2: When Akivilli!mc goes missing, so does Nanook!mc and...
They both are reborn as Stelle for Akivilli!mc and phainon for Nanook!mc.
Anything you want to add?
I like the idea! Honestly when I first saw Phainon back when he was introduced, I originally thought he was like a past, alternate version of Nanook. So the idea of Nanook!MC reincarnating as Phainon works well in my mind.
...Sadly I don't have any clue on what to add on to this. ๐ซ
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To be perfectly honestูซ you really hadn't expected to get caught up in another weird dream tonight. For some reasonูซ you began to associate your odd dreams with that old mirror in you and Grim's shared bedroom back at Ramshackle. Wellูซ now it didn't matter where you were at all. It was far to dark to see a thing.
Finallyูซ a light began to trickle into the dark underwater cavern as the young mermaid from your previous dream entered. With the lightูซ dozens among dozens of withered sea polyps wasted away around all around the cave.
"Come in. Come in, my childูซ" a raspyูซ feminine voice called out from withinูซ "You're here because you have a thing for this human. Myูซ just adorably clueless creaturesูซ aren't they? So rebelliousูซ though."
As if on cueูซ one of the witch's tentacles reached out into a dark shadow next to the cave entranceูซ wrapping around what appeared to be a shrimp mer attempting a mad dash while her attention was diverted. Sheูซ thenูซ pulled up him over to her sideูซ as if to show off to her guest.
"Isn't he just precious? Poor thing still thinks he can out swim me while adjusting to his new tailูซ" the Sea Witch cooed.
It was nothing but ironic that the poor guy had become the prey of an octopusูซ squirming in it it's gripูซ both literally and metaphorically.
The girlูซ howeverูซ seemed practically in awe. She quickly jumped on the opportunity to askูซ "If you can make a human a tailูซ could you make me human legs?"
The Witch seemed positively delightedูซ replyingูซ "Whyูซ of courseูซ Dearie. Now, here's the deal. I will make you a potion that will turn you into a human for three days. Got that? Three days."
She began to toss things into a nearby cauldronูซ the creepy eels from earlier returningูซ but now by her side. They were obviously tauntingูซ close to borderline tormentingูซ the poor shrimp trapped in her tentacles. Anytime you thought the young mermaid looked compelled enough to helpูซ her attention was redirected elsewhere with promises of her prince.
"Before the sun sets on the third day, you've got to get dear ol' princey to fall in love with you. Ohโand there is one more thing. We haven't discussed the subject of paymentูซ" the Sea Witch explainedูซ before conjuring up a golden scroll that you could swear looked familiarูซ "What I want from you is...your voice. Now go ahead and sign the scroll! I'll help this poor unfortunate soul!"
Youูซ like the bound eel baitูซ could only watch as the girl practically signed her soul away before it all went back to black.
โฅ
That morningูซ you woke up INSANELY hot and barely able to breath. You felt like you were drowning in some rich person's fur coat closet. As somewhat of a last resortูซ you desperately tried to sit up for a gasp of fresh air. You only made it about half way up until you felt yourself get dragged back down.
On the bright sideูซ you now knew the issue: Somehowูซ Grim ended up with his furry stomach against your face and Leona apparently decided halfway through the night that you'd make a good body pillow. Andูซ seriouslyูซ why was he so ridiculously warm?! You felt like you might start sweating your ass off. You never missed your decrepitูซ drafty dorm so much.
"Zzz...Mrah..."
Pretty soonูซ you could hear the door creaking openูซ followed by Ruggie's voiceูซ "Heya, g'morning! Leona, it's time to get up. Up and at 'em, ___ and Grim. Let's get those mangy faces washed."
"Mrah? Morning already? W-wait, it's barely six!"
Ruggie shruggedูซ "We do morning Spelldrive training here at Savanaclaw. Since you're part of the dorm for the next few days, you'll be joining us."
"Muh? Morning training?" Grim repeated.
"Yup. We've been at it ever since the last Spelldrive tournamentูซ" the hyena confirmed.
"You want Grim of all people to join?" You asked with a raised eyebrow. Just the thought of Grim with a Spelldrive disk made your head throb.
"Mrrrgh, lay off...Zzz...ูซ" Leona groaned.
"Leona! Don't roll over and go back to sleep!" Ruggie yelledูซ now tugging at Leona like a dog in a serious game of tug-of-war.
"Whoa. Ruggie's draggin' his own boss outta bed feet-firstูซ" Grim mumbledูซ and Leona just continued to snooze away.
Honestlyูซ you had to respect his commitment to the bit. That was until you realized Leona was still holding onto you like a human body pillowูซ which led from Ruggie dragging him to him dragging you with. That's when you started yelling at his lazy assูซ too.
โฅ
"Oh, hey. You're joining us for morning practice?" Jack wonderedูซ his mood visibility lifting at the sight of your exhausted state. It was too early for any of this.
"I coulda used several more winks, but Ruggie wasn't havin' itูซ" Grim grumbled.
Ruggieูซ in turnูซ didn't seem to care as he called out to his dormmatesูซ "Since we've got these freshmen crashing with us, let's make today a light game. Go easy on 'em."
Leona let out a yawn before groaningูซ as wellูซ "All this standin' around is gonna make me fall asleep again. Let's get on with it."
You were about to start walking onto the field with everyone else when the lion stopped you with a click of his tongue.
"Practice here might be a bit too rough for a herbivore like yourself. Can't have another incident while you're under my supervisionูซ nowูซ can we?" Leona teasedูซ mockingly tilting your chin up towards himูซ "How 'bout you just sit here and play cheerleader for a bit? Iูซ alsoูซ wouldn't mind too terribly if you wanted to play waterboy/watergirl."
"Leona! We don't have all day here!" Ruggie loudly complained.
"Yeahูซ yeahูซ" the housewarden grumbledูซ and turned on his heels and heading over to the middle of the field. A couple seconds longer and you would've started round two with a thicker rock than last time.
Soูซ you were made to sit on the sidelines while the rest of the dorm practiced. You couldn't decide if you were annoyed or grateful. On one handูซ who were they to tell you what to do. On the otherูซ you were pretty sure you watched Grim hit like 20 Savanaclaw guys in the first 10 minutes. A phantom throb hit you a bit every time you saw a new victim of Grim's misguided throws.
Besides thatูซ the whole thing looked pretty intense for just practice. At one pointูซ you even watched Ruggie hanging upsidedown from a teammate's broom. It was hard not to be impressed. You also could swear every time a few of them did a tricky moveูซ they'd shift their focus on you to see your reaction. That was usually when they victim to a new hit by Grim's "ingenious" throws. But all togetherูซ it looked absolutely exhausting! Especially to someone without magic like yourself.
"Who knew a morning workout could feel so good? I'm alive, I tell ya! Aliiiive!" Grim cheered.
Jack immediately latched onto his energyูซ "Right? 'S why I get up an hour earlier than this to get some jogging in."
"O-okay, that might be a little overboardูซ" the direbeast concludedูซ then focused back on youูซ "So Savanaclaw Dorm's already trainin' hard for next year's interdorms, huh? Looks like we'll have some worthy rivals."
"Oh, I guess you guys haven't heard yetูซ" Ruggie interruptedูซ "Every May, we have an even bigger Spelldrive event than the interdorm tournament."
"MRAH! It gets even bigger than that?!"
"Yup. It's the interscholastic gamesูซ" Leona butted in.
"Oh yeah, this isn't the only magic school, huh?" You remembered. There was honestly too much random shit to remember.
Ruggie explainedูซ "As the name suggests, it's a Spelldrive event where different schools compete."
"Our school always plays against Royal Sword Academyูซ" Leona added.
"Oohูซ I've heard of them!" Grim pointed out.
"Twisted Wonderland's got a number of educational institutions for cultivatin' magiciansูซ" Ruggie went onูซ "Night Raven College and Royal Sword Academy are particularly prestigious. we're basically known as the Big Two."
After listening to the hyena's spielูซ Grim askedูซ "So what's Royal Sword Academy like?"
"It's a school for pampered lordlings that's fulla snooty, scrawny wimpsูซ" Leona quipped with a smirk.
Ruggie seemed to especially take great amusement in itูซ practically cackling outูซ "Shyeheehee! What he said. Their campus 'n uniforms are all shiny and sparkly. Talk about lame! Can you imagine how much a single scuff would stand out on a white uniform? I know they're supposed to be a big deal, but I wouldn't go there even if they begged me."
He shrugged without a care.
"Hasn't Night Raven College lost the interscholastics for the past hundred years running, though?" Jack questioned.
"Grk! W-well...ูซ" Ruggie squeaked outูซ "We're only at 99 so far! You can bet your tail we'll win this year. Hundredth time's the charm."
"From what I've seen watching the interscholastics on TV...Royal Sword Academy's roster of players are all individually outstanding, but that's not why they dominate. The real key is their incredible teamworkูซ" Jack observed.
"Hey, wait a minute. If we're talkin' interscholastics here...ูซ" Grim thought aloudูซ "Does that mean it'll be more 'n just Savanaclaw? Will the other dorms be goin' up against Royal Sword Academy, too?"
"Yeah. Each dorm contributes a player into one big team that represents the schoolูซ" Leona answeredูซ crossing his arms over his chests. Knowing the kind of people at NRC...
"Sounds like personality clashes waiting to happenูซ" you noted.
"Last year, the team broke out into a brawl before the game even started, just from arguing over who got what positionูซ" the third year thought back and put a hand to his head at just the memory.
"Hah! I like their moxie. If you want a position, you gotta fight for it!" Grim applaudedูซ "I'll make sure | get picked as a school rep!"
"If you wanna strut your stuff and make a good case for gettin' picked, the best way to do that is to stick to your daily practiceูซ" Jack reminded.
"The interscholastics get higher TV ratings than the interdorms, so it's a prime chance to get scouted for the pro leagues!" Ruggie contributed.
"You'd better start thinking now about what you're gonna do to beat out the competition and land a team spotูซ" Leona mused.
You could tell the last two were just messing with the poor thing. Butูซ you couldn't help your mind from wandering.
"Royal Sword Academy, huh...?"
โฅ
"Nothing beats a good breakfast after workin' up a sweat! Grim craves proteinโbring on the MEAT!"
"So, like, what were you thinking, cuttin' a deal with that cephalo-punk? How stupid can you get? Now you're crampin' MY style as a resultูซ" Leona scoldedูซ even giving your forehead a small flick.
At the momentูซ you and Grim were eating lunch with some of the Savanaclaw guys. While eatingูซ the stupid prince had you give him a run down of your fish troubles so far.
"Hah! You made a deal to free all the chumps who contracted with him to get ahead in their finals?" He began to cackleูซ "BAH HA HA! That's rich. I shudder to imagine being that dumb."
"Rumor has it that Azul's study guide is the real deal, thoughูซ" Ruggie butted inูซ "I kinda get why people would wanna get their hands on that."
Jack joined afterูซ askingูซ "So you guys steered clear of Azul's scheme, huh? I figured you'd go for the easiest out of you could get, Leona...Ah, no offense, of course."
"Why would he need it? His was basically just a retry of his last year'sโOw!"
Your snarky comment was cut off by the grump with a smack on the back of the head before you could finish it. Thenูซ he started talking before you could add any more brutally honest comments
"Are you kidding? Who in their right mind would voluntarily keep making deals with that swindler? I've made a few deals and paid the piper for 'em. There's always a steep catch."
Ruggie agreedูซ "Yeah, he ain't the kinda guy you wanna turn to as your first resort. He's definitely a capable magician, though.
He can grant some real tall orders just like that."
"The guy who wants something outta a deal is always the one at a disadvantage. That's Negotiating 101ูซ" Leona scoffedูซ "When dimwitted herbivores sign contracts on a whim, they always end up getting suckered somehow."
Well now you were getting nervous. Could you really win this bet...? Your "benevolent" host must've noticed your unease. He placed a hand on your headูซ this time as a comfort rather than a punishment.
"Y'know what? Let's hear it. What were your terms, exactly?"
And soูซ you recalled the contact's terms to them.
"Before the sun sets on the third day after signing...ูซ" Leona repeated.
"You have to sneak into the Atlantica Memorial Museum, steal a photo, and bring it back?" Ruggie's repeat of your words sounded more like a question. Thenูซ they both went silent for a moment.
"Boy...Stinks to be youูซ" Ruggie murmured.
"Hey, we ain't even gotten started yet! Don't go jinxin' us!" Grim argued.
"Isn't the Atlantica Memorial Museum underwater? How are you gonna get there, brainiac?" The hyena quipped.
"They gave us water-breathin' potionsูซ" your furball answered.
"No idea how well they work, thoughูซ" Jack admittedูซ putting a hand to the back of his neck with a sigh.
"Huh. If Azul gave 'em to you, they probably work just fineูซ" Ruggie reassuredูซ "He's got his pride. I doubt he'd ever give someone a wonky potion."
Leona let out a hum in thought before deciding to tease a bit moreูซ "I'd get the ball rollin' now, if I were you. Time is money, as they say."
"Myah! Good idea! Hey, ___, let's hit up the Atlantica Memorial Museum right now!"
Jack agreedูซ "Good call. With only three days, we don't have any leeway here."
"I'm bringin' Ace and Deuce along, too. Let's mosey!" Grim announcedูซ already dead set on his new goal as he pulled you along.
โฅ
"Will Azul's potions really let us breathe underwater?" Deuce questionedูซ examining the potion vile.
"Only one way to find out. We'll have to chug 'em and see for ourselvesูซ" Jack answered.
"Okay, on threeูซ" Ace declaredูซ "One, two...three!"
You all braced yourselves before chugging down the mystery liquid.
Deuce was first to break the shared silenceูซ "Whew...That was..."
"NASTY! It tastes like someone mixed together dried frog and rotten mushrooms!" Grim yowled.
"How would you know what that tastes like?" Jack began to wonder but was cut off by his own coughing fitูซ"It's a...powerful flavor, all right..."
"What genius decided that potions have to taste like crud, anyway? Someone oughta fix thatูซ" Ace lamented.
"Shouldn't we be more worried about efficacy than flavor?" Deuce offeredูซ but started to wince. "W-wait a minute. It's...getting harder to breathe...
"Are our lungs adapting to breathing underwater?" Jack wondered in disbelief.
"Gah...ูซ" Ace gaspedูซ "Aw geez, this is gettin' bad. Let's get in the water, quick!"
"Mirror of Darkness! Guide us to the Coral Sea!" Jack yelled.
On commandูซ the mirror's surface started to ripple before shining. Soonูซ you found yourself underwater in what you assumed must've been the Coral Sea.
Beside youูซ Grim had started to wildly flail and gargle the surrounding water. "It just dumped us in the water! I'm gonna drown!"
"Wait. I'm breathing just fineูซ" Deuce noticed.
"Huh? Oh, hey, you're rightูซ" Grim realizeูซ now calming down.
"We really can breathe underwaterูซ" Jack marveled.
"Dude! Get a load of this coral reef!" Ace pointed outูซ "If Cater was here, he'd be hashtagging pics of it faster than you could say the word 'Magicam'!"
You peered over at the forest of coral. Andูซ honestlyูซ it was one of the most stunning things you've ever scene. Not only that but it had the cutest little inhabitants!
"Look at all the cute fishies!" You cooed.
"We don't have time to gawk at the scenery. We'd better get a move on and head to our targetูซ" Jack remindedูซ grabbing your upper arm to lead you away from your newest fixation.
"So hard to move! Mrrragh! I feel like a fish outta water here. Or whatever the opposite of that is!" Grim whinely complained.
โฅ
After a bit of trial and errorูซ you all managed to get used to moving around in the water. As best as you couldูซ at least.
"Hey, check it outูซ" Deuce called outูซ seeing an underwater building with an interesting design.
"That's it, yeah? The Atlantica Memorial Museum?" Ace wondered.
Grim noticed the guards before the rest of youูซ pointing them out once he didูซ "Myah! Look at all these guys with fish tails instead of legs!"
"Are those...mermen? Wow. There really ARE people out there who live underwaterูซ" Jack muttered to himself.
Soonูซ two long shadows swam nearbyูซ followed by two very familiar voices.
"Eeeyyy! There you are, Little Shrimpy and co.!"
"Good day, everyone. How are you liking it here under the sea?"
"Those voices...It's the lookalike brothers!" Grim shouted.
"Got it in one!" Floyd cheerfully sang.
Right afterูซ the two emerged from wherever they were hidingูซ now in what you believed must've been their normal forms. The others didn't seem to be as expecting as youูซ however.
You recalled the two brothers using terms that made it sound like they lived underwaterูซ and even referred to each other as eelsูซ so you weren't very surprised about that. What you were surprised aboutูซ thoughูซ was the sheer size of them. Even normally they were pretty largeูซ but like this they were huge in just tail length alone.
"Why d'you look like that?!" Jack questioned.
"Whaddaya mean? This is how we normally lookูซ" Floyd replied casually. So you were right. "After all, we're mermen."
"We use potions to change our forms when we're on land. After all, we can hardly walk on solid ground with these tailinsูซ" Jade elaborated.
Damnูซ there was a whole process to go through? You honestly didn't even think about it at first. Probably because your brain was too busy trying to plan out how to beat Azulูซ and possible backup plans for if things went south.
"Dude, they're long! How tallโuh, I mean, how LONG are you?" Ace almost sputtered. That was actually a GREAT question.
"Are you some kind of sea serpent?" Deuce gaped.
"solid guess, but nope. We're moraysูซ" Floyd correctedูซ perfectly happy with the attention he was getting on his natural form. He seemed especially pleased with the way you were practically gawking at him.
"Who cares what they are? I wanna know why they're here!" Grim fussed.
"Aha ha. That's easy. We're here to get in your wayูซ" Floyd gleefully answered.
"I shoulda knownูซ" Ace muttered.
"It wouldn't do for you to complete your challenge too easilyูซ" Jade confessed.
The battle was barely even a fight. Anytime your side would use a spellูซ it'd just either miss or be deflected!
"Come forth, ice! HYAH!" Deuce castedูซ but had missed again.
"Might wanna try upping the ante there, budูซ" Floyd teased.
"Hey, Deadeye Deuce, here's an idea: try actually HITTING with one of those shots!" Ace called out before firing a shot of his own "Hyah!" And he completely missedูซ as well.
"Heh heh heh. Come, now. Put in some effortูซ" Jade taunted with a mocking chuckle.
"I don't see you doing any better over there!" Deuce called back.
"No way. How could I miss like that...ูซ" Ace whined.
"Little Shrimpyyyูซ how 'bout ya ditch these guys and come hang usูซ" Floyd called outูซ "We're way more fun than some boring land dwellers!"
"Yesูซ there's no need to work so hard for these fools when you could just allow us to care for youูซ" Jade agreedูซ "And since you're already down hereูซ why don't you let us show you around for a bit. You seemed so adorably captivated by the sights just earlier."
"Yeah! We're not that far from homeูซ actually. I bet Mom and Pops would love to meet yaูซ" the former eel addedูซ already mentally planningูซ "And thenูซ we can make you some of those treats you like.~"
The whole time the two were trying to persuade youูซ Ace and Deuce were actively tryingูซ and horribly failingูซ to hit them; meanwhileูซ Jack made sure to keep you protected behind himself like a human shield.
As tempting as an offer that might beูซ you were definitely declining it. Who knows what would happens if you went alone with them somewhere here...You were about to say so when Ace interrupt before you could even get two words out.
"What the hell's with your crazy obsession with drugging 'em with that stuff!" Waitูซ what...?
"They just look so cute all dazed out and greedy like thatูซ" Floyd shamelessly hummed.
"It's simply just too adorable a sight to not see againูซ" Jade mournedูซ "They looked just like that land animal with that mint herb. What was it again? Ohูซ yesโa cat with catnip."
Jack had enoughูซ pushing Ace and Deuce aside with a scoffูซ "Tch. Step aside. I'll handle this! RAGH!" He firedูซ but missed just like the other two first years. "What?! My spell swerved before hitting them! I see what's goin' on..."
"At least Sea Urchin knows how to pay attentionูซ" Floyd applauded.
"I shouldn't be surprised that a land beast has a keen eyeูซ" Jade admitted with an amused grin.
"Since I'm a nice guy, I'll do you a solid and explain why none of your spells are hitting usูซ" Floyd decidedูซ "I've got this signature spell, Bind the Heart, see? It's a handy little number that interferes with your magic to ensure it fails! Ain't that just neato?"
Grim huffedูซ "That ain't 'neato' at all! It's cheatin', is what it is!"
Jade sighedูซ "Floyd, do you really have to spell out your entire signature spell gimmick to them?"
"What's the big deal? Knowing isn't gonna help 'em anyูซ" the eel pouted.
"Fair enough. At least your magic is in good form today. If only you could be more consistent about it. When you're not in the mood, it never works at all. That's rather hard to plan around, you know."
"Better run, kiddos! If I catch you, my tailfin's gonna wring you out like a dirty dishrag!" Floyd tauntedูซ now peppy as ever. "Now, who should I squeeze first...?"
"This is nothin' more than a game to themูซ" Jack realizedูซ "If we don't get outta here, they're gonna hang us out to dry!"
"We'd better work out a new plan!" You squealedูซ just narrowly avoiding getting nabbed.
Floyd laughedูซ "Aha ha! Come back as many times as you want. It won't make a lick of difference! With those sorry legs of yours, you'll never outswim mermen."
"We'll be waiting for your next visitูซ" Jade called out.
"Rgh, this stinks! I'll remember this, okay?!" Grim yelled.
You struggled to swim away. Jade watched as you all did. Butูซ for some reasonูซ Floyd was still on your tail like an eager puppy.
Thenูซ with a new boost of energyูซ he managed to surge forwards and grab a hold of your ankle. The others instantly took notice and desperately tried to help free you from the eel's vicelike grip. You pried and thrashed until to accidentally hit a point of slashing him with your nails andูซ to your disbeliefูซ actually managed to cause him to bleed. You fearfully peered up at his expression to find he was in equal disbeliefูซ staring at the new shade of red dissipating in the water with a shocked expression.
Nextูซ you were unexpectedly yanked away. Your group noticed the eel's sudden frozen episode and used it to pull you away while distracted. Still a bit too shaken up to move much yourselfูซ you could only watch as Floyd recovered from his shock. A bone-deep chill made it's way down your spine at the sight of the deep sea predator watching you leave with a borderline psychotic smile as he began to lick away the blood from his newly formed wound. You felt sick...
โฅ
You all struggled to catch your breath once making it back to the Mirror Chamber. Personallyูซ you were debating whether or not to just lie down on the floor for an hour or three.
Deuce huffed as he tried to catch his breathูซ barely managing to askูซ "You guys okay?"
"I think so...ูซ" Ace groaned.
"I wasn't expecting them to actually be mermen...ูซ" Jack commented.
"It was almost a feedin' frenzy thereโwith us as the chum! Swimmin' that fast ain't fair!" Grim recalled in exhaustion.
"Well, yeah. Merfolk are literally in their element underwaterูซ" Ace chided.
"But we gotta get that photo fast, or they're gonna confiscate Ramshackle Dorm...ูซ" Grim reminded.
Deuce sighedูซ "We need to rework our plan here."
"Yeah. Cater likes to say he's got his finger on the pulse of the community, so why don't we get some input from him?" Ace though aloud.
"It'd also be a good idea to go back to Savanaclaw and see what Ruggie and the others have to shareูซ" Jack agreed.
"Finallyูซ a tuna break!" Grim cheeredูซ gaining a new sudden burst of energy.
"Waitูซ" the wolf interruptedูซ "I wanna know more about something you said earlierูซ Ace."
"Huh? What'd I say?"
"The drugging thing. Concerning ___, I meanูซ" Jack elaborated. He kept looking at and away from youูซ as if he were nervous to bring it up with you nearby. Now that he mentioned itูซ thoughูซ you wanted to knowูซ too.
"Oh. Wellูซ uh...You know how people say how addicting the items on the special menu are...?" Ace hesitantly questionedูซ but was cut off by Deuce before he could finish.
"It's loaded with love-me-knot! And I mean like a RIDICULOUS amount! And they don't let the customers know so they just think that the item itself is addicting!"
"...Yeahูซ what Loosey-Deucey said...ูซ" Ace mutteredูซ clearly a bit salty about his spotlight getting stolen. "Anywayูซ while working the rest of us to the boneูซ those two starting loading ___ with the stuff!"
"Love-me-knot?! Isn't the legality on that stuff like highly questionable? Does the Headmage know about this?" Jack began to practically interrogate them.
"I wouldn't be surprised if he does know but just pretends not tooูซ" the redhead concluded.
"'Love-me-knot'...ูซ" Grim repeatedูซ "Ohูซ yeah! That's where I heard of that stuff! Doesn't Trey use it when baking sometimes?"
"Yeahูซ but only a bit just to enhance the flavorูซ" Deuce replied.
"Uh huhูซ and not so much that it starts mind numbing certain kinds of peopleูซ" Ace snarkily added. You felt their eyes shift to you.
"What?! You wanna start something?" You arguedูซ but inevitably gave way into a pout as you askedูซ "What is that stuffูซ anyway? I've never heard of it before."
Deuce started trying to explainูซ "It's a sorta plant that works as a flavor enhancer. It's SUPER addictingูซ though. The more someone has of itูซ the more they crave it. It works on anyoneูซ but is typically extra effective on darlings. Because of thatูซ it's really in a legal gray area..."
"Soูซ I was basically willingly drugging myself without realizing it...ูซ" you paraphrased.
"Pretty muchูซ yeahูซ" Ace concluded.
โฅ
Later that nightูซ you recalled the day's events to Leona and Ruggie.
"What? You guys actually went to the Coral Sea?" Ruggie questioned.
"Hah! How stupid can you get?" Leona laughed.
"Mrah?! But you're the guy who said to 'get the ball rolling' right now!" Grim argued.
"Hmph. I never said anything about diving headlong into the seaูซ" Leona correctedูซ "Your time's limited. What I was suggestin' was that you use your head and find a worthwhile use of your time. Challenging merfolk head-on in the water is a losing proposition no matter how you slice it.
It's like walking into a carnivore's mouth."
"Wait. Did you guys know the twins were actually mermen this whole time?" Jack wondered. You felt it wasn't a good time to say that you also knew the whole time.
"Maybeูซ" the lion answered.
"I saw Floyd in his natural form at a joint swimming class last summer, and boy, let me tell you...ูซ" Ruggie recalledูซ "If that guy came after me in the water, I'd be done for. End of story." Once againูซ you didn't feel like it was the right time to bring up today's trauma story dealing with similar events...
"It woulda been nice to know that beforehand!" Jack complained in exasperation.
"Last I checked, you were the guys who ran off half-cocked without bothering to gather any intelูซ" Leona remarkedูซ "I would've been happy to share it all in detail if you'd asked." Bullshit...
Ruggie shruggedูซ "Yeah! You gotta cover your bases before you start pickin' fights, y'know? Shyeheehee! Back at the Savanna, you gotta tread carefully if you don't wanna end up as someone's dinner."
You were starting to wonder if there was grocery stores in the Savanna or was it like the Bronx but worse? Hold onูซ was he serious? Did they eat people there? Please let him be joking...
"Grrr...You're the same couple of scheming jerks as always!" Grim complained.
"Does this mean Azul was planning on interfering from the start when he made the offer?" Jack began to wonderูซ rubbing the back of his head.
"Uh, duh? Obviously?" Leona retorted.
"The Leech brothers are Azul's top men. They're known for collecting all collateral and compensation from his contractors. And rumor has it they run interference to make sure the contract terms can't be metูซ" Ruggie explained.
Grim started to grumbleูซ "What a bunch of low-down, dirty cheaters! Urgh...If ___ loses, am I gonna be stuck workin' day and night for Azul forever?"
"Wowูซ your faith in my capabilities means the world to meูซ" you deadpannedูซ but soon began to groanูซ as well.
"Leona?" Ruggie called out.
"Azul's signature spell is a golden contract scroll called It's a Dealูซ" Leona started to summarizeูซ "It enables the caster to take one power from a target if that target signs the scroll. In addition, in the event of a contract breach, the breacher is compelled to obey Azul's every command to a T."
"They say spells with tricky activation requirements are especially potent, but man...Isn't that messed up?" Ruggie sighed.
"When the power gets taken, it's sealed inside the contract and made available for Azul to use as it suits himูซ" the lion concluded.
"Wait, so all those times Azul busted out different sortsa high-difficulty spells like it was nothing...ูซ" Jack started to realize with shock.
"I'd bet you anything that those were powers he swiped from contractors as collateralูซ" Ruggie swore.
"That's nuts! That means he's cheating at everything!" Your fellow first year just about shouted.
"Technically, no. As far as signature spells go, his is crazy high-level. Guy's gotta have some chops to pull something like that offูซ" the hyena commended.
"I've never put my power up for collateral, so l've got no idea how it works, myselfูซ" Leona admitted.
"Wait, then what DID you put up for collateral?" Jack inquired.
"Grrr... What's it matter? It's all in the past anywayูซ" the lion snappedูซ "ANYWAY. Contracts with him'll last as long as that special scroll is around. Which is why Azul makes very carefully worded offers."
"And then gets clueless souls and suckers to sign on with terms they can't possibly meetูซ" Ruggie added. You felt like you were being secretly insulted to your faceูซ both at the same time.
"The only way to win against Azul is to not make a contract at all. Hehูซ" Leona chuckled.
"Mrooow...What are we supposed to do?!"
Wellูซ you didn't want to do thisูซ but it seemed like you were gonna have to...
"Please, share some insights with us!" You pleadedูซ clasping you hands together and peering up at Leona through your eyelashesูซ attempting to look as pitiful as possible.
At firstูซ the housewarden seemed to be taken aback for a second or two. Butูซ thenูซ he seemed thoroughly amused with your pleading and pity party attempts.
"Do you do this every time you're in trouble? Come on. I know you're not that dense," Leona teasedูซ giving your forehead a playful flick. "How do you win against someone stronger than you? You use your noggin. But, hm...If I were in your shoes...I'd start by brainstorming a way to shred the contract document itself."
"But it's invulnerable!" Grim cried out.
The third year put a hand to his head and sighedูซ "You guys are seriously peabrained."
"You're like a scammer's dream come trueูซ" Ruggie agreed with a similar sigh.
"Mrah?!"
You were starting to change your mind about staying here. At least at Heartslabyul you'd get yummy treats and wouldn't be getting ACTIVELY INSULTED!
"Let's start with the basics. Why would you take Azul at his word when he said his contract was 'completely unbreakable'?" Ruggie asked.
"What? I mean, none of our attacks did a thing to it...ูซ" Jack recalledูซ crossing his arms.
"Have you considered the possibility that was an on-the-spot demonstration put on as a bluff?" The hyena smugly pointed out.
