Little moments from Liam and their bro's adventuring with Scarab and of course as a Cosmic Being!
I need to draw more of Scarab just being a big bro with Finn and Jake while Liam's off doing their courier work, I have some silly adventures planned out with the three of them heheh
Scarab rarely shows off his antennae in Bug World during the time Liam is human, mainly when they're alone together or he wants to make sure of something. They also get to see his rare humorous side fairly frequently!
When Liam and him decided to keep the eggs they both had, he eventually doted and cared for them more than he'd like to admit initially (Liam teases him about it).
(Part 11) Whew! Almost to the end of all the "main story" art of Bug World au- I think the next part will be the last of the batches until I make more for them now that I think about it 🤔
Was trying to make @lavoszero's Liam in FA, but I already found a perfect fit in the auction house.
For reference, this is what I'm going for:
(Both M and F poses becayse Liam is nonbinary)
Fittingly, the gaoler I found looks more like their human/past form, so I suppose this would mirror their ascention! And of course, the pet I gave them is a bloodstone beetle. I'm also thinking of making one for Katherine, with a matching pet.
This season of FnC really got me thinking dang, the Cosmic Being work situation really sucks.
You're either assigned a job you don't want to do/get too tired of the monotony of it and aren't allowed to change it only under EXTREMELY specific circumstances/basically sentenced to being trapped forever in a place you don't want to be OR your own thoughts without much of a support (or health) system going on.
Liam would get angry about this realization and make it The Boss and Orbo's problem like "No wonder so many Cosmic Beings ditch if they hardly get any time to themselves!" Gonna work on a comic with that topic eventuallyyyy
Also, unintentionally made that Liam's experience too! As they were turned into a cosmic being and given their own "dimension" as a precaution/trap Myriaxanthus should they had ever decided to wreak havoc across the universes. And they were only allowed to be introduced to other Cosmic Beings to keep up appearances that that was a normal thing before being thrown back in said dimension.
Basically their Azure Dimension was originally a prison before Cosmic Owl helped their bros discover how to find them + their eventual upgrade to being a Boss allowing them access to the multiverse for "good behavior" by The Boss.
Really didn't intend to have their situation be sorta similar to Karmic Worm's but hey, what a nice coincidence that happened lol (they're even nearly the same color scheme, vibe with Cake, bros got ripped away from them (albeit Liam did it by choice and was reunited with theirs quicker), Cosmic Owl feels bad for both of them, Karmic Worm being therapy- Liam being the one who helps Cosmic Beings find ways to do what they really want with their immortal lives/give them new jobs, and their fondness for plants!)
A story drabble for Bug World underneath the readmore!
Liam drummed their fingers on their favorite couch, lost in thought in the middle of the Inn's currently rowdy lounge. To anyone taking notice of them, it just looked like they were fussing about the lists of courier jobs laid out on the table before them.
When in reality they were thinking about a certain God Auditor.
Liam missed him.
They couldn't pinpoint the moment they started missing Scarab's presence whenever he had to leave for one of his auditing missions or reports. They certainly felt the feeling grow over time though, during their journey together.
They began to miss his sass towards rude folk.
How he dutifully watched over them and their siblings while they rested during long courier work and kept them safe. How he humored Finn and Jake's nonstop shenanigans and troublemaking- even helping the duo sometimes, much to their amusement, despite his barely masked concern for them. Helping them during hunts and side jobs without a single complaint. The list goes on and on in regards to their praise for him.
He had integrated himself into their routine, and Liam couldn't help but long for his presence again.
Not to mention they missed his voice- oh his voice, it brought them comfort and equally entranced them whenever he spoke.
Liam couldn't help but sigh and lean back into the cushions- they were completely smitten with him and there was no denying it...
Over the chittering, hum of wings, and activity of the other Inn visitors, they failed to notice someone approaching them.
“Is something the matter, Liam?”
They jolted, straightening up their back- as speak of the Devil, Scarab had wandered back into the Inn lobby to them. His mask glowered down at them, but Liam was used to that 'default' expression of his and sheepishly grinned back at him. “Nah, nothing really.”
He crossed his arms and leaned down, scrutinizing them, “You've been sighing a lot lately, there must be something on your mind.”
The urge to say 'Yeah, you all the time.' was very tempting- but Liam bit their cheek, said nothing of the sort and shrugged. “Nope, just a bit tired, that's all.”
