Secondary/Writing Account of: @worm-twistie-dirt
More screams into the void, but this time with more structure and sense. The worms in my brain can only escape this way.
Blog Origins: https://www.tumblr.com/worm-twistie-dirt/817041985550598144/warnings-non-sensical-ramblings-mentions-of?source=share
Hey! Hey! So enacting on the genius squirming of my mind babies, brain children, brain worms, OCs if I mean to refer to them lovingly and my desire to keep said creatures of the mind from speaking to me, here we are! Spontaneous blog creation!
I desire to be known as Great Worm or Wormlie. I also desire to be referred to with these pronouns she/they/xe, but decisions to refer to me otherwise will be looked upon and approved based on the feel of the word wiggle. This special worm has been alive for two decades and a bit.
What to expect: OC-centric writing with occasional fanfiction writing. I'm no artist, I am a writer, so bear with descriptions of my little brain worms until I find a game character creation screen that agrees with me. (Edit: Now Including original writing, fresh from the soil Wormlie escaped from!)
Thanks for dropping by if you are and hope you have a great day/night!
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Summary: Dia comes home to an empty apartment, nothing Seth says will make it okay.
He shouldn't be surprised, no, not really. They didn't have any reason to linger, and had plenty more reason to run out before the guards around town figured out and tried to kill Alphonse.
Dia left early that morning, he had to, one doctor wasn't enough for the herd. He'd kissed his boyfriends and left them a note, a blood bag for Al and hot food for Seth. He wanted to talk more, figure out how to move forward, figure out where he fit in when they left town. By the time he was back again in the afternoon, the apartment was dark.
He stood there in the shop staring at the open door for a long while. Trying to rebuild some crumbling hope that they were just sleeping off their trip's exhaustion. That he'd come inside, cook something, and everything would be okay.
The note left on the counter seemed to taunt him, reminding him that in the end he'd have to face reality and walk through the damn door.
No one is there, no one is home. Just him and the slow, rotting feeling, that he doesn't even know where they're heading this time. He looks over at the note again. A hurried apology from Seth stained with blood.
Dia couldn't recall the walk from the store to the clinic, or the words he spoke to his fellow doctor there. Or the shouting. All he remembered was the pity in their expression as they shoved him down and he felt a needle prick in his arm. Their face blurring and shifting as Dia felt his grip on the real world fade away.
"Sorry, doc." Their voice warbled like Dia was hearing them underwater. "I owed him a favor."
-------
Diadem smiled leaning his head against Alphonse's shoulder as Al's fangs dug into his neck. He could feel the blood running down his skin, euphoria blooming from the wound and sending tingles all over his body. Alphonse laughed, a kiss momentarily interrupting his feeding. "Don't squirm so much, Boo, I ain't done with you yet."
Diadem giggled, his vision blurring as he nuzzled into Alphonse's hair. "Ca't h'lp it. F'elsgood."
"I know…you'll feel better when you take your medicine, yeah? Seth's taking it right now."
The fuzzy memory their partner curled in Diadem's mind, clawed hands running through his hair as Seth gave him a smile, fuzzy wings fluffing out behind him. Diadem giggled again. "Wh't yu th'nkI'llook l'ke?"
"Oh you'll be beautiful, Boo." Alphonse dug his fangs back into Diadem's neck, "So, so beautiful. Jus' take your medicine."
His thoughts began to muddle and swirl, mind focused entirely on the feeling that Alphonse's bite gave him. How it spread and spread until Diadem felt numb to everything but the sensation of fangs piercing his skin and boring into his flesh. It was where he was supposed to be. He was home now.
-------
"…Gonna be alright?"
"Should be. Didn't use up a whole lot, just a bit to get him down while we strapped him in."
"He's gonna give you hell when he gets up."
"What do you think the restraints are for? I'm not stupid, if I let 'im roam free while I'm sleeping I'll wake up without both my fucking kidneys. Hell, maybe my liver too if I get gassed during it."
"Naw, he couldn't…Right? I mean I know he's the doctor 'round here but…surgery? I thought that was your thing?"
"Kidneys are in very accessible places."
Dia groaned as he slowly came to, looking up at the face of his fellow doctor as they waved good-bye to someone walking out the door. He shifted, feeling the hold of something on his chest, arms, legs, and around his neck. Looking up again, he recognized the walls of old room, the one he'd made into an office. The doctor glanced down at him and smiled. "Hey, doc! Sleep well?"
Dia blinked at them, the events beforehand slowly returning. "Alex."
"Yup! That's my name. Don't wear it out."
"How much…did Seth pay you for this?"
"Oh? My knockout service? It was free actually, little bonus I threw in when he saved a friend of mine way back when." Alex grinned as they pat Dia's head. "How would you rate your experience so far? I'd say it was good five out of five. You went down easy, but lay off the sweets your boys get you. I had to call someone to help drag you up."
Dia quieted for a moment. "He spoke to you? When? I was at the clinic with you all day."
"I snuck around the back, got a quick chat with him. Passed him some things."
Dia shifted in the restraints, all of them pulled taunt leaving him little room to move. "What things? What did you give him? Did he tell you what he needed them for?"
Alex didn't stop smiling, though their nose wrinkled. "Doc…You don't gotta know everything. Look…I get it, hell, my girl used to be a Shepherd. I used to worry every day that she wouldn't run home and when it actually happened? I had to keep moving…I had to. She risked her life to keep me and everyone she can safe. Seth is doing the same thing for you. Don't waste his efforts just because you're scared."
"But even if it had hurt, don't you think you'd rather have been there?" Dia's voice rose desperately. He tried not to. But Alex didn't know. It was one thing for his partners to be out on the field, it was another thing knowing that one of them might kill the other. "If you'd known that she would have died that day, you would have done everything to keep her home. To keep her in and alive, even if it's only for an extra day."
"You don't know that, doc."
"Yes, I do. What did Seth ask for? You want me to guess? It's sedatives and painkillers. C'mon Alex, they both just got home yesterday." Dia let the words slip easy. "They got home in a bad state. I was caught up, busy, I…I didn't have time to wind them down. You know how these missions get, they'll do and say anything to get some relief."
"Doc…I know your boys. Seth is one of our best Shepherds, and Al is a strong, resilient bastard. They ain't the type to pick the easy way out." Alex's eyes narrowed. "Especially not when they know they could be leavin' you behind here. Dying in your own way."
Dia gave them a strained smile, his heart thundering in his ears. "What did Seth tell you, Alex. What did he leave behind for his dad? Tell me. Tell me and convince yourself that there isn't a sign. A symptom."
Dia remembered the note. The dread that sat in his stomach as he'd realized that he would be waiting at the door for a long, long time. Alex still looked doubtful, but their eyes flicked away to the corner. Dia prayed that it was something sentimental, that it looked so much like a good-bye gift. That even with their strained relationship, that it looked like Seth's heart would have bled just a little bit.
Agkarkarag kami, Apo Diyos nga bendisyunam siyak ditoy lubong…
Alex hummed, cursing softly under their breath as they looked away from the gift. "Well, fuck. I don't like that. I don't like what the hell I'm seeing, but I'm not letting you out. You're staying right there…I…I'm gonna go chat with Seth's pops. You…Get some rest, doc. I mean it, or I'll really put you under."
"I will, I will. Thanks Alex." Dia shifted as Alex walked away, feeling and following the edge of his restraints as much as he could. His arms couldn't move much, but he could shift them to feel at the edges of the bed, running his fingers along it and searching just for the slightest mistake…Just one…
Apo Dios…
-----
Sugarboo,
First thing I want to say is sorry. I know we promised to talk about it more, than there'd be more time to think about this and find out what we really needed to do. That there'd be time for a proper good-bye. And I'm sorry we couldn't give you that. Al is…Well he wasn't in great shape when we woke up and you weren't there, some part of him that wants to so badly claw you open and keep you safe. I don't think we can hide him here any longer than we have now.