"All magic's got a loopholeูซ" Leona statedูซ "Remember that pampered little redhead Riddle's signature spell and how it sealed magic? It seemed unbeatable at first, but it still had a weakness. Even the best magicians can't sling spells willy-nilly. So the idea that Azul's golden contract from It's a Deal is indefinitely unbreakable...is preposterous. Flat-out."
"So there's a way to beat it after allูซ" Jack notedูซ "Challenging the Leech brothers underwater is a losin' proposition, no matter how you slice it. We'd be better off trying to find a chip in the contract scroll's proverbial armor on land instead. I see what you're gettin' at. I dunno, though. That sounds an awful lot like playing dirty."
"Come on, Jack...ูซ" Ruggie groanedูซ "Your principles are great and all, but you guys already took a fair shot against Azul and his boys on land. Remind me again how that went?"
That reminder made Jack groan and caused you to look down at your ankle. You could feel a bruise forming from Floyd's grip strength alone.
"Let's be clear here: these guys are scoundrels that swindle doe-eyed herbivores and take them for everything they've gotูซ" Leona pointed outูซ turning you around to face the other with your back behind him as he squished your cheeks together. He was obviously using you as a prime example. "Why should you play fair when they don't? So what if it's underhanded? So what if it's taking the fight off the playing field? As long as the contract is annulled, you win. End of story."
"Oooh, that's our Leona! The duke of dirty plays; the tyrant of technical fouls!" Ruggie praised.
"Wow. You haven't learned a thing from your last incidentูซ have you?" You sarcastically remarkedูซ looking up at your elementary-level bully from over your shoulder.
"Hey, it's like I said before. I do whatever it takes to winูซ" Leona mused.
"Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, huh?" Jack thought over aloudูซ "Fine. Let's spend the next two days staking Azul out and looking for our chance to shred that contract scroll!"
So you were back to stalking again. Great...
"Well, good luck with that, froshesูซ" Leona regarded.
"Whaaa?! After all that talk, you're not gonna help us?" Grim questioned.
"Why should I? I practically wrote the answer for you in crayon already. You guys can figure the rest out yourselves. Laterูซ" Leona retortedูซ seeming as if he was currently trying to actively avoid looking at you.
"On that note, I'm out too, Good luck, guys!" Ruggie called backูซ following after his housewarden.
"Th-that's just heartless!" Grim cried out.
โฅ
The following day at lunchูซ youูซ Jackูซ and Grim filled the card duo in on what Leona and Ruggie told you.
"Finding a way to tear up an unbreakable contract?" Ace wonderedูซ "Sweet! It's def underhanded, but hey."
"That approach does seem like it would have a far better prospect of working. I have to agree with Ace here, thoughูซ" Deuce noted.
"Aw, shaddup! If we stick to our morals, we'll be stuck with morays!" Grim complained; you shivered at the thought.
"That, and Azul's group cast the first stoneูซ" Jack pointed outูซ "They told us to get a photo from under the sea, fully intending to thwart us at every turn. Leona may play dirty, but he's a brilliant playmaker. I think his idea's worth a shot."
"Can we maybe not say the same thing over and over?" Deuce pleaded.
"Brrr. Just remembering those twins chasin' us around in the water gives me the shivers!" Grim thought back.
"Rgh. If only blastcycles worked underwater. Then they would've been eating my dust!" The bluenette lamented.
"Uh huh. Suuure, Loosey-Deuceyูซ" Ace brushed offูซ "So... Mermen, huh. The Leech brothers are morays; I get that part.
Is Azul like them when he's under the sea?"
"I remember Leona referring to him as a 'cephalo-punk,' for what that's worthูซ" Jack recalled.
"As in, cephalopod? So is he, like, an octo-merman?" Deuce asked in disbelief.
"Myah! If he got a bunch of legs in the water, he'd be even more dangerous than the morays!" Grim exclaimed.
Jack agreedูซ "No kiddin'. Which is why we're trying to brainstorm an approach that doesn't involve fighting them on their own turf."
For some reasonูซ it set off a bell in your head that Azul was oneูซ but you couldn't quite remember why. Alsoูซ if you had to be honestูซ it sounded pretty cool after you got past the scary part...Actuallyูซ you just managed to think of a good first step.
"Our first job is locating the contract scrollูซ" you stated.
"That vault in the VIP room did stand out like a sore thumb...ูซ" Jack thought.
"Great! There's our angle. Let's sneak into Octavinelle right now!" Grim excitedly declared.
"Nobody should be there on lunch break before the lounge opens. Let's goูซ" Deuce added.
โฅ
"The coast is clearูซ" Grim called outูซ "Okay, boys (and lady), follow me!"
"Looks like you were right. There's not a soul in sightูซ" Jack observed.
"The vault's double-locked. It needs a passcode and a keyูซ" Deuce noticed.
"Shoot! Someone's coming!" Jack warned.
"Ah, crud. Quick, hide!" Ace called.
And for some odd reasonูซ everyone scrambled under the desk to hide. You found the hiding spot firstูซ and it was a good one until it became overpopulated.
"So...cramped...Jack, why you gotta be so big?!" The redhead cursed.
"Wanna say that again?" The giant wolf threatened.
"Hey, don't move!" Ace fussed.
Before longูซ you all heard a clicking noiseูซ followed by Azul's voice.
"Now, then..."
A series noises sounded from the vault before it audibly creaked open.
"Hey...Those are the contracts we signed!" Deuce muttered.
"So he's been keeping 'em in the vault after allูซ" Ace realized.
"He's counting those contracts like they're a wad of bills! Look at that smirk on his faceูซ" Grim shouted in a hushed tone.
"What a twisted pastime...ูซ" Jack murmured.
"Ahhh. That's that. I'd better be getting back nowูซ" Azul spoke aloud before closing the vault door with a loud creak and slam. Thenูซ it locked as he walked away. You couldn't quite tell whatูซ but something was definitely suspicious here.
"Phew!"
Everyone finally moved from under the insanely cramped desk.
"We were THIS close to gettin' noticedูซ" Grim cried.
"Wait, look! He left a contract out on the tableูซ" Jack pointed out.
"For real?! Lucky us! Let's swipe it and see if we can tear it upูซ" Ace cheered.
"Who knew Azul was so sloppy with this stuff?" Grim smugly grinned.
You felt it shouldn't have been that easyูซ though. No way would Azul be careless enough to have a whole vault for his contracts but leave one out of it...
"Let's see what we got here...ูซ" Grim declaredูซ reaching out to get a hold of the contract.
You were soon proven right when all five of you were hit with a sudden sharp jolt of electricity.
"AGHAGHAGHAGHAGH!!!"
"MRAAAH! My whole body's paralyzed!"
None of you could moveูซ all frozen from the electric shock your bodies were so suddenly subjected to.
Soon you heard eerie laughterูซ the kind that made you sick to your stomachูซ "Bwaaa ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!"
"Dear me. You're all twitching like you got attacked by an electric catfishูซ" you heard Azul taunt as he reentered with the Tweelsูซ "You look positively silly."
Instead of stopping beside Azulูซ the twins continued to practically slither towards youูซ causing a growl to begin resounding from Jack's chest as they got closer.
"You were onto us the whole time?!" The wolf demanded.
"Of course I was: Your fluffy tail was perfectly visible under the deskูซ" the mer pointed outูซ "It would appear you were trying to steal the contracts...Unfortunately for you, they're rigged to jolt anyone who touches them aside from myself.
"So the whole thing was a setup?!" Ace demanded.
"I told you that my contracts are completely unbreakableูซ" Azul reminded.
Floyd had begun to smush your cheeks together with one hand so that he could hold your face in place to show off the new wound you had personally inflicted. He paused for a minuteูซ thoughูซ purely to mock the others in your group.
"Aha ha ha! What a bunch of schmucks! Why would you even try when you know how this is gonna go?"
Jade snickeredูซ "Floyd, don't laugh at the poor things. That's just mean. They're wracking their little peabrains. This is simply the best they could come up with. Heh heh heh." He used to a finger to tilt you face to his directionูซ delighting in your frustration.
"Trying to steal someone else's valuables merits a proper punishment, wouldn't you say?" Azul hummed.
"Indeed. They need to be taught a firm lesson so that they never think of doing it againูซ" Jade concurred.
"I'm gonna squeeze you all, ooone byyy oooneูซ" Floyd sang out.
"And what about their leader?" Azul quirked a brow at the Tweel.
"How could you say such a thingูซ" Jade feigned shockูซ putting a hand over his heart.
"Little Shrimpy's a special caseูซ" Floyd repliedูซ moving wrap his arms around you protectively.
"Rgh...Watch out, guys! Incoming!" Jack growled.
The boys seemed scared at the possibility of hitting youูซ so they focused the majority of their energy on Azul instead. But even with all four of them focused on himูซ he was still a housewarden and much stronger by miles.
Jack huffed out breaths before managing outูซ "Argh...I never knew housewardens were this powerful!"
"Let that be a lesson to you. NEVER try to steal my contracts againูซ" Azul proclaimedูซ basking in his victory.
Meanwhileูซ the Tweels were perfectly content with letting him do all the work while they enjoyed tormenting you. They seemed to have come up with a sort of game of taking turns opening their mouths at you and growing smug when you didn't give the other the reaction he wanted. You felt like crawling in a hole and dying.
"Shouldn't you guys be hustling over to the Atlantica Memorial Museum?" Floyd wondered in amusement.
"Your deadline is sunset tomorrow. The clock is ticking, you knowูซ" Jade reminded.
"Then again, after we're done workin' you over, you'll be spending the rest of that time passed out in the nurse's office!" The former addedูซ not even bothering to look at them while he cooed at you like some sort of toddler.
Gazing past themูซ you could see the others visibly seething.
"I summon thee, cauldron!" Ace shouted. What the hell?!
"Hey! Don't crib my magic!" Deuce complained.
Floyd grinnedูซ "Didn't we go over this yesterday? You'll never touch me with that! Bind the Heart!"
He let go to cast the spellูซ so you used it as your opportunity to scurry away. Did Ace actually think that far ahead? What do you know? A broken clock really is still right twice a day.
"Floyd! Watch where you're directing that spell!" Azul screamedูซ "You've aimed right for the vault, you fool!"
"Whoopsie-daisy. Sorry about thatูซ" the eel casually replied.
"No...The door's damaged! The dial and hinges aren't shot, are they?! Phew. Okay, good."
Weird...Why would he be so worried about the vault if the contracts were really so invulnerable? Wouldn't worrying over some vault door be overkill?
The octo mer continued to scoldูซ "How many times have I told you not to use your signature spell so carelessly?! What will it take to get it through your head?!"
"I said I was sorry, okay? You don't gotta get all bent outta shape over one little dingูซ" Floyd complained.
"You'd have me save my protestations for when it's completely demolished, then?!
"Okay, you two, settle down. Otherwise...they'll get away."
"Huh?"
"Now's our chance! So long, suckers!" Grim yelled back.
"Hey, wait!" Azul called outูซ "Jade! Floyd! After them!"
"Gettin' yelled at kinda harshed my vibeูซ" Floyd pouted.
"Is that really relevant right now? How can you let moods dictate your behavior so much?!"
They're voices got less and less audible as the lot of you made a run for itูซ not stopping until you all made it to the Hall of Mirrors.
"Phew. I was scared stiff thereูซ" Deuce admitted.
"We wouldn't be in this mess if you weren't such a huge target, Jackูซ" Ace grumbled.
"Whโhey! I just work out more than you guys! What's wrong with that?! Besidesูซ wolves are naturally large creaturesูซ" he defended.
"Well, we can't tear the contracts up. We can't even touch them as things standูซ" Deuce sighed.
"I think we'd better call it a dayูซ" Jack thought aloud.
"We wasted a whole day, and for what? Nothin'ูซ" Grim huffed.
"Is there really a way to shred those dumb things?" Ace lamented.
"Something's nagging at meูซ" you murmured.
โฅ
Later that nightูซ you seemed to walk back to Ramshackle out of pure habit. Just one more day until you lost your dump of a dorm. You were honestly starting to warm up to the decrepitูซ old building. Soonูซ you were brought out of your thoughts by floating yellow-green lights. A strangeูซ but prettyูซ sight. Thenูซ a familiar face appeared; one you that didn't fill you with anxietyูซ for once.
"Hm? You're...ูซ" he began.
"You're Hornton!" You exclaimed.
"Hornton? Who is that? Are you...referring to me?"
"You said I could call you a name of my choosingูซ" you reminded.
He began to laugh; his laugh was so elegantly beautiful that it left you in awe.
"Heh...Hmhm. Ha ha ha! Me, being called 'Hornton'! You really are fearless, it seems. No matter. It was I who told you to use a name of your choosing. I'll indulge this liberty and permit you to refer to me by your...curious nickname. By the by, l've noticed that this dorm has seemed rowdier as of late. Are you taking in more students?"
"Actually...ูซ" you sighedูซ and somehow ended up finding yourself ranting to Hornton about the whole ordeal.
"What? You made a deal with Ashengrotto? Well...I suppose that does explain it. Then once the sun sets tomorrow, I suppose this place will belong to him and become a hotspot for noisy studentsูซ" he surmisedูซ but looked slightly amused once peering at your expressionูซ "Heh. You look like you take issue with my statement. You don't like me speaking as though your loss is a given?"
Hornton went quiet for a few secondsูซ looking away from you as if he felt bad for hurting your feelings.
"Incidentally, the walls of this dorm have some rather impressive gargoyle sculptures."
"Gargoyles?" You repeated.
"At first glance, these gargoyles appear to be imposing, dangerous monsters...But in reality, they are a kind of drainage spout built to keep rainwater from sullying the walls. They look frightful, and yet they are beings devoted to the preservation of their home."
"There's a stark contrast between what they do and how they look, huh?" You concluded.
"Sometimes, what you see with your eyes is the complete opposite of the truthูซ" Hornton explainedูซ "And...I, too, would prefer to avoid this place becoming rowdy every night. Continue fighting to protect your dorm."
Before you could say anything elseูซ Hornton disappeared in a flash of light.
"So what I see...isn't always the truth?" You thought out loudูซ "Hornton sure enjoys acting like he's got all the answers."
โฅ
Back in Leona's roomูซ you were sadly made to work before you could rest.
"Your job for today is to clean Leona's roomูซ" Ruggie informed.
"You'd better earn your room and board, herbivores."
"Between Azul bossin' me around at work and Leona doin' it at home, I'm a mess. Uuughูซ" Grim groaned.
You couldn't believe you were cleaning up after a grown ass man. And he was just watching from the comfort of his bed. Unbelievable...
"Start by putting all his randomly-discarded clothes into the laundry basket, then clean off his deskูซ" the hyena instructedูซ "Accessories go in this drawer. Books go on that shelf. Once the desk is clear, wipe it off with a dustcloth.
"You're not a cub. You should know how to clean up after yourselfูซ" Grim mutteredูซ and you grumbled in agreement.
"Hm? Care to run that one by me again?"
"Eep! I-I didn't say nothin'ูซ" your companion squeaked. "Okay, I'll start cleanin' the pile of stuff offa this desk...Whoa! He left some expensive-lookin' jewelry just lyin' around. And there's his wallet! W-with this much stuff around, surely he wouldn't notice one little thing goin' missing, right? That's what he gets for not puttin' this stuff under lock and key. Nyeh heh heh..."
Ruggie quickly intervened while chidingูซ "Don't even try it. That one's mine to nabโuh, i mean, he'd know immediately if something was unaccounted for. I keep telling you to stop leaving your valuables out in the open, Leona. You're gonna get robbed blind one of these days!"
"Ah, shut your trap. What are you, my mom?" The lion irritably waved offูซ "So what if my stuff gets stolen, anyway?
It's no big deal. I say if someone's got the guts to steal from me, they can go right ahead."
"But it IS a big deal! That's my point! It's all fun and games being rich until the day you suddenly feel the penny drop. They're called 'valuables' for a reasonูซ" Ruggie scolded before mutteringูซ "This is what drives me nuts about you silver-spoon types..."
"THAT'S IT!" You suddenly exclaimed.
"Whoa! What's gotten into you, ___?" Grim questionูซ visibly taken aback.
"Oi. Bring the volume down a notchูซ" Leona fussed.
"They're in the vault because they're NOT unbreakable!" You excitedly elaboratedูซ "He doesn't want the contract scrolls to be stolen!"
"Huh?" Ruggie smirked.
"Hah...Ha ha ha! Of course! I get it nowูซ" Leona laughedูซ "That's an intriguing line of thinking.
โHuh? What'd I miss?" Grim obliviously wondered.
"Here, I'll explain...ูซ" Leona offered.
"Ohhh, I getcha! NOW it makes sense! Now that we've got a weak point to exploit, let's bust into Octavinelle right now!"
"There's just one problem with thatูซ" Ruggie cut in.
"Myah?"
"If ___'s read is right, then the Leech brothers are sure to show up and interfere. Honestly, they're a bigger hurdle to you guys than the vault itself."
"For cryin' out loud...We're so close, I can almost taste it!" Grim cried.
"So if the Leech brothers weren't present...ูซ" you started to plot.
"Hey. I've got a good idea of where you're going with this, so I'll get this outta the way now... I'm not helping. No way, no howูซ" Leona refusedูซ "The last thing I need is to get dragged into someone else's mess. Especially when that cephalo-punk is involved."
"Same goes for me. Don't even askูซ" Ruggie chimed in.
"Hmph. You guys're real fairweather friends, y'know that?" Grim huffed.
Despite their wordsูซ the two of them seemed to be watching youูซ as if they were waiting for something. What? Did they want you to beg again?!
"Grim...Play along with me on this oneูซ" you grinned at the furball. You had plans that were gonna be much more entertaining than begging. For youูซ at least.
synopsis โ Trey has been compelled to observe other boys getting overly friendly with the prefect, and it's becoming too much for him to handle. Although green is his favorite color, heโs now started to see red. This time, he is determined to make his feelings clear towards the prefect. featuring Riddle
genre โ (very soft) yandere, just possessive vibes aha
warning โ none
note โ istg im bad at writing summaries it sounds like the Ruggie one๐ + shout out toโฃ๏ธanon for suggesting a sequel to the Ace-broken-foot(?) saga. You recommended some songs, yet I went with a completely different one๐ญ but I wrote this with you in mind, so I hope you like it !!
more works: masterlist
now playing: dark red - steve lacy
Riddle's vibrant red hair stands out like a solitary rose amidst the greenery in Trey's peripheral vision. Comparing it to a sore thumb would be too harsh, especially since Riddle is his friend. Much like Clover's relationship to the prefect. Just a friend. As Trey stands by the stove, stirring the leaves from their search inside the pot, he silently listens to the prefect and Heartslabyulโs housewarden engaged in a private conversation nearby, seemingly discussing something meant only for them. Trey could only observe from a distance.
โOnce again, I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to assist a member of our dorm. Ace can be quite careless with his actions,โ the hausewarden noted. Trey is fully aware of the lingering gazes Rosehearts directed at the prefect. Those looks were too friendly... and too obvious.
โRiddle, donโt worry about it! After all, Ace is my friend! I would certainly drop everything to help him!โ The prefect let out a lighthearted giggle. They maintained eye contact with the boy as they organized the leftover leaves and retrieved a cloth. It was merely a friendly gesture, Clover reassured himself. After all, they were all friends.
Heartslabyul is home to shades of red, much like the hausewarden himself. Yet, Trey had always felt greenโwith envy.
โUnfortunately, I have a housewarden meeting coming up, so I canโt stay for long to assist. However, please let me know if you encounter any issues.โ The red-haired boy instinctively grasped the prefect's hand in a gesture of gratitude, but as he realized what he had done, he became embarrassed. His cheeks flushed a soft pink, and he quickly released his grip. The prefect merely responded with a light giggle.
โI-Iโll see you both after the meeting!โ Riddle announced as he departed from the dorm kitchen, leaving the two behind. A silence enveloped the room, broken only by the sound of boiling water and the prefect's busy hands. But before he could say anything, the prefect had decided to speak.
"Honestly, I should be the one to thank you, Trey." The boy lets out a small laugh at the mention of his name. Both figures are still busy tending to their own tasks with their backs facing each other.
"Really? Are we going to do this again?"
"Okay, okay! It's just... you're one of the best guys in this school." A brief silence envelops them, as Trey's breath catches at the compliment. The prefect adds, โThatโs why I knew I could rely on you.โ
Trey was taken aback by how deeply a seemingly casual remark could affect him. He had always recognized that he wasn't among their closest friends, particularly when compared to the group of first-years, like Ace and Deuce. However, the comment made him realize that his presence might hold more significance for them than he had previously thought. While it alleviated some of his uncertainties, it also sparked even more questions in his mind.
Once again, only the sounds of the boiling water from the pot fill the air.. Some tension could be felt by the green-haired boy as his eyes darken. Thoughts running through his mind. All centered around the very person he is alone with in the room. The prefect hums to a music only they knew and snaps the boy from his thoughts.
โIโve got the cloth just as you instructed, by the way. Iโve laid it out here as well. Now, all we need to do is wait for the leaves to finish and place them on top, just as the book suggests.โ They quietly step to the side of the island, right behind Trey, to retrieve the spellbook. โOnce the leaves have cooled down, we can wrap them around Aceโs foot.โ
Something bad is 'bout to happen to me
Clover remains quiet and instead continues to question what they had said in the beginning.
Why I feel this way? I don't know, maybe
โReally?โ The prefect responds with a curious hum. โDid you truly mean it when you said Iโm one of the best guys in this school?โ The prefect considers the question briefly before replying straightforwardly. โYeah, I think youโre a responsible guy. Youโre also a dependable senior.โ Both individuals fall silent once more. Without looking away, Trey smiles at their words.
I think of you so much, it drives me crazy
"My efforts in becoming the person I aspire to be in the future don't go to waste, then." This statement piqued the prefect's curiosity, raising an eyebrow in interest as they posed a question. โOh? And what exactly do you aspire to be?โ
I just don't want you to leave me (Babe)
Without any sounds of movement behind them, a pair of hands suddenly land on either side of the prefect. Startled by this unexpected action, they quickly turn around, only to find Trey's face looming very close. The prefect now finds themselves trapped between him and the kitchen island. His face moves closer ever so slightly.
"A good husband."
The smile on Clover's face appears inviting, yet the longer one gazes at him, the more unsettling it becomes. His eyes penetrate deeply into the prefect's, looming over them from the perspective of the pot simmering on the opposite side. A bead of sweat drops from their forehead. The boy's head tilts to the side with a hint of curiosity,
"Say, prefect." His voice was gentle yet sent shivers down their spine. The prefect suddenly sensed something was amiss regarding what was about to unfold. However, all they could do was watch the boy before them with wary eyes.
โWhat is your relationship with Kingscholar?โ he asks, recalling a memory from just before they entered the dorm kitchen, specifically during their search for the leaves. Itโs something that continues to trouble him. โYou both appear soโฆ close to one another?โ
The prefect recalls a familiar memory and finds themselves perplexed by the question. They furrow their brows slightly and glance to the side, contemplating how to articulate their thoughts.
โUmm, wellโฆ describing our relationship as close would beโฆ not quite right? I consider him a friend, but I wouldn't say as close as I am with the other first years.โ Their voice trailed off as they met Trey's dark gaze once more.
"Then what do you think of Riddle?" The prefect begins to feel uneasy with the questions being posed. They find themselves questioning what could possibly be on the boy's mind to ask such things.
"Umm, he's a good guy. He's still a tad bit strict, but I know he's working on himself." Trey instinctively steps back from his close proximity to the prefect. Although a sense of ease was beginning to form within them, they were once again taken aback when he unexpectedly grasped their hand.
"Please don't give up on me." The grip on his hand became firmer. As the prefect looks up to Trey's face once more, this time, his smile seems more sincere. Too many questions are forming within their head, but they knew it's best not to entertain them.
ramshackle's finally turned into a heap of rubble. you saw that one coming a long time ago. what you didn't see is the harem of unsavory magicians trying to keep you confined within their dorms. ( <- prev | intermission | next -> )
( not exactly dissociation, but detaching from reality (?), h4rassment [Lilia ๐๐], sexual innuendos [still lilia ๐], dubcon [yes him], breakdowns, implied mind control, malleus gives bad advice to his brother ๐๐, mentioned violenc3, reader has it bad, lots of crying. )
Youโre slowly forgetting the look of your home.
There are times when you lie in your bed at Ramshackle, stare up at the rickety ceiling, and marvel at how vastly different it is from your back home. A room that you had lived in since childhood, full of marks from different parts of your childhood, and decorated to make it your own. Living in this grim, run-down shack for months now, you can barely remember what shade of [Color] your walls were, and the view outside your window was a blur to you now.
Now you move from room to room, changing colors and beds and roommates. Your own bedroom was slowly losing its image in your mind.
You also remembered loathing the creaking of the stairs when your family decided to barge into your room to either order you around or just to bother you in general. Now, every time the walls of Ramshackle creaked, you closed your eyes and imagined that it was your sibling on their way to annoy you again. But the other dorms were more maintained, no creaks or drafts to imagine your family to. You only turn your head to see the outline of the men who love to smother you in this suffocation they call love.
โ[Y. Name]?โ
Very rarely is there someone so gentle-spoken and princely in this mess of a school, so you knew that Silver Vanrouge was there waiting upon you as you peeled your cheek off the school desk. Your short nap has you yawning into your palm, and Silverโs stoic face quirks into a fond smile as he regards your messy look.
โNice nap, I take it?โ He asks, gently taking you by the hand and guiding you onto your feet. He tucks a strand of hair behind your ear and nods approvingly. โFatherโ er, Liliaโ um.โ He sighs when he catches your knowing look. โSorry, force of habit. Everyone is eagerly awaiting your arrival at Diasomnia. Lord Malleus seems to be quite excited, too. Heโs looking forward to dinner with you.โ
โDinner, huh?โ Walking alongside Silverโs languid pace, you think back to the Master Chef and the food that General Lilia whipped up in his dream. Silver takes note of your darkening expression and shakes his head.
โFather was insistent on cooking, but Sebek tried to convince him that ordering takeout from Mostro Lounge would be better. Lord Malleus was also quick to jump in and sway him.โ The two of you share a chuckle as you imagine how chaotic that scene must have been. โFather was on his way to Mostro Lounge when I departed to find you. Whereโs Grim, if I may ask?โ
โInfirmary,โ you say as lightly as possible. Silver smiles wryly.
Outside Diasomniaโs mirror, Silver slowly comes to a stop, and he turns to face you. You are surprised when Silver drops to his one knee, looking every bit as knightly as he prides himself on being. When he lifts his faceโ fair, gorgeous, and tinged with sympathyโ he presses a hand to his chest as he holds your gaze steadfast.
โOn my honor as a knight, I promise that no harm will befall you in Diasomnia,โ he pledges to you, taking in that weary look in your eye as he takes your hand in his. โAfter all, Iโ we adore you so. We owe it to you to give you a sanctuary when you have nowhere to turn. So, please, rest easy. We are Diasomnia, after all.โ He takes your hand and presses its back against his lips, turning to you with a reassuring smile, yet something uncertain flashes in his eyes. โWho else would be the most suited to give you a proper sleep?โ
Even at such a small dinner party, Diasomnia spares no expense in making sure youโre cared for. As soon as Silver escorts you through the massive doors, Lilia is quick to pop out of nowhere with his youthful grin. โWell, well, if it isnโt the belle of the ball! I trust my son has been a wonderful escort!โ He winks at you before hurriedly pushing you. โCome, come, Malleus has been eager to see you since forever! If we leave him alone for any longer, Iโm afraid that even Sebek cannot calm his tantrum!โ
โTโ Tantrum?โ You echo, letting yourself be pushed around by the bat fae. Silver quietly follows behind.ย โIs Tsunoโ uh, Malleus angry?โ
Lilia chuckles. โNo need to act polite. You know that Malleus is quite fond of your nickname for him. But no, not angry, but he has been sulking about the other dorms having you to themselves.โ Stopping at a smaller yet equally impressive door, he steps in front of you and gives you an apologetic smile. โNow, I wonโt pretend to be ignorantโ weโre all quite aware of the rumors around you.โ The expression on your face must be exceedingly bitter, because Lilia reaches up to pinch away the frown and shakes his head. โYou know how overprotective our Malleus is, so we have taken extra precautions to keep him away from those nasty whispers.โ
โSebekโs taken too many precautions, I think,โ Silver speaks up from beside you. Lilia waves it away.
โThey do deserve it, and itโs not like Malleus has heard of Sebekโs actions. Yet.โ Lilia puts two steady hands on your shoulders and levels you with a stare. โUs hardworking knights have done our best to protect you and others from Malleusโ wrath, so please donโt let it slip, okay? I am not against Malleus smiting those wicked men, but youโฆโ
You shake your head immediately. Lilia steps back with a satisfied smile and pinches your cheek one last time. โOf course. Our [Y. Name] is ever so kind, after all.โ
Silver and Lilia push aside the doors to reveal a small table fit for five with Mostro Lounge takeout placed appetizingly around green-flamed candelabras. Malleus is looking out the window, lightning flashing to illuminate the stormy expression on his face, while Sebek is saying something to placate him. When they hear the doors creak, they quickly turn around.
โ[Y. Name],โ Malleus greets you warmly, approaching you in long strides. He is handsome as ever, the friendly expression sitting so regal on such an otherworldly face that makes you feel small compared to him. You think back to the days when you didnโt know how much of a deal Malleus was, taking late-night walks with him outside of Ramshackle. Youโve always thought him handsome and imposing, but certainly not someone you would be scared of.
The image of his Overblot form overlaps with his current form as he stops in front of you, but you return his smile as sweetly as you could. โMalleus! Thanks again for the invite; the others were driving me crazy.โ
He chuckles, smooth as butter, but you catch the darkening of his eyes for a sliver of a second. โMm, yes, Iโve heard whispers.โ Behind him, Sebek starts telling you to stop with a cutthroat motion. He quickly stands still when Malleus follows your eyes to look behind him. He turns back to look at you, smiling the same as ever. โWould you care to join us for dinner? Weโve prepared quite a feast to welcome you.โ
You say your thanks as everyone joins Malleus at the table. โI couldโve cooked, you know~!โ Lilia sighs. โIs it not rather rude to serve take-out to a guest as dear as our [Y. Name]?โ
โNโ Not really,โ you nervously laugh. โIn fact, Iโm already getting shy from all this unnecessary welcome. None of the other houses really did this for meโฆโ
โOf course!โ Sebek booms with pride across you, thumping his chest with his hand. โIt is to be expected that Diasomnia, the dorm that our Lord Malleus leads, will be a step above the rest!โ
Lilia, on the other hand, leans forward on the table and perches his sly face on his hands. โOh, Iโm sure the other dorms must have been hospitable in their own wayโฆโ He purrs, eyeing you knowingly. โBut fae pride themselves on being hospitable. I think serving takeout is somewhat distasteful, but if our guest has no complaints, then who am I to say so!โ
The dinner falls into a comfortable conversation, each one playing a role theyโve clearly been playing for many years. Lilia cheerily inquires about you on the general state of things, with Malleus slyly trying to weasel information from you on what (or who) youโve been up to these past few weeks. Sebek loudly demands that you answer his young lordโs questions while Silver scolds Sebek for being too imposing.ย
The scene isโฆ familiar. Sharing takeout around the dinner table, interacting freely with each otherโ they overlap with people from your world. Your parents, your siblings, your friendsโฆ You bow your head and force yourself to take another bite, blinking away the sting welling up in the corner of your eyes.
