#vassalex

   Two hours passed before Alysana awoke, a lightweight purple fabric draped over her small body like a blanket. Blinking her teal eyes open, she noticed through a small window that the sun had begun its descent into the horizon. In her sleep-muddled mind she did not realize that she had been moved into a building, but when after a few moments she did she bolted upright into a sitting position, the fabric falling from her shoulders and gathering around her hold. It was then that she realized she was no longer wearing the clothing she had passed out in.

   "Oh!" She scrambled to cover herself, holding the fabric over her chest as her eyes frantically darted around.

   The room she found herself in was immaculate, and quite colorful even in the dimming light of the setting sun. Her lips parted, in awe of the decoration, which seemed too extravagant to have been constructed by anyone from the village. Was this the temple? A quiet slithering noise drew Alysana's gaze to one corner of the room, and what she saw stole the breath from her lungs.

   A white snake's coils with patches of black-and-brown, thick as a large elm, emitting an inviting fragrance--in which she could detect notes of patchouli and sandalwood. It did not stir fear inside her, nor relaxation, but she did not startle upon seeing what appeared to be the upper body of a man emerge from the coils. This humanoid portion was just as, if not more, enchanting than the scales.

   "Oh, good evening," the voice was deep, powerful, and yet gentle all the same. "How do you feel? Did you s~leep well?"

   It took Alys a moment to respond, absolutely captivated by the creature's warm brown eyes, which swirled with concern.

   "I feel fine," she said. "What is this place?"

   "This~ is my temple, little human. My name is Karthikeyan. What's~ yours?"

   "Alysana. Are you... Are you the deity who lives in the middle of the forest?"

   His smile was gentle. "I am. It's~ nice to meet you."

   Oh. Wait.

   "What...happened to the garments I had been wearing?" she asked.

   "Ah, well," his expression turned bashful, "when I carried you to this~ place, they got s~oiled during the journey. S~o, I washed them. They are drying on a tree branch right now. I promis~e you, I did not stare, but I couldn't leave you in thos~e dirty clothes."

   She blinked. "Then you have my thanks. But, you are not at all what I expected."

   "What were you ex~pecting?"

   "Many from the village shared legends of a terrifying war god who demands human sacrifice in return for protecting the village from any and all that seek to destroy it."

   The gorgeous creature frowned, melancholy taking over his expression.

   "So they are s~cared of me," he sighed, his endlessly brown eyes falling to the marbled floor. "I may be the god of this fores~t, but I'm not fond of humans~ being sacrificed to me. Es~pecially those who are pure of heart, like yours~elf."

   "Pure of heart?" Alysana echoed.

   "Yes~. I can sense that you have no blood on your hands~, that you do not s~eek the torment of other living beings. You may be curious~, but your remedies don't kill or injure. At leas~t, not on purpose."

   She gaped, in total awe for several minutes. When she found her voice, it came out louder than she'd meant it to be.

   "What intuition! You could tell all that from only a short conversation?"

   "Not quite," Karthikeyan smiled a bit brighter. "I can s~ense your altruism, and I have picked up the lightes~t hint of what some might call...magickal herbs~. You are an alchemist, yes~?"

  "I am," the human blinked. "That is incredible! I knew the gods were powerful, but this... far exceeds any expectations I may have had! Oh, but, I do have one question."

   "What is it, Alys~ana?"

   "I do not ask this to be rude, but...what exactly are you?"

   His deep chuckle reverberated through her ears and settled a warmth into her chest.

   "This~ form of mine doesn't technically have a name, but your kind has~ taken to calling it naga, which means s~erpent. Now, would you like to continue this~ talk elsewhere? The cave which holds~ my lair promises...heightened s~ecurity, as it is more difficult to reach."

   "This temple is not your home?"

   The naga shook his head. "It's~ not. I only brought you here so I could tend to your wounds~ and wash your clothes. S~peaking of, they should be dry now."