And that…Know that we love you. Well, Al can't say or write shit right now but…We love you so much. Every day I've spent with you and Al has been a dream, I didn't think I could have ever be so fucking lucky. I'm glad you were here, I'm so, so glad that in the whole wreckage of the world, there was this slice of heaven I got to have and I hope that I can come back to it one day. That Al and I can come back home to you…
Please, please don't come after us. I can't make any promises, not when I'm not sure if I can keep them. But know that we'll fight to our last breath to come back home. We'll wreck anything in our way, sugar. That I can promise you. So please, don't come. I know it hurts, I know that you might not even listen to goddamn word of this. And I don't blame you, but please. Please. Please.
Please.
If I can keep at least a part of my family from getting lost to the monsters out here. Can it be you? I don't know if I can save him.
Please, please, please leave me something I can come home to.
I love you, Dia, stay safe. Wait for me.
------
The apartment at the back of the store was cluttered by necessity. There was always an attempt to sort things, but it was easier if things were just lying out in the open for grab and go. Just because the walls were impenetrable, didn't mean naermyth didn't try. There were plenty of times Seth or Al were called out to help ward off or kill off one thing or another.
Dia just hoped Seth left behind enough for him to follow.
"Can't use the crossbow…There's the machete, but the salting on it is pretty low…" Dia muttered to himself as he rummaged around the apartment, one of Seth's old backpacks thrown haphazardly on the couch. He'd stuffed a first aid kit in at the bottom, covered it in extra clothes and piled canned food on top of that. The last thing he needed were some protective charms and weapons.
Underneath a blood-stained jacket, Dia found Alphonse's bat. The chains wrapping around it looked dull and growing spots of rust. Seth must have left it behind, or wasn't thinking of it at all. Dia almost kissed it joy. The chains had lost their salted layer, but Dia wasn't worried. The chains were blessed, a gift to Alphonse from a priest. It wouldn't hurt every naermyth, not like back home, but it was enough and it was something that Dia knew how to swing around.
"I love you." He whispered softy as he pressed his forehead against the bat. "I love you, I love you. Please just wait. Wait for me."
God, he'd break their hearts. But what else then? What else would be left over if he didn't reach out and try? And what if Seth got turned too? What if they didn't die, what if they just…left him behind.
Dying in your own way. Alex's words echoed in his mind.
Dia bit his tongue. Patience, he told himself, but patience was rarely by itself in Dia's head. It was there sitting with worry, anger, fear, sadness. All his feelings stored up pressed into neat squares because if he let them run their course then Dia would shatter and then he'd do something far from stupid. At least, perhaps something stupider than running out of Willowbrook's walls with his boyfriends' old gear.
Right now, he still had a mind to bring a backpack of supplies and wear something thicker than stained nurse scrubs.
Had a mind to wear Seth's stained jacket over Alphonse's sweater, had a mind to take out all his old rosaries and wear them. Had a mind to look over the map, figure out which trail they might have taken, if they took the main road or Al's shortcuts.
Had a mind to leave behind separate note for Alex, for Seth's father, for his few friends in town. To keep the shop safe and in working order, to apologize, and lastly.
Hollow is a fresh worm in the wormverse, emerging from unknown soils (sleep deprived, late night ramblings to wormself). Hollow is the strange shut-in that bothers the people in the various apartment buildings that he keeps moving to. He's a sullen character and leaves a trail of dark oily filth whenever they venture out into the world. It's hard to recall what they look like when you're not directly looking at him, at most, people recall his oddly long, floor-length spotted green hair.
Hollow usually remains in their room for long periods of time, rarely being spotted outside buying snacks, drinking water, or just enjoying nature. They do not interact with people unless they absolutely have to, and they don't seem to work or go to school. Nosy neighbors will notice that despite that, he manages to pay rent and bills on time.
If one is incredibly lucky, Hollow can be found clean, their hair braided and looped above their head while wearing new and fresh clothes. Giving people a glimpse of what was -- Paul Tapia. They look perpetually tired, but much more relaxed and happy. Wearing a number of bracelets, fun earrings, and a few necklaces. If he likes your vibe, he'll give you one of his jewelry pieces. They don't do much, but they do contain a little bit of hope for the bad times.
Hollow is always moving, he hardly stays in an apartment for long, though he's prone to returning to the same buildings after some time. Sometimes, people look for Hollow, but he always seems to slip away at the right time. Leaving nothing behind but the filthy remnants of his existence.
Third worm jar cracked open! Hollow...continues! Persists, even. Does not do much but I like to move them around to check out new soils and even let them play with the other worms! Personal Headcanon, Hollow is Jade's cousin (In yuuriverse context, outside of it...Hollow is Hollow). Paul is legally considered missing, and Jade is on the look out if he ever turns up. He sends Jade letters from time to time.
If anyone feels inclined to have more thoughts about them or from them, ask for the Hollow.
You're not the kind of person who worries about little things.
It's a special kind of carelessness you try your best not to apply to anyone else but yourself. After all, you keep changing, breaking yourself apart and remaking who you are everyday. If you had to worry about getting it all right to the tiniest details you think you might drive yourself insane. So you just don't.
You don't like how quickly he picks them up though, as oblivious as he is sometimes, he's perceptive. Observant.
You discover, from a passing comment, that you have a habit of avoiding your own reflection. You only own two mirrors, one in the guest bathroom and a standing mirror that keeps changing places in your house. He says it as a joke, how you seem to flinch away from them when you're not using them. You smile and laugh, chalk it up to problems with the light reflecting off them.
You practice when he leaves, never fully facing the mirror, but doing enough of a view that it looks like you are. By accident, you lock eyes with your reflection. And you see yourself again, eighteen years old, face red and raw with remnants of make-up still clinging to their lashes and lips. The reflection's face is streaked with tears with a bruise blooming on their cheek where your aunt rubbed too hard. A hand comes into frame holding a soapy rag and you turn your face away before your reflection can scream at you.
You still hear them when you lock up the guest bedroom, so you turn up the speakers and pretend its part of the background.
After that, you begin to keep track of your 'little things.'
You find that you are more consistent that you like to think, and it irks you. Yes, the part you play now is for his benefit, you keep your changes skin-deep because you fear you'll scare him away before you're even done luring him in. That doesn't mean it makes you happy when you feel yourself beginning to settle. When you start feeling comfortable and think that maybe this house could be a home.
You don't want this to be his home.
You talk about that with him, your ideal. It's not here, not bound to his or your past. It's far, far out there, a mountain house on foreign land. It would be a nice house, with a view of the sunrise every morning and the drifting scent of pine. You'd have a room, several rooms, to put the stuff you make. Display cases for hobbies you pick up and put down, and all the other things you want to keep. But by the way he shifts his eyes and talks about how nice your plans are, makes you worry he doesn't see himself there at all.
It makes you wonder if you can see yourself in his ideal.
You don't like how quickly he reassures you. How easily he can find those hidden signs of your discomfort and tell you that no matter what, this time he would never let you go without trying to reach you first. That the distance between you will never stretch so long ever again.
He feels attuned to you, waiting and watching for the next thing he can learn. He does it out of love, he loves you. You love him.
Are you afraid or irritated that he's beginning to find the cracks in the face you've made for him?
Sometimes he cooks for you. It's not often, he works at Pete's, pizza is your go-to shared meal. It's nostalgia and convenience in one. But when he wakes before you, he prods your kitchen carefully, learning it's fanciful aspects and tools you don't even use half of. He learns basics, looks up recipes on his phone and you both taste his experiments together. And you're careless, so careless, you love learning with him. A piece of life you're sharing together.
You claim to have no favorite food, but he learns how you like everything anyways.
He finds out you like meat closer to raw than rare and that he has to trick you into eating fruits because you have problems with their texture. He finds out you eat with your hands, and you are ready to defend yourself. And you learn too. You learn that he doesn't mind, though he's curious. You trade stories of childhood homes, the ones your younger selves never touched because it didn't matter then.
It matters now. He tells you how his is mostly untouched, only now that his parents are gentler, sweeter…Afraid. He was gone for a while, and while he doesn't understand why yet, they're not in a rush to have him gone again. How everything's been left as it was, ready for him to pick it all back up and try again. Do better. Be better.
