I am going to continue writing, but I think the vore community isn't the best space to do so for multiple reasons. That being said, I wish nothing but wonderful things for all of you!
Although my content includes the concept of characters being eaten whole and alive, I don't personally believe said works fit all criteria for the term "vore", whether or not that term can be used to refer to nonsexual work or not.
Dipping my toes into this community was definitely good for me; I've developed an even stronger passion for writing and met people with that same passion through it. However, I think staying in it might cause some harm as well. This is a very blurred space when it comes to kink and non-kink, and I don't think I need to be posting my writing in a kinkish space when I am a strictly non-kink writer and also a minor.
I'm doing this mostly out of concern for my own safety and comfort, but also for the safety and comfort of everyone overall in this space. I'm a minor—I don't need to mark my posts with the same tags kinksters use just because I write Weird Things, y'know?
ANYWAYS, I could rant on and on, but that's about it. I've deleted the vast majority of my posts, although I've left a few ones I quite treasure in tact.
`If you want to follow my writing and stories still you can find me here and here, but please keep in mind I'm not going to consider myself part of the vore community anymore!
i don't want to stress you with this but will you still post your stories?
Hey! No worries anon, it’s a valid question especially considering my last post was vague. As of right now I am not going to be actively updating them, but I am still writing them.
I PROMISED I WOULDN’T RANT BUT ACTUALLY I’M GOING TO SORRYYYY EEEE
The most complicated thing is… I’m not so sure I want to be in a community where the line between SFW and NSFW is very blurred, if it even exists at all. I think for both my own safety and sanity it is Not a Good Idea.
However, I still love my stories dearly and I do love sharing them with people. I think the main issue is the environment I’m sharing them in. I want to step away a bit from “kink” and move towards “normal” (or as normal as my writing can be lol).
Because of that, I’m not so sure I want to post my writing on a “vore blog” or cater it towards the idea of “vore” as a whole. I’m still very chill with the idea of people being eaten alive and I don’t believe it’s inherently sexual, but I also think I’ve started to write it in a way more catered to how a certain audience wants to see it and I’d rather pivot away from that a little.
I find it very interesting to convey themes, be used in a plot, and explore certain emotions (especially those of hunger, danger, desire, etc.) and I am overall fond of the idea of the dynamic between a “hunter” and its “prey” because it’s just so fascinating to me. But is that really what vore is?
I dunno!
I think a lot of people view “vore” differently, but I’m just not so sure I like the idea of treating it as an umbrella term for people-being-eaten-alive, especially when it’s a concept I’m not really using in a fetish, kink, or even comfort way.
The fact that this is a community stemming from a kink one just… mmmm that’s not what my writing is, y’know?
I think the label vore might not fit for what I’m doing, especially taking into consideration that it really does stem from “voreraphilia” as far as I know. It’s mostly a kink term. That’s where it comes from at its roots.
But again I’m really just thinking about things currently. Maybe I’ll just wait until I’m eighteen and finish posting everything so that it’s a bit safer for me to be in this blurry space, but overall I think As Is it’s just not a healthy idea for me.
I love my writing and I love making people happy, but I also have to balance that with keeping myself safe and happy too.
If you finished this rant though, thanks I suppose!
Know that I am NOT abandoning my darlings because I love them dearly, it might just be a while before I update them here, or I might move to somewhere else entirely. I’ll try to keep people in the loop if I can, especially if there are a lot of people wanting to read and see what happens next, I don’t wanna leave y’all hanging! ❤️
My feelings towards the vore community as a whole are very complicated, so I’m going to be taking a bit of a hiatus. I’m not so sure if I’ll come back or not, but I wish you all well ❤️
Contents (Warnings): Did I make the right decision? (Angst, safe soft vore, character and monster info as always). Read full chapter on - A03
Wordcount: 2,200+ (I WILL BE MAKING A MAGIC SYSTEM BOOKLET AS SOON AS I CAN, PROMISE!)
Side note: This will contain experimental writing; first person (Lynette's view) will be implemented alongside third person for the two other essential characters, (mostly) Alexander and (occasionally) Drake. All their text will be italicized for those third-person moments, with the characters' names in Bold at the start and their thoughts in Bold. There may be other characters I write for using this.
The chill of the cold burned.
"You wanna join us?" A younger Wicks offered his hand. He looked about seven, much shorter hair, cut by himself when Madre had her back turned.
Behind him stood Charletta. She bounced up and down with excitement, awaiting my answer.
I moved up my hand, clutching the swing's rusted chains with the other. My eyes locked onto the care in his.
He offered me the warmth I needed to survive the storm.
I lifted my head from the coffee shop table. I knew I dozed off for a few minutes because if I had fallen asleep, I wouldn't have been in this chair anymore.
I swirled the cup still in my hand, half full of coffee. I moved the lukewarm liquid to my lips and drank it all. I hadn't slept all night. I thought as I got up.
As I left the coffee shop to get into my car, Wicks followed me. Whether I drove or walked around the twenty-four-hour store all night, aimlessly.
It was killing me. I didn't want him to let go. Even when I said it. I wanted to believe him and desperately trust that he did it for a good reason.
I knew him, I knew all of them for most of my life, and I was still afraid. Besides the magic, none of them acted differently, so why did I feel so distant from them?
What had I missed? How much did I hold them back? Am I a nuisance? Is Wicks forced to watch me? Is it better off if I leave? My mind wouldn't stop. Did he really erase my memory? Did he erase it more than what he said?
These questions bobbed around in my head, banging on its surface. I couldn't hold them. Maybe it was my lack of sleep.
I got into my car and started to drive again, heading to work. I stayed in the area, occasionally yawning at the wheel, and safely made it to the building.
I left my car, looking up at the big warehouse-sized pizzeria. I didn't even have my badge or uniform. I couldn't use the back door.
"LYNETTE!" The voice chirped with delight. Claudia.
One of the oddities. I thought to myself. It hurt to lift my lips, "afternoon."
Her eyebrows raised, "wow, you don't look so good. What happened?"
I didn't know how to respond. I bounced from her light blueberry hue to her dark brown one.
"I can't sleep in my apartment right now. Issues going on, so I stayed up all night."
My heart trembled with each word. He's my brother, but I can't look at him.
Claudia and I walked together. I didn't even realize my feet moved.
"That explains why you don't have your uniform," Claudia replied. "Tristan's here today. He will gladly give you another one. I have to get a new one every other month!"
She scanned her badge at the doors and opened it enough for me to slip under her arm. I did and went through the hall that carried the countless bombardment of pizza-smelling goodness.
"He would?" I asked. I told Wicks I would quit...if I can't go back to the apartment...where will I stay? I need to keep making money.
"Ah, wait, what are you going to do about your sleep issues tonight?"
I shrugged, "stay up."
"That's bad for humans, isn't it? Don't you need a lot of sleep?" Claudia asked, marching with long strides next to me.
I smirked. I can't fall asleep in my car or a hotel; if I sleep walk, I might get hurt. "I don't know how long I'll be out of my apartment, so I'll stay up for now."
We got closer to the time clock. Drake and Alexander at their usual "stations."
Drake had his bangs over his eyes and Alexander a dissatisfied look.
"You're game day, what are we..." Alexander squinted, "You look half asleep," he gestured at my body, "and why aren't you in your uniform."
I feel terrible. I thought. "I'm fine..." I looked down at the outfit Charletta picked for me. Black jeans, and comfy, fuzzy, white long-sleeve, then sighed, "I should get a uniform."
Drake pushed from the wall next to the time clock, "are you okay?"
You can hear my heart, can't you? Don't worry. I nodded, "I'm peachy, just a little bummed our apartment flooded." I lied.
Drake's lips parted to speak again.
"Lynette said she didn't sleep at all last night!" Claudia said.
I should really be careful with what I tell her. She seems so- innocent.
"Could you and your brother not afford a hotel?" Alexander asked.
I kept my heart quiet, my mind the softest I could get it. "He's out."
Drake tapped his chest, "if you need a place to stay or both of you, you know you can stay with us."
I stared back. Even though I trusted Drake more than anyone else here. I can't. Wicks knows where you live, doesn't he? I can't bear to see him.
"Thank you, Drake, but that's okay," I replied.
"OH! You can stay at my house if you don't want to stay at Drake's! I got plenty of room in my new one!" Claudia cheered.
I stopped mid-step down the hall toward the infirmary. "I'll keep it in mind."
They continued to talk after I went down the hall. I knocked at the door politely.
I heard the squeak of a chair, then a few light footsteps by the door.
I backed up when it opened. Ahead of me was the male with black hair and glasses, similar to June.
"Hey, Tristan," I said softly.
He looked me up and down, "Is everything alright?"
He allowed me inside.
I stepped in. Its beds were neatly made, desks far off into the corner with an array of a cabinet of odd potions and one that was filled with uniforms. The door lay behind Tristan, and in his desk drawer would be the resignation form, which Sandra offered me every time I arrived in their office.
Tristan never did. He assumed I'd continue. I shut my eyes, and I heard his voice again.
"I heard Edgar's son, Ulysses, married your sister."
My body jumped like it was unheard-of news. "Yeah, what are the odds."
There wasn't much silence; he stepped around me."Did any of them hurt you?"
It had been a week since I had been here. "No."
Tristan stood in front of me. Our eyes met, and he spoke flatly, "Did you want a uniform or a resignation form?"
What did I want? I lowered my head. If I resigned, that's it. I'll be done. Those two months wouldn't have mattered. I wouldn't have to deal with any of them anymore.
I thought back to Wicks and my family. They're not tyrants. They haven't...I love them. My eyes hyper-focused on the floor below. Each tile, each line. I can't keep failing and giving up. Especially now...if I lose it all.
"A uniform...please."
...
Drake
Drake rolled out the dough. What happened? Why was she lying? He asked himself. She's never lied before, at least not like that.
Every motion of making a pizza was second nature to him unless someone had a complicated order. He took over the brunt of the work alongside Tristan.
And I still don't understand enough about her family. What did Pete's mean?
He put the pizza in the oven.
"I can handle the rest while you're on lunch," Tristan said.
Ordinarily, his dad would be here too. He missed today and refused to give Drake a proper reason. He asked Wenna, and she didn't know either. He couldn't ask his mom; she was too busy, and he felt he'd get more of a lecture than anything useful.
"Thanks."
He flinched at the contact Tristan provided, a soft tap to his shoulder, "Welcome."
His lips skittishly rose with a smile.
Tristan and June were quiet, a soundless body that made Drake's head jump onto a different train. He never understood what they might think or feel, whether what they said was honest. He assumed they meant well. Their gestures mimicked sympathy, understanding, and, sometimes, what they felt.
He moved out of the kitchen. He saw Lynette move through already. And Alexander, a few minutes after that. Focus on the game. Though he had no idea what she'd have them play. In Drake's eyes, he didn't expect her to stay up during any game. She'd want to rest.
I can imagine what Alexander might tell her. Drake shook his head. Then, as he got closer to the time clock next to break room one, he realized his tongue traced his fangs in expectation.
I'm stronger than that. He reminded himself. Something he refused to admit after he scanned out. He pressed his badge to the door, and it flew open. Though his nose wasn't as keen as Alexander, her smell bothered him too.
Drake walked into the breakroom, his ruby hue transfixed on the giant holding Lynette.
...
Alexander
*A few minutes prior.*
Each inhale invited her overpowering scent.
He had to smell it for the week and struggled to keep himself together. He would win the game today. He wanted to. He NEEDED to. Yet, as he entered good old breakroom one, he found Lynette with her head on the table. She slept.
This happened on break too. Alexander refused to get close to her during their break. He knew he'd have a hard time controlling himself. After all, this is where he could have her.
His body moved closer on its own. Why the hell did she think it was safe to fall asleep here? He asked in his head.
For some reason, she didn't sleep all night, they have money.
His thoughts turned. She always looked so small, with her head down and pressed into the table even more so.
His hand reached out, and her body jolted. He thought she had woken up, she didn't. He remembered how annoyed he was that she didn't mention her sleepwalking habit at the festival.
He put his hand on her shoulder and shook it.
"Hey, get up, shrimp. You have a game." He said.
He only heard a small grunt, not much of a response. He took a deep breath, and her chair SKREED when he pulled it out. Alexander moved in front of her, then when her body slumped forward, he pressed both of his hands on her upper arms. He pinned her to the chair.
Lynette grunted more, her eyelids slightly fluttering before they rested again. He wanted to get her attention by yelling-yet...
The wetness in his mouth and the cramps of his empty stomach clouded any ounce of judgment he had left. He'd win anyway. What was the point of waking her.
His body shifted as it always did, giving off a light glow of blue from his usual gray hue.
He lifted her up with him.
"Alexander, we hadn't done the bet," he heard Drake come in.
He didn't care.
He quickly consumed her head up to her shoulders.
The tense rewarding jitter surged through him. He didn't stop even after she woke up. Lynette didn't stay awake long. Her struggles subsided once he swallowed more than half her body.
She was too drained to stay awake long. And before his own excitement, it took her energy faster.
He laid back on the floor after, disregarding his uniform, hat, or hair. His knees were up, and his stomach was clutched between his hands.
He closed his eyes to relish the feeling and incredible taste.
It had been too long.
"You're scary."
He had a simple grin and didn't respond. He expected Drake was referring to the speed at which he devoured her.
"You didn't even let her explain her game."
Alexander didn't remove his hand but waved his other as he spoke. His eyes were still closed. "I tried to wake her."
"Did you?"
"Shut-" He gave a smooth exhale, "up." He let out another. He didn't want to get up even though the floor was hard and cold on his back. "She didn't respond the first time...that's not on me."
...
Lynette
Tristan told me I slept longer than normal after being released.
The tiredness stayed.
I took each step slowly until I made it to the time clock. I swiped my badge, contemplating what I should do next. Should I walk around the store again? I can't drive efficiently. Imagine. That's how I end.
"Did you think over my offer?" Claudia's sudden uppity tone scared me. My head turned to her, and she walked to my right side. I saw the other two behind us.
The offer? You're house? Can I trust you? For some reason, when I watched over her eyes, they looked similar to mine. I blinked harder and smiled weakly. Wicks won't know where she lives. I want to assume he's still around. I hope he didn't stay here all day.
"Don't be stupid," Alexander commented.
It stopped and glared up at him. He did too.
I'm always full of dumb ideas. Drake and Claudia looked between us.
I hadn't forgotten that thank you, but it doesn't change anything... Our eyes had never met for this long. Either he looked away or me. You still have those scary swirling storms of hunger.
His figure loomed over me and overwhelmed every bit of my sight. My nerves gave out and forced my head to look away.
I spoke to Claudia in defiance, "I'll stay the night at your house."
"Lynette, you shouldn't really-" Drake tried to warn me.
Her face lost its confusion and intercepted Drake's response, "YES!" She twirled in place and got my wrist, "Let's go then! I gotta show you everything."
She dragged me down the ramp toward her car. I heard Alexander's low growl. It constantly reverberated with a fraction of his voice and something else. "You shouldn't stay with that little demon!"
