Ki's twst writing blog ☆ sideblog; interactions from @meiglass
hello hello! my name is Ki; I am an adult (above 19). this is a writing blog for my twst-centered works ☆ keep in mind my genres can fluctuate and I may post suggestive/fully inappropriate works and dark content, so please go ahead and block the #explicit & #dark tags if you are a minor. Though I prefer that those under 15 do not interact.
My works also consist of aged-up characters if it is one with less milder themes. I am not fully versed in the characters but I try my best keeping everything I write in character! English is also not my first language so if there are any mistakes in my posts, corrections are heavily appreciated!
if you want more info about me, please read my carrd! Thank you for reading~
Masterlist | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 - You are here | Chapter 3
CW : very brief (implied) NSFW.
And even in a perfect Paradise, love can still hide a shadow.
Kalim didn’t answer right away.
The silence stretched on for what seemed like forever – not awkward, just… heavy.
His expression was tense, confused. Like he was trying to think of a way to describe something, something that had never been described before.
“Why you?” He finally repeated, tearing the silence into pieces. After the long eternity of quiet that was stitched together, the words echoed throughout your ribs, more than anything.
“Because…” Because what?
There was a clouded sort of look in his eyes, like the truth was a dark stain he so desperately didn’t want to show. For once, the comforting and ever rich garnet you always got lost in wasn’t inviting.
You fought the repeated urge inside your head, awaiting impatiently whatever it could be that he had to say. You just wanted it to end already. To finally be affirmed and placed correctly into the ‘Paradise’ awaiting, since all you’ve ever felt since stepping foot into it was how… abnormal it felt. Wrong. It didn’t fit you.
And the mirror in front of you, your now other half bound to you by marriage, your reflection didn’t fit on him either. It was wrong. You hoped it would cease being so, this was the mirror that you would live in for the rest of your life, after all.
It wasn’t right. He looked at you like you were the most prized of all his treasures, he is perfectly and unconditionally content with you. To him, you are the perfect mirror. The one where he can see his future in.
And with how happy he is with you, so full of pure bliss, you feel guilty feeling the way you feel. If he were to just– give you his answer now– maybe you could finally share his contentness. Maybe you could finally fit.
You don’t want to live in Paradise with hollow, manufactured happiness. In a place where everyone was stripped of their shadow, perfectly at home; while you retained the persistent tug of uneasiness, having no choice but to play along with the unbridled edifice, bringing forth a sort of artificial reciprocation.
“Because you don’t look at me like I’m just–” He hesitated, voice slightly faltering as his fingers curled into his sleeve. A soft laugh slipped out, breathy and ever so secretly uncertain. “Like I’m only my name and wealth.”
And the night continued again, noise bled in invasively, the numbing warmth bit at you again. Not a reassuring sort of warmth – an overwhelming one that forced itself onto you. It all continued ever on without waiting for you.
You could only nod, gaze now transfixed onto the marble floor. Each word he spoke pierced your heart gently, none of them hurt. And yet, none of them landed close enough. Close enough to finally numb you.
What really confused you, was that all the words he spoke felt true. They were true, but it wasn’t the other truth, the one that had plagued his eyes earlier.
“I don’t need anything else,” Kalim continued, speaking with such carefulness, as if afraid of stepping into wrong territory. “Being with you, it… it just feels right.”
It was that word again.
Right.
You swallowed, subtle enough for his heavy stare not to notice. But for his sake, you decided to let the searing warmth claim you again, for the pretense to continue.
You smiled, because it was expected. Because it was easier.
“I’m glad.”
The words escaped you.
Kalim brightened immediately, relief painted his face as if it were a canvas. He moved to your side again, fingers intertwining with yours, the hotness of his palm seeping into yours. He squeezed, afraid your presence would disappear if he didn’t hold your hand tightly enough.
It was almost terrifying, how your smile seemed to have steadied something inside of him that was at the verge of slipping, that was eating away at him.
“This is how things are supposed to be.”
The warmth he radiated claimed you again, overengulfing you, tightening with such fervour it made you feel sick. And yet somehow – it felt nice. It felt good.
It felt good for the remainder of the night, it felt good when his body joined yours in a private, intimate dance when the time had come to consummate the wedding. No matter how foreign it was to you, no matter how strange it felt, it still felt good. The kind of good that escorted you into submission.
Everything reminded you of him. The faint smell of musky oud, the sheets that bore his scent, the ring on your finger, even the bracelet he had once gifted you several years ago when you were but humble schoolmates at a distant college you could now not bring yourself to remember.
You lay by Kalim’s side, his arms wrapped tight and comfortably around you. You didn’t move. Not because you were comfortable, because if you did, you thought he would wake and fear your potential disappearance again.
And even when everyone in the unnatural Paradise drifted to sleep, the question still lingered.
Why you?
Not because you are worthy – not because you are replaceable, in his reasoning. Anyone that accepted him. Anyone that saw him.