And you tell him about the house all the way across the oceans, where your grandmother lives. Briefly, you lived a dream of a cold, rainy summer on a long stretch of farmland in the mountains. Where you could run at every direction without anyone looking and there was so little yet so much. You were your truest self, and the land love all of you deeply.
When he finds the shine in your eyes, he leans in and asks if he can come see it too.
Fingers prying into the cracks and having your blood seep onto his fingertips.
The first photo you ever take of him is a candid one, in the apartment at the back of the store. In the photo, he's glancing up at you away from his laptop screen, the brightness of it reflected in his eyes. A bit of accounting for the store. Back then, you'd never seen him so serious. It made you smile, the moment felt perfect, so you called out to him and captured that look the split second it was on you.
You startled him, and he wrestled you for the photo. It was his to keep, you told him so, you just got carried away. You had been getting carried away that whole time. Maybe because you were so far from home, maybe because he's beautiful, or maybe because some part of you is still looking for all the lost pieces of your heart.
But he lets you win, he lets you keep it, and he takes one of you. That one, you give to him.
It's a long while before you take another. You tell yourself that it's because you know better, that there's boxes under your bed full of photos of ghosts who've left you behind and you don't have room for another one. You both know where you stand. It might not be steady, but you're holding each other and it's warm. Still, you can't help yourself.
In the morning, by his bed, you shimmy out a camera from your overnight bag. You're familiar with this set-up, let the curtains open the slightest bit and have the light stream over their peaceful face. You keep the curtains shut, that's not how you want this morning to go. You don't want to feel like you're following a script, it's not like you're running out of time. Instead, you take a photo of his sweater, folded neatly on the bedside next to your recent read. The pastel cityscape such a contrast against the dark and gritty cover. A part of him and a part of you.
You look back. You want to pull the curtain, and take that pretty photo.
On your birthday, you let him take another picture of you.
You have your mother's habits, or well, your mother's joys. You cook enough to feed your neighbors, coworkers, and more to be brought home with them. No one here knows you that well, but you're not left without presents or gratitude, and you feel relieved you can mimic the same warmth your mother does. He doesn't come to the day party, you understand.
The best part of that day was when you closed the door after the last guest and ran to his store. He's waiting there too, catching you in his arms. He doesn't want to come home with you, not yet, but you don't mind.
You bring him enough to feed him for a week, it's the only you way you can confess without speaking out loud. Your heart's already burst, bleeding through your chest. Again, you have your mother's habits, and you've learned to wrap love into small packages to taste. And for you, his home makes space. There's room for you under the decorations and the pretty lights, a table of treats and a few carefully wrapped presents. He holds your hand the whole time, singing happy birthday while you smile so wide your cheeks hurt.
In the photo, you're wearing a new sweater, laughing as you kiss someone off frame. It's an awkward angle for a selfie, you offer to trade the lenses to have a better view, but he keeps it as it is.
"You look hella cute in it, and I already get to see my own face everyday."
You take another one anyways, the second photo you keep for yourself. You off-frame while he kisses you. You know you're lost when you want a hundred more like it.
Your first picture together is on Halloween. He bribes a kid with a bag of candy to hold the camera while he lifts you. Holding you bridal style in front of the webbed arch of the corn maze while you try not to squirm as you laugh. The kid keeps calling for you both to stop moving, the first photo comes out blurred. You hold still enough for a decent second photo, but the first one is still your favorite.
It's probably the blur or the unfocused lens, but looking at the photo, it's like Alphonse glows.
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Wormlie Note: Personal AU canon, Charlie is an aswang. He is specifically a mix between a blood-sucker type and a ghoul-type aswang. I know that doesn't make sense, I refer to this article and many others at the aswangproject.com website for my classifications in combination with Naermyth canon.
Summary: Charlie hangs out with his raccoon, Casper arrives in their devastated hometown to pay tribute.
Charlie always pulled away from the gang during feeding time.
Sure, they called him a pussy and a coward, but it meant more for them in the end. Really, it wasn't a matter of temptation, Auron had him on a steady supply of raw meat and sometimes Lady Rook would pass him expired bloodbags from the clinics when she could. No, it was…
He liked to think that as long as he didn't cross this line, there was still hope there in the end. If he kept that monstrous part of him small and starved, it'd be easy to dig up and cut out. And he could just be…Charlie.
And sure Charlie wasn't a great guy, he was a scumbag and a bitch but he wasn't…this. He wasn't a monster. He wasn't something hungry and wanting for the freshest, warmest, juiciest piece of flesh in-
"Ow!" Charlie yanked his hand away from the makeshift oven-turned-cage, his fingers tingling as they healed over the tiny bite. The raccoon inside whined, tiny paws scrabbling at the bars of their cage. "C'mon, lil buddy, I know I stink like garbage but you don't gotta bite me."
It whined and chittered at him again, Charlie's gaze softened. "I know, I know, but that's all you're gettin' for today. All the stuff Boss gets me isn't exactly raccoon friendly and its really hard to come by food on this side of town. We gotta stretch out Pete's stock until I figure out a way to get you someplace safe."
The raccoon whined again, he sighed and reached in carefully to pet its head. There were bumps and knots all over, a few insects that Charlie drew out and squished between his claws. "I know…There isn't much safer than in there…But I heard they've got a nature preserve somewhere out of the city! Ya know, where there's less man-eaters and more…fairy-like typa people."
If those were real kinds of naermyth and not a lie that Lady Rook sold for Auron. Which, to be honest, he was starting to lose track off. He wondered if his raccoon pet-friend knew when he was lying. That he wasn't really sure if there was a nature preserve and somewhere down the line when Charlie would have to take them out back to put them out of their suffering, that it'd be in the sunniest, leafiest spot in the city. Or that if worst came to worst, Charlie would have to eat them. If Derek found out, then he'd have to.
Would Derek find out? Auron took care of him, but would he be fast enough to save him again this time around? Would he be bones and pieces before anyone could save him? Was he worth saving?
Thoughts spiraled and spiraled as he ran his claws all over the raccoon. It chittered, whined and trilled at him whenever he scratched too harshly, but sometimes he got soft purrs. That slowed down his thoughts a little.
Anchoring him.
--------
"Sweet Pete's Pizzeria…Home of the 'Zone. Wonder if any of those survived the Fall." Jade laughed to herself, saluting as she approached Sweet Pete's. "Rest in peace, Pete, rest in peace. I'm sure you gave them hell…In your own way."
They'd come here on a whim, some human resistance in the city pointed her back to her old neighbourhood. Told her that the pizza shop was a little monument of sorts, once upon a time, due to stubborn old Pete refusing to move into safer territory. When he was still around, he fed those who couldn't leave either. Then the naermyth gangs started roaming and poor Pete closed up shop for good and forever.
People he fed risked the naermyth, left a review scribbled in a old logbook just by the counter.
Jade skimmed through the moldy wet pages, seeing familiar names and unfamiliar ones, 'thank yous,' 'rip,' 'good food, great guy,' and…
They stopped at the last page, it was filled to the brim with black ink, one word written over and over again. 'Sorry.' Jade turned the page, her breath catching as she saw the name scribbled there. "Oh…Charlie…"
Jade fixed their mask. They didn't have a pen on them, but they managed to find a pencil in their pack. Scrawling a quick doodle of her and her old friend, and then one of Pete. 'Thanks for the waters, Pete, take care. Hope you and Charlie are hanging out somewhere nice.'
She left the pencil on the counter, in case anyone else came by. Maybe they should swing by again before she skipped town, leave a new logbook for people and an actual working pen. Pencil marks tended to fade quickly. And if…Maybe Jade should leave a couple weapons and a bag of salt and charms around, keep whoever comes here safe. Even if just for a little while…
Jade walked past the counters into the kitchen. Pete's stash might have been raided, but if there was scrap left behind, Jade knew enough to fashion into something useful. A memory, a moment of peace, a…
"Raccoon?" Jade stopped at the odd sight. Stuck in one of the ovens was a sleeping raccoon, the glass door replaced by crude bars made of scrap. Huh. It looked…fed, it had a basin of water inside with it along with a nest made of Pete's shirts. It was clean…
"Is someone…saving you up for somethin'? That's kinda fucked up…c'mere here little guy, let's get you out of there." Jade smiled softly, undoing the crude locks of the oven-cage. They reached in carefully, scooping up the sleeping ball of fluff. "Theeeree we go, that's it, little buddy."
