Unbetitelt

Let's not act like you didn't notice it.

The sudden lazyness, the confidence, the dry air.

When you're not with Leona, a shiver crawls up your back instead of any languid heat.

You've been finishing asignments, even future ones you asked Riddle for because your anxiety won't let you settle until you've gotten double the work you could have done in your time settled with the lion.

And you've gone searching for... Him?

It was a guess the first time, Riddle's connection having spawned... Her.

A disgrace how the dust settles here.

Your entire life will be ruined, fix this!

Get up and do what you're born to do.

Yeah.

If that isn't some version of the Queen of Hearts, realised by envisioning or otherwise, this magic system is TOTAL bullshit at this point without any direction and you will stop trying to work enti...

Ah.

Well, there's something.

Anyway, Leona does resemble the statue of the King of Beasts, at least. And the King of Beasts is a dude. You know, because, well, title. But you checked the statue too.

You just had to know if the stone masons carved those parts too. You needed to, it would've lived forever in your head if you hadn't. Imagine you went back home to your own world and just opening your eyes in the middle of the night thinking does the lion still have his pendulum and his bells?

He does. Just... For clarification.

The original reason you did it was for naught, by the way.

Now you lay awake at night knowing that you leant under an animal statue to see if the person or people who carved him let him keep his man bits when they eternalised him.

If the Queen could have banged her head somewhere, she probably would have, poor thing, stuck partway in your head.

It’s fun when you’re locked in here with me instead.

Riddle looked at you weird the next day.

"Why could I not fall asleep tonight?"

Don't giggle. Do nooooot giggle. "I don't know, did you change something with your evening routine?"

Anyway, Riddle is now eternally suspicious of you. He knows you did something. He just cannot prove it.

And you have stunned both your unwanted mind roommates into silence for the day.

A win, really. One of few.

You're either anxious or exhausted most the time.

Which just so happens to correspond to two people who overblotted in your presence.

You don't get calm. No, whatever Leona's brought into your system nullifies whatever energy you might've had, makes everything pointless. Even thinking is a hassle.

Most of the times you fought it, it's just that you lose half the time.

She's been heavier when she can't get to you.

Screaming at the edge of your consciousness to get up. You refuse to believe there is any hint of concern there.

Your vindication grows to double it's size, again. When both of them tug at you, demanding their dessert like children in the candy isle. She with an "Off with their Heads" (please, please let that be a reference to Riddle's SS) or he wanting to slowly ruin their standing and watch them crumble.

Or just set your pride on them.

Would you look at that. Found him.

Now you're back to constantly detaching. Because you can't stop them from seeping in, only have less them for a few hours.

On a brighter note, Jack—different from all of Savanaclaw—genuinely likes you for you more. His tail wags when he smells you, when you talk to him...

You're definitely not Leona, the wolf's like an effective, if shortlived, reset when he glows under his stoic expression, traitorous appendage moving fast enough to turn into a blur. Especially when you agree to go on a run with him. Peace, from Riddle's too.

Or you're too exhausted to hear them after.

Nice thing your speed and stamina're growing at a nice pace. In a few months, you might outrun Hornton! (Ha)

Sleepovers galore.

Usually just Leona when you're over at Savanaclaw, dozing on his bed or on a nicer patch of grass.

At Ramshackle, Jack joins you now. Immediate boost to your mood and motivation. HEALTHY motivation!

Also, he's warm. The three and you now do cuddlepiles. The warmth is heavenly.

Deuce is at the bottom, then you, then Ace going up. You advise the former to relieve himself before starting one in the evening, he will NOT be getting up through the night, you are draped right across his lower back.

Ace has his cheek on your back, his chest over Deuce's butt and a bundle of blankets under his torso. One time he slipped down far enough to have his forehead where his chest usually takes it's spot.

You woke up because the weight on you was less... and were greeted with the best sight to wake up to in a while. Ace snoozing on Deuce’s butt. You barely stopped yourself from bouncing up and down in giddy vindication while you fished for your phone.

Prime blackmail right there, but you won't have it as your lockscreen until you can copy and have a backup of the picture somewhere else.

