Arbor, The Minecraft Skin That Got Far Too Much Lore
TW for mention of experimentation and decapitation (non-lethal)
Their backstory is very all over the place and is mostly rough patches.
But first, They:
So... this is what I mean by these neckpieces are big. Which probably is just pissing me off because I'm tired already but... blegh.
But basically they're a more "realistic" take on my minecraft skin. Which has a wolf mask that I decided is their actual head.
Long story short, y'know how the Ravagers look/sound vaguely like villagers, and it's theorized that they used to be villagers? Well in this version of Minecraft lore (my own lore, not supported by anything I just made it up) they do a lot more in the way of experiments.
And in this one the experiment was just "can we cut off a human's head and stick something else's head on there?"
The answer, surprisingly, is yes. Because magic bullshit the stitches don't really heal, so they usually wear turtlenecks/accessories like the collar shown here (the least egregious thing I could find that still covered the neck, and it's still clipping through the flannel)
In the Bitty Universe, or literally anything else that isn't explicitly Minecraft-related, it probably isn't the Illagers that do this experiment. But someone does, and after a while they escape into the world. Whether or not the lab is still around at present/is trying to find them, I'm not sure (might be for drama though)
And Arbor is... very mentally interesting. They act/think like a person, but are more animalistic when scared/threatened. And due to their neck being damaged in the whole "take one head off and stick another on" thing, their vocal cords were destroyed. This is why they cannot speak.
Guess who's back for another prompt fill? It's these guys!
The scientists taught Lance all about how to help his person stay healthy and happy. Sometimes it's helpful, and sometimes he sees a line in the sand and decides there's a wall.
"What are you eating?" Arbor twitched when the soft, polite voice startled them from their morning routine. They'd nearly forgotten their new housemates after the blur of adoption the day before. The fact that both of the bitties were so quiet when Arbor was getting ready certainly hadn't helped.
Turning their head, Arbor saw Lance standing on the edge of the table, hands clasped neatly in front of him and wings folded behind. If they looked closely they could see a few feathers out of place, but other than that he looked very well put together for this early in the morning.
Finally, they remembered he'd asked a question and moved to answer. "Ramen." They tilted the bowl slightly so he could see the thin noodles floating in chicken-flavored water. "It's good." Looking around, they frowned. "Where's Rory?"
Lance smiled amusedly. "He wanted to sleep in," then, looking at the ramen again, he hesitated. "I… think I've heard of this." His hands started to shuffle awkwardly. "I'm sorry, but… I've been told it isn't good for you."
Arbor blinked. Sure, it probably wasn't the healthiest breakfast in the world, but they were running low on food and this was the only thing they'd found that looked appetizing at the moment. "It technically isn't the best, but it's better than nothing." They shrugged, twirling another bundle of noodles onto their fork and popping it into their mouth. "Have you ever tried ramen?"
The look Lance gave them was just short of horror. "Never," he said, "the scientists would have…" he licked his lips and looked away, wings shifting to curl slightly around himself. "It would have been bad."
Putting down their fork, Arbor turned their full attention to their new roommate. "Nothing bad will happen to you if you try it. Worst case scenario, you don't like it. I won't make you eat it." They lifted their lip in an attempt to smile, but when they saw Lance's body stiffen, eyes locking onto their sharp teeth, they let it drop. "Sorry." They stared at what was left of their ramen, unsure they'd have the heart to finish it.
"No, no," Lance waved his hands quickly. "I didn't mean to upset you. It's just— I've never seen someone like you, before you came to the shelter." He tilted his head, studying Arbor more intently now. "I… know you don't want to talk about it." He said finally, with a small smile. "But if you ever do… I'm here to listen."
The words felt genuine. Arbor could hear the sincerity. But they couldn't help but wonder if this was another thing Lance was 'trained' for. The research they'd done on Royals would certainly imply it.
Instead of prying into that (they doubted they'd get anything even if they tried), they nodded. "I'll remember that."Glancing back at their bowl, they took a deep breath. "Do you want any? I don't know if I'll eat all of it."
"Oh, no, I couldn't possibly take it." Lance waved his hands quickly. "That wouldn't be proper."
"I'm offering. You aren't taking it without permission."
Lance took another long look at the bowl, then shook his head. "No, thank you. I'll be alright." There was that smile again, the one that looked a little too practiced. "I'll… go see if Rory's up, shall I?"
