🎁 ᴢʜᴏɴɢʀɪɴ 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 ᴡʀᴀᴘᴘᴇᴅ 🫶🏻

ー just a little thing i wanted to make as the year ends 💗

𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐇𝐮𝐛𝐛𝐲 💍

① 👑 zhongli 👑 ✼ best husband, best comfort f/o, best everything. my ultimate blorbo 🧡

② al haitham 🌱 & wriothesley 🐾 ✼ he's such a silly guy. i love him so much. ✼ who's a good puppy! who's the goodest boy! yes you areeee~! <3

ⓧ runner up // neuvillette 🦦 ✼ his en voice almost made me simp. almost. damn you ray chase /lh

𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 🎶

ー✼ the ebg back in february and october! so so so so much chaos fun! both took all the creative juices and sleep i had, but it was all so worth it! i got to connect with more people and interactions were off the charts for the whole week. and coviello... my precious babie <3 i'm pretty sure i'll join another ebg next year given the opportunity.... or perhaps even host one, but with a twist-

ー✼ got matched up T W I C E (well, thrice in total) with mr. i am here's alternate universe selves al haitham. thanks @/ansy-tea / @/kopidense 👍🏻 i shall endeavor to make an effort to discombobulate and fool the silly sprout man in 2024 if there are any other matchup events open lmao

ー✼ teyvatweets! it was so much fun compiling everyone's tweets and coding the website hehe it didn't really blow up or anything due to how 'personal' that project was, but i think about it from time to time. such a fun lil thing!

ー✼ that 1 pity c0 al haitham who came right after ayato.... thanks dad for gracing me with your birthday luck 🙏🏻

ー✼ finally treating myself and indulging in all the selfship commissions. i'm grateful i have the ability to indulge and i'm hoping to do the same next year. and the way everyone just gifted me things for my birthday made me feel so so loved. i couldn't celebrate it with anyone since i wasn't at home, and it was on a weekday meaning my friends were all busy - so it felt like a mini-party... truly, from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much ;w;

ー✼ personally, i'm super happy and kind of proud of getting very comfortable with sharing my art and improving on it! i used to go back and forth whenever i'm trying to post art, but now i'm confident enough to not think too much about it! naturally i have lots to improve and i'm nowhere near 'good' but that's fine with me! i owe it all to yall's support and lovely comments <3

ー✼ all the anon drabbles and charanons!!!! always such a nice sight to wake up to. they're like surprise gifts whenever i open tumblr because i don't have notifications on, and i adore them so much! big big big shoutout to @/floraldresvi, @/crystalflygeo, and @/soleillunne yall are amazing ;w;

ー✼ all the super sweet messages all of you left in my christmas tree.... i'm cradling all the wishes and silliness and messages from my f/os so close to my heart!! ceo!haitham tho. bruh you're still making me work LEAVE ME ALONE- /silly

ー✼ that zhongli birthday celebration series... they're not much, and even with all posts combined they have way less notes than a random vent drabble i dropped in the middle of it lol but i had lots of fun writing, designing, and inserting all the 'golden threads' across the fics nonetheless!! i'll highlight them later so the people who have been following the little series can go 'OH' lol

𝐀𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 🫂

@ainescribe ❀ @silentmoths ❀ @crystalflygeo ❀ @moraxsthrone ❀ @floraldresvi ❀ @sheepmc ❀ @zhxngii ❀ @localplaguenurse ❀ @mysnowmanandmebaby ❀ @the-travelling-witch ❀ @watatsumiis ❀ @kurikurikurisu ❀ @leftdestiny-posts ❀ @kaeffeinee ❀ @queen-belial ❀ @abyssmal-skies ❀ @dawndelion-winery ❀ @yinyinggie ❀ @silkjade ❀ @dustofthedailylife ❀ @scarasmood

@euniveve ❀ @soleillunne ❀ @faesther ❀ @ansy-tea ❀ @vennnnn-diagram ❀ @navxry ❀ @celestetalkstoomuch ❀ @minhosairfryer ❀ @xeraeus ❀ @pearlywritings ❀ @ryuryuryuyurboat ❀ @mochinon-yah ❀ @asoulsreverie ❀ @xiaosonlybeloved ❀ @mooncreates ❀ @jingyuansbird ❀ @tearskillstardust

i love you all and i'm so so glad to have made a connection with you! be it knowing each other from mutual friends, from a drawing/writing commission, or even if we just stumbled onto each other randomly by pure chance - know that i appreciate you! every single one of you are so talented and so wonderful. thank you for being the threads that shaped the comfy sweater that is 2023 for me <3 ps. and for my former moots who are minors but have respected my boundaries, i'm sorry i didn't tag you but i had fun befriending you lot. my best wishes for you in the years ahead too! pps. some of you might know me from my main @/meimeimeirin instead! i separated the list into 2 paragraphs bc tumblr isn't letting me have that many texts in one block apparently hsldfjsd also, if you're not in the list i either 1) forgot, bc i have the memory of a goldfish, or 2) remembered, but felt like it would be intrusive for me to tag you <- (more likely tbh) 😔

@/jjovin3221, @/starffox, @/syrenkitsune, @/finleyrambles, @/dr-birb, @/smokipoki, @/1117sblog, @/virdiaura, @/lawnfei, @/lady-alexis-salt, @/local-ragamuffin, @/the-knaves-world, @/alhaithams-fanfic-stash, @/interpretpages, @/magicalink, @/starlingcore, @/lyralibra, @/crazyrichdaughter, @/winterhuntsman, @/ladycoleigh, @/bettybeako

ALSO, HUGE SHOUTOUT to the people who frequent my notifs. i can't remember most of yall's handles accurately (and for some of you i remember by your pfp instead hskdhskd) but whenever your username pops up, know that i always go "!!!!!" and my imaginative dog ears perks up and my metaphorical tail just starts thumping on the floor <3 thank you so much for your continuous support!! (and i know some of you wrote in my tree so thank you for that too hehe) note: that wasn't an exhaustive list, but more like the blogs i remember seeing a lot on top of my head!!

