Ebon

Lion El’Jonson He gets internet access and immediately uses it like a classified military archive. He only lurks and has no profile picture or username. Somehow he has accounts on forums that have been dead since 2007. He knows everything everyone has ever posted and has screenshots… and backups of the screenshots. He is in twelve Discord servers but has never typed. His status is always invisible and when he finally sends one message it’s: “Explain”.

The Lion doesn’t get internet drama, he sees it as intelligence warfare. Someone tweets “hot take: the Dark Angels seem suspicious” and three minutes later their router starts making weird noises.

Fulgrim He becomes an influencer in under 48 hours. His Instagram is unbearable and every post is him in perfect lighting. He starts a skincare channel, a fashion review channel, a music theory channel and a video essay channel where every video is secretly about himself. Once he discovers thirst traps he becomes impossible to live with.

He also discovers comment sections. One person writes: “mid” and Fulgrim spends six sleepless days crafting a response so devastating that it becomes a legally recognized form of psychological warfare.

Do we know how many calories an average Space Marine needs to consume per day? Must be a shit ton, considering their metabolism and body structure.

What supplements do they consume? I'd say they have some super-charged all-in-one sludge they consume daily.

Do they get bloated after all that amount of protein just like us baselines do?

Spiraling down this particular train of thought, I have to say I don't want to imagine how their lavatories look like. Imagine that creature just fighting for his life there, what with all steroids, acids, GMOs and other crap. Lmao.

Like, if mosquitoes exist and one bites a marine, will the mosquito become stronger than it's peers after drawing marine blood? Or nah?

Pairing: Lamenter x FemReader

Warnings: blood

Description: Taliesin and his Little Cat have settled into an uneasy peace, each attempting to understand the other.

I'm realizing this is going to be a long, slow burn, people. I hope you're up for it! 😅

Find the previous parts of this series on my Masterlist, comment and ask to be added to/removed from my Taglist, and don't forget my Asks and DMs are always open.

At this rate, it will take us weeks to reach the abandoned outpost.

Taliesin grit his teeth, fighting back the wave of frustration. It shamed him. It wasn’t your fault. He should not blame you.

If only she would allow me to carry her.

A sharp hiss of breath from behind. Too far behind. For the fifteenth time that hour, Taliesin paused, listening for the halting, unsteady sound of bandaged feet on moist soil. He did not turn his head. 

You didn’t like when he looked at you.

The footsteps grew closer, accompanied by the rustle of your makeshift canvas clothing, and short, panting breaths. Your scent drifted to his nostrils: sweat, the faint coppery tang of blood, and the ever present sour note of fear.

The perpetual twilight of this eternal forest brightened enough for Taliesin to assume the sun neared its zenith. The air warmed significantly, though still holding a persistent chill. He took a moment to breathe in the unrecycled atmosphere.

“I remember the first time I set foot on living earth, as an Aspirant.” The words came easier now “My homeworld had been metal and smoke. I remember the feeling of clean air in my lungs.”

He allowed himself a brief chuckle. “I coughed so hard I lapsed into unconsciousness.”

Taliesin waited, listening. When no response came, he smothered the flash of disappointment. 

Strange. I craved silence when aboard the Flentes Angelum. Surrounded by my brothers, mortals, and the interminable groan of ancient metal.

What would he give to hear just a fraction of that cacophony now?

Ship: Valerio (Lamenter OC) x Reader

Genre: Wholesome(?)

Words: 2,507 words.

Note: This is the debut of my first character for the Space Marine Husbandry AU, and a way for me to get back into writing stuff after a long, long time. English isn't my first language, so I apologize for any errors beforehand. But yeah, had fun writing it and hope it's just as fun to read. - EbonCha

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Misfortune, a simple word really. Two mere syllables. It meant bad luck or an unfortunate event, something harmful or unpleasant that happens by chance. It could happen to anyone, perhaps a bit more to some than others to the extent that they gain an infamous reputation for being cursed with bad luck. Utter grox-shite luck.