You know that you are SO ready for that day, sometimes you start grinning at your essay, your currently-empty lockscreen or nothing at all and a shiver crawls up EVERY dorm's, even the current teacher's who watch you, spine. The only thing missing is a cackle as evil as your smile. NRC has rubbed off on you perhaps too strongly, the teachers often think.

The Beastking couldn't be happier with you right now, petty as he is.

Now that Jack is here... The first time, he wanted to sleep in another room. He didn't. He resolved to sleep upon the floor. He did not.

Now, he was resolved to not touch any of you, to sleep on a farther side.

When you invited him into the pile, his tail hit you in the face multiple times. You sneezed so suddenly Deuce near bucked you off with how he startled.

The beastman did not join you, sadly.

You now have a very, very sweet picture of Jack, half curled up against your side with his front facing away from you, his tail draped over your hip and drooling on the hands under his chin.

Thank Leona's Overblot you're silent enough to pull it off now.

Draping your arm over his waist and pulling him closer to your basically-resident-idiots and yourself, he finally turns around and embraces you all, even Ace included with Jack’s fingers in his hair, shifting a little every minute. Cue the second picture of today.

Then you decide to live in the moment, put the phone down and let them all lull you into sleep.

We're anything but alone.

...

...Our pride.

Goodnight, I suppose. Don't wake me.

I've got over 1000 words for the first time! Woo! If you round up, it’s 1200!

I tried to make a little more angst, aka, lore, but Leona just made this unreasonably fluffy. Like... Pure fluff for the story part.

And the stupid thought near the beginning. I'm so sorry to anyone who read that. It's just that he's the only animal in the lineup and he doesn't wear anything...

I'm not the first person who has thought of this. I know it.

After the debacle with you punching Riddle in the face, you grew a little more amicable with him.

Not her it, but what's it got to do there anyway?

He doesn't seem to hear it, which is... Awkward for you.

But the shared sensation is proof there's something.

Not one to give this world another opportunity to drag you through the dust by virtue of your obliviousness to magic and it's rules, you've been trying to find the limits of that connection...

By avoiding Riddle entirely and pestering he... it for test answers after it said "I'm us"

It most definitely works. Good for you.

(And Ace, he's cheating off you)

Crewel and Trein are suspicious of your sudden spike in knowledge (not as much as of Ace though, HA!) but you answer okay on the board or at the front...

You HAVE been studying more, with second year topics going into your head most easily.

To Riddle's advantage, you brush up on basics you've never seen before and only feel a hint of nostalgia.

If you empty your head, it is the easiest to just... Write the answers, top to bottom like a well studied vocabulary test.

Yes, Trein has once stood behind your back the entirety of you writing an essay. Yes, Crewel has too.

Yes, the entirety of the school is flabbergasted.

And fuck yes does it feels good to throw your great grades in mages faces. "Can't even beat a magicless person who didn't know you existed two months ago!"

They are so mad, but they cannot say anything because you're right.

A L W A Y S R I G H T .

Have you been more vindictive as of late?

It most certainly feels like both Ace and Deuce tell you so, the former louder than the latter.

You don't believe it until Trey tries to get you to calm down by offering you the first slice of a strawberry tart of all things.

The card soldiers were suspiciously quiet when your gaze fell danger to fall on them, you realise, and get to detaching it from your thoughts.

She's not you. Neither is he.

And so you return to detaching it from your thought process.

Over and over and over again.

Your friends remind you, Deuce holds on to you when you're alone until your breathing steadies and your face cools, keeping you from doing something you'll regret. Ace actually holds his tongue when go into Queen that mode. That alone returns you to your senses after a minute. The fundamental wrongness of a quiet Ace. You have to cuddle Grim for calmness afterwards. He should not be afraid of you.

Anyone could be.

Not them.

Everyone should be.

As if you don't miss your king.

Everybody may quiver before me…

…But them, then.

Trey?

The silence that answers you settles some frustration in your chest. She doesn’t exist on her own, as her own complete self. At least that.

She is him. Now she is connected to you. They together are "us", now, in the limited capacity you will allow yourself and them for you to be the third party. However, she should be more him than he is her.

