Sheridan/23/she/her 18+ only! Looking for tickles and tea? You came to the right cafe! ^^ Requests are currently open, but please read the rules, fandom list and menu first!
Welcome and thank you for checking out my humble little blog!
My name is Sheridan and here you can expect me to write fics and headcanons centering around tickling in both a sfw and nsft context!
This blog is 18+ so minors don't interact please! Blank blogs will be soft blocked for this reason!
While my entire blog won't be nsft, and I don't intend on sharing any kind of irl gifs or anything; some of my writing will have nsft subject matter including darker tickling content now and again, like interrogations, bully tickling, and the like.
This will all be clearly tagged and also at the start of the fic/headcanons, so if that's not your thing you can always block the specified tags for my darker content!
I do have some ongoing general fics that are posted here too and will be updated now and again but tickling will be the main focus.
I do have a tickle kink, but also enjoy it in an sfw matter depending on relationships, so this blog will be a mix of both sfw and nsft writing.
I wanted to get this up since I noticed my bio links weren't working on mobile; and figured this was the best way to make things simple for everyone! Hope it helps!
Rules
Menu
Fandom List
Tickle Fic Masterlist
Tickle Headcanon Masterlist
General Fic Masterlist
General Headcanon Masterlist
Most Recent Tickle Fic: Chance Meetings 03/28/24
Most Recent General Fic: Muted Memories Chapter 2
Next In Line: Black Coffee with a shot of espresso for Ler! Kokichi/Lee! Shuichi,
Sweet Tea with Ler! Odysseus/Lee! Polities,
Sweet Tea with Ler! Kokichi/Lee! Reader
Thank you for checking out my blog, and I hope you order something from the menu at your leisure!
Enjoy your stay at The Laughter Cafe~
Tags:
tlc: taro boba (Lee headcanons)
tlc: brown sugar boba (Ler headcanons)
tlc: thai boba (Switch headcanons)
tlc: rose boba (Everything else tickle related)
tlc: tickle headcanons (all tickle headcanons, including the masterlist)
tlc: sweet tea (Fluffy tickle fic)
tlc: subtly sweet tea (Fluffy tickle fic with a sprinkle of hurt, or angst)
tlc: sweet tea served hot (Fluff with nsft)
tlc: half and half (Half angst/hurt and half tickles)
tlc: half and half with a lemon (Half angst, hurt with half tickles and also suggestive or nsft content)
tlc: coffee (Darker tickle fics/content like long sessions/really mean teasing)
tlc: black coffee (Darkest my tickling content will go, full tickle torture, tickling bullying, etc)
tlc: tickle fics (All tickle fics, including the masterlist)
tlc: milk tea (General fics not involving tickling)
tlc: fic (Will have all my general fics and its masterlist)
tlc: boba (General headcanons)
tlc: headcanons (All general headcanons and its masterlist)
tlc: recommendations (Recommended fics that I want to share my love and adoration for)
Just a reminder since my boundaries were recently disrespected when I came back.
As I clearly state in my bio, I am NOT comfortable interacting with minors so unfollow and don't interact or preferably just block me if any read this. Thank you.
For those that are adults and have respected my boundaries, thank you so much and I am alive and kicking!! Just got a new job in the past months and am gunning for a manager position so I've been very busy!
I so appreciate everyone's patience though and will hopefully have some requests filled soon! ❤️
I saw that requests are open and I didn't really know what to send in, but then I saw that Dabi is one of your favorite lees, so may I ask for lee!Dabi with ler!Shigaraki please? Maybe Dabi has been annoying Tomura all day; not listening, disobeying orders, maybe even sneaking a few pokes here and there himself, so his boss decides to kick him down a notch?
Only if you want to of course! 😅🥰
{REQUESTS ARE CLOSED! This is an older ask!}
Lou! :D Hello friend! I hope you're doing alright :3 God I can't even begin to describe how much I love Lee!Dabi- he is just so fun to WRECK! >:D I gotcha covered, friend!
Dabi was also on his last nerve, doing a little tap dance and thinning it further.
“Gah! Would you cut that OUT?” The pale haired villain snapped when he felt fingers in his ribs, sending shivers up his spine and his phone flying. “Dabi!”
The older man snickered and ran, flying around the corner and out of sight. Things have been rather slow as of late for the League; no new commands came in- forcing the league to “lay low” for a while.
Shigaraki hated it at first; he never liked having time on his hands. Eventually though, he learned to enjoy it; taking the time to indulge in his small but mighty mobile game collection. Things were..rather nice.
And then Dabi decided peace was never an option for Shigaraki and made him hate time off once more.
“Why that son of a-” His curse filled grumbles faded some as he reached beneath the bar, grabbing his phone. “I’d kill him if I could!”
“Oo, fun! I’ll hide the body.” A new voice startled him so bad he dropped his phone again. Shigaraki twisted to glare daggers as the smirking birdman before him. “It’ll be the perfect crime!”
“What do you want, outsider?”
“Ouch. And after all this time being here with the league.” Hawks put on a pout, rubbing at his chest. His eyes were dancing with laughter though- indicating his true feelings. “I really thought we were becoming a family.”
Shigaraki decided not to entertain that thought. He reached down to get his phone again, but ruby red feathers beat him to it, bringing it up and into his gloved palms. “Dabi really threw you off your game, didn’t he? I’ve never seen you so jumpy?”
“Shut your mouth. I’m not off my game- he’s just an annoying glitch.”
“One you can’t live without?”
“Says the man who’s getting fu-”
“You wanna get him back?” Hawks cut in quickly, leaning in like hermes to Odysseus. Too close- Shigaraki found himself leaning back some in his stool. “He’s been rather annoying to you lately, no? I’m sure your thinking: “What can I do to make him submit to me?”; lucky for you- I know exactly what to do!”
Suspicious, yet intriguing. Shigaraki narrowed his eyes at him in thought. “Why are you telling me this?”
Hawks shrugged, his playful smile never dropping. “I’m feeling generous today. Can’t a guy rat out his boyfriend’s quirks every once and awhile?” He gestured Shigaraki over some, cupping his ear as he whispered.
Shigaraki went from bored to surprised to intrigued. He looked at Hawks when the other pulled back, blinking. “You're kidding.”
Hawks only smiled like the sun as he sashayed off. Before he left completely, he looked back one last time. “By the way- my information doesn’t come free. I’m sure you understand.”
There it was. Shigaraki kept his expression neutral as he reached into his pocket, pulling out a few yen. Feathers gathered it up and brought it to Hawks, the birdman pleased. “This stays between us.”
“Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
~~~
Sitting on the couch now, Shigaraki tapped away at his phone in wait. The trap was set- the plan was perfect. It all came down to timing. He knew his target would be passing through here soon.
Sure enough, he heard the familiar steps of Dabi’s boots as they entered the room, the smell of firewood mixed with smoke touching his nose. He didn’t react- pretending to be completely absorbed in his game. He just had to hang in there.
“Shigaraki~” Dabi called out in a hushed voice, his footsteps getting closer and closer. He waited until those scarred up hands were inches from his waist before he attacked.
“SHIT!” Dabi yelped as he got dragged down over the couch, thrown into an unexpected wrestling match. Thankfully, Shigaraki was wearing his artist gloves, the risk of accidental dusting gone from their minds. Still- that didn’t mean Shigaraki didn’t have the upper hand.
