Afternoon settled quietly over the kingdom's dungeons.
The underground halls were still, save for the occasional drip of water from the ancient stone ceiling and the distant crackle of torchlight.
Inside the only occupied cell, Osric sat cross-legged upon the floor.
A half-melted candle rested in his lap.
In one hand he held a small carving knife, while several tiny chisels lay neatly arranged beside him.
It had become his favorite way to pass the endless hours.
Every year on his birthday, the kingdom allowed him a small gift.
Wax.
Wicks.
A handful of carving tools.
Though he no longer served as the kingdom's Chandler, they still allowed him to continue the craft he had once loved.
Slowly, patiently, he carved delicate vines into the candle's surface.
"...There."
He smiled to himself.
"Not bad."
For a brief while...
The prison almost felt peaceful.
Then...
A familiar ache pulsed behind his spiral eye.
Osric's smile faded.
"...Not again."
The pain began as little more than a dull pressure.
It always did.
Years spent living in near-constant darkness had slowly changed that eye, twisting the once-normal pupil into an unnatural spiral.
Ever since...
The pain returned without warning.
Some days it faded.
Other days...
It became unbearable.
Osric pinched the bridge of his nose.
"...Damn it."
"I know where this day is headed."
With a sigh, he carefully set his carving tools aside before rising to his feet.
A strange sound echoed just outside his cell.
He frowned.
"What now...?"
Walking toward the iron bars, he glanced into the corridor.
A wooden bucket sat balanced precariously above the doorway.
A thin rope stretched across to the neighboring cell.
Osric blinked.
"...What?"
Before he could make sense of it..
Heavy footsteps approached.
Axe.
The towering executioner rounded the corner, his massive axe resting lazily across one shoulder as always.
"Oh."
"Hey, Ax-"
Before he could finish...
The rope snapped.
The bucket tipped.
An entire cascade of icy water came crashing down directly onto Axe.
Silence.
Water dripped from his hair.
From his clothes.
From the enormous axe still resting on his shoulder.
Osric stared.
Then...
A tiny laugh escaped him.
"...Pff..."
His hand immediately flew over his mouth.
"...Oh no."
Axe slowly turned his head.
Though blind...
His gaze somehow landed perfectly upon Osric.
The smile vanished from Osric's face.
"...Wait."
"It wasn't me."
Axe calmly reached for the keys hanging at his belt.
One by one...
The locks clicked open.
Osric swallowed.
"...Axe."
"Listen."
The heavy cell door creaked shut behind the executioner.
He approached with slow, deliberate steps.
Osric instinctively backed away.
"I swear, it wasn't my doing."
Without warning, Axe caught him gently, but firmly, by the throat, pressing him back against the stone wall.
The impact wasn't enough to hurt.
Only enough to keep him still.
Water continued dripping from Axe's soaked clothing.
"...Quite amusing."
His voice remained calm.
"Soaking the cat."
Osric grabbed hold of the wrist around his neck.
"I didn't!"
"It was the idiots next door!"
"You know I'd never waste perfectly good water on a prank like that!"
For a long moment...
Axe said nothing.
Then he loosened his grip just enough for Osric to breathe comfortably.
"...Maybe."
He leaned closer.
"But..."
"You laughed."
Osric immediately felt heat rise to his cheeks.
"...Come on."
"It was funny."
"I don't deserve punishment just because I laughed-"
His voice grew louder.
Axe gently covered his mouth with one hand.
"...Indoor voices."
He murmured.
"You know my ears."
Osric sighed through the hand covering his mouth.
Right.
Axe's hearing was painfully sensitive.
Even slightly raised voices could become overwhelming for him.
"You never learn."
The executioner's tone held more amusement than anger now.
He tilted Osric's chin upward slightly.
And closed the distance without a word, his breath grazing Osric's skin before his teeth sank into the nape of his neck, a possessive bite that sent a sharp jolt through the silence.
Instinct took over. Osric's free hands seized the wet, blood-soaked cloth clinging to Axe, his grip tightening until his knuckles turned white.
Under Axe's control, Osric always felt helpless, and his hands betrayed him with a faint tremble.
Axe reached for the buckle of Osric's pants before leaning in to claim his lips in a deep kiss.
This was ridiculous.
Osric slowly undid the buttons of Axe's shirt, revealing a sculpted, puppet physique etched with a scattering of fine cracks.
The punishment that followed was familiar to them both, more intimate...
Osric could feel his heartbeat racing despite himself.
"...You impossible cat..."
He muttered once Axe finally allowed him to speak again.
Axe only smiled.
"Exactly."
The quiet intimacy continued behind the privacy of the locked cell, the cold stone walls bearing silent witness as the afternoon drifted onward.
Several hours later...