You wondered if he would have loved another person the same way, if the circumstances were different.
The thought made your chest tighten.
And at the same time, it scared you. You are the one with a different voice, you are the one with a single objection. And here you are, feeling uneasy with the thought of someone else being in your place. It scared you.
The effect Kalim has on you scares you.
And as your eyes closed to be embraced by sleep,
even in your dreams you couldn’t drift away.
Excited to drop the second piece!! Esteem is running low due to college work, but I will remain committed to finishing this story at any pace!! Thank you for giving this work a chance, I will continue as best as I can!
Masterlist | Chapter 1 - You are here | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3
CW : none. (for this chapter)
Love cannot be manufactured, even in Paradise.
Music played; a mix of elegant Darbuka, smooth Oud, and a bunch of other traditional instruments created epiphanies of sound. People clamoured, the crowd resembled a whole sea of moving individuals darting throughout the venue.
All the while you were seated next to your Groom’s side, eyes subconsciously whisking over the various scenes and events happening at the celebration.
You were to marry the Sultan’s son, the heir of the Asim family – who was presently beaming in joy by your side. When it was said that you were set to wed Kalim, your entire family bursted in rejoice. They were happy; who wouldn’t be? You were marrying such a prestigious man, joining one of the most wealthiest families of the Scalding Sands. And he isn’t short of kindness, either.
Kalim himself is overjoyed. He’s happy to be ‘earning’ your hand, though he didn’t do much to ‘earn’ it in the first place. Rich People.
But the arrangement wasn’t half-bad, you didn’t mind marrying Kalim. You knew yourself how much of a good person he was – though carefree is a more suitable word. But with someone who shows joy at almost every opportunity given, you weren’t really sure if he was going to take the relationship as it was. He might treat you with the bounds of friendship, he is marrying a treasured friend, after all.
And to be honest, you found it hard seeing him through a romantic eye. Kalim was so – you searched for a description – best-friend material, yes. You mainly saw him as a friend, because throughout the time you’ve known him, you’ve seen him through the lens of friendship. It was hard imagining how Kalim Al-Asim would be in a romantic perspective. He was like the ideal friend figure, instead.
But Kalim is no idiot. He knew what you thought of him. As much as the thought hurt, how you mainly saw him as just a friend, he couldn’t argue. It was true. People mostly saw him as a friend, loyal and bright. But it’s okay, as long as people were happy, he was also happy.
Kalim loves you. He does treasure you as a friend, but he knows; the feelings run in more ways than just companionship – so he is content. This exact moment, sitting by your side at a venue full of people and celebration, hand entwined with yours, and eyes enthralled by your beauty – it’s almost like a dream. A dream he wouldn’t want to wake up from.
You are his dream, and he’ll try to show you how important you are to him by building up a life where the two of you can live tranquilly.
The event then reached its peak: where Kalim had to cut the enormous cake that towered over your eyes. Personally, the cake might’ve been a bit too big. But in the world of rich people, everything is gigantic. You could only stare at the giant dessert with an almost impressed look in your eye.
According to his traditions, the cake is to be cut with a sword. One that has been passed down his family for generations, and it is exactly what Kalim is wielding in his hands right now. The crowd cheered him on as he held onto it tightly with both hands. Passing on a smile in your direction, he lifted the blade – and with anticipation in everyone, he brought it down. Even more cheers erupted.
With the cutting ceremony done, Kalim happily brought you a plate full of cake at every corner, bursting with achievement as if he’s expecting a pat on the end and a “well done” given to him. Rolling your eyes fondly, you surrendered with a “Good job” – and his tender smile immediately grew, melting at the sentiment.
The cake itself tasted like its price, it tasted so over-the-top and perfect that you’d get sick if you ate too much. Kalim ate it with no problem, like he was chewing an everyday snack. Rich People.
But eventually, you finished it. You put the empty plate to the side, glad you ate it without any problem. Kalim however, saw you were done; and he picked up a piece of the dessert from his own plate and held it out to you in anticipation, with the intention of feeding you. You stared at the chunk, already feeling satiated from the huge piece you finished yourself, but you allowed him to feed you after facing some reluctance.
You took a piece of cake yourself and held it up to him, returning the manner. He accepted the gift almost immediately, gratified with the moment. And for the rest of the time it was the both of you sharing affection in small acts. Even the guests silently acknowledged how heartwarming the sight was.
And now, as you looked up, your eyes met. Kalim’s breath hitched. Soulful, deep garnet; bursting with so many emotions. His eyes glimmered, gaping at you. And with how they were slightly narrowed, it was almost as if he was at the brink of tears.
And it seemed as if your assumption was true, as he bashfully bowed his head when the tears spilled free. You could only observe, brow slightly furrowed in small concern.
“Are you alright?” You inquired, arm awkwardly raised but staying still – you didn't know whether to pat him in comfort, or to keep it rested by your side.
