[maneatertane-blog]

Max & Tane - a mini playlist

New Genius (Brother) by Gorillaz

Dream of my world I live on my world Going off my head, down to somewhere Goin' on a dance hall tune In a pressure today I blew a bad man away today Had a gun, had to be done I blew a man away Brother, sister too Do what you must do Don't trust people you meet, yeah, yeah They might promise you That the river ain't deep Dream on the street People passing through me, yes, they do Well, my friend, won't my heart mend ? I'm gonna bring it all back Brother, sister too Do what you must do Don't trust people you meet yeah They might promise you That the river ain't deep Brother, sister too Do what you must do Don't trust people you meet yeah They might promise you That the river ain't deep Brother, sister too Do what you must do

Lonesome Dreams by Lord Huron

Minor changes and grammar I land on an island coast Where the only souls I see are ghosts I run through a wooded isle And I chase the sunlight mile after mile And I feel like I know this place As the tree line breaks into wide-open space I stare at a bright red sun Though I search all day, I never find anyone

I walk on a winding road In the deep of the night, near the edge of the known I pass by a moonlit lake And a cold wind blows and my bones start to shake And I feel I should know this place As the road winds on into wide-open space The wind plays a haunting tone As I make my way through the night all alone

I been dreaming again of a lonesome world Where I'm lost and I've got no friends Just the rocks and the trees in my lonesome dreams And a road that don't never end I been dreaming again of a lonesome world Where I'm lost and I'm on my own What am I destined to be? It's a mystery baby Just please don't leave me alone

I lie under starlit sky And the seasons change in the blink of an eye I watch as the planets turn And the old stars die and the young stars burn But I don't really know this place, And it's lonesome here in the wide-open space Can it be as real as it seems? Maybe this time I won't wake from the dream

Beach Foam by Future Islands

Standing on a beach somewhere Looking for something to see As the beach rolls in, I swear It's bringing something to me Maybe one day I'll have what I want Someone to stand next to me Until then I'll just wait and watch As the foam rolls in--to me Beach foam baby, be my baby Beach foam Beach foam baby, be my baby, be mine Standing on a shore somewhere, looking for something to be As the beach rolls in, I swear, it's bringing something to me Maybe one day I'll have what I want Maybe one day I'll follow the streams Until then I'll just wait and watch As the foam rolls in--to me Beach foam baby, be my baby Beach foam Beach foam baby, be my baby, be mine Beach foam baby, be my baby Beach foam Beach foam baby, be my baby, be mine...

[maneatertane-blog]

maxlightfoot:

Knowing his own struggle, knowing how the time spent underwater seemed to stretch out so long, and yet it seemed to burn through the seconds so fast, the time spent realizing just how far away you were going to be from those who you truly cared about, where people fell in love and loved you. It was these thoughts that cemented the fact that while the ocean was calling to him, let the man drown, no man has ever done you a favor, they were words that were in his mind, and words in a mind could easily be forgotten, ignored, and pushed aside. He remembered the burn, his lungs still burnt sometimes, and he felt the pain again now, thinking of this man sinking to the bottom of the ocean, there would be no need for the concrete block that had secured him to the bottom of the ocean, there wouldn’t have been any need for that. But he had to save this man, he couldn’t help it, and while it might have seemed like a ridiculous notion to him right now there was something more that drew him down into the water to pull the man out.

Flattening the man out on shore was a lot harder of a job than he thought, the man was large, he hated feeling like he may have pulled him out too late. Something else bloomed inside of him, something that, now here on shore, away from the water and in his human body was far stronger than he expected it to be. Guilt, it took flight in him so freely he wasn’t sure if there was something else hiding behind him, guilt of something else, perhaps when he was blacked out that short time he had killed more people than he thought, or perhaps it was the guilt of leaving Carissa without a father for so long.

Relief released throughout Max’s body like the break of a dam in the middle of a flood, all the tense energy that was contained in him relaxed and he sat back on his heels, scrubbing a hand over his face. At least that was a positive, he was coughing all the water out of his lungs, at least that was something good that was happening in this situation. When he began speaking Max recognized, not the name, but the confusion, the confusion of not knowing where you were, or where things were, he felt it himself. When the mans hand came toward him he wasn’t sure if he should indulge the man or get up to walk away and save him this pain of finding out that he wasn’t who this man was searching for at all. As much as Max wanted to get up and walk away he guessed the polite thing to do would be to at least apologize for attempting to drown the man, but then again it wasn’t exactly Max’s fault that he was a siren, no indeed it wasn’t the seas fault that he was murdered either, he could have easily been killed without much more of a thought, but then he had to worry about his daughter.

“Why are you sorry?” Max asked, genuinely curious as to why this man would ever be apologizing to him. He was of course, very aware of the fact that he was indeed naked in front of another person. “I.. Yeah what gave it away? Was it the tail or the fact that I tried to drown you?”`

“Thought you were someone else,” he explained, still not entirely together it seemed. His head was beginning to throb with a powerful headache, and it blurred his thoughts and visions together until he wasn’t quite sure of what he was saying anymore. “Someone I lo-” He managed to catch himself before the confession, but the word he chose to replace it wasn’t much better. “-lost... Someone I lost...” he corrected himself, but the words were still full of pain and longing. Knowing this man before him wasn’t Manaaki didn’t help him stop thinking about him, or how painful losing him had truly been. Because it hadn’t been a loss so much as an outright theft. Even as much as he was still struggling to breathe properly, Tane’s face managed to distort with a deeper pain, one that plainly told anyone who saw it that he was reliving the horrible moment again and again in his mind now. An endless loop, and one he could not easily escape.

“No... no no no no...” he murmured, before he could stop himself. His wet hands came up to cover his face for a moment, as if he could rub the despair way along with the droplets of water still lingering on his cheeks. He wanted to hide behind his hands forever and forget this had ever happened, forget any of this had ever happened... maybe even his entire life... It would be the only way to escape the pain, wouldn’t it? And that bitter loneliness that stung at him even now, when he was inches away from another person... But after a deep, labored breath and another little flurry of coughs, he calmed down again, seeming to melt against the sand. It was hard to let the anger and sorrow go, but it was all in the past now...and so letting go was all he could do. He tried to envision it being washed away with the tide, which he still felt occasionally tickling his ankles.

“Sorry,” Tane repeated, clearing his throat a bit. He wasn’t entirely sure what he was sorry for this time, but he felt a need to tell this man... Perhaps he was just sorry for the circumstances that had gotten them both here, although of course he could see nothing of the stranger’s past or pains, especially not when he was drowning in his own. “Um... didn’t see a tail actually,” he said, realizing for the first time since he’d regained consciousness that this man was very naked in front of him right now... not that he minded. In his experience, nudity was something quite natural, he hardly blinked an eye at it anymore, except for when he knew humans or other creatures might react strangely. And he recalled that humans had particularly strange hang-ups about nudity most of the time. Regardless, after a quick (but likely still obvious) appreciative glance over the stranger’s body, he didn’t make an effort to address the subject. The man could be naked if he wanted, and it wouldn’t bother Tane in the slightest. 

“Actually it was your voice,” he admitted. “There was something about it that... well... that made me forget I didn’t know how to swim...” He chuckled, but it quickly descended into another coughing fit, as not quite all the water was out of his lungs quite yet. “It’s odd I’ve... encountered female sirens before and been able to handle myself... You must be very powerful...” There didn’t seem to be any doubt of that... but it made Tane curious about a few things, like how old of a siren this man was, and what exactly had been done to him... “I... Uh- Thank you... for saving me, by the way... But I have to ask... what made you change your mind?”

[maneatertane-blog]

A Warm Welcome Home | Tane & Tallie

[maneatertane-blog]

tallulahsaxton:

Though her back was to him now, Tallulah could nearly feel him analyzing her. She wondered if he could see right through her. Could he feel all she’d been through? She wondered if he could sense all the things her “father” had done to her- the inexplicable things. Or maybe he was looking at the parts of her that had been used over and over again. Maybe he could see on her the dirt she felt despite taking shower after shower. Despite making sure her showers were scalding hot every time she took one, in some dreary hope that it would scald off the person she used to be.

Undoubtedly, she was still a little kid. They say that one of two things can happen to you when you’ve been abused so long. Some children who face abuse take it and run with it. They use it to become stronger, better. Better people, people whom would never harm a fly. They grow up fast, and strong. They don’t show weakness, but can open up. The others… just kind of stunt. They close off so tightly from emotions and people that they’re sure they don’t feel anything any more. They stop growing emotionally, and mentally. Tallulah was sure this was her. While she had the wear and tear of a long since used path, she was about as evolved as a cobblestone road. She definitely took things the wrong way, and threw tantrums at times, though she did it inwardly. She was good at masking her outbursts so that other’s couldn’t see them. Some how, this man seemed to see right through her. It was like he could see her grown, and evolved.

The short feeling of negativity from the stranger through her. They definitely had a connection, but she couldn’t tell if it was his emotion or her’s that was negative for that split second before the connection seemed to almost falter, and then come back strong and positive. She decided he was an empath, which, despite her poor reading skills, she’d read was someone who could soak in the emotions of other people, and help give their own emotions to people. Or, maybe, that was just a fae thing. It hit her then, the idea that he could see into her. What if he could see what she’d been through? She didn’t think it was possible, but what if it was? Would he be able to see the things she’d been forced into? She swallowed down the feelings, because, even if he could, he was welcoming her with open arms anyways. The fae… at least those of similar … breeds, seemed to do that.

Tallulah sensed the hesitation on Tane’s heart. It made her wonder if her childish thoughts were true. Suddenly, she became overly self conscious. She glanced down without moving her head to make sure she was wearing something modest. Which she often did, unless she was at work. She didn’t want him to think that she was still a prostitute, if he’d figured it out. Worse, she didn’t want him to think she was there to sell. She didn’t want that, not from him. She had an inherent trust of him already, and she didn’t want that tarnished like bad silver.

