systemofthehorde:

Monsterhugger is just ace/aro/non-sexual attraction to monsters. I say this as an ace and to coin the term (unless someone else has but idk) it can be romantic or platonic, etc

Edit: exclutionists, terfs, etc DNI

Oh hey this is me!

monsterkinkmeme:

“So how’d you two meet anyway?” she asked, looking from you to the colossal orc beside you, holding your hand as if it were delicate little flower.

“Would you believe me if I said I broke his nose?” you grinned.

[Rating: Citrus
Orc (male) x Reader
Content: there is a nice house, a broken nose, swearing and pure fluff]

Yeah. That had happened. With a smile you remembered the time two years ago and weren’t unwilling to tell the story.

That day you had been there, again. ‘There’ being an adorable abandoned house not too far from your own home. The difference was, well, everything. Your home was a tiny two-room miracle in a big apartment house, one that smelled like dust and concrete even after you had tried to scrub it hundred times and even put some scented candles to burn. It had also weirdly thin walls, so you knew for a fact your left neighbour always practiced their violin exactly 21:15 every Monday to Friday, and the neighbour to your right loved rough activities in their bedroom. The rent was cheap though, so you told yourself it was worth it.

And once you had found the abandoned house a few blocks away, it felt like you had come to your real home. 

Keep reading

Also on Ao3: Click

–

Rhokgar would leave the next morning as he had done in the earlier ones. I doubted he had any real reason to as he seemed very distracted in his movements. I’d watch him like a hawk, watch all the little mistakes he did and how he needed a double take in some of his preparations. I glued my lips together to not say any word too much, curling to myself, and only letting my shoulders fall when he walked out of the door. A tired breath escaped my lips and I needed to concentrate for a few minutes, eyes closed. I weaved a plan for the day, for I needed everything to be perfect, and courage in my heart. Both tasks seemed close to impossible but I knew I had no choice.

I had thought about it some, but I only knew I needed to go all out. Thus I made myself stand, hearing a disapproving pop from my knees. I walked to the nearest stream on the forest-side we had used for properly washing ourselves while we had stayed on the cabin. Water had started to become cold this time of the year and I hoped we would be gone soon. The hut wouldn’t keep us warm through the winter, nor would the area feed us. I shuddered in the contact of crystal clear stream water, though it also seemed to nicely cool my head, steeling my mind for the upcoming.
I returned to the hut calmer and warmed and dried myself, grabbing the brush to straighten my hair. I’d braid it, though the result wasn’t anything fancy like Rhokgar could make, but it was neat and clean, and hopefully a good enough statement. I then put on new clothes and made our bed and threw some stray tools on their respective places and some empty sack to the pile of laundry. Finally I rummaged through our stack of food items. I chose the best; dried rabbit meat, selection of root vegetables and some early mushrooms I had found yesterday, and started to prepare a soup. I wanted it to be tender and left the meat to cook on small fire. I needed to make a detour outside to collect certain herbs, after which I yet again returned inside, seeing that the meat was doing good. I added the vegetables and let the soup boil some more. Sighing, I looked out of the window - I knew it would be time soon, and hurried to add the mushrooms too, leaving the pot of food on the embers. Instinctively I bit my lip as I walked to the crate where my clothes were. The topmost garment was revealed under the lid - it was the dotted, beautiful, brown and white pelt… I took it, raising it on my eye level on the air. I felt weird looking at the item, and even weirder as I folded my arms against my body, hugging the fur to my chest.
With a smooth motion I threw it on my back and looked myself from the mirror. Slight blush decorated my cheeks and I concluded it must be too hot inside with the fur. I bit my lip again and fumbled with my hands, finally coming up with the idea that it would seem more normal if I was in the middle of something when Rhokgar arrived…
I picked up my herb basket and went outside, walking a circle and picking up a few things.

I would end up walking circles for a few more moments, building up my nervousness with every passing round, until I heard a sound I had learned to recognise so well; Heavy steps of four paws with a rugged, low breath. I looked down to my hands which were sweaty and red with white knuckles. I was holding onto the basket for my dear life and knew that while I had succeeded with my plan A so far (which was that everything had to be perfect), plan B (which was to have courage in my heart) was utterly in pieces. Still, I forced a smile on my lips as I turned to see Rhokgar nearing, unmounting his bear.

