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grandmother-goblin · 4 months

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Field Study - Chapter 12

Ao3 - Masterlist

Chapter Summary: Cas and Astarion have come to an agreement: she will wander off into the woods, all alone and far from camp. Then Astarion will hunt he will hunt her. And when he catches her, he can do whatever he wants.

Relationships: Astarion x Female!Tav

Rating: Explicit (18+)

Word Count: 4.9k

Chapter Tags: Smut, primal play, predator/prey, light dom/sub, consensual non-consent, fingering, penetrative sex, hair pulling, rough sex, implied breeding kink, he calls her a "good girl".

Note: This chapter has already been posted as an excerpt. Posting again just for consistency!

The grass and moss under Astarion’s boots didn’t make a sound as he crept through the sparse, ancient forest that bordered the river. Pale moonlight trickled through the branches and leaves above, casting the world in silvery-blue light. Somewhere in the distance, an owl hooted over the chorus of crickets. The summer heat had lingered into the night, comfortable and warm. Perfect for a night spent under the stars.

It reminded him of one of his first conversations with Cas. The one where he told her she was a valuable ally and he wanted them to stick together. At the time, they were just some pretty words he said in the interest of self-preservation. He never anticipated his flattery would become reality.

Oh, how things had changed.

Though his little game with Cas had begun the moment she left camp, he decided to give her a bit of a head start. Just to keep things interesting. With his vampiric senses, he would have no trouble at all finding her in the forest. When he really focused, he could detect the faint scent of her blood. And when he was close enough, he could even hear the sound of her heart beating in her chest.

Even though it was just a game, he wanted to give her the real experience. Or something close to it. Plus, he wanted the satisfaction of hunting her down. Of overpowering her and making her his. Though it was all just pretend, the feelings were real. At that moment, he felt powerful. Like the apex predator that a vampire was meant to be.

Cas had freely given him that power, for no other reason than she liked him. Not because he had seduced her, or frightened her, or coerced her in any way. Cas genuinely liked him. It was a little difficult to wrap his head around, if he were being completely honest with himself. It wasn’t often that he had the chance to actually get to know someone beyond superficial pleasantries. He hadn’t had the opportunity to make a real friend in… well, since he was turned into a vampire really.

More importantly, Cas had placed her trust in him. Asking him to hunt her, even for a game, was literally placing her life in his hands. Not to mention her pleasure, but he was certain he had that part handled. Controlling himself when he bit her was another matter. He was reasonably certain he could hold back. Probably.

No. He had to hold back.

Hurting her was the last thing he wanted to do.

He caught the scent of her on the breeze and followed it. It took him to the edge of the forest, where the trees thinned out as they met the riverbanks. Croaking frogs and the gentle rush of lazy rapids mixed with the sounds of the forest. The noise was a good thing. It meant she was less likely to hear him.

Cas had said she would pack up some things before she wandered off into the forest, and it looked like she made good on her promise. She had opened a bedroll and laid it out flat, making it big enough to keep both of them off of the bare ground. A folded blanket, one he had seen in her tent before, was draped over her bag. Astarion had no idea what she had packed in the bag, but he could only hope it was something fun.

But knowing Cas, the only things she brought would be boring and practical. Was it strange that he was starting to appreciate that about her? She was always prepared, but not to the point where it was excessive. It wasn’t a trait he typically thought of as attractive, but he definitely liked it when it came to her.

Since the day he met her, Cas had always been the one keeping everything together. In fact, he couldn’t think of many times Cas wasn’t working. Except for when she was with him. It had been constant planning, prepping, following leads, traveling, and fighting. And she bore the brunt of it. She was the de facto leader of their little group, yet most of their companions fought her on each decision she made.

Sometimes, when she thought no one was looking, her mask broke a little. Frustration and exhaustion would quietly seep through the cracks. Yet, she would always have it fixed back up by the time someone needed her. And someone always needed her.

Even at that moment, she still worked, making sure they had a comfortable place to spend the night. Being responsible and taking care of them.

Well, that was about to change.

Tonight, Astarion would be the one to take care of her. Once their game began in earnest, she wouldn’t have the chance to think about a damn thing.

That was one of the reasons why she wanted him to hunt her in the first place, wasn’t it? It wasn’t just for his own pleasure, but for hers as well. She wanted to relinquish her power, even just for a bit, and he was more than happy to take it. He would take away her decisions, her choices, and her responsibility.

Tonight, she belonged to him. And the only thing she had to worry about was whether or not she could keep up.

Slowly, he closed in on her. Inching closer and closer until his heightened senses could detect her heartbeat. Steady and calm. She was sitting only a few feet away, and he could easily tackle her to the ground right then and there. But where was the fun in that?

He wanted the hunt.

Taking a risk, he used the little magic he was capable of to create a minor illusion. Just the sound of a twig snapping and some footsteps some thirty feet to his right. As perceptive as she was, there was a good chance she would see right through it. But that didn’t matter. As long as it distracted her for a moment.

Her head whipped toward the sound immediately. Her whole body went still as her heartbeat picked up speed. Startled, but excited.

A little smile crossed her lips as she got to her feet and followed the sound. With her back turned to him, he watched the gentle sway of her hips as she walked. She was still wearing the same outfit she was at the party, which was a little unfortunate. Tight leather leggings and laced up boots were not the easiest articles of clothing to remove in the heat of the moment.

Oh well. That wouldn’t be a problem for him.

He casted another illusion a few feet away from the first one, making the sound come from the opposite side of a thick tree. If she wanted to investigate it, she would have to go around, which would give him the perfect opportunity to close in on her without being seen.

When he was close enough to touch her, he created one more auditory illusion. Footsteps coming from just out of her line of sight. As soon as she moved to follow the sound, Astarion struck.

One arm darted around her waist while his hand covered her mouth, muffling her startled yelp. The sound of her pulse roared in his ears. He hauled her back against his chest, holding tight, and his lips brushed against her neck as he said, “Hello, darling.”

She had said she was going to fight him, so it shouldn’t have surprised him when she did just that. Cas twisted in his grip. Hard. It wasn’t enough to hurt him, but it took him aback enough that she was able to wrench herself free. The movement almost made him lose his balance as he stumbled back, catching himself on the tree.

And Cas took off running.

Well, if that was how she wanted to do it, he was more than happy to play along.

The urge to give chase was strong, but he resisted. Cas was faster than him. Not only that, his little stumble had allowed her to put a good amount of distance between them as she ran deeper into the forest. Keeping his senses honed in on her, he slipped into the shadows to follow.

Whenever he hunted, it was like a more animalistic part of his brain took over. Something more primitive. It made all of his worries vanish as he turned his focus on one thing: his prey. The need to capture and consume. And Cas was the most captivating sort of prey a vampire could ask for.

He considered using the minor illusion again, but Cas was unlikely to fall for it unless she wanted to play exceptionally dumb. But he liked that she was making him think. Making him work for it. It would make it all that much sweeter when he finally had her under him. His fangs ached and his cock twitched at the thought of having her the way he wanted. Fangs in her throat while he fucked her.

That was a goal worth working toward.

It didn’t take long for him to find her again. The smell of her blood had invaded all of his senses, and he couldn’t help but follow it to the source. This time, she was in a better spot for an ambush. A small clearing in the midst of some brambles and wide trees. There was a clear look of ‘where did he go?’ on her face as she glanced about, searching for him.

Staying silent and still, he listened to the sounds of crickets and the rapid beat of her heart. Letting her anticipation grow. Letting her wonder when he was going to strike next. And from where.

With the way she was looking around, it would be difficult to get close without another distraction. Or a potion of invisibility. He mentally slapped himself for not bringing one. Sure, some might call using an invisibility potion for this sort of purpose a waste, but he certainly didn’t.

Instead, he decided on a different approach. Since it was only a game, he knew Cas would eventually backtrack to look for him. So he decided to wait for her, his back pressed up against the trunk of a tree and his ears tuned for the first sign of her approach.

Thankfully, he did not have to wait long. He shifted around the tree quietly, staying out of view as Cas walked past. Completely unaware of him, by the looks of it. Once her back was to him, he crept in closer and closer. Until he could hear the soft sound of her breath and smell the lavender of her soap.

This time, he wouldn’t let her get away.

Cas had no time to react when he hooked his arms around her waist, trapping one of her arms to her side, and dropped his weight, toppling both of them into the grass. Before she could squirm away, he rolled her onto her front and pinned her beneath him. Capturing his prey.

“Get off me,” Cas hissed, the side of her face pressed into the grass as a playful glimmer lit her eye. She bucked back into him, trying to loosen his hold, but only succeeding in grinding her backside against him.

Astarion caught both of her wrists with one hand and pinned them above her head. Forcing her to submit to him. Already, his cock strained against his trousers and he leaned forward, letting her feel it. With his free hand, he swept her hair away from her neck and wrapped it around his fist. His lips brushed against her ear when he spoke, “Is that the best you can do?”

“What do you want from me?” Cas bared her blunt little teeth as she continued her futile struggle, her words were almost a growl even as her pupils were blown wide with lust.

His lips trailed from her ear and down her neck, nipping at her skin as he went. A threat and a promise. But not yet breaking the skin. “I think you know what I want, love,” he said and licked up her throat to the corner of her jaw. “Why don’t you be a good girl and just let me have it? Make it easier for both of us.”

When she tried to wriggle out from under him, he tightened his grip on her hair. She hissed at the sudden pull against her scalp. “Let me go,” she said. “Or I’ll—”

“Or you’ll what?” he said, his voice low, heated, and taunting. He had completely overpowered her. Even if she were fighting for real, she’d have a hard time throwing him off.

Cas sucked in a harsh breath when his thick length pressed against her core from behind. “Or I’ll scream.”

“Oh, my dear,” he said and his lips moved down her throat until he reached the juncture where her neck connected with her shoulder. Avoiding the use of his fangs, the blunt edges of his teeth clamped down in a soft bite and a shiver coursed through her. Then he whispered in her ear. “I can definitely make you scream.”

