MellowYellow236

Twisted Wonderland: 

Headcanons/Drabbles: 

How Would the TWST Boys react to a Yuu/Reader like the “Princess” in their movie? - All NRC Characters except the staff, fluff + angst depending on character 

What are the TWST Boy's Types? - All NRC Character -Staff, -Ortho, +Neige, +Rollo, Requested by anon

TWST Boys General Headcanons - Most Characters, fluff + angst depending on character

How Would the TWST Boys Act When They're Jealous? - All Characters minus the staff, fluff and angst, some characters have yandere elements

How would the TWST boys act when they had a crush on the Reader/Yuu? - All Characters minus the staff, fluff

The TWST boys write letters to Yuu/The Prefect! - All Characters minus the staff, fluff + kinda angst depending on character

How Would Ace and Sebek React To A Reader Followed By Animals? (Request) - Fluff, romance

The TWST First Years With A Reader In The Tangled Dance Scene - Fluff, platonic or romantic

TWST First Years Dancing (To APT) With Yuu/The Reader! - Fluff, platonic or romantic

TWST Boys Comforting an Overblotted Reader - Riddle, Idia, Malleus, Ace, Hurt/Comfort

TWST Lilia x Reader, "Mine" - Drabble, Romantic Fluff

(Most of these links keep breaking for some reason... I periodically check and update them, but if you notice one of them is broken, please tell me!)

Fanfics: 

Poor And Fortunate Souls - Azul x Reader, angst/unrequited love  

Favors For Favor - Ruggie x Reader, fluff and comedy

Meeting (Child) - Manhwa AU 

Playdate Fic - Manhwa AU 

Fanfic, Drabble/Prequel - Moonlight Song Fan Event (event not by me)

Chinese New Year Fic+Drawing

Valentine's Day Fic

I made memes once?  I did it a second time for the magical girl AU

That time I drew and painted Chibi Riddle

Yuusona/OC Things: 

Introduction (Yuri)

Yuri Intro #2

Yuri Intro for Manhwa AU

Dress Designs! - Manhwa AU

Yuri Fun Facts Sheet

Pixel Art For My Oomfs, Part 1

Other:

I Made Pixel Art For My Friend :3 - My Deer Demon

I Will Write For...

Fandoms:

Twisted Wonderland (All Characters)

Tokyo Debunker (All Characters)

Genshin Impact (All Characters Before Nod-Krai) (I haven't finished the main story yet, this will be updated once I do)

Obey Me! (All Characters, but please specify if you want Nightbringer or OG Obey Me)

Toman-Kun's B-Side (F/ACE, Utage, and Wataru Fujita/The Manager)

Specific Characters:

Rimuru Tempest (That Time I Got Reincarnated As a Slime)

Raphael/Ciel (That Time I Got Reincarnated As a Slime)

Cove Holden (Our Life)

Pierrot (The Freak Circus)

Thistle (Dungeon Meshi) (Assuming he’s an adult/older teenager, I don’t think he has a canon age beyond “immortal”)

It didn’t work. The people he wanted affection from only had any for his wallet. It was bursting at the seams, but his heart wasn’t. 

And then, you came. With no money to your name, scared and alone. You weren’t cheerful, and you weren’t free from Crowley’s whims. But you were loved anyway. You were cared for by the other housewardens in their own, special ways. Even Jamil seemed to like you more than him. 

He was a peacock in a glided cage, and you were a bluebird in a rusted one, but everyone seemed to prefer you, even when the dirt rubbed off on their hands. 

~

Idia wanted to be loved. He wanted to be loved so badly. There was nothing he wanted more. He wanted to be the hero, the cheerful one who could do no wrong. He’d even settle for being the funny one, if only he could be one person’s favorite character. 

But he wasn’t, and he never would be. After all, he was just a gloomy nerd whose only friend was a robot version of his little brother. 

You weren’t. You were outgoing, with friends everywhere. You didn't have to change yourself for it. You just showed up one day like the main character of a dating sim and began stealing the hearts of everyone on campus. Idia wasn’t immune to it. You had a charm to you that couldn’t be understated. 

Still, there was part of him that wanted that charm for himself. He wanted to be the one with friends and love, not a stranger. He’d been working on it for years, trying and failing to interact with the members of his dorm until he just gave up, and then you arrived and stole everything he ever wanted. 

You’d assumed, of course, that it wouldn’t be an issue since it wasn’t a classroom event. However, you were wrong. Riddle had come up to you shortly afterward, screaming about indecency. You’d barely had time to pull away from the man you’d been kissing before Riddle collared you. 

You turned around, attempting to find Che’nya. Instead, you just saw his smile, before even that disappeared from view. Silently, you cursed him, but you couldn’t help but giggle as you saw a pair of bunny ears appear behind Riddle’s head. 

Neige Leblanche - 

You were only meant to help Neige with adjusting his costume. They were running low on staff that day, and Vil had requested you come onto the shoot with him. But then, the zipper on the back of Neige’s costume had gotten stuck, and it wasn’t as if they had anyone else to assist. 

You hadn’t really meant to kiss him, either. You’d just spied a beauty mark on his back and you’d acted on instinct, tracing your hand up his spine to it. He’d shivered and leaned back into you, and you’d kissed the mark. Then, Neige just seemed to react so positively that you didn’t stop. Every beauty mark you could see was kissed, before you moved onto his freckles and a line up the bumps of his spin. 

You heard a slamming on the door, making you jump back. Without another moment to spare, you grabbed Neige and zipped his costume up. He opened the door quickly to reveal Vil standing before you, his arms crossed and a scowl on her beautiful face. Luckily enough for Neige, he was needed on set and could skip the lecture Vil gave you before he fixed your makeup and went back to work. Hopefully, the costume department wouldn’t notice anything amiss. 

Rielle Corallia - 

Rielle was visiting you at Ramshackle unannounced. You were certain that he was simply used to it being alright as the youngest prince of the Coral Sea, but it had still ticked you the wrong way. At first, at least. But he kept being so cheerful and helpful whenever he came over that you began allowing him to. 

Rielle had been curious about your lipstick for a long time. One day, you agreed to let him watch you put it on. Upon dabbing the excess off, he asked if that was what you always did, as well as what the many other lipstick shades Vil had given you looked like. You, not wanting to waste so many tissues, had begun using Rielle’s face to remove the leftovers. Soon, he was covered in cartoonish lipstick marks. 

A pounding rescinded throughout Ramshackle. You turned quickly, and there was Ace, glaring at you through the window next to the door. Rielle, ever the optimistic merman, quickly waved at him with a big, dopey grin on his face. You sighed, but couldn’t resist a smile. He really was the cutest… 

Minajael Tealrajah - 

Minajael and you had snuck away from the crowd of a royal ball. The golden light of the ballroom was dazzling, but it could be too much sometimes. The atmosphere of the still chilly garden was much better. Tucked away in a private spot, you could still hear the music playing. Minajael offered you his hand, and you took it, content to dance the night away with him. 

Dancing soon turned to kissing, and kissing soon turned to more. His hands were on your hips, making you lose track of time. It was like the world was closing in around the two of you. The vines growing around you was the shelter Minajael needed from the crushing weight of nobility. He’d been forced to dance with some foreign princess early in the night, but even then, you were the only one on his mind. 

You heard his guards closing in, but Minajael only smirked. Within an instant, you were lifted into his arms like a bride and carried as he ran further from the palace. The music of the ballroom faded into the chirping of crickets and gentle calls of owls in the night. You gasped, but Minajael only seemed entertained. You pecked his cheek again. He deserved it. 

Rollo Flamme - 

Rollo had come to visit you at Ramshackle. He hadn’t expected much, but the beat-up dorm somehow managed to go below even his small expectations. Who could live like this? Those wizards were truly despicable if they were making an angel like you live in this horrible place. 

Rollo had to convince you otherwise when you defended that damned school. They didn’t deserve your kindness. None of them did, not the princes nor the peasants. It wasn’t fair that they got to see you everyday. You should be attending classes with him. You should be his. No one would ever love, no, worship you as Rollo could. There would never be another man once he’d had his way with you once. 

Lilia wolf whistled at the two of you, catching both of your attention quickly. He was standing on the ground, staring up at both of you. You’re fairly certain he wiggled his eyebrows and said something suggestive, but you couldn’t make it out from so far away. 