The inside of his house warmed her like a cup of tea on a cold day. It had her in the palm of its hand like putty. This house almost felt more like home than her own. In some ways, she assumed the amount of plants, it felt more like home. Despite her better judgement, and her knowledge of manners, she walked forward and gazed around. A little voice reminded her this place was not her, and that she needed to mind her self, but she couldn’t help it. The plants in the house, the nature that was the house, made her want to be engulfed in it more than anything else. It was a sign to her that she should trust this man, but even still, she had her hesitations.

The smell of the backed goods assaulted her face moments after she calmed from the sight of all the plants, her senses obviously overwhelmed. His offer to sit wherever she pleased barely made it into her ears with how distracted she was by her surroundings. She gave a meek nod, the new darkness in his voice causing worry to run up and down her spine. The plants seemed to murmur at her, letting her know it would be okay. She took a deep breath and swallowed, concentrating on the knowledge that nature would always protect her.

Tallulah found herself attracted not to any of the intricately carved seating- intricately not in the way that there were a vast amount of details, but more so that it was carved at all. She was floored by this, having never seen craftsmanship quite like it before. The moss that was growing on the floor had attracted her most. She sat on a patch near the coffee table, eyeing the plants that had once retreated into the floor boards, now seemingly coming towards her as if they had been distracted from their initial plan. She tutted at them, not wanting them to break or stretch the floorboards of the man’s home anymore than they had.

Anxiety settled itself into Tallie’s gut as time passed. She didn’t know why, but waiting not only made her impatient, but anxious. It was like she was waiting for something bad to happen. She could only wonder if it was due to waiting for Johns to come into her rooms. Her anxiety was only broken by Tane reentering the room, tray of tea and muffins in hand. The smell of the tea was pungent and complimented the smell of muffins in her nose, causing her to smile. It was like this was some magical bed and breakfast in a far away land. For a moment, she found herself imagining that she was far from here, in another world. A different world, where she’d never experienced the things she had, and grown up in a house like this one, with parents who were as kind as this man appeared to be. She pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, “I- sorry, I probably should’ve sat in a chair.” she spoke in passing, chewing on her lip softly, now very self conscious of her decision, despite his taking a seat across from her.

The stillness he exhibited was strange to Tallulah. How could someone be so calm? She took a little too long to accept the tea, afraid she herself may be shaking, but was pleasantly surprised when she wasn’t. It crossed her mind briefly that the tea could be drugged, but she was always worried about something like that when accepting a drink from someone. She tried to trust that her magic would keep her safe. The honey was tempting, but while she enjoyed sweet things, she preferred tea plain, to enjoy the flavor. Tallie couldn’t help but chuckle when she looked up from her tea to see the large man holding the tiny teacup. It seemed so off. Like when a little girl pretended to sip from a doll’s cup.

His question hung in the air as she took a long sip from the cup of tea. The taste of apples and cinnamon reminded her so much of her favorite oatmeal that she had to smile. She kept the tea between her hands as she wrapped her arms back around her legs, sucking in its warmth. “I don’t know,” she finally admitted, “I… I always thought my parents were… who raised me… I.. when I found out what I was, my friend told me they most likely weren’t, and after that I was too scared to go up into the attic of my house to see if there was any information on them… To be honest with you, I think I’m afraid to know there was a better option,” she knew the words were strange, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to tell him why it’d’ve been a better option just yet. 

She sighed, leaning back a bit, while still keeping her arms linked around her legs. “Then again, it gives me some reason to believe that all my day dreams were really just a different reality I could’ve had… kinda sad.” She swallowed, clearing her throat, “I’m sorry, I’m being weird. What uh.. what do you want to tell me?”

The Te-Tini had to laugh just a bit as she apologized for sitting on the floor, on the soft bed of moss. He supposed it was just human custom that made her apologize for such a silly thing. In the Te-Tini world, among his people... their people, he corrected himself... sitting on the floor was perfectly acceptable... perhaps even more so... it was simply natural. “The floor’s as good a seat as any,” he answered agreeably. “Closer to the earth that way... and our dear plant friends that seem to be so fond of us both.” As if on cue, the vines from his earlier meditation seemed to respond to his call, and coiled up around his waist and further, around his broad chest as if embracing them, or playfully constricting him like a snake. He smiled and managed to free his arm enough before the vines coiled around him so he could still drink his tea. Otherwise, the vines provided excellent support and comfort where he sat, with the added bonus of being in communion with nature in a way he much preferred to any other state. Being tangled up in roots or covered in mud were some of Tane’s most comfortable states, and his happiness was reflected out into the room where it all seemed just a bit brighter, the plants everywhere perking up a bit in reaction to his light.

The sound of her laughter, subtle as it was, brought him a joy he hadn’t exactly been expecting. Any remaining tension in the room seemed to melt away, almost as if they’d been together all this time, and were just sitting down for a cup of tea like they’d done a hundred times before. And although it wasn’t the truth, Tane found he could believe it, for a moment. He beamed at her, proud of his daughter that hadn’t gotten a chance to really be his daughter. Whatever had happened in her life, good or bad, she had at least ended up back here, with him, and he was grateful for that. He waited patiently for her to answer, knowing it couldn’t be easy to pick and choose what information to hear about a set of parents she hadn’t even known of until recently. He was confident that the more time they spent together, the more her innate Te-Tini abilities would kick in, and she would begin to blossom like a flower, opening herself and her heart to the light and truth of it all...

But, Tane was a bit baffled by her question to him, and found that he didn’t know where to begin. He hadn’t expected to be struck dumb by this girl’s query, but as he sat pondering for a moment, he found that was exactly what had happened. How could he speak when there was so much to say? Where would he start? Did one start from the beginning, with these types of things? Should he explain more about what it was to be a Te-Tini-O-Hakuturi? Furrowing his brow after a moment, he took and almost frustrated sip of tea, and then the sight of the pretty red teacup in his field of vision seemed to ground him, bring him back to the present moment and what was important. It felt almost as if Kea had reached her hand out and put it on his arm, feeling his nervous energy even from beyond, and wanting to calm him. He felt the sensation in his heart as if she was really there in the room with him, her ghostly palm heavy as a bird’s feather on his arm. It touched his heart deeply, and his face softened again from his momentary frustration. He almost laughed with the joy he felt in his heart from Kea’s ephemeral presence in the room with them.

“Well, your mother was named Kea, after Paikea...” he began, and he found it came much more easily that he’d gotten in his head it would be. “She was... vibrant like, sunshine... She was always dancing or singing every time I saw her, even when she was young. And she loved to make things, and especially paint...” He considered the teacup in his hands, and then nodded at the identical one in Tallie’s hands. “She actually made these for me...” His face was openly bright at the memory, although there was also something bittersweet behind it, almost lonely... an echo of all the loneliness he’d felt over his long years there, staying in the same place as so many others departed... He shook off the pang of sadness he felt thinking of Kea and how she was no longer here... that wasn’t what Tallie had come for, she had to know more. She had to know... well, everything, everything he could tell her. He had so much more to say, and so much to show her of her parents’ lives. But he had to focus and take this one step at a time.

“Rawiri was your father,” he continued. “He had his own fishing boat, and made his own nets... I think he found a way to work magic into them because there was never a day he came home empty handed.” He had to stop and laugh a little here because then mental picture that came to mind of the two of them in their youth was truly amusing. “Your parents were always very fond of each other, even as kids,” he explained. “Not that they would admit it... Your mother in particular was never too keen on people telling her what she should do or what she should feel.” 

He paused and considered Tallie, trying for a moment to read her energy. She was certainly an odd one... he credited to the fact that she hadn’t grown up here, hadn’t known she was Te-Tini until recently, and so hadn’t grown up in an environment like this before, where people read each other’s energies as easily as an open book. But whatever the reason, she was astonishingly hard to read. He still couldn’t identify exactly what that dark spot on her soul was from the past, and he still wasn’t entirely sure if it was because she was hiding it deliberately, or because it was awful enough that she didn’t want to think of it herself... Anyway, despite the block he was coming up against, he got the feeling that she was a lot like Kea, more so than even he realized in all likelihood... He certainly wasn’t about to tell her what to do, even if he did consider himself a sort of father to her... But perhaps he was getting ahead of himself...

“I know I’m giving away my own age here, but I actually helped raise the two of them, among others of course... And I must say you look remarkably like her... I have some photographs somewhere, if you want to see them...” 

‘Somewhere’, being the attic, which was full to the brim with memories... and not just of her kin but of all the ones he’d lost... There were boxes full to bursting with memories that both warmed and froze his heart... But if she wanted to see them, he knew exactly where he would find them, and he would get them for her in a heartbeat. He was willing to do whatever he needed to prove himself to her, not just as someone to be trusted on a basic level, but as a father figure, if she ever found herself desiring one. He wanted to be that for her, had wanted nothing more since the moment he recovered her from her lonely house as a babe, parents newly dead... and waited for the judgment that would be passed on their fate by the elders... He still felt they had chosen wrong... And he wanted to say as much, but that was too much to explain this very second, after he had already given her so much information. He didn’t want to rush her either. He forced himself instead to take another deep drink of tea, finishing what he had, and calmly pouring himself another as he let her absorb what information he’d already given her.

[peopleoftv]

[quiet-nymph]

Photography by New Zealand Wild on Flickr

[maneatertane-blog]

witchyella:

One thing Ella had perfected throughout her life was her ability to tell when someone wanted something, but there was something stopping them. What the something was she was never sure, there was only one time in her life she had ever gotten to this point and said no, and it was the fact the man she had been flirting with was married. That was the first time Ella was sure she had ever used her magic on a human and he was forced to run home to his wife and explain why the word cheater was emblazoned into his shirt. Whatever happened to that man she didn’t know, but part of her hoped it was awful, or they figured it out she didn’t know.

As the need in Ella spiked, she needed to make it even more obvious, and with every movement of his hand, her need grew, her legs found themselves easily parting, then again she was never one to have difficulty doing that. The noises that were coming from her were so obviously full of need, want, and desire, ranging from quiet wimpers to louder moans. She was beyond welcoming and ready, but she had to prove that, being here in this moment was exactly how she wanted it to pan out, something in her wouldn’t let him not know that this was exactly her intentions.

