#Gote Stories 4 ==As usual, the process is me feeding lore to ChatGPT, then outlining stories. Usually via greentext or something where the story's outlined. Buildan backstory, blah blah blah... I've actually started writing them properly but that takes much more time to get right so don't expect it any time soon. Maybe one day I'll just dump the whole thing into the hmofa thread...or would this be adhg? I don't know. That's for future-me to figure out...== **Normal Eye for the Occult Guy** ==These stories are also where I add a normal person to the narrative. That WAS originally meant to be Howard, but... Anyways this is Maddie, who's a distressingly normal girl. I haven't fleshed her out yet aside from her being the physical opposite of Shub (short, petite, basically doomed to always have to show an ID when buying alcohol, also a ginger, because I like gingers...)== Maddie sighed as she set her sketchpad down on the table in the campus café. She had a couple of hours before her next class, and though she enjoyed art, it wasn’t always the best distraction from the strangeness she’d been noticing lately. Particularly, the oddities surrounding one of her classmates: Gloria. “Seriously, how does she get away with dressing like that?” Maddie thought, glancing out the window where Gloria—tall, curvy, and utterly scandalous in her outfit—was talking with Howard. Maddie didn’t know much about him either, aside from the fact that he was always around Gloria, looking out of place next to her more... abundant figure. Maddie sipped her coffee and studied them from afar. Something about Gloria had always rubbed her the wrong way. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, though. Sure, Gloria was pretty, in a wild, goth sort of way, with her revealing clothes, long dark hair, and that air of mystery. But it wasn’t just her appearance. It was the way people acted around her, like they were drawn to her without really knowing why. Even Howard, who usually seemed so tired and awkward, always stayed by her side, almost as if he couldn’t help it. Poor guy, Maddie thought. I’d bet he’s totally wrapped around her finger. From her seat, Maddie could just make out Gloria’s soft laughter—smooth and teasing—and Howard’s nervous shuffling in response. It was always like this. Gloria would say something, and Howard would get all twitchy, but never leave. Maddie wasn’t close to either of them, but after seeing them nearly every day, she felt like an outsider looking in on a weird kind of...relationship? Friends with benefits? She had no idea what was going on, but it was definitely something. As she flipped through her sketchbook absentmindedly, Maddie overheard a snippet of conversation from a table nearby. Two students were gossiping about Gloria, just as intrigued by her as Maddie was. “Do you think she’s, like, dating that guy?” one girl whispered. The other shrugged. “Maybe, but I dunno... they give off weird vibes. Like, you ever notice how Gloria sometimes just... disappears? One second she’s there, and the next—poof, gone.” Maddie frowned. That was true. She had seen it herself a few times. She’d glance away for a second, and Gloria would have vanished. Probably just sneaking off to meet Howard somewhere, Maddie reasoned. Still, it was odd. There was a sudden movement from outside. Gloria was standing now, her arms resting on Howard’s shoulders as she leaned close to whisper something in his ear. Maddie watched as Howard visibly flinched, his face flushed red, while Gloria’s hand casually played with his hair. It looked... almost predatory, but then again, Maddie had been an artist long enough to know how easily she could misread body language. Still, there was something undeniably off about the whole thing. “Okay, seriously, what is up with her?” Maddie muttered to herself, her curiosity growing. It wasn’t just the clothes, or the fact that Gloria was weirdly tall and moved with a fluid grace that made her seem almost... inhuman. There was something about her that tugged at the edges of Maddie’s perception. Every time she saw Gloria, she felt an inexplicable sense of unease, as if the world was ever-so-slightly bending around her presence. And Howard... well, he just looked more worn out every day. Poor guy. Maddie had once overheard him muttering something about "barely keeping up," though at the time she had assumed he meant their academic workload. Now, she wasn’t so sure. As Maddie watched them walk off together, she felt a chill run down her spine. She shook it off quickly, telling herself she was being dramatic. They’re just two weird people. Everyone has quirks. Besides, it’s none of my business what they do. But Maddie couldn’t stop thinking about them, even as she tried to focus on her drawing. The way Gloria had bent down to whisper in Howard’s ear, the way Howard’s eyes seemed to glaze over when she touched him—it was almost as if he was hypnotized. She looked around the café, wondering if anyone else noticed how strange they were. But no one seemed to be paying attention. Students were going about their day, drinking coffee, scrolling through their phones, chatting with friends. It was like Maddie was the only one who could see it. “Maybe I’m just losing it,” she muttered. Still, the feeling lingered, that nagging suspicion that there was more to Gloria and Howard than what met the eye. Maddie couldn’t shake the idea that she was missing something huge, something right in front of her, hidden in plain sight. Maybe she’d talk to them one day. Maybe she’d ask Gloria how she managed to pull off those outfits, or what her deal was with Howard. But for now, Maddie would keep her distance. After all, there was something about Gloria that made her skin crawl. And deep down, Maddie wasn’t sure she wanted to know the answer to any of her questions. Shaking off her unease, she focused back on her sketchbook, hoping the familiar rhythm of drawing would drown out her strange thoughts. But even as she worked, her mind kept drifting back to Gloria and Howard. And the eerie feeling that whatever was going on with them was far beyond anything a "normal" college student like her could ever understand. **Voyeur? I hardly even knew her!