To Live and Die in Tartarus

[gin-n-chthonic]

It's like a scene from a horror movie, the doomed running and shrieking while the slasher follows behind, slow and steady.

Except instead of a suburb at night, it is the beach in the daytime, and Hieron splashes through the surf before tumbling over.

"Ahhhh! Noooo!"

[xxlordalexanderxx]

H was very lucky that Alexander had years of experience with controlling his prey drive. Something like this ten years ago would of had them screaming for very different reasons. Still, that didn't stop one of those famous man eating smiles forming before he lunges at them—gently of course.

[gin-n-chthonic]

They shriek with mock fear and unbridled delight as he scoops them up from the sand, his hand almost fully wrapping about their waist like they're some kind of doll.

"Ahhh! You caught me! So what're you gonna do now, hm??"

[gin-n-chthonic]

It was some rag about the pop culture sensations of the Sol system, the cover depicting some purple skinned ingenue with four eyes and the headline of KENDRA QUASARS GOT HER EYES ON MOLLYWOOD. The article itself was about some stream star's workout routine. Very dry.

So dry that Rachael would have a hard time remembering any of the details. How many reps, how much legs are curled. Nothing. And yet she's clearly on the last page.

Huh.

Maybe read it again.

Hieron smiles a bit, still focused on their painting. Just a little saliva drips from the corner of their mouth.

"Thanks~"

[splinter-sister]

Boy, this was a boring article. What was it about again? Rachael turns back a few pages to read the article. Make that EXTRA boring! She can't recall much of it at all. These looks into celebrities lives were never really her thing.

She flips through a few more pages to the shorter one shot stories. Hopefully these will be easier to digest. (Pun fully intended.) All the while, she hasn't caught on that she's a quick mid work snack. Rachael was slightly aware of H's abilities, but has never experienced them herself.

So she's going to back and forth, rereading the same stories over and over again with the worst case of deja vu she's had in a while.

[gin-n-chthonic]

These types of magazines weren't really Hieron's thing either, but the kind of vapid, shallow journalism and listicles made for junk memories, easily snatched up for a quick meal. It was this or an outdated encyclopedia.

Wait why did Rachael even have this magazine in the first place? This isn't her kind of thing? Weird.

H wipes their mouth with the back of their hand and swallows.

"That's better. So how have you been?"

[gin-n-chthonic]

"Embarrassing to ask but....can somebody just come sit with me while I work out this latest piece? I don't wanna be alone tonight."

[bleedinghearth]

"Hieron, I always have time for you, hm? Should I sit and look pretty, or be useful as well as decorative?"

[gin-n-chthonic]

"Teddy~"

"Sit and look pretty is fine. I just have to get this portrait done as I'm way waaay behind. Probably from being in space jail."

Hieron gets their palette and starts mixing colors.

"Although, if you could think up a little something you don't mind forgetting- it'd be nice. I'm a little peckish. Y'know?"

[bleedinghearth]

"I'm good at that. I used to be an occasional model back home for a friend of mine. She loved draping me in these tiny, tiny gold chains and pearl beads and not much else."

Think up something he doesn't mind forgetting, hm? He ponders on it, then groans. "Ugh, that time I had brassy chub. Nastiest fish I ever put in my mouth. Just straight sea-shite and raw kelp."

[gin-n-chthonic]

"Do you think your friend has a few compies of those photos? I'd gladly pay for em~"

They give a little giggle and start working the canvas.

"That sounds rancid. I'll take it off your hands~ Come give me a little kiss on the cheek and lay that burden on me."

[gin-n-chthonic]

@splinter-sister

"Thanks, pal."

An instant wave of relief washes over them as they return to the canvas and easel set up, picking up their palette and knife and setting to their violent work. But something gnaws at the back of their mind, a certain hunger. Oh right- they are no longer being fed the gruel of pure cognition. They have to hunt again.

"This is gonna be a bit weird, but uh do you mind picking a book from the table behind you and reading it to yourself? It'd help me out."

[splinter-sister]

Rachael was leaned forward with her fingers intertwined in front of her mouth, watching the canvas from behind H with a hunters intent. This reminded her of watching her dad work on his pieces when she was younger. Their request brings her back from her stroll down memory lane. Thinking she was giving them performance anxiety, she gets up quickly to find a book.

"Oh yeah sure no problem! Lets see what cha got here."

