18+ MATERIAL, MINORS DNI!
Radio | 27 | He/They | Ace I write a Hazbin Hotel fanfic on AO3 called The Deer's Den, featuring a steady plot/story with g/t, nonsexual vore, and heavy horror elements. Here, I'll be answering any questions on the fic, yapping about it, posting art and updates, etc for anyone who is interested in it!
The Deer's Den - A Hazbin Hotel / Borrowers Crossover
Fic by Radio_Deer; Blog Assist by @sapphic-slaylist~
Minors & Pro/sh!p DNI (I Block >:3)
Summary: Set in 1920s New Orleans, wayward Borrower Roxie finds herself stranded in a strange man's house for the night. Who begins as a charming young gentleman is revealed to be a man with a penchant for violence -- and a taste for human blood (literally). Escaping the confines will not be easy, and it may take the help of the speakeasy's nearby community to shelter Roxie from the Deer's appetite - by traversing deep into the belly of New Orleans.
Trigger Warnings: This fic is dark. It contains heavy elements of vore (both soft and hard, safe and fatal), cannibalism, bloodshed, panic attacks, PTSD, and viewers have experienced triggers akin to those of sexual assault (but is not cannonically intended). Additional triggers include intense fear/panic, coercion, abuse, fear of death, and similar. All negative actions are treated with the proper respect and the weight necessary, and are not condoned.
Tags: #the deer's art (fanart/official refs); #the deer's fic (chapters)
"Official" Fanfic art featuring art for The Deer's Den!
Content Warnings: Characters/designs are from a Hazbin Hotel story-based nonsexual vore & horror fic.
Art by plushiespork!
I'm still debating this, hence the two versions, but not sure yet if I want to redesign Pentious! He'll still be Pentious rather than Pendleton, but I might update his look to reflect his canon counterpart; at least with the hair. As for this piece, well....
Some developments are coming. Whether they're good for Roxie or not, is up to my dear broadcast listeners. Consider this a sneak peek... ;')
Omg why is animation so hard? Anyways I made this because I thought the audio fit them too well. AU created by @the-deers-den. Still my favorite fanfic ever. đ„°
I'm still alive, going strong! Things have just been more hectic than I'd like, but I've being playing around with concepts for the next chapter in my spare time. Stay tuned, friends! Blog is also undergoing lots of maintenance at this time!
For the next week or so this blog will be undergoing full construction, where lots of posts and chapters that were posted on tumblr will disappear. My friend is helping me get this blog properly organized! Be not afraid! Things will return to normal soon, but I wanna get this blog properly set up first and give it an overhaul during the semi hiatus! <3
This is really hard for me to say right now but I just wanted to get it out here before I went silent/minimal posting.
While I'm still working on the next chapter of Deer's Den, until further notice there will be a significant delay / semi hiatus overall as I've just lost a family member.
Despite working with such heavy themes in my work, admittedly, I've never had to process death, grief, or anything of the sort before.
And it hurts. God, it hurts.
It's going to be a long healing process. The loss was sudden and I thought I'd be ready for it. Amidst it I have other things to sort out with my life that are going to affect me long term, and I don't know if it'll affect my writing.
Until further notice, broadcasts will be semi halted as I recover, figure things out, and move forward with my life. I might still post if I'm able to keep writing; I have no intention of fully stopping this story.
It's just going to take a while for the next chapter, and to handle the heavy themes in the fanfic itself. I will post commissioned or gifted art whenever it rolls in, but story updates will be slow.
Thank you to everyone for your incredible support for my work, and your support during delays.
I'm excited to announce that I've set up a Bluesky for The Deer's Den!
I'll still post here, but I wanna give Bluesky a try too.
Also, don't worry; this fic is still being worked on! I'm waiting until S2 completes before I keep going - I have to study a lot of new material~ Additionally, this blog will be undergoing a continued overhaul while I get everything posted and linked correctly, so things may look a little mixed up or out of place for a bit!
As always thank you to everyone for your support for this fic! <3
Spoiler Warning: This lineup contains general spoilers for Deer's Den, proceed with caution!
Content Warnings: Characters/designs are from a Hazbin Hotel story-based nonsexual vore & horror fic. One character in the lineup is portrayed as excessively drunk.
Another lineup for you all, with another set from Deer's Den, featuring several additional members of the cast - including two we haven't seen fully yet in the fic, as a little treat for ya'll! Alastor's mother, Alastor's father, Carmilla Carmine, Sera, & Emily. This set features outfit variations and two characters (Alastor's father & Emily) that have not yet appeared with full visual descriptions yet in the fic!
Emily is around the same age as Charlie, and has yet to appear. Alastor's father hasn't gotten a face reveal until now, and...well, he seems pretty two-faced, doesn't he?
Art by plushiespork, who has been a delight and wonderful to work with while making this AU come to life!
Tagged as mature for safety purposes, but all vore in this fanfic is meant to be nonsexual. Please refer to the AO3 link for all the tags and more detailed warnings for the fic
A stranded borrower named Roxie finds a strange smiling gentleman in a cabin along the Louisiana bayou - and gets more than she bargained for. In a thrilling tale of horror, deception, and unwavering hunger, Roxie finds herself at a crossroads with Louisiana's most famous radio host, Alastor; who threatens the very foundation of everything borrowers stand for. With Roxie's newfound friends in the mix, the borrowers and bartender of a New Orleans speakeasy must work together to save themselves and others from being served on a silver platter, once and for all.
