It takes more than a strong will to persist after death. Powerful attachments, unresolved regrets, longing that pierces the very soul; these are the tethers that anchor a spirit to the living realm. Skully J. Graves understood this better than most.
He remembers Halloween Town with aching clarity. The sting of rejection, the gut-wrenching pain of his idol telling Skully he was wrong. Jack Skellington had looked at him with those hollow eye sockets, brimming with kindness, and said, "There's no wrong way to celebrate Halloween, my friend. Every tradition has its own magic!"
When he'd first met your group, Skully had allowed himself to hope. Unlike the rest of Night Raven College's alumni, you all actually recognized the name of his favorite holiday. This time was going to be different.
But alas. It was just that, a name. A surface-level acknowledgment with no understanding of the true spirit of Halloween. In a way it had been even worse than the usual disinterest, listening to everyone gush about their own celebrations with no regard for the true spirit of Halloween.
It was infuriating! All their little rituals, each one different, each one wrong!
And yet Jack Skellington didn't see it that way. The Pumpkin King welcomed, even adored, everyone's celebrations. Everyone's, except for Skully's. The dismissal had cut deeper than any insult could have.
Oh, how it hurt.
Skully doesn't remember how long he spent alone, trying to celebrate in the correct way, until you interrupted him. The others were content to leave him to stew, but you’d approached and said that Skully had looked unwell, and you wanted to check in with him.
He tried to brush you off saying he was fine. You didn't push it but you also didn't leave.
You sat beside him in companionable silence, the sound of your friends preparations in the distance.
Skully broke quickly, “It’s all wrong.”
"Hm?" You turned to him, expression open and curious.
"Halloween. All the others, they're treating it like a game. Like it's just an excuse to dress up and eat sweets." He gestured vaguely at the preparations. "But it's meant to be dignified and sacred. The veil between worlds thins, the spirits walk among us, and we honor them with our traditions. It's not–" He stopped himself, realizing he was ranting.
But you didn't look annoyed. Instead, you tilted your head and asked, "How does your hometown celebrate?"
And with that the words start flooding out.
Skully tried not to gush, he really did, but even in the throes of melancholy, there was no way Skully would pass up the opportunity to share on his favorite topic.
And you listened. Not with polite disinterest or amused tolerance, but with genuine engagement. You asked questions and shared your own stories of celebration.
Because it wasn't all about Skully! He's a gentleman, after all. And as it turned out, the two of you had more in common than he'd expected.
"It sounds like you've experienced something similar," he'd said, and you'd nodded slowly.
"My hometown was... complicated," you explained. "We had a problem with spiritual predators so for us, All Hallows' Eve was the time when they were at their strongest. We’d spend all month prepping for it."
It isn't quite the same, Skully reflected. Uzumimura had its issues, of course, but luckily not on the level you'd described, goodness gracious! The way you described your childhood, facing down malevolent spirits with nothing but courage and your loved ones, made his own struggles seem rather tame by comparison.
But the somber tone, the reverence in your voice when you spoke of past Halloweens and their reminders that someday everyone will become a ghost...
That’s what Halloween is supposed to be about.
And Skully was struck by inspiration.
He came up with a plan, you see. A grand plan to teach Halloween Town (and those idiots from school) the true meaning of Halloween. He'd gathered allies, crafted his scheme and poured his heart into the project.
It was heartbreaking when Jack Skellington chose the modern NRC celebration over Skully's traditional vision. He'd been so certain that his idol would understand, would see the beauty in the old ways.
But when asked if he truly wanted to celebrate in an extravagant way Jack had nodded his head, “Yes! I love trying new things.”
No.
No no no no nonono. That wouldn't do. Skully will save Halloween, even from Jack Skellington himself if that's what it takes.
Though it had been a bit awkward when you and Grim walked in on Skully hovering over Jack's unconscious form. What if you, like Jack, refused to see his vision? What if you turned against him too?
Thankfully you'd been quite reasonable, even after Skully had panicked when Grim pawed at Jack, complaining about the skeleton slacking off, and turned the young beast into a jack-o'-lantern.
You held a hand to your brow and sighed deeply, “Okay, sure, this might as well happen. Just–” you sighed again, pinching your brow, “just turn grim back and we'll see where this goes.”
Skully had felt such warmth at your words. Finally, finally, someone who saw value in his vision. He'd taken your affability as confirmation that you agreed with his methods, that you were just as committed to spreading the true spirit of Halloween as he was.
And it had gone perfectly! Everything was coming together exactly as he'd envisioned. Having you by his side as he prepared a true Halloween for Jack-sama had been... fulfilling in a way he hadn't anticipated. He'd catch your gaze and feel a surge of joy, knowing that you were part of his celebration, his vision.
He'd envisioned you staying by his side forever, you know. Once the two of you taught Halloween Town the true spirit of Halloween, you'd join him as he spread the celebration across the world. Together, you'd teach everyone the spirit of Halloween.
But then, like a bolt of lightning, the rest of your NRC cohorts struck him down.
Okay. So perhaps he hadn't thought everything through.
Skully had been so angry. He'd poured his heart into this, his soul, and they'd just... destroyed it. Shattered his dreams as if they meant nothing. When Sebek and the others foiled his plan, when they'd had the audacity to tell him he was wrong, Skully had felt such rage bubbling in his chest that he'd been fully willing to kill them.
He'd been so close. So close to having everything he'd ever wanted.
…
Still, as chaotic as the Halloween Town celebration turned out, and once the sting of failure had faded, Skully found an unexpected charm in the chaos. The way the townsfolk laughed as they ran through the streets, the joy on their faces as they collected candy, the sheer life that pulsed through the celebration amidst the spooky decor; it was something he hadn't anticipated.
"You know," he admitted to you later, the two of you sitting a bit away from the main function, "I was so afraid that Halloween would be disrespected by such frivolous methods of celebration. All that eating and singing and causing a fuss, it didn't seem fitting for a day where everyone honors the other side. But Sebek's passionate words and your compassion made me rethink that." He paused, skeletal fingers drumming against his knee. "I suppose candy and costumes might not be so bad."
“Oh, Skully.” Skully froze as you loop one arm through his own, pulling him into a hug. "Change is hard, especially when it's something so important for your identity."
Skully’s heart was racing, and for once it had nothing to do with the holiday.
Well, that's a lie, he’s always at least a little hyped about Halloween. But this time it was only partially contributing to his feelings.
The two of you sat together like that for a moment, just holding each other, until Skully broke the silence. "While I'm still saddened by the idea of not celebrating the traditional kind of Halloween I know and love," he said, his voice softening, "I know your consideration and love of Halloween is real. It's not about the method of celebration, it's about the feeling behind it."
"So going forward, I will try different methods of celebration, if that's what it takes to make the world embrace the spirit of Halloween."
You pulled out of the hug but grabbed one of his hands, looping your fingers together. "Listening to other people's points of view doesn't mean you have to bury who you are as a person. And for what it's worth... you weren't the only one being a jerk. I chewed out the others for messing around and being inconsiderate during the town hall and preparations."
Skully had laughed at that, a genuine sound that surprised even him. "They're all lucky to have you around to keep them in line."
He'd thought to himself then, how surprising the strength of his feelings were. He'd only known you for a week, and yet the thought of saying goodbye was already unbearable.
During the final hours of your time together, you confessed to Skully about your true identity. You'd pulled out Twilight Dream, that beautiful, impossible key, and showed it to him with a nervous expression. You told him about your world, the spirits that plagued your people, and how you ultimately lost your parents but found purpose as a Keyblade Hero.
Perhaps in another life, Skully would accept having to say goodbye. Perhaps he could have been content with never seeing any of you again.
But not here. Not after knowing how much more there could be on Halloween when celebrated together, with you.
Skully isn't naive. He knows the only reason you confided so much to him is because you’d also figured out that you were from different times. You'd made it clear that you didn't want the people from your current time to find out the truth and raise a fuss. You were protecting yourself, and he understood that.
Yet...
He remembered your words to him back when everyone was exchanging stories about how they celebrated. You'd told him that while Halloween was a time of fear, you'd learned that such fear is best experienced when in the company of loved ones.
And when you showed him your Keyblade, when you confessed the tragic fate of your world... well. That's a bond not even death could break, and Skully knew what he had to do.
Back outside of Halloween Town, you're facing terrifying challenges alone, fighting against forces that would have broken lesser souls. But you don't have to stay alone. Not if Skully had anything to say about it.
He'd made a vow that night. A promise to wait for you, and to ensure that when you finally arrived at Night Raven College, whenever that might be, you would have at least one friend waiting to greet you.
---
Skully is proud of his efforts to spread Halloween. It was his life's work, but he hadn't worked hard out of a desire for fame or power, like so many of his fellow NRC alumni.
The first time he'd been referred to as the King of Halloween had been a bittersweet moment. He wished he could share the moment with his friends from Halloween Town, but they had yet to be born, and you were still waiting to emerge from the space between worlds. The honor felt hollow without you.
Still! There's work to be done!
When not spreading the good word about Halloween, he worked to change the relationship between the living and the Spirit Realm. It was slow, painstaking work, but there was joy to be found in even this grueling work.
The spirits of the dead are naturally drawn to the netherworld. It takes a strong will for one to remain in the living realm, and even then they're usually forced to bind themselves to a place or object in order to maintain their presence. Most spirits simply fade with time, their regrets too weak to anchor them.
Skully led a cultural shift to make the idea of ghosts remaining in the living realm more palatable. He'd started small, with whispered suggestions and subtle influences, and over the centuries, the movement had grown. Now, it wasn't uncommon for particularly strong-willed individuals to persist after death, their attachments keeping them tethered to those they loved.
He'd also amassed power in life, cultivating his magical abilities and strengthening his connections in the spirit realm. As a ghost, that power would be enough to reunite with you and the rest of his dear friends. He'd made sure of it.
And it was worth it. Every sleepless night, every painful sacrifice, every compromise he'd made along the way, it was all worth it.
Skully was so happy to have you back. During your time in Halloween Town you never specified exactly what year you would attend NRC, but Skully had a few hints.
Vil Schoenheit will be a famous entertainer, Leona Kingscholar will be the second prince of Sunset Savanna, a position of power and privilege. Jamil Viper will be the servant for a powerful family, the Asim, whose own heir would attend school with him.
Thanks to Sebek, the one Skully knows the most about is Malleus Draconia, the crown prince of Briar Valley, land of the nocturnal fae. The boy's birth had been heralded with great fanfare, and Skully had noted the date for reference.
From observing these figures and tracking their progress, Skully knew the time was coming closer.
When he'd heard about the Draconia prince being born, Skully developed the habit of checking in on the NRC orientation every year. Those who knew about this assumed the Pumpkin King was feeling nostalgic, reminiscing about his own student days.
They were only partially right, but he saw no need to correct them.
Skully had arranged for his body to be entombed next to the Ramshackle Dorm, claiming sentiment to the school. In reality, he'd done it to make it easier to know once you arrived. He'd spent time navigating the bureaucracy, convincing the school's administration to allow this request.
Even for such an illustrious alumnus as the Pumpkin King, arranging that had been a difficult affair. The paperwork alone had taken years, and the negotiations with the school's board had been tedious. But it had paid off!
Skully had been waiting centuries, watching the comings and goings of students, waiting for the faces he recognized. And it's a good thing he'd been there!
He'd found you at the edge of the cliff, staring out at the horizon with a desolate expression that made his phantom heart ache. Pocketing your phone, you'd turned your eyes back toward the endless sky.
You're even worse off than he'd anticipated, poor dear! But it's okay now, Skully's here for you, even if it might take a while for you to realize just what that entailed.
