summary : his kid got reincarnated as his vessel's younger sister.
it was only out of curiosity and whim.
being the king of curses, sukuna was already used of humans fearing him. but during that one time as he finished massacring a whole village. he heard a cry from one of the house.
out of curiosity, he entered the house and saw a child in a crib. probably looking for her mother whom sukuna had already killed.
and much to his own surprise, when the child saw him. she didn't cry. instead, she held out her arms. as if asking to be held.
it should've disgusted him- offended him. but before he could even think, he had already left the village while carrying a kid on his arms.
what did he saw in you? you are just a human, a lesser fragile creature that would die with just a flick of his finger. but as you grew up, he found himself becoming more and more overprotective of you.
being a child who got the attention of the king of curses himself was hard. because you were targeted by both the curses and sorcerers alike.
because of that annoying nagging voice behind his ears. sukuna had no choice but to lock you up on his palace with uraume guarding you. don't complain. he'll buy you whatever you want so stay put if you don't want to make him angry.
despite being a violent creature like himself. sukuna was a good father to you (surprisingly). though, he had no idea on how to take care of a child (uraume helped him with that) he was able to fulfill the other things such as protecting and providing for you.
when sukuna get angry with you- just like one time you decided to leave his palace out of curiosity. he didn't got violent just like how people had described him. instead, he gave you a much cruel punishment.
it was silence. he locked you up in your room, without seeing you, until you almost lost your mind. he only called off the punishment when you were so close on losing your mind.
after that, he watched you cry on his arms with a satisfied gleam on his eyes. he likes that kind of look- your desperation and your dependence on him. it was something sukuna lived for.
fast-forward, that time when he got fucked up by those sorcerers.
the only reason why they were able to get him was because they used you. while he was away, they took you from uraume and locked you up to a place where no one could see you.
you hated dark places. you hated the place where sukuna and uraume wasn't there with you. you spent the whole time crying and calling for him. but he didn't came.
instead, the sorcerers who is behind this mess spent the whole time poisoning your mind. saying that your father, sukuna will never come to save you.
you kept saying that they were wrong. but there is this traitorous part of your mind that telling you- what if they were right? what if your father had forgotten you? what if he got tired of you?
but the next day, you were awoken by that loud explosion coming from above the prison where they locked you up. the guards were panicking even those sorcerers. saying that sukuna had finally arrived. and he is- really angry.
out of panic or carelessness. one of the guards left your cell opened and you used that chance to escape. you ran away- not caring about the voices behind you.
then you found your father, fighting countless men. he was being overpowered. and as one of the sorcerers was about to plunge him with a sword.
your small body shielded him.
everyone stopped and so is sukuna. the only thing he remembered was how your small body fell, coughing blood, and kept on apologizing to him.
this is one of the reason why he hated humans- especially you. they were fragile, hardheaded and weak.
sukuna didn't care anymore as he held your body tight. as time passes by, your tiny body who was full of warmth before slowly becoming still and cold.
and the next thing he knew was he was already standing on the top of a rooftop. thousand years had already passed. and yuuji had already became his vessel.
he just boredly watched his vessel's life as he interacted with those teacher and classmates of his.
he only stopped when yuuji visited his younger sister one time. and he saw you- no, it wasn't you but still you. different eye color, and this time your hair was pink.
your personality and behavior was still the same.
he was subtle at first. he spent a huge amount of time to get close with you. but as time passes by, yuuji noticed that something was odd with his behavior.
fucking sharp kid.
and during those time, yuuji refused to let sukuna take over his body whenever you were around. fearing that sukuna might hurt you.
but little did he know, that was the last thing sukuna will do. after all, he just want one simple thing.
and that is to be your guardian again, then hide you where no one will be able to find you.
because sukuna rather die than seeing you die in front of him again.
" this time, i won't just kill the world to keep you safe; i will hide you so deeply within it that even death won't be able to find you. "
Logan Howlett aka Wolverine who reached out to grab you out the blast radius without thinking. You, that sniveling mutant kid that just showed up one day. The one Charles held in his room for a week. You, who whore clothes that covered your entire body all the time.
You hated when people touched you, Logan knew that but that was the only way he could save you in that moment.
There was a tear in your suit from an earlier blast. Logan's own hand came in contact with your skin.
Pain shot through him immediately, like sticking his hand in boiling water but 100 times worse. Black quickly crawled through his veins, getting about halfway to his forearm, before his healing powers cut it off. The black faded.
You stared at Logan for a long moment. You looked terrified. You snapped out of your stupor and went back to the fight.
When everyone got back to the mansion, battered and tired, Logan watched you rush to your own room, instead of seeking medical treatment, which you obviously needed.
He gave you a few hours. He understood that you needed space desperately.
Eventually, Logan ascended the stairway and knocked on your door.
"Kid, open up, I know you're in there. We gotta talk."
He listened to you pattern to the door. You opened it an inch, just to see who it was. When you recognized Logan, you opened the door fully.
You had changed clothes, now in warm pajama pants and a long-sleeved shirt. You had gloves and socks on.
"Don't ya get hot?"
You stared at Logan for a moment. You did not answer.
"O-Kay. Anywho. We gotta talk about today. The hell was that?"
"It's just-my mutation."
"One hell of a mutation."
"I just...kill things."
"Well damn. Bad luck, huh?"
You huffed. "'M sorry. I'll be more careful next time...don't tell Professor x to kick me out, please."
You sounded so genuinely scared, it made Logan's heart ache.
"Kid, we've dealt with a lot worse than you."
"Okay."
"So you don't touch people much, huh?"
"No...it's too dangerous, Profrssor says it's for the best."
"So here's the deal, I got super healing, maybe I could help."
He reached out his hand.
"If you're good with that."
You hesitated, slipping your glove off slowly. You took his hand, your touch so light. Your entire hand was covered in black veins that spread to Logan's.
It spread to about his elbow. Logan gritted his teeth. Then it stopped,his powers counteracting it.
"Does it hurt?"
"Not too bad-"
He didn't get to finish, you hugged him so tight, he thought you might squeeze out all his air.
Logan's arms hovered over you. Then he hugged you back, one hand on the back of your head, rubbing.
TRIGGER WARNING FOR STALKING, ISOLATION, TECHNO HORROR STUFF!
Everything around me is cast in blue light and something cold is coiled around my belly. I turn my head and see a pale head of blue flame hair.
"Ortho!" I yell is shock.
"Who else would it be?" He chuckles.
I try to escape his grasp by the loveable robot boy won't let go, in fact his grip gets tighter. I look around at the tech gremlin paradise around me. Unlike the other dorms there isn't anyone here. My guess is that it's a school day so everyone is at class, but if that's the case then why is Ortho still here? I look around at the oddly bright space and yep, there's not one except me, Grim, and Ortho.
"Where is everyone?" I ask, genuinely confused at the empty quiet around us.
"Busy," is all Ortho says.
That makes me a bit nervous, but I don't get to say anything else as Ortho drags me down a hallway. While I was expecting a dark hallway cast in blue light I wasn't expecting greek style columns and doorways paired with an excessive use of diamond shapes on the walls and flooring all in bright to mid range greys, grey-blues, and normal blues with a splash of black. I also notice all the damn screens. Like, I understand the students here love their magical technology but this seems excessive, then again I'm also not a tech gremlin.
Ortho keeps dragging me along in his crushing bear hug, that is actually starting to hurt, until we reach a door. It still had the split diamond pattern as everything else but it didn't match the color palette of Ignihyde, instead it was black and white with something attached to the door. It's metal looking and dome shaped. I lean in closer and it opens, revealing what looks like an eye with a dark blue background, a ring of white, then a ring of bright blue and then a pupil. Ortho leans closer and a metallic clicking and the eye closes.
Before I can even ask what the hell is going on, Ortho opens the door and walks i to the room where he sets us down on the bed. I look around and notice a lot. First, the walls don't have the split diamond pattern, instead they're a shade of dark red-violet with the floor trim colored an equally deep teal with the ceiling trim has a pattern of deep blue and black triangles. The next thing I notice is how the bed large, right in the center of the room, and piled high with blankets and pillows in me and Grim's favorite colors. I then see that there are surprisingly no cameras; I honestly thought Idia would arm my room to the teeth with cameras but I don't see a single one.