“You son of a-hold still!” Dabi growled as he battled for the top, sputtering when the little bastard threw one of his disembodied hands at him. “Not cool- you can’t just go and throw your dirty mitts at me-”
“Gotcha!” Shigaraki cried as he pinned him, taking advantage of his momentary disgust. “Dirty, huh? I’ll have you know they’re clean and preserved!” He picked up the one he threw, bringing it to Dabi’s pinned wrists. With an unexpected click, he had bound both of the brunette’s wrists together. “Not to mention modified.”
Dabi blinked, flabbergasted. Did this guy really make them restraints? He gave an experimental tug, finding them rather weak. If he wanted to, he could easily break it. Burn it even.
But that would end in all kinds of problems Dabi had zero interest in dealing with. Not to mention Shigaraki looked so proud of his little trap. He might as well sit back and see where this would go. “Oh yeah- you got me good, Shigs. Though if you wanted me tied up, you could have just asked.” He wagged his brows, laughing at the scrunched up expression Shigaraki made in response.
“Gross. I almost regret wasting these on you.” Sitting back on Dabi’s hips, the dust-quirked villain scanned his torso, deciding on where to even start. “Say, Dabi- are you ticklish?”
Dabi’s grin froze, eyes widening some. The parts of his face that were still healthy tinted a rare shade of pink. Shigaraki grinned at this.
Oh damn.
“Shigs, I don’t know who you talked to-” Dabi began, sucking in a breath when Shigaraki’s fingers poked beneath his shirt, right along healthy skin. “Fuck that- I know exactly who you talked to and I’m telling you now, he’s a lying son of a bitch!”
“You’re shaking like a leaf, Dabi. I think he’s telling the truth.” The duster snickered as he curled his fingers, eager to see what would happen. Dabi flinched hard, arms tensing at the hand bounding his wrists as he gritted his teeth.
“Shi-hihigs..”
“Was that a laugh I just heard?”
Dabi tried. He gritted his teeth so hard he was sure he’d bite his tongue. He turned his head away at the devious touches against his skin, flinching and squirming at each ticklish trace. He squeezed his eyes shut in hopes that the feeling would fade and he’d be immune.
Alas- he was cursed with stupidly sensitive Todoroki genetics that always seemed to come alive with tickling.
“Fuhuhuhuhuck!” Dabi yelled out as Shigaraki began to scratch, focusing all his efforts onto the patch of skin around his stomach that always made him scream as a child. “Shihihihihihihit! Fuhuhuhuck you, yohoohohohu dhahahahmn, duhuhuhust buhuhuhunny! Ahehahahahahahhaha gahahhahhahd!”
“Dust bunny? Please- like you’ve got any room to talk, matches.” Shigaraki laughed with him, the sound snickery and stupid and full of joy that was unfairly contagious. He carried on scratching at his belly while his other hand pushed up Dabi’s shirt, eager to find more spots to tickle. “Say, are you only ticklish here? What about here?”
“Gheahaha, dhohohon’t you dahahAHAHHARE!” Dabi all but arched when his ribs were attacked, Shigaraki working along healthy skin and tracing where it met the scar tissue. “DOOHOOHN’T FUUUHUHUCKING DOHOHOHO THAHHAHT!”
“Does it tickle that bad?” Shigaraki asked, delighting in the high pitched squeals Dabi let out. He never heard his voice get that high before- it was always so mellow; even when he was mad. “Wow. It’s a good thing you’re not easy to capture- they just have to tickle you and you’d be snitching.”
“LIHIHIKE I’D EHEHHEHEVER DO THAHAHHT! AHEHAHAHHA COOHOHME ON, DUUHUHUHUHSTY MOOHOOHHOVE!” Dabi cackled out, kicking at the couch when Shigaraki began drawing patterns into the strip of skin leading from his upper ribs to his good shoulder. “STHAHAHAP IT’S THEHEHHEHRRIBLE!”
“Boo- and here I was planning out my route for the next big egg hunt.” Shigaraki tsked as he brought his hands back to Dabi’s hips, pressing his thumbs in and making him shoot up. “I can’t let that Abigail woman beat me again. That sunhat belongs to me!”
“Ahehahahahahah! Gheahhahahaha, whhhahahahat ahahhahare you eehheheven- Hiihihihihineahhahhaha, nehehehvermind, quihihihiht ihihihihit!” Dabi swatted at him with his bound wrists, hoping that lightly beating them against Shigaraki would loosen their hold.
It did not.
“Oh, what's this?” Shigaraki grabbed them and pinned them with ease, shoving Dabi back against the couch while his other hand carried on tickling. “Trying to knock me out with my own hand-trap? Please- I expected more from you, matches.” He gave the other man a pause, watching Dabi’s chest heave as he gasped for air. “I’ll release you, but first you have to promise me you’ll stop being so annoying.”
“Whahahaat? Nohohoho way…heheheeeeh..I’m so bohohohored.” Dabi grinned, digging his grave deeper. “Yoohohu’re funny to mehehess with. You screheham like a schoolgirl when I tickle you.”
Shigaraki fumed, inhaling through his nose dramatically. He stared down a smug Dabi as he reached into his pocket, pulling out his ultimate weapon. Dabi seemed to falter beneath its ruby gleam.
“Shigs, wait- Wait hold on! I didn’t mean it! I didn’t mean it-EHHEHEHEHEHEHAHHAHAHA!” Dabi all but shrieked at the touch. It was just a single red feather, one from Hawk’s wings to be exact. Such a tool would be useless against him normally.
Shove it in his good armpit after he’s already been tickled however and you’ve basically won.
“Are you gonna behave?” Shigaraki growled as Dabi thrashed and guffawed, straining in Shigaraki’s hold. “Are you gonna leave me alone?”
“Hmm…” Shigaraki hummed, giving Dabi one last tickle beneath the arms before pulling his tool back. Dabi gasped for air, wheezing through residue giggles as he melted into the couch. The hand bounding his wrists was removed, and he tucked them beneath his own arms tightly to prevent any more ambushes. “I guess I’ve got you good enough. You can have this back, outsider.”
Whether Hawks was nearby or not, Dabi didn’t know. He watched through blurry eyes as the feather floated in the air, swirling around Shigaraki’s neck before whooshing out of the room. The duster winced and ducked down, rubbing at the skin with a small curse. “Bastard.”
“Pfft- gotcha too, huhuhuh?” Dabi laughed at that, his nerves finally easing as he got comfortable against the cushions. “That’s what you get.”
“Shush.” Shigaraki flicked his nose before sitting back, moving from Dabi’s hips to an actual cushion as he watched the brunette groan. “Why are you being so annoying anyway? Aren’t you the type to disappear when there’s nothing to do?”
His tone was defensive, but the question was genuine. Dabi considered his words as he stretched. “Yeah- usually. I guess I just didn’t feel like it this time.”
“So your solution was to annoy me?” Shigaraki glared. Dabi shrugged, unfazed.
“Yeah, you could say that. You seemed stressed lately. I figured you’d feel better having someone here.” The words made the leader freeze, eyes wide. “What? Can’t a guy care about his buddy from time to time?”
Coming from Dabi, yeah. Shigaraki almost said so but withheld. “Why though?”
The brunette tsked, sitting up and folding his arms across his chest, feet up against the coffee table. “Why does there have to be a reason? When I joined the league, I became your teammate. After some time, I guess I started seeing you as a friend..” His cheeks pinked again as he looked away, suddenly unsure. “I know it’s stupid- we’re all wanted criminals that can die at any given moment. Getting close and all that bullshit is a terrible idea. I just…don’t like seeing you upset.” He looked away completely, his back to Shigaraki as he scratched at his neck. “This is ridiculous. I’ve been hanging around that damn bird too much- he’s making me feel things.”