Who would know that better than Valerio, especially after all the tragedies he had witnessed firsthand across numerous battlefields. Lived through. Suffered in. Their chapter was known to embody what it meant to be ‘cursed’, first in line in terms of adversity. Every single battle brother was well aware of this, from the oldest veterans to the freshly ordained brothers joining the ranks of the warriors clad in yellow ceramite.

There was a time when Valerio didn’t believe in such labels, brushing them aside as baseless rumors, back when he was a young marine recruited from a feudal world, he, sadly, could no longer recall. Of course, it didn’t take long for the reputation of their chapter to catch up with him. Proving time and time again just how true they were.

Was he proud of his chapter and all they stood for? By the Emperor, yes! Yes, he was. There wasn't a single day during decades of his service where he regretted being part of something so much bigger than himself, surrounded with the comradery of noble warriors he was proud to call brothers. Despite the countless misfortunes tailing them at every turn, he never complained about the poor cards they were dealt, always facing each adversity and loss with utmost honor.

At least not until he met you.

______________________________________________________________

Suddenly being thrown across time and space, Valerio had been more than shocked when he ended up on ancient Terra. At least, ancient by their standards. To say he had a hard time coming to terms with this odd reality would have been an understatement, it took him a few days to even adjust to all the changes. But, once he was more ‘accepting’ of his predicament, he tried his best to get along well with the others and be helpful where he could be.

Those at the Astartes’ base he stayed at, near the outskirts of the city, were kind enough to shelter him and teach him about this era. Thus, he offered to assist them where he could, both out of gratitude and to pull his own weight around as much as possible.

During one such tasks, he had been helping deliver some medical equipment and instruments to a hospital, none to his understanding since he wasn’t much of an apothecary. That was where he first met you, his charge. His bond, as he had learned from others what it was called.

You were there, standing outside a baseline doctor’s office, shuffling through a bundle of papers in your hands. One eyebrow was raised just the slightest bit, arched in concentration as you went through whatever was on those papers. Perhaps it was because you stood in his path, oblivious that you were blocking him, or it was the fluorescent light bearing down on you like an artificial, white halo, but he found his footsteps halting right before you.

Valerio didn’t mean to come off as intimidating, but he hadn’t been around long enough to actually learn much of the language people in this era spoke. The brother accompanying him on this little errand was also nowhere near in sight, likely still dealing with his end of the task. Needless to say, he wasn’t exactly in a rush either.

Only when you noticed the larger shadow falling over you, did you look up from the papers. Up and up, till your eyes met a pair of honeyed brown orbs. Even now, as he fondly recalled the memory, he still doesn’t know just what kind of expression he had on his face then. Whatever it was that made you smile at him that day. But that was the first day he encountered the one who would soon become the most cherished, endeared person to him. One who’d worm her way past all his melancholy and raise a sanctuary, a peace he never thought he’d find.

______________________________________________________________

“.. and I’m just a bit worried...”

Your voice reached his ears, slow and soft. You were resting with your back against the headboard, a pillow cushioning the curve of your spine. His head was resting over your chest, listening to the steady beat of your heart hidden behind the soft rumble of your voice. He was nearly draped over you like a comfy, weighted blanket. Your description, the first time you had ever cuddled.

The two of you had been discussing random bits of your day, something that had become a routine before bed. It just felt right to hear your voice before falling asleep, even as you blabbered about mundane things he wasn’t sure either of you would remember the next day. He simply could end his day without this.

“But,” your fingers brushed through his honey blonde curls, “it’ll be fine. I just know it.”

He hummed in acknowledgement, his voice came out muffled against the fabric of your shirt, earning him a soft giggle. Oh, how he melted every time he heard that fluttery sound.

That evening, your topic of discussion had started with your coffee, then your coworkers, then something you had seen on your way back home, before it turned to your surgery that was due tomorrow.

Valerio didn’t fully grasp what it was, too many medical jargons that flew past his head when you had explained to him the reason for your regular hospital visits. But he knew there was something cancerous growing in your lung, and he understood the gravity of the threat it posed. It wasn’t like he didn’t worry, quite the opposite in fact. It was partly the reason why you both had begun to cuddle in the first place, to soothe his worries and placate his concerns.

