Chapter Text
Moonlight spills through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the early November chill kept at bay by P.AI.nter's careful climate control, he’s become the master of the house’s smart systems and you appreciate it. The house is quiet except for the atmospheric sounds from the game and Sebastian's running commentary, his excitement palpable as he experiences Resident Evil 7 for the first time. His lure casts a gentle glow over the living room, dimmed to not interfere with the TV's display.
"The first-person perspective is brilliant," Sebastian murmurs, his main hands deftly manipulating the controller that had been modified for his large hands, as Ethan Winters approaches the derelict Baker property. "Makes everything feel so claustrophobic, I don’t even miss the fixed camera of the originals." His tail shifts beneath you, creating a more secure nest as you settle against his chest in your well-worn nightgown.
"I missed this series so much," he admits, his third hand automatically finding its way to your hair. "The last resident evil I poured a lot of time into was Mercenaries."
You watch through heavy eyes as he methodically explores the guest house, his tactical mind already cataloguing resources and possible escape routes. His ear fins flutter with appreciation at the game's sound design; the creaking floorboards, distant scratches, the way ambient noise builds tension.
"The VHS tape mechanic is genius," he comments as he starts the 'Derelict House Footage'. "Found footage horror within a horror game? Awesome."
"Wait till you see what they do with that concept later," you mumble against his scales.
"No spoilers," he warns, then swears softly in Spanish as he encounters his first Molded.
"Would you do it?" you ask sleepily, watching Ethan's determined approach to the property. "Travel to the middle of nowhere Louisiana if you got a message from me?"
Sebastian chuckles, though his eyes stay fixed on the screen. "Babe, we broke out of an underwater facility and committed multiple felonies along the way, most of which I did for you. Louisiana would be a vacation in comparison."
"Yeah, but what if I was all..." you wave your hand vaguely at the screen, where Mia's character is displaying some concerning behavior.
"Possessed?" He snorts, his tail curling tighter around you. "Please. After everything we've been through, that would be Tuesday." His lure brightens as he adds, "Though I have to say, I'd be considerably better equipped for the situation than Ethan."
You smile, watching him instinctively shift to a more defensive playing style, carefully conserving ammunition and making each shot count. "I have to say, I appreciate that this guy keeps going despite being clearly out of his depth," Sebastian muses. "Reminds me of someone else I know who charged into dangerous situations..."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," you mumble innocently against his scales.
His chest rumbles with quiet laughter. "Uh huh."
"The level design," he breathes appreciatively, navigating the main house's labyrinthine corridors. "How it all connects... reminds me of the Spencer Mansion from the first game, but more organic. More lived-in."
The baby monitor stays quiet as Sebastian encounters Jack Baker for the first time, his tail coiling tighter around you in unconscious response to the threat. "Oh, shit," he mutters, eyes narrowing as he assesses the newest antagonist.
"Should take a shower," you murmur, more to yourself than him. "After a good sleep."
Sebastian's third hand pauses in its gentle stroking of your hair, all three eyes turning to study you with concern. His lure dims to a softer glow. "Are you okay? You've been... different. Quieter. I know you just birthed a person, but..."
"Yeah, I'm... I'm okay," you say softly, nestling deeper into his coils. "I think she just took more out of me than I expected. When she was inside, you don't really notice how much of your energy they're using. But now..." You gesture vaguely at yourself.
His tail shifts, cradling you more securely as his third hand resumes its gentle stroking.
You watch through heavy eyes as he navigates the Baker house. "But I'm not dying or anything. Just... empty. Like I gave her everything I had."
Sebastian's gills flutter with concern. "You should go to bed."
"But your game..." you protest weakly.
"Will still be here," he says firmly.
You smile, letting your eyes close as his third hand continues its gentle ministrations. "Even if Jack Baker's about to do something cool?"
"Even then," he assures you, his tail coiling closer. "Though I reserve the right to be extremely excited about it later."
"Deal," you murmur, already drifting off to the sound of his heartbeat and distant game music, secure in the knowledge that he would indeed brave any haunted house to find you, even if he'd be considerably more efficient at dealing with the threats than Ethan Winters.
A Week Later
Afternoon sunlight streams through the windows as Sebastian coils on the couch, his massive serpentine body arranged in a perfect spiral with you nestled in the centre. You're wearing fresh flannel pajamas patterned with little seahorses; a gift from Sebastian that made him laugh for ten straight minutes when he found them. His scales, dark as deep water with iridescent hints of blue and green, shift constantly as he adjusts to keep you comfortable.
A half-empty bottle of formula rests on the coffee table next to Marisol's bassinet, positioned perfectly so Sebastian can reach it with any of his three hands without pausing the game. P.AI.nter has adjusted the room's temperature to accommodate Sebastian's unique biology while keeping it cozy enough for the baby.
