#eye puns

[the-demon-of-a-thousand-eyes]

The always amazing and talented @lustylita drew this captivating and mesmer-eyes-ing Theia for my birthday! I am blown away and I will forever be floored by this breathtaking image. Theia is from my fanfiction, The Demon of a Thousand Eyes. It's on AO3 with the same name, or the Tumblr masterlist can be found here.

[newbloggycat]

Joke of the day - Eye know

Joke of the day – Eye know

Okay, eye will roll over. http://www.pinterest.com

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[hook-on-fandoms]

Nein Bad Eye Jokes and Puns cause I need to get them out of my system before tonight

1) group: someone keep an eye on Beau and Caleb. Somnovum: what if somenine keep an eye on them?

2) We said SOMEONE keep an eye on Beau and Caleb not Somnovum keep an eye on Beau and Caleb.

3) group: someone keep and eye on Beau and Caleb. Somnovum: okay, (grows two eyes on them) group: NOT LIKE THAT

4) Beau and Caleb: We are gonna go read some more of this book group: We’ll keep an eye you Beau and Caleb: Oh don’t worry Somnovum already did

5) group: everyone keep an eye out for danger Beau and Caleb: cool we still have 2 free for reading group: NO

6) someone in the group: I’m gonna go talk to them can someone keep an eye on me Beau and/or Caleb: Sure we have one to spare each person: NOT THAT EYE

7) Beau and Caleb: So we had a dream of eldritch being welcoming us and no have an extra eye each Fjord: laughs uncontrollably calling them suckers

8) Caleb while poofing Frumpkin into existance: Look guys we have the eyes of nine people now (18 eyes between them total)

9) Beau (whenever responding yes to Fjord): eye eye eye captain 

Fjord: it’s only two ayes

Beau: but I have 3

[alicec-666]

"Eye can see you, kid!"

Daaaaamn, do I miss drawing him xd

Trying to figure out how to make interesting backgrounds... Yet, close to everything I make is rather cliche..

Anyway, hope you enjoy! ~

I may draw my own characters more, but that doesn't mean I have forgotten the best chaotic shape unearthed ^^"

[infamouslydorky]

Went to the eye doctor today...

Doctor: Your optic nerves are a little larger since the last time you visited and given your family history, you may develop glaucoma when you’re older.

Doctor: We’re gonna have to keep an eye out for it.

Me: Was that a pun?

Doctor: …I guess it was. Not intentional though.

Me @ me: My dude, you may seriously lose your vision when you’re older. This is not the time to turn a blind eye for the sake of a pun.

Also me: lol “turn a blind eye”.

[the-demon-of-a-thousand-eyes]

The always lovely, skilled, and talented @hurthermore drew this sweet, almost cornea art of Theia and Al for my birthday! Thank you so much for this, luv, and keep doing everything you do! She always has her eyes on him, her 'mon point focal', so it's only fitting all those eyes would be looking his way!

Theia is from my fanfiction The Demon of a Thousand Eyes. It can be found on AO3 or on my Fanfiction Masterlist.

[the-demon-of-a-thousand-eyes]

𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒟𝑒𝓂𝑜𝓃 𝑜𝒻 𝒶 𝒯𝒽𝑜𝓊𝓈𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝐸𝓎𝑒𝓈 𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 40 Sight a Proposal, Plans Go Awr-Eye

Pairing: Alastor x F!OC (Theia, The Demon of a Thousand Eyes)

Chapter Summary: You, Alastor, and Ombre get your dance to 'We Three' by The Inkspots, Alastor gives his proposal speech, and friends get to give their congratulations. Even 'Uncle' Noctua makes a surprise appearance. It's not the only surprise in store, however…

Word Count: 8.7k

Warnings: Implied Cannibalism, Alastor talking for fucking waaaaay too long, kidnapping

A/N: I haven't finished writing 43 and I suspect I might never complete it, but I will give you all what I have left, and at the end of the chapters in the notes, you can find what my initial plans were for this story, as I've had it for quite some time. Find me in the after chapter notes for an explanation as to why I have decided to leave this story as a mostly WIP despite knowing the entire story's ending.

It’s late into the afternoon by the time you’ve finished your postponed meal at the cannibal café with Alastor, and you feel quite full and satisfied. A complete twenty minutes later, and the two of you are in the town square. The sun is low in the sky but it’s not dark enough for the streetlights to come on just yet. Every part of the square is still covered in those bows of red ribbons with the black lacy overlay topped with an eyeball bead. They stare at you from every street lamp, bench, tree, and hydrant.

In the gazebo, there is a full piece band, and they’re ready to play any song that you choose. Alastor, remembering your request for ‘We Three’ by The Ink Spots, relays the message to them, and pulls you into a waltz.

The three of you are gliding simply, Ombre about your shoulders as usual, with just a simple box step over and over again and you let him lead, always will let him lead if he’ll let you follow.

Your gaze is locked on his as Ombre begins to murmur the words in your ear, singing the song with which you’re so familiar.

“We three, we're all alone

Living in a memory

My echo, my shadow, and me

We three, we're not a crowd

We're not even company

My echo, my shadow, and me.”

He pulls you into a dip and you sigh with a smile on your face, pleased to meet him nose to nose once more as you come back up again to continue the simple box step.

“What good is the moonlight

The silvery moonlight that shines above?

I walk with my shadow

I talk with my echo

But where is the one I love?

We three, we'll wait for you

Even till eternity

My echo, my shadow, and me.”

He leads you into a spin and you know it’s coming long before it begins. You know his steps before he takes them, and you’ve learned the way his body directs you. As Ombre’s voice speaks the words spoken in the song, you shiver and nearly swoon as Alastor pulls you close to spin you gently in a circle.

