An offering to CthulhusButtercup
TW: general silliness, human/humanoid mushroom, breeding kink, physical injury (nonsexualized, acquired offscreen)
Ysbos was out of her skirt but still in the precontemplation stage of putting on a proper nightgown when she heard the bell ring from the outer gate. Whatever idiot was still out there at this time of night was doing his best (she felt certain it was 'his') to awaken her other guests. In her haste she didn't bother to throw on anything more suitable over her camisole bodysuit. She was at her doorway in a matter of seconds, tearing it open only to immediately appreciate her mistake as a rush of chill air hit her mostly exposed skin. Gooseflesh would have formed on her naked arms and upper chest if she had any hair.
The muted nighttime glow of bioluminescent lichens shone down from the cavern vault far above, suffusing her rough stone courtyard with soft green light. Only the subtle, orange-yellow glow from the bubble-like patches on her cap supplemented the light, and she found it difficult to make out anything definite, even with eyes such as hers.
"Hello?" She stepped out onto her mossy welcome mat, keeping one hand on the door. The bell hung still on its post, and neither heard any sound nor saw movement outside her iron gate. "Is anyone out there?" Against her better judgment she proceeded toward the gate step by step, her cap cocked to catch any unusual vibrations. A few yards from the gate she hesitated and looked back toward the door.
A metallic tap on the iron bars behind her sent her a couple inches off the ground with a panicked squeak, her arms raised defensively. But there were no fangs, no horns or claws, no fire pits where eyes should be or misplaced tentacles. Just a human, or something in the shape of a human. Unusually tall and broad-shouldered, even for his kind. She composed herself as well as she could, embarrassed at her initial reaction. But she kept her attention halfway fixed on the back of her mind in case anything were to go poking around. One could never be too paranoid down here, especially at night.
"Evening," the man said in a deep, almost rumbling voice. In the dim light his expression was impossible to read, especially through what looked to be a long, thick beard. A glinting silver ring on his finger tapped again against the gate.
"H-hello, dear. Did you need anything?" Ysbos shivered in the cold as she glanced up into his eyes. Deep green, expressive, oddly beautiful, even if marred by the weird, round pupils. She shivered in the cold, and her nipples began to stiffen noticeably under her too-tight bodysuit with its plunging neckline.
"Bed for the night." The soft yellow light from her cap glinted gold on crested waves of thick, reddish hair, his angular features casting shadows that enhanced the contrasts of a gaunt but handsome face. She suddenly felt very self-conscious about what she was wearing. The thin straps holding up her top had wandered off to the sides at some point, allowing her already low neckline to slip halfway down her absurdly full breasts. Pulled taut by her close-fitting garment, her erect nipples proved her salvation, their upward pressure preventing it from abandoning her bust entirely.
"Anything out there with you?" she asked, flitting her eyes from side to side, glad for a pretext to direct her gaze elsewhere.
"Not anymore." She noticed the long spear in his hand for the first time.
"Ha..." She fumbled with the lock, distracted by the self-sustaining cycle of swelling nipples against tightening silk and the twinge of electricity tingling insistently between her legs. Perhaps taking pity on her, the lock clicked and came undone without too much fuss and she swung the gate inward, noiseless on its well-oiled hinges.
No sooner had it opened than he was through, much faster than she'd expected, almost plowing into her. She stumbled back, lost her footing, and started to fall, but instantly her hand was in his and he was lifting her gently back onto her feet. Being lifted by her arm rolled a strap back onto her shoulder, and the immediate danger of indecent exposure faded.
"Th-thank you!" She straightened out the membranous netting that hung like a bridal veil from her cap. In a moment he would, of course, let go of her hand and turn to close the gate. Then she could roll the other strap back up, smooth things out, maybe make her budding arousal a little less obvious. This pleasant thought was interrupted by the gate clanging shut behind him, driven closed, she eventually worked out, by his foot.
"Fuck me." She muttered under her breath.
"What was that?"
"Oh, nothing sir." She withdrew her hand with a blush she desperately hoped wasn't visible. Humans did have terrible low-light vision, she'd heard. "Come with me, please."
She turned and led the way back to the inn, trying without much success to minimize the swaying of her hips as she walked. The visitor stood still for a while, watching her make her way back on her petite little legs before quickly closing the distance with long, slow strides. He reached the door almost at her side, interrupting her as she started to open it.
"What'll I do with these?" He lifted the large bundle in his left hand.
"I have dry storage for goods over here, as long as it doesn't require a controlled temperature?"
"No, that's fine." She scurried over to a low, broad cave in the otherwise solid terrain encircling her rock-cut inn. It was somewhat better lit than the surrounding yard thanks to some strategically placed, glowing fungi. Various sacks, chests, and bundles lay packed together a bit haphazardly. Someone had thoughtlessly (or lazily) filled the outermost floor space instead of working from back to front - good help could be so hard to find. There would need to be some rearrangement before anything new could be added.