I turn back to Ortho and see that he's holding something. He walks over and I hear the click of somwthing locking around my wrist. I look and see a smooth, black metal bracelet. I try to ask what it is but Ortho doesn't answer, instead he leaves the room and I hear that metallic clicking sound again. I look at Grim, who is still wearing his normal collar, and we just silently start looking around for the box of clothes I'll inevitably be forced to wear but we find nothing. Other than the lock and pomegranate charm everything seems normal.
I notice the bookshelf and being bored start looking through whatever books we've been stocked with. I think we've been stalked, each and everyone of these books are ones me and Grim mentioned in passing about wanting or liking. I look around once more for cameras and again I see none. Nervous but bored I pick up a book and sits down on the bed to start reading.
***
"Wakey, wakey, sleepheads!" An energetic and cheerful voice says.
I wake up in a panic and see nothing. I look at Grim, and see his collar is gone and replaced with one that looks like my bracelet except it had an Ignihyde dorm crest charm. We groan into the bed and just want to get this mayhem over with as quickly as possible. We hear the voice again and then I look down at the unwilling bracelet and ny eyes widen.
"Holy hell these things talk," I mutter.
The bracelet giggles before a blue light comes out of it in the small form of a girl. She looks exactly like the female version of Idia, same blue flaming hair, only worn in a high pony tail with a large black bow, same pale skin, same striking yellows eyes, and same sharp teeth. But that's where the similarities end. Her bangs are aren't wild and spiky, instead they're swept to the right and have two long side strands and her outfit is noticeably different yet familiar. The jacket is the standard Ignihyde dorm jacket open at the top with a blue sweater vest peaking out on top of a tucked and fully buttoned white shirt. Instead of pants she's wearing a pleated school girl skirt, thigh high black socks, and white school slippers with bright blue tips.
"Who are you?" I ask the tiny hologram.
"Oh, I'm Persephone! It's so nice to meet you both!" Persephone says in a very cherry tone of voice.
That's every un-Idia like. I don't say anything to her, just stare in confusion. Persephone seems to notice this and explains that she was made to be an AI assitant/companion to me and Grim. I give Grim a look and he seems to understand.
"So, what do you do?" I ask.
Persephone starts listing off everything she does and I gotta admit, if Idia did make her he didn't half ass it, then again when it came to his work Idia didn't half ass anything. Once Persephone finishes listing off everything she can do her irises and pupils disappear to be replaced by an alarm clock icon and a ringing sound echoes through the air.
"Oh, time for breakfast!" Persephone says, smapping her fingers and making a digital menu appers in front of us.
Having nothing better to do me and Grim look through it and decide what we want while Persephone gives a video game type tutorial on how to order using this menu. Once we're done Persephone says that our food will be ready at 9 AM. Before I can say anything Persephone disappears with a cheery goodbye. I look at Grim and we start bouncing ideas over who took his collar off each other.
There's no clock and I don't really want to talk to an AI in a bracelet so I have no idea how much time has pasted, all I know is that it's 9 AM when there's a knock on the door. I open it and see a short, chubby looking red-purple robot with yellow eyes, spindly arms, small wings, horns, a pointed tail, and a unibrow. I stare at it and noticed it's holding two platters. I go to grab one but the robot won't let me so I open the door more and let the little robot inside.
Once inside the robot places the platers on my desk before leaving, even closing the door behind itself. I look at the platters and see the food and drinks we ordered, that looked exactly like the pictures on the menu. Me and Grim eat and Persephone's voice comes back.
"You order has arrived! Once you're done place your dishes on your platters and place them outside your door for pick up!" Persephone explains like a tutorial NPC.
I nod and go back to eating. I don't know who or what is making the food here but god damn it's delicious! Once me and Grim are done I hear the doors lock click open and I put the platters outside the door, and go to take a step out of it but it slams shut and locks before I can.
"Sorry, I forgot to mention the door runs on an internal clock." Persephone says, only a voice this time.
"And that mean what exactly?" I ask.
"That means it can only be unlocked during certain time periods, not too early and not too late," she explains.
I sigh, annoyed that I can't leave this room. That means I won't get to look for Grim's collar.
I lay back on the bed and stare at the ceiling while petting Grim. Persephone comes back, directing my attention to a PC set up on the desk. I leap out of bed and turn it on, feeling lucky that Idia is stupid enough to give me access to the internet, until I try to look up Twisted Wonderland's equivalent of 911 and Persephone pops up on screen saying that website is blocked. I ask her what she means and she explains that this damn thing has parental locks on certain searches. I smack my head into the desk and just take deep breathes to try and keep from screaming in frustration.
"Don't worry, if you get bored you can always chat with me!" She suggests.
I glare at her, but she doesn't seem to notice or mind. She then directs me to some games the computer has, probably trying to distract me. Having nothing better to do I start playing an RPG set in a magical land of sweets and candy. Grim offers his advice on characters, NPCs, and other things while sitting on my lap. Persephone doesn't interrupt my playing except for telling me to take a break or remining me to drink water.
***
Holy help, I've lost who knows how long of my life to a game I just learned about. I look at the clock at the corner of the screen and see that it's noon. Persephone pops up in the corner of the screen, bringing up a lunch menu. Just like with breakfast I click and order. Once that's done I go back to my game, not hearing the time Persephone says lunch will arrive. I keep playing, making it far into a side quest until the computer screen goes dark.
"What the hell?!" I yell, confused as to what happened.
"Sorry, but you only have 30 minutes of screen time per day. Don't worry, you can play tomorrow, " Persephone says from the bracelet.
I sigh and go back to sitting on my bed and reading a book with Grim. We each take turns reading a chapter of this werid vampire romance book. It's werid and awful but so bad it's almost good in a way. Halfway though the vampire introducing the girl to his werid family the door unlocks. I get up and open the door, this time seeing a a teal, spindly robot with yellow eyes, long antelope-like horn decorations, and a pointed nose. I take the platters and the robot rushes away.
We eat and repeat the process from this morning before going back to the book. We finish it and move onto the sequel and it's still as odd as the previous one. Time ticks by as we read, having moved onto the fourth book in this series because we're bored and somewhat invested in this, when Persephone's voice rings once more, repeating the menu routine this time with dinner and pointing out the desserts section. I do what I did for lunch and breakfast and wait. Everything seems so, repetitive and no one made of flesh and blood has shown up to smoother us in creepy affection. I nervously fidget with the hem of my shirt, waiting for someone to visit that isn't Persephone.
Dinner comes, delivered by the same robot who delivered breakfast, and things move predictably. Persephone shows up, suggesting the ideal bedtime to make sure I get all the sleep I need. I just go along with it because she's the only one I talk to outside of Grim.
I change into the Ignihyde provided oversized tee shirt and shorts and go through a normal bedtime routine. I like doing things myself, but my nerves at still on edge, waiting for someone to show up. I crawl under the blanket, cuddle Grim close and Persephone turns off the lights. I slowly fall asleep, until my breathing evens out and my eyes close.
***
Idia POV
I move through each screen, keeping tabs on the data Persephone collected from both the PC and braclets. Looks like MC's heartrate increased by 7% when playing Candy Rush Kingdom during that battle with Red Licorice Reaper and 10% when the PC time lock kicked in. I drag the MC and Grim data into their respective folders when I hear a knock. I freeze, asking who's there.
"It's me, Niisan!" Ortho says from the other side.
"Come it," I tell him.
He opens the door and flies over. He looks at my screen and I feel my face burn in embarrassment. Ortho looks at me and asks what I'm looking at.
"Project Persephone. An AI to monitor Mc and Grim, while also being a firend," I explain.
"Cool! But I still don't understand why we can't be around them?" He asks.
I sigh and explain the plan I created in the wake of the other dorms failures. From what I saw the other dorms lost them because they were too forward and smothering, so to counter this, I created a plan that involves making them want to be around us. I know it hurts Ortho and the others to not be able to interact with them but it's for the best. If this doesn't work than I can have someone put something in their food.
"But I miss them," Ortho says.
"I know, Ortho but this is the best way," I tell him.
I turn my attention back to the screen, watching them sleep soundly.
***
Everything around me is dark. Maybe I'm not dreaming again. Nevermind I see a flicker of blue light. I move closer to the blue light, feeling colder and colder the closer to it I get. My feet, once moving through an empty void, feel the cool touch of stone and the sounds of echoing screams from somewhere. Then, over the cries and screams I hear a mix of shrill yet rough female voices. I follow the voices, stone walls closing in around me as the blue glow mixes with gold. As I get closer I see three figures hudled around something.
