a/n: it's him!! The Kalim! I think I completely contradicted how I usually write for Kalim in my other Kalim fic + my self-indulgent drabbles and writings since I hc him as a lil freak(I'll probably explain why in a drabble), plus I like writing a more vulnerable Kalim since hes easy to forgive and uses his shiny, happy go-lucky personality as a defense mechanism for all that hes been through. errum- I'm yapping bro nobody asked for that.
warnings: fluff, ooc
word count: 1.2k
Kalim Al-Asim
Kalim was having the absolute time of his life. The kitchen was filled with the warm, rich scent of spices, and he was right in his element. He had prepared a massive, lavish platter of traditional spiced lamb curry, beautifully decorated with dried fruits and shiny nuts. It looked like a magnificent feast fit for a desert palace, and Kalim was practically vibrating with excitement, bouncing on his heels as he added a final garnish.
"Just a heads up, Kalim!" the Ghost Chef called out, hovering near the stove and waving a translucent hand. "Today's guest judge is a legendary picky eater. They practically faint if their food has too many different textures mixed together!"
Kalim laughed brightly, waving his wooden spoon in the air without a single worry in the world. "Don't worry! Back home in the Land of the Scalding Sands, we always make sure everyone has something they love at a banquet! I'm sure they'll find something they like in this—"
The heavy kitchen doors swung open, and you walked in. You looked incredibly nervous, your shoulders hunched as you avoided eye contact and sat down at the judging table.
Kalim’s jaw dropped. The wooden spoon slipped right out of his hand, clattering loudly against the tiled floor and bouncing away. "[Name]?!"
Kalim’s sunny disposition instantly clouded over with absolute, pure panic. He loved you more than anything in the world, which also meant he knew exactly how much you struggled with food. You absolutely hated "surprise textures." You couldn't stand finding chewy raisins hidden in savory dishes. And his curry? It was currently loaded with big, plump, sweet raisins hidden beneath a deep sea of spiced gravy.
"Ah! [Name]! Wait, don't look at the plate yet!" Kalim scrambled over to your table, nearly tripping over his own feet. He set the heavy plate down with hands that were visibly shaking, splashing a little bit of the sauce. He hovered over you like a worried puppy, his usual bright, open smile looking incredibly strained and forced. "Um! There are raisins in there, I'm so sorry! But I can pick them all out for you! Or I can go back into the kitchen to completely remake it from scratch! Or I can—"
"Kalim, it's okay, I want to try it," you said gently, cutting off his frantic rambling and offering a supportive, reassuring smile.
You dipped your spoon into the rich curry, trying to be brave. But as you pulled it out, a soft, wrinkled raisin rolled into view, nestled right next to a piece of jagged, crunchy almond. Before you could stop yourself, your face instantly and involuntarily fell into an expression of quiet, apocalyptic despair—the ultimate, unmistakable reaction to a texture nightmare.
Kalim let out a small, terrified squeak that sounded like a deflating balloon. His hands flew straight to his hair, gripping his head scarf. “Oh no, the face! You’re making the face! I’ve poisoned my favorite person in the whole world! Jamil is going to find out and ban me from the kitchen forever!”
To stop his dramatic spiral before he started to eat the meal himself, you quickly swallowed a bite of the white rice and smooth gravy, carefully avoiding the fruits and nuts altogether. You chewed quickly and smiled warmly up at him. "Kalim, look at me! It's alright! Really! The spices are incredibly fragrant, and the rice is perfectly fluffy."
Kalim blinked, his big, red eyes wide with surprise. "Really? It's... it's actually alright? You're not mad at me about the raisins?" He let out a massive, dramatic sigh of relief, the tension leaving his body as he threw his arms around you in a giant hug. "Whew! You totally scared me! Next time, I'm banning all dried fruit from the kitchen entirely. Only perfectly smooth foods for you from now on!"
Jamil Viper
Jamil was a perfectionist through and through. He had prepared a flawless, elegant plate of stuffed grape leaves (Dolma), each one meticulously rolled to the exact same identical proportions. His cooking stations were completely spotless, his presentation was at a Michelin-star level, and he was standing there looking completely cool, calm, and collected.
"Watch out, Viper," the Ghost Chef cackled from across the room, floating over a stack of clean bowls. "The judge today is a total nightmare. Super particular about what goes into their mouth. You might have a tough time."
Jamil didn't even look up from wiping the rim of his plate with a clean cloth. "A balanced dish relies on precision. As long as the judge has a basic understanding of culinary balance, they will appreciate the technique and effort put into this."