Summary: Alastor drives a hard bargain.
Chapter 2: Static is under the cut!
Roxie groaned softly as she came to, rubbing her head a little. Opening her eyes slowly, the little borrower winced as she sat up; her body ached, and she felt woozy. A wave of nausea rushed over her, and she did her best to compose herself; but the memory of what had happened only made things worse. That human had tried to eat her alive - and a part of her was horrified at the prospect of what he was trying to hide, on top of it all. Shuddering, Roxie hugged herself tightly as the images of being stuck in Alastorâs jaws plagued her; haunting glimpses of a terrifying set of teeth, slimy tongue, and eager gullet - the sound of his belly down below, desperate for another mealâŠ
Trembling, Roxie shook her head as if to rid herself of the horrid visuals; but even then, tears streamed down her cheeks. She shouldnât have come to this awful cabin; no, she shouldâve just stayed out in the rain. Freezing to death or drowning would be better than any of this. That man, that awful man, had spared her at the last second; but for how long? As far as she was concerned, she was nothing but a piece of meat to him; another morsel to gobble down like the fancy meals he cooked.Â
Sniffling, Roxie raised her head and glanced around - only for a sense of dread to creep through her. She was trapped.Â
The little borrower sat in what looked like an old birdcage, with a few scraps of warm cloth inside. A cotton ball sufficed as a pillow behind her, while a thimble of water sat beside her. Feeling her heart begin to race wildly in her chest, she slowly straightened up and looked around, eyes wide with panic. She was in a different room; propped up onto a desk, next to a microphone and massive radio set; to be quite honest, it looked like a mini radio station. Her gaze drifted to the window in the room; sunlight filtered in through the blinds.Â
I passed out the whole night, didnât I?Â
A part of her was confused, and equally fearful at the fact that she hadnât been swallowed up while unconscious. It wouldâve been easy; too easy.Â
Roxie reached over for the thimble, only to stop herself; she was parched, but somehow, she didnât trust that water. Who knew what was in it? Flinching away, the little borrower moved toward the door of the birdcage; a lock was slapped onto it, keeping her from just unlatching the door. The faint sound of low music caught her attention as well, coming from the living room - and after a quick sniff, she could smell breakfast being cooked in the kitchen. Uneasily, Roxie realized that meant Alastor was up and about. A flicker of movement caught her eye in the distance; and just as she feared, Alastor was mulling about the kitchen, humming along with the soft tune coming from the radio.Â
Great. Letâs hope Iâm not on the menu again.Â
Trembling, Roxie grasped onto the cage bars for a moment, peering out. Alastor had a habit of leaving doors open, though she had a gut feeling it was to make sure she was still somewhat in his line of sight at this point. She wondered if itâd be worth it to call him, or leave the man to his own devices; either way, she was at his mercy.Â
Maybe if I try to play nice, so will he.Â
The borrower hesitated before she mustered up her courage, and spoke; calling as loud as she could. Thankfully, the radioâs volume was fairly low from the sound of it.Â
âAlastor?âÂ
In the distance, the man paused; Roxie held her breath as he glanced over his shoulder. She felt her stomach drop as he looked towards her; somehow, despite the stretch of space between them, she could practically feel those eyes burning into her soul.Â
He was still fucking smiling, too.Â
âOh! Roxie - youâre awake. Iâll be there in a jiffy, darling.âÂ
The man spoke as if he hadnât just tried to eat her last night. Roxie felt a twinge of frustration twist in her gut. What was his deal? One minute he was a terrifying force to be reckoned with, and the next a charming gentleman.Â
She watched as he returned to his cooking for another minute or two, then stepped away from the cage bars as he finished up. Alastor made his way towards the radio room with a plate of scrambled eggs and freshly cooked bacon, along with a cup of coffee. Casually, he plopped himself down at the desk; he didnât seem to have a care in the world. Only then did he finally raise his head and look at Roxie expectantly for a moment, before chuckling softly.Â
âGood morning to you too, dear.âÂ
Reaching into his vest pocket, Alastor pulled out a small key to unlock the massive hunk of metal on the door - when his hand came close, Roxie scrambled to the back of the cage, a hand to her chest as she felt her heartbeat spike. His sharp-nailed fingers brushed the door for a moment, before he unlatched it and pulled the door open. He watched the borrower closely, still smiling with an eerie sense of calmness to his demeanor.Â
âWhy donât you join me for breakfast, hm? Arenât you hungry? I see you didnât touch your water; do you prefer coffee?âÂ
Roxie felt a twinge of nausea rush through her system, and she held back a grimace. The deep rooted fear in her heart never faltered. She glanced nervously at the plate of food on the desk, then back up at Alastor, raising an eyebrow at him. The grinning man blinked, staring at her for a minute; before a little laugh escaped him, and he waved a hand absently.Â
âOh! Goodness - my apologies. I shouldâve known. About last nightâŠâÂ
As Alastor leaned in close to the open door, Roxie pressed herself against the back of the cage.Â
âThat was simply a misunderstanding, darling.âÂ
Stunned, Roxie stared at him; then let her hand drop from her chest, instead clenching it into a fist.
