#lilia over here like you made (1) friend and already i have to give you the existential crisis talk
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I Found Home
(part 1) (part 2) (part 3) (part 4)(Part 6)(Part 7)(Part 8)
Implied relationship
Part 5
Notes: This wasn't supposed to happen yet but I'm working on several chapters at once so this got posted first due to timing. This chapter was meant to go last. (besides I'm not going to pretend that most of you didn't just come here for this guy. I just want to get this over with.)
Malleus
"The Hero"
Grimm wasn't the most social of the kids but he was finally learning how to play with others. From what the child development book says he had a rich imagination and took part in imaginative play with others. He had even shown interest in things like singing and dancing with other kids.
But when art time came Grimm looked upset and yelled at another girl. Yuu had to apologize to the girl and her father. They had an argument which caused Grimm to lose his temper. He wouldn't say what it was about either.
When it was time to go Grimm waited by the car and stared at the crumpled drawing he made in his hands.
"Do you want to talk about what happened?" Yuu asked helping Grimm into his car seat.
Grimm shook his head.
Yuu nodded and decided to leave it alone.
When they got home Grimm went to his room without much fuss. Even bathtime was quiet without his usual crying.
When it was time for bed Grimm still clutched the paper ball.
"Mama?" He asked for her while he was deep in thought.
"Yeah, sweetie?" Yuu pulled the covers over him.
"Where is our family?" Grimm unfurled the pater to reveal a drawing of her and him in crayon.
Yuu's voice was caught in her throat. She wanted to wait until he was older to explain this.
"We are a family." She said simply.
"But Erinn said that families were big like hers. A mommy, daddy, sister, brother, grandma, and grandpa. But I only have a Mommy." Grimm asked confused. "I told Erinn that I only had Mama and she said that we weren't a real family without that. So I got mad."
Yuu knew she had to control her emotions and try to explain but it was getting hard.
"We are a family. All the family we need. Erinn is lucky and has a big family already and she doesn't understand what other families look like." Yuu said stiffly "I'm sorry if I'm not enough. If I could, I would give you the family you deserve but I'm only one person."
Yuu quickly finished saying goodnight before retreating to her room. Tears of frustration blinded her.
It wasn't her fault.
She wanted a family too.
Ever since she returned to her world and old life she had tried to find her place. Friends and family were happy to see her again but they had moved on after years of her absence. Everything familiar was now strange. Then came the questions about where she was and what happened. She couldn't answer, no one would believe her. They turned on her with suspicion and called out her lies. News media caught wind and police had questions as well. Everyone wanted to know but she had no answers.
Rumors were everywhere and even the people who trusted and wanted to help Yuu had mud slung their way. She did what had to do to protect them and left. She escaped as far as she could to a place where no one knew her. She wrote her books in solitude and kicked out everyone who tried to profit from her newfound fame.
Conspiracy theorists and true crime fans still hounded her but she had a life where she could be in relative peace.
She had a son now and could live a normal life. Wasn't that enough? Can't she live her life?
Yuu cried for herself, for her son, for their future.
"Are you sure we shouldn't wait until tomorrow, your Majesty? Yuu may be asleep by now." Silver asked pushing aside the foliage with a ball of light he cased in the other.
"Of course, my child of man has always stayed up late in the night. She is undoubtedly awake." Malleus said proudly leaving Sebek and Silver to clear the way. Trails of Will o'-Wisps marked their path to find their way back.
Lilia flew above the group as he enjoyed the scenery. He seemed even more relaxed these days. Silver and Sebek had finally taken over their roles as captains of the royal guards. Malleus was firmly established himself as the ruling king and let his dear grandmother retire to her castle on the coast. She was certainly enjoying the sun in her scales.
Malleus had been hard at work revitalizing his kingdom. Bringing his kingdom into the current Era took effort but he had reached out to Shroud's heir for his assistance. Now the youth of his kingdom had new jobs to look forward to and new citizens had begun to move into their land. Malleus had also reached out to over classmates and found their help invaluable.
Kingscholar and Viper had been invaluable political partners and expanded trade between their lands. Rosehearts had joined him in laying out new laws compatible with technological developments. Ashengrotto had great knowledge of how to take advantage of natural resources in the area. Schoenheit offered assistance in starting an entertainment business hub like filming to take advantage of the vista.
Malleus had developed strong friendships with each of them but none of them could compare to the one that changed his life. Something they all agreed on.
"This place is so nice. So many stars but you can still see the city lights in the far distance. Are we close to the shore?" Lilia couldn't wait to visit another world and go touring with Yuu. His boys may be reserved to just seeing her but he had plans.
"The terrain is dangerous. It's rocky and likely has many dangerous creatures lurking about. How that human can stand being so much peril is beyond me." Sebek huffed.
Silver shook his head and ignored his co-captain.
As the group journeyed through the forest they noticed a small sound break up the buzzing of cicadas. Small sniffles and whimpers echoed and wrapped around the trees.
Lilia as if sensing a child's distress told the group to be quiet as he tracked down the whining.
Tucked into a hollow at the base of a tree a small boy huddled with a stuffed cat clutched to his body for dear life. The poor child cried for no one but himself.
As the group got closer they lit up wisp light around the area. The soft light alerted the boy as he drew closer.
"Hey, there. What are you doing out here so late?" Lilia crouched down to the boy's level to not scare him. "You should be at home."
The boy shook his head.
"You're parents are probably looking for you." Silver said.
"I can't. I'm bad." The boy rubbed his red puffy eyes.
"You're bad?" Malleus asked holding out his hand to Silver who immediately grabbed Sebek and grabbed a handkerchief from the half-fae's pocket. He then gave it to his king.
Lilia took the handkerchief and held it up to the boy's nose and told him to blow his nose. (Crying gets very messy with kids his age and makes it hard for them to breathe with clogged sinuses. Not mention kids have a hard time blowing their nose on their own at a young age.)
The boy wrinkled his face as Lilia cleaned his stuffy nose with practiced ease. The boy tried to weakly fend him off the same way any child does when you try to clean a smudge off their cheek with your thumb. Once he was freed and cleaned up he finally responded.
"I'm a bad boy. I made Mama cry. She said cus of me." He said remorseful.
"Why don't you just say sorry then?" Sebek said tactlessly.
Silver elbowed him and the crocodile shrugged with an expression that said 'What do you want me to say! I'm right!"
"Because I always make Mama cry. Mama is always sad. So I'm going back so I can't make her sad again." He said defiantly.
He was going to help his mother even if he wasn't going to be with her.
"Where are you going?" Malleus asked kneeling beside Lilia.
The boy looked that Malleus's horns with wonder.
"Mama found me here in these woods. But she told me a story of a dragon that lived far in the woods. The dragon was nice and helped the lost princess so I want to find him and ask him to help Mama." The boy sounded really proud of his plan.
"A quest. What a brave boy you are." Lilia ruffled the boy's hair. The boy tried to dodge but failed.
"Hey, are you the dragon?" The boy asked pointing at Malleus's horns.
"I'm a dragon-fae. The king in fact." Malleus responded.
"And you can help my Mama? With your magic? Can you take her nightmares?" The boy asked pleading.
"I will try to help if you lead us to her." Malleus wanted to see Yuu again but he knew he had to help this child first. Reuniting this family was more important right now than petty wants.
Yuu couldn't sleep. She just needed the check. Maybe she was excessive but she just worried. Almost every night she would cheak on Grimm, just in case. She just need to see he was alive and breathing.
Some times she just had nightmares where he...
The parenting manuals said that this was perfectly normal. Her fears were natural and these impulses were a product of evolution and prevention of S.I.Ds.
Wait is there a cut-off point for S.I.Ds? Could Grimm still get it?
Yuu took a deep breath, she just needed to see him.
Yuu opened the door quietly to find...an empty bed.
"Grimm?" Yuu called out.
She began checking the bathroom in case he needed to go potty...nothing.
She checked the kitchen in case he wanted water...nothing.
The living room, The study, her bedroom, the attic, the garage
Nothing, nothing , nothing, nothing, nothing, NOTHING!
Yuu searched everywhere as she rushed outside and called for him. Soon the hysteria kicked in as she banged on her neighbors' doors. Frantically she gathered people to help her find her son.
The group was no less enthusiastic to help as they treated the boy like a little hero on a quest. Unfortunately, this hero was very tired and needed to be carried by the dragon king. Lilia was desperate to have his turn but the bat was way too energetic right now.
Lilia was secretly praying that Yuu lived with children so he could play with them.
Grimm was fascinated with Malleus. He studied the dragon's horns, eyes and fangs.
"Mama said the dragon was best friends with the lost princess. Is that true?" Grimm asked touching Malleus's sharp ears.
Malleus let the boy explore as he thought of a response.
"I cared deeply for a friend who was far from home. She was my best friend."
"What was she like? I like the princess most." Grimm said cheerfully.
"The princess, I mean she was beautiful like any princess. But she was better. She was kind and selfless. She made friends everywhere she went." As Malleus said this little fingers pulled at his lips to get a better look at his teeth.
"She's so cool. I wish I could meet her."
Malleus quickly handed the child off to Sebek. Sebek received no better treatment as the boy pulled on his ears and cheeks. He has pincer-like fingers and speed.
Lilia laughed. Silver was the same way.
Sebek practically tossed Grimm to Silver to deal with. Sliver was fine with Grimm but Lilia's silent pleading made him hand the boy over.
Almost immediately Grimm was asleep as Lilia rocked the boy to sleep. The group sighed in relief.
"So," Sliver spoke up only for a chorus of 'Shh' to stop him. He was just going to ask about the stuffed cat that looked exactly like Grim. Or the fact that his name was Grimm. Just him? Okay.
But the blissful silence didn't last as sirens and shouting were heard.
"Grimm?! Grimm?!" Voices shouted as groups of people searched for the boy.
Safe to say his mother was looking for him.
The group managed to dodge the cops as the found a familiar young woman still wrapped in her night clothes shouting Grimm's name. Bright searchlights haloed around her.
"Yuu?!" Malleus called out as soon as he saw her.
The woman squinted to see through the lights before she gasped. She quietly scrambled through the foliage. She had trouble due to still being in her house shoes, she couldn't even think of changing when her son was missing.
"Mal?" She called trying to see if she was hallucinating.
"Malleus please, you have to help me. My son, he's gone." Yuu begged her hand clutched over her chest.
Malleus didn't know how to respond at first. No words would help. The only thing to ease her is her child.
Lilia came forward and handed the sleeping boy back into his mother's arms.
Yuu's eyes lit up with unimaginable joy like finally breathing after unending suffocation. She fell to her knees as she held him close to her.
"My baby. My sweet baby." She mumbled pressing kisses to his head as tears of relief flowed down her cheeks. "Thank you. Thank you."
The situation took time to clean up as everyone was alerted that Grimm was found. Everyone sighed in relief and returned home. Except for that crotchety old woman next door. Yuu would expect a strongly worded letter soon.
The reunion wasn't what anyone expected but Yuu was no less grateful to her friends.
When they explained the situation, Yuu's eyes dimmed.
"I see, it's my fault." She sighed.
"He was just trying to help you. He doesn't know any better." Sebek rolled his eyes.
"That's the point. He's a child, he doesn't know any better. It's my responsibility not to make him feel responsible for my emotions. He should never see his mother cry. I tried to hid it." Yuu berated herself.
"Yuu, from one parent to another you need to hear this. It's hard, it's always going to be hard, but you're doing great." Lilia said gently pulling Yuu into a hug.
All the stress she had been carrying since she assumed her role as parent bubbles to the surface. All this time she had been carrying the heavy weight of expectations and constantly questioned herself. Everytime she got something wrong she panicked. Every crying fit and scraped knee she blamed on herself. Judging herself based on every parenting manual and blog she read. It all came to the surface.
She felt like she was going to break into pieces.
Suddenly another pair of arms wrapped around her then another and reluctantly another.
This was what she needed. Reassurance.
"Who dares intrude upon my lair." Lilia cackled wrapped in a black blanket.
"I do! Grimm the dragon prince!" Grimm stood proudly over Sebek's(slain in battle, r.i.p) body with a plastic sword in hand.
Grimm had taken to wearing a pair of fake ram horns and pretending to be a dragon recently.
Yuu raised an eyebrow as she drank her tea.
"If you wish to save the princess you must face my minions!" Lilia said waving a hand and sending Silver out to duel with the boy.
"Don't worry! I have my own minions! Go dragon king!Save the princess!" Grimm said sawing his hand this time.
Yuu snorted and held back her laughter as she looked up from her notepad.
Malleus of course assisted as he pretended to battle Lilia.
"Mal are you a king or a minion?" Yuu laughed.
"Are you a princess or are you just wearing a cone hat?" Malleus retorted.
"You've become more sassy with age. Now hurry up and save me." Yuu pouted taking off the pink cone hat.
Malleus picked up Yuu in a princess carry as Grimm cheered.
"My heros~" Yuu giggled as she wrapped her arms around Malleus's neck.
"Where too now my dear princess?"Malleus asked.
"To the study my stead!" She shouted.
Sebet tried to say something before Silver kicked him from their downed position.
"I'm a stead now, am I?" Malleus teased as he carried her off.
Grimm payed no mind. Grandpa Lilia said that they need space. The boy instead leapt onto his uncles who grunted as the air was forced from their lungs.
Upstairs Malleus placed Yuu on her desk chair as she began typing out her new book.
"Finally designed on a name for it?" Malleus asked resting his head on her shoulder.
"Yep, The Lost Prince and the Dragon King"
"Hmm, I like it."
TagList:@kamisatoaiko@professionalreblogs@kai200x@lianreine@loivre@jackalope08@code-roevember @growingupnrealizing @ryxmix @rainbowcake1212@blazestar0525 @botswanasvetlana @shrimpyfishyy @imasimpsowhat06 @nooneknows8976
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#twisted wonderland#twisted wonderland x reader#twisted wonderland yuu#twisted wonderland malleus#malleus draconia#malleus x reader#malleus draconia x reader#malleus draconia x yuu#twst malleus#lilia twisted wonderland#twst lilia#lilia vanrouge#silver vanrouge#twst silver#twisted wonderland sebek#sebek zigvolt
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SSR Ortho Shroud - Playful Gear Voice Lines
When Summoned: The stage curtains are rising! I'll draw everyone's attention with movements that no human nor puppet can do!
Summon Line: Can't believe I get to go to an amusement park with all my friends from school... Fufu, I can't wait. You better enjoy yourself too!
Groooovy!!: Everyone, eyes on me! I'll give you a show you'll never forget.
Home: Let's cut loose!
Swap Looks: Equipping mask.
Home Idle 1: Fellow-san and Gidel-san seem to have a brotherly relationship. I'm reminded of how I'd always follow after my big brother!
Home Idle 2: So, we're skipping school to go to an amusement park. If Deuce-san were here, he'd probably be in a tizzy about how this isn't what honor students do.
Home Idle 3: Confirming 【Playful Gear】 waterproof functions. ...Yep, looks like I'll definitely be able to enjoy the water rides, too!
Home Idle - Login: Retrofitting complete. Commencing amusement park activities with the 【Playful Gear】 attachment.
Home Idle - Groovy: I wish I could go to a theme park with my family. I'd get us all to wear the character headbands and take a picture!
Home Tap 1: The haunted house was so much fun. I really enjoyed seeing how your expressions and heart rate kept fluctuating.
Home Tap 2: At the stand over there, they're selling picture books that tells the story of the wooden doll. If you don't know much about it, maybe we can read it together?
Home Tap 3: With how he was throwing his hands up in the air and screaming at the top of his lungs as the roller coaster descended... Lilia-san's enjoying himself just like a kid!
Home Tap 4: There's so much I want to do at the amusement park. I need to make a plan so I can do everything...!
Home Tap 5: Is there any place you want to go to? Leave it to me. I've made sure to install a map of the amusement park already.
Home Tap - Groovy: I always believed that it was inefficient to wait in lines, but… Time just flies by when I'm waiting with you!
Duo:
[ORTHO]: There's a multi-player option, Leona-san!
[LEONA]: Don't get too carried away, Ortho.
Requested by Anonymous.
#twisted wonderland#twst#ortho shroud#leona kingscholar#twst ortho#twst leona#twst translation#twst playful land#mention: deuce#mention: lilia#italics: ortho robot voice
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Happy Birthday, Charin! [Scroll down to see Q&A details]🎉
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐮𝗺𝗺𝗼𝐧𝐞𝐝: Oh? Now, aren’t you adorable for giving me your wishes…There’s nothing I want more than you by my side, though~
หือ? น่ารักเสียจริงที่ได้มาอวยพรวันเกิดให้กระผม…แต่ไม่มีอะไรที่กระผมอยากได้นอกจากคุณที่มาอยู่เคียงข้างกายนะขอรับ~
𝐒𝐮𝗺𝗺𝗼𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐞: Ahahahaha! I didn’t expect so many people to come over. But then again, Kalim did say that he’d invite a whole crowd… *ahem* Anyway, thanks for being here, sweet heart. Let’s get you a slice of cake, shall we?
อะฮ่าฮ่าฮ่าฮ่า! กระผมไม่ได้คิดว่าจะมีคนร่วมงานวันเกิดเยอะขนาดนี้ แต่คาลิมก็ได้บอกนะว่าจะเชิญชวนผู้คนมาเพิ่มขึ้น… *อะเฮิ่ม* ยังไงก็ตามขอบคุณอย่างยิ่งที่ได้มาร่วมงานนะขอรับ ผมขอไปตัดเค้กสักชิ้นสองชิ้นให้คุณก่อนนะครับ~
𝐆𝐫𝗼𝗼𝗼𝗼𝐯𝐲!!: [LOCKED]
𝐇𝗼𝗺𝐞: *Yawn* I think I may have been a little too excited for my birthday last night…
*หาว* สงสัยกระผมคงตื่นเต้นสำหรับวันเกิดมากเกินไปสินะ…
𝐇𝗼𝗺𝐞 𝐈𝐝𝐥𝐞 1: Siphok told me she made a hand made gift for me, and that I have to open it last. I wonder what she has up her sleeve…*chuckles*
สิบหกได้บอกกระผมว่าเธอตั้งใจทำของขวัญให้กระผมมากับมือและกระผมต้องเปิดของขวัญชิ้นนั้นเป็นอันดับสุดท้าย อยากรู้จริงๆว่าเธอกำลังแอบคิดแอบซ่อนอะไรอยู่นะ~
𝐇𝗼𝗺𝐞 𝐈𝐝𝐥𝐞 2: Lilia bought me a new shirt! He drew on the patterns himself, wanna see? [Charin shows you a shirt of a merman that looks a little too much like Charin playing heavy metal while surfing]
ลิเลียได้ซื้อเสื้อยืดอันใหม่ให้กระผมด้วยล่ะ! เค้าวาดลวดลายเองด้วยอยากเห็นมั้ย?
𝐇𝗼𝗺𝐞 𝐈𝐝𝐥𝐞 3: [LOCKED]
𝐇𝗼𝗺𝐞 𝐈𝐝𝐥𝐞 - 𝐋𝗼𝐠 𝐈𝐧: How’s the party so far, love? Are there any creeps bothering you? Let me know, and I’ll get rid— *ahem* take care of them right away, yeah? Your comfort is my top priority.
สนุกกับงานวันเกิดมั้ยขอครับ? มีใครมาก่อกวนรังแกคุณหรือเปล่า? บอกผมได้เลยนะขอรับไม่ต้องเกรงใจเดี๋ยวผมซัด— *อะแฮ่ม* จัดการพวกมันให้เองขอรับ ความสะดวกสบายของคุณเป็นสิ่งที่สำคัญที่สุดของกระผมขอรับ
𝐇𝗼𝗺𝐞 𝐈𝐝𝐥𝐞 - 𝐆𝐫𝗼𝗼𝐯𝐲: [LOCKED]
𝐇𝗼𝗺𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐩 1: [Shutter Noise] Oh! *sigh* Who took a pic of me again? Are they too shy to ask for a photo or something? This happened thrice already…
[เสียงกล้องถ่ายรูป] อุ้! เห้อ~ ใครแอบถ่ายกระผมอีกแล้ว? เขินผมหรือไง? กระผมโดนมาสามรอบแล้วเนี่ย…
𝐇𝗼𝗺𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐩 2: Anan told me to take it easy and not worry about my body guard duties for the day. As if I ever had to worry about it in the beginning…I still wonder why he even needs a body guard.
อนันต์ได้บอกกระผมว่าไม่ต้องห่วงเรื่องหน้าที่บอดี้การ์ดของผมวันนี้ แต่ผมก็ไม่ได้ห่วงเรื่องหน้าที่ของผมตั้งแต่แรกอยู่แล้ว…จนถึงวันนี้ผมยังงงอยู่ว่าทำไมยักษ์อย่างอนันต์ต้องการบอดี้การ์ด
𝐇𝗼𝗺𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐩 3: It’s a bit windy outside, take my jacket. Hm? You’re turning red, love! Are you okay?!
ข้างนอกลมแรงอยู่เอาแจ็คเก็ตของผมไปเถอะขอรับ หืม? เอ้ะทำไมหน้าแดงจัง! ไข้ขึ้นหรือครับ?!
𝐇𝗼𝗺𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐩 4: [LOCKED]
𝐇𝗼𝗺𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐩 5: [LOCKED]
𝐇𝗼𝗺𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐩 - 𝐆𝐫𝗼𝗼𝐯𝐲: [LOCKED]
𝐃𝐮𝗼:
[CHARIN]: Siphok…the gift, I…
สิบหก…ของขวัญนี้มัน…เรา…
[SIPHOK]: Don’t get all sappy now! HBD, Rin~
อย่าพึ่งร้องเด้อ! แฮปๆนะรินทร์~
𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐋𝗼𝐠𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞: Oh my, I think I’m blushing just from the sight of you in front of my door step! How sweet of you to join my birth party. Tell me, would you mind taking a photo with me? I think we’d look cute together~
เขินจังมีคนน่ารักมาอยู่หน้าประตูหอของผม! น่าเอ็นดูจังเลยที่มาร่วมงานกับผม~ ถ้าไม่รังเกียจมาถ่ายรูปกับกระผมได้มั้ยขอรับ? ผมว่าพวกเราน่าจะดูเข้ากันดีน่ะขอรับ~
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY COMFORT OC, CHARINNN🎉🎉🎂🎂 I love him so much, my dear dear son fr😔🫶 I added a Thai version of his voice-lines so some of you (Thai fans ;__;) can understand his character better!! Charin is always polite to people he’s not close to. But to his close friends (Including Anan)? Bro’s unhinged—
Q&A DETAILS📍
This is a Q&A for Charin’s birthday!! Which means, the asks can only relate to Charin!
Charin will answer those asks— and I can’t guarantee a drawn response!
Please be civil with your questions (no NSFW or controversial asks)
Please follow the rules and have fun~
Q&A starts 17th of July and Ends at 20th of July
Relationship chart edited by me! Credits to blueberrythan on Twitter!
#twisted wonderland#twst#disney twisted wonderland#twst wonderland#twst oc#twisted wonderland oc#Charin Kamolnath༄#☂︎︎siphok-museum☂︎︎
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R0LLERSK4TING WITH TWST CHARACTERS 🎧
this theme has nothing to do with the fic but idc its pretty
✉️. LOADING DESC !
characters included : ace trappola , lilia vanrouge , ruggie bucchi , kalim al-asim , floyd leech
rollerskating with some of the twst boys except y/n is literal shit at it
word count = 1790
ACE !
List of bad ideas you should NEVER do!! 1. Invite your friend out to rollerskating when you’ve never even put skates on a day in your life.
Ace just assumed you were scared to skate at first, he accepted the offer but noticed you a bit shaky and unsure once you both make it to the place.
“Don’t tell me you’re scared to skate now y/n, we’re already here!” You break the unexpected news to the redhead. “Well… heh funny story! I don’t really know how to skate…”
“You WHAT?! DID YOU JUST ASSUME YOU’D PUT THE SKATES ON AND SUDDENLY BE ABLE TO???” After some ridicule from Ace and partial annoyance at learning this information, he reluctantly agrees to help you learn.