I ignored their warnings. I'm sorry, Drake. "HAVE A GOOD NIGHT, GUYS!" I said the loudest I could.
I peered down at her hand and then back up. And for a second, I swore I thought Wicks held it. But no...it was Claudia.
...
Hey, you, thank you so much for reading. It means a lot that I put out a story that people can enjoy! So, I hope you continue to enjoy it as WE have a LOT more to go! YOU BETTER KEEP PROSPERING! (Nonnegotiable).
First Chapter Previous Chapter Next Chapter
Catch up, see some maps/art, or check the latest release dates down below ↓ ↓ ↓
What I’d do for a Livable Income (Synopsis/Chapter - List)
you really put the depression juice in this whole chapter DAMN.
It was killing me. I didn't want him to let go. Even when I said it. I wanted to believe him and desperately trust that he did it for a good reason.
"I didn't want him to let go."
something about this line uggghhh. It is ouchie.
"A uniform...please."
something about this sentence too. STOP FUCKING HITTING ME WITH EMOTIONS YOU BRAT-
Drake rolled out the dough. What happened? Why was she lying? He asked himself. She's never lied before, at least not like that.
Every motion of making a pizza was second nature to him unless someone had a complicated order. He took over the brunt of the work alongside Tristan.
And I still don't understand enough about her family. What did Pete's mean?
I love Drake dearly he gives main character energy, I am asking the same questions and I love you Drake. Drake's POV is honestly maybe my favourite to read from XDDDD
He's really enjoyable to read for.
He laid back on the floor after, disregarding his uniform, hat, or hair. His knees were up, and his stomach was clutched between his hands.
I... I know it's like his species but I am judging him hard right now. WHAT ARE YOU ALEXANDER, A TODDLER? GET THE FUCK UP OFF THE FLOOR
He's ridiculous for multiple reasons but this is very Grown Man Being a Baby in The Bad way vibes and it is going on the list of "reasons to hate this mans"
IT'S JUST..????? I have no better words than it hits a little... immaturely?
He's just very In The Wrong here.
Tristan told me I slept longer than normal after being released.
The tiredness stayed.
The last line HITS AGAIN
but I'm also really curious... are they going to pick up on the first line?
Lynette is unfamiliar with Claudia's home, she won't sleep well. I forget what her schedule is but I bet she has work tomorrow. If she comes in tired continuously, I have a feeling they're going to pick up on it.
Will Alexander remain apathetic?
Maybe Drake will intervene if he does?
Also, Claudia becoming more dominant is HYPE. I'm really excited for more of her, but also very worried as to how that'll affect her behavior in the pizzeria.
I'm also curious how Zilla and Lev will take any changes she might have or how Edgar might treat her if he hears she's not doing so hot.
I guess maybe she'll "get better" but I feel like she's been destroyed emotionally. I don't think she'll recover all that quickly from this. I'm wondering how she'll get treated with any changes that come to her.
AND AGAIN !!!!
SO EXCITED FOR CLAUDIA EEEEE
I've been wanting more Claudia content and here it comes <3<3<3<3<3
Read on A03 | Chapter masterlist can be found here
Christopher wakes up.
Contains: peril, fear, explicit language, soft/safe g/t vore, and a near-death experience. About 3k words.
Turning the Tables
The first thing Christopher felt was something stirring in his stomach, and he smiled.
Caught somewhere in the hazy, peaceful lull of half-awake darkness, he reveled in the way his full stomach moved, feeling nothing else in that moment, no other sensations, besides the human that stretched and squirmed around within him.
He could have laid there forever, kept company only by this wonderful sensation, one that he hadn't realized he'd missed.
The next thing he heard was Danny's voice.
It broke through the haze of Christopher's mind so slowly that at first, he thought it must have been the remnants of a dream. But her words hit his ears, at once both quiet and deafening as the sound formed into words, and the words twisted their way into his brain into coherent thoughts. Realizations.
"-wake up. Please. Christopher, wake up."
She was crying.
His instincts to react in some way ran suddenly headfirst into a strange, thick cloud of lethargy. Danny's voice sounded so small, so far away, and it was as though he had to wade through a heavy, bone-crushing fog to reach her.
But he had to. He had to get to her.
He had to wake up.
His eyes shot open in a burst of panic as reality slowly settled into him. The light that hit his eyes caused him to squint at first, and everything seemed out of focus and strange. There were other voices now, other...human voices—but he couldn't make out what they were saying. Everything sounded fuzzy and muffled to him.
Every limb in his body felt like it had been turned to lead in his sleep. I fell asleep? I don't remember going to bed. Is it morning?
Something stung on the side of his neck, the pain cutting through his tired haze like a dull knife. It was a warm, jagged sort of discomfort.
He couldn't pay much attention to whatever caused the pain, though, as his eyes finally focused on what was in front of him.
A human woman stood on the nightstand next to him, staring at his newly awake face with a fearful, wide-eyed expression. Her empty hands twitched at her sides, as if she'd been caught off guard and was deciding between several different courses of action at once.
Something familiar tugged at the back of his mind as he stared at her pale blonde hair and sharp, blue eyes, but he couldn't figure out what. It didn't help that he couldn't smell whoever it was—that would have surely helped him make that final connection his brain seemed to be screaming at him about.
As she met his eyes, her lips curled into a vicious snarl. "You fucker. I won't miss this time." She reached into a thin holster that ran along her leg, pulling out a needle-like dart as long as her arm.
There was enough cognizance left in Christopher's brain to realize that this was something that should probably be addressed very soon. Before the human could react any further, his hand moved, seemingly of its own accord. He gripped the human tightly in his fist, pinning her arms and the needle to her sides. He used his other hand to pluck the needle from her grip, tossing it across the room and letting it skitter across the floor.
The human gave a shrill scream of frustration, thrashing fruitlessly and kicking her legs in the air as he lifted her up off the nightstand and towards his face. She was under the effect of the growth serum, so his fist only wrapped around her torso. It was enough to restrain her, but she was certainly not making it easy.
Before he dealt with that, he turned his attention to something much more important. Danny was still kicking at him from the inside, and the human's scream had only made her more frantic.
"Christopher? What's going on? WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?"
"Danny," he mumbled hoarsely, placing his free hand over top of his stomach and gently pressing back against her fervent struggles. His voice was strained with fatigue, but he could feel it start to wear away as Danny brought him back to the present. "I'm fine. I'm here."
He had never heard Danny sound so frightened before. It made his heart hurt as it thumped dully against his chest with the beginnings of panic. I scared her. How did she not wake me up? What happened?
Almost immediately, she went still beneath his touch. "Oh thank god. Are you okay? What's going on?"
Christopher looked back to the human in his fist, who still thrashed and struggled against him with all the animosity of a wild animal. But then, something else caught his eye behind her—standing on the nightstand, hiding halfway behind the lamp, was a familiar, frightened face.
"Maria?"
What is she doing here? He used his free hand to steady himself as he sat up slowly in bed, though it felt like he had to slog through wet cement to do so. He watched as the girl visibly stiffened as she stood frozen in place there. She had also seemed to take one of the growth serums. I guess Danny wasn't lying about the humans making them so easy to get now.
"Wait. Who's all there?"
"Well...Maria's here, and...someone else who looks like she wants to kill me." The human in question glared at him with pure venom, her face darkening into a twisted scowl.
He suddenly winced as a fresh feeling of pain prickled along his neck. He tenderly put his fingers against the wound, which stung under his touch. The cut didn't seem very deep, but it was starting to hurt quite a bit, sending an odd throbbing sensation through his veins.
He drew his fingers back and found his skin stained with red. "Also, I think I might be bleeding."
"WHAT? Wait. Someone—do they have blonde hair?"
"...yes."
He could feel Danny's sudden agitation churn the inside of his stomach. "I AM GOING TO FUCKING KILL YOU, NORA—"
For some reason, Christopher felt his protective instincts flare up at Danny's reaction, even though he was fairly certain he was this human's intended target. "So. Nora. It sounds like Danny knows you, at least." He narrowed his eyes coldly at the human. "Care to explain what's going on?
"Nora" returned the glare, not backing down in the slightest. "You wouldn't remember me, would you, bastard?"
Should I know you? A mix of guilt and fear crept its way into his gut as he stared at her. He didn't exactly have a long list of human acquaintances. Outside of the ones he'd brought here, he couldn't think of any others he would know. Except...
Oh fuck. Is she one of my old—
Before he could even finish the thought, his head jerked to the side involuntarily, making the cut on his neck scream in pain. He could feel his muscles twitching and tensing strangely, as if he was beginning to lose control of his own body.
He noticed Maria take a sudden step toward him from her position behind the lamp, as if prompted by his sudden movement.
"I guess I didn't miss completely." An icy, cruel grin spread across the blonde human's face in his grip. "How about I watch you squirm, instead?"
As another wave of tension overtook his limbs, he gripped the edge of the nightstand in an effort to fight off his body starting to seize up. His breaths began to come heavy and ragged, and he could feel a cold sweat along his brow.
He wasn't sure if that was an effect of whatever was overtaking his body now, or the dread that was starting to crawl up his spine.
He met the eyes of Maria again, who hadn't said a word yet. "Maria," he pleaded quietly, between increasingly labored breaths. "What's going on?"
"I..." Her voice was meek, strained with a potent fear. He was reminded of the conversation he'd had with her, ages ago, in the woods.
Have I scared her again?
"I stopped her," Maria continued, with an incredulousness that suggested it was still a surprise to her. "T-the spear...she threw it when I showed up, but it only grazed you. B-but I—this is my fault, you still got hurt—"
"Is it..." Christophed winced again. "Is it bad? My neck?"
To his great relief, Maria shook her head after only a slight moment of hesitation. "I-it's not bleeding too much. But the...it looks like the paralyzing venom still got into your bloodstream. I-I'm so sorry, Christopher, I tried to get here in time, it's my fault, I'm sorry—"
Maria began to choke on her own words as tears formed in her eyes. It had been about a month since Christopher had last seen her, but he could tell that there was something wrong with the way she was reacting. Why is she being so apologetic?
"Hey, hey, it's okay. But—" the woman in his fist continued to struggle, and he forced his fingers to close tighter around her torso in response. "You wouldn't happen to know how to reverse this, would you?"
Maria's eyes widened as she took a few steadying breaths. He watched as she reached into a large duffel bag behind the lamp. "Y-yes, I do. I brought an antidote with me, just in case."
Nora twisted around in his fist to face Maria as best she could. "Don't do this, Maria," she spat, like a warning. "You're helping a monster."
Maria paused as she bent over her bag, and for a moment, Christopher thought that Nora's words had an effect on her. He could feel an uncomfortable twisting in his gut.
Maria exhaled and squeezed her eyes shut. "I told you, Nora. This isn't right."
Nora's body grew tense with rage. "You're a coward, Maria. And you're a traitor to—"
Christopher broke through his own body's tension to squeeze Nora tighter, cutting off her sentence with a gasp from her lungs. He leaned forward and brought her next to his face. A low, threatening growl sounded in the back of his throat, and he watched as Nora's face went pale.
"I don't appreciate you talking to my friend like that."
He turned his attention back to Maria, who had pulled something out of the bag—it looked like a medical syringe, small to him but still comically large in her grip. It was about the length of her arm, and filled with a clear liquid.
He felt a cold chill slither down his spine. "Maria? What's that?" He had to force his words out, to keep his voice from faltering.
"The antivenom. I've done this before, with Sybil, when we were testing it out, so I know what I'm doing." She only trembled slightly as she approached him.
"And you have to," he winced, "use the needle?"
She nodded solemnly. "It won't be too painful. You just need to keep your arm still if you can."
He could feel his palms begin to sweat as his skin ran cold. He couldn't take his eyes off the needle.
But then, just as he started to prepare himself mentally for the injection, he felt one last wave of pain before his head spun and he lost his grip on the nightstand. His body fell off the bed and onto the floor, but by the time he'd hit the ground, he couldn't feel the impact.
He couldn't feel anything.
He could see the human in his grip on the very edge of his field of vision as he laid on his side. Nora struggled to move his fingers off of her, as he'd inadvertently pinned her to the ground underneath them. But he couldn't move his fingers now. He was helpless as he watched her wriggle out from under his grasp and run off behind him—probably toward that dart I threw earlier. Damn it.
All of the feeling in his limbs had vanished. He couldn't move. He couldn't speak. He could barely move his eyes.
He couldn't even feel Danny inside of him anymore—he'd lost all the feeling from inside of him, too. It was like he was trapped in his own head, as though he wasn't even attached to his body anymore.
"Christopher!"
He could hear Danny somewhere beneath him, but he couldn't put a reassuring hand on his stomach, or feel her at all. He felt so empty. Alone.
Helpless.
He wanted to say her name. He wanted to tell her everything was going to be okay. He wanted to yell out, to offer her some sort of comfort, but the words couldn't escape his mind. He was stuck there, trapped in his own head full of empty reassurances.
I'm going to die.
I'm going to be killed by a human.
...how fitting.
He could hear Nora's footsteps, and what must have been Maria from further above him. He wished he could smell the humans, instead of relying on hearing alone. Not that it would have mattered. Maybe it was for the best that he couldn't tell how close he was to getting stabbed to death, given that he wouldn't be able to do anything about it anyways.
Suddenly, he could feel a tightness in his throat, which was admittedly quite strange, since he still couldn't actually feel his body. Panic overtook him as he found that he couldn't breathe—something was blocking his airway, and he couldn't even feel what it was, much less do anything to dislodge it. He could only lay there in horror, screaming internally as he felt himself choke without having any control to stop it.
It must have been an eternity of feeling like his chest would burst before the pressure gradually loosened, and his airways began to allow breath back into his lungs.
And then, a new and wonderfully familiar sensation filled his mind and overtook his awareness, taking some of the panic away with it.
Danny's taste blossomed along his tongue, and though he couldn't feel her crawl her way into his mouth, he knew that's what must have been happening. Her flavor seemed to burn away all the fear that resonated within his head. For just a moment, it was all that existed in his world as he remained isolated from all other feeling in his limbs.
It was the sweetest taste that had ever graced his senses. He had no idea if it were true or not, but he felt like he could have wept with joy at that moment.
Even if I die, at least she's safe now.
He could see Danny as she passed in front of his face—sopping wet with saliva, her eyes wide and fearful as she met his. She only stopped for a moment before she turned to run off behind him and out of his sight, though he caught the look of pure rage that crossed her face.
"Wh—Danny‽ I—"
"Don't you FUCKING touch him, you BITCH!"
He could hear the scuffle a short ways away from him, and cursed his body once again for being so useless. If he somehow survived this, he'd never be able to forgive himself if Danny got hurt on his account. He'd seen the murder clearly in that other human's eyes.
His eyes darted to the sudden movement ahead of him—Maria had made her way down the nightstand with the needle, and ran to his side. As she approached him, he could see the terror in her eyes and in the way her body trembled as she paused in front of his face, holding the needle against her body almost protectively.
He couldn't reassure her now, as much as he desperately wanted to. Despite everything, he hated to see Maria so frightened. It twisted something in his chest to see her look at him this way. He wasn't sure what it was that made him more uncomfortable—was it because she was scared, or because she was scared of him that he felt so guilty?