Sensing that this was as far as they would get in the conversation, Arbor nodded, waving him off. The bitty took no time in flapping his wings, taking off and flying off in the direction of the bedroom.
TW: Nightmare sequence, mention of decapitation (non-lethal)
Arbor and Lance having a little chat. Probably a few weeks to three months after the bitties moved in.
Arbor could feel the restraints tying their limbs to the table. They felt the rough hands of the scientists on their tiny neck. Something was touching their neck, their head, and their head felt… weird. Not canine. Something else.
A strangled whimper escaped their lips— they could talk?— and a bright light shone in front of their eyes, blinding them.
They couldn't see the knife until it had sliced into their throat. And by then it was too late to scream.
Eyes snapping open, Arbor discovered they were restrained. A panicked gasp escaped them as they thrashed, their memories catching up to them just as their body pushed off the bed.
Laying on the floor, gasping for air, still tangled in blankets, Arbor tried to remember how to breathe. Fear and sweat-scent burned their nostrils, but they forced themselves to inhale. Their ears twitched quickly this way and that, drawing the familiar sounds of their home: the gentle music playing from their phone, the faint chirping of bugs, the peaceful breathing of the bitties across the room.
Well, one of them was peaceful and where Arbor expected them to be at least.
"Are you alright?" Lance's voice was usually quiet, but Arbor felt like even their ears had to strain to hear him. "That sounded like it hurt." His golden wings were glowing faintly in the starlit room as he peered down from their nightstand. He must have flown there from his bed when he heard them fall.
Sucking in a deep breath, Arbor lifted their hands to sign. "I'm fine. Go to sleep."
Lance did not go to sleep. He jumped down from the nightstand, lightly flapping his wings to land in their lap as Arbor sat up carefully. "Did you have a bad dream?" He asked, scanning their face. His hands clasped carefully in front of him, but the bristling feathers on his wings betrayed his unease.
It was still shocking to Arbor that someone so small could look at their face without fear, even though both the bitties had managed it since they'd moved in with Arbor. Many humans their size and larger were unnerved by the sharp teeth and odd expressions of a creature that should have been human, but these creatures they could have killed with ease were so calm, so patient, with them.
Arbor's hands moved slowly through the signs. "Same as always. Go back to sleep, Rory will wake up without you."
"Not until you tell me what's going on." Lance planted his feet, wings lifting slightly as if that made him bigger, more intimidating. How far he'd come from the timid thing hiding in his husband's shadow, Arbor thought approvingly. As annoying as it was being fussed over, they appreciated his progress. "And don't say 'nothing,' because I can feel your stress."
A grimace crossed Arbor's face when he said that; they made efforts to avoid stressing the bitties, and it was clear their plan to dodge the questions wasn't going to work. "I dreamed about the lab again." They said simply.
The look on Lance's face shifted, and his wings relaxed. "I'm sorry," he murmured, settling on their lap and gently patting their leg. "I could try to settle your mind—"
He'd barely started the suggestion before Arbor frantically shook their head. "I can't let you do that. Your power is not mine to use."
"You're right," Lance conceded, nodding slowly. His hand continued a gentle back and forth, comforting pressure on their leg. "It's mine. And I want to help you." He smiled thinly. "If you'll allow it?"
Realizing they'd get nowhere with this, Arbor took a deep breath, and nodded. "Fine. Not much though. Save it for Rory."
Lance chuckled, but closed his eyes. A sensation started under his hand, slowly spreading throughout Arbor's body. Like a wave washing over them, carrying away with it all the stress of the dream.
The tension fell from Arbor's shoulders, and they sighed deeply. "Now. Bed. Before Rory wakes up and gets mad."
A roll of Lance's eyes as he stood, spreading his wings. "He'd be moody if we woke him to save his own hide." As he spoke, he flapped his wings, taking off quickly. His flight was a little wobbly (weary from the late hour? something to contact their doctor over? Arbor hoped it wasn't the latter), but his steps were steady as he wandered back to bed and burrowed under the covers.
Arbor carefully pulled themselves into bed and arranged the blankets again in a makeshift nest, piled around them. Their limbs curled under them in the manner closest to how their brain told them they should rest. With Lance's magic still running lightly through their system, most of their fears from the nightmare had been greatly lessened.
It still took them a while to properly fall asleep again.