"So this is set after Louisiana?" Sebastian asks, his lure brightening as the opening cutscene plays. His main hands grip the modified controller while his third hand absently strokes your hair. "Oh wow, they had a baby after all that?"
"Mm-hmm," you confirm, watching his reactions carefully. Having managed to avoid all spoilers during his imprisonment, Sebastian's going in completely blind. "Poor Ethan just can't catch a break."
"I mean... having a baby after surviving a horrific trauma..." Sebastian's gills flutter thoughtfully. "That's..."
"Says the escaped experiment who also had a baby," you tease, glancing at Marisol sleeping peacefully in her bassinet.
His lure pulses with amusement. "Fair point. Though our situation was a bit different."
"Was it though? Dangerous facility, paramilitary agents, bioweapons..." you count off on your fingers. "Only real difference is you're much prettier than the Molded."
"Flattery will get you everywhere, " he chuckles, his tail coiling closer around you. "Though I like to think I'm also a better conversationalist than- WHAT THE HELL, CHRIS? CHRIS REDFIELD SHOT MY WIFE?????"
"Just watch," you say, trying to hide your smile. Marisol starts fussing in her bassinet, her tiny gills; so like her father's, flexing with displeasure.
Sebastian pauses immediately, his third hand already reaching for the bottle while you lift her. His lure dims to a soothing intensity, making her coo as you settle back against his scales to feed her.
As the scene unfolds, you can't help but draw parallels. "If I got shot by-" you begin, but Sebastian's immediate response cuts you off, his voice dropping to a dangerous growl.
"If you got shot in our goddamn home by Chris Redfield I would tear him in half." He mimes the action like it’s second nature with his primary hands. The gentle hand in your hair doesn't pause its stroking.
You lean back against his scales, oddly comforted by his protective intensity. "My hero."
"Always," he mutters, still glaring at the screen. "Though I hope Chris has a damn good explanation for this..."
He resumes playing, navigating the village with careful precision, meeting the four lords and Mother Miranda, escaping Heisenberg's gauntlet until he eventually finds himself hanging by hooks, all three of his eyes widening dramatically. His lure flashes bright with surprise. "Oh shit, it's the vampire lady."
"That's Lady Dimitrescu," you say, trying to suppress a grin as you adjust Marisol's bottle. "I like her daughters too; they're hot in that mentally unwell way. I too crave man flesh."
"Yeah you do." His low rumbling laugh resonates through his coils and into you, though all three eyes remain fixed on the screen. "That dress, the way she moves..."
"The hat," you add appreciatively. "The whole dominant energy..."
"The voice," Sebastian murmurs, his tail fin twitching as Lady Dimitrescu taunts Ethan. "Very... commanding."
"Look who's getting flustered," you tease, noticing how his lure pulses with each of Lady Dimitrescu's appearances.
"Just... appreciating the character design," he protests weakly as she strides across the screen, his gills fluttering rapidly.
"Uh-huh." You shift Marisol to your shoulder for burping. "Like how I 'appreciated the character design' when I first saw you in the facility?"
His gill fins flutter in embarrassment, but his third hand squeezes your shoulder playfully. "I don't wear a hat that fabulous."
"Maybe you should start," you suggest, settling Marisol back in her bassinet. "You've got the height for it."
"I can't pull off that elegance," he points out, then swears in Spanish as a creature lunges at him. His combat style is fascinating to watch; methodical and precise, conserving ammunition like someone who's actually had tactical training. He takes out the enemy with practised efficiency, shooting out the knee before finishing with a melee hit.
"No, but you've got the whole 'powerful non-human who could absolutely destroy someone' thing going on," you say, snuggling deeper into his coils.
His lure pulses brighter. "Are you comparing me to the tall vampire lady?"
"Maybe," you smirk. "Though she can't do that thing you-"
"There are children present," he interrupts, but his toothy grin betrays his true feelings.
"She's asleep," you point out, watching his lure create dancing patterns on the ceiling. "But fine, focus on your 'gameplay'."
"I will," he says firmly, then immediately gets distracted as Lady D enters another scene. "Resident Evil has great character design."
You laugh, curling closer as his coils adjust around you. "Uh huh. So you want me to be bossy now oooor...?"
"Quiet, you," he mutters, but his tail curls tighter around you affectionately.
Suddenly, a thought hits you like a bolt of lightning. "Oh my god!" you gasp, sitting up straighter in his coils. "You don't know they remade two, three AND four!"
Sebastian's head whips around so fast his lure briefly strobes, all three eyes wide with shock. "They what??? You didn't mention that???"
"Hey, I had pregnancy brain!" you defend yourself, gesturing at the sleeping baby. "I can only remember so many things at once!"
"We're playing those next," he declares, his tail coiling with excitement even as his attention returns to Lady Dimitrescu on screen. "Though maybe after we finish appreciating the... character design... here."
"Sure, the 'character design'," you tease, settling back against his scales as he continues his very thorough exploration of Castle Dimitrescu.