Eldritch Scritches Pt2
The long awaited sequel with everyones favorite sunshine :3
First person POV, eldritchy Sun, some talk of others fear at the beginning and a lot of snuggles (and some KISSING?? GASP)
Pt 1 here
When others were found, everyone was ecstatic. The town rejoiced as more boats arrived at the harbor, carefully avoiding the endless dock and the god that hissed at their ‘honkings’. It was only natural they would share your story, of the god you bent to your will through the power of scritches and pies. They laughed at first, but their voices died when they saw you walk out onto the dock and return safely.
The leader of the newer group came to your house one morning, bowing low with fear in his eyes. For a moment you feared it was directed at you, but as he sat and spoke it became clear.
“Please.” He begged, reaching out for your hand over the worn table. “Our home will be swallowed by the frenzy of the sun.” He swallowed, tears threatening his voice. “We have only a few days left.”
You agreed to board the boat the next day.
Moon was coiled around the leg of the dock when you arrived, carrying a basket with a fresh loaf of pumpkin bread. He purred when he discovered the chocolate within, his tendrils grabbing at your shirt as his hands were occupied stuffing it in his too wide mouth.
He squinted when you laid back with little argument, letting him splay out across your chest like a blanket. He was quiet for a long moment, letting the waves sing in their rhythm as you watched the stars.
“I’ll be gone for a few days.” His grip tightened, his face burying further into your neck as though he could avoid the words.
“I will eat the world.” He whined, no real malice in his voice. Your hands were gentle over his head, squeezing the tip of the tendril lightly.
“I’ll come back. I won’t even leave the sea for most of it. You can follow me.” Moon grumbled something ancient, hairs standing on end as you continued to pet him.
“Why must you leave me?” You couldn’t help the little smile, even if it made him pout.
“I’m not leaving you. The boats from the north need a little saving of their own, and they asked me to do it.” He jolted up, pinning your shoulders down as his many eyes opened. All of them stared down at you.
“The north.” The wind hissed, his eyes blinking red. “The Sun.” He spat the words, glancing around as your hand squirmed up to reach him.
“Are you afraid?” Moon spat out a bitter laugh, flopping back down to curl around your body even tighter.
“I fear nothing.” Despite the protests he held you close long into the night, for the sake of your own heart you didn’t dare pull away until the first rays of light began to crest over the horizon.
“Promise you’ll come back.” He whispered, the whispers of night growing quieter.
“I promise. I’ll even bring you a treat for being good.” You could only hope you could keep that promise.
The journey was three days of travel, each night the whispers of the sea would draw you down onto the deck just above sea level, the salty air splashing you as night crept up to grab your hand. Moon couldn’t quite get onboard, but it was nice to have more company nonetheless.
Their island was beautiful, tall mountains loomed speckled with long thin pine trees, rivers rushing down to greet the town tucked safely below. One mountain stood tall above the rest, piercing the clouds as it seemed to shift and shimmer. It was sunrise when you arrived, the boats swelling with people who wished you luck as they took their families to the relative safety of the boats.
If you did not return, they would run to your home. You hoped Moon would be welcoming.
The hike was long and tiring, the sun chasing after your footsteps as you climbed. It stared down at you when you finally reached the top, a dirt trail with dead grasses leading to a cliff to nothing, with a bleached pale stone gate swirling with words you could not comprehend.
The clouds parted with a burst of light, forcing you to shut your eyes as the heat of day grew stronger.
“Hellooooooo new friend.” The voice was warm and crackly, like static clinging to fabric. “I see someone finally came to play… with… me…” Despite the blinding light beyond your eyelids you could feel things shifting, eyes upon eyes twisting around to look at your every angle. The air crackled with each movement, until it stilled in front of you, getting dimmer.
“Friend. Would you please remove your arms and look at me?” Carefully you listened, the light no longer blinding just a bit… harsh. You could see the outline of something yellow and white, glowing like metal stuck in a furnace too long.
“Ohh no- I’ve heard of you and all your tricks!” Their voice became higher near the end, shielding themself away from you in an odd change of pace. “You and your ‘petting’, Night eater may have been silly enough to try it but you wont trap me with it! No way!” Well this was a surprise.
