Heat from Fire / Fire from Heat

[Content warnings:]<yellow| //(Click on any category to reveal a list of related themes. Click on a theme to reveal more specific details, which will contain spoilers.)// * (link:"Occult content")[Occult content ** (link: "Supernatural age gap")[Supernatural age gap: A twenty-nine-year-old human and a ten-thousand-year-old demon begin dating.] ** (link: "Demons and Hell")[Demons and Hell: Hell is a real place, and one main character is a demon who lives there.] ** (link: "Sex magic")[Sex magic: A camgirl magically collects the orgasms of her clients for use in magic spells.] ** (link: "Bloodletting")[Bloodletting: A witch cuts the palm of her hand several times to draw blood for magic rituals.] ** (link: "Possession")[Possession: A witch allows herself to be possessed by her demonic lover as a submissive act.]] * (link:"Sexual content")[Sexual content ** (link: "Abrasion / scratching")[Abrasion / scratching: A character has her body scratched with long, sharp nails, raising welts.] ** (link: "Power exchange")[Power exchange: A submissive character allows her supernatural lover to take control of her hands, via possession.] ** (link: "Orgasm denial")[Orgasm denial: A character is physically restrained and not allowed to cum until she begs.] ** (link: "Genital stimulation")[Genital stimulation: A trans woman has her girlcock stimulated to orgasm via, at varying instances, a hand, a vibrator, and a tentacle.] ** (link: "Name calling")[Name calling: A submissive character is called names by her lover, including “pet” and “slut.”] ** (link: "Tentacle sex")[Tentacle sex: A character is restrained, stripped, penetrated and brought to orgasm by tentacles. Don't worry, she consents.] ** (link: "Penetration")[Penetration: A character is anally penetrated by first one, then two tentacles.]] * (link:"Real world stuff")[Real world stuff ** (link: "Pandemic and climate change")[Pandemic and climate change: A character vocalizes her anxiety over a global pandemic and the climate crisis.] ** (link: "Transmisogyny")[Transmisogyny: A main character is a trans woman, and is subjected to misgendering and vitriol when her mostly-cis coven becomes critical of her magical practices.] ** (link: "Sex work")[Sex work: A trans woman main character does cam work as a source of income and magical supplies. She makes reference to experiences with clients who fetishize trans women. Sex work is work, fyi.] ** (link: "Accountability abuse")[Accountability abuse: A community of magic users turn on a trans woman once she is accused of using toxic magic, and discuss limiting her magical powers.]] [Story synopsis (detailed spoilers):]<yellow| (link: "Click to reveal.")[Mallorca (she/her) is a transfeminine camgirl. Her cam work (referenced but not depicted on-screen) allows her to remotely harvest magical reagents—jars of magic cum. Using these as a mystical energy source, Mal contacts and begins flirting with Asphodel (she/they), a literal demon from Hell. Meanwhile, the witches' coven to which Mal belongs begins a campaign against sex magic, which they characterize as toxic "fake" magic. This ultimately leads to a callout, the group turning on their only trans sister, and a debate around whether to remove Mal's magic powers once and for all. She tells them all off. On the night of the full moon, Mal completes her big ritual and summons Asphodel to Earth, where she manifests as a tall, fat, gorgeous devil woman. Asphodel confides that the rules of Hell demand she spend her time in other, less comfortable forms there—one of the reasons they were eager to leave. They have super hot tentacle sex. The story ends with the couple together on Earth, but implies that due to outside forces their future together is precarious and uncertain.] [Tags:]<yellow| Supernatural Romance, Hexplicit, Fiends to Lovers, #t4(text-rotate:180)[♱] [[Start|intro]] (enchant: ?yellow, (css: "color:#FFFF00; text-shadow: 0px 0px 5px #000, 0px 0px 5px #000;")) (enchant: ?list's lines, (text-indent:24))

You ask for a [(cycling-link: bind $cycling, "peanut butter and jelly", "turkey and swiss", "knuckle")]<cyc| sandwich. (link: "…")[(replace: ?cyc)[$cycling]"Coming right up!"]

<div class="mal messages"><div class="message">yo its mal the sexy powerful witch</div> <div class="message">this one goes out to all you late night demons hopefully one of you actually sees this</div> <div class="message">preferably a hot one haha</div> <div class="message last">(not a joke about hell sorry)</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message">check out this setup</div> <div class="message">candle – lit. black. very goth 🕯️🦇</div> <div class="message">moon – new. like a hole w a spooky purple halo 🌑👻</div> <div class="message">the moons extremely cursed now, dunno if uve been up here lately</div> <div class="message">the sacrifice – premium, fresh 🍆🥛</div> <div class="message">milked it out of a chud w a thing for t girls</div> <div class="message last">well harvested remotely w magic due to pandemic but all the same this is grade a chud milk, i worked hard for it</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message">finally – ur witch mallorca. supple. naked 💅💃</div> <div class="message last">well ok im wearing underwear, chud left me feeling a lil dysphoric haha</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message last">anyway i call to u from across the void 🤘🤘 if u can hear me pls give me a sign</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="asp messages"><div class="message">a/s/l</div> <div class="message last">lol</div></div> [[…|title]]]]]]

=><= [HEAT FROM FIRE FIRE FROM HEAT]<title| <div class="cover"><img src="images/cover.png"></div> [BY ANNA ANNE ANTHROPY]<title| [[…|moon-1]] (enchant: ?title, (css: "font-family:Pirata One; font-size: 240%"))

On the nightstand beside your bed, a bottle of rando juice pulses eerily in the purple moonlight. You huddle in the fluorescent halo of your laptop. An important mission tonight, O good witch: Dig up some extremely choice selfies for Asphodel from the nightmare mire of your desktop. First thing’s first: You fire up [(cycling-link: bind $cycling, "Lofi Hip Hop for Witches Only", "Chill Beats to Hex or Study To", "Good Vibes Spell: Aesthetic Radio")]<cyc|. (link: "…")[(replace: ?cyc)[$cycling]Magic is all about intention, you see. [[…|selfies-2]]]

<span class="name">Chandra</span><div class="texts messages"><div class="message">Ladies, I hope this group text finds you well. Regretfully, I’ve heard rumors some of you may be experimenting with “sex magic.” I want to remind you that sex magic was a fake discipline popularized by ‘occultists’ like Crowley and other men trying to trick people into performing sex acts with them.</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="texts messages"><div class="message last">I know things are confusing right now during the pandemic, with Diana and her brother Apollo gone. But please don’t hitch your magical wagon to any fake, chauvinist magical practices. What the world needs now is healers, working true magic.</div></div> (link: "…")[<span class="name">morgan</span> <div class="texts messages"><div class="message last">sex magic?? so gross</div></div> (link: "…")[ ==> <span class="name">mal</span> <div class="mal messages"><div class="message last">whats the problem sex magic sounds dope</div></div> <== (link: "…")[<span class="name">WiseWomyn WildRose</span> <div class="texts messages"><div class="message last">Men Misuse Magic Like THey Misuse The Planet! Our Craft Is FOR Healing!!!</div></div> [[…|asphodel-1]]]]]]