“‘We three, we're all alone. Seems like we're livin' in a memory.

That's my echo, my shadow, and me.

We three we ain't no crowd.

Fact is we ain't even company.

That's my echo, my shadow, and me.

You know I been wonderin' 

what good is the moonlight 

that silvery moonlight that shines way, way up above?

Yeah, I walk with my shadow, I talk with my echo, but where is that gal that I love?’”

The look in Alastor’s eyes tells you that the gal is right in front of him; it’s you, and your eyes are full of love and devotion. He starts you both in on a simple box step again as the song continues and Ombre starts to sing again,

“We three, we'll wait for you

Even till eternity

My echo, my shadow, and me.”

Alastor spins you once more, and then as you meet him, he kisses you fiercely. As you break apart, Alastor murmurs, “While that song reminds you of us, nostre fiancé, it reminds us of you.”

Then the clapping begins, and you notice the whole town plus all the guests Alastor had invited have all gathered around the edges of the dancefloor, waiting for you to finish. You flush at the attention and wave.

Alastor summons his microphone, and declares, “Thank you all for joining us for this momentous occasion. Due to unforeseen circumstances—”

“—that honestly should have been foreseen given the nature of how the two of us work—” You cut in, and Alastor chuckles then continues,

“—my dear Theia has already accepted my proposal.” A round of groans before he waves them down. “Now, now, before we get all upset, my dearest has already agreed to let me give the speech I had written and she will say yes again so as to not upset all of you who took the time to make your way out here tonight. We both sincerely apologize for ruining the surprise but are grateful you came to enjoy the party and the festivities nevertheless!”

When Alastor is done with his announcement, he pulls you into his arms for another searing kiss. In the distance is Charlie, Vaggie (with her new eye) standing beside the princess, Angel, Husk, Sir Pentious, and Niffty at their feet. You see Rana, a small gathering of imps, one of which you recognize, a hellhound, and not far from them, you think you might see your ‘uncle’ as well.

Alastor manifests a piece of paper, winks, then begins. “Long before I met you for the first time, Rosie talked about you constantly, talked about the strange woman with so many eyes and a penchant for eating them. When she insisted I come to meet you, that you’d become incredibly depressed, of course I came at her behest. I’d longed to meet you, intrigued by the woman she’d spoken so highly of on so many occasions. 

“You fascinated me from the moment you introduced yourself, deliberately choosing an alias instead of your real name, and announcing it so distinctly as such. You were just as witty as I’d anticipated, and amusing to boot. Conversation with you was easy, despite your reluctance for it, and you spoke as if you knew of me, despite the fact that you’d claimed to never have purchased a radio. At least you hadn’t said you preferred TV.” 

The crowd laughs as tinny canned audience laughter escapes from his microphone; he winks, and then continues, “When Rosie spoke of redemption, it wasn’t that you didn’t believe in such nonsense, in fact, you made it quite clear you believed it could be possible, but that it never could be for you. While one could assume this was because of the choices you’d made, from what little I understood of you from what Rosie had said, it seemed to me it was quite the other way around. Your actions were dictated because of the impossibility of your redemption, not in spite of it.

“Needless to say, I was entranced. You were an enigma wrapped inside a riddle, and I wanted to understand your secrets. Perhaps a little too eager, as Rosie knew as well as I that you had many you were refusing to share with the world, and as you came to the hotel, I was curious not just of what your secrets entailed, but who you were underneath that cool exterior and near-perpetual smile you chose to wear.

“When you told our Angel Dust in confidence that the smile you wore is something you’d picked up from watching me ‘all these years,’ I was stunned. We’d only just met, and yet you seemed to know so much more about me than I’d ever anticipated. I teased you about it, but you were quick on the uptake, and banter seemed to flow between us as if we’d known each other for decades. 

“Calling you ‘dear’ and ‘darling’ started as a joke. Something to tease you about, ruffle your feathers. I liked to watch you flush, see your interesting reactions. Back then, I didn’t understand why. Now I can tell you it was because I had  the first inclination of budding attraction in all my life or death.

“Our first date was truly on accident. I had wanted to impress you, take you to the fanciest restaurant here in Cannibal Town, but I’d forgotten that Tourniquet is known for being a place exclusively for couples.” The proprietors of Tourniquet whistle at being mentioned, and you give them small smiles as they do so. Alastor then continues, “Not only was our conversation interesting and the meal delicious, you continued to intrigue me when you pushed back against my insistence to pay for the meal and somehow coaxed me into agreeing to take you to see my radio tower and to another meal together, with the threat that if I refused, that you’d tell Rosie I’d taken you on a date.

“While technically true, I was trapped, caught with the realization that I’d done so on accident, but with the knowledge that I still wanted it to be one. When we made our way to Rosie’s afterwards, as had been the plan, she saw through us immediately, as to be expected.” Your eyes find Rosie in the crowd and she smirks. You giggle behind your hand as Alastor continues, “You kept your end of the promise you’d made even though you didn’t have to; no deal had been struck. I threw caution to the wind when I saw you debating over choices that required refrigeration. I wanted you closer to me, so I had Niffty move your things to the suite beside mine.

“On the way back, when you saw that knife in the window, I knew it met the criteria for exactly what I’d described. It was somehow perfect for you, as if it had been made with you in mind, despite its location in a random innocuous shop window. A knife, sheath, and belt all adorned with eyes of gold and silver—it had to belong to you. So I took you inside, and purchased it. Calling you ‘dearest’ was a slip of the tongue, but seeing the way you responded, it felt like I’d done something right. 