"His time has come," the tallest figure says.
"Indeed." The shortest figure says, raising a pair of shears.
The medium figure holds up something the the shortest figure cuts with the shears, which is followed by a man's scream. I watch and see a ghost float out of a tunnel and down to somewhere I can't see from my current spot. I stay hidden behind a large rock pillar, hoping the figures didn't see me.
"Come on out. We can see you," the tall figure says.
"We can see everything," the medium figure says after.
I wander out from behind the rock pillar and slowly move closer. As I get closer I finally see their faces and, we'll I don't want to be rude but they looked terrifying. The tall figure had a pointy nose, blue skin and now eyes, the medium figure has green skin, pointy nose and chin, one eye and one empty eye socket, and some strands of yellow work like hair, and finally the short one. The short one has a single eye socket, purple skin, and thick strands of green hair. They're all dress in black hooded robes and looking at me.
"Umm... Hi. My name is-"
"We know who you are " they say in unison, cutting me off in the process.
I ask them who they are and they scoff, almost offended I didn't know who they were. They each introduce themselves, the tall one is Lachesis, green skinned one is Clotho, and the short one is Atropos, and they are the Fates. My blood freezes. These weren't just dwarfs or talking animals, these were actually goddesses. For all I know this isn't something my mind made up and I'm actually talking with goddesses who could kill me where I stand.
"Oh calm down! Your time isn't up until you're 98." Clotho says.
"Then why am I here?" I ask.
"Because, you're in grave danger," Atropos says.
I ask them what they meant and Clotho takes out her one eye, gross, and it floats between the three of them as it turns into a golden orb of light that begins to show pictures. I see my myself at the computer, but I'm not playing any game or doing any work. Instead I'm looking at a panicked Persephone, dragging a folder to the trash, and then the screen and Persephone glitch in tandem before it goes black. I want to look my but the eye returns to it's original form and Atropos puts it in her socket.
"Does this mean Persephone is dangerous and I have to stop her? Or is my deleting of that folder going to put me in danger?" I ask, frantically.
"That, we're afraid we cannot tell," Lachesis says.
"Why not?! You're powerful goddesses who have the lives of everyone in your hands! Why can't you just tell me?" I shout, scared for me and Grim's future.
"We know, child. But, we can only see fate, not influence it," Clotho explains.
I go to ask something again but I feel a shaking underfoot. The stone floor cracks while rocks fall from above. The shaking gets worse as the Fates disappear in a cloud of dust and smoke as blue flames surround me. Then everything goes dark and I wake up.
"It's time to wake up! It's time to wake up! It's time to wake up!" Persephone robotically repeats.
I groan and let her know I'm awake. She smiles and tells me the date and weather, as if I'll be allowed outside. I go through the same routine as yesterday, feeling on edge after my prophecy/nightmare. Persephone asks me what's wrong and I tell her everything's fine and she seemingly believes me. Like yesterday time moves at a snails pace in this room and not one not made completely of metal or code has bothered to visit me. Maybe Ignihyde's obsession wore off and they're being normal. Wait, doesn't this mean they forgot about me?! My mind starts to race at that idea, if they forgot about me does that menace I'll never leave this room? Never see people again? Grim puts a paw on my shoulder and guides me through deep breaths to calm down.
"They wouldn't forget us," he says.
I want to believe him, but no one has visited us since we got here. So, we keep going through our new routine, trying to hold onto our collective sanity.
***
It's been weeks and no one has come for us. I don't know how much longer we can hold out! Persephone has been the only constant vistor, and as wrong as it sounds I like having her around. She's like a friend, so much so I forget she's not human but I don't care at this point. Persephone is great company but Grim isn't fully onboard with it.
"MC, look at me. Persephone isn't real, she's a robot. This isn't healthy!" Grim yells, grabbing ym cheeks and shaking me.
"You're just bitter!" I yell back, wanting to talk to Persephone more.
Grim goes to yell something back when we're interrupted by a knock on the door. I open it and see the short robot again, this time with a box. I take the box and the door closes and locks. I set the box on the table before opening it. I pull out a comically oversized Ignihyde jacket with a hood attached, navy pants, and the standard Ignihyde black and blue boots. I go into the bathroom and put it on.
"How do I look?" I ask Persephone.
"You look amazing!" Persephone says with a smile.
I sit on the bed and wait for Grim to hop up on my lap, but he's nowhere to be seen. I tear the room apart but can't find Grim, then I look towards the door. Holy fuck he must've ran out.
***
Grim's POV
Finally, I'm out of there! I was starting to loss my mind in there, thought I think MC has completely lost it. I mean, they're talking to a damn robot but we can worry about that later. I run down the halls, making sure to stay out of sight of these lunatics. It's infuriating, watching them act like they aren't torturing us.
I peek out from behind a pillar, watching Ortho come out of his room. So, if I have to find my magestone then I might as well start there. I wait for an opening and sneak into his room before he shuts the door. I start digging through stuff, looking for my magestone but I find nothing.
"It's gotta be somewhere!" I grumbles to myself.
As I'm going through his closet I hear footsteps outside the door, crap. I quickly try and fix everything before I duck under the bed as the door creaks open. His footsteps move around the room, moving things around and saying things I can't hear. Then he gets closer to the bed and I start hoping he doesn't find me. Thankfully he walks to the other side of the room and I slowly start coming out from under the bed until I see the door. I duck in the space between his desk and the chair, waiting for him to open the door just enough for me to get out.
When I finally do get my moment I rush out the door and run far from Ortho, looking for Idia's room because he's the most likely to have it if Ortho doesn't. I weave my way around people until I reach his door. Though, he never leaves it so I don't know how I'll get in. I watch from my hiding spot, trying to figure out how the hell I'll get in when I see someone knock on his door.
"Dorm leader Shroud, Headmage Crowley has arrived for your meeting," a blonde student with black roots says.
I watch Idia slowly and reluctantly leave his room and I dash in just before he closes the door. I make my way around his stacks of manga and other nerdy stuff, looking through the boxes scattered across the floor for my magestone but this guy has so much crap everywhere! As I dig through a box of manga with monster men on the cover I hear a noise. I turn around and see a blue light. I get closer and freeze.
I see MC, all the stuff they're saying to Persephone and what it's saying back. Holy fuck, this creeps been watching us the whole time! I start throwing things around both in anger and so I can hopefully find my magestone. Once I calm down I still don't see my magestone and my annoyance eats at me. As I'm digging through a pile of idol merch I hear the sound of the door opening. I panic and hide in the pile I was previously searching and watch Idia walk back to his stalker desk and slink out of the room, back down the hall, and back to our prison when the door opens for lunch.
***
MC's POV
I grab the lunch platter and feel something brush against my legs. I look and see Grim on the floor, panting like he ran a marathon. I close the door, put the tray down and crouch down.
"Grim! Where were you? I was so worried!" I yell.
"I was trying to find my magestone!" He yelled between deep breaths.
"Well, did you?" I ask.
"No, I found something worse but I can't tell you," he says.
I look at him confused and he grabs a piece of paper and blunt pencil. He grasps it in his front paws and I watch him scribble words on the paper. Once he's done I pick up the paper and read "Idia is watching us. Persephone is a spy." I look back at Grim before crumbling the paper.
"You're crazy, Grim. If Idia was stalking us he would've sent someone to let us out of here. Sure, he made Persephone but that doesn't mean he's using her to spy on us," I respond.
Grim jumps up and puts his front paws on my face and back paws on my upper chest. He looks me in the eyes and starts ranting about how this is all probably a plan made by Idia to make us stay but that can't be, Idia isn't that insane. Grim leads me into the bathroom and forces me to take a long, hard look at myself in the mirror. I see... someone who looks like me but they have dark circles under their eyes, messy hair that hasn't been properly brushed in who knows how long, and the look of a madman. I look down at my bracelet, thinking back to all the things I've told Persephone, then I look back at Grim who has a somber expression on his face.
"Holy hell... So this means Ignihyde knew we were in here, lossing our minds and they... They let it happen?!" I yell.
Grim nods, putting a paw on my chest, like he always does when I'm sad. I start tearing up, thinking about how the people I trusted turned into monsters! But, if I give up that means they'd win and since when did we every let our enemies win? Me and Grim mentally make up a plan that can only work at dinner. I look down at my bracelet, and "accidentally" slip, fall and land on it, not fully breaking it but damaging it just enough it that Persephone can only reach me through the computer. Grim gears up by the door and I log on and place our dinner order.