The storm clouds thundered overhead. You could tell that he was getting upset, so you did the only counteraction you could think of; You pecked his cheek. Malleus went red again, pulling you away from the edge of the rooftop and Lilia’s teasing eyes. The sun came out again, and you won many more kisses that afternoon from your adorable dragon.

Lilia Vanrouge - 

You went into Lilia’s room. It was technically meant to be a study-date, but it quickly turned tortious. Lilia was a little tease, to say the least. Constantly leaning into you, almost kissing you until you were so fed up that you had to grab him and press your lips together. 

Sebek burst into the room, as loud as could be, screaming something about the other dorms being unappreciative of Malleus. He went quiet the instant he laid eyes upon you and Lilia, tangled together on the floor like a couple of reckless teenagers. You thought he was about to lecture you when he opened his mouth again, but all it took was one look from Lilia to make him silently close the door. At least Sebek respected one of you… 

Lilia giggled the moment Sebek left. He didn’t seem the least bit phased by it. You were certain he was used to being interrupted, having raised both Malleus and Silver, but it still made you flush. Then again, it was a pleasant afternoon after Lilia let up on his teasing and pampered you when he saw how embarrassed you were. Kissing your pout away was the highlight of his day. 

Silver Vanrouge - 

You’d been led to a clearing in the forest by a group of friendly woodland creatures. There, you found Silver, passed out on the ground. After thanking them for their help, you sat down beside him and kissed his forehead. After all, a kiss could always wake a sleeping prince. 

Sure enough, he woke up upon feeling your lips against his pale skin. He sat up, tucking his hair behind his ear on instinct before he pressed upward. Your lips gently grazed each other. It was as if the sun itself had come to warm your cheeks at that moment. 

Unfortunately, your loving time together had to be cut short. You’d been caught, not by a fellow student or teacher, but instead by the forest creatures that had led you to Silver in the first place. There was no malice in how they pulled at the two of you, trying to get Silver’s attention as well, but you still pouted. Regardless, you put your head upon Silver’s shoulder and closed your eyes. Maybe you’d take an afternoon nap in the sunshine, too. 

Sebek Zigvolt - 

Sebek had just finished caring for his horse when you came in. Your study secession with Ace and Deuce was over, so you’d come right to Sebek. It was a pleasant thing for him. It stroked his ego. So, of course, when you pecked his cheek, it made him want to kiss you again. And again. And again, and again, until the two of you had locked lips more times than you could count. 

You heard a yawn from behind you. Silver had entered the stable, clearly just looking for something for his horse. A bridle, probably, although you weren’t the most knowledgeable about what went into horse care. Turning to Sebek, he seemed much more upset at the intrusion than you. It almost seemed like he was ready to pop a blood vessel. 

Rook was, of course, the one to walk in on the two of you. You weren’t certain how Vil noticed, nor where exactly Rook had appeared from beyond being there the moment Vil said his name, but something about the ease of it made you think this was a fairly normal occurrence for both men. 

You did not end up kissing Vil again that evening. Despite that, it was still a rather pleasant spa day, now with a third participant waxing poetic over your self-care routine. 

Rook Hunt - 

Rook? Caught? Never. No, he’s the one catching you. It doesn’t matter which person you’re with, if there’s a way for Rook to find you, he’d succeed. 

Rook loves to stare at you. He loves watching your expressions as you’re overtaken by joy and pleasure. He loves the flush on your face and the watery gleam of your eyes. The way you shake is like a dance, the sounds you make a magical symphony that he loves to listen to. 

Rook would stop if you asked him to, but he’s yet to miss an encounter. After all, you’d have to know he was there in order to tell him off, wouldn’t you? 

Epel Felmeir - 

The two of you were beside each other during what was supposed to be a lecture period. It was only the two of you in an empty hallway, and Epel gave you a look that said he didn’t want to be the one to ask. So, you dragged him back to Ramshackle, not noticing the watchful eyes of a hunter on you. You two were so excited that you didn’t even lock the front door before you threw him onto the couch and kissed him senseless. Lipstick covered his forehead to the base of his neck, and yours was smudged around your lips like a toddler had gotten ahold of it. 

Vil cleared his throat, staring at you from the entrance of Ramshackle dorm. Epel seemed to go through every stage of grief at once before he pulled himself off of you. You wisely escaped before the lecture began. 

Jamil knocked on the door, and entered without waiting. He paused when he saw you among the many expensive blankets and luxurious pillows. Muttering a short apology, quickly followed by a reminder not to do anything that could bring shame to the Al-Asim name, he gracefully left. 

Kalim started kissing you again immediately afterward. Jamil wandering in was nothing to dampen his mood. After all, when he was at home, he never had a shred of privacy between all the maids and servant boys around him. If you wanted to stop, he would, but he’d keep loving you until you said so! 

Jamil Viper - 

Moments of privacy with Jamil were few and far between. Kalim was almost always chasing after him for some little thing. When he wasn’t, it was another member of Scarabia or a dorm leader looking for paperwork to be signed. So you took any chance to kiss him that you could, even if it was while you were waiting for dinner to finish cooking. And, for a moment, it was nothing but you, Jamil, and the scent of seasoning drifting up from the stovetop. 

Kalim burst into the kitchen, his voice loud and radiant as the sun above. He was calling Jamil, asking him to come look at, for some reason, a seemingly normal item for most people that Kalim had just discovered existed. 

Unfortunately, that was the cue that your moment ended. Jamil seemed less embarrassed so much as annoyed that yet another moment had been ruined. You offered to go in his stead, allowing him to keep enjoying the peace of the kitchen while you went out with Kalim. Jamil still seemed a bit disappointed, but you didn’t miss the warm, thankful smile he gave you as he left. 

Ignihyde: 

Idia Shroud - 

Idia was barely able to be convinced to kiss you. When he was, it was only in the privacy of his own room. The door was locked, Ortho was told that the two of you were having a private date, and he’d taken the proper break from STYX. You were finally– Finally– Able to kiss him, your lips covering his mouth down to his neck and back up to his temple. 

A call popped up on his phone, causing a song to play in his pocket. Idia’s hair went bright pink and he practically screamed at the intrusion. In an attempt to hang up on the unwanted noise, Idia hit it quickly. Unfortunately, he accidentally picked up the call. 

Then, Floyd came in like a bat out of hell, his voice louder than anyone should use in a small office. You jumped, falling off the desk. Azul stood up, raising his own voice at his old friend. Floyd was, of course, unfazed by Azul, dragging him out of the office to go look at whatever he wanted. 

You got up afterward, leaving the office as casually as you could. You ignored the knowing glint in Jade’s eyes as he saw you exiting the Monstro Longue. What he actually knew, you weren’t certain, but you decided not to think about it for your own peace of mind. 

Jade Leech - 

You two were on a nice, calm hike, just enjoying each other’s company, when Jade had teased you until you snapped and kissed him. After that, it was like a switch had flipped; You back was roughly pressed into the bark of a tree, his hands grabbing your hips as he tried to shove his tongue down your throat. 

You were so distracted that you didn’t even notice Silver approaching. Jade, on the other hand, did pick up on it. He simply didn’t care; What was one more person knowing that you were his? Any soul that saw this would surely leave the two lovebirds in the woods alone. 

Silver did as Jade expected and left. However, it was much to Jade’s later displeasure. He’d accidentally kissed you against a tree covered in poison ivy, a plant he’d never needed to identify before as it wasn’t in season when he began his hikes. The warning Silver intended to convey had fallen upon unwilling ears, and now the two of you had to pay the price. 

Floyd Leech - 

Floyd had been in a good mood all morning, and it had only gotten better once you showed up to practice. You didn’t always have the time to watch him practice, but on the occasions where you did, it always managed to make him grin. So it was no surprise when he brought you into the locker room and began kissing you against the locker! What, did you expect him to keep his hands to himself. 

Ace entered the locker room and took one look at the two of you before leaving. However, it was enough to ruin Floyd’s good mood. He pushed himself off of you and muttered something about having better ways to spend his time. 

Ruggie opened the door, not bothering to knock. Normally, it wouldn’t have been an issue. But this time, Leona barely needed to lift his head and glare at the invading Hyena before Ruggie wisely backed out of the room, deciding not to utter a single word of his original purpose. 

Leona huffed afterward, rolling over on the bed. You ran your hands through the hair of your sulking lion before he shoved his head into your lap. Ruggie might have killed the mood, but he was still going to use you as a pillow.  

Ruggie Bucchi - 

Ruggie was taking his break at the Monstro Longue, by all technicality. It was an unapproved break, but Ruggie hadn’t taken his yet that night. Besides, you’d walked in and gotten him a homemade lunch. What was Ruggie supposed to do, keep his hands off of you? 

