‧₊˚ ┊ For anyone else, starting your magical education at one of Twisted Wonderland's most prestigious magical academies would be incredibly nerve-wracking, but not for you

‧₊˚ ┊ You see, there's nothing for you to worry about with your best friend since childhood is right there by your side

‧₊˚ ┊ You've known Epel since you were both in diapers, and now you're here — shoulder to shoulder at Night Raven College's entrance ceremony waiting to start the first day of the rest of your lives

‧₊˚ ┊ It was already shocking that the pair of you both got accepted to the school, but your surprise was doubled when you both were sorted into the same dorm by the dark mirror

‧₊˚ ┊ Epel wasn't too happy about being placed in Pomefiore — especially after his rather… tense run in with your Housewarden prior to the entrance ceremony — but you were more than content to follow wherever he went

‧₊˚ ┊ With that began your tenure as students at NRC — side by side, just as you've always been

‧₊˚ ┊ There was never a moment when you acknowledged your feelings for Epel

‧₊˚ ┊ Said feeling have been there for as long as you can remember — persistent and ever present despite the many years of knowing each other — yet neither of you ever saw the need to label whatever it is you had going on

‧₊˚ ┊ There was an unspoken agreement between you that whatever life threw at you, you'd always be together in one way or another

‧₊˚ ┊ Of course, adding a third to your little… situationship wasn't the plan, but then came Deuce

‧₊˚ ┊ The first time you saw Deuce, he was making a fool of himself, and somehow you still found yourself interested in him after that (kinda embarrassing ngl lol)

‧₊˚ ┊ As always, Epel was right there with you watching Deuce avoiding being crushed to death by the cauldrons he summoned, and his heart too skipped a beat

‧₊˚ ┊ It was then and there that you shared a look that said, 'we need to date this loser if it's the last thing we do' — and that's how Epel and your shared pursuit of Deuce started

‧₊˚ ┊ Unfortunately, the object of your affections couldn't have been more clueless of your interest in him

‧₊˚ ┊ Deuce is focused entirely on his studies and becoming an honor student, so romance is the absolute last thing on his mind (he'll worry about getting some play after he makes his mama proud)

‧₊˚ ┊ Your attempts to flirt with Deuce — despite how obvious they are — go right over the poor boy's head

‧₊˚ ┊ Epel finds this hilarious, but fares no better himself when it comes to winning Deuce's heart

‧₊˚ ┊ It's incredibly obvious to just about everyone else at NRC that the pair of you are interested in him, which only makes things that much more frustrating

‧₊˚ ┊ Thankfully, good ol' Ace is there to give his buddy a little push in the right direction

‧₊˚ ┊ If it weren't for your fellow first year, Deuce probably never would have realized his own feelings for you and Epel

‧₊˚ ┊ It's quite hilarious to Ace that Deuce has such an obvious type — dainty and pretty — but to each their own and all that (yes, Ace does get smacked upside the head for calling Deuce out on this lol)

‧₊˚ ┊ So, you would think that Deuce coming to realize his own feelings for the two of you would make your pursuit of him a whole lot easier, but that's, unfortunately, not the case

‧₊˚ ┊ Now, Deuce just gets incredibly flustered around the two of you — he can't focus in class, and he can barely eat his lunch with the pair of you sitting right there on either side of him

‧₊˚ ┊ This change in how Deuce acts around the two of you is incredibly obvious, and only makes both you and Epel even more assured in making him your third

‧₊˚ ┊ That eventually came after a lot of pining and obvious flirting, but it was all very much worth it

‧₊˚ ┊ You and Epel propose the arrangement during a very convenient group project (I hate group projects sm, but they are very good plot devises lol)

‧₊˚ ┊ Deuce is shocked, to say the least, and it quite literally took him a minute or two to even comprehend what you both just suggested (bro had to reboot lol)

‧₊˚ ┊ Deuce is honestly surprised that the two of you would be interested in a guy like him, but he's not stupid enough to fumble two baddies because of his own disbelief

‧₊˚ ┊ Finally, after a very tense silence, you get your long-awaited answer — yes

‧₊˚ ┊ In true oblivious Deuce fashion, he somehow didn't know you and Epel had a thing going on, let alone the fact that the two of you have been flirting with him this whole time (he feels absolutely stupid for not noticing sooner lol)