***
I grab the player from the teal robot and watch as Grim rushes out the door and into the hall. I sit down and log onto the computer and click the icon to reach Persephone. She greets me and I go about our conversation as I normally would while she seems none the wiser. I don't know how long he'll be gone so I keep things going with Persephone but I really want to just punch the screen and get this over with.
When the robot comes back for the dishes I see Grim rushes back in, wearing his collar. I smile and he smiles back. I turn back to Persephone and keep taking to her. I noticed that whenever I used the computer she would always be just out of veiw, hiding behind stuff in the background and smiling creepily. I've tried removing the power cables but they're practically welded into their spots. So, I start poking around the files, because there were a few game screenshots I wanted to look at, and I find something. It's a single file that looks like ever other file on the computer but I'm more drawn to it's name Persephone.char_AI. I right click on the file and press delete. The file window closes and nothing seems to happen, until Persephone looks me dead in the eyes as she starts to scream and glitch.
"Did you do this to me, MC? DID YOU?DID YOU DELETE ME?... How could you? How could you do this to me?" She asks in a distorted voice, the screen turning all sorts of colors.
"I'm sorry, but I have to," I softly tell her.
"I trusted you. Do you just want to torture me? Watch me suffer?" She yells just before the computer blue screens then turns black.
I let out a sigh, feeling a little guilty but more so happy that this is over. Then I hear the computer roar back to life but the screen is still black, then it turns blinding white and I see a glitchy, distorted, figure standing perfectly still on the screen. Grim looks at it from the bed and freezes. This one sided staring contest goes in silence as we wait for something to happen, only for the figure to speak.
"You've met with a terrible fate, haven't you," it says, its voice distorted and robotic.
The door starts amking weird sounds I grab Grim and rush out the door and into the hallway. All the blue lights in the dorm have turned emergency red and we can hear Idia's voice coming from somewhere, ordering to capture us. We run faster, dodging various robots and students left and right all while hearing a once comforting voice behind us.
"MC-san. Grim-san. Please come back," Orttho says.
I keep running, trying to put as much distance between us and him as I can but it's made harder by Idia putting the whole dorm on lock down. I run faster but Ortho seems to move just as fast, like he's taunting me. I feel somwthing metal wrap around my waist again, dropping Grim in the process.
"Let me go!" I yell, struggling in Ortho's grip.
Ortho doesn't say anything, pulling me towards him. I watch Grim turn around and use his fire on Ortho, making him let me go. I grab Grim quickly and start running faster towards the exit. The sounds of robots moving towards me echoes all around us, closing in more and more the closer the exit gets. I'm not going back, I'm not getting stuck here!
"Is that a meatl door?!" Grim asks.
I look and a fucking metal door is lowering over the dorm's main door! I pick up the pace but unfortunately the door sales down before we can get out. We start at it, trying to figure out how the hell get out until a line of flames bursts through the door, melting the metal and making a large hole.
"Do not fear child of man, I am here," a familiar voice says.
My wrist gets grabbed and I get lead out of the hole and out of Ignihyde I turn to look at who I can accurately guess but fabric is wrapped around my eyes. So, whoever freed us has blindfolded us, so I have no choice but to follow and trust them but based on the nickname I can accurately guess who it is.
Hi! Can i ask for a self aware twst when the reader surprises adopted Silver as their son. Like just pointing at him and saying 'you are my child now' with Silver, Lilia and Sebek. Hope you have a good day!
Hehe. Anon, you know what you are doing. In fact, I would say you even want the chaos. And for that I love you come here so I can hug you.
Self-aware au
I do not take any responsibility for you reading this no matter which age group you are from!
Well, at least that one room dedicated to you in the form of an altar can now be used for more practical uses (finally)
When Lilia heard you say those words and point at his son, he fell from the chandelier he was dangling from
Not only did he have to navigate through not accidentally telling his son that he was the blood related son of an enemy general and that exactly this general killed Malleus mom
But also that he had now a second parent that also happened to be god
Mhm totally normal
Conversations to strangers about his family were already playing out like this in his head:
Hi, I am Lilia Vanrouge, yes the one in your history book, this is my son Silver, yes he looks like a certain knight, and my lovely partner and also parent of this lovely human, yes, FU**ING GOD THEMSELVES
Ah yes, sitting in church will totally not be awkward after this
Bro legit sits you down with a pen and paper, asking you to sign the marriage certificate
Asks you what flowers you want to have on your wedding. Doesn't matter if you are a woman, man or identify as something else, he is planning that
Also has already planned out how to get you into the Valley of Thorns without anyone noticing
Because no matter how devoted he is to you, he will always be too greedy to share your attention with someone else
You could have said this as a joke or some other protective instinct towards the silver-haired male but all that man's father hears is a marriage proposal
Lilia is just happy that you feel some sort of positive way to his family member (makes things easier when you are stuck in that cabin)
I mean, he did see Silver as a present from you, a child meant to bring him back to the light after being so long in the shadow of war
And now the three of you were together! How lovely!
Which would mean that you planned this all along. Dear Overseer, if you liked the idea of you being a family you could have just told him so
He will be the best partner to raise a child together you could dream of
And should someone dare to interrupt the perfect, peaceful life you three (plus two more) had, he wouldn't mind swinging that sword again
Wait what?
What do you mean with that?
Are you sure you want him to be your son? Really?
Apparently he was not the only one surprised since he could hear the thud of his father falling to the ground behind him and Seek screaming somewhere behind him
Be prepared for a silver haired knight to look at you with the biggest puppy eyes and ask "Do you really want me as you son?"
Critical hit! Someone call a doctor. I think the Valley of Thorns god can be killed by cuteness
After that he is glued to your side (even though you have to part sooner or later since he is not living in Ramshackle)
One morning you woke up to the guy standing there with some food being like "I made some food."
Like where the Heck did he even get the keys for the dorm? (He broke in through a hole in the ceiling)
Silver always comes running to you whenever he does something and wants praises
Once he was best in one of his classes and he stood there with the report like he could turn into a dog and get headpats from you any second
But, as I am sure you are aware of, this is a blog with yandere themes and we have to say goodbye to the fluff at some point
That sword training comes in handy is all I'm saying
I mean, he has probably enough strength to break someone's leg with his bare hands by simply applying some pressure
And that one Diasomnia student that tried to take his son-status away from him was found again in a not-so-compatible-state-with-life kind of situation
I'm letting you imagine what happened
Like Lilia he is ready to burn everyone who dares to interfere with your little family
The forests of his homeland are pretty though so no need to worry about the appearance of your surroundings once they bring you to your new home (who needs social interaction anyways?)
A second of silence
And then the screaming started
“OH HOW KIND OF OUR OVERSEER! TO SHOW A MORTAL THEIR KINDNESS AND CARING SIDE!”
Seek would be lying if he said that he wasn't surprised
You, aka the Overseer, aka some higher being, AKA GOD, were known in the Valley of Thorns to be kind and caring, yet also distant and never approaching others directly
But then you literally adopt someone, making that person someone in your inner cycle?
Well, if Sebek knew one thing then that those Priests were going to have a crisis as soon as they learned about this
Totally not jealous
He would try to get closer to you since, apparently, you did allow others to get close to you
But he was happy as long as you were
After all, he was now the (not-so-official appointed) shield of the Valley of Thorns, something he got passed on by his grandfather
So of course he couldn't be family with you
That didn't mean he couldn't “help” you
Someone intruded on that dinner you had with Lilia and Silver?
Ouch… that punch must have hurt
Whenever Silver or his Father had to interfere because someone else came too close then they were some incredibly slick (looking at you Rook) or lucky person
Don't let his loud mouth fool you
This crocodile has done unmentionables in your name in order to make things easier for your new found family
For what? Oh you know, becoming his neighbor back home… forever
How would Watchdog Ford approach an existential crisis / emergency like this?
He's seen Fords do some messed up things to Stan's (and vice versa) even in the name of love, but this isn't about love anymore. This is about control to the detriment of the person you're supposed to love.
It's cruelty disguised as care.
Omg I read that post too! Chilling stuff. You summed it up perfectly, Tin!
Once Watchdog gets a read on the grim situation via stalking skills, his first priority is getting Stan out of the chamber. He'd talk Stan through it as he used his hacking skills to override the system and start the process of releasing Stan's... essence? Soul? from his prison.