Then, the bell chimed, and you waved to the kitchen from your seat.
Jamil’s hand froze mid-wipe. His dark, charcoal eyes widened by a fraction of a millimeter, his breath catching in his throat. [Name].
In an instant, Jamil’s perfectly constructed composure began to crack under the heavy weight of sheer, internal dread. He knew your specific eating habits better than anyone else—mostly because he already spent half his energy at the Scarabia dorm subtly tailoring daily meals so you would actually eat them. You absolutely hated anything with a "leafy or papery" texture. In fact, he vividly remembered you saying that grape leaves felt like "eating wet parchment paper."
Jamil approached your table with slow, measured steps. His posture was perfectly straight and his expression was a mask of calm, but the slight, sharp tension in his jaw betrayed his mounting anxiety. He placed the plate down with practiced grace.
"I have prepared stuffed grape leaves, [Name]," Jamil said. His voice was smooth, but it was pitched slightly lower and softer than usual so the Ghost Chef wouldn't overhear. "The filling inside is entirely smooth grain and finely minced herbs. There are absolutely no large chunks or surprises."
You smiled up at him, wanting so badly to give him a good review because you knew how incredibly hard he always worked. You picked up a grape leaf with your fork, pressing down. But as you cut into it, the outer leaf gave a slight, distinct, crinkling resistance against the metal. Your face immediately fell into a look of profound, instinctual grimace, your lips thinning in pure aversion.
Jamil’s left eyebrow twitched violently. She's doing the face. He internally cursed himself, his mind racing. Why did I make grape leaves? Of all the dishes I could have chosen, why did I pick the one wrapped in a literal leaf?
Seeing his stress, you quickly took a bite, chewed past the initial leafy texture as fast as you could, and focused entirely on the delicious, savory filling. Swallowing it down, you gave him a bright, genuine smile to ease his mind. "It's alright, Jamil! The filling inside is so flavorful and warm. You did a great job."
Jamil let out a slow, controlled breath through his nose, his shoulders dropping just a fraction of an inch. He picked up his empty serving tray, a small, genuine smirk finally gracing his lips as he discreetly wiped a microscopic bead of sweat from his brow.
"Alright? Well, considering your usual intense aversion to anything green, I will happily take 'alright' as a resounding victory. Next time, I'll just skip the leaves and stuff the filling into a crispy pastry shell for you instead."
this was originally made on the 27th- I'm just posting it now(on the 28th when this comes out) so I can not only work on other stuff but put the rest(Pomefiore, Ignihyde & Diasomnia) into my queue.
funfact: i wrote this in the middle of a test
Do not steal/copy my ideas/writings, inspiration is okay but please credit me for all that's good. DO NOT use my writings to train ai or put in anything that has anything to remotely do with ai ⓘcopyright, fic belongs to @velsettetine 2026 only on tumblr!
I had thoughts i wanted to leave on each post, but i figured one reblog will do. You know the writing is good when it has my autistic ass near gagging from imagining it. Unfortunately, no matter how much I love my boys, I would NOT be able to power through done of these ❤️ Wonderful drabbles, it really speaks to the heart. Especially the "plain pasta, no sauce" since I do actually do that when i make my own spaghetti...
summary; we can tell you're faking / so i hide like houdini.
tags; vent fic / one shot, hurt comfort, slight comedy, unsatisfying ending i fear, written purely for my emotions, mer-jellyfish reader, childhood friends, floyd my menace, probably ooc but idc im having a good time, floyd centric but it's still all of them
[gn! reader] [neurodivergent reader]
word ct; 1.56k
a/n; summary based off my favorite song by sorry ghost, box breathing. this is a vent from a long while ago, but i think i like this fic enough to finish this.
