Imagine whats inside the mind and thoughts of the RSA cast when they realize you are dating their NRC counterpart, of course the heart of jealousy takes root.
Ooh, I care, I care, I care, like ribbons in your hair My stomach's all in knots, you got the one thing that I want
Twst men x reader ( minajael Tealrajah, rielle Corallia, Neige leblanche )
>> sorry if it's a little messy and I'm still waiting for the realest of the others.
MINAJAEL
When he first met you, it was outside of the palace–when he was running off from his attendance he accidentally bumped into you while you were eating at a food stand. He would graciously pay for it but he could hear the footstep of his attendance coming close, for some reason he decided to grab your hand and involved you in this conflict. When you and him manage to get away from the crowd, he immediately apologizes for dragging you into this. But first he is a Little confused that you seem not to recognize him, either his disguise is good or you don't know him–which is a relief for him because he doesn't need to worry about a scandal. Originally he wanted to follow you, originally you denied because you thought he was a theft due to the amount of people that were chasing him–honestly he doesn't know whether or not he should be impressed that you called a prince a thief or you deadass have no clue who he is.
By the uniform, it looks like you are a student of Night Raven College his rival school. Since there's extra time before the tournament began, you and him decided to explore. He was about to ask what route would you guys take to not be caught but in the corner of his eye, he saw you jump from the window–instead of hearing a thud he saw that you were sitting in a flying carpet, since the design looks similar towards ones that his cousin kalim own–he thought you might steal it so at first he was the one that didn't want to go with you. You started to get annoyed by him but decided to swallow it down because this dude might be a big shot due to the way he talks, you extended your hand towards him similar towards how your boyfriend kalim did when the first time he takes you on a joy ride–"do you trust me" you asked him. He replied with "no" but after a few seconds and you are still extending your hand to his, he sighed and took it.
That day was the best day of his life, despite being a prince–minajael would envy how his cousin was allowed to have such freedom. He saw the skies as well as going on adventures with you, heck you and him even almost got caught. The entire time, he could none stop looking at you with longing as well as amusement–he envies your freedom yet feels more relaxed around you. But it seems the sun's about to be settled and both of you have to return, it seems he was upset but agreed. That night, he dreams of the sweetest dreams about a person he wants to spend his life with.
Since you are a student of NRC, he assumes that he will meet you again and he did. During intermission, he decided to look for you wanting to keep talking to you–he did find you, but in the presence of his cousin kalim. A sudden punch in the gut happened inside his stomach, despite you and him met at such a short time–he genuinely feels a spark between you and him more than the princesses his family try to set up. It seems you and kalim are close... Seeing his cousin arms around your waist leaning his head on your shoulder make a brewing jealousy on his heart, yet you didn't push Kalim away–you simply enjoy his affection.
He retreated back towards the room he was staying passing rielle who looked confused why is he walking so fast and looking so distraught. Minajael refused to be seen like this, it makes him feel weak but the image of you and his cousin circle around his thoughts. "Do you trust me" is a line that is constantly repeated in his mind, a knife is twisting in his stomach. Thousands of thoughts come up in his head, do you like his cousins because he is energetic as well as beautiful. His cousin is nice and caring, while he's more tense as well as having a hard time letting people in–would you love him more if he changes his style to match his cousins, his thoughts were interrupted with rielle checking up on him because the announcement was soon to begin–and he started with a bitter pill to start.
RIELLE
You met the prince when you were, walking around–you were acting as an announcer for Crowley during the games as well as Crowley little helper. While you were carrying some paper, some guy was excitedly running around checking everything and slipping into you causing all the papers you were carrying fall. He immediately apologized and picked the papers, but suddenly stopped. Unfortunately it seems you were not focused on the seventh prince of the coral seas who was looking at you star struck, you pick up your stuff and left in a hurry.
As your silhouette fades away from the hall, rielle is left sitting in the floor starstruck and wondering who's that charming person. Life as the seventh prince is not easy you know, he is constantly overlooked by people as well as his own family but this strange new feeling in his stomach warms his heart. Is this what humans called falling in love at first sight, if it is–then it's a beautiful feeling because now he's looking forward to meeting you again. Every time, when he sees a glimpse of you–he would drop everything to see you even going against his headmasters orders, people of the sefurce are beautiful he has to admit and you are the most beautiful one.
But recently he's been seeing you around with an old classmate of his during elementary school, Azul. You and him seem to be very close, thinking as if you and him are just friends but there's an underlying feeling of jealousy and a pain telling rielle that you and Azul are dating–but he guess he denies it. Back then, Azul was nothing but a person who was targeted by bullying as well as mockery of others due to being squid merman. He would pretend to bump into you and azuls hang outs ( dares ) , hoping by doing this–he would gain your attention.
Yet deep down he knows that the truth is that you and Azul were dating, the way you look at him and as well as how Azul would express his care with affection would make him jealous and stop in his tracks. Originally he thought by also giving you gifts and presents, it would cause you and him to be closer but it has the opposite effect. He wonders why he is not allowed to give you a gift while Azul can, isn't he also allowed to have gifts towards you. He started to grow bitter, not towards you or Azul but himself.
Recently he's been doing a lot of self comparison towards Azul and him, rielle notice on how Azul hair is almost perfect as well as not messy like his. If he's hair is like that would you know him, I mean it's understandable that you like Azul. He is cool as well as smart, talented as well as handsome unlike him, rielle is more energetic, often too whimsy for others taste and naive. Rielle would try to copy Azul movements and the way he confidently walked into a room, but he's unable to project the same atmosphere as him. In the end the prince is defeated, and has to see his beloved in the arms of another person. He wishes that you would turn around and look at him but you didn't, because you are too busy looking at Azul then him. That night, rielle is in his room–his hands are covering his faces but behind is a heartbroken man with tears running down his cheek–he looks at the night stand and sees a picture of you he took, grabbing the frame and cuddling with it.
NEIGE
Neige always has a feeling that you and vil have something special between the both of you. When he first met you, he thought he finally met his princess. He was absolutely captivated by you, because you help him get away from a group of crazy fans not to mention putting yourself in harms way for his safety making sure he doesn't get lost or discovered amongst the crowds of observers. He sees how hard working you are during the VDC, which is a quality he respects and admires from you.
He continued to try to meet you, by sneaking towards NRC when he had free time. As well as asking for your number from your teammates, he sees how you care for others as well as despite being a little strict on your familiar–you deeply cared for grim as well as taking care of him. Grim would wonder why a famous actor like neige would keep visiting the ramshackle dorm just to meet you, but he would often brush it off due to the amount of sweets as well as gifts the famous actor bring.
The Media has been obsessing over who's the fixation over neige dreams. Many of his fans are heart broken by the news that neige already found a princess and is now courting them. Although neige haven't reveal anything much towards the public due to the Respects of your privacy, students of NRC like ace and deuce has been caught of guard when the actor is sitting in your dorm drinking cup of tea with grim on his lap talking towards you as well as wanting to get to know you.
These visits have become a weekly habit, neige would clear his schedule just to meet you and get to know you–sometimes if the weather is too bad, he would stay at the dorm. And in that moment, he feels right at home–being in your presence brings him comfort. One day, it was a normal visit but it was interrupted by another student of NRC–he believes that his name was rook but for some reason, the hunter is not allowing him from entering the dorm. The hunter simply look at neige with a pitiful look, and without saying a word lead the actor hands towards a window. The sight makes neige frozen in his spot, using the window he could see you and vil in an intimate hug with each other–it seems you and the Pomifiore dorm leader are close.
A sudden pang in his heart, as if a knife twisted upon his once beating heart. You were never and would never be his, after seeing the hunters look–he excuse himself and retreat back into his home. He did not even care if he gets caught, the entire time of his walk–his mind is constantly trying to find what makes vil better than him, he could understand your preference–vil has a sharp and regal look while neige has a cute yet beautiful face. The more he thinks about it, the more the knife twists in his heart. You only see him as a friend, no wonder you were distant –you were already vils one true love and not his. And that truth hurt him more than ever, the next day his management declared that neige will be going on a break for not apparent reason but people assume that he is gushing over romance but it's pretty the opposite.
I can't wait to write more fics with the RSA characters especially jealousy and yandere ones.
☆Embarassing (cute) things they did before you started dating!☆
with octavinelle! ☆ >masterlist< ☆
Azul- Was he… nervous? Every time you accidentally touch him, even if just lightly brushing fingers, he immediately retracts his hand as fast as he possibly could. He pushes his glasses up, trying to compose himself. Little did he know… His expressions becomes surprisingly readable when he’s around you. Or maybe you’re used to being around him? Either way, he becomes super obvious (and super in-denial). You see his face fall in real time when refusing his offers, which made him look all the more endearing. No Azul, you will not be falling for his study guides. Nor the fancy skincare from god knows where.
Jade-Words just spill out of his mouth when he’s with you. He can’t help it, the way you lean in closer while listening to him. He wouldn’t say he’s flustered, rather- just charmed by you. He definitely did not start talking a little faster. What better way to keep your attention than to let you know more about him? It wasn’t intentional at first, but now? It feels like he’s sprinkling hints, testing the waters. Although… he’d overshared. A lot. The part that really surprised him was that it was all by accident. A mere oversight at first, which slowly turned into a habit. You wouldn’t go against his trust right?
Floyd- You find clothes shoved in your hand again, and… What’s with these accessories? He regularly enjoys fashion, from thrift shops to high-end luxury brands, and apparently that extends to you too. At some point he just started lending you clothes, tossing them at you a day before you were planning to go somewhere. Hopefully you’ll never find out how giddy he gets when browsing through clothes for you and him. Wouldn’t he look really lame? Holding up a t-shirt, as he thought about how it would match with your current wardrobe (that mostly held clothes chosen by him). Whenever he sees you, he feels a sense of pride, and even a little thump in his chest.
˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗SYNOPSIS: Before he can say that he loves you, you are sent back home. Years into the future, you come back to twisted wonderland, however, you seem not to remember him anymore.
♡︎Clarifying that you aren’t sent home by Crowley basically, you just “puff” out of twisted wonderland.
⋆⋅☆Riddle
He had started to loosen up around you. He found that the days when he barely saw you were the ones that made him moodier and more strict with the rules.
When it finally clicked that he had fallen for you, the only things that crossed his mind were his studies and the fear of rejection.
He told himself to wait until after the exams, or to wait for summer break. But weeks turned into months, and by the time he finally found the courage to speak, you were gone.
The words at the tip of his tongue vanished as he repeated the same thought over and over.
You were gone, and you weren’t coming back.
Years go by. He finishes his studies as the strict student he had always been, with top grades. He focused entirely on his job, throwing himself into his work to keep his mind busy. He didn't care for romance anymore. Instead, he placed himself on a strict schedule.
But even with his perfect schedule, his mind would still wander. Sometimes, in the quiet moments between tasks or when he saw a stray petal on the ground, he would think about you. He would wonder where you went and if you ever thought about the boy who was always too busy with his rules to tell you how he felt.
He knows that even if he had told you how he felt, he could have done nothing to stop what happened, and that pains him. It pains him to know that he excels at everything he puts his heart into, but for some reason, no matter how talented he is, he can’t find a way to bring you back.
One afternoon, he was in the garden tending to the hedgehogs. Then, suddenly BUM!
Someone fell right on top of him, knocking him to the ground.
"How dare you!" he yells, face turning red with anger, but as he starts to stand up, ready to scold whoever was being so careless with the rules. He sees none other than you, and his voice dies in his throat.
He falls to his knees, eyes wide as he struggles to find the words to express how he is feeling. His hand reaches forward to touch your arm, trying to check if you are really there or if his mind is playing a trick on him. When he feels the warmth of your body, the tears finally begin to fall from his eyes.
"Is it really you?" he whispered, his voice trembling as he held onto you like you might disappear again if he let go. "I waited so long... I was so foolish to stay silent before. Please, don't leave again. I love you. I've loved you since the moment you left."
And then the kick to his feelings comes.
“Ah… I’m sorry, but… who are you?”
Riddle freezes. The world around him feels like it has stopped. His hand, which was just trembling with relief, now feels cold against your skin. He stares at you, waiting for a laugh or a smile, anything to show that you are just playing a trick on him.
But you don’t laugh. You stare at him with cold eyes, even slightly weirded out that a stranger had just confessed to you.
Riddle slowly pulls his hand back, his fingers curling into a fist as he realises the look in your eyes isn't a joke.
He feels a stinging pain in his chest, worse than any punishment he had ever received. He had spent years being perfect, thinking that if he followed every rule, he would finally get his happy ending. But there was no rule for this. There was no rule that could force you to remember the way he used to look at you.
Or the time the two of you spent together. The times he’d invite you to eat a strawberry tart with him, the days you’d spent playing with the hedgehogs, and the times he’d go out of his way to explain things you found difficult.
"I... I apologise." he says. "I must have mistaken you for someone else, someone I once knew very well."
He takes a deep breath, smoothing out his coat. Riddle isn't the type to give up. In his mind, if a problem exists, he must find the solution. He doesn't know if you ever felt the same way about him years ago, but he refuses to let you walk away a second time without at least trying.
If you don't remember the boy he used to be, he will simply make sure you never forget the man he is now.
"My name is Riddle Rosehearts." he says, giving a small, polite bow. "Since you seem to be lost, allow me to assist you. It would be quite improper to leave a visitor unguided."
He offers his hand to you, just like he wanted to do years ago. He knows he can’t force your memory back, but he can start over. This time, he won't let his schedule or his hesitation get in the way.
⋆⋅☆Leona
He always acted like he didn't care. To Leona, everything was a bother, and feelings were just another complication. He had started to get used to your presence, finding that the naps he took were better when you were sitting nearby. He didn't have to say much, he just liked that you were there.
When he realised he had fallen for you, his pride got in the way. He was a prince who was always second best, and he didn't want to feel vulnerable. He told himself there was no rush. He figured you’d always be around. He’d tell himself he would say something eventually, maybe when he was in a better mood or when the sun wasn't so bright.
But the eventually never came. One day, you were just gone.
He plays it off as not caring as he tries to go back to his normal daily routine, but Ruggie notices that he sleeps for longer and skips classes even more than normal. He never speaks about you, never mutters your name, and if someone does so around him, he gets annoyed.
As the years go by, he returns to the Sunset Savanna to take on his royal duties and lead the Sunset Warriors. To everyone else, it looks like everything went back to the way it was before you existed. But Leona knows better. It pains him to remember, but he knows his days were only better because you were in them.
Whenever someone tries to talk to him at the royal balls, or whenever Falena brings up the fact that Leona should find someone to marry, he simply ignores it all. He has no interest in romantic things.
So one day, as he is resting in the shade of a tree in the gardens, someone crashes into him.
"You've got a lot of nerve," He starts to sit up, ready to show whoever it is why they shouldn't mess with a lion. But then he catches your scent.
He stops. His heart skips a beat, but he doesn't move. He just stares at you, his green eyes widen. Yet he is quick to compose himself.
"Took your sweet time getting back here, didn't you?" He tries to sound annoyed, but his tail is twitching uncontrollably behind him. He’s spent years acting as if he forgot you, but seeing you now, all that effort falls apart.
And then the kick to his feelings comes.
“Ah… I’m sorry, but… who are you?”
All that crosses his mind is that if he didn't matter enough for you to remember him, then you don't matter to him either. He would use his anger as a shield to hide how much his heart is breaking. He’s terrified that even if he did make you remember, you’d just leave again, and he can’t survive that twice.
"Get lost." he’d say, his annoyance returning. "The palace gardens aren't for tourists. Go back to wherever you came from before I lose my patience."
Leona hates feeling pathetic. If he stays and tries to make you remember, he feels like he’s begging for your attention. To Leona, begging is the ultimate humiliation.
As you walk away, confused and a bit scared of the grumpy prince, he stays perfectly still. He doesn't look back. He just stands under the tree, smelling your scent in the air one last time, feeling more alone in his own kingdom than he ever has before.
⋆⋅☆Azul
He knew you were the person of his dreams, it didn’t take much for him to realise that. The problem was that whenever he looked at himself in the mirror, he could never see you by his side. He felt that someone as amazing as you should be with someone better, someone who wasn't just a dumb octopus.
So, he kept his feelings hidden behind business. He offered you constant discounts at the Mostro Lounge, and whenever you mentioned needing something, it would magically show up a few days later. He was content just to have you in his life. He let the days slip by, thinking this was enough.
Then, you are gone.
He regrets never telling you he loved you. He realises that even a rejection would have been better than this silence. It would have hurt, but at least he could have moved on.
He’d try to use contracts to bring you back, but no matter what he did, nothing seemed to reach the world you had come from.
Years go by. He returns to the Coral Sea, becoming a wealthy businessman. He gained attention from some who try to aproach him with romantic intent, but all he sees is your face, because he knows that you’d never try to get his attention just for his money.
So one day, when he opens the door of his office, he spots someone sprawled on the floor, his first instinct is to snap at the person who dared enter without an invitation.