You donโt quite notice the shared looks around the table, the green candlelights of Diasomnia flickering every so slightly brighter.
SEBEK ZIGVOLT has no duty to you. Nothing is binding him to you, so why does his heart squeeze so painfully when he sees you with that vacant look in your eyes?
Youโre standing on one of the dormโs many balconies, unmindful of the chilly wind blowing throughout the night. Bathed in the serene glow of the moonlight, Sebek would have mistaken you for a nocturnal fae had he not known any better. The indifferent look on your face, as you look upon everything that Diasomnia has to offer, is eerily inhuman.
Sebek swallows down his feelings and knocks on the glass door leading out to the balcony. You turn to him, a little light returning to your eyes, yet your expression still stays somber. โYouโre supposed to be in your room,โ Sebek says stiffly. โItโs already lights out. Do yourself a favor and get some rest.โ
โHi, Sebek,โ you softly greet him, turning back to the dreary view below. You study the twisting vines and branches. โDonโt you get depressed living in a place like this? Itโs soโฆ well, depressing.โ
He frowns, taking the space beside you. Heโs never thought of it. Briar Valley was full of similar twisting vines, and they werenโt so scary when the woodland fae were there to light the way. โI donโt think much of it,โ he huffs. โI donโt have the luxury of admiring views when Iโm busy serving Lord Malleus.โ
You laugh shortly, like you expected that answer. โOf course, of course,โ you hum, smiling to yourself as you continue looking out. โMy mistake. Our dear Sebek is wholly devoted to making his young lord proud.โ There is a silence as you ponder to yourself. โ... One question.โ
โI will permit it.โย
You playfully roll your eyes at such haughtiness but continue anyway, expression taking on a softer note, โYour dreamโฆ When you dreamt of celebrating Lilia and Malleusโs internshipsโฆ Were you happy?โ
Sebekโs eyes widened at the unexpected question. โIโ Well, yes, I suppose so.โ The memories of that dream and the circumstances that came alongside it left a bitter taste on his tongue, but he supposes that he could forgive you since you were caught up in it as well. โThe dream was intended to make one happy, and nothing would make me happier than to see Master Lilia and Lord Malleus thriving and healthy.โ
โHow was it?โ You press on. โDid it really feel like the paradise that Malleus intended it to be? Did it feel like you wanted to be there forever?โ
Sebek looks at you once more. Youโre staring at him, eyes probing him for answers. He bites the inside of his cheek before tearing his gaze away from you. โOf course, I did,โ he says hesitantly. โLord Malleus was happy, Master Lilia wonโt leave us permanently, Silver would still have his father, and nothing could make me happier. Before you and Silver barged in, I was as content as I could be.โ
โIf you didnโt know anything,โ you continued to press. โIf Silver didnโt tell you that it was a dream, would you have ever woken up?โ
Sebek stays silent before he looks at you almost angrily. โWhat is this about?โ He demands. โWhy are you so curious about my dream?โ
You stare at him, looking a bit shocked at the hint of frustration coming from him, before you press your lips together in a bitter line. โ... my dream.โ
โWhat?โ Sebek raises his voice, brows knit together in exasperation. โHow am I supposed to understand you if you keep slurring your words!โ
Jaw clenched, your hands bundle into fists as you stare long and hard into the distance. โMy dream.โ You say louder. โI couldnโt experience it.โ
โWhat could you possibly gain from such an experience?โ He practically spits. โLord Malleus is indeed great enough to spin such a realistic dream from his magic alone, but the fact that it isnโt real should already deter you. Itโs already a humiliation for me that you, Silver, and that beast of yours have seen that side of me.โ
Tsk. You find yourself growing irate with Sebekโs frank words, though you know that heโs said nothing wrong. โI know that, Iโm not stupid. Itโs justโ! Itโs just not fair, okay! Iโve had to jump from dream to dream, see all of you live your best lives, even for just a moment. You had maybe an hour or even more to live out a reality where you were perfectly happy!โ
โWhat part of fake do you not get?โ
โIt wasnโt fake for you!โ You spin to him, angry tears welling in your eyes. Your expression had contorted into one so ugly, so pathetic, so human that he almost reeled back. โBefore Silver and I came along, that was your reality! I wanted that! For one hour at least, I could live out a life where I was actually happy! I could be back in my room, I would be hanging out in my usual cafe, Iโd be grinding my dailies on my PC, Iโd get to see my family again! I donโtโ!โ You let out an ugly laugh. โFuck, I donโt even remember the color of my walls anymore! Itโs not even been a year! This school is fucking killing me!โ
A moment of silence passes after your outburst, your chest heaving from the screaming, and Sebek watching you crumple onto the floor. Human. Youโre so human, like the rest of them. Ugly and jealous and inferior and everything he didnโt want to be.
A beat passes. โ... Do you hate it hereโฆ?โ
You avert your eyes. โI donโt even know anymore,โ you plainly say.
It stings, but anyone would have seen this coming, especially Sebek. You were always an outlier in every event, unable to familiarize yourself with Twisted Wonderlandโs culture and traditions in such a short amount of time. You donโt fit in. You are an alien, no matter how hard you try. Even if people say they accept you, you wouldnโt accept yourself.ย
Sebek turns his back to you, unable to properly form his words. โThenโ Then how do Iโฆ?โ
You look at Sebekโs broad, muscled back. In the darkness of the night, you donโt know whether youโre imagining the shaking of his shoulders as he mutters something to himself. โDโ Did you say something, Sebekโฆ?โ You see him shake his head and rub at his eyes with his sleeves, before turning to you with a scowl.
His eyes are wet, but his glare has real heat behind them. โOf course, you would want to leave,โ Sebek plainly says. โYou donโt belong here.โย
Now, you glare at him for stating something so painfully obvious. Did he really have to rub the facts in your face? โBut how could you leave? Thereโs been no spell in history opening a portal to another dimension. You are the first of your kind. It is a foolโs hope to even think of devising such an unthinkable spell.โ
โYou donโt know thatโ!โ
โAnd you donโt know if a spell like that even exists,โ he shot back. โDo you think, in all his greatness and power, Lord Malleus would not have done so already? He has a terrible fondness for you that I cannot fathom, but if Lord Malleus couldnโt do it, then who else can?โ
You think back to Malleus overblot, those inky hands clawing at you from dreams as he latches onto your body with enough vice to never let you go. โWould he?โ You say sardonically. โCome on, Sebek. Weโve been through so many dreams because of that. Would he really?โ
Sebek shoots you an infuriatingly smug smile when you finally come to the conclusion that heโs wanted. โExactly. If Lord Malleus of all people would not permit you to leave Twisted Wonderland, thenโโ
You stare back at him in stunned silence as it finally dawns on you. Sebek, with the smallest hint of guilt, relishes in it.
โโ Who are you to believe that you could actually leave?โ
You (SILVER VANROUGE): Father.
You (SILVER VANROUGE): Father. You must do something about Sebek. His violence is getting out of hand.
You (SILVER VANROUGE): I cannot keep covering up for him. Day by day his outbursts are getting more and more aggressive. It is also unseemly for us to be attacking civilians.
You (SILVER VANROUGE): I know he would agree. He was never the type to lay hands on civilians before. Why now would heโฆ?ย
Father (LILIA VANROUGE): ohoho :3 young love, how I love to see it !
You (SILVER VANROUGE): This is no laughing matter, Father. Iโve tried talking to Sebek about it but wonโt listen to a word I say. Just this morning we got into a fight over how I donโt care enough for [Y. Name].ย
You (SILVER VANROUGE): I was so upset at the accusation that we almost exchanged blows. But stillโฆ am I in the wrong?
Father (LILIA VANROUGE): Of course not! u n sebek care in ur own way!! since ure so easygoing, ure able to be by the prefectโs side whenever to protect them from any harm
Father (LILIA VANROUGE): but sebek canโt be honest with himself, the poor thing (ใฃยดฯ`)๏พ(โฅฯโฅ) u and i know that all he wants is to protect those dear to him,,, so letโs just look the other way, ok ? โก
Father (LILIA VANROUGE): otherwise, i fear that even the cute prefect wonโt be able to handle sebekโs overeagerness (๏ฝฅฯ<)โ
โOh me, oh my!โ LILIA VANROUGE sits on the edge of your bed, kicking his legs back and forth as he greets you with youthful cheer. โThatโs an awfully glum expression you have there, dear! Did Sebek say something to upset you again? Iโm sorry, that boy has such a mouth on him. I fear that he gets it from his grandfather.โ
Having just entered the room, your throat feels dry as you watch Lilia pat his side. โLilia,โ you croak out. โI thoughtโฆ? Is this your room?โ
Lilia covers his mouth with both hands as if youโve suggested something very scandalous. โOh my, I could never! You sly thing! You look so innocent, but here you are insinuating!โ He wags a finger at you. โBad, bad! Of course, we arranged for you to have your own room. It wouldnโt be very noble of us Diasomnia folks if we had a guest share, now would it?โ
Turning to the side, Lilia then mutters to himself, โAnd Sebek and Silver wouldnโt let me.โ
โWhat was that?โ
โOh, nothing!โ Lilia leaps up and drags you to the bed with him. โNow, come! It wouldnโt do for you stand there all night long with such a grim look on your face! Whatโs got you in a twist?โ
โNโ Nothingโฆโ You say, twiddling with your thumbs as you look despondently down on your lap. You ignore Liliaโs constant moving in the background. โJust came to a realization, thatโs all.โ
Lilia hums knowingly, having produced a brush from one of the dressers and starting to run its bristle across your strands. โOh, donโt mind me. I just thought you might do with a little grooming, thatโs all. Do carry on. Realization about what?โ
โ... My current predicament?โ You sigh hopelessly. โLiliaโฆ Is there really no hope?โ
โFor you to return home?โ He replies in an upbeat tone, as if the conversation wasnโt heavy at all. โAt the beginning, I would have said that there was a chance. Even if our headmage is a lout, the fact that you were summoned here means that there is a way of opening the fabric between worldsโ just that it hasnโt been explored yet.โ Then he pinches your cheek, grinning at you from the side. โBut then you had to go charm Malleus! How could you ever leave after that!โ
Sebek said the same thing. Malleus thisโฆ Malleus thatโฆ If you werenโt ignorant on the night that you met Malleus, would he have ever held any affection for you? Or if he would, would it be to the degree of possessiveness that everyone thinks he has? The fists clenched in your lap relax. What was the point of ruminating over the past?
โYou know, Malleus was such a selfish boy growing up,โ Lilia sighs, using his fingers to unknot a particularly stubborn one in your hair. โSo possessive over me as well! Why, when Silver came along, he could hardly comprehend that he had to share me! I didnโt know whether to be flattered or troubled. Everyone in that family, really... what a bunch of troublemakers!โ
You smile to yourself. โI saw.โ
You feel Lilia nod behind you. โOh, you did, alright. My embarrassing pastโฆ Iโm happy that it was only you, Silver, Sebek, and dear Grim who saw it! I wouldnโt know what to do if my other schoolmates saw such a grumpy side of meโฆ Itโs very uncool!โ
โI think a lot of people would disagree otherwise,โ you say. You think back to when Lilia would glare down at the four of you coldly, every bit of the terrific general as his followers praised him to be. โWe were certainly scaredโฆ and awestruck.โ
โNow were you?โ You hear a bit of pleased satisfaction in Liliaโs voice as he finishes brushing your hair. โThere you go, smooth as a babyโs bum.โ From above, Lilia looked down at you with half-lidded eyes and a smug smile. โDid I hear you correctly? Did our pretty prefect fall in love with General Lilia at first sight?โ
โNow you know I said no such thingโ w-woah!โ You find yourself pinned to the bed, your head in between Liliaโs thighs as he continues to stare at you. โLilia! What the hell!โ
โNow thatโs a look,โ he hums. His lithe fingers trace your expressionโ to the crease between your brows to the dip in your cupidโs bowโ and cocks his head to the side. โFrom depressed to angry, you sure are a fickle one. When I first laid eyes on you, you were as meek as a mouse, but I would never have thought that you had such fire in you! Iโm sure you were well-adored in your world as well.โ At the mention of your world, your eyes dim a little, and Lilia pats your head lovingly as you become lost in thought. โAnd yet, that fire cannot be stoked in this world. After all, thereโs so many bad men who are willing to douse that water out just to have your cinders for themselvesโฆ One cannot blame you for losing that spark.โ
You continue to be silent, his vague analogies lost on your drifting mind. His rhythmic strokes lull you to a false sense of comfort, the back of your brain nagging at you that something is wrong. โBut itโs not so bad, is it? When your future begins to look bleak, itโs okay to depend on us. We all love you so much, surely that means something to you?โ
Loveโฆ You turn the word around in your brain like a stone to be examined. Does love feel so suffocating and so hopeless? Is love supposed to make you feel fear? Glancing up at Liliaโs red eyes, looking down at you all, fatherly and doting, you wonder if love is supposed to look so sinister and scheming. He tuts at you.ย
โNow, now, youโre in no condition to be thinking so hard.โ He massages the creases between your brows and cocks his head to the side. Blocking out the ceiling light, it haloes around him and casts a dark shadow on his face. You are unable to decipher the strange expression he has on. โOn the chance that you canโt come home, youโre not lacking for anything here. So many possibilities! Royal consort of Sunset Savannahโs second prince, married to the heir of the al Asim wealth, the partner of A-list star Schoenheitโฆ or even live out a cozy life baking treats with your lover, picking apples with dear Epel in the countryside, managing the ever-so-successful Mostro Lounge with Ashengrottoโฆ The possibilities are endless!โ
โAs for what Iโd do with youโฆโ He taps a finger on his porcelain cheek, making a display of thinking. โSevens, Iโm already old, so Iโm afraid I canโt compete with the younger onesโ vigor. Still, youโve enamored me for a long time now, and this old man canโt help but spend the rest of his days with you and the boys. What do you think?โ He smiles at you cheerfully, pointy fangs poking out from his upper lip. โWe make a pretty cute pair, donโt you think?โ
You hum thoughtlessly. โWhatever you sayโฆโ
He pouts at you. โHave the other fiends harassed you so much that you donโt react to this anymore? I remember when youโd squeak at the slightest touch. If a face as cute as mine canโt move your heart anymore, then what am I to do?โ He sighs.ย
โYou could let me sleep?โ You suggest hopefully. He snickers, and you drop any hope of actually getting in an early rest.
โBut I havenโt had my fill of playing with you yet! Silver and Sebek may think that weโve taken you under our roof under the goodness of our hearts, but Iโve always been a ruffian. Less knightly and more soldier, as you well know.โ He lifts himself from where he sits, the mattress pushing upwards as he stands. Itโs a rather awkward position as you avert your eyes to avoid seeing any more up his shorts, and you hear him laugh at your politeness. Those slender legs straddle themselves on your chest, and with a squeak, you look back at him to see a rather self-satisfied expression on his face. โWell! There you go! Just a little bit of skinship to have you squeaking like a mouse. Not so cold as I thought.โ
โThโ This isnโt a little bit!โ You protest, attempting to push him away before your fingers curl in on themselves just inches away from his bare legs. โYouโre literally on top of me!โ
โJust some innocent roughhousing!โ Fully playing the act of an innocent boy, he purposefully squirms to feel the friction between the two of you. He laughs in delight when you cover your mouth to stop any inappropriate noises. โWhatโs the fuss? Is our innocent prefect actually thinking naughty thoughts right now?โ
โYou know what youโre doing!โ You whine. He chuckles again, toying with the fray of your clothes in silence as you try to settle into the new position. Lilia finds it rather endearing that you havenโt tried to push him away, whether it was out of politeness or simply because youโve learned your lesson from past houses. The perfect and cutest doormat. He sees you toss your head to the side and squeeze your eyes shut as his fingers tease and graze along the curves of your hips, watching closely every minuscule change in expression as he gently grabs your waist and presses his thumbs into your abdomen.
โIf anyone walked in, this would be enough to fuel their fantasies for months,โ he muses to himself, enjoying the way your abdomen tenses under his touch. โTwo cute things playing with each other, me straddling you in between my legs, your thighs shivering as I touch you all overโฆ What a sight to behold, Iโm sure. Being like this together makes me rather happy that we met at my current age. I wouldnโt know what my younger self would do to such an adorable, pathetic thing like you.โ
You whimper as his fingers go higher and higher, circling your chest but never fully committing. Your shirt is well above your neckline, exposing your torso to the cold air. โThat brute may have ravaged you on the spot in front of all his army, maiming your neck just so every fae in the vicinity will know that youโre the generalโs. He may not control himself when another man tries to touch you. Iโve always been messyโฆ Thorn Fairy knows how many times Baur has tried to lecture me on this front.โ
โThat is why~โ He leans down, your bare chest against his clothed one, and he grinds down for good measure. โYouโre so lucky to meet cute olโ me. They say patience comes with age, and Iโve 700 years of it.โ He presses a kiss on your forehead, sickly innocent in contrast to his perverted fondling. When he lifts his head, he is grinning down at you like he knows exactly whatโs going to happen next.
โSo even if you try to resist, I still have plenty of years left to make you see things my way.โ
Thisโฆ might be the longest youโve slept in any dorm yet. Youโre rather surprised, yes, but youโre not going to complain. Although the darkness of Diasomnia may have fucked up your internal clock for a little bit, you find yourself waking up refreshed in the mornings. Really, this is the hospitality that youโve been needing for a while now.
And yetโฆ why doesโฆ?
You shake the minuscule worries gnawing at the back of your mind and start getting ready for bed. You and Grim fucked up another potion-making test today and have to wake up early in the morning to retrieve the ingredients for your retake. Well, it was more so that you fucked it up for both of you. Your mind has been foggy these days that Ace and Deuce have to literally shake you by the shoulders to snap you out of it.
Itโs a pleasant dazeโฆ something that you wouldnโt mind falling deeper into. Butโฆ You shake your head and slap your cheeks in front of the mirror. You gotta take this retake seriously, or Professor Crewel will seriously chew your ass out. Now, where were those notesโฆ
As you rummage through your bag for your papers, you hear a steady rapping on your door. โComing!โ You call out to them, quickly rushing to the door while you make yourself appropriate. You find MALLEUS DRACONIA staring down as soon as you swing open the door.
โCare for a walk?โ He asks with the expression of trying not to seem overeager. You hesitate, thinking back on your upcoming test before shaking your head and looping your arm through his.
โI have to retake a test tomorrow,โ you tell him as you step outside. โI messed up todayโs test.โ
Malleus hums. โItโs highly understandable that you donโt excel in Alchemy. Youโre no mage, and you have an unruly direbeast to perform magic on your behalf. Does Night Raven College not consider your predicament?โ
โMmm, not really.โ You idly kick a pebble. โI mean, Grim and I make up two halves of one student, right? Grim performs the magic, and I haveโฆ opposable thumbs.โ You shrug and look up at him. โIโm the one who messed up. I accidentally dropped a whole lot more mugwort than the recipe asked for. It didnโt need magic or anything; I was just being stupid. I havenโt been thinking straight these daysโฆโ
โHmmโฆโ Malleus hums again, looking to the side thoughtfully. โThere has been a lot of activity going on with you recentlyโฆโ
โUm, activity?โ You cock your head to the side. โIโ I donโt think so? Iโve been doing the same as Iโve always have, I think?โ
He smiles at you, looking like he knows something that you donโt. โOh, that was just some off-comment of mine, pardon me. After this walk, perhaps I could educate you on whatever potion it is that youโre struggling with.โ
You perk up. โYou would?! I meanโ ahem.โ You sheepishly look to the side. โSebek would have my head for making you do that. Itโs okay, really, I can manage.โ
The millennia-old dragon fae pouts at you, lifting your chin by the finger to make you look at him. โDo you prioritize my retainerโs word over my own?โ He grumbles, looking oddly adorable as his mature face creases into a childish sulk. โIt is not every day that I offer to tutor someone. You ought to be grateful that I offered my services.โ
You canโt help but crack a wry smile, becoming increasingly aware of the faint electricity crackling in the atmosphere. โWell, if the Prince of the Valley of Thorns insists, then who am I to refuse, right?โ Malleus pulls away, looking smugly satisfied with your words and with himself.
โExactly,โ he croons. There is a mischievous expression on his face as he looks down on you, lips pursed into a rogueish smile as he draws his face closer to you. โWell, then, shall we start the session?โ
There is the cool sensation of his lips pressed against your forehead, before you feel the tender trunk of vines wrapping themselves around your ankle, twisting further up and up to your thigh till they create a cradle around your torso. Malleusโ pale face blurs in and out of focus, looking at you just like he once did when he was covered in ink and going insane.ย
โSee you in a few, my dear,โ is all you hear, faint and soft like a lullaby, until the black thorns block your vision and you finally go to sleep.
You open your eyes to a familiar [F. Color] ceiling, popcorned and patchy with stickers you stuck on throughout different phases of your childhood. There is a loud, obnoxious banging on the door, along with an even more obnoxious voice telling you to wake up. A more muted one, so faint that itโs drowned out by the banging and shouting, says something that you canโt make out.ย
You groan and roll over, hugging the pillow to your chest. โShut uppp, Sebek!โ The banging stops for a loud gasp before it resumes with an even louder force. Man, this guy.
Knowing that nothing will stop Sebek from knocking your whole door down, you decide to spare yourself the misery of broken hinges and swing the door wide open. Still in your pajamas and sporting a bedhead, you scowl at the already in-uniform Sebek. โWhat?!โ
He scowls back at you. โWhat do you mean by โwhatโ?! Look at you, underdressed and disheveled at six in the morning. School starts at eight, and here you are wasting precious daylight! Get moving!โ
You open your mouth to argue back, before Silver steps in between the two of you. โOkay, thatโs enough. [Y. Name]โs already awake, and thatโs all that matters.โ Silver looks to you and smiles. โYou can freshen up after eating breakfast. You pulled an all-nighter again, didnโt you?โ
โMalleus had me memorizing formulas the entire night!โ You complained, yawning into your hand as you began to walk downstairs. โIโm pooped.โ
โMalleus taught you?!โ You wince and plug your ears with your fingers as Sebek yells into your ear. The two of you stop just short of the staircase, glaring into each otherโs eyes again. โYou had Malleus teaching you, and you have the nerve to complain!โ
You stick your tongue out at him. โMaybe Malleus could teach you, too, if you lived hereโโ You fake a gasp, hand covering your mouth like you just realized something. โOh, but you donโt live here, do you? Blehhh.โ
โWhy youโ!โ
As you and Sebek begin duking it out in this cramped hallway, you feel something boring into the side of your skull. When Sebek claims his victory by (lightly) smacking you upside the head and begins to head down himself, you shoot a quizzical look towards Silver, whoโs been staring at you with an odd look in his eye. โSilver?โ You call out. โYouโฆ er, okay? Whatโs up?โ
Silver shakes his head before returning to his stoic yet soft expression. โNothing. I was justโฆ wondering. Letโs head down and eat breakfast before it gets cold.โ
โIgnore him,โ Sebek scoffs from the foot of the staircase. He has one hand outstretched to you, blush faintly covering his cheeks as he averts his eyes from you. โHeโs always an airhead.โ Sending a teasing grin Sebekโs way that he pointedly ignores, you gladly take his hand and let him escort you to the kitchen.
โWell, well, looks like Sleeping Beauty has finally joined us!โ Lilia teases as soon as the three of you enter the kitchen. Donning a frilly apron, he sets the table with Malleus taking the head of the table as always. You find your usual positions on the table, grimacing at the odd-looking concoctions. โI could hear the racket you were making from all the way here!โ You and Sebek grumble out varying volumes of apologies.
โAre you prepared for your test today, [Y. Name]?โ Malleus leans on the table with his arms propped up, watching you with glimmering green eyes. โI take it that youโve familiarized yourself with the potionโs recipe?โ
โPโ Potionโฆ?โ You furrow your brows. You were taking aโฆ chemistry test today, werenโt you? Butโฆ but of course! Potions and chemistry. That much was obvious. Your confusion melts away into sureness, and you nod cheerfully. โYep. Got the recipe down pat. I think Iโll ace Crewelโs test today, no sweat!โ
He reclines with a pleased smile. โUnder my tutelage, there is no doubt you will โaceโ this test.โ Sebek, whoโs been piling heaps of rice on his plate, eagerly leans forward.
โIfโ If itโs no bother to you, Malleus, could I join you for your next session?โ He asks hopefully. โIโ Iโve been struggling with academics as wellโฆ!โ
Malleus chuckles, looking beyond amused at Sebekโs attempts. โThereโs no need to downplay yourself, Sebek. I know your academics have been far more than satisfactory. You have your own due diligence to thank for that.โ Sebek shoots you a haughty look across the table, to which you respond by kicking him by the shin under the table. He glares at you but does not attempt to respond.
Breakfast goes by with Malleus and Lilia conversing about everyday topics while you and Sebek try to stomach the food. Lilia eats some of his own cooking, but Silver and Malleus donโt touch anything. Malleus never had a large appetite, but you nudge Silver with your elbow. โArenโt you gonna eat?โ You gesture at this empty plate. โYou canโt go to school on an empty stomach, you know! Youโre in a sports club!โโ
With an odd look of helplessness, Silver stares at his plate for a second. โI doubt this could fill me up,โ he mutters under his breath, before he looks at you. โPardon my asking, but does this have any taste to you, [Y. Name]?โ
Something in the air tenses, Malleus narrowing his eyes at Silverโs direction. โSilver,โ he says in a tone so dangerous that it has you and Sebek focusing on your own plates. โLeave it be.โ
Silver purses his lips, like he wants to say something, before defeatedly looking away. โYes, myโ I mean, yes, Malleus,โ is the only thing he mutters before he heaps himself a serving of rice just to poke at it. The silence is so awkward that even the ever sociable Lilia looks like heโs at a loss as he tries to figure out this mysterious interaction between the men.ย
Malleusโs green eyes donโt seem to quite leave Silver before they soften and settle on you. โLetโs pick up where we left off last night on the way to school. I shall be your escort today.โ He gestures to Sebek. โSebek, kindly see to it that Silver goes to school on time. [Y. Name] and I shall make our leave first.โ
Although Sebek looks disheartened at the command, he follows through with it and is still nagging Silver when you finally finish freshening up and head out the door with Malleus. Lilia waves the two of you cheerily off, and you both begin the familiar route to school in comfortable silence. Malleus seems to take in his surroundings with curiosity, whatever interest he may find in the same old suburban buildings and sky-high towers in the distance.
โIt never ceases to amuse me,โ he ruminates. โHow a world can be soโฆ ordinary. No magic to be found. It is charmingly mundane, indeed.โ
โHm?โ Malleus has always had a habit of rambling about mysterious stuff thatโs almost nonsensical to you, so you always brush his meandering off as some sort of personality quirk. โWell, it does grow boring when youโve been living here for almost all your life,โ you absentmindedly agree as you skip over a crack. Or break your mamaโs crack, you hum as you continue skipping. You turn around to Malleus, who looks at you with an unreadable expression. โWhere do you wanna live instead, Mal?โ
โIf I said a world full of magic and wonder, where youโd never want for anything, would you follow me there?โ
โOf course, I will!โ You nod. โI mean, weโre family, arenโt we? We might not be blood, but weโre a package deal! Iโm sure Lilia would be too worried about leaving you somewhere on your own, and Silver will followโฆ then Sebek tooโฆ oh, but Sebekโs familyโฆโ Listing them all off, you raise five fingers at him. โLilia, Silver, and me, then Sebek and his family! Weโll all follow you!โ
Malleus stares at your outstretched palm, held up to him proudly as you look at him expectantly. Then he begins to chuckle into his palm, and eventually bellowing into full-blown laughter. Even youโre taken aback by this sudden burst of laughter, and you circle him to inspect what could be wrong with him. โHey, whatโs with you? Whatโs so funny?โ You pout at him. โI wasnโt joking, you know!โ
His merriment dying down, he continues looking at you with the same fondness as you both resume walking. โOf course, of course. How could a sweet thing like you possibly lie to someone like me?โ Rather big ego he has there, but you choose to ignore it. โI guess thatโs another wonder of this world. Iโve yet to see you so happy. Itโs rather thought-provoking what a change of environment can do to oneโs personality.โ
โYou always say the most confusing things!โ You naively remark. You look back at him after skipping another crack. โIโm happy every day! Iโve got everyone with me. Later, my friends and I are gonna go to this ritzy mini-golfing thing.โ You make a lousy attempt at swinging your imaginary golf club. โPutt! Or something.โย
You stop your playing around when you finally reach the pedestrian crossing, and Malleus watches as your already carefree expression stretches into a happy smile as you wave at your friends from the other side. Theyโre unfamiliar to Malleus, clearly memories of people from your worldโ or what was left of those memories. They mirror the same carefree smiles and waves, but their features are darkened by the shadows of their hair. You are clearly forgetting.
He looks around. The scenery doesnโt seem to be coherent either. Now in the thick of the city, you are surrounded by skyscrapers and bustling shops, yet a closer inspection reveals things that should only exist in Twisted Wonderland. Why else would a magickless world need a store hawking magic pens and brooms? He looks down on his uniform. There are symbols from Night Raven College littered throughout the original design of the uniform of the school you used to come from, a clear mismatch with your relatively unblemished one. He hums.
โ[Y. Name],โ he calls. He preens when you quickly turn around, foregoing your friends to give him your entire attention. The way you look at him, all starry-eyed and untroubled, is a sight that he could never get used to. Always diminishing yourself for the sake of not getting picked on, jumpy at every show of magicโ he would never have guessed that the otherworlder he had met on that fateful night outside Ramshackle would be this lighthearted and blithesome. โ[Y. Name],โ he calls again.
โMalleus, Malleus,โ you playfully echo back to him. He represses an ungraceful snort.
