Oxyhocin's Links
"Quite a catch, aren't they?" Cello grins, fully prepared to brag. "Such a jealous type...and I adore those that want me all to themself. It's nice to feel desired, no?" He grabs onto his braid, fiddling with it. "They're quite cute too when you talk to them. Don't let their resting bitch face fool you; they're just a shy sweetheart." It seemed like there was more he wasn't mentioning: more about them that wasn't as savory.
There's a flicker of warmth in death's cold gaze. A glimmer of what looks like it may even be affection. "Asar...where do I begin with Asar?" Shi drawls, her fingers tapping at her chin. "How could I ever find the words?" She concludes. Though her expression remains static, her tone slightly drops its usual monotone edge. "He may be thousands of years old, but he truly is even wiser beyond his years. Never would I ever have thought I'd be spending so much time with...well, a mortal soul." Her mouth twitches, almost as if she were about to smile. However, she corrects herself instantly. "Knowing him is a pleasure."
“Who?”
Irene is wholly aware of Tannin’s presence, but she generally doesn’t care for them, seeing the horror as nothing more than an inconsequential worm wriggling amongst her subjects. Tannin can’t hurt her, that’s for certain - and so far they haven’t done anything to mess up with her observational studies either. So for now, Irene finds them tolerable, allowing them to feast on the misery that she nurtures in her subjects. Of course, there’s no saying that she’ll continue being so maganimous should they decide to become an extraneous variable in her experiments - but that’s not something that she’s worried about, for Irene knows that the horror is not one to bite the hands that feed them.
“Delicious, simmering yukgaejang: a sad sack of a jeosung saja, if you ask me… That poor thing is practically trapped in a prison of his own making — stewing away in misery — but I suppose that makes him all the more /easy/ to eat…~” Like most creatures, Haneul is nothing more than food for the horror. Tannin was there for him in life and they have continued that awful companionship in death, a ghost that haunts him at every chance it gets. They are the echo of his past sins, the rot that that clings to his person and eats away at his senses, and yet, they are also his savior. It is they who pours him that sweet mind-numbing liquid, who consoles him in his anger and loathing. With every sip he takes, it is Tannin who leads him further into the safety of his own mind, far down until the exit is merely a troubled memory.
"They're there... Always in a corner of my mind, always watching, always ready to strike. Truly my best and worst friend."
Perhaps not even the avatar of death is immune to fear, for death and fear are so closely intertwined that they might very well be different sides of the same coin. Haneul has never met Tannin face-to-face before, but he's hyperaware of their presence. Every time the emissary recalls that painful memory, he could hear their voice by his ear, whispering words that only made him seek out substances to distract from the crushing weight on his chest. It helps Haneul forget, and for that he is grateful towards the horror - but deep down, he knows that this behaviour simply isn't sustainable in the long run. Maybe Tannin isn't truly the good friend that they appear to be, after all.
“It was never my intention to truly befriend someone with as much influence as him, but who am I to lament such a wonderful turn of events? We all have our roles in the grand scheme of things, but I do hope one day he will treat me with the same amount of camaraderie I have afforded him.” Haneul is a mystery to Asar: a man bound by the shackles of his own self-discipline and shrouded by the finely crafted veil that masks his deepest thoughts. Yet that’s not to say the akh doesn’t enjoy the jeosung saja’s company. From appreciating the beauty of antiques from eras long-gone to enjoying the decadence of lotus-infused wine, the two often spend their time bonding over their handful of shared interests, even going as far as traversing the mortal realm together. But most importantly, the emissary always knows where the best hunting grounds are; with the liveliest of prey.
“A man of integrity with a strong sense of justice. I do hope that he will eventually reconcile with his past mistakes… he has proven himself to be better than what he used to be.”
It is rare for Haneul to get along with another immortal, let alone someone who has a similar moral compass to him. The emissary is able to skirt past the First Precept with the help of Asar, exacting divine retribution on the filth that he’s forbidden to clean up after. While Haneul will never be able to fully open up himself up to Asar, he highly respects the ahk and is secretly grateful to finally have an ally that’ll gladly back him up for his vigilante activities. After all, hunts are always much more fun when there’s the company of a friend.