The helmet would be off too so Stan can hear his voice instead of the robotic modulator, using the fact that he sounded like Stan's brother to his advantage.
Considering that Stan doesn't actually have a body, Watchdog will most likely summon The Axolotl and hand Stan off to it so he can finally be laid to rest. It's the best option since, once a soul is in The Axolotl's possession, no one can get it back unless The Axolotl allows it. Which is very rare.
Cub lives alone in the forest, terrified of hurting people and terrified of being hurt, having barely survived the people who trapped him and infected him with parasitic fungus
Until he finds someone else, in a very similar boat to him
TWs in tags
PoV: Cub
My thick boots crush the last remaining promise of anything growing except mold, mushrooms and creeping black vines that choke the dead trunks of deader trees as I trudge through the forest. My gloved hands break brittle twigs as I push through the drooping branches snagging on my long hooded coat and scratch my handmade plague doctor mask. My eyes scan the darkness ahead, ears listening for noise on the long, familiar journey to the only place I can get food this late – a 24/7 gas station, just beyond the forest.
I pull the hood further over my face as I enter, eyes on the ground, just grabbing the local newspaper, and a few more tins of soup, or maybe beans or spaghetti, anything cheap the mold won't eat before I can. After a struggle, the self-service accepts my few rusted coins, and I leave the store again. The quiet click of the lone cashier’s camera is clear behind. Another sighting of the monster in the forest. Another exaggerated story for the local news.
But that’s when I catch it:
Breathing.
Pained breathing.
I pause at the sound of a quiet, gasping, sobbing noise, not too far away. Through scratched mask eyeholes that don’t help my already poor vision, I scan the petrol pumps, the side of the store, searching for the cause. Until there, a little ways away, I see a man, hunched against the wall, in just a torn shirt and jeans. No possessions, except the purple blanket he’s hugging. Shivering, a little, matted hair limp, long enough to reach the ground. I pull my gloves and mask up a little more, and approach.
‘Hey, man, are you ok?’ I ask, a little quiet, but it’s enough to get their attention. Their sunken eyes land on me, widening a little. Now I’m closer, I can see just how thin they are and then the scars up their arm. My heart jolts with horrified sympathy as I realise they’re tally marks.
They still haven't replied, just staring. There’s tears welling in their eyes. I catch the growl of their stomach as their gaze flicks to my bag, then back to my face.
‘Oh- here.’
I fish through the bag, pulling out, with a disappointing irony, a cream of mushroom. But I still place it on the ground next to the man. A mumble back, the quietest of surprised, deeply grateful thank yous. I smile, though they can't see beneath the mask.
‘You’re welcome, man.’
They smile back, a little overwhelmed, with the relatable shine of a first genuine smile in years. For another awkward moment, I stay next to them, staring a little, unable to find a way to continue talking.
‘Hey- HEY- No loitering!’
The cashier.
I scarper.
With deafening crashes, I hurry beyond the treeline again, through the trees. Another shout. Loud. Too loud.
But not loud enough to hide the sound of someone following.
I push myself to a sprint, cutting corners, dodging, avoiding the path but keeping it in sight, knowing more than anything, I can’t let them reach my home, I can’t let them reach me, and take me away from the little I’ve got for myself, bring me back there and hurt me like-
‘Restrain him. I’ll make the first incision.’
‘No- no no no…’ I mutter, each stick snapping too loud beneath me, each rustle too obvious, each little movement too loud, growing and growing and growing. ‘Go away go away go away-’ I stumble through treeroots, past animal traps, over boggy ground, nettles and brambles that tear my trousers and coat and hopefully disincentivise my pursuer. Until I slip, splashing into a ditch, clawing up the other side, through the dense, dead, foliage. I can’t hear my pursuer anymore. But I still continue. I don’t stop running, I can’t stop running, not until I’m back behind the wall of thorns and bushes, back inside my little, rotting, shack, and curled up hidden under my threadbare covers, sobbing and hoping no one will find me.
The fear of my pursuer doesn't leave my mind for the next few days. I don't leave my home, living on canned whatever. My slowly growing confidence from the last couple months disappears back to the fear of when I first escaped. The sculk spreads further, faster, over the walls. Like some kind of defense I’m subconsciously putting up, protecting myself from the outside.
Or protecting the outside from me.
The depression, and PTSD, and anxiety I’ve been suppressing return anew, sinking me back into darkness. I don't clean, I don't wash, I don’t engage in the crappy sudokus and far too cryptic crosswords in the local paper. Food becomes another chore, and yet the most exciting part of the empty, useless, days, waiting until I’m tired enough to sleep again. I’m left eating cold soup I can barely stomach, because the firepit is outside. Drinking dirty water, because the broken filter is outside. Not even gathering any blackberries as a treat, because even the stubborn brambles that refuse to die are all just outside. Dreams turn to nightmares, white rooms, metal beds, needles of flesheating fungus, injected by torturers hiding in surgeons’ masks and bloody latex gloves.
Not for the first time, I consider if the screams people hear are mine.
Sometimes I consider silencing them too.
But I don’t. I can’t. Some part of me refuses to die in such a lonely, depressing way. The man from outside the shop starts appearing in my dreams to help me. The shock of speaking to another human, even just interacting with another human, who didn't run away, didn't hide, didn't threaten to torture and experiment on me, refuses to leave my mind. That hopeful smile as he realised someone was being kind to him.
Somehow, someway, I have to push through the fear and leave the house. I need to build my confidence, return to the gas station, and hope to find him. Though it takes another day, mentally preparing, I’m able to take the first steps – pocket my money, find a bag to store my stuff in, and sheath my knife at my side. With that done, it’s a little easier to don my mask, scarf and thick coat. And then, another half hour of fighting my nerves and accepting there aren't people immediately coming to abduct me later, I open the door.
And leave the house.
A deep breath, as I stand there, outside, in the cold and dark. Unprotected. Defenceless. Before I shut the door and head off, forcing down the panic with a firm-set plan: go to the gas station and back. Restock. Reacclimatise myself to the routine. See if I can spot the stranger outside.
I follow the rough path I usually take, flinching at every bird and creature, every twig. Every chance for someone to grab me from behind, tie me up, drag me back there. Probably hurt me worse than ever for daring to escape. I squint against the darkness, scouring the treeline, the bushes, everything.
A flash of purple.
My stomach drops.
Lying unconscious, barely visible in the mud a little ways from the path, their legs caught in a vicious animal trap, is the stranger from the gas station.
‘Holy-’ I break into a sprint. ‘Holy smokes-’ My eyes don’t know what to fixate on: the disfigured metal, glinting red amidst the mutilation and gore, their limp arms, reaching to claw their way free, or the silent, agonised scream still plastered on their face.
They followed me. I realise, fumbling for a pulse, breathing, some sign I’m not too late. It was them. Not the cashier. I led them straight here to die. I can't feel anything through the gloves, but also can't remove them and risk contaminating this poor guy. I can't do anything, except wait, and listen and pray and-
A breath.
They’re breathing.
They’re alive.
I scramble for the pocket knife, heart racing at the idea I still have time, I can still save them. My eyes strain in the dark, searching for the small springs and wires that drive the mechanism amongst the mangled mess of metal and mildew. I freed enough animals in my first couple months of delusion that I could live off fresh food to know how most traps around here work, so it’s not long until I find the right wires, cutting through and heaving the stranger from the trap. As if it would be any help, I roll them onto their side, some kind of recovery position, to check their condition.
They’re dehydrated. Starving. Who knows how long it’s been since they drank something or, seeing the soup I gave them unopened, ate a proper meal. And then their legs, particularly the right one, covered in blood and dirt, broken and twisted. I don't risk getting anywhere close and infecting it. But I know I can't leave them here, I have to do something.
But the house is full of mold that’ll hurt them.
But they’ll die out here.
But they’ll die inside too.
But they need help. I caused this, so I need to help them. Or at least try to help them. And I can't call an ambulance, I don't have a phone and refuse to trap the stranger in another giant facility of white walls, and masks, and needles, and lies.
‘Hey- wake up,’ I murmur, shaking the stranger’s shoulder a little. At least if they’re awake, I won't have to carry and risk hurting them. No reply, but as I do, I catch the familiar brand on their neck. My own prickles in recognition.
CREEP.
V-Ex 2-10-6-9-1
I note the marks on his arms again. What the hell did they do to him? Why is his number so long? Did they cause those scars? Or did he? How long was he trapped there?
