Okay, so can we get a follow-up up for Madam Herta with Oni S/O? Like basically how the relationship actually starts and everyone's reaction to it. Since they're kinda opposites personality wise. Honestly, I'd kinda like it if S/O met Acheron and they have a moment of "I'm not the only survivior type beat." I love it even more if they're siblings with Acheron being the older sister~
Hello!!! Nice to hear from you again 💜
Funny you bring up Acheron being their older sister, I actually also planned for them to be siblings and to draw them together for you! ( ^ω^) but that's for another time. For now...
Herta x Oni Reader - How You Begin Dating
-> Masterlist with all Herta x Oni works
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To the rest of the space station's passengers, you were the bane of their existence. Every day with you aboard inevitably brought chaotic antics and countless pranks, followed closely by the sound of familiar laughter behind them. In other words, you were a problem.
Which is exactly why Herta likes you so much.
"Madam Herta, please understand. That Oni causes nothing but trouble here. We need you to do something about her!"
You rush to hide yourself behind the wall nearby. Next to Herta was one of the scientists, begging for her to take action against you. Honestly, it hurt a little. What was so wrong about having a little fun while she's keeping you stuck here? You hadn't even used electricity on the power panel since your first day sneaking in.
"Hm. So what you're saying is that you're too weak-willed to overcome a simple obstacle in your line of work. Is that right?" Although her face is angled away from you, it's easy to imagine the cold, stern expression she must be wearing. You've seen it plenty of times before during her "you've crossed the line" post-prank lectures.
"No, that's not—"
"You're fired." A silence fills the room as the scientist stares blankly at Herta. "Go on, leave. I won't tolerate an employee with such a wimpy, pathetic attitude."
Their mouth opens and shuts several times, trying and failing to find words to say back. Ultimately, they leave without a word. Herta remains where she stands in the center of the room, eerily still.
"And how long does said trouble plan on hiding from me? I know you're there." Ah, darn. You sheepishly poke your head out from the coverage in response, rubbing the back of your neck in embarrassment.
Ever since she outsmarted you and refused to let you leave the station, you couldn't help but try to avoid her outside of her required "study sessions" with you. It's not that you dislike her or anything. If anything, you'd grown rather fond of her and how entertaining she was. It's just... a bit embarrassing. You, the great Masked Fool, defeated by her? Actually—it's not that surprising, but still.
"Sorry about that, Herta. It's kinda hard to walk in when someone's insulting you, yknow? She hums in response.
"Pay no mind to that person. They're hardly worth your time anyway. More importantly" — she reaches out to rub the base of your horns — "I've prepared a test for you." Your body squirms from her touch. It feels wonderful, but you'd never tell her that.
"Mmm... I'm sleepy though. Can't it wait?" You whine at her, but to no avail.
"No more complaining, you little brat. Besides, this one should be rather easy for you—that is, if my assessment is correct. Which it is, obviously." Her hands glide down to cup your face, pressing your cheeks in on both sides.
"Your test starts now. Better get running along now, alright? Go and have some fun like you always do."
Herta walks away from you, blatantly ignoring your confusion and yelling for her to come back. You groan out of frustration. Her desire to follow any and every whimsy of hers wasn't exactly new to you, but it still managed to catch you off guard from time to time.
"What the heck is she on about this time? Ugh, whatever. I'm hungry."
Deciding to ignore her declaration for the time being, you head on over to the cafeteria nearby. Surprisingly, you got along with the food staff rather well, and even received extra fruit from them often. The reasoning as to why eludes you.
"Hey guys! What's on the menu today?" You raise your hand up to greet the head chef, a cheeky older lady. You have a sneaking suspicion she's the one that piles up your plate so high.
"Why, hello dearie. Actually, Miss Herta told me to give you this. She said you'd understand what it meant?" Confused, you shift your vision down to the object she was holding. It was a... key? You reach your hand out to take it, rolling it around to inspect it further. Yep, definitely a key, but what for? You sigh. Guess that's where the test part comes in.