“You know Moon?” They huffed, muttering something too fast to hear.
“Moon then, human titles. Whatever the point is, I have lots of new friends down here waiting to play with me and none of your schemes will stop me!” He stomped, steam rushing from somewhere far above your head.
“Oh darn, I was hoping we could play something!” You jolted as he turned to move, the words tumbling out before you could think better of it. Sun paused as the feeling of eyes returned, his glowing form circling around you.
“A game?”
“I had it all planned out too. Oh well, if you had other plans-” The glow snapped in front of you, blocking the path down.
“Wait! I- what kind of game?” His eyes twisted as though his face was swaying back and forth without moving his head.
“It’s a human game.” You stated simply, settling into the grass that had grown up high enough to tickle your calves, patting the area in front of you. “If you want to play with humans you’ll want to learn some of our games first, right?” He stood still, face blurring against the sun that haloed it as limbs twisted into spindly but humanoid shapes.
“I suppose…” Sun murmured, his head a blur as it twisted upside down then snapped up into a shimmery metal visage of a smiling face with the rays of the sun.
“Wonderful! This will also help you out with your hands, it must be odd to have new limbs.” You left out Moon’s own struggle with his hands, how too many fingers worked to massage across your palm when they were sore from scratching along his back. Sun huffed but said nothing, settling in front of you in a mirror of your crossed legs.
You held up your palms out, encouraging him to do the same. His flesh wasn’t watery like moons, but it felt like waves all the same, rippling warmth that shimmered under the surface like stoking a flame.
“This ones pretty easy, you just bring your hands together, then right out to touch mine, together again, left, then together and both.” Teaching a creature patty cake was not on the to do list either, but whatever worked. Sun furrowed his brows in concentration as you walked him through slowly, giving little encouragements as the game sped up. He got frustrated easily, you found, but despite this or maybe to avoid it he became a fast learner.
You introduced a few of the more challenging games after a round of double double nearly quote “put him to sleep with its simplicity”, concentration was easy enough for him to follow, something about the universe at his fingertips giving him quite the advantage over your human brain but the way his smile literally lit up his face was enough to soothe any burns of losing. Skies forgive anyone who taught him a secret handshake.
The real sun peeked out of the clouds as you stood and stretched, shaking out the prickling sensations in your hands as Sun looked around and frowned.
“Where are you going?” You tried to keep the slyness out of your grin as he whined, not keen on ending the day so soon.
“I have to go eat before I visit Moon. I think the knowledge of three games is enough for you today right?” Sun crossed his arms and huffed, warm steam rising from his mouth.
“Tricked me. I could have a swarm of humans by now but instead you tricked me.”
“It’s alright, tomorrow I’ll bring something else up to teach you. The kids have gotten into playing a new ball game, maybe we can learn that together later.” His skin shimmered as his back straightened, the grass around him shooting up to follow.
“Yes! I mean, yes. That sounds amicable.” He picked at the shoots with disinterest as you waved, marching back down the hill and towards the village. The ocean hushed and hummed as you lowered back towards it, coming up to splash at the cliff side below you. You could almost hear Moon’s voice echoed upon it, the foam hissing and whining “hurry, hurry”.
“Soon nightlight, soon.”
Splitting your day amongst the tide and sky left you little time for idle gossip and the questions of the people around you. Most of the adults were quick to return to their duties once they realized your wandering feet could not be slowed, but the younger ones kept pace well. They asked you of the terrors of the depths, of giant predatory birds one might face on the mountain, but most of all they asked you questions you didn't know the answer to.
“Why do they want to know our games?”
“Do they dream when they sleep?”
“Why do they want our home?”
You pressed these questions onto Sun more often than not, Moon was less keen on straightforward answers than Sun. Or maybe it was that trying to learn to kick a ball took the concentration a lie might’ve used.
“I was bored, and your world looked so… Colorful.” The way his grin tried to fight itself into a frown made it clear that wasn’t the entirety of the word he wanted, but whatever poppy hum lied under his breath was incomprehensible to your ears.
“What is a dream?” That was harder to explain, just stating the obvious wasn’t enough to satisfy him.
