POMEFIORE .

finally gathering my thoughts to post about my vil’s canon divergences about his past and trauma relating to his overblot / chapter 5 plot.

vil’s biggest trouble was not children bullying him, nor is it something as simple as the fact he’s portrayed as a ‘pretty villain’.

being a child with the spotlight on him consistently put horrible pressure on him and his family, giving him little privacy growing up and traumatic experiences with paparazzies who didn’t care about boundaries. while he had his father with him for his entire journey, he himself was also a popular, and busy actor who took up a stage name to attempt to disconnect his everyday life from his life as an actor. vil has nothing but respect and love for his father who supports him even to this day, but he can’t say the same for every other adult in his life. 

he’s dealt with adults prying into his personal life, whether it be producers or writers who want to try and capture ‘realness’ on the big screens, or casting that wanted to fetishize his appearance as a trans gnc person. it’s caused him to have to deal with some manners violently after lashing out at people only for the media to spin his trying to maintain his boundaries in a negative light. because of this he doesn’t trust any other person in the media, other celebrities included, save for his father. his enrollment in NRC is one of the first times in his life where he’s able to walk around without a camera in his face.

his want of being a hero stems from the desire to be someone’s safe space, something he never fully had. if he was able to portray himself in a heroic light for someone else who might be struggling and inspire them, that was good enough for him. instead he had his appearance villainized by the entertainment industry based on the fact that he’s a ‘feminine man’ and it lead to cases of harassment, especially on the age of the internet.

     “C-Code? No, there is none but…” They waver, stuttering a bit, pitch rising. Could it be they failed their courage roll? Could it be the sheer aura of this celebrity that inflicted them with a penalty to their rolls?? Surely that wasn’t the problem earlier this year with the other dorm leader.

     “You only want to talk, so why should I open my door?!” Maybe it’s the demanding tone of Vil that makes them think that if anything — if push real comes to shove — he’d dislodge the door and it will be GAME OVER. It’s not possible, is it? Is it?? (little did they know Vil is not some frail beauty) “Someone like you should not be in my presence… Your beauty will be corroded…” That sounds like a last resort to get someone (Vil) off their back (and it totally is one) so Idia doesn’t have to move from their comfortable position or (and?) open the door. (not that it’s completely untrue when they speak of their self as they’d rather not be perceived — or, for that matter, be around such a celebrity: oh, who knows just what might rub off on Vil? They wouldn’t be able to handle all the internet rumors about some weird person with hair on fire— but Ignihyde students aren’t so low, right?)

   Unfortunately Idia’s ‘warning’ only hits the wrong nerve, pulling the dorm leader’s frown even further down. ❝  …Don’t treat me like I’m some kind of weird creature. I’m a person just like you.  ❞ It was difficult to hide the hint of deep exhaustion in his voice. The idea that his beauty would be influenced by anyone but himself was insulting, why would he waste time putting effort into something potentially fleeting? Too many people treated him like he should lock himself away and live his entire life in front of his bedroom vanity, lest something make him appear imperfect.

   However, now wasn’t the time to allow himself to fall to maddening thoughts. Perhaps it was his own fault for believing this meeting would go by quickly, and even more so that the tone in Idia’s voice is filled with mild panic. ❝  You deal with electronics a lot, don’t you? It’s not something I can explain with just words, but I need you to fix something for me.  ❞ Eyes steal a quick glance to the wrapped bundle within his palm as he tries to describe it as best he can. ❝ Ortho said you’d be able to help. I told him it was worthless, but he insisted. ‘My big brother is super talented and skilled!’, is what he told me.  ❞

     There is never free time in Idia’s schedule: it is either being productive and working on Ortho (or on something for Ortho) or indulging in a very valuable and necessary for their soul activity that sharpened their senses — in other words, escapism with games. Interrupting which isn’t recommended (but people tend to not care for others’ needs and instead be rather selfish); getting on dorm leader’s bad side, no matter how competent they are, is never a good idea.

     However, today… Today Idia is either their unluckiest (most likely) or it’s a blessing in disguise (probably not), since it’s Pomefiore’s Vil Schoenheit himself who has so mercifully graced Ignihyde’s halls (and Idia’s door) with his radiant presence!.. Alas, Idia does not seem that eager to subject themself to that presence (or anyone’s for that matter).

     But the game is already interrupted. The mood’s gone. So whatever.

     “Oh-ho~, isn’t that Vil-shi?” The voice is almost monotone, with faked curiosity. “Venturing in so deep… Makes me feel like a su-u-uper secret merchant, hehe.” They totally did not spend past few hours trying to get to a certain NPC that sells certain stuff, so a mere thought of somebody like Vil willingly going into Ignihyde’s dorm strokes their ego a bit too much.