–MC pov–
The first week at Night Raven College had been exhausting. Between the classes, the unfamiliar routines, and the constant vigilance required to avoid suspicion, you were running on fumes. But the nights were the worst. When the dorm fell silent and Grim's rumbling snores filled the room, the weight of your circumstances pressed down on you like a physical force.
You needed to move. To do something.
The Dark Mirror had agreed to help. It still didn't fully trust you, you could see it in the way it watched you, its surface rippling with barely concealed curiosity, but it had granted you passage to blot-rich areas. Your Gummiphone's new scanner module would be useless without proximity to the target, and proximity meant getting your hands dirty.
So you'd started sneaking out.
It was easier than you'd expected. The Ramshackle Dorm was practically abandoned, and the ghosts that haunted it were more interested in gossip than in monitoring your movements. There was one close call when you'd been returning from a scan and nearly ran into Professor Crewel, who was patrolling the campus for some reason. You'd ducked behind a pillar, heart pounding, and waited for the irritated-looking professor to pass.
Another time, one of the ghosts had floated through your room just as you were pulling on your shoes, having apparently just seen you go to bed with Grim. You'd been scrambling for an excuse when–
"Miss Yuu! A wonderful night for a walk, isn't it?"
Mr. Graves (“Oh please, call me Skully”, he insisted) appeared as if from nowhere, his skeletal form radiating an almost exaggerated friendliness. "I was about to tell the others about that fascinating rumor from the Netherworld. A Nachzehrer sighting in the eastern marshes. Very exciting stuff!"
"Oh?" The other ghost perked up. "Tell us more!"
"Perhaps we should take this conversation somewhere more comfortable," Skully suggested, already drifting toward the corridor. "I wouldn't want to disturb Miss Yuu's... walk."
And just like that, you were alone.
That was close, you thought, slipping out the window and making your way to the Dark Mirror. Skully's a lifesaver. Thank goodness he's not as nosey as the others.
Unaware, of course, that Skully had been listening to your calls for days now. He'd been there when your sister Addie's voice crackled through the speaker, half-laughing, half-sobbing, "You little idiot! Do you have any idea how many gray hairs you've given me?!"
He'd been there when the practical discussions began, when you and your comrades hashed out a plan to get you back home. Reconnecting Twisted Wonderland to the Lanes Between would be time-consuming, but the hard part was dealing with blot.
"The Multi-World Contamination Department is unlikely to ever sign off on a reconnection project," Yuuka explained apologetically, "until they can confirm that blot and phantoms won't become Heartless 2.0 and start spreading to other worlds."
And really, you got it. With the constant arms race between Light and Darkness, you couldn't afford to be careless with new variations. Disney World was literally made up of the remnants of worlds that were shattered by the forces of Darkness.
In subsequent calls, you started talking with the various tinkers of Disney World. It seemed your situation had become a hot topic, and there was no shortage of volunteers.
"We've put together an update for your Gummiphone," one said. "It'll let you scan blot and phantoms. If you can get that for us, we can analyze blot and work out a way to neutralize them."
"The only issue," another added, "is that the scanner doesn't work from very far away. You'll have to get close."
"So punching range, basically," you said flatly. The others on the line were contrite, but honestly, this was basically par for the course at this point.
By the end of the week, you'd gotten a few successful scans under your belt, though the encounters had been... eventful. The phantoms didn't go down as easily as Heartless, and you'd had to use your Keyblade in ways that left you winded and bruised.
Still, it’s progress.
The next day you go to class, a little tired but feeling content. Unfortunately that doesn't last long.
“Yeah, some lunatic broke into a quarantine zone–”
“–swear it looked just like a Keyblade from the legends.”
Awww shit.
“I thought Keyblades were like, a metaphor, or something.”
“–some pictures. They may be crazy, but the outfit is actually kinda cute. ”
Awww shit.
Okay, looks like we've got a new step on the agenda. Make a mask. Make several masks, cloaks, and maybe a wig just to be extra safe.
Whenever your conversations drift towards the quarantine break-ins you keep your head down, offering noncommittal hums and vague shrugs whenever someone brings it up. Inside, however, your sweating buckets.
Oh gosh this is so uncomfortable.
Did anyone see your face? Did they recognize you? Probably not, right? Someone would have approached you by now.
...Right?
By lunch, you've convinced yourself that everything is fine. Mostly fine. You just need to be more careful going forward, that's all.
It's almost a relief when Ace stormed into Ramshackle, a gleaming red collar fastened around his neck and murder in his eyes.
You blinked, poking at the collar. "Is this a real thing? Students can just... chain each other up?"
Ace turned his glare on you. "Yes, it's real. And it's not funny!"
"I'm not laughing." But you wanted to, just a tiny bit. Not at Ace exactly, but the absurdity of it all.
Still, Ace is your friend, and that Riddle guy is out of line. Both for the collar and kicking a freshman out of their dorms. It’d been a shock to bump into Ace on your way to the Mirror. Thankfully he'd been too incensed at the injustice of his predicament to really examine you, but it’d been a close call.
Actually, it's kind of nice, working on something that isn't study or blot related. You'll have to pause your vigilante activities for a night or two, but it shouldn't be too difficult getting this all sorted out.
Besides, dark-heart or not, these people are basically civilians. How much trouble could one housewarden be?
I also got the idea to include some hints of Swing spying on everyone in Halloween Town but this chapter has been cooking for so long so please just imagine he's lurking in the background.
Yandere Trey and how he’s ever so keen to have you rely on him.
Tw: yandere, Trey’s a little silly with his unique magic
Perhaps it’s his brotherly instinct speaking, but Trey wants you to go to him first whenever you have a problem. He wants to be the one to help you, to comfort you. He wants to be the one you chose, always and forever.
So he’s rather fond of… engineering little scenarios for you. Gently guiding you into tight little spots on your life, just to watch you fumble and struggle. It’s cute, the way you just seem to keep trying.
Like a stubborn little puppy, running into the same glass door again and again, not comprehending that the situations not going to change unless someone else decides to help you.
Trey can’t say he doesn’t adore that part of you, though.
It starts off small. Trey just changes little things in your life. Putting things in the Heartsabyul kitchen just a shelf too high for you to reach, so you have to come to him sheepishly and ask him to help you out.
Oh, he doesn’t mind too much,sweetheart.
Just say the word.
Although instead of picking up the things for you, Trey’s rather more fond of snaking his arm around your waist, lifting you up single-handedly. Copping a feel of your thighs, your waist, your hips in the process as well.
He’s discreet about it though… laughing off your worries, telling you he’s just trying to get a better grip on you. He doesn’t want you to fall down and hurt yourself, y’know?
But if you do, you know who to look for, don’t you? Trey’s rather used to bandaging up the young scamps of Heartsabyul, so he doesn’t mind helping you out once in a while.
You’ll come straight to him whenever there’s a problem, wouldn’t you? Trey’s just so… worried about you, after all. The students in Night Raven College can get so… rowdy, after all.
But you know he’s always here for you, right?
Please keep coming back to him, darling. Or at least appear to. If Trey ever sees you asking someone else for something he’s perfectly capable of doing for you… well, he won’t take it too well. Of course, you’ll never notice Trey’s gentle smile waver, or any change in his manner towards you.
Although that particular student you went running to might suffer a particularly bad poisoning accident.
Doodle Suit is such a wonderful spell, isn’t it? It can make certain …. chemicals taste just like the freshly whipped cream of a cake. Of course, not like Trey has ever tried to do anything of that sort.
Why would he? He’s just a friendly, upstanding upperclassman. No one would ever suspect him.
Must have been the cafeteria food, hm? Maybe you should avoid eating there for now. Perhaps you’ll like to have lunch with Trey in the Heartsabyul dorm? He’s pretty much the only one in the kitchen most of the time, and at least you’ll get to see what exactly is going into your food then.
Nothing but the freshest ingredients and his love for you.
Warning: Yandere stuff mentioned , gn reader, English is not my first language.
Notes: Okay I know I have many other au in waiting but I just liked the idea and write this instead. I hope you like it . Please share your thoughts with me.
Summary: One day, you opened your eyes and found yourself in Twisted Wonderland. And the task the System gave you is to get one of the lead characters love meter to 100% by the end of the main story and reach their happy ending.
Parts : rules , 2 , 3 , 4
You slowly opened your eyes to the sounds of the voices. It was dark… and it sounded like someone was punching to something ? You opened your mouth to speak but couldn’t. As you tried to understand what was happening, a screen and two options appeared in front of you:
> What’s that noise?
> Is it morning already?
You clicked on one of the random options.
“I better hurry up and find that uniform before someone spots me… Urgggh… this lid weighs a ton!”
Who was talking like that?
“Try this on for size! Mya-ha!”
Suddenly, blue flames spread everywhere. You wanted to scream but you couldn’t even move, let alone talk. Two options appeared in front of you again.
> BWAAAH?!
> F- fire?!
What were these options? You clicked on a random option.
“Now to grab the goods… What?! You ain’t supposed to be awake!”
When you opened your eyes, a talking cat? And a strange room? But for a second, something seemed familiar…
Two options appeared in front of you again:
> A talking… weasel?!
> F-floating coffins?!
You clicked the first option. With your click, words without consent came out of your mouth again.
“How… How DARE YOU! I am no WEASEL! I’m Grim , sorcerer extraordinaire!”
The cat shouted? But wait a minute Grim? Now when you look carefully, this room, these scenes were just like the game you played, Twisted Wonderland.
“Tch. Whatever. You…human! Just gimme your uniform, and be quick about it! Cause if you don’t…you’re gonna regret it!”
Two options appeared in front of you again:
> S-somebody help!
> Getting roasted alive by a weasel!? What will I dream next ?
You clicked on one of the options on the screen and your legs started running on their own… when you finally stopped, two options appeared again on the screen that you thought was invisible to everyone except you (Grim never talked about the screen, that's why you came to this conclusion).
> Where am I?
> If this is a dream, I'm ready to wake up now.
When you clicked on one of the options, Grim's voice came from behind you.
"Foolish human! Did you really think you could slip away from ME? Now unless you wanna get burned to a crisp,take off that- Me-YEOW! That hurt!what gives?"
Just like in the prologue of the game, the man you thought was Crowley came. You weren't listening to Crowley while he was saying something. You were trying to understand the strangeness of the events. Everything seemed real, as if it couldn't be a dream, but you weren't in control of your body… Two options appeared on the screen that you thought was invisible again:
> Student…?
> Gate…?
You clicked on one of the options. Then Crowley gave you the explanations you know. And two options appeared on the screen again:
> So those coffins are like…gateways?
> I think something blew the lid of mine.
You quickly clicked an option. Apparently this screen was only visible to you. The man you thought was Crowley had never talked about this screen… Two options appeared on the screen again and you clicked the option you chose… Crowley’s answer confirmed your guess. You were in Twisted Wonderland?..
The screen appeared in front of you again.
….
The movement restrictions have been lifted. You have regained your ability to speak and move. Now you can talk and move as you wish.
….
Y/N L/N Welcome to Twisted Wonderland.
Main quest: Reach your happy ending with your true love before the main story ends.
Track the love meters of the protagonists to find out their love for you, and increase their love meters to 100%. Reach your happy ending before the main story ends.
Time limit: End of the main story
Punishment: Death
Reward: ???
….
You opened your mouth, you could move! But wait a minute, is everything real then? As you recall, Twisted Wonderland wasn't an Otome game. But if everything was real... what would you do?
Heartslabyul
Riddle Rosehearts
Red-haired, tough and disciplined Heartslabyul dorm leader. If you follow his route, you will start at zero, but with the end of the prologue and the start of Book 1, his interest in you will drop to minus due to your friends Ace, Deuce and Grimm. Especially if you argue with him one-on-one, his love percentage, which is already at minus, will drop even more.