He even accompanied you to many of your appointments with the doctor, listening and learning what he could to help take care of you better. Fortunately, it was just at the early stage, something about it being local. It could be handled with surgery, though that was only a minor consolation if any. For his part, Valerio took it upon himself to ensure you were fit for surgery.

He watched over your diet, making sure you ate healthy. He even began keeping garlic and ginger away from your meals a week before surgery, as much as he could, lest they thin out your blood too much. On days you didn’t feel like getting out of your bed, he still managed to motivate you to exercise a bit. Even if it meant simply tagging him along for a morning walk. Totally because you needed the ‘fresh air’, and definitely not because of the sad, concerned look he’d develop on his face if you turned down his offer.

You had no complaints, of course. It was hard not to appreciate and adore this gentle giant who seemed to dote on you every step of the way.

______________________________________________________________

By the time morning came, Valerio was already up and about as early as the sun, taking care of some minor household tasks that needed to be looked after. Cleanliness was vital for good health. Besides, it was the day of your surgery and he didn’t want you to put any unnecessary stress on your body. You needed to be relaxed and at ease as much as possible. For his sake, at least, because he was more than enough worried for the both of you combined.

Even when you were checked into the hospital, he felt this tense knot just below his chest, right above his abdomen. It was a strange feeling, but not an unfamiliar one. It was there whenever he thought about you and your condition. As you lay on the medical berth in your assigned room, talking to your parents who had shown up to support you a while ago, he brushed it off as mere concern for your well-being. Baseline humans were, after all, fragile in comparison to Astartes. Both, physically and biologically. And added to that was this illness that clung to your lung.

Valerio wasn’t allowed in the operating room, much to his disappointment, and had to wait outside with your parents accompanying him. They weren’t poor company by any means, and he didn’t dislike them, but had he been given a choice, he would have jumped at the chance to be by your side as you faced the daunting surgery. But his only consolation was the fact that it was generally done to avoid any foreign particles from entering the body during such a vulnerable state where it could easily be exposed to unchecked microscopic threats. Also, to prevent the risk of unnecessary interference or distraction to the surgeons that were operating on the patient.

Did it make him worry less? No.

To any passerby who might have seen him, he probably looked much the same as usual. Decades of training and indoctrination on self-control and composition didn’t just vanish overnight. But, underneath all that dolor poise, his usually organized thoughts were in a disarray, and he found himself constantly thinking about the operation that was being performed just a few doors away.

______________________________________________________________

After tying up the materials used for their makeshift projection screen, Valerio put aside the neatly folded bundle. You had been packing up the few items that you’d brought earlier for your little movie night and stargazing ‘hangout’. He had discovered the spot during one of his fortnightly patrols around the neighbourhood and surrounding area. It was a small clearing, just lying between the outskirts of your neighbourhood and the forest, but surrounded by enough trees to provide a cozy, little spot.

You had brought a handy little projector that was apparently lying around your home from God knows when. One of those things you buy because you might need them, but never do until one, random day where you’re thankful you had it. The movie had been a fun activity, and he knew you had picked a film after much consideration just to make sure he’d enjoy it too. Truly, Valerio hadn’t been bored, although, it wasn’t the movie that he had been interested in.

It was a good choice, no doubt you had incredible taste, but he just couldn’t help his wandering gaze. Your reactions to the scenes playing out on the makeshift screen were entertaining as is. The way your lips cracked into a smile, a muffled laugh, eyes turning into small crescents – all that he had grown exceptionally fond of. Was it a surprise he was so worried over you? Ensuring that you remained safe, happy and healthy.

For all the misfortunes that dogged him, this felt like a balm over the aches. A reward, a sanctuary. All the bad luck the galaxy had to offer couldn’t stop him from choosing everything all over again, just to end up there. Again.

Once the movie was over, he joined you as you lay back on your picnic blanket, lying down opposite to you. The gap in the clearing allowed for an unobstructed view of the night sky. There weren’t many clouds in the sky that particular night either, allowing a clearer view of the stars.