Fuck playing nice; whatâs this guyâs problem?!Â
âM-Misunderstanding?! You tried to eat me! You were going to swallow me whole! Beans donât just do that- or at least, theyâre not supposed to!âÂ
Roxie tensed as she watched Alastorâs lip twitch, seemingly in displeasure at being talked back to; but the smile remained on his face. She wondered if his face ever got sore from it.Â
âBeans? Ah; human beings, I see. Now, now; settle down. It was an impulsive idea, but no harm done! I made a simple mistake is all. I thought you had witnessed rather private business out in the yard; but I suppose no one would believe you if you tried to tell anyone. Iâm sure theyâd be more curious about a tiny scientific discovery rather than what you had to say, to be frank.â Alastor shrugged nonchalantly, though his eyes widened as the borrower went on in a frantic scramble of words.
âYou tried to eat me alive, and youâre telling me to settle down?! You didnât spill wine on my dress, ya know - and even if I did see something, what would be bad enough to justify hurting someone like that? I-I thought you were tryna be nice to me, then ya justâŠturned around and gobbled me up!â Roxie blurted it all out in a panicked rush, feeling the tears threatening to well back up; but she held them back in an attempt to hold her ground. âHow am I supposed to believe you wonât do it again?âÂ
Bold words for someone so close to a ravenous human. Â
She could feel Alastorâs gaze burning into her, worse than ever now. Still, his smile never faltered.
âI suppose youâre right; I shouldâve realized all of it would be overwhelming for you. I may have made a minor lapse in judgment last night; but rest assured, it wonât happen again. Now, you have every right to doubt meâŠâ Alastor trailed off briefly, tilting his head as he gestured to the opening of the cage. âBut if I wanted to hurt you, truly âŠI wouldâve done so already. I offered you my mercy, didnât I?â A purr escaped his lips as he raised an eyebrow, watching as the borrower nervously nodded. Â
âI gave you another chance, Roxie. Donât question it - embrace it.âÂ
The question jolted her; startled, she looked up at him in alarm.Â
âW-What?âÂ
âI donât know anything about borrowers, but I can reasonably deduce one thing; youâre far too small to be out on your own. Now, Iâm happy to let you go; given you keep quiet about what happened in this cabin, regardless of your limited knowledge. But you mentioned being stuck out here, didnât you?â Alastor paused to begin eating, realizing his breakfast was getting cold; but not before making sure to cut a small piece of both the eggs and bacon and nudging it to the edge of his plate. His smile twitched upon noticing that Roxie was eyeing the food, but he held his tongue for now; swallowing before he continued.Â
âSimply put, I can take you to New Orleans. Iâm sure you saw my motorcar outside. All we have to do is pretend none of this ever happened; and so long as you keep your nose out of my business, I donât think weâll have any more mishaps, Roxie. What do you say, darling?âÂ
A beat of silence passed. The borrower hesitated, weighing her options; Alastor was still difficult to read, but from his hastiness in his explanation, it was clear there was something sinister lingering in the background - he had tried to eat her impulsively, from a desire that even she had no understanding of. But still, he had a point; if he wanted to end her, he wouldnât have spared her in those last few moments. And as far as she was concerned, he was driving a rather hard bargain; she wouldnât last much longer in the bayou alone, and he was her only shot at getting to the the city.Â
But even then, the psychopath had still tried to eat her.Â
âWellâŠâ Roxie bit her lip, then sighed softly. âAlright. Fine. Keep your secrets; it ainât none of my business, and I didnât see anything to begin with. I just have to get to the city, then Iâll be out of your hair and you wonât have to worry about anyone intrudinâ on ya again.â Against her better judgment, she slowly moved toward the open doorway of the cage, then stepped out. So far so good; he hadnât snatched her up or shoved her in his mouth. It was unnerving to stand there while the man ate, especially after last night, but Roxie bit back her unease.Â
âJust keep your paws to yourselfâŠdeal?â Â
âDeal!â Alastorâs eyes shone with a strange flicker of excitement, and he nodded with a grin, before pointing a finger at his chest and crossing over the left side. âCross my heart and hope to die, darling.â Afterwards, he moved his hand slightly toward the little borrower; but upon realizing she had flinched away, he paused and withdrew it.Â
âMy apologies. Shake on it?âÂ
Much like their first meeting, he extended a finger for her; and after a moment of hesitation, Roxie shook it. He had corrected himself, so there was that; as horrific as the prior night had been, if she was going to get out of this cabin and away from this man, she had to work with him to some degree.Â
âAnd, ah - there wonât be any need for the cage anymore, of course. That was just precautionary. Now, please; feel free to eat. Would you like some coffee?â Alastor asked, almost hopefully. âItâs not poisoned if thatâs what youâre worried about.â Desperate to prove it from the twitch in his grin, Alastor took a swig from his mug with a smile.Â
âThank youâŠCoffeeâs fine.â Roxie managed a timid smile back, watching as Alastor briefly sifted through all the electronics on the desk in search of something, before eventually switching to the drawers by his knees; and fishing out another thimble. He dipped it with careful precision into his coffee mug, then set it down next to his plate within Roxieâs reach. By now, the thirst and hunger was getting to her; without a second glance, she took a sip from the thimble and scarfed down her portion of breakfast, uncomfortably aware of Alastorâs piercing gaze as she ate the bacon.Â
Since when were humans so focused on what people ate?Â
Nonetheless, Roxie finished her meal and so did Alastor. Once he had finished off his coffee, the man smiled; as per usual; and stood up, grabbing his plate and the cage. Much to Roxieâs surprise, he fully stepped away from the desk, tucking the cage in the corner of the room before exiting - leaving the little borrower exposed and with free range. Any sensible borrower wouldâve run off; the thought crossed her mind, but she feared what would happen if she broke their agreement so soon. No; she had to stick with it for now, and if things went south, sheâd figure something out.Â
She watched Alastor drop the plate off in the kitchen, then make his way back toward her. He sat back down at the desk with a content sigh, laying back for a moment andâŠstrangely enough, closing his eyes.Â
âAlastor?â
After a moment, the man cracked an eye open, gaze flickering to the little borrower on his desk.Â
âHm?âÂ
âUmâŠâ Roxie hesitated, rubbing the back of her neck as she spoke. âArenât you going to take me to the city?âÂ
âOh, no. Not right now.â
The borrower jolted, a look of alarm crossing her face as she glanced at the human with a touch of annoyance in her gaze.
