your gay friend that you try to ignore: and then they sent him to space AGAINST HIS WILL and he was screaming crying and throwing up because HE WANTS TO LIVE!!! but it's all good because he met a rock alien and fell in love with him
grace and rocky are great because it's like, they're best friends. they're just two aliens getting codependent due to shared trauma in space. grace is rocky's dog. they're platonic soulmates. rocky adds grace to his polycule. they're just two bros hugging. rocky watches grace jerk off. for science. they are both gross to each other. they are trying to figure out how to smoosh their alien anatomy together. take your pick, the options are endless
coco: let's create a warm comfortable place for the dragon to nap because qifrey-sensei says magic shouldn't be used to hurt people!
qifrey: i'm about to blast this bitch to kingdom come
why can’t you just be like all the other guys? oh baby please, please, cheat on me please
summary: you miss Armand. very very much. if only you knew he never truly left.
part 1 here!
note: vampire!reader, no descriptors for reader are used, drug use via blood-drinking, self-harm (not extremely graphic), murder/violence (reader perpetrating), consensual + sensual blood-drinking :3, crazy in love! Armand, both of yall are absolutely bonkers in this one
It was sometime in the afternoon. Too early for the sun to set, not late enough for you to start collecting yourself and prepare to hunt.
Your stomach was eating itself from the inside out. Churning, clawing at your ribcage for the essence of life you sustained yourself on.
It's been three weeks since you stopped working for Louis and Armand. And approximately two weeks since you stopped eating.
You had tried to invest even more energy into your hunts. Become a little more creative in how you decided to corner and eat your food. But eventually, to your horror, you had lost enjoyment in even that. It was only after your last meal, a virile man in his mid-thirties who barely resembled a human anymore, that you realized this didn't really matter.
Hunting elaborately than ever and existing in general.
If you weren't even enthused or driven to kill, then you sure as hell would have never made a good friend to Armand vampire. You should just walk into the sun or set your unit on fire and be done with it.
But that would never happen. Your brain knew it despite your heart's insistence that you could no longer continue living.
Louis' last text to you was vague. When you tried to reply and see if you could get any more information out of him you were met with a disconnected number pop-up. So your boss and his husband were officially off the grid. You never even got Armand's number. You had screamed into your pillow until your throat was sore enough to give you an excuse to soothe it. You bit into your arm and drank until the itchiness subsided to a slight rasp.
After that, your life was mostly a blur. You thought you'd feel better after getting paid. Or maybe after hunting every single day twice a day for a week straight. Or doing some over the counter 'potion' mixing until your neighbors were fed up with your screams of paranoia and fits of mania, threatening to have you removed from the building if you didn't take your nonsense elsewhere. And then you thought another vampire would make you feel better.
It had been a while since the last time you tried making one, and you were struck with the realization as to why.
As the woman's body hung limply over your couch, you realized that not every human was destined for vampirism. Only the fortunate ones failed halfway through the transformation.
You don't really remember her name or what drew you to her in the first place. You just knew that she was nice, and her jewerly was ornate. Her thoughts were articulate in a pattern that was becoming increasingly rare nowadays. At first she was only meant to be a one night stand, but she had sung so prettily underneath you that you just couldn't help yourself.
She moaned when your fangs found her pulse, then screamed when you pierced flesh. It wasn't hard to reach into her scrambling, wild mind and coax her. You whispered about how wonderful it would be, layering promises of immortality and invincibility into her thoughts. And it worked. Until about half an hour into her transformation she began convulsing a bit too much, gargling on her vomit and blood until nothing could be done.
You repositioned her figure and folded her hands together on her stomach. You wiped away her bodily fluids and closed her glassy eyes shut. There. Now you could pretend she was asleep, tuckered out from the grueling process of being reborn.
Resting your head on her thigh, you looked up at her unmoving face and chest. Novelty was all you had. But you couldn't even do that right.
You only dumped her when the neighbors began to complain about a smell.
—
It was coming up on a month of not eating. But it didn't feel like it. When you had gone on hunger strikes (unwillingly, usually in cities with a high chance of someone overhearing or small towns where a missing person would trigger a day's long search party) you had noticed changes.
For instance, your teeth would become more brittle and prone to chipping. Your hair would lose its natural, ever present texture and dull. It was torture, quite frankly, to exist without indulging yourself on blood every other night.
But you were starting to become suspiscious. Certain items in your space had remained untouched, not a hair was out of place. But things just felt off.