"How incredibly rude!" He fumbles for his glasses. "Do you have any idea whose private quarters you've-"
He stops, slides his glasses onto the bridge of his nose, and his breath hitches. Your face looks up at him, and he goes pale. You can see his hands shaking, a pained expression on his face as he steps back towards the door.
"Is it... is…. is it really you?" he chokes out the words, losing that confident businessman persona he always puts up. His legs now move towards you as if in a trance. He reaches out, his gloved fingers trembling as they hover just inches from your face, looking like he’s seeing a miracle he doesn't think he deserves.
"I told myself I was waiting for the perfect moment. I thought if I became successful enough, powerful enough, maybe then I would be worthy of standing beside you. What a fool I was."
You start to shake your head with a weird expression, but he is faster to interrupt you.
"Please... don't go! I'll give it all up, the Lounge, the contracts, none of it matters. I won't be a dumb octopus this time. I love you." He is practically begging at this point.
“Ah… I’m sorry, but… who are you?”
And the light in his eyes vanishes, he laughs it out, a sad laugh that makes his heart clench. Then the humiliation starts to eat him alive, and with clenched teeth, he gulps and fixes his tie, trying to compose himself.
"I see…" he says, his voice suddenly professional again. "My apologies. It seems I’ve made a grave mistake." He turns away, walking back to his desk to hide the fact that he’s shaking. He can’t stand the way you’re looking at him, like he’s just a stranger. "However, you have trespassed into my private office without being allowed to, and that is a serious offence."
You explain to him your sittuation, that you don’t know where you are and that you were transported out of nowhere to this office.
"Since you have no memory and nowhere to go, I shall offer you a contract. I will provide you with housing and food. In exchange, you will remain here and assist with my job." He will show you what he has become, that he deserves your attention, that he is no longer the dumb octopus that he used to be and if you still don’t love him, then maybe he was never meant to be loved.
"Sign here." he whispers, "And we can begin our new acquaintance."
⋆⋅☆Jamil
You had placed Jamil in a difficult spot. He was aware that your charms had worked on him, but he had his own problems to deal with. He was constantly busy taking care of Kalim and reminding himself that once the school years were over, he’d go back to being a servant of the Asim family. He didn't have the luxury of a personal life, let alone a romance.
So, he had always tried to remain cold towards you. Even if he clearly enjoyed your presence and your antics, and even if you lit up his busy days, he knew this was best for you and him.
So when you vanished, it hit him that the only thing that had been keeping him sane was none other than you. He felt a clench in his heart, knowing that now, no matter what, he could no longer tell you how he felt.
Time goes by, and as he returns to the Scalding Sands, so does his duty as Kalim’s servant. He spends his days organising grand banquets and making sure Kalim doesn't get into any trouble. His life is once again a series of orders and chores, just as he always knew it would be.
While he prepares the spice trays, he finds himself missing his days as a student. He misses the quiet moments in the school hallways where he could almost pretend he was just a normal teenager. Most of all, he misses you. He thinks about how you used to bother him while he was cooking, or the way you’d try to make him laugh when he was clearly stressed.
He realises that even when he was being cold to you, he was doing it because he cared, and now, that care has nowhere to go.
Then one day, while he is walking around the market, he crashes right into someone. He bows his head and apologizes but when he lifts his face, he meets none other than you with a lost expression.
“You are back…?”
It comes as a question because not even he believes his own eyes, but his heart jolts even if it doesn’t show on his calm face. He immediately tries to connect the dots on why you would be so far away from Night Raven College. The first thought that crosses his mind is that you had been looking for him. The idea makes him secretly happy, but he quickly tries to dissuade himself, telling himself there must be another reason why you are here.
“Did you come to see Kalim?” he asks, his voice slightly softer than usual.
“Ah… I’m sorry, but… who are you?”
Jamil freezes, and the noisy market around him seems to go completely silent. He is still maintaining his calm composure, but he feels beyond mad. He had worked so hard to be forgettable to the world, and he succeeded with the only person he wanted to remember him.
When you explain to him that you are completely lost and don’t know where you are, he understands that you seem to have completely lost your memories in this world.
“I see.” He nods his head. "It seems you are in quite a predicament. However, you are in luck. Kalim was a very close friend of yours back at school, if anyone can help you find your way again, it is him. I am simply his attendant. I will escort you.”
He doesn’t even state his name, reminding himself that some things are just not meant to be, and if by any chance, even after he places himself again behind Kalim, you do seek him out, then maybe, just maybe, he will believe that you are worth fighting for.
⋆⋅☆Vil
Vil never settled for anything less than perfection.
During your time at school, he was your harshest critic and your most devoted protector. He spent hours helping you refine yourself because he believed you were capable of being breathtaking. He loved the way you stayed late in the lab with him, or the quiet moments in the garden when he could finally let his shoulders drop.
Also, the hatred you two shared for Neige made your friendship grow stronger.
There was no doubt that Vil was planning to confess, he was simply making extra sure that every detail was perfect. On the day you vanished, he had been walking toward your meeting spot, only for Rook to interrupt him and deliver the news that changed everything.
He tries to remain composed, but deep down, he misses you. He remembers all the time the two of you shared together and keeps a picture of you both in his vanity mirror, something that no one ever finds out.
As he returns to the Shaftlands and continues his acting career, he slowly tries to let go of the past while finding himself extremely busy. But whenever he sees someone with the same hair colour as yours, or when someone mentions one of your favourite hobbies, he can’t help but feel sad that you are no longer there with him.
One day, while he is inside his dressing room finishing getting dressed for a set, he hears someone crashing against a mannequin in the back of the room. He spins around, furious at the thought of an intruder, likely a creepy fan wanting an autograph, but when he spots you, his eyes widen.
“You!”
He reaches out, his gloved fingers shaking as he tilts your chin up, inspecting your face with an intensity that hides the desperation he is feeling.
"You're a mess. Your skin is dehydrated, your hair is a disaster, and you're five years late for our meeting." He looks at you sternly but then lets out a shaky laugh. “Oh, ____. Don’t you ever dare leave me again.”
“Ah… I’m sorry, but… who are you?”
He repeats those words inside his head, feeling the sudden distance between the two of you, but he is quick to compose himself as he spots the lost and even scared expression of yours, as you look around the room.
“Steady now. Do you know where you are, or how you landed here?” You shake your head, and he realises that you are truly at a loss.” He reaches for a blanket on a nearby chair and gently settles it over your shoulders to stop your shivering.
"It’s alright, you're safe here." he says, his gloved hand moving from your chin to rest briefly on your shoulder. "I am... I am someone who has known you for a very long time. I will help you remember. For now, let me get you some water, and then we can talk properly.”
As he turns away, he makes a silent vow to himself. No matter how long it takes, he will ensure that your friendship returns to exactly what it once was. And this time, he won't hesitate, he will finally ask you out, just as he should have done all those years ago.
⋆⋅☆Idia
Idia never felt like the main character in his own life, and certainly, he didn’t see himself as your main love interest, he was probably just an NPC to you. So no matter how much you interacted with him, or when he got the courage to interact with you, he was just the gloomy guy.
He’d spend most of his time behind the screen, sending messages and playing games with you. Sometimes he’d catch you talking about something you liked, and days after, you’d find a box with such a thing inside.
Hearing your happy voice on the other side of the screen or getting a text message from you was all he needed to be happy. So when you vanished, he felt like he had lost something again.
And he can’t accept that.
Idia never forgets you. He locks himself in his room, and he does what he does best. He sketches what seems like a portal and builds it, time after time, in hopes that one of them will actually connect to your world, but it never works.
Years go by. He is now the Acting Director of S.T.Y.X., surrounded by the most advanced technology in the world. He still keeps the prototype of that portal in the corner of his private lab.
Then, one night, the lab monitors start screaming. The portal, the one that had been dead for years, suddenly flares to life with a blinding white light. Someone falls through it, crashing onto the cold floor.
Idia’s heart stops as he fumbles for his floating tablet, his hands shaking so hard he almost drops it. He looks at the screen, then at the person on the floor, and his pale face goes even whiter.
“__-____??” His voice cracks as he slowly walks towards your fallen body, hoping you hadn’t come back dead, he’d curse himself forever if that was the case. “Ple-please say something!”
As you sit up on the floor, hand on your forehead as if you had just fallen face-first on the floor, you look up at him. His flame hair makes you awe, and he feels like the scene where you two meet for the first time is repeating itself.
“Ah… I’m sorry, but… who are you?”
He lets out a shaky, jagged breath that sounds like a sob he’s trying to swallow.
"I... I'm a nobody," he whispers, his voice barely audible. He pulls his hood up, hiding his face as he retreats toward his monitors, his shoulders hunched. "You shouldn't... You shouldn't be here. I must have messed up the coordinates."
He’s ready to alt-f4 out of his own life, but then Ortho is there to save the day.
"Big Brother, stop!"
Ortho flies into the room. He looks at you, his eyes scanning your vitals in a millisecond, and then he looks at his brother, who is currently trying to phase through the floor out of pure social humiliation.
"The coordinates weren't wrong!" Ortho turns to you. "Hello! I’m Ortho Shroud, and this is my big brother, Idia. He’s been working for 2,190 days straight just to bring you back to this world! He’s actually a super genius, even if he’s acting like a level 1 slime right now!"
And the next weeks are spent with a cheerful Ortho trying to set the two of you together.
⋆⋅☆Malleus
Malleus didn’t want to rush things with you, he believed that certain aspects of life are better if you let them play out on their own time. He’d invite you on walks at night around Ramshackle, where it was just the two of you
You had even gone out of your way to join his Gargoyle Research Society, showing a genuine interest in the stone figures he loved so dearly. Seeing you stand beside him, with a notebook in hand, made his heart jolt in pure happiness. For a being who had lived for centuries in isolation, those quiet moments of shared hobby were precious to him.
Then you vanish.
He is heartbroken, casting spell after spell, trying to find a way to bring you back or to transport himself into your world. But he, the all-powerful magical being, cannot find a way for you to return to him.
When he returns to Briar Valley and steps up as the successor, he keeps an empty seat next to his throne, one kept just for you, for when you come back.
Lilia watches him with sadness, knowing all too well the weight of living through centuries of loss. He tries to offer words of encouragement, to pull Malleus back to the present, but Malleus only looks through him. Silver and Sebek find themselves serving a King who is physically there but mentally light-years away
One day, as he is taking a walk outside the castle, someone tumbles through the magical thorns, tripping over a root and crashing right into his chest. Malleus doesn't move, especially when he finds none other than you in his arms after all these years.
"Child of Man...?"
His voice is low, trembling with a shock he hasn't felt in centuries. He reaches out, his clawed fingers grazing your cheek with a gentleness that contradicts his terrifying stature.
"I have walked these woods every night praying to the Great Seven that you hadn't simply been a dream." he whispers. "If I must spend every remaining century proving my devotion, I will. I love you. Please tell me the wait is finally over."
And then the kick to his feelings comes.
“Ah… I’m sorry, but… who are you?”
It is such a strange question. Most would know exactly who he was from just a single glance at his imposing figure. However, the fact that the question comes from you, the person he cherished most, the one he had spent years waiting for. It pains him.
But he isn’t going to give up on you so easily. A dragon does not simply let go of its most precious treasure once it has been recovered.
“Worry not. I shall help you remember me, and all the time you once spent in this world.” His hand reaches for you, waiting for you to hold it. "Come, my child of man. Your throne has been cold for far too long, if I must spend a thousand years making you fall in love with me, I will consider it a mercy compared to the years I spent without you.”
˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗SYNOPSIS: Rielle asks you on a date, but a certain octopus doesn't find the sittuation so funny.
♡︎After seeing the teaser for the RSA Characters, I had to write something to show that NRC is superior!!!
♡︎Also references to the boat scene in the little mermaid movie.
"Oooh Azul! Did you know little shrimpy got asked on a date by Rielle?"
Floyd’s voice took some minutes to register inside Azul’s brain but when it did, the poor Ashengrotto spat ink on the contracts on top of his desk at the VIP room. His eyes widened as his hands crumpled the pen in his right hand, making his knuckles turn white from the pure annoyance he was feeling at the moment.
This had to be a joke.
Did all the hours he lost ironing his clothes to perfection, all the discounts he had given you in Monstro Lounge, the free-of-charge study sessions and sweet words he had given you mean nothing to you? His hand slowly came towards his glasses as he adjusted them, leaving the pen down on the table and away from his rage.
Was Rielle better than him? Just because he had that sweet and kind smile and was friendly towards everyone?
The more Azul thought about it, the more his stomach twisted. Rielle was the embodiment of every "happily ever after" storybook that Azul used to glare at. He was the kind of person who walked through a room and somehow made the lights seem brighter without even trying. He had that effortless, airy grace, the kind of Prince Charming who probably spent his mornings singing to the local sea-life and having them actually sing back.
Thinking about all of that made a shiver run down Azul’s back.
He couldn’t allow the merman to get you away from him, not when he had placed his eyes on you first.
"Uwaah~ Azul, you’re making that face again," Floyd’s voice broke through his spiral, sounding way too entertained. "The one where you look like you’re gonna start crying ink. Is it because the Princey is sooooo much more popular than a grumpy octopus?"
Azul slammed his hands onto the desk, the sound echoing through the VIP room.
"Popularity is a fickle thing, Floyd," Azul hissed through his teeth. "And 'Princes' are prone to... accidents. Especially when they venture into waters they don't understand."
"My, how passionate." a calm voice said from the doorway.
Jade walked into the room with his usual polite smile. He didn't seem bothered at all by the ink mess on the desk or Azul’s angry face. He adjusted his tie and looked at his brother and then at his housewarden.
"It seems you’ve heard the news too, Azul," Jade started. "The whole school is talking about it. Rielle has planned a very classic date. A private boat ride through the bioluminescent lagoon tonight. It’s exactly the kind of thing someone from RSA would do."
Jade leaned against the wall, his eyes glinting with mischief.
"From what I heard, the lagoon will be very quiet tonight. No teachers, no other students, just the two of them in a small boat under the moonlight. It’s the perfect spot for a romantic confession. If they stay out there long enough, I’m sure Rielle will ask ____ to be his by the end of the night."
Azul felt his heart drop. A confession? In a boat? Under the stars? It was too much. It was exactly the kind of perfect moment he should be the one giving you and not that annoying merman.
"A confession..." Azul whispered, his face turning pale.
"Eee-he! Azul’s gonna lose Shrimpy to a goody two-shoes!" Floyd laughed, kicking his legs. "They’re gonna kiss and everything!"
"They will do no such thing!" Azul snapped, standing up straight. He looked at the twins. "Jade, Floyd. We are going to that lagoon. We need to make sure ____ is safe from... unstable boats."
Jade’s smile grew wider. "Of course, Azul. The water can be very dangerous at night. It would be a shame if the boat just... tipped over."
"I wanna tip it! I wanna see him cry!" Floyd cheered, jumping up.
"Then let's go," Azul said, grabbing his coat. "We have a date to ruin."
──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────
“Rielle! This spot is so beautiful!” Your eyes sparkled as you looked around the lagoon. You could see small fish swimming around and the sparkly lights of the water below the two of you, it was almost like a painting.
The redhead slowly rowed the small wooden boat, reaching for a spot near some trees. Their leaves slowly draped down over the two of you, almost as if the spot had come out from a book of fairy tales. Then, he stopped rowing, leaving the paddles alone.
“I’m glad you are enjoying yourself, ___.” There was such a sweet smile on his face, his cheeks turning a soft, rosy pink.
Rielle leaned forward slightly, his eyes soft and kind. The water glowed a soft blue, reflecting in his eyes like stars. He reached out, his hand hesitating for a second before it took hold of your own.
"I’ve wanted to bring you here for a long time," he whispered, his voice sounding so gentle. "Back home in the Coral Sea, we have many beautiful places, but none of them feels as special as being here with you."
You gasped at his kind words, not having expected them. Your heart gave a little flutter as you looked at him. Rielle looked so handsome in the moonlight, his red hair slightly messy from the ocean breeze.
"Rielle..." you started, but he gently squeezed your hands, stopping you.
“I wanted tonight to be perfect, you know?” His eyes glance at the side of the boat feeling a little shy. “Because you deserve it.” He gave you a look that was so pure and sweet it almost made you melt.
The glowing fish beneath the boat started to swim in a circle, making the water beneath you look like a swirl of blue and gold glitter. Rielle looked down at your lips and then back at your eyes, his face turning even redder.
"Can I...?" he whispered, his voice trailing off as he waited for your permission.
Everything was so perfectly romantic.
But something felt wrong.
It felt wrong because even if the moment felt perfect, even if you had enjoyed spending the day with Rielle, even if he was the perfect and nicest guy, you had wanted someone else to be here in his spot.
And you felt somewhat selfish to even think in such a way. You were sure that a lot of people would have wished to have been in the spot you were with Rielle, but you couldn’t accept this confession.
“I… I’m sorry, Rielle…” And it did break your heart to see such a sad expression on his face. His hand, which had been resting so gently on your cheek, pulled away as if he had been burned.
“Oh…” Rielle’s voice was barely a whisper. He looked down at his lap, his rosy cheeks turning pale. “I… I understand. I’m sorry for making things awkward, ____. I just thought-”
He didn't get to finish his sentence.