Shigaraki couldn’t speak- he didn’t have the words. He just stared at him, a nostalgic feeling he couldn’t quite place creeping up his gut and spreading through his chest. He looked at his hands, finding them trembling. He squeezed them shut tightly.
“You’ve got no reason to worry about me like that. I’m your team lead.” He forced the words out, cold and direct. Dabi seemed to relax at them, the usual way Shigaraki spoke. “If I’m upset or stressed, that’s my issue to deal with.”
“Of course.”
“You’re not my personal therapist. I don’t need you to manage my emotions.”
“Got it.”
“But…” Shigaraki paused, not looking at him but rather at the empty space before them. “I don’t mind you considering me a friend. It’s…nice, to know the feeling is mutual.”
Dabi stared, but he didn’t look back. He got up and quickly left the room, pulling out his cracked phone and pulling up his game. It was only when he got far enough away that he let himself smile.
Hi hello, yes I have come to ramble about this masterpiece!
Could they possibly be any cuter? 🥺 I adore the way you write their dynamic and the way Dabi is hanging around with the League rather than leaving on his own made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside!
Hawks being the catalyst feels way too fitting, he's such a loveable little menace, I swear 🤣 Hope those two got him back one day haha, he definitely would deserve it.
I love the awkward way they go about navigating their friendship since they're both so outside of the normal social consciousness. Absolutely peak! Amazing work as always, thank you for sharing Squiggily!
Hope this makes your afternoon a little brighter! ❤️
What are your thoughts on ler!reader? Is it something you're comfortable with writing? (I feel like the tickle community is on a ler!reader shortage)
And uh, by the way, the Nagito fanfic was pasted twice on the same post
Omg thank you so much for telling me about Inevitable! I'll have to fix it up when I have access to a computer again, I'm currently with a friend, but once I'm home I'll take care of it!
As for ler! Reader, you can send the request and I can go based on that? I'm a Lee, so it's really not my preference as a general rule, but I've been trying to broaden my horizons a bit and see if it's something I could grow into.
Feel free to send your request in, and I'll see if I feel comfy enough to give it a shot anon! ❤️
Hi! i was wondering, are you comfortable with writing feet tkls?
Hi there anon!! I don't mind, but I will say I don't do headcanons or fics of one specific spot and am also personally uncomfortable with just feet as a kink, in case you may want that included!
But I really appreciate you asking, and don't mind including it as one of the spots or anything! Hope you have a great day, and thanks for the interest!
Hello! Have you taken commissions before? Sorry if this is a bother, thank you!
Hi, thanks so much for the ask anon! I have, although not on this blog quite yet- I'm in the process of moving and also working out what I feel about pricing.
However, if you're looking to get one, I'd be more than happy to talk over what you're thinking/come to an agreement! Feel free to message me, or keep talking here and assign yourself an emoji- whatever you're most comfortable with.
i found you through your nagito x reader fic!! i was browsing the danganronpa tickle tag to see if there was anything new lol and then i found your fic! then browsing through the rest of the blog and reading more i was just so happy i found your blog,, the layout, the WRITING, the fandoms!! so so good, im always excited to read any new works even if im not in the fandom
and also, sending lots of love and hugs 🫂 take all the time and rest you need!
This means so much genuinely ❤️ Thank you lovely!
I can't wait to finish your fic; just been falling back into my Creepypasta phase so I've been writing more self indulgent stuff, and a lil Post game Hajime thing for my poly universe haha. 😅
I'll definitely return to Kokichi and Shuichi though! Left it off right as the interrogation was really beginning, so I'm eager to keep exploring Kokichi's style- especially since I have a lil twist planned 🥰
Thanks for the ask and encouragement; it seriously keeps me going as a writer!! Thanks for your patience as well, to you and everyone else 🥺
A/N: Stupid spontaneous plotless fics where Aventurine is getting himself into situations. My new genre. (ref)
Summary: No plot, just cuddles and tickles... (Also on AO3)
Word Count: 1.2K
It was truly a waste. Aventurine stared at the large surface of Dr. Ratio's back. He was huge. He had long arms. Yet all the times they slept together, he would be like this. Aventurine sighed. It felt as if he was sleeping next to a rock.
"Ratio~" Aventurine whined. He grabbed Ratio's shoulder and shook him.
"Hrrrmh," was the grumbly sound he got in return.
"Turn around for once, won't you?" Aventurine asked, pouting.
"Don't want to. Go to sleep." Ugh, so cold.
"You're always like this. Just cuddle me for once. I'll be the small spoon. I've always wanted to be the small spoon," Aventurine said, still shaking Ratio's shoulder. If he was annoying enough, he surely would give in at some point.
Even though they were not really officially a couple, he thought Dr. Ratio owed him some cuddles. He had no trouble kissing him, or making love to him. He had that amount of passion inside him, so a cuddle was the least Aventurine could ask for, right?
"Ratiooooo~" Aventurine put both his hands on Ratio's shoulder and he shook him, whining like a small child.
"Just be the big spoon for once?" he sang.
"Please? Pretty, pretty please? You're no fun at all. Why always sleep with your back towards me? Let's spoon, just once. Only this time then?"
And yes, he really was getting on Ratio's nerves, and so... it was working!
"I really can't stand you," Ratio growled as he turned around, and he forcefully turned Aventurine over as well, getting him in the position of a small spoon, and he wrapped his arms around him.
"Now happy?" Aventurine heard Ratio ask, and he giggled. He sounded so annoyed, but hey, they were cuddling right now.
It was exactly as he expected. Those long arms were very fitting to hold him. It felt good, sexy, safe... He nodded, grinning.
"I'm happy. Good night."
It really did feel comfortable to cuddle. Ratio's strong arms were wrapped around him quite tightly, but not too tight. It felt warm and comfortable. See? It wasn't so hard. Even someone like Dr. Ratio could be a proper cuddler. Satisfied with himself, Aventurine closed his eyes and tried to sleep.
However, the moment he drifted off... He twitched when he felt a sudden tickle on his stomach. He opened one eye and waited. What was that? Maybe Ratio did that by accident. But soon when he closed his eyes again, he felt another tickle, and he gasped.
"Ratio?" he asked quietly. No answer. Maybe he was asleep and his fingers were just, well yeah, moving around in his sleep?
"Rahahatio?" Aventurine started to second-guess that possibility when those fingers began to dance around more quickly, all over his belly and sides. He couldn't hold back the giggles now and began to dance in Ratio's grip.
"Rahahatio y-you're tihihickling mehehe," he giggled. He squirmed and struggled, but he was caught... like a small spoon in a trap, and Ratio wasn't saying a thing.
When the ticklish touches became fiercer, Aventurine let out more of his voice. It was impossible that Ratio was asleep through all this, and even more impossible that these tickles were a mere accident. That little bitch.
"RAha-Ratio! Thihis isn't fuhuhunny!" Aventurine really tried to move but couldn't. He shook his head but couldn't even turn around to see the expression on Ratio's face. What the hell was he thinking!
"Stohohop this instahahant! I cahahan't sleep- l-like thihihis!"