It didn’t matter how much Tane attempted to put her off, if she was being honest with him she had worked on people who were a far tougher case than he was to crack. Yet she found herself wanting this far more than she had wanted the others, something about Tane just made her feel far more interested, and he was far more.. Caring than those she had been with before. His sigh cemented her understanding that he wanted this just as much as she thought he did, and she played it to her advantage, using the sounds coming from him as an indication of just how right she was. She almost wanted him to have her right now, right here, shove things off the bar, and forget any kind of inhibitions there might have been, but the more she thought about that fantasy, the more she thought about how unrealistic and uncomfortable it would be, and then her little fantasy she was making up in her mind was gone, no the bar would have been fun, but the bar would have been uncomfortable. Then again she could just slip her hand right now, again she shook that thought out of her head, returning her focus again to Tane, that was the most important thing right now.

“Oh I’m more than sure.” She nodded, a smirk on her face as she waited, she didn’t want to make the first move with this kind of thing, instead finding it far easier to wait for someone to decide what to do, whether to take it or leave it. “Something tells me you just needed a bit of a push.” She winked, and then when his lips were on hers, he was far sweeter, softer, than she thought, but it was a welcome change of pace. Her lips, finding their own rythym against him, and perhaps she was a little more agressive when it came down to it, but it was simply more of what she was used to. The magic rolling off of his body, as well as a firm reminder made her turn into a figurative puddle, though that wasn’t to say puddles weren’t already forming elsewhere. The hand in her hair was the one thing that Ella would always find to be her one nonsexual fetish, and if she was perfectly honest in the right situation a sexual fetish too, and this was the right situation.

The seperation almost felt too soon, but she was panting for a breath and wimpering with a desire, an ache, she needed to be back against his lips. “I think that sounds like a brilliant idea.” She confirmed, her back arching in against him and needing to get more of him, she needed to get more and more, and then she relaxed just a little, they would be moving away from the bar, and she could most definitely wait.

When they left the bar, Ella made doubly sure that everything was locked and turned off, she had gotten in trouble for that before. The walk in the night air was refreshing, and almost relaxing. Being scooped up her reaction was automatic, and without barely any thought she wrapped her body into his, her legs finding a home around his waist when he moved them. the wall against her back, and the weight of his body against hers made her remember the fact that they did indeed have far more important things to worry about. While she could have spoken, her mind was on override, and any thoughts of anything other than sex were driven away. Her hands roamed across the expanse of his chest, the firmness of his muscular frame drove her wild, and her hands moved to the hem of her shirt, not caring too much about it as not only did she pull it away, but she ripped herself out of it.

Now that they were finally back at Tane’s home, in a space and an energy that were entirely his, the faerie’s confidence and comfort radiated strongly from his body. He hardly seemed like the same person he had been in the bar, but in a good way. He didn’t hesitate to brush Ella’s hair back from her face and put his large, warm hand on her neck, cupping her jaw delicately. His thumb brushed her earlobe gently as his other hand continued exploring the skin over her ribs. He was achingly gentle, even now that what he desired was in his hands. Generally, he wasn’t one to rush into these kinds of things. He liked to extend the moment for as long as he could, and well... he certainly had the time to spare. As they proceeded though, it seemed Ella didn’t share this sentiment...

He chuckled a bit as she ripped her own shirt off her body, in eagerness or impatience he wasn’t sure. In any case, he appreciated the help, and he wasted no time now that the opportunity was so beautifully presented to him. He helped her remove the remnants of her shirt, and then moved his hand up to cup her breast softly, teasing the nipple with his calloused thumb. He circled it a few times as he continued kissing her thoroughly, and then after pulling away just a fraction of an inch to smirk a little at her, he lowered his mouth to it instead. Bringing his other hand forward along her jaw, his thumb brushed over Ella’s lips, entreating entrance to her mouth. His other hand, which had been formerly cupping her breast smoothed down her body again, down along her ribs, brushing over her hip, and back to her ass which he grabbed a handful of to better pull her against his firm body.

Sucking and nipping gently at her breast, Tane used this new leverage of her pressed against him to move her from the wall to the kitchen counter, where he set her down and pushed her back until she was laid out across the surface like something for him to devour. Breaking contact from her for a brief moment, he smirked a bit at the sight of her like this, and made quick of pulling his own shirt off over his head. In a second he was pressed against her again, and their embrace was all the more exquisite for the lack of material between them, their magic flowing more openly and with more heat. He couldn’t resist licking and kissing up from her belly button back to her breast, where he lavished attention on her sensitive nipple once more. Nipping a bit sharply at it, but not enough to really hurt, Tane suddenly switched to the other side, which had been neglected until now.

With his hands finally back on her, the Te-Tini took this opportunity to explore her body with his hands. One brushed over the nipple he’d already lavished attention over, pinching at it teasingly as her worked the other with his mouth. But this was merely a distraction. His other hand pushed lower and lower along her belly until he was brushing his fingers delicately between her legs through her pants. He began slowly at first with delicate circles around her clit, then as he began to kiss up her chest towards her neck again, he pressed his fingers in a bit more. But he still made no move to unfasten her jeans, or do anything about his own pants... or what was within... Again, he pulled back from her for just long enough to look her in the eye and spare a few quick words.

“You sure you’re still up for this, dear?” he asked seriously, although there was a bit of a smirk to his voice that was also clear on his face. It was more of another way to tease her than anything, although obviously if she asked him to stop he would do so in a second. For now, his hand lingered tantalizingly over her sensitive spot, and he leaned in to kiss and nip softly at her next as he awaited her answer.

[maneatertane-blog]

witchyella:

The more he was in the room, the more the walls seemed to close in around her, she was used to being free, running wild, and being caged up and closed up in this stupid room was going to drive her insane. It hadn’t been that long, she could have turned back time, she could have turned back and got it all back, but that would take far more magic power than she had, and with her out of the game for awhile, even all of the Mataku she knew couldn’t have turned back far enough to erase everything that had happened to them back in that clearing. And even more so she wasn’t even sure doing that would clear up this wound, in which case doing so would be beyond pointless, at least in her eyes. Perhaps one day when she was healed she could find a way to  undo some of the things she had done, go back to the black council, not stand down, but admit to them what they did was stupid, accept whatever punishment would come from what stupidity they’d gotten themselves into.

His tone startled her just a little, the frantic sounds behind the words, the stresses on the words. She dipped her head in submission, wanting to step back just a a little bit from this conversation and allow herself just a few seconds before she tried to speak. She looked up at him with her same doe-like look and she nodded, letting her head fall back down to their hands again. It was almost like a stinging pain, knowing that Tane was upset with her, someone who cared so greatly for so many people was upset, hurt, by her actions. Gabe may have come up with the idea but she could have stopped him, she could have done… Something.. And that was what she was most worried by, she was so willing to turn on her own people because of something.. An idea.. An attack.. She didn’t speak to them fully first. Even that first visit to them was stupid, at least she thought so.

The magic in her hands was registering the light that Tane was stimulating was faint, fractured, and laced with a few speckled bits of black, but the light shone through, meeting his light. “She.. She might.. She might for Gabe I-I don’t know.. I think so.” She said as her eyes met his, full of the tears that hadn’t fallen off her lashes. Blinking them away she nodded, there was no point really arguing this because to her it seemed like a pointless argument. “I-I- yeah.” She nodded, sighing, “Sometimes I w-wonder about… Whether… I-I.. If the car crash…” She shook her head, she wasn’t going to let those words break from her lips, she wasn’t going to let them. The things her brain was contemplating were dark, much darker than she’d admit. But the more she thought about it, the more she thought that if she had of died the night her real family did that there would be a lot less for people to worry about.

Making her way to her feet, she wasn’t sure how long she could stand, she wasn’t even sure she was going to make it all that far. Maybe she should have asked for a lift, but she took a few nibbles of the food that had been left, that she hadn’t been eating, and took another big gulp of the coffee and it reenergized her. As much as she hated to go back into the forest, she knew she had to, at least this once. Nodding her head she moved closer, “I-I know I-I don’t r-really want to go to the f-forest but I have t-to. I c-can’t let this… wound get worse because th-then I’ll see m-more of my family… Th-they died… Car crash…” She nodded her readiness, not realizing she may have just given him a clue to exactly what she was talking about before.

Ella’s jumbled words concerned him a bit. He had never been one for cars, and the more he heard about them, the more right he felt by avoiding them. Things like car crashes, like she mentioned and then fell suspiciously silent about. He’d never experienced anything of that nature with cars before, and so he couldn’t quite find anything to say to her odd half-sentence about it. But he did look at her with concern, his eyes going between the two of hers to check if she was in her right state of mind. There were a lot of things that could be making her talk like this, but somehow he knew it wasn’t anything like a head injury... it was more likely the Darkness that had touched her. Still, he didn’t know what she was trying to say, and that worried him. The way she shook her head told him she wouldn’t likely elaborate if he were to ask what she meant directly, so instead he took her hands again to pull her with him towards the door, letting his light magic flow freely into her to an even stronger degree than before, hoping that might help. “Hush, whatever it is... You can tell me when you’re feeling better, darling... Let’s go now...”

As soon as they were out of the hospital, Tane felt a bit of the tension that had been eating at them both begin to melt away a bit. He could breathe a bit easier already, just being in the fresh air over the stuffy, sterile environment of the hospital. And on top of that Ella’s energy felt just a bit less cagey... less like she was a wolf about to gnaw off her own paw to escape the trap. They were similar in that regard, never wanting to be cooped up in one place too long that wasn’t a place of their own choosing. Even in his own house, Tane occasionally felt a restless stirring to go elsewhere... do something else, for a time. He could only imagine after such an attack, and with the shadows creeping up on her even on her good days, that Ella’s restlessness had been much stronger. In fact, most of the tension he’d been feeling compressing his chest had likely been hers... He found that injured people projected their energy quite a lot, and usually more than they were even aware of. It was both a relief, and a bit troublesome to Tane that her energy which had been so tense before dispersed so quickly out here. Had she really been so close to losing it in there? Or was her energy just getting weaker at a faster rate than he anticipated? In any case, it made worry rise up in Tane from his stomach up to his heart, further up to his throat until it was nearly choking him. He wasn’t sure what else to do but get her to the forest as quickly as he could.