But don't worry, Riddle, who feels ashamed and regretful for what he made you go through after the overblot he experienced at the end of the first book, can increase his love percentage from minus to zero or even plus.
It will be easier to approach Riddle after the overblot incident. Especially after the overblot he experienced, while people stay away from him, your being by his side will fuel his love for you. So you can expect sudden increases in his love meter.
He likes to have tea with you, attend unbirthday parties and have study dates. Especially when you ask him to explain a question you are stuck on, he literally melts when you approach him while he is explaining the question to you. He will have difficulty of maintaining his facial expressions and tone of his voice.
However, there is one thing you should pay attention to. That is Riddle's controlling personality. Although he is fine in normal mode, the same cannot be said for dark mode. For this reason, you should be careful in your choices. Although some choices increase Riddle's love level, they can put him in dark mode.
In dark mode, Riddle initially isolates you from your friends under the excuse of studying without you noticing, then this progresses and before you know it, he even chooses the tea you drink. He controls your entire life. In dark mode, Riddle does not want you to be interested in anyone other than himself or be friends. Everyone is a potential threat to him. If you do not stop him in time, he can go as far as imprisoning you in his own room.
Trey Clover
Tall, kind and helpful, the vice dorm leader of heartslabyul. If you are following the Trey route, I recommend that you do not expect a sudden increase in Trey's love meter, unlike Riddle. Although Trey is affectionate and gentle, you can raise the love meter very slowly, and after a while, you may not be able to raise it at all.
Trey usually likes to help you with your studies and bake with you. However, he swears that your baking dates will be the end of him. When you giggle and wipe his face when he get flour on his face, when you lick your finger to taste the cream, or when you feed him something with your own hands, his heart beats so fast that he swears he will have a heart attack.
But he always reminds himself to control himself. He is your reliable, gentle, and loving senpai. He scolds himself for thinking such things about you. Because of this, your relationship progresses a little slowly.
Although Trey is a sweet, affectionate, and calm person, some of your choices and words can put him in dark mode.
It is very difficult to distinguish the difference between Trey in dark mode and Trey in normal mode. He never shows anything, he is always smiling, calm, and affectionate... This is what makes him dangerous. He manipulates you without you even realizing it. Going out with friends? Oh, Trey bought you tickets to the movies you wanted to go to, but if you don't want to go, you can go out with your friends. Did you make a new friend and are you spending "too much" time with them? Trey heard some nasty gossip about them... It was all your choice. Trey didn't force you to do anything.
Cater Diamond
Bright, social butterfly, 3rd year heartslabyul student Cater Diamond. If you follow Cater's route, it won't be hard to meet him, but it won't be easy to get close to him. Although Cater seems like a cheerful, relaxed, fun and friendly person, it won't be easy to pass through his walls. If you remember the fine details about his from the scenes you played in the game before and use this information to get close to him, it can be easier to get close to him.
You usually go on Cafe dates with Cater. And whenever you go out, Cater doesn't forget to take dozens of photos. Every time he takes a photo of you, he tells you how sweet and cute you look. He also doesn't forget to upload the photos he takes to magicam, after all, everyone should know how compatible a couple you are, right? Additional information: Cater loves to wear matching couple clothes with you. You can see that Cater's love meter increases especially when you wear matching clothes on dates.
Appearing closer to others or not revealing your relationship, hiding it or making small mistakes will cause Cater to have doubts and once the seeds of doubt are planted, it is hard to turn back. In dark mode, Cater does not show anything, just like Trey. He just smiles… With his social skills, it will not be difficult for Cater to isolate you. You see, rumors about you are everywhere and you have nothing to do but cry on Cater's shoulder. Because of the rumors, no one talks to you anymore and you are becoming more and more lonely. But don't worry, your prince charming Cater believes in you and is by your side.
Ace Trapolla
Ace Trappola, a mischievous first-year student of Heartslabyul. The first person you meet, although your first meeting was not that good, you quickly became close friends, just like in the game. Since you are close friends and in the same class, it is not very difficult to get close to Ace and increase his love meter since you spend most of your time together. The only problem is that he and Grimm are always causing you trouble and Ace is annoying.
You usually go out with Ace to cafes or on study dates. Even though Ace doesn't like studying, he likes it when you get close to him while explaining topics or explaining solutions to problems or when he watches you study. Why else would he go on a study date with you? Another activity Ace likes is when you watch him practice basketball, after all he wants you to see how cool he is. Ace also likes movie night and playing cards at the Ramshackle dorm and he visits the Ramshackle dorm often. He loves the way you get angry when you lose in every game, especially when you catch him cheating.
Now let's talk about Ace's jealousy problem. If you are not careful and neglect him, it can put Ace in dark mode. In dark mode, Ace reveals himself a little. His jokes and words are especially focused on breaking your self-confidence. However, he tries not to show it. He doesn't give you a chance to spend time with others and starts to show possessive behavior. He doesn't let you question him. He manipulates you into thinking you are inadequate and that he should be your only concern.
Your only concern should be Ace, after all, you should be thankful to him for being with a weak, magicless person like you.
Deuce Spade
Deuce Spade, a first-year student of Heartslabyul who helps you in every way, and who gets into more trouble as he tries to stay out of trouble. If you are following the Deuce Route, it won't be very difficult for you to get close to him. As in the story line, you meet in the prologue section. Since you are in the same class, you have the opportunity to get very close to him.
You usually make him study in your free time. You try to help him with the subjects he has difficulty with. Honestly , Deuce is as grateful as he is embarrassed about this. Spending your valuable time with him makes him feel special.
When you find out about his not-so-pleasant past that he hides, comforting him and encouraging him on his path to becoming an honor student increases his love meter a lot.
It's not easy to get into the dark mode Deuce route so don't worry. However, if you do get into dark mode Deuce will become more Clingy than usual. He's always afraid that you might leave him. If he sees you close to someone else he might get into a fist fight with that person when you're not around. But please don't leave him, you're his everything!
Finding Out About the Prefect Club | Yandere Twisted Wonderland
Throughout you time in Twisted Wonderland, you are identified to be the first for a lot of things. The first non-magical person brought by the mirror, the first to witness and help end overblots on campus, the first to initiate the idea of teamwork (according to Crowley). It wouldn’t be a surprise that you are also one of the first students in NRC to continue being nice even when your fellow students are unruly and conniving. Such kindness in the midst of such a terribly misbehaved student body is sure to stand out and attract some attention. And while you surely have the dormleaders and their friends eating out of your hands, too bad the whole school practically is too:
Riddle Rosehearts
Finds out about it after attempting to return something to you
In a shared class you seemed to have left behind decorated pencil of yours in favor of chasing Grim
While debating if he should return it to you immediately or take a detour to his room
Another student has swiped it before him
He’s about to berate them
Scold them for their behavior but he stops
They are….sniffing it…intensely
He’s kind of jealous
Then he watches them sigh and put a glove on their hand before carefully putting it in a bag
He carefully follows after the student who slinks around until he’s in a hidden catacomb of the school
It’s filled with students in masks in their ceremonial garbs
“I’ve recovered a remnant!”
The cheers hurt his ears
But he stays for the whole ceremony as they carry on normally
“And this picture is when they tripped on the trash those heathens left.”
“Disgraceful! We should hex them!”
“But they look so cute on the floor like that~”
“I know right~?”
Riddle decides that he should attend the next meeting as well
So he swipes the pin and covertly keeps it in his chest pocket
“Some one has to monitor them…it’s only right it’d be a dorm leader such as I.”
He’ll never admit he’s happy someone is bold enough to invade your privacy for him
If you ever find out he'll just expose them to you
Leona Kingscholar
Hears about it while pretending to nap somewhere
It angers him that the members of the dorm are slacking
But he doesn’t interrupt because of his curiosity
“--omeone recovered one of the prefects jackets!”
“Seriously?! Are they letting just anyone touch it?”
“No way! Apparently their putting it on display in the—”
He finds a way to sneak in on one of the ceremony
Stifling his laughter when the students all dance to a recording of your off-tune singing
“Do they really think they stand a chance at getting my herbivore?”
He’s so amused
So amused that when they excitedly recount how you brushed up against some of them
He knows he can do so much better
“Oi (Y/n).”
“Yes?”
“C’mere.”
“Uh Leona? Why are you hugging me?”
“You said you’d help your friends in need right? I need a pillow, so quit struggling.”
Idia Shroud
Practically takes over the club
Probably a distributor that eventually is exalted as the (Y/n) expert
Sharing just a wink of the info, pictures, and souvenirs he gets from you
“Hahhaha you have so much to learn about the prefect before you even come close to my level.”
“Please! Sensei, teach us!”
“Only you hold the greatest gems from the beloved prefect!”
“That’s right!”
It’s like those discord chats that are just about everyone gushing about an anime or game
He may even attend physically with a mask of course as he gushes about the latest quirk he discovered of yours
Of course he’s not going to share everything
But it’s nice to share your interest
And know that you’re not alone
“We can’t forever silence the over-touchy interlopers (Y/n) will only favor them more. Do not forget their compassionate actions towards each of us. In turn there are plenty of ways to punish them!”
“Yeah!”
He also has the prime sources to hear about anyone trying to make a move on you that he can’t directly monitor
“Looks like Ortho is paying this student a…little visit.”
Could you do yandere malleus x fem reader with Narcolepsy.
Perfect match I'd say lol
Rated Lime
»»———————— ♡ ————————««
♡ What a pleasure it is to have you always cuddled up to him, his arms holding you steady on his lap or carrying you around places with him. You're like a stuffed animal, just way cuter, warmer, and more beloved than any other pet Malleus could have, your humanness serving him well if he needs to explain why he is bringing you around meetings and if you are the reason he's late. "Shh, my human is sleeping" or "She's just human. I can't leave her to fend on her own" are his favorite excuses. But Malleus doesn't care about the mean comments of others when he has you dozing in his arms, once again too tired to hear them either.
♡ He knows you can't help getting extremely tired ever so often, even just over tea. So he keeps you from going on extensive activities by yourself, preferably accompanying you himself or giving you into the trusted hands of his retainers. In a way, you resemble Silver in his sleepiness, and Malleus never quite minded him either. You are better, of course, a sight for sore eyes with your soft resting expression. The drowsy eyes and puffy face all scrunched up against his chest. And when you do the cute little thing where you grip his hand or clothes after he tugged you into bed, you can make this strong, noble fae swoon like nothing else in the world; dramatically sinking to the ground next to you and waiting for you to release his wildly throbbing heart from your beautifully persistent clutches.
♡ Malleus will spend hours sitting by your bedside, reading while petting your head. He could throw you around like a doll, but he is always gentle while you sleep peacefully. He just shifts you with his magic to make space for him, either to spoon or put your head in his lap instead. Who cares if you can't take a full walk through the Valley when you look so cute resting on a blanket between the flowers? You could pass off as a fairy yourself, and it makes his heart jump excitedly to think about how well you fit in with the surroundings that other people claim are his. Just like you ♥
♡ There are, of course, the occasional annoyances, like when someone tells him, you should get treated for your sleepiness since it's not healthy for you. How can it not be healthy when you look as cute as an angel whenever you have to stop an argument because you feel drowsy? What better could there be, sitting on his throne with your consistent breaths against his neck while he tends to his duties? You're not sick. This is heaven.