Did he care about how she felt? Or was it just another excuse for his own selfishness?
She took a deep, steadying breath. "I'm going to inject the antivenom, okay? I think I can reach your arm. Just...hold on."
"Maria, please!" Nora's shout came from behind him, though he could still clearly hear her and Danny's fighting continue. "You know what he's done! You know how dangerous he is!"
"Shut the fuck up! I am going to tear your hair out, you goddamn crazy-ass bitch!"
...well, at least Danny sounds fine.
Maria moved to where his arm lay limp and useless on the ground in front of him. He glanced away nervously as she put a hand against his skin.
"Maria, he's a giant. He's dealt humans. Humans just like you. How many people do you think went through what you did because of HIM?"
Even if he had been able to speak, he didn't think he would have been able to say anything in protest. A fresh wave of guilt swept through his mind. Nora was right. If Maria was scared of giants, it was because of giants like him.
He watched as Maria hesitated for a moment. He wondered if she would do the understandable thing now, and toss the antivenom aside. Maybe she'd find that dart and take care of him herself.
Maybe it would have been deserved.
She met his eyes then, and he could just make out her expression in the corner of his vision. He watched as the fear seemed to melt from her face for just a moment, replaced by the tiniest hint of a smile.
"He saved me," she said simply. "I'm just returning the favor."
She placed the needle against his skin. He hurriedly shut his eyes, glad that he wouldn't be able to feel anything.
Something cold coursed through his veins, and a terrific rush of feeling returned to his body, little by little. His fingers twitched, and a shaky breath wracked his lungs with a wonderful intensity.
Suddenly he was able to move his mouth and form words, and the first ones that came to his mind finally found their way out.
"Thank you, Maria."
* * * * * * * * * *
<- Part 36
Thank you guys for reading! Apologies for the later update. These last chapters may take a bit of time, but I will try to stick to the weekly update schedule as well as I can! Thank you for sticking with me for the story's conclusion. There's only a little more to go. If you're reading this, you better have a wonderful day!
Something stung on the side of his neck, the pain cutting through his tired haze like a dull knife. It was a warm, jagged sort of discomfort.
OH NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO
"Nora" returned the glare, not backing down in the slightest. "You wouldn't remember me, would you, bastard?"
damn the fact that he doesn't remember I think speaks volumes for how he used to view humans. I don't blame Nora entirely.
Christopher broke through his own body's tension to squeeze Nora tighter, cutting off her sentence with a gasp from her lungs. He leaned forward and brought her next to his face. A low, threatening growl sounded in the back of his throat, and he watched as Nora's face went pale.
"I don't appreciate you talking to my friend like that."
Christopher. punt her. throw her. get here away from you. like a lil rat. she is going to kill you otherwise literally GET THE BITCH AWAY.
"Don't you FUCKING touch him, you BITCH!"
mental image of a sopping wet danny crawling out of a mouth ready to fight would be HILARIOUS if this wasn't a situation where he was about to be murdered omg
He wasn't sure what it was that made him more uncomfortable—was it because she was scared, or because she was scared of him that he felt so guilty?
Did he care about how she felt? Or was it just another excuse for his own selfishness?
Man... something about this hit hard.
"He saved me," she said simply. "I'm just returning the favor."
THIS ALSO HIT HARD BUT IN A WHOLESOME WAY OH MY GOD. Despite all my talk of Maria being untrustworthy... thank god for Maria lmao.
I'm so excited to see what happens next auuuuuuugh WE'RE SO CLOSE TO THE END AND IT SCARES ME AND EEEEEEEEEEEEE
Contents (Warnings): Wicks tells Lynette everything...or tries too (Angst, magic mentions, character and monster info as always). Read full chapter on - A03
Wordcount: 2,336 (I WILL BE MAKING A MAGIC SYSTEM BOOKLET AS SOON AS I CAN, PROMISE!)
Side note: This will contain experimental writing; first person (Lynette's view) will be implemented alongside third person for the two other essential characters, (mostly) Alexander and (occasionally) Drake. All their text will be italicized for those third-person moments, with the characters' names in Bold at the start and their thoughts in Bold. There may be other characters I write for using this.
I barely slept. Everything felt like a hazy layer of sick familiarity. I thought I had escaped it before. And today, felt lighter, maybe a relief. We were leaving soon. Everyone was sometimes or later.
Wicks and I were packing in our room. He had his suitcase next to mine on the bed.
"Lentils, how did you like Garter?" Wicks asked with a smirk on his face.
I reflected the smile, "he's-tall..."
Wicks exhaled and still smiled, "He was the first friend I met at the C.P.P.A. We were in training together as classless."
"Classless?"
The door flying open interrupted Wicks's explanation. "HEY, YOU GUYS ARE TAKING WAY TOO LONG!" Charletta charged in and hugged me first. She got Wicks in it second.
"We just started," I muttered. "You're the one that insisted we stay up until 4 a.m. at the bonfire."
"I wanted to spend more time with you guys before you leave!" Charletta squeezed further until I was pressed tightly into Wicks and her. I could smell Charletta's rose body wash and Wick's sandalwood, one clearer than I wanted. "I feel bad we couldn't hang out because of the wedding!" She sniffled.
I felt Wicks pull away, freeing me from her suffocating grasp.
"My birthday's coming up. We got plenty of time." Wicks assured her.
Charletta gasped, "OH-" Embarrassment covered her face. She forgot his birthday was coming soon. And had yet to get him a gift. Not that I was any better. "Yeah! Of course!"
I'm finally free, and I let out a clear breath. "We have plenty of time to see each other again," I said with one more deep breath.
...
Wicks
The thought hung in the back of his mind. He knew this was inevitable. He knew they'd tell her but he wished they had picked a different time.
Or...not at all. Wicks was on the opposite spectrum from the others, and his mother at one point shared that, but she couldn't bear to keep it hidden any longer.
One Month Earlier.
He sat back on his new office and closed his eyes.
"Transmission" from his father. It was similar to teleportation, except on a lessor scale. It sends thoughts and visuals to others from one mind to another. It requires a connection and agreement, generally.
Even in his head, he could always hear the voice that was ever changed after he came back to them.
"We're telling her at the wedding, because Charletta's getting married to a vampire beast named Ulysses Clemente." Padre said to him,
We shouldn't. "Why now? Did Mom agree to this?"
He heard Charletta voice in the background, his dad's power was frightening as he could capture the thoughts of others near him too, "we should have told her when we first took her in!"
His dad and Charletta had been saying that for years. They always wanted to tell Lynette. But, they weren't around when Lynette started to fall like him and mom.
"There's too much to hide..." His mom chimed in, he could tell by the trembles of her mind that she had been crying.
"Then what? How can we ease her into it, we'd-I'd have to tell her everything..." He started to lower his head. She'll hate me. She'll never want to talk to me again. I can't lie to her if she asks.
"There'll be plenty to tell her and plenty of time to tell her once it's over." His father said. "And if it ever gets to difficult to watch her-"
Wicks snapped back immediately, "I'll take care of her." I won't abandon her. She never once did that to me.
Not long after he had to cut it short, Garter came in with their coffee.
He wanted nothing more than to kill Ace now, most of his frustration redirected toward him and away from the other danger, Alexander. But, it was his fault. He shouldn't have trusted a friend of Ulysses and Charletta. He shouldn't trust anyone around her...or...no. I should have stayed with her. It doesn't matter if she wanted me around or not. I need to protect her.
That conversation and those thoughts never left his mind. He rubbed his thumb on the steer wheel leather chewing on those thoughts while he drove, until he heard his sister voice speak up.
"I'm going to quit the pizzeria." Her timid soft tone said out of the blue. The drive had been quiet, not a word about it had been mentioned since he first told her. "I've been thinking about it since you said it."
He glanced at her briefly before turning back to the road. "Really?!" He tried to hide his excitement. She actually listened to me.
"There's so much I don't understand, so much I don't know. And...I think you're right. I shouldn't involve myself in any of this." It came out with uncertainty, an unspoken unsureness. He knew she didn't want to give up.
She felt she needed to go on, Wicks knew that. Lentils was stubborn, she rarely ever gave up on anything once she started it. She had a determination he felt he lacked.
"I'm glad. And if you want later tonight, we can start our normal job hunting." He said with a smile.
There was a blanket of ease resting on his shoulders. He didn't think she was strong enough to handle everything that came with this. Just like humans, monsters were just as complicated or different. One world was enough.
He held back his cheer, he didn't want to stir her further. He could tell by the sound alone, she hated to say she was giving up.
Lynette nodded, "after you tell me what you can about magic...I still want to understand you-it all better.."
Wicks nodded. There's so much to tell you. He parked in their spot at the apartment and smiled. "Sounds like a plan."
...
Lynette
Wicks was patient with me, but it didn't matter how many breaks he made between the information I couldn't retain it. He even tried giving me demonstrations using a little bit of magic, yet there were so many spells I couldn't keep track.
I only retained two things, variations and levels. As he explained every spell has its own category, and a spell in that category was called a variation. While every variation had a level at which the magic was used, it determined its power protentional. A small use of the spell force can knock over things like soda cans, while at higher levels it could tear someone apart.
At least that's what I assumed. He really said, "it could seriously hurt someone."
"Psychic Magic, one of my specialties. It deals with spells that require mental understanding and a link to your own mind and others. If you are unable to think straight, concentrate or think, you can't use it." he tapped his head. "The first variation is Understanding. It's a mental reading of your opponent. Weaker versions need permission from the person your trying to read, while at higher levels you can understand their mind without it. You'll be able to know their intentions..."
He looked over the worry on my face and smiled, "it can also be used to understand different language barriers. Like if you and I didn't speak the same language, if I used it on you, I'd be able to understand what you're trying to tell me. It's as if its translated into my head with the language I know."
I don't think I'd want to ever use anything like that if I could. I feel like I would have my heart broken WAY too many times with peoples thoughts. I nodded along. Wait, is that what June uses? I then shivered, maybe a different version? He said he projects his thoughts out. Because if he was reading my thoughts...
"Can you also share your thoughts?"
Wicks jolted at the question, "technically, yes."
He went to the next before I could ask further. "Mind Erasure Variation," Wicks said.
If I quit, I'll have to deal with that won't I...WAIT will I forget everything? The wedding too?!
"To erase some ones memory it usually involves you to be present during the events you're trying to erase and or have someone else who was present during the events. If you yourself weren't present/ or have anyone who was and you're trying to erase some ones memories it'll be near impossible, as you'll have to shift through their mind."
His tone shifted down an octave, "and you can end up losing your mind and messing up theirs."
I nodded. For some reason, his face looked like someone was twisting a blade in his stomach. I didn't know why but I tried to lighten his mood.
"Sucks that you can't erase any of those embarrassing moments I have of you rent free in my head." Though, after I said that simple joke. The question entered my head.
Any of them could have erased my memory, right?
He smiled, weakly.
I interrupted him before he continued, "do you replace those memories with what you want?"
His hazel hue fixated on me. He could see it in mine as I could see it in his. My heart squeezed.
"We generally use our own memories of events to conjure a false one in some ones head. Vague enough for them not to think to hard about it." There was a look of desperation.
My voice trembled as it left, "did any of you ever erase my memory?"
He sharply answered, "Madre, Padre, and Charletta never erased your memory."
His head tilted down, his jaw clenched with the nervous jitter of his leg. It shook the bar counter.
I couldn't ignore it, I had to know. "And-what about you...?" Lie to me, lie to me, tell me you didn't.
His eyes met mine again and he said the truth. "Lentils, let me explain.-"
I looked at him and I only whispered back, "you erased my memory..."
"There was this group-"
I held my head, I wasn't listening anymore. I could feel it spinning. Everything was spinning. I didn't understand it. I would drown without him, so why...
"How many times...how much did I lose..."
Wicks grabbed my shoulder, "listen to me."
I pulled away and stumbled off my chair. I strained my voice to shout, "HOW MUCH DID YOU TAKE FROM ME?!"
I could feel the rise and fall of my chest. It felt so strained as if it was bruised.
"Lentils, it was for a reason! You would have BEEN stuck with what they did to you FOR THAT WHOLE WEEK!"
"WEEK!" I shook my head desperately. What did he make me forget, how many times has he made me forget things? "You said 24 hours is a limit for erasing some ones memory, why-did you mess up your mind, AND mine."
"It wasn't all at once, Lentils are you even listening to me!"
His stood right in front of me and sounded so far away. Like there was miles between us.
My chest heaved in tandem with my throbbing head.
I watched his mouth move, his eyes looked sincere and distraught. I wanted to hear him, hold him, pretend I didn't care.
"I just-I started to feel relieved...you were-" My eyes had bustled with hot water for days. I'm surprised they hadn't boiled.
His words still refused to reach me. What else has been a lie? Has he erased my memory whenever I've been inconvenient? How many times? When did I lose that week? Was it important?
It felt so hard to breathe, I clutched at my chest. Wicks stepped closer and I shook my head.
"How many times did you do this to me, and what did you take and change?"
He kept trying to get closer. I didn't stop backing up. I could see his eyes glistening over.
"IT WAS ONCE. I WOULD NEVER DO THAT UNLESS IT WAS NECESSARY."
When is it necessary to ever do that? How do I know you're not lying now. How do I know it hasn't been more. How do I know any of you haven't been doing that my whole life! AND IF YOU HAVE WHY LEAVE ME WITH-
I heard two words from him, "missed work," and it clicked. Charletta and Wicks both hesitated whenever I mentioned the ducky place and my food poisoning...
"I didn't have food poisoning." My head wouldn't stop banging inside my skull, my vision started to blur, and I still couldn't breathe. His presence felt suffocating.
I have to leave. I thought to myself. His hand grabbed my arm as soon as I got my suitcase handle. We hadn't put anything away yet.
Please let go. I couldn't say it out loud. I didn't want to him. His grip was too strong to tug away from yet I knew I couldn't stay here. I didn't want him to erase it in my sleep.
"Lynette, just calm down, you can go to your room and think."
"I-don't-want-you-to-erase-my-memory-of-this-too." I whimpered in a weak croak, each word had a breath behind it.
"I'D NEVER DO THAT!"
"LET ME GO!" It hurt to shout. It burned. I pulled away and ran with my suitcase. I grabbed the keys to my car from the bowl next to the door. Wicks finally found the footing to pursue me.
And I slammed the door in his face.
...
Hey, you, thank you so much for reading. It means a lot that I put out a story that people can enjoy! So, I hope you continue to enjoy it as WE have a LOT more to go! YOU BETTER KEEP PROSPERING! (Nonnegotiable).
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Catch up, see some maps/art, or check the latest release dates down below ↓ ↓ ↓
What I’d do for a Livable Income (Synopsis/Chapter - List)
"I'm going to quit the pizzeria." Her timid soft tone said out of the blue. The drive had been quiet, not a word about it had been mentioned since he first told her. "I've been thinking about it since you said it."
He glanced at her briefly before turning back to the road. "Really?!" He tried to hide his excitement. She actually listened to me.