“Then we went up to my radio tower, and somehow, it all fell apart. As part of our arrangement, I was allowed to ask you a question, and if you refused, I could choose another. I was greedy and curious, wanting to know about the powers you’d so eagerly kept to yourself as part of your deal with Vox, so of course that was my first question, which you immediately shot down. Then I asked you about what you’d been thinking about before you’d discovered the knife, and you turned sour when I asked you if you’d been thinking about kissing me.

“I didn’t mean for it to come out harsh and cruel, but as I’d told Rosie not an hour before, I was terrified at how I might respond if you showed real interest in me, had real interest in me. I wasn’t supposed to start finding you more interesting than your secrets, but you are quite funny when you want to be, and you expressed genuine interest in my work, and my mother, and even my choice of food, despite it being unpleasant or even unpalatable to others. 

“You grew cold with me, bitter, and pulled away from my side, talking of how you should have known it had just been a ploy for you to reveal all your secrets, that it was a trap and you had nearly fallen inside it, going so far as to insinuate that Rosie might have had a hand in it herself.

“You told me I didn’t have to pretend to have interest in you to learn your secrets, that bringing something to the table as equal trade for a deal would have been sufficient, but I was too stunned to answer. It was then, in that moment, as you told me I didn’t have to pretend that I realized I wasn’t, and it was seemingly already too late. When you spoke of keeping your agreement with me, about sharing a meal and even taking the knife’s first victim in front of me, I grasped at them like they were the key to survival, already drafting versions of an apology in my head.

“The next evening, when you were so inebriated you could barely stand, waxing poetic and using so many puns I could barely discern your meaning, you found me of all people in that hallway, collapsed in my arms and I carried you to your room, had Niffty dress you, wrote you a letter, and told you how utterly captivated I am by you. Little did I know that you were fully aware of it the whole time, aware that I was apologizing to you as you lay unconscious, thinking you were asleep.

“I had Ombre look after you but only from a distance, as you’d been so careful to include them in your insistence for space, not knowing that they too, were hurting, perhaps even more so, as they’d known from the beginning that they were intrigued and fascinated by you, and I was the one slow on the uptake for once.” 

Everyone chuckles, and he gives a sheepish smile as Ombre rumbles amusement as well, then he continues, “So when Ombre appeared on the awning above you as you left to go see your dear friend Rana and you encouraged me to appear, I did so, and you called me ‘Al’ again, like you’d done before. I didn’t understand, couldn’t understand, why you were suddenly alright with me, as if the events of two nights prior had never occurred, even as I called you Theia, respecting your boundaries and wishes, even as I saw that you winced when I did so. As you walked away, my thoughts were focused on continuing to draft that apology letter, revising and editing it over and over again in my mind.

“When the day you’d planned to make the meal we were to share together arrived and you’d told Niffty you needed an apron and oven mitts, I nearly broke at the thought of seeing you in one, all dolled up for me and serving me a meal.” He says sheepishly.

Angel calls out, “He fuckin’ bleated! Twice!”

The crowd laughs, and Alastor, a blush on his face, continues, “While we were on uncertain terms, I’d do anything to appease you, anything to give you what you wanted and needed, so when I saw you sit on the floor, I made my move, coaxed you to a chair, and went off in search of a very specific apron and oven mitt set, with trivets to match. I had it designed out of fabric I found, and was pleased it only took half a day to complete. Afterwards, I put on the suit I’d had my tailor perfect days prior, and prepared my room for our meal—our second date.

“I will never forget how you looked in that moment. You stole my attention and my breath in an instant. I have a detest for cameras, but then, in my room with you looking the perfect picture of a nineteen-thirties housewife, I wanted to capture your image to look upon at my whimsy, to never be rid of that wonderful display you’d chosen to make just for me. Then that dress, that little housedress changed before my very eyes into something stunning and elegant, and I thought once again that I’d lost my mind, even as you told me that I could call you those pet names that I so longed to call you again. I didn’t understand of course, but you said I could, and I would, had longed to call you them from the moment you’d told me to stop.

“Then I tasted the meal you prepared. The best meal I’ve ever eaten in my death. It reminded me of my mother, of the care in which she’d put into her meals, but it tasted like us, like a future we could have together. I didn’t understand why you were so easy and open and honest with me after our gross misunderstanding only two nights prior, but I accepted your explanation that I’d forgotten my rather embarrassing first draft of the note, riddled with little pet names and affections for you that I knew I had to leave out. You asked me about what my intentions were, and I was flummoxed, unable to answer.

“Just as I told you then, I had no idea what I wanted, was so focused on apologizing to you, on telling you that I just wanted you to no longer feel disdain for me, that I didn’t even conceive of the notion that you already had long moved on from forgiveness. The words you spoke, telling me that it was alright that I wasn’t sure what I wanted, that you’d let me have whatever I was willing to offer you no matter what that might be and at whatever pace that I wished nearly broke me again.

“When the meal was over, I gave you the candied eyes I’d bought, and you spoke words that hurt my heart at the very notion that you would think so lowly of yourself. I was determined to explain to you that if anyone else had said those words that I would gut them at your feet. Those words still hold true to this day. No one should ever say such things about you, ma très chère, least of all yourself. I must have made you uncomfortable, which upset me, but then you moved on to discussing how your first kill with that knife of yours would go, and I was fascinated when you told me you were aroused by the idea of killing someone in front of me. Of course I was fascinated. Arousal had never been something that enticed me, intrigued me, even as I yearned for you in ways I had never understood.