With his hand wrapped in her hair, he tipped her head back and crashed his lips onto hers. He kissed her possessively, roughly, claiming her with his mouth. An eager moan escaped her throat as she met the kiss with equal ferocity. Pressing deeper, her silky tongue brushed against his. Needing. Wanting. The taste of her mouth was something he could never get enough of. He couldn’t help the low groan that emerged from his chest.

He tore himself away with a dark laugh. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

Cas helplessly twisted against him again. “Bite me,” she snarled, still playing the role of his prey so perfectly.

“Soon, darling.” His tongue darted out and brushed over her rapidly fluttering pulse. “But first, you’re going to come for me.”

“No I won’t,” she challenged as she writhed beneath him, making him grow even harder.

He released her wrists, but wrapped her hair around his hand once more with a less than gentle tug. A wordless command. Up.

Obediently, she rose to her elbows and rubbed the taut curve of her ass against his stiff cock. Taunting him. There was suddenly far too much clothing between them. He wanted to feel her skin against his. To bury himself in her warmth. He thrusted against her once, trying to relieve the ache, and drew a soft moan from her lips as she met his movement.

Astarion’s hand traced her rib cage, feeling the rise and fall of her panting breaths. Eager for him. Excited. His fingertips hooked around the hem of her shirt and he pulled it up as far as it would go, baring her breasts to the warm night air. He leaned forward and pressed his lips between her shoulder blades as his finger skimmed over the soft curve of her breast.

“You don’t really want to get away, do you, darling?” he asked as he brushed his thumb over her hardened nipple. He pinched the sensitive peak between his fingers, earning a sharp gasp as she arched into his palm. Desperately trying to get closer. An almost sinister chuckle passed his lips as he whispered, “I think you wanted to be caught.”

“No,” Cas said, even as her cheeks flushed and lips parted in a breathless pant.

Hard muscles twitched under his hand as he trailed down the flat expanse of her stomach until he reached the waistband of her leggings. He pulled the ties at front, allowing them to loosen enough for him to slide his fingers between the leather and the soft lace of her panties. When the tips of his fingers brushed over her clit through the fabric, she arched into him with a gasp. He circled the sensitive nub, teasing her. Making her want more.

He dragged her panties to the side, allowing him access to the slick heat between her legs. Already so ready for him. His cock begged for attention at the touch, wanting nothing more than to be inside her already. But that would have to wait.

With two fingers, he eased into her and pressed the heel of his palm to her clit. Her hips grinded greedily into his touch. Desperate for more friction.

“You’re so wet you’re dripping, love,” he said and curled his fingers inside her, loving the way she clenched around him. Wanting him deeper. Closer.

And he ached to give her what she wanted. She was his prey, but he wanted to make her feel good. He wanted to give her what she needed. What she so desperately craved.

It would have been all too easy to turn things around on her. To give into his vampiric nature and just take what he wanted. But he wouldn’t do that to her. Never to her. Cas had become special to him. In such a short amount of time, she had become so important to him that the mere idea of hurting her like that sent a lance of pain through his chest.

Astarion wanted — no, he needed her to know that he could take care of her. That putting her trust in him would never be a mistake.

Slipping from his role for just a moment, he pressed a kiss to her neck. “Let me know if I’m being too rough,” he said as he continued to fuck her with his fingers, the heel of his palm rocking over her clit as he brought her closer to the edge. They had their safeword, and he trusted her to use it, but he still felt the need to check in since he didn’t know what sort of experience she had with these things. He didn’t want to go too far.

“You can be rougher,” she replied, gasping as she rode his hand.

A little smirk pulled at Astarion’s lips and he gave her hair a sharp tug, eliciting a startled yelp. “Good,” he said. Then, without warning, he bit down on her shoulder.

Cas renewed her fight, squirming beneath him as his fangs nicked her skin. Tiny pinpricks of blood welled from the site and he lapped them up with his tongue. The first taste of it was like an aphrodisiac, and he groaned in raw satisfaction. It was potent and delicious. And it wasn’t enough. He wanted more, but this wasn’t the bite he would feed from.

No, he was saving that moment for later.

The heel of his palm grinded against her clit as his fingers curved in such a way that made her whimper with pleasure. The movement of her hips grew erratic as she fucked his fingers, her eyes screwing shut and her breaths harsh as she neared her peak.

“Come on my hand, darling,” he said against her neck. “Show me how much you love being my prey.”

“No!” The protest turned into a whine as he quickened his pace, pushing her further and further until her walls fluttered around his fingers. She came with a sharp cry, her whole body shuddering beneath him as she canted her hips.

Pulling her hair back, his mouth found hers, drinking in her moans like she was the sweetest thing he had ever tasted. His experienced fingers soothed her through the last few tremors of her orgasm, his palm still putting firm pressure on her clit as his fingers stroked deep inside her.

When her breathing evened out, he withdrew, his fingers glistening with her arousal. He licked her taste from his skin like it was honey. The flush across her cheeks deepened at his lewd display and his cock twitched in response.

Astarion loosened his grip on her hair, running his fingers over her scalp to soothe her skin. With one hand between her shoulder blades, he guided her down, her chest against the ground and her ass on display for him. He hooked his fingers into the waistband of her leggings and pulled them down to her thighs. Nothing but a pair of black lace panties shielded her sex. He twisted the material in his hand and pulled it sharply against her overly sensitive clit, making her gasp.

He leaned forward and licked the shell of her ear. “Now,” he said as he drew her panties tighter, “tell me you’re mine.”

“I’m yours,” she said, finally surrendering to him. The words ignited a flame in his chest. Even if it was just the heat of the moment, even if she would take it back come sunrise, right then she belonged to him. And that was all that mattered.

Cas arched her back, grinding herself against his erection. “Astarion, please,” she begged. “I need you in me.”

Fuck, if he didn’t need that too. He yanked the black lace down her legs and drank in the sight of her, bent over and moaning, her pussy pink and glistening for him. The woman before him knew what he was, knew the kind of man and monster he was, and accepted him. Trusted him.

And he wasn’t sure if he would ever have someone like that again.

A shudder coursed through her at the metallic click of his belt buckle. His own hand shook from raw desire as he pulled his cock from his trousers, a little bead of pre-come already leaking from the tip.

“You want this, darling?” he asked as he dragged the head of his cock over her swollen folds, slick with her arousal. He pressed the tip where she wanted it most, teasing the entrance, and she tilted her hips in an attempt to get closer. “Then I’ll give you every last inch.”

He shoved in deep in one hard, brutal thrust that buried him to the hilt, his fingers digging into her hips as he forced her to meet the movement.

Her mouth fell open and her hands clutched at the grass beneath her. “Yes,” she murmured as he slammed into her again. “Fuck me.”

Cas had wanted it rough, so that was exactly what he gave her. Snapping his hips against her ass, he fucked her with bruising thrusts. With each one she moaned, begging him for more. Loving the way he pounded into her like he was a fucking animal.

And he loved it too. Emotion threatened to well up in his chest, but he swallowed it down, focusing on the sensations. Wanting to absorb every sight and sound and commit it to memory. She was so bloody perfect for him, and he couldn’t fathom how he got lucky enough for her to fall right into his lap.

Astarion leaned over, bracing one hand in the grass beside her while the other held her throat, his mouth pressing rough kisses from her shoulder to her neck. His teeth scraped over the sensitive flesh of her throat, fangs throbbing with the need to sink into her. To claim her in every way that he could. His tongue darted over the red marks he left on her skin. “I’m going to bite you now.”

“Do it.” Her back arched as she angled her hips just right, welcoming him as deep as he could go. “Just don’t stop.”

“Touch yourself,” he said as he kissed a spot high on her neck. A place she couldn’t easily hide even with the highest collar. That was the exact spot he wanted to bite her. And she would wear the mark like a badge of honor, on display for the whole world to see. Marking her as his.

Without a moment’s hesitation, she obeyed. Her fingers delved between her legs, her pussy tightening around him as she worked over her clit. Her moans grew louder as her pleasure continued to rise. And he could only hope that the pleasure outweighed the pain of his bite.

“Good girl,” he whispered against her ear and lowered his mouth to her throat. Saliva pooled in his mouth as the urge to bite became too strong to resist.

A soft gasp of pain was the only sound she made when his fangs pierced her skin. The movement of his hips slowed until he was rocking into her gently with languid, shallow thrusts as not to dislodge his fangs. The taste of her blood made him groan. It was decadent. Intoxicating even. It warmed his body, intensifying everything.

It wasn’t until Cas started moaning again did he allow himself to fully sink into the feeling. Her warm pussy clenched around him as he drank deeply, and it was the most extraordinary feeling in the world. Fucking someone he cared about while they freely offered their blood— it was a feeling he couldn’t even begin to describe. It was a revelation. A long held fantasy that had finally come true. And he didn’t know if he could ever have enough.

Closing his eyes tight, he tried to maintain control even as his pleasure rose and sudden affection surged in his chest. Cas trusted him not to go too far. She was giving him a gift. A wonderful gift. And he didn’t want to risk her regretting it.

With that in mind, it was easy to remove his fangs from her throat. He sucked and licked at the twin puncture wounds he left behind, drinking in her blood in deep, even pulls as she writhed beneath him. “You’re doing so well, darling,” he murmured as he lavished her neck.

Her panting breaths grew louder and closer together. Her cry turned into a breathless moan as she came with his name on her lips, her inner walls spasming around his cock as he fucked her. Faster. Deeper. Chasing his own release.

All thought seemed to vanish from his mind. It was just him and her. The feel of her body. The taste of her blood. The sound of her moans as he rocked into her. It was euphoric. Nothing but raw sensation and primal need.

White-hot pleasure flashed through him, shooting down his spine as his thrusts lost all rhythm. He sucked her neck hard, blood coating his tongue as he buried himself in her. The sound he made was more animal than man as his orgasm coursed through him like a wildfire. Burning hot and out of control. Powerful spasms wracked his whole body as he spilled himself deep within her.

When his nearly agonizing ecstasy faded, he kissed her bloodied neck before he pulled out of her. His come dripped down her leg and he watched, filled with some deep, primitive satisfaction. He rolled Cas onto her back, needing to be face to face with her. To check in on how she was feeling.