Even with that mask of his, Liam could tell he was skeptical of their answer. “Do you mind if I sit here?”
“Huh?”
Scarab huffed. “The couch. Beside you.”
Liam's brain took a moment to buffer, “Oh! Oh, right, of course!” There was a glint in Scarab's eyes that they couldn't completely discern, but he made his way over and settled down right beside them.
Like-
Right next to them, shoulder to shoulder- he was leaning on them even!
Sure, they were partners now- but they were shocked that he was showing this sort of affection towards them, even if it was just a little bit, when there were so many people around. They knew he didn't like showing much public displays of affection- the most they got away with concerning him was hand holding! ...And even then he gave them the excuse that it was so he could keep tabs on them going through the hustle and bustle of the Hive walkways.
Despite the clamor of the other guests, going about their night at Leaf's Inn, Liam couldn't hear any of them. No, their focus was solely on Scarab and how close he was.
Glob, their face was starting to get hot. And he was just staring at them too, with what they clearly recognized now as a mischievous glint in his eyes! Liam was about to open their mouth to say something, but all thoughts flew out of their head when he suddenly put his arm around their shoulders.
“You look like you need some rest, Liam.”
“I- uh-”
His fingers were playing with their hair now. “After all, you work almost as hard as I do in your field of work.” A claw caressed their cheek.
“No, no, I'm fi-”
Suddenly Scarab's face was right up in theirs, the hand that caressed their cheek angling their head to meet his gaze.
They sucked in a breath- his mask now had a devious look to it to match his eyes. “But then again, you just missed me, didn't you? So much that you stayed up late to wait for me to return?”
If their face wasn't flushed before, it sure was now. Glob, they were glad their little brothers were asleep- they wouldn't of heard the end of their teasing for ages if they saw them like this. “I...”
“Mmhmm?” Damn him and that cute way he tilts his head!
Liam suddenly found the papers very interesting to look at again, not able to handle his intense stare anymore. They bit their cheek again and finally- “...Yeah, I missed you a lot.”
Scarab's teeth cracked through his mask, a full blown grin revealed at their admittance. “So much so that you sigh, oh so wistfully?” Liam snorted and shoved his face playfully away. He let them get away with so much he realized. Had they been anyone else he would've slapped their hands away at minimum or bite at them at the worst.
“Oh come on-” “Or should I say you sigh like a lov-” They elbowed him, not that it phased him much, “Nope. No, no, no- don't finish that sentence.”
Liam thanked Glob that the other Inn goers payed them no mind, to busy going about their own tasks to bother noticing the two flirt about.
Scarab leaned closer, his mask slightly split open wider to teasingly whisper in their ear. “Like a lover missing every moment they could be held against their partner?” “Uuuuugh!”
They hid their burning face in their hands, Scarab chuckling at their reaction.
“You're always so easy to tease.” He rubbed comforting circles on their back, “Didn't expect me to be so bold with all these other folk here?”
Liam grumbled through their hands a muffled “Yes, actually.”
...
There was a moment of silence that had Liam peeking up at him through their fingers. Unlike just moments before, he sported a more sincere smile, his eyes softening at them. He pulled them closer, resting his head atop theirs. “I missed you too, Liam.”
…
….
…..
“......You sap.”
They yelped when he suddenly pinched their side.
Scarab ignored their complaints and pressed his face into their hair. He'd have to lug them over to their room eventually- or else they'd never get themself to bed. But for now, he was content to just hold them here, and unwind after dealing with that irritating Cosmic Being from his previous audit.
Liam eventually started rambling, after getting over the pinch, about what he had missed while he was away. Scarab 'hmm'd' and occasionally quipped at somethings they were regaling him with.
The ease they settled into peace and comfort with each other was second nature to them now.
Sometimes it shocked him.
How Liam had wormed their way into his guarded carapace and grew on him like the fungus they feared so much. How his thoughts always drifted to them lately, craving their soft touch- and the way he yearned equally for their warmth and sound of their life beating close to him...
Enjoying just hearing their voice as they went on and on....It was just so easy to enjoy simply existing with them.
...
….It terrified him slightly.
They didn't even realize how much sway they had over him now.
...
If Liam ever told him “Don't leave” and demanded he stay with them instead of preparing to go do his job-