=><= [🌒]<moon| <= [[…|selfies-1]] (enchant: ?moon, (css: "font-size: 400%; filter: hue-rotate(220deg)"))

They need to see a full-body, you’ve decided. Or you decided once and are trying not to go backsies. Somewhere in this trash heap of files and folders is one you remember liking, where your striped socks perfectly match your signature [(cycling-link: bind $cycling, "lavender", "flame red", "jet black")]<cyc| hair. (link: "…")[(replace: ?cyc)[$cycling]The most important part of being an Adult Entertainer is having a recognizable brand, after all. Lockdown has forced you to do your own hair and all you can manage is a hacky bob with a choppy fringe, so the color had better be distinctive. //Found it!// In the photo you’re squatting over a cheap prop skull. [[…|selfies-3]]]

Something spicy next. In a folder labelled //50 SHADES OF GAYYY// you find a closeup with a ball-gag, serving your best Pleading Eyes Emoji. A selfie. You haven’t gotten dirty with anyone since lockdown began. The photo shows off your signature eye makeup: [(cycling-link: bind $cycling, "long, raven-like eyeliner wings", "cute little Xs under each eye", "smoky black liner with long long lashes")]<cyc|. (link: "…")[(replace: ?cyc)[$cycling]You’ve seen //Hellraiser,// demons are into this kinky shit, right? You really really hope Asphodel is, because you're way overdue. [[…|selfies-4]]]

[(cycling-link: bind $cycling, "")]<cyc| (link: "…")[(replace: ?cyc)[$cycling] [[…|blank]]] -- (link: "…")[ ] -- [(cycling-link: "", "(goto: '')")] -- (link: "…")[(replace: ?cyc)[$cycling] (if: $cycling contains "X")[ ] (if: $cycling contains "X")[(display: "Y")]

Finally and at last: the titty. Your breasts are pretty flattish—to compensate, you got your nipples pierced. Both at once, which hurt like fuck. (You got them done right before lockdown started. Lucky timing.) The pose in this photo is pretty good: You’re cupping a breast and pushing it toward the camera, which makes it look more like you have one. Lighting’s a little dark, but it makes your jewelry—your nips and your [(cycling-link: bind $cycling, "septum ring", "snake bites", "many ear piercings")]<cyc|—gleam like little jewels. (link: "…")[(replace: ?cyc)[$cycling]You haven’t achieved cenobite levels of body modification but still, she’ll appreciate it, right? Or will it just bore her? They probably turn people inside out on the daily down there. Ugh. [[…|selfies-5]]]

To get the pics from your laptop to your phone, you email them to yourself. There’s probably a Gen Z meme about people like you. [[…|selfies-6]]

<div class="textcont"><div class="mal messages"><div class="message last">extremely hot pixxx of ur fave mortal bitch. sorry no feet lol</div></div></div> You light a candle, say some magic nonsense, and watch the cum bottle drain itself. //Send.// (link: "…")[There’s no sputter of flame or smell of sulphur or caress of the void-wind, just the anxiety of wondering whether Asphodel will like them. Will the funny little human girl continue to amuse them, or were you just a fleeting distraction from the endless grind of immortality? Eternity is nothing beside the time you spend waiting for someone to respond to your selfies. [[…|selfies-7]]]

//Not Asphodel//, you sulk, trying not to check how much time's passed. Your spell can only weaken the boundary for so long. (link: "…")[<div class="textcont"><div class="asp messages"><div class="message last">sorry u know in hell were all about the feet</div></div></div> //Finally.// [[…|asphodel-2]]]

(text-style:"italic","shudder")[//BUZZ.//] You jump as your phone suddenly starts shaking and clattering on the nightstand. Must have accidentally put it in silent mode. You snatch it up. [[…|coven-1]]

<div class="mal messages"><div class="message">i hate you</div> <div class="message last">die 💀</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="asp messages"><div class="message">if i could do that i wouldn’t be in this pickle</div> <div class="message">the pickle we call, the Furious Barbeque</div> <div class="message">Helltopia</div> <div class="message">abandon all hope etc etc</div> <div class="message last">you're cute as shit!!</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message">💩✨</div> <div class="message">do u really mean that or are you just trying to steal my soul</div> <div class="message last">not calling u liar but u are a literal temptress from hell</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="asp messages"><div class="message">if i was trying to tempt you you’d know</div> <div class="message last">i’d talk about tracing your back with my claws, or my demon tongue on your pretty face</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message">aaaaa</div> <div class="message last">fuck u cant do this to me 🥺</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="asp messages"><div class="message last">haha oops, maybe i am trying to tempt you }:></div></div> [[…|asphodel-3]]]]]]]

<div class="mal messages"><div class="message">haha anywaaay QUICKLY CHANGES SUBJECT 👀💦</div> <div class="message last">uh hows hell</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="asp messages"><div class="message last">sucks. how’s making randos cum for reagents</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message">weird / boring</div> <div class="message last">this guy wanted <span class="linkbubble">[(cycling-link: bind $cycling, "to impregnate me", "me to make fun of his dick")]<cyc|</span></div></div> (link: "…")[(replace: ?cyc)[$cycling](if: $cycling contains "impregnate")[(display: "asphodel-3a")](if: $cycling contains "dick")[(display: "asphodel-3b")]]]]

<div class="asp messages"><div class="message last">i appreciate u putting up w that just so u can text me</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message last">u better they werent kidding when they called it a sacrifice</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="asp messages"><div class="message last">the boundary wasn’t my idea, i'd love if it were easier to visit</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message">youd feel right at home, its hell on earth up here</div> <div class="message last">lots of fires, suffering etc</div></div> [[…|asphodel-5]]]]]

<div class="asp messages"><div class="message last">did you not want his seed</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message">oh i wanted it alright 💦🥛</div> <div class="message last">if u want to get me preggers tho ive got some tough news for u buddy</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="asp messages"><div class="message last">there goes my plan to host my demon spawn in you</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message">hahaha</div> <div class="message last">thats a joke right</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="asp messages"><div class="message last">}:></div></div> [[…|asphodel-4]]]]]]

