Cantina “El Árbol del Jaguar”
SELVADORADA
MORGYN
“I knew you’d be here,” Ana shouted, waving them over to the table. Morgyn took a seat and got straight to the point.
“Why are you depressed?”
“I’m not depressed.”
Morgyn gave her a cool look. “You came to my house wearing a bird on your head and an evening gown. You and Vladislaus are two little dysfunctional peas in a pod, wearing your hearts on your expensively tailored sleeves.”
She narrowed her eyes, “And will you and William be attending marriage counseling or just griping until one of you slices the other one open?”
“We’re perfectly happy,” Morgyn replied, the lie effortless.
“Perfectly unhappy,” Luna snorted as she tossed back more of her beer.
“Luna is so wise, isn’t she? Everyone can see it. Besides, you’re in a bar with a woman whose last words to you were, ‘If you choose Vladislaus over me, I will scorch the earth of everything you love.’ You’re definitely not well.”
“So you do remember!” Morgyn gasped, already enjoying themselves.
“Yes,” Ana took a long sip of her drink. “And I apologize. I was having a rough century.”
Been there, done that. Morgyn shrugged. “Water under the bridge. So what’s this quest?”
“My girlfriend has been kidnapped by werewolves.”
“Ex,” Luna squeaked. Then looked embarrassed, “I mean—”
“Don’t listen to her. She’s had four of those, and she’s a lightweight,” Ana scowled. “Do you, or do you not want to go on a werewolf-killing rampage with me?”
Morgyn sat back, considering their options. They hadn’t set foot in Moonwood Mill since the whole debacle with the Moon. She loved to spin a complicated tale of being opposed by the gods, but the truth was that she’d pissed Sulis off, and Morgyn, being a good friend, had gone to mete out punishment. It might be fun to see her since she and Sulis were BFFs again.
“I’m a parent,” they said instead, “I can’t just leave whenever I want.”
“You’re one of three. Tell them you need space to clear your head and come hunting with me,” Ana pouted.
“I’ll give you two days.”
“Three weeks.”
“One week, and that’s my final offer, vampire.”
She grinned. “I accept. Now let’s get you that drink I promised. We need to be good and drunk before I confess all my personal drama.”
Cliffside Woods
WINDENBURG
WILLIAM
What he was doing was not smart. He knew that. If Sulis or Morgyn pulled this, William would be all over them.
But Latimer’s call had been desperate. Sulis was too busy after a fight with Morgyn, and their dear spouse had fucked off to occult knew where and wasn’t answering their phone. That left William with few options. With a huff, he dumped the last of the body parts into the raging bonfire he built while eying the carrier to make sure it wasn’t too close.
Once things were sorted, he lifted the baby out and strapped him to his back. “There, are you not feeling safer closer to Daddy?”
The baby gurgled, and William glared at the fire. It chafed that his brother hadn’t even bothered to ask for William’s help himself. “Your uncle, who you will never meet, is terribly messy. I would never have left him this nonsense to clean up, and if I did, I’d call myself.”
His son’s response was a burp and giggle. Typical of a baby to take Vladislaus’s side. It was probably for the best his brother didn’t call. The likelihood that he’d pick up on the crying in the background was higher than Latimer, who William knew for a fact was in need of hearing aids and stubbornly refused to buy them.
The baby started getting fussy, probably due to the smell of burning flesh, which William had to admit, wasn’t exactly pleasant. He began to sing just to make the little one feel better. “How did I make such a mess? How did your daddy and your Morgyn and your Sulis make such a perfect little creature when we are such foul creatures ourselves?”
It was a question that plagued him. He felt suffocated by his family and, at the same time, desperate for their affection. The baby was perfect, and this little life he’d built with Morgyn and Sulis was everything he dreamed of, but now, he couldn’t settle down to enjoy it. He felt the press of certain doom around every corner, and try as he might, he couldn’t get the rhythm right.
He moved away from the fire towards the lake. Water always made him feel at peace.
“What shall we call you?” he teased as he walked, “Rollington? Mauve? Chip?”