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 🧡

thank you for such a lovely 2023! thank you for being here and for always supporting my works, my silliness, and myself as a person. here's to more fun shenanigans ahead, and i hope 2024 will be a year that makes us all a better person <3

ꕥ xmas dividers © cafekitsune

Basketball practice (Ace Trappola | Twisted Friends EBG)

Author’s note: Please do not repost!! If you like my writing, please leave a like and a comment (and follow me to see similar content in the future :D)!

It feels a little odd to be using my first name in my writing...but this piece is for EBG so —

You can view my original EBG (extreme bias game) starter post here!

~☆~☆~☆~☆~

“Hey, Kani-chan...your girlfriend just showed up. Fugu-chan! Over here~!”

Girlfriend?! Choking back the embarrassing noise that had threatened to slip from his mouth in response to his upperclassman’s words, Ace scrambles to retrieve the ball that had slipped from his grasp. What girlfriend? He certainly wasn’t attached to anyone at the moment. Scooping up the runaway ball with one hand, he rakes the other through his hair before craning his neck to get a glimpse of the student that Floyd is waving enthusiastically at. They’re too far away for Ace to register anything other than grey-ish hues donned by those who resided in the Octavinelle dormitories, —just how good was Floyd’s eyesight?— but it’s enough to allow Ace to make an educated guess of the student’s identity. After all, he could count the number of Octavinelle students that he interacted with frequently on his fingers.

The girl crosses the basketball court. When she gets close enough for Ace to get a good look at her face, he gives himself a pat on the back for guessing her identity correctly. It was none other than his favourite person to needle (other than Deuce, anyway) —Matilda. Now that he knew it was her, Ace wasn’t as surprised by the leap in logic that Floyd had made when he’d addressed her Ace’s girlfriend; they had been spending a considerable amount of time together lately. And while Matilda hadn’t said so explicitly, if the letters that she had been leaving in her room were anything to go by, Ace was pretty sure that she liked him. Romantically.

Ace had caught her stealing glances at him too, whenever she thought that he wasn’t looking. He’d tease her for her blatant attraction towards him —if only he hadn’t been doing the same whenever she was looking the other way.

Ace wanders over to Floyd’s side just as Matilda glides to a stop before them. She offers them a nod in greeting before directing a scowl in Floyd’s direction. “Why am I a pufferfish?” 

Floyd doesn’t seem to notice the sour expression the girl’s wearing, or perhaps he doesn’t care. “Eh...‘cause you kinda remind me of one when you get angry. You get all cute and puffy…” 

Her scowl only deepens, and Ace has to stifle a snort at just how accurate Floyd’s statement was. He still values his life, however, so he bites back the smile that threatens to take over his face in favour of reaching out to ruffle her hair. “What are you doing here? Didn’t you join the light music club? Don’t tell me you missed me so much that you couldn’t live without me for a couple of hours…”

The spotlight is on him now. If looks could kill, Ace would have withered there and then. Out of the corner of his eye, Ace spots Floyd meandering slowly making a quick beeline for the exit, leaving him and Matilda alone in the gymnasium; the basketball club’s practice had ended an hour ago. “Don’t flatter yourself, Trappola! I just wanted to return you the pen that you lent me.” 

Ace raises an eyebrow. “That’s all? Couldn’t you do that during class tomorrow or something?”

“Shut it, Trappola.”

She rolls her eyes and jabs the pen roughly into his chest, but despite her huffy facade a slow blush creeps upwards from the collar of her blazer until her cheeks are flushed red. This time, Ace doesn’t bother to suppress the smirk that twitches at the corners of his lips, which only makes her blush harder. “M-Maybe I did want to see you...but it’s not like I think that you’re any good at basketball or anything like that, I just wanted to see how long you would last before you fell flat on your face! B-Besides—”

“I got the message, spitfire.” In a similar manner as to how she’d returned him his pen, Ace shoves the basketball that he’s still holding into her arms, effectively cutting off what was undoubtedly a potential tirade. “Since you’re here, do you want to try shooting some hoops?”

Her brow furrows. “I’m not very good at basketball.”

“It’s easy. Here, you’d wanna change your grip—”  It’s unnecessary and perhaps a little unfair when he’s well aware of her attraction towards him, but he circles behind her so that her back is pressed up against his chest, before reaching around her to adjust her hold on the ball. She freezes under his touch, but doesn’t object to him putting his arms around her —in fact, Ace swears that she even leans back against him a little. So he takes it one step further and moves to rest his chin on her shoulder.

The ball slips from her fingers and hits the floor with a loud thump. “A-Ace. Um...do you have to be so close?”

“You called me Ace.” Her perfume smells sweet. Ace wonders what scent that’s supposed to be...berries? “Are you complaining, Matilda?”

A second passes. And then another.

