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da-birb-writes-sometimes · 7 months

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How You Turn My World; Chapter 4

You finally find your way into the labyrinth, coming across some new and old faces; both friendly and malicious.

Character; Lilia Vanrouge

Content; Gender-neutral reader, reader is getting tired of being stuck here and smelling like a bog

Content Warnings; Swearing, some talk of death, reader passes out

Word Count; 2.2 K

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 |

As per usual, don't put my work into AI.

You were finally making some decent progress, what, with not being stuck in some bog and knowing somewhat of where you were going. A vast improvement really! Well, it would be, but unfortunately, you still reeked of rotten eggs and skunk — apparently the bog stench only got worse the longer it stayed on.

“Why did it have to dump me into the swamp,” you huffed, rounding yet another corner. “Like, it could have dumped me beside the water, but, no, no, let’s dump the magicless human right into the putrid bog water! A good guffaw, don’t you think? Ha ha ha HA!”

At least your au de Bog of Eternal Stench kept any would-be assailants away since you hadn’t run into anything (besides a rose bush, ouch) since you started making your way through the labyrinth. So maybe it wasn’t all that bad… damn, maybe your sense of smell was just used to it… hey, if stink helps you not die, then you would gladly stay stinky! Well, bitterly stay stinky is more like it.

“Assholes,” you muttered, rounding another corner.

But it wasn’t a corner; it was a crossroad. Three paths merged off of the one you were on.

… aren’t labyrinths just one long line? THIS IS A FUCKING MAZE?! You groaned, looking at your possible options which all looked exactly the same.

Decisions, decisions, decisions. Of course nothing is easy here, no no no! Gotta make things difficult now.

The hedge behind you rustled, and you whipped around, getting into a stance where you could either land a pretty good sucker punch to the hedge-stalker or make a mad dash away. But out of the hedge crawled out a small, fuzzy, caterpillar. And back at home you would have thought it was cute, but you learned your lesson from the doors; don’t trust it, or anyone for that matter.

You looked down at the caterpillar, and the caterpillar looked up at you, blinking slowly.

What are the chances…

“Do you know a way out,” you asked the caterpillar, crouching down so that you didn’t tower over it.

The caterpillar blinked at you again (apparently caterpillars in the Underground have eyelids, which isn’t the weirdest thing considering everything). “No,” it chirped and continued crawling on its merry way, wherever that may be. “But you’ll find the way.” And it disappeared into the growth of the maze, humming a little tune to itself.

You sighed, and pushed yourself back up, straightening out your shoulders and looking up to the sky. “I’ll find a way,” you breathed, looking up at the cloudless sky which was starting to turn a brilliant amber with the setting sun. “I might want to find a way is more like it.”

You looked back down to the ground, looking at the three paths in front of you. They all look the same, save for the ground making up paths themselves, with the middle and right paths looking well worn with travel. And while they may be well worn, there was a voice at the back of your head that was whispering caution. The left-most path was not as well travelled, with dead vines covering parts of it.

“Hopefully you’re right, little buddy since I could use all the luck I can get.” And you made your way down the path, hoping that it was the correct one and didn’t lead you to your death or some other unpleasant thing.

…

Lilia was at the entrance of the labyrinth, in front of the two doors.

“Have you seen a human, about this tall, a bit of a temper, and smelling foul,” he asked the doors.

The doors looked at each other before looking at Lilia. “And what’s it to you,” they said in unison.

Lilia smiled, but it was one of mild annoyance, not joy or amusement. “Royal orders I fear. You wouldn’t want the mistress finding out about you both tampering with a royal matter, would you?” The smile turned cat-like since Lilia had backed them into a corner.

The doors paled, with the blue door speaking up. “No no, sir! We would never dream of such a thing!!! Yes, there was a human, a wretched one at that, horribly rude!”

Lilia hummed, cocking a brow at the door. “I do think wretched is a bit of an overstatement now,” he whispered to himself. “Well, tell me where about they are then. The sooner I can collect them, the better for you lot.”

The red door sighed, “Near the heart of it, they took the left path.”

Left path? Why the left path leads to… Shit. Lilia mentally groaned, knowing that regardless of the path you took, you would end up having to deal with them eventually. “Your cooperation has been noted,” is what he said though, giving the doors both a nod before turning into a bat and flying over the labyrinth, trying to find you before you ran into whoever them was.

“Please be clever enough not to die,” he whispered to no one, hoping that he didn’t have to deliver your body to the Queen.

…

The left path brought you to what looked like a forest; with old-growth trees, ferns and moss covering the ground, and a list mist hanging in the air. It was peaceful and beautiful, with the setting sun illuminating the mist without burning it away.

But that would not last, night was fast approaching and you had nothing to protect you this time; no rowan tree to haul your ass up, and no sort of weapon to protect yourself besides the oh-so-lovely smell of the bog to deter something from eating you. You were pretty sure it would also keep away anything that wanted to otherwise snatch you up.

“AH!” Something jumped out from a tree, and you couldn’t fully register what it was since you were also screeching, much like the creature was at you; you with fright, the creature with amusement and joy.

Two other creatures jumped out from behind the trees and startled cackling, jumping, and clapping. Together, they surrounded you, with no way to really escape them without fighting through.

… you really should have read about fae species, since you didn’t know what they exactly were, or how dangerous they were either.

One pulled you near a pit and lit a fire, cackling in glee and dancing, trying to get you to join them. “Ah come on, human, have some fun! DANCE BABEY!!!!”

But you stayed still as more creatures came out of the shadows, dancing around the fire, giggling, cackling, and pulling a bit at your clothes to prompt you to join them. You didn’t know, cementing your feet down, your eyes watching their movements with caution.

‘Should you dance with the fae, you shall not stop dancing until you exhaust yourself. And once you wake up, you will continue dancing. This cycle will repeat itself until you dance to death.’

At least that was what the book said, and so you stayed still, regardless of how much the creatures pulled at you. While it looked like a grand old time, you remained where you were.