“I abhor that creature, despise him with every fiber of my being, that repugnant little— …by Set’s testicles he is standing right behind me, isn’t he?” No words can be used to describe the sheer amount of hate that courses through the akh’s veins at the mere mention of the entity, the rush of fear and anger whenever he sees Ren peeking from just out of sight. He was supposed to be resting in peace, but now it’s as if a certain /someone/ is dancing on his grave. So much for everlasting joy. 😒😣
“Why are you running, dear? Surely you can’t be scared of a harmless man like me?”
Asar’s fear of Ren is completely valid and justified. The only issue is that the entity KNOWS this and would deliberately turn up at Asar’s home just to ruin his day. Ren is always watching the Akh - standing in the corner of his room; tucked in his closet; hiding in the trash can…. He is the ultimate voyeur that one simply cannot ever shake off even when dead. There is no escape from this eldritch abomination, e v e r . 👁️👁️
"I have Tannin to thank for many things. Without fear, there could be no anger; how could humankind be so vile if it weren't concerned for its own wellbeing?" To imagine Yukio idolizing someone is odd— but that's the best way to describe his feelings for Tannin. In soul, Tannin long predates Yukio, and in power, too, does Tannin seem to be Yukio's superior. Still, Yukio sees them on good terms, were such a feat even possible with the Son of Wrath, and he eagerly serves fearful victims to Tannin.. never mind the fact that even Yukio has some very peculiar fears himself, and quite a few of them, too..
“Wrath, such a /peculiar/ emotion… Never did I plan on twisting his anger into something so vile, but I suppose it worked out in my favor, didn’t it…?” Tannin has a certain fondness for Yukio, that much is true, viewing him much like how a mentor thinks of their mentee. It was a pleasure watching the demon grow into the manipulative monster he is today, and even more so when they were graciously rewarded for their involvement. At this point, the two have even begun to work in tandem — fear driving anger and anger inciting fear. Yet below this seemingly mutualistic relationship lies another secret: that the horror has been taking a little more than what Yukio originally bargained for.
“How lovely it is to see you again: you who was once bound in chains, beaten and bruised within the dark depths of that dingy little dungeon… It seems I’m not the only one who has grown, ‘Carmen’…” Eons ago, at the beginning of everything, they stumbled upon a young boy — deprived of life while those above reveled in excess and joy. Taking pity on the poor thing, the creature blessed him, imbuing his very essence with a portion of itself so that he may one day escape his captors. But the gift tainted the youth, corrupting until it was yet another burden settled atop his weary shoulders. It was an unfortunate turn of events, and one that Tannin does not regret in the slightest. Needless to say, the horror rather likes Carmen. After all, how could they abhor the very god that created the mere concept of misery? Whose selfishness has helped to keep them well-fed and entertained for millenniums on end? As long as the vagabond is free, they will continue to taste the finest of fear, and that’s all they could ask for.
"I remember you, from a long, long time ago... You've changed a lot since then, Tunnanu."
There was once a fish-like creature that attempted to help Carmen when he was in Omelas, but as they say, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Tannin's "gift" to Carmen only instilled a deep sense of learned helplessness, one that kept the god willingly chained to an eternity of torment. Of course, it's all in the past now, for Ren has long since broken Carmen out of that accursed place. The god harbours no ill-feelings towards Tannin, although he doesn't harbour positive feelings towards them either. If anything, Carmen is ambivalent towards the horror, although he still treats them politely whenever they visit him and Ren. By the end of the day, they are merely part of the same primordial forces that shapes the world in which they walk today.
"... I'm allergic to fish, so please go away before I break out in hives."
Growing up around age-old entities, Alistair has gotten somewhat accustomed to their eldritch presence and would barely get scared by them anymore. Tannin though? Something about his master's friend simply disturbed him so much more. It's as if the horror could see deep into his soul like Ren but... worse, somehow. Maybe because Tannin has the propensity to actually leech off what they saw in him compared to Ren? No matter the reason, Alistair would always dread seeing them whenever they come around to visit his master, preferring to shut himself in his room and away from those unnerving crimson gaze. The only comfort that the man has is that Tannin would never do anything disproportionally bad to him as long as Ren's around, as the latter could simply build a kill-switch for his fear if the deep sea horror ever overstepped his boundaries a bit too much.