And that is the beginning of you returning to Heartslabyul after punching it's Queen with barely any talking out after.

Neither of you is afraid of the other, minutes later you are in his dorm room, studying together when you let slip it's been a lot easier since... The incident.

Cramming comes naturally to both of you now, you nearly feel her behind your chairs to nod her approval.

Capable soldiers.

Heartslabyul, since that fateful day, has had two Queens. There is no King of Hearts.

You two naturally share the first slice of tart at an Unbirthday which you actually attend more often than you don't, not pushing... her... away as hard as you could.

Grim reminds you, then. Stealing your second slice, because Riddle has a scepter in his hand and the first is sacred to both Queens.

Sometimes, you turn that staff over in your hands, Riddle at his desk, Grim in your lap to keep her far enough... And swear it hums in your grip.

When you sat next to Riddle, taking his hand...

You set his alchemy book on fire. Worst of all, not on purpose. His fireballs were a near legend, you thought of them, irritation always hummed under your skin to some degree now and fanned the flames... They burst forth with more intensity than you expected.

Fuck. You'll have to pay for that, won't you? Five fancy tuna cans less. Poor direbeast.

You are Riddle's reasonable counterpart, most days. He's trying, she is a little farther, but habit and perfectionism...

Maybe it is the dorm's remaining shellshock.

Order something seriously, truly seriously, like their Queen, it will be done so. Even Trey and Cater.

You are effectively a second year. You and Grim join Riddle in class instead.

Sometimes you stumble, but it is little.

Your roster isn't officially changed.

Just know that Crewel and Trein will not only tolerate but welcome you as a respectful guest... And finally a responsible "resident" of their classes after a few weeks.

You do not tell Vargas that. No way in seven circles, tartarus or purgatory are you of your own free will hang onto a broom with three fingers and do pull ups. Screw that. And your balance isn't near good enough to balance on whatever chopsticks the man wants you to do tricks on. What are you, a cat?

About 900 words, I’d say like an entry size. A mashup of both a lil story, a dash of plot and headcannons about what I genuinely begin to consider as my own little AU.

You've been hiding in Ramshackle for a few days, the weekend and having skipped two days of school.

Ace and Deuce come over each one, giving you homework and notes. You've been sending them back with the completed papers.

Something about the writing calms you, the doing.

Information is power, you think, and go on when your wrist aches.

Fear very soon shifts to anger while you think.

Basic rules of decency were broken when he threw the rosebushes. You don't think hospitality constitutes serving the host first, let alone try to kill the guests!

It feels better to be angry than to be afraid.

What do you have to care about Riddle's tears?

Why would he deserve any pity?

Doling out what he can't take, what an ass.

And yet.

Wait.

Rules are rules, are they not?

No.

There is no reason they wouldn't be.

Who? What?

I'm him, now I'm you, now I'm us.

You went to Riddle, near stomping through Hearslabyul. The card soldiers didn't say a word, even going off to the side like parting before a raging Riddle.

Did you ever rage this easily? You do now, only saving it for him.

It's not you, though, is it?

The Queen is untouchable to her soldiers.

You were never her his soldier.

Riddle only turns in time to register your attack, not react to it, his own glowing mage stone your only real giveaway.

Not so untouchable now?

Ace gasps when you punch the Housewarden in the face, right where one other card soldier slammed into him before.

Deuce panics, hesitating before reaching out a hand. "...Yuu?"

"Stay out!" You snap back and he does, taking a step back.

Now your eyes return to Riddle. A wand pointed up at you, it's glow weirdly... Dim? "What did you do?" You feel no fear, an unrighteous rage stealing all the flight response from you.

"What?" He stares up at the figure looming over him, not a hint of recognition in his eyes. It cannot be that he doesn't know. No.

Your cheek is aching slightly and you raise one hand to it, the other taking hold of the red-black scepter right under the lower edge of the heart.

Wrestling her it back down, you meet his eyes. "Hit me."

He's staring like you've gone crazy, Ace calls out behind you. "Please, Yuu, I know you're..." "In a moment, Ace, le me figure."