It didn't seem to stir at all as Jade cradled it in his arms, sweet baby. It wasn't safe here, he'd have to find a better place for it to stay. They had some rations in their pack, and they'd get an extra water bottle just in case. Jade recalled the routes, there was a forest somewhere up north, still untouched and settled in by a fae guide, if he could just-
The raccoon leapt up and hissed, running out of Jade's arms out the kitchen. Jade startled, "Wait-!"
"Run, little buddy, run!" A voice called from outside the kitchen, somewhere in the storefront. Jade scrambled up to chase after the raccoon and the voice. Both, faster than him.
By the Jade had made it to the front counter, the door of Sweet Pete's swung wildly. The raccoon clinging onto someone's shoulders as they ran off into streets, the moonlight barely illuminating them. Something tugged at Jade's mind, there was something familiar about the retreating figure.
"Wait! Wait, I won't hurt you!" Jade called out to no one as they ran out towards the street, the slippery fuckers were fast. Jade wanted to say she was faster, but each step forward was slow and heavy. "Wait up man, geez!"
----
"Stupid, stupid, stupid…" Charlie smacked himself with the raccoon hissing in his ear as they made it into an empty building. Sniffing out the charms and salt laid out on the second floor. A safehouse, Shepherd territory, but no one was here yet. "I knew people came around, I didn't think they'd come around at night!"
The raccoon continued to hiss, tugging at Charlie's vest. Tiny claws scratching at him. "I know! I know, but if I keep runnin', I might lead them to the gang! Fuck, is feeding time over this time of night? It's still pretty late. Fuck!"
He could hear footsteps coming from the outside. They didn't seem out of breath, but they had to get tired eventually…
Hopefully not in the wrong place, wrong time…
Derek's territory started just a few blocks down, did they want to chase them that far?
Charlie pressed up against a dark corner as the doorknob rattled, wishing the raccoon would quiet too. It kept hissing, hiding itself in the space between Charlie's back and the wall. The doorknob stopped rattling. He could hear them beginning to break into a run again, but…around the building. He glanced around, looking to see if there was a door he didn't notice. Nothing, all barricaded except the front. Maybe they were looking for-
Charlie bit down on his tongue to keep himself from screaming as a crossbow bolt hit his shoulder, the glass tip exploding and igniting to a burst of flames that caught onto his vest and shirt. He rolled to the ground, it wasn't salted but fuck it hurt.
The flames threw off his senses. By the time he smelt and heard the human, a heavy boot pressed down his chest and his skin sizzled as a makeshift spear was pointed at his throat. A mask, one of those smiling theatre masks with black cloth inside, stared down at him. Soft, hesitant voice calling out from underneath.
Diadem (Sugarboo) - His Jar (Intro), Bittersweet Naermyth AU, A Piece of Another Life (NM!BS), Savior (NM!BS), Snapshots, Home is Where the Heart Is (NM!BS)
Jade (Casper) - Their Jar (Intro), Naermyth AU L&S + ST, I Go if You Go, Happy Face, Sad Face (NM! AU), Patterns
What do you do when you're rotting from the inside?
The flesh gives and sinks as you try and feel for your organs, while you lay trapped and crying on your childhood bed. There is just so much there, there is your heart, your lungs, the stomach. A collection of puzzle pieces slotted together haphazardly inside a malfunctioning vessel.
You, Hollow, feel nothing but the meat and muscle within. It is nothing remarkable, you are nothing remarkable. And yet you worry your nerves thin about the emptiness there, somewhere between your puzzle pieces is the microscopic scratches of memory that something was there once.
Do you remember?
You turn, feeling for the walls in the darkness, old posters and dust scrape away under your nails. Gratefully, you had the sense to own drawers and shelves, so that the hoard of your dreams do not spill onto the floor. You cherish them, these dusty things, raise them above the filth of your floor. God forbid the maggots touch your treasure, God forbid the spiders make their webs.
You are, after all, still alive, Hollow.
Stumbling through your room, you step outside. The lights and colors disorienting you as your filthy feet stain the green carpet. In the other closed doors, you can hear people still living. Multiple voices overlapping as the cracks below their doors glow with changing lights. You look back inside your room, the light bulb does not flicker. You used to keep it on all day and night.
Still walking in a haze, you go to the exit. The bright red door containing smatterings of your fingerprints all over, oily and dusty marks that remain undisturbed in their patterns. It's shameful, Hollow, you are not the only one who uses this door. Have some consideration.
Ah, but you don't listen anymore, and push open the door without a care.
Hollow, where could you even go?
The sunlight reaches for you, dulling the buzz in your mind. You close your eyes and lift your head up, like a dog expecting something. Outside, the air is cold, fresh. Free from the scent of dust and mold you surround yourself with. You pollute it, be glad there is no one to witness you, Hollow.
You feel again for your organs, as if the lightness of the day will make it easier. Nothing there but flesh, nothing there but puzzle pieces. Your hand slides away, of course nothing would have changed, you just stepped outside for a little while. A momentary relief does not alleviate your ailments, Hollow. No matter how many of them you line up.
You had no sense to wear shoes or change into clothes other than the one you've worn for weeks. You can't even bring yourself to slink downstairs to get clean water, drinking out of the bathroom sink. Are you proud of yourself, Hollow?
Hollow.
Hollow.
My words are lost in the buzz of your mind again, the sunlight has whispered a temporary measure to you. Today, you have some notion that you might shower. Maybe. But as we approach your door, the thought fades away. You crawl back to your childhood bed and bury yourself in the blankets.
Wormlie Note: Had to go to the dentist, to cope with discomfort, I'm making my worms go to the dentist. (*Shakes Jade's Jar*)
---
Jade's dentist makes a call, Charlie has to make a Decision about it.
Charlie liked to think there was a level of trust he'd been afforded, and not something of Casper's carelessness, that let him poke around at their things a lot. Not that he did it much, it wasn't any of his business, really. But Jade dropped hints here and there. At least, Charlie thinks they were hints, things like...
"There's a master key to most of the upstairs doors in the house, I keep it in one of the couch cushions."
"I have some really cool stuff in the basement, plus a really sick gift a friend got me. I just swipe it open with a card or something to unlock it."
"My craft room's really cluttered, it takes me a while to notice if anything's missing. But I don't really mind."
They never really came with an invitation, though he'd been in the basement a few times with them and he'd gotten a kick out of looking at everything. But Cas would always lean in realll close after, give him a kiss on the nose and skip off to wherever while Charlie took a minute to catch his breath.
That was a hint...right? Like...Like right now.
"Here." Casper slipped her phone into Charlie's hands, undoing the ribbon in their hair to drape it over the sleeping DD. "Hold onto that while I shower, I'll meet you in bed, my sweet darling, light of my life, my special rat. It unlocks with a passcode, but I also have the fingerprint thing set up."
"O-okay, I'll take care of it."
Okay, so he wasn't really sure, if that was a hint or Jade was messing with him. Or this was one of those weird trust exercises he saw on a video once...Jade wouldn't do that, didn't seem the type. Maybe...
He hesitantly opened it, the lock screen fading to show off a photo of him and DD, 'I love you ♡' floating in glittering gems around both of them. An arrow in the background pointed at the gallery app. Charlie breathed out a sigh of relief, he got it.
Before he could properly poke around, the phone vibrated and the blaring ringtone had DD scurrying off him. He answered without thinking.
"Jade, finally. Please stop ignoring my calls, my contact is labeled 'answer now' for a reason. I-"
Charlie cleared his throat. "Hi, hi! Hello, um, not Jade. He's in the shower right now."
"Oh...and this is?"
"Uh, sorry, I'm, uh. I'm his boyfriend. Was just...holding onto his phone for him. Can I...uh, take a message?"
