satisfied?’

<<VERY>>

“Good.” you winced gently pressing your knuckles into your overstuffed belly. You belched a few more times loving how full you were. Whether it was the voices or the pessimism that came with being held hostage and starved for 20+ years or the fact that you could finally eat your heart's content, feeling full always made you feel like everything was going well, if only for a mere moment.

You chuckled to yourself. Never did you think that you wouldn’t care if anyone heard or saw you do such things.

Guess it might be because you didn’t really have anything left to lose.

It took several months after securing your freedom to get an independent hold on your powers keeping the cuffs around just in case. You started hearing voices in your head as if they were a legion. They took pity on you and offered to lend you their powers as long as you kept them fed.

In time, you learned more about what you gained. You could: teleport through your mists, manipulate all kinds of materials, manipulate various forms of energy and even use it to satisfy your hunger (though the voices didn’t like it), and comprehend a lot more at a rapid rate.

You could even manipulate reality to an extent.

Though all of that couldn’t make up for what you lost.

You couldn’t eat ‘normal’ food as everything turned to ash after a few bites. You were always hungry having to consume the biomass of at least two large bucks and a cow every day to keep the voices at bay.

You couldn’t be in public for long lest you start seeing everyone as food. You dreaded the signs: your eyes would glow gold as your stomach would growl and drool would escape your mouth while the voices demand that you feed.

One day when you felt you had a good grasp on your powers, you tried walking in a park. You smiled and waved to children running around without a care in the world content to share in their joy.

You only lasted five minutes before your stomach growled and voices came back. You cried yourself to sleep that night feeling like an abomination wondering if everyone would be better off with you gone.

It always felt like there was a barrier between you and everyone else gleefully reminding you of what you’ve lost.

You trudged back to the brownstone once your ‘feast’ was digested.

You were happy to finally be rid of Braddock and his ilk as they could no longer destroy any more lives, but it just felt hollow. You were still bound to a being outside of time and space, and you couldn’t see your family without wanting to devour them.

You found Bucky in bed flipping through a vintage album of his old neighborhood.

“Thank you so much for the feast, love!” you gushed as you changed into a Delicate Sunshade Lace Kimono and thong.

“Had to return the favor after you said you were gonna make a feast of my favorites, sweetheart.”

“How did you find them?”

Most of the people digesting in your stomach were on the run once word got about your feedings. Some tried moving off the grid. One even got plastic surgery.

Braddock was the oddest. Bucky found them in a cabin out in the middle of nowhere hoping to die before you could find him.

“Doesn’t matter. They’re better off in your tummy making sure my angel is stuffed and satisfied.” he cooed in your ear kissing and rubbing your tummy for emphasis.

You giggled and playfully swatted him away loving how outgoing and playful he became once he was free of HYDRA’s control.

It was hard for you at first since he was a little stunned to see you after the initial kiss. You discovered that he was funny, caring, and thoughtful. It did take some time to have any physical relations though you were over the moon when your body didn’t see him as food.

If anything, he seemed to silence the voices for a bit.

Nine months passed before you had time with Bucky. It was amazing, even more so when you didn’t get hungry for five days.

“Have you talked to Erinma?” Bucky paused his playful demeanor.

Your eyebrows furrowed as your heart rate sped up.

You finally had the courage to seek out your family three months ago hoping to reconnect with them.

Unfortunately, both your father and Ngozika were dead.

Your father died in 1997 when his body gave out after suffering two strokes compounded by diabetes. The doctors figured the stress of losing may have played a part.

They tried everything they could to find you. The police gave up only after two weeks and the PI stopped after 14 months. Though you wouldn’t put it past HYDRA to quash the investigation.

Ngozika was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006. It would’ve been caught soon had the country cared to get universal healthcare. Her remission didn’t go as well as everyone hoped with her lasting about 3.5 years.

She died without ever knowing if you were alive or not.

