Zypher: so here we are two months later crossposting my puzzlejune piece for the year here. so this year's theme was composed on food which was fitting for three aus that i have in progress. the aus are as follows:

siren au: from the previous years, we follow Yugi after he was transformed into a siren, learning how to be a proper siren and dealing with the few hardships that come with the magic to compose his new form. some of the chapters are canonical to a full version in the works.

dragonrider au: Atemu is a retired dragon rider with Yugi his loyal dragon mount. follows their leisure lives after Yugi renounces their service following a nasty injury that cost Atemu his sight in one eye.

yokai au: Yugi is enrolled into a yokai university where he is at constant battle with his place there as a single human in a yokai school. catches the eye of the new transfer student who is as rare as they come being a naga far from his habitual home. currently in progress over on ao3 under Domino University for Sacred Yokai.

looking to get two chapters up per day then post one in correlation to the current day. hope you enjoy for a had a blast working with these three aus with the prompt list given~

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The Sample Platter

Chapter 1

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The world was full of opportunities. It all depends on which one you choose to follow. For the ex-prince, he chose to follow the opportunity of freedom. There was a vast world to explore and he would never see it stuck inside a castle wasting away til he was paired away with some noble trollop to rear and raise the next generation to take the throne.

He abandoned the glitz and glamor, left the comfort and safety of his home to wander thanks to the help of the knights that allowed him to escape. He was free, finally free. The world was his oyster and was ready to reap all the benefits to an open ocean.

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Atemu yawned, brandishing rows of sharp teeth as he rose from his comfortable bedding within the grotto. Sunlight filtered through the ocean's surface gave the room its warm, blue hue, inviting him to greet the day and hunt. He stretched languidly before sitting up, gauging what needed to be done for the day.

The nest was getting particularly ragged and deserves to be repaired, then there was hunting to fill his belly. Then there was...hmmm...

Sharp eyes glanced around, noting that something or rather, someone, wasn't present. Slowly gaining buoyancy, the siren was out the nest and through the grotto into open water. His eyes sharked the territory in search of his crown jewel, the prize he obtained through his persistence. The pearl of the grand oyster of chance since defecting from his duties as reigning prince to a far-off kingdom.

Such a far off, distant memory, he mused, tail flicking to propel himself forward. Normally he would never consider thinking about the past but every so often Atemu thought about how he pursued a mate. A wondrous creature born selfishly on land. A beauty profound and unworthy of the surface dwellers demanded his intervention, to bring such treasure to where it belonged under the deep blue and part of the vast collection he procured with time.

The thoughts may seem egotistical, a haughty demand for something he didn't deserve when it came to a fully cognizant being but for someone well within their mating prime, to seek a mate worthy was rife with challenges. He had to have this human. To bring him into the ocean's embrace and join him as the grandest treasure to surpass any admirer that threw himself at his tailfin back home. the siren grinned, swimming further from the grotto in search of his prize.

Ah, the memories. The delight of the chase, the calling to bring his little human to him. It still took time, mostly from the interference of his cousin's mate. That blonde was infuriating but Atemu had to respect him as he was family. His cousin was happy so he could only be happy for him. After all, he was rewarded for his patience in the end.

Now if only he could find his precious one...

Atemu's head perked, a vibration carrying itself through the water, making him grin further. There he is. The siren swam quickly through the water, towards the kelp forest that had been a source of games and merriment. A curtain of green to hide times where their passionate embrace didn't deserve to be broadcast to the sea. A time where the shadows benefitted their wild desires.

However, more times than he could count on both hands did Atemu feel more inclined to show the rawness of their love. To gift the ocean his reparation of happiness for the opportunity of this freedom. To find a mate suitable to spend the rest of his days with from the surface world. To turn a favored delicacy into one of the most promising and harmonizing creatures to ever take place at his side.

And with that boon did they obtain a child. Not one of legitimate means but was still seen as his son. A family that he felt was perfect, unbound by ties to the throne, a proper occasion leading to a welcoming future. His speed slowed leaving the kelp forest, looking to the wide expanse of blue before him.

Their pup was nowhere in sight, meaning he must be out hunting, leaving the mother alone to sing his haunting melody, coaxing his mate from the shadows to join him. Before Atemu did, he couldn't help but admire the beauty that was presented to him. The gorgeous colors of his lavender tail with indigo rings, the fiery mane of ebony edged in magenta swaying like seagrass in the ocean current.

While he couldn't see them, he knew the glittering gems of amethyst shone with an inner light that drew prey close til they were captured in his razor-sharp claws and teeth, drawn into their grisly fate to kept them well and full. His beloved pearl was a radiant thing once transformed and Atemu couldn't be happier to the gift that had to been blessed by the sea herself. A gift that made itself known further as the song grew in power, enticing the siren into its embrace beckoning his attention.

The siren swam closer to the ethereal beauty, his gold flecked tail swiping the waters with an easy pace before finally, his wondrous mate turned towards his presence, bestowing him the sight of those perfect, purple eyes. The last notes of the haunting melody drifted on the tides, Yugi flicking his own tail to bring himself into Atemu's arms, feeling the larger siren latch onto him and hold him close.

"My pearl."

"My king~"

Pressing closer, their lips met with an urgent, hungry need. A remainder of the fondest gesture from Yugi's human self. They had many other ways to naturally show their affections but Atemu didn't mind indulging himself with this meager gesture. It was nice but hardly had the raw fervor to fuel their animalistic yearnings after a fresh meal to paint their lips red from their meal.

Pulling back, Yugi reached to press his hands against Atemu's face, bright eyes gleaming with the wild desires boiling his blood. "Judai says he wants to hunt something big to offer for a meal to us but I'm hungry now. Can we fetch a little appetizer to keep me sated til he returns?"

The glint of fangs shone between Atemu's lips, abiding to his mate's wishes.

"Of course. The beach should be ripe for the picking for such a nice summer day. We'll pluck a few for ourselves to enjoy then see what Judai brings home. We'll be famished by that time."

"You'll be famished by that time. You've grown so much; you eat twice as much as you used to since I joined you."

This brought a laugh from the other, Atemu bringing his head down to nuzzle Yugi playfully. The smaller siren laughed as well, returning his mate's affectionate nuzzle before darting from his arms, catching Atemu off guard. The call to come was obeyed, both sirens taking off for the surface where the unusually populated beach with tourists waited in plentiful supply.

Their expression once peaceful and content were now predatory with the promise of a good meal worth its weight in succulent flesh. Grins were sharp with pleasure, eyes wild and primal for the food awaiting to be dragged into the deep blue. As Yugi went for the surface to find the first of many to be brought down for their feast, Atemu allowed one thought to pass through a mind filled with primal need for the hunt of his wide expanse of territory.

If any other opportunity chose to rise now, promising better, Atemu wouldn't change it for the world. His world was the one he built with his own two hands, with a mate who was bloodthirsty as he was, harboring a voice that meshed perfectly with his own and his son that was left alone by his caretaker, finding peace in their arms without resistance.

Sirens will take what they want and Atemu did just that to ensure that years of happiness was well within his grasp. Just like the unfortunate humans that soaked the space around them with blood once they were drowned to their untimely fate.

Such decadence did this opportunity bring~