#symon

Reference⬇️

I piece I drew to use as a cover for the Tapas.io mirror of Smallscale I just published! I figured Tapas was a better place to post Smallscale as an original story than AO3.

I also made several adjustments to the earlier chapters in this version, so if you wish to reread it on tapas, here's your link;

Daphne had not planned on stopping by the Inokabe Sanctuary that day, but the rainy weather coupled with some old blankets in need of donation seemed enough of an excuse to pay a visit. She loved coming by every once in a while to see the new faces.

On that overcast afternoon, however, something caught her attention. A blur of yellow and green in her peripheral. She stopped in her tracks and peered into a corner pen that appeared to house two inokabe, an adult and a pup. The little one was clearly who had caught her eye but she was barely visible now that she had noticed Daphne’s presence and hid herself behind her parent.

“Hello,” Daphne said softly so as to not spook the baby and her guardian.

The larger one was just as beautiful as the pup, all natural shades of black, brown and white in flower-like patterns. He did not growl but he was very clearly making himself look as large as possible.

Do not come closer

The message was loud and clear.

Daphne nodded and set down one of the blankets and reached into her pocket to reveal some treats she had baked the other day. She set them down on the blanket and slowly pushed it into the pen and took several steps back.

The baby, smelling the treats, peered around her father curiously and took a tentative step forward. It took a good few minutes for her to realize it was not a trap and snatch up one of the delicious smelling cookies. She immediately helped herself to another.

Not long after, her father approached the blanket and sniffed at the food, looking up a bit suspiciously as though he were still worried the strange human might have poisoned them. Satisfied that his baby was still alive and seemingly happy with them, he seemed to resign himself to the situation and settled in beside his daughter.

Daphne only began to approach once the treats were finished and the pup seemed to be searching for more. Upon reaching the gate, she took out one more treat and offered it, curious to see if the baby would take it from her hand. She did and trotted back to her father as though to show off her food.

The grown inokabe lifted his head in acknowledgement with a sort of dignity reserved for kings. He had the most arresting green eyes she had ever seen.

“My name’s Daphne,” she introduced herself with as much decorum as she could. “If you’re willing, I have some space at my place for you both. If you’d like a home.”

When an attendant overheard and asked what names she might offer for the two, she thought for a moment and turned to face them again.

“How do you feel about the name Symon? I think it means ‘listener.’ And maybe you,” she looked down at the pup whose tail wagged ever so slightly, “would like the name Anastasia?”

[gets sad about symon and decides to draw him]

[accidentally.. starts making an act 2 poster for the shit he has going on].

Symon is the faerie king of the under-city, where gambling, song and dance, and flat out crime run wild. Although there are other, more influential figures who run the business of the under-city, Symon has them under his thumb with bargains made long ago.

Symon believes that if he can get someone to do what he wants without making a deal, then he will have achieved ultimate power. As his ability only allows him to gain one thing in return for something of his own, if he can make people do what he wants or give him what he wants for nothing in return, then he would be able to eventually rule the world.