Without rushing her, Tane moved towards the forest as quickly as he knew how, mildly aware of the fact that he still hadn’t let go of her hand since they’d left. He didn’t have time to worry about that now, if it was maybe too obvious of him... He was more concerned with moving her, and honestly this physical connection between them made it easier for him to keep track of how she was doing. But this was taking too long...far too long... It would have been so much easier if he could have flown with her, but he couldn’t carry her at that size, and he wasn’t capable of changing her size along with his. It was times like these he found himself wishing he’d learned how to drive a car... not that he would have had one to transport her in even if he did. And still, that would only take them as far as the edge of the forest anyway... The more he thought about cars though, and what he knew of them, the more he thought about what Ella had said earlier. He was beginning to put the pieces together, but he kept quiet about it for now. He had to focus, and he had to think about what she’d said a bit more...

But just outside the forest, as they were stepping past the first line of trees, it was suddenly as if a lightning bolt struck them and passed from Ella’s body to his. Stopping dead in his tracks, Tane looked back to her in an instant and could see that she was in a great deal of pain. It was clear she wouldn’t be able to walk any further on her own, and that couldn’t be good. Swearing lightly under his breath, he wasted no time, took a step closer to her and lifted her into his arms. He was not met with many appreciative words for his trouble, but it didn’t matter, this was what had to be done now.

“I’m sorry dear…” he said belatedly, hardly sounding sorry at all for how worried he was at this moment. He was concerned they were running out of time, not that he really wanted to let her know that… As he carried her through the forest on no discernable path, stepping quickly and carefully over roots others would easily trip over, he tried to think of something he could say to distract her from this. From the pain, and from this awful situation they had on their hands. By now, it wouldn’t be long before they reached their destination. He found himself thinking of the place he was delivering her to and what it meant, and then the pieces began to fall into place, including what she’d been trying to say earlier.

“It’s not as odd as you might think to see ghosts,” he started, which perhaps wasn’t the most calming beginning he could have chosen… but he did have a point. “When you’ve been alive as long as I have, they start to collect around you… There are a lot that follow me… and sometimes it’s like I can’t even hear my own thoughts, they’re all trying to speak so loudly and at the same time… But the thing about them is… they’re not really there…” They were quite deep in the forest now, Tane had to occasionally duck under old moss covered fallen boughs of trees, or hanging vines. He tread more carefully and intentionally, like they were approaching some ancient sleeping thing in the wood. It was true, in a way… They stepped into an abundantly green glen with a distinct ring of massive trees around its perimeter- they were so old and ancient that their leaves created a canopy above them that didn’t let in any clear uninterrupted beams of sunlight, but instead cast the entire area in a serene glow. There was a stillness there, but one of peace rather than horror. It was clear as he looked around their surroundings that this place was sacred to him.

“Here…” he explained, carrying her slowly through the sacred circle of trees towards a darker area where he knew there was a source of water. “They’re all here. Every one of them. The ones that follow me… the ghosts… perhaps there’s something of the people I knew in them… but they can be clouded with… other things… Memories…magic…emotion… I only truly see them, who they really are, when I come here… and talk to them.” As if on cue, the trees around them rustled to life although there didn’t appear to be any wind moving them. They made a kind of whispering sound as if they were trying to talk, and it softened Tane’s face and visibly eased his worry, somehow. He gestured with a nod of his head back towards the trees still chattering in indiscernible voices to him and to each other. “Each one of those trees… is someone I buried here- mother and father, grandparents… lovers, brothers and sisters of my tribe… There are older ones in older larger rings all around us… buried by my people before me… This is the sacred burial ground of the Te-Tini. The magic is very strong here because it’s all the magic of my ancestors…it’s where we come to replenish our strength. And it will do the same for you, I know it.”

The Te-Tini knelt down carefully and lowered Ella into a shallow pool of cool water so imbued with light magic and the spirits of this place that it seemed to glow even in the dim light. He released her carefully so that he could cup some of the water in his hands and trickle it over the wound, but he quickly reestablished contact between them in the form of a gentle hand on the back of her neck. Leaning forward, he pressed his forehead to hers intimately, taking a deep calming breath and channeling his light magic through their skin contact and through the water itself, amplifying his own powers and combining it with that of the sacred place they were in the midst of. “You don’t have to follow the ghosts, Ella. If you close your eyes, you can hear your family. The real ones. No ghosts of guilt or pain or fear, just… the pure spirit of them. And they will strengthen you too.”

[some-weird-sin]

Ballad of Big Nothing

[maneatertane-blog]

blackxxmirror:

The witch had foreseen through scrying, her mirror always like black ink when she ran her fingers over it. Restless images, except for this one. Still, Miku had hoped destiny would’ve been altered somehow, by a sudden change in the wind’s direction, or a bird fluttering to the ground with a broken wing. 

Because.. She’d wanted more passion in his voice. 

Anger, blinding tears brimming with rage and betrayal. Even casting her out of his sight forever. Now that.. that would’ve been exciting. Started her heart racing, or caused a sly grin to form on the cupid’s bow of her lips. That would have been sinful and fun. The things she craved most.

Despite the hammer of his heart beating in his chest he submitted to a thing far gentler and relaxed. At least his pride remained intact as evident in the bowing of Tane’s chest to her compliments. The words were difficult to say because they had been the truth.

Miku felt her gaze drawn to the bubbling waters of the small stream they stood beside. For a moment her brows pulled in tighter. An image on the water’s surface: father and child. But she didn’t stumble. The delusions danced as muses in her head. They were giving her a test. Tracing back through her history to find the point at which to shove in a blade. To make her fail, to watch her crumble. 

Not today. Not tomorrow. Or ever. Miku would not crumble. There was too much work to be done, and the witch hadn’t even had the chance to start yet.. 

A hand tucked a stray strand of hair behind an ear. A smile blossomed again while she moved in a slow sashay towards him, hips and shoulders aligned in a part strut, part prowl. She was the embodiment of three elements - air, fire, water, all moving through her limbs. 

‘’I did not expect such kindness. Although, I should have from you. Thank you.’’ With the slightest bow of her head Miku rested a hand on a hip before looking up to Tane. Her other hand reached out but only the tip of a fingernail grazed his hand. 

‘’Tell me then. What has changed since I have been gone. Are there flowers here you have given new names to? Does the stream branch off and disappear in a different direction? Are there good people here, are there bad people here? Tell me, Tane. Do I need to protect myself again?’’

Tane’s mind was inexplicably drawn back to the vision that had stirred him from sleep and led him out to this part of the woods he kept his bitter memories and broken dreams in. He hadn’t set foot here in an age, and yet he felt more comfortable standing here in the midst of his heartbreak than in all the days he had forced himself to stay away. He still knew his own mind, and his reasons for staying away had been sound- he had looked for her in those dark days after she had left. Tracked her like he did any other creature he desired to capture through his woods, and he hadn’t expected to fail so spectacularly to catch her. He’d forgone food and rest, traced a path over dangerous areas he rarely set foot in, somehow expecting to find her perched safely in a tree far from the grasp of the Ponaturi and the Ngaro like a little bird flies through a snare without setting it off. But she had been nowhere, and every trail he followed led him back to this place, where their entire story had begun. 

The little bed of moss in the earth where she’d laid and bled could have easily been a tomb, and after a while he started to question if she’d even existed. But he’d refused to let himself believe that it had all been in his head. He had felt things, both of them had, that were impossible outside the realm of reality, they had connected physically and spiritually. He was not looking at a grave, she was still out there somewhere, he was sure of it. And as he felt a resurgence of energy eager to pursue her, he realized then that if he continued down this path he would never cease in searching for her. He would wander the wood and maybe the entire earth, searching like the men of so many folk tales that once had something magical slip from his grasp, until he was old and blind and lame and the prospect of his life was nothing but ash before him. And so he had left the forest, cradled his broken heart like a suffocating child in his warm home full of light, and tried to forget.

But Tane felt suddenly that he hadn’t ever really left at all. He had been a stone statue all this time, silently waiting for the return of his witch, to touch him and animate the soul within once more. His old bones ached as if they hadn’t truly moved in years, as if moss and ivy had grown over him where he stood, and his whole life since she left had been nothing but a dream. Instead he had stood as a monument to their years together, and his heart had bled and bled and bled into the pools at their feet this whole time, turning the streams red as they had been that first day. Her touch as delicate as the poke of a needle alighted his nerves and veins and made him something alive again.

Letting go of a breath he hadn’t known he’d been holding in, of decades-old air, Tane reacted exquisitely to her touch. The hand she had prodded alive with her nail turned to expose the palm to her. The fleshy vulnerable part that both asked and surrendered things was ready for whatever she would do to it. Whether she would rest her own soft hand inside, or turn a blade to him and bleed him dry, he would submit to it. Selfishly, he desired more contact, more of that skin-igniting heat that came from holding one’s fingers too close to flame. His trembling hand reached for hers, his fingers knocking against hers in search of her silky palm. When he found it, his grip was briefly tight, and again the breath pushed out of his lungs painfully like some wounded animal.

Unthinkingly, he brought her hand up to his lips and kissed the soft white flesh there, as if holding it alone hadn’t made him certain that she was anything more than a ghost. He didn’t want to let her go, that much was obvious in the way his very skin trembled with nervous energy. But he had never been able to catch her before, and he knew if she wanted to flee again now, she would find a way. He relished this brief moment and tried to lock it away in his heart before the encroaching darkness he could feel ate his head and consumed all he knew of this place of loneliness, like the blackness of his earlier vision. His eyes could not be removed from hers, and all the while they swam with unanswered questions he knew he could never vocalize, about where she’d been and what dark things she was hiding just behind her, in her shadow where he couldn’t see...

Another painful laborious sigh escaped him like a wounded soldier clinging to life long enough to return to his beloved, and the grief bent his voice when he spoke. “This place is exactly as you left it, as if the forest herself anticipated your return,” he said, gesturing to the wet and sorrowful hollow around them with streams like veins feeding the lush green of it. He couldn’t quite release her hand, although he had returned it to its original position, by her side. His fingers still fluttered over her pointed nails as deadly as tiger claws, too anxious to pull away and never again be allowed to return. 

