if you want you can include lizzie but i dont mind if you dont want to
i love him and lizzie sm, they are my parents
C!Joel (Smallishbeans) as a father figure! (Not RPF)
Fandom: Hermitcraft s10
No use of Y/N, gn!reader
A/N: I love Lizzie but bc she's not in hermitcraft including her felt a bit too close to rpf for me, im sorry :(. I've been watching them both since they played with Yammy and Lauren, they hold a special place in my heart, hope i did Joel justice!
Disclaimer: This is not RPF, it is based off of the personas portrayed by the content creators rather than the content creators themselves.
• You loved tunneling. The feel of the stone around you, the comfort of a confined space, everything about it. Especially how you could sneak up on others in their bases.
• He probably met you when building the sword fight club room. He was still trying to dig it out when he turned around and suddenly you were there. He promptly kicked you out, and you exited through the tunnel you'd accidentally dug into it.
• The next time he met you, you brought him a horse as an apology. He was a bit confused at first, but you handed him a sword and ran away. He shrugged and happily collected another horse head.
• This was the formula for most of your early meet ups. He'd be doing his own thing when you'd show up for a brief interaction before running off to wherever you came from. He'd start to call you a cryptid.
• Eventually you showed up when he was trying to get his duplicate permit from Grian. As you were about to disappear again he decided to ask if you'd mind sticking around to help him out. You agreed and helped him corner the permit officer.
• The two of you had a good laugh at Grian's expense, and it would be the first of many times you two had a full conversation. He gave you a horse head as a way to thank you for the help.
• Showing up unannounced and uninvited to interrupt the other's current project became your guys' thing. He'd give you little tips and tricks for your builds, and you'd keep him company during the more tedious tasks.
• You especially loved helping care for the bees. He was able to come in to collect the honey, but you could practically pet them without them getting upset with you. He never quite figures out how you it, though you claim it's because he's a sour old man, so you're sweet by comparison.
• Teasing is definitely a cornerstone of your relationship. Not really pranks or anything big, just playfully bullying one another. If there's anything you're insecure about all you have to do is ask and it'll be off the table, though.
• He's not a very hands-on type of father figure. You two hangout together, sure, but he typically lets you do your own thing. If you need anything you come to him, but he doesn't smother you.
• He wouldn't be too physically affectionate. Typically, you'll just get your hair ruffled or a playful jab at your arm. Hugs are few and far between. He's got no trouble giving you one if you have a bad day, but its just not a typical occurence.
• Any stupid mischief you get into he is your hype man all of the way. Unless you’re obviously going to get hurt, in which case he’ll put himself in your position, but shenanigans will still ensue. The only hobby he won’t endorse is horseback riding.
• He’ll totally take credit for your ideas. Typically just the ones that’ll get someone in trouble, though (not that he’d ever admit to doing it for a selfless reason).
• You helped design one of the buildings in his city, and it became your unofficial second base. You spent enough time there you were practically an honorary member of the magic mountain.
• BDubs definitely blames Joel if you ever hurt any of his horses. He gladly takes the blame, partially for his ego, partially to get you out of trouble. You two craft a cake as celebration.
• You two would make each other cringe all of the time. You would have competitions to see who could stick it out the longest (AKA who had the least amount of dignity)
• You'd be the first person he blamed for the Etho statues. Obviously, it wasn't you, but you thought they were hilarious, telling him to keep them up. He'd accuse you of being the one who's obsessed with him.
• When Perry the platypus mysteriously appears, you'd totally make fun of him for not knowing where he's from... and roast him further for calling him a duck.
• You'd be overly invested in his interactions with Etho. Joel has a tendency to stop his conversations with him, mid-sentence, just to call you out for eavesdropping. You can't quite seem to hide from him anymore. He's got a sixth dad-sense for knowing when you're there.
• You were obviously on his side when the purpur prank wars came about. You definitely teased him about loosing the competition in general, but still helped him. You were told to deny your part when the Poe-poe came knocking, though. (Hey that rhymes lol)
• You sit back and giggle to yourself as you watch Joel run circles around Skizz. Eventually you know he’ll let him take the win, but it’s still fun to watch. You waited for the instruction to activate the stasis chamber.