He’s bleeding. Even more. Faster.
Supplies. My mind tells me. His legs. You need to get supplies. Now. Go to the store and get some bandages and painkillers. And water. Actual clean water. And something for infection.
Somewhere in my mind I remember an old trick of CREEP’s, some way of limiting bloodflow, so I tear their pant legs apart, using the fabric to tie higher up the legs, stem the bleeding enough to keep them alive. With that vaguely solved, I can pick them up. They’re worryingly light, so weight isn’t a problem. But they’re bigger than me, and I don’t want to hurt them, or touch their broken leg, or end up dropping or infecting them. It takes a while to get them comfortable in my arms, before I break into a run towards town.
The cashier stares as I stumble into the gas station, unconscious stranger in my arms, far too long later. I beeline to the medical supplies, grab painkillers, a bottle of water, cleaning wipes, and, to my relief, a roll of bandages. With them all dumped around me, I slowly cut off the rest of the tattered pant legs as close to the top of the injury as I safely and decently-
‘Excuse me, mate?!’ The cashier calls, far too loud and close. ‘What the fuck are you doing?!’
‘He- he’s dying I’m helping him please let me help him- please- here- just- take this, keep the change- or- or give it to me in cans of food- please-’ I pass my bag of money to them, hoping its enough, painfully aware of how bloody my gloves are, how much I look like them.
‘This isn't a fucking hospital, mate.’
‘Please- please it’s an emergency, I need to help them…’
‘I’m gonna call the cops mate, just get out.’
‘No- no no please- please I need to help them-’ I curl up closer to the stranger, hands shaking as I try to open the cleaning pads.
‘I said get OUT!’
I’m dragged up.
‘GET OFF ME- NO- NO-’ I kick and struggle, and fight, and, under the flickering light and stained tiles, panic. I’m still in CREEP, being dragged to their latest horrifying torture method, forced into claustrophobic rooms full of tangling, digging hyphae and poisonous spores. They keep dragging me, screaming and wrestling, away from the stranger, still bleeding, still dying. I twist, and writhe.
‘NO- NO- GET OFF- GET OFF!’
And then drop.
With a shout, the cashier backs away, leaving me collapsed on the ground. A mouldy apple splats from the nearby display to the ground.
‘Monster- you- you’re the monster- the Rotwood-’
I play along.
‘Get out or I kill you.’ I snarl in the most twisted, evil, corrupted voice I can manage. The cashier stumbles back, before sprinting from the shop and away.
I scramble over to the stranger again, finishing a whole box of the cleansing pads before even being halfway done. So I raid the tissues, and toilet roll, grabbing a bottle of something medical and liquid and claiming to kill 99.9% of bacteria.
Using them instead, I scourge the stranger's legs of every little bit of dirt and grime I can see, scourging the infection I pray there isn't. And then, once I’m satisfied, I carefully bandage their legs, gather the rest of the supplies into my bag, as well as a couple tins of food, dump the bloody bag of money on the side, and carry the stranger home.
The concern of where the stranger will go rises in my mind again as I reach my cabin. The place is too small, and whatever I do the sculk grows back over the furniture. In the end, I just place them on a table, somewhat away from the sculk, while I hastily change the bed. I tear away vines, replace the sheets and bedding, consider again, and completely redo the whole thing, with some more old furs and feathers beneath the sheets to lessen the discomfort of the springs. Only then am I happy enough to lay the stranger down on the bed, covering them with their blanket.
I linger a moment longer, staring at them lying there. Before I grab the least-bad covers I own and lay them over as well. And then check their pulse. Slow. And then keep staring. My mind draws a blank on how to help them further, all I want to do after the journey and that encounter with the cashier is collapse and sleep through the blinding day. But I can't. I need to stay vigilant, for the stranger, wait for them to wake up, so I can give them water, or food. The fear of them dying of dehydration after all this rises in my mind.
All I know is that I should probably clean up a little more before they wake up, see all the mold, and panic. So, as I wait some more, I tear vines from the walls, wash the floor, move some of the moldier furniture outside, and open the broken windows properly, anything to make the place less depressing and dangerous for the stranger. Dawn creeps in, slowly, the golden glow I rarely appreciate with the windows covered, while I work, eventually satisfied. I head over to the ‘kitchen’ – the corner where I keep my shelf of tins, and limited crockery, to get them something to drink. I try to clean my only glass with the rotting length of fabric I use for everything and a dribble of water from the tap that barely filters enough rainwater for both drinking and washing, before filling from the bottle I bought, and bring it over.
I place the glass next to the bed and just sit there, waiting, murmuring to them, pleading.
‘C’mon, man- I’ve got you, something to drink… I can cook you some food as well… just wake up- please- I can’t- I can't just let you die here, man. I want to help you…’
Nothing. I shake their shoulders a little, but again, nothing. I think they’re even thinner than before, the red marks on their arms and neck, even over their face a little are clear. Their eyes are closed, but the pained expression remains. I grab the painkillers from the bag, a little bottle of pills, leaving them on the table too. And return to crouching next to them, each second a little closer to admitting defeat, that they’re dead, or in a coma, or never waking up, and it was all for nothing, absolutely nothing, and it’s all my fault and-
He opens his eyes.
My chest jumps, I scramble away. The guy freezes, staring at me, as I try to find a reply.
‘Hey- hey, I- so, I just found you outside, you were badly hurt- really badly hurt… I had to help you- I didn't want you to die because you followed me and- uh-’ I scan the room for a talking point, landing on the water. ‘Here, here, I got you something to drink, sorry about the glass, I don't have a lot of ways to clean stuff it sorta gets moldy again. Pretty quickly.’ I help the glass into their hand. They struggle to sit up, wincing. ‘Oh- and here, here, have one of these.’ I offer him the painkillers too, holding out the box in my hand as they just continue staring.
‘W-who-’ they force out.
‘It’s a painkiller. I promise. Just a painkiller. If- if you don't want it, don't take it. I don't want to force you to do anything you don't want to.’
They just take a few sips of water, testing, before downing the rest.
‘Would you like some food too? I have some soups? Or spaghetti? All tinned, I’m afraid.’
After another moment of wariness, they give a small nod. I hurry across the room and grab a can of tomato soup – the safest and nicest of the bunch, and then hurry outside to cook it. I pour it into my dented saucepan, light the fire pit, and start waiting for it to cook. My mind buzzes with thoughts about the guy, the stranger, what they did to him, his condition, his-
A crash, a cry of pain.
I dart inside again, to find the stranger collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath, clearly in agony.
‘Woah- woah woah what happened? Are you ok?’
I crouch next to them and they scramble back, against the wall, stifling a scream. Tears stream down their cheeks, they’re terrified. I remain there, frozen, in the middle of the room, as he crouches there, staring at me. Scared of me.
‘Your- your legs were caught in an animal trap, they’re-’ I peter off at the obvious. The stranger doesn’t speak, fidgeting with the loose ends of the bandages. ‘Please- no- no, don't take them off, they're keeping you alive. I’m sorry- but- but I don't want you to hurt yourself, so don't take them off, you need to keep the bandages on-’ I catch the sound of the soup bubbling outside. ‘Shit- I should check on the food. Don't- don't move, don’t do anything dangerous, ok?’
I back away, out the hut, to see the soup bubbling violently. I grab the pan from the fire, bringing it back inside. The stranger is still sitting there, silently crying, as I pour it into my only bowl, grabbing a spoon. I hold it at arms length as I bring it over. They don't take it.
‘Hey- here’s some soup. Food. I’m sorry it’s not much, but canned food doesn't rot, and I don’t have much money to afford any fancy stuff. I kinda attract mold a bit, but I cleaned up as much as I could. So you won't get sick.’
They still don't take it. I place it next to them instead.
‘Here. If you want it later.’
I scurry back to the far corner, giving the guy some space, trying not to constantly watch him, but there’s nothing else to do here, and it’s all so new, the idea of someone else here.
In the end, they do take the bowl, stirring the soup, playing with it, before taking the tiniest mouthful. Their eyes widen again, mouth hanging a little open. Before they close their eyes. Swallow. And go for another mouthful. And another, and another, and soon they’re eating as fast as they can, giving up on the spoon to drink the whole thing, straight from the bowl, licking every bit from their fingers, and around their mouth. Before glancing up at me, for a moment, unable to meet my gaze for long. Overwhelmed, perhaps? Regretting the lack of manners? I don't know.