Like the thermostat staying the same despite it's tendency to increase depending on the time. Or the way your balcony plants you had given up on long ago were still alive, not even yellow.
You were either developing a sleepwalking habit, or your home was being kept orderly by a very devoted house spirit. You would've been grateful either way, as it implied that you were at least worthy of being taken care of in such a manner.
You can't remember the last time you were held, truly held. The only thing you had were your thoughts, and fuzzy daydreams of Armand being the one fulfilling that fantasy. It was so stupid, but it made all the difference.
The both of you embracing as close as 'humanly' possible made the heartache bearable. Your mind had made the executive decision to assign Armand his own scent, despite you never being close to him long enough to be certain.
He smelled expensive, but not overwhelmingly so. A mixture of a wood-citrus that was distinctly him. As you lay on your bed, limbs outstretched starfish-style, you pondered whether you should invest in colognes. Spray the artificial essence all around your home until it felt like someone else was here with you. Someone loving, a companion to experience immortality with, never to be lonely again.
Your stomach groaned, and you swatted at your abdomen, willing it to quiet and let you stew in your depression further. More gurgles emitted and you were beginning to hate the way your body was defying you.
If I don't eat something this is just going to get worse…maybe I should get up.
You remained in bed. You suckled at your wrist until your mind shut down, following the disappearance of the moon.
—
Upon the insertion of his key, Armand knew that you were passed out. Perhaps out of exhaustion from living this pitiful lifestyle. He closed the door and gave your apartment an appraising eye. Your television was still blaring, a jingle for a cleaning product ringing throughout the walls of your home.
He found the remote in its spot on the coffee table next to your couch (one he had mixed feelings about in terms of how it clashed with the wallpaper, but he could appreciate its softness) and lowered the volume a modicum amount.
Your breathing pattern reached his ears, confirming his suspicions. Another trait of endearment, the way you emulated human behaviors despite your vampiric nature. It wasn't lost on him the way he steadfastly refused to acknowledge you as anything more than his associate, but the night where you so brazenly hunted had intrigued and enraged him.
Why do you, a young fledging, get to flaunt your true nature without anyone batting an eye? Was the world truly so desensitized that violence was commonplace and his efforts to remain concealed were all for naught? He expected answers that night in the alleyway…but the way that you responded was in a way that he never prepared for.
You were even more of a fool than he thought. You didn't even bat an eye at how everyone in the marketplace had frozen and remained unmoving until you were safely away from the scene of your crime.
Truly, you were an absolute pain in his side.
His eyes followed you all the way home. Louis had dismissed him for the time being, and Armand was always punctual in returning before Louis' preferred time of rest. He watched as you obsessed over cleaning the ring you had bitten off of your victim. A completely unecessary way to retrieve a piece of costume jewerly, but he blamed your blood-drunk state.
Your thoughts were exceptionally loud as well. Everything from 'Let's be friends' to 'I wanna boop you so bad!' were running through your brain. He was fascinated by the way you constructed these elaborate scenarios in which you would imagine him tending to your every whim. His interest piqued as you began speaking aloud what you wished to say to him upon giving him the ring.
"Armand. You have to be the most frustrating and attractive person I have ever met. " You had the ring in one hand, and you sat on your couch talking to the television as an animated movie was playing.
"I know we don't know each other that well, but I don't care! You deserve this ring and bunch of other stuff. Hugs being chief among them. I mean, seriously, when was the last time someone really held you? "
Armand blinked twice. His memory had failed him.
"I don't really miss being a human, but one of the things I do miss that I was able to get was hugs. Real, warm hugs. My mom used to hate when I would yank her into a hug, but she would melt every time. " You scratched the back of your neck. Armand sensed you becoming nostalgic and reached into the memory you were replaying.
He had to be brief, lest you suspected someone watching you, but it was an interesting scene. An older woman, your mother, cried out in annoyance at you launching your arms around her waist. It was just as you said; her voice was irritated, but she made no effort to pull away. She was soft, and he felt your bittersweet attachment to this interaction.
You cleared your throat, pulling him from your mind.
"Anyways, I just think that if you gave me a chance, we could become really good friends, you and I…or is it I and you? Me and you? Ah, whatever. "
You set the ring down on the table beside you, and Armand further concealed himself in the shadows of your balcony. He managed to glimpse at your longing expression, fixated on the fake stones that were encrusted in the piece of jewelry.