โYou always seem to favor this dream,โ he muses, walking towards you and gingerly taking a stray strand in between his gloved fingers. โPartaking in breakfast around the table, squabbling with your family, taking leisurely strolls to schoolโฆ Later, you will doze off in the middle of a lecture, making sure to hide your antics behind a book. Then you will race with your friends to buy whatever special the cafeteria has today. There will be your clubs, then you will make merry with your friends in town, then go back home satisfied and not having finished your homework. This unremarkable routine is what you always come back to.โ
He cocks his head to you, taking in your confused expression. โHave you always been this easy to satisfy? If Iโm not mistaken, this is what you already do, isnโt it?โ
You furrow your brows. โWhat I alreadyโฆ?โ
Malleus throws his head back and laughs. โSo many hints, yet you refuse to wake up. I donโt mind. Silver canโt pin the blame on me if you are unwilling to release yourself from these delusions.โ
The scenery shifts, the buildings dissolve into the ground and melt into inky shadows until a looming stone-walled castle rises to take their place. You stumble backwards and frantically look back to the images of your friends, who have vanished into the black thorns, gradually blocking the darkening sky. You yelp when you feel Malleusโ hand against the small of your back, and you look up to see his face darkened withโฆ
โYou would never respond this brightly when I placed you within the confines of my palace, adorned in fineries fit for royalty. This blinding smile youโve always shown me in this worldโฆ nowhere to be seen even when I seat you on the throne next to me. I tell youโ I order you to love me, yet you only nod and fold your hands subserviently. You give me compliance when I wanted your heart!โ His taloned nails dig through your uniform and barely pierce your skin.ย
His expression is downright livid, glaring down at you as green lightning streaks against the dark sky. He brings his other hand to pointingly dig into your temple. โI could easily manipulate this feeble mind of yours. Humans are so eager to submit to pleasure, and yetโโ He looks torn. โโ Even I force you to be my betrothed, I cannot be satiated until I know that you wholly return my feelings. It would not be a happy ending if I turned you into a marionette, would it?โ He looks off to the side, pondering something, and nods. โYes, it would do me no good. Sebek adores happy endings. I cannot deny him or Lilia and Silver one.โ
Malleus returns his gaze to you, gasping for breath as the thickness of magic begins to slowly fill your lungs. โDo you see the position you have put me in? No other dream will do for you, so here I am diminishing myself to the wiles of your ordinary world. I admit, it has been fun playing family with you and the others. How many times has it been? Walking hand-in-hand with you, playing with strays on the street with Silver, eating out at these โfamily restaurantsโ to avoid Liliaโs cooking, stopping at these little shops to gorge on โcrepesโ that Sebek has taken a liking toโฆ I admit, there is an appeal in the mundane, and yetโฆโ His eyes flick to the looming castle. Its pointed towers and gray-stone walls must feel intimidating to you when youโre so used to charming food stalls and cute models appearing on billboards.
โAlas, that is not the life I live.โ With a flick of his wrist, everything melts away into the sunny metropolitan scene, but he is still draped in that inky garb, โSo I have to make do for now. I want to know what about this world makes you happy. I want to continue seeing that smile. Iโโ Malleusโ voice hitches for a second, and despite the menacing ink floating around him, he begins to look like every schoolboy that you know. โIโve learned my lesson. Delusions cannot make us happy.โ
He swallows his tears, yet his glistening green gaze is enough to shake even the coldest hearts. โI donโt want to lose you to this world.โ His plea comes out shaky, still giving his best efforts to be composed as he usually is. โI donโt want you to leave me.โ
"So for now, I will place you in this world. The only world that will give me this smile." He takes a step back, yet his shadow continues to loom. "Till I know what will make you stay forever. Till you satisfy yourself with mere images and finally them let them go. Then you will come to me and I will show you another happiness."
You can feel still the sting of his claws. On your back. On your temple. You look at his black garb. The pedestrian sign above you chimes a signal for you to cross. You look up. The day is sunny and bright. Today will surely be a good day at school.
Youโre fucking crazy.
You continue staring at the sky. The clouds are unmoving. Actually, you donโt feel even the slightest bit of wind. You try to tune in to the passerbyโs chatter, but theyโre all incoherent. Just buzz imitating human conversation. Your friendsโ distant voices continue to repeat the same phrases as they beckon you to the other side of the street. They never stop.
Youโre really fucking crazy. I never wanted this. I donโt want this. I want to go back home. I want to sleep and wake up and remember nothing. Why why why why why me why did it have to be meโ
โ[Y. Name]?โ
Like an unused doll creaking its joints, you slowly tilt your neck down and look back at Malleus. When you werenโt looking, that mysterious outfit returned to being another poor imitation of your schoolโs uniform. The necktie shouldnโt be that color, should it? Malleus is staring at you, slowly watching your every move.ย
Every facial muscle feels wrong as your lips soften into a smile, and you stretch your hand out to wipe away the tears pricking the corners of his eyes. โWhat's wrong, Mal?โ you ask softly. You take his hand into your own and begin guiding him into crossing the street. โI told you, didnโt I?โ
โWhy would I ever want to leave my family?โ
โSILVER!โ You call out, waving to him from the school gates. In this hazy dreamscape, in a scenery with blue skies marked by towering skyscrapers, SILVER VANROUGE finds you at the same location every time.ย
You are always so pretty in that unusual uniform. Like a magnet, he finds himself drawing closer to you in the midst of a faceless crowd. You shoot him a concerned look as you give him a lookover from top to bottom. โYou alright?โ You ask, poking at the creases in between his brows. โYou look even sterner today! Something went wrong during club? Youโre awfully early today!โ
He shakes his head, but leans into your touch when you press your hand to his forehead to feel for a fever. You could never bring yourself to touch anyone like this so brazenly in the real world, so knowing that you were actually affectionateโฆ gave Silver a few opportunities to be selfish. โI skipped,โ he mumbles.
โYou skipped?!โ You cry out, staring at him with such comical bewilderment that it would have made Silver laugh were it not for the circumstances. You bring out your phone (not the cracked one that the Headmaster gave you, he observes, but (F.Color) and adorned with a personalized phone case) and hurriedly dial something. โIโ I have to call Lilia!โ
With hurried ease, Silver gently puts his hand on yours and lowers the phone. โItโs okay, really,โ he assures you. โIโฆ just wanted to go out early. Arenโt you the one always saying that โall work no play makes Silver a dull boyโ?โ At least, in the other dreams.
Fortunately, this comes to you as something as you would say, because you donโt comment on it. โBโ But youโre always saying that disciplineโ!โ He shakes his head and offers you his arm.
โCome,โ he beckons you, looking princely in his dashing school uniform and striking silver hair. With a sort of tired fondness, he crooks a smile at you. โIf I said that I wanted to spend time with you, would you indulge me at least?โ
He watches as a blush blossoms on your cheeks, and you nervously wrap your shaking arm around his. He hides a gentle chuckle to himself. So this is what you looked like as a normal student. He thinks back to whose place he might be taking up in your dreams. Could it be a friend of yours as well? Did you link arms with them as you did now? Did you enjoy living out your youth under such a stunning blue sky with them?
He shakes his head. Whoever he might have replaced, they were long gone to you. There is nothing he could do in that regard but make you happy in their place.
โAnd so, I got picked on by the teacher again!โ You whine to him. โUgh, I stayed up all night watching anime and doing my dailies, so I didnโt have the chance to read the assigned readings! Waaah, Sebekโs gonna make fun of me againโฆ!โ
Another point of interest that stood out to him was how much your attitude towards education differed from that of this world and Night Raven College. He had always assumed that you were naturally diligent, acing high scores in subjects that didnโt need magic to excel. Finding you in the library wasnโt an odd sight, and sometimes he would even find you tutoring some of your fellow first-years and Grim with little success. Yet here you were in your natural habitat, foregoing academics in favor of hanging out with friends after school or binging your animated shows.ย
While he mulled over the differences between this version of you and the one that he knew, he is snapped out of his thoughts when you began dragging him to a pop-up gathering of indie stores in the middle of a plaza. โLetโs check it out before we head home!โ You urged him, tugging his sleeve when he came to a standstill. โCome on~! Itโs such a waste of your good looks if you keep wearing the same thing whenever we go out!โ
โI donโtโโ Silver starts, but sighs when youโve successfully pulled him into shopping territory. He lets himself be dragged around by you, placing cute clips in his hair and even snapping pictures of him to send to Lilia and the others. At one point, he holds onto your hand to not get lost in the crowd as you get excited over thrifted clothes. You werenโt this absentminded either, were you? But as you turn to him with a cute hat on, posing for him as you ask whether it was cute or not, he decides that this wasnโt bad either. If you were so at ease that you didnโt feel the need to keep your guard up, then maybe he should let you enjoy yourself for a little bit.
There are things here that exist in Twisted Wonderlandโ cars, phones, colorful balloonsโ and then he looks up expecting to see a mage whiz by on their broom only forโฆ nothing. Despite living the majority of his life in a secluded forest cabin in a country that was mostly old stone houses and gothic castles, the unfamiliarity of urban life did not perplex him, but rather what it lacked. Street magicians pulled coins out of kidsโ ears rather than waving a wand and arranging a light show, brooms were not used to fly but to sweep, and vehicles emitted unpleasant smoke rather than magic exhaust, just to name a few. Your ordinary wasโฆ far more ordinary than anyone was thinking.
And yet it is in these ordinary dreams that Silver finds you happiest. You bound over to him with two cups of ice cream in both hands and sit on the bench next to him. โHere you go~!โ You cock your head when Silver continues staring at you. โUm, Silverโฆ?โ
With a drowsy yawn, Silver plops his head into your lap. โPlease feed me,โ he says, closing his eyes as you pout down at him. โIโm tired.โ
โYou didnโt even attend club activities!โ You complain, yet you feed him a spoonful of ice cream.ย
With the taste of nothing cooling down on his tongue, he lets the idle buzz of the plaza become white noise as he focuses on the plush of your thighs and the gentle touch of your fingers combing through his hair. In this cityscape that you keep returning to, Silver is always met with new things that he would never have experienced. Holding your hand as you window shop, playing around with filters on your phone, basking in the warm sun after a dateโฆ He had too much on his plate as Malleusโ retainer and a student of Night Raven College.ย
He pries his eyes open, your silhouette against the sun coming into focus like an angelโs halo as you busy yourself with your ice cream. โ[Y. Name],โ he breathes out your name, fingers coming up to graze against your cheek. You look down at him and smile. โAre you truly happy?โ
โYou and Malleus keep asking the same things,โ you gripe. โDo I look sad to you?โ
โIโmโฆ just asking.โ He puts down his hand. โCome, [Y. Name], youโve had enough. Letโs wake up.โ
You stare at him.
โPlease, [Y. Name], wake up already.โ He hears his voice breaking. He pushes himself up and puts a steady hand on your lap, looking earnestly into your eyes. โWake up already. This isnโt real!โ
The white bird continues to fly around your head. He buries his face into your shoulder and lets out a broken sob.
โI donโt know what to do, [Y. Name],โ he whimpered into your clothes. โPlease tell me what Iโm doing wrong.โ
He feels your hand pat his back, comforting, yet the last thing he wants right now. โYouโre doing great, Silver.โ You tell him the words he wants to hear, like itโs his dream and not yours. โWhy are you crying? Youโre doing everything correctly.โ
โIโm not!โ He yells, pushing you back by the shoulders. He stares into your eyes, hoping, praying, that he finds even the faintest flicker of realization inside them. โIf I did do anything correctly, then you would want to stay with me!โ
How could his voice echo throughout a busy plaza? No one looks at you. You only continue to stare unblinkingly.
โWhen I found you amidst all those dreams, awake and feeling, I wasโ I was so happy,โ he sobbed. โI couldnโt take on the task of facing all those dreams alone. When you were there when the truth about my origins was revealed, I felt that, despite our brief meeting, there was no one else aside from my family that I would be happier to share my secret with. After all, youโฆ Youโฆ!โ His face twists as he tries to stop himself from crying, but his emotions continue to spill out like ink on paper. He delicately grasps both of your hands in his, but the way heโs squeezing you is desperate. โWhen you encouraged me to keep goingโฆ All those times when you held me by the hand and guided me forwardโฆ When we saw all those absurd dreamsโฆ Undergoing trial after trialโฆโ
He presses his forehead against your hands in a silent plea. โWas it not enough to make you want to stay with me?โ
The silence that ensues only further breaks Silverโs heart. He doesnโt know if youโre silent because you donโt fully comprehend the words that heโs saying in your dreamlike state or because that is your answer. He doesnโt dare look at you and only grips your hands tighter.
โEver since I saw you in that dreamโฆโ
As according to the fairytales.
โEver since you stayed by my side to weather the stormโฆโ
As how the perfect princes start their vow.
โDespite our brief knowingโฆโ
Because love does not discriminate.
โYou have always been the object of my thoughts and my adoration.โ
Because love is all-encompassing.
โEven If I know your kind heart would not say soโฆโ
Because you are love.
โI would draw my sword for you if you so decree it.โ
A heartfelt promise.
โI would do anything for you.โ
A romantic gesture.
โNo matter the cost.โ
Even if it goes against whatever morals his breaking heart has left.
โSo please,โ he whispers, lifting his head to you as he bares his tears and feelings to you, as vulnerable as the day he thought he lost everything. โPlease.โ
โJust come back to us already.โ
I love you.
But your eyes only crease in fondness, patting his silver hair like he isnโt falling apart in front of you. โOkay, Silver,โ you murmur, smiling. โLetโs go back home.โ
Silver bows his head and sobs, uncaring for the vacant stare the doll in front of him gives him.
โTheyโre not completely gone, Silver,โ Malleus purrs from your bed, stroking your sleeping self as his knight stares at them from the doorway. โDo you not trust my word? I donโt plan on keeping them in this state forever.โ
โLord Malleus, please. Stop these dreams already,โ Silver chokes on his words, stumbling into the room with his eyes on you the whole time. โOr at least, put me to sleep with the rest of them. I canโt bear it.โ
Malleus tuts pityingly, thumbing the boyโs pale cheeks as he studies his bloodshot expression. โLook at you, barely a wink of sleep. Itโs not my fault that your Unique Magic allows you to easily wake during your dreams. It is within my realm of power to put you back to sleep, butโฆโ Malleus has a thoughtful expression as he looks at your peaceful slumber. โYou always seem to be having a grand time before you decide to ruin everything for yourself.โ
โIโmโ Iโm not,โ Silver protests. To prove a point, Malleus stretches out his palm to portray a glowing pair of figures. Silver, with his hair tied back and in a formal suit, seems to stare at your figure with the most blissful expression as you twirl around the ballroom. Then, behind him in another flicker of green light, you, Silver, and Lilia are playing with cats just outside your home. Then, on his shoulder, Silver kisses your palm as he swears to protect you as your knight forever. Lastly, the green image of you both strolling hand in hand through racks of clothes dances in front of his eyes. โThatโsโโ
โItโs a dream, Silver,โ Malleus says, the green figures flickering out when he closes his palm. โA place where you can momentarily forget about your worries. Is this not what the Child of Man came here for? A good nightโs rest? They will wake the following morning feeling energized and refreshed, without knowing what transpired within their subconsciousness.โ He cocks his head at Silver. โAre you saying that you would not allow [Y. Name] this slight reprieve?โ
Silver shakes his head. โOfโ Of course not. But every dream they have of their original world, they fall deeper and deeper. If we do not lose them to the world on the other side of the Mirror, thenโฆโ He swallows the anxiety in his voice. โApologies. Iโฆ donโt mean to doubt you, my lord. It justโฆโ
โSpeak, Silver,โ Malleus urges him. โDo not think for a second that I donโt know what ails you. After all, they occupy my heart as well.โ
He bites his lip, feeling pathetically like a child in front of his liege as his eyes sting with tears. โI hate it,โ he admits. โI wish theyโd stop dreaming about that other world. I just wishโโ His breath hitches. โI just wish I had made them happy enough that theyโd forget everything and stay withโฆ us.โ
His voice trails off, ashamed of his own selfish inhibitions. โThis isnโt the sort of thing a knight should think, but Iโฆ Iโm scared. I donโt want to go hunting people like a mad beast like Sebek does, butโฆโ He buries his face in his hands. โIf that would make them happy enough to make them stayโฆโ
โYou would do anything,โ Malleus finishes for him. Silver, face still hidden, nods. โI can tell. It is nothing to be ashamed of, Silver. I fear that just may be the many mysteries of love.โ The prince smiles down at you, thumbing away the creases forming between your brows. โIt drives us to do things we wouldnโt do. I thought it was a hindrance, the knot in my chest that forms every time this Child of Man invited me, and yet now I understand. Love is the start of many miracles. That was true for you, for Lilia, for me, for Baur.โ He closes his eyes with a pleasant smile.
โThat is why, Silver, you must never let go of those that you love.โ Opening his eyes, he stares at the young boy with the eyes of a future king, glowing like the devil in the shadows of the room. โDo you understand? To make yourself happy. To make everyone around you happy.โ
โThrough love and for love, all things are possible.โ
All things are possibleโฆ
With a renewed purpose, Silver rubs away his tears and stands tall in front of his liege, nodding. โYes, Lord Malleus, I understand.โ
โFor love, I must do everything to make sure this love stays.โ
a/n ! ๐บ๐บ๐บ after a full year, we're finally done with the series!! this has been a long ride with +11k word celebrating the finale and hoo boy am i ready to move on to other projects! it has been fun writing my pervy twisted boys, but what turned out to be a self-indulgent project actually turned out to be a full-fleshed plot?! crazy. thanks for sticking with me for a full year everyone~! (also PLEASE PLEASE SILVER AND MALLEUS MAY BE SIMILAR BUT THEY ARE FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT. the brothers are similar but they grieve different) idk why i did that im just a bit insecure that they might be too similar
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Author's Notes: Do you know I was just thinking about doing headcanons for this champion?!
Just when I returned from my studies (And from uploading the previous post), I came up with a character to make Yandere. I guess the universe sent me a sign juju.
Well, this type of Yandere is simpler. Like Raiden, he will not kill unless it threatens his life or the life of his loved one.
We are told a phrase in the comic that, for me, greatly influences understanding the character (I clarify that they are not the exact words but rather the ones I remember) โMaster Kusho sat me in front of a tree with cobwebs. The beetles that remained there could escape, due to their structure, unlike the moths, which suffered from the web until the spider came and devoured them. (...), then the teacher asked me 'How many moths did you save during the time you saw the web?' 'None' I answered, because I had killed the spider from the first day."
This phrase makes it clear to us that he will not attack or harm unless necessary.
(I know that the phrase from the comic has nothing to do with here, but I wanted to add it because I really liked what they wanted to capture with that phrase)
First impressions
You met Zed when he was a small farmer; You were a student of Kusho, your parents sending you there because they had been friends with the man for a long time. And, due to the constant trips you made with others, you were always intrigued by the fact that he was white-haired, since you were not used to seeing people with that hair color.
Sometimes you watched him from afar when you traveled with Shen, he used to joke about you going up to him one day and asking him to marry you, child jokes, you know?
It's not until Shen fights him that you notice something in his gaze, something in his eyes that makes you feel a connection with him; determination. Even when he fell again and again, whenever you noticed that glow you felt like he was different, like you had found a jewel in the desert.
When he was accepted by Kusho, you were the first to welcome him as a friend; You talked to him when he was resting due to the injuries he sustained after the confrontation with Shen, and although he barely responded to you, you assumed that you were getting along well.
He barely managed to recover, you accompanied him in his initial training; Kusho always assigned you to guide the beginners, since you were quite friendly and patient with other people, and your age made them gain more trust in you.
Together with Shen, they quickly became best friends, the three of them always together. Even though you were not particularly good at both physical and theoretical training, you always tried to stay average.
Falling in love
When they traveled in search of Jhin, Kusho decided to take you along with the two of them; It was not because of your talent or your incredible intelligence (Which was not exceptional in you), but because you were going to be a great emotional support for the two boys you accompanied.
Your parents, even though they flatly refused, ended up giving in to you going, this was thanks to the manipulation that Kusho exercised over them, since you would be indispensable in this mission.
The name of the โgolden dragonโ always sounded strange to you, especially when he saw firsthand the death and blood that had been spilled on the ground because of him.
You felt nauseous at the sight of dead bodies, or people suffering due to the traumas Jhin had left them with. Both the anger and hatred that was born in your soul at just hearing the golden dragon's nickname grew like a tree spreading its branches during spring.
You saw how Zed suffered for damaged people, how his mind was subjected to incessant agony as he struggled between the life and death of people other than him. You were the first to go and console him and give him the word that he was doing things right, that he was doing his best to save the lives of innocent people.
You tried to support Shen as well, but he was a little less susceptible to your words, since he rarely showed as much emotion as Zed did with you.
(Yes, I know that Zed has another name instead of this one, but I forgot it when I wrote it, I'll write it better later)
Your unconditional support for him along with your important help in catching Jhin ended up causing a certain crush on you.
Even when he claimed to love a woman, you always crossed his mind, as if he had clung to you in some way.
Beginning of Yanderism
The moment you noticed that the great demon misnamed golden dragon was nothing more than a man, you uselessly thought that you could face him alone. Your stubbornness ended up putting you in such danger that it put you between life and death. And neither of your two best friends could handle the fact that you were in danger.
They barely managed when you recovered, you had to be taken to the emergency room, the idea that you were going to die because of a man crazy enough to harm you and make you suffer for his pure amusement caused Zed's contempt for Jhin to increase drastically.
When Jhin was caught, Zed wished to kill him, but when he was denied that fact, he erupted in a rage worse than what appears in canon.
At that time, a blade passed close to Jhin's face, visibly damaging his mask, at the same time that your best friend longed to damage him and kill him once and for all.
No one would hurt his best friend, not now knowing that he was in love with (name).
First murder or Yandere act
Zed stayed by your side throughout your stay at the medic, since his fear of your death was something that remained in his mind for days on end.
When you managed to recover, the worst happened; the Noxian invasion. You were too weak to fight, so you could only watch from afar as Zed and Shen fought for their nation.
They both visited you regularly, but Zed more regularly than Shen. Him being particularly protective of you, but now with tiny things.
He insisted that you not go out, that you not trust certain people, saying that he could take care of you, etc..., basically without letting you do things on your own.
Even when you tried to stop these insistences, you eventually gave in because you thought he was just doing it as an innocent act of affection between friends.
You thought that when the war was over, these attitudes would stop.
Relationship or kidnapping
He ends up abandoning the Kinkou, mostly because of the war. You stop seeing him for a while, and when you see him again, it was when they had already told you what he had done.
At first you refused to believe that he would be capable of doing something like that, since he was someone with a good heart, someone incapable of seeking evil. It's a shame they put a contrary idea in your head.
You ended up hating him, the knowledge that he had killed someone as important as Kusho had damaged your psyche.
It wasn't until he saw you again that he noticed that he was late, too late to be able to talk to you.
You yelled at him, you said a lot of things that you had suppressed deep in your heart since you found out about his actions, and although he tried to explain the truth to you, you refused to listen to him.
Even since he abandoned the Kinkou, he never stopped thinking about you. Never on those days when he wasn't with you did he stop thinking about you, who you were and what you meant to him.
He left after the argument, waiting for you to calm down so he could talk to you peacefully.
But Jhin was following him, he was precisely looking to reach that person.
And he took you away from him, he took you to be part of a play against your will.
And that finally ended up unleashing that more twisted side in the white-haired man's mind. Even though he himself was desperate to stop Jhin, he was even more desperate at the thought of him bringing you to the brink of death once again.
As soon as they managed to catch Jhin, Zed went to look for you, finding you alive. Let's say you were a little hurt, but you were alive.
And he decided... to take drastic measures, if you understand correctly.
In case of kidnapping, where would he take you?
To the temple, obviously.
He exclusively takes you to a part far away from his students, mostly because he doesn't completely trust them.
Coexistence.
Very strict, unlike others he does implement the punishment system; More than anything soft hits or threats, he usually denies privileges such as going out or socializing with other members of your environment due to your disobedience or lack of respect towards him.
Marriage and family
He is not very comfortable with marriage, however, if you agree, there can be at least engagement rings between the two of you.
If it can, children?
I assume he'll agree, but that's a half-assumption.
At most 1 child or 2.
Bad ending
You managed to escape, for some reason, you had managed to escape from where he was holding you prisoner. And when he finds out, he loses his mind.
He searches for you in the heavens and lands of all of Ionia if necessary, and when he does, he doesn't react well at all.
He drags you back to the temple, he doesn't care if Shen or all of Ionia tries to stop him, he will have you back in his arms.
When he arrives at the temple, he ends up making an extremely drastic decision; he breaks the bones in your legs, specifically, your knees.
No matter if you cry or beg, he won't let you escape again.
From now on, your only remaining option is to accept your destiny and... love him.
Reasons to be a Yandere
-The comic tell us that he is quite emotionally unstable, especially after the Noxian invasion.
-The shadows, his voices try to tell him that he has to keep safe the only thing that he considers precious, the only thing that he feels gives stability to his life.
-I have the idea that after the first time they caught Jhin, he is left with consequences, some especially strong ones that damage his mind as the days go by.
Additional data.
-Actually, it was Kusho who told Jhin your whereabouts, who to be sure followed Zed to where you were.
-Kayn has deep respect for you; You are the most important person for his teacher, so we can say that he contributes a lot to not letting you go out.
-After your kidnapping, Shen constantly thinks about your condition, knowing that you could be in danger.
-Zed sometimes thinks about the โmistakeโ he made by not being able to save you from Jhin the first time he took you, since he constantly blames himself for the damage you suffered that day.
Tags: fluff, domestic fluff, shy reader, human aatrox, marriage, soft aatrox, established Relationship, gentle aatrox
Word Count: 3291
Author 's Notes: Hi everyone! Itโs been a while since I last posted. This oneshot actually started as a small writing exercise while I practiced writing Aatrox (Iโm currently drafting a longer story with him). For his personality and pre-Ascension appearance, I drew inspiration from one of the championโs original influences: Devilman, specifically Akira Fudo. Since there are no official artworks or descriptions of Aatrox before his Ascension, I combined elements from several of his skins and other Shuriman champions for his facial structure.
Extra note: Iโll still be posting one more Postal III fic and taking a request for Postal IV!
Summary: You were never very quick, not at running, and especially not at catching Aatroxโs endless teasing.
People always seemed to understand things faster than you did. Conversations carried two layers: the spoken wordsโฆ and the hidden meanings everyone else caught without effort.
You rarely caught the second one.
That โblindnessโ left you adrift even at home. Your hands found joy in handicrafts and cooking โ small, patient arts โ but they counted for little in a household that prized swords and scrolls.
Your brothers trained in the courtyard or bent over books with tutors. Warriors and scholars in the making.
You were simplyโฆ something else.
Your brothers said you were slow. Your parents preferred to say you simply needed more help. Yet you never felt that the labels โslowโ or โneedyโ truly fit you.
After many tutors and a few accidents in the training yard, your family eventually accepted your nature.
One child who wouldnโt bring glory to the family name wasnโt such a big loss โ your siblings would more than make up for it.
Your husbandโs family, however, seemed far less willing to accept it. Your mother-in-law and sisters-in-law insisted you attempt the imperial court exams whenever Aatrox was away. But that would soon come to an end.
Inside the chest were all your belongings, carefully stored: dresses, jewelry, bottles of cosmetics, and a few books.
Your husband had recently been promoted, which required his presence in the capital. Soon the two of you would leave his familyโs household, a thought that brought both relief and uncertainty.
A home with only the two of you? You had never imagined yourself so aloneโฆ with only your husband, after growing up in a house full of siblings.
Butterflies stirred in your stomach again. A whole year of marriage still hadnโt eased that nervous flutter. One year married, one year betrothed
He still seemed to enjoy it, of course. Aatrox often whispered how much he liked seeing your face flushed during intimate moments, or how he liked standing far too close in the shared rooms of the house.
You repeated the mantra silently in your mind, hoping your foolish heart would finally calm.
One year of marriage. One year of betrothal. And still, your heart raced whenever he teased you.
๐
A strong wind swept through the gardens that late afternoon. Your family was holding a banquet to celebrate your fatherโs recent business success, but you had slipped away to the quiet edge of the mansionโs lake.
Your feet dangled in the cool water, toes stirring gentle ripples with every small movement. There was something deeply soothing about it.
โI see the water interests you more than the celebration.โ
A deep voice suddenly cut through the quiet of the garden. You looked up and nodded once, shyly. The water really was relaxing.
He chuckled softly and stepped closer, stopping just beside you. โA little thing like you choosing the garden over a feastโฆโ
โLittle?โ The word caught you off guard. Had he mistaken you for a child? โIโm justโฆ relaxing.โ
โYes, little.โ His tone was light, teasing, but not unkind. โYouโre rather small.โ
He towered over you, broad-shouldered, built like the young soldiers in training. It was difficult not to appear small beside him.
You knew him, of course. His father had been a close friend of your family for years.
Aatrox was everything a Shuriman household could dream of in a son: sharp-minded, strong, strikingly handsome, and effortlessly charismatic.
He laughed softly, the sound low and warm.
โWhatโs wrong? Just now figuring out who I am?โ
You shook your head quickly.
โI already knew. We were introduced before.โ
โHm. So you remember me.โ He smiled faintly, tilting his head as he studied you. โCuriousโฆ youโre sitting here alone while everyone else celebrates. Or are you hiding so your brothers wonโt outshine you?โ
The words stung.
Your lips pressed into a small, involuntary frown. It had always been easier to watch the festivities from the edges than to step into the light โ your brothers drawing every eye and every word of praise, while you stayed quietly in the shadows. But tonight, you hadnโt come here to hide. You simply wanted the gardenโs calm.
โI wasโฆ simply enjoying the garden.โ
โIs that soโฆ?โ he murmured. He crouched slowly until his face was level with yours, bringing the late-afternoon light directly into his eyes.
From that distance you could see his face more clearly.
Up close, his eyes were impossible to ignore: perfectly almond-shaped, a deep amber that caught the sun like molten gold, almost feline in their intensity. He was young, like you, but the sharp line of his high cheekbones gave his features a sculpted, almost regal firmness. Two or three years older, perhaps.
He reached out and gently pinched your cheek, his huge hand almost swallowing half your face.
โLittle one,โ he said softly.
He wasโฆ too close. Heat rushed to your face.
โHmm?โ
Aatrox leaned a little closer, his voice low again, teasing once more.
โWhatโs this? Are you embarrassed?โ He laughed quietly as he watched you squirm beneath his gaze before finally releasing your cheek. โHow cute.โ
He stood again, his tall figure casting a shadow over you, and extended his hand to help you up.
โCome. Youโve been sitting in the water for far too long, your lips are turning blueโ
You nodded, feeling terribly shy at the closeness. Your stomach tightened as warmth flooded your face, a stark contrast to the cool water still around your feet.
โI must admit,โ Aatrox said, watching you for a moment, โitโs rather entertaining.โ he squeezed your hand lightly before letting go and stepping back, giving you space to breathe.ย
โBut donโt worry. Iโll stop for now.โ He smiled, playful but seemed sincere. โUnless you would prefer that I continue.โ
You shook your head quickly. The butterflies in your stomach only grew worse.
He laughed again โ deep and amused โ before reaching out to gently pat your head, as though you were a timid little animal.
โAlright, alright. Iโll stop.โ
He withdrew his hand, though the mischievous smile remained, his amber eyes bright with amusement.
โBut donโt think this will be the last time.โ
He turned toward the direction of the feast, glancing back over his shoulder.