   Alys bit her lip, her brows furrowing as she contemplated what it might mean to go to the lair of a god. From how he spoke she had his permission, but was it truly alright? After all, all she had for modesty at the moment was the fabric she still held over her chest. She was human too, so what if something happened to her once she stepped inside?

  And yet she couldn't deny that he was being very kind to her after he found her passed out in his forest. He had even cleaned and bandaged her feet! The rational part of her mind screamed for her to gather her clothes and leave, but her emotions knew she had nowhere else to go. She wouldn't be welcome in the village, since they believed her to be a malicious witch, and the nearest city was over twenty miles away...

   Karthikeyan tilted his head, concern and curiosity twisting together in his chest as he watched the little human's thoughts dance across her face. What was troubling her so? Had she been sent to him with no hopes of returning to her home? He could sense that she wasn't afraid of him, yet still her posture and the light trembling of her small form told him something was wrong. On instinct, he began letting out more of his scent in an attempt to calm her even a little, and was delighted when her stiff shoulders relaxed some.

"Little human," he murmured, "is~ everything alright?"

Alysana shook her head, shifting her arms to hug herself tight, and sniffled as the weight of her thoughts began to cloud her mind. The village wouldn't take her back, all because she mixed one wrong herb into a cup of tea. She had no home to return to, no family to be welcomed back into. She had lost both her parents to a fire that burned down her childhood home, then was sent to the village she'd just been cast out of to live with her uncle. He was the one who had started the rumor that caused everyone to be wary of her in the first place, the desertion only furthered by his death three years back. It was as if they had been actively looking for a reason to make her the next "sacrifice," and there was nothing she could do about it.

She didn't realize Karthikeyan had moved until his arms were wrapping around her in a comforting manner, guiding her face to nuzzle into his chest. He had shifted as well, into a height more befitting a human, though he was still at least a solid foot taller than she even with the rest of his tail coiling behind him.

With a shaky gasp, Alys grabbed at his back and fully buried her face into his skin, which was smooth and cool to the touch. His warm scent calmed her only slightly, but she started to sob freely when his fingers carded through her hair, rubbing circles into her back with his other hand.

How long had it been since someone had held her like this? She didn't know, but she was more than glad to be this close to someone again. She had just met this kind naga deity less than an hour ago, but already she felt as close to him as she had once been with her parents. Was it because he was a god? She didn't know, didn't care, but he was the only comfort she had anymore.

She held him tighter, her cries having been reduced to the occasional sniffle or shaky gasp. Then she noticed he has taken to whispering soothingly into her ear in a language she did not understand. Her heart swelled when he didn't let go, even when she only lightly trembled in his arms. He only released her once she started loosening her own grip, but his hands never left her pale form.

Karthikeyan touched her back, her arms, her shoulders, squeezing gently but never lingering too long until he reached her face, cupping her cheeks and pulling her close again so he could press a soft kiss to the top of her head. A startled giggle left her, dissolving into genuine mirth as she moved to wipe her eyes. But he stopped her by looping his fingers around her wrists, making her look up at him with her red-rimmed pools of now-sparkling teal.

"You've been through enough for one day," he whispered. "Let me dry your tears~, and then we can go to my den s~o you can eat something. How does~ that sound, Alys~ana?"

The short woman nodded, her cheeks warming even more when the loud groaning of her empty stomach filled the room. The naga chucked, bending to retrieve the discarded purple fabric so he could pat at Alys's eyes and face, then wrap her in it as he grew to prepare to leave the temple.