He should have found your confession repulsive, considering how much your fledgling tendencies influenced everything you did. He was half a millenia in age, far above you in every sense. He should have been more compelled to designate you as nothing but a deluded lost cause and ask Louis to dismiss you permanently.
But it wasn't like that at all.
As pitiful as you could be, there was a glimmer of something within you that made him compelled to stay and watch over you. Something of his former self, one could say-
"Armand? Are you on your way home? "
"Soon. There is something I must see to first. I will come to coffin before sunset. "
"No need to rush. Daniel's being rather…intrusive, but not any more than usual. Enjoy your trek home, love. "
Armand needed to withhold his response of 'when is he not intrusive? ' before responding,
"Thank you, I think I will. "
—
The first time he spent the night with you was immediately after his separation from Louis. After his web of lies broke apart and left him completely alone.
He couldn't comprehend a time when he was left to his own devices without the possibility of a lover there for him to mold himself around. It was silent, stifling. Was this his true self? A blank canvas for the people in his life to create art and assign meaning to?
The conclusion alone had him reeling…straight into the arms of a certain journalist. He ensured Mr. Molloy's transformation was painful, but not nearly a fraction of the anguish he experienced at the sight of Louis disposing him once and for all.
His screams were swallowed by Armand's mouth and the crimson seeped onto his black garments.
From there, Armand was reset. Mentally, he was stunned by the way a simple human had destroyed the relationship he spent decades cultivating. He felt that neverending wave of despair flood his nervous system, overriding the sensation of blood coating his body. And he was walking to your apartment and knocking on the door.
He couldn't be bothered by the way the deliveryperson stared at him wide-eyed at the sight of his dishelved state. Your nonchalance to how the world perceived you was rubbing off on him.
He stopped in front of the door. He began to understand the gravitas of the situation, how confused you would be at the sight of him. A small droplet of blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, and he didn't feel any urge to wipe it away.
You must understand. This void, the artifice of it all. You wouldn't have tried so hard to connect with me if you didn't.
It was one of the last things Armand allowed himself to think before raising a hand and knocking.
You answered him with open arms, treated him like an old friend who had come over to chat. His eyes wandered, absorbing every detail of the home you made for yourself. It was…snug.
Throughout the messy space of clothes and piling takeout bags, his eyes landed on the ring. How could something so cheaply made remind you of him? grasp your attention for so long?
"-sometimes I imagine someone for me. Someone to love me. To wake up next to, to hunt with. Someone who understands me. " You fiddled with your hands. "Sometimes I imagine it's you. "
Out of all the vampires he had met, you were truly one of the most human.
—
It started with the dust. Yes, rather conspicuous, but it was truly astonishing how talented you were at neglecting your household chores. Armand found himself being your full-time caretaker, albeit a rather hands-off one.
After your…sprees, he gathered what was left of your victims (with your own supplies from home, nonetheless) and disposed of them properly. One of these days he would get around to teaching you how to do it without him. It was impressive how efficient you could be with your kills, but he saw your declining interest. How hard you tried to be the hunter and how that mask failed to stay in place after every kill.
As endearing as it was, he failed to see how your attempts at stimulation would solve your heartache. Or perhaps they weren't meant to help at all, they were just supposed to distract…either way, it still left Armand busy.
He ensured that every takeout box was stacked neatly in a corner of the living room. He also made sure that your home was the exact tempertature you prefered it. It required some time to properly learn (and several books. And trips to gardening stores) but he managed to keep your plants alive as well.
He was in the midst of watering one of the succulents when he heard you groaning awake. Odd. You usually awoke far later than this. Not a problem, Armand thought,
"Darling, I'll be there in a moment, you just rest now, alright? "
You moaned out his name, drawing out the syllables. Your speech was slurred as well. Armand set down the small watering can behind the curtain of your living room window and walked unhurriedly to your bedroom. You were still spread out, but you were intermittedly writhing in discomfort. Your eyes were scrunched together and your nails dug into your palms.
Armand took careful steps towards the side of your bed. He picked up and rearranged some pillows that had fallen off before crawling onto the mattress. You felt the weight shift and immediately began seeking him out, your groans now amplifying into a high pitched whine.
He knew what this was. At first, when he began to feed you once you no longer had the desire to, he noticed your odd sleeping habits. Depending on the type of blood you had consumed determined how fitful your rest was. He discovered for himself how much you prefered blood that made you ditsy with recreational and illegal drugs alike. It painfully reminded him of Louis…despite how desperately he wished it didn't. At the very least the blood made you pliant enough for him to hold you...similar to how he was now.
