#{malachai}

EDEN (HK!Aedyn)

Loosely based on a Baphomet moth.

Lives in relative solitude, moreso now with the Infection. He'd probably be a wandering NPC relegated to 3 or 4 locations.

Since the disappearance of the Pale King, he's forgone worshiping any gods and has a very, very cynical view of the divine. One god turned his back his subjects, and the other brought forth a horrific plague.

Considering an alt direction to take him in where he's a follower/member of the Grimm Troupe? Would definitely suit, since they share motifs of dreams/nightmares, demonic presences, and fire. Also considered a making him a Warrior Dream, but I'm worried he'd just be too similar to Markoth.

AGATE (HK!Agatha)

Not really based on any one bug atm. I kinda just based her on pre-existing NPCs like Quirrel and Millibelle.

Raised in the poorer part of the City of Tears.

Locked away in her room by her parents, who were convinced that she had been infected after she offhandedly mentioned a nightmare she'd had (which likely had more to do with the ongoing turmoil in the city than anything else). By the time she finally managed to escape, her parents had already become infected themselves and eventually died.

DENDRA (HK!Deja)

Based on a blue banded bee. Hails from a hive beyond Hallownest.

A traveling historian whose set her sights on exploring and researching the dying kingdom of Hallownest. You'd find her traveling around various locations like Cornifer.

Picked a bee since Deja's core character has a few little traits and tidbits loosely based on my mom, who herself really likes bees :]

HK!Malachai

Hails from the Mantis tribe, though due in part to his erratic behavior and... fringe beliefs, he's rarely seen in the village itself. More often, he's seen stalking the border near Deepnest.

With the disappearance of the Pale King, Malachai turned his faith towards a new god in hopes of surviving the infection, that of course being The Radiance. His reasoning is that if The Radiance recognizes his devotion, then he will surely be spared! Right..?

Wears a cloak stitched together from the wings of fallen members of the Moth Tribe. Is it some sort of disguise? Some sick attempt to bring himself closer to The Radiance? Who can say.

The neon lights of the Southside buzzed like they always did, flickering, humming, and barely holding on. It matched the tension in the air. I leaned against the wall inside the House of the Dead, arms crossed, eyes sharp as I watched everything unfold. Leather vest, Ghoulie spikes stitched onto the shoulders, hair pulled back, and my expression unreadable. To anyone else in the room, I was just another Ghoulie. But I wasn’t. I was Sweet Pea’s older sister. 

Across the room, Malachai sat like he owned the place, which, realistically, he did. His feet were kicked up, that dangerous smirk on his lips, eyes glinting with amusement as Jughead Jones stood in front of him, trying to look fearless. 

“Let me get this straight.” Mal drawled, tilting his head slightly. “The Serpent Prince walks into my house and thinks he can make demands?” 

I exhaled slowly, pushing off the wall just enough to step closer, not interrupting, just… present. Always close enough to Mal to be noticed, to be his… because I was. 

Jughead didn’t break down. “It’s not a demand. It’s a challenge.” 

Malachai laughed, low and mocking. “That’s cute.” 

Archie stood beside Jughead, fists clenched like he was already ready to throw down. Typical Northie… My eyes flicked to him briefly before returning to Mal. I could feel the tension rising, could practically taste it. 

“If we win,” Jughead continued, voice steady. “the Ghoulies stop dealing at Southside High. You stand down.” 

Malachai’s smirk faded just slightly, replaced with something colder. More dangerous. 

“And if we win?” He asked, leaning forward, elbows on his knees. 

Jughead didn’t hesitate. “The Serpents fold.” 

A ripple went through the room, Ghoulies murmuring… watching. My jaw tightened slightly, but I didn’t move. 

Mal leaned back again, unimpressed. “So let me get this straight, you want me to risk my territory, my business…” He gestured lazily around the room. “For what? Pride?” 

He scoffed. “Hard pass, Sperent Prince.” 

I stepped forward then, just a little, voice low but firm. “Mal-” 

His eyes flicked to me instantly. Not annoyed, but interested. I met his gaze, subtle but grounding. 

“Hear him out.” It wasn’t defiance or disagreement. It was control, something Malachai respected. He exhaled through his nose, leaning his head back slightly. 

“You’ve got about ten seconds before I get bored.” 

Jughead opened his mouth to respond, but the door slammed open. Everyone turned. Two girls were shoved inside. Betty Cooper and Veronica Lodge… I stiffened. Archie’s voice came out instantly. 

“Veronica?” 

“Bett?” Jughead stepped forward. 

“Wait, these are your bitches?” Mal asked. 

I narrowed my eyes, but didn’t interrupt. This was Malachai’s show, and I knew better than to undercut him in front of his crew. 

“Let them go.” Archie snapped. 

Mal stood up, slow and deliberate. The room went quiet. 

“Nah, I think I’m done here.” He said simply. 

He waved a hand dismissively. “Get them out.” 

Jughead spoke quickly. “The Whyte Wyrm.” That got everyone’s attention, even mine. 

Mal’s eyebrows lifted slightly. “You’re offering me your bar?” 

Jughead nodded. “If we lose.” 

Malachai’s grin came back full force now, dangerous and interested. This? This was something. But it was clear he wasn’t done. 

“Oh, we’re not stopping there.” He said, eyes gleaming. “I want Sunnyside Trailer Park, too.” 