[do not use my works in any ai]
humans are so confusing, you think. there's not a day that goes by where you don't think about them. most would call you need for understanding as curiosity. but it runs deeper than that. you are not fascinated like jade and his mushrooms, you are not calculating like azul with his carefully thought out plans, and you are not eager like floyd who awaits to pick out his next prey.
there is a heavier feeling, one you are unfamiliar with. having become a human now, you have recently learned how to navigate this life on land. you are learning quickly but you struggle with human emotions. you do not understand what goes on in their minds, why they make the faces they make, why they smile, why they cry. you were once a half brainless jellyfish for most of your life, now you are given a life that many humans live. full brain and all.
but nothing feels right. even in the dorms that were made for the best comfort— to feel like your home sea, it's not right. you try to speak with your dormmates, only to be met with strained responses or deceptive kindness. you had recently learned from jade that, no, they weren't always busy when you wanted to hang out. they didn't see you as part of their group. which is fair in your mind, you're a jellyfish. lone little fish you were.
but why does your heart ache?
so, naturally you try to make new friends. that feeling comes back but it's somehow different. these friends were kind to you, genuinely but nothing seemed to click. they say that when you find the right people, it's like you have known them forever. that's what all those human books tell you.
why does it feel so impossible?
you feel like you're drifting in the large sea again as you watch the groups you could've been part of, had you not messed it up somehow. they joke and smile. they look like the happiest school of fishies you've seen. happier than they have ever been than when they talk with you.
what is wrong with you?
you clutch the plastic server tray to your chest, clad in your stupid waiting staff uniform as you observe the group of friends.
"oi, y/n-chan, you're shaking." a bored voice cuts through your thoughts. it's floyd.
you stop, glancing at him for a moment before adjusting your posture and muttering an apology. despite the buzz of a busy dinner night, there's a sense of peace. but you are still restless, "sorry. i was thinking."
"i'm probably the last person you should be lying to, y/n-chan."
"but i was thinking."
floyd doesn't say anything. his lips pressed in a line with an unreadable expression. you instinctively tense up like a jellyfish waiting to sting. but instead of his usually harsh blunt remarks, he sighs. "staring at those schools of fishes isn't gonna make ya feel better. aren't they your little friends?" he asked.
your heart scrunches with an indescribable pain. "yeah. something like that." you glance away, holding your server tray away from your chest. your hands are clammy as you adjust your hold. you look again at the group and it's hard to hide your expression from floyd.
"you look like you wanna sting 'em." he comments.
"i don't want to.." you said slowly, trailing off. your eyes avoid his gaze and he can't stop the knowing look on his face from growing. "it's just.."
"you're allowed to feel terrible, y/n-chan." he speaks with serious clarity. you've always found it a little odd the way he speaks of your name, he's never called you by a nickname since you've started middle school with the mostro trio. somehow you've been integrated into this little group of friends, which you're very grateful for but even sometimes, you feel that same distance with them.
"is there something wrong with me?" you decide to spit out what's been on your mind this whole shift.
he blinks, not in disbelief or shock, but with a questioning stare, "why would ya think that?"
you look over at the table again and he follows your gaze, "did they tell ya that you're weird?" his eyes start to glimmer, that glint of mischief beginning to show itself, "do you want me ta squeeze 'em?"
"no! no... they didn't say anything like that!" you wave your hands in a brief panic, moving your tray onto a service cart in case you had to physically stop him from doing something azul would definitely not approve of.
his energy seems to drain immediately upon hearing your reply, "aw man. then what happened?"
your panic quickly subsides, hands resting on your sides, "they.. started ignoring me," you muttered. "i don't know what i did wrong. because they don't want to tell me. so, i think something is just wrong with me.." you slowly explain to floyd who seems bored at first but changes his mood once more.
"do ya want me to get it out of them?" he gives you a toothy smirk, arms stretching out as he seems to prepare to give your "friends" a hard time.
"please don't. azul is already stressed enough, floyd.."
"it sounds to me like there's something wrong with them! i'm gonna get it out of them right now!" you quickly grasp your arms around his waist before he could jump the group. people are starting to stare and jade is not intervening much to your dismay. you struggle to drag the crazy eel towards the break room, announcing to the other employees about your unprompted break with floyd.
it's a silly moment to watch you drag a very eager floyd but jade seems very entertained, "have a good break, y/n dear. thank you for handling floyd." he hummed. perhaps he'll handle these matters instead.
as you enter the break room, floyd pouts, "come on, you could've let me give them a piece of my mind and a big hug! why would those small fry ignore you?"
and your composure trembles, you don't know the answer to that. "that's what i ask myself everyday, floyd. i don't know. all i know is that, everytime i make a friend, i just feel like i don't belong." before you know it, you spill out your heart, "i tried texting them but no one answered or they just avoid the question. i just started realizing that they aren't actually busy all the time, they just want to avoid me! and i don't know why!" you sit on the couch with an exhausted groan, face buried in your hands.
floyd calms down again, watching you collapse on the couch, "all the more reason to squeeze them into giving an answer. i don't think you're weird. jade doesn't think you're weird. azul doesn't think so either." you look up at him, hearing the seriousness in his voice. "don't worry about those small frys who give you a hard time."
the door creaks open, revealing azul, "i heard that you've been feeling rather down as of late, y/n."