EXCUSE ME?
THANK FUCKING GOD??? IS SHE LYING????
"Lentils, it was for a reason! You would have BEEN stuck with what they did to you FOR THAT WHOLE WEEK!"
EXCUSE ME? WHAT HAPPENED TO LYNETTE? LUCKY???? LUCKY???? LUCKY WHAT THEY DID TO HER IS WHAT??? LUCKY WHAT DID THEY DO?? LUCKY??? LUCKYYY?????
LUCKY WHAT DID THEY DO.
LUCKY
LUCKY LUCKY LUCKY OAJWDONASDJNWAD
IM GOING TO
WIDANSIDNWAs
LFUAY Wasdawdas LUCK Y
When is it necessary to ever do that? How do I know you're not lying now. How do I know it hasn't been more. How do I know any of you haven't been doing that my whole life! AND IF YOU HAVE WHY LEAVE ME WITH-
I heard two words from him, "missed work," and it clicked. Charletta and Wicks both hesitated whenever I mentioned the ducky place and my food poisoning...
"I didn't have food poisoning." My head wouldn't stop banging inside my skull, my vision started to blur, and I still couldn't breathe. His presence felt suffocating.
I'm assuming the "why leave me with" has to do with that flashback Wicks had of carrying her?
I SWEAR the ducky place was mentioned somewhere but I can't remember where. I recognize this event immediately, but I can't tell where it was mentioned oh my lord.
ALSO DOES THIS MEAN SHE WAS LIKE, FUCKING KIDNAPPED FOR A WEEK? DRUGGED AND KIDNAPPPED?
lucky this scares me I don't know how far you're willing to go with lyn's trauma and I-
"I just-I started to feel relieved...you were-" My eyes had bustled with hot water for days. I'm surprised they hadn't boiled.
^ this one is out of order, but I just really like this description. Like, hadn't boiled is such an interesting way to describe the feeling of heat and burning from teary-eyes like aaaaa
BACK AT IT AGAIN WITH SOME FAN ART FOR @dionysusdoctrine!!
This is their characters Pywin and Alcamas from First Meetings! Another series from them I would highly recommend!! <3
AND HEY, YA'LL BETTER HAVE A FANTASTIC DAY!! (Nonnegotiable!)
Also I'm working on answering asks, sorry it's been taking me a hot minute! Two, I did use a asset for the cave I got in clipstudio paint. xD
Contents (Warnings): The Downburst part two (No tags today, sorry!). Read full chapter on - A03
Wordcount: 4.000+ (A little rough)
Side note: This will contain experimental writing; first person (Lynette's view) will be implemented alongside third person for the two other essential characters, (mostly) Alexander and (occasionally) Drake. All their text will be italicized for those third-person moments, with the characters' names in Bold at the start and their thoughts in Bold. There may be other characters I write for using this.
He took a breath and a sip of his drink. He couldn't believe the pack followed him out onto the balcony. He thought he'd escape the party for a while, not that he was drained, but he felt antsy.
Not that he didn't like seeing Viola, but her partner was here. And given that they were together on the balcony...her scent bugged him. As a frequent giver, her energy was higher than average for a human. So all the more tempting.
Though his body tensed. His eyes shifted to the balcony on the other end; of course, shrimps out here too. He thought to himself. Sunday could not come soon enough.
"Wenna would not stop raving about her two new little sisters and little brother," Viola said with a chuckle. "I never would imagine it would be Lynette. It means someone has to start being nicer to her." Viola glanced up at Alexander.
Why does everyone assume I'm fucking evil. I don't even do much to her. Alexander rolled his eyes with his crossed arms. His eyes went from the now-empty balcony to Elise again.
Drake bobbed his head, "Mhm...Lynette's my sister-in-law..." He took a sip from his cup. Drake seemed like he still couldn't get over it. Alexander leaned his back on the balcony.
"You all seem to know her before this," Koi said, whipping a few crumbs from her pastry off her shirt.
"She works with us," Viola mentioned, then smiled at Drake and Alexander, "And now this all makes sense as to why she-"
Drake held worry. Viola realized what she almost started to say and continued.
"Was so powerful." Viola was briefed on the lie.
Koi raised a brow. "uh-huh..." There was a suspiciousness in her tone.
Elise gave Alexander a small wave. He didn't realize he had looked at her longer than he should have. Viola narrowed her eyes at Alexander.
"Don't you get any ideas, or I'll throw you off this balcony." It sounded like a soft threat but a real one, regardless.
Alexander grumbled, "I wasn't." I'm not going to eat any guests at the party. I'd never hear the end of it from my dad, Edgar, and Ulysses. He grumbled. He knew Wenna would join in scolding him for fun. Regardless of his hunger, he had a lot of energy to keep himself together, and...he didn't even feel like playing games.
"It's okay, Viola. If he needs it, I'll be happy to help." Elise offered.
Alexander shuddered. He didn't want to turn down an offer.
Viola lifted Elise and tucked her under her arm, "Alexander does not deserve you. Let's go."
Elise laughed as she was carried by Viola, "sorry, Alexander!"
His stomach growled lightly. He hated when Elise teased him with offers. Why did Viola have to be with a human.
"You ate before the wedding," Drake remarked. He heard Alexander's stomach.
"Yeah, and you drank before it, your point." He gestured to the glass of blood Drake had.
Drake just sipped it, ignoring him.
Koi rested back near the balcony entrance, "how has that been going for you, Drake? Wenna told me you've been drinking a lot lately. Are you practicing magic again?"
Drake pretended he didn't hear the second question, "It's not a big deal. I'm fine."
Alexander turned to Drake, "Have you?" That explains your push for the training this morning.
"Drop it, Chase," Drake replied.
"This isn't about the whole-"
Drake flicked his head to Alexander. He was about to speak, then pursed his lips like he kept something to himself. Then he forced a smile and chuckled. "Are you scared I'm gonna catch up?"
Alexander knew there was more, but Drake continued.
"I'm gonna get another drink." He went back inside.
Alexander faced away, looking out and over everything on the balcony. Annoyed. Even the breeze seemed to mock him as it picked up speed throwing his bangs under his glasses to poke his eyes.
"Did you guys have a fight recently?" Koi asked.
"When do we not fight?" Alexander said, without much effort to joke.
Koi patted his shoulder. She could tell he wanted to be left alone, "Be nice to each other." She said, going too. She knew he wouldn't tell her anything if she pried.
He let his eyes look over the maze in front of their balcony.
Drake's getting antsy, Lynette's now going to be part of the family, I got her brother to worry about, and Ulysses and Charletta are...bound.
His eyes followed those near the maze, speaking of the shrimp. He figured she was going with her brother, then he recognized that cyan hair. You're fucking kidding. Ace? He didn't know why Ace would be going anywhere alone with Lynette.
Maybe he wants to take her energy? Alexander questioned in his head, then sneered. "You go off stupidly alone, and your brother's nowhere to be found."
He shrugged; not my problem. If he does something to her, that's Wick's fault, not mine.
Alexander watched them disappear within the hedges and took another sip of his crested alcohol. It had a contorted, bitter tea-like flavor that he didn't enjoy. Yet he drank it for the energy and similar buzz.
The stormy light blue eyes tracked the others moving from the bonfire. His dad and Edgar are in the distance. He wondered why they were coming back.
He shut his eyes and exhaled aloud before chugging down the rest of his tankard.
It didn't help much. He pulled his eyes away and then noticed Ace again. Except he's alone. Where's the shrimp?
She wasn't lagging behind Ace. He squinted at the maze. He probably drained her and left her there all by herself.
He turned around to forget about it and stopped, his legs twitching. She'd be fine...no if they found out I just watched-
Fuck.
Alexander flipped back, ran forward, letting go of his empty drink, and jumped off the balcony. His feet slammed onto the ground, creasing his dress shoes. He bolted into the maze, following her scent. He didn't smell any other threats, but that didn't totally denote the possibility of another monster being there.
If she got herself fucking eaten, I'm leaving her ass. Let Wicks handle it. Since he wants to act like I'm the worst...
His chest hurt at his thoughts. He couldn't get the image of his dad out of his head. He continued forward. Her scent got sweetly stronger the closer he got. It didn't help his hunger at all. And after he turned one more corner, he reached her.
...
Wicks
"BOSS!" Garter called, slammed into Wicks, and the lanky male picked up, surprisingly possessing far more strength than he looked to have.
Wicks gave up in the hug and hung there. He whispered, "I said you don't have to call me boss."
Garter laughed a devious snicker and let Wicks go. He was a whopping 6'8, skinny tree-like lad with long dark hair, though his vibrant crystal blue eyes were where his real personality shined.
"Sorry, I'm late! BUT listen to this we got a lead on...you know who.~" Garter nudged at Wicks.
He immediately turned left to right to see the few guests dancing nearby. "Not the-" He knew Garter's excitement would lead to him spilling the beans. Wicks then got behind Garter and started to push him towards the stairwell. "Outside."
Wick's eyes scanned over the floor. He didn't see Lynette right away. He figured it'd be fine...it wouldn't take that long. Besides, he didn't know how much she wanted to be around him.
He started to walk with Garter down the stairs. "I told you to take a break, Garter."
"I did. It was nice. I was enjoying the finest of kid cuisines." He said with a smile.
Wicks smirked, "That's not the finest."
"It is to me, most human food, you put WAY too many spices. It completely overpowers everything." He had a slight disgust on his face, then smiled and continued, "But human frozen dinners are mostly perfect." He said, swaying back and forth as they made it to the lobby downstairs. It was pretty empty. But he wanted somewhere a little more secluded.
They went outside the back and around to the fair corner of the building, the same size as the maze. They ensured no one was around, and Wicks did the "lay it on me" gesture.
"I found one of those seller's hideouts, and they seem to be working with Andras." Garter clapped his hands together, "So we can stake it out, we catch him, I can use my eye get information from them and-"
"Why couldn't you tell me this at the office? This is not the place to mention that name. Remember their families involved with him."
Someone from the agency is also helping supply his people with fake licenses. Garter's tone drifted, "I don't know who. They have to have a higher rank, at least a class 2 like you, but if they're higher, they'd be a real problem."
Wicks smirked, "And you didn't tell the head?"
"She knows. She was the one who explicitly told me to tell you in person. She doesn't think they're part of the chaos unit, but mine, recon." Garter sighed.
"Did you tell her my sister just got married?"
"Yeah."
"And she still wanted me to hear about this now." Wicks shook his head but didn't look mad, "This is why I told you to take breaks, Garter." No, head, don't worry, I didn't have enough with that Cerberus run-in or "The Pure" group. He sighed, "So come on, tell me the rest."
...
Alexander
He could see the tears streaming down her face, outlining its shape. Why the hell is she crying? He gave a few light huffs, settling down as Lynette spoke.
"Hey, Alexander, what are you doing here?"
Alexander quickly gave an excuse. "I wanted to take a jog and get some air...why are you out here?"
He saw her poor attempt at a smile as she continued to look down, "I needed some fresh air too."
"You should head back to the party," Alexander said.
She chuckled. It sounded strained. "I will soon, don't worry. Enjoy your jog."
Alexander squinted heavily at her. He approached, but she didn't flinch like she usually did. He wanted to grab her and drag her back.
"Are you going to stupidly stay out here?" I know you will. You have one of the strongest magic families protecting you.
"Enjoy your jog." Her voice held nothing.
If I fucking grab this little brat now, then what? She'd tell Wicks. So what do I do? Leave her here? He wanted to leave. But if something happens to her, he'll blame my ass because he'd be able to sense I was here, wouldn't he?
He took a deep breath and lied. "I need a rest anyway."
He sat beside her on the bench.
He hoped she'd get up, tell him she'd just head back. She didn't. And he didn't understand why. What the hell happened? He didn't see a point asking or even know how to ask.
He followed where she stared at her flowery pink dress that looked soaked. Its fabric stuck to her tights underneath from the water her eyes expelled.
The silence irked him. Neither of them said a word to the other. He didn't know what to say or do. He didn't even bring his phone with him, Wenna borrowed it after the little dance.
"I wish I had brought my drink," Alexander said to the unmoving Lynette. Still scrunched up.
It took her a moment before she undid her form and bent down. She reached for the glass she put beside her and brought it up to him. "Here."
Alexander took it in his hand. Wine. He could smell the scent of it and stopped before he drank.
I'm fucking stupid too.
"You know, you were pretty idiotic to tell Drake, of all people, about the journal." Alexander chuckled to himself. His eyes studied the wine. "He told me what it contained the first day of the festival."
He started to swirl around the wine in the glass. It reminded him of tiny waves.
"Was that your reason to hide it? You think I'd get some dumb ideas from it?" He rolled his eyes at the thought. Mara was crazy, lying, and...
"What she said before we fought and what I saw solidified it in my head. I knew what the journal would say..." He quit swirling the red liquid, the waves crashing at the edges. He didn't realize he was spinning it too quickly.
"Other than that, I don't understand why you'd try hiding it from me." That's the only reason I can think of. You think I'd try to do the sick, useless things she'd do to you, like- The thought made him shiver. Humans tasted fine without anything.
He dropped his shoulders, "You hated the deal, and I would have been fine reading something I already anticipated..." His voice trailed off again. She knew too much about me. The dreams thickly moved in his mouth and forced his lips to whisper out. "Or maybe not."
He pulled himself away from the wine. His eyes panned to her slowly, and he let out a sigh, "regardless of the annoying outcome..." his voice muttered, "Thank you for doing that."
His eyes met hers, they glistened, filling with tears once more, and her lips curled up with a wobbly smile. What did I say? Why are you looking like that?
Her voice left in a soft croak, "You're welcome."
He started to take note of the closeness and her size again. He took another breath, quickly turned away from her, and chugged the drink. He turned his head in disgust, "This isn't crested."
"Huh?"
"It's an energy-made drink that evaporates in the body and leaves a nice feeling, somewhat like alcohol." He remarked as he finally got up. Now, I have to digest this later.
Alexander stood up, "Now come on, Shrimp. If your brother decides to look for you and sees us together, he will kill me."
She shakily got up as if she hadn't stood on her two feet before. His body jerked, ready to catch her if she fell on reflex. She didn't.
"My brother's way too nice to do that."
Alexander chuckled and turned to her, "You're fucking kidding." He had a smile on his face seeing the naivety in her response. "You're brother's a psycho."
"Says the human eater."
He rolled his eyes as he turned another corner with her, "Ha, the shrimp is also going to give me shit for that, too, huh?"
Now I know where she gets it, Wicks.
"If people have been telling you stuff about it, then that probably means it's a problem."
Alexander smiled as they reached the maze's end, "Tell me every little thing you got because I'll just pay you back for all of it on Sunday."
There it was, her slight jump. "That's what I'm talking about; you're crazy."
Crazy. You've met crazy, and so have I. You're just difficult and should just-
"LYENNTE!" Wicks's voice reached Alexander's ears. He turned his attention to the force that came hurling at them. Wicks made sure to get between them and held Lynette. "What are you doing alone with that thing?"