The room went dead silent. My stomach twisted. That wasn’t just territory, that was home. My home. Pea’s home. Fangs’, Toni’s, hell, Jughead’s! But I didn’t react, not outwardly, because I chose this side. His side. Jughead hesitated, but only for a second. 

“Deal…” 

Archie looked at him like he was insane. Betty and Veronica exchanged worried glances. My chest tightened slightly, but I kept my expression neutral. 

Mal clapped his hands once, satisfied. “Now that’s what I’m talking about!” 

He turned slightly, brushing his fingers against my wrist, a subtle, possessive touch. 

“You were right, babe, this might actually be fun.” I looked at him, something conflicted flickering behind my eyes. 

“Just don’t lose.” I said quietly. 

His smirk sharpened. “I don’t.” 

*Jughead’s POV*

I didn’t norice her at first, not really. There were too many moving pieces, the Ghoulies circling like vultures, Malachai lounging like a king on a throne made of chaos, Archie practically vibrating beside me, ready to swing at the first wrong word. I was focused on the deal, on the stakes, on keeping my voice steady even when everything in that room was designed to shake me. But then… I saw her. 

“Mal, hear him out.” My eyes flicked toward her without thinking. And for just a second, I forgot what I was saying. Because I knew her… Not the vest, or those stupid spikes, or the hard look in her eyes. No… I knew the girl underneath it. A flash of memory hit me so fast it almost made me dizzy. A younger version of her sitting cross-legged on the floor of my trailer, a much smaller me beside her, trying, and failing, to shuffle a deck of cards. 

“Kid, you’re holding them like you’re afraid they’ll bite you.” She teased, reaching over to fix my grip. 

“Relax.” 

“I am relaxed.” I muttered. 

She laughed, soft and easy. Nothing like the sharp edge in her voice now. 

“Sure you are.” 

She used to babysit me. Back when Dad was… different. Back when things hadn’t fallen apart yet. Back when Serpents actually felt like something close to a family. I blinked, dragged back to the present. To the House of the Dead, to her standing beside Malachai like she belonged there, like she’s always been there. It didn’t make sense. It couldn’t make sense. But I didn’t say anything. Not when Malachai mocked us, or when Betty and Veronica were dragged in, or even when she stepped forward again, steady and controlled, and Malachai actually listened to her. I just watched, trying to pieve it together. But it didn’t make sense. 

When race day finally came around the air was thick with anticipation. Engines revved, tires screeched, and Southsiders, and some Northsiders, crowded the street like it was some kind of ritual. I stood near the Serpents, leather jacket heavy on my shoulders, eyes scanning the scene. Sweet Pea was a few feet away, jaw tight, arms crossed. Fangs leaned against his bike, quieter than usual. Toni stood between them, but even she looked tense. I followed their line of sight and found her. Y/N.

She stood on the other side with the Ghoulies. Her chin was tilted up slightly, like she had something to prove. Malachai was beside her, of course. His arm was around her, his hand brushing her lower back like it belonged there. I noticed the way Sweet Pea’s expression darkened instantly. That told me everything I needed to know, or at least part of it. I stepped closer to him. 

“That’s your sister.” I said quietly, not taking my eyes off her. 

Pea didn’t respond right away, didn’t even look at me. 

“Yeah.” He muttered finally. 

There was no warmth in it, or pride, just tension. 

I frowned slightly. “She’s a Ghoulie?” 

That got a reaction. Fangs let out a short, humorless laugh. Toni shook her head a little, like she didn’t fully believe it either. Sweet Pea’s voice came out sharper this time. 

“Yeah. She made her choice.” 

I glanced at him. “It can’t be that simple.” 

Sweet Pea finally looked at me, eyes flashing. “It is.” 

But it didn’t sound convincing, not even to him. I looked back at Y/N, she was laughing with the Ghoulies. But she didn’t look fully into it. It was like she didn’t fully belong on either side. Then her eyes flicked over, for a split second they met mine. Recognition sparked, faint, but there. Then it was gone. I felt something twist in my chest. 

“Let’s get this started!” Malachai’s voice cut through the noise, loud and commanding. Everyone turned, I forced my focus back to the race. Y/N stepped closer to Malachai as he spoke, her posture relaxed but her eyes sharp, scanning everything. I watched her carefully. The way she leaned in slightly when Malachai talked, the way she didn’t flinch when he touched her, the way she stayed on his side. Whatever history she had with the Serpents, it wasn’t enough to pull her back. That didn’t sit right with him. Because I remember her… 

I was younger, sitting on a beat-up couch, watching Y/N argue with someone, one of the older Serpents. 

“You don’t get to decide who I am!” She snapped. 

The guy laughed it off and told her to ‘know her place’. I didn’t understand it then, but now? Now it made sense. The Serpents talked about family, loyalty, but they didn’t always live up to it. Maybe she had been one of the ones they failed. 

Engines roared louder, Archie and I got into position. Malachai moved toward his car, confidence radiating off him like heat. Y/N caught his arm before he could walk away. I couldn’t hear what she said, but I saw it. The way her expression softened, just slightly. The way Malachai actually paused to listen. Then he smirked, said something back that made her roll her eyes, but she didn’t let go of his arm right away. He kissed her before leaving her. 

“You keep staring at her like that, she’s gonna notice.” Sweet Pea muttered beside me. 

I didn’t look away. “She already did.” 

Sweet Pea scoffed quietly. “Yeah, well… don’t expect her to come running back.” 

“I don’t.” I said. 

Sweet Pea rolled his eyes. “Just don’t lose the damn race, Jones.”