Ice crusts their window, small crystals dusting the corners as the storm howls outside. The fire, already a mere ember when they arrived, has gutted out, giving up the ghost long ago. But the inn holds - creaking with each new gust of wind, but steady. Stable. Safe. These northern lands would accept nothing but what is strong enough to survive. It’s a miracle they managed to beat the storm here, a blessing to find a place to ride out what has already lasted for days.
Yes. It is freezing out there, fingers of cold constantly trying to slip into their bed. But beneath the layers of furs and blankets, the air is as thick and humid as the Yuris.
“Miss.” Damp hands, slick with sweat, tangle with hers. Somehow, he’s lost his stone to the blankets with all their tossing around, its muted light illuminating the pinch of his face as he stills, not even a quarter of the way seated inside of her. She whines in complaint.
Clumsily, he presses her palm against that hard knot of flesh slashing over his heart. “Keep this?” he begs, not the first time, not the last.
Keep me?
“Always.” She takes his face between her palms, his hips nestled between her legs, and tilts up, moaning against the choke of his breath against her ear. “I’ll take you, Obi. All of you.”
@anime-music-ships because I haven’t finished the Lilia story so here you go. Another short!
You walk around the outside of the doors enjoying the fresh air. Slightly cloudy, a slight breeze a great day to be outside. Letting out a smile you figure out what you want to do today. Immediately you rush into the building and to your dorm looking for Lilia. The moment you spot him on the couch reading a book you dash over and jump on him.
“Lilia! I know what we should do today!” You let a grin on your face as he glances towards you after finishing the page.
“What’s that my dear?” He tilts his head wondering what you’re so hyped about.
“We should have a picnic!” You said getting up off him as you sit on your knees like a kid. “Let’s do it!”
“A picnic?” Lilia tilts his head towards you confused and you nod.
“It’s a lovely day! I’ll make us some food and we can eat together outside.” You hold onto his hand waiting for a reply.
The happy look you were giving him made it hard for him to say anything. He opens his mouth before stopping. This time you tilt your head in curiosity waiting for him to answer.
“Anything for you,” Lilia says nodding. You let out a happy yelp and hugs him again and he hugs you back.
“I’ll start making food. You go get dressed. Meet back in fifteen!” You said getting up and rushes out of the room to the kitchen to start preparing. Lilia sits there in shock on how quick you were before getting up to get read.
~
Once you finished preparing the food you pack it all in a basket and made sure you had a blanket packed at well before heading back towards the corridor.
Waiting for you was Lilia leaning against the wall. You let a smile come on your face and quickly rushing up to him and grabs his hand making him look to see you. “Let’s go!” You speak as you start pulling him out of the dorm.
“Calm down, Y/N.” He says as he pulls you back. “We’re in no rush here.” You look at him with a faint blush and smiles at him nodding.
Lilia squeezes your hand as he follows you out of the building and into the fresh air. You stop and looks around wondering what spot you should go to and find an area with a tree and point towards it.
“Over there!” You grin and lets go of Lilia’s hand as you run over. Lilia watches as you come to a halt and places the basket down.
Lilia walks over and sees you start setting everything up and a smile comes across his face seeing how energetic you are. Being too busy making sure everything was set up Lilia comes up behind and wraps his arms around you making you jump.
“Lilia!” You shout as you turn your head towards him.
“I couldn’t help it. You’re too adorable.” A blush comes across your face and quickly turns away making him laugh as he rests his head down on your shoulder.
You place your hands over his as he pulls you closer. You didn’t know how long the two of you stayed like that until Lilia hums and glances down at the setup. “So, you made lunch?” You nod and takes a deep breath.
“For the two of us.” You let a grin out before turn to him making him smile back at you.
“You’re smile is contagious, Let’s sit and eat shall we?” He says as he gives you one more kiss on the cheek.
It wasn’t chaos per se, but, with the multitude of bright pastel pigments and equally numerous bodies flitting about -- of course the small being was a little lost.