โCome. Before it grows dark.โ
๐
As the years slipped by, Aatrox became the kind of man people spoke of with quiet certainty. Even as a young soldier in Shurimaโs army, his discipline and unyielding resolve set him apart. Promotions came easilyโnot because he sought them, but because no one could deny he deserved them.
The rumors were true. He was honorable, capableโthe ideal son, the ideal soldier.
Yet with youโฆ he was something else.
Playful. Teasing. A natural provocateur who seemed to take quiet delight in watching you unravel. A single smirk, a well-timed word, and your cheeks would burn while your heart raced to catch up.
Somewhere along the way, without noticing when it began, you fell in love with him. Maybe it was that mischievous smile that never quite reached full innocence. Maybe it was the sharp edge of his wit.
Every encounter followed the same pattern: amusement tangled with embarrassment, laughter and always โ always โ that restless flutter in your stomach that refused to settle.
It was during one of those familiar meetings that the invitation arrived: your family was invited to his home for a banquet in honor of his fatherโs birthday.
Knowing he would be there, you dressed in your finest gown and jewelry, recalling every piece of advice your married sister had given you. The small bronze mirror you shared with the other girls reflected a young woman who looked unmistakably nervous.
All the way to his familyโs mansion, your palms stayed clammy, your heart pounding in your ears as you neared the grand entrance.
You saw him almost immediately.
He looked even more handsome. The years seemed to have sharpened his features, and the new scars only strengthened his rugged appearance.
Aatrox stood among a small cluster of nobles, wine glass in hand, his posture relaxed but alert. His eyes swept the room with that familiar military precision, and when they found you, a slow, knowing smile spread across his lips.
From that moment, the evening became a quiet game of cat and mouse.
Every time he started toward you, you slipped away โ ducking behind guests, weaving through the crowd, heart racing faster with each near miss. The mansionโs halls turned into your playground, the distant music and laughter fading as you both played at distance.
You finally thought youโd lost him. Slipping behind a wide pillar in a quieter corridor, you leaned against the cool stone beside the tapestries, catching your breath.
Then strong arms wrapped around your waist from behind.
A startled yelp escaped your lips. Aatrox laughed at your reaction as he loosened his hold, the faint scent of sandalwood and metal, likely from training, lingering around him.
โStop laughing!โย
In answer, he leaned in, lips brushing close to your ear. He said something, but you didn't understand it. The heat of his breath sent a shiver racing down your spine. Your whole body trembled before instinct took over, you twisted free and bolted toward the next room, pulse thundering in your ears.
โHey!โ Aatrox called after you.
You darted back into the main hall, weaving toward the thick of the crowd, hoping the press of bodies would shield you. Aatrox was still coming, his lips had shaped the words clearly across the distance: Iโll get you.
Heat flooded your face. You spun quickly and pressed closer to your fatherโs broad frame, half-hiding behind him like a child caught in mischief. Your father remained oblivious, deep in conversation.
Aatrox was still following close behind, his expression a mixture of surprise and something else as you hid behind the imposing figure of your father.ย
Your thoughts spun wildly. โPlease donโt come closerโย
Then Aatroxโs father entered the hall, his wife at his side. The resemblance was unmistakable: the feline slant of her eyes, the strong lines of his face, all echoed perfectly in the son who still watched you from across the room.
โIt is a pleasure to be here, my friend,โ your father said with a broad smile.
Aatroxโs father โ a man with features much like his sonโs, though streaks of silver ran through his dark hair โ returned the gesture with an even wider smile.
โThe pleasure is all mine.โ
His deep, authoritative voice carried warmth as he clasped your fatherโs shoulder in a friendly gesture. Several nearby guests lowered their voices when they noticed the two men speaking.
Meanwhile, Aatrox remained at a distance, his gaze lingering on you.
Your father and Aatroxโs father continued their conversation, and you began to feel increasingly foolish standing there, hiding behind him like a shy child.
You knew you were being silly, yet you could not help it. The thought of facing Aatrox, after years of harboring feelings for him, and after having felt him so close moments ago, made your heart race and your hands sweat.
The whole situation felt painfully embarrassing: playing chase through the mansion and now becoming so shy over a simple embrace from a childhood friend.
โFather.โ
Lost in your thoughts, you had not noticed when he approached. Your heart tightened at the sound of his voice.
It was deep and calm. You lifted your head just in time to see him stop beside his father, his amber eyes briefly passing over you before turning to the older man.
โYes, my son?โ
His father answered with evident pride. Aatrox inclined his head slightly in respect before speaking.
โIt would be discourteous not to properly greet the guests of our home.โ
Your father let out a small laugh.
โHe is right. Some young men still remember their manners.โ
Aatroxโs father nodded with satisfaction.ย
โHe has always had that sense of propriety.โ
Then he turned back to your father.
โI will allow the young ones to speak for a momentโฆ if there is no objection.โ
Your father let out a small breath, shaking his head as he turned back to Aatroxโs father.
โIโm afraid I must object, my friend,โ he said, his tone still warm, but firm beneath it. โMy daughter is no longer of an age to be seen wandering the house in the company of young men.โ His gaze shifted briefly, just for a moment, to Aatrox, softening slightly. โNo offense is meant, young Aatroxโ
He cast a meaningful glance toward his friend before continuing.
โI have full confidence in your son, my old friendโฆ but I must still arrange a proper marriage for my daughter. All her older sisters have already found good husbands.โ
Aatroxโs father chuckled knowingly.
โAh, I know that duty well. Daughters are blessings and also responsibilities.โ
Aatrox remained silent, his hands clasped behind his back. A brief flicker crossed his eyes โ irritation, perhaps โ but it vanished almost immediately when his smile returned.
โI am honored by your trust, sir.โ His amber eyes turned toward you again, still half-hidden behind your fatherโs broad frame. โA young lady like her deserves to be protected.โ
Aatroxโs father added: โEspecially in times like these. One never knows who might be watching, waiting for the right opportunity.โ
Aatroxโs smile slowly curved.
โPrecisely,โ he replied calmly. โWhich is why I have been considering something.โ
โConsidering?โ your father repeated, his tone sharpening slightly.
Aatrox nodded. โYes, sir.โ
He stepped forward slightly, his posture firm as though he stood before a commanding officer.
โI have known your family since childhood, sir. I grew up hearing of your honor and your loyalty to the Empire.โ His eyes turned briefly toward you before he continued. โAnd I have known your daughter for many years. I have watched her grow into the woman she is today at every gathering between our families.โ
Your heart began to beat faster.
โI thought,โ he continued, his voice calm and steady, โthat perhaps there is a simple way to resolve your concernsโฆ and mine as well.โ
Your father slowly crossed his arms, studying the young man before him.
โYour concerns?โ
Aatroxโs smile sharpened slightly.
โYes. This possibility is not new to me.โ He took a breath. โIf you permit it, I would like to ask for your daughterโs hand in marriage.โ Before anyone could respond, Aatrox placed his hand over his chest, touching the armor plate above his heart.
Silence fell over the small group. Even the conversations around them seemed to quiet.
Your father remained silent for several seconds, observing Aatrox as though evaluating a soldier before him.
โโฆYou are direct.โ
Aatrox did not look away. Your father studied him for a moment longer.
โYou are still young, boy.โ
โI am,โ Aatrox agreed. โBut I am also a soldier of the Empire. I hold position, honor, and a name I intend to keep worthy. And I intend to protect her better than any suitor who might present himself.โ
Aatroxโs father gave a low laugh. Your father, however, still seemed thoughtful.
โAnd what makes you believe you are in a position to make such a request?โ
At last Aatrox turned toward you. His amber eyes shone with something between challenge and amusement. Then he looked back at your father.
โBecause our houses have walked side by side for many years,โ he said calmly. โUniting our families would turn that closeness into blood.โ
He paused briefly.
It would be my honor to protect herโฆ and to turn that friendship into blood.
Your father remained silent for a few seconds, evaluating the young man before him.
The two fathers exchanged a brief lookโan understanding passing quietly between them.
โVery well. If my daughter consentsโฆ I will not oppose it.โ Your father stepped aside, revealing your embarrassed and startled face.
Aatrox did not wait for him to finish. His lips curved into a triumphant smile as he extended his hand toward you.
Still stunned, you nodded, afraid you might stammer if you tried to speak. Aatroxโs smile deepened when he saw you agree.
His fingers closed around your hand โ rough from training, yet surprisingly gentle โ and he lifted your knuckles to his lips, placing a soft kiss upon them. Heat immediately rushed to your cheeks as he drew you from the shadow of your father, pulling you slightly closer.
โOh heavens, I should have guessed,โ Aatroxโs mother said. โI have seen the two of you so close at every gathering.โ
โNow, now,โ said Aatroxโs father, casting a stern look at his son. โIt is good to have our families close, but traditions must be respected.โ
Aatroxโs smile faltered slightly under his fatherโs expression. โOf course, father,โ he replied, a faint hint of irritation in his voice.
The patriarchs wasted no time in turning to arrangements, their voices blending into the low hum of the hall as they spoke of dates, gifts, and formalities. The union of two long-standing families was more than welcomeโit was expected.
You barely paid attention while the elders spoke animatedly, already discussing gifts and preparations for the betrothal.
Aatrox leaned slightly closer to you.
โI told you that you would not escape me.โ
He pulled back just enough to smile again. It was then that the realization finally reached you.
โAhโฆโ
Aatrox let out a quiet laugh when he saw the understanding on your face.
โNow you see?โ
You lowered your gaze, embarrassed.
โYou know I donโt always understand right awayโฆโ
Aatrox laughed.
โAh, that much I have always known.โ
๐
You opened the chest once more, pushing aside the folds of fabric as though something might still have been forgotten there, though you soon lost yourself in the process. Every corner of the room seemed different now.
The bed where you had slept wrapped in his arms, the thick carpets brought from southern caravans, the pale stone walls that held the dayโs warmth.
Outside, the heavy flap of wings broke the quiet of the garden. Approaching the parapet, you admired the estate gardens. Long-legged birds wandered slowly among the reeds of the artificial lake, dipping their slender beaks into the calm water.
Farther away, the sun sank slowly over the desert sands, bathing the garden in warm gold. You wished you could use your drawing materials โ already packed away in the chest โ to capture the scene one last time.
The creak of the door announced Aatroxโs arrival. Your husband wore a conflicted expression, his skin shining with sweat as he entered, muttering something under his breath.
In the distance, servants still moved through the courtyard and corridors, the dragging of crates and the clinking of metal echoing through the house.
When Aatrox saw you by the window, his face softened into a tired smile. He wiped the sweat from his face before approaching.
His arms wrapped around you.
Your back soaked up the warmth of his chest through the thin fabric. You stiffened for a second, then melted into him. The scent of sweat, metal, and sandalwood filled your senses.
โIs everything alright?โ you asked, a little softer than you intended.
Aatrox took a moment before answering.
โJust a few complications, but theyโve already been handled.โ
You simply nodded, hesitating for a moment before timidly placing your hand over his.
You remained there together in silence, watching the birds by the lake as the wind drifted through the open window, stirring the curtain slowly.
Could I kindly request Day 28 with Nightbringer Kayn with a Shy Female mortal?
[A/N: Hello darling. Of course! How very polite and sweet you are, my lovely. May you never lose that quality. Thank you for making a request. You may ask again for more.]
Kinktober Prompt #28 [First Time] of Nightbringer Kayn with a Shy Female Mortal s/o
You have always been special, he tells you. Unable to pinpoint what really makes you so and that annoys him, like an itch he could never really reach. And yet, for that same reason, he values you, like a piece of treasure any man would've been lucky to find.
There were others, he thought. Other women, men, even. You did not matter to him, he would always tell you. But in his heart, and in his actions, it did. The way he would always take hits for you, saying that he was more durable than your earthly form, and far more capable of inflicting something on anyone who dared to say otherwise. The way he never leaves your side, sticking to you like velcro, grumbling about something, saying that you needed protection because you were an easy target. In his own peculiar way, just like he was, he loved you, and the Archon of Light within him. In fact, one would even argue that the Archon of Light loved you more than dusk himself, which, of course, would often lead to quarrels.
But in all his ways, he found himself unable to truly express that love. You were a mortal, a shy and an adorable one at that, and he, was a God and an Archon into one, a weapon and a conquerer wielding and wielded. Yet, in all that, you accepted them. Welcomed and bared your soul for them to take if they so wished, and they did, baring theirs in return, for you to have.
Kayn always thought you could do better. Someone human.
But he was a God, who could be better than him?
And you've told him, countless times, that even if he was the celestial who created universes, it is not his choice to who you entangle yourself with, it was yours.
So it was your choice as well, to lay in bed, spread out and open for him to devour as if he was a black hole.
In all his immortality, he never knew something, or someone, could taste so sweet.
"Kayn..." You whimper, trembling at his hold, coming down from your third high, all caused by his mouth alone, and by this point, you were desperate for something else.
He hums as he dettaches his mouth from you, a string of saliva connecting his tongue to where he lapped at your folds, glistening along with your juices running down his chin in the moonlight.
Your hands reach out to him, grabbing the air, beckoning him. He chuckles as he rises from where he was kneeling, crawling on top of you and laying down, careful not to put too much of his weight on you, feeling your arms wrap around and your hands rake across his bare back, tracing every dip and definition, while your hips buck into him.
"So eager." He teases, dipping his head down to scatter kisses and hickies along your neck, a hand going in between your bodies to finger at your wet and tight little hole that responds to every pump of his digits.
You moan in his hold, body arching towards him as you feel the familiar coil in the pits of your stomach, and you know he knows that. He could feel your walls clamping down on his slick fingers.
He stops for a moment, letting you breathe, and with all the gentleness in the world, he asks, "Are you sure you want this?"
You nod.
"If you regret this..." He pulls his fingers out of you with a pop, your slick staining his fingers as he rubs it on himself, lathering it together all over his cock with his pre-cum, lining it with your entrance, "I'm not so sure what to with myself..."
The head pushes in, bulbous, stopping momentarily as it mushes against your folds, until your hole welcomed it and the rest of his length in one fluid motion. Your legs ache around him and a different kind of burn stretches your insides, almost unbearably painful.
He talks and kisses you through the haze of the pain, rubbing your clit with the pads of his index and thumbs to relax your body, sending tiny fractions of pleasant tingles where your bodies connected, moving ever so slightly until he could thrust in and out of you with ease.
Your nails dig in into his back, leaving deep red scratches that were for sure to make their mark tomorrow morning but neither of you could care less about that. It spurs him on, in turn, speeding up his thrusts until he practically pounds into you, hitting a spot that sends pleasant shivers across the entirety of your body, walls fluttering and tightening around his cock that mercilessly intrudes in your hole like he knew this was how you wanted it. Free; raw. And you're taking it all, so well, as if you were starving and now has just been fed.
Your body spasms against his, chest arching into Kayn's as you desperately pull him closer, the familiar tightness in your stomach once again appearing.
"You feel...so good..." He pants in between thrusts, gripping your hips to keep you in place as his paces goes any quicker, no doubt coming close as well.
You pull him closer by the nape, forcing him to go down with you in a kiss, moans harmonizing into a beautiful masterpiece as you reach paradise together. The waves trickling at you before devouring you whole, leaving you panting and singing his name against his lips feverishly, riding the high tides together until it settles.
You both stay there, locked and connected, unmoving, entangled in each other's legs and wrapped in each other's arms, kissing every exposed skin. In between his minstrations, you look out the window. The sky is beautiful orange effortlessly bleeding into a bloody red and bright yellow as the sun sinks in the horizon. Dusk has come, and so has the one in between your legs.
โนโโ I Wanna Be Yours (Jade Leech x GN Reader)
a/n: this one's shorter than the recents,, midway writing i thought Rook would suit this too agdhd but i guess Jade can have little silly moments of being jealous of objects
c/w: soft yandere
now playing: arctic monkeys - i wanna be yours
โIf I may be bold, I find myself quite envious of that vacuum cleaner you're holding.โ
The prefect abruptly turned towards the entrance of the Ramshackle dorm, where Jade Leech, in all his splendor, stood with two cups in both hands. His impeccable gentlemanly posture, combined with his casually refined attire, contrasted sharply with the prefect, who was hunched over in their most comfortable outfit while grappling with the aforementioned vacuum cleaner. The only thing separating them was the length of the corridor. That same wicked smile graced the merfolkโs face, sending a chill down the prefect's spine, even after witnessing it countless times before.
โ...Excuse me?โ
It was the weekend at Night Raven College, where many students ventured off the school grounds, while others chose to remain in their dorms, much like the prefect. After all, weekends are the perfect opportunity for cleaning. However, they certainly didnโt anticipate a visitor, particularly from any of the mer trio residing in Octavinelle. Leech strolled down the corridor with a heavy gait, heightening the prefect's anxiety about what schemes he might be concocting. His piercing gaze from afar only added to their apprehension.
Breathin' in your dust
His arrival was nearly silent, resembling the stealth of a burglar executing a surprise attack. The prefect does not remember having any unresolved matters with Octavinelle, so what could Jade possibly be doing in the Ramshackle dorm? They were becoming increasingly uneasy about their situation. Coming to a halt just in front of the prefect, who stood frozen, the merfolk tilted his head slightly with an innocent expression. He extended his arm, offering a cup. Unsure of how to respond, they scrutinized the paper coffee cup intently. A slight giggle could be heard from the merfolk as he takes in their reaction.
โThere's no need to be wary, Prefect. I'm here with nothing but good intentions.โ His words flowed out smoothly, almost with a sense of caution. However, the prefect understood the importance of remaining vigilant. โI came to offer you a cup of coffee, and maybe assist you with your errands as well.โ To those unfamiliar with him, he appeared quite charming, which was meant to be comforting, yet the prefect sensed the exact opposite.
But it's not like they can just turn down an act of kindness, plus the coffee in the dorm is coincidentally running out. Guess they lower their guard a bit, for now. Setting the vacuum cleaner aside, they took the cup from his hand cautiously, surprised by the heat radiating from it.
"How did you know I like my coffee hot? I don't remember ordering one at Mostro Lounge." Eyeing the cup once more, they decided to drink it. Leechโs keen gaze follows the prefect as they sip from the cup, savoring each moment.
Let me be your coffee pot
You call the shots, babe
Jade chuckled softly, a sound that seemed to echo through the room. โAh, it's merely a talent of mine to know the preferences of those who pique my interest,โ he replied smoothly, his words as polished as his appearance. โBesides, I thought a little surprise might brighten your cleaning routine.โ
The prefect raised an eyebrow, still cautious but slightly mollified by the warm beverage in their hands. โI suppose I should thank you then,โ they said, their tone a mix of suspicion and gratitude.
โThink nothing of it,โ Jade replied with a slight bow, his eyes twinkling mischievously. Taking one last glance at the merfolk, the prefect turned to put away the vacuum cleaner and the scattered supplies in the room. As they gathered everything into one corner of the living area, they stood with their hands on his hips, facing away from Jade. All while they are busy organizing the materials, a pair of heterochromatic eyes watched them far too intently as goosebumps rose on their arms at a sudden breeze flowing through the open window beside them.
Let me be the portable heater
โTo be honest, thereโs not much you can do to assist me. Iโm nearly finished with everything; vacuuming was the last task on my listโฆโ The prefect deftly untangled the sweater wrapped around them and quickly put it on. Funny enough, the sweater soon falls prey to Jade's jealousy. That's the second inanimate object today. His watchful gaze remains unyielding.
That you'll get cold without
โ...Youโre aware that I can sense your gaze piercing through me, right?โ They turned to face the merfolk positioned before the sofa, carefully hiding their anxiety. โYouโve been observing me quite... closely since your arrival.โ Once again showcasing his innocent smile, he puts down his drink on the coffee table by the sofa.
"Am I not permitted to find joy in watching the person who has occupied my thoughts daily?" One of their eyebrows scrunched at that statement.
โDoes this mean it has nothing to do with Azul sending you here?โ While the question carries a hint of humor, Jade canโt help but feel a slight twitch at the mention of another manโs name. This visit was meant to be a special time just for the two of them.
"In all honesty, Prefect, I prefer not to discuss others when itโs just the two of us."
The prefect becomes puzzled at his response and lets the subject drop. They pay little attention to any of what he was referring to, considering it just another of his peculiar behaviors. If the man intends to stay for a while longer, perhaps they should reciprocate his kindness with a gesture of their own while slowly relieving their nerves.
As the prefect shifts from their initial position and makes their way to the pantry, they remain oblivious to a small towel that has been carelessly discarded on the floor.
โSince you brought the coffee, allow me to get you something to eatโโ At that moment, they accidentally step on the towel, which causes them to lose their balance. In a flash, Jade rushes forward and catches the prefect before they can fall. With an arm wrapped around their waist, their eyes lock unexpectedly. A faint blush of pink appeared on Leech's cheeks; he had not anticipated anything like this occurring. In this close proximity, he can inspect every detail of the prefect's visage.
I wanna be your setting lotion (wanna be)
Hold your hair in deep devotion (how deep?)
The prefect experienced a sense of gratitude for his rescue; however, a feeling of unease began to seep back in as he continued to hold on tightly. His imposing stature enveloped their form, and his gaze, unwavering and intense, drew nearer. Gradually, his other hand moved to their face, gently caressing it.
At least as deep as the Pacific Ocean
"...I had always believed that moments like this were merely the stuff of dreams." His words slipped out softly, almost in a mumble. The prefect is left bewildered by the unfolding events. If only Grim weren't off on his little adventures for the day. Their eyes dart to different directions, avoiding Leech's gaze, as they search for a way to free themselves from his hold.
I wanna be yours
This seemingly ordinary human, whose eyes sparkle so close by, is the one who occupies his thoughts every day, Jade muses. How is it possible for someone to capture nearly the entire student bodyโs attention? Their kindness is undeniable, but what truly baffles him is how theyโve managed to win over both his Housewarden and his brotherโs hearts. Thereโs no need for explicit declarations; Jade has always been observant of their interactions. It doesnโt end there; many young men from other dorms also harbor deep feelings for the prefect. If he were to be completely honest, beneath his polite demeanor, he is not fond of this at all. Their gazes should be solely for him, as his is for them.
Secrets I have held in my heart
Are harder to hide than I thought
โMy dearest Prefect.โ Once more, they refocus on the situation at hand, and the merfolk's eyes take on a hint of darkness. Their innocent nature brought him amusement, while their presence was impossible to overlook. Ironically, and somewhat reluctantly, they managed to shocked his heart.
โI sincerely hope this doesnโt reach Azul or my brother.โ
How was it that both times now that Crowley's made you fix his problems for himูซ you ended up stalking people? If it were up to youูซ you wouldn't even go near any of these lunaticsูซ so much tail them! Howeverูซ doing what you want sadly doesn't help pay for Grim's bottomless pit of a stomach; soูซ here you areูซ with Jack as your self-proclaimed bodyguard.
"Yo. I'm here and ready to get this Azul recon started."
"Wow, you skipped class?" You jokedูซ not expecting Jack of all people to willing disobey the rules.
"Look, the headmage ordered this personally. He'll let an unexcused absence slideูซ" he explainedูซ "Besides, I don't like admittin' defeat. If there's a chance to uncover the secret to Azul's power, I wanna be there when we learn it."
โฅ
Your target's first period class was music. You and Jack peered through the door to "sneakily" watch him. In all honestlyูซ you both couldn't have been all too inconspicuous because: AโJack was a huge target to spot even with the door cracked openโand Bโyou were pretty sure at this rate Jack might create some kind of loud propeller with how much is tail was swishing for whatever reason.
Besides thatูซ Azul's singing was actually pretty good. Okayูซ you lied. It wasูซ likeูซ REALLY good. As in SHOCKINGLY good
"Huh. Guy's got some pipesูซ" Jack murmuredูซ just as dumbfounded as you.
"I meanูซ he's no Beyonceูซ but damn...ูซ" you muttered in surprise.
"Who's 'Beyonce'?"
You were quiet for a moment before deciding it'd be best to just walk away.
โฅ
The second class period on your stakeout mission was animal linguisticsูซ and Jack was just obvious as the last period. What made it even worseูซ thoughูซ was that Lucius kept looking over at the door the two of you were hiding behind like it was the one thing standing between him and Catnip Haven. Thankfullyูซ the cat was being kept busy by Professor Trein testing students with him. Speaking ofูซ it looked to be Azul's turn now.
"Mrooowr...Mrr, mrah!"
"Mrooowr...Mowowูซ" Lucius seemed to answer back. No freaking way.
"Yes, yes, I seeูซ" Azul repliedูซ then turned to the professor and saidูซ "Lucius says that the last time you gave him a treat was three hours ago, Professor Trein."
"Well done, Ashengrotto. That's correct."
What the hell?!
"So he doesn't just understand animal languagesโhe speaks 'em, too?" Jack observed beside you. Honestlyูซ he too closeูซ too. Actuallyูซ maybe you were just mad in general because HOW WAS THIS GUY SO GOOD AT EVERYTHING?! You needed to calm down...
โฅ
Third period was apparently potionology. On the bright sideูซ lunch was next period. You could definitely afford the mental break. Howeverูซ it seemed some people did notูซ because Azul looked right at home in front of that cauldron. You had half a mind to pour water on him just to see if he melted like those myths about witches from home. WaitโWasn't he a mer or whatever? That wouldn't work then...Dammit...
"A beluga tooth, a sturgeon egg, aurora moth scales, mermaid tears...Add in an extract from 120 types of medicinal herbs blended together, and..."
Poof!
"Done! You can drink this potion to transform a body part into that of a different animal."
"That's a very good boy! You just formulated a potion that would usually go on the junior-year class's final examsูซ" Professor Crewel applaudedูซ "The rest of you whelps should learn from Ashengrotto's example."
"AND the guy brews high-level potions as easily as a barista slings lattes...Sheeshูซ" Jack thought aloud.
He patted your head as a way to try to comfort you because now you were just pounding your fists against his chests out of anger. You might as well just start looking for tents now; at this rate you were gonna have to tell Crowley you couldn't do jack shit about Azul and he was gonna make you sleep on the streets. Lovely...
โฅ
Thankfullyูซ it was finally time for lunchูซ but you still had to stalk the guy. This was so stupid...
"I think I'll have some squid ink pasta for lunch today. Ah, but I do need my vegetables as wellูซ" the mer requested. "An all-carb meal would be quite nutritionally lopsided...and more to the point, it would go straight to my thighsูซ" Azul bemoaned.
"Seems like Azul's a perfect honors student in every wayูซ" Jack sighed.
How can your lunch order even be so perfect? Honestlyูซ you weren't even doing this for Crowleyูซ or Grimูซ or any of the other students Azul enslaved. This was personal now due to pure spite.
You soon got so wrapped up in your own plotting that you hadn't even noticed three of the victims approaching you both. Wellูซ were they really victims if it was their own fault?
"Mrooow...Azul sure didn't waste any time workin' us to the bone. If I wasn't dead on my feet before, I sure am nowูซ" Grim whinedูซ practically crashing into you. He obviously wanted you to hold himูซ so you obviously did. The little direbeast quickly made himself comfortable in your lap.
Ace all but clattered down onto the cafeteria bench beside youโright between you and Jackูซ actuallyโand began to rantูซ "Cleaning Octavinelle Dorm, waiting tables at the lounge, going on grocery runs...He's been running me ragged."
Deuce sat on the other side of you and sprawled his upper half on top of the table out of pure exhaustion. All he could manage to do was look up at you with depressed puppy-dog eyes and complain tooูซ "I got called in at 6 a.m. this morning."
"I gotta go back to help out at the Mostro Lounge after thisูซ" Ace groanedูซ almost like he was trying to gain more sympathy. He probably was.
Deuce ignored him and continued to ramble to youูซ "Housewarden Rosehearts was all like, 'You made a contract with Azul? Off with your head!' He made me write lines as punishment..."
"This sea anemone on my head just won't come off, either. I look like a total goofballูซ" Grim grasped at your uniform and loudly whined. All three of them let out a collective sigh. You felt like a toddler parent.
"Pah. You reap what you sowูซ" Jack remindedูซ now across from you. He must've moved after Ace booted him from beside you.
"This work environment has some issuesูซ" you sarcastically pointed outูซ resting your chin on your hand
"Why the long faces, boys?" A familiarูซ faux-mannered voice asked from behind you. Your little group all quickly whipped your heads only to find two of the last people any of you wanted to see: Jade and Floyd Leech.
"Aha ha, look! It's a sea anemone gardenูซ" Floyd sang out in twisted amusement.
"Myah! It's the lookalike brothers!" Grim yelped.
"Is it just my imagination, or is someone looking a bit dour today?" Jade mentionedูซ an obvious taunt.
"Oh, y'know, we're just coming to terms with being ordered around by a trio of tyrantsูซ" Ace quipped back.
Floyd laughedูซ "Aha ha! Isn't that cute? The sea anemone that breached its contract is talking! You guys know you're in no position to complain. So shut your traps."
Floyd's playful mood quickly soured to by terrifying amount.
"Eeep! Not the squeeze!" Grim yowledูซ squeezing you tightly out of fear. How ironic.
Jade cleared his throat to regain the spotlightูซ "Allow me to clarify: I wasn't talking to the sea anemones. I was specifically addressing you...___, prefect of Ramshackle Dorm."
He leaned down to about your current sitting height and softly lifted your chin up a bit with his index finger. That was quickly shut downูซ howeverูซ by Ace and Deuce after miraculously recovering their energy and pulling you away from the second year. You actually let them try to protect you for once.
"A-are you gonna squeeze me?!" You mustered out. Even after everything you've gone through so farูซ those two were still really intimidating! They were like the tallูซ boy versions of the twins from the ringูซ but more aggressive.
"Awww, look at you, scurrying backwards like a shrimp afraid of being someone's lunch!" Floyd cooedูซ leaning closer to you with a thoroughly amused grin. "And on that note...You're so teeny, l'ma call you 'Little Shrimpy' from now on!"
"I think most students on campus would be small compared to you twoูซ" you heard Deuce murmurูซ visibly relaxing once Floyd pulled away.
"Yeah, and having two guys this big standing together is a special kind of imposingูซ" Ace agreedูซ still glaring at the Tweels.
"I understand that you were playing little spy games with Riddle and others just recently, ___ูซ" Jade went onูซ "You may know who we are already, but l've always been a stickler for formal introductions. I am Jade Leech, and this is my twin brother Floyd."
"Heya. I'm Floyd. Nice to meetcha, Little Shrimpy."
"Now, where was I? Ah, yes...ูซ" the former continuedูซ ignoring his brotherูซ "Allow me to infer what troubles you, ___. Could your anxiety perhaps stem from these three anemone stooges?"
"'Perhaps'? Listen to you, acting all coyูซ" Jack nearly growled. Now that you looked at himูซ he looked just as upset as Ace and Deuce.
"What's your problem? You're as prickly as a sea urchinูซ" Floyd teased.
"WhโI'm a WOLF, not a sea urchin!"