♡ Nonetheless, he'll get furious if people insist he puts you down or in your room while Malleus gets his well-earned sleepy cuddles from you. Takes a few changes in his staff until everybody knows there is no arguing about whether you should be attending his meetings or not. He's known to pluck out the eyes of others lusting over your innocently sleeping form, and some hands were shed when individuals joked about helping his darling out. Malleus doesn't take kindly to implications of others doing the things that only he gets to do.
♡ That said, you can't even remember the number of tears you shed over waking up, your body bruised, bitten, hickied, and either bare like the day you were born or clothed in fabrics you didn't even know Malleus owned. Perhaps it's better that you don't remember all the things Malleus does with you unless he wakes you which, to him, is just as pleasant as when you stay quiet and unresponsive while he enhances your dreams to the best of his ability.
description :: ace has been acting rather odd lately.
word count :: 1284
pairing :: galewings (ace x mari)
notes :: inspired by @twstedforyou ‘s yokai au !! please check their awesome art out and give their blog a follow for great content. their yokai ace made me wanna start a fic series. i hope my writing did their art some justice.
Mari has experienced quite a number of strange days. So much so that she lost count how many of them she’s had. So much so that it’s practically the norm for her. However, she can’t help but feel that Ace has been acting quite odd. What used to be very occasional flirting as a joke turned into full on doting on her. The entire day he’s been asking her about her health and how she felt. Then he’s even given her homemade meals during lunch. Not only that, but something else was off about him. It was like his aura was different. The glint in his eye still had the same mischief she knew in her dear friend, but there was something else. Something she wasn’t familiar with.
She thought all this as they walked through the halls, side by side. Professor Crewel had tasked her with carrying some ingredients from the Botanical Garden and Ace kindly offered to help her with it. The sounds of their footsteps clicked against the ground. The halls were empty that day, the rest of the students had likely been in their classes.
But then, she stopped. And so did he.
“Ace?”
He turned to her in question. “Hm?” He hummed nonchalantly, as if everything was normal.
Chocolate brown eyes met ruby ones. Their gazes were locked on each other. “You’ve been awfully nice to me the whole day. Do you need something?” She asked.
His expression contorted into one of slight annoyance. “Are you saying that I’m not always nice?” He placed his hands on his hips.
Mari tilted her head. “Well… Not to this extent,” she answered, blunt as ever, “I didn’t even know you could cook so well until now. You never really just do these sort of things for no reason so I was curious.”
He made a face that seemed like he was hurt. “Geez, you make me sound like a real asshole. I just felt like doing it, y’know?”
“I’m sorry…” She mumbled, feeling guilty that she expected something bad from him. Her form shrunk down in shame.
Ace shook his head, placing one arm on the small of her back. “Anyway, we should get going before the professor gets mad at us.”
Mari nodded in agreement, eyes glancing down at his hand on her back with curiosity. But she looked back up at his crimson eyes. “You’re probably right.”
They went on their way to the laboratory.
Ace sighed as he walked towards his dorm. “Nothing gets past you, huh…?” He mumbled, remembering how she looked at him with her doe-like eyes. How he missed having her gaze at him.
And him only.
It was a close call. She nearly found him out. It was fortunate that he could talk his way out of it. The kitsune worried about how gullible she could be sometimes. But perhaps… She just trusted this version of him more to just take his word for it.
He looked down, realizing only now that he was clenching his fists. His knuckles had already turned white from how tight it was.
It took him so long just to see her again. He refused to let her go this time.
Instead of going to his room, he made his way to the rose maze. Once he reached a spot that was secluded, he knelt down and touched the grass with his right hand. Striking red marks formed the area around his hand, glowing brightly. It formed a sigil before the ground faded. A pathway laid in front of him, a stairway leading down to an abyss.
His footsteps echoed against the walls as he descended.
The kitsune saw his other, inferior, version still laying on the ground, bound by the magic he placed on him. He tsked at the pathetic sight.
“What does she see in you?” He asked, “Clearly she knows and trusts you.”
His counterpart looked up at him with utter confusion on his face, not understanding what was going on.
Ace glared at him, hatred burning in his ruby irises. “So what is it? Your heart? Your looks?” He pressed his foot against his chest.
“Clearly you don’t treat her better than I do if she was so surprised to see me treat her so nicely.”
“So why… why did you get to stay with her?” His form trembled, but he tried to keep his composure.
When this world’s Ace didn’t answer, he tsked once more. His lips pulled into a snarl. “And you don’t even know anything, do you?” He pressed his hand to his face, feeling that he was trembling. “You’re just some insolent brat who doesn’t understand. Why do I bother with you?”
His crimson gaze flickered to him once more. Then, it was as if a lightbulb came to life in his mind. A sick grin crept onto his face. A helpless anger simmered in him.
“If I just got rid of you, I could be with her forever.” A deranged glint flared up in his eyes. Sharp claws sprouted from his fingertips as he neared him. With each step he took, a new tail appeared from behind him until there were five of them. “That sounds like a great idea!”
The boy looked at him in horror, trying to rack his brain for any bright ideas to escape. However, it proved fruitless as it was difficult to think when someone was coming to murder you.
He flinched when the kitsune Ace lunged at him, bracing for the pain.
Only for it to never come. He cracked one eye open to see some sort of forcefield that was blocking him from harm. It glowed a bright ruby hue, it was especially prominent around the kitsune’s claws. The expression on his face told him that he was just as confused as he was.
“What the hell are you doing?!” A familiar voice to both of them had cried out from behind.
The two of them turned to see Deuce rushing in with a glare directed at his friend. A pair of navy blue wings on his back, feathers ruffled.
“Deuce?! How did you follow me here?” Ace stared at him, bug-eyed.
“You left the gate open, idiot,” he replied, walking towards him. “Now everyone is coming to find our Master.”
“Tch, just when I thought things couldn’t get worse. I can’t even get rid of this guy.” He jerked his head to his counterpart, still tied up and speechless.
And it was Deuce’s turn to look at him with bulging eyes, appalled by what he had just heard. “You tried to kill him?! How do you think Mari would feel?” He grabbed at his sleeve with a firm grip.
Ace smirked for a moment. “What she won’t know won’t hurt her. I wanted to just take his place,” Then he sighed, eyelids fluttering shut. “But that plan failed immediately.”
Deuce glanced at the other version of his friend. “What do we do with him now?” He asked.
He ran his hand through his hair, feeling each and every strand. “I’m gonna need to go back to the dorm before the dorm leader gets angry. Even the Riddle in this universe is real strict. You should watch over him for a bit.”
“What? Ace, I can’t just-”
“The other Deuce is probably still out there, dumbass. If you let yourself get seen by him without some plan, we’re gonna blow our cover.”
Deuce shut his mouth, sighing instead. The kitsune left after his statement, leaving it up to him to watch over his counterpart. He turned to him, wondering what he’s gotten himself into now—
See i know I'm a piece of shit nowadays because a new anime comes out,
anime: hey so there's this lady knight and she's really powerful and smart but she's a social outcast despite being a hero for her country and then, this barbarian king they're at war with defeats her in battle and in his culture that means he gets to propose to her and he's not really giving her a choice
me: is it toxic
anime: oh no no it's actually quite wholesome and it's really funny but despite being a bearded dilf with white hair he's also somehow younger than her and it's actually really sweet and funny how much he genuinely likes--
me: I dont want it
anime: what?
me: it's not toxic enough. I dont want it. She should have to beat respect into him like a fucking dog. She should have to freeze him out and not even look in his general direction until he's whimpering for her attention like a fucking puppy. I want her throwing his presents away and doing petty shit on his birthday and celebrations important to him. She should have to break down his pride until he's on his hands and knees worshipping at the altar of her divine feminine and shoveling dirt into his own mouth just to see if it would make her smile while everyone is too scared to ever fuck with her because if she doesnt beat the shit out of them HE will tear them apart like an attack dog just to get a little approval
anime:
me: like where's the fucking drama. There's no seasoning on this
I wanted to post sooner but unfortunately I’m a meat creature subjected to the whims of my environment.
But anyway, here's an update to my previous take on SAGAU. I never really liked just slapping on the title Creator and calling it a day, but a lot of the game’s updates since my first attempt at combining sagau with canon make my first take massively off base.
Everything up until –The Hallowed Plan– is less AU and more my attempt to make sense of canon Teyvat’s history based on the crumbs of lore found in the game.
Some Notes:
The reader's role is named Basileus, a title associated with divine right and religious leadership.
After the War of Vengeance the Heavenly Principles/Primordial One/Phanes lost a lot of their power and could no longer maintain their authority, so they triggered the archon war, created the divine thrones housing the dragon authorities in celestial and gave the gnosis as conduits to the thrones to the Archons (as stated by Venti all the way back in the prologue).
Elemental authority being delegated to the archons and visions, which somewhat fixed the damage caused by the war of funerary flames, but didn’t fix the root issue.
Primordial one meant to activate the Basileus process after he wakes up, but When the travelers crashed into Teyvat they accidentally triggered the mechanism to activate the Basileus.
Meta-wise she is the genshin equivalent to Herrscher of Origin from Hi3. Like how Elysia gave the next set of Herscher the freedom to overcome the will of Honkai and side with humanity, Basileus’s ultimate power allows the people of Teyvat to grow past their limits. She can free the Hilichurl from the control of Abyss Order and while she can't restore their memories or turn them back to human, she can remove their curse of wildness.
Basileus Powers: Healing. Purification of abyssal corruption and forbidden knowledge. Enhancement of Elemental Energy. Empowering herself and others based on the strength of their Bonds (participants become stronger, faster, more durable, etc). Enhanced durability, health, strength, and senses that are equivalent to a Herrscher from Hi3. Flight. Sub-Space Creation to create and shape realms like the adepti’s abodes and relic domains. Can manifest phantom copies of her regents to fight for her.
The Primordial One made four “Shining Shades” of themself at the beginning of their conquest of Teyvat. Each Shade governs a foundational system of the world. Istaroth is the Shade of Time, Naberius the Shade of Life, Ronova the Shade of Death, and Asmoday the Shade of Space. Each possesses absolute authority over their domain.
Below the Shades are the angels, created by the Heavenly Principles as Celestia’s envoys to humanity. They bore pale silver wings and once wore crowns composed of seven colors so radiant that mortals couldn’t gaze upon them directly. Angels were commanded from birth to love all living beings equally. They taught early humanity language and the philosophies of nature, delivered oracles, and helped mortals contextualize fate.
The Basileus differs from both.
Unlike the Shades, she doesn’t embody a cosmic constant, and unlike the angels, she isn’t an impartial guide or distant oracle.
Phanes intended for you to be a spiritual leader for humanity and command Teyvats champions against the abyss and his other enemies.
Phanes and Celestia seem driven by a primary goal of creating and protecting humanity. Pretty much all the atrocities they've committed can be interpreted as an effort to nurture and protect humanity. Conquering the dragons provided a place to seed humanity. Nuking the land with Celestial Nails was to purify Abyssal corruption that threatened humanity. Khaenri'ah was destroyed after it tried to flood the world with the abyss.
In the beginning, humanity even had a hotline to the Primordial One, by way of the Angels who acted as intermediaries. While most Angels are now Seelies, the Lord of the Night loves humans and dedicated herself to their service. This was likely a common attitude among Angels, as even the degenerate Seelies aid and guide humans as best they're able.
Basically, the Primordial One and its servants seem hellbent on protecting humanity, and are willing to do ruthless things to ensure that humanity survives, even if that means tormenting parts of humanity that threaten the whole.
In this AU, along with trying to harness the power of the Abyss and the Crimson Moon, Khaenri'ah was deliberately trying to summon the Basileus. The plan to steal the Basileus started with the Crimson Moon Dynasty as part of their program to kidnap and groom lifeforms from beyond Teyvat, hoping that one such child would have the power to transcend the gods. This program continued under the Eclipse Dynasty, and found some success in the form of Lumine (my account’s abyss twin).