Plus the park was loud as well, there was no denying that.
Currently the kid was searching for her dear nerd-friend, checking different little groups and other clusters of children gathered around. Jordie had to be here somewhere and -- while her sense of smell was always on point, the smell of paint and other living beings wasn't helping. That kid normally had a distinct mix of shea butter and plastic, but, there were a number of people that had traces of said items on them.
No help.
Still, Forest tried to search for her darker-skinned friend. Couldn't be too hard to spot his scrawny ass seated somewhere with his DS. Or maybe a basket? It was the Day of Thieves after all.
Or Easter. However you look at it, whatever.
At this point she just let her bare feet travel anywhere they pleased, ignoring the stares from parents and the bigger kids alike. It...wasn't easy being two-feet tall or incredibly pale with spots here and there. Or the fact no one wanted to see the snark of the street stepping around on a holiday. It only meant bad things would ensue; it always did.
When the sun danced around the grass at her feet, she became vaguely aware of how nearly deserted the area had become. Forest supposed the other children had gone off to an event of some sort, that weird...hunt-thing they had going on.
Humans were interesting creatures, she'd admit. And yet...where was hers?
Jordan was a strange boy but, equally lovable and accepting of others. Somehow he had befriended the hybrid child, leaving behind his former group of pals to show her all that he knew, despite her being in two grades below him and also...three years his senior.
Forest clicked her tongue, irritated he hadn't been found yet. It was past eleven and he was always excited for something better to do than walk around or play pretend. Her nose twitched when a small breeze made its way around her, carrying with it a familiar scent.
For at least the twelfth time, but, she might as well humor it.
A bench swam into her view as she continued her measured walk, not in any hurry but curious. Almost anxious. But if she moved quick she may end up surprising whoever it was sitting near. Once she was within three feet of the object in question, she could pick out a single figure dangling their feet and...sniffling? Oh, no. She'd heard that particular sound many times before and, of course, it happened to belong to exactly whom she was looking for. Of course. Because the universe loves yet hates cliches, but...
"Why y'cryin'?" the smaller child heaved herself up onto the seat next to her friend.
He jumped, facing her and rubbing at an eye from under his glasses. Which were slightly bent in their frames.
"H-hey, 'Ana. Did you, uh...jus' get here or--"
"Jordan." the burning stare from her two-toned irises stopped him. He knew her well enough to practically kick himself -- his friend hated formalities and greetings that danced around the point.
"....Ellie sorta...t-took some things."
"What kinda 'things'?"
"What kind y'think?"
"Mm."
Ah. He meant the little decorative objects lying around here or there. Either that or perhaps his DS or whatever. Why everyone wanted it was beyond her comprehension, but, again -- humans were interesting creatures.
"I was gonna give one t'you but, well...I figured maybe y-you could help me find s'more." he offered a shaky little grin, but the girl beside him only frowned. Simply glaring at him, yet the glare was not meant for this boy. Rather for the thief as previously mentioned. "Y'know, you got that nose'n'all..."
"Nah uh -- we ain't 'bout that. 'f'it was yours first, we gettin' that back. N'then some." she rose from the bench, hopping down and staring at him expectantly. "Elias' a pain in th'ass, n' I ain't lettin' him get no further t'day. He c'n get his own painted-whatevers, n' anythin' else he took -- boy's askin' f'trouble t'day."
When the other child did not get up, she moved to grab at his sleeves. Forest was in no playing mood today, apparently. Well, in all honesty, the only playing she ever did was with her friend on any mellow day, and sometimes her little brothers rough-housed a bit, but... She wasn't keen on letting this slide. In a way it was admirable, but then Jordie remembered how violent his little friend could get. Two-feet in height wouldn't stop her from trying to fight some poor sap.
So much anger contained within such a small figure.
"C'mon." a scarred hand was offered up. This was not much of a request -- she needed him to go with her. Close friends, and in order to fully be avenged this needed to be a public matter as well. Or just have Jordie be a witness, that too.