"Thing?" Lynette's confused.
Alexander growls, "Fuck you too." He flicks off Wicks and starts walking into the party again. He passes a tall, long-haired stranger with Wicks, who he doesn't recognize. He raises his hand in a friendly gesture. Alexander doesn't give a wave back, but he shouts, "TAKE CARE OF FUCKING SISTER BETTER."
...
Ulysses
He returned from the bonfire to get a few drinks for everyone. Standing by the table near the stairs, he saw Ace come along. He smiled at him.
"Hey, there you are, I sent Koi looking for you earlier, and she couldn't find you. I'm heading back to the bonfire..." His smooth tone slowed. He rarely saw Ace look so frustrated. "Family issues?"
"Why didn't you tell me Lynette was a human?"
Ulysses almost dropped a drink. He fumbled with it but kept his grip. He placed it down. He tried to play it off, "What? She's a Payton."
"She admitted that she was adopted, and you knew. I can't believe you wouldn't tell me." Ace started to pour himself some crested drink.
"She told you?" I thought Charletta told her not to. "Well, you shouldn't say that so loud."
Ace scoffed, "Why? They shouldn't have adopted a stain if the family didn't want to ruin their reputation."
Ulysses stopped making the drinks too. He turned back to Ace. "That's my wife's sister."
"Then why would they act like she's something she's not? They're embarrassed by her." Ace said, "I might as well scream it from the heavens."
Ulysses's shoulders raised, "What is your problem? You will not talk about my family in front of me with such disrespect." He felt a tenseness in his chest.
"My problem?" Ace smashes the glass in his hand, and the shards fall. "You want to act like your all that because you got to marry the perfect prodigy incubator."
Ulysses's eyes widened before they sharpened and came down. His teeth slammed together. He had heard this from Ace once before but had yet to repeat it since then. Since the last time, Ulysses told Ace to never disrespect Charletta again.
It had been fine since, but that was a long time ago. Ulysses then smiled, twisting with their curl. He threw his arm around Ace and whispered while he was close.
"You may be stronger than me in magic, but if I hear one more dumb word come out of your mouth before you leave, I will not stop until I remove your tongue and vocal cords." Ulysses gripped harder as he could feel Ace pull. "Do not ever do anything against my family, no go." He let go.
Ace pulled away, and his eyes glowed, then faded as he scanned the room. His lip raises with a snarl, but he turns around and goes to leave, bumping the table as he does.
Ulysses' hands were trembling. He had a history with Ace. Other than that, he might have lost it. He took a deep breath in, then, after holding it in for a few seconds, he released it. He grabbed the glasses and put up his smile.
He passes Alexander coming in and invites him to the bonfire. Alexander declines, saying he's going to find Drake first.
...
Drake
Why was the empty tankard on the balcony? He groaned in his thoughts. He went down the staircase into the main lobby below, the wedding hall behind him, and to either side were hallways that led to dressing rooms.
He thought he heard Pete's heartbeat down the right.
Is he with his dad? I don't hear his... Drake slowly and silently went down the empty hall, passing a room or two before he arrived at the groom's dressing room. He listened at the door.
He heard his own dad's voice. "Pete's."
"I can't act all happy, aren't you worried? Now Ulysses is involved with all of this." Pete's voice was a whisper, yet it held such anger.
"We've talked about this-"
"WE were there; you've seen what they've done! Those children helped destroy Yexodele." His voice trembled. Drake had only heard Alexander's Dad's anger one other time.
What are they talking about?
Edgar stammered, "Pete's, if they had bad intentions, why pick my family? We aren't powerful."
"Why else, Danee? She's involved with many other monsters. She's built connections and foundations among them. They want to destroy it all again." Drake could hear a loud THUD along with Pete's declaration.
There was a silence between them. Drake could hear the rapid beats from Pete's. They were so loud they almost started to deafen Drake. Then his dad's hum came through.
"We have to move on; I can hear it from them. I don't think any of them really mean harm." It went quiet for another second, "if they do, I'll handle it."
"You or I together can't win, and you know that." Pete's replied.
"I'll do anything to protect my family. You wouldn't be fighting for my mistake."
"Don't start with me, Eddie. You know I'd die for first."
His father laughed, "Just for that, out of spite, I'll die first." There was another sigh as they kept throwing jabs at one another, "We should head back. I don't want Danee to storm the halls for us and assume things when she sees us alone together."
"It's understandable..." The flirtatious joke left Pete's mouth, "You do love to take advantage of your prey alone, don't you, Eddie?~"
Drake scrambled to get off the wall near the door. He hurried down the hallway and back toward the exit as he heard his dad yell at Pete's for the comment. He ran and almost crashed into Alexander, who had entered the lower level main lobby.
They both spoke in unison, "Where the fuck have you been?"
...
Hey, you, thank you so much for reading. It means a lot that I put out a story that people can enjoy! So, I hope you continue to enjoy it as WE have a LOT more to go! YOU BETTER KEEP PROSPERING! (Nonnegotiable).
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What I’d do for a Livable Income (Synopsis/Chapter - List)
I have... a lot to comment on! Spoilers below the cut-
So all the more tempting.
oop-
Though his body tensed. His eyes shifted to the balcony on the other end; of course, shrimps out here too. He thought to himself. Sunday could not come soon enough.
I'm so worried for them to go back to work based on these four sentences alone. How is Drake going to treat Lynette now that she's his sister-in-law? Is Alexander going to try and make any changes? I don't think he will immediately see the need to, but surely the new familial connection is the start of something here... right?
There's no way it just goes back to old Alexander... right?
It's either up or down from here, I think.
Viola lifted Elise and tucked her under her arm, "Alexander does not deserve you. Let's go."
OKAY, first the ENTIRE reaction with Elise omg lmao. Alexander getting annoyed with humans is classic Xander, but Elise just being so chill with him I... bless her, I love her already even if she may be one of the most minor characters ever she is the bestest human I am the #1 Elise fan willing(or rather unbothered?) prey icon I love her.
AND PREACH VIOLA PREACH!!
This whole scene between them I just <3 <3 <3 <3
I can't even convey all the words.
Alexander turned to Drake, "Have you?" That explains your push for the training this morning.
"Drop it, Chase," Drake replied.
"This isn't about the whole-"
Drake flicked his head to Alexander. He was about to speak, then pursed his lips like he kept something to himself. Then he forced a smile and chuckled. "Are you scared I'm gonna catch up?"
Alexander knew there was more, but Drake continued.
"I'm gonna get another drink." He went back inside.
MAY WE TALK ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS INTERACTION?
It makes me really interested to see that Drake may be training his magic, presumably due to Andras? And also their banter here is really <3
Despite my loathing for Alexander, Drake and Alexander interacting together and just generally being a duo is one of my favourite things. I love them so very much.
If she got herself fucking eaten, I'm leaving her ass. Let Wicks handle it. Since he wants to act like I'm the worst...
His chest hurt at his thoughts. He couldn't get the image of his dad out of his head. He continued forward...
Does this mean his protectiveness might have a correlation to something that happened with his father? Man, I'm CRAVING the backstory lore with him and Petes so badly omggggg what happened between themmmm
Someone from the agency is also helping supply his people with fake licenses. Garter's tone drifted, "I don't know who. They have to have a higher rank, at least a class 2 like you, but if they're higher, they'd be a real problem."
Fake licenses hmmmm...
I KNOW I KNOW LEV PROBABLY GOT HIS LEGITAMATELY BUT LIKE. WHO KNOWS MAN. MAYBE HE PICKED UP FORGING AS A HOBBY.
An infiltration in the CPPA has my ATTENTION though like hi there
ALSO WICKS. WORK-LIFE BALANCE BESTIE PUT YOUR FOOT DOWN. TELL THEM NO.
also garter is silly I like him so far I think the fact he likes frozen food better and thinks its a fine cuisine is very funny, Garter 10/10 boy so far.
But if something happens to her, he'll blame my ass because he'd be able to sense I was here, wouldn't he?
I have Thoughts about this line, as it not only implies that Wicks can tell when monsters have been present in an area, but also that Alexander *does* have some protective moments, while also some... not-so-protective moments. It seems like in this second he's really just wanting to... walk away without consequences or actually caring, but feels obligated purely because he knows there *will* be consequences?
It proves he has a brain a little, actually. He's thinking about things sometimes.
He dropped his shoulders, "You hated the deal, and I would have been fine reading something I already anticipated..." His voice trailed off again. She knew too much about me. The dreams thickly moved in his mouth and forced his lips to whisper out. "Or maybe not."
He pulled himself away from the wine. His eyes panned to her slowly, and he let out a sigh, "regardless of the annoying outcome..." his voice muttered, "Thank you for doing that."
See he doesn't quite Get It yet but like... he's UNDERSTANDING THINGS?? I am not going to get over him whispering "Or maybe not" omg. And he said thank you!!
I'm ngl Alexander has won some points this chapter, every little thing he's done oozes depth AND I CAN'T PSYCHO-ANAYLZE EVERY LINE BUT UGH LUCKY. YOU FUCKING KILLED IT.
Alexander smiled as they reached the maze's end, "Tell me every little thing you got because I'll just pay you back for all of it on Sunday."
There it was, her slight jump. "That's what I'm talking about; you're crazy."
Crazy. You've met crazy, and so have I. You're just difficult and should just-
I was tempted to focus on the lines before this and be like, "exactly bestie he does have a problem" but AUGH he is slightly crazy. He is teetering on such a dangerous antihero antagonist edge and IM FUCKING. LIVING FOR IT.
I so so so so so so so so so so so so so hate how well you've written him. He has these absolutely *stupid* dumbass no-empathy having moments, but he has so much depth and complexity that I'm just... augh I love how you write him so muuuuuchhh.
I hate him so much and I love him at the same time.
"My problem?" Ace smashes the glass in his hand, and the shards fall. "You want to act like your all that because you got to marry the perfect prodigy incubator."
Ace said a fucking LOT of offensive things in his scene with Ulysses, but out of all of them UGH this one rubbed me wrong the most.
I'm not sure if "incubator" means something else for monsters but like... fucking excuse you? ARE YOU CALLING A WOMAN AN INCUBATOR?
ARE YOU SUGGESTING SHE IS FOR MAKING BABIES?
YEAH WOMEN CAN DO THAT BUT LIKE-
actually fuck you Ace why were you invited?
On a more positive note for this scene I absolutely adore Ulysses and how he reacted, as well as how willing he was to defend someone he barely knows (Lynette) from someone he's known for so long out of the principle of family. He has a lot of loyalty in him and I already really love him for that. We haven't seen a lot of him but thus far I've really liked him as a character, he seems like he has a good sense of morals.
"I can't act all happy, aren't you worried? Now Ulysses is involved with all of this." Pete's voice was a whisper, yet it held such anger.
"We've talked about this-"
"WE were there; you've seen what they've done! Those children helped destroy Yexodele." His voice trembled. Drake had only heard Alexander's Dad's anger one other time.
What are they talking about?
Edgar stammered, "Pete's, if they had bad intentions, why pick my family? We aren't powerful."
"Why else, Danee? She's involved with many other monsters. She's built connections and foundations among them. They want to destroy it all again." Drake could hear a loud THUD along with Pete's declaration.
I'm assuming "Those children" refers to the Paytons?
This whole conversation is just !!!!! besties I'm listening spill the tea
Also, Danee is heavily involved with other monsters? mmmm interesting.
For some reason I trust Petes and Edgar more than I trust Madre and Padre.
"It's understandable..." The flirtatious joke left Pete's mouth, "You do love to take advantage of your prey alone, don't you, Eddie?~"
I FUCKING LOVE PETES
IM JUST LMAOOOOOO
I love him so so so so so so so so so so so so soooooo much omgggg
Petes <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
He has to be one of my favourite characters he's just LMAO I love him omg.
They both spoke in unison, "Where the fuck have you been?"
bestie moment
And, final thoughts?
GAAAAUUUUUGGHHW WJWBUSBWUSBSSBJS8IWJBWISBDUBDGUWJWOJANOQNAONMANOANDO D ISQ OANKA JS JDKSK,ANJABSIDNIWNIANAIAjwoAni1 aim
Contents (Warnings): The Downburst (Angsty, vore mentions, and character/monster info). Read full chapter on - A03
Wordcount: 3,400+ (HEY SORRY EVERYONE FOR BEING SO LATE WITH THIS! I had a lot of life jazz hitting me at once!)
Side note: This will contain experimental writing; first person (Lynette's view) will be implemented alongside third person for the two other essential characters, (mostly) Alexander and (occasionally) Drake. All their text will be italicized for those third-person moments, with the characters' names in Bold at the start and their thoughts in Bold. There may be other characters I write for using this.
His whole body ached. Why the fuck did I agree? Why did I just want to get my ass kicked? He glared back at Drake, who stumbled behind him.
After his first game with Wicks, he didn't want to admit it, but it made him want to train his magic again. And especially now since that psycho, Wicks, repeatedly beat him into the ground with a smile.
Though, he started to remember why he stopped training so much too. He felt less in control and vulnerable when he pushed himself too much in an unfamiliar environment. And what made it worse was the smell.
Her scent is everywhere. Alexander cursed in his head. It had been difficult to be in the house without feeling hungry. It was worse now. All his instincts made him want to find her because he was so low on energy.
He looked at Drake again. You get your damn drink, then I-
His thoughts dropped immediately. His body jolted as she stumbled back. She held one of the cold water bottles to her nose.
He had been avoiding her and supposed she was doing the same. The only time they ever really saw each other was for events.
“M-morning.” She muttered.
He felt his mouth start to salivate. She’s so tiny...fuck. He then threw his head up and swallowed hard. It took him a second to respond and move.
“If you’re going, go,” Alexander growled. He let her through.
Drake was about to say hi, but Lynette went between them. Alexander’s legs twitched.
“Alexander…”
He knew Drake was listening to his heart. He put his hand into his mouth. His flesh alone tasted so gross to him. He pressed down on it until he allowed himself to puncture it.
He pulled it out immediately after. The taste he hated lingered on his tongue. It kept his attention.
He healed his bleeding hand. He grumbled as he saw Drake take a blood pouch from the fridge. Alexander walked further inside the kitchen and leaned on the counter at the center. He crossed his arms and leaned back on it, watching the door.
He heard a light, "blegh," from behind him. He looked back at Drake over the sink. "It's magus blood, so gross."
“I don’t think I’m that gross,” Ace said, walking in.
His whole outfit and hair looked as dis-shelved as the rest, and so did Koi. She walked in after him.
Alexander never saw her as he did today. She always wore a suit. Today, she wore a tank top and shorts to train with them.
"You're not; they're just too taste-specific." She pressed her bangs back, getting them between bobby pins. "And Drake, if you are going to dump it, I'll gladly take it."
She leaned over the other side of the counter as Drake leaned over the sink to give it to her.
Ace moved to the fridge to get a water bottle. "I’m a little disappointed Lynette couldn’t join us. Watching and fighting Wicks was so much fun. It’d probably be fun to fight with her too."
The menace himself entered. It almost pissed Alexander off just to see that smug, grinning face. Asshole.