“I don’t have time for dancing,” you answered coldly, flinching from pinching fingers. You were also a bit shocked that Eau de Bog of Eternal Stench wasn’t keeping them away. Either, they couldn’t smell, or, they didn’t care that you smelled downright awful. “So this ‘baby’ won’t dance.”

And should I be offended by you calling me ‘baby’ or am I reading too much into it?

The main creature just shrugged and spun its dancing partner around. “Your loss human! More fun for us then! YIPPEE!!!” And it threw something in the fire to where you could feel the heat on your face.

What now? You were just standing there awkwardly as the creatures danced about, singing something that you couldn’t really make out. All you knew was that the heat, noise, and the dizzying dance of them was making your head pound, and throat scream in thirst. You hadn’t drank anything for over a day(?) — no, bog water did not count — and the heat from the fire made the thirst only worse. Shit.

“Ah, you don’t look too… hot there human,” one of the creatures snickered at its own joke at your expense. “Maybe if you dance with us, loosen up and have a bit of fun, then you can have a drink? Hmm? Dancing won’t kill you!” But its failed attempts at covering up its own malicious giggles were more than enough to stand your ground… which was coming at you quite fast since you practically collapsed.

Was it the thirst? The pounding migraine that wanted nothing more than to crawl into some dark hole and hide? Or your exhaustion from making that tiring trek, crawling yourself out of the bog and making the trek again, or the hours you had spent wandering around the maze with no real idea of where you were going? All you really knew was that you were now on the ground with the creatures poking at you to see if you were still alive.

“Aw, man! Are they already dead? That’s no fun!” One of the creatures pouted, raising up your arm, and you let it plop back to the ground. “Come on human! Get up! You’re not a party pooper are you?”

Scre you buddy! Can’t you read the situation?!

You were trying your best to stay quiet, which wasn’t all that hard, since all of your energy was gone.

“They best not be,” a familiar voice called out.

From your position, you couldn’t see who it was, but you could make out the creatures jumping away from you like you were the hot fire instead of the fire pit. But someone else was approaching until you could make out a pair of shoes in front of your face.

They crouched down beside you, placing their fingers gently at the base of your throat; taking your pulse. “Hmph, playing dead, are we, Beastie?”

That irritating chuckle. The annoying nickname. Those mischievous magenta eyes that now looked at you with curiosity and amusement.

It was him — Mr. Sparkles.

And he had just blown your act of playing possum (well, not really, since you had actually collapsed).

But you didn’t say anything, instead favouring to give him a dirty look. Yet he just shook his head in jest, and proceeded to pick you up and wrap you around his shoulders and neck like some sort of bizarre ermine pelt; better than being carried like a sack of potatoes or the bridal carry you supposed.

“Her majesty sends her regards for not turning or killing her guest,” Lilia offered the creatures. It would be such a waste and pity to see such an entertaining Beastie leave us too soon now. “But do know she won’t take to their condition lightly.”

My condition? I’m not some Victorian child with some unknown illness wreaking havoc on their body you know?! But all that you did was groan and cough. You couldn’t even cough in Mr. Sparkles’ (Lilia’s) face, since you had a lovely view of the moss-covered ground and the fae’s shoes.

He patted the back of your calves, and you would have kicked him if you had more energy, but you didn’t. “Now, we really should be off, since Beastie has… an hour to get out of this maze before they turn into some sort of worm, or a hedge; never know what this old labyrinth will decide on really.” Lilia chuckled at the thought (was it merriment, or was he happy that you weren’t joining the caterpillar you met earlier?).

“No,” you wheezed. “WoRm!”

“See! They said it themself! No worm! How lovely that we are on a similar wavelength, Beastie! Marvellous even!” Lilia exclaimed, and the both of you started levitating off of the ground. “Now, do enjoy your party, Fireys!”

The creatures (Fireys apparently) groaned but got back to their party, dancing around the fire like they didn’t just try to lure you to your death mere minutes before.

“Tsk tsk, Beastie,” Lilia’s tutting brought your attention back to him and you grumbled. “You owe me two favours now, you know. Lucky that I found you… although that part wasn’t hard. I thought you learned your lesson the first time you decided to take a dip into the Bog of Eternal Stench?”

You lightly kicked him, letting your irritation be known, but Lilia just hummed. “Now now, no need to be like that! Do you want to smell like a bog when you meet the mistress? She wouldn’t take kindly to your… unique aroma.”

You hissed out a breath since he decided to pinch at your ear rather harshly — prompting for you to answer. “No,” you whispered hoarsely.

“Also, do read up on that book, since you will want to know about the government and fae species etiquette!”

From a smelly bog and fumbling around a maze for hours on end, to finding yourself being taken to fae high society… was it too late to become some worm in the maze? I think being a worm actually has a better chance of me living.

But sadly, you were saved from an eternity of being a worm. Hopefully, Mr. Sparkles (Lilia) would cover for your blunders a little for when you found yourself in front of ‘the mistress’.

...