     …

     They aren’t moving from their seat to open the door until it’s absolutely necessary.

   Despite attending the same school as Idia Shroud for three years, Vil rarely has to deal with their … peculiar nature. Their references always fall flat, and he can never tell if they think themselves some sort of comedian by the words they use. The fact that the two of them are the same age only serves to baffle him more, and he lets out a sigh. ❝  Yes, it’s me.  ❞ Arms crossed over his chest, he then expects the door to open for him to continue what he has to say, but it stays closed. And there’s no sounds within that indicate what Idia’s doing, leading to the impatient expression upon Vil’s face. ❝ …Surely you heard what I said. I said I needed to speak to you. It’s important. ❞

   He stands for a minute in front of the door, pondering his next move. There’s no doubt that his presence has already been noticed, given the amount of screens and cameras within the Ignihyde dorm. Paranoia and awkwardness seems to be the true motto here ― what he wouldn’t give to teach the students here proper etiquette and posture. Vil gives a small huff to clear his mind before giving hard knocks upon the metal plate. ❝  Idia. I know you’re in there. I need to speak to you. ❞

   Eventually his questions reached students in the dorm, and he found himself approached by a student, offering him a chance to make an appointment. It was the ‘chance of a lifetime’ he was told. Azul Ashengrotto could grant your wishes.

   He was brought out of his trance when an another bowed for his attention, leaving him wide-eyed before realizing this was his escort. Not a single word was exchange as he was brought deeper into the Mostro Lounge, the bright blues of the sea becoming darker outside the windows. Eventually he was brought to a halt and presented with a decorated door, a plaque clearly defining it as the lounge’s “V.I.P” room. A lump in his throat as he wondered what would happen to him if everyone in Pomefiore found out what he was about to do, if he would be reprimanded or worse. However the memories only served to bubble up his frustration and with a strong yet delicate hand, Epel turned the knob of the door.

   ❝  Um ― excuse me...  ❞ He falls silent as he watches the other sitting at the desk in the middle of the V.I.P room. to think the other boy was a student like him, it was difficult. The entire atmosphere felt mature, almost adult, but Epel couldn’t pinpoint the source of his anxiety about it all. ❝  Are you...Azul-san?  ❞ A stupid question, he thinks, but he has to be certain.

❝ there is no use in frustrating yourself , epel . ❞ vil approaches slowly , his usual air of elegance as powerful as usual . slender arms cross over his chest and a small , regal smile appears on his face . he doesn’t get too close , standing a decent distance away from epel , eyes landing on the knife and then the already formed apple petals . whatever he’s here for , it wasn’t urgent , in fact the dorm leader is unusually idle . humming and tapping his arms . ❝ progress isn’t linear . ❞

    ❝  Ah―!  ❞ Shoulders stiffen as the voice of his dorm leader reaches his ears, staring wide-eyed as he’s addressed. At first he didn’t realize Vil was making simple conversation and his mind tells him that he’s about to be scolded, but it never comes. Yet when Epel spots a small smile spread across the other’s lips, his nerves allow him to relax while he turns his gaze to the apple before him. It’s far from perfection, but he cannot deny the advice he’s being given. 

   ❝  Y...yes, you’re right.  ❞ Voice quiet, the boy mulls on his thoughts, tongue temporarily stuck in his throat. While he knows being frustration won’t help him, he still finds himself stuck. What would be the point if he starts a new one and messes up that one as well...? Wandering eyes find themselves looking back over at Vil’s standing figure. The gears slowly turn in his head, slow realization dawning on Epel as he speaks up once more.

― epel is aromantic and repulsed by pda and physical touches in general, whether it be towards him or seeing other people do it. he doesn’t vocalize his discomfort however.

― he’s a huge fan of action packed movies, and finds it very hard to contain his excitement while watching. he also easily cries at sad scenes but will deny it if it’s pointed out. 

― rook is raised in a single father household but they aren’t close, and he has minimal contact with his mother, nor does he have any siblings.

― his father is a human while his mother is a fox beastkin, making him part vulpine, explaining his heightened senses compared to the average human. there’s a few rumors on campus that under his hat hides a pair of ears, but multiple people have seen him without it. 

― rook’s hair is dyed, but his brows are still his natural hair color, being dark brown.

❛    so what you’re saying is …    ❜  he furrows his brows, a thoughtful frown on his face. what vil’s saying isn’t reducing the amount of concern jack is feeling. oh well. ❛    if there’s a chance you do go missing, you don’t want to be found? even if you could be hurt?    ❜