Suddenly, the peaceful silence of the lagoon was shattered by a massive THUMP against the bottom of the boat. It was so hard that the wooden boards groaned.
“What?!” Rielle gasped, grabbing the sides of the boat to keep from falling out.
Your hands came to rest on the side of the boat as you had almost fallen out of it from the sudden shake.
“Are you alright?!” Rielle asks, he moves towards you to check if you were hurt, but once again, before he can come any close the boat gets hit at the bottom.
Before you could even scream, a long, dark shadow swirled under the water. However, the boat didn’t just shake this time, and it was violently jerked to the side. There, the boat tipped to the side, sending you splashing in the water.
The coldness and darkness of the water hit you instantaneously, making you jolt as you tried to swim up to the surface, you gasped for air as you reached it, and to your surprise, Rielle was nowhere to be seen.
“Rielle?!” You shouted, looking around the water.
"Oh dear," a polite, mocking voice came from the other side. Jade surfaced right next to you, not looking bothered by the water at all. "What a terrible accident. To think a merman would be so careless with a boat."
Rielle surfaced with a gasp, and you watched as Floyd came not far behind him.
"Eee-he! Look at that! Got your date ruined, didn't you?" Floyd laughed, his damp hair slicked back. He was bobbing in the water right behind Rielle, looking like he was having the time of his life.
And then, standing on a nearby stone pier, looking completely dry and perfectly composed, was Azul. He adjusted his glasses while looking down at Rielle.
"It seems," Azul started. "that you are in need of some assistance."
Then it was your turn to sigh as you rolled your eyes to the octavenille trio.
“Azul! Are you serious!?”
You were soaking wet, your clothes felt heavy, and you were pretty sure you had a piece of glowing seaweed stuck to your shoulder.
Azul didn't even flinch. He didn't look guilty at all, in fact, he looked incredibly pleased with himself. He slowly took off his hat, holding it against his chest in a fake gesture of concern.
"I’m afraid I don't know what you mean, ____." Azul replied. "I was simply taking a walk with my associates when we witnessed this tragic maritime disaster. It is a good thing we arrived when we did. This lagoon is known for its treacherous currents, after all."
"Currents? Azul, you tipped the boat!" Rielle cried out, splashing water as he tried to stabilise himself. He looked more confused than angry, his heart still hurting from your rejection only seconds before the splash.
"Accusations without proof? How hurtful." Jade chimed in from your side. “We were merely swimming by. It's not our fault if some people are too clumsy to handle a simple wooden boat."
"Yeah, Shrimpy! The mermaid is just bad at steering!" Floyd added, splashing him with some water. "Maybe he should go back to the kiddie pool!"
Azul ignored the tweels as he came closer towards the water. He knelt down and extended a hand towards you.
“Ignore them.” And his voice had changed to a softer tone than the one he had used previously. "Come here, ____. You’re shivering. It would be a shame if you caught a cold because of someone else's incompetence."
He was looking at you with that same gaze he had when he wanted to win a contract, but there was something else there. Behind the smug smile, he looked like he was waiting for you to choose him.
So you stretched your hand slowly towards his, not ignoring the shift in his eyes as they seemed to have softened or the gulp in his throat.
“Oh, Azul…” Your voice saying his name came out in such an angelic way to his ears that he froze in place. He looked almost dazed, his fingers reaching out to close around yours, thinking he had finally won.
And then… You pulled him into the water.
“This is for ruining my clothes and being a jerk to Rielle!” you yelled.
When he finally surfaced, he looked like a drowned cat. His hair, which he had spent so much time styling to perfection, was matted against his forehead, and he was gasping for air as he wiped water from his face.
You could hear the tweels mocking Azul’s state, but you didn’t pay much attention to what they were saying.
You reached up with your hand and gently brushed the wet hair away from his eyes. You leaned in and pressed a soft kiss right on his cheek.
"And that," you whispered, a small smile playing on your lips, "is for being the only person who would actually go through all this trouble just because you were jealous."
Azul froze. The water around him could have been freezing, but his whole face felt like it was on fire. He looked at you with wide eyes. "I... I wasn't jealous," he managed to say. "I was merely protecting my interests!"
"Sure, Azul." you teased. "Whatever helps you sleep at night."
ramshackle's new prefect has a secret. she's a girl. and nobody can know. so of course, somebody is going to know eventually.
Waking up stuck inside of a coffin in a whole new, unfamiliar world wasn’t exactly something you had planned ahead for. How does one exactly pack a suitcase for a one way trip by blunt force horse drawn carriage trauma? And if that wasn’t already worth all of your time to worry about, the place you woke up in, with nothing on you but the clothes on your back and a cellphone with no reception, wasn’t even co-ed. This was blatantly obvious the second Crowley had dragged you by the arm back to the Hall of Mirrors. Not a woman in sight. There wasn’t even a single woman on staff which frankly, the more you learn about the history of Night Raven College, seems awfully sexist with how many of its founders were women. Sure, some of your fellow students were more stunning than any girl you had ever laid eyes on, but they still very much identified as men.
Which leads you to a problem.
You are a woman.
And it never really hit you the first day or two. You were much too worried about keeping up with all the information thrust into your arms to worry about the possibilities. You needed to wrangle Grim into somehow behaving for longer than five minutes and the ghosts needed to be reasoned with to share their living space! Not to mention an almost immediately broken chandelier, one hundred dirty windows, and a healthy dose of trial by Friendship. It was hectic! Crowley needed to fix this mistake and send you back home
It wasn’t until day three, the first day you had actually had a decent night’s sleep, that you came to a horrible realization. You were a woman. Stuck in a new world. With no money. Surrounded by Men.
What were you going to do about a change of clothes? How were you going to wash your underwear? What were you going to do about your period?? You clenched at your lower stomach as a warning rumble began wrecking your insides. This was Bad.
“Hey, henchhuman. You’re looking awfully pale.” You felt a soft paw slap against your cheek as you paid it no mind, your gaze glassy and far away, “Don’t tell me ya got sick!”
You bit your lip, “I think I’m going to be.”
Mind racing, you fell back against your pillow. You breathed out, deep and long. Your chest visibly rises and falls with each exhale. You counted. If your memory was correct, you had around twenty days before you started your period. Give or take. You reached your hands up and pressed your palms against your eyes hard enough until you saw stars. This was going to be rough… but you could do it. Crowley said he’d pay you for your work. Maybe you could sneak into town on a school day and hope and pray it wouldn’t be a long trip. Silently, you cursed the women of the Seven for not making this school co-ed.
But life goes on, regardless. You had found ways to make do. You are a survivor! And after much digging, you were able to secure a few hand me downs and, even if they were nibbled on by moths and not even your size, they were still better than nothing and the ghosts were apologetic enough for their rambunctious behavior in the beginning that they were able to secure you some dish soap to go along with an old washboard and basin that was tucked away. You quietly thanked whoever previously lived here for leaving those behind and with Grim’s help, you were able to jerryrig something close to a clothesline. Keeping it outside would have obviously been the better choice but you couldn’t take the chance of someone catching a glimpse of your feminine underwear flapping in the wind like some sort of polka dotted beacon.
And once again, whether you like it or not, life goes on. With the oversized clothing and some clever acting, you were able to pass as being a pretty enough boy that making friends with your local idiot duo was a piece of cake. They were nice enough and didn’t question any of your slip ups and only really made a comment on it when they noticed how pretty the other freshman from Pomefiore was and even then…
“Well, I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised that a Pomefiore student looks so girly.” Ace thought out loud before reaching for his fork and waving it over at you. “I mean, look at this guy. He might not be as feminine, but he’s still awfully pretty for a guy.”
Should… should you be offended?
Deuce hummed as if he hadn’t noticed before. You’re starting to feel offended?! “Now that you mention it, I guess?” He looked you up and down and, noticing the dark look on your face and mistaking it for you being embarrassed, blushed and hurriedly apologized, “Not that I think you’re not manly or anything! You’re super cool!”
“Uh, yeah. Thanks.” You grit your teeth, eyebrows narrowed as you stuck a fork full of lunch meat into your mouth. At least you were good at pretending to be man enough that these two idiots hadn’t noticed anything. You weren’t sure how convincing your disguise was considering that one Savanaclaw guy had given you a weird look that one time you stepped on his tail… but at least with these two dorks and the rest of Heartslabyul, you passed enough that nobody said anything.
Life has been pretty good. You have friends, get almost unlimited snacks courtesy of your connections with a certain baker, and get to party once a week with said friends at their dorm since, per Riddle, you were practically an honorary guest after his overblot. In fact, Riddle even gave you your own outfit! You very well couldn’t wear their uniform, he had reasoned, and it had been so long since someone had taken up this position, that he was practically beside himself in excitement at the thought of you donning the costume of the White Queen, the apparent sibling of the Queen of Hearts and local monarch. It was a lovely thing and, even with the fact you had to take it upon yourself to learn how to bind your chest, you were still excited to wear it. It was a frilly and lacy thing, much fancier than anything you had worn since coming here.
Every time you passed it, hanging there along the clothesline, you could feel your heart skip a beat in excitement.
It was a pretty sight as it stood out against your other delicates. Today was a wash day and so all your dirty clothes had been freshly cleaned, leaving you donning a bedsheet like it was some kind of fancy dress worn by a runaway mermaid. You were grateful you had remembered what you learned in Greek history class as it had made DIY’ing up a toga easy. You were just about to pat yourself on the back for a job well done and start making yourself and Grim some dinner when you heard the familiar sound of the front door of Ramshackle being open and slammed shut.
“Can you believe it! I almost got collared again! You’d think Riddle had learned to chill out a bit more after the last time he blew a gasket but—”
You squeaked in horror. Of course, now of all times, Ace just had to have gotten himself in trouble and he just had to make Ramshackle his first stop! You frantically ran back to the main room, tripping on your bedsheet dress all the way as you desperately tried to save your secret.
“Wait! Ace! Don’t come any closer!” You shrieked, voice high pitched and frantic. You couldn’t even try to lower your voice in your panic. Ace let out an equally loud shriek as you barreled past him, your arms outstretched to grab at least your undergarments to hide your shame but the universe just wasn’t on your side as your foot made contact with the hem of your dress, toppling you and your clothesline over in a feat of horrid gravity. A loud crash was the only sound that filled the room as you laid there on the dusty floor, still clothed if a little worse for wear, but with the offending garments laid flat and clearly for Ace to stare in horror at. You felt a deep shame form in your chest as you quickly reached out and snagged your bra away, tucking it tight against your chest. Your heart thundered in your ears as you quickly opened your mouth to try and defend yourself.
“Ace—”
“You’re a girl.”
“Yes, but please, I—”
“I thought you were a boy.” The boy grimaced, obviously struggling to keep eye contact as he turned away.
“I know, I didn’t want to lie to you, Ace, but please think about it from my perspective.”
You watched anxiously as, instead of responding, Ace threw himself on to the couch, his arms covering his eyes like he didn’t want to even look at you. Distraught, you hurried over to him, your blood rushing in your ears. “Please, Ace—” You could feel tears beginning to dot the corner of your eyes. You weren’t even scared of him telling anyone, you were more afraid of the thought of him wanting nothing to do with you after this.
“I didn’t mean to lie to you, I just…”
“You’re a girl and I told you we should sleep in the same bed together!” Ace let out a loud whine, like this was the most important thing on his mind, and kicked his feet around like an embarrassed toddler. From behind his hands, you could see a dark flush coloring his ears. You felt your shoulders stiffen, obviously caught off guard at his reaction while you leaned over the armrest and watched as the blush quickly moved from his ears to his neck.
“Is… that all you're upset about?”
“Yes!” He pulled himself up on the couch to glare at you, his scarlet eyes narrowing, “Of course I’m upset about that! You must’ve thought I was some weirdo or something! Augh!” He threw himself back against the couch again but instead of hiding his face, he only glared up at the ceiling like it had personally offended him.
You took a few steps closer, one slow step after another. You couldn’t help but let out a shy giggle at the embarrassed look on his face, “So you’re not… mad at me?”
Ace’s eyes rolled to the back of his head as he let out a loud snort, “It’s complicated. How about you get me a fancy lunch from the cafeteria to make up for this emotional torment?”
You smiled as Ace turned over to face you, his gaze harsh but softened by the red flush still present on his cheeks. The moment he saw your expression, he rolled his eyes.
“So, like, what. Does anyone else know? Surely, you’d have to have told Crowley what’s up by now.”
“Oh, uh….” You started, eyes immediately finding the fireplace much more interesting then Ace’s expression, “about that.”
Ace immediatly shot up, “You didn’t tell him?!”
You crossed your arms and huffed, “When would I have had time? When the Mirror told me I was magicless? Or maybe I should’ve spoken up when Grim set Kalim’s butt on fire during the entrance ceremony!” You jerked your thumb in the direction to the front door, “Or perhaps when he dumped me here! Alone!”
Ace let out a harsh breath and looked away, returning his eyes back to the cieling. You could tell he was thinking of what to say so you both sat there in silence, the only sound in the dorm being the sound of Grim snoring from down the hall. Ace rubbed his forehead, like the action would help.
“Alright, fine. It’s not that much different than before. You’re just uh… ”
“A girl,” you finished for him.
“Yeah, that.” Ace laughed, “A girl.”
“Listen,” You turned as Ace pulled himself back up to face you. He leaned forward and gestured for you to follow. You did, mirroring him. “No matter what, you’re still my friend so don’t sweat it too much and if anything happens,” Ace reached towards you. His hand seemed to almost cup your warm cheek and for a moment, you felt an involuntary throb beat against your chest. Until you felt a firm and harsh tug on your ear, his fingers gripping your lobe as if trying to tear it off, “Don’t be stupid!!”
You hissed, hands immediately finding his shoulders to push him away, “Ace! You ass!”
Not much changed after Ace had discovered your secret. He still treated you like you were a man although sometimes you could, if you paid attention, find him angling his body a little closer towards yours whenever a rowdy student or two would pass in the hallway or at lunch. He would play it off whenever you gave him a subtle raised eyebrow and would just wink in response. He probably thought he looked so cool. Deuce had even begun to catch on to this as well and he had quickly taken on the role of Guard Dog #2.
“Are these two bothering you?” He would roll his shoulder, as if preparing for a fight. The two offending students nearly jumped out of their skin when he pulled up beside you, arms crossed across his chest.
“No, Deuce. I’m fine!” You reassured him, touched. Even if he only knew you as magicless, the girly side of you couldn’t help but feel blessed to have befriended such a good guy. You mentally promised yourself to buy him a snack later at the cafeteria.
As you, Deuce, and Ace walked to your next class together, Deuce was the first to speak up. “Ah! That’s right! You’ve got a special job in the Unbirthday party tomorrow, right? Have you practiced your parts and made sure the costume fit?”
While Deuce looked at you with something akin to a puppy like excitement, Ace turned his head to the side in embarrassment, still a little sore from the big reveal but otherwise said nothing. Ace was surprisingly good at keeping secrets, having assured you of his silence almost immediately and you trusted him. He might be a huge pain in the ass, but Ace was a true friend.
“I have practiced the lines, Riddle made sure of it!” You laughed, “I think he was more excited than I was! But I could use some extra practice if you two wanted to help me out before the real thing.” You smiled. “We can even make a study session out of it!”
Ace drummed his fingers on his thigh, an obvious look of disinterest on his face while Deuce on the other hand, always eager to find any excuse to make studying more fun, pumped his fist in agreement, “That sounds great! I could really use some help with some of Trein’s lessons and you’ve always done super well in that class!”
“Alright, nerds.” Ace butt in, his arm snaking itself around Deuce’s shoulder, pulling him in, “We can have a little study sesh to help out the Prefect on one condition.” He lifted up a finger and poked his fellow dormmate on the cheek, “Deuce, you gotta be the one to ask Trey to make us some desserts.”
Deuce nearly bit Ace’s finger as it reached forward to poke again but Ace was quick on the withdrawl, “Why’s it gotta be me?”
Ace pulled away and grinned, jamming his hands into his uniform pockets, “Because…” He shared a look with you and Grim, “Not it.”
“Not it.” You echoed and Grim wasn’t far behind, “Not it!”
Deuce’s head whipped from each of you, a look of betrayal evident on his face. You shrugged and smiled and Grim chuckled loudly, “I’m sure Trey will be more willing to loan snacks for your sake then Ace’s.” You tried to reassure him but Deuce only groaned, his head lolling forward.
Later that afternoon, you all, as agreed, met up in Ramshackle. Deuce came in with his arms full of tarts and other delicacies while Ace swung his recycled bag on his arm, the familiar sound of soda swishing around in plastic emanating from the bag. You waved them in, study guides already out and prepared for the four of you.
“I’m starving!” Ace whined, practically throwing his contribution on top of the counter, Deuce was quick to make a small dive for the soda that was teetering too close to the edge, “I can’t think on an empty stomach!”
“Maybe we should eat first?” Deuce offered, a sheepish smile quickly replacing the once annoyed glare as he turned away from Ace to look at you, “Isn’t it a thing to uh… not think too hard when hungry?"