The dungeon had once again fallen quiet.
Osric lay sprawled across his narrow stone bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
"...Ow."
He shifted slightly.
Immediately regretted it.
"...Definitely ow."
His neck bore several small bite marks, while faint bruises peeked above the collar of what remained of his shirt.
The poor garment itself had fared even worse.
"...That cat owes me a new sweater."
He sighed dramatically.
Despite the complaint...
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Then..
The familiar ache returned.
Stronger.
Far stronger.
Osric instantly pressed one hand over his spiral eye.
"...No..."
The pain pulsed violently through his head.
He clenched his teeth.
Not now.
Please...
Not now.
Footsteps echoed through the corridor.
Steady.
Measured.
Different from Axe's.
Osric forced himself upright.
Standing outside the bars was Hale.
The kingdom's healer.
He rarely visited more than once each month.
Seeing him again so soon was unusual.
"...Hale?"
Osric instinctively folded his torn shirt closed, suddenly aware of the state he was in.
"What brings you down here?"
Hale offered his usual gentle smile.
"Axe thought..."
"...that you might need me."
He lifted a neatly folded sweater.
It looked identical to the one Osric normally wore.
Osric stared.
"...Seriously?"
"First he ruins my clothes..."
"...then sends you to replace them?"
A weary laugh escaped him.
"...That ridiculous cat."
He reached through the bars, accepting the sweater.
"...Thank you."
After quickly changing into the fresh garment, he sighed contentedly.
"...Much better."
The fabric was soft.
Warm.
Comfortable.
Hale carefully studied him.
"You look exhausted."
"And..."
His gaze lingered briefly on the fading marks around Osric's neck.
"...Rather sore."
"Would you allow me to examine you?"
Osric shook his head almost immediately.
"I'll survive."
"I always do."
Before Hale could reply..
Pain exploded through Osric's eye.
He gasped.
His hand instantly clutched over the spiral pupil.
"...Ah-"
Hale stepped forward instinctively, forgetting for a moment that the bars prevented him from reaching the prisoner.
"Osric!"
"Is it your eye again?"
Osric forced a smile despite the pain.
"I-I'm..."
"...Fine."
The lie convinced neither of them.
Hale sighed softly before opening the satchel hanging from his belt.
Inside rested dozens of carefully organized medicines.
He withdrew a small tablet wrapped neatly in paper.
"Wizzy helped develop these."
"They won't remove the pain."
"But..."
"They may ease it."
He offered the medicine through the bars.
Osric hesitated only a moment.
Then accepted it.
"...Thank you."
He swallowed it without complaint.
Hale watched him carefully.
There was little else he could do.
"...Please."
"Take care of yourself."
Osric nodded weakly.
"I'll try."
The healer offered one last reassuring smile before disappearing back into the darkness of the corridor.
Silence returned.
Osric slowly leaned back against the stone wall, one hand still covering his aching eye.
Hello darling! Here for a sudden question I am asking a lot of people!
If your KoM OC was stranded on a deserted island, which 1–3 puppets would they bring with them? It can be any puppet!
(And for the sake of this question, let's just imagine that puppets can survive in direct sunlight.)
Hmm... that's interesting one. Knowing Axe he need at least one puppet to have fun with, at least to play with their head if they die, so... Jestyn, he is his king for now, cus Crownus somewhere in Hell(idk), and he needs someone same sarcastic as him. Second is Osric, but he will sit in the wood cell somewhere so Axe can still tease his ass.
And third... Maybe two his favourite heads of other puppets. Just to make sure his collection is under his watch.
Приветик дорогая!^^ уж стало очень интересно спросить кое о чём, если ты не против 👀
How would your baby Axe react on finding out that there's a new puppet named Mr Shadow?(Or just Shadow) Will he go meet him and try to be mean to him? X)) or he rather going to be interested on who is he and try to talk with him for a bit (rather ask him questions)
If Shadow was curious about his eye's... Will Axe show what happened to them? By removing his hat (I don't remember anymore how they're called.. forgive me, my dear)
Well... I think that's all, idk what to ask XD
I hope I didn't bother you with your work!
Axe is very cautious about his face and eyes, but he would never show that. He will joke and flick Shadow nose, calling him out for being too curious about Executioner, and threaten to throw puppet into cell just to make sure he wouldn't ask again.
Hello love! I had a funny thought
When or if Osric does get out of the prison someday. I am SURE Osric would tease Executioner for this because he wouldn't be his mouse or toy anymore. How would Axe react to this? xd
Ohhh that's interesting. Actually, Axecutioner, or shortly Axe, would gladly tease him back. Tho if Osric brave enough to come back into dungeon after returning his freedom. And who said little mousie will stop being perfect toy for a cat even if it's tail not in mousetrap.