"Please and thank you. Alright, this will be easy then." He heard paper shuffling on the other side of the call, some soft chatter in the background. "Tell Jade that if he skips out on his dentist appointment again, I will, kidnap him and- I'm sorry what's your name?"
"Charlie."
"Charlie, listen, as his boyfriend, I'm sure you love Jade a lot and wish for the best for him, yes? So, I need you to listen to me carefully. For the greater good."
"Uh, honestly, I think I should hang up now and talk about this with them instead. Bye."
"Do not terminate the call." The voice grew frantic. "Mr. Charlie, I'm sorry, you don't understand. Jade has a cracked molar, I'm his dentist. I saw it during his last check-up and he ran off before I could do anything to fix it. He has...difficulty with many dental procedures and I was hoping you could convince them to come by tomorrow because that is a serious problem that could worsen over time."
Okay, now that sounded serious. And truthfully, they were having less makeout sessions lately. "Well maybe you should start with that and not the weird stuff you had on. 'Oh, you need to listen to me for the greater good.' You know how crazy that sounds?"
"I apologize! I was expecting to talk to my client and not their boyfriend. Jade...Mx. Tapia has a way of diverting conversations that I have to prepare for. Anyways, he has an appointment tomorrow at 1:30 pm. Please, please, for my sake. Get him there."
"I'll...do my best, What's the address?"
-----
"Open...Open your mouth, let me see!"
Jade laughed, rolling them both over to pin Charlie to the bed. He leaned down to pepper Charlie's face with kisses. "It's fine, it's fine! He was just spooking you. It's a tiny, aesthetic crack, no health risk at all."
"Casper." Charlie squirmed. Jade grinned, leaning down to nip at his neck. "H-hey! I'm tryna have a serious conversation with you right now."
"I know, I know." Jade pulled away and loosened her grip on Charlie's wrists, "Still not opening my mouth for you."
He frowned. Alright, if they were being so stubborn and squirrelly about it. He'd have to get a little creative. "DD, grab!"
The raccoon attacked from the dresser, flying at Casper to cover their eyes. Jade let go of Charlie, leaning forward to keep DD from falling. DD chittered with joy as they clung on tightly. It was Charlie's turn to laugh, pulling Casper ever so closer to plant his lips on their's.
He could feel Casper smiling as he squished their cheeks, popping their mouth open to a small 'o'. Squinting into it. "Open wider, Cas."
"Nuh-uh."
He pressed harder. "This is harder without a flashlight..."
Casper chuckled.
They tilted their head while Charlie examined the void of their mouth, pressing their tongue on the roof of their mouth for him. Charlie found what he was looking for, a jagged edge where a whole chuck of tooth was gone. "Cas! What were you eating?!"
"Itsh not a big deal." Casper open and closed her mouth when he let go. "Nothing exposed, nothing that hurts."
"Cas, we're going. I mean, it's not that bad! I'll be right there with you, if you want me to. DD, let go now, I'm worried you'll fall."
Casper eased off him, DD scurrying off to a soft spot on the bed. She settled down at Charlie's side, pulling him into her arms. "Easy for you to say, sweetiepie, love of my life. You're not the one in the chair. The tool sounds drive me crazy, all that clinking and scraping. When have you felt comfy in the dentist's office?"
"Well...I've never really liked it, but it's not like I've been recently."
Casper sat up abruptly. "How long?"
Charlie felt a presssing sense of doom. He chuckled nervously. "I mean, a while while. I don't really...got a lot of cash on hand for doctors or anything. So...yeah. Been some years."
Casper stared at him, laser focused. The same look that made Charlie squirm, but in a different, more fearful sort of way. "Cas..."
"...He takes walk-ins, you're getting checked out too."
"What? No! I couldn't, well, I could but...I don't want to, uh, impose? Look, I know you got cash to throw around but are you sure?"
Casper smiled brightly, their eyes lighting up as the thought settled in their mind. "Don't worry about it! If he's making time for me, there's time for you. He usually keeps his day empty for me anyway, can't sedate me so he needs all hands on deck to keep me from squirming."
It wasn't a bad idea, not at all, Charlie probably needed it. It wasn't like Pete's had insurance or anything and well, he had a lot of check-ups due. Overdue, really.
"I'll promise to behave if you get checked out~" Casper sang into his ear.
"Alright, alright, you drive a hard bargain. Deal, I'll get checked out after you get your teeth fixed."
Wormlie Note: Could not resist. This is my thing now. I'm building as much of a naermyth database as I can based on the book, for these purposes. The marriage of two areas of the wormsphere.
Charlie
Once a lost soul among a gang of others, Charlie was discovered by its transformed and dispirited leader, Derek. Being the one of the first he experimented the transformation drug on. He later meets Auron, who saves him from being eaten by other Naermyth, who reveals he owned the transformation drug that Derek used and that he wasn't supposed to be using. Charlie becomes Auron's rat from the inside and then later also Jessie's to help take down Derek's gang and aid in reversing the naermyth effects.
Jade "Casper" M. Tapia
A wanderer, her parents volunteered themselves into the Shepherds and were training and trying to push him into doing the same. They became a Shepherd after their parents died in a mission, however, fought with the Head Shepherd and decidedly left the human colony she was a part of. Became a wanderer and sometimes aids Shepherds now and again. Has been successful in speaking to some of the naermyth, when they're not trying to kill each other. Passing by a naermyth-human colony, they catch a glimpse of a familiar face. Causing them to settle within the city and attempt to catch it again.
Auron
A naermyth who used his stepfather's company and power to create a human-naermyth colony in his city. A cold, practical leader, he puppets the strings from behind as a more charismatic leader faces the public. While he is an open secret to the naermyth occupants of the city, Auron has taken measures and precautions against its human occupants. The company still runs, though now it runs as largely a communication center with different human and naermyth colonies or human colonies willing to work with more savory naermyth.
Naomi "Rook" Altair
The new current leader of the city after the unfortunate death of the previous one by a rogue gang of naermyth. Chosen by Auron in secret and shuffled up into their new position without complaint, Rook is not without her own ambitions. Tangled in the strings of a higher power, Naomi does her best to establish her own sense of order in the city. Going out of her way to retrieve information herself and carefully examining the city's forces as they come and go. She mingles frequently and without fear among the human populace without a mask, implementing better quality of life for them and seemingly is able to balance out favor with the naermyths.
Despite this, human resistance groups find that they can't seem to reach her at all.
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Seth reminisces an old mission, Sugarboo feels helpless to stop fate as it happens. Alphonse...rests.
Seth remembers the first changeling he killed.
It was on his third mission, he was herding a small family from a nearby town, quiet survivors of a shapeshifter attack. They'd lost a mother and their grandparents, now all that was left was a dad and two kids who didn't understand why Seth wouldn't let them play to the creature trailing behind them. A straggler that took the form of their mother, and that Seth had been warding away as well as he could.
He should've killed it as soon as he'd known it was there, but…
"You can talk to her for a little bit, but don't listen to her when she tells you to open the window or break off a charm." He'd told the children, he'd told the father, let them stay in the safe house until they were ready to say good-bye and it was easier for them to herd back to the city. The father had asked for a few more days, just until he had the strength to say good-bye and kill it himself. Even if it wasn't real. Seth couldn't say no.
Admittedly, the kids were great at listening. They'd listened when their dad explained why they couldn't play with their mom. Just like Covid, their dad had said, she needs to stay away for a little while. Until she gets better. Seth spent some nights, listening to him through the bedroom door as he talked about death with them. About the better place, about the great night-night.
They had a plan. When it was over, he and his kids would gather one last time, and say good-bye to mom. Then Seth and the dad would kill it with the blinds close, bury her under a tree with a short service.
All went out the window when it wasn't their mom anymore, but Seth's…Seth's mom.
Maybe it had given up or maybe it had figured something out in the dad's brain, because as soon as it wasn't his wife anymore, the father started banging on the windows. Begging and begging for that reflection of her back, Seth tried to stop him, but as soon as the changeling spotted the husband. It was too late.
No more wife, until it was let in.