She responded by looping her arms around his neck and dragging him into a luxurious kiss. Her body still trembled with the aftershocks of her orgasm, and he couldn’t stop his lips from smiling against hers. “You should let me wash the blood out of my mouth first, love,” he chided as he swiped away a bit of red from her lips with his thumb.

“Worth it,” she said as she laid back against the grass, a brilliant smile on her face that made his stomach do a little flip.

He cupped her face with his hand and she leaned into his touch. His eyes went to the fresh bite mark on her neck, and it wasn’t bleeding nearly as much as it did last time. In fact, it almost seemed like it was already starting to mend. Interesting. Perhaps he had gotten better at biting somehow? He didn’t know, nor could he bring himself to care.

Turning his attention back to her face, he ran his fingers over her scalp lightly, soothing the skin. “I didn’t hurt you too much, did I?”

“I liked it,” Cas said as she played with his hair, a dopey smile still lingering on her lips. “Though I am a little disappointed you didn’t spank me.”

Astarion raised his brow at that. “Are you now?”

In an odd surge of affection, he pressed a quick kiss to her lips before getting to his feet. He took a second to fix his clothes and Cas did the same. But before she could finish tying up the front of her leggings, he bent down and scooped her over his shoulder. “We should fix that,” he said and gave her ass a hard slap, eliciting a startled yelp, and started back towards where she had set up the bedroll.

“You don’t have to carry me all the way back,” she said, not fighting at all to get away. “It’s a long walk.”

He smacked her ass again. “You’re my prey and I caught you. I can do what I like.”

“Oh? And what else would you like to do?”

Everything. As long as it was with her. He mentally shook off the sudden thought. Where the hells had that come from? He swallowed, suddenly very glad that she couldn’t see his face from her current position.

He rubbed his hand over the curve of her backside as he walked, thinking about how to respond. Did he want to be honest with her? It ultimately worked out well for him last time. Giving her a little squeeze, he decided to go for it. “How would you feel about getting cleaned up and taking the rest of the night… slower?” Feeling a little vulnerable at his request, he added flippantly, “I want to enjoy my trophy.”

Cas was quiet for a moment. Just the sounds of footsteps and that owl hooting somewhere deep in the forest. “I’d like that,” she said.

Suddenly, his chest got that funny feeling again. The one he didn’t want to put a name to.

But Gods, it was getting harder to ignore.

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#astarion #astarion x tav #astarion x female tav #astarion fanfic #astarion smut #field study bg3 fanfic #bg3 #baldur’s gate 3

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thehistoriangirl · 6 months

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The Tides Have Veiled [Ten]

Oh boy we're so backkkkkkkk

Hopefully I'll post next part soon enough >:3 to make up for the weekly October updates

Viktor x Fem!Reader---Gothic AU: Spooky Sea---3.3K--SFW*

> MASTERLIST <- Previous // Next ->

Synopsis: Piltover the Old has an old lighthouse that looms over an abandoned port. From the house in the wailing cliff’s edge, the lighthouse owner watches that the beacon is being lighten up each time darkness arrives, so that monsters wouldn't dare to crawl inland, or so legends say. Both buildings are haunted, maybe even the man himself, by both past and present ghosts. Surprisingly, the keeper’s work is beyond turning on the beacon every night— but the rest is on you to discover.

Chapter Summary: When a storm strikes the town at night, you discover what happens when the beacon is turned off...

Taglist: @lunar-monster @bittercyder @local-mr-frog

Ten: Twisted Legends, Tragic Stories

The ocean wasn’t pleased with the memories it devoured.

October arrived, and with it the relentless rain carrying a razor-cutting wind that tried to pull you down as your wobbly steps climbed toward the lighthouse, hands numb and pale from dipping them in the freezing tidepools in search of bloated fishes to add to Viktor’s collection.

He had taught you how to classify them, suspended in a void formed of aldehyde to preserve them in all their monstrous, amorph glory. In each glass, there is a scribbled note with their long scientific names, stacked alphabetically inside Viktor’s underground studio.

All of it under his appreciative, almost proud gaze, as you move your hands around, taking in the sight of your focused frown. A pat on the shoulder as you search for the name of a certain slippery specimen, fingers brushing along the encyclopedia's pages.

The nights were splatters of rain over the misty window, the lighthouse illuminating the ghostly beach below where the apparition of the drowned woman appeared closer every time, her hand still waving, her blue lips still curved in a sardonic smile.

Today, however, as you approached the entrance of the tower, you saw Viktor already waiting for you outside, even though he had a key. His long coat hugged his lithe frame, the ends flapping against the cold air flowing through the cliff.

“Please be sure to secure your windows before dusk,” he said, his hands resting over his cane. You had no idea to know how long he had been waiting out here. “Tonight we’ll be hit by a storm.”

He had left in a hurry because he had things to pack for his upcoming trip to the city—one you didn't wish to think too much about, reminiscent of what occurred in the last. It being fantasy or reality, you didn’t wish to know.

Just another storm, just like every night, you thought, the gate creaking as you opened it, the rusty bucket pressing against your thigh with each step you took.

Of course, the ocean loved to differ.

Ever since after lunch, the blue sky tinted inky black, sunset swallowed by a formation of grey clouds; the air still and charged, ready to pounce. And it did, with the piercing flash of a lightning bolt striking through the sky, white and silver, the tail coming down to the sea.

The wind howled like a group of beasts, like the souls of all drowning men returning at the ocean’s surface to wail for their loss.

Running up the familiar stairs, you secured the ajar window with a rope you found tucked inside one of the lockers. The old ledger fell in the moment you tried to pull the rope out.

The lodger opened in the same entry as the last time you checked, still blurred, still written in a hurry, the crusty surface of the page as if someone had been crying over it.

She came in with the storm, leaving no rock unturned, no place to hide, all while looking for him.

I prayed she could find him, so she could never return. What a fool I was—it would’ve been better to know nothing, as fear has ripped out the logical part of my head, leaving behind cloudy judgments and dreary illusions that siege the tower.

Alas; my pleas were in vain, for now, I hear her banging on the entrance door, her shrieks shattering the windows. With the power gone, she’s everywhere.

Your hands picked up the ledger, tucking it at the bottom of the locker, your steps quick to wrap an old cloth you used to mop the floor in between the window’s opening to stop the rain from coming in.

While you were peering out the window, the landscape outside looked like a melting world, dripping painting in melancholic blues, black, and grey.

You turned on the light, the beacon making the trails of rain shine like amber against the windows as it rotated toward the beach. Your hands flipped over the lodge, securing that there was enough firewood for the burning hearth and enough oil for your lamp. The control room was operating as normal, machines purring happily.

Amidst the cacophony of the rain, you heard a further boom sound reverberating around the tower as if it were a lightning strike, and perhaps it was because then everything got swallowed in darkness.

The purring of the generator was replaced by your pounding heart, by the screams of the cliff that seemed to be getting closer with each panting breath you took; shadows enveloping your being when the lightning flashes disappeared after a mere blink.

Scrambling against the furniture in the dark, you pulled the lever up and down, and up again, yet to no avail. The beacon remained dead.

She came in with the storm, leaving no rock unturned, no place to hide, all while looking for him.

The words hit you like a cold-blooded knife in the chest, making your heartbeat flatten before picking up again.

You didn’t know what to do. The lighthouse supposedly had an emergency generator tied to the line of the power supply, but then why the beacon wasn’t working?

She came in with the storm, leaving no rock unturned, no place to hide, all while looking for him.

The thought of having to check the wires of the lighthouse's electricity made you shiver. The little room was not only down the stairs but also down the lighthouse itself, in the upper room of a submerged cave created at the foot of the cliffside. The room had been sealed properly from the cave system many times ago, but still, the thought of venturing inside the earth with only a dim oil lamp made your stomach churn.

She came in with the storm, leaving no rock unturned, no place to hide, all while looking for him.

I hear her banging on the entrance door, her shrieks shattering the windows. With the power gone, she’s everywhere.

You walked toward the windows of the beacon room, leaving the useless control panel behind as you tried to chase the fleeting flashes of lightning to move around.

Thud! Thud! Thudthudthud!

You froze, thinking the sound had come fabricated from your brain. But it repeated in a vulgar, unusual rhythm, new every time.

Thudthud! Thud! Thudthud!

THUD! THUD!

I hear her banging on the entrance door, her shrieks shattering the windows. With the power gone, she’s everywhere.

But that didn’t sound like a door, it sounded…

Your gaze returned to the glass, thinking that the rain had changed into hail.

Instead, you saw the pale, drowned woman standing on the little balcony outside the beacon room, body bloated and grey, fingers broken in an incorrect direction as she kept her palm up.

From her presence on the beach, you couldn't see it well, but now, you saw her other hand tucked behind her back, the rags of her dress covered in algae, moss, and even some barnacles growing on her exposed bones, there where her neck snapped to the side.

She came in with the storm, leaving no rock unturned, no place to hide, all while looking for me. Me, me, me.

And the black, hazy eyes of the woman pierced your soul, yellow teeth bared in a grin.

I came for you, you, you.

You screamed, all the air stolen from your lungs as the woman revealed a rusty knife in her grasp, lounging at the window. Her smile black and wide like a mocking grin.

“Miss!”

You scrambled against something, falling onto the wooden floor in an amorph mass of limbs as you tried to scratch your wait out the trap.

“Miss it’s me! Calm down!” Viktor called out your name, taking you by the shoulders as you lay atop him. “It’s me! Shhh, shhh, everything is alright,” he cooed, looking at your face frozen in horror, your body shivering like a leaf as his hands ran up and down your arms, trying to warm you up. “I’m here. Everything is alright.”

“V-Vik…Viktor,” you said, glued against him until the fear had run out of your veins. You pointed toward the window, not daring to look back at it again.

“Come on,” he said, taking your hands as he slowly got you down his body. “Let’s go to the hearth.”