** Maddie sat at her desk, doing her best to focus on the lecture. It was one of those dull, theory-heavy classes, and while she usually prided herself on being able to pay attention, today her focus was slipping. It wasn’t just the subject matter—it was Gloria. Sitting a few seats away, Gloria looked as calm and composed as ever, her posture relaxed, pencil resting lightly in her hand. Maddie had never sat this close to her before, but something about Gloria's presence was distracting in a way Maddie couldn't explain. Maybe it was the odd hum Maddie kept hearing. Faint, almost melodic, as if someone nearby was quietly singing a strange, eerie tune. No one else seemed to notice it, though, and Maddie couldn't pinpoint where it was coming from. She glanced down to jot some notes, her mind wandering for just a second. When she looked back up, something strange caught her eye: Gloria’s notepad. It was almost full. Gloria had barely moved her hand, yet her page was now filled with neat, legible notes, as if she’d been writing the entire time Maddie had been looking away. The pencil, still in Gloria’s hand, hadn’t changed position, and she certainly hadn’t been scribbling furiously while Maddie was distracted. It was... impossible. What the hell? Maddie frowned, stealing another glance at Gloria, whose face remained impassive except for the faintest curve of her lips, almost like she was... enjoying something? Maddie couldn’t help but notice the odd expression—eyes half-lidded, lips slightly parted, her breathing ever so slightly heavier than normal. It definitely wasn’t the look of someone paying attention to a lecture on early Renaissance art. Maddie shifted in her seat, feeling uneasy. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was brushing against her calf—something soft, and smooth, and cool. She glanced down, fully expecting to see an errant bag or jacket someone had kicked under the desk, but there was nothing there. Weird. The strange sensation came back, sliding against her skin once more, and Maddie jolted in her seat, stifling a small gasp. What the hell is that?! She bent down again, fully expecting to see some stray object, but the space beneath her desk was completely clear. Just her feet. Nothing else. Okay, this is officially weird. Maddie straightened, casting a wary glance over at Gloria again. The notepad had even more notes now, the page almost entirely filled, though Maddie hadn’t seen her write a single additional word. That same faint hum filled the air, a soft melody that seemed to hum in perfect harmony with something… deeper. It was almost like a chorus, though it made the hairs on the back of Maddie’s neck stand on end. Her gaze drifted back to Gloria, and this time, she really looked at her. That relaxed, half-lidded expression had deepened into something much more intense, much more personal. Gloria's eyes were glassy, unfocused, and that small, self-satisfied smile tugging at the corner of her lips made Maddie think... well, that Gloria was definitely enjoying herself. And not in the way you should during an art lecture. Maddie’s mind raced. Is she... is she actually doing that in class?! She tried to keep her face neutral, but the shock must have shown in her eyes. She wanted to say something, but she couldn’t bring herself to speak. Who does that in public?! And then it happened again—the brushing against her leg, this time firmer, more insistent. She recoiled, almost kicking her chair back. No way was that nothing. But when she glanced down again, there was still nothing there. Maddie looked back at Gloria, now completely unnerved. The girl's expression hadn’t changed, though her chest rose and fell a little quicker, her lips parting slightly as if lost in a private moment of ecstasy. And then, Maddie noticed it. The faintest movement just under the hem of Gloria’s skirt—a slight wriggle, a ripple of motion that shouldn’t have been there. Was that…? No way. Maddie blinked, rubbing her eyes. When she looked again, it was gone. But now, she couldn’t shake the idea that something was... moving beneath Gloria’s clothes, something unnatural. Her heart raced. She wanted to look away, to ignore it all, but she couldn’t. She was drawn to Gloria now, transfixed by the strange rhythm of the scene unfolding in front of her. The hum in the air grew louder, filling her ears until she could barely hear the professor’s voice. Gloria, meanwhile, was lost in her own world, completely unaware—or uncaring—of Maddie’s horrified gaze. What the hell is going on? For a brief second, Gloria’s eyes met Maddie’s. There was a spark of recognition—Gloria knew she was being watched. Her smile widened ever so slightly, and Maddie felt a chill run down her spine. Whatever was happening, Gloria was fully aware of it... and didn’t care. Maybe she even liked being watched. Maddie’s blood ran cold. Her mind was racing with a thousand explanations—none of them rational—as she tried to make sense of what she’d seen. Tentacles? Inhuman movements? Was she losing it? Suddenly, Gloria’s pencil moved, almost lazily scrawling the last bit of notes. Maddie blinked, shocked again. She hadn’t seen her write—had she been doing it telepathically? But how? As the professor finally wrapped up the lecture, Maddie’s legs felt stiff and heavy. She bolted out of her seat, desperate to get away from Gloria, from whatever the hell she had just witnessed. Her heart pounded in her chest, the hum still lingering in her ears as she hurried out the door. She couldn’t get Gloria’s strange, too-pleased smile out of her head. Nor could she shake the sensation of something brushing against her leg. It was like the entire class had been a hallucination. Except Maddie knew, deep down, that it wasn’t. Whatever was going on with Gloria... it wasn’t normal. **"So you want to date my(our) daughter...