“He’s a cute little thing, isn’t he…? Pretty, proper, and /obedient/, as all good dogs should be: an entity’s best friend, so to speak…~” As with all mortals, Tannin looks down on Alistair, viewing the young man as nothing more than Ren’s prized purebred pooch. Yet despite this inherent disrespect, their interactions with him remain friendly. Every time he turns his nose away, side-eyes them or bares his teeth, they can’t help but find the explicit displays of disgust and distrust endearing. It’s simply adorable how on-guard he is whenever they’re around, and he has every reason to be. They lurk in the depths of his mind, feasting on his people-pleasing nature, the perfectionistic tendencies, the insecurities, the /anxieties/: he’s an entire buffet served on a lavish gold and silver platter. But the abomination knows not to bite off more than they can chew, lest Ren tries to bar them from accessing such a bountiful harvest. Thus, they’re rather passive - never inducing fear nor worsening it. All they do is maintain, for the sake of all those involved.
“We go way back, he and I…~” they hum. “We’ve known each other since I was a mere fry, and he, a simple abomination… It’s marvelous how far the both of us have come since the very beginning…” Tannin rather likes Ren, viewing the entity as not only an equal but also an infinite source of food. Their relationship is mutualistic in nature: Ren provides the fear and unease Tannin subsists upon while their very existence results in the basic biopsychobehavioral systems that drive others to comply and obey. In fact, some could even call the two friends. So for the time being, they are content with watching the show Ren has so graciously put on, happily observing from the sidelines as they eagerly await their next meal. He is simply the cook in the kitchen, and they, the hungry patron.
“It’s been a while, Tunnanu dearest. I hope these old bones aren’t aching too much… ha, I jest.”
The unknown could never be understood, but Tannin is probably the closest person that’ll ever come to understanding Ren - both beings born from the same metaphysical forces that shapes reality. The entity enjoys watching Tannin’s antics just like how the other enjoys watching him, serving to even enable their destructive behaviour with his eldritch presence alone. Hence, Ren treasures the horror’s companionship greatly, the two bonding over being menaces to society in general. Whether their friendship is genuine or simply one out of convenience is hard to tell, but who said that a mutually symbiotic relationship can’t eventually flourish to become something more…?
“Ah, Isolde: beautiful, flawless Isolde… She’s quite the enigma, isn’t she…?” There’s a pause as Tannin peruses their vast collection of statues, with their wide eyes and uncanny faces peering out from the perforations of their cavern-like room. It doesn’t take long for them to withdraw a particular figurine up from the depths: it’s Isolde, yet the writing etched into the pedestal reads ‘Iseult’. “A force beyond the earthly plane inhabiting a human husk, a piece of home ambling around as if it belongs amongst mortals…” says the abomination, a grin slowly twisting their features. “It’s just /fascinating/ to think about; I can’t help but want to learn more…” They set the statuette aside. “I have yet to decide if I consider her friend or food, but I suppose the former label will suffice for now… After all, I’m her ‘little pogchamp’, aren’t I…?“
"I wouldn't call them a friend, although we do get along. They're a fan of my music, so I guess I could consider them my 'little pogchamp'..."
As much as Tannin unnerves her, Isolde isn't scared of this deep sea abomination as much as she should be. They have yet to actively harm her unlike a certain blonde bastard, although she's not certain that will last forever. Tannin's existence is quite similar to what she truly is behind her identity as "Isolde" - which is enough for her to at least tolerate their presence and view them as her equal. She still has no idea why this deep sea horror is attracted to her (and she feels like it's probably not a good thing), but she finds comfort in knowing that she's unreadable to them as she is unreadable to everyone else - the void cannot truly be read, after all.