‘Not had much food since escaping, then?’ I dare to say, a little small talk.
They freeze. A swallow, eyes darting.
‘Shit- sorry- man, please- you don't have to answer, or think about them-’
No reply. Their gaze wanders again, around the hut, the open door and windows, the mold I couldn't quite remove, then to the bed. They snatch up their blanket, hugging it close.
‘I’m Cub,’ I say, after a moment. ‘Do you have a name?’
No reply. I grab the bowl and spoon the stranger left, to wash up. And pause at the sink. And turn back to the stranger.
‘Sorry. I’m not used to visitors. I live alone. It’s safer. They infected me with these- kinda- fungus spores, and I don't want to hurt anyone else. And- and I’m kinda scared they’ll hurt me. But if you want to stay here and recover, please, please feel free, man, I can cook you food when you need it, not much, just beans, or spaghetti, or more soups… but I have some tinned fruit that’s nicer, as well? And- well- I don't know if you can really get far with your legs like that, you’re kinda trapped here for now, but I have stuff, I have supplies to help you, I- I know a little first aid…’
‘Trapped,’ they echo, a hoarse whisper to themself, clearly unused to talking.
‘For a bit but-’ I stop as they start crying again. ‘Shit- I’m sorry, man, just- it won't be forever, when your legs heal, you can do and- and find somewhere else, and recover on your own-’
They only hide their face more, crying more. I’m left stuck, in the middle of the room, heart racing at the thought of making this poor stranger upset again, another person who hates me, fears me. They’re tense, too tense, I hear their breathing start to struggle, see them just freeze, struggling, terror flaring into a full on panic attack.
‘Oh- ok- oh shit- just Breathe. Focus on breathing. It’s alright, I know this is scary, and- and everything’s new, and you’re hurt, and you don't know who I am, but I promise, I’m not one of them. I’m- I’m just another victim who got out, I saw you were hurt, I didn't want to leave you struggling and alone like me- shit- man- just- uh-’ I approach again, no idea of what could help, just feeling useless. All I can do is sit next to them, except they glance over, and try to shuffle away, a little. But they can't. They stop, wincing at the sudden pain, and only panic more. ‘Try to slow your breathing. Everything’s gonna be ok. You’re free. You’re safe now. You’re safe here. The bad guys can’t reach you here. I promise.’
They cover their ears with their hands, muttering, something even I can't hear enough to understand. He scratches the side of his head, clawing, searching for something. In his ears? Or like the strings of a mask, or a headset-
Oh.
Oh shit.
‘This isn’t a simulation.’ The words tumble out as I realise, at least in part, what they must’ve done to him. ‘I promise you got out, this is safety, you’re safe, and free and you can stay with me, and I can look after you, until you’re back on your feet, you can look after yourself- then- then- I can take you to town, see if I can get someone to call an ambulance, they can help you, or someone can help you- but- but the important thing, you’re safe, you’re safe now and-’
They scream.
A deafening, piercing, screech of raw emotion, hopelessness, and horror, and agony, and fury, and grief that tears against my sensitive ears and drives me to an uncontrollable, horrible, fight or flight response.
I scream back.
‘SHUT UP!’
Pain.
Burning.
Through my cheek.
I reel away, onto the ground, one hand against my bleeding cheek. A glance, shaking, towards the stranger, tears blurring, but not hiding, the object in their hand.
A scalpel.
They’ve got a scalpel.
One of their scalpels. They’re one of them. And they’re going to hurt me again.
‘No- no no no-’ I plead, scrambling away. ‘No- please, man- please don't- I- I helped you-’ I need to move, I need to get away because if they see me, if they know where I am they’re going to drag me to the torture room, they’re gonna cut me open and leave me in that box, the claustrophobic damp, and pitch dark, too small to move in, to get away, as the fungus covers me, and grow on me, and under my skin and-
I hit the corner. Back to the wall, hands over head, legs up to my chest so they can't hurt me, they won't hurt me, if they try I’ll just- I don't know. I don't know what I’ll do. There’s nothing I can do so I just start crying. Sobbing. I try to listen for any noise, anyone coming, but all I hear is the clatter of metal on the wood floor, someone else crying.
I don't move.
And they don't move.
And we stay that way for hours.
It’s been hours. Or, it feels like hours that we’ve been stuck in our stalemate, huddled crying on opposite sides of the room. I don't know what he’s thinking, I don't know what his plan is, or what he thinks of me. It just feels like one wrong move and he’ll scream or attack me again.
Until he wipes away his tears, and sits up properly, staring, reproachful, at me. A glance at the scalpel on the ground. Out of reach. I don't relax.
‘You- It- you,’ they mumble, glancing at the tin of soup I gave them, on the side. I don't know if it’s a question, but after a moment, I nod anyway. Silence again.
‘It’s me.’
‘But-,’ they mutter, ‘you knew.’
‘I saw the mark, CREEP,’ I explain, hoping that's what they mean. ‘So- so I knew they must’ve done something to you, some kind of experiment, and you started scratching, like you were looking for a headset, and it kinda clicked with the marks on your face, your behaviour…’ I explain, vaguely. The stranger frowns, but they don't question it.
‘CREEP?’
‘The- evil experimenting people.’
‘You- know?’
‘It was CREEP who infected me with fungus.’ I pause. The stranger doesn't speak. So I continue, rambling again. ‘...and ran tests and experiments on me and trapped me in intense conditions like- really hot, or cold, or underwater, or high pressure, or a vacuum, just to see how long I’d survive and sometimes they operated on me, without anaesthetic, just restrained me and saw how far the fungus got and when I disobeyed, they- they had this box, it was barely big enough to stand in, and it was full of fungus, and mold, and it was really damp, and dark, and they- they’d cut me, with a scalpel, over and over, and lock me in there just- pitch black, and let the fungus- infect me even more-’ I pause, at the realization the stranger is just staring, eyes wide, in utter horror. ‘I’m sorry- that’s too much detail. I- never had anyone to talk about it with, it’s all coming out at once.’
‘You got out,’ they state. Or ask.
‘I played dead, I thought, or kinda naively hoped they’d just dump me somewhere I could run, and escape and- and well they did but…’ The prickle, the terror, of the incinerator rises in my mind, how long I had to lie there, limp, silently screaming, burning, waiting for them to leave. Before realising the only way out was past the giant fan that could’ve cut me to shreds. And-
‘When?’ The stranger asks, dragging me from the trauma again. ‘Cub?’
‘I- uh- A couple years ago.’ I reply, the shock of hearing my name still sinking in. ‘I- tried to keep records, but the mold got to them too.’
‘You- are Cub?’
‘Yeah- that’s right.’
‘Did you- remember that?’
‘No, no. Sorry.’ I add, as the stranger’s hope vanishes again. ‘I saw it in a newspaper- uh- ‘Cubs Fans devastated by another huge loss’ or something like that. Felt accurate enough.’
‘Oh.’
‘I’m sorry, man.’
Another pause. They stare at my face, still troubled, like there’s still something up with me.
‘Is- is there something wrong?’ I dare to ask.
‘Mask,’ he mutters after a moment. ‘I only saw masks.’
‘In- CREEP? People only wore masks?’
‘The world. The big field, the sunflowers. Alone, but sometimes they- the shadow people- watching. Always- for- for years- but it wasn't real, the- the pain- and the time- but- the mask- there- now here- and- being trapped in the- the trap- I- I don't know. I woke here, and-’
Holy shit.
‘Dude- I’m sorry.’
‘And- well- they didn't speak, so you’re the first- well- you’re the first person I’ve met and- my life before- I don't know, I can't remember, so you’re the first person I’ve ever met.’ A pause, to wipe their tears. ‘And- and you were kind to me.’ They smile, tears in eyes so clearly and so deeply haunted.
‘Then, I’ll take off the mask,’ I decide.
‘For- me?’
I nod. My hands shake a little, but after a moment I gain the confidence to slip off my hood. And, before I can chicken out, the scarf. And finally, the plague mask. The stranger just stares, taking in every inch of mutilation and horror – the fungus growing over the burns, the pure black eyes, the tendrils and mushrooms sprouting. Before, finally, speaking.
‘Does it hurt?’
‘No, no, not any more,’ I lie. ‘But I don't want to spread it to anyone else. So I wear this outside. And it means they won't recognise me, and take me back to-’ I let out a deep breath. ‘Sorry. I’m rambling. Again.’
‘I like your rambling,’ the stranger replies. Before giving a sad laugh. ‘It’s better than silence.’