** Howard sat up, his mind racing as he struggled to reconcile the remnants of the dream with the tangible reality around him. He could still feel the weight of the forest’s humidity, the almost ancient life that teemed in the air around him, and the unrelenting pressure of the presence that had spoken to him. His heart skipped a beat as fragments came into sharper focus—a conversation, not with Shub, but with someone infinitely older, more primal, and distinctly maternal. The Black Goat. Howard wiped sweat from his forehead, feeling the lingering anxiety that had gripped him when he was in the presence of such power. Shub's mother, if he could even begin to call her that, wasn’t angry, but there was a weight in her presence, a solemnity that sent a clear message. He was being watched. She knew everything about him, and she expected nothing less than complete respect for her daughter. What really unnerved Howard, though, was the second presence in the dream—a smaller, sharper figure with an equally dangerous energy. It was a woman, but he couldn’t quite place her. He hadn’t seen her before, and yet the way she carried herself felt terrifyingly familiar. It wasn’t just the physical intimidation; it was the aura of silent menace that lingered around her, as though she were sizing him up for something far more intimate than just a casual meeting. For some reason, the realization hit him: it had to be Irma. Shub had mentioned her once in passing, another figure from her life. While Howard hadn't directly encountered her before, the dream seemed to have drawn her into his world for a reason. If both of them were there—two mothers, essentially—they were likely discussing the one thing they both cared about. Shub. Howard’s stomach sank. He tried to piece together what little he could remember of their conversation, but most of it was a hazy blur punctuated by the throbbing headache that wouldn’t leave him. Still, the main point was clear. Both mothers were warning him, in their own cryptic way, to treat their daughter well. To respect her, even after all they'd shared in terms of intimacy. Howard exhaled slowly, running his hand through his damp hair as the surreal nature of it all began to settle in. Was he really having elder horrors give him dating advice? What was next, Shub’s siblings showing up to grill him about his intentions? "Probably," he muttered under his breath, his attempt at humor doing little to calm the lingering tension. His body still felt heavy with the weight of the dream, his mind still trying to process just how deep into this otherworldly relationship he had stumbled. The Black Goat and Irma weren’t necessarily hostile, but Howard knew there was a clear implication that hung over him now. He wasn’t just a casual observer in Shub’s life anymore. He had become entangled with forces far beyond his understanding, and with that came expectations he hadn’t even considered. Howard slumped back against the bed, staring up at the ceiling, a new weight pressing down on him. He’d have to figure out what to do with all of this, but one thing was abundantly clear: his relationship with Shub just became far more complicated than he'd ever anticipated. And, of course, the real horror might come when he had to tell her about the dream. ----- As Howard relayed the bizarre and unsettling dream to Shub, he expected her to react with the same intensity the situation had evoked in him. After all, her mother—the Black Goat—had just visited him in a dream, with another equally terrifying maternal figure. Instead, Shub's reaction took him entirely by surprise. She didn’t laugh, nor did she launch into any sort of cosmic explanation about elder gods or their unknowable whims. Instead, Shub actually looked embarrassed. It was one of the rare moments when her normally confident, sensual demeanor was replaced by something more human—genuine discomfort. Howard watched as Shub furrowed her brow, a slight blush appearing on her usually dark cheeks. Her tentacles, which often slithered about casually, seemed to calm and pull closer to her body, as if she was retreating inward for a moment. It was... strange seeing her like this, so vulnerable and bashful. Howard could only imagine what was going through her mind—how her mother, an ancient fertility deity, and a protective figure like Irma had essentially pulled him aside for a very personal conversation about their daughter. For a fleeting moment, Howard tried to picture his own parents grilling Shub if they knew how close the two of them had gotten. It would’ve been awkward, sure, but at least his parents were just regular people. They couldn’t invade his dreams or send cryptic messages through the pulsating energy of a primeval forest. He sighed in relief, thankful for that small mercy. Meanwhile, Shub’s predicament was on an entirely different level. Shub eventually broke the silence, her voice tinged with awkwardness. "I, uh... I’m sorry about that, Howard. They mean well, really. It’s just—well, one of them’s a regular human, and the other one’s very much not. Good intentions, you know? They just... come across differently." Howard smiled at her, taking it all in stride despite the lingering oddness of the situation. “Yeah, I get it. Parents can be overbearing sometimes. I just didn’t expect that kind of parental check-in.” They shared a brief, understanding look. As surreal as their relationship was, moments like this reminded Howard that beneath all the otherworldly power and cosmic strangeness, Shub was still someone he cared about. And, apparently, she had protective mothers who cared just as much. Suddenly, something clicked in Howard’s memory. His eyes widened slightly as he excused himself and hurried next door to his apartment. He rummaged through his kitchen, searching for what he had in mind, and returned a few moments later to Shub’s place. In his hands were several empty, clean