To be continued!

~~~~~~~

Tags; @afunkyfreshblog @cheezy-moon @eynnwwyjth @identity-theft-101 @ithseem @lucid-stories @ryker-writes @twistwonderlanddevotee @xxoomiii

Link to Masterlist

#twst #twst x reader #twst x gn reader #twisted wonderland #twisted wonderland x reader #twisted wonderland x gn reader #lilia vanrouge #lilia vanrouge x reader #lilia vanrouge x gn reader #yup! we're moving away from the labyrinth but fret not! the shenanigans shall continue and relationships will be built!#i forgot how fucking terrifying the fireys are and i now remember way labyrinth gave me nightmares as a kid #twst labyrinth au #also i shit you not i went to go eat at a burger joint last week and 'magic dance' was playing and i lost my fricking mind #like HELLO?! WHAT THE HELL?!#apparently the radio was telling me to fricking work on this fic...#i should really start posting this on ao3 as well... but idk where this is going to go #also posting a standalone fic (oneshot?) tomorrow; you guys will be eating good for a bit. here some crumbs for you and for you and for you

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spilycoris · 14 days

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something something. i was listening to my church by aviators on loop while drawing this so imagine there are cool lyrics. my spirit my church my people etc.

plus more art of my lamb (moros)

#cult of the lamb #cotl #cotl fanart #the lamb #cotl the lamb #cotl lamb #my art #so its all lamb art? always has been. points blunderbuss at you #the first drawing is actually for a tiktok im working on but shhhh 🤫 also works as a standalone drawing #tw blood #almost forgot that one woops sorry

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one-bunny-a-day · 5 months

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30/11/2023

what're they dancing to?

#daily bunny #334 #standalone bunny #dance fucker dance man they never had a chance #safdg I filled a flash drive from work with music to play when there's noone to connect to spotify #of course you're gonna go far kid is on there along with a bunch of weeb music game and anime osts #also obscure indie stuff pop music classic rock etc etc etc #I work in the kids section of a bookstore so we gotta be a lil careful what kind of music we put on #but I think we can have a little bit of acdc and rolling stones and the sound of silence #as a treat #sifting very carefully tru my downloaded songs for stuff to puyt on the flash drive #so I don't accidentally throw on there somet like #gallery piece or sick bitch (anal house remix) or wap dsgfhgk #everyone please share your favourite songs I wanna listen to stuff

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theftshrubbery · 1 year

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siren song

#my art #this is #fem dnf #fem dnf week #but i also think it works really well as a standalone!#really love this one ngl #art #fan art #illustration #digital art #dnf fanart #mermaid #sapphic art #wlw art #queer art #queer artist

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valeriianz · 5 months

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Reason in the Noise | Dream x Hob | 3k | T | In-progress

CW: band au, musician Dream, touring, pining, fluff, slice of life, non-linear, adjusting to fame

He was never sure exactly how to react to the swarm of affection and loyalty from listeners; strangers. It was a lot… a lot more than Morpheus had ever anticipated. It was almost… terrifying.

And it was all happening so fast. With every passing day, ticket sales for the tour went up. Their debut album was frighteningly close to a gold certification by the RIAA (about 100,000 more units, according to Johanna), and– although Morpheus himself had no online presence, he lived vicariously through his bandmates– they’d somehow accrued a million followers on Endless’ official Twitter page.

Morpheus didn’t want to complain, or offer up excuses, but he was trying. He was trying to be Dream, this member of a band that didn’t belong just to Leta and him anymore. Endless was shared not just with Mona, Dessi, and Del anymore. It had become co-opted with thousands of people; over a million, apparently. It didn’t feel real.

And one of the only people, who hadn’t treated him any differently because of all this, had agreed to come along on the tour as Dream’s guitar tech.

[Ao3]

#dreamling #hob x dream #the sandman #rockband au #set in the verse of Bolt in the Blue #could also work as a standalone... read AN for more info #bolt in the blue vibes #Dream POV

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thatsgonnaleaveamark · 7 months

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whumptober 2023 - day 18 tortured for information

A Town Called Malice - 1x07

#whumptober2023 #no.18 #tortured for information #gifs #1x07 #blood #tied up #bloody face #my gifs #whump gifs #whumpedit #damn this has been in my drafts for a while its already been like over a month since ive seen this show lol #this is just a really fun aesthetic #i have other gifs of this guy in this other show 'wreck' where he gets murdered by a duck mascot i love it #blood suits him :-)#ooh the way it runs up his face bc hes upside down :)))#last thing ive got done for whumptober idk if ill come up with another thing #currently working on another song whump vid with wayne from wayne and im having lots of fun with it #lots of blood involved there also :)) but that might also just be a standalone thing idk yet

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desultory-novice · 2 months

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WHAT DO YOU MEAN DMK'S A MUTE MEATSUIT WHAT IN THE AMAZING MIRROR HAPPENED (In all seriousness the moment I read that it was like I got jumpscared but it's so cool at the same time)

Oops. I think I wrote that wrong. I was trying so hard to trim all my summaries down I think I lost the vital part of that one.

It's SHADOW DEDEDE that is a meat suit.

DMK is mute, though, yes.

To explain (...in my weird little HCs obviously...) Dark Meta Knight and Shadow Dedede were actually lovers/in a relationship in the past. DMK was a bit bloodthirsty and fighty, but Shadow Dedede got a kick out of that wild side of him. However, because DMK was out doing the da~rk version of Meta Knight things (and because my Mirror Dream Land is like regular Dream Land but...uh, darker XD) Shadow Dedede was not saved from Dark Matter like regular Dedede was. Nor was he saved from any of his possessions...not in time.

Dark Meta Knight FAILED HIM. Irrevocably. Indelibly.

He had something good but his vices costed him. Shadow Dedede is now a puppet being piloted by a melange of dark forces. Most potently? Dark Mind in the form of the (non-parallel) King D-Mind.

In the pre-story to KatAM, Dark Meta Knight came back to challenge this invader for the body of his liege, but Dark Mind used their relationship against him and callously slit Dark Meta Knight's throat (and ground the resulting mirror shard into dust, ensuring he could not get his voice back) to shut up the ignoble knight up for good.