You two were in the employee’s room, his arms around your neck as he pulled you in. He nipped and licked wherever he could get his mouth onto. Unfortunately, it couldn’t continue for long. Jade appeared beside you like a magician, making you jump back and Ruggie shrug. 

Jade’s smile was sharp as he told Ruggie to get back to work. You pulled yourself away and Jade offered a table to you if you wished to stay. Wisely, you decided to go home. You had already eaten, after all; Ruggie’s dinner was one of the two servings you made, not including Grim’s tuna. Besides, Ruggie knew that it didn’t mean you didn’t care for him. All he had to do was go in through your window that night, and he was certain you’d show him how much you loved him again. 

Jack Howl - 

You and Jack had gone out a morning run. Or, at least, you were originally on a morning run. By the time you’d gotten to a more secluded path, you had begun growing a bit tired. Jack had allowed the two of you to take a break, and you’d leaned against him. It had started with a few quick kisses against your temple, but soon turned into many more while you leaned against a wall. 

You heard the crack of a branch beside you. Jack moved first, his ears and head snapping up and toward the unwelcomed visitor. Across from the two of you was Epel, also wearing running gear, looking properly scandalized by the scene. 

Riddle’s face was bright red, his ears billowing steam. Compared to him, you looked calm and Trey looked like a saint. Luckily, you two were in a private corner of the Heartslabyul’s rose garden, so no one else saw. 

Trey practically ran away from the scene, walking as fast as he could toward the flamingos cage until he’d disappeared from sight. You pulled Riddle into your arms, though he swiftly exited again like he’d been burned. You could only smile and sighed exasperatedly when he began ranting about decency and why this was a bad idea to begin with. Lesson learned; Don’t kiss Riddle when you’re not in the comfort of his or your own room. 

Trey Clover - 

You’d been in the kitchen when it started. He’d reached around you to help mixing something when he’d added a kiss to the back of your neck. You’d leaned into him and giggled, and he’d continued pecking and nipping your neck. You traced your hands over his strong arms and felt his breath growing fast against you. 

You were interrupted by a scream that could have come straight out of hell. Both of you snapped toward the source of the sound, only to find Deuce staring at the two of you like he was discovering his parents in an affair, his eyes wide and pupils barely dots. 

You and Trey did not go back to kissing. Instead, Deuce stood guard until you had to leave, ensuring both of you maintained polite distance. Even after you exited the kitchen, Deuce saw you out instead of Trey, eyeing every other member of the dorm like they could also be a ticking time bomb ready to go off and kiss you, too. 

You couldn’t help but laugh to yourself as you left. It was rather funny the first time he did it. By the third time, on the other hand, you and Trey had resorted to baking dates in Ramshackle or study dates in the library. 

Cater Diamond - 

Cater hadn’t intended to get caught, he’d simply forgotten that he was streaming on Magicam. He’d been doing a get ready with me when you’d come in, asking him about some schoolwork. He’d helped you with the problem and you’d given him a kiss as payment. 

You were just off screen, of course, but everyone watching had heard your voice. Not to mention, Cater was leaning off the edge of his chair, the occasional noise of your lips meeting the only sound in the world. It wasn’t until you left that he turned around and recalled that he was on camera. 

Cater wisely chose not to acknowledge it, simply stating that his partner was so cute and going back to his content. He was more careful in the future, of course, not to get caught. Unless you wanted to be… Now, that was an entirely different story. He would have done it earlier! 

Ace Trapolla - 

Ace was, by all accounts, a little minx who would flirt with you anywhere. Private, public, in the park or in the middle of class. It was even better if the classroom was empty, when he could sink his fingers into your shoulders or waist and there was a chance that you wouldn’t shove him off. 

A man cleared his throat loudly. Slowly turning, you both saw the unmistakable face of your professor in the doorway of the classroom. If looks could kill, Crewel would have ensured that both of you were dead many times over. Ace grabbed your hand and, against all sound logic, pulled you out of the window with him. 

He was lucky you were on the first floor and could just keep running away, otherwise you would have ended him if the fall didn’t. On the other hand, Ace himself claimed to be the unluckiest man alive that night, when his stunt won him a week without any more kisses from you. 

Deuce Spade - 

Deuce had never been the sharpest tool in the shed. Unfortunately, it seemed as if it was fairly normal for his logical mistakes to revolve around birds. It was his turn to take care of the flamingos when it happened. You'd come to say hi and told him how nice he looked in pink. You were half-joking– As much as the color did suit him, the style of the uniform was rather unflattering– But poor Deuce had practically turned red. 

You kept laying on flattery after that. He was the most handsome fellow in the world and his muscles made you blush. It was just too easy to turn him into a tomato! Not to mention, he was so cute when he was trying to return your flirtations or even think straight…  

B = Best friend (What would they be like as a best friend? How would the friendship start?) 

Thistle would be a fairly good best friend. He can be snarky and stubborn, especially as his old relationship with Delgal comes to the surface. He knows what it feels like to be a big brother, and he’s likely older than you, even if he doesn’t look it. He mocks you over being childish or incompetent, and you tease him right back about being short and rude. Still, he does care for you, and he shows it when he tells you he’ll take care of whatever task you’re clearly failing at. 

C = Cuddles (Do they like to cuddle? How would they cuddle?) 

Thistle doesn’t… Like cuddles, so to speak. He enjoys being touched to a certain degree, although physical affection is still very unfamiliar to him. When he is roped into cuddling, he’s very stiff. He’s unaware of the intricacies of what he’s meant to do; Where should he touch you? Is he allowed to get up? What should he do when you fall asleep? It takes a long time, but eventually, he’s comfortable enough to relax in your hold. It’s sort of like cuddling with a very large, plastic doll before that, but it’s eventually more like having a giant, stiff pillow by your side. 

D = Domestic (Do they want to settle down? How are they at cooking and cleaning?) 

He has mixed feelings about settling down. It’s familiar and comfortable to remain with his family, going wherever they do and never thinking about what he’d rather. On the other hand, he wants to go into the world. He wants to have experiences and adventures, not just working in Laois’s castle. However, it would be quite the difficulty for him to live on his own considering he is unable to do most domestic chores. 

E = Ending (If they had to break up with their partner, how would they do it?) 

Thistle does not “break up” with a partner. He would rather trap you in a dungeon than allow you to leave him. You will be with him, no matter what anyone else might think, including you. It doesn’t matter how unhealthy or cruel you are. You cared for him once, and he’d do anything to get the feeling of being loved again. 

F = Fiance(e) (How do they feel about commitment? How quickly would they want to get married?) 

When it comes to commitment, it’s one of the things Thistle wants and fears the most. He loves deeply, and it’s caused him pain many times before. But, at the same time, he wants you to commit to him. He wants to know that he matters to you as much as you matter to him. Marriage doesn’t matter to him, it’s just a human tradition made due to their short lifespans, but he still wants you to promise you’ll care for him for all of your short life, no matter how you do it. 

G = Gentle (How gentle are they, both physically and emotionally?) 

Thistle is not gentle. His hands are calloused from cruelty, not used to touching anything like it’s precious since he was young. Still, he’s trying to be better. In the years since the dungeon, he’s worked hard to be more gentle. He doesn’t scream or hurt people, not even himself, most of the time. He’s not perfect, but he tries to be as gentle as possible. 

H = Hugs (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?) 

Thistle loves hugs, much like he loves all gestures of affection from you. That doesn’t mean he knows how to give or accept them, though. He often finds himself wrapped in your or Laois’s arms and struggling to get free, trying to figure out how to move his hands or where to put his head. 

I = I love you (How fast do they say the L-word?) 

It depends. Thistle is willing to tell most people that he cares for him, but telling them he’s in love is different. Even telling friends or family he loves them is hard sometimes. When it comes to a romantic partner, he doesn’t say it for years, even if his actions show it. When he finally does, it’s so quiet you can barely hear it. 

J = Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?) 

Thistle becomes jealous very, very easily. He finally has someone that cares about him, and now 

K = Kisses (What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you? Where do they like to be kissed?) 

He doesn’t like kisses that much. He finds them unsanitary at best, and rarely initiates. Although, he’s willing to accept them from those he cares about. Falin kisses him on the forehead a lot, and he’s willing to accept a kiss on the cheek or his hand if it’s a common greeting. Anything more than that, especially in public, and he’ll push you away. 