“Hello”, I said, hoping it didn’t sound weird.
Rhokgar looked at me side-eyed and I knew it did.
“Hi”, he returned, slightly wary. Crap, crap, crap… I bit the insides of my mouth and screamed at myself in my head. However, the orc’s gaze did stay at me and turned to a softer shade as he took in my appearance. As his eyes roamed from my braided hair to my fawn pelt, his expressions acted like oil on water and I couldn’t get a hold of them.
“What have you been up to?”, I finally tried to stoke the conversation while he suddenly busied himself with Ohrot, releasing the animal from its tack.
I’d only hear a low rumble from his throat, incomprehensible.
“I made food”, I tried then, doing my best at nonchalant voice.
“Nice”, he replied, and in my nervousness I wanted to hit him with the basket. I don’t know what power kept me from doing so, but I gulped and turned, going inside. He’d follow, whether or not he wanted, that much I knew.
As soon as the door shut behind me, I crouched on the floor into a small tense ball, covering my face with my hands and letting out a tiny, desperate noise. I’d whisper to myself “Make him talk, make him talk” couple of times, until I heard steps on the porch and swiftly got up, putting the basket on the side and turning to the soup, acting as if it had been my priority all along.

I listened, back towards Rhokgar, as he shed his pelt and washed his hands. Then I would hear silence, assuming he stood on his place. Then, then there were steps and his voice was just behind me.
“Aren’t you feeling too warm in this while inside?” His hands had landed on my shoulders, touching the pelt very gently. I tensed under his touch and stared at the soup, face hot. The orc would clearly feel my muscles turning into a stone since his fingers quickly left my body. That made me hastily blurt out; “I- I suppose I am.”
He seemed to hesitate but would proceed to remove the pelt from my back in the end.
“Thank you”, I whispered weakly, not getting anything back but from the corner of my eye I’d see Rhokgar placing the pelt on the bed. He would linger between that spot and the table for a several seconds until I took bowls and poured the soup in them. He would sit down and I would serve. When I was able to sit down myself I felt as if all the words in the world had left me. I had the need to express my thoughts but no ability to form the questions.
“It’s the rabbit?”, I would hear then, relieved of the opening the orc made. His words, however, indicated he was picking up all the steps of effort I had walked. He knew it was our last bit of rabbit meat and it was meaningful. I was slightly regretting going so overboard but at least I had at the same time shut down all my changes of escaping the situation.
“Yes. And mushrooms I found yesterday. The season is starting…”
Well, even if I couldn’t escape The Talk now, I was still able to hinder it.
“Hmm. I suppose it is.”
“How… how is it with the bandits?”, I gulped, asking.
Rhokgar kept silent, I didn’t know what that meant.
“They’re gone.”, the answer was, finally, with no joy in his voice. We had been at the cabin for two weeks now, the work could have easily taken a lot longer… to me, time had felt a lot longer. My feeling was intensified by the break of season that made rapid changes in the nature. This all was amazing and terrifying at the same time.
“That’s… good, then? Isn’t it?”, I pushed the topic forward, needing more information.
That made Rhokgar to focus his eyes on me for a moment, huffing amused as he probably realised he was supposed to be happy about the work well done. Then he straightened his demeanor and seriously explained; “They can come back. Or they won’t. Or they might, just later. Those guys are shifty by nature. But I’d say this is where my contract ends. I need to go talk to your father.”
This was the sort of stuff I wanted to hear: Details, plans ahead… though the mention of my father made me remember where I stood, yet again.
Suddenly a feeling of madness hit me. A stroke of bravery.
My heart was wild in my chest as I found myself asking a long overdue question, but one that I had not intended to ask quite today. More than ever I didn’t want to really know the answer, as I had found Rhokgar to be surprisingly pleasant companion compared to the images my books had painted. And my father… who would ever want to hear a bad thing about their father. The spoon in my hand lowered to the rim of my bowl and my hand shook even so slightly.
“Whose idea it was originally?”
I found the courage to ask.
“Hmm?” He obviously didn’t follow so I laid the question out, now more plain.
“Me, to be your payment, who was it?.”
Getting my question this time, Rhokgar’s face gained a darker shade to its expression. He was silent for a good few minutes, taking a sip of the food, and I started to fear he wouldn’t reply. But as the now empty spoon left his lips, carefully, clearly still considering his words, he said “On that day, if me and your father had had an argument, who would have you believed?”
It didn’t sound like a question, so very simply I stated the obvious: “Father.”
“Yes you would have.” He replied, flatly, not really hurt because there was no reason to be, we had been strangers back then.
I was sure he was getting to his point, but Rhokgar just stared at his soup.
I waited a little, but finally swallowed nervously and opened my mouth to ask again. His words interrupted me.
“Do you trust me now?”
I realised I didn’t need to think about the answer. “Yes.”