THAT is why all of DMK's acts in KatAM are circumspect. He cannot warn Shadow Kirby. He cannot train him now. He cannot ask his non-mirror counterpart for help. So he lures him and HIS disciple on a chase that ensures they will run headfirst into Dark Mind. (If he dies as collateral? Well, what more is there to lose...?)

...

And so yeah, that's my DMK backstory. He's a mess. ^^ And he's still a fight-y little bugger! Though now that the Dark Mind stuff is over, he's been forced to open up a little bit and make..... friends. Like that tall handsome rat fellow and that little artist girl who lets him use all her red crayons and doesn't judge.

The reason he attacked Dedede at the end of TDX? ...Jealousy, mostly. (And a warning to Meta Knight.)

#Kirby #Dark Meta Knight #Shadow Dedede #Dark Mind #Edit: found the ficlet I wrote about DMK vs Dedede and linked it #Shadow Dedede x DMK #Mirror MetaDede #(MetaDede are not 'a thing' like their counterparts are)#(Though they have a strong and deep bond)#(Anyway DMK and Shadede are less of a thing now)#(Mirror-world divorce arc?!?)#Also this HC clearly only works in a world in which the mirror world IS a self-existing standalone world...#...and not one where the mirror selves are merely clones created upon one looking into the mirror

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belethlegwen · 11 months

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Do those two ever kiss? I think they should kiss, I think it’d be good for their mental wellbeing if they just smooched eachother.

Melanie’s lips probably feel weird to Henry, what with the size, but I bet they’d both like it.

Oh, Anon.

Those two absolutely do get to the point of kissin', I promise. It is also very good for their mental health (once they work through some fuckin' baggaaaage) when they finally get there.

I've previously posted a few snippets of future-things I've written re: the two of them smoochin', and I'll include those under the cut, but in the meantime please enjoy this gorgeous piece by @aaytaro-gt of their first kiss that she drew based on the first kiss snippet I posted:

To see the little snippets of kissing for yourself, please see me below the cut:

[Spoilers ahead for The Rescue]

Welcome, to the Kissy Stuff:

Full disclosure, these bits were all written a very hot while ago (over a year now for at least two of the clips) and will likely need some heavy editing before the whole piece finally someday gets posted.

--------------

He stepped back closer to her face, just enough to caress her lips with his hand, marveling at the feeling of them as her eyes blinked and looked back up to the ceiling with another soft, moaning breath. “I understand, but while I won’t go there, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t. Is there anything else you want me to know?”

Melanie’s head shook subtly, her hand moving slowly to slide under the blankets as she fidgeted, notably uncomfortable. “Just be delicate?”

Henry was enamored by such a timid question, compelled to laugh but restraining himself. “I will,” he promised warmly, stepping closer to her again and bending down to kiss her upper lip, the giant woman freezing in place and holding her breath anxiously until she felt him step back and turn away from her face again.

“I…” she started quietly as he pondered what to do next. “This feels… different from the kind of things we had talked about the other day.”

Henry’s head cocked to one side as he thought back on the conversation, “how do you mean?”

“I remember you saying you weren’t necessarily a romantic,” she mumbled. “This is… much more romantic than I would have assumed you’d be.”

--------------

“Do you like it?” He asked quietly.

“I like it lots,” she replied drowsily and he watched her smile, one side of her face pressed into the overstuffed pillow, her eyes closed.

“Then that’s what matters,” he replied warmly, bracing his feet near her collarbone as his hands moved to caress her jawline, her head tipping up carefully under the guidance of his touch. He closed his eyes as she took in a sharp, small breath and held it, freezing in place as he kissed both of her lips in turn.

Hazel eyes were open, flitting to try and focus on his face briefly before darting away. One of his hands lightly scratched around her jaw while the other softly caressed her cheek as it became warm and flushed with color.

“You act like you’re scared of me,” he chuckled lightly as she released a short, tense breath.

“Sorry,” she whimpered, trying to barely utter sound with him so close. Her breath brushed warmly over his bare skin and he bent to kiss her cheek as she leaned subtly into the stroking of his hand, her eyes drifting closed again.

“You’ve nothing to apologize for,” he said soothingly.

“I wish I could kiss you back.”

Melanie’s voice, still fading into lethargy, had an undertone of longing in it that seemed sad. “You can,” he encouraged her, “I would like it very much if you did.”

“No I mean,” she mumbled, a tired moan escaping between her words, “like a real kiss.”

“This is real,” he whispered, stroking her cheek again as he bent toward her lips. “So kiss me.”

Henry pressed his mouth firmly to her top lip, and felt the strange and enticing sensation of her lips pursing, pushing up faintly as if she was putting the smallest amount of strength she could behind it, meeting his lips and chin as delicately as she could manage. He shivered as they parted, taking in the most gentle of breaths around him, the cool air rushing into her from across his cheeks and around his neck, feeling like it sucked the breath out of him.

He moved to stand and her head moved up just slightly, the tip of her nose coming almost alongside his face as her lips pursed again and landed against his chest, the sensation incredible yet fleeting as her head fell heavily back into the pillow with a slumberous smile.

“Goodnight, Melanie,” he said softly, stroking her cheek one last time as her body shifted under him again, her head tipping back to the side on the pillow as she drifted away. “Sweet dreams.”

“You too, please,” came the slow and caring reply.

--------------

He didn’t have time to think of anything else to prod her with before her hand dropped on him, pinning his arms with fingers as her other hand came up to fiddle with the holster on his side. “Hey!” He exclaimed, trying to lean up to see what she was trying to accomplish. “What are you doing?”

“Disarming you,” she said firmly, her finger and thumb gripping the hilt of his short sword and pulling it out of the sheath, her other hand pinning him firmly as he tried to wriggle, legitimate concern crossing his features.

“Be careful with that,” he hissed worriedly, “it’s very sharp, I worked on it yesterday.”