Armand cradled your body close to his own as your sounds quieted. His soft strokes to your skull had lulled you back into a restful slumber. He made sure that your face was right at the junction of his neck so that all you could smell and dream and think and want was him him him
Having to erase your memories was becoming rather tedious. Not a burden, never a burden, but Armand found himself wanting to revist certain memories with you that only he remembered.
He respositioned your legs to drape over his lap. Despite preferring you to be awake, his hypnosis should still work regardless. He lowered his lips close to your ear and began to whisper.
"It is Tuesday the fourteenth. You are my companion, you have been for years now. You love me and I love you. It is Tuesday the fourteenth. You are my companion, you have been for years now. You love me and I love you. It is Tuesday the fourteenth. You are my companion, you have been for years now. You love me and I love you. "
"We have just hunted as a pair but you want to go out again tonight. I will deny, and you will beg. We will hunt again tonight. We have just hunted as a pair but you want to go out again tonight. I will deny, and you will beg. We will hunt again tonight. "
"This is our normal. This is our normal. This is our normal. "
—
You awoke with a splitting headache. You groaned and began sitting up, but you were stopped by a soft hand pulling you close.
"Shh, darling. Let's sleep a little while longer. "
Ah, Armand. Such a cuddler, you thought, wincing through the discomfort of your throbbing temple. You tried to readjust yourself so you could cradle Armand and rub your head, but it was difficult. He seemed to have an allergy to being more than a centimeter away from you.
"Armand, my head. Hurts real bad. " Was all you could manage, your mouth feeling cotton-stuffed. Armand put a hand to the sides of your head and began to massage.
"I told you to not overindulge last night, dear. Such reckless abandon will only lead to pain. " He chided softly. You whined, leaning more into his relaxing touch.
"'m sorry. Won't happen again. "
He gave you a disbelieving look but refrained from saying his real thoughts. Thank goodness, you wouldn't be able to handle a lecture right after waking up. You placed a soft hand on the elbow that was massaging your temples.
"I love you so much, Armand. I dunno what I'd do without you. "
He grinned, "As do I, darling. You would most likely be in a downward spiral without me. Aimless and without purpose. " He lightly booped your nose.
"Thank goodness I'm here to make sure you that never happens. "
You hummed.
"Armand? "
"Yes? "
"Do you think we could go out again tonight though? Not to eat! Just to have a date night, away from this crummy old place. "
"Don't call your home crummy, dear, I enjoy it here. "
"Yeah, I guess it could be worse. But it feels like I haven't been out in a hot minute, and I wanna show you my favorite people-watching spot! "
"The building overlooking the harbor, next to the marketplace? Yes, we've been there already. "
"Oh…well there's the-! "
"We've been to the cemetary, and the floral shop, and the art museum, yes, all of them. " He pursed his lips before continuing,
"I'm beginning to worry for your memory, love. Don't you remember those outings? How lovely the stars were? "
"No, not really..jeez, maybe I'm really starting to lose it. "
"Nonsense. How about I take you to my favorite people-watching spot instead? "
"Ooh! " You exclaimed in excitement before hissing in pain, a white flash of pain bursting behind your eyes. Armand held his wrist, now dripping with blood, to your lips and you eagerly began to suckle.
"I'll take that as a yes, then. " His eyelids began to lower as he watched you drink his blood. Once you had your fill you licked off the excess liquid and pressed a kiss to the healing wound.
"Thank you, Armand. "
He pressed a kiss to your forehead.
"Never apologize for needing me, dearest. "
authors note: this is dedicated to @lolagaming22 thank you for commenting and showing support!!! :D i hope you enjoyed reading!!
whew!! this one was a lot, (and mostly the previous part from armand's pov LMAO) but i had a lot of fun writing it! was really tempted to just scrap the entire thing but i'm glad i didn't! i hope the timeline thing wasn't too confusing, i love jumping around pov's and reimagining scenes from other characters perspectives!! also, fret not sweet anon, i am working on your daniel request and it will be out soon, i promise!!! :D
A timeline post, so I can write little things that I liked about the cards, and their order.
Past time.
Decoherence. (Limited Myth Cards 5). i put the myth here and at the Future time section, because i think that the story of Lads is using a timeloop. So explanation in the future time section.
Borrowed Promise. (4) he really likes to do things for her, comically thinking about him carrying all the bags with that super thigh grandma jacket.