“Lynette’s too busy to beat us up,” Wicks said.
Alexander didn't understand the lie. Why does it matter if people know she's a human? It won't change anything. All they have to do is confront her to know.
Drake passed Wicks a water bottle and got himself a new pouch, this time of the right blood.
Wicks caught Alexander's eyes, and he smirked, “What’s wrong, buddy?”
Alexander was rarely ever on the defensive with his magic. And with Wicks, he had no choice but to be.
Alexander glared down at the magus; he was five inches taller. "Fuck off." He said, pulling his attention away. At least being in a room full of beings he didn't want to eat calmed his nerves slightly. Until it started to wander back to his hunger.
Damn it.
He couldn't wait for Drake. "I'm going out."
"We're all leaving soon. Why don't you chill with us for a while?" Ace questioned.
If I have to go to the wedding where she's the only human and I haven't eaten... He swallowed lightly at the thought. He pushed off the counter, "I'll meet you all there."
...
Lynette
We were in a room together, Charletta, Madre, and me. It was a bride's dressing room, connected to the bigger dressing room for all the bridesmaids, but it gave us the seclusion we needed.
Madre did Charletta's long hair. Usually, it would be down past the middle of her back, so she braided it up for her. Madre hummed while doing it. Her movement looked like second nature. I know she was the oldest of six girls.
I interrupted Madre's hum with my question. "Madre, you were never really a hairdresser, were you?" I asked. It wasn't because of her skill. She did an excellent job of cutting and styling our hair and her own.
"No," she admitted. "Though I've had a passion for doing hair." She was the one who taught me different braids and hairstyles. I touched on my favorite one she taught me that I have now. The Rapunzal braid. It perfectly tamed my wavy and slightly curly mess.
"Do you work at the C.P.P.A.?"
She shook her head, "I couldn't while you were all so small and Padre wasn't home..." She said. "Pero luego todos ustedes se hicieron tan grandes, tan rápido."
She sighed.
"Sí, y ahora me dan una conferencia sobre volverme loco durante el juego." Charletta replied smugly.
What game...oh right, the marked thing. I got to watch them all play fighting. They were all great, weren't they? They always are.
"Wicks did say you went a little wild," I slid my comment between them with a chuckle.
Charletta burst into laughter, turning back, causing Madre to huff as she was in the middle of finishing her hair.
"It's rare that I get to let loose!"
"Charletta, trae tu cabeza de vuelta aquí, no he terminado." Madre said and Charletta complied, swiveling back in her chair to face the mirror again.
"Lo siento," Charletta looked at me in the reflection, "but you know, speaking of beasts, I'm glad Wicks doesn't think Ulysses is a terror. I can imagine he'd try to destroy him."
The laugh that followed sounded so carefree. A whisper came after, "Not that I wouldn't fight him to the death if he tried."
"Charletta," Madre gave a light tap on her head.
"I was kidding...mostly."
She got tapped on her head harder.
Is Wicks that strong? Of course, he is...there's a lot I don't know about him, or...any of them isn't there.
I looked back up, and I could hear Charletta and Madre. Yet, I felt so far away. I was right beside Charletta, at arm's length of her right side.
I shook away my thoughts. Madre got to the other side of Charletta next to me.
"If you ever want to talk, Lyn, I'm here for you."
Her eyes always looked soft. She could yell at me, hear my stubborn voice fight back, punish me, or listen to me on my worst days, and that had never changed.
Wicks definitely had her eyes.
"I know; thank you, Madre."
...
Alexander
They were standing up over the crowd. Alexander's eyes wandered to his "problem." Why did it have to be you? You could have been related to any other magus's. He was frustrated by that fact. He glanced at the male to his left, Wicks. Since they met, this was the first time that the stubborn magus's attention was on something else. Precisely the bride and groom. They took the attention of everyone. Alexander hadn't known Charletta well.
He'd met her at Edgar's house once before, but that was it. Ulysses did talk about her frequently, though. I never imagined it would lead to this so soon...
They said their vows to one another.
Yet, his attention went to the rings and what was to come.
His muscles clenched, he could feel tight in his chest, and his breath became shallow. He closed his trembling hands. He could see, along with their rings, they were sealing a bind together.
His heart was starting to beat faster, and his lips trembled so hard he had to seal his lips. He pulled his eyes away and looked at the crowd to escape his thoughts.
It was then his swirling cloudy blue hue fell to his father. His feet shifted, but he stopped. Someone gripped the back of his suit. Drake had bent over and tugged it from behind.
He lowered his head, feeling Drake let go. He could hear the cheers around him once the newlyweds shared their kiss.
...
Wicks
He stuck to Lynette, intercepting many conversations she would have had with individuals he didn't trust. He rationalized that he did it simply for her safety and his promise to his parents, but...it was more than that.
Lynette was different and had been since Saturday. He walked away from her for only a few moments. He saw she was talking to Ace.
He hadn't seen her smile much this whole week. Ace seems to make her happy. It made him a little jealous. She was his best friend. He had plenty at the C.P.P.A., but Lynette...she had always been there. She had never left his side, always been the best sister he could ask for, a perfect partner in crime.
Maybe...she needs more time? Wicks thought to himself.
He wanted things to go back to how they were. He hated feeling so cut off from his best friend.
Not that he didn't expect it.
Yet, from what he understood, Ace had been a long-time friend of Charletta's and Ulysses'. So, he trusted him around her way more than any other human-eater, especially her coworkers. Which he didn't see around at the moment.
As the music began to change and more started to go to the dance floor at the center, Wicks saw Ace bowing to Lynette for a dance.
He hurried over and took Lynette's hand first, "Brothers get a first dance, sorry." He stole her away from Ace, to both of their surprises.
Once they got to the dance floor together, Lynette raised a brow, "Brothers get a first dance? Didn't we do the family dancing already?"
Wicks sighed, "Alright, you caught me..." He didn't see a point in playing coy. "I wanted to make sure you're okay. I know how you get when strangers are a little too friendly."
It wasn't a complete lie.
"He seems nice..." Lynette replied, then sighed, "But go ahead...tell me what kind of monster he is."
Wicks dropped his shoulders. Jeez, did I really make you think all monsters are bad? Or did those jerks at your job make you believe that? He kept his hold on her.
"He's a magus," Wicks said.
Lynette questioned, "Oh, like you guys."
"H-hey!" Wicks heard the tone. It definitely plucked a few heartstrings. What could I say? I'm the worst of them all. I've been lying over and over again to your face.
He could see her force her lips to smile, "I was kidding."
"You know nothing's...changed." It felt hard to say. He didn't want to admit that.
"I know, you're still all my family, and I love you." It was the only thing she said where he heard her honesty.
As they continued their dance, he smiled very lightly. "Love you too, Lentils, forever and always."
I wish I could explain it all to you.
...
Lynette
I got outside of the dance square, and I raised a brow. I swore I saw Wenna tugging Alexander along the dance floor. I wouldn't think Alexander could or would dance...
It was comical to see Wenna spinning him around. He looked mad, as usual. Drake's mom looked ready for the quick interception due to their behavior.
"Hey again, enjoy your dance?" Ace asked. He walked up beside me, leaning a hand on the white-clothed table.
"Yeah, Wicks was one of the people that taught me. He and Charletta had a big dance craze when we were younger." It was one or the other coming up with new things to play...they really feed off each other's craziness.
"Well, would you still like to dance?"
I nodded. My insides quivered, but I knew everyone was there. I didn't feel as alone as I would have if we had gone to a restaurant together. It was someone I didn't know with the intention of a date... "After this song, sure."
...
I felt calm. I didn't know why I felt so relaxed with a stranger. Well, as comfortable as I could be. We were surrounded by different people of different powers, but he didn't push me. When we danced, he seemed nervous to touch me.
He even stopped mid-way through the song when I felt queasy. And that's we were on one of the balconies, looking out over the giant courtyard. A few faces were outside by the big bonfire to the far left.
As I leaned on the curved white railing, my eyes drifted to the giant hedge maze to the right. I've only seen those in movies.
Ace kept his distance. "It's a beautiful night," I heard him. I looked up and saw a handful of stars glittering above. It wasn't a clear sky. There were still a few clouds nearing the moon.
"It is." I turned back to him to see he was staring. When our eyes met for too long, he shifted his back to the sky.
I started to peer past him to the balcony on our opposite side. It looked like Drake, Alexander, Koi, Viola, and another girl I didn't recognize. I almost waved simply because I saw Viola, but I refrained.
Grabbing their attention wouldn't be best.
"Something wrong?" He asked.
"N-no." You don't need to get involved with that chaos...nor should I. I tried to distract him and pointed down. "I'd love to explore that maze. It looks like it would be fun for a Halloween thing, right?" I was a baby when it came to anything horror related...yet I dealt with monsters.
Ace chuckled and looked down at it, "Hmm, did you want to adventure in it now?"
My shoulders raise, "really?" That sounds so awesome...
My eyes went back into the room where the soft jazz was playing. The individuals inside were of various sizes and shapes. No one was over seven feet, though.
I think the parents are at the bonfire? It should be fine. I reasoned with myself. It'd only be for a little. I continued. I knew why I really wanted to get away.
"If that's okay with you," Ace said. He held his gloved hands up innocently. He awaited my answer.
Even though I felt anxious, I lifted my head and nodded in agreement.
...
It took us only a short time to end up in the middle of the too-perfectly-maintained maze. It looked like it was freshly cut today. The walls of the labyrinth went to about eight feet tall. There were also sprouts of flowers coming out at the bottom of the bushes.
I plopped onto the stone bench, holding the glass of wine he got me on our way out. Today seemed like the perfect occasion to celebrate with at least a glass.
"It would have been so cool to see you in the morning with us," Ace remarked. He walked toward the gazebo in the center, inspecting it. I didn't know if I felt like sitting under it with him, so I stayed on the bench near the way back into the maze.
"Did you guys do that training this morning that you talked about last night?" I questioned. How did that go? Everyone showed up to the wedding fine...right?
Ace grinned. He walked over and sat on the bench beside me, "we did. It was a big free for all." He jittered with a shiver. "I almost forgot how scary it is to be wrapped up by Koi."
"Wrapped up?"
"She's an arachne," Ace said. "And as curse magic as my specialty, I can only get so far with her." He turned his head to me, "That actually brings up a good question what do you specialize in?"
I shook my head, "Ha, come on, you don't want to get me started on that." Charletta told me to lie and say blast magic, and she told me the basics. I got ready to say it and stopped. What if he asks more questions? Before my mind ran rampant, I took a breath. He's a magus. I'm not in any danger.
"I do! I'd love to hear you talk about it" He sounded enthusiastic. "You're part of such an incredible family...I-you know..." Ace stumbled over his words, "I think it's amazing that I met such a lovely girl that, as Wicks said, could kick my ass." He shyly laughed after.
I took a deep breath. I could trust him. Wicks clearly did. He let us dance together. Ace was one of the only people Wicks didn't helicopter-parent me with.
I took a breath, "I-...I'm not a magus."
Ace started to laugh, "Very funny, Lynette."
"N-no." I didn't know why I couldn't say it. "I'm not a magus...I'm adopted."
He shook his head, "come on. I mean, you don't look 100% like them, but you could be Stefan's child with another-"
"I'm serious!" I exclaimed.
His usually prominent smile slowly dropped, and his eyes lost their vibrance. "Ah...I guess I was a little too hopeful." He soughed.
"Hopeful?" I didn't know where his excitement fled to.
He got up from the bench and brushed back the few loose strands of Cyan hair. "This is..." He turned to me.
His eyes trailed up and down my body. A twitch of one of his eyes and the slight curl of his lip told me everything.
He's disgusted.
"Now, this makes a lot more sense. You were reluctant to talk about any kind of magic." He lifted his shoulders, "it was hard to bring it up casually."
I shook my head, "what are you talking about? Ace? You're confusing me..." My chest hurt. What did I do wrong...?
He sighed, "You were my last hope. There are no other contenders in the Payton's family to court." He adjusted his suit, making sure to flatten it down. "I was interested in you because you were part of their family. I need a powerful bride for my bloodline. We have a strict prodigy tradition."
I weakly smiled, "sorry..."
His eyes looked glazed. "I did all that to play a part when there was no point." He turned around and left.
I couldn't call out to him in response. I wanted this to be some kind of sick joke. He was the only person at the party that I felt understood me. I...failed again.
He didn't give me another word.
I'm human...
My head started to lower, and I stared into my lap. And I wasn't even good at that. I never even got close to anyone except my family. They have to stay with me out of obligation...
I felt my legs press closer together, I couldn't finish school, I barely helped with the wedding, I burdened the Paytons so much that I had to lie about what I was, I only burdened my family...
I lifted my hands to my arms. I was a failure at everything I did. I couldn't help anyone. I wanted to help people, but when have I ever helped anyone? What have I ever done? I can't even talk to people. I can't keep friends.
I couldn't stop my eyes from soaking my dress. I'm a burden on everyone. I know that. I always knew that...since the day I was born.
I started to curl up. I brought my feet onto the bench and leaned back onto the concrete.
I'm not helpful. They all tell me they care, but the Paytons just...pity me.
My body tensed up as a figure moved quickly in the corner of my eye. I flicked my head in their direction. My blurry vision knew the shape well. It was Alexander. He huffed a few times and stared at me.
Oh...that's right...I am good for one thing, aren't I...
I tried to wipe away my tears and hide my face.
"What are you doing out here, Xander?"
I'm only good at being a meal for monsters, so go ahead, Alexander.
Eat me already.
...
Hey, you, thank you so much for reading. It means a lot that I put out a story that people can enjoy! So, I hope you continue to enjoy it as WE have a LOT more to go! YOU BETTER KEEP PROSPERING! (Nonnegotiable).
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What I’d do for a Livable Income (Synopsis/Chapter - List)
Read on A03 | Chapter masterlist can be found here
A plan goes into action as Nora wrestles with the ghosts from her past. One rather large one in particular. 3.3k words
Contains: panic, a general sense of dread, brief flashbacks to fear-inducing events, threats of violence/death
Cutthroat
So far, everything had gone as smoothly as Nora had anticipated.
After she left the cafeteria, with Danny fuming in her wake, she headed back to the defense department to finish the preparations for that night. She had time, but didn't want to stall for long.
Maria was the weak link in her plan for tonight—luckily, she'd have eyes and ears on Maria's interactions with Danny in case the girl thought about warning them. It had been a risk to involve her, but a calculated one. Nora knew the timid girl didn't have the guts to intervene. Maria was far too dependent on the Coalition to go against it—and importantly, Danny still trusted Maria.
She'd never have a better opportunity to get to Christopher than tonight, when there were no other giants around to get in the way. She couldn't have asked for a more perfect setup, really. Normally, Christopher slept on the couch in the living room—too noticeable, too many opportunities for either Sybil or that other giant to hear. But now, alone and confined to the guest room, he was a sitting target.
Especially given how greedy he was with how often he...consumed Danny when he visited—it was certain that he'd ingest the sedative too.