It made a slight whiff of relief pass me.
Another silent moment landed, but I didn’t rush him now, I had told him, and my words were true - I trusted him.
“It was your father’s idea.”
All of my thoughts, they came to halt.
I looked at the one I trusted. I looked at Rhokgar.
“That can’t be…”
My mouth gaping, I was finding more words. ‘You’re lying’, maybe. Or ‘No, he never would’.
Rhokgar sighed and looked back at me, his eyes gaining a shade of sadness.
“You do trust him over me.”
“He’s my father.”, I whispered, frozen.
His expression turned angry at that, angry as his words when they left him.
“Indeed, and he should have considered that a lot more before suggesting this deal for me.”
I was suddenly hoping I hadn’t asked. I had been right earlier, more than ever I didn’t want to know… I didn’t have to know. Right? Ignorance is bliss? But I had gotten Rhokgar to speak, and speak he did.
“I didn’t want to accept you, this is not the way relationships of any kind should be created. And I usually work to get money.”
I sniffed, gulping my feelings back in and looking at my shaking hands that had desperately curled around my food bowl now. Rhokgar didn’t stop to be merciful.
“But the way he talked about you… that was not acceptable.”
“Father has so many of us daughters…” I found myself defending my father even when I was hurt and doubting him. Rhokgar seemed to appreciate this, even if he thought my feelings were misplaced. His voice softened a bit.
“Still, he shouldn’t be like that towards any of them.” A little pause. “In the end I couldn’t stand his attitude and accepted, but only if I got to take you with me right away.”
I looked now back at him, my eyes wet.
“He wanted you to stay there until I come back and start working. But how could have I left you there after all that talk.”
I bit my lip, taking in all he had to say. There seemed to be a lot and it was just all pouring out. Between my broken thoughts I started to realise that Rhokgar’s actions so far had only ever been kind - though sometimes a little badly executed.
“So all the wife-talk and such, you really didn’t mean that?”
Rhokgar seemed taken aback at the shift of topic.
“I… didn’t think you would ever want to stay but I wanted to get you from returning to your old life. You could just move away after a while. See some world with your own two feet?”
“What do you know of my wants and needs…” murmuring, my mind was racing through memories.
“And why did you need to act like that if you were going to let me go? Wife this, carrying over threshold that, bedroom undres–” hastily I shut my mouth as my mind chaotically took me to the first day and I felt embarrassed and suddenly greatly stupid. I grimaced.
He turned quiet for a few seconds, but was clearly on the same page than me when he managed to find words to reply with.
“I didn’t really expect you to just… strip.” Suddenly he sounded embarrassed too.
There was only one thing I could answer with:
“What..?”
“You seemed like the type to stubbornly sleep in your daywear… whatever I say.”
I was dumbfounded.
Partially because it was true, but even I yielded when afraid, wasn’t it common sense.
“…and either suffocate me with pillow or run away at night.” He continued and the image in my head turned weirder every second.
“Suffocate you… with a pillow.”
Rhokgar stared at me awkwardly. And I, I felt everything at the same time; sadness and betrayal towards my father, thankfulness, frustration and embarrassment because of Rhokgar. I couldn’t keep my voice even when I answered him, the tears were forcing their way out.
“Are you insane, have you ever looked at mirror, how could I have done either of those? How about you should have just, Idon’tknow, told me to stop back then?”
I hated myself for crumbling in front of him and wiped my face to my sleeve, steeling my outer appearance. Then I heard him reply.
“You were rather fast.”
My head whipped around and I looked at him, what?!
“I mean, maybe you liked the attention, being so swift at it?”
I was about to retort something ugly to that when I saw a tiny smirk on the corner of his mouth. He was joking? In the middle of a conversation like this? I looked around, quickly searching and even quicker finding - reaching to the pillow on the bed, I threw it at his face with all the force my bottled up emotions allowed.
“You asked for it.”, I huffed, while I heard his shy laugher. He picked up the pillow that had ended up on the floor, and calmly put it back to my hands. Maybe he wanted more? But Rhokgar moved from his chair, crouching in front of the fireplace to start the fire on the dead, cool embers again. He looked harmless there, down on the floor, and I passed the idea.

“I’m sorry.”
I suddenly heard it. I focused my gaze on him, really listening.
“I’m sorry for that. And for your father.”
I exhaled, trying to figure out a reply to words that soothed my heart. I weighed down the things I knew, yet again. Things like a memory of my father putting me to sort my belongings. A memory of my father asking me to look after my siblings often on the last week. A memory of this orc, doing what he did on the first day we met and he took me with him…
“It’s… okay. You at least tried to help me… he tried to help himself.”
Rhokgar looked at me softly but didn’t say anything more, and for that, I was grateful. He had cheered me up for a moment, but I needed silence. I needed to think, to really think and consider what I needed to do next.
One thing was sure. I needed to hear this same story from my father.