Summer’s Echo. (4)
Yearly Nostalgia. (5) MC says that he already had a vacation in college before, so this card stays here. He was fighting for his life in this card and MC doesn’t help, this cards kinda proves how both of them were already processing their emotions towards each other + seeing them easily resonating is always great, their trust in each other is incredible.
Verified Rumor. (4) “honey” other of my fav voicelines
Pathless Realm. (Anecdote) if for some kind of magic or whatever MC doesn’t like Caleb, maybe Timothy can keep him 😆 their interaction makes a good plot for a BL school life shounen ai.
Stage Observer. (4) cutest memory, Caleb + microphone + MC = Hey everybody! I’m so in love that I will add this minute of how I’m happy to have MC in my life”. Also Caleb brain freezing when MC kissed him. 😂
Rain’s Embrace. (Bond Story affinity 5) “I’m gonna open it~~~” best voice line for me.
Longtime Yesterday. (4) i like that Caleb friends are so cool with MC too, there is some occasions sprinkled in some cards where Caleb's friends helps him to take care of MC and I think is cool because they acknowledge the importance that MC has in his life.
Skyline. (4) love that they both get anxious by the thought of the other getting a gf/bf, also so sweet that Caleb supports all MC dreams and how he says that he will take the responsibility so she can keep focusing in her dream of being a hunter.
Serpent's Cast (World Underneath). Not technically the past or totally focused on Caleb, but some info is before the main story, we know that EVER was watching Caleb for a long time. Also cool to see how serious is Caleb about MC security and how scary his evol is vs Viper.
Present time.
The Accident happens, the story starts.
Under Deepspace chp. 1 (main story)
Under Deepspace chp. 4 (main story) he kabooms, and is cool to see how in the next chapters she gets an unhealthy obsession of discovering the reason of explosion, but he kabooms.
Serpent's Cast. (World Underneath) now we know that Caleb wasn't supposed to recieve all the blast of the explosion it was destined to kill MC and Grandma and damage him so he could be kidnapped, but of course since MC is important to him he concentrated the blast to him with his powers leaving his necklace there :,(. Also Mc is the girl EVER is searching so... a fast thinking of Caleb to protect her, it makes me think that grandma and Caleb, both, knew that keeping MC alive is the priority in every scenario. Also confirmed him being the subject 002 and so sad to see how he resist the ship, only in the lab he resisted it 429 times...
Both are happy to seeeach other, but the tension and a somewhat broken relationship is here.
All Homecoming Wings. (main story) Is curious that Caleb, for now, is the motor of the main story. The reason of why she goes to all the adventures with the guys and now the reason of her investigation towards the chip, the little kid and Ever.
Endless Summer. (5) Caleb pls kiss MC already, MC nobody thinks that you actually had something in your eye girl…
Exclusive Aftertaste. (5) I think they kissed here, Caleb kinda changes course before fading to white, but the apple sound at the end also makes me think that they didn’t
Lucid Dream. (Permanent Myth Cards 5) someone rescue Caleb, poor boy is controlled by Ever and his only defense for now is a black hole in his own brain. Also MC matches his vibe, both of them are super attached to each other. Also poor MC, sadly she doesn’t have the big picture and she doesn’t understand that exposing herself in skyhaven means a future of deaths and torture. She usually doesn’t have good plans and is too hot headed in some occasions, at the end, the boys had to help/intervene to save her from death sometimes.
Hidden Waves. (5) MC finally tells him that he’s not alone and both can fight together, it seems that Caleb is realizing that he doesn’t need to do things alone.
Longtime Moments. (4) Both fight together, I think Caleb understands more that he doesn’t need to do everything for himself 🥹
Painful Signal. (5) MC is so furious that she’s trembling, go girl defend your boy!! Also Caleb is the meme lord and Gideon I luv u, I’m sad that people went without you in Valentine’s Day XD
Intertwined Gold. (4) the card that everybody thinks about since they talk about a kiss that we don’t know if is a future card or a card where it was implied. I love too how both of them are domestic already and how Caleb is like “she’s not bullied in her work right? 🤨”
At this point the relationship is restaured and walking to romance at full speed.
Deceptive Solitude. (4) is really cool to see that Caleb helped MC to learn about how to shoot, it makes more clear how supportive of her dreams he is bcs he also offered to pay for her expenses so she can focus in her dream job (skyline card) also "lil sharpshooter" another nickname to our collection hihihi. I think this card is here bcs their relationship is waaay better that the akward intoduction of him to her friends + more confidence of MC to look at him naked lol.