Melanie smiled warmly at his concern, carefully pinching the thing in her fingers and leaning over to place it onto her nightstand before moving back over him, releasing him slowly. “Just trying to make sure I’m at the mercy of slightly fewer sharp things while you’re acting up.”

Henry smirked, the relief he felt after she had safely moved the sword away allowing him to sink back into the large pillow again. “I only bothered to bring the sword today, I doubt there’s anything sharp enough on my person to cause you actual concern beyond that.”

“Your tongue comes to mind,” she shot back, her fingers moving back to the god damn belts again, Henry having mostly gotten one of them undone and making it significantly easier to finally unbuckle. “I’d disarm that if I could, make this entire situation much easier.”

“Why don’t you come down here and try?”

His voice was softer, playful, but teasing in that way that made her heart stop. Her eyes moved quickly from his body to his face again, seeing the color of his flushed cheeks, those blue-green eyes sparkling up at her over a lopsided smile as he bit his bottom lip. His smile grew and he leaned up expectantly while her own face went bright red, her eyes dashing away from him.

“...tease…” she mumbled quietly, a smile making its way onto her lips as her eyes moved back. His eyebrows raised while a grin stretched his square beard near the corners of his mouth.

Henry’s eyes closed and she carefully lowered herself to him, one hand coming up to slide against his side, fingers slipping around his torso while he lifted an arm to tenderly caress her chin and cheek as it came toward him, their lips meeting the way they did every time. His mouth pressed into her lower lip, her plush lips gently wrinkling around almost his entire face, making him smile as he felt her breath snag in her chest and throat like always.

Melanie’s cheek got hotter under his fingers and palm, her thumb sliding onto his lap and up his torso while she pursed her lips delicately against him, the feeling of his lips pressing back into hers making her chest feel like it would explode as her pulse came back, pounding harder than ever. The small sailor’s own pulse fluttered against her fingers delicately like a butterfly, his chest leaning more and more against her thumb as he pushed forward. As always, she grew worried for him and tried to pull back, and as always, he brought his other hand up to the opposite side of her face. Pressing his palms against her, gripping her with his fingers he tried to pull her back into him, his kiss becoming more intense and passionate as he used every ounce of his tiny frame to keep her there; to stop her from running away.

Giant lips softly parting made way for the cool rush of air that sent up shivers and goosebumps over every tiny inch of him, the sensation of having his own breath almost sucked from his body as she let herself breathe. His hands stayed on her, his fingers just barely relaxing their grip as they stopped digging into the soft, warm flesh of her chin and cheeks, but still wanting to keep her there.

The weight against her hand as he let his small body slump into it comfortably, his head turning and his lips quickly peppering both of hers with tiny pecks as they both smiled, caused her to practically melt onto the mattress more, her head sinking lower towards his lap while she did.

Henry broke the silence as she let a relieved sigh out around his midriff, the tip of her nose having fallen to rest in the middle of his chest; his hands having slid up her cheeks as she moved. Now he was rubbing one in gentle, soft circles against her warm, blushing skin while he rested his own warm cheek on the bridge of her nose. “That was the best one yet,” he quietly praised her, playfulness in his tone. “I didn’t have to force you down for nearly so long this time. You’re getting braver.”

Massive hazel eyes flickered open only to confirm she could see nothing of him but a blurry mess, closing again as the rumbling of her voice-- soft and gentle as ever-- resonated through him at this distance as if it was vibrating his very bones. “I’m so scared I’ll hurt you somehow,” she sighed, and he turned his head to kiss between her eyes, still petting her soothingly.

“I know you are,” he cooed in gentle reply. “But I do love the feeling that you’re trusting me more and more to let you know that.”

A small huff of breath left her nose, blowing down the front of him as her face sank just a bit more. The tiny man spread his legs out wide around her, letting her chin rest on the pillow gently between them as he pulled his knees up, leaning his legs against the sides of her face. “I’m glad,” she offered quietly after a moment while her hand squeezed around his body tenderly. “I really do trust you, you know.”

“Not with a sword, apparently,” he quipped to her, reaching up to tap her forehead lightly as she chuckled. He smirked, letting her hold him in place as she leaned her gargantuan torso back up and away from him again, his eyes following hers while they opened overhead. “That’s because I trust you to always be a shit,” she retorted, both of them laughing.

--------------

Someday I will post the full works with these scenes in them, but they're a ways away yet. In the meantime, I hope this brings you some joy, and thank you so so so much for the ask! I really did love to see it and it was so nice to be given an excuse to dig up those documents again <3

And I always love looking at that piece by Aaytaro. Truly wonderful stuff <3

#g/t #giant/tiny #g/t writing #g/t author #gentle giantess #g/t kisses #giant tiny #gtauthor #author thoughts #gt #big little thoughts #Henry/Melanie #The Rescue #The Stranding #They will ALSO kiss in the main works eventually but these snippets are specifically coming from standalone pieces #they are standalone because they are spicy and will be marked as such on AO3 when the time comes #For now those please enjoy some big girl tiny man smoochin's <3 #asks and answers #thanks so much for the ask for real <3

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justanotherfanartist · 29 days

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#my dumb stuff #poll #polls #tumblr polls #im just curious mostly #totally won’t influence the way I write them at all #in a silly way of course #never mind the fact that these are some of my players in a high stakes sci fi ish political drama allegory that I’m writing #not the Main Two tho that are pitted against eachother these are just the main spy type cast they have at their disposal #for some good old fashioned espionage and power of information type shit #my Main Two are funny tho cus one of them is essentially a JFK stand-in and the other ones like #what if the most insufferable Wall Street bro you’ve ever seen genetically modified to be as annoying as humanly possible was also #incredibly good at giving speeches and making money #and he sucks so bad btw I hate his guts but he’s also my twisted babygirl #I love my Kennedy boy too tho what can I say #I love my writing projects #this one’s got a cool name too and I feel like if I can get the plot worked out I’d have a really cool standalone novel #I’ve got the themes and writing style and some characters worked out same with particular motifs and repeated metaphors and stuff #I just need the plot beats #and I just read John Trubys Anatomy of Genres so like I’m psyched and ready to go baby this is gonna be so fun