Jadeูซ once againูซ interrupted his twin as if he were a minor nuisanceูซ "If the source of your troubles does in fact lie with these sea anemones...I believe you would be well-served discussing the matter with Azul in person, ___."
"Waitูซ what?" Jack questioned.
"You will find Azul to be as benevolent as the Sea Witch, one of the Great Sevenูซ" Jade praisedูซ "I have no doubt he would treat your misgivings with all due gravity."
"Yeah! Azul's a real problem-solverูซ" Floyd addedูซ "For example..He could set these sea anemones free if you asked him to."
"Really?!"
No way those three were that stupid. This was obvious propaganda. After their firsthand experience with the guyูซ why would they expect him to just give them something so good for free?
"Absolutely. Just remember: you can't get something for nothingูซ" Jade reminded. There it was.
"Tch. So that's your angle. You wanna rope ___ into one of his contractsูซ" Jack realizedูซ and was very noticeably against it.
"Please, there's no need to bare your fangs at me. Goodness, you land mammals are so belligerentูซ" Jade smirked.
"We're just passin' on a hot tip outta the goodness of our hearts. Ain't that right, Jade?"
"Exactly, Floyd. We wouldn't dream of leaving a poor, unfortunate soul by the wayside."
"Heh heh heh...Hee hee hee...ูซ" the both eerily laughed together. You REALLY did not like that.
"If your interest is piqued, feel free to visit the Mostro Lounge sometime after nine tonight. We'll have some piquant tea ready for you upon your arrivalูซ" Jade offered.
"We'll be waiting, Little Shrimpy!"
And they finally left. Miracles do happen.
"Wait, so, uh...ูซ" Deuce began.
"If ___ makes a contract with Azul and meets his conditions, whatever they are...ูซ" Grim continued the thought.
"...we could be freed from this?!" Ace finished.
You could tell the three of them were having a silent conversation just from their expressions alone. Were they gonna beg you to help to? You kinda already had to or else Crowley might actually make you homelessูซ so you didn't care really care if they joined the Headmage in begging for help. After a few secondsูซ they seemed to reach a consensus and nodded.
"Absolutely not!"
"FineโWaitูซ what?"
"What if he finds out what you are? He would totally try to capitalize off of it!" Ace fussed.
"We'd practically be failures if we let you do anything like that for us again! We should be the ones protecting you!" Deuce tried to reason.
"The Great Grim would work double before subjecting his frail henchhuman to such conditions!" Grim claimed.
"Huhูซ you guys aren't as shameless as I thought. Still pretty shamelessูซ thoughูซ" Jack admitted.
"I appreciate the support and allูซ but the Headmage already made me promise to help...ูซ" you groanedูซ "Plusูซ so far it seems all he really wants to do is talk..."
"Henchhumanูซ you can't! The Great and Noble Grim is trying to make a great and noble sacrifice!" Grim pleaded.
"Sorryูซ Bud. but I gottaูซ" you sighed and patted his furryูซ little head.
"I'm goin' with you, thenูซ" Jack statedูซ leaving no room for argument. "You seem like you'd get yourself into trouble otherwise."
"Wowูซ Jack. Aren't you just a big softie?" Ace teasedูซ his tone heavily condescending.
"D-don't get me wrong, okay?! I just don't like Azul's schemingูซ" Jack deniedูซ "I can't stand the thought of losin' to guys who profited off of someone else's hard work."
Squeakูซ squeak!
"So much for chatting. My sea anemone's tugging at me again!" Deuce groaned.
"Ow, ow, ow! C'mon, at least let me have my lunch break in peace!" Ace fussedูซ as if the anemone would listen to him.
"Prefecttt!" Grim whined and made grabby paws toward you as he was dragged away.
"WOE IS ANEMONEEEEE!"
Yeesh...Hopeless, the whole lot of 'emูซ" Jack commentedูซ "Anyway, I guess we're goin' to the Mostro Lounge tonight."
โฅ
Later that nightูซ you went back to the Monstro Lounge and the place was absolutely packed. Every table you could see was full of students while Octavinelle members and boys with sea anemones on their heads were forced to run themselves ragged to fulfill each customers demand.
Butูซ honestlyูซ now that there was total chaos going onูซ you couldn't help but think aloudูซ "This is kind of classy."
"Remember, you're in enemy territory here. Stay sharp at all timesูซ" Jack warned.
Thatูซ however didn't last too long. As if on cueูซ you felt as if an incredibly heavy weighted blanket was suddenly draped over your back. And you had a pretty good guess whatูซ or rather whoูซ it actually was.
"Eyyy, Little Shrimpy! Glad you could make it! I see you've got a sea urchin plus-oneูซ" Floyd cooed.
"I told you not to call me that!" Jack yelledูซ pulling you away from Floyd like one would a child from a stove top.
"Well, well. Thank you for coming to our establishment so promptlyูซ" Jade walked over from behind Floyd and put a hand on his brother's shoulder as a silent order to behave. "Welcome to the Mostro Lounge. Is this your first time dining here?"
"Y'know, I've been wondering since lunch...Do you have a thing for askin' questions you already know the answers to?" Jack questioned with agitation.
Jade only chuckled before replyingูซ "Heh. I like to keep my bases covered. Now then, if you would allow me to provide you with a rundown of our establishment...The Mostro Lounge is a meeting place for gentlemen. Any quarrels with other dorms are verboten here. Students from all dorms are expected to abide by Octavinelle rules on the premises. We pride ourselves on providing a place for everyone to enjoy under the same set of rules. With that out of the way...How may I assist you today?"
"I have some anemone business to discussูซ" you sighed.
"Heh heh heh...Very well. The manager is currently meeting with another patronูซ" the vice informedูซ "Could I ask you to wait in the lounge until such time as his schedule opens up? And lest I forget, our establishment has a one-drink minimum. You must order at least a single beverage of some variety. Sea anemone, if you could take our esteemed customer's order?"
He obviously didn't understand the simple fact that you were flat broke. Actuallyูซ he probably did and it only brought him all the more amusement. You hate these people...
The guy Jade ordered just so happened to be Deuceูซ who was too busy to even look away from his current task. "Sorry, I've got drinks to run."
Aceูซ deciding to once again play devil's advocateูซ argued back with the power hungry merูซ "You do it! We're slammed over here! You keep making us do all the work while you're just sittin' pretty over there."
"You're talking back to me? How impressively bold for a sea anemoneูซ" Jade numbly stated and walked over to the two before grabbing the anemones on their heads.
"OWWW! Geez!" Ace yelped.
"Quit tugging our anemones!" Deuce fussed.
"Azul tasked me with instructing the new staff, so it falls to me to instill proper discipline in those who fail to respect authorityูซ" Jade informedูซ seemingly a bit too giddy about the whole thingูซ and tugged them again.
"OW ow ow ow ow! Okay, okay! I get it!" Deuce groaned.
"Don't you think thats a bit overkill?" You intervened. The two card soldiers seemed to finally noticed youูซ staring at you with wide eyes. They looked almost embarrassed to have been seen in such a stateูซ even if its the state you usually see them.
"Ah, but you must understandูซ" Jade reasoned with nonchalanceูซ "As I just finished explaining, here in the lounge, everyone must follow our rules."
"And according to the rules, we're allowed to squeeze problem employees who don't do as they're told!" Floyd gleefully explained.
"That just sounds like a dictatorship...ูซ" you grumbled and crossed your arms.
"Tch...You're just makin' a show out of hazing the rookies in front of us. It's making me sickูซ" Jack scoffed.
"Is that your way of offering to take their place helpin' out around the lounge?" Floyd sadistically grinned. You hoped he only meant Jack.
"Ooh, that's a great idea! I second that proposal!" Ace joined in with a grinูซ "All in favor? Aye! The ayes have it! Jack is hereby nominated a temporary assistant, effective immediately!"
The wolf sputteredูซ "Hey, what're you tryin' to pull?!"
"We're not picky, really. We'll take anyone, as long as they're willing to pull their weightูซ" Jade noted.
"You guys wouldn't want to get kicked out of the place, right?" Deuce whispered to the two of you. Unlike with Jackูซ he handed you some cash to buy a drink instead of work.
"I'm runnin' on fumes here, and Grim's in the back, up to his eyeballs in soap from dishwashing. C'mon, be a pal and help us outูซ" Ace whispered out a groan.
Jack thought on it for a moment before finally relentingูซ "Tch... Fine, whatever. The sooner we wrap up our business here, the sooner I can go back to my dorm and catch a few winks."
"What? Dude, it's barely nine. What time do you go to bed?" Ace interrogated.
"I'm always tucked in by tenูซ" Jack stated.
"Whoa, we got a serious model student over here!" The redhead point outูซ dumbstruck.
"I'm surprised Riddle doesn't do nightly rounds to make sure you're all asleep like a prison wardenูซ" you joked.
"He does. I just know how to cheat the systemูซ" he joked back.
"So I can put both Little Shrimpy and Sea Urchin down for helping out with a shift, yeah?" Floyd asked.
"Huh?" You unconsciously voiced.
"Waitูซ no. It was only me that agreedูซ" Jack correctedูซ but was completely ignored.
"Perf. You can start by running these drinks to table three."
The mer plopped the tray of drinks down into your armsูซ frightening you with the possibility of spilling them. Luckilyูซ you didn't. Unluckilyูซ Floyd grabbed onto your upper arms and began to steer you in the direction of the table from behind.
"Aren't you just the cutest wait staff we've had~," Floyd cooedูซ "You're gonna make us so many tipsูซ Little Shrimpy!"
"I never agreed to this!" You arguedูซ but your complaints fell on deaf ears.
Waiting tables wasn't as hard as you thought it'd be. Thoughูซ it was probably because for you it mainly consisted of Floyd dragging you around with him like a pet or toy. He did all the real work like writing down and remembering orders while only making you talk to the customers and carry the trays.
You thought he was just showing you what to doูซ so you asked him at one point when he would make you do the work by yourself. Your judgment was proven wrong when he laughed.
"You're so sillyูซ Little Shrimpy. Be careful or someone might just nab yaูซ" Floyd ominously teased. What was that supposed to mean?! That's when you started to look behind you every so often for the rest of the shift.
Your judgment was also proven faulty since Jack was doing tables on his own. Whatูซ did you seem like easy ransom material for Crowley or something so the twins decided to take action first? News flashูซ the dumb bird wouldn't pay even if the ransom was 5 thaumarks! Whatever...You did give Jack some helpful tips to appeal to the customers every time you passed himูซ though.
"It's a lot easier with you helping, Jackูซ" Deuce mentioned.
"Yeah, I thought you'd bungle it, but you're doing pretty wellูซ" Ace ribbed.
"It's not that hard once you learn what to do. And ___'s been givin' me pointers, tooูซ" Jack explainedูซ proudly puffing out his chest at the praise.
"Ha ha. Keep up the good workูซ" Jade commended.
"Little Shrimpy's doing pretty goodูซ tooูซ" Floyd bragged as if it were his own successูซ currently draped over you from behind again with his chin resting on top of your head. You felt like a little kid's favorite toy; you also now understood why Riddle felt the way he did about Floyd.
"But you're the one doing all the actual work for themูซ" Jade chuckedูซ thoroughly amused by his twin's new favorite toy. It was also NOT true. You were being made to do the jobs Floyd thought was boringูซ like small talk and carrying stuff around.
Floyd disagreedูซ "Nuh uh! Just look at all the extra tip money I got because of Little Shrimpy!" He then pulled out a rather thick stack of cash from his pocket to show off to his brother.
"Oh myูซ that's definitely more than usualูซ" Jade observedูซ now just as interest.
"I helped! Shouldn't I get like halfูซ" you demanded.
Floyd let out a long and playful "hmm" before breaking out into a wide grin. "You can if you can reach it." Thenูซ he lifted the arm with the cash high in the air. You would not be so easily dismayedูซ however.
The more you struggledูซ the more amused Floyd became. You thought he must've found it funny how determined you were for the cash.
At one pointูซ a lightbulb went off in your head. You kept up the struggling act and even gripped at the collar and sleeve of his blazer. You knew he had no clue of your plan from how carefree he was laughing at your attempts. Thenูซ you lifted your leg and swiped at the back of his knees. He stumbled back a bit out of surprise. You pushed forward with your own body weightูซ causing him to not be able to rebalance himself and fall back. Youูซ unfortunatelyูซ fell with him. That was irrelevantูซ though. You had money to get. Quickly snapping your focus to the task at handูซ you snagged the money and scurried away before you had to deal with the repercussions of your actions. To your surpriseูซ and somewhat reliefูซ both twins found your actions hilarious.
"Myูซ my. What a clever thinker we have hereูซ Floydูซ" Jade hummed.
"Yeahูซ Jade. I didn't realize little Shrimpy was so sneakyูซ" Floyd cackled.
"I feel they earned the right to keep their tips. After allูซ the Headmage is known to be quite frugal with him thaumarks. I meanูซ look at the conditions he has the poor thing living inูซ" Jade feigned concern.
"I guess you're rightูซ" Floyd groaned with a pout.
"I always amูซ" Jade quipped as if second natureูซ then looked back down at you. "How about a drink? To celebrate your victory over the bigูซ meanูซ scary eelูซ" Jade teasedูซ placing a hand on you back as he led you to the makeshift bar. Did he realize he was basically describing himself too?
"Heyูซ I already claimed Little Shrimpy! Get your own!" Floyd arguedูซ following right after. You felt like a toy being fought over by two really strong and really big toddlers.
Jade led you to the barstool at the very end where there was only one other stool next to youูซ which Floyd promptly sat in.
Jadeูซ himselfูซ went behind the counter and askedูซ "What would you like to drink. On the houseูซ of course."
You wereูซ for very good reasonูซ heavily suspicious. "Is Azul okay with that? He seems pretty particular about that stuff..."
"Azul doesn't need to know EVERYTHINGูซ" Floyd emphasizedูซ now ruffling your hair. Greatูซ now you felt like a shared pet for toddlers instead of a toy. You couldn't decide which was worse. Wellูซ at least the pet got free drinks.
You were on your forth free drink by the time the other three were done. To be completely honestูซ you had totally forgotten about them. Each drink had an even cuter theme than the last and they tasted so good that even the pickiest of eaters would become easily obsessed. No wonder the place was so popular! Jade and Floyd just watched you like a new pet exploring its new habitat.
Each time you finished a drinkูซ a new one was placed in front of you. At firstูซ you weren't too sure about drinking it. Stillูซ you ended up doing out of pressure from their stares; and it was also freeูซ so...After thatูซ you would tell yourself it was the last once finishingูซ but then another would be placed in front of you and you felt unable to resist it. You couldn't understand why it was so addictive. Sureูซ you got addicted to good good or drinks beforeูซ but this felt different. Almost like you couldn't get enough no matter how much you drank.
Finallyูซ you were knocked out of your little trance when the others came to let the Tweels know they were finished. They looked just about dumbstruck at the sight of you at the barูซ and even more so when you turned around with the drink in your hands and the straw still in your mouth. You noticed the way Ace and Deuce froze a bit at the sightูซ horror terribly masked under their expressions.
"We've put in all the outstanding ordersูซ" Jack confidently announced.
"And it wore us to the bone in the process...ูซ" Deuce grumbledูซ his eyes still fixated on the glass in your hands.
"Wow, nice job. That mean you're still up for more?" Floyd cheerfully sang. The question couldn't be anything besides rhetorical since the two would not be take "no" as an answer.
There wasn't even time to reply before Jade ordered them around againูซ "In that case, you can get to washing dishes, serving food, and making drinks."
"Have mercy on a guy, will ya?" Jack huffed.
You could hear Ace's unintelligible grumbling as he passed you to head to the kitchen to wash dishes. On the way pastูซ he took the glass from you despite there being a good quarter left in your drink.
"Hey!" You yelped and tried to grab it backูซ but Ace wouldn't give.
"You've had enough. At the rate your going you might get a crazy sugar high and then crash out on us when its overูซ" the card soldier teasedูซ but you could tell there was something else he wasn't saying.
Jade let out a chuckle at the displayูซ "Heh. You act like we're loading them with high amounts of alcohol. We would never be so irresponsible with a guest."
"Yeah! A little sugar won't kill 'em. Plusูซ Little Shrimpy really likes them! How could anyone say no to this face?" Floyd playfully cooedูซ grabbing your cheeks in one hand and squishing themูซ getting an amused scoff out of Jade.
You came to realize Ace had a bad habit of showing his emotions at times. Wellูซ bad for himูซ but good for you. At the momentูซ his cheeks looked quite red and his expression was fairly pissed. For onceูซ he chose not to say anything and just take his victory of getting the drink away from you as he headed back to the kitchen.
Thenูซ another fresh drink was slid in front of you by an amused Jade with his finger to his lips in a hush motion. Okayูซ maybe one more wouldn't hurโOr never mind...Before you could even properly admire itูซ Deuce ran overูซ snatched the glassูซ and downed it. He looked at your somewhat horrified expression like a guilty puppy. Neither Jade nor Floyd looked all too pleased.
"Oh myูซ if you're really that eager for a new dirtied dishูซ how about you join the sea anemones nose deep in themูซ" Jade wrapped his punishment as an offer and motioned to Floyd to drag Deuce to the kitchen.
Floyd groanedูซ seemingly not to happy at the momentูซ but complied. He grabbed the anemone on Deuce's head and began to drag him along. You could hear Deuce's whined out "ow"'s until they were too far to make out.
"I'm terribly sorry about those two. The new batch of sea anemones are just so stubborn this time aroundูซ" Jade sighed.
"Yeah...ูซ" you nervously agreed. Yeahูซ that was your sign you'd had enough...
โฅ
"Phew. The crowds're finally dying downูซ" Jack sighed in relied.
"You practically put that rush in a headlock and gave it a noogie! 'Preciate the helping hand, Little Shrimpy and palูซ" Floyd praised in his own weird way.
"Hold on. I practically worked my tail off the whole time while they got to stop and get free drinks half way throughูซ but I'M 'pal'?!" Jack huffedูซ but then met your gaze and quickly mellowed into more of a poutูซ "No offense or anythingูซ I mean..."
Before any other words could be saidูซ the very reason you were here finally decided to show himself.
"You got a veritable madhouse of customers under control. Most impressive indeed."
"Azul!" Jack shouted.
"My apologies for the wait. The VIP room is ready now. Right this way, if you wouldูซ" the housewarden instructedูซ "Jade. Floyd. Get our customers some tea."
"Right away, sirูซ" they replied in tandem.
"Butูซ Azulูซ a quick moment first?" Jade politely request.
"Very well. Make it quickูซ thoughูซ" Azul agreed.
The door was then closedูซ leaving just you and Jack inside. It kinda felt like a way of saying you weren't seen as a threat.
"What IS this place? Are we really still on school property?" Jack gawked at the roomูซ then singled out the most obvious thingูซ "Look at that huge vault...It's like some kinda bank."
The two of you looked around at the stuff on the shelves until Azul returnedูซ Jade and Floyd following right behind him.
"All right, that's enough rubbernecking. Please, have a seat."
You both scurried over to the couch opposite of Azul and the Tweels. You sat down firstูซ then Jack set right next to you like some big guard dog. The three of them seemed to take a mental note about it.
"So, what would you like to discuss with me?"
"I'd like you to free the students you're forcing to work for youูซ" you stated.
Azul laughedูซ "Ha ha ha! Goodness me. That's quite the demand to make right out the gate. You would ask me to release all 225 students from their contracts with me?"
You bamboozled that many people?! That's nuts!" Jack gapedูซ utterly bewildered. You nudged him with your foot and gave him a look.
"Yes, well, Jade and Floyd did a bit of proactive market outreach this year. Thanks to that, l've had no shortage of clients ready to strike up deals with meูซ" Azul boastedูซ but soon got back on trackูซ "Now, ___โas for your request to free these students...I am not forcing them to labor under any undue duress. They made a contract with me, and they willingly consented to the terms laid out in writing. Contracts are ironclad agreements not subject to intervention from outside parties on any emotional basis. 'Poor, unfortunate souls' they are not. To put it more bluntly: your protestations will avail you nothing, no matter how much you might kick and scream."
You hated to admit itูซ but he had really good points. You also REALLY didn't want it to come to this...
"Fine. Let's make a dealูซ" you looked him in the eyes so you wouldn't look scared of him. You've already faced not oneูซ but two overblots! You weren't gonna be intimidated by some wimp who uses two really scary bodyguards to do his dirty work! You just hoped your palms weren't bleeding from how deep you were digging your nails into them.
"Wait, what?! Have you lost it?!" Jack yelpedูซ looking at you like you might really have. honestlyูซ you thought you might'veูซ too. Wasn't this what started this whole mess? Stillูซ it was your only shot at fixing it.
"Oho. You want to make a deal with me? Now there's an interesting proposalูซ" Azul grinned with satisfaction.
"Aha ha! Little Shrimpy's got some guts!" Floyd pointed out with delightful amusement.
Azul thought on itูซ "Hm. Now, while your interest is duly noted...There's a wee bit of a snag. You see, ___, my understanding is that you have no innate magical power. The one thing I found that I could use would also have me a dead man in the eyes of select few."
You had a pretty good idea what he was implyingูซ for once not surprised someone found out since he had Stalker #2 and #3 working for him. Neither was Stalker #1 Stalker #1 was #1 for a reason...
Jack also seemed to have caught onto what and put both an arm and his tail over you in a protective mannerูซ a low growl slowly forming from his chest. Only proving the conman's point...Just to be sureูซ you put a hand on his arm in hopes that he wouldn't actually do anything and ruin your one shot at this.
Azul carried onูซ "Considering the big ask you're making of me, I would need considerable collateral."
"Such as?" Jack gritted outูซ thankfully not doing anything rash like two other idiots you know would.
"Hm, I don't know...Just off the top of my head, how about usage rights for Ramshackle Dorm, which is presently under ___'s supervision?"
So he wanted the one thing that was your sole reason for helping those idiotic assholes?! What was even the point?! You JUST replace up all the oldูซ rusty locks!
Thankfullyูซ Jack butted in for youูซ "Hey...Was that your whole angle from theโ"
SLAM!
"SIGN ME UP FOR THAT!"
"Grim, how long have you been there?" You just about shouted. And was he seriously trying to sign up for you?! Did he forget you also live in Ramshackle or something?!
"I can't TAKE it anymore! My fur ain't for washin' dishes!" The direbeast noisily complained.
"Ducking out of work to eavesdrop on others is hardly employee-of-the-month behavior, Grimูซ" Jade tuttedูซ "Floyd, eject him."
"Can do!"
"Now, now. Let's not be hasty, gentlemenูซ" Azul interruptedูซ "___, the lone student at your dorm has weighed in on the matter. What say you? Will you put Ramshackle Dorm up as collateral and make a contract with me?"
"___, don't do it! You know he's just gonna name some unreasonable terms you could never possibly meetูซ" Jack warned.
It seemed only now did Grim seem remember that losing Ramshackle would affect you as well. He immediately started trying to backpedalูซ "AcโActuallyูซ who would even want some lameูซ run-down junk! Anything belonging to the Great Grim is much morโ"
"What are your terms for granting my wish?" You askedูซ cutting Grim off.
"Hey!" Jack called out.
You felt terrible for the poor thing. You couldn't bare the sight of how tired he was after being worked like a mule. Just the sight of beloved fur so matted and dull pained you. Deep downูซ you blamed yourself because you knew he just wanted to show off his high grade to you and make you proud. Rather you liked it or notูซ you and Grim were family nowูซ and you were determined to help him fix his mistakes.
"Here's the deal...ูซ" Azul beganูซ "I bid you pilfer a certain photograph from the Atlantica Memorial Museum in the Coral Sea before the sun sets on the third day from now."
"You want us to steal a piece of art?!" Jack shouted.
Out the corner of your eyeูซ you noticed Jade looked a bit surprised by something.
"A photoูซ" the housewarden correctedูซ "One commemorating a visit to the museum from Prince Rielle, taken ten years ago."
"Gonna need more detail than thatูซ" Jack demanded.
Hold itูซ since when was he the one signing because he seemed to be interrogating Azul the most. Wowูซ wait to take your spotlight AND your heroic deed.
"It's a photo panel placed right near the museum entrance. It has no historic value whatsoever. Borrowing it would not cause any particular fussูซ" Azul elaborated.
"Then why do you want it at all?" Grim wondered. You were about to ask the same thing.
"Heh. What's the point of a challenge if it's not challenging? If I were to concoct a trifling errand, I would simply be giving away my end of it, wouldn't I? I'm not running a charity here."
"Really? Waitูซ so you're telling me that all the proceeds from your slave labor aren't going going toward buying shoes for footless orphans?" You sarcastically added. Your comment got a few snickers from the Tweels. Azul was not as amused.
Jade started to give a small summary on the placeูซ "The Atlantica Memorial Museum is a renowned tourist attraction that houses a good twenty different cultural artifacts. That includes the Silver Hair Comb, a Coral Sea national treasure, and the Mermaid Princess's Prized Cork Openers, among others. We're not asking you to find a speck of gold dust on the seabed here."
"Oh, hey, didn't we go there on an elementary school field trip once?" Floyd remembered.
Jack stopped themูซ "Hold on. The nation of the Coral Sea is at the bottom of the ocean, right? It's not exactly hospitable to land mammals like us with no fins or gills. I think you're askin' too much here."
Grim was quick to agreeูซ "What he said! I can't breathe underwater, y'know!"
"That sounds like a 'you' problem...is what I would normally say, but fear not. I will provide you with our very own magic potions. They'll enable you to breathe underwaterูซ" Azul went onูซ showing you all the potionูซ the immediately went back to his ramblingูซ "Once, when a poor little mermaid princess fell in love with a human, the Sea Witch was kind enough to grant her legs to walk upon the earth. And really, what are any of us without a sense of charity? Heh heh heh. So, what do you say? Do we have a deal? Will you agree to a contract with me? I'm afraid I don't have all day, so if you could make your decision now, l'd appreciate it. Chop, chop!"
Was he serious? He was the one that was just boring you to death with all his senseless rambles!
"It's a dealูซ" you agreed.
"Excellent! Go ahead and sign the scroll, thenูซ" Azul directed.
"Mhm...ูซ" you hummedูซ taking the contact into your own hands.
You weren't stupid. You saw what happened to the rest when they didn't read the whole thing all the way through.
Impatientlyูซ Azul questionedูซ "Why aren't you signing yet?"
"What? Conman nervous that a potential victim's not dumb enough to just sign?" You remarked. That time your comment seemed to get him since he let out an amused scoff.
After reading through the whole thingูซ you finally signed the contract.
"Heh heh heh...There we are. Signature received. The contract is now in effect. Should you successfully steal the photo from the Atlantica Memorial Museum and bring it to me before sunset on the third day from now...I give you my word that I will release the 225 sea anemones currently doing my bidding. Should you fail at your challenge, however...Ramshackle Dorm will belong to me, and as a student of that dorm, you will do as i say!"
What did you just sign yourself up for...? You'd say you just made a deal with the devilูซ but honestly the devil may have been more forgiving.
"Jade. Floyd. If you could kindly walk our guest home?" Azul orderedูซ "I'll see you in three days."
โฅ
"Oho. So this is Ramshackle Dorm. This is my first time inside, and already I'm smitten by its charmูซ" Jade observedูซ looking around the place with Floyd. "It's close to school as well. It would be a perfect site for a Mostro Lounge branch cafe."
"There's ghosts living here, right? That sounds radูซ" Floyd added.
"Why're you guys followin' us inside, anyway?" Grim asked.
"Yeahูซ didn't Azul just say to walk us home?" You questionedูซ too.
"Uh, 'cause this place is collateral in a deal between ___ and Azul? Duh?" Floyd answeredูซ as if it were as plain as day.
"Myah?!"
"Unlike the rest of you, ___ has no power to put up as collateral. So we're confiscating the dorm instead."
"Say WHAT?!"
"Waitูซ waitูซ wait! This wasn't said or written ANYWHERE!" You argued.
"Yeahูซ it was. It was impliedูซ~" Floyd grinned at your confusionูซ taking the opportunity to squish your cheeks in his hand again.
"Huh?!"
"This dorm belongs to Azul until you hold up your end of the bargain. Hence, I'm sorry to say that I must ask you to vacate the premises immediatelyูซ" Jade put a hand on his chest in fake sympathy.
"Don't worry, we'll give you time to pack your stuff. So nice, right?" Floyd basked in his self-praise.
"Once this dorm officially enters Azul's possession, we will be disposing of all personal belongings in it. I suggest you prepare accordinglyูซ" the former warned.
"Heh heh heh. Don't worry! We'll give it all back if you bring us the photo before the third sunsetูซ" the ladder reassured. There eery chuckles didn't do much to warm the heartูซ though.
"MRAAAH! I gotta save all the tuna!" Grim shouted and scurried off.
"What a messูซ" you grumbled beneath you breath. You started towards the stairsูซ knowing you'd probably end up having to back for the both of you since Grim would most likely only remember his tuna.
"Heyูซ Little Shrimpyูซ" Floyd called out. Stopping for only a secondูซ you already felt that familiar weight press against you. "If ya need somewhere to stayูซ Octavinelle has some room."
You heard Jade's footsteps on the creaky floorboards as he approached youูซ as well. He also seemed just as taken with the idea.
"Yesูซ I'm sure Azul wouldn't mind all that much. And even if he didูซ you're so small we could always just sneak you in if need beูซ" Jade teasedูซ crouching down to your level and squeezing your cheeks in one hand just like his brother would.
Floyd burst into laughterูซ "Ha ha ha! I remember when we did that all the time when little! Y'knowูซ Little Shrimpyูซ once we collected our own colony of sea snails and didn't get caught for weeks!"
Currentlyูซ you didn't know if you felt scared by the prospect or amused at the thought of these two terrifying guys as little kids.
"What happened when you got caught...?" You hesitantly asked.
"Ohูซ Mother and Father were furiousูซ" Jade recalled with mirthูซ "They had us bring them somewhere us and then would pat us down anytime we returned home for months after that."
The memory made you chuckle. The thought of a baby Jade and Floyd being scolded was fairly entertaining.
"You should totally stay with usูซ Little Shrimpyูซ" Floyd encouraged.
"We can make you more of those drinksูซ and even snacks if you likeูซ" Jade contributed.
The thought did entice you. Howeverูซ if you went then Grim would goูซ tooโyou both were a package dealโand if Grim stayed at Octavinelleูซ they might make him work more than he already was.
"Sorryูซ but it's gonna be a noูซ" you apologizedูซ maneuvering yourself out of both of their holds.
"I go where Grim goesูซ and I don't think he'd be very happy staying there of all placesูซ" you elaboratedูซ slowly walking backwards up the stairs.
"Awูซ booูซ" Floyd pouted.
"Very well. If you change your mindูซ don't be afraid to find usูซ" Jade calmly statedูซ but you could tell he was a couple moods away from a pout like his brother's.