For a while, only silence surrounded the pair. But it wasn’t uncomfortable. Far from it, actually. It felt peaceful, serene… Calm. He wasn’t trying to make it through enemy shellings, not rushing about to complete a mission, not constantly battling the nagging voice in his head that often urged him to rage.

Nothing. Nothing but quiet.

Eventually, the silence was broken by the sound of your voice, talking about the stars. But Valerio didn’t mind, your voice, despite soft, helped to ground him and prove that this was real. That he was actually here, on ancient Terra. Part of him felt guilt for enjoying the peace and the comfort he had here, especially since many of his brothers back in his time were still fighting, still facing the adversaries of mankind.

Oh, he knew that if he were to wake up in his original timeline the next day, aboard the battle barge, he wouldn’t hesitate for even a moment to continue with his duties. His purpose. But once his mind wandered, it kept wandering till it found its way to you, like it often tended to. Would you be upset if he were to leave? It was dangerous, where he was from. He absolutely couldn’t risk you coming to harm. Would you be upset if he were to?

He turned his head to the side, looking over at you. Your eyes were turned to the stars, reflecting the millions of twinkling lights in the far-off distance with a bright curiosity that hadn’t been tainted by the knowledge of what lay among them. Blissfully unaware. If only you knew of the horrors that lay beyond, ones he had to face before he ended up here. The ‘gentle giant’ next to you.

You heard the rustling next to you and looked to the side just in time for Valerio to lean over and press a kiss to your forehead. These affectionate gestures were still a bit foreign to him, but he had been growing fond of them with each passing day that he spent with you. Especially at how you reacted, your ramblings about the stars and everything beyond had been brought to a screeching halt. It warmed something in his two hearts as he watched you fumble over your words, trying to find your voice again. It was... endearing.

The only thought on his mind as he settled back down, was how he wouldn’t let you come to harm. You didn’t need to learn of the horrors. Not when he’d be there to fight them off should any ever threaten even a single strand of hair atop your head. Thus, he began to sate your curiosity about the stars with vague stories and tidbits from his own journeys between the stars. Minus the horrors, of course. Besides, he wasn’t really allowed to say much about what Astartes actually did.

______________________________________________________________

The memory was still fresh in his mind, even months later. Not that he would ever forget, but also because he never wanted to. It was one of the many moments with you that he held close to his hearts as cherished memories, each one precious to him akin to a sacred relic in its own right.

Once your operation had been concluded, he joined you at your bedside, watching over your unconscious form. There weren’t any vacant Astartes sized chairs or sitting arrangements available for the time being, so he merely stood close by in the event you awoke and needed to be attended to.

Though, as he watched the rise and fall of your chest, it became clear that it would take you a while before you even stirred. The operation had been taxing and you were still under the effects of anesthesia, as your parents had informed him after talking to one of the female hospital staff in a white uniform that had come to check on you earlier. A nurse, he recalled.

It was fine, he could wait. Valerio wasn’t one to rush you. The anesthesia would wear off with time and you'd wake up soon enough. All he could do till then, was wait by your side.

Which was where he felt lucky to be.   

@squishyowl made warhammer legion dividers.

Ship: Valerio (Lamenter OC) x Reader

Genre: Wholesome(?)

Words: 2,507 words.

Note: This is the debut of my first character for the Space Marine Husbandry AU, and a way for me to get back into writing stuff after a long, long time. English isn't my first language, so I apologize for any errors beforehand. But yeah, had fun writing it and hope it's just as fun to read. - EbonCha

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Misfortune, a simple word really. Two mere syllables. It meant bad luck or an unfortunate event, something harmful or unpleasant that happens by chance. It could happen to anyone, perhaps a bit more to some than others to the extent that they gain an infamous reputation for being cursed with bad luck. Utter grox-shite luck.

Who would know that better than Valerio, especially after all the tragedies he had witnessed firsthand across numerous battlefields. Lived through. Suffered in. Their chapter was known to embody what it meant to be ‘cursed’, first in line in terms of adversity. Every single battle brother was well aware of this, from the oldest veterans to the freshly ordained brothers joining the ranks of the warriors clad in yellow ceramite.