Floating Floraletter. (5) infold couldn’t let us have a full happy card, right? But I actually like this one a lot, Caleb laugh is always loved 🥰 and this card is so important in the advancement of their relationship!! Now both of them knows that they need to enjoy the time that they have together at their fullest, no more times for little dances, no time for doubt, specially because both of them are always at death's door. Also Caleb looks ethereal in the card. (Also the kiss can be seen without the leaves blocking it, because sometimes you can see it when replaying the kindle, the wind seems to be generated at the moment so it will variate the leaves movements, so a win for us Caleb girlies!). imo. I don’t think that this card is before intertwined gold bcs they’re still hiding it from friends of MC and doesn’t make sense with the motto of living their love in the now.
No-Return Night. (5 Birthday Card 1). Ultra accurate name bcs oh boy, not only they totally confirmed their new mentality from Floating Floraletter, but they also did the horizontal tango, the devils dance and they fog the windows like whaaaat. Also a visible kiss without need to open and close the card like it happened in Floraletter (no gacha this time lol). Also MC is a precious confident woman she was hungry so she eat it yeah, the taps on the sofa from Caleb tells me that he was waiting for her to move and omg she moved and they moved. Of course this card is the point of no-return 100% confirmed relationship, not doubt.
Wayward Wonderland. (5). The references omg the references, not only for the myth, but also to Howl’s moving castle. This card is the start of the new beginning that MC and Caleb promised to search for in Floating Floraletter, some people were sad about the card not being a real wedding, but the words that Caleb says to MC can easily count as a vows. Both of them are in the same wavelength here, now working for a future together, specially symbolized by their old(now renovated) house. The vows have been made, they will do everything to be together and to stay together.
Burnline (4). Caleb being perfect and nerd is the card theme. Also Caleb mimicking MC is so funny. Both of them rescuing people, they really are coordinated. Card can be anywhere, since is very neutral. But their trust puts the card in this section.
Clearwind Glide. (5). Caleb yandere side appeared a little in this card yippieee, also MC is thirsty for him (who doesn’t towards Caleb, am I right?). Caleb now lives in the attic, so now he has a cozier place than the cold of Skyheaven. The card has two endings both equally cute (I like the floati one more, because slightly annoyed Caleb is a very attractive Caleb 👀). + their coordination together in assessing the situation is again, incredible, they easily resonate with each other and is always wonderful to see it in action when the devs bring it to the story.
Chasing Summer. (4). Smug Caleb hahahaha, mc seems to not remember that Caleb is a social butterfly, is always funny to see, both of them love to tease each other so much hihihi. They're already a couple here, they are just hiding for others (of course everyone saw them in Caleb's tent and the lame excuse didn't help, so the relationship is FINALLY PUBLIC to her friends and colleagues), since it happens in summer, i would put this card after Clearwind.
Passionate Overload. (5). "Caleb is feverish and horny" the card, "Caleb is talented in almost everything" the card. Also cool worldbuild data evolvers are sensitive to a fenomenom called Polar night. Ngl Caleb's music is my favorite (and not bcs he's my main lol), makes me remember EXO songs somehow. Both of them dancing is aaaaaaaaaa so cool, also caleb using the eyeshadow in Mc's hand and thigh, so sexy.
Future Time.
Decoherence. (Limited Myth Cards 5) my favorite myth now, painful (chapter 1 already made me cry), knowing that their forces can destroy and create... also the story paralels how their life with EVER could be, so is a great card if you want to know about MC. Caleb as always, will sacrifice himself in the now and in the future and both are fated to destroy each other if they choose each other. Also it seems that Caleb really saw Philos and he knows about earth so for now this myth stays at the end of the timeline. But also the start since time is a loop between Philos and Earth She really choosed Caleb instead of going to Earth :,)
AU - Alternative Universe.
Tainted Cuts (5). the bad ending destroyed me, all the bad ends of the boys kinda parallels how a possible bad ending would be in main story. So thinking about how MC waited for him is too sad. Also we have a nest/bird reference like it happened in past cards with the seagulls and how it seems that MC abandoned the nest/disappeared, so maybe a reference for a future card or myth. At the end, if you go for the good ending, is fluff. This AU with Caleb didn’t feel dangerous, he is so mentally restrained that MC was not afraid of him and when he actually bites her, he runs (imo he literally trows himself to danger so he can die, because he’s so scared that he hurt her that I think he preferred to die than to live with the knowledge that he almost kills her 🥲)
Spoiler: Read only if the terms Backtrackers, Starfall Forest, Isaiah, the Farspace Fleet, Ever, and Professor Lucius are familiar to you.