….
Timeline and Worldbuilding:
–The Pre-Human World (The Sovereign Era)–
Before the arrival of humanity, Teyvat existed under the rule of the seven sovereign dragon-lords. Their authority came from their connection to the world’s elemental energies. Each Sovereign embodied an aspect of Teyvat’s elemental powers, and stability was maintained thanks to their efforts.
It’s during this era that Seutervoinen, a voyager from the sea of stars, first becomes aware of Teyvat. Bound by her role as a scribe and observer, her consciousness travels the cosmos while her body remains dormant in a distant celestial construct. Across countless civilizations, she records the rise and extinction of peoples fated to perish, never intervening in their development. Teyvat distinguished itself from all others by the will of the dragon king Nibelung, whose presence burns brighter than any civilization she has witnessed. Moved by both wonder and sorrow, Seutervoinen warns Nibelung of the world’s eventual end and invites him to journey beyond the stars. Nibelung refuses, instead asking her to return one day to witness the path his people will take.
Many years later, after dragon-kind had advanced sufficiently, Nibelung decided to leave Teyvat and search for his scribe friend.The king created the Three Moons to govern the world and its cycles in his absence. All three sisters were granted the authority to rule and control the eternal laws of the world, but mutually agreed to equally divide a portion of each domain's power among themselves to avoid any one sister becoming too powerful.
–Arrival of the Primordial One (First Throne)–
The arrival of the Primordial One (aka The Heavenly Principles aka Phanes) marks the first disruption to Teyvat’s natural order. They descended from the sea of stars (and as such are named the First Descender) carrying authority that exists independent of Teyvat’s original systems. Initially received peacefully as guests by the Moon Sisters, the First Descender quickly began to impose new rules upon the world. Though the Moon Sisters choose to observe rather than immediately resist, perhaps hoping the new order might benefit Teyvat, the balance of power rapidly shifts. Two of the sisters, Aria and Canon, were intrigued by the Primordial One, but the third, Sonnet, was distrustful.
The Primordial One determined that his plans couldn’t be fulfilled so long as the dragons ruled, so they set about conquering Teyvat and unseating its ruling species. To this end, the Primordial One creates four extensions of themself, known as the Four Shades or Four Great Rulers. These entities function as embodiments and administrators of divine law, acting as envoys and arbiters beneath the Primordial One’s supreme authority. Together, the Primordial One and the Four Shades wage war against the Seven Sovereigns, ultimately defeating them and stealing their elemental Authorities.
In the aftermath of this victory, the Primordial One begins remaking the world. The heavens and earth are reshaped to suit a new design, one explicitly centered on humanity. One of the most significant alterations is the creation of the firmament, known to some as the False Sky, which seals Teyvat off from the sea of stars and isolates it from the greater cosmos.
Too late to help the dragons and too weak to oppose the invaders, the Moon Sisters entered a fragile peace with the Heavenly Principles where they were permitted to continue maintaining Teyvat so long as they didn’t interfere with the Heavenly Principles’ designs.
With the planet secured the Heavenly Principles goes about seeding humanity across the world and begins implementing The Heavenly Principle’s sacred plan for humanity. This era would come to be known as the "Ark's Opening."
–The Second Descender and the War of Funerary Flame–
The second great disruption to Teyvat’s imposed order came about as a result of a visit from an old friend. Seutervoinen returns to Teyvat, expecting to find Nibelung but instead meeting with a world bound by unfamiliar laws.
Choosing not to confront the new ruler directly, she conceals herself by projecting her consciousness into the body of a youth in the Golden City of Hyperborea. There, she observes humanity chafing against divine authority, particularly as the Angels condemn the pursuit of knowledge as heresy. Disguised among the people, Seutervoinen publicly dismantles the priests’ arguments regarding sin and obedience, exposing the contradictions at the heart of the imposed order. Her defiance leads her beneath the Irminsul tree, where she meets Koitar, the First Angel and progenitor of the Seelie. By revealing the true origins of Teyvat and her own nature as a voyager from beyond the False Sky, Seutervoinen shatters Koitar’s crown and frees her from the mental bindings imposed by the Heavenly Principles. The two form a bond and swear rebellion against the Heavenly Principles. This act of defiance is witnessed by the Three Moon Goddesses, and within a month the world is plunged into catastrophe.
At some point during his travels Nibelung became aware of the Primordial One’s conquest of Teyvat and, seeking to free dragonkind, the king resorted to drastic measures. Returning as the second descender, the king brought with him Forbidden Knowledge taken from the abyss. He believed he could harness its corrosive might against the Primordial One. Despite the ruinous nature of Nibelung’s new power, dragons flocked to their king’s banner launching a war of vengeance that would later become known as the war of the funerary flame.
During the war Nibelung requested assistance from his creations, the Three Moons. The goddesses, horrified by the Primordial One’s cruelty, were already preparing to resist him, but were concerned about the corruptive nature of their creator's new power. The sisters were caught between two annihilating forces and they argued over whether to ally with Nibelung or remain neutral to prevent total destruction by the Abyss he brought.
Judging their hesitation as betrayal, Nibelung imprisons all three within the Moon’s Reflection and turns their moons into weapons. Viewing this as a violation of their pact, the Heavenly Principles destroy two of the moons outright and cast the third beyond the False Sky, severing the sisters from the world and dooming their purpose.
Throughout the war, the Heavenly Principles deploy Celestial Nails to purge Abyssal corruption and crush draconic resistance, obliterating civilizations such as Hyperborea and permanently scarring the land wherever the Nails fall.
Koitar and Seutervoinen attempted to flee but the Primordial One was inescapable. Their memories are erased and Koitar is sealed away while the Angels were cursed to wither into Seelies.
Ultimately, the Heavenly Principles emerged victorious, however, the victory came at a cost. The war left them gravely injured, and their ability to fully manage the world was compromised.
–Emergency Actions: Gnoses and Visions–
In the long aftermath of the war of vengeance, Teyvat entered an era of calm. The cataclysmic forces that had torn the world apart were finally receding, leaving behind a traumatized but still living world. Civilizations rose around the ruins left by Celestial Nails, the Abyss was driven underground, and the dragon Sovereigns were broken, scattered, or reduced to dormant remnants. To mortal observers, this appeared to be peace, but truthfully Celestia was scrambling.
The Heavenly Principles had won the war, but victory had been costly. Nibelung’s use of Forbidden Knowledge caused extreme damage and the Heavenly Principle’s power, their authority, was at its limits. Attempts to exert their authority the way they used to risked tearing open wounds that had only just sealed.
The Primordial One was forced to come up with a new plan, eventually landing on the Gnoses system, a delegation of elemental authority to worthy representatives of Celestia’s will. Gnosis bearers, Archons, would take on the role of angels in spreading Celestia's message.
Gnoses were created from the remains of the Third Descender, Saarelainen, and the stolen elemental authority from the Dragon Sovereigns. A Descender, by definition, exists outside Teyvat’s closed system and isn't bound by the False Sky. Their essence is therefore uniquely suited to interfacing between Celestia’s diminished authority and the world’s original order.
By dismantling the Third Descender and combining their remains with the world's elemental authority into seven discrete cores, the Heavenly Principles achieved three major objectives at once.
First, it kept the elemental authority of the dragons trapped to Celestia. Celestia could no longer bear to contain all of the Dragon Sovereigns’s elemental power, but they were unwilling to risk it falling into enemy hands. The solution was to trap the power of the Dragon Sovereigns within the Divine Thrones, which themselves were tied to their respective Gnosis. By the Heavenly Principles design, so long as the Archons existed the dragons could never reclaim their former power.
Second, they created power nodes that could operate independent of Celestia’s direct oversight while still being bound to their will. Instead of Celestia having to enforce order everywhere at once, the Archons would now maintain their regions to Celestia’s standards.
Third, since these nodes were made of Teyvat's own elemental powers, they weren’t as damaging as Celestial Nails, which descended violently from above. Since the power was being exerted through the Archons, beings native to Teyvat, they could mediate between imposed law and natural order without as much collateral damage.
All that was left to do was to decide who would be trusted with this power.
The Archon War didn’t begin immediately after the war of the funerary flame. Despite the power vacuum left by the annihilation of the dragons, powerful beings, both old and new, were wary of attracting the attention of their divine overlords. When Celestia failed to strike down warlords who set up their own domains, others became emboldened to impose their own ambitions upon their surroundings.
Celestia could predict the oncoming chaos and decided to co-opt it for their own project. In celestial opinion mass conflict was inevitable. Rather than allowing rogue actors to collide chaotically, Celestia forced a competition for seven "legitimate" thrones.
Of course not all participants sought a divine seat. Many were just trying to survive, and fought defensively in an attempt to keep their followers safe, but Celestia didn't care.
By the war’s end, seven victors reigned supreme. Whether they actually wanted their new thrones didn't matter. What mattered was that they could serve without collapsing under the weight of Celestia's authority.
With the Gnoses handled it was time for phase two.
Alongside the creation of the Gnoses, Celestia implemented the Vision system. In modern-day Teyvat people believe visions are rewards or acknowledgments of ambition, however the truth is different.
Visions are primitive compared to Gnoses because they operate at the individual level. When a human receives a vision, their ambition becomes bound to elemental flow. Their will is channeled and subtly integrated into Teyvat’s energy network, preventing it from aggregating into uncontrolled forces that could threaten divine stability.
This is why losing a Vision affects the bearer so deeply. Their ambition had been anchored and amplified through elemental resonance. Severing that connection destabilizes the will.
Through the Archons and Vision bearers, elemental power was diffused across thousands of individuals and Teyvat entered an age where nations formed under Archon stewardship, and humanity flourished within its carefully maintained boundaries.
But it doesn't address the root of the problem. The Abyss still existed, forbidden knowledge still taints the world, and the Primordial One is still wounded.
Before entering dormancy, the Primordial One had to set up one final measure.
–The Hallowed Plan–
Shortly after the great war of vengeance the Primordial One began working on a special project, the creation of the Basileus, a being who would have powers of healing and empowerment, but their main purpose would come from their ability to counter the Abyss and purify its corruption.
Furthermore, the war against Nibelung was the closest Phanes had come to death since arriving at Teyvat.
Faced with the possibility of his own demise The Primordial One was determined that his designs for humanity would not end with him. The Basileus would act as a spiritual leader for the people of Teyvat and, if needed, inherit his responsibilities as the Heavenly Principles.
The Basileus’s primary responsibilities would be to act as a spiritual sovereign for humanity, not a ruler in the political sense, but a rallying point. A presence people could gather around should the world begin to fracture again.
The design was simple in theory, a being capable of healing what the Abyss corrodes, strengthening those who stand against it, and purifying the rot before it spreads too far.
The vessel is shaped to reflect its creator, white hair like starlight, a crown-like halo suspended above its head, and three pairs of wings that looked less like feathers and more like pieces of sky torn free and woven into form.
But at the same time the angel’s betrayal had shaken him. The three moon goddesses were Nibelung’s creations, so it was somewhat understandable that they would betray Phanes for their original king. But the angels were his own creations, yet they still defied him.
Before the Basileus is released into the world Phanes must ensure that its loyalty to him is absolute. He programs the Basileus with careful limits, it will not be able to raise a hand against the Heavenly Principles. It won’t be able to overwrite Celestia’s rules.
The final component was the most delicate. It requires a compatible soul to act as the Basileus core, one from outside Teyvat, unbound by the world’s karma. Lacking the time to properly shape the Basileus’s psyche before entering dormancy, the Primordial One made it so that only once he had awoken would the core’s formation begin.