"When… when did you arrive?" you muttered, glad that Viktor had carried an oil lamp with him as he climbed the stairs. You wanted to leave that room as fast as you could, and his presence was your call.

“Around fifteen minutes ago. Ah… I suppose you didn’t hear me knocking?” Viktor smiled, trying to reassure you.

You shook your head, leading the way through the staircase as you synchronized your steps with his.

“Why did you come?”

The answer took a long time to come out, and as you looked at him, the flicking light of the lamp made his face with a pink blush.

“I didn’t know I wasn’t welcomed,” he teased. “I… eh, I wanted to make you company. I know that here the storms feel stronger than back in the village."

There existed the possibility of him being slightly scared, too, but his answer had your stomach covered in fluttering sensations. Does he care for me?

“Um… thank you. Thanks a lot, Viktor,” you said, taking his hand to help him off the staircase.

You walked toward the table at the front of the hearth, putting the oil lamp there to proceed to light on the fire with a match and a piece of old newspaper.

"I thought the lighthouse had an emergency generator," you said, though it mattered very little, as you doubted there were any fishing boats daring to navigate through such a storm.

“It does, but I think the cave underneath us may be flooded.” Seeing your eyes wide open in horror, he patted your shoulder. “Not completely, I mean. Just enough for the cables to get wet. Eh—it was lucky that we didn’t have a short-circuit.”

You tried to smile at him, showing the best you could that you appreciated him to be there with you; though if he was trying to calm you down, his words didn’t have that much of an effect.

“Have you had dinner yet?” You said, looking at the plate of roasted fish covered with tomatoes and lettuce.

Viktor looked at the fish and frowned. “Have you?”

You turned your back on him, though your nervous giggle still reverberating on the ground floor, almost drowning the cacophony of the outside world. “Well, I’ve been busy preparing for the storm.”

Viktor hummed, his steps approaching behind you to take a pair of glasses over the hearth’s shelf. He smelled like rain, and you could see chestnut locks shining, slightly wet from the rain that slipped into his raincoat.

“That’s not good, Miss,” he muttered, brushing your cheek with the sleeve of his shirt when he pulled away. “Let’s have dinner together, hmm?”

You couldn’t stop the smile from curving your lips, even if you felt childish. “And why you haven’t had dinner yet?”

His cheeks flushed red. “Eh—duty calls.”

“See?” you teased, the mismatched porcelain clinking as you put a roasted fish in front of Viktor. “Did you have a safe travel down here? I’m… glad that you’re here with me.”

Viktor chuckled, nodding his head, taking a bite of the meat with a piece of lettuce. "You cook well." Then, when you settled in front of him, he added: “Are you alright? You seem pale.”

Your eyes drifted over the fire, mind pondering about telling him, and risking it for him to view you as insane, or not, and keep a straight face hoping he wouldn’t catch you lying. But what if he did? Which outcome will be the worst?

"Why… why does the town say that your house is haunted?" you asked back instead, pushing around the pieces of fish around the plate.

The fork fell from Viktor’s grasp, golden eyes seemingly shocked as he bore them at you. Of course, he was about to laugh at you and brush it off before you had a chance to tell him about the muddy footprints.

“There was a devastating storm hitting this town a couple of centuries ago,” Viktor explained, and suddenly the food didn’t look as appetizing anymore. “The waves were so big they swept the house down. Legend says that it was a mermaid seeking revenge the one who conjured the storm.”

Your frown deepened. “But… this town loved mermaids. They built a museum of them, even.” You gestured away, the images of at least a dozen offerings being swept by the sea. "And the offerings. Why venerate something that hurt you so much?"

Viktor’s eyes shone molten gold against the dancing fireplace. “For fear, of course.” He reclined on his seat, the wood creaking echoing in that eerily calm bubble that had enveloped you both. “Fishermen had killed so many mermaids over the centuries, that they’re in their right to be scared. To try and appease them with their memories.”

“Does it… work?”

A lightning bolt tore the sky, making the room bright white. When you blinked again, the light was gone, only red shadows left behind.

"Not anymore," Viktor muttered, looking out the window. Your intense gaze made him clear his throat. "I mean, judging it by tonight's storm."

“But what does it have to do with the house?” You asked, hoping he wasn’t telling you the town’s legends only to make you forget about it.

“Ah—yes. Well, the owner of the house, Einar Stell, was famous for selling mermaids to museums and circuses. Of course, the mermaid of the story rightfully sought revenge against his doings, pursuing him with the storm in his own house, and finding him hiding in the basement, where the rain makes him drown in a pit of water and mud.” Viktor shrugged, taking a sip of his beverage. “People think his spirit still wanders in the house.”

In a pit of rain and mud… you felt the little hairs on the back of your neck rising.

“And this mermaid…” you heard yourself saying, hoping this next story could bring you a distraction. "Is the woman crying on the cliff?"

Viktor smiled. “No. Mermaids don’t have souls, as they live a very long life. So they can’t become ghosts. The townsfolk say that the cries are of Mr. Stell’s daughter, who was lured by a mermaid to throw herself off the cliff.”

The same she does with everyone passing by it now. You thought, remembering the cold, salty air pinching your cheeks and the frozen tears as you stood with one foot over the abyss. You were about to fall for her trap, too.

You swallowed. “Do you believe in said stories?”

Viktor shrugged. “I’ve studied mythology and folklore for a while,” he said. “Many marine monsters aren’t real, but…” he stopped, the silence broken by a wail that sounded much closer to the entrance. “It would be very egotistical of me to say that everything can be explained by it.”

I saw a woman at the window, you wanted to tell him, let the knot spill out your throat. She was drowned and dead, and she was looking for me.

But why would she be looking for you? You were just a lighthouse keeper—the lighthouse keeper of a haunted beacon, in a haunted town, working by the owner of a cursed house.

You didn't say anything, sipping on your tea despite it having grown cold long ago.

Not even the constant tapping of the rain against the crystals could lull you to sleep, not with the cold seeping inside the lighthouse despite the hearth burning furiously, and you could almost picture the struggle between the flames and the winds trying to crack open the mossy exterior walls, with the rock reminiscing of all the other torturous nights like this one.

In the end, of course, the fire was extinguished with the sizzling noise of the last logs wet with the bowl of water Viktor had thrown into it.

“We should get some sleep,” he had said. “And let the fire can be dangerous.”

After the apparition clinging outside the window, you didn't dare to climb back those stairs and sleep on the couch. Not now that the beacon room had been devoured by darkness, with the flickering oil lamp guiding your way downstairs.

You remained in your chair, the pair of thin blankets thrown into the cot showing the wrinkles of your usage from this morning. You knew that with the growing cold of the unrelenting storm outside, those wouldn’t be enough to keep any of you warm enough.

Yet, the thought of climbing the stairs to fetch the ones over the couch made your stomach fall.

A golden gaze pierced through the darkness, focused on you; its twinkling reflected by the candle on the table.

“I believe we both fit in it,” he commented, awkwardly gesturing toward the cot. “Ladies first. I mean, if you, eh, if you like to sleep next to the wall. I can do it if you don’t like it.”

You were about to turn him down—that you were used to staying up all night, that he should take the bed, especially since tomorrow he would have to travel to the city to take in the exam of his successful postulation at the Academy.

But staying in the same room with him while he slept wouldn’t soothe him, either. Knowing that you would be awake while he remained asleep, as you remained alone, in a way.

You didn’t want that, either.

Besides, you were adults. People do this all the time, your brain tries to trick you in a futile attempt to push you into remaining calm. The afterthought of you’re married, anyway, didn’t help.

To your surprise, you nodded, crawling into the cot, the surface warm from Viktor’s body as he had moved from the stiff chair into the cot to ease his muscles. The mattress dipped under your weight, some springs creaking at the movement. It was at the same time familiar, with all the naps you took during the day, but his presence made it all new again.

You lay next to the wall, the cold surprising you as you scooped closer to the middle.

Then, he slipped inside, slow and graceful like a cat, his body rolled next to yours, lithe fingers accommodating the blankets atop your arms so you wouldn’t be cold, even if so meant to scoop closer so both your bodies could be covered.

“Alright,” Viktor muttered, his gaze looked at the ceiling. “Are you comfortable?”

You nodded, noticing that you were giving him your back. “Y-yes, I am,” you said, trying to hide your face beneath the blankets, only to realize that you could smell Viktor’s shampoo from up close, like orange and sandal. “Thank you.”

You forced your eyes to shut close, to your breathing to even—maybe that way, the faking would become truth.

The wind howled outside, and soon enough you could hear Viktor’s soft snores covering the screams of the cliff, his hand slowly cupping your waist as he rolled to his side to hug you.

For a moment, you froze, thinking that maybe not breathing could be the right decision.

Don’t be silly.

… It feels… nice. In here the woman can’t find me, you thought, eyes scanning the outline of the furniture and the stairs, barely visible against the darkness of the night. They would protect you from the ghost. Viktor would protect you, too. You knew it.

You nuzzled into the pillow he had given you, letting the rain hitting the window to lull you into the dreamlands.

#arcane viktor x reader #viktor x reader #viktor arcane x reader #viktor arcane fanfic #arcane viktor x you #viktor arcane x you #arcane fanfic #arcane x female reader #arcane viktor x f! reader #viktor x reader arcane

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spinchip · 1 year

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prompt for a ficlet! zane on a dating app if ur looking for something lighthearted lol. if not how about zane and acting animalistic? like the juxtaposition between something manmade backed into a corner, suddenly primal and afraid

The wires sticking out the side of his head are raw severed copper, clean cut with specialized pliers. They’d been using those wires to ravage his programming, each cable and cord routed over to a sophisticated set-up specifically built to crack AI firewalls and scour data for information.

Her name was Mrs. Black, and she was the ringleader. A group of hackers that specialized in artificial intelligence, known for their brutality and the fact that every mark they'd hit was non-functional by the end of their time together. Zane was the most recent target on her list, the information in his system fetching a pretty penny with the right clientele- along with her fellow hacker Neal and their bodyguard Raven, they'd managed to arrange a situation where Zane was out on his own and then- well, they knew how to take down a nindroid. It had been child's play.