It turned into every fucking person Seth ever knew, a slow turnstile of people he'd loved and hated, every trick in the book that he was trained for. It wasn't the changeling that bothered him, it was the father, he'd became jealous and unreasonable. As if Seth had any control over it. As if Seth wanted to see familiar faces goading him everyday about his past and mistakes.
It got to a point that Seth made up his mind, they'd been stalling for too long, and food was getting thin, and they still had a long way to go to the city. He made the mistake of tell the kids, he made the mistake of telling them they'd have to say good-bye.
The father had struck him from behind, Seth remembered hearing sorry. Seth remembered the kids screaming. Then the dark.
When he woke up again, he was in the dark, one kid clinging onto his jacket like it was a lifeline. The changing croons of its family just sitting outside the closet they were locked in. Seth didn't bother with good-bye anymore, he battered it with his eyes shut. Claws and teeth ripping at his clothes and skin, but all the mattered was that it needed to die. It had screamed in his mom's voice last, begging him to stop, begging him to forgive her.
Begging him to let her come home.
Somewhere back in the city, there was a kid using his old bat, taking up every changeling mission to beat his father as many times as he wanted.
------------------
"Sugarboo, get back to sleep before I wrangle you."
"Just…give me a few more minutes."
Dia had taken the news…As well as he could. Seth was careful when he explained things and Alphonse refused to look Dia in the eye. Or at Dia at all. It seemed that that Dia's blood had an…effect on Alphonse. It was sweeter, like all of Al's favorite candies. Like laffytaffy, like his folk's cooking, like everything he'd ever wanted to eat. It was just never apparent that humans had that effect on naermyth, Dia never left the walls at all, and Seth found himself thanking fate a million times over.
In the end, all Dia wanted was to be there when they left. All he wanted was good-bye before the next run.
The reassurance that their partner wouldn't follow them out of the walls was enough to get Alphonse to sleep. Enough to convince Alphonse to rest and recover, hopefully tomorrow, Seth and Dia could scavenge a few blood bags from the medical supply for him. To stave off the hunger until they had a gameplan for what to do next.
"Sugar…" Seth sat up, pulling Dia into a tight hug. "I'm not shuttin' my eyes until I'm sure you are too. So…tell me what's on your mind, let me get the weight off. And I'll cuddle you cause Al can't hog you this time."
Dia laughed weakly, turning to tuck himself into Seth's arms. Murmuring something soft. He looked up at Seth. "I don't like lying to Alphonse."
Seth sighed and laid back down with him. "Then don't, sugar. And don't lie to me either."
"I'm not letting you both go without me." Dia shut his eyes. "We're in this together, I'll come with. I'll figure out what to say to Al tomorrow."
"Sugar…"
"A naermyth turning a human is unheard of…I'm not…the best doctor, but if I can…I can do some research. Figure a little bit out, I can help. I can…"
Seth squeezed Dia tighter, kissing his forehead. "Or you can stay, you can stay and when we come back we tell you what we find out. You can stay and be safe and be here, and…Just be here so we know you're alive. That there's still a piece of our home still living. That no matter what happens out there, we know you'll be alright and that you'll see tomorrow. Bake plenty of cute little treats and…"
"And not know whether the people I love the most are alive or dead? Stay up every night praying to a god I abandoned just to beg him to give you both back to me no matter what? Live knowing that if neither of you come back, I'll have to be okay with having nothing to bury?" Dia said bitterly. "…Sorry, I'm just…tired. And scared. I don't know what will happen to you or to Alphonse. Or that Alphonse won't-can't stay here. This is…his home, and he's rough at the edges and I know that's difficult for some people but…he belongs here too."
"I know, Sugar, I know." Seth stroked Dia's back. It would be a dream, of course, to find a cure. Set everything back to the way it was, set it back to months ago when they all got together for the first time. Nothing was perfect, but it was getting better. They were getting better, healing, burying the past and carving a space out in the future for something new.
I was so happy, even when he looked like he hated me, I was so happy to see him. And nothing in the world mattered, because everything else was gone, but this was still here. He was here. And then you were here. I had the closest thing to peace I could find.
"Look, Sugar. I know this'll be tough but…Al and I, we'd rather-" Seth breathed out and tried not to cry. "We'd rather you mourned us than joined us, Dia. I don't think we could live with ourselves if we ever put you in danger. Or if you…passed. I think. I think you'd kill me twice over, sugar, I don't know how I could live with that. And I don't think Al could either."
Dia didn't respond, Seth pulled back to see his partner's face scrunched up and snoring. He smiled and pull him back in. "Never mind…I'll tell you tomorrow, sugar."
He thought back to the changeling, that last surviving kid. Seth almost lost himself after that mission, was ready to throw himself into the deadliest, worst mission he could find. The kid could've had a family still, a brother, a father. And sure the world was shit, but they had each other then. Almost.
Life was funny that way.
Grief…was funny that way. It made him numb inside, but the kid wouldn't leave him alone, something angry and hurt and lost. A bitter mix with a rage ready to point at something. No matter how hard Seth wished, it was never at him. He saw himself, angry at the world, punishing it for taking away what it couldn't give back. They were so little, barely taller than Seth's bat. Seth trained them, he had to, he owed them that at least.
All that fighting wouldn't bring their family back, but it was one less monster, one less creature to take someone else's.
A Piece of Another Life (Bittersweet Naermyth! AU)
Wormlie Note: Finallyyy writing something whole for this AU. I've been relistening and rereading, but I've not gotten any smarter at it. Anyways! Here's the first piece for the Naermyth AU, yay! Hope y'all have fun with it and the worms appreciate you.
Dia blinked awake again, leaning on the cabinets as the pot on the stove simmered. He'd been up and about all day, a shepherd team had practically rammed against Willowbrook's walls, begging and pleading to be let in. They were herding patients from a hospital that had been overrun by ghouls, too many sick people, too many vulnerable people out and about was basically walking buffet for the naermyth. A pack of hellhounds tracked them since they left the hospital and Willowbrook was the closest safe haven they could find. At the very least…they brought enough medical supplies and equipment for their herd, if Dia worked with the town's limited supply…
He shook his head, shutting off the stove once the soup. The gas can was woefully low, but after today, Dia deserved hot canned food rather than eating it straight and passing out. In the back of his mind, he idly reminded himself to tell Al to put in the list of the next supply run. "Al, I-"
The words died away, Dia's heart squeezed as he slowly crouched down to the floor. Breathing shakily as he counted the tiles. Right, right. He'd forgotten.
A month and three days.
A month and three days since his partners left on a supply run.
Dia took a deep breath and stood back up, taking the ladle and eating straight from the pot. He'd made too much again, soups didn't deal well without a fridge and god there were so many people, so many people he could share it with. But he worked hard to save them, that was enough, they couldn't take this too, they couldn't. God, he was allowed comfort right? He was allowed to-
"Fuck!" Dia warbled as he coughed and spat into the sink. Tears in his eyes as the heat finally settled in, his mouth steaming as he downed a water bottle.
Al would have laughed. Laughed a little before he was kissing Dia, said something sweet about being impatient or how he didn't have to eat that way or how- And Seth. Seth tell him something about burn treatment. A habit from his mentorship days. Then he'd stop and blush and ask what Dia needed and they'd-
The fantasy of it slipped from Dia's mind, exhaustion ready to put him to sleep if he didn't get up and shake it off. The soup was probably…a little colder now.
Dia ate slowly, touching the heated side of the pot each time he felt himself drifting off. Tomorrow he could rest, do a final check on his patients, determine who was fit enough to keep traveling, who had to stay until the next herding period and who…needed to be burnt as soon as possible. He'd say good-bye and sleep the rest of the day off, and maybe the next one, and then the next.
------
"Seth!"
Seth loaded the crossbow and shot without a second thought, the hellhound bursting into flames as the salted bolt dug into its side. He tried not to flinch as the ashes fell over Alphonse. "Keep your mouth closed!"
"I would if I could! You-" Alphonse coughed as he jumped back up, shaking off as much of the dust as he could. "Fuck, why's there a pack of hellhounds so close to town?"