You spent two nights mourning the loss of your father and surrogate big sister at their headstones. You would’ve stayed longer, but you had to feed.

Erinma did achieve her goal of becoming a pulmonary surgeon spurred on by the deaths of your father and Ngozika. Granted it did also land her $80K in student loan debt. She was forced to sell her childhood house and father’s motorcycle to come close to breaking even.

She even had twins, a girl and a boy named Kamharida (I shall not fall) and Ikemefuna (I shall not lose my strength).

You laughed bitterly. While you were truly happy for your sister, everyone thought you would be the one to have children, including yourself. Now it was a cruel fantasy.

You’ve entertained the idea of seeing your sister again as you desperately wanted to see her and be part of your niece and nephew’s lives. But you were terrified of your sister calling you a monster, though you couldn’t blame her for all the things you’ve done.

“I dialed her number...but I couldn’t say anything.” you sobbed.

What could you say? You were kidnapped by a decades-old white supremacist organization that tortured and experimented on you for decades. You were bound to a being that requires an ungodly amount of flesh to keep you from becoming a berserker of gluttony.

Sure, you were able to divert the lion's share of HYDRA’s assets to shell companies to supply yourself with the necessary biomass, but--

“Stop being cruel to yourself. You are incredibly kind, selfless, caring, and most definitely NOT a monster.”

“Never cry for you are my beautiful angel, my magnificent goddess sent from above.” He cooed as he kissed your tears, cheeks, forehead, and jaw with each affirmation. His thumb ran across your lower lip as his face broke out into a breathtakingly handsome smile.

It was so pure you could cry.

You hugged Bucky inhaling his smoked cedar, citrus, and aged leather scent. Once his scent calms you down, you cupped his cheeks and pulled him for a kiss.

James groaned as you part your mouth for him delighting in the sonata of flavors he’s feasted on, though a little saddened that’s the only way you can taste them.

You play with his silky locks as he leaves a trail of open-mouthed kisses along your neck and jawline sporadically leaving love marks on your skin.

His calloused yet gentle hands undid the bow holding the kimono in place kissing your shoulders and upper arms. You gasped when he lightly grazed your skin with his canines encouraged by your whimpers and moans.

“My beautiful angel,” he rumbled sending shivers down your spine as he bit the juncture between your neck and shoulders.

Bucky was about to unhook your bra when you grabbed his wrist, pushed him down onto the bed, and tied his wrists to the headboard with black tendrils.

“Relax, love,” you instructed as you kissed your way down his jawline, neck, shoulders, chest, and upper arms. You gazed upon Bucky’s beautiful form wondering how lucky you were. Most men who looked like him were jerks to you in the past especially when they learned of your parents' accents. You still remembered the way some people looked at your mother at stores.

You narrowed your eyes as you lowered one hand towards his boxers and disintegrated them. Your fingers morphed into tentacles and tendrils of varying sizes wrapping around his jaw-dropping length giving it little pulls and tugs along the shaft. One tendril wrapped around his tip and squeezed scooping up the precum into your drooling mouth.

“Hmm!” You moaned at the taste: salty, tangy, and a little sweet.

Numerous smaller tentacles and tendrils slithered out of your mouth. Their pulls from their varied cups send jolt after jolt of pleasure. You felt his cock harden, but decided to draw it out by retracting right as he was about to go over the edge wanting to tease him from last time.

You finally let him cum after 20 minutes of teasing and five minutes of begging.

Bucky came with a roar as his eyes glowed red.

“Wanna do that again?’

You took his chuckle as a yes.

You got two more out of Bucky before he decided to switch growing impatient with your teasing.

“I’m afraid I’ll have to punish you for that, angel,” he warned giggling as he flipped you over; his eyes glowing gold and his fangs elongating.

The sight of those never failed to make you wet.

“Spread your legs, sweetheart, “he growled as you pouted. He usually loved your bratty behavior in bed, but not now.