Nora's lip curled in disgust. Abhorrent as his habits were, they would serve her well tonight. Even without the sedative Danny had taken earlier, giant's senses were dulled with a human inside of them. With the combination of the two? He wouldn't even feel the pain immediately.
Nora unlocked the back door to her office and made for the secret stash of supplies she'd been preparing for tonight. She wouldn't need much—a small container of paralyzing liquid, a growth pill and its antidote, both in pill form, and a single, sturdy spear, tied at the top and bottom with twine. It was taller than her, and the tip was wickedly sharp—made from the same material as the self-defense needles, purpose-built for penetrating a giant's skin. She slung it across her back.
The communicator she'd set on her desk buzzed with a message.
She's heading that way.
"As I expected," she muttered to herself. Nora typed out a response. And Maria?
Back to their apartment.
Nora smiled. Good. She wouldn't have a communicator with her tonight, but then again, neither would Danny. And after all, everything was going according to plan so far.
She locked up her office and began to make her way towards Sybil's guest bedroom, following a route that no other humans took. With the exception of one.
Adrenaline began to prickle its way through her body as she walked, her pace slow, almost meditative, and though she itched to be there already, she knew she couldn't rush. Danny had to get there first.
Her heartbeat pounded against her chest, filling the silence with the sound of blood pumping through her veins. She'd been waiting for this day for years. It almost didn't feel real, really.
She bit her tongue as the thoughts resurfaced—the ones that never seemed to go away, even now, especially now, given who her target was.
Being squeezed by his throat, trapped between his fingers, taunted from within him in the wet, overwhelming darkness of his—
She pushed the memories back, refusing to acknowledge them. She was not the same helpless, weak human she'd been five years ago. She was no longer incapable of fighting back.
This time, she was the one in control. And she was going to make Christopher pay.
* * * * * * * * * *
Obviously, she had refreshed her scent-masking serum just this morning, but she still kept a wary caution about her as she began to approach the stairs leading up to the bedroom's human entrance. She knew she had the bastard's freakishly perceptive hearing to contend with as well.
She didn't need to make it all the way to the door to hear the giant's voice—a sound that hit her ears with a violent familiarity. She stopped in place halfway up the stairs, both to prevent Christopher from hearing her approach and to get a handle on her suddenly reeling mental state.
"What's a pretty little thing like you doing out here, all alone?"
She couldn't stop the memories this time, as the voice that haunted them was floating down towards her from the other side of the wall, no longer simply confined to her mind.
"I need to sample your flavor first. It's standard practice."
The world felt like it was spinning with her at the center, dragging her back to a place she was sure she'd been able to escape for good. She wasn't scared. She couldn't be scared. She'd moved past this. She was stronger now.
"Will you squirm like that going down, dollface?"
Her hands curled into fists, her knuckles white and taut as a bowstring as she ground her teeth together in anger. Not fear. Anger.
I'm not helpless anymore, you giant bastard.
She heard the sound of laughter echo above her, and it only served to fuel the raging flame inside of her, burning its way through her heart and all the way into the tips of her fingers. How dare he laugh like that, now, after everything. While she had been living with nightmares and memories of the giant she'd been sold to, stuck cowering in fear like a pathetic child, he went on living as blissfully happy as ever.
The corner of her mouth curled upward into a snarl, and her simmering fury began to burn the corners of the terrible memories like they'd been tossed onto a bonfire. Her focus became laser-sharp as the weight of the spear on her back brought her back to reality, grounding her in the present.
She stood there, not daring to move while she could still hear the muffled voice coming from above her, waiting for the sounds to peter off.
After a while, she noticed the silence last for a while longer than an ordinary lull in the conversation. Carefully, she moved each foot with the necessary precision to not make a sound as she ascended the rest of the stairs. She put her ear to the door to listen to the muffled conversation, hoping to make out a word.
"—haven't felt this full in a long time."
Though Nora had been expecting, counting on Christopher to eat Danny tonight, the realization still twisted her gut with a gnawing sort of disgust as Christopher's words fell on her ears. She had no idea why or how Danny allowed—no, asked for...that, when her experience with that still haunted her to this day.
Am I just that pathetic? Why does Danny get to be happy? She was the same as me—
Stop. Focus.
She didn't have time to let these thoughts consume her. Not tonight. There were far more important matters at hand.
The sedative worked quickly—now, it was only a matter of minutes before Christopher would be completely under its effect. She began a mental countdown of three minutes, giving herself a healthy amount of extra time and providing her brain with something to do besides remind her of the past.
Once the time had run out, and no sounds could be heard on the other side, she slowly, carefully, opened the door, its hinges as soft and quiet as they had been a few days ago, when she'd oiled them.
From her vantage point, she couldn't see much more than a slightly raised mound of blankets on top of the bed—but Christopher did, indeed, appear to be asleep, judging by the soft sounds of snoring she heard at the head of the bed.
The lamp on the nightstand still appeared to be on, which she was somewhat thankful for, as being in darkness would make parts of this more difficult than necessary. He must have succumbed to the sedative's effects before he'd been able to turn it off.
Still, she took the cautious path of going under the bed instead of around, knowing that there was a gap between the wall and the nightstand at the other end for her to sneak through. She had to readjust the spear at her back, moving it to her hands so it didn't scrape up against the bedframe.
After what felt like an eternity of slowly creeping forward in the dark, dusty space, she reached the wall at the other end of the room, carefully making her way along it until she reached the end of the nightstand. The lamp illuminated the built-in ladder on the side of the nightstand with a dim golden glow.
She slung the spear back over her shoulders and began to make the climb, balancing her desire to get to the top quickly with her need to be quiet, though she was sure that at this point, the sedative had done its job.
She took a deep breath before breaching the top of the nightstand, steeling herself for what she would see.
But even with that moment of pause, she found herself frozen as she laid eyes on her nightmare incarnate—the corporeal form of Christopher sprawled inelegantly on the bed in a drug-induced slumber. He snored breathily with his mouth hung slightly open, his long, black hair still half-tied up behind him as it draped messily over his shoulders.
The few seconds where she stood there, staring at the monster that had haunted her dreams for five years, felt like an eternity. Her legs became unsteady beneath her—practiced, trained, battle-ready except for now, the very moment she needed to not give in to the fear that was worming its way into her gut.
For five years, she had gone out of her way to avoid giants. She'd never even laid eyes on Sybil again since coming to the human city. And now, she was realizing that that might have been a mistake—because now, just a short distance away from the first giant she'd seen in years—him—she could feel a primal fear curl its way into her toes and claw at her brain, begging her to run.
She drew in a deep, steadying breath. No.
I'm the one in control here.
She swallowed the fear as she'd done so many times before, willing her feet to move forward towards the sleeping giant. Danny, of course, was nowhere to be seen. Nora's eyes flickered along Christopher's body until they rested uneasily on his stomach.
It wasn't very noticeable in this position on his side, but she could see the smallest protrusion in his abdomen—and his hand somehow managed to rest right on top of it.
If she listened, she thought she could hear Danny's muffled voice beneath his shirt.
Something conflicting rose to the surface as she stared at the appalling sight—guilt. Christopher would not wake up in time to expel the human inside of him. His body, that stomach that Danny was so inexplicably fond of, would become her tomb.
This brief concern was quickly drowned out by the disgust and revulsion that had festered inside of Nora for years. She tore her eyes away from where the human rested beneath Christopher's skin.
If she's so content to sleep inside them, she'll be content to die inside them. That's her own fault for getting mixed up with giants. With HIM.
She took one of the growth pills from her pocket and crushed it between her teeth before she swallowed it. The serum spread throughout her body with a strange, blood-chilling sensation—and, as expected, the spear on her back grew to match.
The materials, having originated from the human world, would grow and shrink with her, so long as she touched them. She'd made sure to wear the outfit she'd arrived to this hellish world in as well, for once glad that she'd never been able to get rid of the painful reminder of her first experience with giants. Clothes made from fabric that came from this world would have simply split at the seams.
Maria's erratic and incomprehensible explanation of how the growth serum worked had made her head spin, sounding far more like magic than science. But she could care less about the particulars now. She had one goal, one target that was now marginally less massive compared to her new size.
She took out the vial of paralyzing serum to apply to the tip of her spear, glancing up at the large expanse of the giant's exposed neck in front of her. She'd studied giant anatomy at length, as horrific as it had been, for the sole purpose of knowing exactly where she needed to strike next.
She refused to look back at the way Christopher seemed to curl around Danny, his legs tucked in to his body and his hand wrapped around his stomach, as if he had a desire to protect her, even in his sleep. As if he cared about her, in some twisted way.
She took a breath, silenced her thoughts, and readied her weapon.
* * * * * * * * * *
The stomach around Danny was comforting in how tightly it held her—something she hadn't realized she'd missed until this moment. She never would have thought she'd enjoy being in such a cramped space, but it didn't feel that way anymore. Actually, there were times where the world outside felt too confining, in a way she couldn't properly articulate.
She enjoyed the way she filled up the space now, somehow finding solace in something that had once terrified her. She laughed a bit to herself. I guess the "exposure therapy" worked after all.
Though really, the claustrophobia hadn't been the monster she'd wrestled with the most when it came to being comfortable in here. It had been Christopher—it had always been Christopher, and the trust she placed in him.
And once she had given it to him, once she had accepted it for herself, she'd been freed of the real weight that would crush her in this dark space.
Her fear hadn't gone away fully, of course. There were still nights where she asked to be let out, or to simply sleep next to him instead of inside him. But the fact that he always listened to her demands without complaint or coercion was what made her feel more secure in her current position than she ever had before.
And there was something else she liked about her larger size, too—the fact that she could talk to him with words instead of a series of kicks of varying intensity.
"Hey, Christopher? Have you heard anything from Nathan today?" She'd meant to call Nathan earlier, but figured he'd probably be busy. Still, she wondered how the legislative session had gone. She hoped he would have good details to share.
Christopher was unusually silent. At first she thought that maybe he was just thinking about his response—but the silence dragged on for longer than such a pause would warrant.
Maybe he...didn't hear me? "Hey. Chris." She knew he hated it when she used Sam's nickname with him. Surely that would warrant a reaction. She kicked the stomach lining for good measure, but...
Nothing.
Something clawed at the back of her brain, but she couldn't figure out what. A slight unease stirred in her gut, but she dismissed it. Maybe he was just really tired. Humans are supposed to be relaxing, right?
"...Christopher. Chris. Bastard. Hey. WAKE. UP." She punctuated each word with a kick to his stomach, feeling slightly guilty in case he was sleeping, but...no. Something was wrong. Christopher never fell asleep this fast.
Doesn't he usually have a nightly routine? ...maybe he did it before I—no, he was still in his normal clothes and his hair was up.
She could hear a soft snoring sound as his lungs breathed in slow and deep all around her—something that was normally comforting to her, but now caused several alarm bells to go off in her head.
The thing that had been fighting its way into her brain finally made its way in, like a dam that had broken and left her mind flooded and frantic in its wake.
John mentioned Sybil had been sleeping more lately, too.
It could just be a coincidence. They'd both been working hard lately, right? I mean, Christopher hasn't been doing more work than normal, but maybe—
Something twisted in her gut as the uneasy feeling morphed slowly into panic.
"Christopher," she continued, urgency rising into her voice now. She prodded and stretched his stomach as far as she could, twisting her body in the space to hopefully stir him awake.
The giant remained unresponsive.
In her mind's suddenly frenzied state, she saw Nora's face flash before her eyes, as if a puzzle was starting to put itself together, piece by piece. The last words she'd left with Danny echoed in her head.
"Fine. Have it your way, Danny. Good luck."
...what did she mean by "good luck?"
Sybil and Nathan are both gone. Christopher's here alone.
There's no one to intervene if—
Each realization hit her like the first few drops of a rainstorm, unexpected and uncomfortable before quickly turning into a deluge of paranoia and dread.
She didn't have to spend long on the question "would Nora actually try and hurt Christopher" because the answer was an unequivocal yes. The bitch was crazy enough to try something like that.
Did she...is he...drugged somehow? Is that what this is?
...If he doesn't wake up, I'm stuck in here.
Danny didn't have time to wonder if she was just massively overthinking things at this point. If there was even a chance Christopher was in danger from that psycho, if she had actually drugged him, she had to get out now.
And maybe, hopefully, she would be wrong. If anything wakes him up, I imagine crawling up his throat would do the trick.
She took a deep breath. She'd done this before. She'd made it. She could do it again.
She reached above her and felt around for the opening to Christopher's throat, fumbling around in the darkness for a while before her fingers brushed against it. She tried to reach her fingers into it and push it open, but unlike the time she'd tried this before, in Cyrus, the muscle seemed to resist her efforts.
No. No. NO. She twisted her body more, trying to get more leverage as she shoved more of her arms into the throat's tight entrance. She managed to widen it by a small amount, just enough to maybe fit her head through.
She dug her fingers into the slippery flesh and pulled herself forward, her head just barely breaching the throat's opening before it promptly closed again and spat her back into the stomach, her arms sliding out fruitlessly.
And even that hadn't woken him up.
She could feel herself begin to hyperventilate as the realization dawned on her that she was actually trapped in here.
Her friend was in trouble, and she couldn't do anything about it.
"CHRISTOPHER. WAKE UP. YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE, WAKE UP!" She sent a flurry of increasingly desperate kicks and punches into the normally sensitive stomach lining, trying and failing to control the tears that started to form in her eyes. Her heart hammered in her chest, only feeding into the hysteria that was beginning to eat away at her body from the inside out.
The place she'd grown to feel so safe in had become a nightmare once again. Despite being surrounded by her friend on all sides, she felt hopelessly alone. And not for the first time, she felt completely, utterly...helpless.
Her only hope now was that she was wrong.
If Nora was planning something, Danny wouldn't be able to stop her.
* * * * * * * * * *
<- Part 35
Thanks for sticking with me for this, guys. Things will certainly happen. Please don't kill me, lol. Thank you for reading, as always!
Also, let it be known that my sibling LB helped me come up with the dam analogy because they were trapped in the same room as me while I wrote my vore story nonsense. It's not the most important thing, but I felt the need to enshrine it here in case they ever read this story. Thanks, ya dork < 3
I couldn’t figure out what to quote so here take this whole passage:
I really like how you wrote out her recalling her memories. Girl has a very, very clear motivation now damn.
and low key she’s not wrong Christopher really is straight up just getting away with traumatizing like, Many humans but y’know retributive justice doesn’t seem all that effective it’s just man has indeed escaped Most consequences up until now so while I don’t want our smug boy dying he can be drugged a lil. as a vengeful treat.
Pushing through the fear of posting again to show you guys my imagining of @dionysusdoctrine's boy Alcamas from their g/t vore story First Meeting! It's not the canon appearance or anything, but I wanted to draw some snaky things.
If that’s ok of course 🥲 I don’t want you to feel like you’re forced to fuse those two just because I asked 😅 do it if you’re ok with it
I will absolutely do it anon it is beautiful and maybe a little cursed but like, beautiful. It might take a lil while for me to get to it since I’m a bit slow at drawing (and have a really bad tendency to restart things oop) but I love it lmao
I know, I know, guys. I'm hilarious for earlier! BUT for realsies. Here it is!
