#jack twst

Yeah, Riddle gets starved by his mother like how Natuski is w/ her father, but Riddle isn't CLOSE to being a tsundere, maybe a Kuu/Dandere at best (I don't know my deres much), but I'm getting so damn tired of seeing Riddle or Epel being Natuski when Jack or Sebek are RIGHT THERE 😭

You guys genuinely are posers in twst and ddlc, I DON'T PLAY

Not sure if it's necessary, but I always had a hard time deciding if Malleus should be either Monika or Yuri because I think both roles are good for him, but also Idia is also a second choice to me for either roles.

jack falls in love slowly enough that he doesn't realize it's happening until it has already rooted itself into every part of his routine. honestly, that's probably fitting for him. jack isn't the type to get swept away easily by emotions. he likes stability, discipline, consistency. if something matters to him, it usually happens over time, built carefully through trust and familiarity rather than sudden intensity. so when you first become important to him, he doesn't question it much. you are dependable, hardworking, and surprisingly stubborn in your own way. you keep up with NRC's nonsense without giving up, and jack respects that deeply. naturally he enjoys spending time with you. naturally he wants to help when things get difficult. there's nothing strange about that. except eventually, you stop feeling like just another friend.

the shift is gradual enough that jack barely notices it at first. somewhere along the line, his day starts feeling incomplete if he hasn't talked to you at least once. he begins looking for you automatically during lunch breaks or school events without consciously deciding to. if something amusing happens during class, his first instinct becomes glancing around to see if you noticed it too. your opinions matter to him more than they probably should, and your praise lingers in his chest for hours afterward in ways he cannot explain properly. the problem is that jack genuinely thinks he's being subtle. he's not.

"your tail's wagging again." he nearly drops the water bottle in his hands while epel looks thoroughly entertained nearby. "i—it is not." "uh-huh." epel points silently behind him. jack turns just enough to realize his tail has, in fact, started moving because you had just entered the room. immediately he grabs it in betrayal while epel bursts into laughter so violent it sounds painful. good thing vil wants around.

after that, jack becomes painfully aware of himself around you. every reaction suddenly feels suspicious. every instinct becomes impossible to ignore. because why does he get so irritated whenever someone speaks badly about you? why does his chest tighten strangely whenever you look exhausted? why does hearing you laugh nearby make his entire mood improve embarrassingly fast? and worst of all, why does physical affection affect him so much all of a sudden?

because unlike some students at NRC, jack isn't naturally very touchy. he values personal space and usually prefers straightforward interactions over excessive affection. except with you, all his instincts become completely unreliable. if you lean against him casually during a break, he stops processing conversations properly for several seconds. if you pat his shoulder after training, his tail starts wagging before he can stop it. one time you hugged him unexpectedly after he helped you with something and he genuinely forgot how to form coherent sentences for the next five minutes. it's deeply embarrassing. especially because you remain completely unaware of the effect you have on him.

"jack?" you blink at him across the table during study hall. "...hm?" "you've been reading the same page for like ten minutes." silence. he lowers the book slightly. "...i’m thinking." "about?" "...stuff." you narrow your eyes suspiciously while grim immediately starts snickering nearby.

honestly, everybody figures it out before jack properly admits it to himself. ruggie notices after watching jack abandon his own lunch just because you mentioned forgetting to eat earlier. leona notices because unfortunately he is far more observant than he pretends to be. even the first years start exchanging looks whenever your name gets brought up around jack and his ears immediately perk up before he can stop them. he denies everything instantly. badly.

because the truth feels far too serious once he starts acknowledging it properly. you matter to him in ways he can't dismiss casually anymore. your safety worries him instinctively. your happiness affects his mood more than he likes admitting. being around you feels comfortable in a way he rarely experiences with other people, calm and natural and steady. you trust him without hesitation, rely on him without making him feel used, and somehow that makes something fiercely protective settle deep inside his chest every time you look at him for help. and jack knows himself well enough to understand what that means. wolves do not form attachments lightly, but once they do, they stay loyal completely.

the realization itself happens during something stupidly simple. the two of you are walking back toward ramshackle after sunset, conversation drifting lazily between random topics while the campus slowly quiets around you. you are clearly tired, steps slower than usual beside him, and eventually your hand brushes against his arm while you stumble slightly over uneven pavement. before jack can react, you grab onto his sleeve automatically to steady yourself. just for balance. just because you trust him. and something in jack's chest tightens painfully all at once. because suddenly every confusing feeling from the past several months clicks together with terrifying clarity. every instinct to protect you, every unconscious glance searching for you in crowds, every stupid moment his tail betrayed him near you, every spike of happiness whenever you smiled at him specifically. he likes you. seriously. far more seriously than he realized.