Hurriedly extracting herself from Ace’s embrace, she mutters an excuse about having to help out at the Mostro Lounge before making a break for the exit. She refuses to lift her gaze and make eye contact with him even once throughout her barely coherent stream of rambling, but Ace notes that her cheeks —while rosy before— are now a bright crimson. How cute.

He wonders if he could find an excuse to have her visit him after practice again in the future.

The state of ebg in the server rn

Everyone has taken to sabotaging @luvielle and I feel so bad cldkdbxkxbsv

EXTREME BIAS GAME in my discord is all over! Whew! I can show my love for Jamil Viper, Azul and Kalim!

Don’t worry I’ll continue the Extreme Bias storyline later today and break a couple of hearts.

Sebek Zigvolt’s Fae-Human Identity and Why He Deserves All the Love in the World

Author’s note:: It is I, Jessamine, back with another simp essay--this time, for Sebek Zigvolt!! But unlike the Leona post I wrote for EBG, this is an actual analysis of Sebek’s character following the recent Pomefiore update. The casual info drop about his half-human ancestry ended up explaining a lot of preexisting lore around our lovable Diasomnia bby, and I plan to list down all of those connections I’d made in the past three hours!! To all of the Sebek simps and Twst writers, I hope you all enjoy reading my messy (over)analysis ヽ(｀Д´)ノ

♡ 1.1k words under the cut ♡

♡ Sebek is half-fae and half-human - As soon as Silver brought that up, a lot of Sebek stans started crying on Twitter. I mean, think about it--can you imagine what kind of identity crisis our cucumber bby must be going through?? In the world of Twisted Wonderland, Sebek is a mixed-species character who has presumably rejected his human ancestry yet still suffers a disconnection from his fae identity. His ancestors are split between two different species, and Sebek can’t fully identify as either despite having the blood of both. Sure, he’s probably more in touch with his fae side and family since he lives in the Valley of Thorns--but he can’t call himself a pure-blooded fae, much less a human ;-;

♡ Sebek’s perception of humans - Okie, we all know that Sebek is harsh with humans, especially if it concerns Malleus. That’s why his half-human identity is so important because if you think about it...when Sebek looks down on humans, is he actually projecting his hatred towards his own humanity?? Maybe that’s why he acts more fae than human--because he doesn’t want to directly admit his perceived inferiority or his fragmented sense of identity :0

♡ Sebek’s identity as Malleus’s retainer - Sebek‘s character practically revolves around his wakasama, to the point that he’s even known as “The Ardent Draconian” in Night Raven College. His grandfather had probably contributed to his admiration for Malleus, but there could be a more personal reason as to why Sebek values his role as a retainer so much:: When Sebek becomes a full-time guard for Malleus, he will finally have an identity which he can take pride and comfort in. He won’t be known as a fae-human hybrid but as an honored knight of Malleus（　ﾟДﾟ）

♡ Sebek’s need for praise and validation - I’ve already explained why Sebek is so devoted to his role as a retainer of Malleus. But this is going to be a separate point because the third point is already pretty long sksksksk xD Okie, we all know that Sebek seeks praise from Malleus and Lilia. His Alchemy Lessons even feature this important voiceline--Please praise me. Why is he so weak to praise?? I believe that the reason for this is because Sebek’s main source of validation is the acknowledgement of his efforts. He won’t be praised for being a fae or a human--and he probably wouldn’t be happy if anyone acknowledged that--but he can be proud of his hard work and his subsequent individual achievements ╥﹏╥

♡ Sebek has a history with Silver and Lilia - We don’t know much about their past, but we do know that the Valley of Thorns is a land of fairies and magic. But Silver and Lilia are unique in the sense that they have deep connections to humans. In an environment where he doesn’t fit in and has less magic capability than the fae, Sebek probably felt a sense of kinship with a human like Silver. Could that be the reason why they grew up together?? What I do know is that Lilia didn’t take in Sebek just so that Silver would have a childhood friend. He likely did it because Sebek is the living embodiment of Lilia’s greatest wish. In Dance and Wishes, Lilia wishes for the different species in Twisted Wonderland, particularly the fairies and humans, to live in harmony. Those two species are still at war in Sebek’s identity, but his birth originated from peace <3

♡ Sebek calls everyone by their species - One thing I’d like to clarify about Sebek is the fact that he addresses almost everyone by the name of their species. The clearest example is “ningen” for all humans and “neko” for Lucius. But Sebek...can’t do the same for himself. He can’t call himself a fae nor a human because he is a mix of both. As of now, Sebek is the only mixed-species character in Twisted Wonderland, and his speech mannerisms are another allusion to that ٩(× ×)۶

♡ Sebek’s hobby is reading - It’s ironic that an extremely loud character has such a quiet hobby. While we still lack much Sebek lore, we do know that he has an affinity for literature and that he has a problem looking for subjective answers in Art. So how do those two character traits exist simultaneously?? My headcanon is that Sebek likes reading because it helps him understand the languages and feelings of the two species he belongs to. Literature places you in the perspective of another person, and reading qualifies as a method for Sebek to feel closer to his own two species (°◇°)

♡ Sebek’s favorite food is salmon carpaccio - Am I the only one who was introduced to salmon carpaccio by Sebek?? At first, I assumed that it was his favorite food because salmon is part of French cuisine and Disney’s Sleeping Beauty was set in France. But after the new update, it finally clicked--salmon is an anadromous fish which can survive in both freshwater and saltwater. Furthermore, no matter the long distance, the salmon is able to navigate its way back to the stream it was born in. If I were to connect the dots, Sebek (the salmon) has assimilated into the Valley of Thorns (the sea) but in the end, he needs to remember his human roots (the stream) (ºΔº)