Bucky absorbed some of the tendrils from your skin and shot them back out gently spreading your legs.

You cast him an accusatory glance.

“Is that so? Then why are you wet for me?” he tsked licking his lips at the sight of you huffing in defeat.

Bucky grinned as he kissed and nipped your thick, plush inner thighs relishing in your moans. With his eyes locked with yours, he licked your slit while a small tentacle creeps from his mouth, its suction cups teasing your clit. Three more dive into your folds moving back and forth in a scissoring motion.

You moaned raking your nails along his scalp and the planes of muscle on his back.

James chuckled loving how you taste; so sweet with notes of honey and citrus. He could get drunk on this.

He alternated between eating you out and kissing/nipping your inner thighs while messaging the globes of your ass and the softness of your waist. He added to your sweet torture by sticking two of his fingers past your folds along with the tendrils still inside. He chuckled when you threw back your head in a moan mixed with a sob.

You grew frustrated with Bucky wouldn’t let you come even after 15 minutes of blinding pleasure.

“James, please!” you begged as he circled your clit again.

Bucky raised his head and murmured, “Let me adore you like the goddess you are, huh?”

You almost came at the spot when Bucky ordered you to look at him. His hair tie was long discarded with several clumps sticking to his face. His hooded eyes were black with lust, and his tongue was circling your clit with three of his fingers in your folds.

Bucky finally let you come after 45 minutes of teasing with a whisper.

You cried out as the dam of pleasure was finally released while he made sure to lap up every last drop of nectar.

Bucky smirked as he lifted you up and grabbed some pillows, “Turn for me, angel?”

You whined in protest not even recovering from the last orgasm.

He kissed both your cheeks, “Relax for me, okay? I promise this is gonna feel good. I'll take it from here.”

You moaned as his fingers dug into your thick thighs secretly loving how sensitive you were after the orgasm.

Bucky grunted as he situated himself between your thighs groaning at the sight of your blissed-out expression.

“Fuck, I’m glad you came into my life.”

“Are you ready, angel?” you nodded as he slowly entered you.

You hissed as your walls stretched for him never getting used to the size.

“Fuck, you’re taking me so well!” Bucky praised you as he rewarded you by playing with your clit.

You cried out and he groaned. You from the sensations of Bucky playing with your clit plus stretching out for him, and Bucky from how tightly you were squeezing him.

Bucky looked down and saw: your hooded eyes staring back at him with love and lust, your full, plump lips forming a pleasure-filled ‘O’, and your coils framing your face like a halo.

“Bucky, please!” you begged as what little pain you first felt faded into pleasure.

He caressed your face with one hand as he started moving with slow, shallow strokes, only picking up his tempo once you gave the go-ahead.

Bucky left open-mouthed kisses on your inner thighs, stomach, breasts, hands, anywhere he could reach murmuring sweet praises with each kiss. You thought your heart would burst from feeling so loved.

You practically squealed in pleasure when Bucky reached your sweet spot. He stayed at that pace for another 30 minutes holding out so that the moment would last.

You were a sobbing mess blind to the world outside the two of you.

You both came at the same time, you with a moan and Bucky with a growl.

As you both lay in bed, glowing with a sheen of sweat, Bucky cradled your head in his hands. “You will always be an angel to me.”

You nodded and bit your lower lip, “Can I be on top for round two?”

Bucky laughed as you flipped him over.

After Bucky carried you over to the tub to wash off, he cupped your cheeks, “Never call yourself a monster,”

You smiled as he gently wiped your tears away from your eyes with his thumbs.

You were about to thank him when your phone rang. Lumbering to the dresser you cautiously answered leaping with joy when you heard your sister’s voice on the other end.

Bucky beamed lazily at the scene before him glad that you were finally able to connect with your sister. He hoped better things will come.

He was about to rest his head against his pillow when he saw his own pulse with a text.