"so-sorry azul, it's nothing really. i can get back to work-" you quickly stand, brushing off the non-existent dust on your uniform.
"nuh-uh! no way!" floyd locks you in his tight hug, "they're a big liar! there was some little guppies that were their friends but now they're ignoring y/n-chan! what a bunch of weak plankton..." he grumbled, holding you tighter at the thought of them ignoring so blatantly.
azul adjusted his glasses, "well, we can't have that affect you during work, y/n. jade said he would be taking care of it now which is why i'm here to check on you." somehow, you were less worried about floyd dealing with that fake group of friends and more worried about jade doing it instead. "you can take a break for the rest of the day. floyd, please get back to work. i want to talk to y/n."
"man.. i'm always stuck doing the work.." floyd puts you back on the ground, your feet gently touching the floor before he leaves to find his twin.
you follow azul to his office, sitting down on a nearby chair. "it really isn't a big deal, azul."
"it's clearly been something heavy on your mind since floyd was making a fuss about it. and jade seemed to act on his own as well. rest assured they didn't do anything extreme at least. though we will lose on a few regulars." he shook his head softly before his face softens as he looks at you, "i just want to try and be there for you as well. you're our friend after all." you can tell that he's trying his hardest to be sincere, his face flushed from being so vulnerable.
floyd and jade come back with satisfied looks on their faces. they definitely did something slightly concerning.
"the issue has been taken care of." jade smiles.
floyd skips over to you, picking you up as if you were a cat before locking you into his signature squeezes. but clearly, this hug is much less deadly and more affectionate. "i gave em a real good talk!"
it's only then does it really click that you do have a place that you belong and you do have people that belong with you.
Guys I think about this deermaxxing tweet at least once a year and I need to actually talk about it because I think it actually lowkey changed me on a fundamental basis.
I just think it's weird that people saw a woman make a silly post on the internet and jumped to immediately trying to bring her down and shame her for something honestly not that deep. And I also think it's beautiful how she doubles down with the gentle deermaxxing, even in the face of hundreds of hate comments. There were a few more that I just didn't save but people got so mean to her for no reason, and I think this really taught me to never take hate that seriously because a lot of people online will see Bambi's mom irl and shoot to kill for no reason other than they can.
Idk if this is common knowledge and I'm the only person who didn't already know this, but I think every club in TWST represents something that the characters have in common.
The pop music club is made up of those who come off cheerful on the outside to hide their inner turmoil. Kalim, Lilia, and Cater all fit this.
The basketball club is made up of those who are rebellious and do not fit the standards their surroundings set for them. Floyd, Jamil, and Ace are all people who go against the norm.
The board game club is made up of those who will destroy themselves in order to get what they want. Idia and Azul have both sacrificed their own well-beings for their goals.
The equestrian club is made up of those who are strict in themselves, and often times others, as a result of their disciplined upbringings.
The track club is made up of those who give their all to be their best selves.
The spelldrive club is made up of those who strive to be stronger/on top.
The science club is made up of those who are deemed too eccentric to fit in.
The film study club is made up of those who are selfish and therefore misconstrued as cruel, when they actually care deeply for those around them.
The gargoyle study club and mountain hiking club only have solo members because they both represent isolation. Jade is isolated even amongst his peers due to being deemed untrustworthy and having strange hobbies. Malleus is isolated because of his upbringing and his long lifespan.
Maybe this is common knowledge or maybe I'm reaching, but I think the parallels between the club members are all really neat!!
I talked my mom into buying it for me for my birthday because we pooled our money to get my brother a $60-$80 (cant remember how much) sword for his birthday (super sick sword though). Now I just have to wait 24 days :)
I say if you have the money and you don't think you'll regret spending it, buy it. If you have a special event coming up, maybe beg friends or family to buy it for you.
Ok guys I'm actually taking time to play through the story of twisted wonderland myself and I'm on book 2. Wdym anybody can just,,, break into our house?? What. I'm sure Jack had to explain to the ghosts why he was there but like??? Still?? Wdym he can just get in?? Am I the only one concerned by this?
I have this headcanon that Edgeworth seems stoic but his eyes are actually very expressive, and Phoenix (post-disbarment) seems expressive but his emotions never quite reach his eyes