Tupperware containers. With a sly grin, Howard handed them over to Shub, watching her confused expression as she took them. “I just wanted to say I really enjoyed the meal your mom made for me,” he said, with a deadpan delivery. Shub blinked, processing his words before realization dawned on her. She groaned, unable to help the smirk forming on her lips, and lightly swatted his shoulder. "Oh my god, Howard, really?" Howard chuckled, his playful attitude a welcome break from the heavy weight of their earlier conversation. "Hey, it was delicious. I’m just hoping for leftovers.” Shub rolled her eyes but couldn’t hold back her laughter. "Yeah, well, don't get too used to it. She's not exactly a five-star chef, but I’ll pass along the compliment." They both laughed together, the tension of the day slowly easing away, as if the strange maternal visit in Howard’s dream had brought them even closer. **Autistic Screeching** As Howard weaved his way through the street, lost in thought, he spotted someone walking toward him with a noticeable swagger in their step. It didn't take long for him to recognize who it was—Shub, or rather Gloria to anyone unaware of her true form. Her long black hair bounced along to the rhythm of whatever music was pumping through her earbuds. She was completely in her own world, grooving to a beat only she could hear. Howard smiled to himself. Seeing Shub like this—casual, carefree, and dancing—was a reminder of the bizarre normalcy that existed between them. Just as he was about to pass her, a wayward sway of her generous hips knocked him right off balance. Before he could register what had happened, a few tentacles discreetly slipped out from beneath her coat, quickly catching him and setting him upright. Shub finally noticed him then, her green eyes bright with amusement. “Oh, Howard! Sorry about that,” she said, not missing a beat. Literally. She continued her wiggles, shoulders and hips moving in time with the heavy rhythm of the song only she could hear. Howard chuckled, brushing himself off. "No worries. But... what on Earth are you listening to that’s got you moving like that?" Shub raised an eyebrow, a mischievous grin playing on her lips. "You want to find out?" She reached up, pulled out one of her earbuds, and held it out to him. Curious, Howard took the earbud and placed it in his ear. Immediately, a heavy bassline thudded through, a deep, resonant beat of some smooth, bass-heavy R&B. The rhythm was intoxicating, and he could immediately understand why Shub was so caught up in it. The sensual undertones were unmistakable, and he realized exactly why she liked it. "Of course," Howard thought with a mix of amusement and exasperation. Shub didn't have to say a word—she was implying exactly what he suspected. "Pretty good, huh?" she asked, her grin widening as she winked. "There's just something about a deep, thumping beat that gets to me, you know?" Howard rolled his eyes playfully. "Yeah, I think I can guess." Before he could comment further, the song hit its climax—the part that Shub affectionately referred to as “the good part.” And that was when she joined in. Shub's eyes closed as she sang along with the music, utterly oblivious to her surroundings. Her voice... well, Howard knew she meant well, and by the standards of her eldritch kin, she probably sounded divine. But by human standards... it was rough. Completely off-pitch, too loud, and almost painfully out of sync with the melody. Each note was more a noise than anything resembling the actual song. Howard winced but tried to keep his expression neutral, not wanting to hurt her feelings. He loved Shub for who she was—otherworldly tentacles, chaotic energy, and all—but her singing voice? That was something even he struggled to appreciate. Still, watching her, he couldn’t help but admire her enthusiasm. Her face lit up with pure joy, and her tentacles even moved in time with the music. To anyone else, it would’ve been a strange sight—this tall, curvaceous woman lost in her own performance, swaying and dancing as if the street were her personal stage. And for Shub, it kind of was. When the song finally ended, Shub opened her eyes, beaming at Howard. "So, what did you think?" Howard hesitated, searching for the right words. "It was... something, alright." Shub laughed, clearly oblivious to his discomfort. “I know, right? I have great taste in music. It’s the best way to start the day.” She winked again, proud of herself. Howard forced a smile and handed her back the earbud. “Yeah, you definitely... get into it.” Shub chuckled, brushing off the subtle awkwardness. “Well, you should join me next time. It’s even better when you’re really feeling it, you know?” Howard didn’t have the heart to tell her the truth about her singing, and maybe that was for the best. Shub was full of surprises—some weird, some wonderful, and some completely tone-deaf. But at least she was happy, and in the end, that was what mattered most. **A Black Goat** ==On this day, our poor goatfucker gets a reminder that Shub is the exception and not the norm. These stories are me exploring more of Shub's family dynamics. Also this is where I'm setting up some stuff about Shub's family being able to actually show up and not being confined to "the forest".