• You mostly stick to your tunnels (the same ones that you accidentally dug into Joel’s base with) to avoid getting exiled by the permit office. It works surprisingly well until you eventually get bored and just let them take you.
• You watched Joel interrupt the first meeting to resolve the issue from afar. You sneak up on him afterwards, and he was mildly annoyed to see you weren’t waiting for his signal, but got over it fairly quickly
• Once the coin toss was settled, you helped round up some horses for him to kill in celebration of the victory. You didn’t see the appeal, but it was amusing to watch.
• You surprise Gem and Pearl when you show up at Pearl’s fight club reveal. Joel has gotten used to you randomly showing up and is completely unfazed. You laugh at their reactions and watch as they spar.
• You two don't have a typical father-kid relationship, but it doesn't matter, it works for you, and that's the important part. Whether you're sneaking around in the tunnels or getting lost in his city, he's your dad. Your childish, goofy, annoying dad, but your dad nonetheless.
something something joel winning the most chaotic season of life while he’s at his most stable .. something about how he is the most level headed in the chaos because that’s what he’s used to .. idk people talking abt how he’s like, learned from his mistakes and i definitely see that (forgiving easily, not holding grudges, making alliances and sticking to them), but it’s not like he’s changed so much, not changed how impulsive he is or how chaotic he is. he’s still the same level of insane as always, it’s just that this is where he’s most comfortable - where it’s chaotic and crazy. he seems so well adjusted because he’s just used to the chaos while nobody else really is.
The Moon Will Sing A Song For Me ( I Loved You Like The Sun ) || A JoSage Fanfic
Read on Ao3
He blinks and turns back to look to the sky, the storm thundering on even without his work. He closes the interface and stands from his place on the floor, his wings shake and stretch as he does. He looks to the village under him and to the towers and bridges he'd built. He looks at the shadows gripping at his ankles.
And he takes off.
or
Joel cannot understand the hallow shadow that gnaws at his chest and asks the father of his child for help.
Or
A discussion on grief and loss, through the eyes of a lone God and The head of Sanctuary
Or OR!!
4k of filler for a single kiss scene i wanted to right ;^-^
____________
Days like these felt impossible to handle.
With Upper Stratos so high in the sky,the cold wind bit even harder and the rain felt even heavier. It wasn't as though Joel couldn't handle the weather, he was the best of the best- The smartest most handsome and greatest God to ever grace the lands, Thunder sounded at the clap of his cheeks, of course he could handle it!
No, it wasn't the weather that he couldn't handle, it was the gaping emptiness of a wound within his chest that tore itself open at the worst moments, no matter how sure he stitched it shut.
Rain showered heavily outside his palace. Nothing soft but depressing, no- it was the type of weather that made you think the world was ending. And for a moment- Just this moment- Joel could close his eyes and pretend it was again, that he would perish where he sat if only for the chance to no longer be alone.
The emptiness grew and Joel could do nothing to stop it. For all his power and strength, there was nothing he could do to keep the shadows of the past away. But he couldn't let it consume him, not with everything he had left prove, not with the things he still had to built, not with the people who loved him and that he loved so much more, their mortal souls will never be able to comprehend how much a God loves.
( They will never be able to comprehend how love consumes and destroys Gods in equal measure, how it brought down an entire world beneath its heel. Joel only hopes that Hermes will never have to face that destruction alone, even if he does everything within his power to make sure of it)
But how does a great God as himself chase away this gaping emptiness? This feeling that sinks its claws into his back and pulls his soul down with every drag of its razor like nails? If a God couldn't get rid of such a curse then what could?
His hologram lights in a light blue fizz with alerts to a public message:
<MythicalSausage>: I'll always be willing to lay down my wood on you :)
He finds himself chuckling weakly and replying without much thought.
<SmallishBeans>: Only if i get some too.
The reply is almost instantaneous
<MythicalSausage>: Oh you don't even have to ask ;)
He blinks and turns back to look to the sky, the storm thundering on even without his work. He closes the interface and stands from his place on the floor, his wings shake and stretch as he does. He looks to the village under him and to the towers and bridges he'd built. He looks at the shadows gripping at his ankles.