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generic-sonic-fan · 6 months

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Old Time's Sake

Summary: The robot once known as "Metal Sonic" attempts to ask Amy Rose for a favor.

TW: suicidal thoughts

---

It crashed into a pot of petunias on the porch, ceramic shattering against the wooden panels of the house. Shredded pink blossoms settled against purple, yellow, and blue plating, only to be shaken off by the onslaught of shudders that battered its frame.

Neo pulled itself to the door just as the knob twisted from the other side. Amy Rose stared down.

“Metal? Oh my goodness, you look- what happened?”

It grasped the frame of the door and pulled itself upright.

“No, it’s okay, stay right there. Or actually, I’ll bring you in!”

Amy Rose grabbed its arms and pulled it through the door. It simulated her gripping hard enough to damage its plating. A reprimand shot down its spinal strut response. She did not lose or even tighten her grip, however, as she led it to her couch.

She sat it down. “Stay here. You’re going to be okay. I’ll get Tails on the phone and he’ll make you right as rain!”

The name switched its self-preservation programming from hostile to cooperative. Calling Miles “Tails” Prower would result in Sonic’s arrival, so it must not allow Amy Rose to reach her cell phone, so it must attack her, and she would summon her hammer and then-

It lept off the couch and embedded its claws into her shoulders. Her eyes widened and her mouth fell open to match the exact ratios of panic it had recorded from her on Little Planet. In an instant, her hammer was in her hand.

The force dented its torso plating. It crashed into a wall. It waited for more blows, simulated the damage from other instances in which she’d demolished Badniks, anticipated, anticipated. It looked at her to find her stationary despite her vitals being elevated beyond even what might be registered in ordinary combat.

It pulled itself out of the wall and approached.

“What is going on with you?”

It scratched at her, but only pierced air as she stepped away.

“Would you stop that? I can’t help you if you’re going to attack me!”

Neo recalled her being more intelligent than this. It pointed to her hammer, then pointed to its own frame.

Her panic unfroze and dripped down to a facial expression that would be unrecognizable if it were not for the events of the past two weeks. It was an expression of Sonic towards hurt Flickies. Of a young “Rosie” uncovering a broken robot on a snowy day.

Her hammer disappeared. “You want me to hurt you?”

Neo gave an affirmative ping before the shudder of a reprimand could stop it.

“No. I’m not going to.”

It lunged forward, piercing the skin of her arm, the tips of its claws coming away with blood.

“I’m not going to hurt you!” Amy Rose shouted. “Don’t do that again or I’ll call Sonic!”

Neo froze.

“Not that I don’t think I can smash you to pieces myself, but that I don’t want to. Tails tells me that you’re not working for Eggman anymore.”

That was the point. Without Dr. Ivo Robotnik’s interference, Neo was without purpose. Neo should be destroyed. Neo should be destroyed. Neo should be-

“Did you ever want to work for him in the first place?”

Neo looked at her.

“Did I. . . make a mistake, that one time in the snow?”

It lowered its gaze.

“Because you just seemed so sad, sitting abandoned there. Like you’d given up.”

It could not feel ‘sadness’. It could hardly recall the memory file; data input from that time had been minimized to best preserve power. It had been out of standby mode for only a minute, knocked back into active mode when she had saved it from the path of the falling tree.

And it could not give up. Its prime core directive demanded as much. The reminder triggered reprimands, and a shudder up its neck joint rattled it out of the memory.

“Here, can you write?” Amy Rose retrieved a pencil and pad of paper from a table at the end of the couch. “Let’s sit down so that you can tell me what’s going on instead of barging in and being rude.”

It shook its head.

“Then I’ll go get my phone so you can type.”

She walked backwards, keeping her eyes fixed on its frame until she slipped behind a door. She returned with her cellular device, cased in pink with charms dangling from the corner. She unlocked the screen and extended the device in its direction.

“You’re either telling me what’s going on or you’re leaving.” She said.

Neo took the phone and typed, “this unit cannot give up.”

“Seems like that’s what you’re doing right now, huh?” She smiled with only half of her mouth. “Back then, I just couldn’t leave you there to die. Or deactivate, I guess. I thought at the time that you might miss Eggman. He gave you more headpats back then.”

“This unit did not wish to be left there.” To fade into nothing. It could not be nothing.

“But did you want to go back to Eggman?”

“No other beneficial course of action.”

“I could have brought you to Tails.”

“The result would have been deactivation.”

“He could have reprogrammed you, like he did just now.”

“Exposure to Tails increases likelihood of exposure to Sonic by 94%. Deactivation would have followed.”

“That’s not true.”

“Negative. This unit-”

She did not wait for it to finish typing. “That’s not true. Sonic isn’t just some bloodthirsty monster out to get you. He just wants to protect people. Every time he beat you up it’s because you did something to deserve it.”

“Define: ‘something to deserve it’.”

“You don’t know what you did wrong? I thought you wanted to be good now.”

“Define: ‘good’.” Neo stepped forward. “Define: ‘good’.”

“Good! As in, not hurting people!” Amy Rose pointed to the scratches on her arm. “Or kidnapping them!”

“67% of this unit’s missions did not involve hurting or kidnapping sentient organics.”

“Or animals! Not hurting or killing plants and animals either. Really, it’s not that hard and you missed the bar. That’s why Sonic fought you so often.”

“24% of all encounters with Sonic the Hedgehog did not involve other organic beings.”

“Because he knew that you were going out to hurt people, or to help Eggman get things to hurt people with.”

“Why did you return this unit to Dr. Ivo Robotnik?”

“I-” Amy Rose held her breath for two seconds. She directed her gaze to Neo’s foot plating. “Because I thought it was where you’d be happiest.”

“Incomprehensible. Elaborate.”

“Did you like it, when you kidnapped me?”

Neo was prepared to repeat its prior statement before its optics swiveled to the same angle as Amy Rose’s. It stared down at its body, the remains of lines and hues of purple, shaped in a way that it did indeed ‘like’. And it compared the sensation to that of returning to Dr. Ivo Robotnik’s lair with the then-little girl in hand.