“So the next morning, after I’d escorted you to bed, you decided to be a little minx and turn on the radio. Of course I came to you, lured like a sailor to the rocks, and you coaxed me into breakfast after I coaxed you into dancing with me, and we spent the morning in the ballroom, dancing a lovely foxtrot to a song I’d never had the pleasure of dancing to while I was alive. Afterwards, I saw you off with a smile and affectionate kisses everywhere but your lips. I was starting to become acclimated to your touch, to touching you, and I have always been grateful that you allowed me to take things at my pace.

“When I came back to the hotel after tracking down your future prey, Niffty told me she found you in Angel’s room, and I didn’t even mean to, didn’t need to, but I found myself jealous. When you told me that it had just been to see his pet pig, that you’d been in there as his friend because of course you were. You are good to everyone around you—even to me—I grew bitter, furious, furious I no longer had a justified reason to be upset, and somehow, impossibly, you understood, spoke French to me, and broke me in an instant, broken for the first time of many.

“Yet even as you broke me, shattered me to pieces, you were careful with your precision to put me back together, carried the pieces of me that fell into your lap and took me to my room in the blink of your eyes. You let me hold you, communicate with you in a way you’d designed so that I didn’t have to speak, didn’t need words, and you curled into me in a way that just felt right. You told me about how your powers work, showed me how they work, told me that you saw how I took care of you that night when you were drunk, heard my apology and confession from my lips. I was shaken, to be sure, but pleased to know that you had heard it, for it had always been genuine. I encouraged you to tell me about how your deals work, since you’d been so eager to tease me with the notion before, and then you told me words that nearly broke me to this day. 

“You told me that when you made a deal with me, that you’d mark me, leave me with a gold eye with a silver iris, that you’d put it under my chin, so that anyone who looked up to me would know that I was yours. I will always be yours, bien-aimée, but in that moment, right then and there, I knew I wanted to be yours. So of course I kissed you, my first kiss to anyone besides my own mother. It was awkward at first, but you seemed to understand what I wanted, and helped make it better, made it perfect, just like you.

“Not long after, on that rooftop in front of your prey, you told me your name, let me carve it into your victim, then unleashed your demon form and I almost broke a third time. I didn’t know how much better it could be with you, but seeing you in your true form, two stories tall and shrieking, hungry and out for blood, was the best spectacle I have ever witnessed. You are radiant, ma beauté monstrueuse, and I was entranced, captivated, and aroused for the very first time as I watched you watch me as you slayed that sinner. Of course I made love to you for the first time that night, soaked in your victim’s blood. You were perfect, are perfect.

“I wanted your mark on my skin, and jumped at the chance to have it when you said I had to keep your name a secret. Of course I did.” He intertwines his fingers with yours and the deal glows once more. “I wanted everything with you, would have it in a heartbeat, but Ombre insisted, they wanted to be a part of this too. How could I say no? They had known from the start that you were the one who would be perfect for us both. The least I could do was give you the ability to understand them too, even if no one else can understand them.

“The next morning, we ate breakfast together; you broke me again, put me back together, showed me what the rest of the hotel was up to, and coaxed me into inviting you to the Overlord meeting. We made a laughing stock of the Vees once more together, learned some valuable secrets, and discovered a flier seeking you in a way that had you in a panic. I took you back to our rooms, and you called it ‘home’. It broke me to see you like that, but it also felt like I was taking you home, taking you back to the place that the three of us shared.

“You left me with a note the next morning, and it scared me at first. I thought you’d left forever, that you’d decided that this wasn’t enough, and I nearly screamed. You can never leave me, Theia. The deal we made prevents that, but in that moment, I was terrified, terrified you’d changed your mind, terrified that flier had sent you packing, running. Ombre, for that is what you named them, reassured me that you would return, that you had simply woken before I’d arisen and that you were participating in the day’s activities.

“When you returned to the hotel, I could tell that something was plaguing your mind, that you felt like something was weighing on your heart, but Niffty, our dear sweet Niffty, had decided that Boring Closet Stuff was to be explored. You seemed eager to have something distract you, and I was pleased to be in close proximity to you, even as I saw the new eye on your skin as soon as I’d set mine on you. I didn’t mention it, thought it best to wait, as Niffty led us into the mysterious room and all the fascinating objects inside. I collected that book that fell from the trap door and into the tunnel to the side, and I could never have known then how valuable it would become.

“We sat and shared time with Niffty in her little Hidey Hole, and you were eager to explain that you’d made a deal with me when Niffty asked about the eye underneath my chin. When she’d assumed we’d gotten married and you’d said it was more of a promise and she’d said it was like a proposal, I reassured her that it would be far more grand.” He looks up from the paper and into your eyes for a moment. “It was then that I had already started planning this evening.” Then he returns to his script, this love letter he drafted to you to read aloud to all of Hell.

“That night, you told me who you are, how you came to be Theia, the one who eats the eyes of her enemies, the one who takes charge and steals the gaze of anyone who sees her in an instant. You told me of the filth of a man who you rightfully removed from life after what you discovered he’d done to your friend, and you did it so creatively, I might add. I understand why you did what you did, Theia. I removed filth from the streets myself when I was alive. You told me of the curse that plagues you, and we vowed to remove it, even as we hadn’t yet discovered that it truly is a curse. The three of us made love for the first time that night: Ombre, you, and myself, and while you slept, Ombre and I poured over the book we’d discovered.

“We knew your whole story, the story you hadn’t shared, but perhaps you were unable to let your lips form the words, scared to say your family’s history. We were going to tell you what we found when you awoke, but a terrifying nightmare had you rising far earlier than anticipated. When you told me that it wasn’t a nightmare, that you see the true events that take place in Hell and gave me a perfect example of an event I already was aware of, I held you as you made sure that our Angel Dust was safe, that he and Husk were alright, together and happy. I reminded you that no matter what happened you were not to blame for the actions taken by another, and certainly not one as horrific as Valentino.” 