<div class="asp messages"><div class="message last">he send a pic?</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message">no i didnt have to look at it 🙅‍♀️🍆</div> <div class="message">listen i dont mind telling someone there dicks small</div> <div class="message">but he was def looking for a girl w a dick to talk about how much bigger she was than him</div> <div class="message">felt a little ick is what im saying</div> <div class="message last">mfer didnt even tip 💸</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="asp messages"><div class="message">rude</div> <div class="message">i would have at least given you a hollowed out skull to drink from</div> <div class="message last">or the baby teeth of your worst enemy</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message last">ur so sweet bb 😍</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="asp messages"><div class="message last">}:></div></div> [[…|asphodel-4]]]]]]

<div class="mal messages"><div class="message last"><span class="linkbubble">[(cycling-link: bind $cycling, "so whats real hell like anyway", "so how come ur into humans")]<cyc|</span></div></div> (link: "…")[(replace: ?cyc)[$cycling](if: $cycling contains "hell")[(display: "asphodel-5a")](if: $cycling contains "humans")[(display: "asphodel-5b")]]

<div class="asp messages"><div class="message">sucks</div> <div class="message last">don’t ever come here</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message last">do i get a choice</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="asp messages"><div class="message">Hell’s like</div> <div class="message">what if you moved to a commune with all your hot radical friends</div> <div class="message">they’ve all got these wild ideas</div> <div class="message">‘what if nothing was immoral’</div> <div class="message">‘what if gravity is a social construction’</div> <div class="message last">everyone fucking all the time</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message last">idk this sounds rad as fuck</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="asp messages"><div class="message">and then almost immediately everyone has to get a job</div> <div class="message">and they build this fucked up hierarchy</div> <div class="message last">and everyone gets sick of everyone</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message last">oh</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="asp messages"><div class="message">and then its 10,000 years later and you’re all still stuck here</div> <div class="message last">sorry this probably sucks to listen to</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message">no no</div> <div class="message">well yes</div> <div class="message last">but i already complained about my job</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="asp messages"><div class="message last">heh</div></div> [[…|asphodel-6]]]]]]]]]]

<div class="mal messages"><div class="message">like u probably fuck demons and shit</div> <div class="message last">how is a human like, interesting to u</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="asp messages"><div class="message last">god demons suck so bad</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message last">yea??</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="asp messages"><div class="message">yeah everyone here is my ex and i’ve known them for 10,000 years</div> <div class="message last">they’re like exes And family</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message last">ew</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="asp messages"><div class="message last">its the worst</div></div> <== (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message last">is that why u like me, because im new?</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="asp messages"><div class="message">no</div> <div class="message">well a little</div> <div class="message">but you’re interesting</div> <div class="message">all the other little humans are pretending their house isn’t on fire</div> <div class="message">but you’re all, well if this house is on fire</div> <div class="message last">let’s see what cool shit i can do before it burns down</div></div> <== (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message last">plus im smokin hot 🔥🔥</div></div> (link: "…")[ ==> [<div class="asp messages"><div class="message last">yeah you’re a tasty little witch nugget</div></div> <== (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message">omg</div></div> [[…|asphodel-6]]]]]]]]]]]]]

<div class="mal messages"><div class="message last"><span class="linkbubble">[(cycling-link: bind $cycling, "so what do u actually do in hell","what would u do with me in hell")]<cyc|</span></div></div> (link: "…")[(replace: ?cyc)[$cycling](if: $cycling contains "actually")[(display: "asphodel-6a")](if: $cycling contains "me")[(display: "asphodel-6b")]]

<div class="asp messages"><div class="message last">would you believe your girl is a baroness</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message">whoa!! no shit??</div> <div class="message">👑😈</div> <div class="message last">is that good? like is that high up</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="asp messages"><div class="message">its just a set of responsibilities</div> <div class="message last">i, my dear, am Temptation</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message last">oh u dont say</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="asp messages"><div class="message">heh</div> <div class="message">‘persistent temptation’ specifically</div> <div class="message">the whole plums in the icebox thing</div> <div class="message">maybe you resist their charms today, but tomorrow they’re still there</div> <div class="message">juicy black jewels</div> <div class="message">someday you’ll suck them down your greedy throat, face covered in sticky juice</div> <div class="message last">that’s me. persistent temptation</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message">damn!! thats good</div> <div class="message last">how would u tempt me</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="asp messages"><div class="message">oh, i would give you lots of attention and then disappear for a while</div> <div class="message last">tease you and let you stew over and over until you’d burn the world down to get to me</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message last">😳💦</div></div> [[…|asphodel-7]]]]]]]]]

<div class="mal messages"><div class="message last">i mean if i like died, and was ur like responsibility</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="asp messages"><div class="message">for you, one of the denial type punishments</div> <div class="message last">chained in the fuck pits for a millenium, flesh scoured by the tongues of sinners, never allowed to cum</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message last">😳💦</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="asp messages"><div class="message last">if you suffered beautifully enough i’d visit you sometimes. maybe even tease you myself</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message">aaaa fuck!!</div> <div class="message">🥺</div> <div class="message last">is it problematic if this is rly hot</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="asp messages"><div class="message">ha, i’m making it sound way more fun than it is</div> <div class="message">there are extremely restrictive criteria for who gets assigned which clients and how punishments are distributed</div> <div class="message last">if i wanted to torment you, witchling, it wouldn’t be in Hell</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message last">gulp</div></div> [[…|asphodel-7]]]]]]]]

<div class="asp messages"><div class="message">now it’s my turn to ask a question</div> <div class="message last">i want to know why</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message last">why what</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="asp messages"><div class="message">this. why contact hell?</div> <div class="message last">why sext a demon</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message">oh are we sexting hehe 😇</div> <div class="message">well its like, if the world is a giant dumpster</div> <div class="message">ive tried to make myself a like, particularly interesting piece of trash</div> <div class="message">a real shiny one</div> <div class="message">so maybe something bigger than me will pick it out and take it back to its lair</div> <div class="message last">and treasure it for a while</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="asp messages"><div class="message last">in this metaphor i'm a raccoon?</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message last">yeah but raccoons are great</div> <div class="message last">they have lil hands and cool masks 💪🦝 raccoons totally rule</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="asp messages"><div class="message">haha</div> <div class="message last">you’re a funny little creature, mallorca</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message">and hot</div> <div class="message last">asphodel you owe me a selfie</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="asp messages"><div class="message last">yeah?</div></div> <== (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message">i sent u three</div> <div class="message">SEND FEET haha</div> <div class="message">or hooves</div> <div class="message">whatever u have im not picky</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message">asphodel</div> <div class="message">are you ignoring me or did the spell wear off</div> <div class="message">sorry</div> <div class="message">god damn it</div> <div class="message last">asphodel??</div></div> [[…|moon-2]]]]]]]]]]]]