The naga/mimic internal guide for Zilla and her twin brother, Zane from...you guessed it, Widfali! xD
This took me longer than expected but I hope you enjoy regardless!!
Want to look at more little tidbits of art information, check out the Widfali Information and Explanations!
AND YOU ALL BETTER HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!! KEEP PROSPERING!! (Have any more questions, go ahead and send them over. I might be missing some stuff!)
FINALLY FINISHED THE INTERNAL GUIDE FOR ZILLA FROM WIDFALI!! HOPE YOU GUYS ENJOYED SINCE YOU LIKED ALEXANDER'S! It only worked if I did a read more for some reason, I guess the image size, I don't know. LIKE ITS NOT EVEN THAT- I digress. xD Just a little frustrated.
start here, caitlyn siehl // untitled, fortesa latifi // rien ne va plus, margarita karapanau (trans. karen emmerich) // black iris, leah raeder // the thorn merchant, yusuf komunyakaa // monster movie, nicola maye goldberg // a key to common lethal fungi, marge piercy // give me a god i can relate to, blythe baird // crimson peak, dir. guillermo del torro (2014) // the house of hades, rick riordan.
made a separate account to post this due to crippling fear of being known; canon meryl vr how i pictured him
BHHABSJWAFBHFBHFBAS
HI
OH MY GOD LOOK AT THEM AAAAAAAAAA
YOU CANT JUST DO THIS TO ME OH MY LORD THANK YOU I LOVE THIS EEEEEE
OKAY OKAY IM GONNA BE SO NORMAL AND CALM ABOUT THIS I JUST AAAAA
I love this idea of Meryl so so much omg that’s a beautiful way to picture him and this art is so pretty aaaaaaaaa IT’S SO PRETTY HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO BE NORMAL ABOUT THIS??? THANK YOU WHAT? I WAS NOT EXPECTING THIS AT ALL AND AAAAAAA OML I’M JUST
SCREAMING THANK YOU FOR SHARING I APPRECIATE THIS SO MUCH OH MY GOSH 😭❤️
Read on A03 | Chapter masterlist can be found here
A glimpse into Maria's experience with the human city, the Coalition, and a small favor asked of her.
Contains 2.8k words.
A Simple Request (2)
When Maria had arrived at the human city all those months ago, she'd been paralyzed with the fear of being hopelessly, utterly useless.
She couldn't remember much from before the Black Dragon, and even less from the supposed "human world" she'd been plucked from before that. She had no memories, no goals, no desires, no life. All she had to offer to the city was a broken shell of a person. An empty cup that begged to be filled.
Everything had been so new, and yet, so achingly familiar that it almost hurt at first, to have so many things just inches away from understanding. Things as simple as the food served in the cafeteria were like nothing she'd ever been fed before—certainly not by Cyrus—yet as the taste hit her tongue, she would become nostalgic for a time and a place she couldn't recall. But the nostalgia wasn't warm, or pleasant.
It burned.
She felt so woefully inadequate at first—like she was a baby learning to take her first steps, yet expected to function like a capable and well-formed adult. Most people tended to avoid her and the other humans she'd arrived with, casting wary, pitying, and uncertain glances their way.
She'd been surprised to learn that humans who had been on the black market weren't very common in the city—a rescue like hers was nearly unheard of. Most of the humans had been found by members of the HRA, and some of the children and young adults had even been born here.
She'd been so worried it would be like this indefinitely—her always just so many steps behind everyone else, unable to contribute anything of her own, unable to move beyond the fear and the nightmares she'd collected from her last year of torment.
And then, she'd found the others like her.
She had no idea where she'd be if she hadn't met the Human Independence Coalition. She'd had a chance encounter with its leader on her first day there, on her way home after she'd eaten with everyone in the cafeteria. She'd ended up talking with the woman at length before agreeing to attend one of the Coalition's support groups later that week, where she'd shared her story to a room full of people who'd had their own share of traumatic experiences.
She'd wanted to invite Danny, but Danny had expressed her own strong opinions on the Coalition early on, so Maria had kept her mouth shut about being a part of it. Unfortunately, Danny seemed to have a pretty negative perception of the leader, who could be quite...passionate, Maria supposed, though she had no idea what had happened between the two of them to warrant Danny's reaction.
Danny was sweet, but...there was no way she could understand the extent of what Maria had been through. Maria knew Danny's experience with this world was much different than her own—as evidenced by how easily she seemed to get along with the two giants that came to visit on the weekends. Christopher and Nathan were nice, as was Sybil, but...Maria had seen her share of terrible giants, and knew better than Danny how necessary it was for humans to have a way to fight back, and stand their own ground.
She was the only one from the Black Dragon who had been interested in attending the Coalition's meetings—even Ryan had declined her invitation, citing something about "directing his attention to better things."
Her best friend was the only one who came close to understanding what she'd been through, given how long he'd been in there with her, but she couldn't relate to him on this. She couldn't move forward like he seemed to be able to. She just felt...stuck.
But her friends in the Coalition helped her to build a new life from scratch while processing everything that had happened to her since arriving in the world of giants. Between the Coalition and her newfound aptitude at the chemistry lab, she'd quickly found a place to belong in the strange and wonderful human city.
And more than just the support from all the individuals within the Coalition, she'd also found a purpose through it—empowering humans in a world that was rigged against them.
The Coalition inspired her to put her heart and soul into her work at the lab, turning her fear into something productive. She had helped to develop so many things that would even the playing field between humans and giants—the growth serums and antidotes that would allow humans to shift their size at will, the self-defense darts that would allow humans to escape a giant who ate them unwillingly, the scent-masking serums, and so much more.
And the Coalition acknowledged her work. She was praised and applauded for her contributions to these projects, and in return, the Coalition helped to further her position at the lab. Within the span of only three months, she'd gone from an apprentice to a position of senior authority. She'd been able to pursue research and testing of her own, starting projects supported by the Coalition.
It had been more than she could have ever hoped for, to not be useless, to have some way of giving something back. To have a purpose.
* * * * * * * * * *
Maria got to work closing the lab for the night. She was the only one there at the moment—it had been slow since their last successful project had been completed earlier that week, and most of the others had decided to take a break for a few days.
When the bell above the door rang, she figured it must have been one of her coworkers, here to grab some forgotten possession or swing by to check up on her. She made her way to the front of the building, only to smile at the familiar face that greeted her—not a coworker, but the Coalition's leader.
Nora.
"Hello, Maria. How are you doing?" Nora was, as always, the picture of confidence—everything about her just exuded a sort of unshakable poise and a cool, graceful demeanor that both put Maria at ease and made her feel so very small and awkward in comparison.
"I'm fine, Nora. I was just wrapping up for the day. Did you need something?"
Nora looked slightly apologetic as she stepped up to the counter. "Yes, I'm sorry to stop by without notice. I just had a bit of a favor to ask of you for tonight."
"A favor?" Maria probably could have guessed—Nora often used Maria as a way to check up on Danny, and tonight would likely be no exception. She knew she was only going to be there with the two of them as a mediator, in case things went poorly.
Really, she didn't understand why Danny couldn't get along with Nora. If she knew how much Nora cared about her wellbeing, even if it was from a distance, maybe her opinion would change. Maria still hadn't forgotten that first night she'd followed Danny, heeded by Nora's concern. "I'm worried about her. I want to make sure she's okay—I know she's friends with those giants, but you never know. I just don't want her to get hurt."
Nora smiled as reassuringly as ever, moving behind the counter with a comfortable familiarity. "You should know that we're all so incredibly proud of what you do here, Maria." She traced her fingers along the counter as she stepped closer. "You've done such amazing work in such a short amount of time, and I know you're going to continue to help a lot of people."
"T-thank you," Maria stammered, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Nora's perfect face was close, so very close, and somehow, the leader was praising her. Each compliment made her heart flutter with warmth. "But what did you need me to do?"
Nora's friendly expression didn't waver. "I need you to give that sedative to Danny tonight."
Maria's heart dropped.
She'd just recently finished an experiment she was quite proud of—a potent sedative that was strong enough to affect giants. It worked by enhancing the natural calming effect of a human who was eaten by a giant—and it was powerful enough that she was sure a human could crawl up the giant's throat without waking them.
She couldn't find the right words to reply to Nora as a million thoughts flew by in her head all at once. Surely, she was misunderstanding what Nora was asking. "W-why? Did you want to test it again?"
"You don't need to ask questions, Maria." She swore she saw a flash of something cold in Nora's flawless blue eyes—disappointment—before they softened again. "You just need to make sure she takes it, alright? I know I can trust you with something this important."
"B-but...Danny—"
"—will be fine, of course. We've already tested it, haven't we? John was perfectly fine. It only affects the giant, just as intended. You did an amazing job with it, Maria."
Maria found she couldn't form a coherent thought amidst Nora's reassurances. Sybil had been fine, after all—slept a little more than usual, of course, thanks to the sedative's effects, but they hadn't intended her any harm. Maybe Nora really was just wanting to test it again.
She didn't say whether or not Christopher would be fine.
The thought lingered at the front of her mind, pushing the confused muddle of thoughts to the side. She'd been scared to admit that she didn't actually mind spending time with Christopher. Nora seemed to hate all giants equally, but held a special animosity for the ex-dealer in particular. She knew Nora had reservations about Maria spending time with Christopher. She'd only approved of it at first to keep an eye on Danny and make sure she was okay, but over time, Nora's objections grew more frequent in number.
There's no need to hang around Christopher anymore, Maria. You've gathered enough information. You can eat with us now, instead of putting your life in danger. You don't have to go out into the woods with them. You should stay here. You need to put the Coalition first.
Maria couldn't really blame Nora's concern, of course, but...he didn't really seem all that bad.
Danny liked him, and he was rather friendly with Maria, too. Not to mention he'd been the whole reason she'd gotten away from the Black Dragon in the first place. He'd given Maria some clothes that he'd apparently sewn himself, taking the time to make alterations until they fit her perfectly the next week. He would ask her to describe the kinds of food she enjoyed, so that he could prepare them for meals on occasion. She'd felt bad to start skipping out more and more on his company, whether it was due to Nora needing help at the Coalition, or deadlines needing to be met at the lab.
"Nora, we're...we're just testing the sedative, right?" Maria hadn't made the sedative with a giant like Christopher in mind. He wasn't one of the bad ones, was he? She'd often wondered if maybe Nora was right, and Christopher was more dangerous than he appeared. That she was stupid for not being scared of him. Yet...he'd been nothing but nice to her in these past three months. Surely, no matter what he'd done in the past, he didn't deserve to be...hurt. "You're not...you're not planning on doing anything to—"
Nora put a hand on Maria's shoulder, and she felt herself flinch involuntarily. "You don't need to get any more involved than this, Maria. I'll take care of everything. Your work is going to give humans a fighting chance, you know. You're doing amazing things, Maria. And you want to protect Danny, right?"
Maria felt some of her worries ebb with Nora's praise, but it all melted away when she looked into Nora's eyes—hard and cold and unlike anything Maria had ever seen Nora direct toward her before. There was a warning there, laying unspoken between the two of them.
Don't ask questions.
"I know you'll do the right thing." Nora's fingers gripped Maria's shoulder a little tighter, just enough to make her heart quiver with something between fondness and fear.
It wasn't praise. It was a threat.
Nothing felt right about this anymore—Maria felt her mouth run dry as panic began to bubble under the surface of her frenzied thoughts. She felt her heart pound dully against her ribcage. "She normally eats dinner with Christopher when he's here. I-I don't think I could sneak anything past him."
Just saying it out loud like that made her stomach turn.
"Oh, you don't have to worry about that." Nora's grin was satisfied. Calculated. "I asked her to meet me in the cafeteria tonight. She didn't tell you?"
"O-oh, right." Maria had nearly forgotten, and felt a cold chill run up her spine. So you asked to meet her just for this? Not an apology?
Nora still hadn't removed her hand from Maria's shoulder, as if she was still trying to provide her with some sort of faux reassurance. "You can go with her like normal, and all I have to do is say something to provoke her. She gets riled up so easily. It'll be fairly simple to distract her." There was nothing friendly behind Nora's smile anymore. "Then, you can slip it in."
A brief, terrifying thought crossed her mind—that Nora had planned this to make sure Maria actually slipped in the sedative, and to prevent her from warning Danny or Christopher. To keep an eye on her.
No. Wait. Why would—Nora wouldn't really do something to hurt either of them. Right?
"I-I..." Maria felt her voice catch on her dry throat and trail off, unable to form her thoughts into coherent sentences. Nora had always been so kind, so reassuring. She had never questioned the Coalition's leader.
What would Nora do if I betrayed her?
Would she kill me? Nora wouldn't. She wasn't that kind of person.
...was she?
At that moment, Maria wasn't sure. And that, in itself, was unsettling.
As Maria stood there, pinned between the back wall and Nora's unrelenting grip, perfectly manicured nails digging ever so slightly into her shoulder, another thought came and lingered. And for the first time in three months, Maria listened to it.
She was terrified of Nora.
"Well?" The leader's words dripped out with self-assurance, with a tone that would only accept a single answer in return. "Can I count on you, Maria?"
Christopher doesn't deserve this.
Maria couldn't get her answer out at first, finding herself trapped by Nora's icy stare. "I...don't think it's a good idea, Nora." Her voice was small and meek, and held none of Nora's confidence.
Nora's head cocked to the side, thoroughly unimpressed with Maria's dissent, though seemingly, not surprised. Despite everything, the obvious disappointment made Maria want to crumple into nothing as her cheeks burned with shame.
"You know...Ryan believes in you too."
Maria felt a cold dread sink into her stomach. Wait. I...I never told you or the Coalition about him. She'd never mentioned the names of the others at the Black Dragon once. Had she? How do you know he's my friend? How do you know about Ryan? Do you know he's my roommate?
Another thought, gone as quickly as it came but leaving her mind reeling in its wake. Would she hurt Ryan, if I betrayed her?
It felt like her entire world had turned on its head in an instant—like she'd been blind to something so obvious and in front of her face, and she'd been too stupid to see it. Too naive. She was still that same human who'd been woefully unprepared for the city, scared and broken and desperate for purpose. And she'd failed. She'd failed so miserably.
And now, it was too late. There was no way to warn Danny or Christopher—Nora would surely have her eyes on her, like a hawk, all evening. She was trapped, figuratively and literally, as Nora's steely, blue gaze fixed her in place. She could feel Nora's fingers dig further into her shoulder, waiting on a correct answer. An affirmation.
There was no way out of this.
She felt hopelessly hollow, her ribs clenching her heart too tightly. "...okay," she said, her voice raspy. Defeated. "I'll do it."
Nora smiled, as pretty and brilliant as ever—but now, everything Maria had previously admired felt like a weapon, designed with careful and dangerous precision. Her grip loosened, casually smoothing out the fabric of Maria's shirt as she removed it. "I knew you would."
* * * * * * * * * *
<- Part 34
And so, we approach the finale, guys. Thank you for reading!