♡ Sebek’s least favorite food is black coffee - Here’s another sh*tty analogy!! Sebek’s favorite food is pretty sophisticated, but he lacks the same sentiments for black coffee. I originally thought he disliked it simply because he’s still bby, but now?? Black coffee is just coffee without milk, sugar, or any additives. Since Sebek is mixed-species, his beverage counterpart could never be black coffee, because he is neither a pure fae nor a pure human. And if the illogical superiority assigned to black coffee drinkers has any additional significance to his character…SEBEK I LOVE YOU PLS DON’T FEEL SAD ABOUT YOUR IDENTITY (ಥ﹏ಥ)

♡

Okie, that’s all I can say for now!! Those Sebek crumbs rlly turned out to be a vital piece of information about our precious bby and I hope that Yana-sensei sheds more light on this in future stories. What I can personally say about Sebek’s fae-human identity is that…it hit me on a personal level. Sebek is a character whom we can’t understand as of now, but his fragmented sense of identity and heritage is something which some players can sympathize with. We don’t know yet if Sebek is truly burdened by his mixed-species identity but there is a struggle and it has explained a lot about his character. And that mutual pain was what upgraded my love for Sebek from a cute cinnamon roll to a comfort character whom I ended up crying over. I hope my analysis actually made sense to all of you, and let’s keep showering Sebek with the love and validation he needs!! ⊂（♡⌂♡）⊃

Tag a Sebek simp!! @twsted-caramel​ @momochiiiiiiiiii​ @ji-yaaan​ @lys-hazuki​ @twistedwonderlxnd​ @mobagehelllocal​

I , Taku, am joining the Extreme Bias Game (EBG). My favorite Twisted Wonderland character is Jade Leech. While playing EBG, i am not allowed to interact with any sort of content with my fave or mention them in any way, shape, or form. I will accept the punishment if I lose.

hello I'll be participating in ebg (extreme bias game) with a few friends. Here is my avoid list. feel free to sabotage me but i wont break :3

If you see me interacting with posts related to this guy, no you did not see anything 💕

I , Taku, am joining the Extreme Bias Game (EBG). My favorite Twisted Wonderland character is Jade Leech. While playing EBG, i am not allowed to interact with any sort of content with my fave or mention them in any way, shape, or form. I will accept the punishment if I lose.

hello I'll be participating in ebg (extreme bias game) with a few friends so if you're wondering if there's a lack of simping posts in my blog, yes this is the reason. anyways, here is my avoid list. feel free to sabotage me but i wont break :3

if you see me interacting with posts related to this guy, no you did not 💕

I am joining the Extreme Bias Game (EBG). My favorite Twisted Wonderland characters are Riddle Roseheart and Neige Leblanche. While playing EBG, i am not allowed to interact with any sort of content with my fave/s or mention them in any way shape or form. I will accept the punishment if I lose.

Y'all are allowed to sabotage me and make me lose.

ALSO @rainebowkitty TAKE CARE OF THEM FOR ME MY NEW BEST FRIEND AAAAA-

A New Meme On Internet Is Trending And It Comes From A X-rated Movie And We Can’t Stop Laughing

Memes are the lifeblood of the online universe

Whether we’re talking about Salt Bae or how Jet Fuels Can’t Melt Steel Beams, nothing is off limits. And they usually go viral within the span of a few hours, with everyone adding their own twists to it here and there. And I’m here to tell you that there’s a new one going around this very moment, and it’s happening right in front of your salad.

I know you’re confused, that’s usually how new memes get you.

This recent one usually involves saying something of disbelief or something that’ll get a rise out of you, followed by, “Really? Right in front of my salad?”

Just look at them

Are you guys really going to start talking about back to school? Are you serious? Right in front of my salad?? http://pic.twitter.com/UFPmnJqGES

— Jamie Ridolfo (@JamieRidolfo) August 2, 2017

Y’all gonna disregard George Harrison right in front of my salad http://pic.twitter.com/R3Ak7Ul6Ph

— sarah (@longtallsaIIy) August 2, 2017

Priest: you may now kiss the bride

Me, from the back pew, forking romaine lettuce and croutons into my mouth: RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY SALAD?

— Apollo (@thisisapollo) August 2, 2017

What’s even funnier about it is the context

Being racist, sexist, homophobic or transphobic right in front of my salad?! http://pic.twitter.com/anflDuUtKo

— Sure Djan (@Djaldebaran1) August 2, 2017

Y’all gone let Despacito break Mariah’s record right in front of my salad? http://pic.twitter.com/FZ0qSmOZIc

— Percy (@HeavyMetalLamb) August 2, 2017

Everytime I see Jaime and Cersei together, my feelings are just like the “right in front of my salad” girl. #GameofThrones http://pic.twitter.com/GDQr2WvLXs

— Lizzie K (@SparkOfInsanity) August 2, 2017

It actually originated from a gay porno, as in por— no, I’m not joking

Me when I go out to drink w/my bff & her bf, and they start getting all lovey dovey. Like are you serious? RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY SALAD?! http://pic.twitter.com/mt7csNhgQu

— Nai (@ilunga_) August 2, 2017

my mom is taking away my phone everyday so i can read? are you serious !? right in front of my salad? http://pic.twitter.com/y3ffPNHW5P