Increased the fun with lots more eyes and ears, though.
Not much convincing was even needed for the boy, however once standing she released his hand. He was too tall to hold hands with, well, at her height anyway. Didn't stop them from walking side by side towards the center of the park, the place closer to the street than anything but both figures knew parents liked to keep their kids in that area at least.
"...y'ain't gon' hurt anybody, are you?" Jordie piped up after a minute or two. They were almost there and he was a little concerned. Very concerned, actually.
"Dunno yet." came the reply. Looking down he could see the neutral expression on his friend's face, but he didn't have to ask to know she was no doubt glaring ahead. Hard to see when she had that beanie on and kept her head down so much.
That was as far as the conversation went, and besides, the smaller girl was half-deaf anyway so with all the noise it wouldn't have made much of a difference whether they spoke or not. Damn but she could practically hear their target, too. Target? Well technically speaking. It was that or call him a thief but all the gremlins running around were thieves.
Said 'thief' clearly hadn't noticed their presence yet, what with joking and making noise with his own squad for now. That was soon to change, not soon enough but, it wouldn't last long.
"Ma-a-n, I may be deaf, but, s'like stupid folk's th'loudest, ain't they?" Forest let her own volume cut into whatever conversation or game they played, much to Jordie's mortification. He would rather they not start a scene but...was asking a lot there. The other boy, and his friends, turned to face the pair. "Oh. Sorry, Ellie, din't see y'there."
The grin was evident in her voice.
"Aww, Spots joined us t'day. Is that...a stripe on your nose or-?"
"Wull, see, my spots is naturally dark. But I s'pose it takes a brown-noser t'know another, don't it? Y'got a lil' somethin' there," she gestured to her own nose.
Funnily enough, Elias discovered he did have some dirt on the tip of his own nose. The laughter of the other older children further confirmed that, bringing a reddish hue to his face. He only frowned and settled for staring down the narrowed eyes and big grin currently displayed by the girl, though.
"If tha's all it takes f'r you t'shut up, I gotta wonder how th'rest'a this' gon' go." Forest began to limp closer, hands in her hoodie's pockets again.
Jordan watched on. It wasn't his call to follow after her.
"Now...I heard from'a good friend'a mine, over there, that you's been stickin' hands where they don't b'long. See, he's missin' some stuff n' I figured, y'know, maybe you'd know how that happened." The grin was mostly gone by then.
Elias hadn't moved from his spot, but wasn't planning on hearing this spiel from her. This was a thug, through and through. She may not have guns or chains to rattle, but in the realm of kids, she might as well have just gotten out of prison on good behavior -- with a grudge to boot. A dangerous child at only two feet tall.
"Depends. I might'a done a few things earlier, what's it to you? Anybody else could've done this sort of thing, n' you come after me instead."
The smaller child only narrowed her eyes, frowning as well. "I c'n smell liars out real well, y'know. S'a pretty day out," he could see the threat in her two-toned irises. "We all know fools push they luck whenever there's a crowd. N'on such nice days, too. You know I don't like it when that happens, what'd'you expect? Me t'ignore it?" there was a little chuckle from her, but it wasn't anything friendly.
"You don't like anything, so, m'not real surprised I was the go-to."
Forest could practically feel Jordie brace for her next response. That kid was always anticipating something extreme to come from her mouth. Might as well let him have it.
"Aww, that ain't true. I's a person'a simple taste," the other children quieted down further to hear what she had to say, "I like t'play games. Not all, but some, n' if I get a lil' somethin' out of it. I's a cripple -- runnin' ain't f'me. I guess y'could say I also like t'gamble. I like when s'hot outside, when there's no dogs. I's not too diff'rent from most men in tha'I like good pussy, n' when I don't get in trouble for stupid shit. Though...I'll say, I like not havin' t'deal with jackasses when I don't gotta."