=><= [🌔]<moon| <= [[…|coven-2]] (enchant: ?moon, (css: "font-size: 400%; filter: hue-rotate(220deg)"))

<span class="name">Chandra</span><div class="texts messages"><div class="message">I want to first express gratitude for those of you joining me in the Great Work of calling Diana and Apollo home. The witches who hexed the moon in 2020 didn’t have any real power, but it was the insult that drove the gods away. That’s why we can’t take any chances reoffending them. We can’t violate the boundaries of the natural world.</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="texts messages"><div class="message last">Someone here is trying to open a portal to another realm using sex magic. Even if the rituals are fake, we can’t play around with the fundamentals of the universe anymore. We should consider restricting access to magic to those who can take the responsibility seriously.</div></div> (link: "…")[<span class="name">aster</span> <div class="texts messages"><div class="message last">everyone knows your talking about mal</div></div> (link: "…")[<span class="name">Tara</span> <div class="texts messages"><div class="message last">Thank you chandra for your bravery! It doesn’t surprise me mal is wrapped up in toxic magic. At our last gathering in ‘19 they asked me if i wanted to ‘make out’ during a ritual! That’s not what topless chanting circle is for!!!</div></div> (link: "…")[<span class="name">morgan</span> <div class="texts messages"><div class="message last">wow they always rubbed me the wrong way but i wasnt sure why, good to have my doubts confirmed</div></div> (link: "…")[<span class="name">Allyson</span> <div class="texts messages"><div class="message last">Chandra your not talking about sealing a witches power are you?? Youve always acted in the interest of the coven but this is a big step!!</div></div> (link: "…")[<span class="name">WiseWomyn WildRose</span> <div class="texts messages"><div class="message last">Your Kind Thinks Witchcraft Is Just About WEaring Gauzy Dresses Worshipping SAtan And Getting Laid!</div></div> (link: "…")[ ==> <span class="name">mal</span> <div class="mal messages"><div class="message last">fuck all of you</div></div> <== [[…|claws-1]]]]]]]]]

<div class="mal messages"><div class="message last">hey del, u up</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="asp messages"><div class="message last">you can’t call me that</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message last">well then my only option is ‘ass’</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="asp messages"><div class="message">i will roast you on a spit in hell</div> <div class="message last">i wasn’t expecting to hear from you again so soon, something happen?</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message">its coven bullshit</div> <div class="message">theyre talking about sealing my powers 😶</div> <div class="message last">this full moon might be my only shot at summoning u</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="asp messages"><div class="message">and you spent a whole cum reagent texting me?</div> <div class="message last">you’re so good to me, pet</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message">fuck, i like when u call me that 😳</div> <div class="message">i wish u were here now</div> <div class="message last">you never sent a selfie</div></div> [[…|claws-2]]]]]]]]

<div class="asp messages"><div class="message">there’s a way i can come through, a little bit</div> <div class="message last">do you have a knife?</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message">do i have a knife</div> <div class="message last">im a witch asphodel 🔮🗡️</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="asp messages"><div class="message">good girl</div> <div class="message">i want you to make a cut across each palm, along your Girdle of Venus</div> <div class="message">then i need you to intone my enn</div> <div class="message">‘Renich Viasa Asphodela Avage’</div> <div class="message last">‘i surrender my hands willingly, do with them what thou wilt’</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message">am i signing over my soul</div> <div class="message last">dunno if im ready for that kind of commitment</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="asp messages"><div class="message">haha, no</div> <div class="message">you know the phrase, ‘idle hands are the devils playthings?’</div> <div class="message last">it’s kinda like that</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message">sure, why not</div> <div class="message last">here goes!! 🩸🩸</div></div> [[…|claws-2.5]]]]]]]

Something’s changed. Other than the new specks of blood on your fake leather gamer chair. It’s your hands—the cuts on your palms have stopped hurting. No, something else: your fingers. Long black nails, knife-sharp, like talons. You hold them up, turn them over, examining them. No, you’re not doing this. She is. She’s showing them to you. (link: "…")[<span class="as">“you like?”</span> You jump at her voice. It’s in your head; she’s whispering to you. Her voice is like smoke. (Not like a smoker’s—like smoke. Floating, coiling, lingering.) You whisper back. //[(cycling-link: bind $cycling, "“Holy fuck. Asphodel?”", "“Oh my god this is so hot.”")]<cyc|// (link: "…")[(replace: ?cyc)[$cycling](if: $cycling contains "Asphodel")[<span class="as">“hi, witchling. i’m possessing your hot little hands. for a minute anyway. hope you don’t mind.”</span>](if: $cycling contains "hot")[They laugh. Their laugh is a little bit queer-coded villain, a little bit hot older lady getting drunk at a wedding. <span class="as">“your hands feel so good on me, witchling. like a soft pair of gloves.”</span>] [[…|claws-4]]]]

Are they even still your hands? You can feel them move, feel the flaking skin of your chair under your fingertips, but you’re no longer the one driving. It’s like they've got their hands on top of yours, guiding you, teaching you to play piano or mold a clay pot or whatever.// Intimate.// (link: "…")[<span class="as">“idle hands, pet. want me to touch you?”</span> Her nails gleam wickedly. //(cycling-link: "“God yes.”", "“Fuck me up.”", "“Please please please.”")// [[…|claws-5]]]

Asphodel takes her sweet time on you. Hot knives on your thighs, raising long welts. Talons peel back your clothes like scalpels, carve lines into your breasts, extract moans from your heaving chest. She draws and quarters you. She grabs thick, greedy handfuls. In just minutes she’s got you screaming, trembling; only your hands feel steady, feel controlled. But not controlled by you. (link: "…")[<span class="as">“look at you. you’re a mess.”</span> One razor hand smooths damp hair from your forehead. The other is off tormenting a nipple. [(cycling-link: bind $cycling, "You lean into your palm—their palm.", "You lick at her fingers—your fingers.")]<cyc| (link: "…")[(replace: ?cyc)[$cycling](if: $cycling contains "palm")[Like a pet, you nuzzle your cheek into their palm. You hear a noise in your head, like Asphodel is pleased. With your eyes closed, it’s not your hand any more. They stroke your hair tenderly, as if comforting a small, scared animal.](if: $cycling contains "fingers")[Greedily, you lap at Asphodel’s fingertips, kiss and suck on them. You’re hungry; worshipful; desperate. In your head, she laughs. Her black onyx claws almost seem to hum, like heated iron—or is that the sound of you moaning?] <span class="as">“funny little creature,”</span> they whisper. [[…|claws-6]]]]