There was a time when Valerio didn’t believe in such labels, brushing them aside as baseless rumors, back when he was a young marine recruited from a feudal world, he, sadly, could no longer recall. Of course, it didn’t take long for the reputation of their chapter to catch up with him. Proving time and time again just how true they were.

Was he proud of his chapter and all they stood for? By the Emperor, yes! Yes, he was. There wasn't a single day during decades of his service where he regretted being part of something so much bigger than himself, surrounded with the comradery of noble warriors he was proud to call brothers. Despite the countless misfortunes tailing them at every turn, he never complained about the poor cards they were dealt, always facing each adversity and loss with utmost honor.

At least not until he met you.

______________________________________________________________

Suddenly being thrown across time and space, Valerio had been more than shocked when he ended up on ancient Terra. At least, ancient by their standards. To say he had a hard time coming to terms with this odd reality would have been an understatement, it took him a few days to even adjust to all the changes. But, once he was more ‘accepting’ of his predicament, he tried his best to get along well with the others and be helpful where he could be.

Those at the Astartes’ base he stayed at, near the outskirts of the city, were kind enough to shelter him and teach him about this era. Thus, he offered to assist them where he could, both out of gratitude and to pull his own weight around as much as possible.

During one such tasks, he had been helping deliver some medical equipment and instruments to a hospital, none to his understanding since he wasn’t much of an apothecary. That was where he first met you, his charge. His bond, as he had learned from others what it was called.

You were there, standing outside a baseline doctor’s office, shuffling through a bundle of papers in your hands. One eyebrow was raised just the slightest bit, arched in concentration as you went through whatever was on those papers. Perhaps it was because you stood in his path, oblivious that you were blocking him, or it was the fluorescent light bearing down on you like an artificial, white halo, but he found his footsteps halting right before you.

Valerio didn’t mean to come off as intimidating, but he hadn’t been around long enough to actually learn much of the language people in this era spoke. The brother accompanying him on this little errand was also nowhere near in sight, likely still dealing with his end of the task. Needless to say, he wasn’t exactly in a rush either.

Only when you noticed the larger shadow falling over you, did you look up from the papers. Up and up, till your eyes met a pair of honeyed brown orbs. Even now, as he fondly recalled the memory, he still doesn’t know just what kind of expression he had on his face then. Whatever it was that made you smile at him that day. But that was the first day he encountered the one who would soon become the most cherished, endeared person to him. One who’d worm her way past all his melancholy and raise a sanctuary, a peace he never thought he’d find.

______________________________________________________________

“.. and I’m just a bit worried...”

Your voice reached his ears, slow and soft. You were resting with your back against the headboard, a pillow cushioning the curve of your spine. His head was resting over your chest, listening to the steady beat of your heart hidden behind the soft rumble of your voice. He was nearly draped over you like a comfy, weighted blanket. Your description, the first time you had ever cuddled.

The two of you had been discussing random bits of your day, something that had become a routine before bed. It just felt right to hear your voice before falling asleep, even as you blabbered about mundane things he wasn’t sure either of you would remember the next day. He simply could end his day without this.

“But,” your fingers brushed through his honey blonde curls, “it’ll be fine. I just know it.”

He hummed in acknowledgement, his voice came out muffled against the fabric of your shirt, earning him a soft giggle. Oh, how he melted every time he heard that fluttery sound.

That evening, your topic of discussion had started with your coffee, then your coworkers, then something you had seen on your way back home, before it turned to your surgery that was due tomorrow.

Valerio didn’t fully grasp what it was, too many medical jargons that flew past his head when you had explained to him the reason for your regular hospital visits. But he knew there was something cancerous growing in your lung, and he understood the gravity of the threat it posed. It wasn’t like he didn’t worry, quite the opposite in fact. It was partly the reason why you both had begun to cuddle in the first place, to soothe his worries and placate his concerns.

He even accompanied you to many of your appointments with the doctor, listening and learning what he could to help take care of you better. Fortunately, it was just at the early stage, something about it being local. It could be handled with surgery, though that was only a minor consolation if any. For his part, Valerio took it upon himself to ensure you were fit for surgery.