“It’s the town that’s different... Different people... Many have come and gone since you... left...” It was painful even to say out loud, and clearly cut him to the very core, exposing his heart to her like the flesh and seeds of a fruit. “The darkness is growing... it seems to have longer reach... stronger influence over all... There are few left who are pure White... There is less room for innocence. Everyone is fighting some kind of battle...”

Pausing for a moment, Tane acknowledged the tremendous chance before him to keep her close. Not forever, that much was certain, but what was forever? When ones days stretched on without end...? Could there really be eternity for him? No, not forever, but he could make himself useful to her again. He was determined to. “You know I would gladly fight any enemy for you,” he vowed quietly, his voice barely above a whisper and yet echoing through the trees in the glen like the fiercest promise he could make. “I can tell you everything I know, just... stay..... Please... Let me help you. I- I can be anything you need... Please just... stay... for a while...”

[maneatertane-blog]

maxlightfoot:

His eyes were set on him, like Tane was prey and he was about to fall into his watery death trap. It wasn’t going to be good for him, nothing was going to be good for him, not with how Max intended it, because in the end Max was very much in his sirens mind, he wanted this man to drown, the sea was calling to him, begging him to take this man down, drown him, kill him. The words circulated in his brain a thousand times over, every passing second that drew closer to the point that the man would be in the water, every second that passed, he had to get him in the water, and then, like vindication he watched as the man himself found his way into the water.

All there was left to do was push him under the water, let him drown like he himself had drowned, there was nothing stopping him, nothing was going to stop him from drowning this man… Except he didn’t resurface, he hadn’t made a reappearance, and as he searched through the breaks of the water he couldn’t find the man anywhere. He himself almost began to panic, had the man who he was supposed to be drowning sunk to the bottom and swum away? Had the man moved to the shore to be away from him? As he moved his head underwater and saw the man at the bottom struggling, the fight he was putting up seemed so familiar, something about it seemed so similar, like he himself had experienced that same struggle…

Angrily he hit the water with the palm of his hand and he dived down, making his way to the bottom of the sea toward the man, if anything he could say it was this man was far too needy for his own good. He flicked his tail hard, working his way down to wrap his arms around his lumbering frame. He scooped Tane off of the bottom of the sea, his arms holding him securely as he made his way back up to the surface. Something about rescue missions lately seemed to alway have a ring to it, and he seemed to be saving more people than he was drowning. Another hard flick of his tail and he took off toward the shoreline, still cursing himself for not letting the man drown. as he walked out of the water his tail slowly began shrinking away, and as he made it to the beach he laid him on his side, so any water that happened to have made it’s way into his body could escape. And then there he knelt, waiting, and hoping the man wasn’t dead at all, and registering slowly that he was still very much naked at this point.

As the struggle became harder and harder, Tane began to consider the fact that he might not make it out of this. Somehow, this thought was clearer than any of his other thoughts had been in the previous few minutes...impending death had a way of doing that, it seemed. Somehow, he didn’t spare a thought to how he’d gotten here though, it hardly seemed consequential what the man had been, and why he’d wanted to lure him into the water. Even though a part of his mind knew now what he was, he pushed that aside for now. If he was going to die, he wanted his last thoughts to be of his loved ones. The many faces he had met on this island came to him, as recently as Tallie and Sophia’s smiling faces like daughters he’d never had a chance to have himself, and even acquaintances he had no reason to love as much as he did... all the way back to faces he hadn’t seen in decades or even centuries... They all appeared before his eyes in the rippling dark green shadows before his eyes. Some smiled, and some scowled, but in the span of time it took him to see them all again, the world of water around him became much darker. He closed his eyes and let it come, embracing oblivion and imagining it was his friends he was going to meet.

But in the darkness, he didn’t find his friends... just quiet stillness. He felt as if he was still holding his breath, somehow... It wasn’t at all what he expected death to be like, and he’d seen it so many times now, he felt he should have some idea what it might be like. He’d held people in their last moments, for their last breaths... Their deaths came at his own hands or at the cruel hands of fate, but none of them seemed quite like this. He was waiting for a light, or a fading moment that never came. And then suddenly there was pain- and a voice within his own mind, although it sounded close to his ear, that said “breathe”.

Tane’s eyes opened and in a split second he was coughing and gasping for air, his big lungs working to expel all the water from his airway. It was a struggle, but in a few moments he had tired himself out and he could more or less breath again. Rolling onto his back, the light was somehow harsh and blinding in a way he didn’t expect. He felt a presence next to him, and when he turned his head he was shocked to see a form he didn’t expect. “M-Manaak- ...Manaaki?” he said, reaching out for the form of his friend who he hadn’t seen in countless years. He could hardly believe the man was there, when the last time he’d seen him was... His fingers made contact with the man and suddenly everything came back into stunning clarity. This was not Manaaki. It was.... the man from earlier, the one in the water... Tane wasn’t sure how or why he remembered the man, but it appeared he had him to thank for his rescue from the sea. It occurred to him briefly after a moment that this man might not want to be touched, and he let his hand fall to his side again, still weak anyway from his earlier struggle.

“S-Sorry...” He descended into a bit of a coughing fit for a moment, and it seemed to clear his head just a little more, bringing certain things back into importance in his mind. “So... siren then, huh?”

[greyangelgabriel-blog]

Gabe scowled and glared balefully at the faerie in front of him, limping his way over to his towel, kicking his shirt out of the way as he went. He ignored the man’s words as he roughly tried to dry his hair of sweat. “They tried to take my sister, I reacted. Neither of us did die, I would think everyone would be grateful of that.” He spun as quickly as he could, causing pain to flare up in him and practically snarled at the other man. “What do you know about Annie?! You don’t know anything!” He could feel his magic sparking along his nerves, lighting up his eyes and dancing along his fingers. He took a couple of deep breaths to try and calm himself but he could still feel anger burning in him. The same helpless anger that had burned him since the day the council had attacked Annie. “You don’t know a fucking thing about us so don’t presume to come and lecture me, Faerie.”

[maneatertane-blog]

Tane wanted to be angry, hell part of him wanted to fight with Gabe for what he’d done; for acting so recklessly and for involving Ella and Annie to the degree that he did. It may have been true that he and Ella emerged from the fight without dying, but that was hardly a victory, and neither of them had escaped without serious injury. There was a lot he had to be angry about, both on Ella’s behalf and Annie’s... but that wasn’t what any of them needed right now. Despite the anger that built up in Tane at the Mataku’s harsh words and tone, and how much it made him want to knock some sense into this kid, that wasn’t what he came there for. He took a deep breath and let it out through his nose in a gruff sigh. He was trying desperately to be patient, but it was a close thing... He cared not only for Annie and Ella, but for Gabe as well, as frustrating as he was being right now... And then there was Tallie, who was fond of him too. He didn’t want to think about how she would have reacted if something had happened to Gabe.

“You expect them to be grateful that you didn’t die, when you and Ella came dangerously close to just that? Come on, you’re smarter than that Gabe. You’re a cop... And not just that... You should have known better that to go after the Black Ones. You should’ve known what could happen.” His voice was firm and forceful, but he managed to restrain his anger well, sounding more like a mentor or a parent that was concerned for him. 

“But you didn’t think, you acted rashly... And you and Ella almost died as a result. And I may not know Annie as well as you do, but I what I do know is that she never would have wanted either of you to risk your lives for her. And how could you of all people not know that? You should know her better than anyone.” His mouth was a firm line, anger prickling at the edges of his energy now. He held it back, his arms still crossed tightly over his chest, mostly so that he didn’t gesture in an upset manner, like Gabe was clearly doing now. He shook his head slightly and suddenly saw a petulant child standing in front of him rather than the competent detective he knew. This made him sympathetic, and his anger melted away, softening his features considerably. He sighed again.

“Look, Gabe... I’m just asking you to consider how Annie must have felt knowing you were both out there, and being able to do nothing about it. You know her... You must know why she’s so upset. Now, what can you do to make up for it?”

[maneatertane-blog]

annaelhudson:

The perch she’d chosen was one she’d said chose her as a kid. Her parents porch was small- like many in this neighborhood, just a small square connected to a few steps down to the tiny walk way to the sidewalk. It had walls of brick on either side, just big enough for her to sit on and put her feet up while leaning back against the house. This had always been “her side”, “her spot”. The cigarette between her fingers was left abandoned as she sat staring at up at the tree’s leaves in the small yard.

The sudden feeling of light had Annie nearly startled. Here she had only expected the overly familiar light of her mother to drench her in its rays. And lord, was her mother light. Her father was also a White Mataku, but he leaned Grey. Her mother was much like the light house Tane saw her as. Being around her mother always had her feeling some type of way. She seemed to bleed the opposite way around her mother, as if her mother’s energy bled into her. She often wondered if it was because they were kin. To the same effect that Gabriel balanced her out- when he wasn’t being a shit head. 

As her eyes leveled themselves to the aura, she felt herself brightening. The Mataku soaked in his rays of light energy like a cat does in a stream of sunlight on a spring day. She managed a smile, which surprised her. It came easily, and she wondered if it was her first time smiling since the incident. Her brows furrowed at his words, and she swung her legs down, sitting up now to cock her head at him. “You heard?” she questioned, before it hit her, “oh… you mean, about my twin.. being an utter imbecile? Yeah,” she was still obviously furious with him. “I just.. I’m getting by… I- do you want to sit?. or.. are you in a hurry?”

As soon as Annie became aware of his presence, Tane felt the light in her spark to attention, maybe in reciprocation of his own light magic. If that were the case, he was glad of it, she could always use more of it in here life. Although, judging by the presence he felt bustling inside the house, there was an abundance of it nearby. He’d heard of Maira Hudson, of course, as she was a noted healer, and some of his people had worked with her in the past. But somehow he’d never met her himself. He thought it was likely because he didn’t go into town too often, and generally interacted with those he encountered in some other way. He was sure the Mataku inside could feel his presence though, and he hoped he wasn’t intruding, although he was confident that his energy was clear enough not to worry her too greatly.