Claws trace your squirming body, threatening your neck, chest, belly. <span class="as">“careful,”</span> Asphodel warns. You merely whimper. (link: "…")[Her claw hovers above your plump little girldick like a hunting bird. Your dick is trembling, squirming—of course it is, all of you is—but Asphodel won’t let you touch. <span class="as">“greedy little witchling. want to cum for your demon queen?”</span> //(set: $vibe to false)[(cycling-link: bind $cycling, "“Yes, oh fuck yes.”", "“I-is this safe with your—with those nails?”", "“Can we use my vibrator instead?”")]<cyc|// (link: "…")[(replace: ?cyc)[$cycling](if: $cycling contains "yes")[(goto: "claws-7")](if: $cycling contains "nails")[<span class="as">“i’ll just need to be <i>careful,</i>”</span> they say, curling a talon just under the head of your dick. <span class="as">“don’t want to break anything, right?”</span> //(cycling-link: "“Eep.”", "“Gulp.”", "“Oh fuck.”")// [[…|claws-7]]](if: $cycling contains "vibrator")[(set: $vibe to true)<span class="as">“guide me to it,”</span> says Asphodel. It’s kind of cute, verbally steering her to your fave vibe, a pretty purple wand. <span class="as">“in the name of the moon,”</span> she says, <span class="as">“i’ll punish you.”</span> [[…|claws-7]]]]]

The fake leather of the chair sucks at your skin as you wriggle. <span class="as">“beg me, pet,”</span> Asphodel orders, not yet touching you. <span class="as">“beg me to fuck you.”</span> [(cycling-link: bind $cycling, "//“Oh god, please ma’am! Please let me cum!”//","(Silence and/or hesitation.)", "//“Fuck you.”//")]<cyc| (link: "…")[(if: $cycling contains "please")[(goto: "claws-9")](else:)[(goto: "claws-8")]]

Laughter. She just tucks your arms behind your back, crossing your wrists, pinning them to the chair, putting you in your place. Bound. Captive. Hers. //“Fuck.”// (link: "…")[<span class="as">“i’m immortal, pet,”</span> whispers Asphodel, <span class="as">“patience is my best skill.”</span> You tug at your arms, uselessly. You’re completely fucked. (link: "…")[<span class="as">“before your species burned away your skies and set fire to your world,”</span> they whisper, <span class="as">“i was. before colonizers crossed the seas, before your language had been dreamed, i was.”</span> You hear them in one ear, then the other. You imagine them circling you, pacing. An interrogation. (link: "…")[<span class="as">“before money had ever changed hands. before pandemics, before presidents. before police.”</span> You jump, as though something touched your side. Your stupid, hyperstimulated body yearns for her claws. (link: "…")[<span class="as">“i’m happy to wait, witchling. i’m nothing but waiting.”</span> She laughs again. //(Why is her laugh so fucking hot?)// <span class="as">“how about you?”</span> (link: "…")[… (link: "…")[You can feel her her claws idly flex. You make a tiny noise. (link: "…")[… (link: "…")[[[//“Fuck! Okay! Please, ma’am, fuck me so hard I explode, I need it so fucking bad, please please please let me cum for you. Oh god, please, Asphodel.”//|claws-9]] ]]]]]]]]

A demon cackle. <span class="as">“greedy, greedy. let’s see just how much you can beg.”</span> The answer: a lot. It’s all you fucking do for the next eternity, as they torture you with (if: $vibe is true)[vibrator](else:)[fingers] and talons, until none of the sounds you produce could be described as words anymore. Asphodel stretches you to the point of snapping. (link: "…")[<span class="as">“i could stop,”</span> they tease. <span class="as">“i could leave you like this.”</span> You make a sound almost like crying. Asphodel laughs at you—then (if: $vibe is true)[blasts](else:)[pumps] your girldick until you’re silently screaming, a mind-wiped cum puppet. <span class="as">“good girl,”</span> she whispers, <span class="as">“good pet,”</span> and it’s the best thing anyone’s ever said to you. [[…|claws-10]]]

<span class="as">“fuck, you’re fun,”</span> Asphodel tells you. You snuggle into their hands—your hands? Whatever. One is stroking your hair; the other fishes around and finds your water bottle, lifting it to your lips. <span class="as">“drink, babe.”</span> You do. Too fast. You cough, and then drink again. //“Oh my god, oh my god.”// Your voice is almost hoarse. //“Thank you, thank you.”// <span class="as">“oh, you had a good time, huh?”</span> She laughs. <span class="as">“wench. slattern.”</span> (link: "…")[//“Fuck, it’s been so long. Did you, um, enjoy yourself? Like, for real? You must have been with like a million humans already, or demons, or I don’t even know.”// <span class="as">“heh. it’s not like that here.”</span> //“What's it like? Are these your nails?”// (link: "…")[<span class="as">“it’s nice to—to have someone who actually appreciates my attention? who wants me? who isn’t either, you know, terrified of me or sick of me.”</span> She sounds unexpectedly vulnerable. //“Asphodel—”// (link: "…")[<span class="as">“in Hell, i don't get to—”</span> [[…|claws-11]]]]]

They cut out suddenly. Your head feels uncomfortably quiet now, like a house in the woods at night. //“Asphodel? Are you still here?”// (link: "…")[You look down at your hands – yours again, your fingers, your anxiety-bitten nails. One black cut across each palm. You wiggle your fingers. She’s gone again. //“Fuck.”// [[…|coven-3]]]

=><= [🌕]<moon| <= [[…|ritual-1]] (enchant: ?moon, (css: "font-size: 400%; filter: hue-rotate(220deg)"))

