Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 8

Context: Rumor has it that a strange creature lives in the castle nearby. You see a light on in one of the towers but have never had the bravery to investigate. At least, not until tonight. What waits for you within its walls may very well prove to be your end. Or...?

Setting: Ashton's castle

Tags:[M4F][Sadodere Half-Drider Speaker][Humanoid Moth Listener][Sadistic][Hard Angst][Confession][VERY Protective][Baby][Remorseful][][Domestic Life][Comfort][Reverse Comfort][Prejudice][Vulnerable][Dom/Sub Energy][CW: Listener Injury/Disturbing Implications/Slavery/Murder]

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[Scene opens in ?????]

[SFX: A panicked heartbeat and ringing]

[You don’t know where you are. You don’t know who’s talking to you. You’re frozen as your new slaver commands you]

[Muffled] “Rosy!”

[Pause]

[Slightly less muffled] “Rosy!!”

[SFX: A baby whimpering]

[Normal] “Rosy!!!!”

[You start and realize where you are. You’re back at the castle, Ashton towering above you. It takes you a moment to realize you’re on your knees before him, your hands are clasped in prayer, pleading]

[...]

“Rosy, please! I’m not going to hurt you, I’m not going to… t-to skin you or pluck your wings or force you to… and I’m not going to toss you and the boy out to the cold! Please, you’re hyperventilating, I need you to calm down…”

[...]

[Ashton kneels and picks you and the boy up]

“...Come with me, to the gardens. You’re safe…”

[Pause…?]

“What… happened? Ah… a hunter tried to apprehend you in the human village. Your wings flashed light at him, you grabbed a cloth sack from him and… and this little boy was inside… Do you not remember?”

[...]

[SFX: Babber whimpers]

“...Rosy… The moment you saw the child you had a complete nervous breakdown… You… You began to scream, hyperventilate… You kept saying ‘They’re coming for me’ over and over, then you dropped to your knees in front of me, pleading with me not to force you back into the woods. Not to… to banish you… I had to carry you both all the way home, and no matter what I said, did, you kept pleading for your life…”

[...]

“What did that man do to you…”

[...]

“Rosy… I know you’re scared, but I need you to tell me what happened. Something happened, that man… HURT you, and I-”.

[Pause!]

[You talk. And talk and talk, just wanting to get it out, anticipating a blow at any moment]

“Love, please! You’re speaking so fast that I can barely understand you! Calm down… Here… Come here…”

[He pulls you to him, rubbing your back]

“Breathe… I am here. I’m not going to hurt you, I am not going to throw you or the boy out into the cold, I promise… I promise you are safe… Now, what happened? I’ll repeat things back to you so you know I am hearing you, alright?”

[...]

[You try again, shaking]

[Long Pause]

“...When you were little, humans found your village. Your people… Even though your people tried to be friendly, you were…”

[He swallows, as shaky as you are]

“...You were all beaten down… The males forced into labor or their wings stripped for the dust on them which… the humans believed to be an aphrodisiac? Eugh, disgusting... and the females, like you…”

[...]

“...I’m so sorry…”

[Pause]

“You… pleaded for help from other insectoid tribes, but they ignored you… More and more of you were taken or murdered or… worse… until the last of you were rounded up by that man to be sold as slaves…”

[...]

“...You escaped… Tried to fly away but ended up in my trap instead…”

[He holds you for a long moment. You can’t see his face but you can feel his body tremble]

“...Rosy… Why didn’t you tell me?”

[Pause]

“...He told you that no one cared about your kind. That no one would care or believe you. And you fully expected to die that night, so you didn’t think it mattered regardless…”

[...]

[He draws a shaky breath]

“That… bastard convinced you that you were no more than a fancy accessory with no agency or will, and… a-and I… treated you like… Gods, no, I… I was just as pompous and demeaning, constantly treating you like a cute little pet! Rosy, I’m… I’m so sorry.”

[Pause]

“W-What? How can you say that you know I didn’t mean it that way? I constantly teased and taunted, implying I might hurt you! You… You must have been terrified… How can you tell me that you know I was never intentionally malicious?!”

[Pause]

“...Because I was the only one that was ever kind to you… and you trust me.”

[You both fall silent for a bit, holding each other while the little one happily plays in the grass]

[...]

“...Rosy, I-I…”

[He tenses as you cup his jawline and give him a little kiss]

[Pause]

“...Why did you kiss me…? W-Why… Why are you saying ‘I don’t have to say it, you know’?”

[Pause]

“...Then you say it first. Say it, if you’re so sure. Say it, so I know this is real and I don’t have to lose any more sleep knowing that I could lose you at any moment. Tell me.”

[Pause]

[He tenses again, breath rattling before he lets out a soft sigh]

“...I love… I-I care for you, as well… and I swear to you, no matter how much disdain I have for children, I will not send you nor the little drooly puffball out to the wolves, nor wolves pretending to be human. You’re safe, now. I swear it.”

[Pause]

[You both look at the baby as he toddles about. His little wings flash with light and yours flash back]

“Your wings… both your and his wings are flashing with lights again. Rosy…? Are you… talking to him?”