Aventurine's arms could do little to protect himself. He really tried, but in this position it was just too hard to fight back, and when Ratio's fingers lowered and dug into his lower abdomen, Aventurine lost some of his dignity with the uncharming squeaks he set loose.
"Gwwwahahahah! Nohohoho- come ohohon! That tihihickles! Ratiahahaah!" He kicked and struggled, but it seemed that his request to be the small spoon was still being fulfilled, and he really started to get the impression that this was Ratio's revenge for bothering him with such a troublesome request.
Really, was that it? Ugh, so typical of him to make Aventurine regret this!
"AHAh-Ahahalright! Alriiight! You cahahan lehehet me go nohohow! I won't behehe the smahahall spoo-ahahaha!" Aventurine cackled, but still no word came from his attacker. Just those annoying fingers touching Aventurine in his most sensitive places and nothing he could do about it, and it was as if he was never going to stop.
"I sahahaid lehehet me gohoho ahaahahah!" he cried, and he jumped in Ratio's arms when those attacking fingers had started to pinch and squeeze his hips and lower sides. It was a murderous tickle hug, and no matter how much he struggled and fought, Dr. Ratio really had an iron grip on him.
"Naahaha no mohohore! Not thehehere! Not-whaahah!" Those fingers were now carefully scratching at his ribs. Over them, in between them. So ticklish it made him shake and twitch as if he was being electrocuted. And still, there was no way for him to escape.
Aventurine was just busy wondering how much more he could take, and whether Ratio would be reasonable if he try to make up a convincing excuse, such as almost wetting his pants, when all of a sudden the tickling stopped.
"Eh.... Ratio? Doctor?" Aventurine asked. He breathed heavily and tried to squirm around, but Ratio's arms were still wrapped around him, refusing to let him move. Aventurine grabbed Ratio's arms again and tried to pull them off him in another attempt to free himself from the iron cuddle.
"You may eh- you may let go now," Aventurine said tiredly, but Ratio still wouldn't budge. Aventurine was so busy trying to pull those arms off him, that it took him really by surprise when Ratio's hands turned back into claws and tickled him once again, making him screech.
"RATIOOOOO AHahaha!" Aventurine laughed angrily. Thist was just insane! And at last, finally, Ratio said something, but it wasn't a pleasing thing to hear. He leaned in and said in his ear:
"Have fun being the small spoon, gambler. I doubt you'll ever ask for this again."
Aventurine blinked. Such a petty doctor! "If you didn't want to do it, you could've just said nooooAHAHAhah!"
There was no way to reason with him, no way to convince him that what he was doing was just childish and silly and meaningless. So all Aventurine could do was stay in Ratio's arms and endure any tickling he had in store for him, any moment of their sleepless night.
And still.... When considering the options: ice queen Ratio, sleeping with his long back towards him and not even acknowledging him even when they shared a bed, or... tickle monster Ratio, keeping Aventurine prisoner in his embrace and tickling the hell out of him while he couldn't move?
Strange enough, it was still the tickle monster option Aventurine would prefer over the ice queen. Now, if he could discover a nice in-between option, cuddler Ratio without the tickle monster part. Then he would find gold. But not for now. For now, this was his lovely prize... So be it!
I can now not stop thinking about Ratio's arms, but yeah- he probably would be super strong huh? Aventurine is so cute too- poor guy just wants affection and Ratio really went "tickling or nothing".
I love him not answering 🤣 He really is so petty in the funniest way possible
AN: happy underworld saga release day! Literally the day we’ve all been waiting for! This fic is my pride & joy rn so I hope y’all like it! Be sure to buckle in cause you’re in for one hell of a ride! The underworld saga is literally everything I could’ve imagined & more, & it makes this chapter hit so much harder. & I wouldn’t have it any other way 💗
Polites woke alone in the darkness. Or at least, he thought he was alone, until he felt a body shift next to him. The sky above was an inky black, completely devoid of stars. It didn't feel right.
He jolted upright, the ground underneath him rocking with his movement. No, it wasn't the ground, it was wood. He was on a small boat, and the bodies around him were his fellow soldiers. Most still remained unconscious.
"Odysseus!" he called out, but received no answer. "Eurylochus!" His voice echoed down the approaching canyon, bouncing back until it met his ears.
"Shhhh," a husky voice sounded from above. Polites startled and looked up, seeing a cloaked man standing at the back of the boat. His face was concealed by the hood pulled over its head, the only discernible feature being two bony hands peeking out from his sleeves. They clutched onto an oar, thrusting the boat further on its journey.
Polites crawled to the edge of the boat and leaned out, and he was greeted by perhaps the most beautiful sight. They were floating on a glowing river, the water a brilliant blue green. It was as he was staring into the ethereal water that he realized why the sky had no stars: they'd all fallen in the river.
The awestruck smile fell flat when he took a good look at his surroundings.
Everywhere he looked was gray and rocky and completely devoid of life. He heard people moaning in the distance and could see them trudging along in mindless huddles. Small fights broke out amongst them, and Polites could see fires burn in the distance.
He had to be dreaming, he was sure of it! He pinched his arm as hard as he could until he yelped from the pain. When he didn't wake up, he reached his hands into the water, splashing his face repeatedly.
"Wake up! Wake up! Wake up, wake up!" he yelled each time the cool water hit his skin. His vision blurred as the water dripped down his face and his eyes filled with tears. His shoulders shook as he sobbed, leaning over the edge of the boat. He could feel when they hit the shore, but he didn't budge, even as everyone else filed out.
The ripples around the boat began to calm, and soon enough the surface of the water was as smooth as glass. His eyes met his reflection and he jerked back, rocking the boat slightly. Hesitantly, he leaned back over the glowing water to get a closer look. Ripples sent minor shockwaves through his reflection, slowing until it showed a clear picture.
A choked gasp escaped his throat as he clamped a hand over his mouth. He looked up at the ferryman, who nodded solemnly. The tears he'd been holding back finally rolled down past his cheeks.
His head hung low as he cried, and he could feel each tear drip from his nose or chin. When he opened his eyes again, he saw tiny dots of red on his toga. Hesitantly, he reached up to wipe the tears from his face. When he pulled away, his hands were stained red.
He thrusted his hands in the water, scrubbing furiously to rid them of the blood. The stream before him turned a pale pink before the current carried it away.
Polites knew exactly where he was.
At first he tried to lay low, but he had always been outgoing and friendly, even to those who weren't so friendly back. But it quickly became clear that down here, no one wanted to talk to him. Or so it would seem.
Polites got into the habit of exploring the underworld every day. There was nothing to do but wander aimlessly or work, and Polites much preferred the former. It was while on one of these walks that he spotted a young woman kneeling by the riverbank. At first he thought nothing of it, but the closer he got, he could hear her quiet sobs and sniffles.
He approached cautiously, waving when he felt he was close enough to warrant a greeting. "Well hello there!" he said in a chipper voice, offering a shy grin. She looked up at the stranger before her, yelping and falling back onto her hands. He was quick to put her at ease.
"Hey hey, it's okay! I'm nice, I was just crushed by a cyclops," he explained his appearance, aiming for humor. The girl's lips twitched in a fleeting smile.
"Oh! Um, I'm sorry..." she apologized, and he waved a hand dismissively.
"Why? You have something to do with it?" he joked, smiling when she giggled, shaking her head.
"Noho..."
"Then you have nothing to apologize for!" He turned to her, holding his hand out to her. "I'm Polites." She studied him, chewing her lip before she accepted it.
"Eurydice."