Your perfect vision around you refuses to deny you the look of shock and what you pray isn’t pity on Angel’s face. Husk takes and squeezes one of his hands. I’m glad one good thing came out of that horrible night, you decide as Alastor continues. “We coaxed you back to sleep, and in the morning, your dear friend Rana was eager to call you. We had a lovely talk, and we joined her and Rosie for tea. You had a surprise visitor, that with your impeccable eyesight, you saw before any of the rest of us did. Ombre and I would have lost it if it weren’t for Rosie and Rana. You terrified us, disappearing without a word like that. When you returned, we were so grateful, so joyful to know that you were alright. You spoke of a family member you hadn’t seen in years but were happy to be reunited with, and we were pleased to know that not all of your family was terrible, that you had someone in your life who treated you with respect.

“Afterwards, we discussed what I found in the book, about your curse, about the angel that performed it, about Boring Closet Stuff again, and about the possibility that you could be pregnant. You were panicked, crazed, dazed, and furious. You threw caution to the wind and announced that you would tear Valentino apart for what he’d done to Angel, and that you wanted me to watch you do it. Of course I said yes, as long as I was there to keep you safe, could watch the show. What a show indeed. You never cease to impress. It’ll be days before he respawns but when he does, I look forward to watching you do it all over again.

“That time we made love it was the most ravenous, primal, needy, and desperate I have ever been. I will never forget it and hope to do it again sometime, but not in your current condition.” Both his and Ombre’s hands move to your abdomen in unison, and you let them, placing your hand, your left, the one with the engagement ring, on top of both of theirs. “When Lucifer arrived at Charlie’s discretion, I made sure to keep your distance from him for as long as I could manage, knowing that you feared that if he saw you, he’d insist that you leave the hotel and never return.” Charlie’s face looks shocked and upset. Alastor doesn’t notice as he continues, “I wanted to distract you with killing the loan sharks, and while it was fun, it set you up to be seen by him as we returned. So the time came for us to sit down with The King of Hell about why you were here, about what could be done.

“I would never, will never allow anyone, not even Lucifer himself take you away from us, Theia. You are ours and we will never let you go. When you made that deal with Lucifer to protect the hotel to the best of your capacity, none of us knew you were pregnant, and much less with twins. Lucifer saw the twin souls in you, and I knew, in that moment, that the three of us were to be parents for sure.

“It was upsetting, to see you so terrified of motherhood, but after you allowed yourself to relax, I was grateful to know that you were reassured by Ombre and my abilities to father and rear our children at your side.” He lets the notes disappear back into his shadows, pulls you close, and looks into your eyes as he holds the microphone with one hand and, with his arm wrapped around yours, his other on your belly. “This morning, when you killed the sinner who started Theia’s whole story, you jumped into my arms, told me that you love me so impossibly much and then jokingly asked me to marry you.

“It was a challenge, and you know how I like those. I couldn’t let you just get away with saying that. I had a ring burning a hole in my pocket, even as I knew that Rosie was making sure the town was putting the finishing touches on this little event, even as I knew that all of our friends would be in attendance. So I fished out the ring box and proposed at your feet next to the corpse. I called you by your name, the name given to you at birth, and I asked you for your hand in marriage.

“Now, I will do the same, but I will say the name you chose, the name that matters far more to me because it is yours. Theia,” He says as he drops down to one knee again, simply for the sake of formality, “nostre reine, will you give me the pleasure, the honor, and the blessing of being my wife?”

Tears prick your eyes you didn’t know were coming, for even as you stood and listened to all of these words that he’s been speaking, you never expected your reaction to be like this. “YES!” You declare with a yell as you lean into the microphone, and he kisses the ring already on your finger.

The applause begins as a quiet thudding and escalates into a roar, loud yells and cheers and people jumping. Everyone is thrilled, and so are you. You see everyone deeply moved and overjoyed at the beautiful speech he delivered. When he takes a bow, you hear a click as the broadcast ends, and you smile through the tears that threaten to fall.

One by one, your friends approach you. Rosie first, as hostess, pulls you into a gentle hug, whispering, “Congratulations, dearie. I look forward to the wedding.” You kiss her cheek.

“Thank you, Auntie Rosie.” You give her a delighted smile.

Charlie is next, Vaggie beside her, and after Charlie almost picks you up and swings you around, a look from Alastor makes her change her mind. She sets you back down gently, and Vaggie offers you a hug, her arms open. You take it, smiling back at her.

It is a short embrace, and when it is over, she steps away from you. “Congratulations Theia!” Charlie declares excitedly. “When you’re ready, come to me and we’ll start planning your wedding! I already have a few ideas!”

“She has filled pages and pages of a notebook already.” Vaggie says, amused. 

You look to Alastor. “Didn’t you tell her just yesterday that you were going to propose?”

“No, nostre reine. This morning, actually, mere hours before you awoke.” He says, amusement in his eyes.

“So much already, why that doesn’t surprise me, Charlie; you’re always full of ideas!” You say easily, a little intimidated by how enthusiastic she is about the idea of planning your wedding.

Vaggie, sensing your unease, coaxes Charlie away, and Niffty runs up next. “When I said we’d talk later, Theia, I didn’t think it would be at your proposal party!” She giggles as Ombre makes room for her to crawl up and sit on your shoulder. She gives you a hug. “Congratulations!” She says and leans over to give Alastor a hug too, who looks surprised but pleased. “I expect to be a part of the wedding. One of the bridesmaids, maybe.” She thinks for a moment as she kicks her legs. “While I’m small enough in stature to be the flower girl, I’d really rather not.” She says with a chortle, and you chuckle along with her. 