He frowns upon the mention of the small kitsune, though it is one of sadness, not anger. “Her complexion is worrisome, almost as if she is withering away in front of my very eyes,” says the akh, his shoulders drooping. “It is a saddening thing to bear witness to: someone as sweet as she should be rewarded for her actions, not punished for merely existing. I can only hope that one day a suitable substitution for a diet of human meat can be found, but for now, I can only watch.”
“Tall and beautiful with such gorgeous fur… He makes for quite a partner; it’s a shame his love is a fleeting one…” Tannin is all smiles as they carve away at a piece of marble, the pure white stone soft and pliant in their hands. “But I suppose it’s understandable when you consider the conditions he was raised in: better for him to maintain his freedom than succumb to the shackles of monogamy…” they muse. “Besides, it gives us /plenty/ of material for our little gossip sessions…~”
"He was a friend of a friend, I saw him once and.." Fubuki trails off and ends their sentence with a giggle. "Well...you could I was hooked..obsessed even." They sighed dreamily, almost missing when he didn't even know who they were. Something about watching a person from afar without their knowledge was so exciting. "Even after properly meeting me, he wasn't even put off...so he's a little strange, but, I certainly am too."
“I’ve kept each and every one of their little love letters, you know…” Dahn gestures to an ornate tin box, and their fingers gently skim the battered lid. “Dozens upon dozens of confessions, all anonymous, all written in the shakiest handwriting I had ever seen - as if they were quite literally quivering with excitement…” They smile at the memory, stifling a laugh. “It was so odd, but also so /exciting/: I was lucky to have stumbled upon them in that dingy alleyway all those nights ago…~”
"Jesus Christ! You’re back.... i'm like wayyy to high right now to deal with you, just like go big someone else…. pretty please?"
“Awwww how /adorable/, begging me to leave you alone… Why, your pleas almost move me to tears, but you’ll need to do a lot better than /that/ if you want me gone, firecracker…~”
“She makes for rather pleasant company, and we often pour over the odd text or artifact whilst enjoying a good cup of tea! Thus, I have come to eagerly anticipate our little ‘meetings’. However, I cannot help but find myself wishing she was more emotive: I feel as if she does not enjoy my quips.”
"A considerable time passes when discussing texts and writings. At times artifacts themselves are a focus, usually editions that have long gone out of print or old letters."
“Shiro-Ebi…” There’s a statuette in their hand, one of a male with skin as pallid as their own. Tannin holds it up to the light, inspecting its delicate features with a hungry smile. “Such a pitiful thing, the little morsel…” they drawl, their voice laced with mock sympathy. “Life has not been kind to him, and in turn, he has not been kind to himself… So, I’ve taken the liberty of giving him the help he undoubtedly deserves…~”
"For what reason do you seek me this time, nightmare?"
The serpent finds this horror's company somewhat unpleasant, though not wholly intolerable. Their smarmy attitude and hobby of treating her like a new toy is a recipe for disaster, but something about them makes her hesitant to cut ties. Is it because they somehow remind her of her home at sea? Or perhaps that they might be the last one who honors the memory of her true identity? It's difficult to say precisely...
“Oh why so sour, Jordbær…? You know as much as I that I mean you no harm…” The creature replies smoothly, opening their arms. It’s an invitation, one that beckons her to find comfort in their warm embrace; but the unnerving grin that taints their lips hint at something more. “I do rather like you, believe it or not…” They take a step forward, closing the distance between them, and a hand reaches out to gently graze her cheek. “You remind me of someone, an old acquaintance of mine… Pity you’re all that’s left of him…”
Fuun sighed dreamily as if they were teenager with their first boyfriend. "I personally find him charming and so lovable." They partially zoned out with a smile, sorting through their many wonderful memories they'd created with him in the short span of time they'd been together so far. "I hope he stays with me for many millennia to come; or preferably all eternity."
The name alone causes them to release a strange purr, a sound so deep it reverberates through the air and shakes one to the core. There is a glimmer of affection in their otherwise hollow eyes. “What is there for me to say…?” they ask, their voice soft and low. The loving expression that paints their gaunt features looks completely foreign on their face: unnatural and uncanny. “I adore them; truly, I do… And I plan to keep them by my side for as long as I am able…~”