L = Little ones (How are they around children?) 

He doesn’t like children that much and he doesn’t make an effort to be good to them, but kids love him. He has so many stories and never treats them like they’re dumb, always answering any of the questions they pose to him. Not to mention, he knows many old nursery rhymes, and while he can’t sing them and play the flute, they’ll “help” by creating a very out of tune choir with modern or improvised lyrics. If he didn’t know it would encourage them, he’d have corrected them by now, he swears. 

M = Morning (How are mornings spent with them?) 

Mornings aren’t often spent with Thistle. He’s either awake before dawn and already walking around and securing the premise, or he’s collapsed and asleep on his desk after doing paperwork the previous night. The most you’ll get out of him is a muttered “Put me down…” While you carry him into bed. 

N = Night (How are nights spent with them?) 

He spends most of his nights working. Even if he needs to sleep now, he never quite broke the habit of staying up until dawn practicing spells or perfecting the ecosystem of his dungeon. Now, it’s mostly spent doing the tedious paperwork that Laois isn’t particularly skilled at and Yaad, with his older body, can’t always find the time to do in between meetings and resting. 

O = Open (When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say everything all at once or wait a while to reveal things slowly?) 

Thistle never reveals anything, almost everything is learned at the same time he does or by asking Yaad. The biggest reveal you ever got was one the two of you shared, looking into where he came from and finding the records of when and how he was purchased by Delgal’s father. It was the first time you’d ever seen him cry. 

P = Patience (How easily angered are they?) 

He’s very easily angered, sometimes so mad that he can’t think about anything but causing the other person pain. Even if he’s been recovering, he’s still the mad mage that killed his own nephew. There’s a part of him that will always remember that, and it comes out occasionally. Most of the time, though, he just exits a situation, not caring how important it is that he stays, and blows up a few nearby monsters to cool off. He replaces them afterward, so it’s a net zero for him, but Senshi’s still trying to get him into gardening to cope instead of destruction. 

Q = Quizzes (How much would they remember about you? Do they remember every little detail you mention in passing, or do they kind of forget everything?) 

Thistle is a mixture between the two. If he’s actively paying attention, he’ll never forget anything, but he has a tendency to steamroll over your complaints if he believes that he knows better. He will take your preferences into account, of course, but he won’t go out of his way to change his behaviors unless you’re very important to him or he keeps getting scolded. 

R = Remember (What is their favorite moment in your relationship?) 

Thistle’s favorite moment in your relationship is the first time he heard you laugh. You were taking care of him after the dungeon, reading some dumb book aloud to him, and you laughed at one of the jokes. He doesn’t remember which book it was or what the joke was about, but it was the first time he felt a desire after the dungeon; The desire to hear you laugh again. 

S = Security (How protective are they? How would they protect you? How would they like to be protected?) 

Having Thistle around is like having a guard chihuahua around, constantly ready to attack on your behalf. He’s short and looks pretty young, so most people assume that he’s harmless, but he can and will bite, even after you’ve banned him from using magic to harm others. He’s smart about it, too; Every new rule you put on him about being nice to people, he finds another loophole to exploit. And if not, he can always do it while you and Falin are looking away. 

T = Try (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, gifts, and everyday tasks?) 

At first, he had trouble caring. What should something like a day matter? But as time goes on, he starts to get more and more interested in doing them. It’s a way for him to feel useful without someone worrying over him, like they do when he throws himself into paperwork or other jobs. It’s not healthy, and he can sometimes obsess over things that could go wrong, but at least he gets to enjoy it when all’s said and done. 

U = Ugly (What would be some bad habits of theirs?) 

He has many bad habits, but the worst of them is the casual self-harm. He doesn’t take a blade to his skin, but he constantly scratches himself and bites his nails until they bleed. It only gets under control once you start painting his nails with bitter paint, but he still picks at them constantly. Sometimes, when he’s really nervous, he even resorts to pulling his hair out in frustration. 

V = Vanity (How concerned are they with their looks?) 

Thistle isn’t that concerned with his looks beyond keeping his hair neat for the sake of his magic. If you want to dress him up, he wouldn’t mind it, but he only really wears nice clothes for formal events when it would reflect badly on the kingdom if he didn’t. 

W = Whole (Would they feel incomplete without you?) 

Yes, he would. Not just without you, as a partner, but without any of the people he cared about. He doesn’t know how to exist without being of service to someone, even if he’s getting better. If he’s left on his own, with a hole in his schedule where worrying and mothering should be, he’d lose his mind. 

X = Xtra (A random headcanon for them.) 

It’s already canon that Thistle has a bunch of diaries full of poetry, but he also keeps drawings in them, too. There’s sketches of ruins for spells and diagrams of new monsters. He likes to get inspired by the poetry he writes and then design a new monster or trap based on them… But if he waits too long, he gets so embarrassed by his old poetry that he can’t bear to make something like it. 

Y = Yuck (What are some things they wouldn’t like, either in general or in a partner?) 

In general, Thistle dislikes most things that are nonsensical. To him, Alice In Wonderland reads a bit like a horror novel. But in a partner, he dislikes when he’s babied by them. He’s well aware that he’s shorter than average, both for an elf and a tallman, but that doesn’t mean he’s a child. 

Z = Zzz (What is a sleep habits of theirs?) 

However, his work ethic was the only thing currently separating him from the many wealthy members of Royal Sword Academy. He knew that, really, so it was no surprise when he had originally treated you more poorly than he should have. 

Not bullying, of course, none of the students stooped that low. However, you were… Ostracized from most social activities due to your appearance. 

You had dyed hair with your roots showing for most of every month, occasionally changing color or style whenever you felt like it. You barely obeyed the dress code, wearing your collared shirt partially unbuttoned and your tie loose around your neck. You frequently left your vest and jacket in your dorm room, often replacing it with a slightly baggy leather jacket, and your sleeves were always bunched around your elbows. 

On your hands were fingerless leather gloves, and on your neck was a collar-like choker with a silver charm. Piercings sat everywhere they could on you; Snake bites below your lips and industrial piercings in both your ears. You, too, had the ear piercings that Neige was used to, but often wore large, dangling earrings on them in the shape of skulls and roses. Occasionally, he saw you open your mouth to half-heartedly answer a question that a professor had posed, and Neige caught a glimpse of the metal you had through your tongue. 

It was only by staring that Neige had been able to catch all of that. It was rude, he knew, but he wasn’t the only one doing it. Plenty of students stared when you walked by, whispers and gossip following the heels of your combat boots and sticking like gum. 

Everybody knew you; Royal Sword Academy’s problem child, the only flaw in their perfect impression. No one said it to your face, of course, but Neige had heard the upperclassmen talking; If you’d only clean up your act, maybe you’d be able to find someone willing to be your friend. 

Neige thought it was far too cruel to ask someone to change themselves just for the sake of getting help, but he still hadn’t been anything more than a polite acquaintance, even though you were in many of the same classes. 

Neige was walking home from class when he heard it; A sweet, little meow followed by a human’s coo. He poked his head into the space between two of the school buildings and saw you sitting beside a cardboard box. 

You were smiling. It was a look Neige had never seen before on you. Never seen before on anyone, if he was being fully honest. He’d make hundreds of people smile but, for some reason, this one felt… Different. 

Neige’s feet moved before his brain caught up with him. He walked up to the box and crouched next to you, already regretting it when he saw the way you tensed. Even so, he tried smiling at you. He wanted to see you smile more clearly, not make you stop. 

“What are you doing?” Neige asked. You gestured at the box again; Inside was a small, speckled white and orange cat with little black paws. He had two differently colored eyes, one being green while the other was blue, but it only added to his charm. 

Neige gasped, reaching down to pet it, only for you to grab his wrist and pull him up. Momentarily, Neige thought he’d done something to upset you, but then you released him and he saw the sheepish look on your face. 

“You shouldn’t touch ‘em…” You mumbled, your voice angelicly husky from underuse. A few wisps of hair framed your face, making you look even more beautiful in the orange hues of the setting sun. “If someone left him out here, then they probably didn’t get him vaccinated. We don’t want you or him getting sick.” 

“Thank you,” Neige said, trying to keep the blush off his face. He frowned soon after, a sobering thought coming to him as he looked at the cat. “What are we going to do with him? We can’t keep pets in the dorm.” Neige frowned. He’d always thought that rule was dumb, but it seemed especially so now. However, much to his surprise, you spoke up. 