And he takes off.
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
The lit fireplace warmed the house in its entirety, almost unnaturally. Even Hermes's room, with its door slightly ajar, was warmed as though a fire was lit early that evening and not a few hours ago. Sausage sipped his cocoa and sat comfortably on his chair, the rain outside roaring in anger despite Hermes being calmly asleep. Bubbles lay in her bed, soft snores gently echoing across the room.
He doesn't think he'll ever get over the magic this forest granted Sanctuary. He'll always be grateful for what it has given him and his people but he'll never get over the simple things it grants. The warm but never hot fire a perfect example.
Fire never sat right with him, not with what had happened to his home. The scorching heat enough to evaporate the sweat of his skin, at least he had Eddie. Bubbles blinks herself awake, her eyes set firmly on the door in confusion.
Before he can ask her whats wrong his interface blinks and fizzes into a holograph screen, light green with a private message;
<SmallishBeans> whispers to you: I know I don't need to ask but I will anyway. Can I come and see you?
Sausage blinks and quickly types out a reply, not even hiding the surely goofy smile on his face.
You whisper to SmallishBeans: Of Course!!!! Cant wait to see you!!
Sausage closed his interface and stood from his unbelievably comfortable love seat-his sweet tea placed on the table, he has to tidy up quickly before cachetes gets here!
Three sudden knocks against his door stops his movements entirely, Bubbles grumbles at him to open the door quickly. Sausage huffs in surprise, who could that with the weather as bad as it is? He says as much as he walks up to the door "Now who could that be? This weather is positively awful-"
His words cut off as he opens the door to be met with the soaking figure of su cielo, an expression of utter helplessness etched into the corners of his eyes, his wings tucked away into his back. Distantly, Sausage hears Bubbles barking at him to 'close the damn door already!' but he cant pay attention to that, not when Joel looks like Sausage would turn him away.
"......Hey, Sausage" Joel tries to pull a smile but the tears in his voice negates the effect, Sausage snaps out of his trance and quickly ushers the god into his home "¡Madre mía! Come in come in!" He rushes indoors for towels as Joel bends down to enter, closing the door behind him.
"I was expecting you but not literally now! I was hoping to at least tidy up a bit! Ai, mi Querido, you're soaking wet!" Sausage rushes back with practically a mountains worth of towels, 11 foot tall Gods usually didn't dry quickly with a simple rub of a singular towel.
Joel sat on the floor to fit within the space, his legs crossed Indian style. Like this he looked like a sad wet cat and Sausage's heart could not help itself from throbbing at the sight. He placed the towels over Joel, knelt in front of him and took one towel in hand to began drying his hair, gentle yet thorough in his work as the God sat still.
"Ay! How long were you out there for? You're absolutely soaked, you could catch a cold! I know you're a very powerful and sexy god but still." As Sausage continued on, he quickly concluded that he'd have to wring out the hair to truly get the worst of the water out and settled on just rubbing the god's beard. "I was almost worried some assassin came but it was just you. Aya, you might as well have been, with the way you gave me a heart attack!"
Joel remained catatonic, though the warmth within the casita seemed to have eased off some tension in his shoulders. "Hey..." Sausage began gently, holding his god's face between his towel covered hands "are you ok?" he asked, sepia brown met his own syrup brown. Joel lifted his large hand to hold Sausage's own and leaned into the hands on his cheeks, desperate but gentle. Sausage held his tongue as he waited for Joel to find he words clearly lost to him.
"I......I don't know." Joel choked, leaning further into his touch, as though to savor a fleeting warmth "No- no, I do know. I'm not," Sausage searched Joel's eyes for anything more but the endless pit of helplessness was all that greeted him. Sausage felt his own heart squeeze in pain.
Sanctuary was made to help the helpless and as it's head, Sausage knew what he had to do before he could think. He pulled the God from the floor and lead him slowly to the living room, disregarding the trail of water following after. Bubbles, ever so helpful, began transferring the towels from the door to the pair as they sat in front of the fireplace.