“That’s understandable, Niff.” You say easily, and she gives you both another hug.

“I’m going to go see if Rosie needs any bugs killed! I’ll see you later!” She declares as she scurries off elsewhere.

Sir Pentious comes up to you both next.

“I don’t see why I’m always last to find out about these things.” Sir Pentious declares, irritated. “It appears the entire hotel knew you prefer to be called Theia despite The King calling you ‘Iris’ and that you’re pregnant except me?!”

“Sorry, Pen, these things happen sometimes.” You say sadly, feeling a little bad that you hadn’t managed to talk to him yet but glad he’d been able to make it anyway. “I’m glad you came, though, and I’ll be sure to spend more time with you soon.”

“Coming from anyone else that would be doubtful, but as it is you, I anticipate many talks with you in the future, Theia!” He says excitedly, and you smile as he slithers off into the crowd.

Angel and Husk walk up next. You delight in seeing them still holding hands from earlier. Angel drops the hand to pull you into a four-armed hug, but makes sure to hold you loosely and above the waist. “Congrats, Occhi!” He exclaims, and you wrap your arms around him. 

When he steps away, Husk pulls you into a hug, the first of its kind. You smile into his fur and wrap your arms around him too. He’s soft, far softer than you’d anticipated. He smells like family. “Congrats, kid.” He says affectionately, and pats you on the head. You chuckle. He turns to Alastor. “Congratulations, Sir. May she be good to you.”

“You’re too kind, dear Husker.” Alastor says with a knowing smile, and you frown at them both.

“Alastor, don’t put words in Husk’s mouth. He does enough for you already.” You pinch him on the ass, determined to prove a point. He bleats, his ears pinned back against his head.

Angel barks out a surprised laugh. “Do it again, Occhi!” He chortles, and you shake your head.

“Once was enough.” You say easily, then kiss Alastor on the lips gently. “Be good to your souls, Al. You know what happens to bad boys who don’t play well with their toys.” You say with a teasing smirk. “Though I would never cut you up, of course. I’d just deny you sex. After all, if you want me to find other ways to teach you a lesson, all you have to do is be good.”

“Kinky!” Angel says with a smirk, and you roll your eyes.

“Don’t you have elsewhere to be, Ange?” He laughs, but takes the hint.

“See you later, Occhi.” He waves, takes Husks hand, and leads him away.

“Later, kid.” Husk says with a wave of his own, his eyes never leaving Angel’s delighted face.

You don’t have much time to pay attention to how cute their new love is before Rana, Blitzø, a pair of imps you don’t recognize, and a hellhound step forward to see you. Rana pulls you into a fierce hug before she steps back to introduce everyone. “You already know Blitzø, of course, but the rest of the gang you haven’t met yet. This is Moxie and Millie, the other two members of I.M.P., and this is Loona. She works there too.”

“She’s also my daughter!” Blitzø supplies, and Loona groans and pulls out her phone. You giggle. Teenagers these days, always staring at their phones. “Where did—he was just here a fuckin’ minute ago.” You suspect you know who he’s talking about but don’t comment. 

“Pleased to meet you, Theia!” Moxie says with a soft bow.

Millie smirks, “Charmed, I’m sure. Rana’s told us all about ya.”

You laugh and offer your hand for them to shake, much to their surprise. “A pleasure to meet the both of you. When we’re not so busy, I actually have a task for I.M.P. No murder this time, unless that comes as a side benefit. I have a package I need delivered, and I’ll need it delivered to someone on Earth. I hear you’d be the ones to speak to about such matters. I’ll pay extra, of course.”

Blitzø brightens at the idea of more money. “We’ll talk later.” He says, and then looks around again. “Where the fuck did he go? He was so goddamn determined to be here, and now he doesn’t even bother to show when we finally get a fuckin’ chance to talk with the newly-engaged couple? He fuckin’ loves this sappy ass shit.”

You see your ‘uncle’ in the distance, see him hold a single finger up to the hood of the cloak he wears, and you understand, keep your head level. You’re not sure why he’s insisting on being stealthy, hiding from everyone, but he is.

“Maybe he went to get some refreshments.” You suggest as a means of distraction, and everyone takes it easily.

“I could go for some food.” Rana says, understanding your desire to get them to peel off on their own. Blizø follows behind, bitching the whole way; Loona stares at her phone as she leaves, muttering a half-hearted ‘congrats,’ and Moxie and Millie give their congratulations before they take up the rear.

After they are long out of earshot, your ‘uncle’ walks up to you gracefully. Keeping the hood up, he opens his arms, and you run and jump into his embrace. “Uncle Noctua!” You exclaim. “You came! How did you even know this was happening?”

“Word got around, as it always does, little nebula. Why you insist on calling me ‘uncle’ I’ll never understand, Iris. I’m only six years older than you.”

You laugh, resting your head against his chest. “You’re so much taller than me, silly. Besides, you’ll always be an old man in my eyes. You’ll live to see the end of time itself.”

“Don’t say such devastating things, little nebula. You’ll see it too, someday. Now that the book has been uncovered we can begin the task of breaking the curse.” He says easily, and lifts your chin to look into your eyes. “You’ve done so well so far. There’s not much more, I’m sure of it.” His gaze turns to Alastor then. “Now, Iris, introduce me to the man who has captured your heart.”