== ==The genre is still slice-of-life-meets-lovecraft, but occasionally I need to traumatize Howard a little to keep him humble== One late evening, as Howard made his way home from classes, the familiar ache of exhaustion settled in his bones. The dim streetlights cast long shadows along the sidewalk, and the sound of his footsteps echoed through the quiet streets. His mind was on autopilot, his thoughts drifting toward Shub—he'd probably see her later that night, as he often did, their strange relationship equal parts normal and bizarre. As he turned down a quieter, darker street, Howard’s eye caught sight of a familiar figure in the distance. At first, his brain tried to rationalize it—Shub? She was the only one he knew who had that tall, unmistakable silhouette. But something wasn’t right. Something felt off. He was just about to call out, when a gut-wrenching instinct stopped him dead in his tracks. Every hair on his body stood on end, and without thinking, Howard pressed himself into the shadows of a nearby building. His breath hitched in his throat as he peered cautiously from his hiding spot. The creature moved closer, and it became clear that while it was shaped like a goat, and shared some of Shub’s characteristics, it was definitely not her. The form was wrong—off. Where Shub exuded an aura of chaotic energy and a strange, sensual playfulness, this thing moved with a terrifying, predatory surety. Its movements were deliberate, as though it was stalking something—no, hunting something. It stepped lightly on hooves, but they made no sound on the pavement, as if it wasn’t entirely of this world. Howard felt his heart hammering in his chest, a familiar sense of horror creeping into his mind—an echo of the fear he once felt around Shub, before he got used to her eldritch presence. But this? This was something older, something far more dangerous. He felt cold sweat on the back of his neck as the creature drew nearer, its black eyes reflecting the sparse light in an unnatural way. It stopped for a moment, its head tilting as if listening to something that Howard couldn't hear. His pulse quickened, each beat loud in his ears, and he could barely breathe as he pressed himself harder against the wall, praying it wouldn’t notice him. But then, as if responding to some unseen signal, the creature shifted direction, its attention drawn elsewhere. It moved off, disappearing into the shadows of a side alley with a smooth, unnerving grace. The moment it was gone, Howard exhaled, realizing he had been holding his breath the entire time. Shaking, he took a few moments to gather his thoughts, trying to hear the world over the pounding of his heart. His mind raced, piecing together the horrific realization that had just dawned on him—Shub’s relatives, or at least her kin, were far from the eccentric, sometimes mischievous, yet oddly pleasant goat he had grown accustomed to. That thing... It wasn’t just otherworldly; it was malignant. A predator. He wiped a cold sheen of sweat from his forehead and shakily stepped out of the shadows, glancing around as if the creature might return at any moment. The streets were quiet again, but Howard’s nerves were still frayed, the strange encounter burning vividly in his mind. Whatever Shub was, her family—or whatever that was—was a different beast altogether. And Howard wasn’t sure if he was ready to learn what else might come sniffing around this plane. ----- Later that same night, Shub found herself wandering toward the gas station, humming quietly to herself. She needed more paper towels and soap, the result of yet another messy indulgence that required cleaning up. The night air was cool against her skin, her tentacles hidden beneath her human form as she grooved down the sidewalk, lost in her own thoughts. She wasn’t in any particular hurry, but then again, she rarely was. Shub knew this town like the back of her hand by now, and even though her presence usually went unnoticed, she liked to wander around freely. As she strolled back with her essentials, a sense of something familiar but not quite right caught her attention. Shub paused for a moment, her eldritch senses kicking in, and her pink-glowing eyes caught sight of movement down the sidewalk. At first, she didn’t quite recognize it, but then it came into focus—a goat-shaped being, eyes gleaming with something Shub recognized: intent. Before she could react, the creature locked eyes with her, and in an instant, it barreled down the sidewalk, hooves pounding soundlessly on the pavement. “Oh, boy,” Shub muttered, bracing herself for what she suspected was coming. The thing reached her and wrapped itself around her in an all-encompassing hug, its strength nearly knocking the air out of her. Its tentacles wove around her tightly, in a way that was far too enthusiastic for comfort. Shub groaned internally, struggling to keep her human form from slipping entirely. “Okay, okay, I get it,” Shub mumbled, half-laughing as she awkwardly patted its head. It nuzzled her like an affectionate but oversized puppy, clearly ecstatic to see her. Despite the creature’s ferocity in appearance, Shub knew it wasn’t here for anything sinister. “You’ve really gotta work on your entrances, cousin.” It was rare that one of her kin ventured out of the forest, much less into town. Most of them were more at home among the ancient trees and forgotten places where the Black Goat held dominion. Shub hadn’t seen this relative in ages—not since her transformation, anyway. The creature let out a strange, guttural noise, like a cross between a goat’s bleat and a purr, and pulled back just enough to reach into a hidden fold in its fur. With some excitement, it held out a neatly folded piece of clothing—a sweater. Shub blinked. A sweater? “Is this... for me?” she asked, her eyebrows raised in surprise. The creature bleated again, nodding its massive head enthusiastically. Shub took the sweater, inspecting it. It was surprisingly well-made, thick wool with an intricate pattern woven into the fabric. She could feel the residual aura of her mother, the Black Goat, on it—a clear indication of her mother's handiwork. Shub couldn’t help but smile. “Well, aren’t you sweet? Tell mom thanks for the sweater. I guess she’s been busy with knitting these days, huh?” The creature let out another soft noise, seemingly proud of itself for delivering the gift. It wobbled excitedly on its hooves, its enthusiasm still a bit overwhelming as it nudged Shub’s shoulder with its head. Shub chuckled, slipping the sweater over her current clothes. It fit perfectly, snug in all the right places and surprisingly warm. “Not bad, actually,” she muttered to herself. “Maybe she’s finally forgiven