— ㅤaaliyah lost ebg (@Igbtbusan) August 2, 2017

it’s still only Wednesday? are you serious?! right in front of my salad http://pic.twitter.com/tmqd6CnTin

— repeat•to•fade (@repeattofade) August 2, 2017

And it’s funnier when people find out where the meme actually came from

Me: “Why is “Right in front of my salad” trending? *looks it up* Me: http://pic.twitter.com/qSFvfsYSZb

— Ross O’Brien (@RossO_Brien) August 2, 2017

It came from a movie known as Private Lessons 3, wherein two males were having sex behind the counter. They do this while they’re talking to their friend, the one that went viral, because the moment she realises what’s going on, she exclaims:

 “Are you two fucking? Are you serious? Right in front of my salad?!”

http://ift.tt/2fnUI2D

Love letter 1 - To: Ace Trappola (Twisted Friends EBG)

You can view my original EBG (extreme bias game) starter post here!

~☆~☆~☆~☆~

Dear Trappola,

You're annoying. Unbelievably so. And a dumbass. A pain in the behind, a thorn in the side...no matter which way you slice it, you're just a pest in my life that I can't seem to get rid of.

...

And yet.

It's funny really, how I can't seem to get my mind off you. It started with the way you stood your ground on behalf of the rest of Heartslabyul; it was so reckless of you, so stupid...but despite knowing that you were putting your own safety at risk, you tried to make a stand for what was right —how am I supposed to stay mad at you for scaring the life out of me when I know that you just wanted to stand up for those who were too afraid to stand up for themselves? Maybe...maybe you had your own hidden motives when you did that. But from my point of view, I saw a sweet boy with a strong sense of justice.

Maybe I was wrong to judge a book by its cover, Trappola. And maybe I was off the mark about how I felt about you, because I think I'm falling in love. But don't take this the wrong way!! It's not...

...it's not like I like you or anything.

...

But if I did...would you be willing to go out with me?

-Matilda

The colour of heartbreak - (Ace Trappola | Twisted Friends EBG FINALE)

Author’s note: Please do not repost!! If you like my writing, please leave a like and a comment (and follow me to see similar content in the future :D)!

EBG is over! Achievement get! :D Congratulations to everyone who earned bragging rights! (I’m one of them :D)

This is my final self insert piece written for EBG!  You can view my original EBG (extreme bias game) starter post here!

~☆~☆~☆~☆~

Navigating the hedge maze that surrounded the Heartslabyul dormitories had once been an impossible task; she recalls a time when she had gotten so hopelessly lost amongst the —seemingly— never ending flora that she began to seriously consider living out the rest of her miserable existence amongst the rose bushes. Roaming its walls was as easy as breathing now, as easy as knowing the words to her favourite song. It took several months of trial and error and several similar mishaps, but she had finally committed the layout of the maze to memory. 

She tiptoes to swipe at the low hanging branch of a cherry tree, and concedes that having someone to guide her probably helped. Even though her guide was as irritating as an itch she couldn’t scratch, and was currently snatching the cherries that she had just plucked for himself. Cries of protest ring in the air, disrupting the serenity that had been prevalent just a moment prior. But her companion doesn’t seem to care. He merely laughs, and sticks his tongue out at her before popping a cherry in his mouth.

Ace Trappola had and always would be a menace. (But a cute one. Annoyingly so; the shit-eating grin that he’s shooting her may have designed to taunt her, but she can’t help but melt a little under that smile.)

Biting back a huff of annoyance, she resists the urge to stamp her foot as he dangles the rest of the fruit over her head. “Were you raised in a barn, Trappola? You know that food is supposed to go in your mouth and not on it, right?”

She tugs at the sleeve of her blazer. Pulling it over the palm of her hand, she uses it to dab at the juice that stains the corners of his lips. She half expects to become the instant target of Ace’s ridicule, and braces herself for him to make fun of her for behaving as though she were his mother. But the jeers that she’s come to expect from him never reach her ears. Ace seems to freeze under her touch, staring down at her with a deer in the headlights expression that she isn’t used to seeing on Heartslabyul’s resident troublemaker. It’s amusing and somewhat adorable to see him in such a state, and a part of her is tempted to tease him for that slack-jawed look that he’s directing her. But when she opens her mouth, the words stick in her throat. 

Her heart skips a beat. Ace Trappola has the most amazing eyes. Who knew? They’re the same reddish hue as the fruit that still dangles from his fingertips but...better, somehow. Brighter. She’d always associated the colour red with anger, with pain —with bloodshed and the callous flames that burn endlessly in depths of hell. Red was hatred; red was the stinging of skin that followed a raised hand. Red was the self loathing that echoed in her mind whenever she met her own gaze in the mirror, the disgust and disappointment directed at herself that seeped through the pores of her skin and hung in the air in dark, heavy clouds. Red was the hot tears that came with knowledge that the fleeting happiness that she had gotten a taste of was no longer hers. Red was the colour of heartbreak.

Had she been mistaken? 

She feels compared to lean in, to close the gap that separates them —even if it’s only by the slightest, most miniscule amount. Ace must have had the same idea, however, for a second later his lips are crashing against her own.

Ace’s lips are warm and taste of cherries. Those are the only things that she manages to register before she snaps to attention. The fog that’s clouded her mind over the last couple of days lifts, and she reels backwards from the kiss so quickly and with such force that she nearly sends herself sprawling. The only thing keeping her from cracking her skull open is the arm that Ace has wound around her waist. Her brow furrows. “Uh, Trappola? What the fuck are you doing?”