He’d be holding onto your arm to make sure you don’t tumble over while your other hand holds onto the ledge. You start off quite wobbly but Ace encourages you along with an occasional comment of “Wow Y/n… you really do suck at this!” Followed by a laugh.
The loud music blaring in the background of the skating rink only made it harder to hear Ace trying to give you direction but in the end you got the hang of it. Other than one slight tumble that was followed by immediate laughter, skating with Ace happens to be quite fun even if you don't know how to do it.
After a few hours of skating, you both are tired as can be and decide that it's time to leave. Knowing Ace though you make sure to tell him before you both walk out, "I swear if tomorrow we head to school and Deuce knows about this you're dead."
"No promises y/n~ would be a shame if I sent him this video I got of you falling...!" A play fight ensued, but you had fun nonetheless.
LILIA !
Knowing that Lilia is always up for a good time, it seemed like roller skating would be a nice idea! He seemed more than eager at the idea when you called him to invite him and accepted quite fast, slight issue.. you can't skate and didn't realize until you were outside the rink!!!
Knowing that more than likely Lilia is quite good at it, you tried your best to keep it a secret. Maybe you can just play it off as if you are having an off day so it's messing up your technique!!! "Yep, just an off day..." you'd think to yourself.
After you both meet up in the rink and Lilia gets his skates on, you signal for him to go ahead as you go get your skates, "Oh no don't worry y/n I don't mind waiting! Why we still have to race around!" He has a little smirk as those haunting words come out his mouth.
Fuck. You're screwed!!! You slip the skates on and hold onto the ledge as best as you can, Lilia seems a bit confused at first but you play it off enough to where he doesn't question. It was until you got into the rink that things got bad
You have nothing else to do but blurt it out "I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SKATE..." Which catches Lilia off guard a little bit but, to your shock he laughs and rather than seeming upset, he lends you a hand
"Well then y/n, isn't this interesting! I guess I'll be teaching you before any racing~" Lilia makes sure to keep a decent grip onto you as he guides you through the motions of learning. Keeping you firm in place if it seems like you'll slip, he is actually a really good skating teacher! You both have a lot of fun and can't help but giggle at your inexperience at times. Though you don't fully learn by the end of the trip, Lilia definitely wasn't lying when he said he was good at skating, and you surely both enjoyed yourself!
"Remind me that I still owe you that race next time, I'll learn by then I swear!"
"Khee hee, then I expect a really good race against you y/n!"
RUGGIE !
Ruggie seemed a little confused at your offer at first apparently "you didn't seem like the type to roller skate" and I mean, neither did he but seemed cool so he decided to tag along!
You both arrive and his suspicions were confirmed, but you were quite shocked to learn that Ruggie didn't really know how to skate either! He was quite wobbly standing up and at that point you both knew that you were in for a wild ride
"Yeah probably should have thought of at least learning something first before doing this!" You laugh nervously as you look towards Ruggie who at this point is struggling to even make his way over to you, "Uh,, YOU THINK??" You laugh in response. "Well then, I guess this'll be a learning experience for the both of us..."
You both make your way out to the middle of the rink, you would both occasionally motion to grabbing onto the other person's shoulder when you think you'll fall, but you would both end up catching your balance before it could happen. "Hey y/n you better not fall cause then I'll laugh so hard that I'll fall too!" Ruggie teases at you as you just grin and roll your eyes in response.
Gaining some form of a rhythm was the goal of the two of you, so you both take turns trying to gain a steady pace while the other points out something that could possibly help. Every now and then either you or Ruggie would get a little cocky with it and try to go faster than you knew you could go. Of course, you'd fall and the other would burst into laughter.
For what it is this trip could be considered quite successful, you both didn't learn much but, the stuff that happened in itself while y'all learned was funny enough to make the experience just as good! But,, maybe it would be best to choose something that at least one of you know how to do next time.
KALIM !
Kalim would probably have been the one to invite you. You tell him that you don't know how to really skate and might not be able to go. Kalim being Kalim he offered in a heartbeat to try and teach you. "I'm not that good myself y/n, but I'll try my best!" Gotta love Kalim.
Once you and Kalim meet up at the place, you are both quite excited to try and skate together. Kalim would totally be the person to try to skate on beat with the music and hold your wrist while skating to make sure you don't fall.
You are both pretty steady, you'd stumble more than Kalim and if you did happen to fall he wouldn't pause for a second to help you get back up, checking if you're okay. Kalim points out tips to you that can help you improve how you skate, and ensures that you are having fun.
Eventually Kalim would fall, just to giggle it off right after and thank you for helping him up. Kalim would teach you quite well, having good balance and rhythm being key he'd tell you. By the end of the day you are able to skate decently on your own!
"Kalim, I thought you 'weren't very good at this' yet you could teach me just fine?" You'd ask him.
"Well, I don't think I'm really good! Jamil is MUCH better than me at this I suppose I've picked up on a few things from him! I'm really having fun though skating with you y/n!" You do nothing more than giggle in response. Today was fun, hanging out with Kalim is fun, hangout SUCCESSFUL!!!
FLOYD !
Anything fun Floyd is up for, so it wouldn't be much of a question as to whether he was down or not to go skating with you. "Be ready Little Shrimpy, I might just chase you down while we're skating~". Of course that being the most "Floyd answer" you can receive you just giggle and say that you'll see him later.
"You can't skate how the hell can you escape him if you can barely keep yourself standing up in those skates." Is probably what you'd think to yourself as you arrive to place. Floyd takes no time to quickly greet you and you both make it inside and put on your skates.
Floyd seems like the type of person to also fall into the rhythm of the music blaring throughout the place and end up falling or stuff cause he get's way too excited/cocky and goes way too fast. You can try your best to keep him in check but's its pretty hard when you cant even maneuver in the skates yourself.
Without hesitation... Floyd begins skating in the opposite direction not realizing you actually have to go a certain way, either that or he just felt like going whichever way he wanted. After a scolding from the staff, he obviously looked upset so trying to help out you'd give him an offer that you know would make him happy and keep him interested but,,, could be your death wish.
"So Floyd,,, up to chase me down like you said before?"
HIs eyes would light up with excitement, "You know at first I didn't really feel like it but, now that you offer, this seems pretty fun." He laughs, "Get ready Little Shrimpy because I sure bet I can still squeeze you even here~".
"Oh shit." To say the least running from Floyd taught you how to skate more than any teacher could have at that moment, it was fight or flight. The fight being fighting Floyd off of you if he did happen to squeeze you. You obviously didn't get much but floyd seemed to find amusement in your lack of experience as you ran from him. In the end you did succumb to the circumstances of the current chase and you fell right over in the middle of the rink. So suddenly that in fact Floyd who was behind you couldn't stop himself either, crashing right into you.
Silence, you hope that didn't throw off Floyds mood
The ensuite of laughter from the moray afterward calmed down your fears and you began to laugh too. Needless to say maybe skating is quite fun as you are being chased down by your friend and you don't even know how to do it! What a weird way of having fun indeed~
© grayson-png ：do not repost or claim my work as ur own
#twisted wonderland#twisted wonderland x reader#twst x reader#twst wonderland#twst floyd#twst ace#twst lilia#twst ruggie#twst kalim#floyd leech#ace trapolla#lilia vanrouge#ruggie bucchi#kalim al asim#floyd x reader#ace x y/n#lilia x reader#ruggie x y/n#kalim x y/n#i hate writers block#finally back from the dead
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Cater's Birthday Gift! (Part 2- 'A surprise scare and Oh no time to hide!')
For part 1 click here / Part 3 here
A delightful party is waitting, but chaos hasn't left Night Raven as well as the twisted shadows and unintentional (or are they) spooks!
• Ramshackle Dorm •
Outside the gates, two figures stand at attention
" Remind me why we are on watch duty OUTSIDE instead of protecting Master Malleus?!"
" Because we weren't tasked with watch duty over Malleus. Should be good trainning."
" Watch duty over what then?! Malleus-sama is inside that decreptic house-"
" Which he quite likes if I may remind you Sebek. Besides The Old Man is with him right now, in other words they'll be ok since we also are not that far and to answer your question... to warn them of a surprise arrival of Kantokusei. We are a little late on the preparatives, Riddle-san went to retrieve the rest of the decorations and from what I heard, he and Idia-senpai are acquainted. "
" Oh...right, today is the 'Human's' birthday bash and Malleus-sama trusted us with this important task! I cannot be thankful enough, truly!!"
Sebek fixes his posture and seems to be holding back a metaphorical sweat drop.
" Also, never interrupt me again Silver, be grateful for your position and no dozing off- Oi! Are you already asleep?!!"
Sebek has to shake Silver awake after his obnoxious monologue.
Inside the Dorm
" My, my... I believe the children are having fun with their task already. What about you Malleus? How is it looking?"
Lilia looks up to a floating Malleus really close to the ceiling. He seems to be examining a fixture on the far back of the dinning table they had kindly brought to fit everyone for the occasion. Unsurprisingly the ancient gothic furniture fits with the natural rundown decor of Ramshackle. The lounge didn't have much space so some unfortunate soul would have to sit by the fireplace. Which Malleus was close to.
" The pillars look unstable and we should be careful with these antique portraits but as long as my magic is in use, there should be no problem. Do you have the banner Lilia?"
"It's right here somewhere...tchan-tchan! Here you go, Pomefiore and Heartslabyul both insisted on working on it. Looks like the chaotic mess but I guess it has it's own charm~"
From a pile of assorted decorations, Lilia carefully pulls and levitates a red and purple banner with white and black lettering that symbolizes the Dorm. It is a sight to behold...
" Thank you. I'm glad I was invited for a surprise party this time. Although I'll miss the quiet."
" It's just for a few hours, then we help clean and you can go back to brood over the meaning of life."
" Do I do that a lot...?"
" Hmm...maybe more than you admit. It's fine though, I also went through that phase! I believe everyone does, specially humans. Although I wasn't as young as them, hehe. Silly creatures."
" Thank you, Lilia."
Malleus gives his friend a soft smile before going back to work.
In the kitchenette/small kitchen/what even is this Dorm
"So, I've followed your suggestions and prepared a shawarma Diy as well as Wonderland's most famous dishes."
" I wouldn't call them famous dishes, just everyone's favorites. You could benefit from having fun trying new things, Jamil. I know how stressful it can get having to bake a lot of the same everyday."
" Although I dare say our backgrounds are quite different, I can see where you come from. How's the (fav/flavor) pie? And when did you find out it was their favorite?"
" Oh, a while ago. Kantokusei told me while helping make a marron tart. Fortunately this is not an Unbirthday or else the chestnuts would have been to waste."
Trey chuckles adjusting his glasses after cleaning his hands on a towel. Looking at the marron tart he had made earlier, the guy is a machine.
" It does smell nice in here though. You really are a cooking prodigy, Jamil."
" Thanks. I tried my best with what we have counting the lack of spices and weird combinations some of these required. I don't think I ever used so much salt... in my life. Oh, but don't mind me. I'm quite impressed you managed to keep your side of the 'kitchen' organized, for a baker."
" You spend most of your life doing what I do, even a make-shift kitchen won't stop you from keeping everything tidy and in place. Plus there is a health requirement you must meet so I have the habit of being extremely thorough"
" I'm just content we didn't come across any insects. I hate them..."
Jamil feels a shiver down his spine reminishing the times Kalim brought a spider or a scarab home. No thank you.
" I'm dissapointed."
Both men turn to the young prince, dangling his legs from atop a small clean portion of the counter
" Kalim, please get down from-"
" I wanted to hunt down different types of insects and show them to (Y/N) and you Jamil! What better gift than a critter for a pet?! Maybe a camel...or a baby elephant!"
" I'm sure they see critters everyday enough to find them quite boring, Kalim. Plus their...Grimm is already high maintenance."
" How about...a decorative piece from the Scalding Sands?"
Trey suggests, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly. Who doesn't like a decorative piece, right?
" You think so? I gave then a pot once, you know? My guests usually love all the jewelry but they become boring after a while. Do you believe an antique vase would be a better alternative, Trey? Or maybe a magical lamp! I don't own many of those but the few I have are indeed cool looking! I'm unsure how many genies are left though."
Kalim starts getting excited over the new gift ideas and almost runs out of the door to go retrieve a few things from his storage/treasure room. Jamil pulls him effortlessly by the scarf.
" Nah-ah. Too late Kalim, you'll call too much attention running around. Maybe tomorrow you can give (Y/N) something."
" Nnggh...you are right Jamil. I would hate to ruin the surprise! Hehe."
He smiles adjusting the fabric back in place when suddenly a youthful voice sounds from the Lounge.
" I got the lights!!! Big brother should also be on his way! Hopefully..."
Lilia turns around and greets Ortho.
" I see you managed to go through our security team."
He jokes, hands on his hips.
" Well, to be honest they seemed to be arguing."
He admits awkwardly.
" Nothing new there. I might go get a word with them once I'm free. For now, what do you think? Where should we put the lights?"
" We need to be careful not to heat up the paintings, Lilia."
Malleus adds as he inspects his work for the 5th time. The banner just looks weird, out of place aesthetically.
" Bonsoir Roi des Dragons et Monsieur Curiosite~ Ahh, please do not worry too much about the banner, for Pomefiore and Heartslabyul both agreed it was a nice try! Just not ideal. Mine and Vil's sincerest apologies."
" I'm sure it's quite alright Rook Hunter-san. The plans were thrown at you last minute."
" Oh, Monsieur Doll! Désolé I didn't see you there. I guess even I cannot escape the dreadful powers of our 'Happy Birthday' banner. Is Idia-kun on his way? I do not see his flying communication gadget."
" More importantly where did you come from, Hunter?"
Malleus narrows his eyes, floating down to ground level inspecting Rook.
" Hmm, how to explain...oh that's right! I tried talking to the uhm... 'guards' outside but something or another kept getting in the way so I just walked through the gates. Once again, apologies for the sudden intrusion. You may consider me an...envoy of Pomefiore. They are having a meeting with Roi des Roses and his battalion right now. Ace-kun seemed to have a plan to delay Monsieur Trickster but alas, some loose ends and they are rethinking what to do."
He explains in a monologue fashion, with too many poetic stances and carefree hand gestures that do not reflect the gravity of the situation.
" Battalion?!"
" Trickster?"
Both Malleus and Ortho question in different degrees of urgency. Who would have thought the idea of an army wouldn't sit well with Malleus.
" I believe he means (Y/N) and 'the card soldiers', in other words Riddle's dormmates. Speaking of, was Cater amongst them?"
Lilia dissuades the sudden tension in the air as if he was swatting a fly.
" Hmm-hm! Oui, why he seemed to have a new acessory around his neck~ It's never a great idea to agitate jailed prey but he didn't seem to mind much. Probably relieved he wasn't the topic of the discussion. That is from the little I saw when passing by the canteen. I brought a few gifts too! They are outside hopefully being inspected by Sebek-kun. Ahh~ Please do not be too harsh on me~."
" Hehe, that's my line Rook-san."
Snickering sounds from the entryway. Jade and Azul are standing there waiting to be aknowledged.
" I also heard Floyd Leech-san disappeared. What's going on today?"
" I have only the slightest idea Ortho, but I have a feeling Floyd is alright. Good evening gentlemen, we are not intruding are we?"
Jade and Azul delicately walk inside Ramshackle trying to get the bearings of...everything.
" Ohh, more guests! Kantokusei will have a huge surprise. Please feel free to hang your coats, we brought extra coat hangers too, and the gifts will stay in the back of the room, next to the kitchen entrance."
Lilia greets the duo over.
" Mind the pile. A lot of people agreed to come so we request you try to not block any entrances or exits and leave space for others."
Malleus adds after Lilia in a serious, elegant tone.
" Why but of course! Although sadly we might have gotten a little...on the extra mile. You see we brought gifts from the whole school! How benevolent of me~"
" Has Roi d'Effort done it again? That would explain the mix of crestfallen faces and little treasure holders in the halls. Although...I'm afraid a few got into a fight over who had the best gift."
" Ohhh, so that's what they meant by unfair!"
Ortho interjects. Azul interrupts the two effortlessly without a care.
" I can assure you, it was a mutually beneficial contract. Too bad it was such last minute, maybe they would have gotten better trinkets to offer us- I mean to Kantokusei. Right, Jade?"
" Agreed. It is a special occasion worth our efforts, if only they had the heart in it..."
Jade fakes a sigh
" But I must add, we were... 'benevolent' of a few chosen ones. They had good intentions, we detected."
He makes sure to add emphasis on 'benevolent'.
" You two are really insufferable-"
While Malleus and the OctaDUO argue, Rook continues the original convo.
" You also saw it Ortho-kun? A bit unsightly if I may be so bold."
" Right by the gate as I walked by the, uhm, 'security'. Students were leaving gifts to be examined and mumbling rather frustrated. I hope it doesn't escalate..."
Ortho sighs, worried for a moment. That's when Jamil walks out from the kitchen area.
" I trust in the security team we have. As much bickering as they might do, both Silver and Sebek know to take their tasks seriously. Otherwise I wouldn't have spent this much time cooking if I'm to be honest, I have other duties usually. The food is almost ready, how are the decorations?"
" Faster if we had more...hands on deck. That's the expression, right?"
Lilia simply does jazz hands.
" I'm taking those two idiots haven't arrived yet. You would think they would learn by example after what happened to Cater. If rumors are to be trusted...
Speaking of, where is Floyd...?"
Jamil questions slowly, eagle mode activated.
" Like I said before, we have no idea but I don't sense anything off. No danger. As cliché as that sounds."
" Never did I imagine I would see the day Jade says 'cliché'."
" That makes two of us."
Azul shakes his head at Lilia while shrugging, elevating his hands to the side of his head with a flourish.
" That's not what I meant!"
Jamil tries to contend Jade's ambiguous response but is interrupted by a sunny voice.
" Jamil, you didn't tell me we had more guests!"
" I just found out and again, this isn't our party Kalim."
" So? I still want to greet them properly! C'mon Jamil, just because we aren't in our dorm anymore doesn't mean we should leave courtesy behind too! Who do we have here? Rook, Azul and Jade, oh! Floyd is still gone? I truly hope he doesn't miss the party...and hello to you too Ortho."
" That's his way of saying 'hello' to us?"
" Please, don't even try to understand Azul."
Jamil pinches his forehead.
" Trey is still baking in the kitchen, I might have taste-tested a little too much, haha! With Jamil's permission of course."
Kalim points to Jamil as to indicate where he is. Right besides him on his right.
" Lilia and Malleus are also here! And of course Silver and Sebek are outside. We are many already! But many are also missing, is Vil coming?!"
He suddenly addresses Rook. Whoever teached etiquette to the young prince, should have been replaced by Vil himself!
" Oui Roi d'Or . He certainly wouldn't miss such a social event."
" Haha, I don't know what that means but you can just call me Kalim, Rook!"
Kalim laughs good-naturely while Azul and Jade walk to the gift corner to leave a few they were able to bring in with them.
" It means King of the Gold and it's Rook's own... How do I say this? 'Endearing' way of addressing someone? A show of respect? I think I'm nurturing a headache."
" Didn't we bring my aspirins? You can take a few Jamil, I don't want you to miss the party!"
" Thank you, Kalim. I'll be fine."
Meanwhile Jade and Azul are discussing in the gift corner
" You know, I think our treasury was worth more than most of these."
" Regretting already? Sure, who doesn't love magical potions, jewels and lost findings from under the sea? Land dwellers aren't too different from the earth loving mer-princess, but I trust that simple does it this time."
" That confident? My, I didn't take you for such a caring person, Azul. It was an entertaining endeavor none the less, fufu."
" Oh, just shut up. Now, being serious here... where did Floyd squeeze himself into?! Is he planning something?"
" I truly do not know, maybe he wants to give one of his surprise hugs... He does love catching his prey off-guard!"
Jade answers with a rare enthusiasm.
" And I to be in the known and ready for surprise factors. He better not cause trouble."
" I made sure to let it be clear that today is different during the past week. He can be good intentioned, Azul."
" Good intentions or not, that idiot lacks self control. Simply, I beg to the Sea Witch that we do not have a funeral."
Jade is about to rebut in his twin's defense but after a moment of thought, he simply nods.
Then there's arguing. It seems to come from outside and is getting closer.
" Oh I would recognise that voice anywhere, Beautiful Vil has arrived!"
" As well as Riddle Rosehearts. My guess, both dorms still have a bone to pick or two?"
Rook and Jamil conclude.
" The tensions seemed high indeed, Monsieur Multi-Skilled."
Outside, it looks like a procession of students
" It's not about the rules, it's a question of social norms. Who paints a birthday banner purple?! That's barely even a colour, one that only royalty uses for... socialite events! Not a casual yet fun birthday party. Oh and do not get me started on the envelope paper you used, this isn't a ball! I'm still grateful for the effort Epel."
It's Riddle and Vil arguing as they approach the gates. Riddle takes a moment to thank Epel before turning again towards the taller man, red faced, not sparing a glance towards Silver nor Sebek as he harshly hands them his gift. Cater has to apologise to the two as he hands his while Epel meekly puts his down by their feet.
Vil also adds to the pile on their hands effortlessly, chin up and an elegant strut, ignoring most of Riddle's words.
" Rosehearts are you implying they do not deserve the best of the best? Royalty or not, who doesn't want to feel like a noble?"
His words drip with a cold sarcasm punctuated by the good mannered use of Riddle's last name. Then he continues.
" MY problem is with the aesthetical balance. Who had the genius idea of colliding two dorms to make one banner?!"
Vil questions rather miffed.
" Oh, I don't know, maybe the Master Organizer when they found out last week about a certain someone's birthday! Me!"
After pointing at his clavicle rather harshly, Riddle crosses his arms while Vil assumes a more confident pose, both hands gripping his hips.
Epel has to be the one to knock.
" Well, Mr.Master Organizer, I hope you knew what you were doing when you assigned Ace and Deuce with the distraction plan...again."
More sarcasm.
"Oh, do not worry Vil-senpai... I'm already regretting it."
• Night Raven College (main street)•
(Y/N) and Grim look eerily at the statues of The Great Seven on their way home
" Don't they look menacing at night, Grim? Usually they are so...goofy. "
I ask in a tremble. The cold air wasn't helping.
Grim nods.
" This is the worst part of going home, myehhh~"
Grim answers, hiding in the crook of my neck.
"Oi, Kantokusei~!!"
"Ahhh-! A-Ace?! ...What the heck you dumbass, you almost scared me to death!"
I start punching Ace's chest, not too harshly but it seems to cause him discomfort none the less.
" Ow, ouch- Agh! Kantokusei, please calm down! I have Magift trainning tomorrow- Augh!"
That's when Deuce jumps from the deep dusk of the night onto the light of the street lamps to try and fail to dissuade the situation.
" Kantokusei, please forgive him! He didn't think this through-"
" Deuce, you too?! Are you guys following me?"
" Would that be news?"
Grim deadpans once he himself calms down.
" Although I'm also curious what you two are doing here so late. Shouldn't you be heading to...ah...Heartslabyul! Yes nyah~ To your dorms before Riddle does something with your heads?"
Grim winks at them from my peripheral, wanting to be in on the change of plans. I'm too weirded out to notice anything out of normal anymore.
"Oh that! Yaahh.. we are quite far from the Hall of Mirrors, ain't we...?"
Ace's voice slowly breaks.
" We almost forgot to give our gift, Kantokusei!"
Luckily Deuce is thinking on his feet.
" Oh, right! You wouldn't believe the trouble we got into to get this, tchan tchan~!!"
Ace presents me with a small opaline or ceramic scented water bottle. Hand painted. Looks like a flacon type of bottle so probably to put on the wrists, the scent is usually strong.
" A...perfume? No...scented water? Haven't seen these ones since I arrived! I would have fun rubbing an absurd amounts on my wrist! I believe my family had a Trésor set once. They would come with cutlery or tea sets you know-"
" What? No, no, it's a potion! The underwater potion to be clear. I know-"
Deuce elbows his shoulder.