The crowd went wild. Kids looked on in incredulity, amazed she'd even said such words. Not the ones that knew her, though. The rather poorer crowd only laughed and cheered in their own way. Mostly 'ooOOOH's but, still.
Forest only shrugged lightly, offering a little smirk at the boy, now. As if telling him to retaliate in however way he pleased. Nothing would be as good as anything she just said.
"..." Elias couldn't even formulate a response for a bit, causing the crowd to laugh louder when they realized this. "Oh, that's cute, Imp." The grin on her face only widened. Insults didn't matter to her, too much.
"Don't see how that's gon' help you get anything back, though."
"Kid, th'fact I jus' owned your ass in a lil' roast sorta speaks f'r itself." She rolled her shoulders in a bored manner. This was getting to be a stale roast session, and she wasn't up for much more. "But, if you'd like t'try a diff'rent way'a makin' me turn back, g'head." The smaller child even went so far as to pop her knuckles for emphasis.
If there was a fight, which the other children from her side of the coin begged for, no doubt it would end badly.
Elias frowned silently for a moment or two. In his entire being, he knew that if he swung first she would kick his sorry ass further. Verbally was one thing, but physically? He'd gotten decked to the nose a few times by the little imp, and had no desire to have it happen again. At least, not much of a want for it. Kind of a dream to win instead, but...not all dreams come true.
"Tick-tock." the half lidded eyes of the other only aggravated him more.
Thank God the saving grace that separated the children from each other arrived. Unfortunately in the form of one of the parents. Definitely not anyone Forest recognized, what with the nice clothes of the woman and the soccer-mom haircut.
"You ought to be ashamed of yourself, young man!" At first, both kids thought Elias was the one receiving the reprimand. They were wrong.
Much to her chagrin, it was actually the smaller child the woman was chastising. 'Young man...?'
"Using language like that! How would your parents feel, knowing this is how you talk?" Everyone else fell silent, knowing this was not a line that needed crossing. The mother didn't understand, and continued despite the tension. "Picking on someone bigger than you, too. You could get yourself hurt, and then he'd," she gestured to the taller child, "Be in trouble!"
Up until then, Forest had kept her mouth shut in a thin line, two toned irises watching blankly. The older woman stared but could not see any sign of life in those eyes. They were...empty. Unnervingly so, but it hardly stopped her. The only thing that did put a pause in her tirade was laughter, coming from the empty child herself.
"Ma'am, I mean no disr'spect when I ask this, but, he y'boy?" She could feel Jordie not wanting a second scene.
"...no, but-"
"Then this ain't y'problem. I hate t'break it t'you, but he stole from me. Or, well, a friend, but pretty much me. Let's add I's not from your part'a town. We from West Side, ain't we?" the other children behind her stood a little straighter. She had some form of a backup at least. "I ain't ever seen you b'fore. You ain't my mama n' I thank you f'r tryna break up this lil' spat, but maybe y'should consider lookin' both ways, huh?"
In her own way, saying not to immediately jump on the dirtier kids.
"I ain't done nothin' yet. N' you wanna peg me as th'villain," a low whistle slid out from between her shark-like teeth. "But if tha's how we play, I'll run with it. Not like me'n'him go t'th'same school're nothin'." A rather lazy grin was offered before she moved to step away.
The imp had no wish to hear the adult out, or make things right. This could all be solved later, and with a better offer of payment.
Jordan moved to walk at her side, seeing as the crisis was gone, and they could leave. The adult was in near shock at the flow of language from the little hybrid's mouth. It did not take long before she scuttled elsewhere to distract from the quick loss of power. Like she had been dethroned, almost. After all, kids knew they were supposed to listen to adults, and yet...this child tore her down in an instant. She couldn't interrupt, it was too..unreal.
Elias hadn't moved from his spot, neither. Watching the pair calmly walk away. Calmly...it was irritating. "That's all it takes? Aw, so the 'Great Beast of West Side' is scared off by jus'an adult, huh?"