Kalim shook his head, seemingly trying hard to keep his sobs in. And he looked up towards you again, a deeply enthralled smile on his face.
“I can’t believe that I married someone as amazing as you,” He admitted, gaze diffidently flickering to the side. “I love you, so so much. And I feel so happy, that I don't know what to do.”
“But this feeling, I want to stay with you like this forever and ever. And I want to make sure we're always happy with each other.”
It was your turn to react, and your eyes widened at his admission. You looked down at your own hands, which were wrapped together on your lap.
He loves you unconditionally.
It feels nice.
And he inched closer towards you, lovingly seeking your side. Prepared to bring you into a warm embrace,
But – why? Why did he love you so much? Why is he this fulfilled just by the fact of your union?
“But why me?”
Kalim slowly jerked his head at you, caught by surprise. The hand that was tightly clamped onto the fabric he wore loosened. His approaching movement suddenly stopped. He peered at you as if you asked something that was unspeakable.
“W…What do you mean?
The room felt small.
“Why are you so pleased with marrying me, in particular?”
The question you posed left everything silent. Even the distant sound of cicadas overwhelmingly chirping deafened.
Was it always this cold? Were the shadows always so large?
I AM BACK!! SORRY FOR THE LONG DISAPPEARENCE... I HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY THIS CHAPTER OF A NEW FIC I HOPE TO FINISH!! Feedback is appreciated, I am really looking forward to delivering more pieces!!
I have now gotten an AO3 account! I will try posting all my current works there and will in the future cross-post all my works here and there. Thank you!
are you open to writing headcanons... i'm curious on your take on jamil after reading your jamil fic... which was very good!!! i can't wait for a part 2!!
Definitely! I think headcanons are really fun and I do want to try them out, so here you go! I'm not really sure about how to do them, though, as this is my first time, but I hope these are to your enjoyment.
Jamil likes you because of the fact you are unaware of his and Kalim’s status.
Kalim is an important figure engulfed in wealth, with Jamil as his servant bound to eternal servitude to his family.
Thus, he does not have to maintain his calculating and protective persona with Kalim in front of you, because you have no reason to have ulterior intentions with them. You are not after Kalim’s wealth. Plus, you are magicless– so you pose less of a threat to Kalim’s safety.
NRC is full of unpredictable individuals, so with someone of your sincerity and benevolence, Jamil is bound to become lenient with you.
You are someone he can actually trust and loosen up around.
And with this known, he feels an obligation to defend you, too. Kalim is fond of you. Both of them enjoy your company, and you don’t reek of evil. So Jamil will take this opportunity to prevent harm from coming your way in the times where you are with them.
He makes the effort to invite you over to Scarabia regularly, having you eat with them or simply chat. He will help you with some of your studies, too, as long as he has an open space in his schedule for that.
Over time, you become more of an important figure in his head. He will dedicate one eye to Kalim, and the other to you. He can’t let anything happen to you, so he might as well use his training to cover two people.
His job is Kalim, but his description doesn’t say he’s not allowed to watch over others, too– and besides, Kalim likes you anyways. And Jamil’s job is to preserve Kalim’s happiness and make sure he acquires the things he likes. So ensuring your happiness is technically part of his duty, right?
With Ramshackle’s poor condition and your low financial state, he definitely drops off cooked meals that he tailored exclusively to your taste. Perhaps some treats for Grim, while he’s at it. He has to curry your favor, after all– so caring for the direbeast that has a place in your heart (despite how much of a commotion he causes) shall benefit him, too.
He finds excuses for you to hang around him and Kalim. He definitely becomes possessive over your attention and he is not the type of individual that likes sharing. With the way almost everyone seems to be after you, he will not back down.
He does more and more for you to help grow your bond and ensure he is on the list of your trusted individuals. He needs to be there for you in every moment– happiness and vulnerability.
Jamil knows the most that being around a person in their happiest moments, and comforting them when they’re vulnerable will help nurture a bond. And he takes advantage of this fact.
Little by little, he enters your life. He grows more prominent. And if not him, it’s through Kalim. He cares about you, and he can definitely give you more than the other students. After all, they’re only after you for what you can give them. He wants your heart, your attention, your trust.
Prepare to have him absolutely coddling you whenever you’re sick; he’ll bring you trays of food to bed, make sure you hydrate sufficiently, bring you pillows to rest your back and feet on, and if he’s not able to be present– he’ll send you constant texts asking about your condition.
If you praise his abilities even a little, he’ll be overjoyed. A part of his mind loves being told how great he is, and hearing it from you is an added bonus. He tries to mask his joy behind an indifferent expression, but he secretly loves it.
Seeing others hoard your attention and try to win you over makes him keel over in frustration. He will win this battle. He has to.
Definitely, courting bracelets and jewellery will be given your way. Matching ones, at that. If you accept them, he’ll be over the moon.