Fire was cracking slowly and comforting. I couldn’t tell the passage of time and the food had become cold on the table, but I became aware of my surroundings yet again when I heard a low, calm voice ask “Are you okay?”
I blinked and focused my eyes on the orc but not quite being out of my own thoughts. He had sat on the edge of the bed, leaning his elbows to his knees, closer to me like this than he would have been on his own seat on the table. There were no barriers between us, I had forgiven him… and I found myself wishing I could move to his lap, curling there. Resting. Tiredness has taken me, this had not been the course I had planned for the evening.
“I need to talk to my father.” it was the first thing coming out of my mouth.
“Obviously.”
The second one pressed the back of my skull.
“Then… Will I leave your house?”
Rhokgar looked at me till the question sank him fully. He shifted and his gaze fell, avoiding me like I hurt him in turn.
“You do what you want.”, was the reply, quick and blank. Not unfriendly, but distant, giving me space - space I hadn’t asked for. I had my answer, I realised, it was clear in my thoughts, but I found myself being afraid.
There was ice, just a thin sheet, and it would crumble in my touch. For better or worse, I didn’t know, and that exactly was the object of my fears. The heart in my chest was a wild, wicked creature as it raced in its place. My hand reached towards the orc that looked weirdly small when crouched in front of me now. The tips of my fingers would land on his forearm, feeling his rough green skin and layer of hair. My eyes followed the course of my fingers for a time, looking as the digits weaved their way along the tattooed part of Rhokgar’s arm… When I rose my gaze, I met his… I could swear the dark amber hue of his eyes was now burning.
“I’d like to stay.” I was only barely able to breath out.
But it was enough, I saw it from the orc’s eyes.
“If you’d have me.”, I added, more confident due to the expressions in Rhokgar’s face. He looked confused, and amazed, and terrified… but there was no signs of displeasure or revulsion. Soon I felt his other hand, curling around my own. His mouth opened but nothing came out. Cute.
I found myself getting up and there was newfound bravery when I closed the distance between us, settling myself on his lap and burying my face against his chest. I could hear his heartbeat, it was fast like my own. Rhokgar’s hands had retracted to hover mid-air on both sides of myself and I knew, embarrassed, I wanted their warmness around me. I pushed myself away from him, but only so much that I could look him into the eyes. The words he had tried to find were finally on his tongue.
“Please stay.”
The burn in his eyes had turned into a wildfire, and it guided his hand to my cheeks, gently lowering my face towards his to initiate a kiss. At first it was light like a brush from a butterfly’s wings. Rhokgar’s hands moved from my cheeks to my throat and I shuddered at the idea that he could crush me at any moment if he wanted, but instead he chose to proceed like I was made of glass, precious, delicate. My own arms curled around his shoulders and the back of his neck, giving him space to continue the roam of his hands. They settled on my hips and Rhokgar pulled me forward, wanting to deepen the kiss hungrily. This time I could feel his tusks scraping my skin and I knew at that instant they would be my weakness from this day on to the rest of my living days. A growl rose deep from his chest and I answered it with a weak whine. We barely had time to gasp some air, our mouths busy on each other, but finally it became too much and reluctantly we slowed down, both of us panting. Rhokgar pressed his forehead to mine and I registered that his hands had strayed from my hips to my back, shifting the topmost of my garments, and were now resting on my bottom.
Suddenly I realised I could feel a deeper level of his excitement and shifted nervously. Rhokgar picked up my gesture mercifully fast and cooled the movement of his hands, shifting them back to my hips. Effortlessly he moved me from his lap and laid me on the bed, settling beside me, leaving a small space between us. His hand rose and moved a hair from my face, tucking it behind my ear. A familiar motion he had done on our first night was now in my memories in a new context. I studied his face, and the fire was still in his eyes, making my own body feel feverish.
“Not tonight.”, he stated simply, and I didn’t know if its purpose was to bind himself or to comfort me. Nonetheless, I swallowed and nodded. It was probably for the best, but it made me wonder if he had needed to restrain himself often… and the thought of that made me just want to encourage him right here and now.
In the silence of the cabin, two noises defined the atmosphere: Our tired breaths and the cracking of the fire. We stared at each other and I thought it would take a long, long time before I could get tired of his face.
“Why?”
“Hmm?”, I blinked, hazy, realising the orc had asked something.
“Why do you want to stay?”
This was either rhetoric or he wanted an essay, I thought, but the first one didn’t require a comeback and I was not capable of forming the latter one, so I stayed quiet, only humming softly. In an uncomfortable motion I reached behind me, searching with my hand until landing on a silky soft fur. I grabbed it and pulled it with me, curling under the spotted pelt and giving Rhokgar a glance from behind.
He huffed affectionately, pulling me closer again and resting his heavy arm around my torso. I felt safe and warm.
This day, surely, had not gone in a way I had imagined.
The night was darkening outside as we laid, tangled onto each other. As I started to drift into sleep I could feel a kiss on my forehead and tender words that I wanted to hear again when conscious.