âW-What? But I thought you said-âÂ
âIâd take you, and I will. I was going to rest before work, but since you seem insistent on disrupting meâŠâ The man rolled his eyes, though his voice held a teasing note to it as he sat back up in his chair and reached across the desk to grab a black headset, and crimson microphone. He tucked the headset over his ears, fiddling with one of the wires for a moment.Â
âI suppose I can start early today, so long as you stay quiet for me, alright?âÂ
A look of confusion crossed the borrowerâs face as she tilted her head, watching as the human flicked on a few buttons along the radio boxes, then flashed a debonair smile in Roxieâs direction as one of them flashed a bright red.Â
The radio static buzzed to life, and Alastor called out with excitement and a touch of charm to his voice into the microphone clutched in his hands.
The Deer's Den - Chapter 1 (The Deer and the Mouse)
MINORS DNI!
Read it here on AO3 (And here for Tumblr!)
Tagged as mature for safety purposes, but all vore in this fanfic is meant to be nonsexual. Please refer to the AO3 link for all the tags and more detailed warnings for the fic
A stranded borrower named Roxie finds a strange smiling gentleman in a cabin along the Louisiana bayou - and gets more than she bargained for. In a thrilling tale of horror, deception, and unwavering hunger, Roxie finds herself at a crossroads with Louisiana's most famous radio host, Alastor; who threatens the very foundation of everything borrowers stand for. With Roxie's newfound friends in the mix, the borrowers and bartender of a New Orleans speakeasy must work together to save themselves and others from being served on a silver platter, once and for all.
Content Warnings for this chapter: Attempted fatal vore, cannibalism (eating human meat unknowingly)
Chapter 1: The Deer and the Mouse is under the cut!
As the rain pelted down into the Louisiana bayou, creatures of all shapes and sizes scuttled about to rid themselves of the late night downpour -Â while others welcomed it. Wild pigs snorted and shuffled onto land, shaking rain from their pelts as they disappeared into the foliage beyond the murky waters. The distinct shape of a gator hovered just below the waterâs surface, side-eyeing a deer that had scuttled away and down the sodden path. Out of everything in this bayou, however, one thing was different than the rest - a tiny figure flinched away as the massive deer ran past, ducking behind a few blades of grass. Their form was soaked from head to toe, and upon closer inspection, any onlooking creature wouldâve seen that this wasnât an animal. No, it was a little person; roughly the size of a mouse - and they had certainly seen better days.Â
It seemed that this borrower was down on their luck.Â
Donned in tattered, handsewn flapper attire, Roxie was a young woman with a short black bob and fair skin; and after hitching a ride discreetly on the back of a motorcar, her attempt at traveling across Louisiana had been cut short. A simple bump in the road and a tumble of boxes later had rendered the borrower stranded in the bayou. After evading herons, snakes, and other starving animals in the swamp, it had been a miracle sheâd been alive for so long - but the young woman was determined to get to the New Orleans and find a new home for herself. The tumble had sent her off the main road, and with a world so big, it had been disorienting to get back to it; but from the looks of it, she had found it.Â
Scrambling amidst the rain, Roxie darted away from the waterâs edge and sprinted down the path the deer had gone. This had to be the main road; and even if it wasnât, surely it led back to civilization.Â
âDamn itâŠâÂ
Shivering, Roxie hugged herself tight as she scurried along. She flinched at the clap of thunder high above her, only to squeak and pick up the pace upon glimpsing a flash of lightning nearby. She needed to find shelter, and quickly; if the animals didnât kill her, the storm surely would one way or another; be it the cold, swept into the bayou, or an unlucky lightning strike if fate had it against her.Â
Roxie didnât know how long she had been running for; her legs ached, her body was sore, and she was chilled to the bone. Just when thought she couldnât bear it any longer, the faint glimmer of a light up ahead caught her attention. Eyes widening, the little borrower forced herself to keep moving - before a relieved smile spread across her face at the sight of a cabin up ahead; the light was coming from the windowsill, and from the distant crackle, a radioâs steady tune could be heard. The cabin looked like a rather cozy place, a bit ways from the bayou and off to the side of the road. Darting off it and towards the wooden cabin, Roxie noticed a black and red motorcar that had seen better days was parked outside.Â
Perfect; she could stay there for the night, and even with a bean inside, she was sure she could find a spot to hunker down. All she had to do now was get in.Â
After a bit of snooping, Roxie eased her way behind the cabin; where she finally found a moment of salvation under the back stairs. The boards shielded her from the rain for now, thankfully. However, the little borrower tensed at the distinct sound of footsteps from above; crouching down, she held her breath as the back door abruptly opened. Covering her mouth with a hand, Roxie watched uneasily as a bean made their way down the stairs; as he reached the bottom, she noticed he was carrying a black bag in his right hand. Through the rain, as well as the light pouring out from the doorway, she noticed the bean was a lanky fellow - wearing a white shirt and red vest. His other hand threw up an umbrella to shield himself from the rain; and while she didnât get a good look at his face, she didnât care to see. No, Roxie was focused on a new task; if she moved quick enough, she could slip inside through the back door. The little borrower moved quickly and with purpose, doing her best to clamber up the back steps; thankfully they were pretty short, with enough dents in the wood to allow her to grab on and heave herself up. Breathing heavily, Roxie managed to make it to the top; and she took off sprinting across the porch, running in through the door and veering to the right just as the bean turned around to return from his idle task.Â