With all this devotion, you’ll have to accept him. He cares about you the most, you have to know that. And through all these acts, he will wait patiently. He will wait as long as he can for you to say the three words. And when you declare them, he will be complete. He will pour all of his affection into your heart.
The man in your dreams was a strange one. Eyes shrouded and never shown, he was always there.
The days mashed together, you couldn't differentiate between Monday and Thursday anymore. It was all the same.
The man in your dreams visited you at night. He never spoke to or acknowledged you. Maybe he did, but he always stood there; unmoving.
Though your dreams were always in different settings, there was always the ocean, somewhere. In all your dreams, the places were flooded with water until ankle-length.
You were fascinated by him. In all your dreams, he was present. And you always got lost staring at him. Who was he? Why was he always there? How come you've never seen his eyes?
You weren't sure how this started. He just appeared one day– and ever since, you were itching to know his identity and his purpose in your dreams.
You can't recall what started giving you these dreams. Your mind was a mixed flurry– it was hard even piecing thoughts together. It was all about the man in your dreams. It was like all you ever thought about was him.
You remembered that you once set your eyes upon two glowing orbs of light, staring into your soul– sending you into a spiral. The more you stared, the more dizzier you became. It did stop eventually, but ever since then, it was like all you ever saw was the man in your dreams. You didn't remember whatever was happening in the real world, the only memories you've had were of your dreams. And more specifically, the man in your dreams.
He was always quiet. Maybe he couldn't speak. But you wished he could– you wanted to know what lay behind his cool, expressionless face. You always wondered what he could be thinking about. You couldn't picture what having conversations with him would be like, but you wanted to converse with him as badly as you wanted to know of his identity.
Day by day, he grew closer to you in your dreams. In your first dream–he was far, far away in the distance. And the more you dreamed, the closer he approached.
And the closer he grew, the more cold and suffocating your dreams became. The water grew higher, the quiet noise grew louder, your heart thudded against the walls of your chest– as if it was trying to escape. Quiet eeriness. Something akin to fear welled up in your lungs, it grew harder to breathe.
All the while the man was there. Standing. Staring. Silent.
The water submerged you fully, keeping you pulled under the icy-frigid depths of the sea. Your limbs felt heavy and weak, so much you couldn't move. Your heart pounded, uneasiness hammering into your bones.
The room was blue, a dark shade that enveloped you into it. There was light above the water, but it was so faint– you couldn't reach it. The pressure on your body restricted your movements heavily, anyways.
The man was right in front of you. He was tall, towering over you. You couldn't look up to see his face. You were frozen. The ominous demeanour of the dream tore away at you, piece by piece. And piece by piece, your sense of security fell. You didn't feel safe here. You were hyperventilating, you couldn't inhale no matter how hard you tried. You couldn't breathe anymore.
It shattered. Blue. Blue. Blue; Blue enveloped your vision.
Open your eyes you did, but the surreal feeling still clung to your ankles, never letting go. In a state of half-daze, you couldn't tell if you had woken up or had still been in the dream. Your body felt light, as if there was no weight behind it. The scenery of your dream and reality blended and mashed together.
Waking up did not grant you escape. In fact, you weren't even sure if you were awake. Shadows overlapped, colors blurred, everything felt soft and fluid-like.
The place you were in now was still dark. There was water under you, freezing you as if melting your skin alive. The navy hue of it reflected onto the cave's roof; as well as its walls.
The man in your dreams contorted and changed into something else, the once human look he resembled twisted into an inhumane creature, well-built and nothing like anything humanity had ever laid their eyes on before.
Dull-blue skin, gills, fins, claws, bioluminescent pores, a tail replacing his legs– a piercing and overwhelming stare. The only thing that didn't change was his sheer presence, his large height, the fact he could easily overpower you.
His eyes were no longer hidden. They saw right through your pupils to your soul. A gaze of many emotions you were not even aware of. The same two glowing orbs that started all of this. The same hypnotic effect they had– rendering movement useless. You couldn't move.
Twelve dreams you had; and twelve markings on the wall. His visit was planned. He was toying with you from the very beginning. For twelve days you were in an asleep-like state, continuously dreaming.
He shifted closer to you, closer and closer– you felt something slimy coil around your legs, ensuring your escape was hopeless. Two slitted eyes of yellow and brown bore into yours, never once breaking eye contact. For as long as you held his stare, you couldn't command your body into doing anything.
He leaned onto you. His whole weight pushed against your ribs, he was so heavy. The force alone made you feel like your bones could break. His claws dug into your shoulders, grasp so tight that blood threatened to seep out.
His weight continued to crush you, and his mouth ghosted over your neck, nipping at a few parts. You shifted, a weird feeling overcoming you. Your heart pounded, not sure what to make of this situation.
But a harsh pain suddenly engulfed your senses, your ears rang. He bit down on your neck. Hard. Blood bloomed wildly and spread, the sudden red invading the blue everything.