Hurt and confusion flicker across Ace’s facial features, but as he scans her expression for a clue on what had just happened, he seems to come to the realisation that she wasn’t just toying with his heart or playing him for a fool; the girl seemed to have genuinely no recollection whatsoever of the kiss that they had just shared, let alone the affection that she had been displaying for him over the last couple of days. To his credit, he recovers quickly —dredging up his usual mischievous smirk from goodness knows where and pinning it carefully into place to hide his disappointment from his companion. “Oh, I just wanted to see if I could steal you away from Leona-senpai.” 

“Trappola!”

She swats irritably at his chest, and he laughs at the scowl that she shoots his way. It’s a hollow sound, but she doesn’t seem to notice. “You wish, Trappola —I’m not leaving him for you. Not in a million years. Look, I’m gonna go look for him now. I’ll see you around.”

A beat passes before Ace realises that she’s waiting impatiently for him to release her from his embrace. His arm falls limply to his side, and his gaze follows her as she heads towards the exit of the maze. Every step she takes leads her further and further away from him, and he pleads silently for her to turn around and return to his side. He can feel his heart splintering into a billion tiny fragments; all he wants is for her to hold him in her arms one final time.

By the time that it finally hits him that she isn’t coming back, her silhouette has long since faded into the distance, and the horizon is streaked with red.

Love Me Knot (Ace Trappola | Twisted Friends EBG)

Author’s note: Please do not repost!! If you like my writing, please leave a like and a comment (and follow me to see similar content in the future :D)!

Feels a little more like a scenario or a quick plot drabble thing than a fic but...it was still fun to write! :3

This is another self insert piece written for EBG!  You can view my original EBG (extreme bias game) starter post here!

~☆~☆~☆~☆~

The glance that Matilda spares him when he saunters into the room is so brief that if he had blinked, he would have missed it. If he didn’t know any better, she was fuming about his delayed arrival. While they hadn’t officially arranged to meet per se, after a week of “unintentionally” —or so she claimed, despite never failing to linger long after she’d completed her goal of “returning his pen” or “inquiring about yesterday’s assignment”— keeping each other company after classes, the pair had come to an unspoken agreement; whoever was dismissed from class later had the responsibility of hunting the other person down.

They usually arrive within fifteen minutes of each other, but today Ace spent an entire hour traversing all over the Heartslabyul dormitory before finally finding her in the kitchen, half hidden behind the assortment of ingredients that someone —presumably her— has amassed on the central kitchen island. In hindsight, he probably could have located her in a much shorter amount of time; the flamingo pen is probably the last place that he should have checked. (Needless to say, he didn’t find his favourite Octavinelle student frolicking with the flamingos, but he did run into Deuce —decked out in the same shade of fuchsia that would have allowed him to blend in with the surrounding avians had it not been for the inconspicuous leopard print pattern of his suit. Ace had briefly considered asking the fellow first year if he knew where Matilda was, but after watching Deuce challenge a flamingo to a fist fight, he decided to leave Deuce be.) As Ace sidles up to her, he offers her the most apologetic look that he can muster...before immediately attempting to swipe a handful of cherries from an unattended bowl.

“Trappola!”

She doesn’t look impressed, but Ace can’t help but note that her attempts to dissuade him from doing so are half hearted at best; the way she swats at his hand is more akin to a gentle caress than it is a hard slap. Ignoring her “abuse” —if you can even call it that when she’s only pawing at him with the strength of a kitten—, he turns his hand palm side up and nonchalantly laces his fingers with hers. There. He’s killing two birds with one stone; it keeps her from continually swatting at him, and keeps him entertained at the same time. It takes a moment for what he had done to register in her mind, but when it does he gets to watch as her eyes widen like saucers. “Don’t be mad, sweetheart. What did you expect when they’re as sweet as you? I couldn’t help myself.”

It takes just a second too long for her to recompose herself and snatch her hand away, a second which Ace takes to commit her wide-eyed expression to memory. A part of him is tempted to escalate his teasing further, but as he is oh-so-very gracious, he leaves her be for now. “What’s with all the cherries, anyway? Who are you trying to poison? I thought you were hopeless in the kitchen.”

If looks could kill, he would have withered there and then. She picks up a fresh cherry and twists its stem off before jamming a chopstick into it to remove the pit from its centre. Juice splatters against the countertop. “If you must know, Trappola, I’m baking a pie. Don’t complain if the filling doesn’t have enough cherries.”

“Why would I complain? It’s not like you’re baking it for me, are you?” Silence. Ace glances up just in time to catch a glimpse of reddening cheeks before the girl allows a curtain of hair to fall into her face. “No way...you are.”

She plays deaf him in favour of picking up the cherry stem she had abandoned earlier and twirling it between her forefinger and her thumb. Undeterred, Ace circles behind her and wraps an arm around her waist —drawing her against himself just as he had the other day on the basketball court. A soft squeak escapes her parted lips when her head bumps against his chest, but apart from a half hearted noise of indignation, she makes no move to object or pull away.

Ace inhales deeply, breathing in the scent of perfume that wreaths around him. He had assumed that he would have gotten used to it by now. After all, she hangs around him so often these days. But even the slightest whiff of it still causes his heart to skip a beat in his chest —all because his mind has associated it with her. “Do you know about that thing about cherry stems?”