" Ah, I mean, WE know how much you like going to the Coral Reef, so we accepted Azul's deal-"
" Deal? Another one?! What if I had to save your asses again?"
" They never learn."
" You are one to talk, Grim."
Deuce crosses his arms narrowing his eyes at Grim.
" Well...I guess you don't seem to be in trouble. Thanks! Maybe this time they'll let me in The Museum~"
I smile at them before walking again. Only to be stopped.
" W-Wait, what's the hurry, Kantokusei?"
" Yeah, it's a...beautiful night."
I look at them both, impassively, before asking.
" Ok, what's happening at Ramshackle at this moment?"
"Ah-ahmm..well you see-"
" N-nothing of course! What could...be happening...? A rain of cauldrons?! Haha..."
" Good job you two, you made me even more sleepy. Mi-uahh~".
Grim yawns before poking the side of my head and pointing at something in the dark.
" What is it now? Who else is here?"
" I...have no idea, we were supposed to be the only ones left. Ace??"
" What he said! I suggest we run!!!"
They both exclaim, clearly scared for their lives so much that both me and Grim get equally agitated. Before anyone can say anything else or move, I let out a gasping shriek, feeling my body be constricted.
But...it's kind of comfortable?
' Is this what they call...Death's Hug?'
I think to myself.
... ... .......?!
" Koebi-chan, omedeto!!!"
" Ah? Wha-, Floyd?!!"
I start squirming in his grip.
" Don't move so much or it will be worse, have you never seen a Wild Documentary?"
Floyd asks, half-mockingly, half-whinningly with a serious undertone.
" Floyd-senpai?!"
" Hey, let them go dude, not cool! They are blue from the scare.
" Even Grim-sama is stuck!"
Indeed I was still having a hard time calming down and Grim was stuck in the squeezing hug.
" Deep breaths~ This is your birthday hug! A way better gift than what we got from Azul..."
He pouts before relenting and softening his hold just a tiny bit.
" T-thanks. What did Azul get you? Is it from his most recent deal?"
" Oh, I see we have some snitches."
He smirks looking at both Ace and Deuce, something about it gives them shivers.
" Welp, he did go a bit overboard again. Hug time over~!"
He frees me and Baby Seal- I mean Grim.
I look over at the two idiots, then at Floyd. Putting Grim on my left shoulder I give them an annoyed look.
" Today has been more peculiar than usual and you two are acting suspicious right now. You are not this...weird. I mean, do you want Riddle to lose his compsure on you?! And Floyd... just... thank you."
He smiles glad with himself while the other two look at the ground, antsy.
" But what are you doing here at night prowling like a fox or a leopard, near the exit gate, so far away from the Hall of Mirrors?? Don't you have to help clean the lounge, actually, Jade has been looking for you since lunch time! And the restaurant was closed today too-
Did you and Cater plan a break together?!"
" Eh~? I have no idea what Sea Bream has been planning, I'm just tired from the extra work, besides it's a special day, ri~ght? Hehe!"
He rubs the back of his neck, chill, truly having no idea about Cater's business.
" It sure is for me, which leads me to you! You've also been acting suspicious Grim, even now you are too quiet..."
" Ahh?! Me? I have no idea what you are talking about, henchman!"
He speaks trying to sound insulted, and maybe his ego is. But Grim can be quite the bad actor sometimes.
" I'm having a bad feeling, you three seem to be oddly synchronized in meeting me just on the border of school grounds. I'm heading right to my dorm!"
" Already scampering away, Herbivore? Tch. Guess we are late."
" I wonder whose fault it is, if only someone didn't take those 10 extra minutes of sleep and listened to me."
" You want to say that again to my face, Ruggie?!"
I stop in my tracks again, by 3 'special' Savanaclaw students. Jack was standing on the side, not unimpressed by his senpai(s) actions.
He looks at Ace and Deuce with a raised eyebrow and sighs at their reactions.
" I knew this would be a disaster. I should talk with Riddle-senpai next time. Also, shouldn't you be helping the other two carry the gifts?"
He addresses Floyd quickly, not even trying to deny what's happening anymore. Most of the surprise technically ruined.
" There was so much useless stuff, why go to all that work? Besides I requested to the other dorm students to carry the truly interesting pile to the knights!"
He jokes to stave off his boredom.
" Knights? Like...Diasomnia?! They are here too??!"
" Rrrrargh, unfortunately. As well as those snobs, Red Young Master and company, the sunshine and rainbows prince, all dorms really. Probably Ignihyde too!"
Leona gets agitated, growling even, thinking about the cluster of social noise about to happen.
Floyd skips forward for a moment, going back to simple long strides.
" I guess I'm going ahead! See you at the party, Shrimpy~!"
" So...there IS a party. And I didn't get ready, physical and mentally..."
" Well it's supposed to be a surprise party, but I guess we ruined that, shihehehe! Let's not be late!"
It dawns on me that tonight Ramshackle won't be the same peaceful home I use to unwind after a strenuous day, anymore. Absently, I feel myself be dragged.
• Back to Ramshackle (inside)•
"Oh. It's you three! And company...You gave us a scare, we thought it was Kantokusei already."
Trey gives a strenuous smile, adjusting his glasses after cleaning his hands on the apron for the millionth time. Jamil raises an eyebrow.
" You can never be too careful!"
In response Trey shows his palms, gaining a chuckle from Jamil.
" Please save me-"
Cater's pleas are interrupted by a fed up Epel.
" They been at each other's throats since last period! At this point we might have a Dorm war...hey...dat actually sounds awesome! Get ready to rumble-!"
Cue Vil flicking his forehead.
" I want you to be at your best behaviour tonight, Baby Potato."
" Y-yes Vil-senpai..."
Epel pouts for a moment before reminding himself he has a posture to keep.
Meanwhile Cater shows Lilia and Malleus his small gift box.
" I want to hand this one personally if possible?"
Cater says with his remarkable chipper tone, unable to avoid a small wink their way. Mostly Lilia since he seems the most approachable in Diasomnia.
" Let me check it first. All gifts need to get a seal of approval, no exceptions. We don't want anyone to get hurt after all~ Hmm it's quite light but sturdy."
Lilia jests by putting the box next to his ear as if that would help decipher the enigma.
" You are just curious of what's inside Lilia. I'm quite sure that if there was an attempt on my life, someone here would give themselves off."
" What about Monsieur Kills for Thrills who hasn't shown himself yet, or Monsieur Mastermind, Roi d'Effort-"
" Or Sea Serpent! That one is the quiet type of danger~"
" Oh, Floyd is here! Who are all those people??? Sea Serpent sounds so cool!!
Kalim asks. Jade points at himself quizzically. It had never crossed his mind to...cross the Fey Prince. Even his more primal instincts warn him that that would be a death wish. Azul seems unfazed and simply gives a cordial smile. Making a deal with Malleus is oh so very tempting after all.
Jamil gives away his stoic facade for a simple deadpan that lasts around 3 seconds before he composes himself back to normal.
" I think we confused poor Sea Otter. Hey there adorable fishes~! Sorry I'm late."
He says casually walking further inside and towards the pile of gifts, the corner where both Jade and Azul were.
" He is not sorry at all. Come Kalim, we should get you a seat, preferably far away from certain companies..."
"H-Hey Jamil! Why are you being so mean, I like sea otters."
"You only saw them in books. Thrice."
" They are still cute...?"
Jamil is quite literally dragging Kalim by his hand to a corner. He doesn't want to risk acting out of line or harming Kalim by grabbing him by the arm. Even if it's tempting sometimes...
" Here you go Cater, you have Lilia's seal of approval!"
Lilia hands it back enthusiastically, talking in third person.
" How did Floyd get in...?"
Malleus asks and both Pomefiore and Heartslabyul look back to the open door. Both dorm leaders letting out an almost inaudible 'oops'.
" Why is Big Brother trying to hide in the corner? Nii-san!! I can see your hair from here, please just come in already! It's going to be fine. Besides the temperature is starting to drop outside."
" S-stupid thing..."
Idia mumbles to himself as he 'fixes' his quite wild hair.
" You're still wearing that parka?"
" It's not like any of us are wearing anything besides our dorm clothes, Vil-senpai."
Riddle remarks.
Idia simply brushes handfuls of his hair restlessly.
" I- I didn't bring a gift. I mean I guess I am the gift- I...being here is the...gift. Ugh."
He sighs, giving up on this thing called 'socializing' and walks to sit on the stairs.
"...Anyone would like to sample a treat? No signature spell this time Cater."
" No thank you then. I'll wait for dinner."
" Is dinner ready?! I wanted to help Sea Serpent, I'm quite good at handling seafood you know~? I also accept a good challenge though."
Cater keeps the box in his persona, having resigned to his fate of being collared like a pet, not that he minds much, it's quite a good look on him. Trey brings a tray of sweet samples that both Riddle and Vil exitate on picking for different reasons. Floyd is being his energetic self, for now but then Azul, who kindly refused the treats reminds Floyd that Jade did all the work at the lounge today. Which mainly consisted of cleaning and general maintenance as well as inventory.
" I would appreciate some help setting the table, Floyd."
" But that's your speciality Jade, I don't understand most of that fancy stuff."
" Now, now, don't exaggerate. We barely touch upon aristocracy fanciness, much less during a birthday party."
He pats his brother on the back and guides him to the kitchen. And that's when Floyd suddenly remembers...
" By the way did I forget to tell you guys? Shrimpy is on their way, Sea Urchin was dragging them. Let's get this party started!!!"
And like that the twins disappear along to Kalim's echoed enthusiasm. Vil at this point is about to create a wrinkle in his forehead if he keeps losing control of his trembling, trimmed eyebrows.
" Those two idiots..."
" Was to be expected unfortunately. What should we do now Roi du Poison?
" ROLL CALL!"
Everyone looks towards the source of the outburst.
" A roll call, Monsieur Cherry Apple (CrabApple)? "
" Y-yes...ah, Azul-senpai?!"
" Here, of course."
" Cater-senpai?"
" Cay-Cay is here~! Mentally preparing myself to take lots of pics that aren't of me! Being a cameraman sure is though."
" No one is making you do that, Cater."
Riddle interrupts before Epel continues awkwardly.
" Then there's me. Floyd-san is setting the table. Idia-senpai?
"Here. In the stairs. The ghosts are keeping me company."
He answers plainly, sending shivers down poor Epel's spine.
" I'm also present Epel-san."
Jade answers next.
" Jamil, Kalim-senpai(s)?"
" We are here~! I'm so excited, what about you Jamil?!"
" I'll relax when everyone is ready and hidden in the dark."
Kalim raises an eyebrow before laughing, understanding what his friend meant.
" Lilia-san and Malleus-senpai?"
" I'm ready for a good scare, let's pray the lights don't burn. Haha, got it, pray?"
He jokes, hearing a grumble from Idia.
" The objective is to try and not scare Kantokusei, please."
Malleus retorts softly.
" Ortho-kun?"
" With Big Brother here and all my assignments done, I'm also ready!"
" Rook-senpai and Riddle-senpai."
" Heartslabyul will be ready once I talk with those two idiots."
" C'est moi ! Or rather Je suis ici. "
" I'll take that as a maybe. Sebek-kun and Silver-san are still outside, Trey-senpai is handing over sweets."
" The cake is being kept in the fridge in the meantime."
" I'm obviously on time. We are only missing the two Fresh Potatoes, Jack, Ruggie and that lazy lion. The usual Potatoes I guess."
Vil adds, a natural haughtiness accompanying his tone.
"They were with shrimpy too!"
Floyd inputs to Vil's chagrin.
" I swear to the Seven- NO! I PLEAD to the Seven if there's any more surprises you are not mentioning, Floyd, speak now or so help me I'll start this dorm war myself-!"
" Now, now Vil! Deep breaths~ Don't let silly mistakes faze you, I know you are capable of dealing with anything! And if not, you can always trust me to take care of it.
Although, I'm not much of a fisherman..."
Rook slowly and carefully pats Vil's back while chuckling at his own joke.
" Does no one ever get tired of making fish jokes towards Octavinelle members? I sure do."
Azul mumbles under his breath, shaking his head as he searches for a hiding place after checking on Jade's and Floyd's work. Does this Dorm have an octopus pot by any chance?
" Before anyone thinks of repeating a Beanfest, we do not have a walk-in fridge BESIDES, it is full right now."
Trey warns, arms crossed as he gives a pointed look towards the Tweels. Trey is scary sometimes.
"I'm sure this place has enough crevices we can 'slide' in. C'mon Floyd, it's time to hide for the surprise jump."
" Hehe, you got me with 'hide'~"
They proceed to disappear to Great Seven knows where.
" I'm staying on these stairs, no one ever looks up, right? That's how you die in horror movies."
" But Big Brother, this is the fun part! I don't want a lame, exploitable hiding spot like the stairs..."
"Maybe under the table then? That's a classic."
A thud is heard followed by a bunch of ouches and a chuckle, as well as the ringing of cutlery being shaken. We hear Kalim's muffled voice.
" There should be enough space under the table! Just mind your head..."
" Like I said Kalim, this is a bad idea. You can hurt your head trying to get out or worse, spill all the food! I mean...eto...why not try behind a chair? It's not that much cover but it should be dark enough that Kantokusei cannot even see in front of them."
Jamil smirks at his own idea, great save on his part. What was he thinking saying the food is more important than Kalim, does he have a death wish? At least that's what he spent the last 3 minutes beating on his own brain over before he himself hid behind a chair next to Kalim's.
"Then I'll go under the table! I promise I'll be super careful and calculative of my placement Jamil Viper-san. Don't forget to smile Nii-san."
Ortho admonishes Idia who tentatively tries to give him a soft smile instead of his sharp toothed anime mad scientist ones.
" ...I guess it has to do."
" Oi, I can smile like a normie! I just don't feel like it..."
He pouts as he brushes huge chunks of his hair back.
'Heartslabyul Co.' (trademarked) in the mean time are having fun with their Housewarden kindly taking the role of a general of an army of playing cards!
" This is why I only brought a few of us. You, you and you will need a larger space to share. The smaller ones should take that advantage and find low ground to hide in."
"Doesn't goldfishie count as small? Better find a free spot soon~"
Comes the disembodied voice of Floyd which Riddle, after a moment of cursing to himself, manages to ignore.
The few Pomefiore students that also came along are already searching for cleaner and practical hiding places.
" Guess I'll check on the boys. Malleus maybe you should join Idia upstairs."
" I think that I'm too tall to even hide upstairs. The ceiling is so low."
He ponders, looking up and reflexively hovering his hands above his horns.
"You might need to stay crouched for a while I guess. Be right back~ Don't start any fights without me, ok?!"
Lilia waves goodbye with his huge, PE shirt's long sleeve, which he is wearing instead of the formal shirt, under the rest of his Dorm uniform. Practicality.
And runs out, leaving only a trail of bats behind.
" So much stuff...I might need to wait until the end of the party to deliver this myself. I'll want a selfie of this moment after all~ Kantokusei has such funny faces! "
Cater walks towards the door and leans against the wall next to it, making sure it will hide him when opened...and not hit him in the face-
Malleus is the one the put out all lights in the room, the luminosity of the moon is quite enough to guide him safely up the stairs as Lilia suggested. His back will probably hurt tomorrow. The ghosts are repelled and although both of them don't occupy that much space, Idia feels the need to scooch over and into fetal position against the wall. He isn't exactly scared but it's not everyday you share the same cramped space with the Fey Prince, specially when you are a shut in.
Everyone waits with bated breaths. Azul, with his own predatory heightened senses could swear the twins stopped breathing altogether. They are somehow still alive.
There's a knock on the door.
" Does anyone mind opening this thing? A certain someone gave up the only key to our OWN DORM!"
__________ to be continued _________
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I had two reactions to the latest part of episode 6
#art#twisted wonderland#spoilers#twisted wonderland spoilers#twst spoilers#twisted wonderland episode 6 spoilers#i know they're supposed to be looking up through the ceiling#but ~*artistic license*~ or something#their conversation got me so worried for episode 7. malleus are you gonna be okay.#lilia over here like you made (1) friend and already i have to give you the existential crisis talk#anyway guess who got magical archives! thank you person who pointed out that usa kinokuniya stocks it#now i have all the secrets as to how everyone's hair and outfits work >:)#now i have no excuse oh no
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Custody War Part 8
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Every friend of Yuu's from NRC showed up in RSA's cafeteria, wanting to surprise Yuu. Including Idia, Ortho, and the staff. Yuu walks in, and her friends from NRC cheer and yell, much to the RSA student's annoyance.
"Aww..thank you. Did everyone bring me gifts too?" Yuu asks, remembering Kalim's gifts and parades.
"Of course we did. Crewel is taking you shopping tomorrow, I got you a headband made of crow feathers, Trein got you a dress from his wife's shop, and Sam got you an empty amulet. Don't know why, though?" Crowley explains, giving Sam a confused look.
"I already told you. My friends on the other side told me that the amulet will be more effective if Yuu chose what gemstone goes in it," Sam says, putting a box on the table.
Yuu goes through everyone's gifts and opens them. Vil and Rook had predictably gotten her makeup and skincare products, while Epel gave her some apple-scented lotions and candles from his village. Riddle and Trey gave Yuu a cookbook from the Queendom of Roses combined with Trey's family recipes and Heartslabyul favorites. The Octatrio gave Yuu a seashell necklace which got inspected by Headmage Ambrose. Savanaclaw's gift was too risque, and Idia, Ortho, and Cater collaborated and gave Yuu a phone case she might like.
Finally, Jack, Ace, and Deuce approach Yuu and give her three boxes.
"We hope you like it!" Ace exclaims, putting his left hand on the back of his neck.
Yuu opens the box, and she pulls out the lingerie version of the Heartslabyul dorm uniform.
"Uh...we had no idea what you liked, so we got you two bikinis," Ace says, looking at the piece of lingerie.
"Ace, Deuce, this isn't a bikini," Yuu deadpans, every house warden and vice house warden shaking their heads.
"WHAT?! Floyd, you said this was a bikini when we went shopping!" Deuce screams, looking at Floyd, who is feigning ignorance.
"What are you talking about, Ace? Floyd was at the Mostro Lounge working with Jade," Azul asks with genuine confusion.
"He was with us! Floyd, say something! Floyd, don't walk away! Yuu, you've got to believe us. Those leeches tricked us again," Ace pleads, holding onto Yuu's shoulders and looking directly into her eyes.
"I believe you. It's not the first time you got duped by the octatrio," Yuu says, patting Ace's head. "Probably won't be the last time either."
"Honestly, Savanaclaw and you three should be ashamed of yourselves. Especially when Yuu has a boyfriend," Lilia says with mischief in his eyes.
Lilia, you old fae piece of shit!
"Yuu, is this true?" Crewel asks, pulling out his whip.
"First off, put the whip down, please. Second, I haven't really figured it out yet. I'm pretty sure we haven't even had an official date. So far, Phillip and I have just been hanging out," Yuu explains, hoping things don't escalate again.
"So that means you've had an unofficial date!" Crewel exclaims, a vein about to pop on his forehead.
"Please don't make everything more than it is again!" Yuu pleads, putting Phillip behind her.
The rest of the NRC students prepare to fight, and Ambrose decides to step in.
"Everyone, calm down! If Phillip and Yuu are dating, then we shouldn't interfere. As long as they are happy with each other, we have no right to get in between them," Ambrose says, stepping in front of Yuu and Phillip.
Crowley jumps at Ambrose, screaming how he's keeping his precious daughter from him. The NRC students run for Yuu and Phillip, but the RSA students cover for them. Yuu and Phillip run down the halls screaming for their lives.
"I didn't think your friends at school would be so protective of you!" Phillip exclaims, jumping over a statue that has fallen to the floor. "Over here!"
Phillip pulls Yuu into a secret passage and shuts the entrance.
"Thanks! How did you know this place was here?" Yuu asks, touching the wet walls. "This looks like it was part of a moonpool from a tv show back home."
The cracks in the stone wall are glowing due to the luminous blue water as they flow down to the bottom.
"I've explored every place in this school. For the most part, the secret passages either lead to the kitchens, exits, or somewhere in the woods. I haven't found out where this passage goes, but I think it's worth it if it's with you," Phillip answers, holding Yuu's hand. "Hold on tight, the steps are slippery, and I don't know how stable the banisters are."
Yuu and Phillip walk down the steps, following the water to get some form of light. A shadow whooshes past Yuu making her cling to Phillip's arm. Phillip smirks and kisses Yuu's cheek. A large splash of water vibrates through the passage, and a body of water lifts Yuu and Phillip zooming down to the bottom.
"AAH! Phillip, what is this thing?!" Yuu screams, holding onto Phillip's chest.
"Wow, princess! I didn't think you'd be so bold as to grip onto my chest!" Phillip teases, holding Yuu's hands in place.
"Shut up! Phil-don't let go of my hands!" Yuu screams, holding onto Phillip's chest tighter than before, feeling the body of water hit a bump.
A tentacle of water hands Yuu the empty amulet that Sam got her while patting her head.
"Oh, thank you, humble water spirit," Yuu says, putting the amulet on. "Phillip, look!"
The water in the walls opens up to a big opening showing a clamshell large enough it could fit a human or mermaid.
"So beautiful..." Phillip says in awe. "Do you smell saltwater?"
"Yeah, I do...we must be getting close to the beach! But that's down the mountain!" Yuu exclaims, feeling the body of water move faster. "Phillip, hang on!"
The light from outside approaches, and Yuu and Phillip go straight into the sand. The body of water turns into Ariel, and it pats Yuu and Phillip on their head. Then it turns to Yuu and goes to her ear.
"Remember, if you want to go home, find the stone that's been touched by things from both worlds..." The Ariel-shaped body of water says, smiling at Yuu.
Find the stone that’s been touched by things from both worlds?
The body of water goes back into the passage walls leaving Yuu and Phillip to themselves. A dove flies to Phillip's shoulder and chirps in his ear.
"Well, it looks like we'll be camping here for the night. NRC has taken over the sports field and preparing for more battles. We're stuck out here, and we have no food left. Luckily, I have a few thousand madols in my pocket. So, wanna go out on a date?" Phillip asks, looking at Yuu. "We can go to a restaurant in town."
"I'd like that," Yuu answers, smiling at Phillip. "I'd like that a lot."
Part 9
Tag list: @pookiedragonfire @lizzileth @hipsterteller @marrondrawsalot @kingfargas @justarandomhumaninthisworld @shi-mel @iwant2dienow @nai17 @nerdy-diamonds @naughtybodypillow @felfei @tinnyflute @r-0-tt-3-n-m-1-lk @iamfriedpotato @sweettooth-87 @otaku-explosion
#twisted wonderland fanfic#twisted wonderland#love potion apocalypse au#lilia vanrouge#acedeuce#ace trappola#deuce spade
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I saw this post and I was wondering if you write Malleus' too, is okay for you to make that?
How to win a heart of Malleus Draconia?
a/n: I started posting my writings here because I want to improve my English — so I technically wouldn't make this request. But! Someone on Wattpad (where I take requests) asked for the same thing, so I rolled up my sleeves and wrote this guide today in both languages. Enjoy~
1. Don't be afraid of him.
It is said that the first impression is the most important.
So when you first saw this guy walking through the corridor of Diasomnia, it was hard for you to get rid of that view from your head.
Illuminated both by the green magic flames set in the lobby, as well as by the moon, which eventually managed to break through the dark clouds and with a bright glow appear in the windows of the dormitory, he seemed... lonely and beautiful.
You shuddered as you took a step down the hallway and the dark-haired man turned to you. He measured you with his emerald eyes. And then you recognized him; all the conversations about the mysterious and fearsome Malleus Draconia flew through your head.
Everything told you to rush towards the hallway and run as far as possible, but a piece of you found it inappropriate. Or rather, no one would want to chase everyone away from themself... right?
When you realized you were looking at him for a while, you took a deep breath and nod slightly.
"Good evening, Draconia-san," you said quickly. After a while you added, "The moon is beautiful today, don't you think?”