"Ah, what a lovely name for a lovely woman," he complimented. Her smile was tainted with sadness. "I'm sorry, are you alright?" he asked gently. She shook her head, plastering on a fake smile.
"I'm in Hades, why wouldn't I be fine?" she tried to joke like he'd done moments before, but it fell flat.
"You know, if you need to get something off your chest, I'm all ears. I was practically the sole shoulder to cry on for 600 men." His tone made it impossible for Eurydice to discern whether or not he was being serious. Finally, she decided, "Yeah right."
"No really! Well, obviously not all of them took me up on my offer, but I'm a great listener," he offered with a warm, genuine smile. She let out an amused huff.
"I know it sounds stupid, but... I really thought I was gonna bust outta here." Polites placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"I don't think it's stupid at all. I mean, we all want out-"
"No, you don't get it!" she spun around to face him, tears in her eyes. Polites held his hands up in surrender on reflex, his entire body tense. Eurydice heaved a sigh, burying her face in her hands. "I was so close..."
Polites was almost afraid to ask, but, "C-close to what?"
Eurydice looked up with wide, tearful eyes as she stared longingly out into the distance. She spoke breathily as her mind began to wander, "Freedom."
Polites couldn't believe what he was hearing. He grabbed her by the shoulders. "Wait, you mean you were trying to leave? How?" he asked desperately, the wounds on his face and body starting to bleed.
"I wasn't on my own. Orpheus came for me."
"Orpheus?" he questioned.
"I died on our wedding day..." she answered, trailing off as she stared at the ground. "And he risked everything to come save me. We could've made it out and we'd both be happy. Start a family..." she took a grounding breath, drying her eyes. "I never did get to hear how his song turned out."
Polites perked up slightly. "Oh, he's a musician?" he asked. She smiled as she remembered her love.
"Mhm. Said he was gonna write a song to fix what's wrong with the world," she said, amusement clear in her tone. "Guess he hasn't finished it yet."
"Well, sounds like he's got his work cut out for him. I can't imagine it'll be easy for him, without you," he said softly. A sob caught in Eurydice's throat as she looked away, closing her eyes softly.
"Don't. Please."
"Sorry," he immediately apologized, feeling rather guilty.
"It's fine. It's not like it's your fault or anything."
Polites looked at her, mouth slightly agape as he tried to decipher whether she was teasing him as he'd done earlier, or if it was sheer coincidence. The subtle twitch of her lips was all he needed to know. He barked out a laugh, bumping their shoulders together.
"Well would you look at that! Looks like someone's getting their sense of humor back!" he praised, making her roll her eyes.
"Never left," she lied. Her gaze locked on the Palace of Hades, and Polites followed her line of sight.
"He had something to do with it, didn't he?"
Eurydice took a shaky breath and nodded. "Yeah."
"They usually do. Even when you don't think so... They do."
~~~
Life in Hades is not what Polites expected.
For one, he didn't know where the crumbling rubble ended and the new scaffolding began. Every day it seemed, the underworld would change ever so slightly. Buildings and complex machinery were all being built before his very eyes. It was nothing like Polites had ever seen.
Slowly, copper and iron replaced stonework as buildings all but erected themselves, and horseless chariots carted material to various work sites. The grand palace in the center of the underworld has all but doubled in size in the short time he's been here. And jutting out from the southern east corner, stood an imposing factory spitting black smoke. It felt... wrong. Almost as if Hades had tried to tuck it away out of sight, only for his greed to force it to grow until the rocks could conceal it no longer.
He said he was doing this for them; that he was creating a greater home for their eternity. So then, why was he turning the air thick with smog? Why must the tortured souls carry the burden of his progress?
Nothing was right anymore. Then again, nothing had been right for a long time.
~~~
Polites never thought he'd grow used to the underworld, but with Eurydice, he found a flow. They steered clear of the mindless work convoys, with their bowl shaped helmets and tools in hand. They marched along packed gravel roads in uniform lines, singing in a low, menacing chant.
They didn't stray far from the riverbanks, and when they did, chose to walk through rolling fields of nothing but dead grass and dirt. They found solace in the few crumbling ruins that have yet to undergo renovations.
Shriveled vines choked out the grand archway the pair sat under, but not even the resilience of nature could last under a God's iron grip. Polites closed his eyes, trying to picture the lush foliage that swallowed the rubble of a once ancient building. When he opened his eyes, he was met with the disappointing reality of thick, dry vines sprawling over crumbling stone as if caught in a wooden spiderweb.
"You ever made a flower crown?"
The question came out of nowhere, catching him off guard. If asked, he would deny the way he had jumped at the sound of her voice.
"Um, n-no, I can't say I have."
When Polites didn't elaborate, Eurydice continued. "My sisters and I used to pick flowers in the meadow behind our house and we'd spend hours weaving crowns and necklaces while we talked." She smiled at the fond, distant memory. Polites smiled back.
"That sounds really lovely," he assured. He saw the longing in her eyes, could feel the ache in her heart. If only he could ease that pain...
"It was. I think you'd really like it. Heh, too bad I can't teach you."
"Yeah, that's too bad," he lamented in agreement before an idea struck him. "Or, you know... we could still try," he suggested, holding up a handful of dry vines and twigs. Eurydice's face lit up with a smile as bright as the sun.
"Really? You mean that?"
"Well, I mean, I'm sure yours turned out much better than whatever we can make down here, but-" his rambling was cut off when Eurydice slammed into him, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck in a grateful hug.
~~~
Polites had lost track of how long he'd been there, though he was grateful for Eurydice's company. It was the single source of comfort since he'd awoken in the underworld, the one reminder that there was once a time when things were good.
They would walk along the riverbanks, sharing stories from their lives. Eurydice once said that Orpheus would've liked Polites, and he swelled with pride. The feeling would've been mutual, he assured.
He can't help but to picture his friends meeting this lively young spirit, ripped from the Earth too soon. He thinks they'd like her too.
There were no days and nights here; everything ran together in one big screaming haze. At times, Polites thought they were the only souls down here who weren't screaming...
He missed being alive. He missed his friends, missed the way the sun warmed his skin, the way the sea would taste on the air, the way the wind would whip through his hair. He missed food, and feeling hungry, or tired. He missed the way he could feel his heart race in his chest when Odysseus would put himself in harms way, only to come out unscathed.
He always came out unscathed, no matter the challenge.
He was walking alone, trying to clear his head when he heard his name being called. "Polites! Polites!"
He turned to see Eurydice running towards him, feet pounding against the rocky shore. He met her halfway, picking up on her sense of urgency.
"Eurydice! Is everything alri-"
"There's a ship," she rushed out breathlessly. His eyes went wide and he scanned the horizon.
"Of course, the ferryman brings people-"
"No, I mean a real, living ship!" she emphasized with a playful punch to his shoulder. He smirked down at her, bumping their hips together.
"You know ships aren't really alive," he teased, tilting his head back to laugh at his own joke. She rolled her eyes, snatching the bandana from around his head. His hands flew up a second too late as he turned to face her. "Hey!"
She giggled, waving the bandana out of reach. "I'm being serious!" she insisted through a smile. He snorted, snatching the cloth from her grasp playfully.
"Yeah, that's why you stole my bandana," he taunted, shooting her a grin.
"You weren't listening! Just look!" she pointed in the distance. Polites looked up to humor her and gasped when he saw a large ship creeping up the river. It was much closer to them now. He took a step away from the bank.