The look that she shoots him is a quizzical one, so he pries the cherry stem that she’s twirling between her fingers from her grasp. It’s easier to show her than to explain. Sliding the cherry stem past his lips, he lapses into silence to concentrate on it. It takes him a couple of tries, —it’s been a moment since the last time he attempted this— but when he sticks his tongue out a few moments later, the stem that sits on it has been manipulated into a perfect knot.

She raises an eyebrow at him, but underneath that couldn’t care less attitude, he suspects that she’s secretly impressed. “Is that something you do to impress girls at parties, or...?”

“Nah. It’s just a game I used to play as a kid.”

He pauses. Pretending to deliberate on whether or not to tell her more.

“Y’know, people always said that those who could do it tend to be pretty good at kissing.”

If the slack jawed manner in which she was staring at him was anything to go by, he’s managed to still catch her off guard —despite the offhand manner in which he had delivered that factoid. Brushing the pad of his thumb against the corner of her lips, he leans in until his face is separated from hers by a mere inch of air. “Wanna see if that theory holds water?”

Love Letter 3 - To: Cater Diamond (Twisted Friends EBG)

You can view my original EBG (extreme bias game) starter post here!

~☆~☆~☆~☆~

To Heartslabyul’s shining Diamond,

We’ve spoken before...and rather frequently, I might add, but I do not possess the courage necessary to approach you directly when it comes to matters of the heart.

Even from afar, however, I can see that you truly live up to your namesake. The spotlight suits you; I’ve heard multiple arguments on the different opinions that people have on photography and videography as an artform (especially it has to do with social media), but in my opinion the pictures that you post on MagiCam are works of art that ought to be displayed in museums for all to see and preserved for the sole purpose of allowing the generations to come to admire them as we are able to. It takes know-how and a certain degree of natural talent in order to successfully garner an online following, and you appear to possess both, dear Diamond. You shine so brightly that your audience flocks to you like moths drawn to a flame —you captivate everyone who is fortunate enough to have you cross their paths, drawing them in and mesmerising them with a light that radiates from within. Even when away from the spotlight, that light continues to shine. You have so much charisma and energy. Everyone is always clambering for your attention. When compared to you...I am but a dull pebble, an eyesore, an inconvenience.

And yet you treat me kindly...as though I am worthy of your time, your attention. You look at me in a way that makes me want to believe that you actually want my company, that you actually enjoy it.

…

Dearest Diamond. 

Although I am currently incapable of expressing my feelings for you at the moment (in person, anyway), I hope that a day will come where I will be able to personally express the deep regard that I hold for you.

Sincerely,

Matilda Your Secret Admirer.

4am (Ace Trappola | Twisted Friends EBG)

Author’s note: Please do not repost!! If you like my writing, please leave a like and a comment (and follow me to see similar content in the future :D)!

This is another self insert piece written for EBG!  You can view my original EBG (extreme bias game) starter post here!

~☆~☆~☆~☆~

She wakes up to find the other side of the bed cold. Without bothering to lift her face from where it’s buried in a pillow, she reaches out seeking the warmth of the companion whose bed she had fallen asleep in, but finds only cool cotton sheets. Her brow furrows as her sleep addled mind dredges up foggy memories of the night before: curling up on her side with her head buried against his chest, his legs entwined with hers, the weight of his arm on her waist as he drew her towards him. He’d definitely been in bed with her last night, but the cold sheets suggested that he hadn’t for a while now. Heaving a sigh, she rolls over onto her back and forces herself to open her eyes. Perhaps her companion’s disappearance could have been easily explained away by the time of day; perhaps the only reason why she was able to get some extra shut eye was because her partner was chivalrous enough to allow her a few more precious minutes of sleep before she had to officially drag herself out of bed and start her day. Or, —the more likely scenario was— he was playing a practical joke on her. She wouldn’t put it past him to turn off her alarm and leave her to sleep most of the day away, forcing her to come up with an explanation for her teachers as to why she had been missing from her classes. But when she glances at the digital alarm clock that sits on the bedside table to her right, its glowing red numbers inform her that it’s only four in the morning. The room is still shrouded in darkness; it’s much too early to be awake, let alone up and out of bed. So where could he have gone?