"I don't know." Seth kept the crossbow up as he scanned the area, this was too close. Far too close to town. Some of the hellhounds had blood on them, was it… "Maybe a herd was passing through, I don't hear any warning sirens or shepherd warning flags. It's- The town's probably alright. The vines haven't come down since the Fall, right?"
"No." Alphonse walked beside Seth. "Don't get me wrong, we got to see some of it…Lost a couple of folks. But when the walls came up, they stayed up. Took us a while to even get the gate goin'."
Seth breathed slowly as he lowered the crossbow. "They might kill us if they're being too through…How's…everything? Still hungry?"
"I'm fine, don't worry 'bout me. The, uh, blood bag we got is doing the trick. And you've loaded me with so much protective shit my skin's itching all around like its on fire."
"Well keep 'em, I don't know if we'll fool the dogs. But I've done every Shepherd check in the book, no one's gonna know you aren't human unless they're busting out lab equipment."
Alphonse snorted. "Like they've got the time. Hey, you better whip those guys into shape. Just cause the walls are great doesn't mean they should be slacking off on guard duty."
"I would agree with you…But-" Seth's gaze briefly flicks to Alphonse and then away. "-Right now, we need them to be the laziest, sloppiest guards in the whole damn country. If they get suspicious, well…There isn't much we can say to our boy while we're runnin'."
Alphonse's cocky smirk fell, his eyes flashing red beneath the contacts. Seth cleared his throat as the nails they filed down earlier started to sharpen again. Seth spoke quickly. "We said we'd go back to tell him, I know you think it's better if he doesn't know. But I've seen it, Al. People who sit by the fences and walls…Waiting and waiting. And I know him, no matter how important he is, he'll barrel through the Shepherds in town and get out running after us."
"I know that." Alphonse said with strain as flexed his hands. The nails stopped growing. "I just…I don't want him out here. I hate that no matter what I think of, no matter what I think or do. None of it can keep him safe. None of it can keep you safe. It's some fucked up karma, maybe. And I wish I would've known before I went and-"
"Stop. Al, you didn't know. We both thought he died, didn't know Derek was a monster all throughout. You don't have to kick yourself for tryin' to live. I won't let you." Seth reached out to hold Alphonse's hand, squeezing tightly. "Now c'mon…Dia's probably up waiting for us. The least we can do is try."
----
Dia groaned as he felt himself being shifted from the couch, mumbling curses as he squirmed in the arms of whoever held him up. A familiar voice laughed. "C'mon, Boo, I'm strong, but I'll drop you if you keep squirming around like that."
"Al?" Dia struggled to open his eyes, reaching to grasp and feel. A soft kiss met his cheek, Dia's heart fluttered.
"Go back to sleep, babe, we can talk in the morning. Seth's washing up."
"No, no, no. I don't. I'm not having this dream again, if you're-" Dia laughed dryly as they clung onto Alphonse. It felt real, and the brief times he could open his eyes he though he saw Alphonse. But how could he be sure? "Wake me up, please. Please. If this isn't a dream then wake me up so I can-"
Dia had kissed Alphonse hundreds of times before, in different moments, with different feelings. Each time, it always felt light, like Dia was floating and so, so happy. This time it felt as if he'd touched a live wire, an electrifying feeling than ran through his body and had him jolted awake in a second. Eyes opening wide as he was thrown onto the bed.
Alphonse was on him in the blink of an eye, robbing him of breath as they kissed again. Sharp teeth scraping at Dia's lips and letting the blood run between both of them. Alarm bells rang out in Dia's head, his stomach turning as the realization set in.
A naermyth had breached the walls. Wearing Alphonse's face.
Dia pulled away with a gasp as he knocked his head against the naermyth, coughing as blood ran down the sides of his mouth. "Help! Naer-mph!"
The naermyth looked panic as it slammed a hand over Dia's mouth. Dia struggled and squirmed, shutting his eyes to keep himself from looking. He didn't want to see Alphonse on that…that creature's face and- Oh, god, did that mean Alphonse was? No, no, he couldn't have…But how else-
"Alphonse, stop! Get off him!"
The weight above him disappeared, Dia scrambled off the bed. Pulling the dagger underneath the mattress as he stumbled and pressed himself against the wall. Seth had the false Alphonse pinned down, large bat-like wings banging against the floor.But Dia noticed that he didn't seem to be reaching for the knife at his hip at all. Dia had to- had to-
"Seth…What's going on? How did…it get past the salt in the doorway…the nightwatch, the…" Dia stumbled over his words as he watched Seth soothe 'Alphonse.' The naermyth seemingly bursting into tears as it touched the blood in his face. Seth leaned down to kiss its forehead. He looked back to smile at Dia.
"Sorry, sugar. We thought…Look, it's alright. Sit down, we'll explain as best we can. And uh…I'll get Al to calm down."
Dia slowly lowered the dagger, "That's not Al, Seth. Not our Al."
Seth looked back and shook his head. Dia's heart sunk, Seth looked guilty…and sad. There was a flare in the drawers, if Dia lit it and sent it out one of the windows, one of the Shepherds would come running.
Dia sat down on the couch, the dagger laying on his lap.
Following is just a ramble about Wormlie writing out the Naermyth AU and what they plan to do with it...Probably...
Not to stir my own damn pot, but rereading Naermyth to extract lore for the Bittersweet AU has left me with the BRILLIANT (not that brilliant, like a tiny led light brilliant) idea of expanding it to include Auron, Charlie, Rook, and Casper. Maybe Faust and his respective listener if my research is complete. Admittedly, I am not fully scoped into the rest of the Beyond, and juggling with this plus a whole scope of WIPs and also me being terrible at research and consistently retaining lore...I mean I know it's not required, but I think running Evalas through the Naermyth is not gonna work out. So Finn is out of the picture, but definitely referenced, I like to think that the vines around Willowbrook are a Finn thing. Honestly, I'm just yapping and rambling, thoughts to the void.
Or maybe it isn't so wrangling as I think it is, writing self-indulgent pieces feels a little awful to me. I like reading them, but honestly, writing them feels a little awful but joyous. The act of creation feels wonderful and joyous. But being set on the act of creation by other people feels so hesitant and frightening. Like I'm afraid to break the steps they laid out and the ground will swallow me up for the transgression.
Then I remind myself why I started doing all this and that is. To beat the anxiety back one word at a time. Because letting all of it sit and revolve in your head is gonna cause the worms inside to start squirming to escape you. And you best believe I have to build a path for them out or they're going to drill holes everywhere. (JADE, THIS IS WORMY JADE'S FAULT, I HAVE A SCAPEGOAT AND THAT SCAPEGOAT IS JADE. Jkjk, Jade, dw it's not your fault, the first worm that started talking to me was Dia so technically kind of his fault. But not really. Because well...figments of my imagination that I give voices to and then they start talking to me.)
Jade is a newer worm in the wormsphere! Existing only as a concept and only recently growing into a full fledged worm, Jade has quickly rooted themselves in the wormsphere and causes the most chaos out of all the worms existing. Jade is the 'Casper' in Charlie's life. Quick and confident, Jade never lets themself doubt, taking the world in stride with a stubbornness that refuses to be quelled. A whirlwind that crashes around to carve a path they can walk.
Jade dislikes being perceived as one way for too long, or being settled as one thing, changing interests and identities as it suits them. She likes knowing people, and can chat up a storm with anyone. Though when asked why he liked being so contrary to himself, Jade only smiles and says she likes to surprise people. Though they do have a few favorite 'personas' they like to cycle through.
Due to this, however, Jade has a spotty work record, with her longest occupation being their current one as a chauffeur for...reasons. She goes on and off as a tattoo artist, and despite their best efforts, he does have a small group of friends that see through her and supports her.
Jade is consistent on a few things, and one of them is his deep love for aliens and alien stories. Especially those that lean towards a non-humanoid exploration of aliens and extraterrestrial species. Believes whole heartedly that aliens are real but doesn't seem troubled by the idea that they may be hostile or aggressive to humans. ("I don't know what else to tell you, but personally, I think it'd be great to dissect one and then hotwire my brain to it's to get a real feel of being an alien, ya know?")