Wasting no time, Roxie ducked underneath an end table by the door. Seconds later, the bean stepped back inside and shut the door carefully behind him, setting the umbrella in its holder next to the end table. All she could see of him now were his black dress shoes and the hems of his trousers as he moved across the house, humming a little tune to match the one playing from the radio. Roxie distinctly recognized it as a familiar one; âAin't Misbehavin'â - this bean certainly had class. Â
For a borrower, Roxie was well versed in the activity of beans; or rather, humans. She adored their style, their music - hence her own attire, and affinity for finding like minded borrowers who explored the same fashion choices in their own unique, handmade ways in a world that had no clue they existed.Â
Tilting her head slightly, Roxie scanned the room the best she could in her current position; her views were limited, but a quick glance was enough for her to get a rough layout. The cabin was small; with a cozy living room containing a burning fireplace, along with a deerskin rug beneath a table and crimson armchair. Above the fireplace was a mounted deer head, and on the table sat a small radio; the source of the lovely tune.Â
To the left of her was another room; she glimpsed a microphone and second radio from where she crouched, but couldnât make out much else in the shrouded darkness. To the right was a kitchen; the bean was making his way there, with a sway in his step as he hummed the radio tune. Realizing this was her chance to move, Roxie scampered out from under the end table; she could hear the sound of running water coming from the kitchen. He was still busy; perfect.Â
Moving swiftly, the little borrower scuttled further into the living room; this time managing to make her way toward a small crevice in the wall next to the fireplace. She slipped inside with ease, a soft sigh of relief escaping her. It was much warmer there, with how close it was to the fireplace; and from here she could get a better look at the bean, too. As she hunkered down, Roxie hugged herself tightly and shuffled closer to the warmest side of the crevice. It wasnât as small as she had expected; the crevice led into the inner workings of the house, which provided ample passage throughout it from the looks of it; she figured she could do some exploring later, and see if she could âborrowâ some scraps of food in a bit. Once she was settled, she glanced outside - watching as the bean finally walked back out into the living room.
Now, she could get a decent look - and goodness, he was a handsome fellow.Â
With light brown skin and brown eyes, a tuft of brown hair sat atop his head; styled perfectly. A small set of glasses sat on the bridge of his nose, framing a calm gaze and a pleasant smile on his face. He looked like he was in his late 20s, much like her. In addition to his well-kept looks, the white shirt and red vest said it all; this bean knew how to dress himself in a way that was eye-catching above all else, dapper in nature even in the confines of his own home. In her time, Roxie had lived in a handful of homes; and while she could only ever observe beans from afar, you could often tell a lot about a bean from the way they dressed and carried themselves in this day and age.Â
The bean made his way toward the back door to lock it, though paused as his gaze drifted to the floor. For a moment, he stared - tilting his head ever so slightly; before he slowly knelt down by the doorway. The smile on his face never faltered, but something in the manâs posture seemed to shift; he appeared tense above all else as let his hand ease down to the floorboards, swiping his sharp-nailed fingers along the wood before flicking his wrist.Â
Roxieâs sense of security vanished at the realization that he was looking at water - a trail of it, tracking further than his own lingering steps before it along with his own had dried out along the deerskin rug. The wood had already begun to soak up the worst of it, but something still didnât sit right with the man. He wouldnât have tracked water that far, not in such a tiny trail, anyways; he was always so very careful about messing up his flooring.Â
He couldnât quite put his finger on it at first, but a twisting sensation in his gut was enough for him to deduce that someone, or something, was here.Â
After a moment, the bean finally straightened up with a small, disgruntled sound despite the ever-present, calm smile on his face. Turning away from the door, he scanned the living room with those piercing brown eyes - something about them was different this time. A twinge of unease rushed through the little borrower as she shrank back a little more in her hiding spot; it was mostly shrouded in darkness anyway, but she didnât want to risk it. A beat passed, and finally, the man gave a small shrug and headed back into the kitchen - where Roxie could hear the distant sound of utensils along with the thunk of cupboards being rifled through. The song on the radio fizzled out with a static-filled finish, before switching to the next tune in its roster.Â
Admittedly, Roxie was surprised that this bean was so active in these late night hours; she supposed he was a bit of a night owl, but that wasnât exactly helpful for her. She was better off staying put until he settled, so the borrower did just that; curling up in a sodden heap and feeling the gentle warmth of the fire nearby, Roxie closed her eyes to rest; and soon enough, the scent of a hearty meal filled the house; whatever it was, it smelled delicious . Sheâd have to snoop around for scraps later, if the bean left anything behind.Â