It only then occurred to you that you were a prey. An unfortunate victim catching the eye of a mer, and even more unfortunate that it was a siren. You were merely just a meal to him this whole time. And as you thrashed around, pain overwhelming your senses, it was all futile. He held you captive, trapped in a cave for twelve days.
He was done waiting, and he was now going to reap the seeds he sowed. Your vision blackened, your pulse weakened.
You were doomed to a gruesome fate of falling for a siren entranced by you, and being devoured.
did you buy your account from someone else? i’m so curious about the “26 years ago” as the post stamp of your pinned post. tumblr hasn’t even been around that long lolol
I went to the post settings! There is an option where you can reverse the date of your post :) Just click the settings button above your post when editing it, and you get to set a date to reverse the post to! It's a very fun option to play with, and I haven't actually been here since 1999 "^^ I started this account just a week ago.
— These tags apply only to this chapter. Other chapters may contain more content that will be stated in the warnings!
This is an AU, so please forgive me if this comes off as confusing!
Spectacles. The world relied on surprises. Illusions. The element of disguise. People disappeared. They either came back– or their role onstage was fulfilled, for good; and it was time for curtain call.
Every life was a play, every person was an actor who played a part, and all stories contributed to the picture-perfect world. Where all is hushed, where only whispers bounce off the walls. Where it was sleep-time for the young. Where the inhumane lurked– hidden from sight. This world had no place for the guilty.
The good were rewarded. The benevolent garnered sympathy. The evil were punished. The predators hid behind the shadows, waiting to whisk away an unsuspecting prey.
A world detached from reality. A new stage for humanity to live on. Phantasmagoria. People believed what they saw, and dismissed what they could only hear. Humans were so easy to manipulate. What if what they saw was false? What if what only reached their ears was the untold truth?
The truth. An intriguing thing; indeed. It either brought euphoria or desolate ruin. It strengthened and broke bonds. In this new world, no one will find out the truth.
People longed to feel happiness. People hated anguish and misery. People wanted comfort, validation, approval, safety. People wanted happiness. Family. Friends. Love. Life.
An escapade; people ran from harm. People wanted to be distracted from whatever tired their minds beyond relief.
But do not fret– for that is exactly why They were here. Why a new stage was brought to life! An ultimate cure-all show! One display was just enough to leave everyone satisfied– surely, this was enough to seal the deal? Were you sold yet? Come see the extravaganza–!
It was so cold. You curled up, arms wrapped around yourself. Your knees bumping against your chest. Slowly, you opened your eyes. It was so cold. The cold wind wrapped you around in a frigid embrace, sending chills tracing down your spine. Languidly and light-headed, you stood up, arms and legs trembling. Another lost soul trudged through a claustrophobic tunnel. It was cramped and dark. So dark, the walls were pitch black. You looked around, confused.
The only direction you could move was forward. It felt like the further you traveled, the more disappeared behind you. The cruel wind only pushed you further. The once gently-encouraging zephyr developed into a harsh gale. Arms crossed over yourself, you shivered– desperate to find any source of heat or warmth.
It was quiet. So quiet that the silent noise drowned in your ears. Your mind was blank, no thoughts flew by. No memories played subconsciously. You weren’t even sure if you could remember anything at all. You felt hollow, empty; incomplete. Something heavy tugged inside of you, in your chest. It felt like something was supposed to be there. Something missing, like you required a missing puzzle piece. Heaving a sigh, you continued moving.
Your legs started to ache. But the light at the end didn’t seem to get closer at all. The path behind you was fading away. There was only one direction you could move– and that was Forward. What were you? Who were you? Was there something important that you had to do? Your brain felt a heavy burden; as if you were forgetting something.
There wasn’t anything you could recall, let alone even think of. Maybe the thing you forgot was Everything. Either way, you really wanted to stop walking. You really wanted to stop feeling so cold…
Your stomach hurts. It cried out as if it needed something. Nourishment. You really wanted to eat. You were sure you had something you really liked eating, your favorite food; but you couldn’t remember what it was right now. It would be nice to try out whatever your favorite food was.
Paper crumpled. A strange noise. Your head turned in all directions, trying to find wherever it was coming from. A gust of wind once again blew behind you, pushing forward a piece of small parchment. You felt like catching it on instinct. You listened to whatever whispered in your ear, telling you to grab it. Weak legs speeding up, you jogged after it, fingers desperately trying to curl around it shut. After a few attempts, you managed to trap it into the palm of your hand. Feeling triumph, you uncrumpled the paper to read whatever was on it.
It looked incredibly vintage, the paper yellowed and looking as though it went ages of wear-and-tear. Below the big letters reading ‘Come One Come All– The Immortal Circus’ was a drawing of a man with cool, light-gray hair. He wore a composed and tidy suit, cane in-hand with a fedora resting on his head. But what truly caught your eye were the two beings beside him.