That's the second worm jar cracked open! And Jade's out and off to make trouble in the wormscape. If anyone feels inclined to have more thoughts about them or from them, ask for the Escapee.
Dividers By: @saradika-graphics
Picrew link: https://picrew.me/en/image_maker/449524 by @mariablowers
Based on Naermyth (By Karen Francisco, great book, please read it, see notes below AU.)
In a post-apocalyptic world following a war, known as the The Fall, with mythological creatures (naermyth), the world struggles to find a balance as the dust settles and is stirred up again. In this world, the small town of Willowbrook is a small safe haven against the cruel unforgiving world, protected by a strange wall of thorns and vines that seem to have a mind of their own...
Terms to Remember (Because Naermyth content online is a dry well):
Naermyth: A mythological creature, may also be called Conquerors, encapsulate things such as werewolves, faeries, duwendes, sigbin, aswang. Most naermyth are nocturnal and vulnerable to salt, killing a naermyth with anything but a salted or specialized weapon will allow them to heal and come back. Higher naermyth are capable of magic and are harder to kill.
Shepherd: Specialized naermyth killing soldiers, often are tasked with herding survivors into human colonies and protecting said colonies. Always recruiting, get trained on field. Most Shepherds are concentrated in high density areas.
Naermyth! Alphonse
Owner of a convenience store turned survival store, Alphonse is also one of the town's self-designated supply runners. Despite facing the terror of the outside world on a regular basis, Alphonse seems to be wholly himself, a mischievous smooth-talker who likes to jab and jibe at people. Out on the field, however, Alphonse is a whole different person. It's a known fact though out the community to never send anyone out with Alphonse, the last person who did came back so shaken they refused to leave their home again. And while Alphonse claims they were saving them from a group of changelings, the townsfolk don't linger around him much after a supply run.
Even with the mythological nature of their enemies, Alphonse remains a skeptic, carrying minimal protective charms and tools. However, he has a good memory of the Shepherd's Rulebook and Naermyth Catalogue. He is not well-liked among the Shepherds guarding Willowbrook, but he is begrudgingly appreciated for his skills as a supply runner.
Despite his reputation, Alphonse is also known for being fiercely protective, especially with the people he loves the most.
When Seth returns, now a senior Shepherd, he has a sense of both relief and pain, alongside a while mix of emotions of his past returning. Alphonse is hell bent on ignoring him until he leaves, until Seth is the one who denies his application for a supply run, with Seth pointing out that supplies hasn't gone low yet and implying that Alphonse is running from something or someone. They press each other's buttons and when it almost escalates into a fight, Dia steps in. Having meant to try and join Alphonse again.
Naermyth! Seth
Seth was released from prison and recruited into the Shepherds, a good if not cocky field agent. Becoming a mentor for survival skills and quickly rising up to a Senior Shepherd position. On one of his missions, he was assigned to check on the Willowbrook haven on the research efforts on the strange vines that walled the area. Reluctant, but dutiful, Seth went. Having a tense reunion with Alphonse and surprisingly, meeting Alphonse's partner, Diadem.
With Diadem's intervention and some secretly kept sugary treats, Seth and Alphonse manage to have conversation about their past and how life has been since the Fall. They agree to keep in touch after Seth's assignment in Willowbrook is finished and Aphonse and Dia extend their home to Seth if he ever drops by Willowbrook again.
On his return trip, Seth was attacked and traveled a long way back to stumble into Willowbrook to be found by Alphonse. From his vague mumbles, they learn that Derek and his crew may have been turned or were naermyths. Seth's stay in Willowbrook is extended as he bonds and heals with Alphonse and Diadem, and is he is eventually permanently assigned as a Shepherd there. Finding some peace and safety.
However, the worry of Derek and his crew still roaming and possibly waiting outside the walls of Willowbrook still haunts Seth.
Naermyth! Diadem ("Sugarboo")
A young nurse who had moved to Willowbrook before the war and remained there long after. Diadem works tirelessly as the town's de facto doctor alongside the one other assigned Shepherd doctor. Has learned to deal with Naermyth-induced afflictions and is the only person that checks on Alphonse after his supply runs. Diadem lives with Alphonse, having converted his original home into a clinic and research office. Apart from his work as a nurse, he helps out at the bakery and whenever they find supplies for him to make something other than bread, it's a great treat for the whole town.
He loves Alphonse dearly and has tried taking up Shepherd training to join him on supply runs, though he's been given some training, the Shepherds refuse his requests. Refusing to lose a good doctor especially to a runner with Alphonse reputation. Alphonse also discourages him. ("There's parts of me that you're better off not seeing at all.")
Later on, Diadem helps repair Alphonse and Seth's tense relationship, and is there to help them both heal as scars from the past begin to open up. Expanding the spaces of his heart for both his boys.
Diadem understands his importance, but worries due to his inability to protect both Seth and Alphonse when they're away. Seth has been able to limit Alphonse's supply runs for Al's protection, and is able to run with Al himself. Though Dia still worries as the both of them seem somber or distant after each supply run.
Dividers By: @saradika-graphics
Wormlord Note: Okay! Listen, listen to worm lord. READ Naermyth by Karen Francisco. It's a YA post-apocalyptic novel that happens after myth/mythological creatures in the world turns out to be true (in some fashion as there's a structure to this but anyways-!) and take over the world in a war (that wormlord calls The Fall). Aside from my love of rep for filipino mythology, I love the premise and while I think parts of the story are rough, I believe it is still a good read and honestly this AU is propaganda not only for my OC but that book. (Haven't read the second one yet, but oh boy when I get my hands on it).
I admit, it's not a super accessible book, I was lucky enough to find it I think you can still order from Avenida the revised edition (https://www.myavenida.com/products/naermyth-new-edition-revised-and-illustrated), I don't know its status internationally. But please! Please if you manage to get it, know that the worms love you and appreciate you.
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Meet the worm, Diadem! Worm Type: Sacrificial Lamb
Diadem was created as an OC Listener for the Bittersweet boys, being the longest existing worm in the wormscape! He is also the most consistent as his story has gone through the fewest iterations. A young nurse who moved into the small town of Willowbrook with a penchant for photography and an eye for pretty things. A man that can't help but fall in love and open his heart no matter how bruised and battered it gets.
Diadem is a kind and gentle soul, and is largely pleasant company but he has a tendency of being aloof and deflecting of his actual thoughts. He doesn't mean to lie, but he omits things out of habit. He's been getting better at it, and he's given the people he cares about an obvious tell if he happens to be hiding something that he wants to say but can't seem to. (Impulsive braiding of his hair or fiddling with his chip bracelet)
While Dia has faith in people and trusts their heart to meet the goodness in them, disappointment and heartbreak from people he's trusted has lead to a measure of distance between him and others. It's not so obvious, seeing as he's generally helpful. But he's the kind of person where thinking about him too long makes you realize you don't much about him at all. Dia also doesn't actively ask for anyone's help unless he particularly trusts them, preferring to do most things by his tastes.
A good sign of his trust if he invites you to listen to his mystery podcasts or look at a mystery puzzle packet with him. After that, if you find that the puzzle packet or your notes have been framed or hung up in the house somewhere, you've got a key to his heart immediately. He doesn't do it often, but an abuse of trust and he might just beat you with the frame.
Diadem used to be religious and part of his faith still shines through. It's a sensitive topic for him as the church was his first family and community, but he can never reconcile the kind people who loved and cared for him with the same people that shunned him or rejected parts of him no matter how hard he tried to make up for the difference. He still occasionally goes to the local church to help out, but he's not sticking around for the preaching.
Overall, there's a lot more on Dia that I can't fit in this one post (Because everything I have written about him spans 3,000 words and continuing), but I hope this brief view into this worm jar tells you enough about him! Because I'm a nervous wreck, Dia is mostly going to show up in Bittersweet AU shorts, as the Bittersweet daydream running in my head is so incredibly self-indulgent and not fit for outside consumption. If anyone feels inclined to have more thoughts about him or from him, request for the Sacrificial Lamb jar.
Dividers By: @saradika-graphics
Picrew link: https://picrew.me/en/image_maker/684058 by nase_nikyuu