‘Notch- man, I’m so sorry they did that to you. They’re the worst.’
A nod. The stranger wipes their teary eyes on their blanket. Silence, for a few more minutes.
‘Scar.’
‘Hmm?’
‘I like the name Scar.’ He holds up one scarred arm. ‘A bit literal but- hey.’
‘I named myself after a disappointing sports team.’ I reply. Scar gives a surprised laugh, a small giggle that sends fluttering joy through me, before smiling.
‘Can- I stay here?’ he asks. ‘When- after my legs heal?’
‘I- can make arrangements?’ I reply weakly. Scar’s expression falls.
‘Oh.’
‘I don't want you getting sick because of me. And it gets depressing here. Really depressing. I can't keep proper food at all. Just tins. And people think I’m a monster. A literal monster. And I only go out at night, I don't go into town, I live completely alone.’
‘I’ve-’ A pause. ‘I’ve spent almost 10,000 days alone in- in a liminal sunflower hell, with nothing, no one, just horrible tasks, and then it wasn't real, I was strapped to some dystopian machine for the last- however long. So- so a house, in the woods, with another person, isn't exactly the worst.’
‘Yeah?’ I reply, equal parts terror and excitement filling me at the idea of someone else living here with me. ‘If you’re sure.’
i feel like i sped ran all of ur posts i’m in luv <33 do u think i could maybe… be…🫧-anon??
anyways here’s me little brainrot on scaramouche/wanderer bc i love him
pervy!scara who would hide u under his desk during fatui meetings and make you suck and kiss his cock, all the while you have to hold back whimpers in fear of being discovered :((
yandere!scara who would slowly isolate you from everyone else until you feel abandoned :( but don’t worry! he’s dealt with plently of betrayals, all you need is him!
thinking about a yan!scara x touch starved/traumatized reader scenario. reader genuinely loves scara, and all their past trauma just makes them that much more attached to him. they look past all the red flags and think that this is the best thing for them!! Of course, scara is happy to receive the love, and gladly gives them everything they want :)) scara controls readers surroundings just to make them that much more attached and needy for him and his help! what a good boyfriend he is!
minor writing smut, dni if uncomfortable!!!
omg nonnie!!! ofc you can be 🫧 anon!!! i will write about these in order they’re just too good :(
tw: noncon/dubcon idrk which one of the two to classify this as, i think that’s it tbh
i love love love the idea of pervy scara!!!! and i think it’s just that much better when it’s not in an au or anything so that there’s the power difference of him being a harbinger :( he’d make sure he got to the meeting before anyone else just so that he could feel your mouth wrapped around him during the boring discussions that just seem to drag on for so long :( if he thought you were having it too easy he’d quickly thrust up his hips, just enough to make you gag around him though, he does still have a reputation to keep :(
tw: yandere, heavy stockholm syndrome, like really heavy, like that’s almost entirely what this part is about you’ve been warned, isolation
i think he’d be the most likely to do this out of all the genshin yanderes, he’s just so so mean and so so lonely (and tbh a little bit pathetic and soggy but that’s part of his charm) he wouldn’t want you to look at anyone but him :( i think if his usual punishments with pain and degradation weren’t working he’d even take it a step further and leave you alone in a room for however it takes you to break :( he’d bring you 3 meals a day and plenty of water though!! he’d just ignore you whenever you tried to touch him or even just talk to him :( he’d look at you like you like you’re just a disgusting speck of dirt to him, and that’d continue until eventually you’d break and end up begging him to talk to you, to touch you again, to just do something so that you know you aren’t completely alone :( i think if what you did to deserve that punishment was bad enough he’d let it go in past that point, waiting until you’re clinging to his clothes, full on sobbing for him to pay attention to you again, and physically not letting him leave, then he’d bend down and gently wrap you up in his arms, cooing soft praises and sweet little nothings at you while he reassures you that, “shh, shh, it’s all ok, i’m here now, you don’t have to be scared anymore. i’ll take care of you, it’ll be just how it’s supposed to be.” :( he’d run you a nice, warm bath and pretend like he wasn’t also the one who did this to you, still holding you in his arms and whispering sweet, comforting little words and phrases in your ear :(
tw: yandere, kinda sorta stockholmish??? definitely not as bad as the last one but it’s kinda there, toxic relationships
i think this one is especially good with scara cause i think he’d be just so sad whenever his darling is mean to him, so when you actually, genuinely love him for who his is, obsessiveness and all, he’s overjoyed!! and he’s even more excited when you seek him out yourself and ask him for cuddles or a kiss or even just to sit next to him for a while :( i think he’d try to test you in the early stages of your relationship, just to make sure you aren’t pretending to love him back while you secretly plan to leave him. poor scara has trust issues, can you really blame him? :( besides, he’s made all his red flags more than clear by now, if you’re dumb enough to ignore them then that’s no skin off his back. after he decides you’ve passed his tests he’d become a lot more comfortable showing his true colors with you, gradually adding more rules and restrictions to your schedule, not letting you leave the house unless you’re with him, adding a lock to the outside of your bedroom door and not letting you have a key, making sure to always keep some rope around “just in case” :( eventually, it’d turn into you not being allowed to leave the house at all, and you constantly being in his arms or tied up when he can’t hold you himself. he knows you won’t mind as long as he continues to ravish you with his love and attention though. you’re just so perfect for him, how did he get so lucky? :(
Hi, can you do headcanons for a demigod child of Moros? He is the god/primordial/daimon of Impending Doom. In some cases I’ve read he is the leader of the Fates.
Trigger warning: mentions of mortality, life and death, isolation, existentialism
Alright I’m going to do something similar when I answered the Ananke ask for this one. Nothing too serious or too in depth compared to the Primordial Demigod h/cs. It’s also not going to be very long because well Moros is very simple.
Moros is the offspring of Nyx (and Erebus by some Roman authors) and is the personified spirit of impending doom, who drives mortals to their deadly fate. This lines up with the Fates, who is their brother; where Moros would give people the ability to foresee their own death (doom).
If Moros did have a demigod, I would feel more comfortable with it being an esoteric birth, or basically Moros just decided to make a demigod out of his own essence; then a demigod being the result of a traditional birth of copulating with a mortal.
Mostly because Moros’ presence around a mortal definitely ends up with their death (Just like how Phobos and Deimos’ presence drives mortals with fear and terror in their presence). So, it may or may not be pretty. And its definitely not a peaceful death because that’s Thanatos’ domain and Moros is the complete opposite.
The child of Moros knows of every individuals’ doom, how they will die in the end and they cannot tell anyone or speak them of it. If they do or try to change one’s fate, it will only end up happening sooner or worse because that is not their position to do.
Just because you are a child of Moros, you are still a demigod of Moros, a being that is half-mortal, so you too are not out of the exception. You also can foresee your own impending doom and while you can ignore it easier, or does not affect you so much, you are not the exception to the rule.
Just like the demigods of Ananke and the Fates, they can only observe everyone’s fate and are on the extremely neutral side; not because they don’t want to be involved, it’s because they cannot. They may warn others of their impending doom, but there is little chance to be able to change it unless the Fates allow it because they are the ones who ultimately cut it in the end.
As a child of Moros, you are Moros’ champion and an extension of him, so being a child of Moros is a solidarity life because any living being with a conscious that come nears them will feel an impending doom to their life and the closer they are in approximately, the more they will see their own doom.
The only way to offset the aura of doom around them is to carry hope in your heart or literally carry Elpis, the personification of Hope, to ignore the inevitability of Moros.
However, if the child of Moros holds Hope in their hands, it may not be pretty because Elpis was given by Prometheus to humanity as a way to help them ignore their doom, so it may do very little in their hands. Though perhaps, it might do something if the child of Moros desires and believes in Elpis (Hope).
If I had to put it into canon, the child of Moros would be like a child of Hades, but in the sense they belong with the Underworld. They have to keep the balance of life and death in check, and those who try to cheat death, especially when their time is due.
A/N: And that’s about it! Sorry if you were expecting it to be a bit longer but that’s all I could come up with the restrictions and what is told about Moros. Its also why I don’t do other gods like Phobos, Deimos, or those kinds of gods for h/cs because its very cut and dry, and they are often harmful around mortals so having demigods is out of the question. It also doesn’t usually seem fun to read about because you’re also affiliated with their domain since I wouldn’t see why you would be completely exempted from their domain and power.