2. Smile a lot.
Today was a really wonderful day: the test was postponed, your favorite dish was given in the canteen, and for some reason, the last two lessons were canceled – your class had to make just a quick note about a topic and it took less than fifteen minutes.
"Something happened?" Malleus asked, seeing how almost in the jumps you walk past him. When you looked at him, he added, "You smile a lot.”
"I can stop smiling if you want," you made a sad face, but after a while, the corners of your mouth began to tremble uncontrollably and twisted up again. "Oops, I can’t. Today... it was such a good day... that I think I'm slowly using my life's happiness.”
"I didn't say that smiling is bad," he said. "You look so much better when you smile.”
"Oh," you sighed with apparent surprise. "Is it a compliment?"
"It’s rather a fact..?"
3. From time to time visit him during club activities.
"Is this a class of the ‘Gargoyle research society club’?” with a deaf knock you opened the door. Malleus turned to you, making a break from browsing through the materials gathered in the library about the history of each of the gargoyles on the school grounds. And there were a lot of them.
"Yes," he replied briefly, getting up. "Do you need something, [Name]?"
"Not at all, my club don’t have a meeting today," you said, closing the door behind you.
You looked around: the room was as clean as ever, except for one desk, where were laid several huge volumes about statues in NRC.
“Are you here alone?” You said before you thought. You lowered your eyes to see Malleus nodding unconcerned slightly. You blinked several times trying to think of what else you could say. "This room... could be a secret base," that was the first thing that came to your mind. Malleus turned his head to one side, uncertain of your response.
“A secret base..? Why?”
"I have no idea," you admitted quickly. "But the very existence of a mysterious point is interesting, isn't it? Doing normal things, such as watching movies or just talking, seems more interesting in places like this,” After a moment of silence, you sighed. "You know what, this idea with the base is stupid”
"We can try," he replied with serious tone. You raised your eyes to see how he looked around the room. "But you'll just have to explain this idea to me in more detail. We can also tell Lilia, Silver and Sebek about it...” he smiled as if seeing your five together in his thoughts was a pleasure. "It will be surely... fun.”
4. Get yourself a Tamagotchi.
"Look!" you spin a new key chain on your finger. You finally stopped and showed it to Malleus. "Now they are matching!”
A small electronic toy, in a dark green screen that, when it flashed, showed a virtual, pixelated animal. You were impressed with how good quality it was made, especially since you only gave the Shroud brothers a sketch of a toy that Malleus owned.
Your keychain was exactly the same, just a different color and with another pet.
Malleus pulled out his own device and put it on the table. He pressed one of the buttons and a small pet appeared on the keychain – a dragon.
"They can now be friends," you brought your toy closer to so-called Gao-Gao Dragon-kun.
"Do you think so?" He asked in a very surprised tone, but it sounded as if in a moment he were about to burst out with an inexplicably joyful and surprised laugh.
"Of course. Everyone needs a decent friend, no?”
5. Gain the trust of Lilia, Silver and Sebek.
Lilia, one of Malleus' closest people. It is much more likely that you will meet him before Malleus. He will be very proud when he learns that Malleus has found a friend. If you become a taster of Lilia, in terms of his pastries, he will 100% like you, and at 20% you will leave the kitchen alive and well.
Silver, who has mastered the art of sleeping in any conditions. It's easy to get him into your plans, although with the craziest ones he will hesitate. Rather well-disposed towards everyone, he can cover for you when you are not in class— but he usually inadvertently falls asleep and both of you often have penal assignments after school.
Sebek, faithful to Malleus, if he doesn't like you, you won't have too many opportunities to stay by Malleus's side without a thunderous glances at you. He will recognize you if you will listen carefully to his monologues about his master and as a sign of your friendship, he will teach you by heart of all the titles and achievements of Malleus so far.
With this trio by your side, you can get a lot further than you might have imagined...
6. Be a master in hide and seek.
You’d give your right arm that your breath was too loud.
You pressed your hands to your mouth as you crouched in the corner of the room.
From whose voices you already heard, you knew that Lilia had already found Sebek. This meant that you or Silver would still be helping cook dinner since Malleus didn’t come at the start of the game.
This may seem silly, but the ability to play classic games was one of the elements of the art of survival in Diasomnia.
It was thanks to games like ‘stone-paper-scissors’, hide and seek or tag that household chores fell on the shoulders of the losers. Lilia loved the idea, and there was always a proud smile on his lips when he saw his beloved children play together.
You heard the steps behind you and shivered.
Very slowly you turned around and looked up to see Malleus standing over you and wondering what you were doing, crouching in the darkest corner of the room.
Puns were also included in the survival pack.
Fearing that Lilia would hear your whisper, you put your finger on your mouth, asking him not to say a word. You put a begging eye into it – all but not cooking with Lilia. Not again.
Malleus nodded, recognizing the gravity of the situation, although he smiled.
Really, no one would want Malleus to be an enemy.
Or at least in such a situation.
7. Do not hesitate to ask him for help with learning.
"In theory, you should focus on the space around you," Malleus pulled a wand in front of him. It flashed, and almost at the same time, a thin but incredibly strong protective barrier was created around him. “Weaker spells can be reflected. In turn, the stronger ones are better to block”
You nodded understandingly.
Defensive magic was not something easy to understand. Most depended on the person against whom the counter spell was being prepared. And there are countless people who walk on this Earth and want to start fights.
"Unique spells block or avoid physically," he continued. You nodded at every subsequent sentence, slowly feeling like all the lessons are eventually gaining transparency. “Using unique magic against unique magic, the stronger will win, both will lead to explosions or completely reduce.
He looked at you when you wrote down the last sentence in your notebook.
"I sincerely hope that you will only need this information in class," he said with a sigh. "If you need help, call me. I will come. I promise.”
8. Sometimes be persuaded to wear extravagant clothes.
"Do you really think it suits me?" you turned around, looking at yourself from every possible angle in the mirror.
You were going to the theater in a few classes to see some era-related play that you've been discussing now in history lessons. Everyone, respecting the reputation, actions and achievements of theatre, dressed in their best clothes.
Malleus stood next to you.
He was already wearing a black and white outfit with green accessories. They all worked so well together and fitted him like a glove that you were sure that the whole outfit was made especially for him.
"Yes," he replied. "Everything you put on today suited you very well.”
Once again, with critical eyesight, you looked at the outfit, face and hair, before you quickly turned off the lights in the room and closed the door behind you.
Then you smiled at Malleus.
"We can go now," you said. You made your way through the portal to the main NRC building. "And... thank you for your help.
"My pleasure," he said. Under no circumstances was it just a polite formula. He really loved looking at you.
9. Invite him to your birthday/party.
"Another break from school soon, huh?" — you muttered, leaning against the railing.
You took a deep breath and let the fresh, pleasant air refresh you.
"Are you going to home, [Name]?" Malleus asked. Green lights were still flying around him, so you guessed he’d just appeared here.
"I haven't decided yet," you sighed. "It would be nice to go home, but the break won't be very long... Ah, that's right!” you straightened up and turned to him. "How about spending another break together? As soon as I can, I will contact my family... although I cannot promise anything.”
Though he did not show it, Malleus' heart beat a little faster.
Spend free time? With someone? With someone he likes?
"Of course," he sounded less calm than he thought. He wasn’t often invited anywhere, even for the things he should have been on, so there was a lot of excitement growing in his body. "I don't see anything against it.”
10. From "The Great Malleus Draconia-sama" to "Love".
"Ah, The Great Malleus-sama!" you sighed theatrically, taking from him a box of chocolates with a joyful smile. You could promise that because of this dark-haired boy here, you slowly become pampered. "Thank you for your generosity!”
Malleus frowned.
"The Great Malleus-sama"..?” he pondered, putting his fingers to his chin. "Did Sebek told you again to call me with this title?"
"No," you laughed softly at his reaction. "I did it out of curiosity. Maybe I could call you some cute nickname, hmm?" you smiled mischievously.
"For example?"
"By adding ‘-chan’ to your name?” you turned on your phone and typed something related to the nicknames. You started reading suggestions and struggled to hold back from laughing. ” ’Sunshine’, ‘star’, ‘flower’, ‘sweetheart’, ‘love’...
"I like the last one," he said, and the invisible force stung you to the ground.
"Would you like me to call you like that? Out of curiosity or out of love?" You laughed, but your cheeks were all red with blushes.
He smiled sincerely at your reaction.
"Hmm, I wonder..?"
#i wonder too#malleus draconia#twst malleus draconia#twst malleus#twst x reader#twst imagines#twst malleus x reader#malleus x reader#malleus draconia x reader#diasomnia x reader#twst malleus draconia x reader#twisted wonderland x reader#twisted wonderland#twisted wonderland imagines#anonymous
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Aaaahhhh happy anniversary, Raven!! Can I pls request Sebek proposing to a female s/o who prefers private and heartfelt romantic gestures?? (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵)
Marry me?
Sebek’s usual bombastic way of expressing himself is more of a hinderance than a help. He would gladly give you the world on a silver platter and shout about his love for you from the rooftops... except you’re not into that, so that axes a lot of his plans.
This man mulling over how he can best approach this proposal and have the best of both worlds for weeks. (How can he express the feelings raging in his chest while staying private and romantic?) Sebek seems less alert these days than even Silver, usually staring blankly at his notebook or into the distance, as if seeking answers for his dilemma.
He consults his friends and family for ideas, but the bulk of suggestions end up coming from Lilia, who offers terribly outdated advice that Sebek 120% trusts. Sebek would’ve followed through with plans to bring you to an elephant graveyard in the dead of winter during a blood moon if Silver hadn’t intervened! (“No offense, but... I think it’s best you don’t follow father’s advice. Why don’t you consult some written materials instead?”)
And so, Sebek finds himself in the library looking for textbooks on romance. As he’s running a finger along the shelf, he finds that the librarian has made a mistake: they’ve put a romantic comedy manga in the reference books section!
He thinks to put the manga in its proper location... but his curiosity gets the better of him, so Sebek opens it to have a little peek. He ends up binge reading the book, then looking for the rest of the series (which he finishes all in the span of a single afternoon). By the time Sebek’s done with the series, he’s filled with newfound determination and inspiration to pull off a perfect proposal.
He summons you for “a date with destiny!!” (his exact words, not yours) in a park in the Valley of Thorns. Sebek greets you with a wide grin and a single rose, which he tucks behind your ear. He then takes you by the hand when you arrive and drags you along to his favorite bench in the entire park. It’s sunny and quiet, the perfect spot for reading.
Sebek pulls out... a stack of manga from his backpack. The character on the cover has a rose tucked behind their ear, just like you, and they’re... sparkling a lot. You’re taken aback, since it’s not his usual reading material.
He clears his throat and opens up to... the fifth chapter of the first volume? You start to ask “what happened to chapters 1 through 4″, but Sebek has already started reading. “I like you. Will you go out with me?” then... “You’re the most amazing person I’ve ever met.”
You’re kind of stunned into silence, which gives Sebek a great opportunity to plow ahead through various volumes. His cheeks turn beet red as he recites various lines, all of which he has marked with sticky notes. You realize what he’s doing: he’s telling the story of your romance, from the moment you started dating to now. “Your smile is beautiful.” “When you are happy, I’m happy, too.” “I was able to be strong because of your support.”
Then, at long last... “I don’t just like you, I love you.” Sebek sets the final volume down, and looks you dead in the eyes--his eyes quivering, his hands trembling. Everything he says from here on out isn’t from the manga, it’s from his heart, his soul.
“Human!! We... We have been through many trials and tribulations--and as a result, our fondness for one another has blossomed wonderfully, much like the rose you now wear. Therefore, it... it stands to reason that we should take our relationship to the next level. I-I trust you know of what I speak of. That’s right, I mean to say a ceremony of holy matrimony...!”
Sebek falls to one knee and produces a glittering ring, with clouds of sterling silver and lightning carved from emeralds. His smile is wide and eager, yet also nervous. “I could think of no better person to spend the rest of my life--my story--with! What say you, human? Do you accept my proposal?”
#twst#twst x reader#Sebek Zigvolt#Sebek Zigvolt x Reader#twisted wonderland headcanons#twisted wonderland#disney twisted wonderland#wedding headcanons#Reader#self insert
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Hey i just want to know that if you still make headcanon holy quintet in twst series , if you not is okay ,but if you still make , i have several question ,
What if madoka transform to madokami i want to know boys reaction especially diasmonia boys ?
I want to know what if sayaka got corrupt and the boys reaction(especially adeuce) see witch form sayaka for first time and their think sayaka got overblot but they wrong it worst than that!
I want to know that what boys reaction if they see the witchs and Walpurgisnacht for the first time are they gonna fight or not?
What all boys(especially dorm leaders)reaction homura tell the truth of soul gem and she tell how she looping time to time for 12 years and 100 looping
And btw i am boy its weird boy love twisted wonderland(not really but i love the character design and story(i just hate riddle mom treat him to obey all rules, he need freedom:( ))
Sorry for making many question
Hello! I’m happy that you enjoyed the TWST x PMMM series! Most of my writing projects have taken a back seat due to work and since it’s currently the Ramadan season, I just don’t have a lot of energy to write anymore more than for work. I mean, it took me half a day to answer this ask.
I definitely want to get back to writing for this crossover series and maybe even copied what I’ve written so far into my AO3 for easy reading and navigating but we’ll see. For now, I’m indulging whatever plot bunnies that come my way so I won’t stop writing altogether.
So lay them on me, dude! Expanding the series is always fun. (Also, bear with me. This is gonna be a long post).
@lionheartanotheraccount and I had discussed these actually on Discord! Some were pinned, some were not (I’m an idiot. I should have pinned all of our crossover texts!), so lemme explain what I still remember. Feel free to pinch in if I forgot something incorrectly or left something out, Lion!
1. What if Madoka transforms to MadoKAMI, I want to know boys’ reaction, especially Diasmonia’s boys
After the anime ended, Lion and I talked about how not that she’s a Goddess, she has the ability to visit Twisted Wonderland on her own and she approached Malleus and the rest of the Diasomnia gang in her human disguise so as not to freak them out. Well, Lilia and Malleus could feel the divinity within Madoka and you can expect the immense shock that not only could Madoka travel across worlds, but she’s also no longer human too. It’s a teary reunion and Malleus’ and Lilia’s hearts break when MadoKAMI explain everything. They comforted her to their best ability but ultimately, it’s been done. There’s nothing else they could do for her. It’s bittersweet for Lilia. Why, a human child ascended into a Goddess so she could save the fates of her friends and every Magical Girls in the past, present and future - she grew up out of necessity and love. Both Lilia and Malleus is proud to be her friend.
2. I want to know what if Sayaka got corrupt and the boys’ reaction(especially Adeuce) see Witch form Sayaka for the first time and they think Sayaka got Overblot but they wrong it worst than that!
The existence of a Witch’s Labyrinth is enough to make the boys instantly wary and a bit frighten (not that any of them would admit it). Bad times for everyone. The boys so confused, wanting to help Sayaka. The girls are horrified at the truth of Witches and Magical Girls and Homura is rushing in to kill Sayaka. Chaos everywhere with Octavie shrieking and trying to kill them all, Symposium Magarum blaring in the background and the Witch’s familiars flying everywhere to make sure their Witch could enjoy the music.
No one could fight Octavia so they had to retreat. Homura causing enough distraction for them to escape. By the time they went out of the Labyrinth, shouting and screams begin.
Adeuce would the most horrified, Madoka of course, heartbroken. Mami is losing it (to which Homura’s getting trigger happy and refused to look away from her. She’s ready to put Mami out of her misery the moment Mami so much as flinch) and Sayaka is both furious and still in shock. At this point, Homura has no choice but to reveal the fact she knows the truth about Magical Girls in order to explain that no, they don’t Overblot. They... mature into Witches when their Soul Gems turn pitch black. Here’s a little gem(lol) from explorerofsy on Discord:
vil internally: mami is a gem
vil later when he finds out about soul gems:
when i said that mami is a gem, i did not expect that to be literal
It’s sad but it made me laugh sick.
3. I want to know that what boys’ reaction if they see the Witches and Walpurgisnacht for the first time. Are they gonna fight or not?
The moment Homura explains that turning to Witches is irreversible and is the ultimate fate of all Magical Girls, some would deny it. Their magic is different from the girls, maybe they have a way to stop the transformation here in Twisted Wonderland. The academically-inclined students (Malleus, Riddle, Jamil, Vil and even Idia) would delve into hours of research, only to find nothing (I mean, Kyubey is akin to an Eldritch being, something beyond their comprehension so how on Twisted Wonderland would they push their magic against his strange abilities?). The other students are keeping a very close eye on the girls’ Soul Gems. I mentioned in a long-ago post that even Lilia would demand Madoka present her Soul Gem to him for inspection once every week since Madoka is still distraught over what happened to Sayaka.
Will the boys fight the Witches? Well, in terms of Octavia, the Heartslabyul boys will struggle to kill her, even after Homura explains that the Witch is no longer Sayaka and it’s better to put her out of her despair and give her Grief Seed to Madoka (though Madoka would let Adeuce keep Octavia’s Grief Seed; it’s the only thing the boys have left of Sayaka after all. Madoka at least have years worth of memories of them together).
In terms of Walpurgisnacht, Homura would debrief the girls and boys the strongest Witch to ever exist (Keeping Kriemhild Gretchen to herself. For now. She really, really doesn’t want to open that horrible can of worms) and showed them just how powerful and destructive she can be using her magic. Malleus would be intrigued in fighting her though.
4. What would the boys’ (especially dorm leaders) reaction be when Homura tell the truth of Soul Gems and she tells how she looping time to time for 12 years and 100 looping
Characters like Leona, Lilia and Malleus would be shocked stupid. Time magic is already an insanely OP power and Homura, a human child, been abusing and looping time just to find a way to kill Walpurgisnacht? Leona will straight up spit out that Homura’s insane and Lilia will silently agree with him, wondering if Homura has gone mad. Malleus couldn’t help but applaud Homura’s will and her careful planning in making sure her Soul Gem remains pure. Kalim will cry for her; he couldn’t imagine what sort of pain Homura purposely gone through just to save her friends (cue Homura’s awkwardly patting him on the back, telling him not to cry because she made her choices)
5. And btw i am boy its weird boy love twisted wonderland(not really but i love the character design and story(i just hate riddle mom treat him to obey all rules, he need freedom:( ))
It’s cool! Twisted Wonderland and its fandom are some of the very few fandoms I really enjoy. But then again, I tend to keep to myself and some close friends so I don’t really see the dramas. And you’re right, the story and characters’ design are what hooked me in. I was introduced to Twisted Wonderland when I saw a fanart of a little Azul holding hands with Floyd and Jade, looking disgruntled at being treated like a kid while the Tweels just smirk. That’s why Azul and the Tweels will always be my favourite in the fandom!
Yeah... when you think about it, most of the characters have unhealthy relationships with their family. Riddle with his Mum, Leona with his status and brother, Azul with his childhood bullying, and while we don’t know what exactly happen with King and Queen Draconia, Malleus probably knew them for only a short time (hell, they could even pass away before he was hatched).
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The vines that bind us - Chapter 2
Chapter 1 || Next
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Until a trip to Gotham came knocking on the front doors
“I can’t believe Lie-la of all people managed to somehow get us the trip to Gotham!” Mari moaned with a mixed expression on her face.
Adrien, who was walking next to them, showed absolute disgust. “Technically, It was my father and I that did the heavy lifting. She really wanted to go to the Wayne Gala and…”
“What Lie-la wants, Lie-la gets.” The three finished in unison before laughing a bit.
“Don’t worry Mari-bear. I can promise you that this no good liar won’t get to ruin your return home.” Chloe pulled her best friend closer. Best friend. Much better than a servant. Who would’ve thought? “And we can even try to find your mom on free Saturday.”
“Yeah…” The girl with black-blue hair didn’t seem particularly cheerful at that.
“Now I refuse to have you making sad faces throughout the whole flight. You cheer up right this moment and that’s an order!” The blonde commanded.
“Yes, Maman-bear.” Mari giggled.
The three of them finally arrived at the rest of the class, who were already gathered around madame Bustier. Of course, Lila was bragging about a million different things, but the three paid her no mind. Adrien did his best to hide behind the girls, cherishing the last moments of freedom. Finally, Mari and Chloe had to step forward for their tickets. The blonde got hers without any problem, but for Mari there turned out to be none.
“I’m so so sorry Marinette!” Lila said with fake regret. “I must have accidentally miscounted the number of students… It must’ve been when I was helping those poor orphans. You know, at…”
“Sure…” Mari didn’t even try to act as if she believed her for a moment. When Lila scowled, realizing that it didn’t affect the girl, she smiled. “I guess Chlo, Adrien and I will have to go with the contingency plan number 1.”
“What?!” The sausage-hair shouted.
“Of course my Daddy would not send us to travel like peasants. We have tickets for the first class.” Chloe supplied, looking smugly. “We did plan to maybe sit with the rest of the class. What a shame…”
“Yeah, My dad also didn’t want me to travel anything less, but I convinced him to let me stay with my friends. Guess he will get what he wanted in the end.” For his part, Adrien at least tried to look apologetic. He didn’t try hard at all, but it’s the thought that counts, right?
“But… But…” Lila tried to come up with something, likely a lie, to counter it. She didn’t have time as the trio handed their teacher the filled forms from their parents/guardians/Nathalie and proceeded to the plane. The tickets were personal, so she couldn’t do anything. The Italian girl came up with a lie to tell to the class, but it would do no good until they landed.
--------
“Did you see her face?” Plagg was rolling in the air while holding a giant roll of camembert.
“You were amazing my queen.” Pollen complimented.
“I still can’t believe your dad just… bought out the whole first class!” Marinette sighed.
“Phi! Daddy always gives me only the best. You should know it by now, Mari-bear.”
“Okay. Mari. You are the Gotham expert here. Any advice?” Adrien asked a bit more seriously.
“Gotham survival guide is probably unlike any other city.” She started. “The first rule is, believe it or not, run away if a person laughs too much or smiles too widely. The downside of living in the same city as the Joker is that most people don’t laugh in public. Secondly, never show that you are lost. Wherever you are, it’s exactly where you wanted to be. Finally, the third is to never flaunt your wealth.” She looked critically at Chloe before taking away her purse and lipstick in a golden case. “This,” She then pulled a mobile phone in a ridiculously sparkly case and popped it out of the cover, “this,” finally, she detached the golden chain on which the purse was supposed to be suspended and replaced it with a pre-prepared white one with copper clips, “and this must all go away.”
“Ridiculous! Utterly Ridiculous! Now it will totally clash with my comb!” Chloe complained.
“Oh no! How will you ever survive that?” Mari deadpanned. All three of them had another burst of laughter. After they calmed, Adrien started.
“Do you think it’s wrong that I want to bet which rule will Lila break first?”
“Ten macaroons she will say out-loud about money.” Mari threw.
“I raise, four tea parties she will start by asking for direction.” Chloe had a grin on her face
“Are you sure?” Adrien asked. When the blonde nodded, he shrugged. “Movie night and double popcorn bowl refill that she will do both in one conversation.”
“Hi, could you be so kind to point me to my exclusive hotel? You know, I’m staying at the penthouse of this luxurious new one.” Mari gave a quite good parody of Lilia.
“So to sum up, the pool is now ten Macaroons, Four Tea parties, and movie night with triple popcorn?” Chloe asked. When they nodded, she quickly noted it on her phone.
“Now, who wants a movie? I think they have the newest Thomas Astruck one.” Adrien pulled a disc from the container next to his seat.
“Good for me!/Go!” The girls said. Chloe, who was in the middle loaded it and the other two leaned onto her to watch together. The three were happy. Faintly in the background, there was knocking on the doors to their part, but nobody paid attention to very angry Liela and some classmates. For some reason, the doors were stuck and the blinder rolled down. Later if someone asked, Pollen would deny everything.
------------
When the plane landed, the class was practically kicked out. The team walked calmly down the stairs, all of them having smug expressions. Lila wanted to comment, but a glare from Mme. Bustier shut her up quickly. Mari and co. would later try to guess, what got the crew so pissed at their classmates.