Art books, magazines, some in a language she can't read. Magazines could work, right? Maybe there's some good gossip in there.

She picks one of the thicker ones up and opens it to a page in the middle of an article. Turning back a page, she starts reading from the beginning.

[gin-n-chthonic]

It was some rag about the pop culture sensations of the Sol system, the cover depicting some purple skinned ingenue with four eyes and the headline of KENDRA QUASARS GOT HER EYES ON MOLLYWOOD. The article itself was about some stream star's workout routine. Very dry.

So dry that Rachael would have a hard time remembering any of the details. How many reps, how much legs are curled. Nothing. And yet she's clearly on the last page.

Huh.

Maybe read it again.

Hieron smiles a bit, still focused on their painting. Just a little saliva drips from the corner of their mouth.

"Thanks~"

[gin-n-chthonic]

"Embarrassing to ask but....can somebody just come sit with me while I work out this latest piece? I don't wanna be alone tonight."

[bleedinghearth]

"Hieron, I always have time for you, hm? Should I sit and look pretty, or be useful as well as decorative?"

[gin-n-chthonic]

"Teddy~"

"Sit and look pretty is fine. I just have to get this portrait done as I'm way waaay behind. Probably from being in space jail."

Hieron gets their palette and starts mixing colors.

"Although, if you could think up a little something you don't mind forgetting- it'd be nice. I'm a little peckish. Y'know?"

[gin-n-chthonic]

@splinter-sister

"Thanks, pal."

An instant wave of relief washes over them as they return to the canvas and easel set up, picking up their palette and knife and setting to their violent work. But something gnaws at the back of their mind, a certain hunger. Oh right- they are no longer being fed the gruel of pure cognition. They have to hunt again.

"This is gonna be a bit weird, but uh do you mind picking a book from the table behind you and reading it to yourself? It'd help me out."

[gin-n-chthonic]

"Embarrassing to ask but....can somebody just come sit with me while I work out this latest piece? I don't wanna be alone tonight."

[gin-n-chthonic]

I've been surgically and genetically modified to not be able to children. By choice. I decided early that one Hieronymus is enough for the galaxy.

But I don't have any problems with em or people who do have em.

Just don't ask me to babysit.

[jamsmemes]

(     *     BARE BONES.

a selection of headcanon questions inspired by key bones in the human body.

skull.   what memories/thoughts do they guard the most from others ?

cheekbone. what makes them smile ?

mandible / jawbone. what are they incapable of saying out loud ?

teeth. what lasting mark do they leave on others ?

hyoid / neck. who taught them to speak up, or stay silent ?

clavicle / collarbone. who/what do they lean on when they're vulnerable ?

scapula / shoulderblade. what burden do they carry on their back ?

sternum. what makes their heart pound hardest ?

ribcage. who/what are they trying to protect ?

humerus. do they use humour as a shield or a weapon ? what from/to ?

radius. who/what do they reach for first in a crisis ?

ulna. who stands by them no matter what ?

carpals. what small habits do they have ?

metacarpals. do they ask for help or clench their fists and bear it ?

phalanges. what is their relationship with touch ?

spine. when do they lose their backbone, what scares them ?

pelvis. what future or legacy are they afraid/excited to be responsible for ?

sacrum. what sacrifices have they made ?

coccyx / tailbone. what outdated beliefs do they still carry, if any ?

femur. what drives them forward ?

patella / kneecap. how compliant/obedient are they, who will they kneel for ?

tibia. who/what keeps them moving forward ?

fibula. do they ever feel overlooked ?

tarsals. what past mistakes stick with them with every step they take ?

metatarsals. if they could disappear for a day, where would they run ?

[gin-n-chthonic]

@xxlordalexanderxx

-Gayly-

OMG stoooop stop looking at me like you wanna catch and eat me noooo~

-continues to prance run across the sand-

[xxlordalexanderxx]

"I know what you're doing, and it's dangerous, love." He doesn't have to run, he just starts after them my walking normally. Long strides and all that.

[gin-n-chthonic]

It's like a scene from a horror movie, the doomed running and shrieking while the slasher follows behind, slow and steady.

Except instead of a suburb at night, it is the beach in the daytime, and Hieron splashes through the surf before tumbling over.

"Ahhhh! Noooo!"

[gin-n-chthonic]

@elxgantcaptain

"Oh Captain, my captain. It could get so much more risque and revealing. I'm just self-conscious about my tummy."