"I don't know whats wrong and I don't know if I can fix it, but I'm going to do everything in my power to help, Mi corazón." Sausage moved over to the kitchen and quickly began rummaging the cupboards for something to eat, the kettle somehow already on. The chaotic noise reflecting his own whirling thoughts, thank Santa Pearl for Hermes's heavy sleeping.
"Sorry for the noise," he apologized, returning to Joel with a small basket of warmed Croquetas, not even questioning how they became warm "I'm so glad Hermes sleeps like the dead, else they would've woken long ago ,haha!" They sat on the floor, towels surrounding them like small mountains and Joel, a god carved out of marble tears at the center of it all.
Joel looked away from the fire and into Sausage's eyes, staring deep into his very soul and freezing him where he sat. As Sausage stared, he found that parts of those brown eyes held flickers of molten gold, beautiful and burning. Joel's wet lashes framed his eyes like feathers and the curve of his nose its own mountain on the landscape of his face. As Sausage' eyes lowered he found Joel's lips pink and plum- his skin had always been soft, surely his lips would be too?
Sausage breathed in a shuttering breath, hoping to compose himself. His eyes lifted back into those sepia brown eyes and found them flickering to meet his, as though they'd strayed down elsewhere. Joel quickly looked away, his wet hair doing a poor job of concealing his red face. Sausage chuckled and handed the croquetas to the God, who took them with a bashful laugh. Their hands brushed.
Joel, who seemed to have reeled some part of himself back in, smiled- not his usual prideful and arrogant smiles no, this one was simple and sweet enough to feed the yearning in Sausage's chest, "Thanks Sausage." he thanked before taking a bite of a piece of croqueta. "its no problem! I told you you would always be welcome in Sanctuary, in mi casita. No matter what."
Joel paused his next bite, almost seeming surprised by Sausage's words. He lowered the croqueta almost in shame "Sorry about... dropping by so suddenly," He apologized, his eyes falling downward, avoiding Sausage's "I just,-I know this sounds stupid but" he raked his hands through his wet hair before slumping with a sigh,
"I didn't want to be alone. Not right now."
Sausage's eyes widened in surprise before quickly shuffling forward until their legs were touching "No, no, no! Don't apologize! Like I said before, you will always - always- be welcome here no matter the circumstance or time! For anything and everything, company or otherwise." He leaned forward to tilt the Gods head to face his own. ".....Anything?" Joel asked softly, almost as though he was scared of rejection- something Sausage understood better then ever.
"A-ny-thing. Even just to rant and leave, I always be here." For you, he picked up the nearest towel and began drying off the exposed skin of Joel's body, if only to have something to do with his hands "and you don't have to tell me if you don't want to but, what's wrong?"
Sausage waited as he watched Joel gather his thoughts, and with the broken expression of pain that shifted his features, he must have found it.
"I just-!" Joel began, voice cracked and anguished "I don't know what to do! I've lived for- for centuries, I lived through the calamity and made it out on the other side! I built a city on the ground and an Empire in the skies with my bare hands and I've accomplished so so much," A sob forced its way out his throat "and yet I cant- cant get rid of this stupid emptiness in my chest no matter what I do!" He gripped the toga covering his chest, as though the pain was physical.
Sausage held back his own tears, slowly wringing out the water in Joel's hair "It's eating me from the inside and I still have so much left to accomplish and do and I- I don't- I don't understand why I cant just get over it." Joel's eyes held no tears but his voice held them all captive.
Sausage didn't know much about Joel's life before he migrated to the land of Empires, no one did. And even though he didn't know much, he still recognized the pain, was so wholly familiar with it that it still kept him up at night years after.
"You're grieving, mi Cariño."
Joel snapped his head to Sausage, his eyes furrowed in anger and his nose scrunched in offense and Sausage smiled gently as he knew the words before they left the pretty lips of his god "Grieving?" his tone so offended you would think he was talking to the Sheriff "I don't have time to grieve, Sausage, I have too much to do! I don't need to grieve anyway, I just need to get rid of this- of this stupid feeling!" His ,now dried, strong arms flailing in exasperation.
Sausage just silently took both of Joel's hands into his, smiling down at the scars that littered both of their hands- almost perfect mirrors of one another.