It remembered depositing her in the cell, before turning to meet its creator. It remembered a soft hand on its forehead plating. It remembered his words.

“Excellent work, my finest creation!”

Even the review of this piece of data in its memory banks brought an echo of euphoria in its processor. That it was once finest. That it once completed excellent work.

“Yes.” Neo answered. “This unit liked when Dr. Ivo Robotnik praised it.”

“But did you like seeing me afraid? Did that make you laugh or make you happy?” Amy Rose asked.

“That data was irrelevant.”

“And did you like hurting animals?”

“That data was irrelevant.”

“And do you like hurting Sonic, or do you just want to be praised for it?”

Neo generated fifteen different responses, but only five made grammatical sense and of those, three were non-sequiturs and the other two were objectively false.

“That’s what I thought.” Amy Rose said.

“This unit must destroy Sonic.” It snapped. “If it cannot destroy Sonic, then it must cease existing.”

“You don’t have to do either. You really don’t. I know you will never believe me. . . but you don’t.” Amy Rose stepped forward. She then sighed, before gesturing further into her house. “Follow me.”

Neo followed her past her main living area and into a room covered in decorative scraps affixed to the walls with a bed against the far wall. She opened the door to the closet and retrieved a roll of red ribbon. She retrieved scissors and snipped a scrap off the end. She then manipulated the scrap into a bow knot, before turning to face Neo.

“Here. This is the ribbon I gave you that day. I’m giving it back to you.”

This was not the ribbon that Amy Rose gave it the day she returned it to Dr. Ivo Robotnik. Dr. Ivo Robotnik had seized the fabric and thrown it into the incinerator before Neo had shut down for repair. This new ribbon was, however, of the exact same color and material composition ratio as the previous, suggesting that this roll of ribbon was the common origin of the two.

“This time, though, you get to choose what to do with yourself. You get to go wherever you’re happiest.”

“Even if this unit is happiest when determining how to destroy Sonic?”

“If that’s where you are happiest, then I’ll beat the crap out of you with this.” She summoned her hammer again. “Because I am happiest when I’m making sure my friends aren’t getting hurt.”

“And if it is unknown where this unit is happiest?”

“Then keep going until you figure it out.” Amy Rose deposited the ribbon into its hand.

She clasped her palm against its fingers. It loosened its joints, allowing her to curl its fingers around the fabric. She then let go.

“You should go.” She pointed to the door. “You don’t want to be here, and I don’t want you here.”

Neo cocked its head.

“Because I’m still really mad at you.” She gripped her hammer tighter. “But that’s something we can talk about when you figure out if you want to be better or not.”

Her statement was illogical. If she was mad at it, then she would not be giving it a gift. It could not understand. But it could understand her command, so it left her bedroom, walked through her living area, and passed through the exterior door of her house.

The door shut, and it heard two locking mechanisms engage behind it.

Neo stood in the darkness looking at the bow in its hand.

#this is a snippet from my longfic #but I think it also works wonderfully as a standalone work #heavy reference to that sonic mania christmas short #metal sonic #amy rose #sth #complex inquiries #tw sui ideation #suicidality cw

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daftpatience · 1 year

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guys if i did acrylic standees in shape of a pen holder/pen rest would it be cooler to do original art or like. fanart of something (i dont have a poll to poll so tell me if u wanna tell me and if u have a suggestion of a media)

#personally im thinking something nice and timeless like mushi-shi #or ghibli but idk it feels kinda sellouty to do ghibli fanart idk #maybe im being too hard on myself #im also thinking wouldnt it be easier to do these as ceramics instead of acrylics #but im so set on making unique and interesting acrylic standees grr #if its acrylic it has to be pretty enough to work as a standalone piece of decor #but i want to be sure it still reads like a tool as well #if its just a pretty standee that you CAN put a pen on top of or in. it doenst feel the same as something cleverly designed to fit one yknow

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galacticsabc · 8 months

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Ref sheet for a character I made up on the spot 3 years ago. Because hey did you know 2020 was 3 years ago? it felt like 7.

Anyways here's Collins. he's a criminal.

#i remembered he existed because I made him in BG3 in a multiplayer save with friends and playing assassin rogue is really fun #him and his orange creamsicle daggers #technically also part of my worldbuilding since he works in there. but is also a standalone dnd character #rogue #dnd rogue #assassin rogue #elf #dark elf #character sheet #character design #dnd oc #oc #art #my art #artwork #my artwork #digital art #dreamerx86

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whispers-of-masser · 11 months

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Dragon's Tongue

✧ Nebarra x human!LDB, ft. Xelzaz & Khash ✧ Fluff, minor angst; 1300+ words ♫ "You And I (Stripped)" - PVRIS ✒ Something short n sweet today, I'm feeling soft

Nebarra was loath to admit it to himself, and he'd die before ever saying it aloud, but the Rift really was beautiful. Nothing compared to Alinor, to be sure, but... all the gold reminded him of home. And when he passed by a small, isolated farm, he could almost see himself on its porch, see his brother leaning against the door.

The illusions were younger, happier versions of themselves. So much more innocent, faces bright with naivety, eyes shining with plans for the future.

And then he'd gone to war.

He'd lost... so much of himself, in the deserts of Hammerfell. They had scorched and burned him inside and out, slowly bleeding him dry with every comrade he saw fall. And all that, for what? For all the Altmer's supposed superiority, the campaign had failed on all fronts – Hammerfell's walls and people defied them, and Cyrodiil remained in power, weakened but still unbroken.

How could the Thalmor still strut about, arrogant to Aetherius and back, when they had failed so miserably? How could they look at the faces of the families whose children and lovers they'd sent to die and only tell them they'd "served their purpose"?

Nebarra couldn't.

He couldn't face them at all. Not even through pen and paper, leagues away from ever having to look them in the eyes, ever having to see the pain and loss in their gaze.

Where the Thalmor were heartless, he was a coward.

And he didn't know which was worse.