“Oh…” You looked down again, wrapping your arms around your knees. Neige was fairly certain you were taller than him, or at least often wore heeled boots, but at that moment, you looked so small. “I was given special permission to live off-campus. The school pays for my apartment, repairs, and bills as long as I cover food and stuff.” You explained. 

Neige tilted his head, furrowing his brow. He’d never heard of a student doing that before, and he couldn’t see why you’d want to. After all, the dorms in Royal Sword Academy were very nice. Having traveled so much for work, Neige could even say they were nicer than most hotel rooms. 

“Can you take him?” Neige asked, “If you need money, I can help pay for vet bills!” He supplied upon seeing the sheepish look on your face. 

“Thank you,” You smiled at him again, although it seemed not to reach your eyes this time. “I’m happy to accept, but you don’t have to. I get enough money from my part-time jobs.” 

“I insist!” Neige exclaimed, clapping his two hands together and smiling. “All I ask is for permission to visit the cat sometimes.” Neige grinned, “Have you decided on a name yet?” He asked. You chuckled. 

“Not yet. I thought ‘Moldy Orange’ is too mean, even if he looks like one.” Neige laughed at that. Really, the cat did look like a slightly molded fruit with its coloring. He smiled up at you as you started to stand. 

“What about Marmalade?” Neige wondered aloud, “That’s still made out of oranges…” Neige trailed off, unable to stop staring at you. You were taking your leather jacket off, leaving you only in your untucked white shirt. Neige couldn’t help but gulp as you reached down past him and wrapped the kitten up inside of it. 

“I’ll get Marmalade to the vet. They do walk-ins this time of day.” You remarked, holding the cat next to your chest. It almost looked like you were swaddling a wiggling baby. “Not that many check-ins right about now. ‘Sides, you have to get back to your dorm now, right?”

Neige could only nod dumbly and say a lame goodbye before you left. He’d never thought of himself to be easily flustered, but just watching you take your jacket off had set his face aflame. It was… Attractive, for lack of a better term. 

Perhaps there was nothing better for him to say. Perhaps Neige simply thought you were beautiful. 

Neige saw you the next day in class. You were in your usual spot toward the back, everyone else at least a row away from you. You didn’t wave to him, the usual blank frown on your face, but he walked up to you regardless. 

“Good morning!” Neige cheerfully greeted, trying to keep a bright smile on his face. A part of him wanted to run away from you, but he wasn’t certain why. It wasn’t that he was scared of you, it was something more akin to nervousness. “Did Marmalade get home safe?” He asked, tilting his head adorably. He wanted to appear cute to you, for whatever reason. 

“Yeah,” You replied, “He’s good. I got him a check–up and stuff, no issues with him. He’ll get his vaccinnes next week.” You sat back in your seat, stretching your arms over your head lazily. Your shoulders popped with the moment. Neige couldn't help but stare at you, completely transfixed. “Want to come over later today? I can give you a ride, long as you’re chill with riding on a motorcycle.” 

“I’d love to!” Neige exclaimed, his hands clapping together in front of him. He was trying to look adorable, but that was loud, wasn’t it? You didn’t seem to like attention, what if he made you upset? 

He giggled nervously, but you only smiled casually at him. Neige’s heart felt like it was about to burst out of his chest. 

The bell rang, and Neige moved back to his usual seat. If his deskmate noticed how he couldn’t stop happily fidgeting and kept humming while solving problems, he didn’t comment. 

Neige wouldn’t claim to have wanted to ride behind you on your motorcycle. He had briefly imagined it, of course, but that was only because it was a common trope. He wasn’t looking forward to it, and he certainly didn’t want to jump for joy when he realized that it was the only way for the two of you to ride. 

“Did you take Marmalade on your bike?” Neige asked. You nodded, clipping your helmet onto his head. 

“Yeah,” You replied, “I bundled ‘em up, then put him in my helmet and fastened him around my waist. He was in the front so I could see him.” You smiled softly, clearly remembering the moment affectionately. Neige wished he could have been there to watch. “Not the safest way to travel, but it worked.” You gestured to the seat you’d offered Neige, right behind you.  

He silently got behind you, shakily trying to find where to put his hands. After a moment of worry, they settled around your waist, clutching onto your uniform. His head settled into the crook of your neck. You smelled nice… Like something sweet. Neige would have to ask how you did it one day. 

“Close your eyes and don’t speak. I don’t want you accidentally biting your tongue off if you’re not used to going this fast,” You pointed out. Neige nodded against your skin, and you began the ride to your apartment. 

You certainly weren’t lying about the ride being fast. Neige’s eyes were screwed shut, his face pressed against your skin like it was the only thing keeping him alive. 

He felt your amused chuckle echo throughout his body, making him flush even more. Hopefully, you’d just assume it was from the wind whipping around the two of you, and not from the closeness. 

Neige was a bit shaky when he got off the bike. His legs felt even more like jelly when you helped him off and brushed imaginary dust off his shoulders. Neige thought he was about to die when you led him up the stairs to your apartment, where the little calico cat was waiting for you. 

“Marmalade,” Neige cooed, crouching down onto the floor. The cat headbutted against his hand while you closed and locked your apartment’s door. 

“He’s a little troublemaker,” You spoke softly, “I woke up to discover he’d already helped himself to breakfast. Ripped the bag right open with his cute little claws… At least he’s gaining some weight, though.” You sat down beside Neige, crossing your legs and leaning back. Marmalade jumped into your lap, making Neige pout. 

“How come you get him?” Neige asked, leaning toward the two of you. You scratched Marmalade under his fluffy little chin. 

“Because I’m his favorite parent,” You giggled teasingly. Neige playfully poked your shoulder. 

“No fair,” He murmured, “I’m the one who’ll pay for his food. I owe you for that, by the way.” He said, a bit louder than before. You shrugged. 

“Well, I won’t say no to free money,” You relented, “But don’t feel like you have to.” 

“I don’t,” Neige said. He reached for his wallet, before taking his phone out instead. “I’ll send you whatever through ThaumarkApp when you need. What’s your phone number?” He handed his unlocked phone over to you, and you quickly put your number in. Neige wanted to squeal from sheer excitement that he’d gotten your number. 

Instead, he just began petting Marmalade’s head. 

You drove Neige back to his dorm before the sun set, dropping him off right in front of the doors. Neige caught the stares, but he was used to them by now. Instead of worrying over it, he just gave you your helmet back. 

“Thanks,” He whispered. Neige was far too easily flustered; Just watching you put on the helmet he’d just been wearing was enough to make him turn into a red rose. 

“I don’t have to drop you off so close if you don’t want to be,” You offered quietly, a subtle sadness to your tone, “I’d understand if you didn’t want to be stared at…” 

“I like being allowed to have a few extra minutes with you…” Neige bit his lip, unable to meet your eyes. He chuckled, trying to play it off as a joke, “I mean, it’s cold out, right? It’s better to have someone else with you for, like, body heat…” Neige trailed off. He looked up at you when he heard rustling. 

“Here,” You said, offering your jacket to him. You did it without a second thought, like it was something that was to be expected. Like giving him the clothes off your back was normal. 

Neige considered refusing it– You needed to drive home and he’d be indoors in only a few steps– But his selfishness won out. He took your jacket and put it on, zipping up the dark leather. He was sure that he resembled a cherry. 

You drove off without another word. Neige was too stuck in his own world to properly send you off. 

He quickly went up to his room in a daze, before collapsing onto his bed. He kicked his feet into the air, giggling like a schoolgirl in love with his head shoved into a pillow. 

Your jacket smelled like you. Your perfume, or cologne, or deodorant, or whatever you wore that made you smell so delicious was all over the jacket. Neige wasn’t certain what the exact scent was, but to him, it smelled like sweetened heaven. 

Neige hadn’t been intending to stay the night at your place. He’s only gone to visit Marmalade, now vaccinated and gaining some weight, but he’d forgotten to look at the weather. It was the rainy season now, and with thunder and lightning combining with the pouring rain, you’d begun making the couch into a bed without the need for a request. Now he was sitting on the floor only a few inches away from you and trying to keep Marmalade away from the dinner you’d prepared. 

“Are you sure this won’t get us in trouble?” Neige asked again, still as concerned as he’d been the first time he brought the worry up. Despite that, you’d never acted like his worries were meaningless, and took the time to answer them every time he brought it up. 