"When my home was attacked," Joel shut his mouth with a clank of teeth "I could only focus on surviving and hiding. On keeping myself alive and moving forward." he remembered the fires, the screams and the arrows and pain.
"When I was sure I was far enough, sure they wouldn't be able to find me, I began building Sanctuary, as a way to- to show others that there will always be a safe place for them to retreat to, a place I didn't have for-" he chocked a laugh "a long long time.
" And while I was building Sanctuary I had this absolutely horrible feeling growing inside until it felt like it was chocking me from the inside. I though to ignore it until it would stop be from building my safe haven, and then Eddie came. I didn't realize how much I missed him until he was right in front of me and I just.....cried.
"I don't- haha! I don't think I cried so much so quickly! And after that I just realized how much I missed.... everyone. My Tios, tias and primos and primas and the gardener who lived by the well and the butcher by the field and...... and my mami," His voice cracked horribly" just- just.... everyone."
Sausage wiped the tears that flowed on his shoulders, his hands still enveloped in the large soft hands of the god sat in front of him. Joel removed a hand from where they were joined, cupping Sausage's cheek and wiping away the tears. Sausage leaned into the hand sweetly.
Sausage had always been a crier, more for others than himself, and comfort for his own tears were not rare but uncommon . Joel looked down at him with sympathy and -surprisingly- wonder.
"And how," Joel began, hand still cupping Sausage's cheek and gently stroking it "how did you get rid of it? The feeling- I mean." Sausage laughed "I never got rid of it or made the load less, I just- found a way to carry it easier." Joel huffed in confusion.
"Surely, there must be a way to- to be gone with this hallow mess?"
Sausage shrugged one shoulder "Perhaps. But I've never found one. And-" he smiled "I like that hallow mess."
Joel blinked and gawked at him "Wha- you actually like this feeling!? How!? it's icky and gross and hallow-"
"And its a reminder, at least to me." Joel blinked again and furrowed his brows "It reminds me of all those I've lost and gives me the chance to grieve them with everything I have. Some days it feels easier to carry it to the point I forget it's even there and other days it stops me from leaving my bed. The only way to make it easier to carry is by acknowledge its there at all."
Joel held his hand firmly, as though in the process of a final decision "I- I made them temples in remembrance." He sounded desperate, as though trying to convince himself "Isn't that enough?" he asked quietly.
"Clearly not," it was Sausage's turn to hold the other's cheek "you wouldn't be here -like this- otherwise."
"But do I have to keep carrying it? This grief?" Joel closed his eyes and nosed the palm of Sausage's hand, leaning into it like a cat to comfort. Sausage held his heart at bay "I don't know." He whispered. it was a confession to a God, but instead of a confession of sin, it was a confession of guilt.
Sausage didn't know, he never knew. For so long as he seemed confident that everything would turn out well, everyone else would feel confident.
"But you can learn."
For a moment it was just silent, with nothing but the cackle of the fire and the sleepy snores of Bubbles echoing. Distantly, Sausage realized that they were both now dry, Joel's toga still sticking to his pronounced chest. His hair was now tangled and frayed, his skin flushed at the heat and his lips still awfully pink.
"Maybe," Joel opened his eyes and huffed smiled, a bit sad but cheeky and Sausage was so fond "maybe we both can learn. I know you like this pain but- but there really is no need to keep hurting yourself like this. No matter how much you think its good."
Joel was right, no matter how much Sausage liked the feeling- it still hurt.
Sausage smiled and giggled "Think I can't handle the load?" he began, before retracting his hand and flexing his arm " All these muscles beg to differ." Joel laughed "Too bad they aren't as big as mine." Sausage eyed the muscles on his god with a faux critical eye "I don't know," he leaned forward with a smirk, barely able to hold back his giggles.
"they seem 'ok' at best." Joel gasped loudly "How dare you!? I'll have you know these muscles can lift mountains without breaking a sweat!" he flexed an arm, still keeping the other in Sausage's hand.
"Oh, I believe that, they just seem so lackluster nowadays I just forgot." He snickered and felt his face warm at the practically sinful smile on the God's face "Be careful with your words, Sausage." He said in a low tone, leaning forward till their foreheads were just barely touching "If I were a lesser God, I would've punished you for such slander."