You wander around the space station, searching high and low for any suspicious objects.
Nothing here, not this room, nope, nuh uh...
At your wit's end, you storm off towards where Herta headed off to earlier, hoping to find some answers. Inside, you find the one and only genius sprawled on top of one of the couches.
"Impressive. My calculations predicted that you'd give up and run over to me approximately two minutes earlier than you did. Looks like I have more research to do." Her eyes narrow as she smirks upwards at you.
"Yeah yeah, big deal. So what, did I pass the test? I got the key like you wanted." You took it out of your pocket to show her. She casually stretches her limbs out like a cat before making her way over.
"Patience, dear. Your test hasn't even started yet." With a smirk, she gently pulls at your waist to guide you forward. Her hands rest on your sides the entire way, until you eventually reach a corner of the room. Now that it's closer, you can clearly see a large metal safe, protected by a lock.
"This box here contains something I think you might like." Her hand trails across your dominant arm, before pivoting to holding your hand. You gulp, key tightly grasped. She then positions your hand directly in front of the lock, expressing her intent.
"Within this box is a special teleportation device that can take you to wherever in the galaxy you choose to be. In other words... you could leave." Her breath presses gently on your ear. "So, my dear Oni, what's your choice? Will you take this chance to travel the world and leave this station?"
An unspoken third question lingers in the silence.
Your body buzzes with excitement. Literally, since your lightning powers are acting up. Oh, man... You'd get to be with Sparkle once again, instead of simply messaging her. You could bask in the warm glow of the sun, racing along the streets as law enforcers chased after you. You could have your normal life back, all from one insignificant flick of the wrist. You begin to giggle to yourself.
But then you see her. The woman who turned your world upside down in a matter of seconds. The one who'd essentially offered you her own space station as a playground under the guise of imprisonment. The one who defended you against any harsh remarks that came your way.
To any other person gazing at Herta, she'd look largely the same in this moment as any other. Cold, uncaring, removed. But you knew better than them. Behind her icy exterior lay a hidden vulnerability, covering itself in a blanket of snow and frost. It stared at you, beckoning you. It whimpered in a hushed voice at you, calling out for an answer.
Will you stay?
"Herta..." Your gaze softens at the weight of her proposition. Yes, you want with all of your being to explore the world outside, but this... This just wasn't right. After all of your late nights together filled with laughter and light-hearted bickering, the times when your lips hovered dangerously close... No. You wouldn't—couldn't—abandon her.
"I think you forgot something."
Her expression shifts slightly. "And whatever would that be?"
You angle your body to face her, inching closer to her, then—
"There's another keyhole right here!" You shove your clenched fist forward, aiming for the center of her chest. Herta freezes for several seconds as the cold metal presses into her exposed skin.
"...Pfft." Herta bursts into a maniacal fit of laughter. Tears begin to form in the corners of her eyes as she clenches her stomach and bends forward. Before long, your laughter mixes in with hers.
After many minutes pass, she gains enough composure to remain upright. She lifts a finger to dry her eye, sighing. "Even I didn't expect this kind of outcome. You really are something special, aren't you?" Herta, looking gleeful and warm, grabs your hands.
"You passed the test. As a reward, you have earned the right to become my life partner. Oh, and you may use the teleporter as much as you please—so long as you return back to me." Still swept up in the moment, it takes you a little to process her exact words.
"Life partner? Isn't that just marriage?" She hums.
"Don't sweat the details. You do want to be with me forever, yes? Why else reject such a generous offer, except if you became infatuated with my beauty?" As her hands pressed into her hips, you couldn't help but laugh.
"Guess I really am a fool, after all."
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Bonus: Sparkle's reaction
Sparkle
(You can't be serious. I've been working my butt off to figure out a plan to sneak you out... and here you are smooching her??)
(Meh, whatever. I'll just use the fireworks to snatch some goodies or something! See you soon (ФωФ))