me for leaving the forest.” With the creature still buzzing with excitement, Shub decided to walk it back toward the outskirts of town, guiding it away from the human areas. “Come on, I’ll walk you to the edge. We can’t have you knocking over Howard or anyone else while you’re visiting.” As they walked together, the creature occasionally nuzzled her side, still clearly overjoyed to have seen Shub outside of the forest. It was a strange but oddly sweet encounter—a reminder that even among her kin, she was still family. **A Black Gote** Howard had just finished brushing his teeth and was about to crawl into bed when something caught his attention from the corner of the room. The shadows seemed to warp and twist unnaturally, the familiar feeling of eldritch energy creeping through the air. Before he could react, Shub began to materialize, emerging from the inky darkness like liquid spilling into his room. "Shub?" Howard asked, eyes wide as he pulled the covers up around himself instinctively. "I can’t sleep," she replied, her voice carrying an unusual edge of frustration. Normally, when Shub had trouble sleeping, it was because she needed to indulge her boundless desires. Howard, used to being her partner in those moments, began to brace himself for the inevitable when she cut him off with a wave of her hand. "No, not that kind of problem. Trust me, I’ve already tried for hours. This is... different." She stood there, in a modest nightgown of all things. It was completely unlike her usual revealing attire, and the sight threw Howard off almost as much as the rest of the situation. The gown was simple, draping over her curves without the usual flaunting—though no amount of fabric could completely hide the way her body shifted and moved. "Different... how?" Howard cautiously asked. "I don't know," Shub admitted, exhaling in frustration. "I just feel... restless. Like there’s too much energy in me, and I can't burn it off." Before Howard could suggest anything else, Shub took matters into her own hands. She approached his bed, moving with the same fluid grace she always had, and without asking for permission (not that she ever did), she climbed onto the bed and, in one smooth motion, draped herself over Howard. Her weight, though somehow both heavy and light at the same time, immediately pinned him down. "W-wait—!" Howard stammered, trying to adjust to the sudden press of her body. "Shh. I need this," Shub muttered, already settling in. Her arms wrapped around him from one side, while her tentacles—the ones that didn’t actively grip him—coiled through every available nook and cranny, filling the gaps between his legs, his waist, even his shoulders. He could feel her pressing against him from all sides, practically engulfing him. Her breathing was calm, but Howard could sense that deep beneath the surface, Shub’s mind was still buzzing with that restless energy. He was about to ask how this was supposed to help when he felt her large body adjust, her breathing slowly syncing up with his own. The sensation was... surprisingly soothing. The warmth of her body, combined with the rhythmic rise and fall of her breath, created an oddly calming effect. Howard found himself relaxing against his will, despite the fact that his bed had effectively become a tangled cocoon of eldritch limbs and softness. His last coherent thought before drifting off was that, despite how overwhelming it felt, there was a strange comfort in being enveloped by Shub like this. Just as his eyes began to close, Howard felt a faint, familiar sensation. One of her tentacles, soft and slick, curled its way into his mouth, gently pressing against his tongue. He would have protested—normally this would’ve been the start of something very different—but exhaustion and Shub's own soothing presence quickly pulled him under. He fell asleep, his mind drifting into the abyss of dreamless slumber, the faint taste of Shub lingering on his lips. ----- Howard awoke to a sensation he couldn’t immediately place. His entire body was still firmly nestled within Shub's mass, her limbs and tentacles curled around him in a way that was oddly comforting yet completely overwhelming. He felt the familiar, slick tentacle in his mouth and gently tugged it free, feeling a mixture of relief and bewilderment. How had he even been able to breathe with it in there all night? Before he could dwell on it further, his eyes caught something—someone—staring down at him. It was the goat-shaped thing from the previous night. Howard froze, his breath catching in his throat as he realized it was inches from his face, its dark, gleaming eyes fixed intently on him. The air between them grew thick with tension. He could feel the weight of its gaze, as if it were deciding something important, and his mind raced with dread. This thing was... different. There was a raw, primal presence about it that sent a chill down his spine, a reminder that Shub was not the only eldritch being he had to worry about. The creature's presence was unmistakably part of Shub’s kin, but Howard instinctively knew that it was less... accommodating. More dangerous. Howard tried to shift, to gently untangle himself from Shub's embrace, but the creature moved with him. A tentacle uncurled from its body, poised in the air above his forehead. Howard’s blood ran cold as he recognized the position—it’s going to do what Shub does... only worse. He had seen Shub use this very technique many times, placing her tentacles against his forehead to enter his mind, but something told him that this thing wouldn’t be nearly as gentle. The tip of the tentacle hovered, ready to plunge through his skull. Before it could move any closer, Shub stirred. With a soft, sleepy groan, she sat up, shifting Howard's body with hers as she moved, her weight still keeping him firmly pinned beneath her. Howard could feel his pulse racing as Shub slowly took in the scene. Her eyes landed on the goat-shaped creature looming over them, and for a