Also on Ao3: Click
——

My morning wasn’t better than the previous ones, but as soon as I remembered what had happened last night I jumped up to give Rhokgar some space to better lay down. I felt tired but at the same time happier to offer the help I could rather than pleasing just myself. He wouldn’t wake up too soon and once he did he would roll around, clearly searching me from the bed with his gaze. He instead found me sitting on the table, stitching back together his one upper piece of leather armor - well, I had nothing else to do, so.
“What ‘r you doin’ ” he mumbled, looking at me with those tired eyes of his.
“I’m putting this thing back together. ”
“I see that” was breathed out
I put the piece and the needle and yarn on the table and moved towards him, sitting on the edge of the bed.
“Are you okay?”
He laughed a bit, starting to properly wake up.
“Me? Okay? Love, those were just scratches.”
My heart felt weird at the word of ‘love’ but I pushed any rising emotions back, slapping the orc gently on the arm.
“If you’re so okay, don’t lay around looking half-dead”
He snorted as a reply, but did indeed sit up. He would inspect his wounds and I wouldn’t call them okay by any means but Rhokgar seemed unfazed.
“Your resin ointment is good”
I nodded, “Do you need anything else?”
Grunting, he gave me a reply, “Nah, I’m not bedridden” After that he chose to get up, washing himself a little and started to make breakfast. For a moment we busied ourselves in our own thoughts and worlds. Rhokgar was the first to open his to mine.
“I’ll stay here today”
Turns out his ideas aligned with mine and I nodded, pleased. The orc had stolen a glance my way and saw my gesture.
“I might stay a few days, actually”, he continued, “Though I need to show myself around the village, for the change those idiots will come looking after all this mess.”
Rhokgar scratched his beard then. “And we need some more food. I’ll go hunting”
His to-do list started to sound like a busy run instead of my simple wish of him staying at the cabin. He wasn’t going to heal by running around the forests. I needed to intervene.
“I can get us food. Don’t worry about that.”
Rhokgar seemed to consider, or judge, or whatever my offer until he finally declared it acceptable.
It made me content for now and we continued with our morning routines in a good spirit.The day turned out to be lazy and calm - most of my days at the hut were such but I enjoyed the change of company to talk to. And boy did we talk. Rhokgar was in a rather light mood and shared a lot more of orc culture tidbits and his personal tastes with me. I also told him more about my likes, dislikes and worldviews. He seemed to think it was cute, calling me slightly naive, but cute. I wanted to sulk at him, but found out I couldn’t.At some point we ended settled up on the bed, napping. I would wake up with my upper body laying on his chest and moved away quickly. I tried to put some space between us but soon found myself snuggled against his side, falling asleep again.The rest of the day we slept, ate, took a small walk on the forest and ate and slept some more.
The next two days went on in similar manners and I felt us growing together in a domestic way. Couple of times Rhokgar would take a ride around the village but always returned with unneeded haste. I enjoyed it, though, and was not ready to hear the new Rhokgar had to offer me the next morning.“I’ll be gone for the night.”
“Oh?”, I kept my voice even.
“Mmh. I have a matter I need to attend to in the city… and I think I’d have a nice change with the bandits if I go now.” Very matter-of-factly he explained it all, and I could only nod. Whatever I thought of it, he had his job and I had seen he was in a good shape to go. Thus I helped him get ready and eventually said goodbyes. I watched him disappear into the woods, staring after the sight for a few more minutes.I was alone.I headed back inside, sat on the bed and listened to the deep silence. It continued long enough for me to feel the need to close my eyes - and I did so. I soon started to feel cozy to the point of almost falling asleep and realised I need to get up. I cleaned the hut until I felt brisk again and considered my next actions. I could have gone to see my sister again, but these few days together with Rhokgar had made me feel like a different person and I wanted to be alone… rewind. I instead came up with the idea of picking up a familiar book, indulging myself in its world. The evening flew by with it and I felt like just an hour had passed when I closed the volume between my hands. I was dizzy after getting back to the present world and took a reality check by looking out of the window. I was met with deep velvet darkness. Well, that wasn’t what I had expected. I got up, feeling my bones pop back to their rightful places and my tongue rasp dryly against my palate. I drank, enjoyed a nice juicy apple and stretched myself back into order. I knew it really was as late as the window view had told me when a yawn forced its way out of my mouth. I moved back to the bed, shifting the covers and removing my clothing, slipping between the layers of fabric and furs. I closed my eyes and moved a bit. I soon needed to move again, trying to find a good position.
It wasn’t good.
I rolled to my other side, but that, if nothing, certainly was not good. I opened my eyes and was met with a wall. I sighed, growing irritated, and squeezed my eyes shut again.
I heard the wind outside, and a lone owl giving a hoot in the night. A pop, that was clearly a cone falling onto the roof. I rolled back to the other side, shifting couple of times again, until I sat up, and faced the wall. “You aren’t serious.” I cried out.
“I’m NOT going to stay awake because of… this.”, I continued to tell the wall, and finally raised my hand and punched the poor wooden surface.