You had never heard that before but you could feel the grips of hunger twist your stomach in small knots. The smell and the sight of the strawberry tard on the counter was enough for you to relent. You nodded hastily, already nearly gliding across the kitchen to take another long whiff. The smell of strawberries was nearly to die for. Grim was, of course, the first one to dig in.
“Let me go!” Grim cried as you held him back by the ribbon, his little paws nearly making biscuits in the air, “I’m becoming ravenous! A beast!”
Deuce on the other hand was quiet. the knife used to cut the tart was a mess and bits of red filling were dripping on the counter. He looked embarrassed.
“Deuce, what the heck did you do to the tart?” Ace leaned over his shoulder and groaned. Deuce glared, an embarrassed blush covering his ears.
“It’s harder than it looks!” he huffed, “Trey makes it look so easy so I thought—”
“It’s fine!” You were quick to reassure him, clapping him on the shoulder. He gave you a relieved look. “It’s just a tart anyways!”
Grim on the other hand was not so forgiving, “I don’t care WHAT shape my tart is, I just want the biggest piece! So hand it over!”
It took longer then you would’ve liked to start eating with how playfully antagonistic Ace was to Deuce and as always, he was an easy target but after a few fake punches and hollering, you four had finally managed to make yourselves comfortable in Ramshackle’s living room. You and Grim had taken your place as hosts on the worn out couch and the two boys had dragged themselves some sort of furniture to use as makeshift chairs.
As soon as your fork full of tart met with your tongue, you couldn’t help but let out a delighted squeal. It hit the exact spot you’ve been craving the past week! The tartness of the strawberries mixed with the sweetness of the powdered sugar and pastry was just what you needed. You all dug in, too hungry to even try to feign conversation, and the pastry shell soon became a war zone.
From his spot beside you, Grim let out a huge belch and patted his rotund belly, a look of absolute bliss on his face. Deuce and Ace weren’t too far behind. So much for studying. You eyed the nearly spotless pan still left on your table. The sweet desire of lazing around clung to you but you didn’t listen. With a sluggish pace, you pulled yourself up and reached for what was left of the tart. You had intended to throw it in the sink and wash it later, but a harsh intake of breath from behind you was quick to steal your attention.
“Uhhh, Prefect?” Deuce blinked, his hand slowly raising to point at you, “Did you sit on a piece of your tart?”
Confused, you reached back. And you felt it. A wet spot.
Your face visibly paled. With a shaking hand, you looked. That was not the red of a strawberry. That was the red of blood. Deuce could see you were becoming visibly upset and made to reach forward, “Hey, it’s ok! I’m sure we can wash it out!”
Ace, shaken out of his food coma, was quick to act, “Ahaha, yeah! That’s right! It’s not a big deal!” His laugh was forced as he watched you shake. A small hiccup escaped you and you sniffled back a sob.
This wasn’t supposed to happen. You were supposed to have a few more days, right? Did you miscalculate? Did it come early? You had been having so much fun with your new friends that you had entirely forgotten. Your period.
“Hey,” Deuce’s soft voice was enough for you to look up and the worried expression he gave you was almost enough to make you burst into tears, “It’s just some tart, alright?” Deuce looked down and frantically patted his pant pockets before pulling out a handkerchief, handing it to you, “It is just some tart, right?”
You took his offering and pressed it against your cheek, a rush of emotions flooding you. Oh geez, since you acknowledged it, your period was making you Feel Things.
“It’s fine, Deuce, I’m sure they’re just embarrassed or—” Ace awkwardly butt in, trying to save face.
But you interrupted him. “It’s not just a tart,” you sniffled, big tears rolling down your face, “I’m on my period.”
Deuce’s hand that had started rubbing comforting circles on to your back abruptly stopped as he blinked at you with wide eyes. He blinked. Again and again.
“Pardon?” He croaked out, his voice high pitched and strained, “Your… your period…?”
Ace let out a loud groan and slapped his forehead. The cat was out of the bag. “You’re really letting Deuce know you’re a girl?”
“All I said was that I was on my period! For all he knew, I could’ve been a boy with a period!” You defended yourself, nearly throwing the tin at his stupid orange head.
“Ace knew?” Deuce’s voice was quiet, his shocked expression slowly falling, “Ace knew but not me?” He looked hurt.
“Oh, Deuce.” You gasped, “Please don’t be upset! Ace wasn’t even supposed to know either!” You reached forward, hesitantly sliding your hands to fold over his. He tensed, visibly upset, but as soon as your hands touched his, he returned your gaze. Deuce looked even more upset then when those delinquents broke the dozen eggs and you were the cause of it.
“Did— did you not trust me?”
“No, Deuce, no… that’s not it at all.” You reassured him.
Ace popped his head on his knuckles as he watched. “Don’t get your pant—”
You glared at him.
“Pants. I was going to say pants! In a twist, Deucey. I just found out a week ago because I nearly walked into their bra hanging off a string.”
“I’m going to kick your ass, Ace.” Deuce gritted out, his brow twitching violently. Ace grinned, noticing the change in his demeanor. He could work with that.
“Yeah,” Ace crossed his arms behind his head and leaned back, deciding that the funniest choice to get Deuce out his slump was to rage bait him, “It was a cute one too! Had one of those little bows on it.”
You flushed darkly and inched back, your arms hurriedly reaching up to hide your chest as you gaped at him. Was he really going there!? Ace snickered at your expression and as he was moving to get a load of Deuce’s face, he was suddenly interrupted by the feeling of metal meeting his face.
“Ow! Did you just throw the tart tin at me!” Ace shrieked,
“I’m going to kick your ass!” Deuce hollered from his spot above him, hands raised high in the air, tin pan in hand. Ace gaped at him, wide eyed, before immediately turning to you,
“P-Prefect! You’re going to help me, aren’t you?!”
You turned away, instead finding the sight of a food coma’d Grim much more interesting. He was even making sleeping biscuits on the pillow he was sleeping on. How cute.
warnings: guy is lowk parasocial, light angst but it's not really anything, MINOR BOOK 6 SPOILERS, cursing, not a lot of timeline continuity with the game, secondhand embarrassment because it's idia LOL i was cringing writing this so you might cringe reading this
i'm not entirely happy with this, it's definitely rife with errors and it turned out way longer than i thought, but i thought it'd be funny to have idia simp over a vtuber reader, 3.6k words
VOD = video on demand, an archived recording of a past stream
oshi = favorite (e.g. an idol, a character, a streamer, etc.)
the ramshackle prefect has fallen on hard times! it's no secret that the meager monthly stipend crowley provides you with isn't enough for even a miser to enjoy a comfortable livelihood. so, what do you do?
take to the internet!
donning an attractive virtual avatar and hiding your true identity behind your screen, you advertise yourself on magicam as twisted wonderland's new favorite vtuber!
...idia shroud has a problem. for some reason, the numbers in his bank account keep dropping before he has a chance to do anything about it.
"idia, i think i know why," says an exasperated ortho as he watches his brother gawk at your latest magicam post:
'Hey, everyone! Preorders are now open for my limited-edition plush-'
idia hits "add to cart" faster than ortho's processors can work. years of jitter-clicking have culminated in this. another 30 thaumarks down the drain.
"you don't understand, ortho, it's a chance to hug my oshi in real life." he whines, eyes glued onto the preview of the delightfully squishy and small you that he's managed to secure.
"don't you have enough merch of them already?" ortho asks, mechanical lenses flickering to the posters on idia's wall, the acrylic stands on his desk, the abundance of pins on his ita bag, and, oh, seven, the body pillow.
"they said it themselves in their recent star rogue: the sequel stream--i have the VOD, lemme pull it up--they're streaming for money. it's an otaku's duty to support their oshi!!!" he furiously taps at his tablet screen, seeking to the moment in the video where you lament your brokeness. "can't you see, ortho? i'm doing a good, charitable deed!!!"
"whatever you say, idia."
idia shroud is a pathetic superfan of the new mysterious vtuber that's been doing the rounds on the net.
he first stumbled across you from a clip of you playing one of his all-time favorite games, star rogue (the nostalgia! it's an ancient game, he knew you were pandering to the crowd of loyal losers definitely not him eagerly anticipating the sequel, which would inevitably blow up the internet, wherein you--having cleverly played the OG--would be able to hop on the hype train and take advantage of the game's popularity to grow your following! ah, his oshi is so smart!!!)
he prides himself on being one of your first truly devoted followers. your streams are constantly subject to an influx of tips and cheers from this "gloomurai" guy.
"welcome back, everyone! today i'll be pulling for the newest character... i don't have hard pity, so i'll be praying to the gacha gods today. wish me luck!"
gloomurai donated 200 thaumarks!
who needs RNGesus when u have whaling powers
you laugh in disbelief at the two zeroes. you're no stranger to gloomurai's... financial support of your streams, but it never fails to baffle you to that someone is willing to spend so much on you so easily. well, you can't really complain. you bought a very fancy mattress, after all. grim hasn't complained, either!
"welcome back, gloomurai! was wondering when you were going to show up."
idia squeals like a schoolgirl and rolls around in his bed, watching as your avatar smiles at him and you say his username. he's never been more glad to be a styx nepobaby!
chat lights up, as usual.
hyposeleniac6: ??? this guy is always here
4ceballer: SIMP 🫵🫵🫵
DoubleDown0603: SIMP 🫵🫵🫵
unintuitivename123: no cuz thats an entire paycheck for me...
definitely_NOT_fish_mafia: SIMP 🫵🫵🫵
xX_420_shadowLord_Xx: get a life bro 😂😂😂
idia doesn't care about the haters. all that matters is that his favorite streamer is well-fed, happy, and thriving!
probably goes to the effort to make some sort of software to translate your VODs into other languages to spread your following across twisted wonderland
stream snipes your stream snipers when you're playing online games but gets too shy to approach you in-game
makes guides on streamer etiquette in energy drink-induced fervors
lowkey doxxes the people that try and find out/leak your personal information
SEVEN FORBID you give this man moderator powers on your streams... he programs a bot that automatically bans chatters for using certain "keywords", bad things that people could potentially say about you
and then he's like "heh... all in a day's work... it's so hard and thankless, being a white knight" #JOBLESS 🫵
ortho is a little put off by his brother's fanaticism, but you make his brother happy (he's heard a few too many "WHEE HEE HEE"s from under idia's covers in the middle of the night). that's good... though he really should put his brother's screentime in check. all that staring at your streams can't be good for his eyes...
your meeting + his discovery
you two unintentionally meet in person at an ungodly hour when you're both scrounging around campus for late-night snacks (him usually not seeing the light of day and you being a streamer throws off the possibility of a balanced schedule)
"this blows," idia muttered to himself as he trudged outside of his mancave, tugging his oshi's graphic (LIMITED-EDITION BTW) hoodie over his head to avoid any potential unwanted attention from other night crawlers. the chill of the nighttime night raven college air was an unwelcome difference from the stuffy comfort of his dorm room. "i seriously ran out of my snack stash right before the start of the raid... ugh, i hope muscle red isn't too upset. ts pmo..."
idia skittered to the vending machine outside of the school store, but not without doing a few misplaced ninja moves. the temptation from being completely alone was too strong.
or... perhaps not completely?
he was in the middle of a side-step when he heard a giggle behind him.
a high-pitched shriek left his lips and he straightened immediately, head whipping to gaze at the person behind them. oh, seven! the ramshackle prefect!
not good, not good at all, idia thought to himself, the prefect is like, extrovert final boss. i'm so cooked. what if they took a video? what if they show it to all their extrovert friends? what if they post it all over magicam? everyone will point and laugh at me and go, "hey, it's the blue freak." my sunny school days are over. i'm done for. goodbye. please delete my search history. SIGNED IDIA SHROUD.
"...are you going to use the vending machine?" you asked with a polite smile, though the remnants of amusement lingered in your throat.
idia tugged at the strings of his hoodie, processing your words after what felt like eons.
"uh... uh... yeah..." just bake me into a fucking pie already. he hurried to punch a number into the vending machine, slipping a thaumark into the slot.
shit! in his hurry to extricate himself from the situation, he had pressed random numbers and got himself... a can of tuna? what the heck??? they sell this at the school store vending machine?
he internally blanched at the thought of eating the raw fish. this was all his fault!!! he totally could've gone a night without snacking. venturing out of his gamer hovel was a terrible idea. ortho had been on his case about his poor diet anyways. great seven, i wish i hadn't gone outside-
"ummm.. excuse me?" you waved your hand in idia's face and he recoiled, snapping out of his existential crisis. "do you want to trade? you don't look very happy."
idia's eyes flickered to your hands. resting in them was a bag of gummy worms. oh, those look good. way better than a can of tuna. if i wasn't such a chud- wait, they're giving them to me?
he frowned, eyes flickering from his can of tuna to your gummy worms. "ah... i... i couldn't..."
"i insist." you smiled, and idia felt like he was being beamed in the face with the extrovert ray of a thousand suns. too sparkly! "my roommate likes tuna anyways."
idia nodded hesitantly, gingerly grasping the bag of gummy worms and almost throwing the can of tuna into your hands. wait, roommate? isn't that the cute widdle kitty cat? i wonder if they'll let me pet him... i want a floofy paradise, but i'm surrounded by meatheads...
and wait, that voice sounds familiar.
"your hoodie," you said hesitantly, peeking at his graphic hoodie (THAT WAS LIMITED EDITION BTW). "is that... that virtual streamer?"
idia perked up instantly. "wait, you know them? holy based... did you watch-"
he then proceeded to yap.
you looked a little embarrassed as idia went on a tangent about his favorite vtuber, but the male either didn't notice or didn't care.
after he finished his long-winded rant, he was suddenly struck with realization of the situation he was in. he awkwardly stood there, feeling a wave of embarrassment hot enough to combat the brisk air of the hour, squeezing his bag of gummy worms. it always felt good to rant about his hyperfixations, but you had just met him. you probably thought he was weird...
"ah... sorry for keeping you..."
"no, it's okay," you fretted, "it's... nice to hear? i guess... hey, what's your name?"
and that's how you met (irl)
you exchanged contacts with him that night after a bit of pestering
frequently spams your messages with rants about your vtuber persona and news on streams once he confirms you're not a normie (your knowledge about his oshi you is on par with his!! you're totally not a fake fan!)
you two learn more about each other through late-night texts, voice chats, and multiplayer games. he shares his interests beyond fanboying with you and you two bond a lot over a love for anime, manga, and gaming
finds himself smiling whenever you two call and game together
feels genuinely comfortable with someone at his school other than ortho for the first time
gets secure enough to openly tease you
will stream games for you if you're too tired to play
loves the moments where it's stupidly late, you're gaming together, and you both can't stop laughing over stupid things
likes listening to you talk about your home
brushes off the flicker of recognition he feels when he hears your voice. there's no way...?
scratch that. as if. the chances are exceedingly low, but idia's not dumb.
the exhibits: you're mysteriously away from chatting whenever his favorite vtuber is streaming, your voices are identical, your gamertags bear similarities, and you both like the same things.
also you're both broke as shit
probably realizes on his own
idia clutched his pillow in his arms as he watched the livestream on his tablet with rapt attention.
"i finally got a new couch! the old one was so hard to sit on, you could feel all the springs."
idia's eyes flashed to his magicam DMs.
you: NEW COUCH JUST DROPPED
you: [Attachment: 1 Image]
you: im so happy oml, you could feel all the springs on the old one
his chest pounded.
"i'm not a big fan of that food... i can't stand the texture."
you: lol i hate that food. how can anyone eat that? its texture is so bad
he must be going insane. only in fiction does this kind of stuff happen.
"yeah, i'm really excited for the release of the anime," your avatar said, "i promised my friend we'd watch it together when it comes out."
you: let's watch the anime together when it releases! i'm so hyped ୧(≧∇≦*)
you: i'm so glad i have someone to watch it with
he can't pretend anymore.
he eventually can't deny it when the coincidences become too much
idia ghosts you
he stops watching your streams
doesn't throw your merch away, but can't bring himself to look at it
your viewers get confused as to why gloomurai's not donating anymore
were you just playing him for a fool? laughing as he fixated over you without knowing, embarrassing himself with pages and pages of praise for you
the shame and anxiety tears at him
he hasn't cried this hard in a while
"idia, you have thirteen assignments due." said ortho, a hint of worry in his mechanical lenses. "you haven't eaten anything in two days."
idia shifted in his bed, buried under blankets. he grunted slightly- not the response his little brother was hoping for.
what was wrong with him? he couldn't even bear to get up and do his dailies. stupid things he used to love so much made him think too much of you.
why did you have to barrel into his life, finally make him feel like he belonged somewhere, then ruin it? you were like a hurricane, sending him into a frenzy, changing him, then leaving him with nothing.
a sudden rapping came at the door. idia groaned in response, burrowing deeper into his blankets and yanking his pillow over his head to muffle the sound.
"ortho, whoever it is, tell them to go away."
ortho eyed his brother hesitantly before opening the door to speak to the person.
idia sighed in exasperation, shutting his eyes-
"IDIA SHROUD!"
the boy shoots up like a rocket, flaming hair a mess as he stares at you. he opens and closes his mouth like a fish out of water.