<span class="name">Chandra</span><div class="texts messages"><div class="message last">Ladies, it’s the full moon tonight. An important night for the Great Work. I’d like to remind you all not to do anything to jeopardize the moon working, even if it seems innocent.</div></div> (link: "…")[<span class="name">aster</span><div class="texts messages"><div class="message last">she means YOU mallorca</div></div> (link: "…")[ ==> <span class="name">mal</span><div class="mal messages"><div class="message">fuck the moon</div> <div class="message last">the moon took SOPHIE from us</div></div> <== (link: "…")[<span class="name">Allyson</span><div class="texts messages"><div class="message last">Mal I know you must feel lonely and hopeless!! Its been a struggle for all of us, I don’t see anyone most days except my plants and my cats, and my partner. and my sisters kids. But you cant open the door for something that shouldn’t cross over!! The consequences could be dire!!</div></div> (link: "…")[ ==> <span class="name">mal</span> <== <div class="mal messages"><div class="message">compared to fucking what</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message">have u looked outside lately?? this pandemics fuckin endless, the rich are getting richer and the poor keep dying. the cops and the nazis are still killing black and trans ppl and immigrants. we’re all gonna die and the government doesnt care, they cant even pay us to stay home. a fucking magic moon spell isn’t gonna fix that</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message">the worst thing is even if we survive all this, the planet is fucking dying</div></div> (link: "…")[<div class="mal messages"><div class="message last">its every possible doomsday playing out at once. texas is frozen over. the west coast is on fire. so now theres demons too, so fucking what. how can things get any worse than they already are</div></div> (link: "…")[<span class="name">morgan</span><div class="texts messages"><div class="message last">jesus</div></div> (link: "…")[<span class="name">Tara</span><div class="texts messages"><div class="message last">I’m uncomfortable with the amount of hostility on display here. Coven group chat is supposed to be a healing space</div></div> (link: "…")[<span class="name">WiseWomyn WildRose</span><div class="texts messages"><div class="message last">Not Proper Speech Or Intention For A True WOmyn Witch! Seal Them BEfore THey Cause Further Harm!!!</div></div> [[…|moon-3]]]]]]]]]]]]

Like a purple eye, the moon stares through your window, watching. It is time for the summoning. Now or never. You are dressed in (set: $outfit to "athleisure")[(cycling-link: bind $outfit, "your cutest goth look—mesh sleeves, silver jewelry, fishnets.", "your best //The Craft// cosplay—dress shirt, tie, plaid skirt, kneesocks.", "nothing. True black mass hours here.")]<cyc| (link: "…")[(replace: ?cyc)[$outfit](if: $outfit contains "goth")[What you’d have worn to a first date before lockdown. This is a date, right?](if: $outfit contains "Craft")[Demons love the Catholic school look, right?"](if: $outfit contains "nothing")[Well, you add a pair of lacy black panties. And a matching choker.] [[…|ritual-2]]]

You’ve pushed your furniture against the walls, not that there’s much. The twelve bottles of rando gunk you marathoned are arranged in a circle, faintly glowing. Beside them are candles—[(cycling-link: bind $cycling, "pink, for love", "red, for lust", "black, for true goth flavor")]<cyc|. (link: "…")[(replace: ?cyc)[$cycling]With a long-ass barbecue lighter (you don’t really smoke), you begin lighting candles. [[…|ritual-3]]]

At last you kneel beside the circle with a silver dagger. No ritual worth doing is worth doing without blood. You draw the blade along your palms again, along your [(cycling-link: bind $cycling, "heart line", "fate line", "life line")]<cyc| this time. (link: "…")[(replace: ?cyc)[$cycling]Bright little rubies bead along the cuts. [[…|ritual-4]]]

Moment of truth. You hold up your palms. (link: "…")[//“Heat from fire, fire from heat,”// you chant. //“Renich Viasa Asphodela Avage!”// (link: "…")[… (link: "…")[Did you forget a step? Nothing happened. A worse thought: What if the coven’s sealed your powers? [[…|ritual-5]]]]]

Your brewing anxiety attack is interrupted by a slurping sound. The bottles—they’re starting to drain. (link: "…")[Soon, they’re empty. (link: "…")[The candles flare up, hot and flamey. (link: "…")[And your floor is a pit. (link: "…")[And something’s coming through. [[…|ritual-6]]]]]]

Ink-black ropes thick as trees erupt from your floor. There are so many of them. In a nightmare flurry, they scrabble for purchase, smashing bottles and breaking candles. The lights go out, and in the moon’s purple glow you watch an enormous mass struggle to be born. //“Oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck.”// (link: "…")[You glimpse shapes in the flailing agglomeration. An owl with lightless eyes and a terrible beak. A huge mouth with teeth like syringes and a lion’s mane. Something is screaming. It might be you. [[…|date-1]]]

When you finally open your eyes, there’s a woman standing over you. High over you. A very large woman. A tall, powerful, soft, gorgeous, wicked, fat, impossible woman. Their crop top and shorts show off their lush, round belly. Blue and purple stretch marks crisscross hot red skin. Oh yeah, they're red. Like, fire-engine. Long, ghost-white hair. Horns like twisted daggers. Fuck, they must be eight feet tall. (link: "…")[Asphodel. Here at last. <span class="as">“Hey girl. (if: $outfit contains "goth" or $outfit contains "Craft")[You look cute as hell. ](if: $outfit contains "goth")[All witchy and shit.”](if: $outfit contains "Craft")[All gay-teen-at-Bible-Camp.”](if: $outfit contains "nothing")[You're naked as hell. I love that choker on you.”]</span> That same smoke voice from before, but with noticeably more vocal fry, as if coming now from human-like vocal cords. //[(cycling-link: "Y-you're so tall.", "Y-you're so hot.")]<cyc|// (link: "…")[(replace: ?cyc)["You're so—Wait. In Hell, you don't get to what?"][[…|date-2]]]]

-------------------------------------------------- ⛤ -----------------------------------------------

<span class="as">“Huh?”</span> She looks confused. Her eyes are bright gold, like coins. //“We got cut off last time. You said, in Hell you don't get to…?”// (link: "…")[She runs her claws through her ashen hair. Those long black nails from last time, they’re hers. <span class="as">“Wow, Mal. Not gonna let me wriggle out of that one, huh?”</span> //“Asphodel. I used twelve dudes’ cum to summon you across time and space. Tell me what you were going to say.”// (link: "…")[They sigh. <span class="as">“Fine. See this? Me? In Hell, I don’t get to look this way, most of the time.”</span> They find your ratty old couch and flop onto it dramatically. [[…|date-3]]]]

<span class="as">“Your place is so //normal,”//</span> Asphodel says. <span class="as">“Nothing on fire. Very few spikes.”</span> Your apartment is covered in broken glass from her entrance. Burn marks on the floor where the pit had been. //[(cycling-link: bind $cycling, "“What do you look like, in Hell?”", "“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be a bitch.”")]<cyc|// (link: "…")[(replace: ?cyc)[$cycling](if: $cycling contains "Hell")[They chuckle, looking away. <span class="as">“Big scary owl, sometimes. A crocodile-lion thing. Bug in a tuxedo. All the classics.”</span>](if: $cycling contains "bitch")[They gives you a small smile. Small for a gorgeous flame-red amazon queen. <span class="as">“It’s okay. I mean, now you know why I was so eager to get out. Other than all the usual reasons, I guess.”</span>] [[…|date-4]]]