It hurt me more than the construction and I laid myself aggressively back to the sheets.I couldn’t sleep.I couldn’t sleep alone.I counted sheeps, I counted their baas and I counted the blades of grass under their feet… all in vain. I realized I’d have a long, long night ahead of me.Early in the morning I startled when I heard the creak of the door. I had succumbed into some sort of haze, but felt more tired than I even had. I turned to look at Rhokgar who had arrived and seemed to be shedding his clothing without paying attention to me. Halfheartedly he rinsed his face and arms with water from the basin and then moved towards the bed. He flinched as he saw me being awake.
“Sorry, did I wake you?”
“No”, I mumbled. “How was it?” I had to ask.
He yawned and climbed onto his side of the bed, laying on his back. “Later, ‘kay? I need some sleep…”
He sounded really tired and seemed to zone out almost immediately. My gaze staid at his sleeping face for a moment until like a magic, I seemed to fall asleep too.
This time I slept long and calm, and late to the afternoon.We got up so late much else didn’t happen during rest of the day. I’d get detailed description of the situation with the bandits who had seemed to vanish from their hideout. I wasn’t sure what to make of it, but hoped for the best.The next day Rhokgar went out again and I felt the need to walk to the village. I realized it had been some days since my visit and didn’t know what to expect upon my arrival.“ELYSA!”
Whatever it had been I had expected, this was more than any of it. I currently stood in the open space of the shop’s middle floor and Anyna rounded the counter, coming to hug me. I had seen no-one on the garden outside the building so I had needed to just collect my courage and face the situation inside, face whoever was inside. Obviously there was only one person I felt uncertain to see, my father. But he wasn’t inside unlike Anyna whom I now hugged back.
“Where have you been? We haven’t seen you in a week! Mother was coming up with the most ridiculous horror stories and father didn’t let me to come see you, it’s so busy here.”
I patted my sister to the back, sighing. “Nothing bad has happened, we just… stayed at the hut. I’m sorry, I was supposed to come here again.”
She looked at me, curious. “ ‘We have’? ”, Anyna parrotted my words, a knowing smile rising to his face. “Oh ho, what, have you decided to bang him in the end?”
My face turned red and I slapped her, hard. “Nothing like that!”
Anyna giggled and I tried to explain: “He got hurt a little, so he stayed to recover.”
This didn’t completely wipe the smug expression from my sister’s soft face but her voice told me she was serious when he asked if the orc was okay.
“Yeah. He seems to be sturdy.”
“Hmm. Aren’t orcs always?”, she mused.
I shrugged, “I suppose.”
There was a silence then, which was somewhat unusual between the two of us. It dawned to me that I wasn’t the only one who was changing.
“Are you okay?”, I asked, not looking at her. “Is father hard on you?”
“Ah”, the tone of the voice told me she wasn’t completely happy but didn’t feel like she was in a position where she had the right to complain. “I manage”
I now glanced her way. “Please tell me if it gets rough… I don’t think I can do anything, but… I like to hear how you’re doing.”
Anyna smiled, her old, familiar smile. “Sure. And you too. Don’t disappear like that!”
Then she seemed to get an idea, lighting up.
“Hey, can I come to see you to the cabin?”
It was apparent Anyna was being Anyna; she always wanted to smoothen any and all situations. I knew what this meant - she wanted to see Rhokgar. It seemed Rhokgar had mostly been communicating with my father, only occasionally meeting my mom and very briefly. Anyna, never. This also explained why my mother was still coming up with horror stories of her own.
“Uh, I suppose?”
“Great! Can I come this evening already? I’ll close early, dad won’t know about it.”
I accepted but then picked on the new subject; “Father’s away?”
“Oh yes, he’s been gone during several days, I don’t know for what. But the shop’s been busy lately so I think it’s business stuff. And I think your orc is doing his job well.”
I smiled a little and nodded, but didn’t feel fully reassured of the whole picture.We talked some more until I moved to see my mom who appeared to be busy inside the house. She was a mess, crying and hugging me and complaining about the tiring days. I felt bad and tried to calm her down at the best of my ability. Sadly it wasn’t my virtue as much as it was Anyna’s, and I didn’t get her to tone down. It didn’t help that my younger siblings ran around too, everyone speaking on top of each other but the general question seeming to be where had I been. I didn’t know why no-one had told them and decided to be only very vague about it myself, too.
In the end I stayed helping my mom on the chores and looking after the kids for several hours and we were only interrupted by surprised Anyna.
“You’re still here?”
I looked at Anyna in desperation, and she came to soften our mother’s mood. Mom would finally relax if even just little, and Anyna told her about our plans. The rest of our siblings gained some concentration skills once both of us big sisters were present, and finally the room filled with peace.
“I’ll walk Elysa back, I’ll probably stay for a while, okay?”
Mother seemed to lighten at that, though whispering for Anyna to check my living conditions out and make sure that everything’s fine and proper. She probably thought I didn’t hear. I rolled my eyes but was happy when we were finally leaving.The walk wasn’t long before the cabin came into our view. Smoke was serenely floating from the chimney, telling me Rhokgar was home. I got nervous at the idea of introducing the two, feeling like it made this… thing, whatever, between me and the orc official. Frankly I had no idea where we even were in our relationship.
I opened the door and saw Rhokgar, back towards us, crouched above the table.
“Welcome back.” he instinctively said and before I could open my mouth, Anyna had replied.
“Hi”
Rhokgar swiftly turned around at the chair hearing the unfamiliar voice, but relaxed as he saw me.