Bucky’s heart filled with dread.

It was Steve saying he was coming to bring him home.

117 notes · View notes

pearlsephoni · 8 months

Text

Sink Me Deeper

Can also be read on AO3!

Rating: E

Fandom: Psycho-Pass

Pairing: Shinkane (Akane/Kogami)

Characters: Akane Tsunemori, Shinya Kogami, Shion Karanomori, Yayoi Kunizuka

Word Count: 2.9k

Summary: Akane leaves the lingering summer warmth behind for an entirely different heat down below.

A/N: Written for @shinkaneweek day 1: God or nature as providing protective or spiritual care! also happy birthday Kogami, ya big dope hehe further author's notes can be found on AO3.

🥀

Twice a year, Akane was seized by the strongest sensations of mourning and excitement: mourning for the life she was leaving, and excitement for the life she was returning to. This time, she was mourning the cottage she shared with Shion, the beautiful meadows and groves that she brought fruit to with her beloved older sister.

“Be careful on your travels,” Shion murmured, squeezing Akane tight. “Remind your big important husband that I won’t hesitate to make another eternal winter if he lets anything happen to you.”

“Shion!” Akane laughed, her words muffled in her sister’s shoulder. “I’ll be fine. Sho won’t let anything happen to me.”

“Good.” With yet another kiss to Akane’s temple, Shion finally pulled away, though she still held her little sister by the shoulders and stared sternly at her. “Do you have an obol for Sho?”

“Yes.”

“And your vial is intact?” Before Akane could answer, Shion peered at the tiny glass vial hanging around her neck, making sure the cherry blossom inside was still alive. “Remember—”

“The magic is for emergencies only,” Akane recited with a sigh.

“Good girl.” Despite the curve of her lips, Shion’s eyes were melancholic as she gazed at her sister. “Well…I suppose that’s it, then.”

“I’ll be back before you know it, Shion,” Akane murmured, wrapping her in one last hug. “Safe and sound, like always.”

“Being queen of the Underworld has made you sound way too responsible,” Shion sniffed. “Go on, then, return to your kingdom, little blossom.”

“I love you.” Akane pulled away with a kiss to her sister’s cheek. She was unsurprised to see tears welling up in Shion’s eyes, but her heart still twisted at the sight.

“I love you, too. Now go.”

🥀

Her return to the underworld was a bit of a whirlwind, as it always was. Her arrival was expected, but she liked to keep the precise date of her return a mystery. She couldn’t help the fact that she relished the sight of everyone greeting her with surprise, joy, and just a touch of panic.

“His Majesty won’t be happy to be the last person in the household to welcome you back,” Yayoi hummed with a wry grin as she wrapped Akane in a warm hug. Her long, pitch-black hair seemed to blend into the silken material draped around her body, with tiny jewels glimmering along the expanse like stars in the night sky. It was fitting garb for the goddess and personification of night.

“If he’s upset about my arrival, he can direct his complaints to Shion,” Akane scoffed fondly. “She’s the reason I’m here a day late.”

“Is that so? And, ah…how is your sister these days?”

Akane grinned at the goddess of night’s terrible attempt at seeming casually uninterested. “She’s fine. I’m sure you’ll be seeing more of her, with the nights growing longer this time of year.”

Yayoi narrowed her eyes, but couldn’t do anything to hide her faint flush. “Kogami’s last meeting won’t end for another hour or so. Would you like to call for some food?”

Akane could see right through the older goddess’s abrupt change in topic, but didn’t point it out beyond a tiny smirk. “No, no, I…I think I’d like to return to our chambers, actually.”

It was Yayoi’s turn to smirk. “I’m sure you would. Would you like someone to accompany you?”

“No, that’s alright. We’ll see how well I remember this place.” She stole one more tight hug from Yayoi before making her way to the chambers.