The borrower drifted in and out of sleep for the next hour or so, jolting back to attention only when she heard the footsteps of the bean making his way into the living room. She tiredly rubbed at her eyes, noticing he was using a toothpick; and from the satisfied smile on his face, she figured he had enjoyed his dinner. The man plopped down in the armchair, placing a hand over his abdomen as he laid his head back and closed his eyes.Â
About time. Iâm starving; if Iâm lucky, heâll doze off by the fire like I did.Â
Straightening up, the now dry borrower carefully squirmed further into the crevice; she spotted the opening that led further into the inner workings of the house, and decided now would be a good time to search and see what went where. Taking the narrow tunnel on the right, she figured thatâd be her best bet to check out the kitchen; and maybe, just maybe, she could sneak a scrap of food back into her hiding spot. After a bit of squirming and wriggling about, the borrower managed to make her way down the narrow crawl space in the walls, finding another small opening; and a quick peek confirmed it led into the kitchen, just as she had hoped. Grinning, Roxie glanced around for a moment; the bean was still in the living room, with the back of the chair facing her; she wouldnât even be in his line of sight. Looking out over the kitchen counter, her eyes widened as she spotted the remains of his dinner; his plate was mostly picked clean, but there were a few scraps of bloody, rare meat left; she didnât care what kind. Food was food, after all, especially for someone of her size. And besides, meat cooked in such a manner was an absolute treat; rarer than Roxie wouldâve liked, but she wasnât about to complain.Â
Carefully, the little borrower crept forward out of the wall crevice. Past the wide variety of cooking utensils, the jars of spices, and more; toward the plate that had been abandoned on the counter. She quirked a brow as she passed a cutting board with a massive knife sticking out of it; it was still bloody, and while she was surprised the bean hadnât cleaned up after himself, she supposed he just wanted to rest after his meal.Â
Reaching the plate, Roxie casted a quick glance at the bean; she could still see the top of his head above the chair. Quickly grabbing a piece of meat, she scurried back to her crevice and ducked inside; in several ravenous bites, it was gone. It tasted just as delicious as it had smelled, and it was still somewhat warm too. It tasted like pork; and judging from the taxidermy and pelts in the house, she was sure this bean was a hunter. Maybe he snagged one of those wild pigs outside earlier.Â
Roxie was quick to emerge for a second helping; she hadnât eaten for hours, so warm food, especially in her unfortunate situation, was a pleasant surprise. She had to take advantage of it while she could. Snatching another piece from the plate, this time the borrower couldnât help herself; then and there she began to scarf it down, overwhelmed with the prospect of being full for the first time in a while.Â
The music stopped; and in that instant, Roxie hadnât realized her rookie mistake.Â
Always check the bean.Â
Scarfing down the last of the meat in her hands, the little borrower moved to return to the crevice in the wall; but froze mid-step as a shadow came over her minuscule form. For a moment, she couldnât breathe; her throat felt tight, and her body began to tense up at the sound of a cheery voice rang out above her.Â
âMy, my, myâŠwhat have we here?âÂ
A shift of movement, the click of nails on the countertop; Roxie trembled as she slowly looked over her shoulder, heart jolting damn near out of her chest at the grinning face of the bean gazing down at her. His gaze was fixated upon the little thing before him, wide with a mix of aweâŠand if Roxie wasnât mistaken, hunger.Â
No. Iâm overreacting. Surely not.Â
As the bean leaned in close, his lips twitched into a wider grin; a glimmer of excitement shone in his eyes, but something about it was unsettling to say the least. Every sense of admiration for this dapper-looking man she had in her brief time in the house had crashed and burned. Instinct told her to run, to get as far away as she feasibly could then and there; but as the borrower shakily stepped back, she felt herself bump against something. Much to her horror, the bean had carefully moved one hand behind her.Â
âNo, no; letâs not be so hasty. Running away already? How rudeâŠâÂ
A disappointed sigh escaped the manâs smiling lips as he tilted his head, watching the tiny woman like a cat with a mouse; poised to pounce at any moment, should his quarry budge even an inch. Heart racing wildly in her chest, Roxie recoiled as she found herself cornered; her back pressed against the beanâs palm, and this smiling man staring down at her. A giant above all else in comparison, with eyes that reflected a little too much curiosity for her liking. However as the tears welled up in Roxieâs own eyes, the man raised an eyebrow quizzically - before he chuckled and shook his head.Â
âOh, no need for tears, darling. Forgive meâŠI didnât mean to frighten you. Cat got your tongue?â The man laughed, and appeared to recompose himself a tad; he leaned back slightly, but kept his hand behind the little borrower. He couldnât have her running off, after all. Not yet.Â
âIâŠâ Roxie struggled to find her words; she had never spoken to a bean before, and the prospect was just as horrifying as she had imagined. No matter how much she admired humankind, she knew they were dangerous, regardless of how kind they appeared. This man was no exception, surely - unless he winded down, she wasn't sure if she could trust him.
âP-Please donât hurt me.â She finally rushed the words out shakily, slumping against the manâs palm; she found herself flinching as he simply chuckled in response, almost as if amused by her panic.Â
âHurt you? Why would I do that? Though, I canât help but wonder, if youâll humor me - what are you?â After a moment, he cleared his throat and went on.