Until then, the vessel sleeps.
With the Heavenly Principles withdrawn and the Shades rarely seen, the Archons became the world’s visible divinity. They enforce Celestia’s will to the best of their ability, but time erodes even the most resolute convictions.
Information is inevitably lost with fragments of truth surviving in monasteries, ruins, and half-burned manuscripts. Stories of the Primordial One, of the war of funerary flame, of a promised sovereign yet to come.
Most people grow up knowing, vaguely, that one day the Basileus will arrive. Some see it as the dawn of a new era. Others as judgment. Those who resent Celestia see it as nothing more than another chain waiting to be fastened.
–Out Of This World–
Twin stars fall from the sky.
When the traveling siblings crashed into Teyvat they accidentally triggered the Basileus core formation. Asmoday, the Ruler of Space, reacts immediately. Aether is placed in stasis in an attempt to halt the early activation. It works, mostly.
In Khaenri’ah, ambition surges and they experience a massive breakthrough in their plans for power and conquest. The Eclipse dynasty believed that Lumine could be their key to usurping the Basileus from Celestia. Thanks to the loss of her memories, it was easy for the king to manipulate her. Lumine is adopted into the Eclipse dynasty and they raise her as their own, cultivate her strength, and feed her a vision of a world free from Celestia’s control. Lumine’s power grows under their care, but she ultimately fails to claim the power of the Basileus.
Thanks to the events around Direidyth, Lumine’s memories snap back into place and she abandons Khaenri'ah to search for Aether at the site of their crashed space ship.
But he isn't there.
Their princess returns to Khaenri'ah in time to observe its destruction. Lumine swears vengeance on Celestia both for separating her from her twin and the destruction of her home.
Over the next five-hundered years, as she ruled over the Abyss Order, Lumine continued attempting to claim the Basileus's power, but the Basileus remained out of reach so long as Aether was in stasis.
The core remains inactive for five-hundered years until the day Aether breaks free from his prison and begins traveling the world in search of his lost twin.
This is where you come in. From your perspective it seems to be a normal game, for the most part anyway. In truth your soul has been tethered to the dormant vessel.
The connection is weak, but enough to redirect your dreams. You begin following the Traveler at the start of his journey. You walk beside him as an unseen companion, unseen, unheard, but not completely unfelt.
Meanwhile in Teyvat, Aether senses your presence first. Initially he was wary, understandably so after what happened to the traveling stars, but the mysterious observer never pushed him toward harm. Instead you steady his aim, strengthen his resolve, and help him see openings he might have missed. Before long Aether found himself viewing you as a friend.
As time passes your genshin dreams become more frequent and the stars of your dreams vary. It leaks into your waking moments as hyperrealistic fantasies where you journey with the characters as a disembodied companion. Unable to speak with or touch them, but using some sixth sense you're able to help regardless.
Despite knowing that it’s all fictional you can't help but get deeply attached to these characters. Honestly, you should probably see a doctor with how intensely this game is taking over your thoughts, but who can afford that, ammiright?
Mondstadt becomes the first nation touched by the Basileus.
At first they don't realize what's happening. Aether was the one with the most insight, but he'd never even heard of the Basileus until one day when Barbra was explaining Mondstadt theology and the world’s history.
As you pull more characters more people start experiencing the same empowerment and guidance that Aether feels. Albedo and Lisa start researching the phenomena. They note that it's limited to vision wielders and those with natural control over elements.
At first many were uncomfortable with their actions being influenced by an outside force, but as you continue to act as a helpful presence the discomfort eventually gives way to cautious trust and eventually appreciation.
Despite the intrusion to their persons, your presence is never malicious, and they can get a sense of the affection and well meaning you feel during your “dreams”.
They experience your sorrow and frustration when they face hardship, and your elation when they succeed.
Meanwhile, you dream more vividly.
You travel with them in hyperreal detail. You feel the wind of Mondstadt, the salt air of Liyue Harbor. You cannot interact directly, yet somehow your presence still matters. You help solve puzzles. You guide battles. You mourn their losses and celebrate their victories.
When Aether travels to Liyue it spreads to people there. Jean and Ningguang arrange for the two countries to collaborate on their research, and the Basileus theory starts to emerge.
Along with the empowerment, one of you stated powers is to purify abyssal taint and Aether has displayed purifying powers. Other details start to add up and more people get involved. The most damning evidence is how when you accompany an Archon the power bequeathed to them by celestial practically sings with familiarity.
As you deepen bonds and raise friendship levels, certain individuals begin experiencing stronger boons. They become regents, focal points of your influence. Their strength increases alongside your investment. They learn to interact with ley lines and domains in ways that mirror your own, providing artifacts and mora. (Pantalone is seething)
Aether and other regents start trading tales of their experiences with your guiding force. Thanks to your powers the regents are able to perform greater feats of heroism and land is purified by abyssal taint. Offerings and prayer become common and the regents are recognized by the faithful as agents of a higher power.
–Finally, We Meet–
The scientific community experiences a renewed interest in the Basileus. Within the ranks of the Fatui, Il Dottore approaches the matter as he does all other problems, by dismantling them. Vision bearers are conscripted to his command under increasingly thin pretexts. Elemental beings are used in experiments designed to capture your attention. If the Basileus has truly become active then the question isn’t whether a connection can be forced, only how much strain the system can take before it yields.
Elsewhere, the regents exercise more restraint. Albedo in particular possesses an advantage no laboratory can replicate, proximity. He’s been meticulously recording the Traveler’s adventures as well as fluctuations in ley line activity coinciding with your appearances.
The Basileus protocol wasn't meant to be rushed, but your followers are relentless, and with every attempt to force your manifestation, an emergency clause activates and it pu l l s .
On your end there’s little warning. One moment you’re laying in bed, contemplating the psychological meaning behind your vivid dreams, the next everything shatters. Your chest seizes for a moment before your entire body goes limp. You feel as though your mind is being pulled out from your brain as your perception is stretched thin. You try to scream but your voice doesn't respond, nor does the rest of your body.
“Am I dying?” You wonder.
In a way, you are. After all, a human body cannot persist for long without its soul.
The strain on your mind deepens as you feel yourself drawn through an opening that feels far too narrow for you. There is resistance before suddenly everything collapses into a singular pressure in your chest.
You feel yourself forced into a new form. The vessel accepts you greedily, ancient mechanisms flaring to life as they register your presence. At the same time, you feel your original body slacken and cool under the strain, shutting down because something essential was stolen away.
In Celestia, the Basileus containment chamber splits along its seams. Golden sigils burn white, then blacken. The force from your spiritual kidnapping moves outwards in a wave that rips through the sky. To those below, it appears as though a star was torn free from the heavens.
You fall.
Wind tears at lungs that had only just started being used. The scent of salt and ozone is the only warning before you crash into the ocean below. Water surges up in a shock of cold that steals your breath.
Darkness.
You fade in and out of consciousness, the distant crash of waves is almost soothing.
Your eyelids are heavy and whenever you manage to force them open you feel overwhelmed by your eyes somehow focusing on every detail around you. Your body feels strange, your skin is hyperaware of every grain of sand touching you, and all your movements are faster than you expect. The sky stretches impossibly wide above you with fading streaks from where you tore free.
A shadow falls across your vision.
Blond hair catches the light. Wide golden eyes search your face for confirmation of what they already suspect.
Aether had been commissioned to investigate the fallen star. He expected debris, perhaps a repeat of the Unreconciled Stars.
He definitely wasn't expecting you.
For a brief moment, he just stares. His hand hovers near his sword, instincts overriding curiosity. You're clearly some sort of humanoid.
Then your attention focuses on him and recognition dawns.
Memories from nights spent in half-conscious communion, when you walked beside him in dreams and offered guidance only he could hear. Battles where a second presence steadied his blade. Quiet campfires where he felt watched by something vast and attentive.
He steps closer, breath catching. “It’s you,” he says.
The shock in his eyes is replaced with excitement and a smile breaks over his face. Relief floods his expression.
You attempt to speak, but your throat tightens, what few noises you make come out as pathetic gasps. You try to prop yourself up by your elbows but your head spins and you start to fall back down. Aether reaches out to steady you before you can collapse back into the sand. His grip is warm and you lean into him without thinking.
The golden boy is speaking again, rapidly explaining about the explosion in the sky, about the commission, about how he knew it had to be connected to you. You try to pay attention, you really do, but the words blur together.
Standing is even harder than sitting up, but he doesn’t rush you. When your balance falters, he adjusts, allowing you to lean against him.
“You should come with me,” he says, probably trying to sound soothing but the edge of giddiness is clear to your new ears, “They’d love to meet you, And… you’ll need somewhere safe.”
Safe? Yeah, safe sounds good.
You take one step, then another, guided inland from the shore where he once pulled Paimon from the water. The symmetry isn't lost on Aether, though you're still too overwhelmed to register it.
The path toward Mondstadt rises ahead. Stone walls in the distance. Windmills turning slowly under a sky that still bears the faint scar of your descent.
Your mind struggles to accept the impossible, you're in Teyvat. The one from the game, Genshin Impact. Like actually standing on its grass while the main character uses his very real hands to keep you upright.
While you're having an existential crisis Aether adjusts his pace to match yours as he leads you toward the headquarters of the Knights of Favonius.
It's only later that you would realise the implications of what he said earlier. What he could have meant when he said he was so glad to finally meet you in person.
random thought pertaining to my favorite princess kaveh... since he seems like the type as a yandere that would be overbearing and protective, what if his darling just had a job that meant they faced danger on a regular basis? like being an adventurer. and since adventurer darling would most likely be stronger than kaveh, thinking abt how he'd ract is interesting since... he can't just knock out or restrain someone that could break him like a stick y'know??? just. yandere kaveh with a darling that is 100% stronger than his ass
This is so accurate omg. His Bluetooth claymore ass is nothing against his darling's strength. Let’s break this one down and see how our favourite fragile princess handles being utterly outclassed by the person he’s obsessively trying to protect
Yandere Kaveh with a Strong Darling
Overbearing Worrywart
❥ Kaveh’s protective instincts are already sky-high, so when his darling willingly dives into dangerous situations for a living? He’s a wreck. He hates it. He paces around the house, anxiously muttering to himself about all the ways you could get hurt while he’s powerless to stop it. “Why can’t you pick something safer? A desk job, maybe? Painting? Something where you won’t be attacked by Hilichurls every other day!”
❥ He’s the type to try and guilt-trip you out of your career, pulling every trick in his emotional arsenal. “Do you know how much I worry when you’re out there? You could get hurt—or worse! And I wouldn’t even know until it’s too late…” Cue the big, watery eyes and the dramatic sighs as he collapses on a chaise lounge like the world’s most stressed-out noble.
Helpless but Persistent
❥ Kaveh is acutely aware that he’s no match for you physically. He’s not delusional—he knows you could fold him like a wet piece of parchment if he ever tried to stop you from leaving. That doesn’t mean he won’t try, though. He’ll stand in front of the door with all the determination of someone who’s clearly out of his depth. “I won’t let you go out there alone!” he’ll declare, arms spread wide, as if his sheer presence will be enough to stop you.
❥ The problem? You can just… pick him up and move him aside like he’s a particularly fussy kitten. And every time you do, it’s equal parts mortifying and heart-wrenching for him. He’ll grumble about how “no one takes him seriously” while secretly swooning because wow, you’re so strong.
Clingy Support Mode
❥ Since he knows he can’t physically protect you, Kaveh doubles down on being your emotional and logistical support. He’s the type to meticulously plan your gear and supplies, going over every detail with you like an overbearing mother. “You’re not going out there without proper armor, are you? And have you packed enough food? What if you get lost? What if it rains?”