“Hi. This is my sister, Anyna.”, I opened my mouth finally, gesturing towards the giddy girl beside me.
“And that’s Rhokgar.”, was the obvious continuation when I pointed at the orc who seemed to be looking Anyna in an analysing manner. He landed into some form of outcome and stood up politely;
“Nice to meet you”
Anyna’s smile faltered as she had to look up. I had to admit we made a ridiculous sight, all standing inside the small hut; the tall orc, me who was already a lot shorter than him, and my sister who had never gained even the height I stood at.
My sister never failed to stay kind, though, and hurried to reply “Nice to meet you too”
“So, you’re the elder sister?”
Anyna chuckled, “That’s me yes”
Rhokgar then offered some tea and Anyna happily accepted. We sat on the table and Rhokgar turned to quickly snatch away a package with a brown paper wrapping that had been on the table. “What’s that?” I asked half curious since the orc was usually laid-back with his belongings. He shrugged it off and I decided not to care. We continued to talk with Anyna and I amused myself with looking at her round eyes as she glanced at Rhokgar now and then.
Soon the said orc interrupted us; “Our tea is almost over.”
“Oh? Which one?”
“There’s multiple?”
“Well I found some herbs the other day and made some blend.”
Rhokgar looked at me with unreadable expression, the empty jar in his hands. I got up and went to find the herbal tea I had made.
“Here.”, it wasn’t hard to find. I opened the lid and hold the jar in front of the orc’s face. He took the hint and sniffed. “Oh. That’s nice.”
I nodded, content. “I know.”
I turned to look at Anyna, “It’s the calluna flower and mint tea grandma used to make when we were ki–” I stopped on my tracks as I saw her extremely knowing smile and turned back towards Rhokgar, trying to busy myself on the task. Once the water was boiling Rhokgar ushered me to the table as he wanted to be the one serving.
The tea was good. Anyna started to reminisce granny and Rhokgar nodded in approval for the flavor. All in all, the rest of the evening flew by and it was time for Anyna to head back. Politely she bid farewell for Rhokgar who in turn thanked her for coming.
“Will you see me out?”
I had to accept and went outside with her. The evening was already darkening and stars had become visible.
“So… do you like him?”
My gaze fell from the stars to Anyna. “What?” I tried my best at keeping my voice low. “It’s.. I mean.”
“Because he sure does like you.”
My mouth hung open… what?!
“It’s… complicated. He has called me his–” I grunted, blushing, “Nevermind. But during the first day he was all different. I don’t know what’s going on now.”
Anyna sighed; “If you have heard of a social skill called ‘talking’, I’d recommend that. You two look so domestic already…”
She inhaled and continued “Anyway, I think he’s nice. So big! But very nice. You’re lucky.”
I felt both proud and tired at the same time and hugged Anyna, wishing her a safe journey.I went back inside where Rhokgar was sitting down, staring into nothingness. I wondered… “Was it okay for me to bring her?”
Rhokgar snapped awake from his thoughts, “Hmm? Why not? Of course it is..”
I put my hands in my hips to enforce my next words. “Then what is it? I see something is wrong. Please tell me, even if I can’t help.”
Now he chuckled, looking at me.
“Indeed you can’t.” He was smiling but his voice sounded sad. Clearly he didn’t want to talk about it and made sure I wouldn’t have time to pry either; he stood and picked up the earlier mysterious package. He handed it to me. “It’s for you.”
His voice was soft, slightly hesitant, and I studied his face for more information. There was none and the only course of action available for me was to take the package and thank him. Rhokgar took a step back as I started to unfold the brown, coarse paper. When a corner of the content came visible I saw brown fur with white spots. A pelt of a fawn. As the paper dropped on the floor I was able to open the fur in my hands. It unfolded beautifully, and I saw it to be a small cloak, probably only reaching person’s lower back, made from several fawn pelts. I inhaled, looking at all the little details. It also reminded me of Rhokgar’s own fur cloak, even if his was much more sturdy, big and gloomy. Was it supposed to be a matching attire? At the same time Anyna’s words echoed in the back of my head. This gift seemed significant.
My gaze rose from the pelt to Rhokgar - my eyes were round at the surprise.
“For… me?”
He looked even more nervous now, “Do you… like it?”
“Like it?!”, I cried out, “Look at this, this is… this is gorgeous!”
Finally the orc relaxed and closed the space between us yet again.
“I thought… it would look lovely on you. I wanted to give something to you, for putting up with all… this.”
He took the pelt from my hands and wrapped it around my shoulders. His eyes roamed up and down my body and he smiled sweetly. I was as amazed at his expressions as I was at the gift. Rhokgar seemed happy… and it made me happy.
“Just like a proper–” his happiness died suddenly, and he visibly flinched, removing his hands from my shoulders. I was confused and wanted to ask about it, but Rhokgar filled the moment with rambling of his own; “We, orcs I mean, we usually don’t give gifts made by others but I had seen that pelt and as it’s not fawn season I made a trade, hunted some foxes for the guy to get this cloak.”
I dug up my most sincere voice as I saw he needed it. I needed him to know I liked the gift… no, loved it.
“Thank you” I emphasised “I mean it. It’s beautiful, thank you.”
He turned to look at me and smiled again, but it didn’t reach his eyes anymore. It bothered me, but we didn’t talk about it. I noticed there to be too many untalkable things lately and realised I had to do as my sister had told me. I had to talk. I had to get him to talk. It was a chore for another day though since the night was falling. I did my best to cheer him up and in the bed curled against his back, wishing him goodnight.