Xavier and Caleb discuss Isaiah.
Slam.
In the living room of Xavier's apartment, Caleb pins Xavier against his living room wall. The concrete digs into his back, and the only reason Xavier chose not to slice Caleb's hand off was because of you. How could he explain himself if he hurt your brother?
Caleb doesn't give the blonde any space to react, tossing the hunter into his own kitchen chair. Xavier scans his surroundings, it's bright out. Morning, the birds chirp, yet the air is tense.
"I found a familiar face in Ever's Intelligence Network." Caleb seethes, sharply discards multiple files onto the table. They scatter across the desk. There's no light in his eyes, and Xavier understands he's under interrogation.
"A friend of yours."
Caleb slides a single file towards him.
It's Isaiah's personal file. Listed on the first page is his Evol's Metaflux pattern.
Xavier stays silent, expression cold as glass.
He quickly reasons that the Fleet and Ever have ties. How, specifically, and why, well, he plots a way to extract that from Caleb.
Caleb, who Xavier chanced upon one day months ago in front of your apartment door. His broad stature innocently carrying groceries, fishing for keys. He remembers the air turning into ice once they locked eyes.
You looking for my sister? The brunette asked, nearly demanded.
Yeah, I'm Xavier. He responded airily in attempt to disarm him. We work together. Just dropping off her coat. She forgot it.
Sharpened eyes. Caleb looked him up and down before swiping it from his hand. I'll return it to her. Thanks.
And in he went.
That afternoon, Xavier scanned a couple files from the Association, learned about the tragedy responsible for your deceased family members.
Well, one of them was alive and kicking.
Caleb singles out another file.
Faint but unique energy signatures recorded from 200+ years ago. An unprecedented landing covered up as a meteor event. Several unidentified persons whose Evols matched Isaiah's in profile. Backtrackers.
Another file.
Xavier's personal file from the Association, his Evol signature very dissimilar.
Another file.
Ever's latest project details on Evol suppression, a scientific achievement by none other than Isaiah. The ability to unscramble and tap into difficult signatures. When Caleb lines up the decoded signature, it matches to Xavier's.
Xavier restrains himself from touching the surpressor on his neck.
The last document.
Isaiah's name recorded in the successful elimination of Gaia Research Center's last surviving researcher, Josephine, via detonation. Your profile photo lays still next to Caleb's.
Xavier breathes out.
His refrigerator hums, and it buys him time before Caleb reaches for his back pocket.
"Isaiah defected," Xavier calmly says, standing defenseless. "I had nothing to do with the incident, on my life," and Xavier's never taken an oath so quickly.
He must be off his game, because that was the least believable way he could have said things.
Caleb's eyes sharpen. If Xavier moves an inch, he'd bleed.
"The Backtrackers are about four or five different factions now," Xavier continues, and Caleb remains silent. "We had a difference in philosophy."
Caleb's voice cuts. "I don't care about why you're here. On Earth." Quick, analytical, and Xavier's strangely... pulled in.
"What are you doing around my sister?" His voice drops an octave. The crux of the conversation has arrived.
"You think I believe that?" Caleb restores his folder to its original appearance. Neat, tidy, strict.
A fire starts in Xavier's chest. In this moment, the upper hand is his.
"Ever is in charge of several projects." Many that are heartless in the same way that a royal family sacrifices innocent lives to fuel a dying planet.
"And if you know as much as I do, they're vile." Xavier stands at this point, internally done with the conversation, makes his way to the kitchen.
What he actually needs in this moment, faced away, is to take a breather. To push down the deep, bubbling nausea that causes him the same sweat when he wakes up from awful nightmares. Starfall forest, its deafening core muted out the screams of mangled souls, human cries.
"I don't believe it's right to toy with human lives."
Xavier's voice drips with buried hate. He pushes through, however, hasn't felt this desperate in a long, long time, but he needs Caleb to know.
Caleb's brows furrow. The twisted wires and plates in his arm suddenly heavy, as if he finally acknowledged their titanium makeup.
"There's no justification for that. Your sister's involved. I'm here to help cut it off at the source." To counteract the insanity of this conversation, Xavier starts making tea.