"wh-what are you- how- ortho, why didn't you-"
he screeches as you launch yourself into his arms.
"i'm sorry for not telling you." you whisper in his ear. his skin tingles from your breath, shivers wracking his body. "i'm sorry. i'm so, so, so sorry. i didn't know how to bring it up. i was having too much fun being around you. i was scared my identity would make us grow further apart. and it did."
idia stares at you in disbelief. you're warm and real and breathing. not just a model behind a screen.
"y... you..."
before he knows it, idia's crying in your arms.
and you're crying too.
you both cry for a while.
idia, strangely, feels better after.
"...that was messed up, dude." he sniffles.
"i know." you sniffle right back.
first thing you do is turn on his lights (he shrieks like a vampire) and make him a real meal
he doesn't really know how to act around you
bringing up your identity will only make him more embarrassed for a while
has infrequent periods of communication with you. sometimes chats energetically with you, sometimes ghosts you because he's too ashamed and feels like he's ruined everything
it takes a lot of in-person communication and ortho forcing his brother to talk to you for your relationship to go back to somewhat normal
admires you even more because of all the weight you're juggling
being a prefect, dealing with overblots, trying to find a way home, and streaming on top of it all
finds himself talking to ortho about you
"hey, ortho? i think i'm going crazy. their eyes glow. like, they really glow. their whole face glows. i wonder what their routine is. have you noticed them glow?" idia asks in the middle of the night, staring up at his ceiling as he lays in bed. he's running on energy drinks and instant noodles, but that's definitely not what's causing his heart palpitations.
"i have not, idia."
"oh... ok... they glow... i swear..."
...
"idia, your heart is pumping at an abnormal rate. your skin is also unusually flushed. my scanners tell me that your bodily functions are stable. is there something wrong?"
"...i feel all weird."
wow he is shit at communicating!!!
because of his curse he's averse to making long-lasting relationships with others, but it's so hard to stay away from you
starts to put your VODs on in the background when he's gaming or doing homework. finds your voice helps soothe him
reads over your past texts a lot
yearning phase is lowkey hell for idia
guy could fumble ez
random dry spells of texting once again, you gotta initiate for this part or nothing will happen
idia didn't know if he was dead or alive.
you two were finally watching the anime you both had long anticipated the release of together. you were curled up in his blankets next to him (he actually kind of cleaned his room a bit), his laptop resting between you.
they're so close! doki-doki... holy cornball, bro💔. this isn't a shoujo.
he reached for a chip from the bag nestled between both of your legs. coincidentally, he did so just as you happened to reach for one of your own.
feeling the brush of your fingertips together, idia jolted back like he had just touched a hot stove. honestly, if not for the pink wisps complementing his blue hair and the flush of his ears, you could have easily thought he hated you.
"...sorry." he muttered, forcibly gluing his eyes to the screen.
it's funny. he'd anticipated the anime adaptation of this series for ages, but now he couldn't care less.
the awkwardness and tension hangs in the air, suffocating the both of you. the ending theme plays as you two finish the last episode of the season. the screen goes black and idia is left to stare at your visage in the reflection. even after binge-watching 12 episodes in the middle of the night and eating nothing but junk food for dinner, you still somehow look amazing??? some people are just blessed, fr. wait, now he's self-conscious. he bought some eye cream to try and look less tired. was it working? it was humiliating to have to ask his mom for recommendations on good brands-
"hey. i like you." you say, breaking the silence.
"wut"
dating
idia.exe has stopped working
soooo... you two end up dating!!!! life is confetti and rainbows and kitty cat gifs for idia
after you leave for the night he screams into his pillow and kicks his legs
there's a lot of that
rip ortho's robot ears (it was lwk better when you were just a vtuber because now idia's screaming about how lucky he is to have bagged nrc's isekai baddie)
grim is pissed because your boyfriend keeps trying to pet him
trein thinks he's dreaming when idia attends a class in-person. you pestered your boyfriend to attend at least one class in-person a week
significant other effect is real. idia puts more effort into taking care of himself because of you
don't think this means he'll skimp out on supporting his oshi, though!!!
"hey, everyone! today we're checking out this new indie horror game. if the stream freezes, it's because i got jumpscared and turned off my pc."
gloomurai donated 500 thaumarks!
i will protect you kitten o7
idia grins at the sound of your laughter. he can hear the fondness in it and it sends butterflies through his stomach. he pictures you behind your screen, the exasperated yet affectionate look you might have as you read over his message.
it feels like a high-stakes secret, knowing your identity and dating you. he's the luckiest man in the world.
"i appreciate the support, gloomurai."
4ceballer: is it just me or has he gotten worse 💔💔💔
jamilclipthat: put the fries in the bag bro
craycray4caycay: this is cringier than my last edating phase
musclered: OwO
mamashroud.exe<3: omg! ^0^ my, my, so bold!
creativityisrunningout: can we kill this guy actually
givemec6varka: WHY IS HE A STREAM MOD
this mf is so smug, it's like a constant high
at first, he had a bit of trouble not separating the entities of "vtuber" you and "real-life prefect" you
azul is kind of put off by how much more insufferable idia's gotten since their last board game club meeting
brags online about having a partner when squashing noobs in games, it's so bad ("el oh el... jobless AND partnerless? couldn't be me. GGEZ rekt" he eyeing dat olympos inc. internship)
yet all the otome games in the world could not have prepared him for an actual relationship
spends way too much time overthinking dates and things to say. it takes a bit of reassurance from you to convince him that you two can just go to how you were before
dates are usually just you two in his room or somewhere quiet. occasionally you'll go to some pop-up or themed cafe (once in a blue moon you'll do karaoke so he can belt game or anime songs), but he prefers staying in with you
insists on playing FPS or other skill-based video games to "hone your gaming skills for streams", but obviously just wants to try and carry you and flex his knowledge
bought a quieter keyboard so you can sleep or chill in his room without having to hear his clicking when he's up late at night
pretty clingy, likes to touch you, as if to reaffirm that you're real and his
but gets flustered and goes stone-still when you initiate
idia typed furiously at his keyboard and clicked feverishly with his mouse.
it was two in the morning. ortho had powered off for the night and idia was operating at maximal efficiency.
he was in the process of clipping moments from his oshi's most recent stream. he'd been spending too much time with his significant other lately, and he hadn't had the time to devote to his favorite vtuber! he couldn't help it. he'd never win over his significant other's warm embraces and sweet words!!! it's super effective!
"whee hee hee... almost done-"
"what are you doing?" the vtuber in question asked. idia jolted, looking up at you, whose eyes were heavy with drowsiness.
"ah... just clipping your most recent stream."
a fuzzy warmth settled in his chest as he felt your arms sling around his neck. sighing slightly, he relaxed into your embrace.
"do you have to do it now?" you tiredly asked, pressing kisses across his cheeks. the tips of his hair flickered with a delightful pink. drawing reactions out of him was always fun.
"i- well... i wanted to get it out as soon as possible... i'm basically spreading the gospel-"
idia squeaked as you silenced his words with a kiss. he eventually shut his eyes and melted into your lips.
ugh, overpowered once again...
"come to bed." you mumbled against his blue lips. he huffed slightly, pulling away reluctantly. "aren't you always prattling on about wanting to devote yourself to your oshi? well, your oshi wants you to get a good night's sleep. with THEM."
idia gulped. you made a strong case.
"...fine... you're too OP..." he sluggishly rose from his gaming chair and followed you into bed.
he sighed as he snuggled into the comfort of your chest, listening to your heartbeat. his eyes fluttered shut. how are you real? how did i pull you?
yes, gushing over twisted wonderland's favorite vtuber was fun... but he much preferred the warmth the real you had to offer.
summary: you had your struggles with understanding social cues, which the overblot boys challenge further as a sudden revelation brings to light their adoration of you.
pairings: overblots x gn! reader
cw: none that I can think of?
note: so this is based off of how I suck at reading social cues sometimes and I thought it would be cute to see how that would work with emotionally constipated characters 💀
wc: 4.5k (~600 words per character)
Master List
❥ Riddle Rosehearts
This was a nightmare for any Heartslabyul student. You, who had trouble with social cues, taking jokes too seriously and sarcasm sometimes flying over your head, vs Riddle Rosehearts who was in vehement denial of his feelings for you. It was like watching a terrible rom com for everyone around you two. When Riddle blushed around you, you chalked it up to him being nervous (he was trying to better himself, so being nervous about taking new actions only made sense). When Riddle felt his heart pounding whenever you were around, he swept it as nerves being around a friend without feeling the need to control everything. In fact, you both were so bad, everyone gave up on their initial bet, as they started to believe neither of you would catch on. It wasn’t until nudges from your friends finally opened your eyes to the others behavior.
“Riddle always goes easy on you, it’s not fair,” Ace would whine, falling backwards on your couch.
“No he doesn’t?” You frown, crossing your arms as you recalled the many lectures you have received from the red headed housewarden.
“When was the last time he beheaded you?” Deuce asked, genuinely curious.
“I’m magicless,” You raise an eyebrow. “It would have no effect, so does it really matter?”
“But it’s uncomfortable,” Ace points out, jabbing a finger at your chest as the duo try to break through your inability to connect to seemingly simple dots. “You think he’d still gain some satisfaction from that.”
You open your mouth to further plead your case, but you find yourself pausing, internally agreeing with Ace (not that you’d tell him that). The last time you had been beheaded was around the overblot, and since then it was just scoldings and lectures.
“And when your tie is crooked, he fixes it for you,” Deuce chimes in.
“And when your hair is messy, he smooths it out,” Ace tags along.
A dawning look of realization flashes across your face, and the duo eat it up. Finally, FINALLY you seem to notice that it does seem a bit unusual, that he’s not being his usual intense self, nor does he dote on anyone else like that.
A similar situation goes on with Riddle, Trey and Cater pointing out Riddle’s affection for you, but in more subtle ways.
“You really care for them,” Trey hums, mindlessly finishing his homework.
Riddle pauses his talk of how his day was, unknowingly rambling about you, and how you shaped it. His face flushes, but he does not reprimand his friend (progress), instead he contemplates the meaning.
“Haha, totes,” Cater agrees, focusing more on his phone than the homework on his table. “It’s cute how you both are so oblivious to each other.”
Riddle feels his blood pressure rising, and he’s unsure if it’s because they are talking to him so casually about his feelings that he totally doesn’t have, or if it’s because he’s flustered at how they nailed it right on the head.
“Don’t be presumptuous,” Riddle huffs, double checking his homework to make sure it’s all accounted for and correct. “We are good friends, nothing more and nothing less.”
“You double check their bag to make sure they have all their supplies accounted for,” Trey mumbles mindlessly.
“And you don’t hesitate to give them something if they need it,” Cater points out.
Riddle’s face was bright as a tomato as he clears his throats and excuses himself to his room.
While everyone thinks they finally won, that the torment would finally end, and you both will realize each other's feelings and mushy happiness ensues…it only got worse. Every interaction becomes a guessing game of what the other’s intentions are while trying to balance your own emotions, and the Heartslabyul students continue to suffer.
❥ Leona Kingscholar
Oh boy, if Riddle and you are a nightmare for everyone around you, then Leona is your own personal nightmare. Every insult you took to heart, every swipe of his tail left you feeling like you did something wrong, and it got to the point that you tried to avoid the lion beastman altogether. You couldn’t annoy him if you weren’t around, right? Wrong. In fact, Ruggie had seeked you out because the prince was in a foul mood, and Ruggie swore it was due to your absence. You really couldn’t wrap your head around the hyena’s logic, as Leona had been nothing but indifferent, if not displeased when you were around.
“He’s always like that,” Ruggie waved you off, dragging you to the botanical gardens where the prince laid. You swore he was lying though, as Leona’s tail swished, ear twitching as you approached, and you felt way too overwhelmed. There was no way he wanted you nearby, you just couldn’t wrap your head around how he possibly likes your presence in any way possible. ‘He’s bad at showing affection’ Your inner Ruggie chimed, but you stood tensely anyways, unsure if you should stay or leave.
“What are you doing?” Leona grumbled, one green eye opening lazily. You felt his stare penetrate into your soul, you swore he was glaring you down for intruding in his space.
“S-sorry,” You nervously mumble, hand fidgeting with the hem of your sleeves. “Ruggie dragged me in here saying you wanted…company? But clearly he was wrong, sorry again.” You decided to try and bolt, hoping the apology would satisfy the lion enough to distract him from your escape, only for a hand to grab your ankle.
Your heart beat erratically in your chest, head spinning as adrenaline fills your veins. You felt like you had just stepped into a horror movie called social anxiety and terrible life decisions (though being transported to some weird world was not your decision). Leona’s claws briefly imprinted on your skin as he dragged you closer, nearly causing you to fall.
“Shut up,” He tsked, hand not letting you go (like he knew you were two seconds away from running for dear life). “C’mere, ‘m tired and I don’t wanna deal with this right now.”
You blinked, unsure where exactly he wanted you to go, body tense with stress and uncertainty, head swiveling, like you’d surely find an escape somewhere. Instead of escape, perhaps hiding in your dorm room for the rest of the day to try and recuperate from this intense and scary experience, Leona seemed to have enough of your ‘obliviousness’, reached up, grabbed your shirt, and quite literally drag your standing frame to fall onto his which was laying on the ground. You nearly screamed as you careened towards his chest, your breath nearly leaving your lungs as the lion cushioned your fall, arms wrapping around your back as he closed his eyes.
You did not relax, if anything, your body turned into stone, holding your breath as you wondered who you pissed off in your past life to deal with this. You must’ve killed someone quite important.
“Relax,” Leona sighed, his warm breath caressing your ear. “‘M not gonna bite…unless you want me to.” You did not relax for several more minutes, not until his breathing evened out and you were sure he was unconscious. You laid there, bones feeling like jelly as the adrenaline wore off, mind reeling with what the hell was currently happening.
Leona’s mixed signals were quite literally your worst enemy in a world of magic, constant overblots, and a neglectful headmaster. You were never sure if the lion hated your guts, or if he secretly liked you? Leona hated how you couldn’t decipher his near impossible signs, wishing you could read his mind, not wanting to ruin his ‘image’ in front of his dorm members. The only one having any hoot or holler would be Ruggie as you both awkwardly navigated around the other. Ironically, you both did fill the role of predator and prey perfectly.
❥ Azul Ashengrotto
Ohhhhhhh boy. Azul absolutely has a hate love relationship with your inability to pick up on certain social cues. Some moments, you could read the room well, tell when someone was upset, or sad, or even so happy they were crying, other moments he wanted to slam his head against the wall as you took all his words to heart, even if he was trying to flirt or make a stupid joke. The twins made the situation ten times worse as they liked to mess with you.
“Azul mentioned that he’s quite tired today,” Jade would hum innocently, fixing you a drink at the bar.
“Oh, did something happen?” You would ask, falling straight for the bait Jade laid out perfectly.
“You could say so,” Jade’s grin widened, mischief and amusement swirling in his gaze. “Said you kept him up all night.”
Your brows furrow, unsure what the eel meant. You hadn’t texted (especially not called) anyone last night, too exhausted with all the socializing you had been doing and had some unwind time. So you’re not sure what you had done to keep the merman up the previous night.
“Did I do something?” You asked, genuinely concerned if you had made a mistake. Perhaps you had done something offensive in their culture? Or insulted him unknowingly? (You weren’t proud to admit that you had done that before).
Instead of being helpful, kind, or friendly (things Jade were not known for), he merely shrugged, pushing you a drink and moving on to the next customer, an extra shine of glee in his eyes at your misery.
Floyd wasn’t much better.
“Can you both just get together already?” Floyd whined, slumping in his seat across from you as you tried to focus on homework. Of course he ruined that.
“What?” You questioned, eyebrows furrowing in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
“You and Azul, duh,” He rolled his eyes like it was the most obvious thing. You merely blinked, trying to connect whatever dots that Floyd just created.
“Why would we be together?” You ask, dropping your pencil, completely forgetting the frustrating work that was assigned (it’s not like you had the context to answer it anyways). “You mean like dating?”
“DUH,” He groaned, like this was physically paining him. “What else? You both clearly like each other, just kiss and get over it already.” It felt like your face was on fire as you tried to process whatever the hell he was spewing.
It honestly left you confused. You thought Azul was just being nice, a friend trying to make up for his transgressions against you and your friends (and sometimes you questioned his intentions as he had conned you before). Sure, sometimes he would say something that would fluster you, a compliment here, a light touch to your shoulder there (even you knew that was out of character for the reserved business man), but the twins had opened your mind to a whole other venture you hadn’t even thought about.
Azul noticed a change, not obvious, but you seemed to finally be taking in his advances. Your eyes would widen, like the dots were finally appearing in your head, sometimes it even seemed like you were looking at him in a new light altogether (cus you kind of were…). His fond frustration melted into excitement. Finally, what felt like stagnation started to gain traction, and it even emboldened him to up his moves, to make sure you couldn’t question his intentions. After all, if you struggled understanding what his gestures meant, then that meant he had to make sure that his intentions were obvious (maybe just communicate your feelings properly…).