They had not been expecting the ninja to track them down so soon, and as such- when the remaining five of them had dropped in on them, they'd abandoned ship. Which meant Neal scrambling to pack up any irreplaceable equipment while Raven and Mrs. Black kept the ninja busy. Mrs. Black had ordered it of him, and Neal hadn't hesitated to follow her order, not even pausing to adjust his glasses before he was cutting through active communication links scrambling Zane's mind. There is no telling the kind of damage that could do.

Zane had been comatose the entire time he’d been plugged into the machine, all of his processing power squirreled away into his inner mechanisms in a losing fight. After the last wire is cut and Mrs. Black yanks the main connection cord out, Zane come back to awareness like a drowning man surfacing from the water. his eyes, lidded and glazed, snap open and his pupils blow wide. his wrists are held together with a zip tie that he snaps as he scrambles back, knocking over the chair in the process and flinging himself into a roll across the warehouse floor. Flinching away from them all, the cool and logical expression he always wore is replaced with wild fear. He wasn’t thinking clearly so he didn't pursue the exit, just attempted to put as much space as possible between himself and the other bodies in the room. He tucks himself into a corner Crouched down low, his hands are pressed on the wall to either side of him, and his eyes are struggling to focus on anyone in the room. His eyes are on them, but he’s not seeing them.

Mrs. Black makes her retreat, and the ninja are too caught up in dealing with Zane to pursue the trio any further than the alley beside the warehouse they were hiding in.

Zane's mouth is hanging open as he pants, the rapid rise and fall of his chest out of place on a being that doesn’t need to breath. Ice sporadically bursts under his fingertips. Frost curls up the walls.

The ninja have no idea how to approach this. This isn't Zane- he was cool, calm, practical. They'd never seen him act so... so... wild.

“What's wrong with him?” Lloyd tries to keep his voice even, approaching with the others at a slow and deliberate pace. His hands are held up, palms flat like hes approaching a wild animal.

"He's disoriented," Nya starts, "I doubt this has been a pleasant experience."

Jay takes another cautious step forward, "Chances are, the hacking method they were using caused enough internal damage to trigger a deeper survival program. Probably a primitive version of his current self preservation protocol- one a lot less nuanced." He grimaces, "It's the closest thing to instinct he has, and it looks like they disarmed some of his higher thinking- possibly his memory recall or pattern recognition. he doesn't know its us."

Zane bares his teeth, eyes flickering a bright blue like a poisonous frog as if to drive home the point that he is dangerous and not to be trifled with. His internal systems beep at them in warning.

Cole takes another small step forward, "It's okay, Zane." He says gently.

Kai joins him, "Yeah, it's us. We're your friends."

The ninja are lucky they’ve trained against each other and have experience battling other ninja, because otherwise they would not have been able to dodge.

In less that a heart beat Zane forms tiny and sharp chunks of solid ice, each about the size of a quarter, and flings them across the room with enough force to snap bone. The ninja leap out of the line of fire and in less that a heartbeat, he slams his hands to the floor and freezes it over into a solid sheet of ice. They can’t catch their footing, skidding over ice and falling like dominoes.

Zane moves in an instant, shooting past them and going straight for the door.

He doesn’t make it. Samurai X had finally arrived, and Pixal had just come through the door- it takes her a millisecond to analyze the situation and she reacts fast, immediately throwing herself at Zane and tackling him to the floor. He cries out, writhing like a snake, not above biting and scratching to get her to release him. He freezes one of her arms solid but she doesn't budge, "Zane!" She holds fast, "We are trying to help you!"

Nya slips and slides her way over and finally manually shuts him down.

in the moment before he powers off, he looks so wounded and betrayed it makes Pixal feel ill. He slumps into her arms as the tension releases, and Kai and Nya work on Pixals arm while the other take a moment to look over the collection of computers he'd been hooked into.

"Is it bad?" Nya asks when Jay walks back over.

"I can't tell much from what they left behind, just that it's high quality. Coupled with their reputation... well, it isn't good. We won't know the extent of the damage until we get him home."

Pixal stares at Zane where Cole had taken him from her and laid him flat on the floor. He didn't look peaceful.

"The sooner we take him home the better." She says firmly.

With that, the Ninja head out.

#i sorry idk if this is anything #spinchip fic #ninjago

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thisisnotthenerd · 1 year

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Neverafter Episode 14: Daughters of the Crown thoughts and musings. Spoilers Ahead.

Well, I got my wish for a gerelody reunion, almost verbatim.

I’m glad that it wasn’t cut-and-dry. That both of them had the opportunity to say the things they needed to say and had the time and space to process a reunion. I think a truer aspect of Gerard’s curse is coming forth--that the ratio of frog to man isn’t really dependent on Elody and how much she loved him, but more on his own sense of self and what defines his nature, after having lived so long as a frog.

Elody got into the meat of her issue with the world, being that the simplest parts of her life are the only things being preserved in story. That the person she is and the struggles she has experienced beyond that aren’t worth remembering. I think her motivation there is definitely closer to the party than it is to the princesses, but who knows how that will change.

As for the princesses, I’m concerned about the next action they will take. The suicidal nature of their mission to destroy and restructure the Neverafter is unsettling and speaks to a lack of regard for stories and people other than themselves as well as a deeply sad reason for their mission. They all want a better future for themselves by whatever means necessary; at the very least, those that have been in on it the longest don’t have a regard for other stories and/or people if they stand in their way. Emily hit it on the head: we didn’t know if they were right or just young, hot, and good with magic and weapons. Now we know their interests diverge, and a fight with them will not go well for the party.

The prehensile hair on Rapunzel is terrifying, and only knowing that her persona is performative on a nat 20 perception check tells me that there’s a lot more going on under that hair of hers. Also, they know that Cinderella is more of a frontlines person, but have no idea the extent of la Bête’s power, and Snow White literally has an army. Elody and Mira are newer--not Twice-Upon-A-Time. I think they’re unlikely to do battle against Destiny’s Children unless they’re heavily coerced. They’re hostages, whether they’ve realized it or not.

However, Destiny’s Children has been collecting power and information in a way that somewhat destabilizes them; each party member has something they could do to dramatically change their course of action.

From a terrestrial perspective, while Gerard and Elody aren’t in a perfect place, I have a feeling that a proper conversation with her could deeply influence her perspective on the princesses, especially if the party is advocating to get her out. Rosamund’s first loyalty isn’t to the princesses; if she refuses to commit to the plan, and Elody or even Mira choose not to as well, the princesses are going to lose their advantage in numbers and probably seek to take them back by force, which detracts from their greater goal.

On a multiversal scale, four of Destiny’s Children are working with a power set was specifically granted to them by a higher power, greater than the princesses or fairies. Ylfa has the blessing of Death on her--my theory being that if the Wolf was not saved, she was being unknowingly set up to take on the role. He wanted her to live even when she was killing herself before him. There’s a little inconsistency in that she didn’t gain a greater awareness upon consuming the Wolf the way the Baron of Bricks did, but that could come down to a few things: he wasn’t boiled down the way he was in the soup, she was still confined to her original story and thus could not become aware immediately, or even that he simply wanted to preserve her remaining innocence with regard to the Neverafter, when she had already lost so much.

Pib, while technically only functioning with the memories of a Twice-Upon-A-Time, is fundamentally a trickster archetype. Theory time: he may not have the power that the BBW or the various Geese do, but being an archetype grants these characters a certain amount of power and perspective that the ‘protagonist’ characters don’t have. Pib has been the one to make discoveries on a wide variety of fronts--he got the true books out of the Lines Between, which gave the party a major advantage in terms of figuring out the Neverafter and gave Pinocchio the opportunity to seize his own destiny. He can make big swings without compromising his role and thus isn’t as constrained as the other party members. We know that the Stepmother, who gains from consumption of other stories, is a powerful threat; however, though she was a warlock patron, I don’t think she’s quite on same axis as the bigger players like the BBW, the Geese, or the Baba Yaga. She doesn’t have a universal awareness. Pib could theoretically take that on.

Pinocchio, on the other hand, is the boy of destiny. He’s wielding his story like a weapon. There is a great deal of power to that--I think he’s one of the party members they’d try to control immediately aside from Timothy. He can call on parts of his story that are actively dangerous i.e. il Terribile Pescecane--maybe not consciously, but it’s a risk they’d have to take with him around. For all that Pinocchio suffered in his tales, there’s a lot that could come out of that book.

Speaking of books, I think Timothy is going to be in a tight spot after this. Knowing that all they have to do is get the ink to him, I think the princesses may be gunning for him as a tool. There’s no way he would put it down, but I’d be willing to bet that the prehensile hair would be in the room while he’s sleeping, just waiting for an opportunity. Also, if they know he’s on his last wish, the idea may be to trigger that into killing him and then just take the book for themselves. The princesses are certainly ruthless and I wouldn’t put it past them, Cinderella, Snow White, and Rapunzel especially, to do that.

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error-432 · 11 months

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“Why did you agree to this?” asked the Scorpion. “I could kill you at any moment.”

“Maybe,” said the Frog.

“Do you think I wouldn’t do it?” said the Scorpion. “Do you think my own fear could outweigh my nature?”

“Maybe,” the Frog said again.

“You have too much faith in my self-preservation,” the Scorpion said, raising its stinger. “Already I feel the urge to plunge my venom into your back, sending me to to the bottom of the river and dragging you down too.”

“Perhaps,” said the Frog, and continued to swim.

“Are you stupid?” the Scorpion demanded. “I’m telling you that I’m going to sting you. Throw me off now and only one of us has to die.”

“True,” the Frog said. “But I won’t.”

“That’s idiotic,” said the Scorpion. “You doomed us both the moment you let me on your back.”

“It’s possible.”

“Throw me off.”

“I won’t.”

“I’ll sting you.”

“Maybe.”

“No, not maybe. I’m going to sting you!”

“We’ll see.” The Frog swam up to the edge of the riverbank.

The Scorpion did not get off.

“We’re here,” the Frog remarked. “Despite your words, we have reached the bank.”