While he stood in the middle– on both of his sides were two large, dull-teal creatures. They seemed human-like from their top halves, but from the bottom they both weld long and impressive tails. Like snakes. Except they seemed more aquatic; judging from their gills and fins.
Below them was the caption, ‘A unique show like no other– you’ll never feel distressed again! Jade & Floyd – The Magnificent Eel-mer Twins – have never disappointed, leaving audiences awestruck in all years of business. Your Ultimate Escapism–!’
Your curiosity was piqued, a show… You wondered what witnessing one could feel like. Especially one with those Eel-mers… But a part of you felt unsettled, the more your eyes bore onto the poster– locked onto the drawing of the twins. There was something eerie about them that you just couldn’t point out.
Alas, the wind once again blew. Uncaring and ever hurrying, it forced you to continue moving. But suddenly, the light seemed ever so close. You could’ve sworn it seemed like you were hours away the last time you looked. Hope sweltered within you, and you went along with the wind’s push.
No longer worried about the air’s cold and freezing touch on you, you could only think about the small poster in your hand. Ultimate Escapism… Whatever that meant, it sounded nice. You wondered if you could ever experience something like that. Thumb subconsciously running circles over the paper as you moved, you wondered if you could attend the show. If you got out of here.
Exhausted and finally at your limits, you rested your hands on your knees, trying to catch your breath. But it was so close– it felt like you could almost touch the light now. One more push, one more. You were ready to collapse any moment, until the path opened to become a small cave.
It was still incredibly dark, but there was still some light. In the middle of the cave, was a spotlight shining upon a small podium where a desk was present. At first, you thought no one was there. But squinting, there was a vague silhouette of someone’s outline highlighted by the spotlight. Whoever it was, they knew of your presence. But they stood still, solitary.
You nervously approached, breath hitched in your throat. You almost jumped seeing the person suddenly move, they stretched a gloved hand out– as if asking you for something. You stood, confused, not sure what to give to them. The hand impatiently waved, pointing at the poster in your hand. You gave the paper a final look, before giving it over; unsure.
The hand snatched it, immediately retreating back into the darkness. You were left standing for quite a while, waiting for something to happen. Until the spotlight closed, dawning the room in darkness once again. With the presence of the warm light gone, you felt cold again. You started wondering if the owner of that hand left you here.
Until you felt something – rather, someone – grab your wrist and drag you along, forward. You watched behind, as the room disappeared and the curved walls of the path returned back to straight and cramped. You could not fight against the fast grip of whoever was in front of you, but you didn't feel like fighting back– strangely enough. Maybe because you didn’t possess any will to begin with, this whole time you let yourself be controlled by the things around you. You let the wind push you. You let the whispers in your ears persuade you to grab the poster, you let the impatience of the hand lead you to give the poster away.
As you turned your head back to face forward, no longer interested in whatever was happening behind you, the light at the end of the tunnel was brighter than ever. You let it overwhelm your eyes with its glare, blinding you for an instant three-minutes.
You felt a poke to your forehead, fluttering your eyes open to see who or what did that. You were met by two heterochromic eyes a bit too close for your comfort. You trodged back, surprised by the sudden eye contact. The man grinned, standing to his full height, a mischievous expression on his face.
“Ain’t seen ‘ya around here, what’s your name?”
Your name. You pursed your lips, trying to remember. What was your name, again? You couldn’t recall. You could tell names were important, but the name that was supposed to be yours wasn’t coming to your thoughts. You didn’t know what your name was.
“I… Don’t know.”
A straightforward response in which his head tilted.
“Eh, that’s fine. I’ll just call ‘ya shrimpy. You look like one t’me.”
A name. You were given a name. Not really an actual name– but still something to label you. You quietly wondered what part of yourself made him want to call you a shrimp…
“So, what’cha doin’ here? Haven’t ever seen you in town before. An’ no one really appears from that long cave. Are you here t’see the show? I’d love to see shrimpy watch me!”
The show… You did want to see the show. The poster had intrigued you beyond degree. You were curious, you had to admit. Was he also performing alongside those Eel-mers? He did seem a bit familiar-looking…
He interrupted your thoughts, saying he had to go leave or else ‘Azul’ would be on his case about being late. Whoever this ‘Azul’ was, you hoped he let you come see the performance. You weren’t quite sure if your poster counted as admission, but you really wanted to go…
“Show-time’s at midnight! See ‘ya there, shrimpy.”
You were left alone, looking around the environment. The sky was pitch-black. As was the cave. You felt anxious not having anyone with you in such a large open area, with no other people around. Quickly, you walked towards where you saw big, bright lights. Hopefully, that was where the Circus was.
The closer you got, the more people you encountered. But all of them paid no mind to you, caught up in themselves. Everyone seemed monotone. It felt… unsettling. This all felt like a dream. You woke up in a cave, you walked out for what seemed like hours, you came across a sketchy circus showcasing mers, you cannot recall anything about yourself. Not a single memory could be recovered from the depths of your head.