yayroos:

For everyone’s information:

The plan for the 17th, when the adult content ban comes in, is to protest.

To do that, we are making as much noise either side of the 17th as possible, and using the site as normal.

On the 17th, dead silence.

People are saying log off but what they really mean is don’t open the site or the app.

But, on the 17th make as much noise as possible on every other platform. Tweet about it and post on facebook and instagram and everywhere else.

What this does is causes a massive dip in ad revenue for one single day. That does not make staff think ‘oh everyone’s gone let’s shut down.’ What it actually makes them think is ‘oh shit people aren’t happy and if people don’t keep using our site we’re out of money and out of jobs.’

A boycott reminds a company that the users (consumers) have the power to make their site (business) worthless with one single coordinated decision.

If you want to join in, here’s what to do:

Do:

• Close all open instances of the app and site on all your devices before the 17th
• Make posts before and after the 17th on tumblr and other platforms, talking about why this ban is bad
• Make posts on other sites during the 17th. Flood the official tumblr staff twitter and facebook with your anger and your opinion
• Come back on the 18th and check in

Don’t:

• Delete the app from your phone (this doesn’t affect their revenue and since it’s off the store at the moment it’ll be hard to get back)
• Delete your account. I mean you can if you want to, but if you keep your account and don’t use it you’re saying to staff that there’s still time to save it. If you delete it’s hard work to come back.
• Open the app or website (including specific blogs)
• Make any posts (turn down/off your queue and make sure nothing is scheduled)
• Go quiet elsewhere. Make it clear that this is just about tumblr, not a mass move away from all social media.

Remember: the execs don’t care about anything but money. Shutting down the site means there’s $0 further income from it. That’s their last possible course of action. If we make it clear we’re not happy, they’ll have to do something or we can do more and more until it becomes too expensive.

Protests take commitment. They’re a defiant action against a business that is doing something wrong. They will try to scare you into not participating, because they’re scared. We hold all the power here, sometimes the execs just need to be reminded of that.