Eurydice smirked, looking at him from the corner of her eye. "You believe me now?" He nodded wordlessly, mouth gaping open in shock.
They stood like that, just frozen in awe watching it get closer. The figures aboard the ship were now visible, and Polites shaded his eyes, squinting up at the deck. Did he really see what he thought he saw? Was that really...
"Steady as she goes men!" A figure paced around the deck, barking orders and securing the ship. Polites would know that voice anywhere.
"Odysseus?" he asked, barely aware he said the name aloud. Eurydice gasped and snapped her head to look at him.
"Odysseus? Like, like your Odysseus?" she asked frantically. Polites looked back at the ship for some other kind of proof, spotting Eurylochus at the wheel.
"Yes, I'm sure. Look, there's Eurylochus," he said, pointing at his friend.
She turned to him with an expression on her face that he hadn't seen since the day they first met.
"You have to go."
His head snapped down to look at her, "What?"
"They came here looking for you! I mean, why else would they come all the way here?" she asked, clutching to the fabric of his toga. "You're important to them, Polites. You're the missing piece, they need you," she pleaded.
The ship was right in front of them now, Odysseus clutching the rail of the ship with a horrified look. When his eyes landed on Polites, he froze, all the color quickly draining from his face. He turned away abruptly.
"I-I don't know Eurydice. That doesn't really seem like- I'm sure there's gotta be another reason!" He wasn't sure why or how they were here, but he had a hard time believing it would be for him. It would hurt too much, getting his hopes up like that.
"A reason to go through the underworld?" she asked incredulously. Her expression softened, and she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "They've missed you."
A sob caught in his throat. "Yeah, I miss them too."
"Then what are you waiting for?"
He turned to her, tears in his eyes. "B-but what about you? You can't come, and I can't leave you!" he said, gripping onto her hands for dear life. "Y-you'd be alone again, I can't do that!"
"Shh, hey, hey, look at me," she said in a soothing voice, but Polites could see the tears shining in her eyes. "Don't think of it like that, okay? You're doing this for me." She squeezed his hands so hard, her knuckles were turning white. Funny, how even their spirits react like they still have blood.
He closed his eyes and shook his head, but a soft hand cupping his face brought him back to reality. "Hades only made sure I couldn't get out, just to spite our love. He won't notice if you escape, I promise," she reassured. He placed a hand atop hers, still shaking his head.
"You can't promise that-"
"Maybe, but I can try. Please Polites," she was practically begging at this point. "One of us has to see the sun again."
A sob shuttered through his body and he surged forward, grabbing her in a tight hug- their last hug. Maybe the last hug he'd ever be able to actually feel.
"I don't want to leave you," he muttered into her hair. He could feel her tears begin to fall down his arm like raindrops.
"Me either, but you have to. It's your only chance." She held on for a few more seconds before allowing herself to slip away.
"Goodbye Eurydice. Thank you for... everything."
"Farewell Polites. I know you'll keep them safe."
He nodded to her before turning towards the ship, marching along the shore. He got about halfway before her sweet voice called out to him.
"Polites, wait!" He stopped in his tracks, turning just in time to catch her in his arms. Her hands carded through thick black hair as she squeezed him tight. She kissed his cheek, pulling away to whisper in his ear, "If you ever come across Orpheus, please tell him I'm okay."
"Of course. You have my word," he promised.
When Eurydice pulled away, a small amount of blood was smeared on her lips and cheek. Polites decided not to dwell on what that meant.
~~~
Polites jogged along the riverbank until he caught back up with the ship. He waded into the water, trying to figure out how to get back on the ship. He saw a rope nearby and grabbed ahold, climbing up. The rope swayed with the ship as if it were weightless, making it more difficult to ascend.
The rope slapped against the side of the ship, sending Polites hurling through the hull of the ship and into the lower deck. His body tumbled and hit a few crates, causing them to come crashing down.
"Oh no no no!" he muttered, trying to restack them, only for his hands to phase right through.
On the deck above, Odysseus heard the commotion and ordered one of his men to investigate as he continued to warn the others to stay on guard.
He trudged below deck, not expecting what awaited him.
Polites yelped when he heard a clatter behind him, turning to see one of the soldiers standing in the doorway, his sword laying on the ground before him. He opened his mouth to speak, but the man turned on his heels and scrambled up the stairs.
"Captain!"
Odysseus immediately ran to the soldier's aid, hand on the hilt of his sword. "What was it?"
"I-it was Polites, Sir..."
The captain bristled at the name, turning his back on the man.
"Impossible."
"But I'm telling you, he was right there!"
Odysseus sighed, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Listen to me, brother. This place is not to be trusted, okay? Nothing that you see or hear is to be trusted. Those were Circe's words. Got that?"
The man nodded, though he was clearly still shaken up. Odysseus sighed once more.
"Come on. Why don't you show me where he was," he said, deciding it might be a good idea to help put both their minds at ease.
Odysseus crept down the stairs carefully, eyes scanning the shadows for any intruders.
"Hello? Anyone down here?" He was met with silence. He didn't know how tense he was until his fears were put at ease. It was empty.
"The boxes must've fallen on their own, it's been a little bumpy. Let's go," he ordered, picking up the discarded sword and holding it out for the man to take.
Meanwhile, Polites was crouched behind a barrel on the upper deck, watching what few soldiers remained. They all looked so different, but none more than Odysseus. He watched as his friend marched up the stairs to resume his task of guiding the ship.
But... his directions didn't sound right. The way Odysseus was leading them would pass by two guardians, and more would surely die. Odysseus didn't know his way around here like he did, to no fault of his own. But Polites couldn't let that happen.
He made sure no one was looking when he crept from his hiding spot.
He stood behind Eurylochus, hesitant to speak. But the fork in the river was approaching.
"Actually, you're gonna wanna take a right," he said from behind. Eurylochus jumped at the unexpected voice, turning to face him. His face morphed in terror as he saw the man before him.
"CAPTA-mmm!"
"Shhh!" Polites shushed, slapping a hand over his friend's mouth. Eurylochus tried to shove him away, only for his hands to phase through his attacker's arm. His eyes were wide with fear as he fumbled for his sword, still trying to steer the ship through the narrow waterway. "It's me! You have to trust me!"
"I don't think so."
Polites turned to see the tip of a sword pointed at him, the eyes of Odysseus staring him down with a vengeance.
"Captain, I-"
"SHUT UP!" he yelled, taking a step closer. Polites let go of Eurylochus, shying away behind him. "Now who are you really?" he all but growled.
Polites furrowed his brow in confusion. "Do... do you not recognize me?" he asked weakly. Odysseus let out a low, sadistic chuckle, and it was hard to believe this was his beloved friend.
"Ohoho I know who you want us to think it is! But we've been through enough, I know a trap when I see one. So I'm only asking one more time." He pressed the blade to where his throat would be. "Who. Are. You."
"Odysseus, it really is me! W-why don't you believe me?" he asked helplessly, realizing his sword wasn't the only one trained towards him.
"Why should I?"
"B-because I'm trying to help you!" he insisted. There was a long stretch of silence before Odysseus answered.
"I don't believe you."
Odysseus reared back, preparing to strike. Polites panicked, he didn't know where else to go, where to hide. On instinct he clutched onto Eurylochus for protection.
He opened his eyes, and Eurylochus was gone. No, that wasn't right... he could still hear him. He sounded... scared.
"Captain... help me," his hand raised on its own towards Odysseus. No, that wasn't his hand...