All the other bystanders froze, watching to see how the call out would be received. This could go one of two ways: either a fight would ensue, or the child would keep walking. Thus making his words speak of truth.
However, the small girl stopped. Carefully she turned, staring him dead-on.
"Ellie...y'look hungry. Downright starvin' f'r a knuckle-buster sandwich. How'd y'like it done?" she grinned slightly, walking closer. Round Two it would seem. "S'a pretty day out, as I says. There's lotsa colorful stuff, n' flowers. Sun's all warm, too. On days like these, kids like you," the grin widened, and despite the emptiness of Forest's eyes the other children sensed an obvious threat.
"Shouldn't play games they cain't win at. If'n you gon' be petty as a five year old then go join'em in th'sandbox."
Vaguely, the boy noticed how her red hoodie had disappeared. Now she was just standing there, staring. Waiting for some form of move to be made. Honestly, he was a little afraid. No one would step in to help him out, he'd already dug himself into a hole.
"Aren't you five?"
"D'I really sound like I am?"
Fair point, he'd admit.
"So what'll it be t'day, boy?" That lazy grin didn't appear but, Ellie could practically hear it in her voice. "If not t'day, then some other time, 'cause y'ain't fuckin'round with my folk n' get away wit'it."
The boy couldn't formulate a response. Really, he was struggling. The little hybrid had surely caught him so far off guard he wasn't even playing the same game. She was playing in the NFL and he was just selling muffins outside the stadium, at this point.
"I'mm' start countin' cents if y'don't gimme'n'answer soon. We's at...five,"
Great.
"Ten,"
This was a dilemma.
"Fifteen, kinda weird seein' that big gear turn," and that was all it took, really.
Elias was tired of the insults that seemed to spill from the smaller child's mouth.
Under his feet, sharp bits of gravel and larger pebbles dug into his sandals, giving him an idea. There was a quick scuff sound, and a handful of the rocks were launched straight for his opponent's face.
They landed a little farther south than he would've liked, kind of between her throat and collarbone.
What he got in response was a surprised sort of squawk, and an incredulous look. As if Forest were asking him what the fuck? She seemed almost confused.
"Geez...not even sure I feel like throwin' no hands after whatever that mess was." The grin returned, but he, and the rest of the children knew full well the smaller one kept her promises. In this case, any move at harm warranted retaliation; even if it was just a pathetic pebble-kick.
It didn't even start off rough, Forest moving at a slow pace towards him. Limp present, as if to make her appear weaker. Ellie knew how much of a lie that was. The disability, her leg being so short and crooked, was true but the weakness was not. Once again that fear returned: of her beating him near senseless. To where he might not even remember his own name or what exactly happened. The closer she got, the more the urge to flee increased. The tiny child seemed to be in no rush. It infuriated him.
The others standing around had fallen silent or at least, whispering among themselves. Jordie, in particular, stood back in his spot. Though his friend could fight for herself, he still worried. Especially when Elias, dumb as he was, took a swing at the spotted creature. It was only out of an adrenaline rush, or was it anxiety? Either way, Jordan knew the other kid was regretting that decision as quick as he'd made it.
There was a loud crack! as disfigured knuckles met with the angle of Ellie's jaw.
In the time it took for his hand to complete its arc, Forest had landed her own blow before said hand even dropped. Elias cried out in both pain and surprise, free hand flying up to cradle the side of his face.
The little beast could almost smell the tears welling up in his wide eyes.
"Told ya we ain't finna play no games, Ellie." It was only one hit. Only the one. The kids around them had seen enough of these fights to know she was waiting for the chance at an execution of sorts. A way to make a message heard, even if it was through overkill.
In all honesty, Forest could walk away and let this off as a warning. The boy seemed remorseful, well, more regret than actual remorse. Still. It was something.
Normally the tiny tyrant would've continued, only thing to stop her now was the return of the hand. It managed to graze her nose this time but that was the only contact needed for Elias to know: he'd goofed. Big time. The smoldering look in the smaller child's eyes told him as much. And, well, the gasps from the other kids did too.