She could barely hold herself back as she walked through expansive halls, trying to enjoy the dark columns illuminated by torches and glittering gold frames around beautiful paintings. Plush rugs cushioned her steps and jewels sparkled along the edges of the stone floors. It really was a beautiful palace, worthy of the King of the Undead. But that didn’t keep her from bursting into a sprint as soon as she was deep enough into the palace to be the only one in the hallways.

She felt silly, girlish, like the maiden that her sister tried to preserve for so long. But this was different from all that. Now she was a full-fledged goddess, Queen of the Underworld, dashing through the halls to see her husband.

Catching up with all of the chthonic gods must have taken longer than she’d realized, because when she reached the chambers, they were already prepared for her arrival: her favorite garnet sheets were freshly-stretched across the bed, her clothes returned to the wardrobe, even a platter of grapes and cheese with a decanter of ruby red wine.

Then she took a proper look at her clothes in the wardrobe and discovered the true explanation for the preparations: there, hanging front and center, facing forward in a silent request, was Shinya’s favorite dress. It was a deep red that reminded Akane of the pomegranate seeds that had sealed her fate, with gold clasps over the shoulders, sheer material that would drape over her arms, and a gold, braided belt around the waist.

The servants hadn’t moved quickly. Shinya had prepared for her arrival, going as far as to request her favorite food be brought to the royal chambers.

“You spoil me, My Lord,” Akane sighed, fondness curving her lips and longing tugging at her chest. It was foolish, she knew it was foolish, but her amusement at teasing Shinya was fast melting into a desperate impatience to see her husband.

There was nothing to be done but enjoy a bath, put on the dress, and pour herself a glass of wine. The rich notes of the wine washed over her tongue and eased the nerves that lingered in her stomach.

How much time had passed? An hour? Yayoi had said he would—

“Akane?”

She spun to the great doors, which stood open, forming a perfect, darkwood frame to the only sight she’d been longing for. “Shinya.”

He was dressed in silks that were such a dark blue, they looked black. Only the comparison of their hue against his messy hair revealed their true color. His black hair was shorter, as though freshly-trimmed, but it still threatened to fall into his eyes, that flinty, stony gaze that matched his kingdom so well. He looked every bit the intimidating King of the Underworld…except for the light flush on his sculpted cheekbones and the bitten-pink of his parted lips.

He wasn’t just the king of shadows and shade. He was her husband, her beautiful husband who she’d missed dearly.

And yet…there was always a space of time when they were newly uncertain of each other, a bittersweet result of their time apart. Shinya was slow, deliberate as he shut the doors behind him and stepped towards her, and Akane mirrored his pace, taking careful steps until they stood within arm’s reach of each other.

Then he lifted a careful hand and brushed the backs of his fingers against her cheek in a mere breath of a touch, one that she leaned into, eager for any scrap of his warmth that she could steal. “You’re here,” he whispered, skating his fingers along her jaw and under her chin.

“I’m here,” she whispered back, her words ghosting against the thumb tracing her lips.

“I…I missed you…my queen.”

“I missed you, too, my king.”

Those soft words finally brought a smile to Shinya’s lips, a sight Akane only got to relish for a moment before she was humming into a sweet, gentle kiss. “Mm…you’ve been enjoying the wine?”

“Only a sip.” She slid her arms around his shoulders with a blithe smile. “I was waiting to enjoy the rest with you.”

“An ever-generous queen,” Shinya chuckled, letting his hands trace the curves of her body and settle on her hips with a light squeeze. “I’m afraid I had a more…selfish pleasure in mind.”

“Is that so?”

“Mm…” His eyes dragged across her features until they fell open her lips, the weight of their gaze making Akane bite at her bottom lip instinctively.

“Well, then, Your Majesty,” she purred, stepping out of his embrace with a small smirk. Holding his gaze steadily, she slowly loosened the belt at her waist and unfastened the gold clasps holding her dress together, letting the deep red fabric go slack around her, only held up by her hand at her chest. “Enjoy me.”