When the Annael invited him to sit, he gave a nod of thanks and a smile. “Sure, I’m in no hurry... I came to see you. I felt it... what happened in the forest... But...” He hesitated, unsure exactly of how to explain. He took a seat across from her and put his hands on his thighs as if bracing himself. “I don’t know... there was something odd. I didn’t feel them enter the forest, and I didn’t feel the fight... I just felt their pain, and not until they left... It’s just odd, I’m usually very connected to what goes on there...” He wasn’t sure why he brought this up- he could just be upsetting her without intending to. He shook his head briefly. “Anyway, once I understood something was wrong, I went to the hospital and Ella told me what happened... Given the connection you’d built to the two of them I could only imagine the state you must have been in...”

Tane stopped abruptly and looked up at Annie from the spot on the ground he’d been nearly boring a hole into with his gaze as he spoke. It was rude of him to speak about such things at length when he knew they could upset her. He was sure there were more concise ways to make his point, but he hadn’t thought of that until just now. Still, he felt it was best to be emotionally open with her, as his people always were. He couldn’t regret doing that even when the feelings that came up weren’t the prettiest. He met her eyes with genuine concern. “I... just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

[maneatertane-blog]

drnikkiusmey:

Kat lit up even further at his suggestion and turned to look at Nikki with pleading eyes. “Oh can we, Mama, please?! He’s never been to a circus before and I LOVE the circus!” She begged and Nikki laughed lightly, reaching out to brush back Kat’s hair. “Oh who could say no to such pleading.” She teased lightly, causing Kat to cheer happily. She hoped a circus did come to Echo Valley and they could all go together, she’d love to tell Tane everything she knew about each part of the circus.

Nikki leaned back as she watched the man watch her daughter. Something about him seemed different but she couldn’t quite put her finger on what that something was. She let a hand fall onto Kat’s back and rubbed it lightly causing the small girl to let out a soft humming noise that almost sounded like a purr. Kat turned her head enough to catch sight of her mother with her good eye and smiled happily before turning her attention back to Tane.

“I guess.” Kat said doubtfully with a little shrug. Nikki shook her head lightly, Kat never could see the good qualities she had like her bravery and her compassion. Nikki could only hope over time the small girl would see them. “You’ve never left here! But there’s so much to see! I want to travel the world one day! Mama’s French and has been to Paris and I wanna go and Daddy’s Irish and goes to Dublin sometimes and I wanna go there too and I wanna go to London and I wanna see Greece and Italy and China and I want to go EVERYWHERE.” She exclaimed excitedly with a bright eye and a brighter smile. “Mama works alot so I have to remind her to sleep and eat.” Kat said with a wise nod as Nikki chuckled and gave Tane an aprreciative smile in return.

“Well, Dahlia was talking to a man who lived here, Mason. And when Sean and Kayt decided they wanted to open a new restaurant and auto shop somewhere, Sean decided he wanted to keep Dahlia as a staff member if she was willing to move and so they decided to come here where her online boyfriend was at. We just ended up moving here to be closer to Kayt again.” Nikki explained, keeping major details out of the story. It wasn’t really her story to tell and she wasn’t one hundred percent sure how much Kat knew about Kayt’s past.

“Ooh, can I, Mama?” Kat’s head whipped around so that she could look at her mother pleadingly. Nikki chuckled softly and held up a hand. “I have a few conditions. One, your homework must be done before any adventuring. Two, you must be home by curfew every night. And three, do not be as obnoxious as your father can be.” The third condition was an inside family joke and Kat giggled happily. “It’s a deal! As soon as I’m all healed up I’m going to come exploring and find your house and your garden!”

The old faerie chuckled at Kat’s excitement, her happiness positively infectious and filling the restaurant with a palpable light energy. It felt more and more like his own home the more he sat there, and it seemed to warm all those present, despite the upsetting circumstances that had drawn them together. In all his extensive time on the earth, Tane never ceased to be amazed by the inherent magic of children and it’s power to transform the very environment they were in. Even the human ones... it made him suspect for a moment that they were born with the same potential as other supernatural creatures... Then again, he didn’t truly know any of these humans. Perhaps they had all been drawn here for another reason... perhaps none of them were as human as they thought. But, there was no use dwelling on it now, or making assumptions. If he got to know some of them better, maybe he could find out more in time. And these particular humans seemed worth knowing. He wanted very much to know Kat and her mother better. Luckily, his natural openness and fondness for communion had already laid the groundwork for that.

The Te-Tini watched Nikki & Kat’s interactions and was further warmed by the natural energy that flowed between them. The love they shared was clear and strong and powerful like nothing else he had seen. It made him ache, somehow in a way that wasn’t clearly identifiable. But after a moment it occurred to him that it was likely because he had no children of his own. Sure, he had occasionally looked after some of the younger fae, but there were none that he shared this kind of special bond with. It was odd to feel something lacking by way of emotional connections... but truth be told a child of his own had always been something Tane wanted. And not even one of his own blood necessarily, just a child to raise, to live alongside him and share day-to-day companionship. Of the many relationships he’d had in the past, that was one that he’d been lacking.

For now, he put that unique loneliness out of his head. It was easy to do when he still had such interesting and bright people before him. Kat’s talk of travelling to other places was quite intriguing... it was just that he’d never had any wish to leave the island. He still didn’t, if he was being honest with himself... But hearing her excitedly babble about all the different places she wanted to see made him wonder if there was another place out there he could ever feel comfortable in. Then, Nikki began explaining an intricate web of connections, and how it had brought them all here, and Tane was back to his earlier line of thinking, that something more powerful than their human relationships had brought them there. “It must be nice to have so many familiar faces around in an unfamiliar place,” he said with a nod.

This island was mysterious, and its magic was intricate, and had a depth even he didn’t understand. Maybe the forest wanted them there... or maybe the entire island did, and the ocean around it... It was honestly impossible to tell, but he felt a sudden need to reconnect with nature in a way he hadn’t done in some time. Perhaps he could find answers there, or comfort for the strange itch he was beginning to feel. And as much as he hated to admit it, he was feeling a bit drained from his earlier use of magic. He was feeling a pull to the forest so he could recharge his energy, and attend to the spots of the forest that were scarred by the fire. He hated to leave when he had just become acquainted with these two, and quite enjoyed their company. But, he would leave with the knowledge that he’d see them again, at least, and that was enough for now. Getting to know them more was something he greatly looked forward to.

“I hate to leave so suddenly, but unfortunately I have a few other errands to attend to today,” he said with an ease, admiring smile. “I look forward to seeing you and your lovely mother again soon, Kat. You’re both welcome at my home any time. It’s a big old cabin on the edge of the woods, and it’s overgrown with all kinds of plants. I’m sure you’ll be able to find it. I hope you enjoy your meal, sorry for keeping you from it for so long.”

[END?]

[maneatertane-blog]

Text Trouble | Tane & Clark

Tane didn’t often make visits to town unless he had something to trade, but today had felt like the proper day for a task he’d been meaning to complete for some time now. Especially with all that had been happening lately, the Te-Tini felt he needed to research some of the other magical creatures on this island. He was extremely familiar with his own kind, and could recognize the energy of pretty much all other kinds of supernaturals, even from a distance by now, but he knew very little about them and what their magic was like... he only knew what it felt like and how his own magic generally responded in kind. 

Sophia had told him about this place and how the man who ran it (Clark, if he remembered correctly) had met many of their kind, and other supernaturals on the island. He hoped not only that the man wouldn’t be confused or intimidated by his presence and the strong energy he was told that he projected, but that he would be knowledgeable about some things that Tane was seriously lacking in. As he entered the shop though, he got a text from Sophia. It wasn’t terribly important...just something about one of their upcoming dinners, but if he didn’t answer it now he’d likely forget and then she’d scold him. Standing somewhat awkwardly in front of the doorway, he took a laboriously long time to return her text, and it was almost completely gibberish by the time he was done. Scowling at the modern device as he sent the text off anyway, Tane grunted unappreciatively at it and hastily stowed it away in his pocket again.

When he looked up, he found that he had absolutely no idea where to start looking for the books he wanted. Peeking around one of the massive bookshelves, he spotted a man who he hoped was Clark. “Uh... Do you work here...?” he asked. “I’m looking for some...... books...” he said a bit stiffly, not wanting to reveal to much if this wasn’t the person he was looking for.

[maneatertane-blog]

witchyella:

By far the one thing Ella had been known for the most at work was drinking people under the table, even a small frame couldn’t hide the fact that she clearly knew how to drink. She was in a more inebriated state now, but the rate that the patrons brought her a drink and insisted that she do the shots with them had quite quickly made her tolerance rise a lot higher than it had been when she first started. Now she was far more like an old alcoholic man with her drinking, she could drink beer all day and not feel even slightly swayed, however it was with the strong liquor that her inner self really made an appearance. Like tonight, tonight she was on fire and feeling herself, so everyone was going to have a good night. There were nights where she wasn’t the same, but tonight she had a good audience.

Ella gave a bright grin raising a shoulder and tilting her head slightly before she was off again and back into her routine of dancing through the bar, though her work and winding down the night. It would always be a point she found amusing just how quickly the bar emptied out after her show of dancing on the bar, it was almost like once the show was over and Ella had picked out someone that she wanted to sleep with everyone had enough of her, there was only so much patience they all had, if Ella wasn’t so deep into her mindset right now she might have been hurt by it. But the fact was that Ella didn’t care all that much, and she was far more confident in herself than to feel hurt by the few men who didn’t have enough confidence in themselves. People might have called her cheap free and easy but if it instilled confidence in the people she slept with she counted it as something that was helping them.

Ella had a knack for figuring out just how to tempt people and how to be wicked when it came right down to it, she had plenty of practice with it from years of working in the same kind of line. But she was an entirely broken girl beneath the surface, where she oozed confidence at the seams of her it was an entire show, losing her parents and sister at the same time while she remained almost unscathed physically had been traumatic. Not only had she become an orphan she had lost her sibling, the one person she felt throughout life was going to be there for her was gone and she wasn’t sure at that time she would ever be okay. But this her was different, she had escapes, ways to make herself forget all of that, and here she was doing what she did best. Forgetting that if someone scratched the surface of her mind it would all come pouring out of her like a neverending waterfall of torrential pain. All the thoughts in her mind were focused on right now was the fact that Tane was in front of her, and so close.