He made sure to take her dry clothes from the nearby tree so no passersby would get some wrong idea.

~~~

A/N: Once again Karthikeyan is not my creation, but belongs to the insanely talented @vassalex ! When the naga speaks, he often elongates his 's' sounds. I have denoted this with the '~' symbol as you have seen.

He always accomplishes his mission.

“Hey, cutie,” Ylva said with a smile, “I like you.” He’d not apparently expected that, nor the follow up question. “So, that smooch I mentioned at one point? Would it be okay to get that now?” Kai stared blankly at her, he’d assumed she’d been joking, or forgotten. Clearly this was not the case and she was looking rather hopeful about his answer, which, after not really having though about it, was a definite. “Yes, please?”

She’d moved, shifting her body to be in a more comfortable situation, and, there it was, she’d reached over, warm soft lips pressed against his own. It was, nice. Very nice.

The first one had been all on her, her move, her forwardness, her clinging to him for support as her lips sought his. By the time the second one was in motion, Kai had caught up on it, pulling her close and returning the kiss every bit as eagerly as she had been, though he was unable to keep a smile from creeping onto his lips as he did so.

It had been quite a while since she’d first met the God of the area, and so far, Ylva at the very least was happy, happier than she’d thought she would be when she first set out to meet him. But, there was something very special about him. Though shy, he was undeniably charming. “Hey, cutie?” She rolled over to rest on his stomach, placing a small trail of kisses along his neck, and down on his chest. “I hope you’re not bored of me yet, cuz I have some more things in mind that we could do together...”

Kai, didn’t question what she was up to, by now he figured it was just as well to go with the flow. The hugs had been great, the kisses wonderful. And this? He had a hard time imagining it would be any less pleasant.

“Okay,” she adjusted the crown again. “Perfect!” It had been quite some time since Ylva had made anyone a flower crown, but as they had come across this one field of flowers that had been just perfect for it? She had insisted he needed one. Though, as he watched her, he’d also wanted to do the same. “Now it’s your turn,” Kai said. “It will be perfect!” Ylva just smiled, bending over to kiss his cheek, bringing a smile to his lips as he pulled her into a hug. “I have no doubts of that, cutie.”

It had been warm, too warm, and Ylva was thankful for the fact she'd been dressed in some very light clothing for the occasion. It was nice clothes, white silk with nearly unnoticeable white embroidery in the fabric in a slightly different shade. It was perhaps mostly the occasion they were made for that could have made it a bit strange, bordering on unpleasant. She was to be sacrificed. Which, if things went according to plan, would not be that bad a thing. So she waited, patiently.

He'd never liked the idea of sacrifices that much. Most of the people that had been offered were not really bad enough that they deserved such a fate and, well, he'd rather not hurt people didn't. He knew there had been a new one offered though, and he was not looking forward to it. Hopefully it would be quick enough, in, release them, and gone again before any major screaming and terror could take place. As he got closer though, sneaking a peak at the rather tiny human through the leaves, pale and with a large amount of fluffy red hair, she looked... Oddly calm? She was at the right spot, and he could see the ropes around her wrists tying her to the place, but... She was definitely smiling more than he was expecting. And was that humming?

There was... There wasn't really a sound, more of a feeling. A feeling she knew. She was being watched. Hopefully not by something bad? Was it him? Ylva sure hoped so as she lifted her arm up as much as she was capable of to wave at the leaves and trees surrounding her. "Heyy!" She shouted towards, well just towards any old bush really. "If you're out there now is a good time to come out? I promise not to bite??"

Definitely not normal. Kai found his eyebrows wrinkle as he watched her wave at a bush rather far to the left of him, though he did realize she was right, it was time to come out. Slithering out barely making a sound save for the soft jingle of the golden adornments he was wearing Kai was trying his best to look, well, un-intimidatingly majestic, as he watched her carefully, looking for signs of... Of what? Panic? Fear? Anger? All of which, very noticeable, was missing. What he actually got was a strangely large smile in return. And a look from her that, eying him up and down and, was making him feel somewhat uncomfortable. Why was she looking at him like that??