“Alastor, I give you permission to call me in front of Prince Stolas, son of King Paiman, Lucifer’s most loyal. Noctua, I’d like to introduce you to the man I have chosen as my better half. This is Alastor, The Radio Demon, and his shadow, Ombre. They are two sides of the same man, and the two halves of my better half.” You say, and Alastor smiles, offering his hand to shake as you step back into Alastor’s embrace.

“Iris, or Theia as she prefers to be called these days, has told me about you, your highness.” Alastor says with his ever-permanent smile, but it’s genuine, his words sincere. It is rare that he speaks to someone with more power than him with respect and decency, you suspect. “She speaks kind words about how you are the only family she considers truly hers. Thank you for showing her how family ought to treat her, so she has someone to think of how she’ll want our future family to be treated.”

“While Theia has not told me about you to the same extent, I know that she has chosen the right one for her, for only a man who knows her secrets, knows her story, knows her royal lineage and chooses to see past that could possibly live up to the standards set by both her and myself for what we hope to attain.”

You interject, curious. “Do you believe you’ve found that with Blitzø?”

“I think I have, little nebula, though there are times when I wonder about things.” He says with a sigh, and you see worry in his eyes.

“Time will tell, Noctua. I suspect it will all work out in the end, even if it’s a bit of a rough start. He was looking for you earlier. He cares about you, even if he has difficulty showing it. I’m familiar with these sorts of things.” You say as you squeeze Alastor’s hand. He squeezes yours back.

“I should be leaving now, little Nebula.” Stolas says, and you give him a sad smile.

“Are you still coming by the hotel tomorrow?” You ask earnestly, hoping to see him again.

“Absolutely. There is, I’m afraid, quite a lot to discuss. I hadn’t planned on coming tonight, but when dear Rana mentioned that your engagement party was tonight, I couldn’t stay away.” He opens up his arms again, and you leap into them once more. “Good night, little Nebula. Congratulations on your engagement, and I will see you soon.” He kisses you on the forehead, and you wave goodbye as you step once again back into Alastor’s embrace.

“Goodbye, ‘Uncle’ Noctua!” You call with a tease, and he laughs, his laugh echoing into the darkness as he retreats.

“He truly is a good one, Iris darling.” Alastor murmurs into your ear. “I’m glad you had someone as kind as him in your life growing up.”

“I am too.” You sigh into his ear as he pulls you close.

As the band strikes up something lively, Alastor asks with a bow, “May I have this dance, mon fiancé?”

“With you? Always.” You reply with a curtsy, and he pulls you into his arms to lead you in the complicated footwork required for the dance at hand.

It’s simple; it’s expected, and it’s soothing. This is a dance for lovers, and a dance for just the three of you, even as others partake beside you on the dancefloor. You finish the night with more dancing and refreshments, wrapped in his embrace.

It is so wonderful to have a night as quiet as this one, you think to yourself, I hope many more are just as enjoyable, just as calm.

Several dances and conversations later, everyone says their goodbyes to you and heads out into the night. Soon, it’s just Alastor, Ombre, Rosie, and yourself. It is dark. The streetlights have all come on to illuminate Cannibal Town in their glow. The square is empty, save for the beautiful wrappings on every tree, streetlamp, bench, wreath, and gazebo. It’s cool, and the air is impossibly still.

“Well, dears, the guest room is available for the night should you choose to stay.” She winks. “I changed the sheets already, so feel free to get a good night’s rest.”

You flush, realizing that she knows about your earlier escapades. “Thanks, Rosie.” You reply as you try to calm your breathing. As she walks away, your hairpin slips from your bun. As it clatters to the ground, you bend down to pick it up, and accidentally pierce your finger. The blood drips onto the pin and a few fall on the ground, soaking into the dirt.

“So thoughtful as always, Rosie dear.” Alastor replies, not noticing your little mistake. “We’ll gladly take you up on spending the evening in your guest room. It’s been quite a long evening and I’m sure Theia is exhausted.” You pick up the pin with your uninjured hand. A yawn escapes you before you realize it, and Ombre chuckles. Alastor kisses your forehead. As blood drips from your fingers, they remain unaware. “Right on cue. Let’s get you into bed, hmm?”

You nod, and he uses his shadows to materialize into the guest room again. Blood drips onto the carpet. Alastor’s eyes dilate as his nose catches the scent of your fresh blood. “Bien-aimée, have you injured yourself?” He lifts your hand to inspect it, sucks the finger into his mouth.

“I pricked myself on my own hairpin by mistake.” You say with an embarrassed laugh. “I’m just so tired.” 

He tsks and you let yourself be chided. “Ma très chère, you must take better care of yourself.”

“At least I have the two of you to take care of me.” You murmur, then realize where you are. “You know,” you say in between yawns as he closes the wound with his tongue. If I weren’t so tired this might have started something, you think with a shiver,  “we just as easily could have gone home. The effort to materialize here versus there is virtually nothing. I of all people would know.” 

“Yes, ma très chère, but it would be rude to have said ‘no’.” He says with a kiss to your finger and then your forehead. “Now are you awake enough to dress yourself, or shall I do it for you, bien-aimée?”

“In what, Al?” You raise an eyebrow. “Are you going to send Ombre for my nightdress?”

He chuckles, and manifests a wrapped present. “The first of many gifts, mon fiancé.” He says as he hands it to you.

You sit on the bed and inspect it. It’s not very large, clearly a garment box, wrapped in gorgeous red paper and an equally stunning black bow to match. There is elegant threading work on each. You take the time to undo the bow carefully and open the wrapping so as to keep it intact and avoid reopening the wound on your finger.

He chuckles, bemused, as he sits beside you, watches your careful and deliberate motions.