Ella was confused by the chuckle that came from him but she didn’t let it show, she’d had plenty of reactions in the past, hell some people couldn’t wait for her to get home and there had been times the bar had served as more than something that drinks got served on. Of course she didn’t let customers, or her boss know that either. Then again considering some of the stains out the back she had to wonder just how many people had found their way to the point they couldn’t wait in the past. She shook the thoughts out of her mind, entirely focused on what was coming.

“Nonsense, you definitely aren’t too old for me, as much as it may sound cliche the saying age is just a number isn’t simply a phrase to me, it’s true.” Her tone was just as affectionate as she listened to him. It almost made her heart hurt for him hearing those words, but it was a different way that she was used to feeling, it had more care behind it, more worry, she was worried about him.  Ella felt a smile on her face but this one was less for the show of the moment, it was a more private smile, like she was smiling more for him over smiling in general. The sensation of a shiver ran up her spine when his fingers ran in patterns over her knee, something about person to person contact made her heart feel a little lighter. Unless the person to person contact was done in anger she would always find the contact a comfort.

At his last words she pushed herself off the bar, settling in his lap and closing up any space between them, any kind of attraction she could feel coming from his fingertips would surely be like a beacon now and she couldn’t help but find herself entertaining the thought that she could make someone with such an age behind him falter, though she realized he probably was faltering because he thought he was an old man. “Just because you’ve lived more life than me does not mean that there isn’t still life in you.” Her hand found a place delicately on his jaw, using her spot there against him in comparison to his broad frame to look up into his eyes where he couldn’t avoid her gaze. “Then don’t consider it me owing you something, consider it more giving in to desires that happen to make appearances.”

Tane’s first instinct was to laugh again at her reaction, reassuring though it was... But he held back and it came out as more of a smirk and half a chuckle, because, well.... he could tell her intentions were good, but there was still part of him that was concerned she wasn’t really considering things the way he was really intending. He decided to hint a little more... forwardly at what he really meant. “You say that, but you don’t even know how old I am, do you?” he asked. It was purely rhetorical, he knew very well that she had no way of knowing his age. He paused, considering her for a moment. Age didn’t really matter to him, it was simply a formality he had picked up from humans. The more he considered things, the more he realized that it might not matter much to a Mataku either. Perhaps he was just putting up a fight for no reason... or maybe he was stalling...

Sighing a bit, Tane finally had to admit to himself that he was being a bit ridiculous. The girl was making it very clear that she wanted this just as much as he did, so why was he still resisting? He glanced down again to where he was still tracing his fingers over her knee in little circles to distract himself, and subtly changed his motions so that he was caressing further up her thigh instead. He was interested to see her reactions- if she truly wanted this, one would assume she’d respond positively to his touch. And if not, well, he was still very in control, despite the fact that his mind was beginning to swim just a bit from the alcohol, and he could definitely put a stop to this if he needed to.

...Then again, it seemed that all of his concerns were incredibly unfounded. He should have been able to read from the signals she was putting out that this was something she truly wanted. As confusing and chaotic as it had been before, Ella’s energy was now as clear as spring water, so that by the time she pushed herself into Tane’s lap her desire was like the sound of a waterfall in his ears. He couldn’t help the little sigh of want that escaped his own lips at this action, as his gaze raked down her form and up again, ending at her mouth. The weight of her in his lap was... something else... distracting and yet also focusing, she felt heavy and feather-light all at once. He was tempted to lean forward and surrender to her then and there, but something didn’t feel right about this place... Too... human, or perhaps it was the possibility of anyone coming by. Of course, he could lift her up just like this, and keep her pressed against them while he found a more...private venue for their activities. Regardless, his thoughts raced just as quickly as his heart pounded in his chest at the sight of her so close, and inching closer by the second, and the heat of her pressed against him. Suddenly, her cool hand on his jaw grounded him, and brought him back to this precise moment, lifting his eyes from where they were tracing over her entire body to meet her eyes instead.

“As long as you’re sure, my dear,” he said breathily, their lips just inches away now. He paused for another fraction of a moment, enough to feel the corner of his lip turning up on one side as he took in this new perspective of her. He quite liked being this close. “You certainly know how to make a convincing argument...” He finally closed the distance between them and captured her lips with his own sweetly and softly. He was a gentle lover by nature, but his hands were still wide and gripped firmly, as they did now to her thighs to draw her that last inch closer until she was pressed flush against him. She could undoubtedly feel how strong his own desire was now, both from the potency of the magic pouring off of every inch of his skin and from the firmness of his body beneath hers. He kissed her languidly and brushed his hands up from her hip around to her back, and up more until they were stroking through her hair and tangling in and holding her achingly close. He nearly forgot how to stop for breath, but it came naturally just as the rest of this did.

With one hand tangled in her curls, and the other hot on her upper thigh, Tane forced himself to retreat so a breath of space existed between them. “How do you feel about resuming this somewhere more private?” he inquired, his fingers stroking through her hair and tucking it behind her ear tenderly. His other hand was slightly less innocent, and moved around from her thigh to her lower back, where he began to trace tiny circles with his fingers again. They dipped lower and lower as he waited for response. Luckily, she didn’t keep him waiting long. 

As tempted as he was to carry her all the way, they had started out walking together. But they were never far from contact with each other, and as they approached the cabin Tane grew a bit... impatient. Scooping her up just outside the house, he had Ella pressed exquisitely against him in seconds, kissing a bit more frantically than before. He pinned her against the very first wall he came to, which happened to be near the kitchen just inside his home, and once there he let his hands explore more readily, gripping her thighs and wrapping them around his waist until he could more or less hold her up with his own body weight. His tongue slipped into her mouth and his fingers roamed from her hips up beneath the bottom hem of her shirt, where her skin was achingly soft. The part of Tane that had been apprehensive about this was still in the bar, and the man with Ella now knew exactly where they both wanted this to go.

[maneatertane-blog]

Tane Mahuta Kaitangata inspoboard; name meaning

Tane | lord, man - notably the god of forests and birds in Maori mythology Mahuta | forests, flora - Tane Mahuta is also the name of an ancient tree Kaitangata | son of Maui, maneater - also the name of a city in Otago

[maneatertane-blog]

[playlist link]

Prologue

Nattura | Bjork [x]

........................................................

In a time before there was anything, the island created itself, and the great forest sprung up where she still stands to this day. Tane considers this his true birth, and the birth of his people.

Every Age | Jose Gonzalez [x]

Some things change, some remain/ Some will pass us unnoticed by/ What to focus on, to improve upon/ In the face of our ancient tribes/ Feels so clear, feels so obvious/ To each one on their own/ But we are here, together/ Reaping what time and what we have sown

For ages, Tane learned lessons that didn’t have names, that were not spoken aloud. His people saw to him and he to his people. They did what they had to. From this time, he has learned to build for the future. He has learned how to nurture his people and his home, like one would grow young plants from seed.

Love & Loss

Innocent Son | Fleet Foxes [x]

You left me there/ Waiting at the bottom of the stairs/ With my eyes closed/ Holding my right hand in my left/ There is no time for/ Hesitation now/ You come or go/ Or go...... I am no, oh no/ Innocent son/ You run/ Rabbit run

Tane has had many loves in his time and one by one they have all left... for one reason or another, they have all left. Some have died, which is hard enough... others he has scared away... Whatever the case may be, Tane has had more than his share of blood on his hands, and to some, that has transformed him into a monster. As marked as his history is with love, there are also bloodstains, hidden in the dark...

I See Who You Are | Bjork feat. Min Xiao-Fen [x]

I see/ Who you are/ Behind the skin/ And the muscles/ I see/ Who you are now/ And when you’ll get older later/ I will/ See the same girl, the same soul/ Lioness, fire-heart, passionate lover/ And afterwards/ Later this century/ When you and I have become corpses/ Let’s celebrate now/ All this flesh on our bones/ Let me push you up against me tightly/ And enjoy every bit of you/ Love me

Emotions have always flowed easily from Tane, and he has always had a knack for reading people. This girl was no different. Darkness was there, and although he couldn’t read every line of her, he could thumb through her pages. They spent years reading each other in the sunlight. But...he never got to the end of the story... The rest of the pages burned up and the ashes flew out of his hands. All he knew of her was suddenly smoke...

Love Like Ghosts | Lord Huron [x]

Yes I know that love is like ghosts/ Oh, and what ain’t living can never really die/ You don’t want me baby please don’t lie/ Oh but if you’re leaving, I gotta know why/ I said if you’re leaving, I gotta know why/ Oh I sing all day and I love you through the night/ Yes I know that love is like ghosts/ Oh and the moonlight baby shows you what’s real/ There ain’t a language for the things I feel/ And if I can’s have you then no one ever will/ Oh, if I can’t have you then no one ever will

The people he loves and has loved stay with Tane everywhere he goes, even those that are long gone or dead. He accepts whatever they will give him, be it everything... or nothing at all. He hasn’t stopped loving anyone, but that doesn’t mean he can’t also hate them... Sometimes it seems not being able to fall out of love is the hardest thing. Some of them don’t want his love... and some don’t deserve it...

Interlude*

Frozen Pines | Lord Huron [x]

And I look up to the sky/ And I know you’re still alive/ But I wonder where you are, I call your name in the dark/ I wake up in the morning, oh, and I don’t know where I’ve been/ All alone on a mountainside and huddled in the wind/ And it feels like I’ve been away for an era, but nothing has changed at all/ And it feels like I’ve been with you but, oh, what did you do and where have you gone?

She left the same way she came- from the forest. He followed her. He walked for days. For ages. Forever. She did not want to be found, and so he did not find her. When he came back to that same spot in the woods, where he had both found and lost her, he swore never to go looking for her again. Because he knew if he did... he would never stop searching...