❥ Jamil Viper
Hahaha…so Jamil is kind of the embodiment of subtle care, especially when he refuses to acknowledge his own feelings. At first it’s in ways you don’t notice. How his eyes trail after you, making sure you’re okay. The way he eyes your meals, always cataloging how unhealthy they are, noting how you shiver during a chilly day only in a short sleeve shirt, or how you always seem exhausted even if you got a full night's sleep (which can be rare with the aduo around).
Jamil tries to shove these mental notes to the side. It’s not like he has the time to take care of anyone else with Kalim running around, you are your own person after all. Yet he strangely found himself with an extra portion of the lunch he prepared, shoving it towards you without thought (too much thought actually), or how he shrugs of his sweater (his safe space really), and tosses it towards you as the chill seeps into him instead, or how he picks up any slack, talking to your friends when you couldn’t keep up, or walking you to your dorm early as he makes up excuses to get you in the comfort of your own place.
At first you didn’t notice, thinking he was being kind, or perhaps even feeling forced to because Kalim asked him to, but that changed when he excused you from Kalim’s party. The people surrounding you had you feeling like a zombie as you tried to hide in a corner, eating some snacks as you held a drink, hoping the walls would encapsulate you. Kalim had begged you to come, which was why you were there, but it ended up just like you expected. Jamil noticed, as he always does, and offered to walk you back to your dorm, a routine you started to expect. Of course, Kalim had blocked your escape, a pout with big watery eyes tugging on your heartstrings. Before you could give in, zone out for another hour and ponder why you hate yourself, Jamil cut in.
“The prefect is tired,” Jamil points out, and you wonder if it’s that obvious.
After this moment, you began to notice the subtleties. Perhaps not all at once, but even you couldn’t deny how Jamil didn’t treat anyone else the way he treated you. You weren’t sure if it was anything beyond friendly, but you noticed that he seemed to care for you in a way that he didn’t for anyone else, and it was something you cherished. In fact, you both fell into a weirdly domestic relationship that never dared to press against the walls of friendship…that was until Jamil himself slipped up (something he never does, mind you…he is quite whipped).
“You’re way too kind to me,” You couldn’t help but grumble as you accepted the week's worth of breakfast and dinners Jamil had prepared for you (you were quite bad at making those).
“It’s nothing,” The vice-housewarden waved off, a faint blush coating his tan cheeks.
“Seriously,” You don’t drop it, too moved by his kindness towards you. “No one has ever done anything like this for me before, you always make sure to make meals with textures I like, altering things to avoid foods I don’t like, and not to mention how you portion them to my exact liking! I feel like I don’t do enough to make up for all the work you put into me.”
Jamil’s brows furrowed, both bashful at your acknowledgement of his work, while also upset at your self admonishment.
“You don’t have to do anything,” Jamil shakes his head. “I do it because I want to. Trust me, I’d go crazy if I didn’t do this, who knows what you’d be eating otherwise.”
Your heart stuttered at his admission, the revelation of how deep his care ran for you striking you somewhere soft and gooey. It was only then when the question of whether Jamil liked you romantically dared to breach your brain.
❥ Vil Schoenheit
Vil wasn’t one to coddle anyone, not that you needed coddling, but this meant that his standoffish attitude would not be diluted. Vil isn’t nearly as bad as Leona, but his actions still managed to confuse you. You thought he wanted nothing to do with you, a notion you could understand. You could be reserved most times, quiet, almost like a shadow. The complete opposite of glitz and glam that was Vil Schoenheit…yet that seems to pull him in all the more. He would critique your uniform, comment on how it was too big in some place, yet somehow too small in others. In fact, you thought he was lowkey bullying you at first, always picking you apart, making you feel small and unwanted…only to piece you back together.
He’d personally tailor your uniform, grumbling about how ‘you can’t trust anyone to do things right these days’. He’d fix your hairstyle, explaining how the few trims, or complete makeover fits your face better, how the framing of a few pieces can make or break your beauty. Beneath the harshness, you learned to decipher that this was his way of caring (even if it could be quite shitty sometimes). And to say Vil didn’t notice how his comments hit you would be an insult to his social training. Of course he noticed the way you seemed to shut down after a particularly harsh comment from him, which made him shift tactics.
Instead of scolding you, or pointing out something he deemed atrocious, he merely fixed it instead, and you let him. You didn’t have time to get dressed properly? It’s fine, he’s fixing the wrinkles and crookedness for you. You didn’t style your hair properly? There’s a few minutes to spare before class, he’s dragging you to the nearest mirror as he styles it himself. You didn’t pack a proper lunch? Don’t worry, prefect, he happened to bring extra.
At first you’re not sure how to take in the change. You feel like it’s some elaborate prank show, the cameras hiding in the corners (there aren’t any, but Rook sure is). Yet the longer this behavior goes on, you learn to accept it, and you even like it (which you find oddly strange yourself). You hadn’t been cared for like this before, and especially not in this world, so you found yourself eating up the affection.
“The love that blooms between Roi du Poison and Trickster is magnifique!” Rook bellows, hand clutched over his heart as he dramatically swoons.
You had grown used to his exclamations of passion and love, so you simply deadpan at the hunter.
“What are you even talking about?” You question, face scrunching at his claims.
It was quite comical actually, as Vil was currently applying a brand new lotion he had helped create himself to your arms, and you had the audacity to be confused (I would be too though so I can’t rag on the reader too much).
“Ignore him,” Vil mumbles, focused intensely on how your skin was much softer with his care and how he was going to keep it that way. “He likes to spout nonsense all the time.”
“But is it nonsense when the Queen deems the Trickster important enough to care for himself?” Rook asks, head tilting as his grin widens. “I have not seen you spoil anyone so, Roi du Poison.”
Vil’s face flattens, his usual humoring of Rook evaporating quickly (he didn’t want to be ratted out like this). Yet it was too late, as your mouth opened in recognition of Rook’s words. He had a point, you had seen Epel get scolded mercilessly and then forced into punishment many times by Vil, yet if you do something similar, you get a light slap on the wrist before he drags you along, your punishment usually pertaining him taking care of you in one way or another. You weren’t sure why it didn’t click before, but now you couldn’t help but second guess all of Vil’s intentions, and what that means for your future.
❥ Idia Shroud
Idia was…hard to get to know. You tried being friendly, yet he would shut you out. You tried to invite him out, but he would deflect. You tried parallel play, yet you couldn’t help but notice how he glanced at you like you were a starved tiger and he was the closest meal available. Bummed that you weren’t getting anywhere, you also didn’t want to make the blue-flammed hair man uncomfortable, which meant leaving him alone. It saddened you, but you knew you couldn’t make friends with everyone.
Little did you know, you had it completely backwards. Idia was drawn to you like a moth to a flame. You were similar to him in a way, which made him rethink his entire life. You tended to be quiet, speaking when you were spoken to and falling into the shadows, yet you weren’t like him at all. You had friends, you smiled and talked freely about topics you were passionate about, and even stood up when needed.
Yet, worst of all…you were terrible at some social cues. He even found it amusing at times, cackling when you took a joke at face value or when you looked confused when someone said something sarcastically, only to get it a few seconds too late. You didn’t know this, of course. He rarely left his room, and he found himself stalking Grim more often than he could count, which meant you were there too.
If it were up to him, you would never know, and things would stay exactly as they were. Him in his room alone and you none the wiser to his stalking, yearning, observations. Of course, his dear little brother would never leave it at that, taking in his brother’s infatuation, liking towards you. Which leads to a various amount of goofy, yet terrifying situations. Such as Ortho inviting you to his room without him knowing, and making the most unsevenly sound ever when he got jumpscared by you. Or how he almost bolted the second he saw you at the board game’s club, only for Ortho to block his exit (he nearly jumped out the window at your smile).
And gosh, he couldn’t get over how oblivious you could be sometimes, your comments making him feel like a warm, gooey mess, and you were completely unaffected! It really wasn’t fair. You made it look so easy, and he wishes he could complement you as easily (little did he know, you struggled with it as well, you were just better at hiding it).
“You have really cool hair,” You compliment, eyes wide with wonder.
Idia could only stare, hair tinting pink along with his pale cheeks as he internally shut down.
“Sorry, was that weird?” You ask as Idia continues to stare at you with the blankest eyes known to man, causing you to second guess yourself. Was that weird of you to say? Perhaps you weren’t supposed to mention his hair at all? Did you make him self conscious?
“N-not at all,” Was all he could stutter, eyes averting to anything but you.
It wasn’t until Idia started to text you that you realized you had things backwards. Sure, in person you both were awkward and unsure, perpetually questioning all your actions, while online things flowed more smoothly. Sure, you would take a few minutes, up to a few hours to respond, but Idia was busy with his games anyways, so he didn’t mind (sometimes he did, but he would do the same thing so he understood). He also talked more freely, rambling about his passions and eager for your approval. It wasn’t till one fatal text, that you realized he may have liked you more than just a friend.
Ugh, you can’t be srs
Ur lit too cute for this world
He deleted it as quickly as he sent it, but it was too late. You were already spiraling.
❥ Malleus Draconia
Ha. Hahahahaha. So, take the ‘you don’t know you’re betrothed’ trope, and multiply it by 10. Jk…kinda. So in reality, you both are kind of bad at social cues. It’s mutual. You both are quite slow to unravel any feelings. In fact, you both bond at how similar your social experiences are. Both used to people tuning out your passionate rants about the topics you loved, so you learned to keep it to yourself (until you met each other). Or how you both can be awkward in social situations, unsure what to say at certain moments and look towards the other for reassurance.
In fact, this was what caused Malleus to cherish you so. Not only were you patient and understanding, but you understood, to a certain degree. It caused the dragon to latch onto you, wishing to show you his gratitude for your friendship. You were in a similar boat. If you were exhausted from existing in the world, you knew Malleus would bring you somewhere quiet, somewhere no one could reach you if you did not wish. He would do things for you that you weren’t used to, and cared for you in ways that warmed you. After feeling alienated, Malleus was a person who showed you you weren’t alone.
Due to it being a relationship you both feared to lose, neither of you thought of anything more. Why should you question something that worked so well? Something that neither of you had to think twice about? Something that came as easily as breathing?
“Another gift?” Lilia chimes, hanging in front of Malleus upside down, amused grin tugging on his lips.
“They mentioned wanting this,” Malleus replies, like the thought of you wanting something was irrevocably wrong, and he himself will fix it.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you’re courting them,” The bat fae hummed, eyes crinkling with joy. Malleus blinked, brain working overtime, because Lilia had a point. Malleus’ love for you was as deep as a never ending void, he would do anything in his power to make you happy, and all he wanted in return was your smile aimed towards him (though he also finds your bashfulness adorable).
It was then that Malleus went from friendship mode, to courting mode. You, on the other hand, were completely unaware. I mean why should you have thought differently? He treated you no differently than before, it was only his intentions that switched. Of course, this only amused Lilia all the more, after all, who doesn’t love to watch young love bloom? (Sebek)
“At this rate, you’re gonna become fae royalty,” Ace grumbles, eyeing yet another gift that appeared in your dorm.
“How in the world would I do that?” You asked, genuinely confused. Malleus was one of your closest friends, sure, but in order to become royalty that would mean marrying him, and you doubt the dragon fae saw you in such a light.
“You’re basically drowning in jewels!” Ace exclaims, pointing out the jewelry that adorned you. Your face flushes at the implication, and the creeping dread of the possibility of Ace having a point.
“Mal said he had extra…” Even your defence sounds pathetic.
“You even have nicknames for each other,” Deuce points out.
“I have nicknames for you too,” You glare. “Dumb and dumber.”
Your deflection does nothing as the two continue to tease you relentlessly for how unaware you were about something so ‘obvious’ (it really wasn’t but okay). The next time Malleus treats you to something, whether it be a fancy dish catered to your liking, an outing you mentioned you wanted to do, or another ‘small’ gift he just stumbled upon, you can’t help but notice the hearts in his eyes as he awaits your reaction, and it’s only then do you realize you’re doomed.
A/N: AUUUGHHHHVIM SORRY I HAD TO MAKE THIS ONE ANGSTY lowk ended up projecting a bit so it miiight be ooc?? I KOVE AZUL SM 😭😭😭 (pspspsps @rho-229 it's your mannnn....)
azul falls in love with you slowly enough that he almost manages to mistake it for something else. admiration, perhaps. fascination. simple attachment born from spending too much time together. any explanation would be preferable to the truth, honestly, because the truth is dangerous. feelings like this are messy, vulnerable things, and azul has spent years carefully building himself into someone who never lets vulnerabilities show. unfortunately, you make that increasingly difficult.
at first, his interest in you feels perfectly reasonable. you are clever in ways most people underestimate, adaptable enough to survive NRC's constant insanity, and stubborn enough to stand your ground even when faced with people far more powerful than yourself. azul respects that deeply. conversations with you are enjoyable because you speak to him naturally instead of nervously circling around his reputation. you challenge him sometimes. tease him occasionally. laugh with him instead of at him. naturally he starts seeking your company more often. naturally he grows comfortable around you. there's nothing alarming about that. except eventually, you stop feeling like someone he simply enjoys being around. you become important. and that's where the problem begins.
because azul notices very quickly that you affect him far too easily. if you praise him sincerely, the compliment stays lodged in his chest for hours afterward no matter how casually you said it. if you seem disappointed in him, even slightly, it ruins his mood embarrassingly fast. he starts adjusting little things unconsciously just because you once mentioned liking them— choosing ties you complimented before, preparing drinks the way you prefer them, memorizing tiny details about your habits without meaning to. it's humiliating how badly he wants your approval. worse still, he starts becoming greedy for your attention.
he likes when you seek him out specifically. likes when your focus stays entirely on him during conversations. likes when you smile at him in that soft way that makes something warm unfurl painfully inside his chest. and whenever someone interrupts your time together, irritation curls sharply beneath his skin before he can suppress it. floyd notices first, naturally.
"azul gets all weird when shrimpy talks about other people~" "i do not." "you totally dooo~" azul exhales slowly, "floyd." jade watches the exchange over the rim of his teacup with deeply unhelpful amusement while azul debates drowning both twins in paperwork. because unfortunately, floyd isn't entirely wrong.
the realization unsettles azul more than he wants to admit because attachment has always been dangerous for him. growing up taught him that painfully well. people's affection is conditional. temporary. the moment you become inconvenient, undesirable, or weak, it disappears. azul learned early on that if he wanted admiration, he had to earn it through usefulness, intelligence, success. those things were safe because they gave him control. but this? this feels terrifyingly fragile. because you're kind to him in ways he doesn't know how to protect himself against.
you look at him too gently sometimes. trust him too easily. care about him without asking for anything in return. and every time it happens, azul feels this awful tightness in his chest because part of him genuinely can't understand why. surely there are better people you could spend your time with. people less selfish. less manipulative. less... him. that insecurity creeps into everything before he even realizes it's happening. whenever you compliment him, his first instinct becomes wondering if you truly mean it. whenever you choose to spend time with him over someone else, disbelief flickers quietly beneath his smile. some selfish, frightened part of him keeps waiting for the moment you finally realize he isn't worth all this attention.
and honestly? that fear makes him cling harder. because once azul starts loving someone, he loves with his entire heart despite himself. quietly. desperately. he begins centering pieces of his world around you without meaning to. your happiness affects his mood immediately. your exhaustion worries him enough that he starts keeping snacks in his office specifically for you. hearing your laughter after stressful days relaxes him faster than anything else possibly could. it becomes impossible to imagine his routines without you in them anymore.
that realization terrifies him most of all. physical affection only worsens things. azul isn't naturally as clingy as the twins, but around you, touch starts affecting him far more than it should. if you straighten his tie absentmindedly before class, he spends the next hour unable to focus properly. if you lean against his shoulder while studying together, his thoughts dissolve completely for several seconds. one evening you fall asleep beside him in the vip room and he remains perfectly still for nearly two hours because waking you feels unthinkable. he stares at you quietly that entire time. and somewhere in the middle of that silence, a horrible thought settles into his chest. you could destroy him without even trying. because if you ever looked at him with disappointment— real disappointment — he genuinely doesn't think he could handle it.
the full realization happens late one evening after closing hours. azul is exhausted, buried beneath paperwork and stress and lingering frustration after a particularly awful day. he must look more worn down than usual because eventually you reach across the desk toward him gently.
"azul." "...yes?" your fingers brush lightly against his hand before he can pull away. "you know you don’t have to work yourself to death to deserve people caring about you, right?" and he freezes. completely. because you noticed. you noticed the things he'd do just to feel worthy of others attention. and when you said it, your voice was soft. sincere. not mocking or pitying. just honest. and suddenly every feeling he has been trying so carefully not to name crashes together all at once. every instinct to keep you close, every spike of jealousy, every moment your praise lingered in his chest like something precious. but beneath all of that comes another realization too— something quieter and far more frightening. he wants you to stay. not because of what you can offer him. not because you're useful. he just wants you. and that kind of love feels unbearably vulnerable in ways he's spent years trying to avoid.
for a moment, he can't even look at you properly. his chest aches with the weight of it, this awful tender feeling he has no idea how to control. because if you truly saw all the ugly insecure parts of him beneath the polished smiles and careful composure... would you still look at him this gently? would you still stay?
meanwhile you continue watching him with quiet concern, thumb brushing softly across his knuckles like it is the most natural thing in the world. and despite every instinct screaming at him to protect himself, azul finds his fingers curling around yours, and tears falling before he can stop them.