Finally, the wrapping falls open and you lift the lid. Under tissue paper, you find sheer red lace. As you pull it out of the box, you find a bra, panties, garter belt, stockings, and a robe to match, all in a stunning red and black. “You don’t have to wear it all to bed, of course,” he says with a nip at that mark on your neck, “but just know that you’d look ravishing in them.”

You shiver at the thought and Ombre pools onto the bed from your shoulders as you tug at the collar of your dress. It splits open, and you find yourself doing a sort of reverse strip tease as you stand, sliding off your plain white panties to slip the sheer red ones up and over your hips, followed by the stockings, one foot and then the other. Next is the bra, up and around your breasts then over your shoulders. Lastly, you take the robe, slide it over one arm and then the other, and lastly, cinch it at the waist with the belt.

Ombre practically leaps against you and you laugh as you wrap your arms around them, collapsing onto the bed with them next to Alastor, who pulls you tight against him with fierce kisses to your face as Ombre nips at your neck.

You laugh freely, pulling them each into a kiss one after the other and again, then Alastor slips down your torso to untie the robe. You laugh harder as he does so. “Was the point of wearing this just so you could take it off me? Otherwise I don’t see much point in wearing it in the first place.” You stifle a yawn, and he kisses your forehead.

“We shall have to save divesting you of these delightful garments until the morning, bien-aimée, for we really ought to let nostre fiancé get her beauty rest.” 

You yawn again and slip under the covers as Ombre curls into your side. Alastor settles on top of the covers in his suit and you raise an eyebrow. “Surely you’re not going to lay there and fall asleep on top of the covers, Al.”

“I don’t need to sleep, ma très chère.” He says with a half a shrug as he lays down on his side to stroke a hand through your hair.

“No, but you indulge sometimes, or is that just after we’ve made love?” You say with a raised eyebrow. “Will you indulge for me, mon fiancé?”

He sighs, but you can tell by the sparkle in his eyes that his smile is still genuine. With a snap of his fingers, he is naked save his boxers. His suit jacket and pants hang over a chair, his boots at their feet. His shirt is neatly folded on the seat. You pull back the covers and he slides underneath them, wrapping his body and legs around you as he pulls you flush against him. He nips at your neck and you whine, then yawn again.

With his hot breath on your neck, you relax as the two begin to snore in purrs and static. You find yourself drifting into slumber.

At first, all is still. It is a boring dream, you curled into the embraces of your lovers, your fiancés, the two halves of your better half, in Rosie’s guest room. You roll over to stretch your fingers, and as you do, the wound re-opens and a single drop of blood falls onto the sheet before it heals completely.

In an instant, a towering figure that nearly touches the ceiling appears at the far end of the room. As he walks towards you, recognition hits your features. It is your father, looking far older than the last time you saw him, but of course, sixteen years have passed. He grunts and glares, but says nothing as he shoves Alatstor aside and rips Ombre from you. As he lifts you from the bed and into his arms, he catches sight of the ring on your finger and you see his jaw tighten, gritting his teeth. His four eyes darken as he snatches it from your finger and sends it into his void.

You are furious but motionless as you lay limp in his grip, his clutches, and he disappears in a flash, a blink. The room shifts to the one that has felt like a jail cell ever since you were small. If you could shiver in fear, you would, but you are limp, motionless other than your calm, even breathing.

As your brain emerges from the dream, you whimper out, terrified by the images you’d seen, “Al?” Hearing no answer, you blink your eyes open and let out a scream. 

You remember that you don’t dream.

You’re alone. Your father snatched you in the night.

This is your childhood bedroom.

He took your engagement ring.

Just as soon as I get my ring back, I’m out of here, and I’m never returning again. He can keep his castle, his throne, his perfect son as his perfect king. I want nothing to do with any of them. I just want my peace, my husbands, and my children.

May Prince Seere rot in his little hole in his pathetic corner of Hell.

A/N:

Is this a better cliffhanger, or worse? cackles

In all seriousness, I have two and a half chapters left for y'all. You can have them, and then after if you want, I can tell you how the rest of the story was intended to go, as I've devoted myself to writing an entirely different story.

So in a surprising but welcome turn of events, I have fallen in love with a clown and created a circus with them.

Theia--Hellaverse Theia, that is--is a sweet child who I adore, but she isn't the same as my new favorite Theia.

Theia, The One Who Sees, is a fortuneteller gifted with The Sight. Her arms are littered with tattoos, one for each year of her life. She is cursed to have only a hundred years, has known this since she was seven. Her nanny took her to the circus to comfort her, and there she met the ringmaster she would focus on to get her through the next eighty-seven years of her life.

At such a young age, she has access to none of her powers until thirteen, when the entire world appears to her, is able to see everything everywhere all at once except for that small circus she longs to view once more. Trapped by her parents and forced to live in cramped, horrific conditions, she focuses on the music from the circus and the memories she has of that one magical night to keep her comfort, along with her addiction to peppermint candies she discovers she has.

This ringmaster, who would eventually take the name Peppermint Patches, realized his life's calling when he saw a young girl with eye tattoos terrified to go home. He devotes it to seeking her and all other children who are terrified to return to the place that should be comfort to him. In the years that follow, he forms a circus that is his family, and while he blames himself for never finding the girl with the eyes once more, fate and The Sight have other plans.

They meet once more as adults, and The Sight shows them the promise of a future completely and utterly devoted to each other. Her tentacles, The Ones That See, have known he was the one from the moment they awakened along with The Sight.

See them and all the rest of their magnificent circus in

The All-Seeing Circus!

First || Chapter 39 || Chapter 41

[the-demon-of-a-thousand-eyes]

@midnightwisterian drew this stunning art of my Theia! She looks like she's contemplating a hunt!