When Riddle doesn't react, you take the staff out of his hand too easily and hit the narrow side of the heart on your arm a few inches below your elbow. And not softly.

A few seconds later, the Housewarden raises a hand to his own, lips parting with nothing to say. You do it for him. "Yes. That. We both know I couldn't have done it. So... what did you do?"

Notes are probably better at the end. All I can say is that it was a bit of a longer ride, this started out as headcannons originally and I'm realizing that this is fun. Bitesized. Encouragement appreciated!

About 900 words, a tiny snippet of a story at the end, might become a series, written in 1 to 1,5 hours, enjoy!

A few days after the second Overblot, things have been smelling more intense.

Not just sweat or the cafeteria food, no.

But people as in fragrances that shouldn't exist, that couldn't be bottled even in centuries.

Some smell like very little in those terms, i. e. Ruggie or a good chunk of random people in the halls.

But the Housewardens in particular...

Riddle smells strongly like metal and singed paper after he casts "Off With Your Head!"

Leona smells like a drought. You get the impression of dry air when you breathe near him even in the greenhouse or during rain. If he just cast his SP/UM, it will make your nose itch.

Humans generally smell like sweat and natural body odor unless they feel intense emotions or cast magic.

The fae make the back of your neck tingle every time a new one enters a room.

You can predict a beastman's mood and thus actions instinctively and know especially with Leona when to leave him alone and when he wants you close. His ears, his posture, the slightest movement or lack thereof from his tail tells you a thousand things at once.

Not just your sense of smell has become sharper.

You can identify everyone you know by their steps when they're dozens of steps and walls away from you.

With Ace and Deuce especially, you could pick them out of a crowd simultaneously.

They, with only Leona surpassing them, are open books now. The weakest scent cues, the moment Deuce has to fight to not avert his eyes, when Ace's steps slow slightly on the last step of Ramshackle's porch... You can guess what those three want/need from you in seconds of looking at them with a ratio of at least nine out of ten with you being correct. Riddle, Trey and Cater holding about an eight out of ten, Ruggie between seven and six out of ten and Jack, considering it was pretty easy before, has since been a clean ten out of ten.

Meat has grown immensely in appeal, even Ruggie won't steal off your plate after you growled at him. That really sounded like Leona's...

Hornton, for whatever reason, grates against your patience now. You remain polite, but there is a mean tingle in the bottom of your gut that is most like simmering irritation.

You like to startle people now.

Jump on Deuce's back when he enters the classroom, near throw yourself at Riddle from behind (you delight in his startled squeak, smug in the knowledge he'd never collar you), pluck Ace's pen out of his pocket and run (you even once managed with Ruggie, he caught you after twenty minutes, you climbed from the floor to the third story outside and only stopped because Trein threatened to give you detention. Hyenas are not natural climbers and your balance has improved greatly)...

The entirety of Savanaclaw lets you have first picks along with Leona at the dinner table when you visit. He doesn't stop you, for whatever reason.

Leona is much easier to get out of bed or off the floor when you do it, though you'd rather drape yourself over him and doze instead with him instead half the time. It's a coin toss.

His magic, much like Riddle's, won't turn against you on purpose. Were he to point his pen at you, the resulting spell is much weaker than usual and the act is instinctually repulsive, like turning his magic against himself.

Ruggie told you not to garden when you're angry or even frustrated, the plants will dry out.

You like to have Ace and Deuce over. Something in you settles. Even better if Jack joins as well. If they're all in one spot, or, even better, in your room with you, you sleep soundly like never else. And you wake up if one tries to go to the bathroom and pat the spot next to you when they return.

Beastmen will now be more docile or conflict-averse after your friends slept over. They won't question if the two Heartslabyul freshmen come to the dorm with you.

If you want Leona to help you, he most likely will. Studying (even though you have the least difficulties in your class with most subjects), homework (if he or Riddle are touching you some was and you've got their pen in your hand, you can now do practical!) or even punish another student who was being a biggot to your friends (you could send most of Savanaclaw or Heartslabyul on the idiot yourself)

Leona twists as you land on his side, mage stone starting to glow before you pluck it out of his pocket and hold it above your head with a hand. It diminishes and then goes out, magic unresponsive.