Hello Halo Hello! I hope the year has been plentiful to you and all around amazing! Do you remember the request about the Twisted wonderland boys finding out reader/mc was a girl in gym class? May I ask for a continuation? If you don't mind of course!
Cracks knuckles
Oh, absolutely, darling
Ugh, I’ve been waiting forever to make this request, and honestly? I feel like this could very easily turn into a series, maybe branching into different paths. I don’t know, I’ll let you decide.
I feel like if there were a third part, it would be way more focused on Leona (I’m a massive simp for this man and I have zero shame about it) Part 1 here - Part 3 here - Part 4 here
Anyway… I hope you enjoy it.
Love yall!!!
Do you want the truth? The whole truth?
NRC exploded with the news.
There wasn’t a single corner of the school where it didn’t spread that you, the last student to enroll during the entrance ceremony, the only student without magic in a school specifically meant to train the best mages...were a girl.
The only girl in a school full of boys.
Going back to normal was a lost cause, completely impossible at this point in the semester. Even though you tried, acting as if the dorm leaders and the stupid, single-brain-cell idiots, AKA Ace and Deuce, hadn’t seen part of your underwear. Floyd made that more than impossible, and extremely annoying.
“Ne~ do you always wear the same model? Or is that the only one you’ve got?”
If it weren’t for the fear that he’d hug you so hard he’d squeeze all the stuffing out of you like a teddy bear, you would’ve bitten his hand.
“Can I see if it matches?”
Great Seven, grant me patience—because if you give me strength, I’ll cut his dick off… somehow.
You took two steps back when you felt Jade trying to move closer to continue the conversation with his twin. Survival instinct was fully switched on.
The day after the flying accident, you walked through the hallways as if nothing had happened, although NRC was not the kind of school where you could really pretend nothing ever happened. And who better to shamelessly intercept you halfway down the hall than Vil Schoenheit, proud drama queen and fashion tyrant. The same Vil who had strong fairy godmother vibes, too much aesthetic, and words loaded with threats and venom in case you didn’t follow his… advice.
“Darling, come with me. Now. I will not allow the only girl in this school to dress in used rags that are clearly not her size.”
You knew better than anyone that going against Vil was like painting a target on your back and waiting for a poisoned potion or a spell to smack you straight into the underworld. So you simply stared at him, very deliberately, and replied:
“And what’s your plan?”
Vil grabbed your hand and dragged you straight to Crewel’s office, because obviously, what better way to talk about fashion and design a new uniform for the student currently going viral at school than by combining the current and former prodigies of Pomefiore. A rather dangerous combination, if you ask me.
“We’re going to design you a new uniform, something that highlights your body and makes you actually look like a girl.” He turned to look you up and down. “And lets pretend you have a bit of class.”
“Hey!”
“Shush, potato.”
Want to know what the most surreal part of all this was? That the teaching staff—yes, even Sam—in fact gave you their full support. I’m not saying they went soft and let mistakes slide in class, or treated you like a princess. No, none of that. But they did look after you like you were under protection.
Let’s be honest for a moment: putting up with hundreds of hormonal, out-of-control boys for an entire school year gets exhausting, even for grown men. Having one student who more or less behaves, pays attention in class, and genuinely wants to survive until the end of the school year… they weren’t about to let anything bad happen to you.
And with that—divine magic.
Crewel took it upon himself to become the one in charge of your safety and well-being. You became the protected student of the Potionology professor.
Good luck.
While he and Vil worked on the design of your new uniform—which would be finished by the end of the week (and Crewel even offered to take you shopping so you’d have better clothes for your days off)—some students were desperately trying not to destroy their own brains. And by “some students,” I mean the disaster duo: ADeuce.
That walking catastrophe decided the best way to deal with the “revelation” that their best friend was actually their best girl friend… was to behave even more stupidly.
Ace, for example, wouldn’t leave you alone during class, using every possible moment to throw paper balls at you with dumb phrases written on them, or whispering in your ear while Trein wrote on the board.
“Why didn’t you ever tell us you were a girl?” he asked, sounding deeply offended—Ace-level offended.
“Because it’s none of your business!”
Which… wasn’t entirely a lie. Who cared what you had between your legs, or whether you had boobs or not? What matters is what’s inside, right? Well… Ace wasn’t convinced.
“Of course it’s my business!” Lucius, Trein’s cat, stared straight at Ace before yawning and curling back up on Trein’s desk. “Imagine if I touched you by accident.”
“And why would you touch me by accident?” You went back to taking notes when Trein glanced over his shoulder, sensing the whispers in your direction, but thank some god, he said nothing.
“I didn’t mean it like that—hey!” Deuce, hero of the moment, smacked Ace on the back of the head to shut him up.
“Shut up, idiot!”
Lucius jumped over to the three of you and lightly smacked each of you with his paw. Grim also caught one for being half asleep in your arms.
“Wh—what did I do?”
“SILENCE!!”
And that pretty much summed up the dynamic of every class with that duo and one half-asleep cat who kept getting you into trouble, despite your best efforts. Even during lessons, you could feel some students staring at you for several long seconds; and why wouldn’t they? You were the big sensation of the moment. No matter how dangerous some activities got in potion class or elsewhere—things that usually drew concern or laughter—you, on the other hand, were the first girl they’d seen in months. And that could be dangerous.
If it weren’t for two not-so-angelic angels: Riddle and Leona.
Let’s be clear: Riddle wasn’t trailing behind you like a lapdog or a blood-sucking amoeba like Ace and Deuce, who, by the way, had also turned themselves into your “bodyguards,” though they caused more trouble and detentions than anything else. No, Riddle followed you like you were just another student—except for the small difference that Riddle wasn’t used to interacting with women.
And that, my dear, showed.
“Prefect!” Riddle approached you during lunch, stopping respectfully an arm’s length from your seat. “Setting aside your…” his eyes looked anywhere but at you, “…condition…”
“Condition? Riddle, I’m a girl. I don’t have leprosy.” Please, let the redhead not be any more embarrassed than he already is.
“No! That’s not what I meant!” He was red as a tomato. “I just… mean that you shouldn’t draw more unnecessary attention than you already do.”
Okay. That did sound a little protective. Almost sweet.
“Follow the uniform rules. No alterations. No excessive makeup.”
Ah. I take it back.
“Pomefiore students wear pretty glamorous makeup, don’t they?” Your tone shifted so dramatically it sounded like you were announcing the death of a relative. “So why should I be the exception? And if I attract unnecessary attention, that’s because the boys can’t control themselves—not because I show more or less skin.”
Riddle—who hadn’t stopped shaking since you forced him to look you in the eyes while delivering that pseudo-sexist call-out—was now pale as paper. He looked like he was about to combust. Poor guy had to be guided out of the cafeteria by Trey so he could breathe and have a talk about boundaries with women.
Still, from afar—whether on the training field or in the hallways—you could always hear Riddle shouting:
“Eyes forward! Don’t be pigs!”
Leona, on the other hand… wasn’t the type to come up to you and play bodyguard lion, nor did he worry about staying close or keeping his eyes on you. No. He never needed to, and he’d never expose himself by letting others see he put effort into anything that wasn’t Magift.
He didn’t say anything about the incident in the following days. He didn’t go around telling or yelling at other students to stop staring or to keep their distance. What Leona did was this: every time you happened to end up in the same space as him by chance (far too many times, far too many coincidences), surrounded by other students—and he sensed you were being watched—Leona would open his eyes from whatever nap he was taking and pierce anyone who dared stare at you for more than two seconds with his emerald gaze.
You never caught that look yourself, but anyone else could describe it as a predator about to pounce because someone was eyeing his food.
Let’s just say that after those… insistent stares, no one wanted to get too close to you. And considering how intense testosterone and male hormones were, much more than usual, you were internally grateful not to be constantly surrounded by men.
Yes, the days had become long and complicated. Classes felt heavier, free time with friends turned into awkward moments where no one quite knew how to process you. Relationships between students and classmates became uncomfortable or nonexistent, thanks to several figures protecting you from the shadows.
But all in all, your life went on.
You kept attending class—with the same catastrophic duo who occasionally felt the need to treat you like a fragile object until you smacked them on the head to snap them out of it; with Vil, who treated you like his diamond in the rough, his favorite muse, and gave you more headaches than relief despite the uniform finally fitting your body; with Kalim inviting you to his dorm more times than you could count; and with Azul trying to rope you into a contract—which you strongly suspected contained several illegal clauses—to secure your “hospitality” at NRC.
And don’t even get started on the moment the seven dorm leaders found out that the new Ramshackle prefect was now considered a dorm leader herself… and would have to attend the same meetings.
╌╌╌╌╌╌𖤐☽༓☾𖤐╌╌╌╌╌╌𖤐☽༓☾𖤐╌╌╌╌
Dorm leader meetings used to be a predictable event: Riddle prepared documents, Vil checked aesthetic standards, Azul searched for business opportunities, Idia mentally hid behind his floating tablet, Kalim greeted everyone with far too much energy, Leona slept, and Malleus… simply existed at a level of presence no one truly understood.
But that afternoon, when the door cracked open, routine died under suspiciously glamorous—and distinctly feminine—circumstances.
“Are you sure you’ll be fine in that meeting with the dorm leaders?” Crewel’s voice slipped in from the hallway outside, making every leader turn their head in that direction.
You opened the door a little wider, letting the corridor light sketch both your silhouette and the professor’s. “I assure you I will be, Crewel-sensei. I think the more sensible question is whether Crowley’s stability will remain intact while I’m attending these meetings.”
“Hmph. With that birdbrain, nothing is sensible.” Crewel crossed his arms and gave you one last inspection. “Excellent choice of outfit for your first meeting… try not to kill them with a heart attack.”
Why would you cause a heart attack?
That was the question forming simultaneously in the seven leaders’ heads, some more concerned, others convinced Crewel was exaggerating. Knowing his obsession with fashion, it surely couldn’t be anything outrageous.
They were very wrong.
Because the moment the door opened fully—Crewel’s footsteps fading down the hallway, leaving you alone with seven unarmed and painfully naïve men—several souls nearly left their bodies. You stepped into the Mirror Chamber with an unhurried stride, your expression carrying that shared professor–student complicity from the jab at the headmaster. You were wearing a dress that could have brought anyone who looked at you to their knees… and this was an all-boys school, with an outfit approved by one of the strictest professors alive.
From that moment on, everyone, including you, knew you were a ticking time bomb.
The dress, the reason Crewel’s taste had skyrocketed enough for him to gift it to you, was black from collar to knees, covering everything that needed to be covered, long sleeves included. But the mischievous edge lay in the bare shoulders and a gleaming gold belt etched with sun motifs that accentuated your hips and looked ready to eclipse the entire room. At first glance it seemed simple—but it shaped your figure in such a way that even the light in the room behaved differently around you.
“Hi! Sorry I’m late; Crewel couldn’t have picked a worse time to take me shopping.” You approached the table, adjusting the belt so it sat perfectly on your hips.
The silence that followed was so dense it could’ve been used to sharpen knives.
Riddle was the first to react...but not properly. Not like the Heartslabyul dorm leader, nor like the tyrant learning to loosen his rules.
No. Riddle’s reaction was to drop his folder, presumably full of important papers (to him), meeting agendas, probably several reports of students causing chaos in classes or hallways, and let it hit the table with a sharp clack.
“Y-your outfit…” he tried. Failed miserably. His face shifted from rule violation red to social panic red.
“Approved by Crewel,” you said flatly, lifting your arms so the others could get a better look.
Kalim enthusiastically extended a hand for you to sit beside him. “You look amazing! Maybe we can get you one in sun colors so it matches your belt!”
“An interesting suggestion, coming from a merchant's heir,” Vil replied, a rare softness in his voice, though he didn’t dismiss the color choice. “But yes—you finally look like a person.”
Aaah. There was the usual Vil.
Idia, meanwhile, completely stopped functioning. The tablet froze, you could hear his blue flames flaring higher as if someone had poured gasoline directly onto his soul. “…critical error… event flagged… high social threat detected…”
You sat down beside an energetic Kalim, while on your other side Leona remained half-asleep, arms behind his head, slouched back in his chair. Without sitting up, as if the situation mildly annoyed him.
“The old dog took you shopping?” He cracked one eye open and scanned you shamelessly. “Tch. He’s got good taste. Though with that belt, you’re gonna blind a few people.”
You simply blinked.
“…Is that bad?” Then you smirked. “If they go blind staring at my hips, that just means they weren’t looking me in the eyes like they should.”
Never before had a room full of dorm leaders fallen silent so fast. It was as if their vocal cords had collectively abandoned their bodies. Even Leona looked at you for a second before closing his eye again, deciding silence was preferable to provoking you further. Internally, though, he approved.
“Crewel-sensei was kind enough to buy me a proper wardrobe so I can feel more like myself,” you continued, crossing one leg over the other—and triggering another minor short-circuit in a few minds. “And, incidentally, more feminine. Instead of walking around in borrowed clothes twice my size.”
The moment the word feminine left your lips, the tension in the room became tangible; sharp enough to cut with a simple hand motion, even one utterly devoid of magical presence.
Malleus smiled calmly, as if nothing affected him, though the tips of his ears were so red they looked like rubies set in ink. “You look most appropriate to lead a dorm,” he said with an antiquated formality that caught you off guard. Having someone who actually knew how to address another being, no matter how strange or formal his phrasing was, was deeply comforting.
“Attire that elevates one’s presence is a sign of authority. You are more than suitable, and no one should say otherwise.”
He folded his hands on the table, decisively closing the topic of your outfit. With a crooked smile and a slight nod, as if tipping an imaginary hat, you thanked him for being so courteous and respectful. The others, well… remained stiff as gargoyles. Not that you cared.
You settled back into your chair properly, resting against the backrest, and finally prepared for the meeting. Your gaze swept across the table; excluding Malleus, Leona, and Idia, the others had notebooks or folders, or in Kalim’s case, a piece of paper far too ornate to have been purchased on campus, ready to jot down agenda points.
You tapped your fingers against your lap, uncomfortably aware of how unprepared you felt and of the lingering tension, though you masked it with a half-smile.
“Um… what do you usually talk about in these meetings?” You glanced sideways at Kalim for emotional support; he gave you a thumbs-up. “Or… what’s the main topic?”
Riddle cleared his throat, attempting to reclaim authority. “The main topic is… is…” His eyes flicked to the dress. The belt. The hairstyle. The exposed shoulders framed by the sleeves. His face turned completely tomato-red, but he pushed on, barely. “…is…”
Vil sighed theatrically. “Riddle, please. If you can’t speak, I’ll start.”
Azul raised a hand, composed and visibly pleased with what he was about to say. “I’d like to begin the meeting with something that could benefit our dear prefect.”
Every hair on your body stood on end.
“Like what?” If Azul couldn’t hear the tension weighing down your words, he was about to become fried octopus.
“Well…” he adjusted his glasses reflexively. “Considering you are the only female in this institution—”
“Did you just call me female?”
At the far end of the table, Idia’s floating tablet emitted a short-circuit sound followed by a low giggle.
“Shi shi shi… Azul’s in trouble.”
“I’m just saying,” Azul continued, blissfully unaware of your piercing stare and the tension visibly building in your shoulders and jaw, “that it might be wise to have… certain elements prepared for you, for any occasion.” His words began to tangle. “And Octavinelle can supply them in record time.”
You blinked once. Twice. Three times. Your expression shifted from insecure, to suspicious, to completely blank—before you replied.
“Are you trying to talk about women’s health, Azul?”
Azul and Riddle both turned red instantly, Riddle even more so; the poor thing looked seconds away from an aneurysm. Idia’s tablet rotated away, sparing you from the overheating audio as a faint wisp of smoke escaped it. Even Vil and Kalim looked tense, embarrassed.
Your breathing slowed, instinctively dropping into a dangerously calm rhythm, slow enough that Azul noticed the micro-shift and realized, far too late, that he had stepped on a minefield you had personally planted.
“Mmh.” You tilted your head like someone appraising offensive artwork. “Interesting proposal.”
Azul straightened, hopeful. The poor fool.
“So according to you,” you continued, your voice honeyed in the way it only ever was before you drove a verbal dagger home, “because I’m the only woman in an entire school of men, and I’ll require certain… specific care…” You air-quoted the words. “You—a precocious tentacled entrepreneur—are considering profiting from the fact that my existence creates extremely high demand.”
Silence crashed down so abruptly that even Idia’s tablet stopped frying, and a few brains visibly clicked as they processed the stupidity Azul had just put into words. For the first time, the shameless businessman stood before a deal everyone sensed he wouldn’t be closing.