❥ He’ll hover like a worried little sparrow, even when you reassure him that you’ve been doing this for years. And when you come back home, covered in dirt and blood (none of it yours), Kaveh will throw himself at you like you’ve returned from the dead. “You’re safe! Thank the Archons—you’re safe!” He’s sobbing into your chest while you awkwardly pat his back, trying not to laugh.
Passive-Aggressive Guilt Trips
❥ Kaveh knows better than to outright tell you to quit (he’s learned), but that doesn’t stop him from laying on the guilt with a trowel. If you come home with even a scratch, he’s suddenly the most melodramatic man alive. “Oh, no, it’s fine, really. You’re the professional here. Who am I to say anything about the risks you take? Just don’t mind me—I’ll be sitting here, worrying myself into an early grave.”
❥ You know he’s being overdramatic, but damn if he doesn’t make you feel a little bad. And when you try to brush him off, he’ll mutter things like, “You’ll miss me when I’m gone,” or, “I’m just saying, it’s not my funeral,” while side-eyeing you so hard it burns.
Desperate Attempts to "Help"
❥ Kaveh occasionally gets it into his head that he should accompany you on your adventures. “I’m not letting you go out there alone! What if something happens to you? Who’s going to pull you out of a collapsed ruin, huh?”
❥ Of course, he’s utterly useless in a fight and can barely keep up with your pace, which you remind him constantly. He spends most of the trip tripping over vines and complaining about how “this is not what I studied for.” But when danger does strike? He’ll throw himself in front of you with zero hesitation, even if it’s the dumbest move possible. “Don’t you dare touch them!” And then he’s promptly knocked out because, let’s face it, Kaveh is more bark than bite.
Secretly Loves Your Strength
❥ As much as he worries, Kaveh can’t help but admire how strong and capable you are. He hates how dangerous your job is, but he’s also endlessly impressed by how effortlessly you handle yourself. And he won’t admit it out loud, but there’s something about your power that makes him feel safe in a way he’s never known.
❥ In his more vulnerable moments, he’ll cling to you, burying his face in your shoulder as he mumbles, “You’re incredible, you know that? I just… I don’t know what I’d do if something ever happened to you.” And you’re left feeling a little guilty but also deeply touched, knowing that his overbearing nature comes from a place of genuine love and fear.
It was the end of the first day of school when Mozus Trein joined his fellow faculty in the annual start-of-term meeting. The staff lounge was its usual blend of simmering egos and polite hostility, teacups clinking while grievances were aired under the thin veneer of professionalism.
It didn't take long for the conversation to turn toward this year’s most noteworthy freshman.
Your name surfaced alongside a collective scowl.
Vargas was the only one with anything resembling praise. The coach leaned forward in his chair, practically vibrating with enthusiasm as he spoke at length about your dedication to physical training, your stamina, and, rather baffling, your ideas for alternative conditioning exercises.
“Outstanding drive!” Vargas boomed. “Sharp instincts too. The kid's got real talent!"
The praise was quickly drowned out.
Other instructors complained of your apparent distraction in class, your wandering attention, your habit of staring into space as though listening to something no one else could hear. Crewel, in particular, is relentless. He sniffed disdainfully as he catalogued each of your perceived failings, from the ill-fitted uniform to the mismatched accessories.
“It’s as though the child didn’t even bother collecting a proper uniform,” Crewel said coolly, adjusting his gloves. “Just threw on whatever rags were left behind when Ramshackle was shuttered.”
Then Dire Crowley spoke.
“Oh, I thought it was quite resourceful actually!” the headmaster chirped. “It’s amazing how much was left behind when that dorm was sealed. Positively overflowing with history! I’m surprised she’s managed to get so much use out of it.”
Theres a beat of silence. Trein felt his blood pressure spike.
Crewel spoke with a deceptively calm voice. “Headmaster,” he said, smiling without warmth, “are you implying that the reason Yuu is going around in uniforms that are centuries out of date is because you failed to provide any alternative?”
At least Crowley has enough sense to recognize the danger he'd just brought upon himself. “Ah, well, I wouldn't put it like that. Night Raven was founded on principles of self-sufficiency after all…”
“As the headmaster of this institution,” Trein interrupts, “it is your responsibility to ensure incoming students are equipped with basic necessities and informed of the resources available to her as a student.”
His eyes narrowed. “Does she even know that Night Raven College provides its students with their first set of uniforms?”
Crowley wilted under the scrutiny. “The circumstances around Miss Yuu’s enrollment are highly irregular” he protests weakly. “My teacher’s intuition tells me that with a little extra independence–”
“–Not neglect,” Trein snapped, “nor institutional embarrassment. Your sloppiness reflected poorly on the rest of us, Crowley.”
He inhaled, steadying himself. For all that the headmaster has managed to successfully preside over a school dominated by humans, there were moments, far too many, when his inhuman perspective caused needless complications.
Trein will easily admit that the headmaster's hands-off approach when handling NRC’s students is usually well suited with fostering the school's ideals. Unlike RSA which coddles its students, NRC believes in a more hands off, sink-or-swim approach to education. Society thrives when dark-hearts learn to overcome hardships and create their own opportunities. This, combined with the old crow’s skills with politicking has been a great boon to the university.
However, none of this absolves the administration of its obligations. Dire has had centuries to adapt, and Trien has never been one to allow excuses for failure.
“It is imperative,” he continued, “that our students are provided with the most up-to-date texts and equipment available. Education cannot proceed if the foundation is unsound.”
Sam chuckles good naturedly, “I can get the little imp hooked up with their starter supplies. We’ll just charge it to the headmaster’s account."
Of course Crowley rushes to defend his budget. “That seems rather hasty–”
“Thank you, Sam,” Trein speaks over the crow, "it is our duty to ensure all students are equipped at the start of their education, lest we allow Night Raven to be found wanting compared to… other academies."
Specifically Royal Swords, is left unsaid but heard by everyone.
Crewel, either feeling helpful but more likely out of offence at your current wardrobe, offers to tailor a modernized female uniform. “I recall finding some references to the uniforms used when Night Raven was a co-ed school.” He says thoughtfully “I imagine they're all rather archaic, but should provide an adequate base for me to start with.”
This support, they all agree, extended only to your initial provisions. Should you fail to maintain them, finding replacements will be entirely up to you. Night Raven provides opportunity, but will not shield students from the consequences of their choices. That was the principle upon which the school prided itself.
The meeting comes to a close as Trein continues to lecture Crowley on the importance of keeping the rest of the administration informed, and how a student's unique circumstances do not absolve the headmaster of his obligations.
…
The results are immediate.
Your appearance and demeanor shift noticeably over the following days. The ragged uniform and battered knapsack vanished, replaced by a more modernized uniform and a sleek backpack, courtesy of Crewel and Sam respectively.
From the waist up, your attire mirrored the male uniform closely, though the cut was adjusted for a feminine frame. Below, a pleated black skirt with gold trim replaced the slacks, paired with dark grey stockings and polished loafers. The Ramshackle armband, in a muted grey, is neatly secured on your sleeve. Sam’s contribution is equally evident in the backpack now slung over your shoulder, lighter than it looks and far more durable than its sleek exterior suggests, all on the headmaster’s tab.
Regarding your behavior, Lucius notices the change before Trein consciously does. The cat watches you with narrowed eyes from his perch atop the lectern, tail flicking thoughtfully as you enter the classroom.
You still drifted at times during lectures. Your gaze would unfocus, attention slipping somewhere just beyond the classroom walls. But when addressed directly, you respond without hesitation. Your answers are usually accurate to the textbook, though often lacking in context that most are expected to have learned prior to attending NRC.
At least you try to make up for this and usually stay behind after class to ask more questions. Usually regarding concepts most students absorb in childhood, civic structures, historical events, social hierarchies, you approach it all as completely new material.
This would be unusual on its own but you don't just linger to ask questions. During the conversations you will move around the classroom, straightening chairs, collecting discarded papers, and otherwise restoring order to the room.
At first Trein assumes it was just an attempt to ingratiate herself to him. Such behavior is common among first-years who believe deference might substitute for effort.They eventually stop once he's made it clear that the only thing he cares about is consistent academic performance.When the behavior persists into the following week, he addresses it.
“What do you expect to come from this?” he asks, tone neutral.
You blink, faintly startled by the question. “Isn’t this normal?” you reply. “Back in grade school we’re taught to clean the classroom together after lessons. I guess I just got used to tidying up. Don’t you all have something similar?”
“No,” He answers with a raised eyebrow, “we do not.”
At that moment, Grim chooses to voice his displeasure.
“This is dumb!” the creature snaps, sprawling across a chair you’d just straightened. “Why d’we gotta stay late? Class is over!”
You turn toward him, irritation briefly breaking through your composure. “It’s only a few minutes,” you say, already moving the chair back into place. “And it's not difficult. If more people helped, it’s done faster.”
Grim grumbles, but Trein observes the exchange closely. Your tone isn't exactly scolding but there's a bit of annoyance. It carries the expectation that participation is assumed.
As a scholar of history and societal studies Trein finds his interest sharpening.
Your home (town, village, enclave, the precise terminology remains unclear) most likely relies on structured communal habits to regulate behavior. Perhaps your schools are tasked with social conditioning as well as education.
Trein can see the logic, appreciate it even. He has long believed that when discipline is instilled early, dark-hearts are better equipped to regulate their impulses without constant external pressure.
Of course, not everyone agrees with such methods.
While Trein raised his daughters with the same care that he held for his darling wife, he knows that not everyone shares this mindset. Some guardians attempt to use their darling’s attachment to their children as emotional leverage. Others treat children as extensions of their darling rather than individuals, molding them to serve adult needs rather than preparing them for independence. Still others swing in the opposite direction, neglecting dark-hearted children entirely under the guise of “letting them grow strong.” Personally, Trein believes such arguments are just lazy justifications for poor childrearing.
Clearly a more structured upbringing has worked on you, if your current behavior is anything to go by. Unlike the rest of your peers with their constant posturing, you act as though cooperation is the default state rather than something to be negotiated. You show no interest in asserting dominance, nor any awareness that such displays are expected. Trein finds this deeply peculiar; even students of Royal Swords Academy participate in their own hierarchies, however subtle and politely framed.
Lucius yawns in Trein’s arms and settles in the professor's arms for a light doze.
Trein left the room thoughtful. Habits, he knew, are often more revealing than words. Yours suggested a background shaped by communal responsibility rather than individual ambition, a framework that would inevitably surface in other behaviors, subtle but persistent, as you continued to navigate an institution built to promote competition before cooperation.
…
Later in the week, Trein encounters Crewel while heading toward Foothill Town. The two walk together in companionable silence for a time, discussing administrative matters and the usual early-term disturbances, until Crewel decides to bring up the school's newest irregular student.
“It seems our intervention wasn’t entirely wasted,” Crewel said, tone clipped. “She's improved, markedly so. That first day, I feared we were dealing with an especially unrefined mutt, but proper supplies and a real uniform appear to have been what was needed.”
“I’ve noticed similar progress,” Trein replies. ““She remains after nearly every lecture, to request additional references, clarification, or recommendations for independent study.”
Crewel’s lips quirk into a faint smirk. “If only the other problem pups were so cooperative."
Trein regards him sidelong. Despite the potion master's seeming complement, the two had known each other long enough for the elder to recognize something in his tone.
“Theres still something you're dissatisfied with.”
Crewel hums. “She’s withdrawn during Capture and Care,” he admits. “And it’s not the typical boredom I have to put up with when covering the introductory material.”
“Is that so?”