âAh - where are my manners? Iâm getting ahead of myself. My name is Alastor; what lovely name matches that pretty face of yours? Come now; donât cry.âÂ
Roxie flinched as the manâs fingers curled a little more around her; fear gripped her tightly, but she knew better than to deny this manâs desire for information.Â
âRoxie. M-My nameâs Roxie, sir.âÂ
Alastorâs wide grin never faltered, revealing pointed canines amidst his standard teeth; unusual for a human, but Roxie felt a twinge of unease at the mere idea of mentioning it.Â
âPleasure to meet you, Roxie; quite a pleasure!â
The man held his other hand out, but this time, extended a finger for her. She hesitated, before reaching out to shake it - only then did Alastor pull his free hand back. Roxie didnât like how he felt the need to stare , on top of it all; now it was getting unnerving.
âP-Pleasureâs all mine, sir. You just gave me a fright is all. Iâm a borrower. Y-Youâve probably never heard of us; but weâre just like you! JustâŠsmaller.âÂ
Another laugh, but this time, it was curt.Â
âI doubt that, young lady. But go on.âÂ
Roxie didnât know if she wanted to find out what he meant by that.Â
âWeâŠWe just take what people wonât miss. Things like buttons and pins, ya see; nothing alarming. Scraps of food, crumbs, really. Sometimes we give things back, sometimes we donât but we never take anything important! Iâm not a thief, I swear it-âÂ
Alastorâs eyes narrowed, but the smile on his face remained.Â
âThen what are you doing here in my home, hm?âÂ
The manâs eyes drifted to the plate, taking note of a few missing scraps; he always knew what parts of his meals went to waste. It was important to keep track of what he was tossing out. For a split second, Alastor lookedâŠconfused, almost; despite the ever-present grin, he looked at the tiny woman with a quizzical flicker in his gaze.Â
ââŠHow much did you eat?âÂ
Roxie blinked; now it was her turn to be confused. Why did this man care? âJ-Just two pieces, sir. Iâm sorry, IâŠdidnât think youâd notice. I-It looked like you finished.âÂ
âHow was it?âÂ
The uncomfortable aura of this man seemed to fade in that instance; his voice was riddled with a new sense of excitement and curiosity. Slowly, he pulled his hand away from her, much to Roxieâs shock and relief. Clasping his hands together, Alastor gazed down at her expectantly.Â
Roxie hesitated, before she spoke; managing a timid smile up at the human.Â
âI-It was delicious, sir. Youâre a mighty fine cook. Never had anything that tasty in my life; meat like that is real tough to find for us.âÂ
âYou really think so? Well, thatâs a relief! I could never get my motherâs famous jambalaya right, but Iâm rather proud of my butcher skills. The meat I cook is to die for, darling; itâs about time someone agrees.â
Alastor paused for a moment before he held his hand out once more, this time laying it flat along the countertop in front of her.Â
âDo forgive my impulsiveness earlier; Iâve just never seen someone as small as you before. All of this must be terribly overwhelming for you - you must have been the one who came through the back door. I couldâve sworn I noticed an unusual trail; Iâll be honest, I thought it was a rat. No offense intended, of course.â Alastor explained with a shrug, watching with ever-growing interest as the tiny woman carefully; and a little reluctantly; stepped onto his palm. Roxie didnât exactly want to find herself back in his grasp again, but a part of her was worried heâd take offense if she didnât. The panic from earlier had noticeably subsided; perhaps this human wasnât as much of a threat as she initially thought.Â
He was just confused; I suppose Iâd feel the same way if I saw someone the size of a mouse in my home. And I did just catch him after dinner; he mustâve still been hungry if he went back to the kitchen, unless he was planning on cleaning up.Â
âNone taken. That was me all right..â
Roxie carefully sat herself down in Alastorâs palm, twitching a little nervously when his fingers curled to cup around her. The human moved swiftly but quietly as he headed back to the living room, where it was much warmer and cozier.
âI came in to get out of the rain; I got caught in that dreadful downpour. I hitched a ride on the back of a motorcar on the way to New Orleans, but the jerk driving didnât pay attention; some things got knocked out the back and so did I. Got myself stuck in the bayou; Iâm lucky I found your place when I did. I found ya just as you were headed outside with that trash bag.âÂ
Alastor stopped mid-step, standing in front of the fireplace for a moment. Confused, Roxie looked up at him; the smile on his face remained, but there was a new look in his eyes. Agitation? Suspicion? The borrower couldnât tell. With a smile on his face; Roxie wondered if he ever got tired of it; the man was a little hard to read.Â
âYou saw me go outside?âÂ
The words were pointed and slow, careful almost as his gaze flickered down to her.Â
ââŠY-Yes? I was under the stairs. Iâm not sure what that has to do with anything-âÂ
âOh.âÂ
Alastor soundedâŠdisappointed. Yet, that smile remained; almost strained, desperate even.Â
âIn that caseâŠIâm terribly sorry, Roxie.âÂ
A prickle of unease shot up the borrowerâs spine as Alastorâs grip around her suddenly tightened; his fingers curled tightly around her small frame, squeezing a tad too hard; enough to make her squeak in alarm.