moment, the tension in the air grew unbearable. Then, Shub spoke. Her voice slipped into a language Howard couldn’t comprehend, the words guttural and melodic at once. The goat-thing responded in kind, its voice deeper, reverberating with a tone that sent shivers down his spine. The two exchanged a brief, but intense conversation, the alien sounds echoing in the small room. Howard couldn’t understand a word of it, but he knew the conversation was important. Eventually, the goat-shaped thing gave a slow nod, its eyes lingering on Howard for a moment longer before it backed away. Howard watched, still paralyzed by fear, as it melted into a shadowed corner of the room—a corner that hadn’t been there before. Within seconds, it was gone, vanishing without a trace. Howard let out a shaky breath, his body still tense and pale as he turned to look at Shub, who was now fully awake and sitting up. She glanced down at him, her expression sheepish, as if she were caught in the middle of something awkward. "Sorry about that," she said, scratching the back of her head. "That was, uh, my cousin." "Your cousin?" Howard managed to croak out, still trying to process everything. "Yeah," Shub nodded. "They were just... checking up on me, I guess." She gave him a small, awkward smile. "Oh, and my mom says hi." Howard blinked, his mind struggling to catch up with the casualness of her words. Shub’s mom? He’d just narrowly avoided having his brain scrambled by some nightmarish relative of Shub’s, and now he was being told it was all just a family check-in? “Your... mom?” he repeated, his voice still tight with nerves. “Mm-hmm,” Shub affirmed, her tone almost chipper now that the situation had de-escalated. “My cousin was walking Nibble for me last night, and they must’ve popped in for a quick hello. Mom's... kind of thorough when it comes to family business.” Howard collapsed back into the pillows, letting out a long, exasperated sigh. "I need more context for your family gatherings..." Shub grinned down at him, leaning in playfully. "I’ll warn you next time." Howard could only groan in response, the weight of eldritch family dynamics heavy on his mind. **Snu-Snu** ==I tried to get GPT to make this into a proper scene, but...yeah, that's not gonna happen. I got lucky that time with Cherubimon but I think they've wised up and changed something. RIP== Howard was still stiff with tension, lying there beneath Shub as the reality of what had just happened sank in. He could feel his pulse racing, and despite the fact that Shub had defused the situation, a lingering sense of unease clung to him like a cold fog. Shub, of course, noticed immediately. She always did. With a mischievous glint in her eye, she leaned down, brushing her fingers along Howard's chest, her voice taking on that sultry, familiar tone. "You know... I could help you relax." Howard’s body reacted instantly, but his mind still fought to stay grounded. “We’ll... we’ll miss class,” he managed to stammer, trying to keep some semblance of responsibility. He could already feel his focus slipping away. Shub smirked, brushing her lips against his ear. “I’ll make up for it,” she murmured, “I know how to make time move differently, remember? One of my usual tricks.” Howard swallowed hard. "I... I still haven't showered," he tried again, weakly. His brain was scrambling for excuses, but the effort was futile. She snickered softly, pressing closer. “I like the smell, Howard. Besides, it’s an improvement over how you usually smell when I’m done with you.” He was about to argue—his mind still grasping for a way out—when a sudden, panicked thought crossed his mind. “But... what if your cousin’s still around? I mean, what if they—” Shub cut him off, her lips inches from his. “Howard,” she whispered with a devilish grin, “My second mom is a fertility goddess. You think they haven’t seen worse?” Howard opened his mouth to respond, but before he could form another excuse, Shub silenced him with a deep, passionate kiss. Her body shifted against his, tentacles curling around him with that familiar, possessive embrace. Howard’s resolve melted away entirely, his mind surrendering to the overwhelming heat of her touch. He tried one last time to protest, but his words were lost in the kiss, and soon, he wasn’t even trying to resist. They missed class that day. And Howard, predictably, didn’t regret it. ----- Howard lay sprawled on his bed, physically and mentally exhausted after a marathon "relaxation session" with Shub that had stretched far beyond what any normal person could endure. His body was sore in ways he didn’t fully understand, and the overwhelming sensation of Shub’s presence still lingered—her touch, her weight, her warmth. Yet, somehow, he was still managing to hold a conversation on the phone. “Y-yes, Professor,” Howard stammered, trying to keep his voice steady. “I’m really sorry about missing class... It was all so sudden. Yeah, Shub—uh, I mean, Gloria—she’s got it too. Some kind of bug.” He winced as he felt the squirming pressure of a tentacle, burrowing gently into his skull and plugging directly into his brain. It was an unsettling sensation at first, but by now, Howard was well-accustomed to the way Shub operated. Even so, a flicker of unease washed over him as information trickled into his mind—a steady stream of the notes, lectures, and class details he'd missed throughout the day. "Yes, we’re both recovering now. Should be back tomorrow, no problem,” he said, offering a polite laugh to cover up his rising discomfort. As the professor went on about making up assignments, Howard’s attention drifted, his thoughts torn between the sensation of knowledge being force-fed into his brain and the strange ethical dilemma he’d begun to wrestle with. Is this cheating? The thought gnawed at him. Sure, he wasn’t exactly copying someone else’s work—he was just getting the notes in real-time without having to physically be there. It was like downloading a lecture podcast... but directly