Once everyone was accounted for, the class made its way to the customs to retrieve their luggage. There was a small problem with Mari’s travel bag as it was apparently misplaced to the flight to Timbuktu, but luckily her true suitcase, which had her things inside, arrived safely. She giggled at the thought of custom office in Timbuktu receiving a bag full of Adrien’s old socks that smelled camembert.
Overall, the airport went mostly unproblematic. At least until they found themselves cleared and gathered in one place while Mme Bustier left to check on their bus. One of the men, wearing a dark blue suit started to laugh almost maniacally. Everybody immediately cleared away from him, out of sheer self-preservation. Lila must’ve decided that a show of kindness was a good way to regain class’ good grace. She was confidently approaching the man before suddenly Mari grabbed her and pulled her away. The designer might’ve despised the liar, but Joker… you don’t mess with Joker.
Of course, Lila used the chance. She faked falling on the ground and started crying crocodile tears. “Marinette?! How can you be so heartless? I wanted *sniff* to check on the man and you trip me?” Lila sniffled, eyes watering with crocodile tears.
“I might have saved your life genius!” Mari snapped. Joker was a really touchy subject with her. “Does the world Killer Clown mean something?”
“Don’t invent things, you bully!” Alya shouted. That seemed to break the dam and at once the class started to say awful things to Mari. A year ago, it would hurt her. Half a year ago, she would be sad. Now? Now she pitied them. Chloe didn’t, and she was ready to jump to protect her best friend.
“Ridiculous! Do you like… share a single brain cell? What if that man was…” she didn’t get to finish because Mme. Bustier returned. The commotion immediately calmed. By now the man stopped laughing and returned to talking with his friends.
“The bus is waiting. Come on children. Follow me.”
----------------
Arriving at the hotel, the class was split into different rooms. Of course, Lila tried to lie her way into some privilege, but Mari was too dead inside to care. The Jet Lag was killing her. At least she got some sleep on the plane. From the rumors she heard from the class, they didn’t because of Lila’s drama with the staff.
“Now I want you all to be ready here at eight a.m. sharp. A Wayne Enterprises representative will come here to explain the details of internships.” Mme. Bustier instructed them. This, for some reason, caused outrage in students.
“What do you mean internships?!”
“Wayne Enterprises?”
“Shouldn’t we be preparing to go to Gotham Academy or something?”
The terrible trio in the back had trouble holding back laugher. Adrien warned the girls about what his father planned, so they could all prepare. Gabriel Agreste, devious as he is, decided to punish Lila and teach Adrien something about running a company at the same time and using his connections to put the class up for an internship at WE. He did send the liar all the details, but she must have skimmed over the corporate jargon because the class was fed overexaggerated stories about what they would and wouldn’t do during two months trip.
Most parents were more than happy to send their children away from Paris for two months, especially since the Internship was free and the employment rate after it was quite high. WE kept quite a lot of the interns, if only out of habit. But perhaps it was mostly because the class has become a go-to place for the Akuma. Only Mr. Pidgeon and perhaps Gigantitan were akumatized more often. Mari actually picked up to cleansing their class weekly through a ritual she learned, otherwise there would be enough residual dark energy to power a demon portal. Not something one would want in the middle of a classroom.
“I was told you’ve all read the brochure provided and Lila summarised it for you.”
“I did!” The sausage hair defended. “Marinette must have told them some imaginary story about the trip!”
Immediately, several other people started to nod and confirm this. Chloe actually started to walk toward the liar almost red, but Mari grabbed the back of her blazer and held her in place. All the while she had a completely deadpan expression like it was normal for her (it was).
Mme. Bustier sighed. “Well, In that case, I will…”
“Excuse me, but shouldn’t we be going to sleep today already? We don’t want to be late tomorrow.” Adrien asked with an innocent expression, but there was some satisfaction hidden there too.
“Well… um… I…”
“We will be going then.” Chloe grabbed the key and led Mari to their room. Calline didn’t even question it. She wanted a pay raise after this.
-----------
The next morning, Mari was woken by a frantic Chloe
“Mari-bear! It’s already late! You don’t want to be late for your first day of Internship girl! It would be utterly Ridiculous!”
At first, the girl mumbled something, but once she finally processed everything she leaped out of her bed and started getting ready in record time. She was brushing her teeth, packing her purse, and tossing clothes at her best friend all at once. Once she had everything, she turned to see Chloe on the ground tied with a gray blazer. Mari just burst out laughing.
“How…”
“Ridiculous!” Chloe shook her head. “I demand you untie me this instant! We don’t have time for this!”
Once they dressed and did their hair, both girls were ready. Chloe now had a black button-down shirt, deep red blazer, and a matching pencil skirt. Mari also made her wear smart black stilettos (instead of her usual that were slightly more extravagant). The look was completed by a tablet in leather flip-over cover. Mari had a similar outfit, except her shirt was white and the suit was in dark blue. She opted for flat shoes to spare the embarrassment that was Marigold on heels.
“Ready to rock Gotham City?”
“Like you have to ask.” Mari smiled. There was something about the city of crime that made her feel safe and open up more. Maybe being on home turf gave her the much-needed confidence boost.
When Chloe tried to open the doors, she found them stuck. She was about to go on a rant about poor quality when Mari casually grabbed the doorknob and twisted it. There was a faint creaking sound as the mechanism gave.
“Um…”
“It must’ve been old,” Chloe said with a devious grin. “Nothing happened. Don’t you worry! I will deal with it.”
---------------
When the doors to the elevator opened and two girls strode into the lobby, their class was already pushing toward the exit. Adrien looked very much uncomfortable with Lila hanging off his arm, literally sinking her claws into him. He mouthed them a muted ‘later’. Alya stared at the girls with loathing.
“Ah, you are here.” Mme. Bustier spoke. “Lila said…”
“Whatever.” Chloe dismissed their teacher. “Aren’t we in rush?” The blonde practically seethed the last word.
“Yes, good to see that someone is responsible.” The teacher gave Mari a pointed look. Apparently, she still didn’t get over the fact that she resigned from the class rep position.
“But…”
“Drop it. She is not worth it.” Chloe whispered. “Daddy will take care of that once we are done.”
Mari just nodded. She knew Chloe was preparing a lawsuit against the school, but their hands were tied until they graduated or Damocles could try and undermine it. Both girls knew that no adult would help them with the lawsuit beyond Chloe’s father signing whatever dotted line she asked him to. That man was more whipped than a fresh can of whipped cream.
The ride to the WE was short and uneventful. Girls took up to gossiping in English, effectively limiting any eavesdropping. Mari spent most of the time tearing down the outfits of all the villains. She started with Riddler, more as a joke than actual rant, but then she somehow got onto this new guy Anarky. From there, she just kept on, smoothly sailing from one to the next. Even her mom got some shots. Mari still couldn’t stand how skimpy it was. Her rant carried over when they exited the bus and entered the WE. Security led them to a conference room, where they were told to take seats.
Mari guessed that it wouldn’t be Lila if she didn’t immediately start sputtering lies about how well she knew the building already because of her Damiboo giving her private tours (All while clutching Adrien like a leech). She didn’t have enough ducks left to give to try to expose Lila about several facts. Such as that Damian Wayne definitely wasn’t living with Bruce when he was five. Any Gothamite could tell her that. Bored, she returned to her rant.
She was nearing the end of the list and was very much engaged in complimenting Harley Queen for her recent change in wardrobe. She still considered it a disaster, but at least it was somehow human.
“Ekhm…” A voice broke her out of the rant. “Good morning. My name is Richard Grayson. You are the french class chosen for the internship program, correct?” When people nodded, he continued. Idly, Mari noted that Alya and Lila stiffened and suddenly stopped talking at all. “We reviewed the individual profiles and appointed each of you a mentor that will help you settle into your roles. As I read the names, please come forward so I can update your badges. Do carry them on your person all the time or we will have to take you to our human cloning facility.”
People stared at him.
“Okaaay… That’s that about jokes…” He sighed. “The rules will be explained by individual departments. Now, who’s up for a tour?”
People started to cheer at that and Dick smiled. Maybe it wouldn’t be that bad?
-----------------
It was that bad. Even worse. He knew from the background check that the class was both insanely talented… and borderline criminal. It was like someone de-aged the Rogues and put them in one class. The report called them Akuma class, which (if google is to be believed) meant demons. He questioned how they got accepted into the internship.
They only toured two floors when Dick wanted to tear half of them to shreds. He noted immediately that they were bullying the girl with black (slightly blue? Maybe it was dyed?) hair. What surprised him was that the teacher didn’t react. If he was to be honest, the girl and her friend slightly irritated him too. They kept talking and seemed to ignore him. It was not because they kept tearing down each and every bats’ fashion choices. Definitely not that. When they brought up Discowing he had enough.
“Ekhm. Excuse me, girls,” he stared at them. Both immediately stopped talking and looked at him. “Could you pay attention? I wouldn’t want any of you to waste your internship lost on our maze-testing floor.”
“There is no maze-testing floor in this building.” The blonde pointed out.
“And besides, we memorized all you’ve said.”
“Care to recall?” He heard several people groan at his pun.
“The first floor is most representative, where guests are welcome and low-level meetings happen. There is a separate kitchen for employers there that is always fresh on fruits. Don’t use the coffee machine there as it was only patched up and there is a high chance it will set itself on fire again. The…”
“Fine. You’re good. Still, I don’t appreciate the chatter.”
“They are always trouble!” A girl in bright pink colors shouted.
“Yeah! Why do you have to ruin this trip for Lila!?”
“You’re just jealous of her boyfriend!”
More voices like this came from the crowd of kids. Dick started to feel bad that he singled the girls out. It definitely gave the class a reason to gang up on them. And the teacher still did nothing! He sighed. What did HR think when they accepted them. He would have to look into it later.
--------------
Mari decided that she didn’t like Dick. Everyone in their class kept talking, but for some reason, he singled them out. For the rest of the trip, she made sure to pay as much attention as she could. There was this silent determination on her face. Chloe wisely also kept silent.
After the trip class was led back to the conference room where another employer handed out the identificators and folders containing their assignments.
“Keep the IDs on you at all times. As opposed to the ones you received, this won’t expire and are synched with your jobs, so you will have access to anything you might need. They are also mandatory to receive lunch in our canteen. When you get acquainted with your tasks, you can go to the level specified at the end of sheet one. Your mentor will meet you there.” With that, he left. Dick really needed to do some in-depth research on this class. Something kept icking his detective sense.
“Well, I’m going to the law department. Apparently whoever made the assignments knew my well.” Chloe bragged to her friend after opening the folder.
Timidly, Mari also opened her folder. She skimmed over what was inside and groaned. “Apparently, I’m interning as personal assistant to one Tim Drake.”
“They actually assigned you to the sleep-deprived coffee addict?” Chloe asked in disbelief.
“You know him?” She asked in surprise
“He and his brother ruined my daddy’s parties two years ago. They got into an argument that ended up with them wrestling over a cake. It took me weeks to get the cake out of my hair! Weeks!” The blonde summarized.
“oh…” Mari tried to hold back the giggles.
“Don’t laugh! It’s a serious matter! Do you have any idea how much work it takes to have such a perfect hair?!”
“Of course… cakehead.” The girl couldn’t stop herself.
“Ugh, you… you… plant leg.” Chloe said.
“Really?” Mari raised an eyebrow. “That’s the best you can come with?”
“Well, I usually have better things to do than thinking about good insults.” Still, Chloe hugged her best friend. “Be careful. I wouldn’t put it past The Liar to try and sabotage you somehow.”
“I’ll be careful. Wish me luck.”
-----
The elevator took Mari all the way to the highest floor. When the doors opened, she stepped int a large room with one desk. As soon as the doors closed, the woman who was standing there rushed toward her. The girl tensed for a moment but she reminded herself that there is no real threat.
“Oh finally! I was asking them to hire someone else for months!” She had a messed bun of red hair on her head and looked like she didn’t sleep in a week.
“But… I’m just an intern madame!” Mari tried to explain.
“An intern?” The woman paused her packing and stared at the girl with wide eyes.
“Um… Madame Sarah Jackson?”
“Yes. An intern…” She said in a disappointed voice to herself. “Ah! That’s no problem at all!” She started to tap on her Waynetech Tablet and after a moment she smiled. “There! You’re hired!”
“Wha…?!” Mari shouted, but was interrupted when Sarah pushed the tablet into her hand, followed by a large box full of documents and a small mug with a coffee bean pointing a gun at the reader and words ‘Your Coffee or your life!’.
“They are your problem now! Everything you need is in the box. I left detail about ongoing stuff and whatever you might need. Don’t call. I’m outta here!” She shouted before grabbing her personal belonging and leaping into the elevator.
“But…! But…!?” Mari shouted after the closing doors. She could hear a cheerful shout as the elevator left the level.
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Ooh! If asks are open, can I ask you for a mermaid reader x dorm leaders+ octanivelle? Like, its canon that the mc is from another world, so what if she is a mermaid from a world where magic barely exists? Like, she can freely turn human at will but that's about it. Assuming that everyone has a crush on her, but hasn't confessed, how would they react to the reveal?
hello hello ! asks are usually open since i don’t have request limits and i write down all the ones i wanna do in my notebooks (or save them as drafts)ヾ(＠^∇^＠)ノ i get this strange sense of happiness when writing them all down with their categories and specific highlights. i hope you enjoy ! unrelated but someone said that lilia was like rei sakuma and hshshsh ive pulled out all my undead albums and started jamming to all the songs again,, call name, call name, we are undead!
📝to note: (1) i couldn’t write anything about vil ˚‧º·(˚ ˃̣̣̥⌓˂̣̣̥ )‧º·˚ (2) length (and possibly comprehensibility) varies because i ran out of coffee at home and was half-asleep for most of these.
riddle rosehearts
Riddle had been reluctant to even participate in today’s swimming lesson but begrudgingly put on his attire and stood at the edge of the pool, glaring at the water as if it were an old enemy. It wasn’t a total loss, you were there-- nervously fidgeting beside him. He’s been crushing on you hard, to the point that his ears turn red and his stomach flutters with butterflies just with your presence.
From the corner of his eyes, he could see you anxiously eyeing the pool. “Are you feeling alright?” he asks you, voice laced with worry. Your reply came out garbled, like you were trying to say something but somehow forgotten how to speak. He leaves you alone then but would occasionally glance at you, concerned.
When it was time for you to showcase your swimming capabilities, all the worry Riddle had for you simply washed away the instant your legs transformed into a mermaid’s tail fin.
He tries to be nonchalant about it but couldn’t help gawking at you as you did your laps. When you finish and settle to prop yourself up on the edge of the pool in front of him, you catch him staring at you. “It’s strange, isn’t it,” you say, sheepishly smiling to yourself as you collect your wet hair into your hands then wring all the water out of the strands.
“N-No!” he shakes his head with raised hands. “You don’t look strange at all, if anything you’re probably the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen-!” he blurts out, before bringing his hands up to silence his traitorous mouth. You stare at him with wide eyes. “O-Oh, I-,” you fumbled for words as your cheeks tinge red like blooming roses. “I see.”
After that, a silence settles itself in the air, rendering the two of you into amiable discomfiture.
“Rosehearts, it’s your turn!”
Ashton’s booming voice makes you both jolt, ruining the moment. Reluctantly, he smiles at you and heads off.
leona kingscholar
You always had a weird fishy smell to you.
At first, he thought nothing of this and continued to hang around you from time to time. “You know what her scent reminds me of?” Ruggie had told him once while handing him a sandwich from the cafeteria. “She kind of smells like the Leech brothers.”
“What do you mean?”
Ruggie scratches the back of his head. “They’ve got that sea smell to them, you know? Like how most merfolk do.”
Since that day, he’s been trying to find out why you smelled that way. You were magicless so he wasn’t about to jump into conclusions but after doing a little digging and investigating on it for weeks, all evidence pointed to one thing. He didn’t want to pry anything out of you so he kept his mouth shut until the day you revealed it to him.
It was during PE class. You had told Leona that you wanted to tell him something before going over to the school’s swimming pool. He had played it cool and quietly waited on you to say what you wanted to tell him.
“Leona, I’m actually a mermaid,” you say with downcast eyes while twiddling your thumbs.
“Yeah, I know.”
“I know it’s hard to believe but— wait what? You know? How?”
The surprised look on your face makes him chuckle. He gives you a moment to take it all in before going into full detail on how he found out; “You honestly reek of fish.”
azul ashengrotto
Azul thought he knew everything that there is to you. From your hobbies to your favourite music genre to your secret comfort place inside Night Raven College. You happily indulged all of his impudent questions. Yes, you preferred ice cream over cake. Yes, you were losing sleep because of Grim’s snoring. No, you don’t hate him and never thought any less of him after his overblot episode.
He liked your transparency-- admired it even. Around you, he felt like he was underwater but instead of having the constant sense of dread, he was at ease in the waters of your presence. There was never any need to worry over being judged.
Now when you had asked him to show you around his hometown and he had told you to wear something casual, he hadn’t exactly expected you to show up as a mermaid. You were so stunning that he lost his composure just from the sight of you.
“Did you-,” he clears his voice, “Did you drink a potion?”
Laughing, you reply, “No, this is what I really am.”
What you really were. Azul shamelessly examined you for a while as he took you to see boutiques and cafes, envious of your tail’s pale rounded scales and stylish web-like dorsal fins but all the while swooning over how breathtakingly beautiful you looked. When you had asked him if he was comfortable enough to change forms, he lets out a nervous laugh then hides his flustered face.
“I’d rather not embarrass you.”
floyd leech
Floyd had always found you interesting, it’s why he liked to keep close to you.
Whenever you were around, his heart would thump so fast in his chest that he’d grin and run up to you. “Little shrimp~!” was his usual greeting, his voice jingly as he takes you into his arms. He’d never tell you but he liked having you in his arms, as much as it terrified you to even be enveloped in them.
“That’s what you do when you hunt down people!” you complained, “I’m never sure if you’d just like to greet me or if I’ve done something wrong every time I see you.”
“Ah~ That’s the fun in it though!” he said, flashing his sharp teeth at you.
When you transformed in front of him, his eyes widened in delighted surprise. He takes your mermaid form in, ooh-ing and aah-ing at “-how pretty you looked!” before taking you around Octavinelle’s waters and making you participate in make-up competitions just so that he could get to see how fast you swam or strong you were.
jade leech
Jade always had his suspicions.
He wasn’t sure when it started but subconsciously he kept note of the things you did and said before coming into the realization that you have become someone very dear to him. You always spoke about the sea with a fondness that made it seem as if it were your home and frequently asked him to tag along with you to swim around and explore his dorm despite having already done so before. When you had asked him to wait then transformed in front of him before taking him out around Octavinelle, he couldn’t help but feel comforted at the fact that you trusted him enough to reveal this long held secret.
“You’re not mad?” you asked him, shyly peering at him from behind a bed of seaweed. He gives you his signature Jade Leech smile, one that made it seem like he was laughing at your very notion and finding you amusingly silly.
“No, not all,” he says, his eyes crinkling, “in fact, I feel very honored that you’ve told me.”
kalim al-asim
Kalim grew up in the land of Hot Sands where, instead of water, the waves were made of gold shimmering grains and that “swimming” in it would leave you parched and drenched in sweat (he would know, he learned that the hard way!). Now swimming always brought a smile to his face. Partying in pools and sharing laughs with your friends, those were certainly fun!
Though today’s visit to the pool was more of an academic requirement than a time for leisure, Kalim still beamed brighter than any star because he was taking his PE swimming class with the light of his heart: you!
Like a toddler, he swung his feet over the edge of the pool and dipped them into the water beside you. “Aaahhh~ Today’s going to be a really great day!” he twitters on, making you chuckle at his childlike enthusiasm. “Really? Why’s that?” you ask him, sinking your own two legs into the pool and looking at him intently. Kalim, suddenly growing self conscious because of your gaze, looks away and rubs the back of his neck. “Well-” he starts, letting his confidence ease back into him as he meets your eyes, “because I’ll be swimming with you!”
You blink at his words. For a second, you stare at him in surprise but his smile gets to you and makes you laugh. “Yeah, it does feel kinda great.”
When Ashton calls you up to the platform, Kalim positions himself at the other end of the pool and cheers you on. “Go Y/N! Go~!”
Ashton’s whistle blows a second later, making you jump. Kalim eyes widen as he watches you transform mid-air before plunging into the pool. When you surfaced, his heart was sent into a frenzy. Your hair and scales twinkled and your eyes, bright and demure-- you looked like a goddess, emerging from the sea to claim his soul.
The second you change back and dried off, he pops up beside you with gleaming eyes and bombards you with countless praises and questions: “You looked so cool!” “Can you control your shift?” “Your scales were such a pretty bright colour!” “Do you think we can go to sea adventures together?”
idia shroud
Idia didn’t really want to be here.
The only reason he was was because his brother insisted on it and managed to drag him to class before he could properly lock the door. If he knew that PE today was going to be a swimming class, he would’ve persisted to not come at all.
“Ah, this sucks,”Idia mutters under his breath as thoughts of what could have happened if he weren’t here swarmed his mind, feeding into his growing bitterness. Clicking his tongue, he folds his legs into his chest and frowns into his knees then stares at the clear shimmering surface of the pool water.
“What sucks?”
Idia jolts at the sound of your voice in his ear. He moves his head a fraction to the right and somehow almost kisses you with how close your face was to his. Instead your noses touch, surprising you both. “Y-Y-N?” your name sputters out of his lips as his face flushes at the sight of your smile. He squirms to get away from you but only manages to get a few breaths in before slipping.
As he lays on the ground, feeling completely defeated, he brings a forearm over to cover his eyes from the sun’s mocking glare. Ah, the gods are so cruel.
“Idia, are you okay?”
“Aghhhhhhhhhh...”
You helped him up and, though he kept his head low while quietly cursing the gods, he seemed okay. Idia knew you wanted to stay with him out of kindness but when Ashton signaled your group to the platforms, you gave him a small smile and reluctantly headed over to the other end of the pool.
Without you near him anymore, Idia found the strength to breathe again. Quietly, he makes his way over to a secluded corner to rest while keeping his eyes trained on you in the distance. He watches as your complexion changes and thin colourful appendages grow out of your arms and intertwined legs. Along with the heated gaze of the sun, all the shimmering lights that bounced off your scales and illuminated the tiles into a frenzy of dancing colours dizzied him to the point of passing out. As he slips into the depths of his consciousness, a thought echoes in his mind that was far too overwhelming for him to even continue to think about.
My crush is a mermaid.
malleus draconia
You and “Tsuno tarou” were running away from a couple of students that he claims to be after him and somehow managed to to end up hiding behind a rock formation in the outskirts of the Octavinelle dorm. He had used some kind of magic of the two of you to prevent drowning and getting wet and though you were impressed by his incredible magic capabilities, you had no time to express your amazement as he quietly drags you away to hide.
“Why on earth are they after you anyways?” you asked Tsuno tarou, who shrugs from behind you. “They like to keep me under close surveillance.” he replies curtly before peering over your shoulder to watch your two chasers bicker and look around the area. You puckered out your lips at his complete lack of explanation, turning to face him with folded arms, “What do you mean by that? Just-,”
“There! I see someone!” one of them exclaims from behind you, causing you to turn back around and catch a pair of blue eyes staring right at you.
You internally groan as the two of them start swimming towards your hiding place. “Well, I suppose there’s no way out of this. It’s a shame that I’ll have to stop seeing you every night,” Tsuno tarou says from behind you, disappointed. Huffing at his gutted attitude, you face him and take hold of his forearm.
“You and I both know that it’d just be the gargoyles you’d miss because you think that the moonlight ‘encapsulates their pulchritude’,” you tell him before taking in a deep breath and closing off all of your thoughts. “You better start talking about all this later, Tsuno tarou.”