“No, you won’t,” You repeated, staring at him calmly and eating a bit of the sandwich you’d prepared. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it was clear to Neige that you knew your way around a kitchen. “I asked the headmaster if I could bring people over when I moved in. He said that as long as it’s not the night before school and I’m with a student, I can.” 

Neige nodded again and ate his own food. You washed the plates when the two of you finished, while Neige sat on the couch with Marmalade. 

You came over after a few minutes and sat down beside him. “You know, you can sleep in my bed. I don’t mind,” You offered, leaning back on the couch. Neige flushed, shaking his head. 

“I couldn’t,” He responded, “Idols shouldn’t be caught like that.” You went bright red, waving your hands up in surrender. 

“Not together!” You quickly clarified, “I mean that I was planning on sleeping on the couch. You can, uh, sleep in my bed. Without me.” You fidgeted with the blanket under your hand, “I can do the sheets first, if you’d like…” 

“There’s no time for that,” Neige began, “And you should be the one sleeping in your own bed! I’m the guest.” 

“Exactly!” You countered, “So you deserve to sleep in the nice bed. It’s common courtesy!” 

Neige put his hands on his hips, pouting at you. He knew how to be stubborn when he wanted to be, but you seemed to be just as stuck in your beliefs. 

So, of course, it was no surprise when Neige had eventually ended up sleeping beside you in your bed. 

It was a full-sized mattress, luckily, so there was slight space between the two of you. Even so, Neige couldn’t help but blush. After all, he wasn’t just in another person’s bed. He was lying side-by-side with a person he thought was incredibly attractive. 

Not to mention, you’d offered him your pajamas. He was wearing a baggy, black T-shirt with a band logo he didn’t recognize on it. He’d also taken a pair of shorts that he’d needed to tighten around his waist, or they’d fall off his hips. He was on the slimmer side, so he was used to baggy fabric, but something about the way your clothes fit on him made him feel rather embarrassed. 

He rolled over in his sleep only to find you staring at him, your eyes boring into his head. His face went alight as you paid the extra attention to him. He whispered, “Do you… Is there something you need?” 

“No,” You softly responded, “I just like looking at you.” 

“Oh,” Neige murmured. He’d had many people that enjoyed looking at him– He was an actor, for Seven’s sake– But hearing it from you made it feel more personal. More intimate. You enjoyed looking at Neige while he was lying next to you in bed, without makeup or nice clothes. “Goodnight,” He added, shutting his eyes again. 

He felt your arms curl around his waist and your head press into the top of his head. “‘Night,” You muttered, your breathing already beginning to slow. 

Neige’s heart remained hammering in his chest, pumping blood to his rapidly warming cheeks and ears. It took him a long time before he was able to go to sleep. 

Neige awoke the next morning to your arms around him and his around you. His cheek was pressed into your shoulder while his hand was splayed over your stomach. His other was under your head, caging him to the spot, even if he had no interest in moving to begin with. 

Your eyes were closed and perfectly at peace. Neige had no desire to ruin that for you. 

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. Neige heard the tell-tale rip of a bag and food spilling out onto the floor, the sign that Marmalade had gotten into the pantry and his breakfast again. He heard your half-asleep groan and rolled over further onto you. 

“Marmalade’s causing trouble again, isn’t he…” You muttered, “Tiny troublemaker. I’m gonna stop giving so many toys.” Your eyes were still closed, but you wrapped your arms around Neige and tugged him to shield your face from the sun. 

“I’ll buy some for him, then,” Neige teased, poking the top of your head. He threaded his hands through your hair, trying to calm it down slightly from its current state of bedhead. 

You sat up, dragging him with you, though he willingly allowed it. You stared into his eyes, a pout on your perfect lips. “Traitor,” You groaned, finally releasing him and getting up. Neige smiled at you as you left, before getting out of bed to join you in the kitchen. 

Your kitchenette was relatively small, although considering most dorms at Royal Sword Academy didn’t have any kind of stove or countertop, it was rather large to Neige. You pressed a button to get your coffee-maker working, then reached into the cabinet Marmalade had gotten himself in and pulled the small kitty out. 

“Naughty kitty, evil kitty,” You kissed the cat’s head, “Adorable kitty, I can’t stay mad at you.” You sighed, putting the kitten in Neige’s arms. “I’m going to buy you an automatic feeder so we don’t have this issue, I swear…” 

“Does he not do it when you wake up early?” Neige asked. The cat melded into his arms, scratching the T–shirt just enough to get ahold of it, but not enough to hurt Neige. 

“No,” You explained, pulling the excess food that couldn’t be put back into the bag into a yellow dish with little white fish on it. You placed it next to Marmalade’s baby blue water bowl, and Neige finally let the cat down. It quickly ran to scarf up its breakfast. 

“Maybe get some child locks, too,” Neige said, walking up to you and leaning against your side. It felt natural, even if it made Neige feel like he was suffering from a heart attack. 

“Yeah…” You muttered. The coffee machine dinged, and you got a mug out. Neige just watched you, a goofy smile on his face at the domestic scene in front of him. 

He really did love you, huh? 

Neige had, unfortunately, forgotten about the walk of shame he had to do once he got back to campus. It wasn’t like he’d done anything with you, but he still heard the whispers the moment the two of you entered. It was a Saturday, too, so plenty of students were out walking around instead of attending classes. 

You let him off in front of his dorm again. Neige turned around, suddenly remembering something. “I never gave you back your jacket,” He remarked. You shrugged. 

“Keep it,” You smiled at him, “I’ve got a couple more. Not to mention, someone keeps overpaying me for the cat and refusing to take back the extra.”

“It’s child support,” Neige playfully countered, “And alimony. How are you meant to take care of Marmalade if you can’t take care of yourself?” You laughed at him, and Neige giggled along. The whispers didn’t feel like anything when you were with him. 

“Yeah, yeah, thanks, Love,” You grinned, “I’m going to have to get back to our kitty now. Got to take the sofa–bed apart before I go to work.” Neige nodded, letting you go with a wave and goodbye. He turned around and went into his building, going up to his dorm room. 

Your jacket was still hung up on the back of his desk. Neige thought about it for a moment, and put one of his bird pins on the chest. He giggled. 

Now your jacket fit in with the rest of his room. Maybe one day, it would even look like it fit on him if he walked out in it. 

One day, though. He was still far too nervous to wear your things in public when you weren’t even dating. 

One of Neige’s other classmates approached him a few days later. “Hey Neige…” He began, clearly looking on edge. Neige smiled at him, although it did nothing to quell the sudden feeling of dread pooling in his gut. What did he have to say? 

“What is it?” Neige asked, his voice as cheerful as he could make it. The classmate looked at the ground, then back up at Neige’s face. 

“The, uh, that…” The classmate stuttered, “Deliquent-type student you’ve been hanging out with.” Neige’s face fell. He had a sense of what was going on, but he still disliked it. “You should know about them, it was while you were on one of your extended breaks last year. You know, the one where you were filming that movie–” 

“I know what movie you’re talking about,” Neige said, his voice oddly stony. The student seemed to be able to tell, because he sheepishly put a hand behind his head and scratched the back of his neck. 

“Yeah, well, while you were away, they, uh, got kicked out of their dorm over a fight,” The guy explained. Neige’s eyes widened, but the man continued, “Apparently, they sent two other guys to the hospital. No one knows why, the three of them were just joking around and then they snapped.” 

“Then why don’t you ask them instead of making up baseless rumors?” Neige questioned. The classmate narrowed his brows before he scoffed and pushed past Neige, brushing his shoulder roughly. 

Neige’s heart was thundering in his ears. Just what had happened that had led to you moving off campus? 

Neige had been walking around the hallways after the school day ended, just wandering around, when he felt you wrapping your arms around his neck. Your breath against the side of his head. He could tell you were smiling without needing his eyes. 

“Neige!” You called out, nuzzling into his dark hair. Neige turned around, smiling slightly sadly. You seemed to pick up on it immediately, because your grin dropped the moment you two made eye contact. “Is something wrong?” You asked, your voice soft. It had grown less raspy over time as you spoke to him more, as if he was the only person you regularly talked to. 

“No, no, I’m just…” Neige sighed, squeezing your forearms and smiling up at you. “I heard someone talking badly about you. I was upset.” You looked guilty all of a sudden, your eyes reflecting a deep sadness. 

“People do that all the time,” You stated, “Don’t worry about me.” You murmured. Neige bit his lip. 

“How can you say that?” He asked, his voice quaking and his eyes getting watery. You rubbed the corner of his eye, as if he was the one that needed soothing. 

