I think this is one of my new favorite pieces! A commission for @leondxs, showing Leondas's darker side. This was such a blast to do, thank you for commissioning me!

Continued from here.

It had been some time since the creature had been left an offering. He had considered paying the local village a visit - taking what was rightfully his by force. But it seemed they'd finally chosen the unfortunate, destined to die in hopes of sating the beast in the woods. Leondas made his way to the clearing leisurely, his strides slow and calculated. The man was seated on the forest floor, his body strapped tightly to the live oak behind him. Ropes binding down to pinned flesh. The faerie grinned at the other's misfortune. His head canted to the side, eyes glistening. Pupils flickered over the mortal's body, noting toned muscle and lean form. A pulse pounding like a drum to his sensitive ears. It took great restraint not to tear into the human immediately. But he would have his fun. Such gifts were a treat and should be savored as such. His smile widened, teeth gleaming with eager drippings. ❝ My, my, ❞ the fae purred, ❝ aren't you a pretty sight? ❞

He sits patiently, having gave up on pulling and thrashing against his binds hours ago. Dark tresses curtain his face as his head hangs low- tired and trying to swallow the thick anger and betrayal weighing heavy in his throat.

Lucio wants to scream and howl- to thrash and kick more at the dirt below him, to gnash and gnaw through the ropes binding his body.

How could this happen to him? He behaved well enough, didn't he? What more penitence should one have to offer for past transgressions? What did the effort matter now? Here in the cold of the night in the forest.

Tossed to the wolves.

Even when he hears such a silky voice, Lucio does not move from his hunched over position on the ground. Daring not to look up. He wouldn't give it the satisfaction. Oh yes, they made sure to make him look appetizing enough. After they tied him down, they tore open his shirt and combed floral oils through his shiny hair.

The only response the creature is given, is his head turning away. Still looking down, hair hiding his face, but turned away. As though he'd dare not look upon the other's countenance.

Russell had assumed that Leondas would be up, given his preferences for the evening, but on seeing that he had appeared to have woken the fae up, he was quick to realise that maybe he was indeed sleeping in.

Damn... and here I am disturbing him.

But he did politely wait for Leondas to make his way down the tree and to him. At least it was a bit better than jumping right down in front of him or coming from the shadows without any warning at all.

"Sorry for, for waking you up," Russell said, "I'm, I'm doing pre-pretty good thanks."

All things considered, given that he had made all these cakes to avoid thinking about his immortality.

              Sun found herself once again hiding within the woods. It was the easiest place to hide, especially after having to fight the stray angel from heaven. She sat under a tree, her dove like wings spread out around her and her halo glowing faintly with holy light. She slowly continued to wrap the already healing wounds on her arm, the simple though of how her own father's hands must be lined with the guilt of her existence. The question of how long was he going to send his soldiers after her, trying to rectify his mistake.

It wasn't exactly fear in her gaze. Caution, most certainly, but accompanied by curiosity. Glowing eyes were not exactly unusual in the woods, but on a humanoid it gave her pause. The low tone of his voice had her feeling a bit bashful. Perhaps that had been rude...

The bosmer pauses at hearing the answer to her question, contemplating the next. In truth, it was a rarity that she would find herself in the company of a vampire, even more so, actively engaging with one as casually as she was, but she had an opportunity to ask questions she'd been curious about. To ask about things that the mer before her has experienced in his years of immortality.

Leondas was quite the nimble thing. Normally, at least. Today he found himself a touch unlucky when scaling along treacherous terrain. A misstep had caused him to lose his footing all together. The rocks gave way beneath him, the incline certainly not helping his case. And above him, more rocks were hurling his way. The creature hadn't the time nor the skill to evade his fate. It happened too fast, even for him. A moment later, the faerie found himself wedged in a pile of earth. His right leg had been crushed by a boulder. He grit his teeth and hissed. He could handle the pain - he'd had much worse before. But it was his immobilization that bothered him. He was trapped - with no shelter to hide him from the inevitable sun. The moon would hang high for a bit longer, but for how long would he be ensnared? Before he could dwell on it any longer, he heard what he thought to be thunder nearby. His ears perked. No, this was something moving. Something incredibly large. He fought to free himself, but only earned himself a shooting pain from his crippled limb. He cried out in agony, breath becoming panicked as he turned to face whatever was approaching him.

The thunder-like sound repeated rhythmically, drawing closer to Leondas's location, sending the branches of nearby trees shaking, then it suddenly stopped.

Shade had initially just been passing through, engaging in his usual habit of taking walks through different locations. Of course, a big part of the motivation behind that habit was the potential to run across something interesting, and that agonized cry definitely caught his attention.

Pink eyes scanned the ground before locking with the pair that were looking at him. He took a step towards the other, looming over and assessing the situation. He didn't have to look long to piece together what was going on here.

"And what's this? Someone who's found themselves in a bit of a predicament?"

The sun is setting, and Cataleya makes her way towards an illuminated stage that serves as a beacon in the growing darkness of the city park.

It's once again time for the outdoor stage play season, and they're starting off with a classic: A Midsummer Night's Dream. And all the more fitting it is considering that it's also a lovely summer evening.

However, seeing as she arrived a bit late—she came by herself on public transit—she finds herself a place to sit at the back of the amphitheater, away from most of the audience. So, she's alone, waiting for the show to start while snacking on some fruit candies.