The soldiers had cowered back when Polites disappeared; they were all clearly on edge.
"Eurylochus?" Odysseus asked carefully.
"He's here."
Polites had to speak up, he had to make them listen.
"Please, I'm just trying to help." He spoke with a double voice. "I know a better way. Please... you have to trust me. I'm- I'm not a god, or whatever you think I am," he pleaded. "I'm me."
Odysseus glared at him, lips curled in a sneer. A tense silence fell over them as the seconds ticked by.
"Fine." He stepped back and lowered his sword. "As you were." When no one moved, he repeated himself in a harsher tone. "As you were!" They immediately broke up and returned to their posts, keeping an eye on their new passenger.
"Are... you gonna stand there the whole time?" he asked carefully.
"Yup," Odysseus answered, popping the p. "Are you gonna hide the whole time?" he countered.
Polites took a breath to ground himself. By the Gods, it felt good to breathe again... But this wasn't his body. These weren't his lungs…
"That depends. Are you gonna pull your sword on me again?" he asked.
"Only if you try anything." That was as good an answer as any, he supposed. Polites sighed, stepping out of his friend's body.
Eurylochus gasped as he regained full control of his limbs. He lurched forward, using the steering wheel for support. He glared at the spectral intruder.
"What did you do to me?" he demanded. Polites held his hands up in surrender. "I-I don't know! I was scared, I panicked!"
Eurylochus glared down at him, getting in his personal space to get his point across. "Don't do it again." A gentle hand on his shoulder snapped him out of it.
"Eurylochus, why not get some rest? Feel free to use my quarters," Odysseus offered. Eurylochus nodded in thanks, but not once did he take his eyes off Polites.
Odysseus was steering now, his mind elsewhere as he thought of what the prophet Tiresias had foretold.
"There is a world where I help you get home, but that's not a world I know..."
"You're gonna want to hang left, there's some larger rocks.
"I see a man who gets to make it home alive, but it's no longer you."
"Captain?"
Odysseus didn't like who he was becoming, but each challenged left him more broken than the last, and the mosaic he was creating of himself was more of an abomination.
"Captain watch out!"
Odysseus shook himself out of it, cutting the wheel to avoid the boulders. Polites watched him carefully, waiting for his friend to thank him and smile like he used to.
That moment never came.
Polites crossed his arms and huffed, "You're welcome."
Odysseus clenched his jaw. The imposter's tone was light and teasing, and so much like the friend he knew. But the underworld was nothing but lies and deceit, danger lurking around every corner. He was sure the man before him was nothing more than a farce.
"Just stop pretending," he sighed in defeat.
"Come again?" Polites asked, cocking his head. Odysseus tensed at the disgusting cracking sound the movement made.
"Nothing. Just- no more talking until we're safe."
We. Polites smiled as he stood next to his friend, just like old times. It never occurred to him that he wasn't meant to be included in that statement.
"Okay Captain."
Polites remained by his side, offering directions whenever they're needed. He doesn't dare speak beyond that, knowing how testy his friend can be when he's trying to focus. Not to mention he seemed like he was in a bad mood to begin with.
He had no idea.
"Alright, it shouldn't be much farther. Just go straight through there," Polites guided, pointing towards a cave on the horizon. The smallest amount of sunlight shimmered through.
"Everyone! Full speed ahead!" Odysseus yelled across the ship, men scurrying about the deck.
Odysseus kept his eyes trained on their destination as he spoke. "Thank you... You can go now."
"Oh! Right, you're- you're busy. We can talk later," Polites said, backing away. "I should probably go apologize to Eurylochus." He turned to make his leave, but Odysseus stood guarding his path.
"Stay away from him," he threatened, face shrouded by long, matted hair and hidden behind a thick beard. His once warm gaze turned black as he trained his weapon at Polites for a second time.
If he were still alive, his heart would be pounding right out of his chest.
"Odysseus? You're scaring me," Polites said, looking him up and down.
"AND YOU'RE SCARING EVERYONE!" he screamed, surging forward. Polites is taller than him, even when he's not floating, but Odysseus's presence towers over him.
"Wha-what?" he breathed out, backing himself against the rail. Odysseus kept him trapped there for a few more seconds before turning away. Polites spared a glance and saw every pair of eyes resting solely on him, hushed whispers floating about as hands hovered over their own weapons. He looked back at his captain with wide, fearful eyes.
"I'm sorry, I-I didn't mean to..."
Odysseus ignored him, not so much as a glance his way. And that hurt.
"Odysseus?"
"Don't call me that," he snarled, finally looking over his shoulder. Polites couldn't help but snicker.
"Don't call you by your name? Okay, Captain," he teased, hoping to catch a glimpse of that brilliant smile.
"Knock it off! You're not as funny as you think you are," Odysseus snapped, making him pout.
"Ouch. You know, my new friend Eurydice thought I was hilarious. She-"
"I don't care."
Polites felt his phantom heart sink at those words. Odysseus had never spoken to him like that before...
"Oh. O-okay. I'll just, um, I'll go."
"Good riddance."
Polites tried to stifle the hurt gasp he let out, biting his quivering lip. He just wanted to disappear. He didn't want to be here, but he didn't know where to go. After a moment, Odysseus chanced a glance over his shoulder and heaved a sigh of relief.
"Finally. Thought he'd never leave." Polites felt tears well in his eyes despite his confusion. He was still here, what did he mean? He reached a hand up to rub his tired face, only to freeze. He couldn't see himself. To test his theory, he raced down to the middle of the deck and stood there, but no one paid him any mind. He got his wish. They got their wish.
He disappeared.
Polites felt himself sink through the floorboards, but didn't care enough to stop it before he plopped down below deck. He landed flat on his back, not bothering to get up. What would even be the point?
Finally, he sat up before drifting into a standing position.
~~~
Eurylochus couldn't sleep. How the hell did Odysseus expect him to rest after all that? His mind was reeling, and in all honesty, he was completely and utterly confused.
Trust nothing in the underworld.
Circe's instructions. More importantly, Captain's instructions. Up until now, he thought that was to be believed. Everything down here was a wicked and cruel trick. And yet, this vision of Polites had seemed so real. More than that, it felt real. He had no idea what it did to him, but in the moments he was possessed, he knew what it was thinking: what it was feeling. And it was scared, hurt and confused: like a wild animal backed into a corner. But nowhere could he feel any kind of ill will towards any of them. And that scared Eurylochus just as much as it perplexed him.
He gave up on sleep and decided to go back to the upper deck. He navigated the narrow halls and froze in his tracks when he came upon the transparent image of his fallen friend.
"Eurylochus!" Polites startled, standing up a little straighter when he noticed him.
Said man recoiled as he was addressed, and watched him with a careful eye, his hand hovering over his weapon.
"Please don't," he said, cowering back towards the shadows. "I just want to apologize for earlier. I-I didn't mean to do... that."
He was met with nothing but silence.
"Eurylochus? Say something," he pleaded. He noticed the way Eurylochus stared at the ground instead of him.
"You're not really him, are you?" he asked skeptically. Pilotes felt his shoulders sag in defeat.
"You too?"
Eurylochus dared to meet his gaze. The expression he wore was that of skepticism and a hope long lost.
"I'm not convinced yet." As he walked past, he paused at Polites's side. "So convince me."
His words caused a smile to break out across his face as he turned to his friend. Eurylochus looked shocked before his expression melted into something softer.