He gives you a confused look then opens his mouth as if to tell you something but you look away and concentrate on transforming. When bands of scales erupted to replace the soft surface of your skin and your legs coiled into each other, you pulled on his weight and began swimming away as fast as you could.
To Malleus, you looked mystical. He didn’t know that you were a mermaid but wasn’t all too shocked to see you transform and gracefully dart across the ocean floor with him in tow. “I meant what I said about missing you Y/N,” he says, catching your attention. You let yourself look back at him for a brief moment before averting your gaze from the intensity of his stare; he told you the truth. Your cheeks grow warm despite the coolness of the water.
“Oh…”
#twisted wonderland#disney twisted wonderland#twst#riddle rosehearts#leona kingscholar#azul ashengrotto#kalim al asim#vil schoenheit#idia shroud#malleus draconia#dorm leaders#headcanons#soriwrites#im so sleepy#no more coffee at home#octavinelle#savanaclaw#heartslabyul#pomefiore#ignihyde#diasomnia#scarabia
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Saved by the Bell: Chapter 6
Fandom: The Witcher
Pairing: Geraskier, Geralt x Jaskier
Rating: G
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5
~~~
Jaskier seemed more focused after he had eaten a few of the apple slices. Geralt found it cute how Jaskier stuck out his tongue when he was concentrating. Jaskier caught Geralt staring at him and winked, “You almost got your three done?”
Geralt averted his gaze and nodded, “Uh yes.” He had been done with the worksheet for a while.
“Great, me too!” Jaskier quickly filled out another question. “Done!” He jumped off the bed and skipped to his bedroom door, “Wanna do some cartwheels outside?”
Geralt nodded as he followed him outside. He watched as Jaskier bent forward, standing on his hands. His legs wobbled a bit as he walked around in the grass. Jaskier beamed, his face turning a bit red from the blood rushing to it, “What’s wrong? Aren’t you going to join?”
“I don’t… know how to cartwheel, or do a handstand,” Geralt mumbled.
“Oh!” Jaskier flipped back to his feet. “I can show you if you want.” Some of his hair was still stuck up in places. He pulled his shirt back down over his stomach.
“Okay…”
Jaskier held up his hands as he stood in front of Geralt, “First thing, put up your hands, and make a pose.” He stuck his right leg out and cocked his hip. He glanced over his shoulder, “The pose is important for confidence. You try.”
Geralt felt silly, but he listened anyway, putting his hands up, and attempting to mimic Jaskier’s pose. Jaskier watched him, hands on his hips, “Good, but the pose should be something you are comfortable with. You look scared.”
Geralt blushed, “I feel nervous.”
Jaskier placed his hand on his shoulders, “Don’t be. Here. Loosen up, like this.” He jumped slightly while shaking his arms and legs, rolling his neck.
Geralt exhaled while following Jaskier’s lead. He did feel a bit better. “I think I’m ready now…” He held up his hands and struck a pose. He looked more like a giant ‘X’ but it was a pose he was comfortable with. “What now?”
“Now you cartwheel!” Jaskier stood in front of Geralt again. He got into stance then rotated his body into a cartwheel. He made it look so easy. Jaskier twirled around to face him. “Ta-dah! Easy!”
Geralt frowned in concentration. He twisted to the side, but fumbled, only completing half of the cartwheel. He grunted as he tried to right himself.
Jaskier clapped in excitement, “That was a great first try! If you want to try again, I could spot you.”
“Spot me?” Geralt moved his long hair out of his face.
“Yeah, I can hold your legs, or stand by for support so you don’t fall.”
Geralt’s face grew warm at the thought of Jaskier holding onto his ankles. “Um, okay.” He moved into position again, with Jaskier facing him.
Jaskier winked, “Ready?” Geralt nodded and performed the cartwheel again. Jaskier steadied his legs and helped lead him through the cartwheel. He cheered when Geralt successfully completed it. “That was awesome! You did great.”
Geralt chuckled and shook his head, “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Jaskier grinned, slinging his arm around Geralt, “That doesn’t take away your accomplishment. Sometimes people need help. Nothing wrong with that.”
“Julian, your break time is up. Time to get back to your homework,” Jaskier’s dad called from a window.
“Dad!” Jaskier whined, “I told you to call me Jaskier.”
“Sorry, I slipped. I’ll be more careful. Come inside. I made some lemonade.”
“Lemonade!” Jaskier cheered as he ran inside. He waved back at Geralt, “Come on, Dad’s lemonade is the best.”
The two sat at the kitchen bar as they gulped down the lemonade. Geralt hummed in contentment, “This is really good. Thank you Mr. Pankratz.”
Jaskier’s dad nodded, “No problem, glad you like it.”
Jaskier hopped down from the stool when he finished his lemonade off. “Alright! Back to work!”
“You need to finish 8 questions this time.”
“Noo~,” Jaskier flopped his head against the counter, covering his face with his arms, “That’s too many…”
Jaskier’s dad gently patted his back, “Do your best. If you need to break it up that’s fine, but try for eight.” He smiled at Geralt, “Thank you for helping Jaskier with his homework.”
Jaskier huffed and lifted his head, “I’m helping him too.”
Geralt nodded, “Yes, he is.”
Mr. Pankratz chuckled and ruffled Jaskier’s hair, “I’m glad. Try to finish up your homework. Your mother will be home soon.”
Jaskier grumbled as he adjusted his hair, “Fiiiine.” He smiled as he wrapped an arm around Geralt’s, “Let’s go finish our homework. Then we can play a game or something.”
Geralt’s skin tingled where Jaskier was touching his arm. With how affectionate Jaskier was, he thought he would have gotten used to his touch by now. It still gave him butterflies in his stomach.
They had been working for a bit when he informed Jaskier he had to go to the bathroom. Jaskier pointed in the direction of the bathroom, “Off the right of the kitchen. You can’t miss it, but if you do, dad can point you in the right direction.”
Geralt nodded and followed where he had indicated. He was right, it hadn’t been hard to find. As he entered the bathroom, shutting the door behind him he heard a high screeching noise.
“Darling~! I’m home!”
‘It must be Jaskier’s mom,’ Geralt thought as he tried to complete his business in the bathroom.
Jaskier’s dad grunted in response. Geralt pictured Mrs. Pankratz leaning on her husband dramatically as she spoke, “Oh you brute! Is that how you greet your wife after not seeing her for so long?” Geralt imagined Jaskier’s mother was where he got most of his dramatic behavior from.
“I saw you this morning.”
Mrs. Pankratz gasped, “How cruel… where is my son? Surely he will give me the love and attention I deserve.”
“He’s in his room doing homework. He has a friend over, so try not to embarrass him.”
“Me? Embarrass him?” she sounded offended. “I would never!”
Jaskier’s dad chuckled, “I’m serious. Jaskier really seems to like this one.”
Geralt’s heart beat rapidly in his chest. He shouldn’t be listening to this, but he needed to use the restroom and his body wasn’t cooperating.
“Oh? Is that so? They’re in his room? I should go take a peak.”
Mr. Pankratz seemed to have stopped her from his displeased whine. “Jaskier is being good and concentrating on the work. I haven’t seen him so focused in a while.”
The knowledge made Geralt want to laugh. He had never seen Jaskier so unfocused…
Mrs. Pankratz huffed, “Fine… what’s he like? Is he tall? Cute? What’s his name? How long has Jaskier known him? Is it a homework date or are they hanging out as friends? Has he confessed his feelings yet?”
Her husband stopped the barrage of questions, “His name is Geralt. I’m not going to judge a growing boy’s appearance. I’m not sure about the other questions.”
“You are terrible at gathering information.” If she was anything like Jaskier, and Geralt figured she was, she was pouting right now.
“I’m not going to be your spy.”
“Traitor,” she grumbled.
“Mom! You’re home!”
Geralt groaned internally. He must have taken so long Jaskier came to check on him. His stomach gurgled from his anxiety.
Jaskier’s voice sounded muffled as his mom fawned over him, “You’re suffocating me.”
“Sorry sugar cube, I just missed you so much!”
“Dad, have you seen Geralt? He went to the bathroom a bit ago and I was checking to make sure he was okay.”
Geralt shook his head and decided to give up. He could try later. He flushed the toilet and washed his hands. Geralt exited the bathroom to see a female twin of Jaskier. Her long brunette hair curled at the ends, and framed her face nicely. Her blue eyes widened when she saw Geralt walk into the kitchen.
“You must be Geralt!” she beamed with a smile almost identical to Jaskier’s. She rushed forward and hugged him. “It’s so nice to meet you.”
“Mom!” Jaskier huffed, “Geralt doesn’t like being touched.”
She gasped and pulled away, “I’m sorry dear. I forget myself sometimes.”
Geralt blushed and shook his head, “It’s fine.”
She clicked her tongue as she shook her head, “It’s not fine. I need to work better on my boundaries. I hope I didn’t bother you too much.”
Jaskier leaned on Geralt, hanging over him like a backpack, “He’s fine! Dad, is dinner almost ready? Can Geralt join us?”
Mrs. Pankratz clapped her hands excitedly, “Yes! He should join us! Geralt would you like to have dinner with us?”
“Lilia,” Mr. Pankratz’s tone was firm. “I’ve already talked to his mother. He’s having dinner with us and then we’ll take him home.”
“Why didn’t you say so earlier?” Lilia placed a hand on her hip. She smiled at Geralt, “That’s wonderful. Alfred is a good cook.”
Geralt’s heart beat rapidly in his chest. He was excited to spend more time with Jaskier. Jaskier poked his cheek as he continued to lean against him, “Is that cool?”
Geralt nodded, smiling, “Yes, thank you.”
~~~
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~~~
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#the witcher#geralt#jaskier#geraskier#pastel punk!jaskier#shygoth!geralt#geralt x jaskier#jaskier x geralt#modern au#highschool au#panerato writing
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[Personal Story] Leona Kingscholar [Keep Your Sleep Talk for When You Sleep] [2 / 2]
Parts 1 | 2
[savanaclaw dorm - leona’s room]
Ruggie: Leona-san, the robes are back from the cleaner’s. Should I put yours in the closet?
Leona: …..
Ruggie: What’s with the scary face?
Leona: Oi, give me the robe. I’m wearing it now.
Ruggie: Eh? Why now? For what purpose?
Leona: …I got a letter from my family. Says they want a photo of me in my ceremonial robes.
Ruggie: Your family… Wait, so that’s straight from the King’s Chambers at the Sunset Plains?!
Leona: What else?
Ruggie: Guess they must be worried about the second prince, huh… Since you don’t contact them at all. I’m sure they want to see you doing well. Sometimes I send photos to my Granma too.
Leona: They’re really an annoying bunch. How much more do they plan on shadowing me around?
Ruggie: But it’s rare for Leona to follow orders from his family.
Leona: The sender is my sister-in-law…
Ruggie: And so? Oh right, Leona-san is kind to women, huh?
Leona: It’s not that I’m particularly kind to women, they don’t need that kind of special treatment since they’re stronger than us. It’s just gonna be a pain in the ass if I don’t listen.
Ruggie: Yeah, the females of Sunset Plains have a lot of physical strength. Even the King’s Imperial Guards are mostly female… Every time I see the training grounds, I think to myself “better not get on a woman’s bad side”.
Ruggie: Well, if the Queen wishes for it then there’s no choice, huh? I’ll take a cool picture for you!
Leona: Okay, get it over with.
Ruggie: You ready? Hey, put on the hood.
Leona: Is this enough?
Ruggie: ?!
Leona: What?
Ruggie: No, err, it’s nothing… fukuku!
Leona: It’s nothing, my ass. You’re totally smirking away.
Ruggie: Wait, please, don’t look over here, fufu.
Leona: Huh? My ears feel kinda free.
Leona: Oi, outta the way, let me see the mirror.
Ruggie: Ahh, I don’t think you should do that…
Leona: …..
Leona: Oi, why are my ears tearing through the hood.
Ruggie: Well, I don’t know about tearing, looks like there was a hole in the hood from the start.
Leona: A modification to the hood… Wait, this is that horned bastard’s hood!
Ruggie: Leona-san and Malleus-san’s robes got mixed up, I see. But even still, Leona-san…
Ruggie: It’s kinda cute the way your ears are moving about. Fu.
Leona: Ruggie… You better be prepared.
Ruggie: It-it isn’t my fault! The cleaners got it wrong! See, the delivery note states Leona-san’s name!
Leona: But you didn’t notice the error. Hurry and exchange it.
Ruggie: Ehh, me? From Malleus-san? Do-don’t say something so reckless, it’s impossible!
Leona: Ahhh?! Don’t tell me you’re scared of the “little master”?
Ruggie: Isn’t that normal? That’s THE Malleus Draconia from the Valley of Thorns! No one ever knows what he’s thinking or whether he’s mad…
Leona: Shameful. And you call yourself a member of Savanaclaw.
Ruggie: Sure, maybe you’re not afraid of him cus y’all are both dorm leaders but regular folk like me are very scared!
Ruggie: Come on, let’s go together? If it’s Leona-san, I’m sure you can speak to Malleus-san normally. It’s better than shaming the whole dorm by disgracefully trembling in front of those Diasomnia guys!
Leona: sigh What glib. Guess I’ll put in some work for my weak subordinate.
[diasomnia dorm - lounge]
Leona: Oi, is Malleus here?
Silver: Leona-senpai, do you have business with Malleus-sama?
Leona: Yeah, that’s right, got something to say--
Silver: Oh yeah, the other day I went to the greenhouse like you told me but Malleus-sama wasn’t there. It seems he had already left in the meantime. Regrettably, I couldn’t put the information you gave me to use.
Ruggie: There it is, Silver-kun’s special skill: innocent reasoning! His head’s really light as a cloud, isn’t it?
Leona: That doesn’t matter now, I have something to say so bring Malleus out.
Silver: An appointment to talk with Malleus-sama?! As I thought, you two are friends.
Leona: How many times do I gotta say that’s wrong!
Leona: Listen, I just have something to tell him so bring him out.
Silver: Oh if he knew Malleus-sama has made a friend, the Old Ma- I mean, Lilia-senpai would be overjoyed.
Leona: What the heck is wrong with this guy?! He’s not listening to a single thing I say!
Leona: Guess in terms of listening to others, he really fits right in with Malleus!
Ruggie: Fo-for Leona-san to get this angry, Silver-kun’s IrriObli Space is really too powerful.
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All That Remains, Chapter 5: The Flower Garden of the Woman Who Could Conjure [Part 2]
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4
Written for @claudeng80‘s birthday, and only....a few weeks late! Had this thing not become a BEAST it would have arrived on time but...who doesn’t want a 9K birthday gift?
Perhaps it is lies that make men human.
Ah, you shake your head-- surely not, for man is more than vice, more than our venal sins--
But it is stories that bind us, is it not? Tales that start as words between friends, that then are pulled as taffy in the teeth of those that tell them, that become exaggerated, distended in their telling.
If at the kernel of every story is a truth, then it is one that is surrounded by lies.
Or perhaps that is only what liars tell themselves when they must live with what they’ve done.
Why would you leave Wistal for Lilias?
It was the first question any of them asked-- unless her reputation had preceded her, and then the conversation would shift sharply to Garack and her apprenticeship, to whether all the rumors they had heard about Wistal’s Head Pharmacist were true.
(They had only been disappointed when she didn’t know; she’d hardly been there a year, and though she’d studied closely under her, Garack hadn’t seen fit set aside a lesson to rifle through the rumor mill’s latest)
It’s cold here, Suzu had reminded her that first trip, as if she could forget with how both her heaviest cloak and double stockings that still could not keep out the chill. At least then she’d had a mission she could speak of, an excuse she could throw up a shield against more unwanted questions. After all, all of them abhorred missing data.
It had been harder the second time, when the whole of this golden opportunity had seemed stained with Izana’s touch, had seemed tainted by his test. She’d been lucky those first few days; they’d been less interested in her answer, and more interested in issuing their dire warnings. It gets colder than this, Kazaha had told her, puffed up with his own importance, colder than you’ve ever known.
Then Obi had arrived, coming in with the snow, as he’d told everyone that would listen, and well-- as interesting as Garack Gazalt’s red head assistant was, her mysterious attendant was even more so. At least, for a while, and then they were just another part of Lilias, another pair of heads over a sea of furs.
Still, you must miss it, Yuzuri would say, wistful, it’s so warm there.
I miss the mornings, she had said once, tucked between her and Ryuu at the commissary. Birds would sing me awake.
Too early, Obi had scoffed, wrinkling his nose. They see the sun and go crazy.
Just early enough. The corner of her mouth curved as she met his grin. You just get to bed too late.
Talk to my mistress about that. It’s too much to look at him sometimes when he teases like that, when he pretends it isn’t her that he’s talking about. She’s the one who likes to burn candles at both ends.
Stories are apt to praise the little girls who walk them as kind, as obedient, perhaps even clever should they outwit a sufficiently evil witch or an especially corrupt king. But this little girl-- kind as she was, clever as she was-- was dogged, was stubborn.
Ah, how rare such a thing is, at least in stories. It is a detail to be left out in the telling, to be lost to the years, to be replaced with a kindly figure that gives her wisdom, but now--
Now the tale is fresh, heavy with the truth, and you may know: even with assurances from the adults around her, the little girl did not take the boy’s disappearance lying down, oh no.
She would not suffer losing her home.
Even though it is the birds that wake her, it does nothing for the bleak knot in her belly, only grown tighter as she’s slept. Or rather, as she didn’t; her mattress may be feathers and her sheets may be silk, but neither were any help as she lay there, finding faces in her canopy.
Still, the morning will not wait, not even for a princess. Her hours are full, from sunrise to moonrise, and on most nights, beyond. If she means to keep pace with her promises, she has to start early.
A woman of proper standing would have a maid to dress her-- no, a woman meant to be Zen’s wife would have a team of them to do her entire toilette, but Shirayuki has only herself. A pharmacist’s purse was nothing to sneeze at, but it didn’t pay the way an estate would, and even if she could afford the expense--
Well, Kiki dressed herself. There was no reason she couldn’t either, not when she was already in the practice of it.
“I’m not wearing court dress,” Kiki reminds her, mouth canted kindly, when she sees the state of her morning gown, hook and eyes flapping open like a wound down her back. “They aren’t meant to be put on alone.”
“That’s what Haruka said, too,” Shirayuki murmurs, hands braced on her vanity.
In the mirror, Kiki’s brows raise. “You had Marquis Haruka talk to you about your toilette?”
“Against his will,” she assures her, breathless, before she realizes what that sounds like. “I mean, not that I-- he was berating me--”
Kiki holds up a hand, lips quivering. “I can picture the scene.”
“Oh.” Her cheeks heat, glowing pink in the glass. “Of course.”
“I’m nearly done.” Her fingers are nearly as deft as Obi’s, making quick work of the horde of hooks. “Since I’m back here, is there something I could put in your hair?”
“Oh! If you don’t mind.” Shirayuki reaches out to where she keeps her clips, flipping open the chest, and--
And they lay next to each other, stark against the pale velvet: her hairpins. The ones Obi had given her. Her hand shakes as she brushes against the carved flowers of one, against the smooth tassel of the other. She has a box of combs as well, bought on her travels under Obi’s urging, and--
“Is there any news?” She wishes she could sound brighter, less worried, but--
You don’t know anything about me, Miss.
--but despite all Zen’s assurances, this knot in her gut only sinks further, heavier with each passing hour.
Kiki hisses, fingers slipping on a clasp. “No,” she says finally, hooking it with a violent jerk. “Not yet.”
Her heart clenches, ribs squeezing as tight as any corset. “Ah.”
Kiki lifts her gaze, meeting hers in the mirror. “Don’t worry, it’s only been a night.”
“Oh, right.” Still, the tightness in her chest doesn’t ease, doesn’t let her breathe easier. “They probably need-- time. To search.”
“Yes.” Kiki’s gaze drops, fixing to the last clasp. “Exactly. Did you find what you wanted?”
Shirayuki stares at the hairpins, the best she has--
Shouldn’t Master be helping you with this, Miss?
And closes the box.
She turns to Kiki, smile bright, tight. “Why don’t you just pick out one of my combs? Any will do, I think.”
It is not that the girl was not trusting-- for all girls in these stories must be trusting to a fault, must first fall for the lies meant to keep them safe-- but it was only that unlike other before her, she trusted herself as well.
The boy was her home, a part of her. Just as she might step through the door and know that there was still an ember smoldering in the hearth, she knew that something was wrong with the waiting, with the way those around her would say, he will come back on his own, he only needs time.
One does not need to see smoke to know a fire burns. And the girl did not need to prod wounds to know her boy was hurting.
Kiki cannot come to her every morning, she knows-- if Shirayuki were a princess in more than aspiration, she might be able to merit a countess as a guard, but as little more than a pharmacist living off the goodwill of the crown, she knows the assignment has caused tongues to wag, and not just below stairs.
Good, Obi would say, about time all those fancy nobles started guessing what you’re worth, Miss.
That would bring a smile, usually; as uncomfortable as this sort of attention was, Obi always made it sound exciting, as if each drawn eye was an accomplishment. As if every turned head was a coup.
But he’s not here now. And who lays beyond her door--
“Mitsuhide!” she gasps, glad she chose a gown she could close herself. “Are you with me today?”
“For a while, at least.” He smiles, stepping closer to loom pleasantly over her. “You’re looking well today.”
--Often sees only what he wants to see. Or, maybe, speaks only what she wants to hear.
“Do you think so?” she ventures, searching his face. Sleep has not come easy these past few nights, and though she knows she must, at some point, lose consciousness in order to wake, she remembers none of it. No moment where she dozes off, no burst of restfulness when she opens her eyes, no dreams.
Though perhaps that last is a mercy.
“Of course!” His smile is earnest, crinkling the corner of his eyes. “You’re practically glowing.”
Her smile is tremulous, but she manages to hold it, even if just for a moment. It’s enough to please Mitsuhide, which is what matters. “Thank you.”
He turns, offering his arm, and she nearly takes it, hand hovering over the dark cloth--
Dark cloth that isn’t wool, oh no, but lighter stuff. Cotton, perhaps, or a stiff linen. Summer fabrics. Obi had been wearing them weeks ago, and Haruka chided him for being too early, that the palace guard wouldn’t change over until the equinox--
“Is there any word?” The words stumble off her tongue on wobbling legs.
Mitsuhide blinks, eyes wide and brown and guileless. “Come again?”
“About Obi,” she presses. “Have they found anything yet?”
“They?” he murmurs, brow furrowing, but a moment later-- “Ah, you mean-- ah--?”
“The men Zen sent out to look for him.” She lays her hand on his arm, fingers clenching in the cloth-- cotton, she was right. “They must have news.”
“Oh, ah...” He clears his throat. “No. I haven’t heard anything.”
His hand engulfs hers, and oh, she hadn’t realized she had been gripping him so hard. Her fingers ease, smoothing the wrinkles they left.
“Shirayuki,” he rumbles, “I know you’re worried.”
Her throat is too tight to manage anything more than a squeak.
“Zen will take care of it,” he tells her, no doubt dogging his voice. “And I’m sure that-- that--” his gaze slips off her, fixing across the hall-- “I’m sure Obi will be back any day now.”
Ribs squeeze tight, her breath trapped in her lungs, and oh, how she wishes she could believe that, how she wishes he would just drop down onto her balcony like he never left, but--
You don’t know anything about me, Miss.
She can’t.
“After all, it’s hardly been a week,” he continues, confidence limping.
A week. Shirayuki’s mind whirls, starts counting the days, but she stops herself. She knows well enough how long it’s been; there’s no need to do the unkindest arithmetic and find the difference between that and when they’d told her.
“Right,” she says instead, plastering on a smile she does not feel. “Any day now.”
The girl is dogged, is determined, but in the end-- she is just a little girl.
Have you seen him, she would ask, did you see him when he left?
The townsfolk would only look at her with pitying eyes, would only shake their heads. He is gone, girl.
Then I will find him, she would say, and the townsfolk would sigh, would grimace, would tell her, it is time to accept it.
It is not any man that she knows the next morning.