Sausage swallowed "Oh?" he whispered into their shared space "And how would you?"
Joel inhaled a shaky breath "I would take from you." said like a confession.
"What would you take?"
"Anything you're willing to give."
Sausage huffed a laugh at that "Wouldn't be much of a punishment then, would it?" Joel shrugged with a smile "I never said I was unjust god." sausage squeezed their entwined hands, shaking slightly.
"And," he began, careful but shaky as he looked into the deep eyes of his media naranja" and if I were to give you everything?"
"Then," Joel pressed their foreheads together "I will take it all."
Perhaps it was the warmth, perhaps it was the grief or perhaps it was the magic. Because nothing human could describe the way his active soul rested the moment their lips slid into place. It wasn't like two puzzles pieces slotting together, no, it was as though metal and wood were wielded together in a blacksmiths fire.
The creation of something that could both destroy and protect etched its escence into Joel's hands as they held Sausage's tilted face, his own hands rested on Joel's thighs. Their lips sliding against another like tides pulling one another, and Sausage was powerless to stop himself from sinking.
He pulled himself back for a gasp of air and was pulled quickly back in with a tongue pledging into his mouth. The heat and passion was slow, like a fire spreading through wet lands. He moaned in surprised before leaning in to the kiss, his hands now in the hair of his Ninfa and grasping at his scalp. Joel moaned deeply in response, the sound vibrating from Sausuage's lips to his toes.
Joel pulled away and the two were left panting into their mouths, the heat sizzling like a stove and the energy crackling like lightning. Their faces red and Sausage slowly messaged the god's scalp and smiled at the way he leaned into the touch.
The two continued to stare, they would've stared into infinity, until Joel pulled a hand away from where it messaged his scalp. He brought the hand to his lips and kissed Sausage's knuckles, he then moved to his palm and kissed there as well. Sausage's hands were rough with years of labor, the heat of hammered silver leaving its mark.
Joel moved lower to kiss the inside of his wrist and nosed at it " Είσαι το φως μου, αγάπη μου." Sausage didn't need to know Greek to respond.
"Qué hermoso te ves,Te amo más que nada en el mundo." He moved forward and gave a small kiss to Joel's forehead.
Joel blinked slowly at him before smiling sadly. Sausage's heart plummeted to the underworld, had he interpreted his words, his actions wrongly?
"I know I should get going by now," Sausage blinked "but I really don't wanna'." Joel chuckled softly. Sausage took a shaky breath and smiled brightly "You can always stay, for the night." for Forever. Joel huffed softly and leaned back on his arms "Sorry to say, λατρεία μου, but I'm a bit too big to fit." His smirk positively devilish.
Sausage eyed him- from his profound pecs, down his toned stomach and arms and to his beefy legs- and met his eyes with a challenge but kept his voice as light as he could "We'll make it fit." he watched gleefully as Joel's face turned several shades of red and pink. He laughed before pulling himself off the floor "Wait here, hermoso."
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Joel watched as Sausage walked down the corridor and up the stairs before covering his flushed face with a towel, he was the god! How was he rendered speechless like this so quickly!? He sighed heavily, stars above he was a mess. Though, he could not bring himself to even pretend to regret coming here, his cheeks (facial) hurt from how much he was smiling.
The emptiness-the grief in his chest still hadn't left but the shadows stopped pulling at his wrists and ankles like chains. They were still wrapped around his joints but the painful bruises there weren't being constantly poked anymore. And it felt good, like relieving a particularly bad cough that came from your throat.
Joel knew he was amazing at many, many things but comforting others wasn't one of them. He wished he was, then maybe he could've comforted Sausage better. No matter how handsome he looked while crying, it still put lead in his heart to see those tears.
He heard footsteps return and tried to compose himself, taking a piece of forgotten croqueta and chewing on it. When Sausage returned, he entered with a mattress under one hand and several large blankets and pillows on his shoulders. Joel raised a brow "Need some help?" carrying that much stuff must've been difficult.