The other presses one of his wrists to the grass, moving him to lay on his back.

You lean down, clicking your teeth over his throat. "Got you, Leona!" You celebrate as he goes limp under you, neck open.

He catches himself after a few seconds, free hand pushing halfheartedly at your shoulder until you roll off beside him.

(Exactly 600.)

I lay stretched out under two orange trees, it's shade not enough to keep me from sweating in 104 degree heat.

Meant to be gathering some for Kalim, but the heat robs me of all my motivation. He could get a hundred in minutes if he only asked a servant, but he acts like I brought the moon from the skies if I bring him three in an hour.

No one ever does anything for him because they want to.

I'm sorry for him. I've shown him the price of bread, I've taught him to make two simple dishes, I learn business jargin with him so he can teach me too.

And I'm sorry for Jamil. He's capable of more than he does, his family hangs on by his actions and if those are bad, the entire constellation may come crashing down.

While I'm not officially Kalim's personal manservant, slave... He'd call me friend... I expect it will be soon.

I've entertained him the last five years. From when he was four and I've protested less, not at all or token, than my not-yet counterpart.

Honestly, I've got it better than both of them. I am only implicitly locked into this house, not explicitly by chains of gold or contractual obligation.

In theory, I could leave whenever I like. Not that I've got anywhere to go, but the thought counts.

I stretch out a little before finally forcing myself up from my spot on the green grass. They water this place five times a day, rich enough to keep out the night's cold with a glass construction.

Such a waste.

But I like it when the desert quietens. Especially in here. The workers have never known me to steal a single fruit, whatever I take is warned of and asked for politely beforehand.

One often leaves me a full water bottle on a branch somewhere. I know it's for me because they carry their own around at all times. These are the Scalding Sands, withholding water can be a murder charge.

Another brushes my hair and invites me to stay when I don't help out for Jamil to have his freetime and she has her own. I often do. Kalim will invite me for a sleepover afterwards and hides his face in my hair for the next few hours, often the whole night.

Yes, I'm sure I'll be offered a contract very soon. With the often unsupervised, barely limited access I get to the Asim heir, his father is going to try save that loyalty for the next generation.

As is, I might be granted a last name to give my children for their servitude. Whatever is in least supply is the most expensive. In the desert, often also the most important. Water, food...

For the family of Asim, that thing is loyalty. Everything else they have in spades.

I will sign one. There is nowhere else to be, though I will not damn my children to a forced servitude. I will work for pay and I will scrape by properly if that is what it takes. Maybe I've listened to Kalim a few too many times.

Not that it's too likely anything but my pride will keep it that way, though, if I serve Kalim of all people. He wouldn't notice if I took half the treasury and if he did, he'd be convinced it wasn't my fault somehow.

Or he'll just hand it to me without any crime involved.

That'd be easy.

Hello, tumblr, I'm a procrastinating fanfic writer with little to no experience at all and wanted to contribute to a share of text on here!

The greatest respect to the drawing artists, but I'm limited to written stories where my motivation either flows or it doesn't and that's the only thing which upon is based if I write anything or not.

Originally this was made only to view, not to participate, but I wanted a space to share snippets of what could have been.

Maybe because I forgot the framework I made, never wrote down some aspects of fun lore or worldbuilding that would have made up most of it's appeal to me or potentially anyone else. Maybe the middle or end is rushed or shoddy. Maybe I just lost interest in continuation.

Some of these are a hundred, some are half a thousand and some already scratch the roof of the golden 1000 words.

Patience is not a virtue that I've been born with and one that galls me to practice. Diligence I've only ever really dabbled in with pressure and then it doesn't really count.

Expectation's motivation IF you want something continued, I've known it to motivate me.

Anything that for any reason gets two or more parts will be tagged for easy maneuvering.

I do not use AI in any part of my works (abandoned, on hiatus, finished, in the works) or W.I.Ps here, purely human, if that was a worry. Neither do I consent for these pieces, even if unfinished or practice, to be used to train AI or anything remotely adjacent.

If that is fine with you, good fun with everything of mine! (I take criticism if it's meant to help me)