Asphodel sprawls in the corner of your couch. Folded up on the cushion beside them, you feel extremely small. In an exhilarating, reverent way, the way people must feel at a cathedral. <span class="as">“Demons have a ton of bodies, Mallorca. Nintety percent are designed to scare the shit out of people. The other ten percent are like, dumbass Escher bullshit. Origami made of eyes, etc., etc. Demon formal wear for boring-ass meetings.”</span> (link: "…")[She meets your gaze again. Locking eyes with her is like trying to hold onto a fire. <span class="as">“The other point one percent is for personal use. Custom jobs. Like this.”</span> Reclined on your couch, she’s a queen, her horns her crown. Her powerful arms straddle the arm and back of the seat. Her tits are a little too big for her croptop; their undersides peek out, resting luxuriously on her ample belly. One bare, strong leg is up on the couch, between you; her long toes idly flex. //[(cycling-link: bind $cycling, "“You made this body yourself?”", "“I think you’re fucking gorgeous.”")]<cyc|// (link: "…")[(replace: ?cyc)[$cycling](if: $cycling contains "yourself")[When she smiles her teeth are pointy, but it’s a real cute fucking smile. <span class="as">“Modified it. I just—made it something I want to be in. You probably know what that’s like, yeah? Take a body you were given and make it something that fits better.”</span> Asphodel’s fingers find yours. You squeeze their hand.](if: $cycling contains "gorgeous")[They blush. They actually blush. How do you even describe the color they turn? It is cute as hell, though. <span class="as">“Fuck,”</span> they say, <span class="as">“haha.”</span> Your fingers reach for hers, and she allows them to join you.] [[…|date5]]]]

<span class="as">“Anyway, ther—e you go. Asked and answered. Hell has a lot of shitty rules now, it’s nothing like the old days. It’s—It’s good to be able to not be the me I have to be there, for you.”</span> Asphodel laughs and shakes her head. <span class="as">“Does that even make sense?”</span> //[(cycling-link: bind $cycling, "“Actually yeah.”", "“Sorry I made you to talk about all this.”")]<cyc|// (link: "…")[(replace: ?cyc)[$cycling]<span class="as">“You know, I don’t think I’ve really talked about this before, with anyone. In ten thousand fucking years. Not a lot of folks I can talk to down there.”</span> //“Good thing you’re up here,”// you say. They smirk – almost shyly, for an eight-foot demon lady. You scooch closer to them. [[…|date6]]]

Have you ever dated someone taller than you before? The closer you get to them, the smaller you feel. If you get close enough, will you disappear completely? //[(cycling-link: bind $cycling, "“I want to kiss you so bad.”", "“Make out with me.”")]<cyc|// (link: "…")[(replace: ?cyc)[$cycling]Asphodel smiles at you cooly, as you both slide into roles you’re comfortable with. <span class="as">“Come here, pet,”</span> she purrs. A white-hot exclamation point leaps up inside you, hearing her call you that in person. She wets her lips with a pointed tongue, gold eyes gleaming, criminal as stolen treasure. There is an unexpected resistance from your body to the idea of putting your unmasked face near someone else’s. That’s how long you’ve been living in quarantine, I guess. You push through this gasp of panic like a heavy wind, and climb into her lap to bring your mouth near hers. (link: "…")[You fall in. [[…|date-7]]]]

Asphodel's serpentine tongue slithers in and out of your mouth. It traces your jawline, licks your face like a predator’s. You are a small, trembling animal, caught between the teeth on your neck and the talons on your back. Prey. Fucked. They are inescapable. The more you squirm, the more you scream—the hungrier you become. You throw yourself at her neck, her chest, her powerful arms, daring her to take charge of you, to control you. She does, effortlessly, confidently: you may as well be on a leash. (link: "…")[//“God! I want you to fuck me so bad.”// Asphodel nips at your neck. <span class="as">“Can I use my tentacles?”</span> //[(cycling-link: bind $cycling, "“Oh fuck! Yes please!”", "“Is that going to be okay for you?”")]<cyc|// (link: "…")[(replace: ?cyc)[$cycling](if: $cycling contains "fuck")[(display: "date-8")](if: $cycling contains "okay")[(display: "date-9")]]]

<span class="as">“You’re sure? It could be a little—overwhelming.”</span> //“God, I hope so. Wreck me.”// (link: "…")[(display: "date-10")]

//“You know, like changing into a scary body for me?”// <span class="as">“I think so, yeah. Now that we’ve talked through it. I think it would be nice to wear that body for someone who wants it. It could feel good, to change its meaning like that.” They smooth your hair out of your face. “I wouldn’t have asked otherwise.”</span> //“Then fuck me up, please.”// (link: "…")[(display: "date-10")]

darkness? cold? //gonna catch you// [(cycling-link: "look around", "call out (useless)", "tremble like a scared animal", "(goto: 'tentacles-2')")]

They kiss your forehead. Then Asphodel unfolds around you. [[…|tentacles-1]]

here they come searching probing [(cycling-link: "whimper", "run", "//make it hard for me//", "//you can do better than that//", "(goto: 'tentacles-3')")]

caught spread [(cycling-link: "wriggling", "struggling", "squirming in my grip", "//got you//", "(goto: 'tentacles-4')")]

under your clothes like sticky little fingers peeling you [(cycling-link: "shrieking", "thrashing", "//oh, does that tickle?//", "(goto: 'tentacles-5')")]

a fat tentacle stuffed in your slut mouth //much better// [(cycling-link: "muffled whimpers", "muffled moans", "//suck on it, pet//", "//so eager//", "(goto: 'tentacles-6')")]

flip you over //gonna fuck you// tentacles crawling up your thighs [(cycling-link: "//are those moans?//", "//they’re definitely moans//", "(goto: 'tentacles-7')")]

//how many do you think you can take?// [(cycling-link: "//let’s count//", "teasing your asshole", "hips pushing toward me", "//you want it so bad//", "//don’t you slut//", "sliding along your entrance", "//what’s that sound//", "//are you trying to beg//", "//alright, slut//", "one", "(goto: 'tentacles-8')")]

pulsing [(cycling-link: "//that’s right, pet//", "//fuck it//", "//show me how bad you want this//", "//oh, pretty bad huh//", "(goto: 'tentacles-9')")]

//definitely room for more// [(cycling-link: "sliding up your leg", "//don’t neglect the one you’ve already got//", "//show me you deserve another//", "//greedy greedy//", "//get ready, pet//", "two", "(goto: 'tentacles-10')")]

//fuck toy// [(cycling-link: "trembling", "fucking", "begging", "//what's this//", "curling around your girldick", "//mine//", "//you're mine//", "//you love this don't you//", "(goto: 'tentacles-11')")]