He was, she found herself thinking as he finally appeared, absolutely gorgeous.  Darker bits of skin mixed with white, shining white scaled tail again mixed with darker patches of brown patterns. Long white hair, and those eyes... All in all he was nothing quite like she'd imagined, but far exceeding her thoughts on what he'd be like. "Hello," she said happily, trying to extend a hand on greeting, only to have it come up short as she realized, remembered, she was still tied to the stone she was sitting on. "Uh, right, that's a thing. I'm Ylva, nice to meet you?" She didn't stop smiling, looking him over again, the face, the body, the pattern on the scales, he was just so beautiful. "I'm the sacrifice," she clarified, as if that wasn't obvious.

He couldn't really think of what to answer to that. He really did know what she was, but... She was definitely not what, or rather how, he'd been expecting. Deciding that not saying anything was probably better than to say something stupid, who knew how she'd react, he leaned down just enough to reach her hands, which she was holding up to him, and started untying them.

"Not much of a talker then?" Well, maybe he didn't want to? He was, well a deity. Maybe he didn't like to talk to lowly humans? But then... He also didn't look all that arrogant, just... "Are you shy?" Could Gods be shy? But, she watched him carefully, leaning a bit closer to his face, light green eyes staring into his gorgeous warm brown ones, which... Did seem to make him, uncomfortable, and she found herself leaning away again, giving him more space.

He didn't quite get it, why was she staring again? Or so close?? Though she did seem to relent eventually, leaning back enough that he could finally get the ropes off her, and move away, leaving her space enough that she could get up. Watching as she moved off the rock, stretched, and then walked up to him again, stopping close enough that had she wanted to, she could have reached out to touch him. Thankfully, she didn't. Clearly she was able to move, so he started to leave, figuring that she'd get the hint and do so as well. Back turned to her, he had a cautious eye backwards, in case she'd try to attack rather then run. But she didn't, she just followed after him. He thought he had given her enough of a hint that it was fine to leave. So, why didn't she? "You, you're free to go," he said as he turned back somewhat, wondering if that was the problem, she needed to hear it verbally? Maybe, despite the smile and all, she was worried he'd do something to her if she tried to run? But then, she didn't actually look scared at all.

"Oh, I realized that," Ylva said with a small dismissive wave of her hand, "but I don't want to." There was, a hint of shock, and confusion, on the mans face, something that to be honest was rather amusing. "See, I am not here because these idiots forced me, I volunteered." She continued talking, looking up at his continuously confused face. "I heard of you from a previous sacrifice, a very unharmed one at that. And decided that I wanted to meet you!" She paused, looking him straigh in the eyes again. "You're far more beautiful than I could have imagined, and you seem nice so I want to get to know you." She said it as if it should have been obvious. Though, by the look of his face, now... Was that a tinge of red? Did he blush?? That was adorable. "In fact," she motioned for him to bend down a bit which he obliged, though possibly out of confused shock she thought, which put them again face to face. "At some point, if you don't mind, I'd love the opportunity to smooch you?" And, there it was, stronger than ever, he was red. Beet red. And staring. "Would that be okay you think?"

He couldn't quite, think? What was with her? Was this real? Was she seriously asking him if... Well he did like hugs, but, that was a very sudden question. And smooches, really? She wanted, was it okay? She was certainly forward and while he found himself fighting a sudden urge to hide the fact that he was pretty sure he was noticeably embarrassed, he found himself wanting to answer. "Yes?" It, did seem to make the odd little human happy to hear, though, surely she didn't mean right now. Right?

"Good to know," she said, grinning widely. "Now, how about we get to know each other, and maybe at some later point, we can come back to this subject? It is after all something I'm highly interested in." She made a small bow, stepping to his side. "So, how about you show me your home? And whatever parts around here you find interesting?" She looked up at him, pleased, exited, and eager to know more about this adorable snake man. It was going to be great.

Kai the adorable naga has been drawn and made into weird fan-drabble with permission and belongs to

@vassalexx

Next level DBH obsession: making android oc’s. 

As infiltration, Jesse has been stationed in both Russia and America. His main functions were gathering intelligence and the execution of certain political figures. In America he’d root out Russian spies, both human and android.

Beautiful oc courtesy of @koin-doodles

I am unworthy of drawing such beauty but I do it anyways.