~~~

Night fell, and you called the group to halt, to make camp until dawn. Nebarra set up the tent as you argued with Xelzaz, trying to convince him that no, he shouldn't summon a flame atronach and then kill it for its fire salts, no matter how good it would make dinner taste. Khash merely looked on, muching on some clover she'd picked up somewhere.

At last though, you got Xelzaz to relent, though he asked you to gather some herbs in exchange, listing off the plants he wanted you to find.

"Ah... and take Nebarra with you."

The elf froze. Turned slowly towards the lizard. Demanded, "What? Why?"

"Two eyes are better than one," he shrugged, "and that much safer, as well. We don't know what's out there, and I'm pretty sure we passed a necromantic altar on our way here."

At that, you groaned, head rolling back like a teenager who'd just been told to do their chores. "Gods, not another one. Why do we always seem to run into those?"

"Luck of the Dragonborn? Anyway, off with you now – I have to get set up. Let's see, in whose pack did I leave my cooking pot...? Khash! Come help me with this!"

And just like that he walked off, leaving you and Nebarra alone by the campfire. A chuckle escaped you, and he glanced over to see you shaking your head. "I'm surprised he didn't tell us to hold hands, too, so we don't lose each other in the dark."

"Yeah, I'm not holding your hand," Nebarra snarked. And it was true. Absolutely true. Totally, one-hundred percent true.

"Oh wow, Nebs, that one almost hurt." Your soft laugh seemed to echo in his ears, his mind. "Come on, let's go – I don't suppose you heard any of the plants he wants?"

Blue and yellow mountain flowers, to restore and fortify. Purple for rejuvenation, and to give to Khash. Scaly pholiota for fiber and strengthening. Wild gourds and dragon's togue for flavour.

He snorted from behind his helm. "That would require paying attention to him."

"Should have known," you sighed. "Alright, listen up before I forget: blue, yellow, and purple mountain flowers, scaly pholiota, and dragon's tongue. And be careful with the purple mountain flowers, they're gifts for Khash. Oh, he also wants some wild gourds. Got it?"

"...Yeah, yeah. Let's just get going."

He definitely hadn't feigned ignorance just to hear your voice some more. Definitely not.

~~~

"Ah, back at last! Perfect," Xelzaz said, stirring something in a pot over the fire. "Now I can get the real meal started."

"Then what's this?" Nebarra demanded as Xelzaz handed him a bowl, in exchange for the plants the Altmer carried. Even through his gauntlets he could feel its warmth, and a rich, savory scent drifted up through the slits of his helmet.

"Something amazing, from the smell," you sighed, and Nebarra didn't have to look to know you were drooling.

"Just a little sometime to hold you over," the Argonian demurred, handing you a bowl as well. "Thought I'd experiment with some of the flora I've gathered thus far."

That gave Nebarra pause. "Wait – experiment? That's settled, I'm not eating this."

"If you don't want it–"

Your words were drowned out by Khash's eager shout of, "I'll eat it! I'll take your bowl!" She rushed over to him, red eyes trained on the food.

"Khash, you had your share," Xelzaz chided. "Any more and you won't have room for the rest of dinner."

"Yes, I will! I have room for anything you make."

"She's got a point," you laughed, and Nebarra slowly, wordlessly handed her the bowl.

"I'll go keep watch," he grumbled, turning away.

"Oh, don't be like that! Nebarra!" When he didn't respond, you sighed, calling after him, "Alright, go sulk! I'll make sure Xelzaz doesn't poison your share, though you kind of deserve it!"

His back still towards you, Nebarra raised his hand in a rude gesture, and your laughter rang through the night.

Some thirty minutes later, he heard footsteps approaching; he didn't need to turn to know it was you. Your tread was distinct from the others, weighted with determination and confidence, whereas Xelzaz's was soft and steady, and Khash's light and hesitant.

"Here. Eat." Despite the short words, your tone was gentle, and Nebarra looked over to see you holding a plate out towards him, laden with a slab of meat and wild berries to the side. "It's delicious, and unpoisoned."

"How would you know?" he sniffed, catching a whiff of the food in the process. It... did smell amazing. "Did you try it?"

"I did, actually. Stole some of your steak when Xelzaz wasn't looking. And since I'm still standing here pestering you, I guess that means it's clean."

Nebarra paused, eyes training on your face. Half of it was wreathed in shadow, only the gleam of your eyes visible; the other half was illuminated by the campfire, revealing the soft smile you wore.

You... had a nice smile.

And before he could stop himself, he mumbled, "You're not... pestering me."

Surprise flickered in your gaze – surprise, and something else. Something he told himself he didn't recognise, refused to recognise.

After a moment, you said softly, "That's... good to hear, then. Because I have something else for you, too." Reaching down with your free hand, you pulled something from your belt and held it out before him. "I saved one, 'cause it reminded me of you."

Nebarra stared. There, held gently between your fingers, was a dragon's tongue flower, petals open wide and colours vibrant in full bloom. "This... reminded you of me?"

"It's gold. Just like you."

"...You really do have trouble with your eyesight, don't you? These are orange."

"Eh, close enough." You shrugged, the smile never leaving your face.

Slowly, Nebarra reached out and, ignoring the plate of food, took the flower carefully, delicately from your grasp, cradling it in his palm. "...Am I supposed to say thank you?"

"You just did." As he raised a brow from the shadows of his helm, you set the plate on a nearby rock and tapped the gauntlet that held the flower. "You accepted it."

He couldn't deny it. "Think you got me all figured out then, huh?"

Something in your smile shifted, your gaze flickering. "No. Not yet, anyways. But... I think I'd like to." And with that, you turned on your heel and walked away, leaving him alone in the dark, stunned.

And that night, as he sat in the shadows of the campfire, he stared at the flower for a long, long time.

#nebarra #nebarra skyrim #skyrim nebarra #skyrim #tes 5 #whisper writes #finally wrote that thing from my tags ages ago #and by ages i mean like a week lmaoo #also i now officially have the headcanon now that khash likes to munch on clovers and i don't know what to do with this thought #anyway in other news im so tired?? like for some reason writing Just Tonight REALLY drained me #i dont know how to describe it other than the fact that writing it felt like.... it took something from me?#idk man maybe i just burnt myself out a little; i haven't written so much and been so intent about it in actual years #tragically im not even happy about how it turned out but tbfh when is an artists ever satisfied with their own work??? neverrrr #im so tired man lol #i wanna keep working on the second part of just tonight and I have ideas for it but i just.... cannot right now lol #anyway off to play more skyrim and hopefully recharge #starting an altmer mage/college of winterhold playthough with only altmer followers #so that means im grabbing nebs; caryalind; taliesin; rumarin; idrinth; and eventually Telmiltarion since I downloaded summerset isle too #he has a standalone verison that doesnt require the full mod but #figured i'd play through the whole thing at least once since it ties into the cow story anyways #help why does “college of winterhold” abbreviate to fuckin COW I just noticed😭#anywho... ive never actually played with tel or idrinth before so im actually a little nervous; i hope i like them lol #wanted to try daegon too but then i saw she was pulled for updates and was like nuuuuu #might see about posting a screenie once i've got the whole crew together #anyway im off to go play for reals this time lol bye

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