He watched over your diet, making sure you ate healthy. He even began keeping garlic and ginger away from your meals a week before surgery, as much as he could, lest they thin out your blood too much. On days you didn’t feel like getting out of your bed, he still managed to motivate you to exercise a bit. Even if it meant simply tagging him along for a morning walk. Totally because you needed the ‘fresh air’, and definitely not because of the sad, concerned look he’d develop on his face if you turned down his offer.

You had no complaints, of course. It was hard not to appreciate and adore this gentle giant who seemed to dote on you every step of the way.

______________________________________________________________

By the time morning came, Valerio was already up and about as early as the sun, taking care of some minor household tasks that needed to be looked after. Cleanliness was vital for good health. Besides, it was the day of your surgery and he didn’t want you to put any unnecessary stress on your body. You needed to be relaxed and at ease as much as possible. For his sake, at least, because he was more than enough worried for the both of you combined.

Even when you were checked into the hospital, he felt this tense knot just below his chest, right above his abdomen. It was a strange feeling, but not an unfamiliar one. It was there whenever he thought about you and your condition. As you lay on the medical berth in your assigned room, talking to your parents who had shown up to support you a while ago, he brushed it off as mere concern for your well-being. Baseline humans were, after all, fragile in comparison to Astartes. Both, physically and biologically. And added to that was this illness that clung to your lung.

Valerio wasn’t allowed in the operating room, much to his disappointment, and had to wait outside with your parents accompanying him. They weren’t poor company by any means, and he didn’t dislike them, but had he been given a choice, he would have jumped at the chance to be by your side as you faced the daunting surgery. But his only consolation was the fact that it was generally done to avoid any foreign particles from entering the body during such a vulnerable state where it could easily be exposed to unchecked microscopic threats. Also, to prevent the risk of unnecessary interference or distraction to the surgeons that were operating on the patient.

Did it make him worry less? No.

To any passerby who might have seen him, he probably looked much the same as usual. Decades of training and indoctrination on self-control and composition didn’t just vanish overnight. But, underneath all that dolor poise, his usually organized thoughts were in a disarray, and he found himself constantly thinking about the operation that was being performed just a few doors away.

______________________________________________________________

After tying up the materials used for their makeshift projection screen, Valerio put aside the neatly folded bundle. You had been packing up the few items that you’d brought earlier for your little movie night and stargazing ‘hangout’. He had discovered the spot during one of his fortnightly patrols around the neighbourhood and surrounding area. It was a small clearing, just lying between the outskirts of your neighbourhood and the forest, but surrounded by enough trees to provide a cozy, little spot.

You had brought a handy little projector that was apparently lying around your home from God knows when. One of those things you buy because you might need them, but never do until one, random day where you’re thankful you had it. The movie had been a fun activity, and he knew you had picked a film after much consideration just to make sure he’d enjoy it too. Truly, Valerio hadn’t been bored, although, it wasn’t the movie that he had been interested in.

It was a good choice, no doubt you had incredible taste, but he just couldn’t help his wandering gaze. Your reactions to the scenes playing out on the makeshift screen were entertaining as is. The way your lips cracked into a smile, a muffled laugh, eyes turning into small crescents – all that he had grown exceptionally fond of. Was it a surprise he was so worried over you? Ensuring that you remained safe, happy and healthy.

For all the misfortunes that dogged him, this felt like a balm over the aches. A reward, a sanctuary. All the bad luck the galaxy had to offer couldn’t stop him from choosing everything all over again, just to end up there. Again.

Once the movie was over, he joined you as you lay back on your picnic blanket, lying down opposite to you. The gap in the clearing allowed for an unobstructed view of the night sky. There weren’t many clouds in the sky that particular night either, allowing a clearer view of the stars.

For a while, only silence surrounded the pair. But it wasn’t uncomfortable. Far from it, actually. It felt peaceful, serene… Calm. He wasn’t trying to make it through enemy shellings, not rushing about to complete a mission, not constantly battling the nagging voice in his head that often urged him to rage.

Nothing. Nothing but quiet.