William was thrilled that he was rewarded with a giggle, but he quickly realized it was the fish jumping out of the water that had caught his son’s attention. “Ah, would you like your da to catch one for you? I’m verra fast, you know. That’s what set your Morgyn’s eyes upon me long ago before you were even a wee twinkle!”
But when William leaned forward to snatch the fish—an easy feat—he was suddenly falling. Not into water…
But into nothingness.
WCIF (Where Can I Find?)
In addition to the CC I regularly use in the game and buildings from the Fleuralia Save File, I used the following builds and custom content. This story takes a ton of mods and cc, so if you see your work and I failed to tag it somewhere, please message me.
POSES & ANIMATIONS
Pose Request #196 by Sciophobis
Carrying their Pieces by Natalia-Auditore
Solo Pose Falling by bignaicc
At least we have beer Posepack by Siimplysims
Sparks in the Eyes by Sciophobis
SP Pose Request #201 by Sciophobis
Beautiful Friendship by Simmerberlin
[TV] Are You Ok? Pose by Tatiana
Sad Hugs by Atashi77
Pose Request #201 by Sciophobis
Pose Request #196 by Sciophobis
Pose Request #190 by Sciophobis
Pose Request #197 by Sciophobis
Pose Request #175 by Sciophobis
Pose Requestion #174 by Sciophobis
Sparks in the Eyes by Sciophobis
Reading Letter – 3 Posepack by Natalia-Auditore
Pose Request #196 by Sciophobis
Solo Pose Falling by bignaicc
CAS & BUILD/BUY
Baby Car Seat by SimmerKate
Body Pieces by Natalia-Auditore
Polo Neck and Slacks by Kleos
Men’s Shoes Collection by Jius
Haute Couture 2022 Collection by Sentate
Oof. That little flash terror from Vlad at “I died” says it all. I have no doubt that Vlad blames himself for letting it get to that point, even though he wasn’t even anywhere near the place before and did all he could. He’s going into overdrive taking care of her, too. It’s good to be protective but overprotective would just make her feel like she can’t do anything, wouldn’t it?
The whole scene with Anastasia and Morgyn hiding a baby is wild but I’m stuck wondering why on earth Ana is wearing a bird skull and antlers more than anything 😆
A zombie. That’s a new one. I don’t think that’s it, Alice. She seems equal parts bothered about what she’s going through as Vlad is turned on by it 😂 I wonder if Gwendolyn always saw Alice like that and that’s why she’s unfazed. Or maybe it’s just because it’s Gwendolyn.
Oh no, William is an overprotective dad 🤣 seems like it’s a theme in this chapter.
[Let Vladislaus be happy in the one universe where his trauma is long past, and the love of his life is merely an anomaly] Dang, Morgyn knows exactly what is going on with everything. This is beyond fourth-wall-breaking. It’s dimension-wall-breaking. And completely in-character, too 😆 Morgyn and Sulis’s multi-dimensional talk is making my head hurt. For someone who claims he doesn’t play 18-dimensional chess, Morgyn sure is good at playing.
[“I’m not depressed.”
Morgyn gave her a cool look. “You came to my house wearing a bird on your head and an evening gown. You and Vladislaus are two little dysfunctional peas in a pod, wearing your hearts on your expensively tailored sleeves.”] My question has been answered. Oh, I laughed too hard at this.🤣
Whoa! What is that red portal thing? And what happened to William and Will Jr? 😮
SORRY I AM VERY LATE TO THIS X_X
‘They’re an old friend who hates me’ XD Morgyn and Ana looking cute as always < 3 smoochsmooch. Oooooh the veins and the eye thing on Alice… Yeah, this is going to be rough for a while. Don't worry Alice, the long-term 'monster' can help you get used to the 'monster-y' stuff. The guilt will bite for a long time, I guess kinda like with Penny…and they both have a lot to get used to with their new(ish)found powers. I love these two so damn much. The Operation Eternal Flame discussion was a bit yikes. That's the only problem with going out with someone who's one thousand years old. How much do you let slide as being 'in the past' and how much still stays with you as something to be very concerned about?