“That means nothing,” said the Scorpion. “I could still sting you, here and now.”

“Maybe,” the Frog agreed. “But you didn’t so far. That says something, doesn’t it?”

The Scorpion said nothing.

“You know,” said the Frog, “this was a nice swim.”

The Scorpion scoffed at the words. “How could it have been nice? I spent the whole time threatening you!”

“Empty threats,” said the Frog.

“But you didn’t know that!” the Scorpion said desperately. “Why? Why wouldn’t you throw me off? Don’t you have any self-preservation? It would have been so much easier to let me drown—to leave me on the other side.”

“Yes,” said the Frog. “But kindness applies to more than what’s easy.”

The Scorpion went onto the bank.

“You have done a brave thing today,” said the Frog.

“Brave?” said the Scorpion. “How?”

“You let me be kind to you,” said the Frog, and swam away.

You are a very interesting and kind one, anon.

#I lo… Ahem. Envy you.

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omi-papus · 2 years

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I realized that Robin inngame becomes infinitly more tolerable and fun if you just think of her as kind of a dumbass. Like ok listen I dont know what the fuck is up with her voice lines. Like hers specifically. Everyone elses dialogue is pretty alright and even great. But something about Robin just does not click. Shes presented as this badass, marvel esque strong female character tm. Not to an unberable degree. Shes fine. But I feel like when I first played I only tolerated Robin when Al-An was stuck to her, because she would bring interesting things out of him. And it felt off sometimes. The worst bit Id say is, "How do humans cope with the loss of memories? Like forgeting someones birthday?" Like girl, this is clearly some existencial shit this man is on, get a grip.

Now, everytime I play and she says some shit like that, I go, "Sure sweetie. You go do that" And thats what got me to like her. Like to just think shes as a person is just out of touch as fuck actually makes sense with everything a lot more. Like yhea shed yeet herself into an alien planet with no way out just to comfirm a suspicion because she dosent like a company and cant accept the idea someone she loves isnt a perfect angel. All her brain holds is plant facts, you think she can make good choices? Yhea shed really just recite poetry to an alien expecting him to understand, without even knowing the damn thing in full. Girl is 90% pure unfiltered emotion and cant explain abstract concepts worth shit. Homegirl will really meet an alien thats like, "I wont explain who I am or my intentions but get me out of her real quick" and INSTANTLY be like "Bet, get your ass in this iPad". (Granted she didnt want to go as far as she did with the whole brain situation and she was rushed but still, not even panic.) Shed be the friend that everyone goes to when thyre in truble, because shell agree to murder without asking question if she digs your vibe. OF COURSE Robin will genuenly unpromted go "Hey that new body of yours in kind of making me feel something, Imma just give you the rest of my life and follow you into the void of space, leaving everything else behind k?" Bitch has never had a plan in her life, you think shes going to start now? She sees some alien ass and all else is irrelevant.

It also works with the gameplay, cause like idk about you but in Below Zero it felt like everything was yelling, "Hey, you have 30 seconds of oxigen. How about you go into that cave at the bottom of the ocean floor I bet theres cool shit in there." And sure enough I did.

And like, you have any idea how little self preservation biologists can have? Robin is the girl that will lick the frog to test if its poisonous, shes the one that does the pain tests for insect bites. She can and will manhandle a hipo because she wants to see the inside of its mouth.

This is so not what the game intended but I love waterlogged brain Robin and I will deny canon til the end of days.

#subnautica sub cero #subnautica below zero #subnautica #robin ayou

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perexcri · 1 year

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day 5: full au

this is the day i’ve been looking forward to most for this event!! i’m so excited to share a few au recs :D

first of all: Tip-toeing on Lily-pads by my beloved @cherryisgone!! it’s a lovely little fantasy au where Will’s a prince, Mike’s a knight, and El likes to curse Mike by turning him into a frog. i bet you can guess the only way the curse can be broken, right? >:) anyway, this is so well-written, it’s 7k words of Will pining, and it’s got all the things i could ever hope for out of a fantasy au: two people being held back from each other because of politics and duties to one’s nation :’D i mean, yes, it was a birthday gift to me, so in a lot of ways, it was tailored to my tastes, but it’s got such a fun vibe and beautiful descriptions that i think it can be (and should be) enjoyed by all. so, yeah, take some time to spend with a princess and the frog-esque au written by one of my dear friends 💜🐸

then: A New Fight by @tea-for-one-please! i was out of town all last week, and even though i brought a couple of books with me to read, i spent all of my free reading time with this lovely trilogy. it’s a fantastically imagined star wars au, and while byler is a big focus of it, i truly enjoyed how the author integrated all of the party members into the story in such a natural way. i wouldn’t say i’m the most die-hard star wars fan - in fact, i probably could only barely describe the plot of any of the movies - but the franchise does hold a special place in my heart for personal reasons, so it was so enjoyable getting to read about some of my favorite characters from st being thrown into the rebellion!! seriously, if you have some time, definitely spend it with this series

Warm by @notebooknonbinary! this is just a quick little d&d au that’s so cute and sweet. as my beloved Vee says in the description, it’s nice to see that Mike has the self-preservation skills of a lemming in any universe lol. of course he put himself in harm’s way to save Will!! and now we get to see the aftermath of it with Vee’s lovely writing :]

Daydream by disaster_energy! another d&d au, but this time, Will gets chosen by the moon goddess, and Mike decides to pledge his allegiance to that paladin order. it’s really sweet, and the universe the author built was also super fun to see!! it kind of reminded me of the world-building in percy jackson, so if you liked those books, definitely check this one out!!

The Trees Are Growing Restless by @light-lanterne!! this is a super interesting groundhog day au with a specific focus on Mike’s unresolved trauma. i still need to read the latest chapter because i am nothing if not behind on reading, but i’ve been so excited for this one and can’t wait to see where it goes. Angel’s writing is amazing, and he’s got Mike’s character down so well :]

that’s all for now, i think!! i’ll be back tomorrow with more~ :]

#byler #bylerficrecweek2023 #bylerficrecweek #fic rec #if disaster_energy has a tumblr pls let me know so i can tag them :]

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nathaniacolver · 1 year

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need to live tweet my playing of totk but don't wanna be annoying on my irl so i'll just do it here. this is the first bit:

BEWARE: TOTK SPOILERS BELOW

"i know i'll be ok with you link" okay they are IN LOVE

WHERE IS LINK IN THE CUTSCENE. THEY HAVE TO SHOW HIM IN THE NEXT 10 SECONDS OR I WILL FRET

ZONAI????!!?!!?!??!?!?! (Listen i forgot the gameplay trailer)

me walking at a respectable pace as to not leave zelda's side

BABE THERE'S TOO MUCH MALICE HERE WHY ARE WE STILL GOING

just talked to zelda and she was like "i'm so excited!!!!" GIRL DO YOU NOT HAVE AN OUNCE OF SELF-PRESERVATION

swinging the sword swinging the sword

WAIT WHY DO I HAVE 30 HEARTS WHYYYYYYY DO I HAVE 30 HEARTS

THEY JUST ADDED AN INSTRUMENT OR TWO OH FRICK AND IT'S GETTING LOUDER oh i already love the sound engineering

GLOWY SPIRAL????

DON'T PICK UP THE TEAR BABY oh frick oh frick

OH THAT'S WHY I HAD 30. FOR THE DRAMA

CAN'T LOOK AT MY TYPING I'M WATCHING THE CHTSCENE

OH FRICK IT JUST SHATTERED OH FRICK

gamer lean on x games mode rn

mans said screw it i'm out. fly you fools

BRO I WAS TYPING THE ABOVE WHEN HE LUNGED AND I GOT SO NERVOUS THAT I'D HAVE TO FIGHT FJSKDKJSJDAHHDLADG THE JOYCONS ARE FLOPPING AROUNS ON MY ARMS

THAT TEAR BETTER PROTECT HER I HOPE THAT'S WHAT THAT GLOWY YELLOW WAS

BRO WHAT. THE BLUE GLOWING IS GOOD. this is so anakin skywalker of him btw

baby don't you worry i'm gonna make link level up so fast so he can come and get you

oop naked link again AND HIS SHORTS ARE SHORTER????

nice mani link

A MAN'S VOICE???????? WHO IS IT WHY DOES EVERYONE KNOW THEIR NAMES

okay so The Voice just gives him an arm. okay

the malice or whatever stopping just at the triforce is Symbolic, i think

is it really a master sword or is it a master Dagger

i rly be taking screenshots of everything like i'm a tourist

okay green hand thing go off!!! oop give it a high five and it turns blue and goes behind you as a save point

*taking notes* okay cogs are cogging.......gears are gearing..........

now why the frick did it have me dive like that. what was The Reason

i Forgor that link can tread water indefinitely. swimming king

not me searching every nook and cranny like there's gonna be secrets in this Cave

PANTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ARCHAIC PANTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wait i put them on and now he looks like a gladiator.......cardboard skirt & Jesus sandals........ok shirtless king

oop just noticed his hair animations & the layers are CRAZY but it lookin good

wait so they was underground......and now in the sky...................i have Theories

they said aerial view shot once again but i mean AERIAL

ope no climbing, you're already too high in the sky

the lighting looks SO GOOD!

it's so silent up here i love it.

the MUSIC AHHHH

WAIT EVERYTHING'S AN ISLAND???? OH WE WAY THE FRICK UP IN THE SKY LINK. HOW CAN YOU BREATHE THAT THIN AIR

this game is making me fall In Love. with Silence

TREE BRANCH YES THE WORLD IS HEALING

apples. i could Cry

is that a broom?????

wait so the soldiers are bad and the stewards are good. it's just like real life!

why do i have the feeling that this is a /different/ princess zelda that left this to him.......oh nvm it's just the purah pad. what happened to the sheikah slate???

is link gonna look at pics on it and get emo

wait so. garden of time (ok Christianity reference). so zelda has lived through some trash already and is like poor link in the past. let's give him this

aw it's lonely :(

YES WE'RE GETTING ZELDA RIGHT AWAY I COULD CRY

ooh the purah pad looks slick (i'm so sorry but why does that sound like a tampon brand LIKEEEEE)

high five!!! oh wait high fives have OTHER FUNCTIONS???!?!