"Ready t'fuckin' die?" Forest gave him no time once again, quickly catching him to the jaw and pulling her arm back for another punch. Elias whimpered and moved to run, feet barely taking a step before a rough hand grabbed for his collar. Forest had the strength to yank him down at least, which was still a surprising feat for one so small. Less surprising was the knee to the nose, then the rough shove so he faced the sky. His back embraced by the dirt.
His attacker ignored any sudden gasps or coughs. "Wh-where do they make folks like you?"
"Oh, they'on't make folk like me. We ain't made."
It wasn't that Forest was heavy, despite now sitting on his ribs, but knowing his impending doom lay in her hands...well. He was shaking.
The smaller child couldn't help but grin, seeing the taller one shut his eyes. Shut tight, too. "I want y't'know from th'bottom'a my heart, tha'you's lucky this was so short," the imp felt grim satisfaction at the flinch when she raised her fist. The shadow stretched across his face, almost like one of Forest's spots. Almost.
There was a shift in the crowd, noticeable enough to make her pause. Something was coming, but it didn’t sound like any adult she’d ever heard.
Elias even opened his eyes, not daring enough to move past that.
“Wha-? Crikey, wha’s all this goin’ on ‘ere?!” Whoever it was, they sounded shocked, slightly confused, most certainly angry. “I ought’a send ya slinkin’ yer folks if ya think I’m gonna allow fighting on my day!”
What the fuck?
((credit to the weeb ( @winterfrostguardian ) for writing in an accent i don’t hear v. often))
One winter evening, amid snowfall, I stepped out of my estate dragging the large luggage along. I headed towards my car parked at the gate, sighing and licking my dry lips as I left behind the life that I knew. I heard frantic footsteps behind me, knowing that he’d run after me and it took me all I had to move forward.
Don’t look back.
Don’t hesitate.
Don’t get distracted.
“Wait!”
Don’t stop.
My heart breaks again, hearing his pleading voice desperate for me to stop. I hardened my resolve and plowed onwards, despite my desire to stop, to let him hug me, to let this nightmare be over. However, I wanted happiness and I couldn’t live with this pain anymore so I needed a new start. I needed it, for my own sake. For my happiness.
“Please! Wait! Honey!”
I hated it when he called me by that pet name. I hated it that he was my weakness, my kryptonite. I hated knowing that I’d drop everything for him, just to be with him. Shaking away any lingering thoughts, I opened the boot to load the luggage in and I went to the driver’s seat. He caught up to me just when I shut the door.
“Don’t leave me,” he cried as he banged his fists on the window. “Please! I love you! Come back! We can talk this out. Please just listen to me!”
I took a shuddering breath, my grip tightening on the steering wheel as I switched on the car’s engine. I can’t break it down here. My resolve can’t weaken any further now. Muttering under my breath to draw in whatever courage I had, I stepped on the gas pedal and drove out of the estate without looking back.
Millikan was in his mid teens when he had his first Crush. A young pretty peasant girl he met during a walk through outworld marketplace. At first he was shy but he manage to get the courage to talk to her over time. Every time he went to see her he always wore his mask. One day she asked him to take off his mask. He was hesitant at first but complied anyway. The look of shock and disgust on her face made him run back to the palace and into his mother arms. He never saw the girl again after that. And she went missing that night never to be seen again.
Like most teens, Millikan liked to sneak out of the palace at night. Or more like sneak out of outworld by using a portal amulet he swiped from Tanya when she wasn't looking. He wait an hour after his caretaker left and summon a portal to earth realm. He explore the late night scene of new York, either blending in at a club or looking at all the strange technology earth realm had created. He got away with his late night sneaks for a couple months. Until one night he returned to his room to find a furious looking Tanya with two guards waiting for him. He thought he would lose his ear that night when Tanya dragged him to his mother by his ear. Millikan hadn't left the palace in months after that.