You nodded and hurried up the stairs to pack. Finally alone with your thoughtsูซ you started to reflect. Wowูซ no way were those drinks that good that you were actually considering rooming with the creepier version of the twins from The Ring...What was in that stuff?!
โฅ
"Are you two all set?" Jade asked.
"Peace, Little Shrimpy and Baby Seal!
See you around!" Floyd promised. It felt more like a threat in your opinion.
"Rememberูซ if you ever find yourself in need of lodgingูซ our offer still standsูซ" Jade reminded.
Thenูซ you were kicked out of your own dorm. Out in the cold. Life couldn't be better...
"Hey! Wait! Say that to my face! NOBODY CALLS ME A BABY SEEEAAAL!"
You watched as Grim clawed at the doorูซ his efforts most definitely in vain. You imagined the Tweels were laughing at him on the other side of the door. It didn't take long for the wind to pick upูซ the chill in the air growing worse because of it.
"Brr...Guess we're roughin' it tonight. This stinksูซ" Grim grumbledูซ waddling his way into your arms.
"We'd better start looking for some coverูซ" you sighed.
You didn't like itูซ but you knew Heartslabyul would let you stay. Since...the incident...you weren't all too comfortable at that dormูซ and at night especially. Not to even mention sleeping there...Butูซ if it was your only optionูซ you supposed you could suck it up for Grim.
"Hey, ___! Grim!" You heard Deuce call for you. You looked around and saw him with Ace and Jack outside of Ramshackle's gates. You and Grim hurried over to them.
"Myah! Are you guys here to help?" Grim hopefully asked.
"Hm...Not to help you, but it's kind of our fault that ___ is out in the cold," Ace admittedูซ "It'd also for sure be on us if you slept outside and caught a cold or somethin'..."
"What is it with you and posturin'?" Grim complained. Ace ignore him.
"We've talked with Housewarden Roseheartsูซ" Deuce informedูซ "We can offer you a place safe from the elements if you don't mind sharing a room..."
Despite the darkูซ the red dusting his cheeks could still easily be seen.
"You guys are gonna cram ANOTHER two bodies into your already overly crowded dorm house?" Jack skeptically questionedูซ "And what, does Heartslabyul not have any empty rooms?"
Honestlyูซ you felt you wouldn't get much peace even if they did have those...You also wouldn't put it past them to lie that there were none just to share a bed...
"Since nobody in our dorm ever drops out or gets held back, it's always at full capacityูซ" Deuce elaborated with a shrug.
"Then...why don't you come to Savanaclaw Dorm instead?" Jack offeredูซ to embarrassed about the kind act to look you in the eyes.
Dumbูซ Dumberูซ and Dumbest let out a collective "HUH?!"
Jack went on to explainูซ "I acted like I was doin' you a favor by sticking around for those negotiations with Azul, but l didn't actually contribute at all. And considering how much we owe you for everything that went down at the Spelldrive tournament, Leona and the others won't make a peep about it."
All of a suddenูซ you felt a pair of hands cover your ears like when an adult covers a child's to swear around them. You quickly realized it was Ace since he was the only one not currently in your range of sight. He was also really bad at whisper-yelling. Even with how he was covering your earsูซ you could still hear everything. Plusูซ even if you couldn't hearูซ you could still lip read! Why must you be surrounded by creepsูซ but stupid ones at that...
"Hey! We already called dibs!" Ace started to argue.
"What...?" Jack questionedูซ visibly confused.
"Yeah! We already managed to get a good plan goin'!" Deuce agreedูซ "We even got our other two roommates to room with other people for the night!"
"Won't...certain others...complain about them staying with you instead of them?" Jack pushed furtherูซ crossing his arms.
The two of you already shared a look at about their stupidity. Despite having more sensitive hearing than humansูซ he could tell just by the way Ace was covering your ears you could still hear. He could also get from your expression that this kind of scheming happened often.
"Yeahูซ Housewarden already said that we'll probably cause them to not get proper sleep so we only get one nightูซ" Deuce lamented.
"Stupid tyrant's obviously just jealous and was looking for a good reason to be a perv or somethingูซ" Ace complained.
"I'm pretty sure youโre just projecting about the perv thingูซ" Deuce grumbled.
"Lies!" Ace defended.
"Don't I get a say in this?!" Grim demanded.
"Yeahูซ you get a say on sleeping aloneูซ" Ace teased.
"I think it's a bit too late to say they can't chooseูซ" Jack pointed outูซ "And I'm pretty sure covering their ears like that isn't helping your case."
Ace let out an exaggerated groan then scoffedูซ "Fine!"
He uncovered you ears.
"Heyูซ ___," Deuce spoke upูซ "Would you rather stay Heartslabyul or Savanaclaw?"
"I think I'd rather Savanaclaw...ูซ" you answeredูซ trying not too seem to eager to decline Heartslabyul. You took notice at how Jack's tail had started to swish back and forth after you said your answerูซ but didn't say anything about it.
"You cool with thatูซ Grim?" Ace askedูซ basically pleading with Grim to change your mind.
"I'm fine with whatever my henchhuman choosesูซ" the furball in your arms declaredูซ causing visible pouts to form between the other two.
"Great, then we'd better get backูซ" Jack announcedูซ "It's almost midnight as it is..." Jack broke out into a yawnูซ causing you to yawn too.
"Okay, see you tomorrowูซ" Ace sighed.
"Have a good nightูซ" Deuce added.
You watched the two leave for a bit before heading off yourselves. The walk was mainly quietูซ but more of a comfortable quiet. For onceูซ after what felt like foreverูซ you felt almost safe to just walk with your guard dropped.
โฅ
"Not a chanceูซ" Leona denied.
"You didn't even pause before answering...ูซ" Jack muttered.
"No pets allowed in the dorm. They shed all over the placeูซ" the lion statedูซ motioned to the living ball of fur in your arms.
"First of all, I AIN'T NO PET. Second of all, I DO NOT!" Grim deniedูซ vehemently defending his honorูซ "Aren't you guys, like, a billion times furrier than me?!"
"This is about you, not usูซ" Ruggie shruggedูซ his usual grin spread across his face.
"Wellูซ what about ___? It's either here or Heartslabyulูซ" Jack explained. There was also Octavinelleูซ but you decided that was not a viable option.
"You know how guys 'round here feel 'bout herbivores like them Jack. If anything happensูซ that's all on youูซ" Leona grinned.
"I understandูซ Housewardenูซ" Jack nodded.
"Herbivores are a lotta workูซ ya knowูซ" Leona dragged onูซ giving away that he was just messing around. "'specially that one."
Ruggie happily joined inูซ "Yeah. You gotta feed 'emูซ water 'emูซ trainูซ entertainูซ blahูซ blahูซ blah."
"I'm not a dog!" You huffed.
"Yeahูซ dogs behave betterูซ" the third year teased.
"Wellูซ since there's no clean empty roomsูซ I'll be ever so generous and let you room with me instead of Jack's cramped freshman bedroomูซ" Ruggie proposed and slung an arm around your shoulderูซ "All I would like in exchange is a portion of my choosing from your lunch every day you're here."
"Not happening!" Grim denied.
"You're no fun...ูซ" the hyena pouted.
You heard Leona audibly groan before letting out exasperated sigh.
"I guess they can room with me for nowูซ" the lion relented.
"What?!"
"Ruggie's still recoverin' from the Spelldrive competition so he's been working slow. You two can stay in exchange for helpin' pick back up the pace. Soูซ how 'bout it?" Leona grinned. Of course he wasn't doing this out of the kindness of his heart; it was from the laziness of his ass.
"I guess it's better than nothingูซ" you supposed.
"Phew. At least now we don't gotta sleep outsideูซ" Grim sighed in relief.
"All right. Jack, bring some spare bedding to Leona's roomูซ" Ruggie directed.
"Will do."
"I'm surprised you haven't already run off to take this as an opportunity for a breakูซ" Leona jabbed.
"I'd feel bad to leave such poor souls alone with someone like youูซ" Ruggie quipped back.
"Okay, herbivores. Get the lead out and follow me."
โฅ
"Daaang! Now this is a wild man's room!" Grim thought aloudูซ openly admiring the dorm room.
"Quit yer gawkin'ูซ" Leona retortedูซ picking up a few things from where they were definitely out of place in as he passed them before tossing them in some random corner. "I'm goin' to bed now, and if you disturb my sleep, I'll turn you into shag carpet."
The lion growled as a threat. It was pretty hard to be threateningูซ thoughูซ whenever you pass out right after hitting the pillow.
"He was out in literally three seconds!" Grim exclaimed. Okayูซ but like that was pretty impressive.
On one handูซ you were curious to know how deep of a sleeper he was. On the otherูซ you kinda wanted to live to see tomorrow.
Waitูซ where did he expect you to sleep? You were never really told. He also passed out before you could ask any questions. You debated on it and mentally weighed your options as you got ready to sleep.
Ultimatelyูซ you decided the bed looked the most comfortable. There was no way that his ass was so fat that he needed a whole queen size to himself. Somehowูซ you managed to push him over just enough for you and Grim to get comfortable and fall asleep.
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HCs of Aatrox as a weapon and a reader who is his user please ๐ญ๐
Aatrox with wielder!Reader
- Look there's gotta be a whole character arc here before he's in a state to exist around other people. He's a man trapped inside a sword trying to escape the very nature of his existence by destroying the world and by extension himself, thereby trapping himself in a nightmarish cycle of violence and pain with no respite. Like, all he's done for the last few centuries was possess some poor fool, go on an apocalyptic warpath, get killed, and be stuck back in the suffocating sensory deprivation tank of his sword form until someone new picks him up, rinse repeat.
- You find him in sword form, but much like Kayn and Rhaast he doesn't manage to overcome youโexcept instead of using him to murder people, you just kinda lug him around and show him all the nice things about living (cuz honestly, leaving him there would be kind of fucked up).
- Being put in forcible time out, he very reluctantly is forced to admit that maybe existence isn't all pain and okay, yeah, maybe there is inherent value in life. The hot springs are nice, he guesses. Human, bring him to the hot springs again.
- He's gonna be a huge bitch for a while let's be real, like full tilt raging complete with threats of grievous bodily harm (and he can be a real bitch when he wants to be, have you heard some of his voice lines??). At the same time, he's terrified you'll leave him so he still tries to go the โtemptation of power, just give inโ route, and generally emphasizes how powerful he is and how useful he can be.
- Eventually you go from being you, human, to his human. He hasn't had a social interaction that did not end with someone dying in literal centuries, much less a friend. Like he still bitches but instead of threatening you, he starts threatening anything that threatens you, which he defends with the idea that he's the only one worthy of killing you. You learn not to take it personally, your giant sword with a disembodied heart set into the hilt is a tsundere, this is your life now.
- โive only had this human for two months and if anything happens to them I'm killing everyone in this plane of existence and then myselfโ, but to be fair that last part was his plan to begin with. Anything even begins to threaten you and it's fire and brimstone from himโunfortunately, he can't exactly do much as a sword other than beg you to use him to slaughter anyone who so much as says a harsh word to you.
- The longer you wield him, the more he becomes attuned to youโwhich is new to him, because Darkin usually don't have a wielder without them becoming a full host for this long, and even then the wielder is usually trying to suppress them. With you, Aatrox gradually gets his senses backโunlike Naafiri and Rhaast, his sword form doesn't come with eyes, so he basically has to magically parasitize your vision and see through your eyes. Gradually this extends to other senses tooโhell of a shock to him when he starts to feel your pain. Eventually, he gets his own sense of touch back, which is kinda weird since his body is a sword now, but it's still leagues better than eternal numbness. Even if he's not really sure how to process that he can feel you literally holding his disembodied heart in your hands.
- His grand plan was to accumulate the blood from every rare instance you were forced to use him to defend yourself in order to build himself a new body and then kill you with it. The plan is amended to killing you in your sleep, cuz he likes you, even if he doesn't want to admit it. It takes literally until he's standing over you that he realizes โI don'tโฆ.actually want to do this,โ and he has zero follow up plan or capacity for self reflection so he just stands there like a weirdo. And then you wake up.
- โAre you gonna kill me?โ โ....no.โ โOkay, cool, I'm going back to sleep.โ
- You start travelling together like normal people then, except y'know, being in human form is pretty taxing so a decent chunk of the time he just...stays a sword. This is a huge gesture of trust from him, knowing that if you happen to put him down he'll be put back into a prison of his own body, but also you've kinda earned his trust in this matter since you could've left him to suffer at any point before now and didn't. He still acts like it's some sort of honor for you to be wielding him, but you've also earned his respect by this point so the โpuny humanโ talk has pretty much evaporated.
- His protectiveness gets worse once he has a body to act independently with, but not as much as you'd thinkโhe respects your wishes and genuinely doesn't want to upset you, so he won't hurt anyone you don't want him to (...too bad)โthough he will intimidate the everliving fuck out of anyone he thinks is a threat to you. He does actually still have a pretty robust sense of right and wrongโitโs just that he didn't give a fuck about it in the face of escaping the torture of his existence. Now you're that escape, and he'll defend you with the same visciousness that he killed literal gods with.
- He does not have any frame of reference for romance. He only sort of remembers being Ascended, and barely if at all being human before thatโand in all that time he was a soldier through and through, devoted to his duty above all. He doesn't even know that he's caught feelings. Like he wants to be close to you all the time (and other urges he shall not be examining), but that's normal right?? You've been carrying him around for months now, surely it's because of that. He also hasn't had anyone touch him without also trying to kill him in centuries, forget that he can actually feel it nowโsurely that's why the slightest touch from you makes his heart skip a beat (you can literally see it, it's right there in the sword). It's normal. He's being super normal. Denial is just a river in Shurima.
- Point being, the man is oblivious, and even if he wasn't, he has no fucking idea what he's doing and he has a boatload of unresolved self-esteem issues. You're gonna have to make the first move and you're gonna have to be very forward and upfront with him. He's gonna freeze, Aatrox.exe is working overtime; internally he goes from โtf do you mean I have feelingsโ to โtf do you mean I have feelings for a humanโ to โwell obviously this is my human, she's special, why wouldn't I have feelings for herโ to โme?? Why the fuck does she want me??โ to finally deciding that he would have to be clinically insane to turn you down (putting aside that he thinks there's a very real chance that he is in fact insane, but he's working on that).
- Not that he knows how to be in a relationship. Mutual respect and communication can go a long way to figuring stuff like this out, but it's pretty obvious he's out of his depthโheโs struggling to adjust to existing in general, and he's got centuries of trauma and a barely repressed anger management issue. It helps that he knows you're on his side (and that he's probably already made every threat under the sun when you first met), but the man doesn't exactly have a lot of practice dealing with his frustration in a healthy way. Patience is essential hereโheโs trying, and he will get better with time and understanding.
- He's actually super self conscious about his bodyโin his eyes, it's a twisted, filthy reminder of what he used to be. Without a compatible host, Darkin bodies start to break down without fresh blood to sustain them, and he can't help but compare it to how he used to be before the Void war. His form is stable with you, but he still has a whole lot of negative associations. You've got your work cut out for you if you want to convince him he's not some sort of malformed disgusting beastโheโs very much of the opinion that you're some kind of saint for wanting him despite what he looks like.
- Despite all that, physical closeness is a big thing in his culture, plus he's touch starved and will take any opportunity to have you close. If you're not doing anything he'll literally just pick you up and deposit you on his lap so he can be close to you. If he's in sword form, he'll sulk if you put him down for even a moment. It's funny though, because as much as he passively demands attention like some sort of large spiky cat, he also gets really flustered if you're affectionate with him. He's also a huge tsundere though, so him being flustered mostly involves stammered yelling (heโs actually kind of awkward, when he's not being intimidatingโre his joke lines).
- Darkin run hot as a consequence of the hemomancy their bodies are made up ofโin particular, the area over his heart is very warm. He doesn't visibly blush per se, but the glow of his heart gets more radiant when he's flustered, and he gets noticably warmer. The dark plated parts of him are hard and bone-like with the slightest bit of give, whereas the red parts feel like normal skin if slightly thicker. He has a habit of only touching you with his unplated left handโthe other one has a lot of jagged edges and he worries he'll accidentally cut you (plus, the plated parts feel less). Since his form is fairly stable with you he can manifest his wings fairly consistently, but he's stuck at a (relatively) meager 9ft tall without absorbing any new bodies. His wings are more batlike than anything, and the webbing is extremely sensitive.
- In Ancient Shuriman custom, marriage is a social arrangement wherein a couple is considered married as soon as they start living together, no ceremony or paperwork required (fun fact: actual ancient egyptian custom!). Most couples have this accompanied with a legalized property agreement, but Aatrox was raised into a warrior caste that doesn't have a concept of private property, and he doesn't currently have much of a use for possessions anyway. This is all to say Aatrox considers you to be married and you have no idea until he offhandedly refers to you as his wife.
- All that being said, he still has an extreme sense of duty to his follow Darkin, being about as close to a leader as they have left after the war and their sealing. He feels an obligation to find a way to alleviate their suffering, either by finding them hosts, undoing their binding into weapons, or finding a way to kill them and have them actually stay dead. It's a grim task and it's pretty important to him to have your support in it, however you want to approach it.
i have once read a kayn x rhaast fanfic, which i have saved, that tells about how they both became one entity, a fusion but their counciousness still remained in deep place inside the new entitys mind
Moon good Rerir adopting Hated Columbina!MC is just AHHH!!! The all the Kuhenki and Luonnotar following her is just so CUTEEEEE!!
I just want to see him carrying her around in his arms. He probably wants to show her off like a proud peacock showing off it's feathers.
I'm just imagining then when it's explained she's from a different reality (I honestly can't see her getting into specifics too much) and everyone bonds, they eventually ask why she's in this reality.
Cue all the Kuuhenki and Luonnotas being feral and trying to harm them...
At least until she stops shaking/crying and tells her little spirit friends to stop (they do reluctantly). Rerir just bundles her into his arms and glares at people at least until SANDRONE explains the truth.
Sandrone knew Columbina!MC wasn't going to explain, but said moon goddess had also given her permission to explain to trusted people.
So Sandrone explains and now we have a nation attempting to figure out how to travel through different realities (totally only because they want to explore and learn about different realities, totally not because they want to destroy that alternate Nod Krai and Teyvet, TOTALLY)
Rerir proceeds to snatch her away to his hide out place, both his and her Kuuhenki + Lunnotars gathering there and surrounding them. He then cuddles her and glares at any person who appears.
I'm imagining Columbina!MC, once she knows Moon God Rerir was a safe person, latches into him like a needy kitten?
And as @lovelyjane-stuff told me-
"She IS a baby kitten
Moon God Rerir is that one rare tomcat dad who take responsibility
Even if the kid ain't really his"
And YES. Let the Alternate Nod Krai crew feel protective over Columbina!MC enough that they want to jump realities to beat up their alternatives.
Adding to this, the alternative Frostmoon Scions. They were loosing their shit after Lauma brought news of Columbina!MC's existence. Cue even more people becoming protective of the bean.
Columbina!MC shouldn't be shocked if she ever becomes brave enough to visit this world's Hiisi island and see a newly made statue of herself besides Moon God Rerir's own statue.
Oh, and a fun idea to add to this is the differenced between Moon God Rerir and Columbina!MC's Kuuheki + Lunonators.
Moon God Rerir's are bigger, maybe more boyish in comparison to Columbina!MC's, and after Columbina!MC's Kuuheki/Lunonator settles into Alternate Nod Krai, it becomes a common sight to see Moon God Rerir's and Columbina!MC's Kuuheki mingling in pairs
Not in a romantic sense! More like as parent and child, if that makes sense.
I saw your yan twst headcanons about darling being baby trapped but what if darling died after giving birth ? How would they react?
Yes give me more angst!!!
You have her eyesโฆ
Yandere twst reaction: yuu dying after giving birth
BIG WARNING!! Mentions of childbirth, death, blame, guilt, yandere twst, violence mentioned, abortion mentioned,angst
Heartstabyul:
-Riddle Rosehearts-
He was blaming everyone, your doctor, your nurses, even his own mother that just HAD to be in the room and was stressing you out. But your body it just gave up and Riddle will never accept that.
โMy roseโฆyou were supposed to stay with meโฆI followed the rulesโฆwhy..? Why?! I canโt raise her alone!โฆ.come backโฆโ
-Trey Clover-
He had to leave, the moment he heard the flatline he was gone. Crying in the hallway thinking itโs his fault thinking he should have checked on you more.
โYuuโฆweโre supposed to be partnersโฆwe were supposed to have the dream lifeโฆwhats out little one gonna do without you?โ
-Cater Diamond-
He was vlogging until he cut the tape. It was live from just his reaction alone the fans knew it was bad. Then a few months later cater goes on live explaining the you passed in childbirth and he was going on haitus to take care of the baby.
โHey everyoneโฆima make this quickโฆmini cay-yuuโฆheโs doing greatโฆbutโฆyuuโฆIโm going to make sure our baby boy is gonna grow up how you wanted him tooโฆhappyโฆreal. Your memory will live onโฆโ
-Deuce Spade-
He genuinely was gonna punch someone when the doctor told him you died. Both his mom and Ace had to hold him back, and he just cried in his motherโs arms. He had his own baby but he felt like the biggest baby in the world without you
โMom sheโs goneโฆsheโs really goneโฆI canโtโฆyou had trouble with me what ifโฆI need her! Sheโs supposed to be here! Raising that little baby with me! Mamaโฆwhat if the baby ends up like meโฆ?โ
-Ace Trappola-
Heโs just thereโฆ.his face has dried tears on his face after everything, he was skin bonding with the baby. Itโs like his whole world just stopped when you took your last breath. And now, this tiny life needs him.
โYuuโฆcan I really do thisโฆ? Without youโฆcan I really raise her on my ownโฆโ
Savannaclaw:
-Leona Kingscholar-
He knew the risks, and yet he still went ahead with it. Getting you the best healers, actually making a plan and for what?! For you to die in his arms while holding your cub.
โSee this land? This is the land of our peopleโฆeverything the light touches is ours. Itโll be ruled by your cousin but we love this land, like your mother loved you before you were even bornโฆโ
-Ruggie Bucchi-
He been crying for days, all when heโs alone with the baby or by himself at work. He genuinely thought he could spare you the fate his mother suffered. But he knows youโll watch over at the baby.
โSee those stars? Mama is up thereโฆandโฆshe loves youโฆmore than anythingโฆand Iโm swearing to you kidโฆIโm never leaving your side.โ
-Jack Howl-
Heโs a mix of Leona and ruggie, heโs trying to move on but canโt. Your pregnancy with Jackโs pup was harder because you were carrying twins. One beastman child is a risk enough, but two? He didnโt want to think about it, but you were nothing but prepared.
โLook at thatโฆyour mom left me a book about how to raise you twoโฆthatโsโฆthatโs your mom for youโฆthereโs even reminders to take your month old photosโฆโ
Octavinelle:
-Azul Ashengrotto-
His businesses were closed for the day, his mother closed her restaurant for a week for Azul to collect himself. He was locked in his office on land just trying to rework his life plan. Well now itโs his babyโs life planโฆjust without you
โDAMNIT! All these momentsโฆeverything you were supposed to be there! I donโt even know to raise him on land or in the seaโฆโ
-Jade Leech-
Heโs beenโฆmanaging, luckily he has his mother, his father and his brother. Floyd been on uncle duty for times on end. But he worries about his brother. Especially when the little one cries whenever Jade holds him.
โPleaseโฆplease stopโฆIโm doing my bestโฆthough I felt better seeing your motherโฆbut I canโt see her anymoreโฆat least you look like herโฆmy little darling.โ
-Floyd Leech-
Heโs so violentโฆwith everyone. His friends, his family, not even Jade himself can fight Floyd like this. Mainly because he doesnโt want the the baby to get hurt. But Floyd would never hurt his baby, itโs the last thing he has of you.
โGIVE ME MY FUCKING KID JADE! PLEASE!! I WANNA SEE MY BABY! GIVE ME MY FUCKING BABY! YUU IS GONE AND SHES ALL I HAVE LEFT!! DONT TAKE AWAY MY MINI SHRIMPY PLEASE!โฆ.im begging you brotherโฆโ
Scarabia:
-Kalim Al-Asim-
Poor Kalimโฆhe lost his smile, for the first year of the babyโs life. He wouldnโt smile, he was present for the child. But he only got it back when his baby walked over with a photo. A photo of you.
โYouโre so much like herโฆsmartโฆbeautifulโฆand the light of my lifeโฆ.ima do better and protect you..even if that means you canโt leave the house.
-Jamil Viper-
He never got time to grieve, Kalim kept telling to stop and spend time with his baby, but jamil couldnโt. His sister been taking care of the baby and they keep getting into fights. Heโs there, but not really.
โKalim I have far too many things to do around here. I donโt have time to mope around about yuuโฆ.dont talk about my child. Heโs fine. Heโs with his auntโฆ.he doesnโt need meโฆ
Pomeforie:
-Vil Schoenheit-
This is Vil weโre talking about. He told you to abort the baby then moment you two were told there was a risk of death. He didnโt want to lose you, but no you were stubborn and made him promise to be there for the baby. And he was.
โHmโฆseems the news has nothing to talk about but me going on haitus. Canโt blame meโฆI lost my wifeโฆand I need to be there for my child. Donโt worry my little dumplingโฆyouโre in good hands with daddyโฆ
-Rook Hunt-
Itโs hardโฆto know whatโs going through his mind. He cried so much when the baby was born, but cried harder knowing youโre dead. He looks fine, but on the inside? Heโs angry. Not at the baby god no, but at himself. For not protecting you.
โMy wonderful childโฆI shall raise you in a way to see the beauty in everythingโฆeven in death. Youll know your mother if she was still here.
-Epel Felmier-
Epel fans DO NOT come for me when I say thisโฆ.butโฆheโs absent. Like you were his entire world, and heโs just stuck with all his anger and sadness. He canโt even look at the baby because she looks so much like you. Itโs not fair.
โI canโt be the man that baby girl needs me to beโฆI canโt be a father without herโฆbut i can never leave that little girlโฆโ
Ignihyde:
-Idia Shroud-
Idia might be worse than epel, like you genuinely never see him around. Ortho tries to get him to bond with the baby, but this childโฆlooks too much like you and has his curse. Heโs hurt his baby by just being her father.
โI canโt orthoโฆeverytime I look at her itโs just yuu staring back at me! And that hairโฆDAMNIT! All this tech and I couldnโt save her! I donโt even have the heart to rebuild her like I did you orthoโฆโ
Disomina:
-Malleus Draconia-
Itโs been snowing in briar valley forโฆyears. The young Prince walks around the cold castle wondering who the human woman is in the painting with his father. Malleus used to look so happy, and nowโฆheโs a cold hearted king.
โRemember my son, you are a child of two worlds. Honor your mother. Honor your father. And you will be a great king. But for my sakeโฆdonโt fall in love with a human.โ
-Lilia Vanrouge-
Heโs lost so many people already, whyโd you have to leave him too? He thought he didnโt have to be a single father again, but itโs harder this time. Because he thought he was gonna have you with him.
โSilver! Can you grab the baby Iโm trying to recreate how yuu cooked thisโฆFUCK! Sorryโฆsorry my boysโฆI justโฆthis is so much harder without herโฆthought I was gonna have a partner to lean on this time..โ
-Silver Vanrouge-
Silver is harder on himself, causing his curse to be worse. But the more heโs harder on himself heโs going to be hard on his child too. Even though lilia didnโt raise him to be a weapon like he was. Silver is doing that to his child.
โMy father started my training when I was a bit older. And thanks to that I couldnโt save your mother. So youโre gonna run laps. I donโt care if youโre seven years old.โ
-Sebek Zigvolt-
Sebek is another hard case, because your last words to him were โbe gentle..โ so thatโs what he is. With everyone else heโs rough, rude, loud, and angry. But with his child? No he could never.
โDO THE DRILL AGAIN! YOU IDIOTS HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PROTECT LORD MALLEUS LIKE THIS?!โฆ.mother good to see you- Hii my love! Howโs my little one?โ
Authorโs note: This might be the most angsty thing on my blog so I hope I did it justice. Thank you again for your request anon! Hope you enjoy it!
You opened your eyes to find a truly intense storm out in the middle of the sea. Looking around a bit moreูซ a man and a woman made their way into your line of sight. The man looked to be passed out while the woman tried to swim with him to safety.
A distant voice suddenly rang outูซ "Hurricane a comin'! Stand fast! Secure the riggin'!"
After thatูซ everything went whiteูซ accompanied by a woman's melodious voice. You assumed it must've been the girl you just saw.
"Look! He's breathing."
Soonูซ the white obscuring your vision cleared away like fogูซ revealing some seashore. The man from earlier was not accompanied by a much older man and a scruffy dog insteadูซ leading him away from the ocean. The older man must've been looking for him since he was calling out his name prior: "Eric".
"A girl...rescued meูซ" Eric mentioned in a dazeูซ "She had the most...beautiful voice..."
Once they were goneูซ the girl from earlier popped out again from behind a rockูซ looked positively head over heals for the man despite having just met.
"My heart...Oh, how it pounds! Yes. I know it. The day will soon come...part of your world!"
The waves rose around herูซ mimicking her excitement. Actuallyูซ only now did you notice that her lower half was mermaid tail.
As if things couldn't become more ominousูซ your view was forcefully shifted away from the girl and instead moved to two menacing eels stalking up at her from the shadows and chuckling. What a delightful way to end a dream...
โฅ
Like any other morningูซ you woke up to Grim practically on top of you while he muttered nonsense.
"Mrrrghrow...The trick to tests...is if there're two choices...it's a trick question..."
And he went back to snoring. Great...You sat up and stretched to hopefully get what remained of your exhaustion before trying to wake up your roommate.
"Rise and shine, Grimูซ" you greetedูซ shaking his little (read: humongous) belly.
"MYAH! Don't surprise me like that. You'll make me forget everything I memorized!" Grim yowledูซ "Today's the last day of final exams, y'know. You and I are still technically one student put together, so you better not tank my grades, ___"
"This, from the last-minute crammer...ูซ" you sighed. Your little direbeast sure was acting a bit strange compared to his usual.
โฅ
"The test is over, whelps. Put your pens away and hand over your answer sheets like good little dogs. And with that, I do believe exams have come to a closeูซ" Crewel announcedูซ causing cheers to erupt throughout the classroom. "Down! SIT! Don't start celebrating yet. Any bad boys who fare poorly in their exams...will be given mandatory remedial lessons over the winter holidays. Consider yourselves warned.
Class dismissed."
"Whew, FINALLY. It's over!" Ace rejoiced.
"I gave it my absolute best. All that's left now is to wait for our scores to come backูซ" Deuce said.
"Myah hah hah! No lousy test is a match for my brilliant mindูซ" Grim sang out.
They were all surprisingly confident in their answers. These were the same three you once watched start trying some bullshit ritual some upperclassmen told them to supposedly "help retain their knowledge for the test." Something was definitely fishy.