What if this was a dream? An extremely weird one at that. You couldn’t accept this as reality.
Was this rebirth? You did wake up with no memories, not being able to recall who you were. Maybe this was the afterlife. But if it was, the afterlife is really weird. But maybe it explained how empty you felt, ever since you’ve woken, you felt like you were missing something important. Maybe people forgot all memories of the life they had once they’ve joined the afterlife. Maybe all these people were the same as you, empty and looking for something.
That guy– you didn’t even ask him for what his name was. He didn’t seem so empty. Was he someone important? Someone holding authority? Did he find what he was missing already? The questions raced around in your head, as you started to lose track of the time. He did say no one really appeared from the cave you woke up in, but you weren’t really sure what to think of that. What did that mean? Did that imply you were different?
Your head span. It was all too much to think of. What if this was always the world you lived in, and you were just going insane? Surely, it wasn’t always like this. There had to be something behind this. You refused to believe the world was always this way. No– some vague memories started popping up. Your parents… your house… your streets…
There was much more than that. Your brain told you that all those you listed were now gone. You cupped your head in your hands in frustration. Oh… why couldn’t you remember–??
You were walking on the streets, when… something hit you. Yes– then.. You woke up in a small space, suffocated. You broke out and saw strange people in strange robes…
The memories ended there. A searing pain entered your mind, you hissed; not being able to bear it. Your head hurt with pressure, your ears rang. The small people in front of you turned into hundreds, as they span around your sight, blurry and distorted.
Stop… stop thinking… no…
This world wasn’t real. This was all a lie. You were not supposed to be here.
Your vision blacked.
A man sat on a chair, legs crossed. He tutted, shaking his head in exasperation. “No, no, restart. We can’t develop any sort of sentience here. This world shouldn’t be broken. Restart it all. And keep them controlled, this time.” He sat alone, two tall figures behind him. One lazily shifted his weight between his legs, the man couldn’t tell if he was even paying attention or not. The other tall figure bowed, hand over his chest. They stood in nothing but the void, as footsteps echoed throughout the space.
This was a world where no conflict was allowed. A world where neither heartbeats nor voices were heard. No self-awareness was allowed on their turf. They’ll simply restart it all again, and hopefully; you’ll comply with them this time. Under this world, immortality runs. And as long as eons pass, they’ll wait until you succumb to their grasps in this picture-perfect stage. In immortality; you shall be bound to them.
Thank you for reading! I hope you give this AU a chance and I do apologize if it comes off as confusing 🙇♂️ But I tried my absolute best with writing for this and hope it is enjoyable! Do look forward to another/more parts, I will definitely expand on this in the future. Maybe an Epilogue/Chapter 2 will be in order. Maybe even more chapters...
Azul liked being the one granting people whatever they desired. One plea of help and he’ll be there– a contract to fix-it-all. He liked knowing secrets, having leverage over people. And he hated being vulnerable. He hated all his flaws and covered himself up to hide all imperfections. He wanted to be stronger than everyone, he wanted more power.
Nothing is ever enough, if he can go a tier higher– he will do everything to get to that tier and beyond. He will paint a perfect picture of himself for others to view and admire, and hide his true, ugly cracks. He loved naive and innocent people, he loved how he could easily whisk them into giving their poor souls away to him.
And whenever someone comes to him with a pure desire… a wish to be loved back, a wish for their love to blossom, he wants to pluck away at that desire. Pluck away at it before it can successfully bloom. Everyone was a pitiful flower he could pluck at, feeding himself with the fallen leaves of secretive truths and vulnerabilities and lies. He only ever trusted people that could help him in his acts. People he was confident wouldn’t betray and expose him.
The past clings to his legs, the memories never fade away like bubbles, and he will do anything to build up a wall from himself and his past. Yes, he will always be Azul Ashengrotto. But to others around him, he will be the embodiment of the Sea Witches’ benevolence, a powerful mage with a powerful skill, a capable man aware of all knowledge. And he will continue to maintain that persona, he will tear up all pages of the past and present himself as a newly-set slate displaying only his power and achievements.
No one will see his cracks, while he will peel away at everyone else’s crevices. He wants to know anything and everything that can place him high and above–
And with that said, your appearance into Twisted Wonderland was a wonderful opportunity. Another person to learn the imperfections, strengths and deep secrets of. The fact you contained no magic head-to-toe was thrilling. The quality was one he could utilize in many ways, he could easily overpower and corner you. You couldn’t defend yourself, and you didn’t have anyone you were close with to help protect you.