See example:

[elxgantcaptain]

"..... Oh...."

It really puts his swimsuit to shame

[gin-n-chthonic]

"I like your swimsuit! It seems far more practical than a tiny piece of neoprene wedged between your buttocks!"

[gin-n-chthonic]

@elxgantcaptain

"Oh Captain, my captain. It could get so much more risque and revealing. I'm just self-conscious about my tummy."

See example:

[gin-n-chthonic]

"Yew look great in that swimsuit!"

@splinter-sister

"Thanks, babe! It just feels so good to get some sun! Not a lot of it to go around on Pluto, if ya can believe it."

[poohsources]

🐝  *  ―  𝑪𝑨𝑹𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑷𝑹𝑶𝑴𝑷𝑻𝑺. (  add " + " to reverse the action.  )

❛  do you want to tell me about your day?  ❜ ❛  here, you look like you're freezing.  ❜ ❛  i love you just the way you are, and i'm here to remind you of that whenever you need to hear it.  ❜ ❛  i promise i'll always be here if you need me.  ❜ ❛  i wish i could take away all your pain.  ❜ ❛  i'll stand by you, no matter what challenges may come our way.  ❜ ❛  i'm gonna make sure nothing bad will ever happen to you.  ❜ ❛  if you need a shoulder to lean on or someone to listen, i'm here.  ❜ ❛  if you need someone to talk to i'm always just one phone call away.  ❜ ❛  it's okay. i've got you. you're safe now.  ❜ ❛  it's okay to feel this way, we've all been there.  ❜ ❛  it's okay to lean on others for support occasionally.  ❜ ❛  just let me take care of you for a bit.  ❜ ❛  no matter what happens, you'll always have a place in my heart.  ❜ ❛  what do you need me to do to make you feel better?  ❜ ❛  you can always ask me for help if you need it.  ❜ ❛  you just relax and let me do the rest. you deserve a break.  ❜ ❛  you look like you could use a hug.  ❜ ❛  you're always taking care of me so no it's my turn to return the favor.  ❜ ❛  you're not alone in this. i'm here for you, no matter what.  ❜

[ blanket ] sender draping a blanket over receiver's shoulders [ breaths ] sender helping receiver to calm down by using breathing techniques [ compliment ] sender complimenting receiver to make them smile [ cry ] sender offering receiver a shoulder to cry on [ gift ] sender giving receiver a small gift [ hand ] sender holding receiver's hand while they're walking [ hug ] sender pulling receiver into a tight embrace [ injured ] sender helping an injured receiver with everyday tasks [ jokes ] sender trying to make receiver laugh [ kindness ] sender surprising receiver with random acts of kindness [ massage ] sender giving receiver a shoulder massage to tend to their sore muscles [ patterns ] sender drawing random patterns on receiver's skin [ pillow ] sender offering receiver to use them as a pillow [ scars ] sender gently tracing receiver's scars [ sick ] sender bringing a sick receiver whatever they need ( food / medicine / etc. ) [ steady ] sender wrapping an arm around receiver's waist to steady them [ support ] sender quietly sitting down next to receiver to let them know they're there [ touch ] sender letting receiver know they're there through simple touch [ warmth ] sender pulling receiver into their arms to share body heat [ wound ] sender cleaning / bandaging receiver's wound(s)

[gin-n-chthonic]

[[ More beach time Hieron's courtesy of @oflostinfound ~ ]]

[gin-n-chthonic]

@xxlordalexanderxx

-Gayly-

OMG stoooop stop looking at me like you wanna catch and eat me noooo~

-continues to prance run across the sand-

[gin-n-chthonic]

"What's the occasion? Hold up."

There's a shimmer of light to Alex's left and the sound of fabric tearing under a mechanical WOOOMP. And then there's Hieron, tucking something back into their pocket.

They throw their arms around the part of Alex they can reach, one of his thighs.

"That's better~"

[xxlordalexanderxx]

"Oh! You can portal hop as well? Wonderful." He purrs at the embrace and offers a hand so as to plop them onto his shoulder.

"It's a surprise you will have to be patient for, but I promise it'll be worth the wait~" He teases. "Now you got me craving unicorn roasted over an open fire."

[gin-n-chthonic]

"Yep! Thanks to a nifty little device I yoinked on my way outta naughty anomaly jail. Should make impromptu visits much easier."

"But how bout you slice me off some haunch of unicorn and I'll pour us some wine?"