Not sure if I trust the embodiment of Untamed magic with a child XD Good ol Latimer reassuring Alice < 3 Morgyn without magic is a depressing thought ;-; Though it…I want to say it would be good if they could get it back but…I'm not so sure XD Untamed and the Goddess of Reason…what an interesting combination haha.
“Well, unless your friend Penny is a member of the occult, we can’t use her help no how.” FUNNY YOU SHOULD SAY THAT LATIMER! OH BOY! I had to laugh at the 'Latimer is the sanest person in the house' tag XD Burning humanoid flesh in a bonfire with a babbling baby on your back is so unbelievably The-Strauds-core LMAO.
OKAY the falling into nothing freaked me the fuck out. All I saw was emptiness and then a blurred shoe and I actually shit myself because I thought I was seeing things X_X That kid is going on an adventure into…well…nothing…The portal rising out of the water was awesome, reminded me a bit of an Oblivion gate from ES.
I love writing Morgyn and Ana together, omg they are the bffs we all deserve. They have similar parenting styles, I think lol. Although, listen, any child that has a thousand year-old vampire, the embodiment of untamed magic, and a goddess for parents is gonna be able to survive anything.
I think Latimer is the most sane person in the house hahahaha. I mean, Vlad is not well, and we shall have to see what Alice evolves into. Her and Penny are definitely dealing with the same influx of information, but I think its gonna be interesting to see how they deal with it. We already know that Penny cannot process guilt in a healthy way AT ALL.
I am coining Strauds-core as an official tag for chapters that are particularly unhinged lololll thank you
Ugh, Vlad’s terror at Alice saying she died is giving me all the feelings 😭 Even though it didn’t “stick”, he will never forgive himself.
I love Luna. Only someone who grew up in Jacques’ house could ever be this level-headed considering the things she’s seeing. I love Morgyn and Ana’s relationship, they just want to gossip over a glass of some unholy concoction and let their hair down, dammit.
OF COURSE VLAD IS HORNY FOR POSSIBLE-ZOMBIE-ALICE
Seriously though, Vlad is like, the idea boyfriend for someone who just discovered they are some sort of monster or worse.
But also PUMP THOSE BRAKES HOMEBOY. Still gotta work on that communication.
I love that Gwen is unfazed by the way Alice looks. Of course she would be. Gwen was born unfazed. Except when Monster Daddy doesn’t have time to play (or refuses to buy cookies, wait, I am mixing up my universes again)
You know Vlad has been through it when he sleeps. Damn.
Oh god William, can you be more Vlad about your child? No, no you cannot. WHAT ARE YOU HIDING? (ACTUALLY THAT GOES FOR EVERYONE. EVERY. SINGLE. UNHINGED. INDIVIDUAL IN THIS OCCULT-FORSAKEN MESS OF A FOUND FAMILY)
“If Latimer’s eyebrows lifted any higher, they’d be in space.” 😂😂😂
Latimer has immaculate dad vibes though, 10/10. Definitely the only sane person around. Or at least the most sane-ish.
OMG Sulis is a menace and I love her. In a cast of unhinged characters, she has utterly left the doorframe.
“And then Vlad came through like a fucking wrecking ball.”
FEROSH. GIRL. Twin, you can’t do this and not expect me to reply with THIS: https://i.imgur.com/dFuC0Pq.jpg
“Justine,” Alice finished. “I know. Jerry’s mom was always perfectly polite, but at dinner, she’d be so on edge that Clive would ask her to leave the room.” Alice shivered, “What an asshole.”
CLIVE AND JERRY MUST DIE. PAINFULLY. HORRIBLY.
EYEPATCH MCGEE?? I DEMAND RESPECT FOR DADDY DON – except Grim is not Daddy Don and also that is fucking hilarious.
“His son’s response was a burp and giggle. Typical of a baby to take Vladislaus’s side” lololol, To Be Named knows what’s up!
OK so this red portal rising ominously from the water is cool as hell but all I can think of is Pink’s knife-dick Vlad rising slowly from a hot tub and I am dead 💀