He’s young, dark haired with an oval face, the same as so many guards at Wistal. She knew nearly every man on Lilias’s walls from walk alone, from veteran Jirou-- always a sergeant and never a commander, just the way he likes it-- to fresh-faced Hiro, only recently given his pike and hat. But here-- well, Obi had not been so involved with the guard in Wistal, save to avoid them.
No name comes to her. With the spray of freckles over his nose and the roundness still in his cheeks, he could not have been more than a recruit when she headed north, probably assigned to one of the lesser-used gates or sent to guard doors.
“My lady!” he gasps, bowing his head. “I’m to be your escort.”
Her smile stiffens, pulling tight like pressed paper. Perhaps she had been too generous with his age-- he was more likely one of the lanky boys hanging off the gate, rather than one of the young men guarding it.
“Oh,” she manages, poorly burying her disappointment. “T-thank you.”
Who does he work for? Her hand tightens on the door, the faint lilt of of Obi’s voice drawing her short. He had always been so much better at this game that her, plucking out which overtures were insult or ingratiation. Without him in her ear, she’s playing this game half-blind, never calculating the angles soon enough for safety.
Still, he is a young guard, surely too new to be in anyone’s pocket, and Izana was always so careful with the men that surrounded the royal family--
“Just for the morning!” he assures her. “As a favor to Lady Kiki. She’s busy this morning, my lady.”
That answers that question handily. “Oh. Well. I suppose...that’s fine.” She pulls the door closed behind her. “Do you know Kiki personally?”
“Hardly,” he tells her with a humble flush, falling into step just behind her. “My father is a tenant of Seiran. I didn’t even know she knew my name.”
Shirayuki’s smile settles easier on her face. “But you knew hers.”
“Everyone knows Lady Kiki,” he says, hushed and reverent, and oh, does Shirayuki recognize that breathlessness, that wonder. Even now it would catch in her chest when the light captured Kiki in just the right moment, like one of those paintings where ancient goddesses emerged from the sea or decapitated faithless kings. “She’s magnificent.”
She hums, smothering a smile. “Have you been in Wistal long?”
“The last three seasons,” he says, as if Wistal has anything other than this eternal summer and a slightly more mild winter. “They say I’m almost ready for the Poet’s Gate, if I want a little more bustle in my day.”
The Poet’s Gate. There’s a pleasant ache as she remembers those early days, as she remembers the two guards who would open it for her if she only asked-- Kai and Shiira, a bare recruit and a man hardly a handful of years his senior, both always greeting her with a smile. She hadn’t seen them since she’d returned; Obi had laughed when she’d mentioned it, worried, that first week.
They’re both veterans now, he’d told her, smile fondly curving a corner of his mouth. They won’t waste them on gate duty. Probably have plum assignments in the court, by now.
She means to ask about them, about whether he has heard where life and duty have taken the men who were kind to her before she earned her place, but instead--
“Have you heard anything about Obi?”
Heat floods her cheeks, but that is a familiar betrayal. That her mouth and mind no longer obey her, that she’s so liable to spit out her first thought with no warning--
That is new. That is worse.
Still, the boy only blinks. “Obi, my lady?”
“Sir Obi.” The title is odd on her tongue, like a shoe slipped on the wrong foot. “Zen-- His Highness sent men out to look for him a few days ago. I thought you might have heard something, seeing as how you live in the barracks.”
And guards are more loose with gossip than fishwives, Obi would say with a wink.
His brows draw down, mouth bowed in confusion. “Is Sir Obi some kind of nobleman? An exile, or something?” His eyes light as he adds, “An outlaw?”
Shirayuki can only stare, a terrible foreboding crawling in her gut. “N-no! Sir Obi is a guardsman-- or at least, he was, before. Now he’s a knight of the Royal Circle.”
The boy’s interest wanes. “Oh, no, haven’t heard anything about that. Not too strange though-- the knight’s circle tends to take care of their own.” His mouth rumples thoughtfully. “Though I haven’t heard of any of them missing, of late. Or anyone being sent out after them.”
“But the search,” she presses, the foreboding’s claws sinking deep into her belly, “you’ve heard of that, haven’t you? At least from the men who have gone out?”
Still he looks at her, uncomprehending. “My lady, I don’t know any that have.”
The girl has known kindness before.
Kindness was a hand in the market, leading her home when she was separated from her grandparents. It was the basket of food on her doorstep when they died, still warm from the oven. It was a dexterous hand deep in a rose bush, untangling branches so they might grow straight, might bloom in their season.
It had never before been the man who said, He will not come back, for it was the the river that took him, and he has drowned.
But honesty is its own kindness, in its way. Even when its message is cruel.
“You are distracted.”
Shirayuki blinks, and it’s only then that she feels the liquid at her wrist, thickly winding down her palm. Her toast sits outstretched in her fingers, forgotten, egg yolk dripping on her hands, her cuffs, the table--
“Oh!” She drops it, alarmed, onto her plate. “I’m-- I’m sorry, I just--”
“You weren’t paying attention,” Haruka admonishes gruffly, handing her a serviette. It’s a lost cause; the yolk may come off but it leaves a runny yellow blotch on the cotton. Unsalvageable, according to the court; ripe for the garbage.
She frowns. Maybe she can convince them to just replace the cuff; she’d heard just the other day that lace was soon to be out of fashion anyway.
The marquis grips her elbow, guiding it away from her tea. “You’re still not paying attention.”
She blinks. “Did you just reach across the table?”
He settles back into his seat, dabbing absently at his mouth. “Only to save the wash-maids their scrubbing. They’ll have a hard enough time with what you’ve already spilled, let alone adding to it.”
Her cheeks flare with heat, but she keeps her hands in her lap, worrying at the cloth there.
The marquis grunts, setting down his fork. “I see you have no intention of putting your concerns aside and dedicating your attention to the lesson.”
“No! I mean, yes! No, wait, I mean--” she shakes her head-- “I’m trying.”
With a sigh, he places his napkin on the table, shifting his plate away so that he may fold his hands above it. “What could weigh so heavily upon you that you cannot make it through a single egg?”
“Nothing,” she promises. “It’s just...”
Haruka raises his brows, as encouraging a gesture as she’s ever seen from him, but--
But to say she’s worried about Obi, that he’s run away and he won’t come back, that perhaps she’s chased him away--
Well, to a man like Haruka, she might as well be complaining about the dishwasher in the kitchens, or a hound in the kennels. A bodyguard should be beneath a princess’s notice.
Her mouth thins. Besides, that’s only half of the concerns she’s been wrangling with these last few hours.
“Zen told me that he would-- he would handle something.” Every word wobbles under its own weigh as it stumbles from between her teeth. “But it seems that he might not have...that he didn’t...”
The marquis clears his throat with a sharp nod, approving. “It is the prerogative of princes to keep their promises. Or not.” He fixes her with a stern look. “He must do what’s best for the kingdom.”
What’s best for the kingdom. The words rankle, rattling her right down to her bones. Obi was his aide, his staunchest ally, his friend--
“It is what’s best.” Shirayuki can do no arithmetic where Obi does not benefit Clarines, and that Zen might-- that Zen could-- “He knows that.”
Haruka lifts a shoulder, a careless shrug so like the Izana’s she nearly shivers from the chill. “Then perhaps he has been kept from keeping it. He is, after all, not the highest power in the kingdom.”
It’s tempting to believe; Izana often relished his role as a caltrop to their happiness, adding bizarre twists to his expectations that left Zen scrambling to meet them. But still, still--
“No.” If there is anyone that can do the complex calculations of loyalty and risk, it’s Izana. “I don’t think he would have stopped him. Not for this.”
“Then perhaps it is a lack of time,” Haruka offers, begrudgingly helpful, “or the resources. Or perhaps--” he hesitates, sending her a long look-- “the will.”
Her breath gasps from her, a palpable hit, and she doesn’t want to believe it, doesn’t want to think Zen wouldn’t believe finding Obi is as much of a priority as her, but--
There’s no reason to get so upset. It’s not odd for Obi to disappear with no explanation.
“Then why would he tell me he would?” She wishes she could keep the raw edge from her words, the accusation. “He must have done something. Kiki and Mitsuhide both said that he...”
Her words dry up at the pitying look on the marquis’ face, gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by his usual stony expression.
“Not that I care to insert myself into your petty concerns,” he says, his tone thick with disinterest, “but it would behoove you, as a princess, to have a keen eye for who is most loyal to you, and who is most loyal to your husband.“
She blinks. “But--”
“It would be a mistake of the highest order to believe they are the same thing.” He gives her a long, meaningful look. “Kingdoms have fallen from such folly.”
Trust is a strange thing, is it not? It is a badge of honor, freely given. It is a privilege, hard to earn.
Doubt is easier; it lives with us, a tenant that never leaves, feeding our darkest thoughts and deepest fears. It is so easy to glut oneself on uncertainty, on indecision, and yet--
And yet we will fight hardest when trust is on the line. Even with the bleakest evidence, we will beg for one slight more, for another single shred of proof until it buries us. Anything to keep from believing it has been broken.
For once trust is lost, it can never be regained.
Her stomach still churns when the marquis releases her from her lesson, his words sitting as poorly as her egg and toast.
He must do what’s best for the kingdom. The words ring loud in her ears, inescapable. Perhaps it is a lack of time-- or of will.
It is only the tweak in her jaw that warns her how tight she is clenching it. This is-- she can’t-- she shouldn’t--
Her hand drops from the door, and she takes a deep, collecting breath, drawn right up from her toes. No matter how much Haruka may pretend he knows about Zen, about his motives, he’s still not him. A man like the marquis may make false promises, but Zen--
She squares her shoulders, glaring down the door. Zen has never not kept his word, not to her. He doesn’t deserve this doubt.
The knot in her stomach squirms. If only her surety could kill it.
It’s Kiki who waits for her in the hall; her lean is casual, one boot placed on the wall behind her as if this were some simple tavern and not the royal palace. For a moment, Shirayuki nearly laughs; few dare to treat the heart of Clarines with such irreverence-- Obi, for one, though she suspects he constitutionally incapable of awe; Izana, for another, though she supposes he has the most right out of anyone to treat the palace like any other home; and--
Zen.
It would behoove you to have a keen eye for who is most loyal to you, and who is most loyal to your husband.
The world tilts, and suddenly the casual lean seems studied, affected. Every line of Kiki’s body is tense, coiled for confrontation, her head hanging heavy and shoulders bowed, as if the weight of her thoughts were a burden. It’s only when she turns to her, smile tilting her lips, that it eases, but--
But even that is a conscious effort, an act that she is performing for Shirayuki’s benefit. Something is wrong, and Kiki doesn’t want her to know.
“Shirayuki.” Kiki peels off the wall, faint, friendly smile in place. “Did you enjoy--?”
“Have you heard anything?” Shirayuki nearly winces at the edge in her voice, at how terse she sounds. “Anything at all?”
There’s a moment, so quick it would be missed were she not waiting for it, where Kiki’s face quivers, where her carefully constructed smile pulls tight like tanning hides. It’s gone the next, replaced by a concern so genuine Shirayuki aches to believe it. “No, not yet. I’m sure that--”
“It’s been nearly a week,” she pushes, “and no one’s heard anything.”
Kiki shrugs a shoulder, too casual. “It’s Obi. He goes off all the time.”
“Not for this long.” She shakes her head. “Not without telling me. What if something’s happened, and he--?”
“You don’t need to worry, Shirayuki.” Kiki lays a hand on her arm, giving her a comforting squeeze. “Obi can take care of himself. If he talks himself into trouble, he’s fully capable of talking himself right back out.”
Her nails bite painfully into the flesh of her palms. “But he shouldn’t have to,” she says, so softly, meeting Kiki’s hard gaze. “We’re his friends.”
Kiki’s grip tightens, but her only answer is a harsh breath, echoing in the hall.
“He was already by himself for so long,” Shirayuki pushes, “we shouldn’t let him be alone again. Not like this.”
“Shirayuki--”
“Did Zen send anyone out to look for him?” she asks so baldly, Kiki rocks back on her heels. “Or was that...”
She can’t bring herself to finish the thought. Not without knowing for certain.
“Zen,” Kiki grits out between her teeth, “is doing what he think is best.”
It’s not the answer Shirayuki is hoping far, and it’s far and away from the one she wants.
“I think,” she says, drawing herself up to her full height, “that I need to see Zen. Now.”
It is said that the depth of a wound has little to do with how it heals, but rather depends on the way that it is left, on the shape of the weapon that made it. Trauma, they say, is the difference between a clean cut and a poor death.
There is no way to prepare for betrayal. Perhaps that is what makes it so hard to swallow, so hard to forgive. It is a ragged knife, pressed to the most sensitive parts.
And no matter how shallow the wound, the rent it leaves is ragged, slow to heal, if it ever does. Traumatic, to be left with a gash that will not close, that can open and bleed again, if it chooses to.
A killer, some might say. Just another type of poison.
In her first days at Wistal, she had heard the complaints: Prince Zen is never in his office. The second prince keeps lords waiting in his antechamber for hours. The prince has no respect for the time of the members of the small council.
It had made her laugh then, small giggles smothered by the collar of her lab coat while Ryuu watched her with wary eyes. Even before the kiss in the tower, before she’d known about his feelings for her-- and discovered her feelings for him-- she’d felt a thrill knowing that she was often the reason he crept off his balcony after tea, or slipped out a window after brunch. He kept important men waiting, but her-- never.
Or at least, not until now.
Shirayuki’s hands are rarely idle.
At Lilias, she had rarely been without a book to hand or notes to make; all too often Lata had remarked on the stack of tomes that seemed to follow her wherever she went, or Shidan complained about the number of notes he found littered outside his office door.
What is it they say, Miss? Obi would tease, his mouth rucked in one corner, brow cocked. Idle hands are wickedness’s tools?
She’d given up on smothering her smiles by then; he’d always known anyway. Then I guess that makes me all goodness.
Ah, he’d sigh, looking over the yard, breath misting on the air. I suppose it does.
Even as a child, she’d been under the bar, playing shell games with the glasses, or in the kitchen, learning how not to cook away from her grandmother’s watchful eye. A busy thing, the townsfolk would laugh.
But a princess is not busy. Or rather-- she only plans to be busy. She doesn’t carry a stack of books under an arm, or have ink spilled on the web between her thumb and forefinger, nor does she feel the need to fidget when she’s left to wait on what amounts to little more than a cushioned stool.
Ten minutes after she sits, she tears the lace on her sleeve. Another five, and she’s lost a button, hidden somewhere underneath her voluminous skirts. Not three minutes later, one of the guards takes pity on her and gives her his handkerchief.
“Hard to ruin a simple thing like this, my lady,” he says with a wan smile, casting a nervous look toward the door.
Shirayuki takes one look at the lovingly embroidered initials in the corner and swallows down, I wouldn’t be so sure.
All told, she waits an hour, the sun sinking under the horizon before Zen leaves his office, half-dressed for dinner.
“Shirayuki!” His eyes pulse wide as he sees her, swinging towards Mitsuhide in question. “I didn’t know that we-- did we have plans tonight...?”
“No.” It’s an effort to keep her voice even, calm. “I needed to see you.”
His mouth flares wide, the weariness gone from his face, as if it had never been. “Oh?”
She takes a breath, bracing herself for the conversation to come, but she chokes on it as he takes her hands so softly between his own.
“I don’t have time tonight,” he says, gentle and pleased, “but tomorrow-- dinner, just the two of us. I promise.”
“That isn’t--”
He squeezes her hands before he leaves, smile wry and tired, and she--
She stands alone, hands still warm from where he held them, the unsaid words caught in her teeth.
Have you seen him? the little girl asks, day in and day out. Have you seen my boy?
He is gone, the townsfolk tell her, as they always do. If it were another girl, this tale might end here; determined and dogged she might be, but everyone has a breaking point. It would be too easy to accept it, to forget, to let her boy become a faded memory from childhood.
But this little girl-- she learns.
Where did he go, then? she asks instead, and the townspeople shrug their shoulders. The city, some guess, or the wood. Perhaps he followed a traveling band, or a woman.
What does it matter? one finally says, cross. What would a little girl like you even do?
Ah, for that is the trouble with stories; they make us think of virtuous, obedient girls, girls who remember to offer old grandmothers lunch from their basket, and remember all the words to the magic rhyme. We forget the most important thing:
Little girls can do anything, so long as they haven’t learned they can’t.
She nearly loses herself in the city.
The streets of Lilias had been as familiar to her as the lines on her palm, their winding paths worn into the very fabric of her heart so that even on the darkest nights, she could make her way back to her chambers with little more than her legs alone. She’d thought she’d known Wistal the same way; she’d lived for months in that little apartment outside the palace, the one with the pot-bellied stove, and even when she’d moved into the dormitories, she’d spent hours perusing the markets for pharmacy stock. But now that she’s here, standing in its night-darkened roads--
Ah, she feels every day of those years away.
Still, she remembers when Obi would stumble onto her balcony, pockets a fair bit heavier than when he’d left her, crowing about the pub just outside the gates where the guard would go to drink away their days. And gamble away their paychecks, it seemed, if Obi’s suddenly flushed fortunes were any indication.
He’d never told her its precise location-- she’d gone to drink with the guard in Lilias, more times than she could count, but in Wistal she’d been reserved, wary about mixing company outside of Zen’s influence, and either Obi had sense her hesitation, or--
Well, or he’d just not wanted to go out drinking with the bookworm who kept him cooped up in the library all day. Still, she knew it wasn’t far from the Poet’s Gate, and not far from the market district, somewhere close to the river that ran through the city, and from there--
From there, she just followed the guards.
The water hungers.
You laugh; how can waters hunger when they have no mouths to eat, no bellies to sate. But that is the thing of it-- waters run deep, and they long to be filled. That is why we talk of pond reflections that reach up to pull children in, or monstrous horses that lure men deeper, or great, terrible beasts that live at the bottom.
The girl knows it, as all clever children do. But she knows just as well-- a beast that hungers can be bargained with, as long as you pay the price.
Hood drawn low, Shirayuki slips in to the steady stream of patrons that saunter into the bar.
The pub is dim, much more than she expects. Wistal has ever been the bright spot in her memory, the city of eternal summer; that it has places where the lamps burn low too gives her pause.
Not for long; she’s the daughter of a bar-- or at least a granddaughter-- and she’s used to these dark places. As a child, she’d sit under the tables, listening to the custom talk, hearing about plans she only half understood and people she would never known. She’d learned words to never say, too, or at least that was what her grandmother had told her, sending her to bed without dessert.
She knows what to look for-- a shadowed table, not too far from where the guards are losing their coin, just close enough to eavesdrop without--
“Ah, sorry,” a man says, shouldering her hard enough to make her gasp. “I wasn’t looking...ma’am?”
He wraps the last word in a question, and with a cursory glance around the room, Shirayuki realizes her mistake. She’s the only one in the room wearing skirts that isn’t also serving drink.
Of course, of course. Her grandparents might have seen both husband and wife for their evening drink, but a place like this, meant for guards who were done with the day but yet didn’t want to face their duties at home--
“Ma’am?” Another man, dressed in the uniform and nearly as young as Ryuu steps up to her. “I think you might be turned around.”
“N-no.” She digs her heels into the floorboards, and the soldier trying to steer her stumbles, jostling her. “I’m right where I--”
“Lady Shirayuki?” The other man stares at her owlishly, and it takes her a full minute to realize that if she made the cheeks rounder, the skin more freckled--
“Kai?” She grips his wrists, relief nearly choking. “Kai. I’m so glad to see you.”
He blinks, staring down at where she grasps him. “Ah, of course, my lady. I’m glad to see you too. Been a long time.”
“I hope you’ve been well,” she says, breathless, “but also, I need your help.”
There are rules this sort of bargaining, to gaining favors from the wild.
They are not like any you know. We live in a world of reason, where one can exchange paper and the promise of precious metals and receive goods in return. But to do so with a wild thing, with a tree or a deer or a mountain or even a river--
Impossible. Their price is fixed, a single thing.
And oh, it is high.
Every little girl has her precious treasure, an item of unfathomable worth. They are secret things, sometimes kept hidden under floorboard or pressed between pages of a beloved book, and sometimes kept in plain sight, for clever girls know that no one will look for what they can already see. And secret these things much remain, for once someone knows of it--
Well, there is a kind of power in knowing what someone loves most, is there not?
This one keeps hers under the bed, peeking out just under the skirt. It is special thing for special occasions, hardly worn save to impress. The red shines when she puts them on, the patent leather hugging to the small curves of her feet, and although some others may have better, may have silk slippers or heeled boots soft as a glove--
Here, her boy had said, hands scarred from thorns, blood smearing into the leather. I found them.
--hers are far more precious all the same.
The table is well lit, and Kai sees to it that the barmaids keep it laden with food and drink aplenty, but--
“This is kind of you,” Shirayuki says, hesitant, “but I need your help.”
“Anything,” he promises, and the men pressed in beside her nod, eyes wide and innocent.
She stifles a sigh. A part of her-- a non-small part of her-- wishes it had been Shiira instead. “It’s Obi. He’s missing.”
Kai goes pale beneath the lights. “Missing?”
She nods, hands gripping the edge of her cloak. “I need to know if you know-- know anything. If anyone has seen anything.”
The men exchange concerned glances, the kind adults do over the heads of little children. Her nails bite hard into her palms. This is what all her years of learning, all her hard work has come to: for everyone to treat her as if she is as unable to hear simple truths as a child.
“Please.” She hates how her voice cracks under the weight of her worry, of her anger. “If anyone knows anything-- anything, I don’t have much, but...”
She places a long, wooden box on the table, and with a practiced motion, pulls the lid open.
“What I do have,” she says, watching the glass bead wink in the light, its orange gloss as alive as fire, “is yours.”
The river is a force of nature, relentless, ruthless, and uncaring, but--
So are little girls, when they have been crossed.
Is it true you took my boy from me? the little girl asks the river, her words lost in its rapids. I don’t have much, but what I have is yours.
It does not answer; water may be ever-changing, ever-flowing, but it waits on tradition.
If I give you my shoes, she asks, brushing their shiny leather for the last time, will you give him back to me?
The men are silent, eyes fixed to the hairpin glistening on the tabletop. Lady Mihoko may say it is the least among her ornaments, lacking the precious stones and fine filigree that most nobles favor, but-- it has worth. The bead may be glass, but the pin is gold, and what it lacks in precious jewels it makes up for in rarity; in all her travels across Clarines and Tanbarun, Shirayuki has never seen another like it.
It only strikes her now that maybe, just maybe, it was too fine a prize for a bare-knuckled fight under a bridge. That maybe--
Maybe it might be more precious than she could have ever known.
Her chest tightens as one of the men reaches out. Here she is, with Obi’s greatest treasure, and she is giving it away.
Maybe it’s no wonder why he left.
The little girl watches as her red shoes float back to shore, watches as they are left so delicately on the bank, and forgets how to breathe.
Did I not throw them far enough? she asks, using all her strength to hurl then into its current. Give me back my boy!
Still they drift back to her, cutting through the river’s relentless flow, now even a drop of water left on them.
Where is he? she asks the river. If he is not with you, then where has he gone?
But that is not the bargain, now is it?
He slides the lid shut. “We couldn’t possibly take this, my lady.”
Another of the guard nods, eager. “It wouldn’t be right.”
“Not when you’re looking for Sir Obi,” Kai tells her. “I didn’t see anything, but one of the recruits mentioned something the other night.”
Her heart flutters painfully in her chest. “What did he say?”
“I don’t...” Kai’s cheeks flush, and his eyes won’t meet hers. “Are you sure you want to know?”
“Yes!” She’s breathless, so close to her answers.
“The recruit doesn’t know Sir Obi, not by anything but reputation, so we can’t be sure--”
Her hands dart out, grabbing the close weave of his sleeve. “Kai, please, anything.”
He glances up at the other guards, uncertain, and says, “He saw a man leaping over the walls the night Sir Obi went missing. He thought it was odd at the time, but since they were leaving from inside and going outside--”
“They?”
Kai grimaces. “Yes, they.”
She stares, uncomprehending. “He wasn’t alone?”