“I’m sorry. If you’re, if you’re getting teased because of me, I can stop going near you–” 

Neige couldn’t help but pull you down and into a kiss. Your eyes widened and, for a moment, Neige felt that he’d made a mistake. But then you kissed him back, and it was as if time stopped. You were the only two people in the world, the only thing that mattered. He pulled by for air, and you took him right back afterward. 

Neige wasn’t certain how many times you kissed exactly, but you only pulled back once you two heard footsteps approaching. You were crowded over him, his back against the wall so his disheveled look was hidden. 

“I didn’t think your piercings would be warm…” Neige murmured, staring into your wide pupils. He was sure he was no better looking, with reddened lips and redder cheeks. 

“They get warm from body heat,” You whispered. Neige giggled and put his head on your shoulder. Only you would say something like that after a kiss. You squeezed his waist, pulling him closer to you. 

“Are you pouting?” He teased, his shoulders still quaking with giggles. It was as if he was so relieved and blissful that his body didn’t know what to do anymore. 

You muttered a reply into his hair, although it was too muffled for him to hear it. That was alright, though. Neige would just have to ask you later. 

The two of you arrived at your apartment about a half hour later. You sat on the floor with your head on his shoulder while Marmalade played in your laps. Between you two, your fingers were interlocked. Neige finally spoke up, a question he’d been meaning to ask playing on his lips. 

“Is it true that you sent two of your classmates to a hospital?” He asked quietly, not wanting to spook you away. He hadn’t brought it up before, but he could tell it was a delicate subject based on the way you tensed. 

“Yeah…” You mumbled. Neige gave you some time, and, sure enough, you continued, “They came up to me and started asking me all these questions. It was normal enough at first, and then it was all, like, locker room talk. Dragging our classmates through the mud, calling them names. I got so pissed at ‘em for assuming that I told them to screw off and tried to go back to my dorm room. One of ‘em grabbed me, so I beat them up.” You shifted after speaking, pushing your head further into Neige. You murmured, “They talked about you, too. Calling you names for getting roles where you were with a guy or crossdressed. But you’d always been polite to me, so that was my breaking point.” 

Neige squeezed your hand and kissed your forehead. “Thank you,” He replied, his voice full of love, “For always defending me.” 

You nuzzled into him again, scratching Marmalade’s back. The kitten meowed happily. Neige softly smiled at you. 

“He’s happy that his mom and dad are finally together.” Neige remarked teasingly. He loved the way a flush spread across your cheeks. He pecked you again, making you push into his with another passionate kiss. 

You pulled away soon after, making Neige paw at your shoulder and pout. “Are we, like, together-together? Are we dating?” You asked, tilting your head. Neige burst out laughing, hugging you again. Marmalade meowed indigently when he moved, but quickly found his way between the two of you again. 

“Yes, my Love, we’re dating!” He cried out, kissing your lips. As always, you kissed him back with twice the force. Neither of you were truly practiced in the act, but you made up for it with love. 

It was too unfair, in Rielle’s opinion. After all, you were someone he cared deeply about. He huffed to himself. He should be allowed to give you all the money that you need! He had more than enough allowance for it! 

“Good afternoon, Your Highness,” A smooth voice greeted. Rielle turned around quickly, a smile forming on his face. 

“Good afternoon, Jade!” Rielle exclaimed. Jade had appeared beside him in an instant, but it didn’t bother Rielle. Rielle told Jade to simply call him Rielle, although he never listened. Rielle didn’t really mind, though. After all, it didn’t matter whether he was called by his name or title; They were friends regardless! 

“Are you dissatisfied with your drink?” Jade asked, tilting his head. It did little to make him shorter or nonthreatening. Rielle never understood why, but the other students and workers seemed to avoid Jade like the plague, even while he was smiling. 

“Not at all!” Rielle said, beaming up at his friend, “I’m really enjoying it. You’ve always been such a good cook, Jade!” 

“I believe mixologist is the word you’re looking for,” Jade corrected, “And you’d be wrong, in this case. Azul happens to be in charge of making the drinks tonight.” Jade’s smile sharpened a bit, though Rielle failed to notice. 

“Oh, cool!” Rielle noted, trying to remember the information for later. He’d have to ask Azul about it the next time they saw each other. “I was just wondering, is the Prefect working tonight?” Rielle asked, hopefully looking up at the other man. Jade’s eyes sparkled with unconcealed amusement. Before Rielle could ask what Jade found so funny, he had spoke again. 

“No, not tonight. Although…” Jade snicked, “Why don’t I give you their work schedule? I can offer you a class schedule and their most recent calendar as well, if you’d like. Although, the latter might take some time to procure,” Jade smirked, “And, of course, I hope you’ll do me a favor in return someday.” Rielle nodded, thinking it through. On one hand, he really, really wanted to get to see you again, but on the other… 

“But isn’t it wrong to do that?” Rielle asked, tilting his head curiously. His older brothers had always told him that stalking was bad. He wasn’t even allowed to follow the same ship around for too long, if any ship at all. Only some of his worse-behaved brothers ever let him disobey their father’s rule against it… Huh, didn’t the look on Jade’s face resemble the grin that his big brother had made when he’d brought Rielle to that hunting vessel? 

“Not at all,” Jade rebutted, “It’s very normal on land. Romantic, even, under the right circumstances,” He continued without needing to be asked, “These are certainly the correct circumstances, Rielle.” The use of his name was the final nail in the coffin for Rielle. He nodded again, making Jade laugh even more. 

That night, he went home with the date and time of the Prefect’s next shift, as well as the promise of a calendar being there for him the next time he arrived at the Monstro Longue. He hummed to himself as he left the dorm. He just loved walking with his new legs! 

The indignant screams of a certain octopus echoed throughout Octovanille for the rest of the night. While many students gossiped that Floyd had finally caused the dorm leader to snap, only few noticed the way Jade seemed to chuckle every time the subject was brought up. 

Neige LeBlanche 

Neige took a deep breath, staring at the floor with a red face. He’d called his agent over for the day, but he’d begun to doubt himself. Still, the door creaked open, and the woman who managed him let out a small gasp when she saw the title of the powerpoint. How Dating The Prefect Would Positively Affect My Brand. He was lucky they were alone in this private meeting room, otherwise he was certain this would be leaked to the press. 

His agent sat down in the seat on the opposite side of the table as him. Neige could feel her eyes burning a hole into his skull. “No,” She stated plainly. There wasn’t a question about her statement, but Neige still lifted the remote for the slideshow. He flipped it to the next one.

 “Firstly, it would be huge for publicity. They’re from another world, and alternate universes have always been large in the perspective of fandom. Since I have a large fandom–” 

“Since you have a large fandom, it will reflect badly upon you. Your fans want to be the Prefect. It will only lead to more hardship for them if you date.” She leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs and raising an eyebrow judgementally. Neige shifted uncomfortably. She was correct, really, but he wasn’t entirely ready to give up. He loved you, how could he just let that go? 

“Secondly, it would be good practice for romantic roles! Many directors have told me that I can be too stiff with romance, and I’ve never actually experienced it before. Wouldn’t that help me get future roles?” He asked, his voice rising in pitch as he watched the unchanging expression of his agent. 

“I already know that the moment you get a partner, you’re going to start refusing all new roles where you have a love interest.” Neige giggled nervously. She was right, after all. If you two started dating, he likely would refuse to be romantic with anyone else, on screen or otherwise. It was already too hard to pretend like he wanted to be with his current co-star! “Besides, you already know that idols can’t date, Neige.” She finished, rubbing her temples with one hand. 

“Finally–” Neige started, but before he could even bring up his third point, which was simply that he loved you, his agent interrupted. 

“Idols. Can’t. Date.” She repeated, bringing sunglasses over her face, “What do you even like about them, anyway?” His agent questioned, raising an eyebrow. 

To Neige, it was an easy and difficult question all at once. What didn’t he like about you? You were kind and sweet to everyone. You took Neige seriously and allowed him to be himself, to get mad at the industry or complain about overbearing fans or cry when everything got too much. To you, he wasn’t some princely figurehead nor a princess in need of protecting. He was just Neige Leblanche, your friend at the rival school. 

Had you two been in a storybook, it would be a forbidden romance. Sometimes, Neige thought about you as his co-star in that movie. He wanted to see every expression of yours play out in front of him and read the script until his delicate fingers were blistered with papercuts and every page was weak from use. He wanted to know you completely, and he wanted you to love him as much as he did you. 