âA-Alastor? What are ya doin-?!âÂ
âI was hoping this could last a little longer, but Iâm not entirely sure how much you saw out thereâŠ.And I canât exactly risk it.âÂ
âWhat are you talkinâ about?! P-Put me down this instant-â Roxieâs protests faltered as Alastor lifted the little borrower up to her face, and a rush of horror washed over her as the human opened his grinning mouth. âAlastor!â The shriek that escaped her was bloodcurdling and high pitched, frantic and full of terror as she found herself face to face with the humanâs wide-open jaws, tongue slipping over his teeth as he tilted his head back, lifting her a little higher. She fumbled for words beyond that terrible scream, squirming in the humanâs tight grasp; he adjusted it, instead pinching the back of her dress and dangling her over the slimy cavern below.Â
The borrowerâs horrified gaze scanned the organic pit below her; a slimy, pink tongue, sharp canine teeth and molars, a dangling uvula, and a deep, dark gullet that seemed to beckon her with each pulse of the eager muscles just beyond the tonsils.Â
âNo, no, no!â Roxie squealed as the human lowered her toward his gaping jaws, feeling the rush of his warm breath along her tiny body; and the scent alone left her numb with the panic of it all. It smelled of meat and blood; like his hearty meal, but plagued with the metallic tang of the crimson droplets that stained the kitchen knife.Â
Before the little borrower could struggle further, she felt the grip on her dress loosen; and in a split second, she plummeted toward the humanâs jaws, which snapped shut behind her with the click of his teeth. Squealing, Roxie began to kick and thrash in the slimy dark cavern surrounding her. Tears welling up in her eyes all over again, Roxie wailed as the humanâs tongue slathered against her; as if savoring her taste with each rough push and prod.Â
Humans arenât supposed to eat borrowers! Oh my stars!Â
Roxie felt a sick sensation plague her as she heard the reverberating hums of content echoing around her; this human was enjoying her like a mere morsel, and the idea alone was sickening. He had finished his dinner, sure; but that meant she was dessert.Â
âL-Let me go! Please, Iâll do anything for ya! I-I didnât see anything while you were out there, I swear! And even if I did, I wouldnât tell a soul! Alastor, stop!â
The pleas were desperate and frantic as she fought in the slimy confines of the humanâs mouth, grimacing in disgust as she was slathered in spit from head to toe.
Being stuck in the rain was better than this; had she known that being eaten by a human wouldâve been her fate, Roxie wouldnât have stepped into this dreadful cabin; but it was too late for âwhat-ifsâ now.Â
Crying, the little borrower struggled weakly as she felt the humanâs tongue shift beneath her. She expected the worst, waiting for the slam of those awful teeth to rip her apartâŠBut instead, she felt a shift in gravity. Confused, the teary borrower raised her head; only for a new sense of horror to crash into her as Roxie felt herself slipping toward that deep, dark gullet ahead of her. From here, she could hear it; the gurgling groans of Alastorâs insides, rising up from his throat as a reminder of her future destination.Â
The realization struck her then and there, paralyzing the borrower as she was eased forward with the aid of the humanâs tilted head.Â
He wasnât going to chew her. No, Alastor was going to swallow her - he was going to eat her alive.Â
âNo!âÂ
The cry escaped Roxieâs lips at the sound and motion of a gulp; roughly pushing her toward the tunnel ahead. Her head brushed beneath Alastorâs uvula, squishing against her head as she teetered over the back of the humanâs throat. Blindly clawing and trying to scramble away, Roxie wailed as she inched forward with another gulp; the humanâs gullet opened wide, eager for its brand new morsel.Â
Down below, those hungry gurgles only grew louder; if she didnât think fast, she'd meet her demise in the sweltering belly below. She was running out of time.Â
âI didnât see anything, I swear! Donât eat me!â
A contemplative hum sounded, loud and overwhelming in the manâs jaws. Saliva began to build up at the back of his throat; not convincing enough.Â
âI only saw you walk out, then I ran inside! When you came back in, I couldnât see much either! I promise, I donât know what youâre talking about! Iâll do whatever ya want, anything ! Whateverâs wrong, your secretâs safe with me! I-I thought you were a swell fella, honest! Donât do this, please! â
A beat passed, and a sense of dread filled the borrower. Tears rushing down her cheeks, Roxie squeezed her eyes shut as she braced herself for a final gulp.
Another shift in gravity; but this time, backwards. Abruptly, Roxie felt herself slide back in a rush of movement and a squeak of alarm and panic. In a matter of seconds, the borrower tumbled head over heels; past those terribly sharp teeth, over the slick tongue - and into the blinding light of the outside world. Disoriented as she coughed and spluttered, her head spinning from the dizzying sensation, the little borrower landed in a sodden heap in Alastorâs hands. His fingers curled around her slick form quickly to keep her still, despite the womanâs weak squirms. Roxieâs heart pounded, the blood rushed in her ears, and her breaths came out ragged and fearful.Â
In a matter of seconds all Roxie could see were swirling stars and that wicked grin before she collapsed in a dizzy spell, limp in Alastorâs grasp.Â
Made some more The Deer's Den fan art because I love Roxie and Al too much đ I'm not so good at digital art so I heavily referenced off of a scene from The Secret World of Arrietty. Just thought it fit. âșïž
The Deer's Den on Ao3 by @radio-deer-waves
Here is the original image of Sho and Arrietty. Love these two as well. đ
Official fanfic concept art of Roxie from The Deer's Den!
A little sneak peek of some upcoming artwork of Roxie! Some concepts for outfits; I can't share all of them just yet (I have some secrets to keep!) but here's a little taste! Honestly, I love the melancholy "Great Gatsby" vibe that some of these give off. <3
Content Warnings: Characters/design is from a Hazbin Hotel story-based nonsexual vore & horror fic.
The Deer's Den on Ao3 by @radio-deer-waves. I'm kinda obsessed and didn't expect to be? đ«ą Anyways, here is some art in a tiny notebook of my queen and king Al and Roxie.
My first post! I'll be doing more fan art for this AU and others!