Caleb settles on his left foot, slow, rocking back but never forth. He has a look that peels Xavier apart, puts him back together, but everything doesn't fit quiet right after.
He's been tense, shoulder set back stone-like, holding a heavy weight on his shoulders like that of the Colonel, but the air shifts, and all Caleb can do is let out a ragged sigh. He's bone tired. A potential lead lost.
"Fine," Caleb concludes, "We're done for today." He puts the folder back in his jacket. Straightens the table and chair, is about to put on his shoes.
Xavier just wants him to relax. He also thinks Caleb would look good smoking a cigarette, right about now.
"You're not staying? I'm making tea." Xavier turns around and Caleb really looks at him this time.
"I said we're done here." Caleb's heart is tired. He's wrapping up his script.
"Chamomile helps with sleep." Xavier leans agains his kitchen island, flicking his chin at Caleb.
"You look tired. I happen to be an expert at insomnia-curing remedies. Ask your sister."
Caleb turns, nearly offended. Xavier can feel the 'excuse me' ooze from his glare.
"I-"
"Unless you have somewhere else to be? Your sister's away for two weeks on private commission. I'm sure you can sleep in her bed if you end up staying late." Bold, Xavier internally utters to himself.
Caleb has this incredulous look on his face. Instead of a panther, Xavier thinks he looks more like a cat, extremely on edge.
"You can choke me out if I ever hurt your sister, but it won't happen." The kettle starts to whistle.
Xavier grabs a china set from his cabinet. "If it did happen though, just know I'm a good fighter."
He sets it on his kitchen table.
"You'd probably lose."
Xavier swear he sees an irritated quirk in his mouth, the twitch of a brow, but he graces him with ignorance.
"I... have no other plans," Caleb concedes, having cleared out his reports in anticipation of this confrontation and any... unexpected cleanup. So now, with the night free, Caleb's trying to find a spot to stare a hole into, anywhere to look as casual as possible.
He leans against the kitchen table, arms crossed, forearms flexing, slightly closed off.
"Good, sit. My chairs are comfortable, so it didn't really hurt when you threw me against my own furniture." Caleb coughs.
"Do you want to... help me finish my puzzle?" Xavier's ask is calm. Caleb quirks another eyebrow.
"It'll bore you to death," Xavier says, "Helps you sleep, too. It's worked for me. Hundred times, at least."
And Caleb can't help but let out a reluctant laugh. He's never encountered disarming like this, but just for now, he'll admit that perhaps Xavier and him have shared similar enough experiences to come to similar enough conclusions.
He gazes downwards as if to hide, a defense mechanism, shocked at how easily Xavier's dismantled his guard. Xavier's not sure if Caleb's practiced this look in the mirror, but that is truly his best angle.
"You're an observant one," Caleb notes, and he looks up, expression more unguarded. Like this... he looks younger. You once mentioned that you had a soft spot for kittens and puppies. Xavier sees where that might have came from.
"Well, I've assembled a 70,000 piece diorama. If you actually want your puzzle finished, I'm your guy." It's extremely nerdy and unexpected coming from Caleb's mouth. Xavier doesn't chuckle, not wanting to offend him, so he smiles as he hands his tea over.
"Alright then," Xavier starts, "You're hired. I can pay you in tea and expensive cookies from predatory tourist shops."
"Sounds... fair enough" And as Xavier pulls out his half-finished tapestry, Caleb tries to fill the empty air.
"My sister mentioned you don't cook very often," and Caleb doesn't even know why he's saying what he's saying now.
Xavier's about to cringe, recoil instinctively. Not his best look, but Caleb takes it in stride, "If you're ever open to taste testinf my meals for her, you know where to find me."
Xavier hums, pretending to think. He's also shocked, not sure what's happening, but it feels... awkwardly fresh. "I'd have to up the labor to 2 puzzles."
Caleb sips and he lets the hot liquid settle and soothe him. "Deal," he says.
That night, Xavier tosses and turns in the strange development and relief of meeting... a new ally? A potential frenemy? He's not sure about all that.
One thing's for sure. Xavier hope to find more opportunities to tease him in the future.
i posted my bingqiu fankid a couple months back And i figured i could also share my... moshanglings.
They are all boys and qinghua was a little bummed at first because Why does cucumber get a sweet adorable daughter while i have THREE of THESE THINGS? ...but the little beasts grew on him eventually