Neige looked up at her, pouting as cutely and pathetically as he could, trying to communicate everything he felt that he couldn’t place into words. She sighed, and, as always, relented upon seeing his puppy dog eyes. “Don’t get caught…” She murmured. Neige practically leaped toward her, holding her in his arms. 

“Thank you!” He giggled. She grabbed ahold of his collar, glaring at him again. 

“But if you do, know that there will be bad consequences,” She let him go, “Bring them here and I’ll give them the same lecture. I don’t want you two going on any more dates until they understand that fully.” Neige tucked a stray strand of hair behind his ear. 

“Well, we, uh, haven’t gone on any dates…” He murmured, looking at the ground again. He added softly, “I haven’t confessed to them yet.” 

Neige heard his agent groan and push his shoulder. She stood up, grumbling about how easily flustered and nervous he could be sometimes. Still, he’d gotten her blessing. All that was left now was to confess!  

Neige flushed again, putting a hand on either one of his cheeks. If only that wasn’t the hardest part… 

Minajael Tealrajah 

Minajael was pacing a hole into the finely carpeted floor. He’d called his cousin, Kalim, over to a private room in an expensive cafe to talk, but he’d begun having second thoughts. He looked into the window again, trying to see his reflection. He was wearing more makeup than usual. He hoped that it didn’t look cakey. Even if he didn’t think Kalim would bring you with him, there was always a chance. Kalim was known for bringing in friends to formal gatherings, after all. 

Minajael could imagine it now. You’d come in, dressed outside of your school uniform. Probably something cute and thin for the warm weather, like shorts and a low-cut tank top. The white of your shirt would leave the outlines of your arms and stomach slightly exposed. When you arrived in the well-airconditioned area, Minajael could even give you his jacket if you started getting cold. 

He normally didn’t wear things with the royal crest on them, but he’d stuck a pin onto his usual teal jacket just in case. He wanted to see you wearing it, like you two really were together. 

Unfortunately, Kalim was unaware of Minajael’s unspoken request. When Kalim came in a few minutes later than expected with an energetic apology and a gift of a beaded bracelet he could resist picking up from the market, Jamil was the only person with him. Minajael tried not to let the disappointment show on his face, but he could tell the smarter of the two with him knew that he was upset. 

“Cousin, it’s good to see you again,” Minajael smiled. Kalim returned it tenfold, before reaching onto the table to grab a snack. It had been poison-tasted prior to him entering, so it was safe to do. Still, Jamil sucked in a breath like he was expecting Kalim to pass out on the spot. Minajael couldn’t fully fault him for it, even if he’d always thought Jamil was far too overbearing. After all, Kalim had been poisoned only the prior year, even if the attempts decreased as he got older. 

“I’m so happy you invited me, Mina!” Kalim exclaimed, biting into the cookie he’d chosen. He squealed joyously at the taste of it, turning to Jamil to ask, “Can you get the recipe for these? They’re delicious!” Kalim grinned, and Minajael could help but smile at his joy. He wouldn’t claim to be his cousin’s biggest fan, but his joy was certainly infectious at times. 

“I’m sure the chef wouldn’t be opposed,” Minajael stated, waving his hand at Jamil. The servant, luckily, got the hint and excused himself to go find the recipe. Good. Jamil was the main object in his way, and he had been dealt with. For now, at least. Minajael smirked at Kalim. “So, have you talked to the Prefect recently?” He tilted his head, “Have they attended any of your parties?” 

“Oh! One, actually. They only stayed for part of the time, though. They ate dinner, then they had to run to a shift at the Monstro Lounge," Kalim frowned, “I keep giving them gifts, but they don’t want them! I don’t know why… I just want to make their life easier.” He said, clearly unsure of why you didn’t want his handouts. 

Minajael had to resist the urge to sigh dreamily. That was exactly why he liked you so much… You were self-sufficient and refused to accept endless generosity without a clear catch. You were smart about it– Witty, too, and able to shut down any mind games that those around you tried to play. 

Still, Minajael had the occasional fantasy about you accepting his kindness, letting him drape silk and gold across your perfumed skin. Perhaps being a prince would be less daunting with you at his side. You’d be the perfect ruler by his side. All you were missing was the noble bloodline, but it wouldn’t be hard to convince some small noble family to adopt you if you had already been promised to marry into royalty afterward. 

“What did they eat?” He asked. He wanted to know more about you. More about your likes and dislikes. Did you move toward savory or sweet foods first? What kind of faces did you make when eating something you enjoyed? Did you know how to cook? Did you enjoy it? 

Every answer that Kalim gave was satisfying, yet not enough. His cousin seemed to know so little about your exact preferences. How was Minajael meant to seduce you if he didn’t even know your favorite color? 

Jamil reentered far too early, in Minajael’s opinion. His curiosity had not nearly been satiated. He had to resist the urge to tear his hair out of his head upon seeing the smirking servant’s face. Still, it was late afternoon, and Kalim had to return to Night Raven College before nightfall. 

Minajael begrudgingly let him go. He refused to show any weakness in front of that scheming man.

It wasn’t until he collapsed onto the bed of his dorm room that he shoved his head into his pillow and screamed at the top of his lungs. The silken cover would be slightly stained, but Minajael couldn’t bring himself to care as he curled into the fetal position. 

You were still invading his thoughts, despite never being present. Minajael groaned to no one but himself, his face flushing slightly red. What was he meant to do with these feelings of his…? 

Artemiy Artemiyevich Pinker (Che’nya) 

Chenya had been visiting Heartslabyul more often than usual. Rather than monthly visits, he’d begun going almost weekly. It was getting to the point that Riddle was beginning to catch onto the fact that something was amiss. And, as much as Chenya loved his childhood friend, he had to admit that he was not the most socially advanced when it came to topics like crushes. One look at the way Riddle looked at you was enough to tell Chenya everything he needed to know, yet the boy in question had no idea. 

Luckily, Chenya wasn’t as oblivious as he often came across. He knew that he liked you as more than a friend, and he wasn’t scared of who knew it. At the same time, though, he’d really rather not deal with Riddle getting all jealous without even knowing it! So, of course, Chenya came up with a plan. 

Step one in Chenya’s plan was to ask Trey for information. That made sense, right? Trey knew you better than he did at the moment. So, of course, Chenya broke into the Heartslabyul dorm one rainy afternoon. 

“Hey, Trey-Bay-Lay-Neigh~!” He greeted, appearing behind his childhood friend. With so many years between them, Trey barely flinched at the sudden appearance. 

“Good afternoon, Chenya,” Trey smiled in that fatherly way he was known for, while Chenya kept the Cheshire grin on his face. “What do you need?” He asked, going back to kneading the dough before him. 

“I was wondering’ about a little something-something…” Chenya asked, leaning over Trey’s shoulder to get a good look at what he was baking. More tarts, probably, but it also could be bread or quiche. Chenya knew that Trey was trying to come up with more savory treats for Cater. “What’s the Prefect’s favorite sweet?” He asked. 

Trey paused for a moment, and Chenya wondered if he even knew the answer, before Trey launched into a rant. His old friend really did love all of his dorm members, but by the Seven, did he love to talk about sweets more. Even if he started with not just your favorite pastry but every one he’d ever fed you, Chenya was soon greeted with the names and tastes of students he didn’t even know. 

About twenty minutes later, and armed with the knowledge of what almost every Heartslabyul student had requested for dessert since the dawn of time, Chenya disappeared from sight. Step one had been informational, but certainly not enough for everything he needed to know. 

Onto step two; Peekaboo! 

Chenya was watching you from afar. You’d noticed something a few times, but by the third or fourth attempt, you’d grown used to the feeling of eyes on your back. Chenya wasn’t thrilled by the fact you stopped turning to face him, but he wasn’t complaining. After all, it made it easier for him to watch over you.  

He learned your preferences. He caught which teas and pastries you gravitated toward at Unbirthday parties and what amount of foolishness you let Ace get away with. He saw how kindly you explained things to Grim and Deuce when they were lacking in common knowledge, and the gentle reminders you gave Riddle to calm down and be easier on his dorm members. How you always gave Cater an out when he was searching for one, how you helped Trey with miscellaneous tasks before he even needed to ask. 

How, on the occasional moment that you did see him, you’d smile. You’d smile and your eyes would light up and your cheeks would lift. He could see your pretty little teeth through your lips. He wondered what chapstick you wore. What it would smell like, what it would taste like. 

What you would taste like if he ever got the chance.