Rebirth & Growth

Sun in My Mouth | Bjork & E. E. Cummings [x]

I will wade out/ Till my thighs/ Are steeped/ In burning flowers/ I will take the sun/ In my mouth/ And leap into/ The ripe air/ Alive with closed eyes/ To dash/ Against darkness/ In the sleeping curves/ Of my body

Tane continues to love. He loves his forest and his people. He loves anyone he can get close to. And it turns out, as fiercely as he has fought for his people all these many years, he has also learned how to be gentle and passive. But make no mistake, he will do absolutely anything for those he loves. He has walked and will walk again into the fire... into the sea... without a second thought or a glance back. He will do it for them.

That’s the Way (My Love Is) | Smashing Pumpkins [x]

They'll say that nothing matters/ Not even your will to survive/ Of course I love you baby/ 'Cause I'm alive/ Yes, I'm alive......  That's the way my love is/ That's the way I care/ You should call on me baby/ I'm always there for you/ Yeah, I'm always there for you

They say you don’t choose who to love. And truer words have certainly never been spoken about Tane. He falls in love easily and completely. He does not fall out again. That’s just the way it is. The way it has always been. He enjoys being there for who he loves, and this has helped him heal from sadness and heartbreak more than anything else.

Tender Green Life | Dumblonde [x]

We can live wild/ Climb the trees and leave the roots behind/ Here in my eyes/ Chase your soul and see inside your mind/ Eons ago/ Footprints from lovers I used to know/ Know, know (know, know)/ Lost in the chase/ Tender green life/ Lost in the chase/ Tender green life

The forest heals and nurtures its children, and Tane is one of the most devoted of her offspring. He gives to the forest all he can stand to give, and he brings worthy admirers to her sacred halls, illuminated by stained glass leaves, filled with choirs of birdsongs. In the forest, his pain seems so far away. He’s surrounded by growing things. He is in his element. He is undeniably a faerie of the forest, and here his strength and beauty is unparalleled.

Thunder Love | Little Dragon [x]

Then dawn came and I stayed and was laughing with you/ The smoke love then I dove and was kissing with you/ My past erase as we lay in a daze/ Please say nothing of yesterdays/ I'm gonna sleep/ I'm gonna sleep under the stars until the end/ Till your touch say time will it begin/ I'm gonna love until the bitter end

There are times when loneliness and heartbreak threaten to consume him but when it comes down to it, he wouldn’t erase a single love from existence. Even the ones that hurt or betrayed him. Even the ones that died. With each new love come to memories, and the good flush out the bad like a cleansing flood. Storms have never frightened Tane, because on the other side everything is so much more green.

Return of Love Lost

Jezebel | Iron & Wine [x]

Who’s seen Jezebel?/ She was gone before I ever got to say/ “lay here my love/ You’re the only shape I’ll pray to, Jezebel”...... Who’s seen Jezebel?/ Will the mountain last as long as I can wait?/ Wait like the dawn/ How it aches to meet the day

She is so much darker now than she ever was before... He can taste the lies dripping off of her tongue like sweet honey. He can feel the Black of her ready to choke the life out of every part of the forest he finds her kneeling in. But where has she been? Why had she gone? Couldn’t she see and feel how much he needed her? How broken he was by her disappearance? He aches. He aches and aches and aches and yet he wouldn’t trade this moment away for anything. Because here she is, and he’ll take whatever shadow form of her is left.

Where I Found You | Future Islands [x]

I remember your smile/ The smell of your skin/ The way that you walked/ And laughed/ And I remember our room/ And coming home to you/ I remember our room/ And you...... I loved you/ And I still do/ You know I loved you/ And I still do

The sudden reemergence from oblivion of one of his greatest loves has done quite a number of Tane. She came back just as she left... without a word. And he found her in that same sad hollow he had found her in so many years ago. It’s a place he aches to even stand him, but now that he’s seen her, the only thoughts that occupy his mind are of how much he loves her still.

Cursed | Lord Huron [x]

There are runes on my skin/ They appear when she walks in/ I am bound by her spell/ I am chained to do her will/ I’m a goner, I guess/ Who knew love was gonna be like this?/ She has cloaked me in black/ And there ain’t no turning back

As time passes between them again, instead of between him and a big nothing, he can feel her influence intruding on his mind. He knows it began the second he saw her again. There’s still no way to know her real intentions, but the Black ones are drawn to darkness... If he’s not careful he may just get drawn in along with her.

I’m Not Calling You A Liar | Florence + The Machine [x]

I'm not calling you a liar/ Just don't lie to me/ I'm not calling you a thief/ Just don't steal from me/ I'm not calling you a ghost/ Just stop haunting me/ And I love you so much/ I'm gonna let you/ Kill me......  And when you kiss me, I'm happy enough to die

And somehow, after all the heartbreak. After the anger and the hate and betrayal he felt, he’s ready again to fall into the familiar pattern of giving up everything for her. It hurts, but he loves her. He loves her and nothing else matters, not even his own thoughts and feelings. He’s willing to do whatever it take to hold onto her this time, even if it means becoming a killer again. Even if it means giving up his own life... at least it would be for something he wants very much to believe in again.

Epilogue

Bring Your Love to Me | The Avett Brothers [x]

Bring your love to me/ I will hold it like a newborn child/ One of my own blood/ And I might just even sing a song/ To keep it calm, oooh/ And if you’re wondering, am I capable?/ God knows I am/ And if it’s meant to be/ I will go alone, God knows I can/ Just not as well, an beside what kind of fun is there/ To be had with no one else?

Tane can be trusted with people’s hearts. He loves to love, even when that love hurts him. He loves to nurture. He is a reflection of his forest and her pure practice of creation and growth. Sometimes terrible things happen, but the forest grows on. Forest fires and drowning pools leave his big heart unscathed, and the words and actions that crumble him fade in time. The rubble of his soul is grown over with moss and ivy and becomes beautiful again, and he wants to share this beauty as much as he can. He will never cease to love, even when his deepest longings and desires are wrenched from his grasp. Even in the darkest night, he will still be waiting near a warm fire, in a house as green as the forest he loves.

Secret Bonus Track | [x]

[some-weird-sin]

Ballad of Big Nothing

[maneatertane-blog]

blackxxmirror:

She could sense the dog in the distance. The hackles fluffed in predatory darts down the back until Tane instructed the animal to be at ease. And she sensed the man himself too. Like a flush of wildflowers after a spring rain in a field he suddenly appeared on Miku’s radar. Like those same flowers, he radiated a pure light, even before being seen: active, gravitating to the sun, delicate. As if Miku could breathe and he’d break. 

He should. When you’re bound by emotion, something akin to that tended to happen. His weakness, it had always been.. Miku was hardly interested in shaking him down to the ground. She needed him. Not to hold the witch in his arms and assure that all would be right in the world. The man was once adept at such cherished, darling whispers and gestures. Just the two, coiled in front of the fire in his cabin. Two fighting for the safety of one.

Now, Miku needed the pulse of a heartbeat in his words, a dewy look of those large, trusting eyes. Not for comfort or tenderness. But for a thing much darker. 

The mataku finally turned, chin tucked, gaze lifting slow to meet his. ‘’I have missed you as well..’’ It was meant to be a peace offering. Her expression indicated that thoughts colored her mind, that she might’ve been lost in them for a moment. ‘’It was not my intention to hurt you. I had to go.’’ 

Miku hadn’t given him an explanation as to why she’d been there all those years ago in the forest - in a cradle of flowers, broken, dying. She would not be offering him a reason for stealing away in the darkness so many decades ago either. It served no purpose to either of them. ‘’I will be staying nearby. I hope this will not cause you any trouble.’’ Haunted eyes and red lips left no room for questions or even a protest. ‘’I will keep my distance, do not worry.’’ 

A butterfly smile landed on her lips briefly before fluttering away as her eyes scanned him up and down. ‘’You look well. You look good.’’ Smiles had been reflexive for decades, but the one she held so brief felt genuine. It was also a vaguely triumphant smile. No ties, no tethers around her heart. Miku felt absolutely free. 

He couldn’t trust a thing she said anymore, couldn’t even guarantee she was sure in her own frame of mind at this point... but God he wanted to believe her... She seemed stable enough in herself, and the words she said were the ones he’d been wanting to hear from her for so, so long. But the truth was, Tane had never been very good at reading her, and at this point she was more mystery than matter to him.

In the past, he had always been one to make his desires known immediately. Miku had been the first he had waited for, and not just because of her vulnerability back then; she had always been naturally... disarming to him. In her presence, no remaining part of Tane was a warrior. He was pure earth and light, a type of clay she could mold to her liking, into whatever precise shape she desired. He could be her warrior, if she wished, or watchdog, or sharpened tool. It hardly mattered- as quick as he was to acknowledge the potential danger of her, and of getting close again, he was falling willingly into her dark embrace. Decades of suffering, erased by that brief flash of a smile... And just like that he belonged to her again. He wasn’t quite certain he had ever stopped belonging to her.

Tane briefly had a vision of her, triumphant and cold on the black throne of his heart, but he shook such thoughts away in favor of the sight before him. The woman he loved, returned. And this time, he would do anything to keep her.

He didn’t have to say he understood her leaving, and he didn’t wait for an apology that wasn’t going to come. Instead, he dared to venture a step further, eager to demonstrate his willingness to work with her. He wouldn’t kneel, but he may as well have... he was her servant, bound as a knight is to his queen to protect her and carry out her will. And he was determined to demonstrate himself as such, so maybe she would continue to have use of him.

“I don’t mind,” he said, of her staying nearby. On the contrary, the news set his heart alight and thumping quick as a rabbit’s pulse in his massive ribcage. “On the contrary, I’d rather you not keep your distance at all. I’ve had quite enough time away from you, love.” He stood a little taller, broadened his chest just a touch more at her compliments, and the faintest hint of a smile turned his features, but in the face of her and this chance that perhaps she wouldn’t leave him alone again, Tane was more nervous than he’d ever been before. And for a man with over a hundred years on him, she should consider it quite the feat that she was able to shake him so.

He wanted nothing more than to cross the glade and crush her against him in his trembling arms. But that wouldn’t do. Birds were meant to be left to fly whenever they wished, and he refused to be her birdcage. Better to be crafted into a tool of her use... at least that was he had a chance to hold onto her, as long as he remained usable.