into his mind via a tentacle. His mind briefly wandered to the memory of how the day had started—waking up wrapped in Shub, her cousin looming over him like something out of a nightmare, and now... this. A day that spiraled completely out of control, only to end in a surreal calm. “Yes, I’ll catch up on the readings,” Howard mumbled into the phone, absently rubbing his temple where the tentacle was lodged. He sighed inwardly, resigned to his own justification. I’ll still be doing the tests myself, he rationalized. This is just catching up on missed info... Shub, still lounging beside him with a smug, contented look, must have sensed his inner conflict. One of her tentacles, the same one that was gently siphoning class data into his mind, gave a playful wiggle, and she leaned closer, her dark eyes glinting with mischief. “You’re overthinking it, Howard,” she whispered with a teasing grin, her lips brushing his ear. “Just think of it as me helping you... I’m good at helping you relax, aren’t I?” Howard couldn’t help but groan inwardly as he finished up his call, the weight of his strange new normal pressing in around him. **What if the real horror was the awkward moments we made along the way?** ==Maddie's back! Also she doesn't have any feelings for Howard. Just clearing that up, in case anyone cares== Maddie’s heart was still racing as she reached her car, her face burning from what she'd just witnessed. The moment played over and over in her mind as she fumbled with her keys, trying to process the surreal, mortifying interaction. She had expected to drop off some notes for her classmates and check in on them—simple enough, right? But no, instead, she'd walked into... that. The image of Gloria radiating smug contentment and Howard laid out on the couch, clearly having seen more "action" than rest, was now seared into Maddie's brain. The smell alone had nearly knocked her off her feet; it wasn’t sickness that hung in the air, but something far more primal. "How does that even happen?" Maddie muttered to herself, cranking the ignition with more force than necessary. She could still feel her cheeks burning. Everything about Gloria had screamed not sick—the flushed cheeks, the damp hair sticking slightly to her forehead, and that grin. Maddie had always thought of Gloria as a bit airheaded, but harmless. But this? This was something else entirely. And Howard... poor, quiet Howard. The glimpse she'd caught of him, sprawled out in a disheveled heap, sans pants, looking like he’d run a marathon in his own living room... Maddie practically felt her own face ignite again at the thought. She'd tried to be polite, wished them a quick recovery—if you can call what I said "polite"—but every other word had been a disaster. There had been so many Freudian slips. "Hope you're feeling better soon—oh, you definitely look like you got plenty of... rest?" "I didn’t mean—uh, I mean, if you guys are, you know... no judgment! Everyone needs to... sweat it out... I mean..." Her babbling had only made it worse, and the look on Gloria’s face hadn’t helped. The knowing grin, the way she'd casually leaned against the doorframe, clearly enjoying Maddie's flustered state, had made Maddie want to crawl into a hole and disappear. And then there was Howard, half-conscious on the couch, blissfully unaware of the humiliation his friend was going through. "They’re definitely an item," Maddie thought, pulling out of the parking lot. There was no denying it. Even if they hadn’t officially said so, the evidence was all too clear. And while she tried to be happy for them, a part of her wondered how the hell Gloria managed to make everything so... intense. There had to be something more going on—there was no way this was normal. Nothing about Gloria is normal, Maddie reminded herself, not for the first time. As she drove off, Maddie tried to shake the awkward encounter from her mind. Next time, I’m just mailing the notes, she thought grimly. ----- Howard’s stomach sank as the realization hit him. He replayed the scene in his head: Shub, or rather, Gloria to most people, had answered the door in his apartment, wearing little more than a paper-thin shirt and panties that had been stretched past their limits. The air in the apartment must have been like walking into a swamp of... well, not sickness, that's for sure. “Oh no,” Howard groaned, running a hand down his face. His mind raced. Who was it at the door? Shub casually mentioned it was a classmate who dropped off notes, but that didn’t narrow it down much. Please don’t be Maddie. Please, for the love of everything, don’t be Maddie. He could already picture the rumors. People in class talking, whispers following him into the lecture hall. Sure, most of his classmates probably didn’t even know him by name, but one wrong person seeing that could lead to all kinds of misunderstandings. It wasn’t just the state of undress—oh God, I waved, he thought, cringing internally—but the atmosphere. Anyone who walked into that could sense what had gone down. “She looked a bit flustered,” Shub said, stretching as she slid back onto the bed next to Howard. “Must’ve been the smell.” Howard groaned again. “Shub... who was it? Please tell me it wasn’t Maddie.” Shub blinked, tilting her head as if considering. “Yeah, that was the name on the notes,” she said casually. “Maddie. Redhead. Seemed nice.” Howard felt his heart sink even further. Of course it was Maddie. The one person who was nice enough to check in, make copies of notes, and come over to help... had walked into that. His cheeks burned red, and not just from embarrassment. “She probably thinks we’re—” he started to say. “We are,” Shub interrupted with a grin, shifting closer. “I mean, not officially, but...” she trailed off with a smirk. Howard sighed, flopping back against the pillows. “That’s not what I meant, Shub.” Shub giggled, but Howard was too deep in his own mortification to respond. Please, please let Maddie be the type to keep this to herself...