"Really? You guys usually look like your lives just flashed before your eyes after written exams. Now you're changing your tune?" Ace teased.
"Heh heh. You bet your bottom thaumark l am. Today marks the dawn of a new and improved me! You better be ready, 'cause soon you'll all be callin' me 'Galaxy Brain Grim' and beggin' for scraps of my knowledgeูซ" your fluffy companion bragged from your side.
"That's a bold claim, but I'm pretty confident in my performance this time myself. No offense, but I'm definitely gonna outscore youูซ" declared Deuce.
"Says the guy who's perpetually biting his lip and barely staying above a failing gradeูซ" Ace began to taunt againูซ "Of course, this test was a piece of cake for me, so I'm pretty sure I'm gonna come out on top."
"Grim, you did ONE last-minute cram sessionูซ" you remindedูซ unable to decide if you were amused or exhausted by their verbal competition.
"What can I say? Geniuses like me can breeze through class without havin' to slave away at their desk like you do."
"Anyway," Deuce interruptedูซ "exams are done and dusted. I'm gonna hit up the Track Club. Actuallyูซ ___, I wouldn't mind too much if you came watcโ"
Ace quickly cut in before Deuce could finishูซ "Y'know, I could stand to get in some exercise at the Basketball Club myself. Let's break this huddle for today, guys."
"Let's head back to the dorm, ___. I'm dead on my feet after that all-nighterูซ" Grim groanedูซ lifting his paws up towards you as if to insist you carry his lazy butt. Soูซ of courseูซ you carried his adorably lazy butt back to Ramshackle.
โฅ
The following weekูซ it was the same deal as always: Ace and Grim setting each other off and then involving others with their antics. This timeูซ thoughูซ something seemed off.
"Hold it right there, Grim! You're not gettin' off easy today, you hear me?!"
"Myeh heh heh! Maybe you shoulda put your name on it if you wanted it that bad!"
"Why, you...!"
"What is it this time?" You complainedูซ following shortly behind the duo.
"Seriously, don't they ever get tired of this?" Deuce wonderedูซ obediently walking beside you like a loyal guard dog.
He was also carrying your bag along with his due to much pushing from himself. He framed it as a "practical way to build muscle" or whatever.
"Hey, ___! You're the prefect, so do some prefecting!" Ace called outูซ "This lousy furball swiped the doughnut I bought and ate it! AGAIN."
"I didn't steal nothin'! I just saw a snack left abandoned on a desk and gave it a home outta the goodness of my heartูซ" Grim reasoned. That had to be one of the worse defense cases you've ever heard.
Ace argued backูซ "It's not abandoned if it's on somebody's desk! If you're gonna keep runnin', l've got some wind magic up my sleeve with your name on it."
"Oh YEAH? Try me! I've got fire magic ready toโ" Grim stopped him before he could finish his whole threat. That was really unlike the proudูซ little furball.
"....Erk!" There both yelped.
"Y'know what? I think I'll skip the magic today. I don't wanna get sent to wash even MORE windowsูซ" the red had an obviously forced grin.
"H-heh. For once, I think you've got the right ideaูซ" Grim joined inูซ just as nervous. "I'd be embarrassin' myself if I was the only one usin' magic, so I'll let you off easy this time."
"...Huh?" You voiced in confusion. Something was definitely going on hereูซ but you didn't know if you wanted to find out what.
"Wow. It's not every day I see you two de-escalate one of your fights without outside interventionูซ" Deuce notedูซ "Normally, you go at it until the classroom's blasted to bits and the headmage comes storming in."
"Hey, what kinda punk would I be if I started fighting with a weasel over one lousy doughnut?" Ace wondered. Wasn't he just squabbling with Grim yesterday about some loose change on the ground?
"Why do you always have to get in one last smart remark?!" Grim fussed.
"C'monูซ ___. Let's head to classูซ" the former playfully bumper into your sideูซ not really giving you room to refuse since he wrapped his arm around your shouldersูซ again.
โฅ
"It's time for class to start, whelps. Get to your seats. First, I'll pass back your testsูซ" Crewel statedูซ a large stack of papers in his hands.
"This is itโthe moment of truthูซ" Deuce braced himself.
"Myah hah! Gimme! Gimme! I want that test, Prof!" Grim exclaimed.
"Settle down, Grim. Stay. STAY!" Crewel scoldedูซ "I'll call you up by your class number. Number one!"
By the time he got to your class numberูซ you felt kind of nervous for some reason. The week before the testsูซ Riddle had made you study with him on account of you being at a disadvantage due to you still being so new to this worldูซ in his word's at least.
Getting your test backูซ you were surprised to see you had received a 96! Despite creeping you out SEVERELYูซ Riddle was a pretty good tutor.
"Good jobูซ pupูซ" Crewel congratulatedูซ giving you a soft pat on the head and reassuring smile before you headed back to your seat.
"SWEET! I got a 92!" Ace cheered.
"I got an 88! I never thought l'd see the day I scored over 80ูซ" Deuce admittedูซ still somewhat in shock.
"Check it out, ___! I got an 85!" Grim celebrated.
"You went from failing grades to an 85?" You questionedูซ now completely sure something was up.
"Hey, I don't like what you're implyin'!" Grim huffed.
Crewel walked over and addedูซ "You appear to have studied a great deal for this exam. Yes...A great deal indeed, compared to your quiz scores. In fact, the class average has gone up to a degree one might call...unusual."
Ace spoke up nextูซ askingูซ "And what's that supposed to mean?"
"The average test scores across every level of potionology are over 90. Professor Trein has remarked upon similarly positive trends in his magic history classesูซ" Crewel remarked
"Say what?!"
"Mraaah?!"
"Uh-oh. I don't like where this is going..."
With how the three of the respondedูซ they were definitely apart of thisูซ and it was a whole of a lot bigger than you originally thought.
Crewel carried onูซ "The school's fifty highest achievers will be posted in the hall. You can look forward to seeing that shortly. Now, let us begin today's lesson. Open your textbooks."
โฅ
"Okay, where am I in the top fifty?" Grim cheerfully made his way through the other students.
"With an average score over 90, we've gotta be in there, right?" Ace though aloudูซ looking along side Grim.
Honestlyูซ why was it so important to them? Usuallyูซ they cried tears of joy at just passingูซ but now they cared about making the top 50?!
"First ten places...nope. Twenty...nope. Forty-eight, forty-nine, fifty...nope. Wait a minuteโI ain't in here at all!" Grim cried out.
"N-neither am I...ูซ" Deuce mourned.
"Seriouslyูซ with scores only in the 80'sูซ how did you think you'd make it in the top 50?" You had to askูซ unable to help yourself.
"Hey! It was really hard to get those scores! How can people seriously score higher than that!" Grim seemed on the verge of a tantrum.
"Hooold up. There's a list of the total scores each top achiever got across all subjectsูซ" Ace pointed outูซ "The top thirty scored perfect marksโ500 points!"
"PERFECT MARKS?!" The other two exclaim.
That's the people you expected to be up there: ridiculously smart people like Riddle and Leona; not people like these three who have better chances of praying to get a good grade than getting one of their own merit. Stillูซ thoughูซ it was weird; could thirty students really ace every test?
"Something's definitely fishy here...ูซ" you muttered.
"B-but if I don't make it into the top fifty, that counts as a breach of contract!" Grim yelped.
"Judging by the look on your face, Ace, don't tell me you alsoโ" Deuce nervously startedูซ but was abruptly interrupted.
Out of nowhereูซ sea anemones grew from their heads with a loud "Bwooop!"
"MYAH! What in the world?! A sea anemone just sprouted outta my head!" Grim yowled.
"G-Grim, you made a contract too?!
You big cheater!" Deuce complained.
"Yeah, whatever, Deuce. You're just as guilty, keepin' your friends close and your anemones closer over there!" Ace admonished.
"I'll just give it a quick tug, and...OW!
It's not comin' out!" Grim whined.
"What's going on here?" You questionedูซ completely out of the loop.
"I came to see what all the commotion was. Why am I not surprised it's you guys? What're you doing?"
You turned to see Jack now right behind youูซ staring at the other three like something just grew from theirโWell...
"Jack, did you make a contract too? Wait...You don't have an anemone!" Deuce pointed out in shock.
"So much for looking like a bad boy. You're more of a square than Loosey-Deucey over here!" Ace shouted.
"Okay, what? I'm completely lost here. What are you talking about, and what are those things growing outta your heads?" Jack asked.
"Look, it's, uhhh...MROW?! What now? This dang anemone's yanking my head!" Grim cried out
"Owww, geez! It's gonna rip my noggin off!" Ace whined.
"So when he wrote 'absolute obedience,' this is what he meant..." Deuce groaned in pain.
"AaaAAAaaaAGH!"
"What now? The way they were walking, it was like the anemones were pulling them in that direction. Is a picture that stupid still worth a thousand words...?" Jack observed.
"We'd better follow themูซ" you grumbled.
"Huh? Where do I come in here? This is none of my businessูซ" the wolf claimed.
"Is the big puppy scared?" You taunted.
You could tell you got to him purely from the way his cheeks began to burn and his ears pinned back.
"W-who're you calling a big puppy?!" Jack nearly growledูซ but looked away to calm himself down. "Tch. You're starting to fit in around here a little TOO well. Fine. I'll keep you company for a little while, at least. Let's get one thing straight, thoughโthis is purely out of curiosity. I wanna see what caused this. I couldn't care less about those guys. Just so we're clear on that."
"Got itูซ you just wanna play knight in shining armorูซ" you continued to teaseูซ walking ahead of him.
"Th-that's not what I said at all!" Jack denied.
โฅ
Soonูซ the two of you found yourselves in the Hall of Mirrors.
"Oh, it's the Hall of Mirrors...The place that leads to every dormูซ" Jack thought out loud.
"Wow...ูซ" you marveled at the sheer amount of other students with similar anemones on their headsูซ just like Aceูซ Deuceูซ and Grim.
"I was so sure I'd make the top fifty!"
"Blast it all, I've been had! That cheating cephalo-punk!"
"My school life is doomed now. Doooomed!"
"Huh? It's not just the three stooges...There are other students here with sea anemones coming outta their headsูซ" Jack observedูซ protectively pulling you closer to him. "I'm seeing some sophomores and juniors in here, too. And they're all going through the mirror leading to Octavinelle Dorm."
"They re all moaning about their test placement...ูซ" you noticed and pointed out to Jack.
"Let's head over and see what's upูซ" he decidedูซ and you nodded in agreement.
Soูซ you both headed for the mirror that lead to Octavinelle's dorm house and stepped through it together. After the disorientation wore offูซ it's safe to say you were left in awe.
"Wow, the whole dorm is underwater!" You excitedly observed.
"For real?! Night Raven College is so cool!" Jack exclaimed before quickly correcting himself. He clearer his throat before reminding youูซ "Just remember we're treading on another dorm's turf. Keep your wits about you."
You noddedูซ which seemed to reassure the beastman.
โฅ
Insideูซ you both didn't have to wait too long to find where all the effected students ended up.
"Look at all these peopleูซ" you commentedูซ gazing at the sea of anemones that had sprouted from the heads of these boys.
"There's gotta be a hundred-no, closer to two hundred people here. What is this place, anyway? Some kinda coffee shop?" Jack wonderedูซ "'Mostro Lounge'? Where did Ace and the others go?"
Suddenlyูซ the lights dimmed. You felt something soft nudging you but soon realized it was just Jack's tail guiding you closer to him as a precaution.
Just as quickly as the lights had dimmedูซ something akin to a stage light shone on a boy that was in front of the crowd. Instead of the school uniformูซ he was in a grayูซ purpleูซ and black suit with a hat and bowtie. Maybe it was it dorm uniformูซ you guessed. At the momentูซ you were getting major rejected theater kid vibes.
With a hand to his chestูซ he began to make a speech of sortsูซ "Well, well. What have we here? A band of misfortunate souls who failed to break into the top 50. Welcome to the Mostro Lounge. I'm sure you're all WELL aware of who I am, but let's go over it again anyway. My name is Azul Ashengrotto. I am the housewarden of Octavinelle Dorm, the manager of the Mostro Lounge cafe, aaand...as of today, you have to listen to everything I say."
"Say what?" You overheard Jack mutter. Personallyูซ you were just thinking about how you can't but up with any more of these sadistic bastards. Why couldn't they be like Jack. He was chillูซ so far anyway...Pleaseูซ whatever or whoever is out listeningูซ don't make you eat your words...
Azul continuedูซ "You made a bet with me, and subsequently lost. As per the terms of our contract, you are to devote yourselves to my service until such time as you graduate."
"Hey, hold on. This is all a huge scam!"
Waitูซ was thatโ
"You're...Ace Trappola, a freshman, if memory serves. Your accusations are insulting, frankly. I upheld my end of the bargain and provided you with an impeccably flawless study guide for your exams. If you used it properly, you should have scored at least a 90."
"Yeah, and I did. I got a 92!"
"Why, that's wonderful news! I'm delighted to have been of serviceูซ" Azul praised.
"But you never told me you'd given the same study guide to this many other people!"
"Yeah, Ace is right." Was that Deuce that said that? "No study guide could help us break into the top fifty when the deck's this stacked!"
"When everybody else is scorin' over 90, even with my 85, my spot in the rankings is no different than when I was failin'!" And there was Grim...
None of them knew how to keep their mouths shut. Honestlyูซ what did they expect? Why would some random housewarden give them such a good dealูซ and here at NRC of all places?!
"Have you boys never heard of client confidentiality?" Azul askedูซ then began to quoteูซ "'I want an easy way to score high marks. I don't want to flunk out. I want to goof off until the night before the test...' All of you foolsโI mean, gentlemenโhad your own reasons for seeking my help with your finals. Details such as who made a contract with me, what kind of contract it was, and why it was made...That's all privileged data. Who am I to divulge someone's personal information to a third party? I am a man of integrity, thank you very much. You will find this exact topic covered extensively in the non-disclosure agreement clause on page 127 of your contract. I simply abided by its terms."
His logic was hard to argue with. Andูซ honestlyูซ these guys basically brought it on themselves for acting like such fools.
"O-okay, then what happens to the fire magic I put up as collateral for the study guide?" Grim hesitantly asked.
"Y-yeah! And what about my water magic?" Another student questioned.
"Give me back my signature spell!" A demanded.
"What's this? Have you really all forgotten the terms of your contract?" Azul dramatically lamented before quotingูซ "I will provide you with a final exam study guide. In exchange, you will leave one 'personal specialty' in my possession. Should you earn a spot among the school's fifty highest achievers, your power will be returned to you and I will continue to provide you with study guides for all exams until such time as you graduate. However, in the event that you do not earn a spot among the school's fifty highest achieversูซ you will act with absolute obedience to me until such time as you graduate."
"As outlined in the contract, I now control every part of your beings down to every last hair on your heads. In other words, your powers are mine, to return or not as pleaseูซ" Azul sadistically delighted.
"That ain't fair!" Ace argued.
"No wonder Grim and Ace weren't fighting with magicูซ" you thought back to earlier. You were almost too wrapped up in thought to notice Jack stepping in front of you.
"Y'know, I've been listening to this whole spectacle...and ALL of you disgust me!"
Shock rang out around the whole room.
"J-Jack?! What are you doing here?" Deuce stuttered out.
"Oh, are you...? No, I don't see an anemone on your headูซ" Azul offhandedly remarkedูซ "I'm afraid we're having a staff meeting right now. If you don't have a stake in this matter, I must ask your leave for us to sort this out internally."
"Grrr...You think I don't have a stake in this? I was planning on studying on my own and out scoring these guys in a fair competition. And now you've ruined that. I think I DO have a stake here!" Jack argued back.
"This is the last thing I need right nowูซ" you groanedูซ placing your head in your hands.
"___? Jack? Are you here to save us?!" Grim cheered.
"Don't get me wrong. I'm disgusted with every last one of youูซ" Jack remindedูซ "Why would I side with the slimeball offering shady backroom deals OR the guys who chose to let others do their work for them?"
"What are you here for, then?" Ace wondered.
"Actually, I think Jack's right. He's given me the wake-up call I neededูซ" Grim announcedูซ "If you wanna win, you gotta snatch that victory yourself! In other words...If I can snatch my contract from Azul by force and tear it up, it's null and void!"
"Hey, now that you mention it..." One student thought it over.
"Who needs specialties when we've got numbers?! GET HIM!" A Savanaclaw student led the charge. You were truly surrounded by idiots...
"These guys are hopelessูซ" you lamented.
"Dear me. I really didn't want to resort to violence, but alasูซ" Azul sighed with a shrugูซ "Jade. Floyd. Play with them for a bit."
Two insanely tall twins emerged from out of nowhere. Actuallyูซ you were pretty sure you've seen them before. Yeahูซ when you were checking out potential victims for the mysterious injuries.
"Understood, sir."
"Oh man, I get to squeeze 'em all? Ha ha, nilice."
Okayูซ you really didn't like that second one already...Thankfullyูซ Jack seemed to sense your unease and made sure to keep you away from any potential danger behind him the whole time.
"Geez, what a bunch of wimps. They're barely worth squeezingูซ" the less kept of the twins whined. You guess that one was Floyd.
"It's like a whole school of feeble small friesูซ" Azul mocked.
"How many kindsa magic can this Azul guy bust out?! I call shenanigans!" Ace complained.
"Did Azul's golden contract deflect all of your attacks?" Jack pointed out in shock.
"Argh. This is just showing me how hard I lean on my specialty normally...ูซ" Deuce criticized.
"Without his fire magic, Grim's nothing more than your garden-variety weaselูซ" Ace commented.
"Myah...I ain't a weasel...ูซ" Grim criedูซ barely having the energy to argue before collapsing to the ground.
"You have all signed these golden contracts. An official contract is completely unbreakable, regardless of how many bodies you throw at it. No magic can harm this document in any way. Heh heh heh... As long as the sea anemones stay on your heads, you will have no choice but to follow my orders. Why don't you start by cleaning up the lounge? You can handle ingredient prep work afterward. Go on, now. On your feet and get to work!" Azul ordered.
"Is this for real...?" Ace moaned.
"Jade. Floyd. You're in charge of instructing the new staff."
"Yesูซ sir."
"Yessir!"
"You're...Jack Howl from Savanaclaw Dorm. And you're ___ from Ramshackle Dorm, I believe? I would appreciate it if you took your leave now. Why don't you come by as customers next time? You're welcome whenever you likeูซ" the housewarden took your hand in a faux polite gesture.
You could hear the growl coming from Jack as he grabbed you by the upper arm and pulled you away.
"C'mon, ___. We'd better fall back and regroup."
You agreed; even if you wanted to argueูซ the fury radiating off of Jack at the moment kind of scared you.
โฅ
Jack seemed to have cooled off to his usual self once the two of you made it back to Ramshackle. When he realized how hard he was gripping your arm he began to thoroughly apologize no matter how many times you told him you were fine.
"I think it's safe to say that everybody with an anemone stuck on their head...gambled on Azul's contract and lostูซ" Jack stated. You both were able to conclude this as fact.
"The terms of said contract were apparently to place in the top 50. But with the sheer number of students signin' on most of them never stood a chance of getting in at all. That was Azul's game from the start."
"I DID find it weird that Grim managed to score over 80 on a testูซ" you added.
"I mean, c'mon! If you're gettin' good grades off someone else's work, what does that even prove?" Jack huffedูซ "You're throwin' away a perfectly good opportunity to show others what you're capable of. Frankly, you're cheating yourself."
"If the rest of the student body here were as principled and tedious...I mean, as 'serious' as you, it would spare me such grief!" Crowley mourned. Hold onโCrowley?! When did he get here?!
"WHOA! Headmage?! You startled me!" Jack yelped.
Crowley sighedูซ "So transpires another year of me being unable to clamp down on Ashengrotto's little 'side business.'"
"What do you mean, 'side business'?" You questioned.
"Azul Ashengrotto: Sophomore. Housewarden of Octavinelle Dorm. Much like Rosehearts, he is a highly capable student already running a dorm as a sophomore, but...He's a bitโno, I daresay QUITE a bit troublesome."
"Are you talking about him swindling people? Seems to me like one word from the headmage could put a stop to this whole thingูซ" Jack acknowledged.
"Ah, but it is precisely BECAUSE I am in a teaching position that I cannot prohibit his actions."
"Why not?" he inquired.
"Here's the thing about those study guides that Ashengrotto handed out to the students. There was no illegitimate activity involved in their production. Nobody snuck looks at test questions or answers beforehand. It was crafted exhaustively by hand, after researching the past century's worth of Night Raven College exam questions and their patterns. In other words, it's an entirely legitimate study guideูซ" the Headmage admitted.
"A century's worth of test questions?!" You repeated in disbelief.
"Huh. Well, I'll be. If he did all that by hand, the guy's got chopsูซ" Jack praised before askingูซ "Hm? Wait...So the problem is that there IS no problem with it?"
"You strike right to the heart of the matter, Howlูซ" Crowley admittedูซ "As a teacher, I can hardly prohibit a student from crafting an exam study guide via honest work. Nor can I prohibit a student from 'kindly' sharing their notes with friends."
"If you did, you'd basically be tellin' students, 'no studying' AND 'no helping your buds.' Grr...Talk about a seriously briny pickleูซ" Jack grumbled.
"That it most certainly isูซ" Crowley agreed.
"And earlier you said 'another year,' yeah?" the beastman wonderedูซ "Did the same thing happen last term?"
"Indeed it did. Of course, last year his study guides didn't have quite the reputation they carry this year. So the commotion was much more contained, relatively speaking. This year, on the other hand, rumors abounded throughout campus that if one wished to score well on a test, they should visit the Mostro Loungeูซ" Crowley thought back.
"And I'm guessin' the nasty little caveat in the contract in the event of a breach stayed hush-hush because of that binding NDAูซ" Jack surmised.
"So it would seem. Thus did Ashengrotto have a steady stream of students lining up to accept his bargain this year. And the test average across all subjects and years has jumped above 90, much to my chagrin. Of course, I would be even more chagrinned if all of our subject averages were failing grades. But still!"
"What you're saying is that most of the student body cheatedูซ" you restatedูซ "Wowูซ you suck at your job."
"Hey!"
"Does that mean that there are guys from last year who lost the bet and still haven't gotten their powers back?" Jack went on to question.
"Actually, he returned the powers he took from students last year as part of an arrangement he made with me. In return, I granted him permission to run the Mostro Lounge on school property."
"What?!" Jack gaped.
Crowley then went on to explain how the deal went.
"So you bargained with a terrorist?" You asked.
"By definitionูซ Mr. Ashengrotto is not a terroristูซ" the Headmage argued.
"Close enoughูซ" you brushed off.
"Talk about brazen. I mean, blackmailing the headmage into a deal? No wonder Leona wants nothin' to do with this guyูซ" Jack sighed.
"And when he offered to contribute 10% of the proceeds to the school...Why, how could I say no to such a mutually beneficial arrangement?"
"Wait, so you're gettin' something from it?!" Jack was left dumbfounded. You weren't really surprisedูซ though.
"Dear oh dear. I can only wonder what demands he'll make of me this yearูซ" Crowley lamentedูซ putting on his "woe is me" act all over again. "Whatever he wants, I will undoubtedly be forced to acquiesce. What else can I do for our idioticโah, that is, our poor, unfortunate students? My immense kindness always gets the better of me. Ashengrotto 'merely' studies diligently, then shares his rightfully-earned knowledge with other students out of the kindness of his heart...It wouldn't do for a teacher to discourage such earnest behavior. Why must every student in our school arrive with some amount of baggage to sort out?!
Oooh, woe is meee!" Ohูซ there it is!
You have a pretty good idea where this whole charade was headed.
"And that's where you come in, ___ูซ" Crowley added.
"Yayyy...ูซ" you sarcastically cheered.
"Would you be so kind as to persuade Ashengrotto to cease this little game of his?"
"I don't think anybody could 'persuade' him to do anything!" You argued.
"Incidentally, Ramshackle Dorm's food expenses have been mounting as of late, as I recall. You must be terribly strapped for cash...And alas, I'm so preoccupied researching a way to return SOMEONE to their home, I have so little time to address other problems...Oh, but don't worry about me, really. I am, as you know, a philanthropist to the core."
"With teachers like this, no wonder our students are the way they areูซ" Jack grumbled.
"You are a horrible personูซ" you deadpanned before ultimately relentingูซ "butูซ fine! I'll do what I can."
"You'll accept my request, then? Wonderful, ___! I knew I saw potential in this prefect! Then I'll be going now, as l am a very busy man. I'm counting on you!"
You were sure you heard the cheers of children and the happy cheers of animals as the old bird left.
"Boy, you never know when the headmage'll pop upูซ" Jack notedูซ "Okay, so what exactly is your plan here? Because you're kinda rightโjust going up to Azul and askin' him nicely isn't gonna get you anywhere."
"Gathering intel seems like the place to startูซ" you guessed. With every task Crowley gave youูซ you felt more and more like a stalker.
"True. A successful hunt starts with learnin' all you can about your target. You actually know your stuffูซ" Jack commendedูซ "Besides, letting Ace and the others stew in the mess they made might help 'em learn something from this."
You agreed. Just the thought gave amused youโOhูซ noูซ they were rubbing off on you...
He is his own "person" yes but still an extensive personified desire of a god, his it and he unfortunaly can't change that
However the first time that he met alice!mc was the first time he influenced his "other self" in some way, and that way was love
On another note, nicole!mc finds alice!mc unconcious on top of a sort of altar she rushes to wake her up
"Alice, wake up! We have to get out of here!" She shakes her
"Im afraid tgat won't be possible little missy"
Nicole gasps and fliches when she hears a heavy loud step acompaning by a male voice, a man that apperead out of nowhere
"I've set my sights on this woman long before
And not keen on losing her i have been really patience and even if you're her best friend
That won't stop me from having her"
He slowly extands his hand towards them
Until a blade pirced his arm
Nicole knew that blade and saw the executioner, the pyramid headed thing that was following her this entire time in this hell forsaken town
The ashen man looked mildly surprise
"Hahaha old friend what a surprise! You usually don't frequent these parts i would be happy that you'd come to visit me
In other circunstances that is.....although
I can't exactly blame a husband from protecting his wife......even if she dosen't know he ever existed"
"..."
Nicole was confused.....but was that man refering to her as the wife!?
"...Of course, the role of the man when he marries becomes fundamentaly clear, the protector the provider the yearner....that's a role i intend to incorporate myself and furthermore the role of a father
After all.....the birth of the serpent cannot be prevented"
Nicole perked up at the name
Serpent.....the newly born god the cult of silent hill adored, the child of a demiurge
.......Could this man be?
Fret not nicole and alice mc do have a opening escape
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Nicole!mc(and alice!mc) as the protagonist and blade being piramyd head
He was yingxing before but silent hill consumed him and now he is the towns punisher and executioner
Nicole!mc came to silent hill to look for her friend, alice!mc, who was kidnapped by a cult to serve as their god's(cough ashveil cough)bride (they both don't know that yet)
She dosen't remember she had a husband before and dosen't recognize yingxing blade but for some reason.....this terrefying creature won't leave her side and insists on caring for her
Silent Hill au?! With Nicole!MC and Alice!MC?! ๐คฉ
Pyramid Head Blade?! God Ashveil?!
Holy shit, you are feeding me the good stuff, anon!
Imagine after giving birth to your son, being separated towards a war that does not involve you. Unable to escape you were forced to set sail away from your beloved home, and after years of being apart you are finally able to return home.
Cause I'd rather lie
Than allow them to think they've won
Though I never thought that I'd resort to this
Just know I'll be here
Yandere HSR men x Odysseus!reader
DAN HENG โ PENELOPE
King of Ithaca who's currently waiting for his beloved retreat, never losing hope despite the many suitors that have come to him requesting his hand in marriage. The cousin of Dan Feng, who is the catalyst towards the trojan war.
Dan heng was against your departure and tried many ways to hide you but it's not any used, he was forced to see his beloved being sailed away towards a war that doesn't involve their quiet lifeโthe night before, Dan heng spent all night embracing your body afraid that you might slip away from his hands. He traces every part of your body fearing he might forget the details of your body as you are sent towards the war.
He would often view phainon with suspension, he can tell the god that personally mentors you have some sort of affection towards you. Dan heng knows better than to offend the divine so he bites his tongue seeing you laughing with the god.
When the suitors get too much to handle or dare to ever tarnish your name as well as a place beside him he would personally have them dealt with. He doesn't care if anyone calls him mad or a grieving spouse, he promised to be yours for all eternity and not even the gods will tarnish that.
PHAINON โ ATHENA/CALYPSO
The sun God and the beloved son of the nanook, from the past have been observing you. Known for his disobedience against his father's reign, and was soon imprisoned in the human realm where he met you. Currently he is fighting all the odds to make sure you return towards his arms safely.
Phainon met you during his banishment in the earth for disobeying an order from his father and become a human as punishment, he was found by you for sitting near the magnificent palace and you bring him in because he looks cold. He Is confused why would a human give shelter towards a beggar like him on the streets, he hardly doubts that you know his true identity so it's confusing.
He was welcomed with open arms by your servants learning that you were a princess, by then he is allowed to stay in the palace attending towards you. The god used to have many lovers in the form of the most beautiful nymphs and goddesses but you were the one that caught his attention, after his banishment was lifted hes planning on bringing you to the heavens and make you immortal to be with himโbut that all changes when you and Dan heng are married.
After years of returning to his divine status, hes still protecting you. He views Dan heng with contempt despite his offer you still choose to remain with the prince who's now currently your husband, phainon currently is going all odds to set you free even if he has to kill a fellow deity or keep you trapped.
NANOOK โ ZEUS
The high esteem king of the Gods and Heavens, Known for their strength as well as indifferent ways. But save to assured, his concerns for you remain unchanging. Like his son hes been observing you, he is there to make sure you choose him in the end.
They are known all across the cosmos, a being of destructive power with only the sole purpose of death as well as life. During your time when phainon wasn't present for a long time was probably them, keeping phainon away from you so that they can have you all to themselves.
The god would often keep distance, planning their siege as well as ways to spread their destruction ideals with their children. He's been more attentive or active on earth now, because any civilization or kingdoms wish to have you as their brideโthe next day an entire civilization is burnt down.
Across your journey, a falcon would often fly nearby. Making sure you have everything needed. Like their son, nanook would make sure you stay aligned. Probably one of the reasons why, is to keep you away for so long, so that you will never reunite with your beloved
( YOUR NAME ) โ ODYSSEUS
The main ruler of Ithaca who was sent away to fight on the trojan war, being forced to be away from your beloved and family with a hope and determination to return home safely to reunite with them. But it's much more complicated due to the obstacles you and your man have to face in your own face of admirers.
>> hello sorry if I get anything wrong, this series would be a spin of epic. It might not be accurate towards the origin the same goes for the story of Odysseus and mythology but this is just a spin. More upcoming love interest came out when we reach another saga.