now why did the bridge have to do all that fancy stuff. (ik it's for stability or whatever don't @ me engineers)l

just smashed some pots. link's Primeval Urge

ok so linear path for Diving. got it.

that's a hot-footed frog.......................i could cry. i AM crying

picked up a rock. now i just have to see some Chickens

there are Grates in the ground and you can peek below. idk why i like that so much.

i am hunting these ostriches like i might die

THAT GUY SNUCK UP ON ME SO SILENTLY. I DECIDED I HATE FLOATING MACHINE ENEMIES (don't worry i was fine)

why did i try to light a frog on fire

#totk spoilers #okay that's it i have to go to work now but enjoy.#i do this bc i don't have a reaction yt channel but IF I DID #also i had to edit this ob my computer bc i accidentally added a poll and idk how to get rid of it #totk #tears of the kingdom #loz #playthrough

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still-a-morosexual-help · 1 year

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@🌹anon asked about my ocs sometime back and as I was answering it rn I accidentally deleted the entire thing😭😭😭😭😭

I'm gonna try and write whatever I remember again✌️:

Yes I did it again (shut up);

I'm such a fucking idiot, I found the "deleted ask" hidden deep in my drafts - apparently it went there when I lost my internet connection but instead of getting saved at the top of my drafts it got saved on the day anon first sent me the ask so somewhere in the middle between other drafts??? Anyway:

!!!You asked for it!!

They were all created for some game or another (characters I'll be able to toss away once I'm done playing the games) But I ended up falling in love with all of them🤡

I can't draw people for shit & I don't wanna describe appearances so I'm gonna use picrews (with links added for anyone who wants to use 'em too)

Starting from first created to last & answering it like I'm making them character profiles for a dating sim (but leaving out the three from Choices 'cause I don't know if they can be considered proper ocs rather than just characters the game handed us? Also leaving out the others from fictif because they're not as well developed)

1. "Lex" Alexandra Lane

(Lex after Lex Luthor and Lane after Lois Lane because I think I'm funny)

[1] , [2]

Origin: Love Island the Game S2

25 at beginning now 26 years (Birthday: November 16th)

5'5"

She/Her

Bisexual

Professional Cellist

English/British because the game didn't give me a choice

Married at 26 (because the game gives you no option), will definitely have a couple kids at some point

No gross out factor - probably ate bugs as a kid. Probably will still eat a bug off the ground if dared to. Biggest point of pride is that she can do a backflip in heels. Loves fashion/beautiful clothes that are usually stupidly expensive. Biting her lip and making bedroom eyes at every single person but really just wants to fall in love and settle down. Hates confrontation/any sort of fight but also really wants to know everything about everyone's business. Good at being the mediator. Always the big spoon. Actually pretty buff - can absolutely bench you.

2. Eliza Ramskin

(Eliza after the official name of the porcelain apple doll sitting in a box on my cupboard but then I decided I didn't want it to stand for Elizabeth so now it stands for "A Lizard" after the rubber gecko pasted on my bedroom wall. Ramskin: a bad pun because of the game)

[1] , [2] (yes the little frog is supposed to be me)

Origin: Obey Me!

23 at beginning now 26 years (Birthday: April 21st)

5'10"

They/Them

Queer

Wildlife Photographer

Has chronic pain

Has a scar over one eyebrow - will smugly tell you a cool story for it. In reality dropped a jar of peanut butter on their face. + top surgery scars

-> Essentially just om! gen MC with a background and name. Have you read my post about gen MC's canon facts? Have you read any of my gen MC theory posts, where I take individual canon facts & connect them to see what happens? Have you read any of my obey me! fics? Can you remember what general MC was like in them? Then you know exactly what Eliza is like. But still, here are some of my favourite parts:

Ambiguously human. Would fight God at 2am in a Denny's parking lot and WIN. They're very lowkey an asshole but underneath that they're kinda nice but underneath that they're a bigger asshole but underneath that they're even nicer and so on and so forth. Surprisingly down for murder. 0 self preservation + 0 shame + 0 fear + max drive & determination + max stubborness + max can do attitude + unconsciously charming + actually pretty strong + danger kink + horny = the world's greatest monster fucker.

3. Len

(Len's short for Lenora which she no longer goes by but irl named after my Lenova laptop, No surname.)

[1] , [2]

Origin: The Arcana

31 years (Birthday: June 7th)

5'11"

She/They

Bisexual

Same occupation as the game's MC

The only one who has a defined body shape in my mind and that body shape is plank of wood

Pitch black eyes that reflects no light. Vague cryptid energy. Stoic, cold yet thin polite smile that seems very surface level. Posture's so good just looking at her makes your back hurt. Warms up once you get to know her; is caring and gentle and understanding and soothing but also stuborn and tough/harsh/strict. Responsible but also has no problem breaking the law if needed. Dreams of travelling the world. Gives off black cat energy but is a dog person. Sadistic in both the sexy and unsexy way. Bad puns. So much untapped potential to be a super villain. I think I accidentally just created a female version of om!'s Lucifer...

4. Vale Knight

(Vale after welcome to night vale which I hadn't watched at the time, Knight from the same place but it's also a pun because of what happens to them in the game)

[1] , [2]

Origin: Last Legacy

28 years (July 10th)

6'0"

They/Them

Queer Polyamorous

Same occupation as the game's MC

Not only are they a weeb they're an ASSHOLE. The kind of person to get stabbed because their first instinct was to mock the mugger. Decided to dye their hair for cosplay once and then went "wait a minute -" A shameless flirt until someone flirts back and then they're a flustered annoyed mess. Had a lot of jobs over the years, currently a barista - doesn't want to be a barista forever but doesn't know what they want to do (other than gaming, watching movies/shows/anime, reading books/comics/manga) until they accidentally discover a passion for medicine and go to nursing school

5. River Bouwmeester

(River after Lake from Infinity Train which I've never watched, Bouwmeester because it's a Dutch surname meaning "master builder" because they work as a home renovater)

[1]

Origin: Monster Manor

27 years

5'1"

He/They

Queer

Same occupation as the game's MC

American (because the game gave me no choice) with probably Dutch origins from their father's side

Couple of big scars here and there

BIG "I can fix him energy". Moves around a lot = not much possibility for a long term stable relationship = oblivious and shy when it comes to romantic attraction. Strong, patient, practical. Very little can rattle them. Came from a long family line of home renovaters/builders (of the magic, strange & weird) but no close living family. Unironically loves bob the builder. Trying very hard to forget about the fact that they're extremely lonely by keeping up a very positive optimistic attitude. Their truck is their pride & joy. Absolutely loves their job even though it's what causes them to move about so much and so makes it hard to form close connections. Very friendly from the first moment but isn't tolerant of anyone's bullshit.

6. Roo Kidd

(Roo after the baby kangaroo from Winnie the Pooh, Kidd because the baby kangaroo was a kid. Surprisingly the actual meanings behind both names fit with their character/circumstances)

[1] , [2]

Origin: Twisted Wonderland

16 years (Birthday January 10th)

5'7"

He/They

Gay Demiromantic Asexual

Wears reading glasses

Lots of small scars from scrapes and scratches all along body

Always cold + loves cute clothes = wearing summer dresses and instantly regretting it. Head in the clouds 7 outta 10 times. Has never felt romantic attraction before - believed they never would and was 100% okay with that - so the one time they did start feeling it went "wow I'm really into this friendship" and stayed oblivious for an annoyingly long time. Also similarly oblivious to romantic attraction directed at them. Kinda klutzy. Big wet eyes. Big bright smile. A ball of sunshine but also really snarky. "This might as well happen" energy. Fast with quick reflexes and a sharp eye for detail. A cunning edge that comes out only during emergencies. Strength of a wet noodle though. Gets a shitty impromptu/accidental haircut that leads to him buzzing it all off and having to grow it back.

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levy120 · 7 months

Text

Burn Your Bridges

[PART 1: Foreign]

[PART 2: Advertisement]

[PART 3: Blood Money]

[PART 4: Tit for Tat]

Rating: PG

Words: 2300

Genre: Introspection, Character Deconstruction/Analysis, Speculation, AU

Lore: Rayman 2, Captain Laserhawk speculation

Characters: Rayman, Razorbeard, Globox, Ly

Summary: Rayman returns to the Glade.

AN: Oh look! It's an all new chapter that wasn't planned :') See also on: [dA] | now also on [ao3]

See also: [Part 1] | [Part 2] | [Part 3] | [Part 4] | [You are here]

More like this: [Rayman Oneshots Masterpost]

A group of Henchmen escorts Rayman to Razorbeard where he's received... with a surprising welcome.

"Rayman!" Razorbeard says "I see Eden's been doing you good! You fine looking."

"Cut the crap," Rayman says, eliciting a tinny chuckle from Razorbeard.

"You know why I'm here."

"I know, I know," the pirate says with a hint of excitement as he hops from his seat and approaches Rayman. He eyes one of the hands hanging by his side before looking up at the Limbless with a devilish glint in his optics as he offers his own.

"It's a pleasure doing business with you." of all people.

Rayman has to hold himself back from crushing Razorbeard's hand in his palm.

---

As Razorbeard leads him down the prison ward, Rayman feels his skin crawl from the sight of the familiar walls.

They’re just like he last saw them, lined with cages. An assortment of trapped creatures blink up at him in confused hope. Rayman’s name is a whisper in the halls.

It's a cacophony before he knows it. Cries for help. Confusion about why he's following Razorbeard. Or looks so different.

And the endless question of why he just keeps moving along instead of setting them free.

He's avoiding his eyes, running the gauntlet. Just tries to not lose Razorbeard's trail.

Don't even think about getting lost in here. Just... don't think about it.

It was too easy to forget just how many there were still trapped upon Razorbeard's prison ship.

And Rayman is here to get just one.

His feet stop moving as the guilt comes crashing down. The disappointment he's going to leave in his wake.