[Pause]

[SFX: Wing flaps]

“Sort… of? Ah, I suppose he wouldn’t have much of a grasp of language at his age, would he? But… you’re both flashing different shades of light at different variations, so… He must understand on some level. Can you explain it to me? Wait, let me grab a notebook.”

[SFX: Ashton grabbing a notebook]

“OK… Two flashes in rapid succession. What does that mean?”

[Pause]

[SFX: Scribbling]

“Two flashes… rapid succession… means… ‘hello’. Alright. What’s next?”

[SFX: More wing flaps and scribbling]

“Ahh, three flashes with a slight space between… ‘Hungry’. Wait, hungry? Uhh… Oh, dear, I… I don’t know that we necessarily have… baby food.”

[Pause]

“Some sticky rice? Ah… Yes, I’ll have some sent up. If he needs maple or oak leaves, a few are growing further into the gardens.”

[Pause]

“Ahh, wrap the leaves around the rice. Smart. Smart, beautiful, sweet…”

[His fingers caress your injured wing and he sighs]

“...Injured Rosy… This is, ah, an insensitive question but… did it hurt? Them punching the hole in your wing?”

[Pause]

“...Not as much as you thought it would? I suppose that’s fair… you were more than likely in shock during all of that. You must have been so scared when you fell into my web…”

[Pause]

“Shh, I’m here. I have you… Hmm? Why is the little one looking at me and flashing his wings? What is he saying?”

[Pause]

“Yes, I understand the ‘hi’ bit of it but I don’t have context for two quick flashes followed by two slow ones.”

[...]

[Ashton’s eyebrows shoot up so high they almost vanish into his hairline]

“He’s saying… ‘Hi Papa’? T-To me?”

[...]

[You tense, praying that things won’t end in tragedy, when…]

“Ahm… Maybe if I… clack my mandibles together like…”

[SFX: ClackClack… Clack…Clack]

[The baby lets out a happy giggle and flashes more excitedly. Ashton smiles earnestly but… nervously]

“He… H-He understood me… Aha! Rosy, he understood me! His first words! Well, technically speaking, his first form of sapient communication!”

[<3 Pause <3]

“How do I… tell him to… ask him to… to come to me?”

[Pause]

“Ah, OK… three fast.”

[SFX: ClackClackClack - Delighted moth babber noises]

[The baby stands on his little pudgy legs and toddles on over to Ashton, arms outstretched. Ashton picks him up like he’s picking up the world’s most fragile vase]

“Ohh, look at you… Look at you, walking so well at so young… Good job, little one, you’ll be taking the world by storm in no time flat, just like your mother- erm, ahem, moth friend here.”

[<3 Pause <3]

“Oh, shut up… Just because I’m being a bit soft now doesn’t mean I’m going to tease you any less. The boy needs someone… and I might not be the best person, but I am here, and you are here, and…I know, I trust, that if I step out of line, you will help me be better.”

[SFX: Moth snuggles and Ashton grumbles]

“Arglrlarlar, and now we’re all cuddling… Perfect. I can’t wait to spend hours sneezing from pollen and moth floof that’s gotten into my nose.”

[Pause]

“Yes, I’ll watch him while you go get some leaves, don’t worry. He’s much too small for me to eat, hmhm.”

[SFX: Rosy standing and searching for leaves]

[Though it’s somewhat muted, you can still hear Ashton talking to the baby]

“Oh, you’re… tugging on my mandibles, ow… Yes, I know they’re, ow… Ohohoho, you’re going to be a devious little thing, aren’t you? I can already feel the gray hairs beginning to sprout which is astounding, considering my hair is white.”

[Pause]

[SFX: Rosy meandering, totally not eavesdropping, because that’s rude]

“Mmh… you’re a lucky boy, you know. Having someone like her to love you… We’re both lucky, I think… Do me a favor and drive her a little crazier than I do, hm? I really need any brownie points I can get, hmhm.”

[SFX: Happy moth babber noises]

“...Such a happy little boy… I hope it remains that way for a long, long time… What do I even call you, little one, hmm? What to call you… Ahh, I guess… ‘son’ works, for now. Son doesn’t have to be biological. You can call anyone your son, really, so what’s the big deal, hm? None! There is no big deal because it’s fine, this is fine, and you’re fine little one.”

[Pause]

[SFX: Rosy returning with some leaves]

“Ah, you’re back. Good. The disdain was starting to creep back in for this little goblin.”

[Pause]

“W-What, I am not calling him my son already, how dare you.”

[Ashton grumbles as you kiss his cheek]

[SFX: Leaf munchies]

“Well, he’s eating, at least… Hmph. Good… He deserves some respite after all of this and I suspect you will as well, once the shock wears off…”

[...]

“Rosy…”

[He nudges you gently with his head and you nudge back]

“I’m here… and even though this is… difficult for me… I want you to feel safe and, ahm… cared for…”

[<3]

[He grumbles again and you think, maybe, you hear him mutter:]

“Iloveyoutoo…”

[To be continued]