//how long can i keep you like this// //[(cycling-link: "she wants to cum", "she wants it so bad", "poor little fuck toy", "greedy little fuck toy", "i could keep you like this forever", "a precious, horny treasure", "that gets you so hot, doesn’t it", "you’re beautiful when you’re desperate", "you’ve been so good, haven’t you", "poor baby", "i’m going to squeeze you fucking dry", "cum for me, pet", "cum for me", "(goto: 'tentacles-12')")]//

static / falling falling falling [(cycling-link: "…", "//funny little creature//", "(goto: 'cuddles-1')")]

Bed. Snuggled in Asphodel’s strong arms. Your laptop’s glowing in her lap, the soft murmur of Netflix in your ears. <span class="as">“What is the deal with this goddamn hotel,”</span> Asphodel asks. <span class="as">“I feel like this show is jerking me around. I bet she just fell in the fucking water tank.”</span> //[(cycling-link: bind $cycling, "“Mmmm,”", "“Uh huh,”", "“Mm hm,”")]<cyc|// you murmur. (link: "…")[(replace: ?cyc)[$cycling]They pull out a blunt from somewhere and attempts to light it, awkwardly, with your barbeque lighter. //[(cycling-link: bind $cycling, "“Can I have a pull?”", "“Hey, not in the bed.”")]<cyc2|// (link: "…")[(replace: ?cyc2)[$cycling](if: $cycling contains "pull")[<span class="as">“You don’t want Hell weed, sweetheart. This was grown on the shores of the Lethe, it’ll fuck you up.”</span> Asphodel takes a long drag, then blows out a curl of blueish smoke. You think you see faces in it, swirling and melting.](if: $cycling contains "bed")[<span class="as">“Fine, fine.”</span> Asphodel gives the blunt a little kiss. <span class="as">“I’ll see you later.”</span> She puts it away.] [[…|cuddles-2]]]]

You pull Asphodel’s arm around you snugly, like a blanket. Being in her arms makes you feel small, delicate. It’s a nice feeling. She runs her other, taloned hand through your hair. <span class="as">“How are you doing, babe?”</span> You make a contented little noise into her arm. She chuckles and leans back, resuming her show. (link: "…")[You look up at them. They have one arm around you, the other tucked behind their head, their armpit glinting with little silver-white hairs. They're topless now and their breasts and belly look so soft in the dim light of your bedroom. It would be so nice to touch them, to make Asphodel moan from your touch. (link: "…")[//“Hey, Asphodel,”// you say. //[(cycling-link: "“Are you staying a while?”", "“Do you have to go back soon?”")]// [[…|cuddles-3]]]]

She closes the laptop and puts it aside. <span class="as">“Do you—want me to stay?”</span> (link: "…")[//(cycling-link: bind $cycling, "“I’m…terrified of being alone.”", "“I’m…terrified of being around anyone.”")// [[…|cuddles-4]]]

(if: $cycling contains "alone")[(display: "cuddles-5")](if: $cycling contains "around")[(display: "cuddles-6")]

//“That’s a bad reason to want someone around, I know. Everything in this fucked up world makes me feel powerless. Every morning I reach for my phone and read a new way society is collapsing. I want to wake up to something nice for once. Is that—is that super selfish? Do I get to be selfish at the end of the world?”// (link: "…")[<span class="as">“If I can be selfish too,”</span> says Asphodel. <span class="as">“I don’t want to go back yet. I want this.”</span> //“Netflix,”// you joke. <span class="as">“Yes!!”</span> she says. <span class="as">“I want pointless evenings watching bad documentaries with my human girlfriend in bed, in a body I like, not giving a shit. That’s selfish as fuck, but I don’t care. I’m from Hell, I don’t get to have this ever.”</span> (link: "…")[(display: "cuddles-7")]]

//“It’s been so fucking long, I don’t know—I don’t know how I am any more. These have been the worst years of everyone’s life and every day it gets worse. What if I’m like, completely fucked up and broken now and that’s the version of me you get. What if I can’t do this? What if I just hurt you?”// (link: "…")[<span class="as">“I can take care of myself, Mallorca,”</span> says Asphodel. <span class="as">“I’m a big girl.”</span> //“Yeah, it’s pretty hot.”// You grin at her. She rolls her eyes, but smiles. <span class="as">“I’m from Hell, Mal, I’ve met a lot of people. Everyone’s fucked up, all the time. Ten thousand years teaches you: The world keeps ending. It’s apocalypse after apocalypse. There’s no good time to try and be happy.”</span> (link: "…")[//“I don’t know what happiness looks like anymore. But I could try not-loneliness for a while.”// <span class="as">“Lying around with my human girlfriend doing absolutely nothing sounds really good to me, right now.”</span> (link: "…")[(display: "cuddles-7")]]]

//“Girlfriend?”// you repeat, smiling at them. They blush—it’s kind of purplish? A purplish-blue? [[…|cuddles-8]]

Your fingertip traces their big red arm. (link: "…")[//“Will they come try to, like, drag you back? To Hell?”// (link: "…")[<span class="as">“They might,”</span> she says, purring a little. <span class="as">“Will your coven take away your powers?”</span> (link: "…")[//“If they can make up their minds, maybe.”// You turn and kiss her soft, stretch-marked belly. Then her breast. //“Have we really fucked up the boundary? Will Earth become some kind of fucked-up Hellzone?”// (link: "…")[<span class="as">“Mmm, would anyone notice?”</span> They stretch in pleasure, like a big cat. <span class="as">“You kind of gave the impression this place was already a shithole. Hell on Earth, right?”</span> (link: "…")[//“As above, so below,”// you say, and climb on top of them. [[…|fin]]]]]]]

''//FIN//'' By Anna Anne Anthropy. Illustrated by Curi Lagann. Graphic design and CSS by G.C. Baccaris. Edited by Yeonsoo Julian Kim and Sharang Biswas. Thanks to Zhea Erose for her transfeminine voice lessons, from which I absorbed the power phrase "Heat from Fire / Fire from Heat." And thanks to our Kickstarter backers for making this story possible. Remember: The end of the world is what you make of it.

Red dots bloom along the cut in your palms. You can hear your heartbeat; you’re not sure what’s going to happen. Will you be able to hear each other? Just in case, you say a quick reset phrase you learned in feminine voice training: //“Heat from fire, fire from heat.”// (link: "…")[You continue: //“Renich Viasa Asphodela Avage.”// (You hope you’re pronouncing that right.) //“I surrender my hands, do whatever you want with them.”// [[…|claws-3]]]