He is not helping.

One slave is just a drop in the desert.

…

But it's the first drop, he thinks, clenching his fist.

Just the first step.

If he were to free them now…

He'll draw Razorbeard's anger.

Razorbeard's anger will infuriate his boss.

And his boss will call retribution in ways Rayman doesn't want to think about.

"Desolé," he breathes.

…and moves on.

---

Globox is sleeping when Rayman catches up with Razorbeard in front of his cell. Compared to his old one, Globox merely has wooden bars to keep him contained.

He almost doesn't want to wake him.

The large frog looks rather peaceful. And maybe a little like he hasn't eaten in… a while.

Rayman looks forward to changing that.

Razorbeard very calmly finishes spanning an umbrella and then starts lifting the wooden gate with the press of a button.

As soon as its height allows for it, Rayman slinks into his friend's cell.

"Globox!"

He doesn't know why, but he'd expected this to be different. For Globox to be happy to see him. But the large frog barely stirs.

"What's up with him? What did you do?!" Rayman glares at Razorbeard who merely shrugs.

"Guy's been on a diet. He's just overdramatic."

Razorbeard sees the Limbless's gaze harden and his hands ball into fists.

"Now hold your shells. He's fine. We just had to make sure he's not up to pulling his little stunt," Razorbeard points the umbrella at Rayman, "You do recognize the concept of self preservation, don't you?"

With an angry puff Rayman's attention returns to his friend, the state of which makes him deflate immediately.

He pulls the limp body into a hug, scared by how easy his weight makes it.

"It's gonna be okay," He vows, "I'm getting you out of here. You'll be fine, I promise."

After one last squeeze that elicits a slight murmur from the large frog, Rayman removes himself from Globox and steps up towards the robot.

"What about his children?"

"A deal's a deal," Razorbeard admonishes, "But I can make you a batch offer for the next time."

"But you're feeding them?!"

Razorbeard raises his hands placatingly.

"They’re… not a threat," he explains, "And don't need quite so much per mouth."

Rayman is visibly mulling over the words. His jaw locked.

"Fine," Rayman almost snaps. "I'll pay extra for you to increase their rations. Please bring him to my ship. My boss will cover all expenses."

"Aye, Aye," Razorbeard signs off almost too enthusiastically, "Before I let you two leave, would you like to see Ly? I had her brought here specifically because I knew you were coming."

"What?"

Ly was… here? On the pirate ship???

Rayman thought she'd been holding up the fort since he'd been captured! But then again, how long ago has that been?

He feels his gut churn at the mere idea of seeing her again behind bars. That's… not at all how he'd thought this would go.

"Come on. As a treat between business partners. I'll let you say hi. I'm sure she will be thrilled to see you."

Rayman hesitates but his heart is threatening to run away from him. Whether from fear or anticipation he does not know. YES he wants to see Ly again but-

"I'm not sure that's the best idea right now."

"Fine," Razorbeard remarks, "I'll tell her you weren't interested."

That's worse!!!!

"On, second thought!" Rayman rushes after the little pirate after he'd already turned to leave.

"Yes, I'd love to see Ly."

---

"Oh, Rayman! It's really you! I thought Razorbeard had sold you off!"

"I did," the Admiral pipes proudly.

"He did," Rayman confirms with a side glance at the robot casually regarding the bolts of his knuckles.

"But I'm here now!" Rayman says.

He’s up to the bars of her temporary cell. Her slender hands are reaching through to cup his cheeks and his on hands reach for hers to know she’s real.

It makes his heart simultaneously soar and cry out. It's good to see Ly again - but she shouldn’t be behind bars.

"What are you wearing?" she asks with amusement as she takes note of his jacket and pokes the adorable little bowtie.

"It's cute."

Something bugs her, even though she can't put her finger on it. Maybe it's the fact he's no longer sporting the sigil. It's so strange to see him without it, but then again, it's not like Ly got around to telling him why that mattered so much to her.

All in all, though, she's far too relieved to see that Rayman is doing okay, to give it too much thought.

"It's a long story," Rayman says scratching the back of his head bashfully, "It's impractical," he really misses the warmth of baggy comfort clothes or the practicality of his adventure attire, "but they're not letting me be seen in anything else."

Ly shoots him a worried look.

Rayman talking about 'them' - and in this way - is the first time the thought manifests that he's…

...he's been gone, and not just out of sight, somewhere on the prison ship. It makes it all the more incredible he's returned though. That must have taken some trials.

Ly wants to stay positive, but the thought of Rayman being exploited gnaws at her. He seems to have been treated well, though. No wounds - old or new - to speak off, and he holds himself well. Healthy. Fed. Physically, he's in top shape, if a little exhausted. She hasn't missed the deep-set worry lines on his brow or the (masked) bags under his eyes.

All the better though, that now they have a chance to bring an end to this situation for good.

The fairy tugs at Rayman's hands and leans in closer. Her gaze is focusing on Razorbeard as she whispers to the Limbless.

"So what's your plan for Razorbeard? Let me know if you need a distraction. I gathered a bit of energy for you when I heard you were coming."

"Oh!" Rayman pulls back suddenly, like Ly's suggestion comes as a surprise.

"No, that's… off the table."

"What?" Now it's Ly's turn to be confused, her brow creasing as she waits for an explanation.

Rayman breathes an embarrassed sigh.

"I guess I should have led with that," he admits bashfully.

"Razorbeard has immunity. I'm here for negotiations. I can't… do anything about him."

Ly pulls back from the bars with dawning horror as she watches Rayman. Words fail her as she tries to make sense of him.

"Razorbeard is right there," she says in denial, by now indifferent whether or not the robot can hear, "You could end this… right now."

"But here's the thing," Rayman tries to explain himself. His entire being is clammy with cold, nervous sweat.

"There's a better way! My boss has connections! We can negotiate-"

"No."

Ly doesn't believe what she's hearing. Rayman - her Rayman - is conspiring with the enemy???

"I know it sounds crazy!" Rayman blurts, "I just- I'm sorry, I came for Globox first. I just thought you were still holding down the fort and you know how scared Globox is of the robots, so when I had to choose who to free first I-"

"You chose?!" Ly cuts him off and the silence that follows is deafening.

Razorbeard chuckles and removes himself to stand on the sidelines. This is gonna be good.

"Ly, please," Rayman pleads, "It took me so long just to get here, but I promise to make this right! Razorbeard won't come after you again once you're let free! I just need a little more time and… please don't look at me like that."

But the fairy's gaze is scrutinizing.

"You chose," she repeats with admonition, "Who gets to be free… and who has to stay here?!"

Ly raises to her full height to glare down on Rayman.

"Where do you take the right-" she has to stop herself, starts pacing in her cell.

"Razorbeard is just over there!" She has said this before, it's unbelievable to her that it bears repeating. "You free a single soul, that you take the audacity to decide on, instead of ending this Nightmare once and for all!"

"It's more complicated than that," Rayman tries to explain, to somehow vindicate himself, but his heart isn't really in it.

"I promise, when I'm coming back, I'll get you next. We can go to Eden together."

Ly stops pacing to look at him.

A good, long, accusing look.

"Rayman," this tone in her voice is so new to him, it's giving him chills. Ly had always been such a serene boulder in the storm. Now it's like she embodies thunder itself.

"I am not leaving the Glade."

His breath hitches.

"This is my home. Our home!" She's adamant, "And you're dragging Globox away? To… to a place called Eden? What about his kids?! Are they supposed to grow up without a father? Don't you think he'd rather be with his family?"

Rayman flinches. He has no answer to those questions, admittedly barely thought about them in his excitement to… to do something good!

"I'm doing the right thing!" he insists, if only to convince himself.

But he can't look Ly in the eyes, even as he says it.

The fairy's silence is deafening, but he can feel her glare without needing to search for it.

"You can't truly believe that."

"...Fine," Rayman feels his fist shake at his side. Hot anger burns in his chest and threatens to spill.

"Stay if you have to. But I don't see what good that would do now."

Ly cannot believe that - after all the fighting, after all they'd been through - Rayman would just trade in his home like that.

"How can you just give up on the Glade?"

And here she thought they'd been friends. Allys. Maybe even…

"I haven't!" Rayman snaps and gets up at the bars again.

"If I had, I wouldn't be here right now!"

Ly has no right to judge him like that! After all the pain and suffering he's been through. All of his efforts will not have been for naught!

The fairy takes one hard look at him. Hurt and betrayal reflects in her eyes.

Despite all he says… he's not going to stay. She knows it now. He came back only to leave again.

"You've changed," she says. It's in his aura too. She can see it now. It's what's been bugging her this entire time.

What used to be calm and light and filled with playful joy now vibrates with hostile anger and distrust.

"What- No! I'm still the same!"

He doesn't even see it. Ly has lost him. She doesn't know when. And she doesn't know why.

But Rayman has made one thing overwhelmingly clear.

"You say that. And still, you're going to leave again."

Leave them behind.

He's going to choose his new life over her. Over the Glade. This… strange world she's never before heard of that did this to him.

And what's worse, he's going to steal Globox away from them too; in the unshakable belief that his best friend would like a place that changed Rayman into this. That broke him like this.

Globox is going to hate it.

She tries to even her own breath. Smooth out the cracks in her own heart. This anger is unbecoming of her and if she doesn't control it, it's going to consume her the same way.

It's a feeling she reserves for enemies. For robots. For Razorbeard.

…for whatever it is this new Rayman has become.

"Leave then," she capitulates.

"I will not be waiting."

"Ouchy," Razorbeard jests as he makes his way back over and pats Rayman's back, jostling his midsection.

"She hasn't been fed yet today. I guess that makes her a little cranky. Come on, let's give the lass her wish."

Reluctantly, Rayman's feet turn as Razorbeard ushers him away, but his gaze clings to Ly until her cell disappears behind a corner.

All in all, Razorbeard considers today a raging success.

After all, the only thing better than gold or slaves

…is petty revenge.

#rayman #captain laserhawk #clabdr #fanfiction #speculation #sorry not sorry

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