Context: You were enslaved by a vampire master who called a half-sunken castle his home, before said master fled over five years ago. You've been there since... but not by choice. As an Elf, you die much slower. Starve much slower. Yet, even still, you're sure you're on Death's door. Unless someone intervenes, you will die tonight. But... maybe someone will, this time.

Setting: The sunken castle/Odinatis's manor

Tags: [M4A][Strangers to ?][Vampiric Damselfly Speaker][Broken Elf Listener][Rescue][Mistrust][Insectoid][Wings/Flight][Comfort][Uncertainty][Mild Lore Drops][TW: Mention of Abuse/Abandonment]

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[Scene opens in the ruins of a half-sunken castle]

[SFX: Faint shouting/rubble moving]

[You are startled awake one morning as you hear faint shouting and rubble being moved. No one comes out here, not since the incident… You must be hallucinating…]

[...]

[SFX: Chains settling]

[The voice pauses for a moment before calling out:]

“Hello? Is someone here in the old castle?”

[...Pause!]

[SFX: Chains reacting to the Listener’s movements]

“I hear you! Do not worry, we mean no harm to any vagrants that call this half-sunken castle a home! This is an exploratory search, nothing else!”

[Pause!!]

“...You… You’ve been trapped here for some time? But the vampiric master that abandoned it did so over five years ago…”

[Pause!]

“...Hang on, I’m coming to get you!”

[SFX: An odd buzzing noise and hurried footsteps sloshing through water]

[You hear your, hopefully, savior dart closer through the dank water before, at last, you see an odd-looking man rounds the corner]

“Ah, here you are!”

[...]

[He’s a vampire, too…]

[He darts over and kneels, examining you. His skin, hair, and eyes are all oddly iridescent in one way or another, but the telltale fangs wink at you as he frowns]

“Oh, you poor Elf… Chained to the rubble, no way out… How long have you been here?”

[...]

“...If you do not wish to answer, I understand…”

[His cold, spidery fingers trace over your skin]

“Oh, poor creature… You’ve been harmed with such cruelty, my little one, so very much. And yet, you still fight so viscerally to evade my eyes…”

[...]

[The man strokes his thumb under your right eye a few times but you refuse]

“Which tells me that you’re very familiar with vampiric hypnosis… But I am not wholly a vampire, my dear. No, no… I come from a long brood of insectoid vampiric nobility. Here… See for yourself.”

[SFX: Damselfly-esque wings expanding]

[His back shudders and four wings emerge, beautiful and iridescent]

[...]

“Behold. I am Odinatis, the King of Damselflies. I show you my wings, in good faith. This castle and place have been abandoned to my lands and lakes for some time, now. You… appear to be an Elf, leftover from the vampire master that once terrorized this place.”

[...]

[His intensely iridescent eyes take you in. You’re too tired to do anything about it]

“...If you will allow me… I wish to add you to my collection. You will be fed, clothed, and homed, asked only to entertain me upon my request.”

[...Pause?]

“Or…? You will die here. Not because of cruelty, but because you have refused my help. I can offer you the dignity of your freedom… but I do not think your body can back it up.”

[...]

“...I can sit a spell and wait for Death with you, if you’d like?”

[...Pause…]

[He smiles gently. Even his fangs are odd compared to the vampires you are used to]

“I have no desire to enslave you… But the people I add to my collection are ones that I hold very close, so your freedoms may be somewhat limited.”

[Pause…]

“Very well. I humbly thank you for submitting. May I pick you up?”

[...]

[He smiles and collects you carefully]

[SFX: Odin picking the Listener up]

“Wonderful. Come, then, let us return to my home. I do hope you like it.”

[SFX: His wings expanding/him flying off]

[This strange man picks you up, flexes his wings, and takes off with you. Your stomach roars unhappily but there’s nothing you can do, now. You can’t even move on your own]

“Do not worry, my pet, you will feel much better soon!”

[You doubt it. At least you can sleep to the sound of his odd wings]

[...]

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Time Transition: Four hours/Scene transition - Odinatis’s manor]

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Scene opens within a regal manor]

[SFX: Very light classical music]

[As your consciousness, surprisingly, returns, you find yourself in a warm bed. Butterfly women attend to you, some of them jumping in alarm as you sit up]

[Pause?!]

“Ah, ah, it is alright, my Elven friend. You are safe…”

[You turn and see Odinatis hurrying over, eyes lit up with excitement]

“The butterfly women are my attendants. They can be a bit skittish, but I assure you that it is nothing personal. Just our nature… How do you feel?”

[...]

“How are you alive? Oh, there are many doctors in the family. Many healers. We fed you intravenously and that appeared to be enough for your own innate healing to kick in. You literally just needed a nice, hot soup, and you were fine.”

[Pause…]

[He sits, the flames in the hearth dancing in his wings]

“You are most welcome… I am only sorry that you were there so long without reprieve.”

[For a moment, both of you sit in silence, before you notice something:]

[Pause?]

“The colors of my hair…? Hmhm… I have been told I am rather hard to miss in a good sunbeam. I am a damselfly, my dear. Half damselfly, rather.”

[Pause??]

“Hmhm, no, damselflies are not, surprisingly enough, mutually female. Father was quite irate over that. ‘What do you mean the boy isn’t a dragonfly?? What does that look like to you, Agatha, because it looks like a damned dragonfly to me!’.”

[...<3]

“Hmhm… To be fair, the dragonflies are quite lovely looking. Their eyes just tend to be… larger. Also, they do love to bite. Rather rude.”

[...]

“...What is your name, my new friend?”

[Pause…]

“You do not remember? Hmm… May I call you El?”

[...Pause]

“My thanks. For now, you do not need to concern yourself with chores or work. Your task, under my roof, is to get your health back. I ask that you stay out of the East wing of my manor, as it is under construction. There are baths, kitchens, a library, and numerous gardens to enjoy. The baths are bit more angled toward insectoid folk, but I am sure we can figure something out.”

[...?]

[He pauses, pondering your words]

“And when you are better…? Hm. I suppose… We shall see!”

[Pause???]

[He laughs. His wings buzz quietly each time he does]

“My dear, I am not that wrapped up in titles and labels and plans. I wish to keep you because I wish to get to know you. Beyond that, I have no ulterior motives or plans. I simply wish to watch you heal and, hopefully, we can become friends, in due time. Nothing more.”

[...]

[You lie back and rest. Not much else to do]

“I’ll let you get some rest, my friend. Please do let the servants know if you need anything. And, please, do not hesitate to call for me. I will come.”

[...]

[With that oddly threatening last sentence, he offers you a smile, a bow, and takes his leave]

“Farewell, El. For now.”

[SFX: Odin exiting and shutting the door behind him/fade out on the fire crackling]

[To be continued?]

Note: An insectoid family full of doctors and healers, huh? Seems pretty silly to me.