Shinya’s gaze darkened with desire as he followed her steps towards the bed, shedding his own long chiton until he reached for Akane and pulled her against his naked body. “Does Her Majesty have any special requests this evening?” he asked, coaxing her hands away from her dress and letting the material fall to her feet, leaving her completely bare.

The cool, still air of the Underworld sent goosebumps skittering across Akane’s skin, except for where Shinya’s body was pressed to hers. He had always been warmer than her, down to the scent of brimstone and amber that rose from his skin. She took hold of his wrist, guiding a hand from her waist, along her hip, and between her legs. His hand left a path of warmth across her body, and even when he cupped her mound, the heat of her arousal was smothered by his hot skin. “Show me how much you’ve missed me,” she breathed against his lips, gasping when a single, broad finger delved between her folds and dipped into her arousal.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

He guided her backwards until the backs of her knees bumped against the bed, then gently lifted her until she fell against the soft covers. She’d barely stopped bouncing before her legs were pressed open by his wide shoulders and his dark hair tickled her inner thighs. That was all the warning she got before his tongue opened her up in a firm, wide lick. “Oh!” she gasped, burying her fingers into his hair.

He only hummed in response, his focus fixed on sucking her clit between his lips and rolling his tongue around it. Six months…half a year of longing for him, only able to soothe herself with her own fingers, and now here she was, being feasted on and spoiled by his attentions. It was almost overwhelming, being so suddenly caught between his clever tongue lapping at her clit and his broad fingers coating themselves in her desire before pressing into her. He hadn’t forgotten anything about her body, knowing exactly where to curl his fingers up and how to ghost his teeth against her, making her cry out as her hips arched off of the bed.

“Shin-yah!” she cried, rocking against his mouth as he soothed her clit with his tongue. “Ah, ah, oh, stars, I—!”

“Already?” he chuckled, his low tone almost rumbling through her. “How much did you miss me, my queen?”

“So much,” Akane gasped, her words rising into a whine when she looked down and found him gazing up from between her legs, chin and lips soaked in her arousal. “I missed you so much, Shinya, every single day— aaahn!” Her desperate words brought his lips back around her, sending lightning sparking through, stronger and stronger until she thought she could glow from pleasure. “Close, I’m close,” she said breathlessly, earning a low chuckle that vibrated against her. Shinya didn’t pull away, only rolled his tongue around her and sped up his curled, thrusting fingers, driving into her sweet spot until the pressure was too much to bear.

She broke with a long, drawn-out wail, hips jumping against Shinya’s fingers and lips in time with the waves that washed over her again and again and again.

She didn’t know how long she shuddered with her orgasm, but eventually she tugged Shinya’s head away from her, giving her swollen clit some reprieve from his overwhelming expert attention. “You’re stunning,” he breathed, gazing down at her with blown-out eyes and a soaked nose and mouth. “I’d almost forgotten. Can you give me another one? Let me hear your music again?”

The awe in his voice paired with the way he licked his lips nearly made Akane agree. But she held strong, shaking her head and using her fingers in his hair to guide his lips to hers. “Later,” she murmured, brushing a kiss to his lips. “Right now, I need you in me. All of you, Shinya.”

Shinya swore softly before taking her lips in a proper kiss, licking into her mouth and letting her taste her own desire as he carefully lined his cock up to her swollen pussy. When he began to carefully rock forward, she fell away from his lips with a cry, too focused on the stretch of his bulbous cockhead. Nothing, nothing compared to this, the impossible fit of her husband’s long, thick length into her tight cunt. She was still swollen and sensitive from her first orgasm, but she was also dripping wet, easing the slow breach of every roll of his hips.

“Fuck, Akane,” Shinya groaned, letting his forehead fall to her shoulder, his wild hair tickling her throat. “You feel divine…I almost forgot how well you take me.”