Leona kept his eyes closed, but his tail swayed with unmistakable interest, clearly enjoying the situation.
Azul swallowed, audibly. “I… wouldn’t use those terms exactly…”
“Wouldn’t you?” You rested an elbow on the table, leaning toward him. “Because it sounds an awful lot like supply and demand, Azul. And if we follow that logic, you’re suggesting that since demand for… me is high, it’d be a waste not to capitalize on it.”
Malleus’s eyes widened, watching the scene with sharp focus, though he didn’t intervene. Kalim mouthed a silent holy shit.
“I just—” Azul started, pale as diluted ink.
“—wanted to exploit a market niche,” you finished, smiling thin enough to cut air. “A niche that just so happens to be me. And my biology. Fascinating.”
“Yes. You spoke like a merchant spotting a gold vein” You leaned back with the elegance of someone who had just eaten an entire octopus in front of him. “But don’t worry—Octavinelle won’t collapse if you decide not to profit from my uterus this time.”
Two snorts sounded beside you, one louder than the other; Kalim let out a small laugh, turning in his chair to hide his shaking shoulders, and Leona, meanwhile, chuckled openly, thoroughly enjoying how you put the octopus in his place.
Across from you, Riddle looked seconds away from either making a desperate attempt to shut the argument down or producing a clinically concerning noise—whichever came first.
The air grew so thick it felt as though your words had enchanted the room, turning it into a remote, murky swamp where none of them dared tread, burying them in muddy water as they struggled to resurface without ruining their suits or their dignity. Though, let’s be fair: Azul was already processing his verbal defeat, mentally noting never to draft a contract involving you.
You adjusted your dress with near-scientific precision, like someone calibrating an instrument before a particularly cruel experiment. You were tired of soft comments and male stupidity.
“Since we’re on the topic…” you said softly, somehow tightening the atmosphere even more around the seven men facing you. A calm woman about to drop a devastating statement was far more terrifying than one screaming.
Six pairs of eyes, five and a half, in Leona’s case, locked onto you with the conditioned reflex of prey hearing branches crack.
“Do I have to assume,” you began, tilting your head with a smile that wasn’t a smile, “that the fact I’m a girl means all of you are going to start acting… different?”
Riddle swallowed like he’d downed an entire stone. “Different how…?” he asked, sounding like he wanted to do anything but ask that question.
“Before, you ignored me,” you continued, raising a hand and counting invisible crimes in the air, “or spoke to me without filters, without anesthesia, without caring whether you left my pride internally bruised.”
Vil opened his mouth, probably to defend himself, but you raised a warning finger, and he snapped it shut.
“But since the flying class incident…” you paused dramatically, tension so thick Idia’s systems began issuing digital alerts, “…you’ve been a little softer.”
The word softer landed heavily, and before the silence could settle like a brick sinking into water, you continued:
“Softer… or stupider.”
You crossed your arms, the gesture that disarmed them more effectively than any spell. Vil narrowed his eyes, half-offended and half-intrigued, choosing not to interfere.
“It’s not our intention to be… stupid,” Azul murmured, resigned to being the public punching bag.
“Tch. Speak for yourself,” Leona cut in without moving. “I’m not acting any different.”
You gave him a sharp smile. “Not you, Leona. You’re consistently unbearable. The stability is appreciated.” You leaned in slightly. “By the way, I still have your jacket...you still want it back?”
Leona clicked his tongue, but his tail swayed with unmistakable pride.
Malleus rested his chin on his hand, thoughtful. “It is possible,” he said in his deep voice, “that the flying incident reminded us that you are more fragile than we believed.”
“Fra—what?” Your voice jumped an octave, dangerously.
“Physical fragility,” he clarified calmly, oblivious to the verbal wildfire he’d nearly sparked. “Not spiritual, not of character. Only… your mortal body.”
You inhaled deeply, knowing that picking a fight with the horned one carried two outcomes: one, he’d make you look foolish; two, his formal speech would never end and the conversation would drag on for hours.
You exhaled just as deeply and counted to five, regaining your composure. The others waited—not out of respect, but fear.
“I’ll ask again,” you finally said, looking at them one by one. “Are you going to keep treating me differently because I’m a girl? Does equality not apply to me?”
The silence was overwhelming, even the room seemed to drop a few degrees. No one felt brave enough to answer.
You leaned back in your chair, satisfied, feeling the universe itself take note that girl or not, no one would handle you with kid gloves without consequences.
And as one heartbeat passed, then another, and another, the silence became a living thing; uncomfortable, exposed like cards laid face-up on a gambling table.
You crossed arms, staring far longer than necessary at the six leaders and the floating tablet before you: Kalim’s wide ruby eyes torn between concern and radiant kindness; Malleus’s calm electric-green gaze never leaving yours; Azul’s pale blue eyes flinching away every fraction of a second; Riddle’s silver eyes forcing themselves to hold your stare while his expression threatened combustion; Vil’s perfect violet eyes, carefully neutral; and Leona’s half-lidded emerald eyes, feigning boredom but glinting with mischief if you looked closely.
You raised an eyebrow after the pause, your patience so artificial Vil would’ve applauded and offered you a place in Pomefiore under different circumstances. That brow alone marked the ticking clock of your tolerance.
“Well,” you said, without raising your voice, yet somehow managing to make them all sit up straighter as if someone had dumped a bucket of cold water over their heads. “I’m waiting. I don’t like repeating myself.”
Maybe it was the way your eyebrow crept a little higher, or the way your fingers drummed against your arm, or the visible impatience in the bounce of your raised foot, but Kalim—miraculously—found the courage to be the first to speak.
“I… I don’t think I’m acting differently because you’re a girl,” he said, with a sincerity so pure it disarmed on impact. “I have a lot of sisters… I think twenty, the last time I counted” Your expression shifted from manufactured calm to something almost comically stunned.
“Ah! Yes, yes—and I have more than fifty siblings!!” Wow. Okay. That definitely threw you off a little.
“The point is—sometimes I feel like my sisters get uncomfortable with certain attitudes… and I didn’t want that to happen to you”
The tension in the room dropped by a degree. Slightly.
“Also, I wanted you to feel welcome.”
Kalim...please never change.
The fracture in your eyes must’ve been visible, the way that tight coil of tension gave way to something warmer, because the others finally started breathing normally again. And how could you not, when you had a literal ray of sunshine sitting right there? Now you even felt bad for having made him tense up so much.
Vil followed, because he would never let Kalim take full credit for calming you down.
“What you had was a dangerous accident,” he said, voice soft but with a hidden edge. “That changes how anyone gets treated, whether you’re a woman or not. Although I’ll admit some people here” his gaze slid to Riddle, Idia, and Azul with elegant judgment “don’t know how to handle a girl without sounding like they’re wearing an 1800s etiquette manual.”
“Hey!—First of all, I don’t interact with anyone” Idia’s tablet snapped, deeply offended.
That made you snort, loud.
Riddle, on the other hand, and surprisingly, took a deep breath. “I admit having a girl here isn’t common… in fact, it shouldn’t have happened in the first place,” he declared, forcing the words past his pride. “But I do want to prevent anything happening to you again. Or to anyone. And it wouldn’t be right to ignore it.”
It was obvious Riddle had changed a lot since his Overblot, though the rule-loving, order-worshipping boy was still there—especially the order part. You supposed if those rules kept you safe, you could tolerate them, even if it meant dealing with a slightly tenser Riddle. You’d just have to see what the coming months brought.
Even Leona, who hadn’t moved a muscle besides an ear, grumbled, “Hn. They’re saying it better than I would.”
And that was basically explicit support, coming from him.
For the first time since you’d walked into the room, the air stopped feeling sharp. The tension eased, the atmosphere no longer like a public trial where you were judge, jury, and executioner. You let out a brief little exhale—half huff, half reluctant approval.
“That’ll do.” You clicked your tongue, shoulders loosening just a fraction. “I guess I can let Azul’s stupidity slide if you all keep your word from now on.”
Azul made a short, offended huff and adjusted his glasses, but didn’t argue.
You rested your hands on the armrests and relaxed into your seat, a faint crooked smile appearing. “I think… we can continue the meeting, don’t you?”
A long exhale filled the room, coming from only six dorm leaders. Leona merely flicked his tail against the floor and twitched his ears.
Vil snapped his fingers, slipping back into his usual composure. “Perfect. Then let’s return to the agenda.”
The meeting regained its rhythm after the emotional mini-earthquake, though that rhythm had a strange pulse now, like everyone had shifted gears without fully understanding why. But when Riddle reached the section most of them dreaded—Magift, upcoming matches, dorm status—something in Leona stirred like a predator waking to the scent of prey.
Riddle had barely started, “Let’s move on to general athletic status-”
When Leona straightened just slightly, growled something like “finally,” and stretched his arms forward, dropping the arrogant lion act.
“The team’s stiff,” he muttered, not looking at anyone. “If they stay like that, we’ll lose the next inter-school match. Training’s gotten sloppy.”
Azul raised an eyebrow, smelling an opening to help poor unfortunate souls in need. “Perhaps Octavinelle can offer—”
“No,” Leona cut him off without letting him finish. “Keep your damn tentacles off the field.”
Azul adjusted his glasses, again, offended, again… but not surprised.
While the leaders argued, you started memorizing silences, glances, the way each of them reacted to comments thrown into the air without a direct target. Some took offense and snapped back, others debated like it was life or death. You remembered something Crewel told you in one of your first Potionology classes, right after you’d blown up a cauldron due to having exactly zero experience:
“Observation is your sharpest weapon”
He was right. If you were good at anything, it was understanding this collection of explosive personalities.
Riddle talked about equipment budgets, Vil about preventing injuries from poor posture, Kalim proposed some kind of dance before the match to boost morale, like a cheer squad, Idia muttered statistics no one understood.
Leona just rolled his eyes. “Bunch of useless idiots,” he muttered. “Half the training gets wasted because the team gets distracted. They’re worthless if they can’t keep their heads in the match.”
You raised an eyebrow at that comment, patience already gone from biting your tongue. Was this the moment?
Oh, absolutely.
And with a calm no one expected, you fired.
“And what do you expect to happen when Savannaclaw students are used to training hard and rough because their build can handle it, but the official inter-school team has different body types, heights, and physiques that require a different kind of training and effort?”
Dead silence.
So you took the liberty of continuing, drawing from sports training in your world; a world without magic, where humans had to rely on something painfully simple: their bodies, and each other, to win.
“Brute force works with the stronger beastmen in your dorm, but the official team includes people from Heartslabyul and Pomefiore—students so exhausted they can’t even read a simple play even if you draw it for them like preschoolers.”
The entire table went rigid. Six leaders stared at each other, watching the only magicless girl dismantle the Magift captain’s training philosophy and defend other dorms in two sentences.
Leona, however, slowly raised an eyebrow—like a lion who’d just been served a challenge on a silver platter.
“Excuse me?”
You kept going, ignoring Leona’s lethal stare.
“I’ve spent half the semester watching Magift practice because Grim insists on wanting to join the team someday. And yes, your style works sometimes. They’re strong, fast, capable—but when strategy gets heavy, they lose precision. You can have raw power, but if your team is dead on its feet, the enemy walks right past you”
The silence wasn’t tension anymore.
It was surprise.
Vil’s mouth parted, delighted to see Leona put in his place. “Well, well… someone came armed with a sharp tongue.”
Azul smiled, mischievous for the first time since you’d entered the room.
Idia typed something into his tablet like: “((mental note: do not underestimate))”.
Leona ran your words over in his head like a complex play unfolding in midair. Then he tilted his head—challenging.
“Since you know so much… what do you propose, Prefect?”
You didn’t back down under his scrutiny. If anything, you leaned forward even more, closing the distance until you were only inches from Leona’s body.
“Less brute training. More real simulation. Identify the opponent’s weaknesses, not your own. Your team responds well to intelligent pressure, not when you just make them fly back and forth after a disk like rabid dogs.”
Leona’s eye twitched violently, and you delivered the finishing move. “If you want to win the next match, you need brains—not just roars.”
The room erupted—though not in tension or fighting or growls. It burst into Vil’s contained laughter (which he would obviously deny with his whole soul if anyone asked later), Azul’s slack-jawed disbelief, and—
“IT’S TRUE!” from Kalim, grinning ear to ear. Out of everyone at the table, he was the one who truly saw you and listened with the respect and approval you deserved; like your personal cheerleader.
Riddle cut through Kalim’s joy, leaning back, surprised but visibly approving both your point and your delivery.
“Actually, that’s reasonable. A more tactical approach could balance the team’s energy.”
Meanwhile, Malleus watched you with expressions so subtle they were impossible to read… but there was admiration there. Quiet and deep. And Idia murmured low from his tablet, careful not to attract attention from you or Leona, something that sounded suspiciously like, “That’s exactly what high-performance teams do…”
Leona, though, kept watching you in silence. And then, the corner of his mouth lifted, just slightly.
“So you like challenges”
You smiled the same way he did. “No. I like winning”
His eyes scanned you meticulously, as if testing your determination, waiting to see if you’d hold his gaze. You did, focused, unblinking. Then he let out a low laugh, feral, satisfied.
“Fine,” he said. “I want you at Thursday practice. Let’s see if your ideas are good for anything besides filling notebooks.”
Riddle choked, pushing up from his seat so abruptly his chair scraped, and glared at Leona.
“Leona, that would be unfair to her—!”
“I said what I said,” Leona cut in, settling back with his head on his arms again, wearing a sly grin that looked like it wouldn’t fade anytime soon. “If she thinks she can survive a school full of idiots… let her prove it on the field”
You reclined like a queen, one arm draped over the table, and met the lion’s bright green eyes head-on. Two predators shoulder to shoulder.
“Perfect. I want you to design a training session that actually makes sense.”
Leona rumbled a laugh. “We’ll see.”
And even though the meeting continued after that clash—and even though the news of your true gender had already turned the school upside down—nothing in that room ever went back to how it used to be. Not Riddle’s strict authority, not Kalim’s cheerful jokes, not Azul’s strategies to squeeze profit out of everything.
Because at that table full of men, bloated egos, eternal rivalries, and magic leaking from every corner, you had proven you knew exactly where to stand, how to talk to them, and how to hit precisely where it hurt most.
I had this thought recently :p peacock hybrid who looooovvveeessss the attention he gets and is lowkey considered a womanizer. But he gets SO irritated when YOU’RE not looking at him, his beloved!!
Gets all huffy and upset and cries like a baby when he’s in you because pleasepleaseplease don’t stop looking at him!
Okay but this would be so funny.
An absolute diva of a man, I can envision the hissy fit he'd throw, but I also see him being quite insecure cause of this need for attention.
-
You've watched him swan about for the last half an hour or so, socialising and chatting away with anyone that will pay him compliments.
At some point you'd let your attention drift elsewhere, more engrossed in the stuff on your phone than the peacock hybrid currently strutting around the room like he was king of the floor. The sound of feathers ruffling and shifting is what makes you look up, finding the peacock in question letting his tail fan and show off the flood of colourful feathers, yellow eyes sharp as he looks over at you, posed and primped I'm a way you can't help but smile at.
Your pretty bird is quite literally, a flare for the dramatic in any situation. Especially, if that situation is your eyes not being on him for even a second.
In the beginning you'd thought him just another peacock hybrid, too cocky, too proud, too loud, and too loose with who he gave his attention to. Yet, not long after you got to know him you realised he was all pomp, like glitter and smoke on a stage, all his glamour was a shield for the desperate need for attention he had. During a one on one with him you'd seen the nerves, the under of the loud bird he played up, he'd chewed his thumb and asked you endlessly if you wanted to be there with him, to spend time with him, almost immediately preening as you laughed softly and assured him you wanted to be with him.
Now here you are cupping his cheeks after a night out together, smiling up at him as he sobs between whimpers and moans, hips working overtime to keep you focused on the pleasure he is giving you as he calls your name.
Tears roll down his cheeks as he keeps begging you to never take your eyes off him, to always look at him like this, that he just can't go on without your eyes on him. His hands are bruising as he holds your hips, tail half fanned as he rattles the feathers using the sound to keep you watching him even as he fucks himself into overstimulation, desperate to make sure your watching him like he needs.
You cried in Gideon's arms. He had done it. He created a human baby. You had soft, beautiful skin and were so adorably chubby! You were his prized possession. You were special. So special.
It broke Gideon's heart to hear you cry, and cry you did as soon as he held you. The big oaf was not used to crying babies, so he scrambled to find out what would make you happy. Food. Food is what made you happy.
The doctor gave you a bottle of formula that he made himself, specially for you, for your birth. It was filled with nutrition and tasted just like breast milk. The doctor watched as you scarfed down the bottle like a starved animal.
"You're special," he told you, voice soft like velvet and as sweet as honey. "You're going to be my sweet little...creation. And I will not only be your God, but..." he leaned in, "your father.
His mind was already rushing with things to teach you. The snake gently pressed his soft, gold lips to your forehead, earning him a whine and a few leg kicks. He chuckled, "Calm down. Shhhhh...shhh..."
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