“It feels… strange. Like the world is suddenly bent differently than it usually is but for some reason you accept it. Nothing stays permanent, but it feels inescapable like a whirlwind.” The moment drags on more a moment before your second statement, under your breath but carried by the lack of wind so high.
“It’s like being with you two in a way.” The ball Sun had been rolling between his palms falls to the earth, pupils white on white searching your face.
“Is that bad?”
“No- no not at all. It can be disorienting I suppose, but I truly don’t mind it.” It was the truth. Sure they could be a lot, but it wasn’t terribly pressing as the world ending prophecies had promised. Sun would stretch with you when you needed a break and Moon was adamant on making sure you laid down to nap during your visits. The only real annoyance was running between the two, the mountain’s winding path stretching some days more than not.
“Why do you want humans to play with you so much?” Sun scoffed, not really offended by the question.
“They would love me.” It was such a simple statement, an objective fact he had placed upon the world with the might of godhood. The way his eyes flickered away voiced his quiet doubts.
“I’m sure they would.” A soothing instinct, not out of fear but a sense of… comradery? It was something stronger, the way your heart skipped when he looked upon you was tell enough, but whatever feelings were harbored was as incomprehensible as they were.
That night Moon pawed at your back, his face shoved into your neck as your hands soothed his writhing form. He had found a lovely little cove to seat you upon, tucked away from the beach and out of reach to any who could not control the tides. The waters outside the cave rumbled, the last rays of sunlight stretching across the water. Moon grew more annoyed the longer it stayed, growling and huffing at the sun as he buried himself deeper into flesh.
“Are you alright?” Moon grumbled something, sitting up to glare outside. The light flickered down into his eyes, causing him to puff up and snarl. The waves shot up, covering the entrance in a still wave. The light tried to get through anyhow.
“Hey, no fighting!”
“He started it! Peeping!” Moon sneered, snapping his jaws at the light that twinkled through.
“Are you saying you never peeped during Sun’s time?” His eyes snapped back to you before deciding the floor was a much more interesting target. Though Sun tried his best to keep the clouds covering it you could still see the moon some days shifting about to watch you two play.
“C’mere nightlight.” Moon shuffled into your arms, tendrils draping around you. He looked up as you sighed, petting back his hat as his starry eyes blinked. “It’s a lot of work traveling between you both-” He stiffened, one of his hands grabbing your wrist
“Please- don’t leave me.” Your words caught in your throat.
“What?”
“I know I’m not as fun as Sun, but please- I’ll eat the world if you leave me-” He whined, desperately clinging to you as though Sun would break through and steal you away himself.
“Nightlight I’m not going to leave you.” You shushed, cupping his face as he rubbed against it.
“I’m just saying it might be easier for me if you two find a middle ground.” Moon’s eyes searched yours.
“For you, my star, I will try.”
Sun was grumpy the next morning, usually he would chatter while you finished your lunch but today he seemed more interested in the clouds swirling around the two of you.
“So… Want to learn a card game today?” Sun crossed his arms and huffed.
“Maybe a new ball game?” The offer was met with another louder huff, one of his legs stomping into the grass.
“Why don’t you teach it to Moon.” He grumbles, flinching as you pout at him.
“Sunshine-”
“Don’t sunshine me! I saw you two gossiping. Why not leave me to the world and go back to your beloved Moon.”
“I’m not choosing one of you over the other Sun. If you’d let me, I'd gladly have both of you.”
“But-” He jumps, skepticism and desperation fighting in his face.
“But?...”
“Moon is… Better than me.” The strained hiss in his voice died out, leaving him slumped and limp. “He’s all-” his hands flapped around wildly, little sparks shimmering in the grass “snuggly! I’m too much and not even half of that.” He stayed still as you scooted closer, offering a hand.
“Let me see something.” Sun’s eyes flickered up, the barest hint of a pupil shimmering as his hand folded back into shape to drape over your own.
You were careful as you flipped it over, tracing the perfectly framed lines in his shimmering form.
“Hm.” Your thumbs met in the middle of his palm smoothing outward, following the lines quietly. “Did you know some humans can read the lines in your palms?”
“That's silly.” Sun shifted forward despite his words, tracking as your finger traced the orangy threads along his skin.