“In Alchemy she engages readily with the material,” Crewel says, “in Capture and Care she acts like an inattentive student, withdrawn and scared to be called upon. It's as though she hasn’t prepared at all.”
“And yet,” he adds, irritation creeping into his tone, “when pressed, she provides correct answers. Not terribly detailed perhaps, but accurate. It's the inconsistency that troubles me.”
“If this behavior were limited to Alchemy, I could dismiss it as selective interest,” Crewel says. “But every other instructor reports steady engagement. Capture and Care is the sole exception.”
Trein thinks back to his past interactions with you. In his own class you've demonstrated steady progress. Indeed, you're practically a model student. You take notes diligently, request supplementary texts when needed, and linger after class to ask questions.
“There are certainly areas where her foreign origins are evident,” Trein says.
Trein recalls the nature of your inquiries. You ask for definitions most students take for granted, heart-alignment classifications beyond the most basic dichotomy, the historical rationale behind light-heart protection statutes, the distinction between custodial guardianship and voluntary custody.
You struggle most with the legal aspects of it all. Dark-heart autonomy laws, international accords governing attachment conduct, and the efforts made over the last century to standardize childcare across borders.
These are hardly obscure topics. In fact, nearly all of your questions are about things that most students would have absorbed in childhood. Your ignorance would be more irritating if not for your initiative.
He’s even observed you attempting to assist the dire beast and those two Heartslabyul first-years. Grim makes some sense, the headmaster informed the staff about your agreement to take responsibility for the little beast.
But the other two boys? That’s more curious. Most NRC students are still jockeying for position within their dorms, testing limits, establishing dominance through conflict. Yet you approach them without caution, and more unusually still, they respond without resistance.
Just how far have your people diverged from the rest of Twisted Wonderland for you to be like this?
Despite the potential breach of professionalism, Trein can't help but wish to study you more closely.
After the final class of the week, he finds you restoring order to the classroom once again. The two of you maintain a polite chat for a pit, only interrupted by your direbeasts complaints. It's while you're moving the last chairs into its rightful place that he broaches the subject.
“You’ve shown notable improvement since your first day,” he says. “Not only in my course, but according to several of your instructors.”
You flush faintly at the praise, mumbling a quiet thanks. Grim, in contrast, puffs up visibly, preening as though the compliment were his own.
“And how are you finding the rest of the curriculum?” Trein continues. “Are you adjusting adequately?”
You hesitate.
“Most classes are fine,” you say carefully. “There are just a couple that are… difficult.”
“In what way?”
“Well,” you begin, searching for the right words, “we don’t really have versions of some subjects where I come from. So I don’t always have a frame of reference.”
“Oh?” Trein says, curiosity sharpening his tone.
“Yeah. And there’s one, Capture and Care, it’s…” You trail off.
Trein waits in silence as you search for the right words.
“Before Night Raven, I had some… bad experiences,” you say quietly. “Followed by a really big failure. I’m mostly working through it, but C&C just feels like it was made to rub salt in the wound.”
This time when you fall silent Trein simply nods and makes no move to press further. Some silences can be invitations, but others are clear boundaries. This is clearly the latter.
Still, as you gather your things and leave, his thoughts linger.
And while he accepts your reluctance, professional curiosity, and something almost like concern, tells him this matter is far from settled.
Honestly, I don't like cannon Crowley. As the headmaster it’s on him to help the child NRC’s ancient artifact kidnapped. He should be helping Yuu set up a legal identity and savings and other stuff like that. Instead he chooses to be criminally negligent and regularly blackmails the pc by threatening to withhold basic living necessities. In this AU he's still negligent, but it's more socially acceptable, at least by twst standards. Unlike in canon he will eventually care about your health and well-being. Sort of.
The first lieutenant you meet is Divus Crewel, master alchemist from the Country of Roses. The title “Master” isn't undeserved, Crewel is renown for his contributions to many scientific fields, and will correct anyone who forgets it. Crewel is a genius whose preferred methods violate more ethical codes than you knew existed. His work with transmutation and magical catalysis is decades ahead of global standards, but his disdain for ethical standards has caused some alarm in certain members of the alchemical community.
In “Twisted Games in a Twisted Wonderland”, the light novel you once read, Crewel was portrayed as a cold, domineering man whose control of the alchemist guild bordered on tyranny. The narrative built him up as a man whose ambition consumed everyone around him.
Your meta-knowledge helps fill in details you’d otherwise miss. Allie, the novel’s protagonist, learned about Crewel through her acquaintances at Royal Sword Academy. Antonio Dearly, a kind man who helped Allie settle into Twisted Wonderland, described Crewel as a childhood friend with great ambition. Later conversations with Antonio’s wife, Rowena, an investigative journalist, had her own suspicions on how far Divus was willing to go for his ambitions. During the first two volumes Rowana followed hints of Crewel’s involvement in illegal experimentation. By Volume Three, Allie and her friends exposed him, collapsing his reputation, his career, and ending his friendship with Antonio.
You seem to still be in Volume One. Here, Crewel’s star still shines bright. You could theoretically change his trajectory and earn some easy goodwill with one of NRC’s top operatives.
Of course there's also the option of just waiting out the storm. The chaos of his fall would be decent cover if NRC is more trouble than its worth, and you wind up needing to get the hell outta dodge.
You first met after Crowley summoned the head of R&D to discuss a new top secret asset. Already annoyed by the interruption to his work, his mood didn't seem to improve as NRC’s leader raved on about the potential for a secret weapon.
Crewel interrupts Crowley with a click of his tongue.
“It sounds like you expect me to justify bringing an unvetted creature from another world into our main headquarters.”
Well that doesn't bode well.
“I don't pull solutions out of thin air, and I certainly don’t gamble our security on your wishful thinking. If this stray pup turns out to be more trouble than she’s worth, I promise the consequences will fall on you, not my research division.”
Big talk from the first lieutenant to get caught, not that you'd ever say that to his face. More seriously, you’d normally love working with someone as responsible as Crewel, but as it stands the knowledge that this man wouldn't hesitate to put you in the ground has you on your best behavior.
Right now your interactions with Divus Crewel are limited to your appointments. It didn't take long for the two of you to settle into a routine: you show up, he directs you through the latest scans and tests, you try not to flinch when he brings out something sharp, glowing, or screaming faintly in a jar.
It's only a few hours a day but you can tell that the novel definitely didn't exaggerate Crewel’s personality. Even with a mirror to instantly travel between his home and office at the NRC headquarters, Crewel has a busy schedule, as you are informed on your first appointment.
“Let’s make two things clear, pup,” he says, tapping a gloved finger on his clipboard. “First, I am a Master Alchemist, and as such you will address me as either Master Crewel or sir. Understood?”
Damn. He really just said that. You guess it kinda makes sense, if Master Alchemist is the same as having a doctorate. But you can't recall anyone else in the novel making a big deal over being called master.
“Um, okay. Master Crewel.”
The side of his mouth quirks upwards into a small smirk, “Good pup.”
He continues, “Second, I'm a busy man with many responsibilities and if you disrupt my work I promise you will be thoroughly disciplined.”
Damn, he really just said that with a whip hanging from his belt.
Your appointments with him are equal parts interrogation and experiment. He treats you like a volatile reagent, fascinating but potentially dangerous. Beneath the cold professionalism, though, there’s curiosity. He asks questions about your physiology, your world, and your own life. It’s not kindness, but it’s genuine interest.
Settling into Night Raven Collaborative isn’t as bad as you feared, with “not as bad” still still being a relative term. Your agreement with Headmaster Crowley includes acting as both subject and assistant for an ongoing study into how your trans-dimensional nature interacts with this world’s magic. You were worried this would lead to you being vivisected, but so far you're just spending a few hours being scanned while Crewel has you stand near or hold different magical items.
No, the work hasn't been dangerous. The same can't be said about your living situation.
The Ramshackle manor has spent over a thousand years unused. Whatever restoration attempts were made centuries ago have long since decayed, but NRC doesn't exactly encourage altruistic maintenance. The faculty and affiliates look after their own domains, and Ramshackle was left to fade away. Meta knowledge tells you that Ramshackle has long-lost treasure waiting to be exploited, but knowing theory and putting it into practice are two entirely different things.
The main building's outer walls are mostly intact, and that's probably the nicest thing you can say. The foyer greets you with a haze of dusty cobwebs thick enough to choke on, even the spiders have abandoned this place. The floorboard threatens to break under each step, and every gust of wind sends the building into a fit of creaking that you swear borders on a deathly groan, as if Ramshackle itself was begging to be put out of its misery. The less said about the furniture the better, and you suspect most of the bathrooms have black mold. Overall your new residence is a run-down, barely habitable estate only fit to host incorporeal beings.
Speaking of the ghosts, they're completely insufferable, loud, snide, and only cooperative under threat of Grim’s fire. But in order to get Grim to corporate you need a steady supply of tuna, and for that you need money, so you've been doing odd jobs for Crowley, who is more than happy to offload his problems onto a willing victim.
Yeah, this isn't sustainable.
At least Crowley's lieutenants are slightly better. Due to NRC's clandestine nature, the dark fae decided information on your otherworldly origins would be shared with only a select few members with whom you will have regular contact.
Most outsiders are unaware of the connection between these powerful, eccentric, and morally flexible individuals, and NRC would prefer to keep it that way. You have the (mis?)fortune of being deemed a necessary exception. Crowley tried to dress it up as some huge honor and a sign of trust, but you don't need meta knowledge to tell he's full of it.
Credit to @britishassistant and rightful anons and artists
Villainous Paranoiac AU | Supervillain AU Main | Supervillain AU AUs | AU Crossover Posts | Assorted AUs | General Credit List |
Twisted Wonderland Supervillain AU
Tag: supervillain au
Welcome to Twistopolis, where the supervillains of Night Raven Corporation run amok and the superheroes of Royal Sword Association regularly stop them. Between the two groups stands the Prefect, a mysterious third-party vigilante. Reporting on it all is Yuu Radcliffe, a seemingly-ordinary reporter, and their cameraman Yuuken Enma. Oh, and there's also the self-proclaimed-greatest-supervillain Grim.
There are AUs to this AU which you can access through a link above, but it is recommended that you go through the Main Posts first.
General Notes:
Dorm heads are supervillains, other students are minions
Yuu is the Prefect and nobody knows
All the students are now grown adults.
Some heroes and villains have civillian identities, some don't.
Names are meaningful (usually).
Nonhumans exist.
Magic exists.
Quite shippy, generally runs on comedy, has a very friendly au community and a cool lore has been built up.
Characters and Groups
TWST NEWS
Yuu Radcliffe, Yuuken Enma, Kuroki Yuuya, Hirasaka Yuuka, their bosses
Night Raven Corporation
On the villains of Twistopolis
Royal Sword Association
On the heroes of Twistopolis
Other Civilian Characters and Groups
Grim, the Ghosts, Mrs. Kingscholar, Cheka, Eliza, the Radcliffes, the Great Seven, the Disney Company
Other Hero and Villain Groups
heroes and villain unaffiliated with RSA and NRC
Relations
On the relations within and between groups.
Scenarios
Short-form incidents and events resulting from asks, submissions and posts that involve numerous characters or a shared theme. Specific incidents can be found in the respective character posts.
Fics
Longer pieces of written work
Appearances/Costumes
It isn't a world with superheroes and supervillains without some costumes! Here are the collected costume notes and artist interpretations of certain characters.
Artworks /Memes
Non-costume artworks that still fall under the main Supervillain AU, memes of the Supervillain AU and its AUs, and whatever didn't fit anywhere else
Compiler Note:
I tried to collect everything but I am only human. Please message me if a link leads somewhere it shouldn't or if I missed credit somewhere.