She —albeit, very reluctantly— pushes herself into a sitting position and swings her legs off the side of the mattress. Stealing the oversized hoodie that’s draped over the chair parked behind a desk in the opposite corner of the room, she drags it over her head and steals out of the room. The halls of the Heartslabyul dormitory are quiet at this time of day; there’s something unsettling about the tranquility that fills the air, something unnatural —this is the first time she’s navigating the halls without having to dodge at least half a dozen harried Heartslabyul students. It takes several minutes of peering down hallways and peeking into deserted common rooms, but she finally finds her missing companion in Heartslabyul’s expansive kitchen, where he appears to have taken over the central kitchen island. Whatever late night food venture that Ace Trappola has decided to go on appears to be perplexing him however; his brow is furrowed as he thumbs through a well-worn recipe book. Her body half hidden from view behind the door frame, she watches as he dumps a cupful of flour into a mixing bowl —perhaps with a little more firing power than necessary. A cloud of white powder puffs back up into his face, causing Ace to splutter and sending him into a sudden coughing fit. She slides a shaky hand over her mouth to muffle the sound of her laughter, but gets caught staring anyway.  “Matilda?” Ace’s gaze locks with hers for a moment, before sliding downwards to survey her attire. It lingers on the hem of her hoodie, taking in the way its length nearly swallows the sleep shorts she has on. As she slips into the kitchen to stand by his side, she swears that she notices a tinge of pink in his cheeks. “I thought you were asleep.” “I thought you were asleep, Trappola.” Crossing her arms over her chest, she sneaks a peek at the page that Ace had been perusing just moments prior. “It’s four in the morning. Why are you baking a cake?” “Why not? I’m celebrating the death of my sleep schedule. Do you want in?” “Trappola.”  He holds his hands up in mock surrender. “Look, you mentioned the other day that you like red velvet cake, didn’t you? So I figured I’d give baking one a shot. I took...uh...borrowed the recipe book from Trey-senpai...” Her brow furrows. She does have a vague memory of bringing up her favourite dessert during a conversation she had with Ace and Deuce the other day, but she had barely mentioned it in passing. She certainly hadn’t expected Ace to remember it, let alone attempt to bake one. “But why are you baking at four in the morning?” Ace shrugs. “Maybe I wanted to surprise you.”  Oh. Heat rises in her cheeks. Before Ace can comment on the sudden rosiness of her complexion, however, she sticks a finger into the mixing bowl and scoops up a miniscule helping of the batter before bringing it to her lips. She isn’t entirely certain what she was expecting in terms of flavour, but the overly salty flavour that registers on her tongue isn’t it. “Trappola...did you follow the recipe? It’s really salty.” Ace’s expression is unreadable as he follows suit in dipping a finger into the batter. It takes a moment for its flavour to hit him, but when it does it causes him to gag. “Ugh...I may have added too much oyster sauce.” “Oyster sauce?!” “Yeah...Trey-senpai said that it’d enhance the flavour or something —why are you looking at me like that? All I did was follow his instructions!” 

Love letter 2 - To: Ace Trappola (Twisted Friends EBG)

You can view my original EBG (extreme bias game) starter post here!

~☆~☆~☆~☆~ 

Dear Trappola,

...you came back for me. I can’t believe you did that.

Of all the people I expected to respond to our cries for help during the...incident with Scarabia’s vice dorm leader, you were nowhere near the top of the list; especially when you take into consideration the fact that our dearest, most gracious headmaster had chosen to turn a blind eye to our numerous attempts to contact him in favour of enjoying his time off to the fullest —Headmaster Crowley should have been the first person to the scene! Truth to be told, Trappola...you were virtually at the very bottom of my list. The fact that you were the first and only one to come to my rescue (excluding Deuce, of course. But he’s always been nice to me, unlike you, Trappola. So someone please tell why am I falling for you instead?) still comes as a shock to my system.

I’ll admit it, Trappola. I half expected you to make fun of me for getting myself caught up in such a messy situation in the first place. I didn’t expect you to actually be worried enough for my well-being to find a way to get to me (You told me that warping wasn’t a viable option at the time, that you had to make use of public transport to get back to school. I didn’t think that you cared enough about me to make the effort, Trappola. I could have cried there and then. No one’s ever shown me that much concern before.). I didn’t expect you to look at me as if...you actually cared whether or not I lived or died. 

I certainly didn’t expect you to grab my hand the way you did. Since when were you capable of doing such nice things, Trappola? And the way you reached for my hand almost bordered on desperate...have you never held a girl’s hand before?

But you held it so tenderly. You got me for a second, Trappola. You almost fooled me into thinking...that you could actually want me in the same way that I want you.

...anyways. Meet me at my dorm room after class. I’ll buy you dinner to reimburse you for the money that you spent on public transport. It’s the least that I could do.

Don’t be late, Trappola. I’m not waiting for you if you’re tardy.

-Matilda

Love Letter 5 - To: Ace Trappola (Twisted Friends EBG)

Author’s note: This letter references a self-insert fic that I wrote for EBG: 4am. You can read it here! 

You can view my original EBG (extreme bias game) starter post here!

~☆~☆~☆~☆~

Dear Trappola,

Rumour has it that you got in trouble with Professor Trein today —I heard that you got held back after class for an hour because you dozed off during his Magic History lecture. You're an idiot, Trappola. I thought you knew better than to fall asleep in his class; if you’re going to snooze during class at least pretend to be listening, geez. Getting caught is such a rookie move, Trappola.

You know, you probably wouldn’t have dozed off during class if you weren’t up at such an ungodly hour; baking a cake before dawn is just plain stupid when you have early morning classes to attend. No matter which way you slice it, the mess that you’ve gotten yourself into is your own fault, Trappola. One hundred percent. But I couldn’t help but feel a little guilty when Deuce told me about how you had gotten into trouble with Professor Trein. After all...you told me the reason why you were awake at the hour was so that you could surprise me in the morning. I can’t believe you would do such a thing for me, Trappola; I didn’t think you had it in you to be romantic or sweet. It’s the nicest thing a boy has ever done for me. I’ve never felt like I was worth the time and trouble of such a gesture in the past, and I still don’t, if I’m entirely honest. But for a moment...just a moment. You gave me hope that...you maybe thought otherwise about me.

...

Watch yourself, Trappola. In the end, you’ll only have yourself to blame for leading me on. You need to learn that your actions have consequences. And in the name of helping you learn your lesson, I’ll be keeping that hoodie that you loaned me. (Don’t get the wrong idea —it’s not because it reminds me of you or anything. And it’s definitely not because wearing it makes me feel less lonely when you’re not around! It’s only to teach you a lesson about your actions having consequences.) Just until you start getting your act together. So if you want it back, you ought to make a start on that...got it?

-Matilda