Eventually, the silence was broken by the sound of your voice, talking about the stars. But Valerio didn’t mind, your voice, despite soft, helped to ground him and prove that this was real. That he was actually here, on ancient Terra. Part of him felt guilt for enjoying the peace and the comfort he had here, especially since many of his brothers back in his time were still fighting, still facing the adversaries of mankind.

Oh, he knew that if he were to wake up in his original timeline the next day, aboard the battle barge, he wouldn’t hesitate for even a moment to continue with his duties. His purpose. But once his mind wandered, it kept wandering till it found its way to you, like it often tended to. Would you be upset if he were to leave? It was dangerous, where he was from. He absolutely couldn’t risk you coming to harm. Would you be upset if he were to?

He turned his head to the side, looking over at you. Your eyes were turned to the stars, reflecting the millions of twinkling lights in the far-off distance with a bright curiosity that hadn’t been tainted by the knowledge of what lay among them. Blissfully unaware. If only you knew of the horrors that lay beyond, ones he had to face before he ended up here. The ‘gentle giant’ next to you.

You heard the rustling next to you and looked to the side just in time for Valerio to lean over and press a kiss to your forehead. These affectionate gestures were still a bit foreign to him, but he had been growing fond of them with each passing day that he spent with you. Especially at how you reacted, your ramblings about the stars and everything beyond had been brought to a screeching halt. It warmed something in his two hearts as he watched you fumble over your words, trying to find your voice again. It was... endearing.

The only thought on his mind as he settled back down, was how he wouldn’t let you come to harm. You didn’t need to learn of the horrors. Not when he’d be there to fight them off should any ever threaten even a single strand of hair atop your head. Thus, he began to sate your curiosity about the stars with vague stories and tidbits from his own journeys between the stars. Minus the horrors, of course. Besides, he wasn’t really allowed to say much about what Astartes actually did.

______________________________________________________________

The memory was still fresh in his mind, even months later. Not that he would ever forget, but also because he never wanted to. It was one of the many moments with you that he held close to his hearts as cherished memories, each one precious to him akin to a sacred relic in its own right.

Once your operation had been concluded, he joined you at your bedside, watching over your unconscious form. There weren’t any vacant Astartes sized chairs or sitting arrangements available for the time being, so he merely stood close by in the event you awoke and needed to be attended to.

Though, as he watched the rise and fall of your chest, it became clear that it would take you a while before you even stirred. The operation had been taxing and you were still under the effects of anesthesia, as your parents had informed him after talking to one of the female hospital staff in a white uniform that had come to check on you earlier. A nurse, he recalled.

It was fine, he could wait. Valerio wasn’t one to rush you. The anesthesia would wear off with time and you'd wake up soon enough. All he could do till then, was wait by your side.

Which was where he felt lucky to be.   

@squishyowl made warhammer legion dividers.

She’s 16 which is younger than how she was in SOTN

Alucard saw Ritcher and Annette who are 19 year olds as kids. How’s he gonna see Maria as? A damn newborn,

This isn’t relevant but they didn’t even have much screen time together. Maria spent most of her time with Juste

I’m pretty sure she’ll have a villain arc or something like that

Maria doesn’t need a love interest. She needs to recover from the trauma of losing her mother. That girl needs a family not a boyfriend(especially when it’s a grown man).

Even if there is a time skip in season 3. It’s still weird because he stayed behind with Maria and Juste in season 2, so he practically watched her grow up. And Show Alucard doesn’t seem like someone who would develop feelings for someone he knew when they were 16. Not even sure Netflix would go down that route.

So please for the love of God. Stop making Alucard look like a creep 🙏🏾

Also, like I really hope they give her a villain arc though. It'd be fun to watch cause her character has already shown the cracks in season 2. Hope they explore it further in season 3.

A parallel between Alucard and her would be interesting in this manner.

Like in the OG castlevania series (after the Sumi Taka incident) and how he briefly developed a whole depressive mindset, and grew wary of others.

But in the end, he had his people and didn't stray from his path.

However, unlike him, Maria cracks further and goes into a full blown villain arc or something.

It would be pretty interesting to see since in their situation, they've both kinda been dealt the same type of cards.

But while one managed to overcome it, the other cracks further and goes awry.