Sausage just smiled "Nah, its ok! I do this all the time when Hermes and I are making pillow forts!" he set the mattress down and arranged the blankets snugly before tucking himself in. Sausage patted the empty spot next to him, Joel crawled over and joined him, unfurling his wings and blowing out the lights in the process.
The two laughed before shuffling closer together, Joel's wings covering Sausage like there weren't more blankets around them than necessary. Sausage wrapped his arms comfortably on Joel's hips while Joel wrapped his arms around Sausages neck, tucking his head over Sausage's, their legs tangled.
There was still a storm raging -both outside the house and inside their hearts- cold and painful, bound to flood and drown them if they continued to do nothing.
"Goodnight, mi vida."
But that was for tomorrow. Right now, with Sausage in his arms, everything could wait.
Thinking about how minecraft moss can only grow over what's already here, how it removes everything that's not it's kind as throughly as possible. Thinks about how for it to grow, grass must die and stone is consumed.
Thinks about Joel, King of Mezalea, who forced the green and the lush to cover unfitting terrain, how, in a biome harsher than a desert, he and his people prosper, bright and colourful, over ancient mines and terracotta, how all his people are also him, in a way.
Thinks of the way Joel is so dismissive of a demon, of corruption, really, of how he looked at tentacles, things that were supposed to be threatening, and made it from Xornoth's corruption into his own, into a lovely tree, and just didn't turn the other ones because he wasn't interested.
Thinks about how Joel dies, dies again, and comes back. Thinks about how Mezalea is, more than terracotta, that they sell to outsiders, concrete and moss, growing over what's unfit or weaker than then. Thinks about how gods, in the lands of the empires, are either dead or gone, with the exception of Aeor and Exor. Thinks about how the world is young, young enough it doesn't make much of a difference.
Thinks about Joel, and his own subtler, more beautiful form of corruption – One that makes him the corruptor rather than the corrupted, the one who fights and attacks and kills, rather than the one who is fought, attacked, and killed.
Hello! Empires Joel and Lizzie for angst # 5 please, specifically after Lizzie lost her memories and Joel found her
Coming right up! This one was also fun to write!
“My heart tells me to kiss you, my head tells me to walk away”
Tws: crying, yelling, mentions of blood and gods, implied death closer to the end, broken hearts, (please tell me if I missed one!)
Joel looked at Lizzie—not up, she had somehow gotten shorter and lost her blue hue, they were about the same height again—with tears his his eyes. She looked… confused. Lost, even. She was staring at him wearily, as if not sure to trust him.
“Who… who are you?” she asked.
He swallowed his tears and smiled at her, trying to look somewhat put together. “I… It’s me,” he said. “Your husband.”
She took a step back and Joel felt his stomach drop. “No, you must be mistaken,” she told him. “I’m not married.”
Joel matched her step back with his own going forwards. “But you are,” he pressed. “To me. Look, you have my ring and I have yours!”
He lifted his left hand to show off a beautiful silver band, decorated with lapis and emeralds that shined in the sparkling sun. She hesitantly lifted hers and saw a matching gold band with rubies and emeralds. Her eyes watered as she dropped her hand and looked at him.
“Who are you?” she repeated.
His breaths were shaky as he tried to not cry. “Your husband,” he sobbed, the damn finally breaking. “Gods above, Lizzie, why don’t you remember me?!”
His words echoed around them, he had shouted on accident. Lizzie had tears falling down her face as well. It was heartbreaking, the two of them. They stood, tense, waiting for the other to break it.
“You make my head hurt,” she whispered, shattering the quiet. “My heart tells me to kiss you, my head tells me to walk away. It tears me apart.”
Joel didn’t know what to say. He just fell to his knees and sobbed. He never cried this hard in his life, but he couldn’t stop. Lizzie took a few steps back, each time getting farther and farther away.
When Joel looked up after he finally finished crying, Lizzie was gone. All that remained was the wedding ring, sat neatly on the floor where she had been standing. Joel sobbed anew and screamed. He punched the floor until his knuckles were bloody and cussed out every god he knew the name of and then some.
—
Bonus bc I felt like it:
Years after the destruction of the empires, archeologists would find two beautifully carved rings, preserved perfectly over time and one lone skeleton clutching them like a lifeline.