“Maybe.” You hummed back, cupping the other one to compare the two.
“What… What do you see in them?”
“Oh lots of things, if you look. Your future, your past. You.” His face twitched as your eyes met his, scooting closer to direct his attention to his own palms.
“I see your excitement to learn.” You stared, picking a random path from the pointer down towards his pinkie. “Your desire to be seen and cared for.” it twisted back up in a wide loop, tickling his palm. “Your… doubts.” You refrained from the word fear, the rest of your fingers tracing up to thread with his. “How much you care for what others think of you.” His gaze was torn away from your joint hands, every eye in the clouds zeroing in on your lips.
“I…”
“I know you saw me ask Moon, but I would like to ask something of you too, if you’d allow me.” He nods, eyes never leaving his mark.
“A middle ground, somewhere all three of us can be? Not that we can never be alone again- I just-”
“If…” He swallows, a human trait he picked up from watching you. “If I agree… Can I ask a boon of you then?”
“You’re not going to eat the world are you?” He grins at that.
“A kiss?”
The gasp from your throat is uncontrollable, as is the shaky nod you give.
“Alright.”
The next day the mountain is significantly shorter. It’s far enough from the village to still be a walk, but instead of up the path twists down, guiding your feet towards the shoreline. A wide open cove, hidden from prying eyes tucked into the center of the world. They wait there, Moon halfway in the sea glaring awkwardly at the other being on his beach. They both shoot up as your feet crunch along the sand, Moon using all of his tentacles to shoot out towards you.
“Do you like it?” He grins, twisting around you like a puppy asking for praise.
“It’s wonderful Moon.” He purrs and pouts as you pet his head, glancing at Sun who pointedly turns away as he glows even brighter. “Thank you both.”
“I believe we are to be given a boon then?” Moon grins, his hands creeping up your sides as Sun squeaks.
“Excuse you, the boon is to be mine!”
“Well I agreed first!”
“Well you already got a first from them!”
“Well maybe if you weren’t-”
“Guys!” You shook with a bit of laughter, gently pushing Moon’s tightening tentacles back. “I’ll give you both a kiss if you settle down.” They gave each other a long look, the ocean coiling and whispering as the sunlight peppered glitter across the waves.
“Alright.” They answered together, nudging you towards a blanket of fresh green grass to sit in. Moon rested his head in your lap, leaving Sun to sit pressed against your right. Your hands combed through his tendrils as he purred, content now that he had what he wanted.
“Sun, would you like to try first?” They both stiffened, sharing a look as Moon pouted before nodding.
Sun tilted his head with a practiced slowness, hands twitching as he looked between your lips and hands for somewhere to hold. You did him the mercy of cupping his face first, pulling his opposing hand to rest on your hip as you tilted the other way. His mouth was hard compared to the plushness of your flesh, warm and divited in intervals meant to imitate teeth. His mouth parted ever so slightly, steam escaping as he squeaked and squeezed his hold on your waist. Probably too warm for anything more passionate so to speak, that would have to be a future endeavor.
As you pulled back he chased you for a moment, eyes fluttering as he sucked in a breath.The seams of his form ripped and patched as he seemed to ripple, steam rising off his entire body as he struggled to maintain form and keep his shimmering light to a dusty glow across his face and throat.
Divinity in its truest form, fluster.
Moon gave you little time to enjoy it before his hand was on your face, turning your head over your shoulder to look at him. His other hand pressed into your opposing hip as he leaned in, red pupils flickering between your eyes and lips.
“My turn.” It was a breath more than a question, his teeth similarly hard but sharpened near the end in a way that threatened to dig into your lip if you pushed in too deep. He was careful with them, parting them slowly to let you feel the edges against your lips without the cruelty of biting down for a taste, though you could feel from his shaking he yearned for one.
He pulled back to allow you breath after a moment, sagging into your body as though he planned to melt into it for the rest of his time spent on the mortal coil. Not that you were in much better state.
Sun, seemingly stabilized while you were preoccupied, came to press himself to your side, his hand tilting your head back his way as Moon refused to relinquish his grasp.
“My turn again.”
And so it was, back and forth as the day drifted into the night.