"That's a start, I guess." He abruptly continued on his way, not wanting to linger with their friend's spirit. Polites was left alone in the dark, his thoughts serving as his only company.
He didn't emerge from the lower deck until he was sure they were well out of the underworld.
I'm so attached to Eurydice and pissed at Hades and I haven't even met the God.
Odysseus is so mean and really not holding back. Eurylochus made me smile at the end and gave me, and Polites some hope. I just wanna give him a hug I swear 🥺
You really nail his feelings of loneliness and you're such an inspiration to me I swear eidbwodbfiw ❤️
I cannot WAIT to see where this goes from here!!! I will be eagerly awaiting the next chapters like an affection starved cat.
I wasn't intending to get his light cone but it just kinda happened. The flustering art called to me so I got it 😭
He's all leveled with passable relics atm(gotta farm more broken keel cause I only have one Imaginary Damage orb).
I'm so happy my love of follow up characters has been rewarded! He works great with Dr. Ratio, Topaz and Ruan Mei and I'm sure he'll do wonderfully with my E2 S1 Clara as well!
Welcome to the family, Aventurine! I will write something with you soon to celebrate!
Hiya! Just a question, are there any tickles you won't do? (IE, feet tickles, rougher tickles, tickles in ahem 'naughty' spots, restraints, tools, etc?) You're this really cool one-of-a-kind type of writer on Tumblr, so I'm curious!
Aw this made my morning, thank you so much anon! I don't know that I'm one of a kind, so many wonderful tickle writers are inspirations to me, but I truly appreciate it and hope you enjoy your time in my humble lil blog 🥰
Rougher tickles are fine but I won't describe pain unless it's got a purpose- like showing a Ler how to tickle properly or something to that effect, since pain is a instant turn off for me personally!
As far as boundaries it honestly really depends on my feelings and the pairing. One spot on its own is really difficult to write about, and I also personally don't write for single spot kink/fetish besides maybe hands from a Lee's perspective.
I've never really written more full blown naughty tickles in a fic, and I'm kinda dipping my toe back into nsft after a long time away so it'll really depend on the request! I do have a heavy preference towards female or gn! reader with feminine parts I would assume just because that's what i know- but maybe one day I'll expand as I get more comfy. For now I'll say genital tickling is a soft boundary though!
Restraints and tools are all fine! Mouth tickles are a lil more iffy more as a sole focus but as long as it's not wanted for an entire fic it's cool!
Thanks for the questions anon; I hope it helps and feel free to ask any more you may have!
Hello there! I'm happy that you write for Fairy Tail! And I genuinely love contents that you produce! Since you still open for fic request, I was wondering if you would write a fanfiction with Lee Gajeel, with Ler Jet and Droy? If possible... black coffee... (revenge/humiliation tickles or something like that during Gajeel vulnerable moment (e.g. stuck/e.g. someone strong like laxus/makarov/gildarts/hold him down)... the plot can be anything honestly...
P.S. please no foot tickles! and have a nice day!!
Thank you for the compliment!
Ahh I'm sorry hun, but I actually don't know these characters so I'm afraid I'm gonna have to reject this request! It's been a really long time since I've watched Fairy Tail and I think i only got to the end of the first season 😅 I do plan to rewatch it at some point, but it'll likely be a while!
x reader should be (and, generally speaking, often is) the most accepting fanfiction space because its consistently, and almost exclusively an expression or fantasy of being desired or wanted or wanting—or in an even more basic sense, considered. even if you dont explicitly self-insert, even if there’s a an oc thats just you but better or a faceless insert u make - it starts with the same premise. which is wanting to be seen or desired by some extension of who you are. or wanting to fantasize explicitly about a life that isn’t yours, any life but yours. its admitting more openly than other mediums—i want someone to want some part of me. to take interest in me sexually or romantically or platonically. i want this element of myself to be considered or thought of. sometimes that is accomplished through writing, and sometimes that is accomplished through reading and seeking to bits of yourself in other peoples. the other half is having space to want and yearn for something else. how liberating it is to admit that you’d like to be somewhere else.
and it is hardly a flawless medium and im really, really simplifying it but i do think that there is something uniquely enjoyable and freeing about it. i want agency in the stories i love. i want my presence to haunt this fiction like a ghost. i want to be loved, i want to be interesting. i want to experience hundreds of lives that aren’t mine. i want i want i want. this a story of you. this is a story of me.
sometimes you have to be a bit mentally ill to get mentally well so if thinking naruto would be proud of you for brushing your teeth is what gets you to brush your teeth well grab that toothbrush dattebayo
Last song: Professionalism by Ali featuring Hannya
Favorite Color: Purple!
Currently Watching: Everything andnnwns but no really: Fire Force (rewatch) Destined For You (K-Drama; still deciding if I like it or not), Sweet Home (K-drama, still deciding if I like it or not)
Sweet/Savory/Spicy: *leans into microphone* Yes.
Relationship Status: Single as a Pringle and living my best life 😎
Current Obsession: Visual Novels- Cafe Enchante to be specific 🥰🥰🥰
Last thing I goggled: Migraine home remedies and face masks with cooling effects. My coworker has them and I was looking up ideas to help.
Tag List: @flyinginvelaris @yellowelectroslime @firapolemos05 @otomiyaa @thatbigbisexual29 @helloitsghost @lovelymessybubbly and whomever else is reading this and wants to participate: I choose YOU! 🫵🏻🫵🏻🫵🏻💖
last song: anthropology by awkwardmarina (such a nerdy answer lmao)
favorite color: pink °₊·ˈ∗♡( ˃̶᷇ ‧̫ ˂̶᷆ )♡∗ˈ‧₊°
currently watching: at this current moment the game grumps ep that aired today lollll not really much else. bf and i just finished adventure time, other than that i am waiting on a lot of next seasons… haha
sweet/savory/spicy: sweet !! (∗ᵒ̶̶̷̀ω˂̶́∗)੭₎₎̊₊♡
relationship status: my super handsome and charming bf of two years ♥(ˆ⌣ˆԅ)
current obsession: video games aheh
last thing i googled: “female model facing forward heels” i am working on a commission !! – =͟͟͞͞ ( ꒪౪꒪)ฅ✧
Last thing I Googled: Ngl, I've been doing anatomy practice and the weirdest thing I think this is the weirdest thing I've ever Googled 🤣🤣🤣 'Anatomical structure of toes'
Thank you for the tag @rachi-roo! Hope you had a good day 🥰
Last song: The Last Resort by GYROAXIA
Favorite color: Burgundy and/or teal has always been my go-tos! Jewel tones in general are my jam!
Currently watching: Finally finishing up Schaffrillas Productions Bojack Horseman retrospective! As far as TV/Movies I just finished a rewatch of Assassination Classroom as I introduced my friend to it and I showed my Mom, A Monster Calls(one of my favorite book adaptations ever now, probably, so good despite the tears)
Sweet/Savoury/Spicy: Between these options? Sweet with an occasional hankering for spice or savory but I'm a salt gal through and through!
Relationship status: Single!
Current Obsession: Oh gosh these change so frequently 😭 I'm working on a Danganronpa fic so definitely that at the moment. Also Honkai Star Rail, and Assassination Classroom! Horimiya is hanging on by its fingernails in my subconscious 🤣 Epic: The Musical is up there too, and Critical Role may get reinvigorated when i start watching again!
Last thing I Googled: Hotels in my area! Mom and I are on the move after a travel contract ended at the moment!