“No.” Kai hesitates, looking sick, before he adds, “He was seen leaving with a woman, my lady.”
It is funny how we want answers, how we need them, how we are desperate for them-- but only when they are the one we are looking for.
A woman. The air in this pub is too thin, she can hardly breathe. “I need to stand,” she says, hardly thinking, “please.”
The guards all scramble to move, offering hands to help her forward, but--
He wasn’t alone. He had left with a woman. He had planned to leave--
“I think,” says an all-too-familiar voice, “that this is quite enough.”
Shirayuki raises her gaze, fixing on the cloaked figure before her, on the pale of her hair in the gaslight, on the nigh-black indigo her eyes have become in the shadow, on the pale outstretched hand that hovers, expectant before her.
“Come on,” Kiki says, gentle yet firm. “It’s time to go back.”
It is magnificent, is it not, how we survive?
It is said it is our strongest instinct, the call we cannot refuse. When there is nothing else left to us, when not even thought can be counted upon, it is still in us to live.
A body may have a thousand cuts, a back may be pricked with a dozen arrows, but oh, how we will still stand, how we still take the next step, and then another. How we will walk a mile as we still bleed, if only to to take another breath.
And yet still, it is possible to die of a broken heart. And old man may lose his lover, and when he lays down that night, he never wakes.
A poison, a blade, our longing: it is up to the heart to decide what we can take.
Isn’t it magnificent how it is impossible to know which will be the killing blow?
It is lucky that her arm is tucked so nearly into Kiki’s side as they walk back; Shirayuki’s mind cannot hold a thought for more than a moment, let alone try to trace her steps back through the market.
“He wasn’t alone,” she manages. “Someone left with him.”
Kiki hums.
“A woman.” Her brow furrows. “She must have gone over the gate with him. Do you think that it could be Torou?”
“I couldn’t say,” Kiki replies, tight.
“Do you think that he...” She cannot seem to make the words settle on her tongue. “Do you think that he planned...?”
She cannot make herself say, do you think he meant to leave without saying goodbye?
Kiki is silent, the sort of silent that isn’t empty but heavy instead.
Shirayuki stops, and Kiki pauses beside her. “Did you know he didn’t leave alone?”
Kiki’s mouth pulls thin, and she looks away. “It’s late. We should get inside.”
Shirayuki lets out a long breath, finally glancing at the door before them, and--
“This isn’t my room.” She blinks. “This isn’t even my wing.”
“No,” Kiki says with a long sigh. “It isn’t.”
Not every lie is meant to wound. Oh no, some are meant to be shields, a cushion between our softer parts and the sharp edges of reality.
After all, not all of us are ready for the harsh light of truth. Some of us would prefer to remain blinded all our lives, if only we could keep from hurting.
“I must admit,” the consort says, as elegant on her ottoman as if she were keeping court. “I did think you would last longer than this.”
Shirayuki drops into a genuflect so low her head nearly brushes the carpet. She has dined with princes and traded quips with kings, but there is something about the consort of Clarines that intimidates her as not even Izana does. “Your Majesty.”
“Please, let us not stand on ceremony.” She gestures for her to sit, though there’s no chairs to take, only the floor before her. “Especially since we are so soon to call each other sisters, are we not? Unless--” she darted a pointed glance at Kiki-- “I am to take from this ill-conceived jaunt that you have changed your mind.”
“N-no!” she yelps, taking a step forward, only halted by the mild-mannered brow the consort lifts. She haltingly drops to her knees, tucking her ankles beneath her on the carpet. “I mean, yes. I mean-- I still want to marry Zen. I just...I can’t let my friend--”
“Shush.” She holds up a hand, mouth bent in a kindly curve. “I understand your worry. But I have always been told you are a clever girl, and you are going to have to be much cleverer than this if you wish to marry my brother.”
Shirayuki frowns, annoyance building. “I just went into the market--”
“And into a tavern frequented by commoners,” the consort interjects, cross. “I know that you have, to this point, been far more free to roam as you see fit, but my husband place this restriction upon you for a reason. Surely you must know that a woman of your standing must be entirely above reproach if she wishes to...elevate her station to the degree you do.”
“I’m not trying to--”
“You are,” she is informed. “Perhaps you do not want the title, but Clarines cannot be cloven from a Wisteria, no matter how much you wish it. It is best that you resign yourself to that reality now, if no one else has seen fit to impress it upon you.”
Shirayuki squirms, the carpet rubbing at her knees. “Haruka did tell me something like that.”
“I would expect so. He’s a realist, unlike some.” Haki shifts on her stool, leaning close. “If you are to maintain the reputation needed to make this scheme work, you cannot go haring off to find your friend. Not when Zen has everything well in hand.”
She sits back, gracing Shirayuki with a significant look. “Especially after another man.”
Heat creeps up her cheeks, and oh, that implication knots her dread tighter in her gut, makes it sit as heavy as lead. “It’s not like that. I just can’t sit by if something’s happened--”
“It’s not easy,” the consort allows, with all the weight of someone who knows from experience. “But a princess is not a hound. It is not our place to search.”
Her hands clench tight in her lap. “I can’t do nothing.”
“Nor did I say you should.” The consort’s lips tilt, sly. “When one cannot act themselves, they rely on their people to act for them.”
Frustration wells up in her. “I don’t have people. I only have myself.”
“Come now, you cannot believe that.” She tilts her head, laying a thoughtful finger to her chin. “You have Zen, who in turn has people. People who he is using to find your Obi as we speak.”
Shirayuki darts a glance at Kiki, but she’s inscrutable, as always. “Is he?”
The consort raises her brows. “You doubt him?”
“I...” She doesn’t want to. “The guard--”
“As if my brother would send our guards to find a man of his aide’s caliber.” The consort laughs, so easy. “Did he not promise you he would find him? Give you his word?”
“Y-yes.” She can still feel his hands around hers, the warm way he had looked at her. “He did.”
“Then how can you worry?” The consort smiles brightly. “My brother’s word is his bond.”
“I...” Something twists with her, dark, but she swallows it down. “Right. Of course. Zen is-- handling it.”
The consort nods, business concluded. “Good. Now come, I’ve been told you are struggling with your lessons.”
Oh. She hadn’t been aware that was...common knowledge. “I...”
“It’s only to be expected,” the consort concludes, “most ladies are trained their entire life for this, and you have only just started. But worry not,” she smiles, so warm, “I will help you.”
Shirayuki’s eyes pulse wide. “M-me? That’s...very generous of you.”
Haki’s mouth curls in amusement. “I won’t pretend my motives are not personal. I’ve seen the list of candidates for if this experiment fails, and you are fully the most interesting person out of all of them.” Teeth flash from behind her lips, gone in a moment. “I refuse to have to plan every gala with someone whose most nuanced opinion has been formed over the difference between carmine and crimson.”
Shirayuki frowns. “Aren’t they both red?”
“See, already you are more tolerable than half of them.” She sighs, waving a weary hand. “What you don’t know about this life can be learned. And unlike some, I believe in setting up people to succeed. It must be my soft northern heart.”
Now that her heart is calm, she remembers the enormity of what she’s done. “So you won’t-- I mean, Izana--?”
“Ah, your little jaunt. No, this will be our little secret.” Shirayuki isn’t sure who that shark’s smile is for, but she’s glad it’s not her. “Women must have some, after all.”
But that is the thing, is it not? That which is hidden never stays buried. Reality never halts its siege.
In the end, all we have done is allowed the truth to hone its blade. In the end, it is a betrayal we never meant to make.
It’s funny how we may hurt the ones we love so easily, without ever even trying.
#obiyuki#akagami no shirayukihime#snow white with the red hair#my fic#All That Remains#snow queen au#this part has gotten a little out of control#i mean it makes sense it's like the longest part of the original story#but there's like one or two more parts to this 'chapter' still coming#we're juuuuuuust getting to the woman who can conjure#like 15K into this part ughhhh#WHATEVER IT'LL BE WORTH IT#ENJOY YOUR PAIN YOU MASOCHISTS
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Adrift in the Snow (1/2) : One Month
Content warning: vomit mention
They arrived at Starlight Gate when the sun was at its highest.
The journey back from the last house in the northern region of Clarines was not rushed. Though it was tiring, horse-riding for long days and sleeping in unfamiliar beds for longer nights, Shirayuki, Obi and Ryuu weren’t close to dozing off on the last leg of their travels to Wistal.
Shirayuki could only hope the others wouldn’t realise she was stalling.
She had been anticipating that day for a long time – one where she held her head high in front of Izana, the fruits of her hard work over the years beared before him. At times she imagined Obi and Ryuu with her, at others it’d be Zen. It was his side she worked to stand by for so long, after all. And for years that ambition was as clear as day, and if she had to prove herself to a king, then she would.
But when she stood in his Majesty Izana’s office, blinding sun spilling through the tall windows, only grey clouds filled her head.
Izana gently flicked through the final pages of their report, speaking as he read. “Each house you’ve visited in the north has agreed to the plantation of Phostyrias before the start of the next winter.” With a small smile on his lips, he looked up at them as he laid it on his desk. “Congratulations, you’ve successfully completed your mission.”
Shirayuki’s heart lifted, and for a moment she could focus on the joy. “Thank you,” she breathed. “We couldn’t have done it without all the people who believe in the Phostyrias as much as we do.”
Perhaps she was projecting, or maybe the sun was too bright, but she swore she could see Izana’s smile warm.
“Miss and Little Ryuu convinced them first,” said Obi. There was a lightness in his voice that made him sound so gentle that Shirayuki couldn’t help but look at him. “That was the whole point.”
Ryuu stood up straighter. “It was the three of us, together,” he said. “Obi was chosen for a reason too.”
Shirayuki wanted that moment to last forever. The three of them, standing together after all they’ve been through. She had felt so strong then with their support.
Yet so weak, knowing it wasn’t going to last.
“But speaking of Ryuu and Shirayuki specifically,” Izana interjected, “this does bring up our next discussion, and that’s regarding both of your transfers to Wilant Castle as Royal Pharmacists.”
Both, he had said. And Shirayuki’s stomach dropped to the floor.
Izana looked at Ryuu first. “You initially deferred your transfer in order to accompany Shirayuki and Obi on their mission around the north. Now that that has been successful, I expect that you will be transferring within the next month.”
Ryuu nodded firmly. “Yes, your Majesty.”
Izana then looked back at her. “And Shirayuki.”
The skin of Shirayuki’s neck broke into sweat. It was the moment she’d been dreading. The decision. One she thought she already made up her mind on for long but…
If Izana noticed anything, it did not stop him. “Since your first time in Lilias, I have been impressed with your work, your dedication and your potential. And with the success of the Phostyrias throughout its entire process, I believe you’ve proven yourself to me enough.”
It was as though the room centred in on her, caging her, as he said, “I trust that you will do well, as you have here in Wistal and in Lilias. You will be going with him.”
She expected nothing different from his Majesty, Shirayuki thought, that it wasn’t a question. He gave nothing away – neither what he knew nor what he didn’t. All she could give him then, like the first time she ever met him, was honesty, even if it meant those who ever doubted her might’ve been right.
Taking a deep breath, she opened her mouth and…
--------------------
“One meatball and one cabbage soup?”
Shirayuki sits a little straighter and smiles as the waitress sets the bowls on the table. She glances across her towards Suzu, who is already eating the cabbage with his eyes, and stifles a laugh.
Suzu deadpans at her when the waitress leaves. “What?”
“Nothing.” Her grin widens as she picks up her spoon. “I’ve just never seen you look at cabbage so intensely.”
“After the amount of vomiting that went on all afternoon, I do not want anything hearty sloshing around in my guts.”
Shirayuki grimaces, but she tries not to let the image ruin her meatball soup. She deserves this. It’s been a long day and they’re in for a cold night. It’s just too bad the amount of complaints from stomach bugs and food poisoning meant the university kitchens would be closed for the night while they figured out what went wrong.
The town swelled with a sudden influx of hungry scholars searching for dinner. But with the snowy winds outside, she and Suzu settled for speed-walking across the town into an inn restaurant they didn’t know instead of waiting in line.
At least there’s a big fireplace, Shirayuki thinks while she lifts the spoon to her mouth. And decent soup. Obi would like it, if he was there.
In-between slow bites, she looks out the window next to her. They’re past the town square, but not so far that the streets aren’t lively. There are a few shop names she recognises from Yuzuri and Kirito’s recommendations. Then, further out and around the corner there’s an inn larger than the others. She sees the sign out front and—
Her heart drops, though it doesn’t have very far to fall. It feels more like tripping up a stair and hitting her knees on the next. Short, but still with a tang of bitterness in her mouth. It makes her frown.
“What are you looking at?”
Shirayuki rests her chin on her hand, gaze still out the window. “That inn across the road. Zen and I got stranded there in a snowstorm that time he came to visit.”
Suzu leans over the table and peeks outside. “Oh.” Then he slowly plops back down awkwardly in his chair. “Haven’t heard about him in a while. I don’t really know what happened after that, but…”
What happened was that Zen’s jealousy got…Shirayuki shakes her head and doesn’t finish the thought. There’s no use going down that road again, thinking about the trespassing and the close calls that almost cost her reputation and the Phostyrias mission. She can only be glad now that neither of those things were lost. But still, in all the years of aiming to stand by his side, thankful for the kind hand he reached out to her that very first morning by the border of Clarines, she didn’t think he’d be a reason for it all to almost come toppling down.
She would be lying if she said she wasn’t grateful for Zen. She doesn’t know where she’d be if he hadn’t helped her. But even though they agreed that they’re still important and dear to each other and could still be close friends, they still haven’t written to each other. It was sobering to realise that wasn’t actually new. It made her wonder, underneath all those secret kisses hidden away in forests and between great pillars, whether faith without real communication or trust was all they had. And how long ago it had become that way.
“Maybe after being away from each other for so long,” she says, “he could only remember what I was to him, but not who I was. Like he forgot what it meant for me to stand on my own feet and walk my own path.” Or to fight her own battles and emerge victorious through sincerity that blooms hopes into bright futures, the way she always has and always will.
“Was that the deal breaker?”
Shirayuki turns to look at Suzu’s blank face. He’s not judging, just curious because he cares. So, she nods.
Suzu nods back. “That’s fair.” And he continues eating like the conversation never happened. “So, has Ryuu written from Wilant yet?”
--------------------
“No.”
The air in the room dropped two degrees. Silent. She couldn’t look anywhere but at Izana, surprise flashing across his face for a moment. But she still had much rather looked at him than either of the people beside her.
Izana smooths his expression into neutrality. “No?”
“I…” Shirayuki looked down at her hands. “I don’t…I don’t know…”
“Miss?”
She knew it was a mistake to look up at him before she even did it. Her heart wrenched.
Obi’s eyes were wide with disbelief, holding his breath the same way Shirayuki’s was trapped in her chest and clawing at her lungs. “You’re really…?”
She couldn’t tear her eyes from Obi’s. It was torture, watching the thoughts of what went wrong and how and what it meant rushing through his head when the decision was hers and hers alone. “If I were to leave for Wilant tomorrow,” she said, “I wouldn’t be able to tell you that that is what I truly want right now."
“You do realise, Shirayuki, that I unfortunately cannot wait for you forever,” Izana said calmly. “And unlike Ryuu, there was no current mission that you can undertake that will allow you to defer your offer.”
The storm still brewed inside her head. She didn’t know which decision would ease the turbulence, but she nodded solemnly regardless. Choosing one. “Yes, your Majesty. I understand that fully.”
They left Izana’s office in silence.
Obi lingered by the door as it closed behind them. “Is it because of Master?”
Shirayuki stopped. As she stared into no particular space in front of her, Ryuu excused himself and left in the direction of the pharmacy.
It was a lie to say no, but yes wasn’t entirely accurate either. There was more to it that she couldn’t explain.
“I thought that even though your understanding is over,” Obi murmured, “you’re still important to each other. That’s what you said, didn’t you?”
Shirayuki turned around. “We did. It’s just…It’s just that things have changed. I can’t act like I know for certain that what I want now is the same as before, as if I love Zen like I used to. Because I…” She looked down at the ground, defeated. “I’m sorry, Obi. I know you wished for our happiness for all these years.”
Obi’s footsteps drew closer, his shadow right behind. When Shirayuki looked up at him, he was smiling at her sadly.
“But above all else, Miss, I wish for yours.”
--------------------
It’s been a month since then.
Ryuu’s absence is deafening. Shirayuki still looks to her side, searching for his thoughts written in the way he furrows his eyebrows and the sharp focus of his gaze.
She never really talked to Obi about her decision, neither before nor after that morning in Izana’s office. She feels like a bad friend for not. She wants to, if only she can fully explain with words the heavy confusion that rolls inside her gut.
She’s been wandering back-and-forth through the halls of Lilias like a ghost. Without any new research to undertake, she’s been picking up extra shifts in the pharmacy and spending long nights in the library studying. But it doesn’t fill the void she’s trapped in. It’s as though there are cracks in the mirror where she sees herself, a whole piece that’s gone missing right where her eyes are supposed to be. Where she now finds nothing when she tries to look forward.
--------------------
The front door to the dormitories shuts out the snowy winds. As they catch their breath, Shirayuki and Suzu shake the snow out of their hair and off their coats. She can feel the warmth of the lanterns in the hallway seeping into her skin, little by little.
Suzu unwraps his scarf from his neck. “Well, I’m heading straight to bed. I’ll see you at the pharmacy tomorrow morning?”
Shirayuki smiles and nods. “Yeah. See you. And thanks for inviting me out today.”
“No problem,” he says, backing towards the left hallway that leads to his room.
Then Shirayuki is alone again, storm raging on and all.
--------------------
She draws her hand away from Obi’s door.
She worries her lip and steps back. She feels so…silly, turning up at his door again at night. She just wants to feel like things are normal, like they can talk for hours and sleep in the same bed when it’s cold. Like there’s nothing she’s keeping from him.
Why is it suddenly so hard?
She huffs and turns away, tugging the ends of her nightgown sleeves over her hands. He’s sleeping, she thinks. But she takes two steps down the hall when suddenly the door clicks and creaks open. “Miss?”
Obi’s voice is but a husk, and Shirayuki turns around again, apology already on her tongue. “I’m sorry, I know you have an early morning tomorrow so just…forget that I—”
“You know that I don’t mind, Miss.” he says softly. “All you have to do is knock.”
Obi steps back as Shirayuki enters his room. Pitch black envelops it as he closes the door behind her, but even though she can’t see, it’s only a matter of seconds before she crawls onto the bed and snuggles into his blankets.
In the darkness, Obi’s laugh is a low rumble, warm like summer lightning. “You know, a man’s going to get ideas when you keep turning up to his room late at night like this.”
The bed dips next to her. Obi is barely under the blankets when Shirayuki instinctively entwines their ankles, and he wraps an arm around her shoulder. His body is a furnace – Shirayuki’s close to falling asleep right then and there, but she fights it. She wants to tell him. She wants him to know. “Obi?”
Her eyes are still adjusting to the dark, but she can see that Obi opens his and looks at her. Waiting patiently.
He’s always so good to her it…it almost doesn’t feel fair anymore. “Can I be honest with you about something?”
His breathing stills. “What is it?”
Even though they’re so close now, she can’t help but think about how far away from him she felt in that morning inside Izana’s office. When she had told him no. And the way Obi had looked at her…
“I feel like I’ve made a mistake, telling Izana I didn’t want to go to Wilant,” she says. “Not because I want to go now, but…” She breathes deep, lets the air slowly fill her chest. “I spent so long working, trying to prove myself to people so that I could stand by Zen’s side because I…I loved him. But now I don’t and I just…don’t know what to do next.”
She feels like she’s floating in a dark void, not knowing where she is or how she can move. She hates the way it makes her feel. Like she’s…
It hits her. And she whispers, “I feel lost because it’s only about me now. Not me and Zen, just me.”
Shirayuki’s eyes flicker up to Obi’s. He’s staring back at her, eyes as wide as hers.
Suddenly it seems so obvious that Shirayuki can’t help but laugh at herself. “Goodness, how was that so hard? It’s been years since I only needed to think about what I wanted, and what was good for me. But now that I’m not chasing Zen, I’ve turned away the exact thing I came here for in the first place and now I’m just…lost.”
“And I’m sorry I haven’t talked about it with you until now,” she blurts. “I knew you were upset about Zen and me. I just felt like…” Her voice lowers. The shakiness in it is one she doesn’t recognise. “I was afraid that you were going to be disappointed in me.”
“No, no – I’d never…” he breathes. “I didn’t know it was going to change your decision. But like I told you then, I wish for your happiness more than anything else. I didn’t want you to be sad alone.”
Tears prick at Shirayuki’s eyes. She blinks them away, but her heart swells regardless as she rests her forehead against his chest. “Thank you.”
A hitch catches in Obi’s throat. But with a slow exhale, he softens against her. “We don’t always know where we’re going, but sometimes we end up staying in places we never thought we would.”
“I may had worked to prove myself to Izana,” she says, “but I also worked to prove myself here, in Lilias. I’ve made friends for a lifetime and been challenged in ways I never would’ve imagined when I was back in Tanbarun.”
She feels Obi smile into her hair. “Yeah. Exactly.”
His heart beats softly against the palm of her hand. If she moves it up, she’d touch the scar on his chest. But instead she wraps her arm around his side and pulls herself closer to his chest, breathes deeply of the smell of warm, brown earth, sighing.
Closer now, Obi’s fingers are still against her back. But slowly, he exhales, fingers shyly playing with the long strands of her hair.
“I know you don’t talk about Tanbarun much,” Obi murmurs. “But what things did you look forward to back then?”
Shirayuki hums, pondering. “I would just try to help the customers who came in each day. I made sure I had the supplies and the money to make it to the next one. It wasn’t anything big, but it was already enough to keep me busy.”
“But were you happy?”
She thinks about the open fields on the outskirts of town, of wildflowers and the deep forests of her childhood, of the smiles of the villagers and their good health. Of healing.
The thoughts make her smile from somewhere light, deep in her heart. “Yeah.”
She supposes that it’s not all different from back then. Instead of breezy winds, she wakes up to snow under the soles of her boots and sees colour return to the faces of soldiers and exhausted academics. Her forests have been replaced with libraries. Solitude with company.
She doesn’t have to run forward to reach for the next place in her life just yet. For now, she can just be.
--------------------
The storm has calmed by the next morning.
Shirayuki cracks her eyes open one at a time, waking up wrapped in blankets and Obi’s limbs. It’s a little brighter than expected for this time of year, but she’s not complaining.
Outside, Lilias’ bell tower chimes throughout the campus. She counts the great tones under her breath, letting the sound wake her.
When there’s one more bell than there should be, she gasps and starts furiously tapping Obi’s shoulder. “Obi, wake up!”
He groans. “Five more minutes, Miss…”
“We can’t, it’s already eight!” She snakes out of Obi’s arms and out of the bed, padding towards his window to throw open the curtains. Sunlight spills into the room. Obi rolls onto his back and throws an arm over his eyes, groaning more. To an exaggerated degree, even.
She turns around and crawls back onto the bed next to him. “We might be able to get breakfast if we hurry, Obi.”
In one smooth motion, Obi sits up. He droops forward and lets his head fall, bringing a hand up to scratch his endearingly messy bedhead. “Surely the trainees know what to do without me telling them at this point.”
Shirayuki sighs, rolling her eyes in an attempt to hold in the smile that threatens her.
“Alright, I got it, Miss,” Obi turns his head to her and grins widely—
But not before Shirayuki grabs his face in both her hands and promptly kisses his nose.
When she pulls back, Obi is stunned to silence. The tips of his ears are searing red.
“Come on, Obi,” she says, sliding off the bed. “We’ve made it to today. Let’s do our best.”
#obiyukikissdraft#obiyuki#akagami no shirayukihime#'WOW THIS IS MY LAST FIC FOR 2019' i say as though i've written more than 5 things this year#also does tumblr not do those line breaks anymore btwn paragraphs or am i tripping#akagami no shirayuki hime#kiss on the nose
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