“Yes, yes,” she whined, dragging her fingers through his hair as she tightened her legs around his hips to urge him deeper inside. “Only you, Shinya. Fuck me, please, nothing fills me up like you.”

When their hips finally met, they were both trembling, Akane from the tight fit and Shinya from the effort to not move. By the end of the night, once they made up for lost time, he would be able to drive into her without any warning besides her begging. But for now, after so long, their bodies needed extra time to remember how to fit together. She loved him like this, ever-so-careful of her comfort and waiting so patiently for her to whisper, “Move.”

Then, with a growl, he pulled his hips back until her walls clung to only his tip, before rocking forward, filling her all the way in a single thrust.

His rhythm was relentless from then on, filling the room with the sounds of their moans and the wet slap of their skin. She felt consumed by him, being both filled up and surrounded so completely by his broad form while being pinned by his dark gaze. She could barely see the gray of his irises, his pupils were so blown by desire. It should’ve been at least a little unnerving, but she couldn’t look away, feeling drunk on how thoroughly he wanted her.

She was almost disappointed when he fit his hand between their bodies and drew circles over her swollen clit, making her orgasm suddenly crest over the horizon. She’d wanted more, wanted to feel bruised from his size and pressure, but she couldn’t resist falling over the peak with a cry of his name.

Her walls rippled and clenched around him, drawing him deeper and deeper, until he was groaning with his own orgasm. The feeling of him filling her up made her tremble with another pulse of pleasure, leaving her whimpering by the time his softening length slipped out of her. Without thinking, her hand shot down to cup her mound, keeping his seed from leaking out. Her cheeks burned when she realized what she’d done, but her embarrassment burned away when she found Shinya staring at her messy fingers, teeth sinking into his kiss-bruised lip.

“I, um…could I have a towel?” she quietly asked when he made no move to leave the bed. He blinked back to himself with a small jolt, his cheeks flushing prettily under her eyes.

“Of course,” he murmured, hurrying to stand on shaky legs.

Akane wasn’t really in any hurry—she was perfectly content to melt into the bed, feeling loose and pliant with satisfaction. But she was still eager to take a damp cloth from Shinya and wipe herself clean while he poured fresh glasses of wine. “Well?” he hummed when he sat on the edge of the bed, holding her glass out for her to take after she tossed aside the cloth. “Was that to your satisfaction?”

“I dunno,” she giggled, smiling around the lip of the glass. “It might take a little more than that to really satisfy me.”

“Ah…is that so?”

She hummed, sitting up and stealing a kiss that tasted of rich wine. “The night is still young, no?”

“So it is…” He ducked in to trail kisses down her neck, gently grazing his teeth against her pulse. “What else can I do for you, my queen?”

“Right now…just hold me.” She smiled when he pulled back, watching his surprise melt into fond understanding. “Tell me how you’ve been, Shinya, truly.”

“Well then.” He suddenly stood, fetching the tray of cheese and grapes and carefully setting it on the bed next to Akane. “We’ll need some sustenance.”

Conversation flowed as they caught each other up on how they’d passed their months apart, feeding each other and occasionally pausing to pass sips of wine between kisses. Akane had missed this, the easy conversation and lighthearted debates, as much as the sex, maybe even moreso. That was the best thing about their marriage, and the thing that made their separation so difficult: Akane missed him, Shinya as a whole, longed for his quiet laughter and small, serious frowns as much as she’d missed his lips and fingers and heavy-lidded eyes.

“What?” he suddenly asked in the middle of the story, brow raised.

Akane shrugged, letting her fond smile linger on her lips. “I’m just happy to be back.”

Shinya’s sharp features softened as his fingers found hers. “Me, too. I missed you, Akane.”

“Show me.”

And for the rest of the night, he did, wiping away any lingering thoughts of their time apart until all Akane knew Shinya, King of the Underworld, Lord of the Dead, Receiver of Many, and, most importantly, her husband.

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