Or, that was what Azul thought. You very quickly took Night Raven College by storm, the fire-breathing beast known as Grim was around you at all times. The duo of Heartslabyul freshmen stood by your side all-day. How did you wield the ability to befriend people so easily? Even the housewarden of Heartslabyul himself seemed fond of you after just a mere month of your time in this world. Azul narrowed his eyes. He needed this ability himself. He needed to take everything away from you. He needed to get his hands onto you– to get you indebted to him. You were a perfect image of a client; weak, genuine and lacking knowledge of the world around you.
He needed to pull away at all your attachments and strengths and leave you with nothing. Until the only person you could turn to, helpless, was him with his contracts.
But he felt so frustrated. Everyone was totally enthralled by you. Prefect, Prefect, Prefect. Your damned title and name was the only thing that escaped their mouths. What, was so good about you? What did you have that he didn’t? What kind of books did you read or what kind of people did you blackmail to get such social abilities? His fists shook. He needed to ruin you.
And yet, here he was. Weak and drained from his overblot. An overblot… so embarrassing. He allowed himself to be pushed around by his emotions so easily and overblotted. All his months of perfectly orchestrated actions and words and demeanours, all collapsed at his feet. The witnesses probably thought of him as pathetic, now. They probably knew his secrets. His vulnerabilities. Eyes squeezed shut, he wanted to disappear. They even caught sight of an old photo of him, showing his damned younger self. And you of all people saw it.
His old photo– it was now one of your first impressions of him. To you; he blackmailed your friends and around a hundred other people into working shifts at the Mostrolounge. He put you through so many hardships. You saw his younger, squishy – According to Floyd – self. You witnessed him overblot and even helped defeat him. You probably viewed him as a joke. Something insignificant. An evil person.
He prepared himself for what mocking words or expressions you could possibly subject him to.
Yet, you complimented him. You called him adorable. He thought you said it out of pity, to tease him, to rub salt in the wound; like everyone does. But when he looked into your eyes, he saw nothing ulterior or malevolent. In your eyes was nothing but sincerity. Did you always look so… warm? He felt like he was losing himself staring at your face. Such a natural, guileless expression. It didn’t look forced. This was your true face, your true smile.
Azul needed that smile reserved only for him. He wanted no one else to witness your joy but him. He didn’t want anyone else to have their heart pound for you. He wanted you.
He started off with subtlety, he gathered the courage to offer you discount vouchers that can be used at the Mostrolounge. You didn’t seem to find that annoying, in fact, you accepted them happily. He even caught you visiting occasionally to use those vouchers. He felt his heart leap.
Small vouchers turned into bracelets. Necklaces. Jewellery. Perfumes. And every, single, time, his heart folded seeing you actually wear said jewellery and put on the fragrances he gave you.
You were accepting his courting advances, so that meant you liked him back, right?
His hand even brushed against yours once, while giving you a book. He almost jumped if it weren’t for the fact you were both out in public.
Nevertheless, it was time for his final move. He held a bracelet in hand, a special one. It was common in mer-courting rituals to go out at sea and find the best trinkets you come across and put them all into one bracelet to give to your partner. If the bracelet was accepted and worn by the giftee within 24 hours, the courting was accepted.
He wanted to offer it to you someplace private. So he summoned you to the VIP room while you were dining at the Mostrolounge one day. Nervously twiddling his fingers, he felt paranoid. What if you rejected him? What if he destroyed the relationship he had already built with you because of the proposal?
He couldn’t bear the thought of rejection. He wanted you. He wanted you in all forms– your affection, your emotions, your smile, your touch, your mind, your body. His mind started wandering to more… perverse thoughts. Have you shared a kiss with someone before? Have you let someone see every part of you before– to let them wander it? Do you still have your precious innocence?
He wanted it. He wanted to be your first. No one else will get their hands to you first. He won’t allow it.
Seeing you seated in front of him, he showed you the bracelet in his hands– and waited.
Every second felt like an hour, he waited and waited in anticipation, dreading the possible outcome of failure. Please, he needed this. He needed you. He will give you anything, just please, please say you’re his.
Words could not describe the relief he felt when your eyes glowed up at the sight of the bracelet. You thanked him, his name rolled off your tongue. God, he loved hearing you utter his name. He needed to hear it from you more often.
But he was even more so excited by the fact you fully accepted his courting advancements. You loved him back. He was so worried and fussed over every detail, but it was to avail. Every single moment he spent contemplating, it was worth it. You accepted him, and you were both intertwined as mates now.
Does that mean he was allowed to love you know? He could kiss you, hug you– do whatever he willed. His heart raced.
Dizzingly, he stood up from his seat, walking over from around his desk. You were already standing, admiring the bracelet he had gifted to you.
Nervously running his tongue over his lips, he mentally prepared himself. He was going to do it.
Taking your chin into his hand, he closed the gap. Immediately addicted to the feeling of having his lips on yours. It felt like the nicest sensation he has ever experienced. He was happy. He got you before anyone else could. Now you could reserve yourself only for him, and him alone. He had you all to himself.
He didn’t even pay mind to your hand trying to push at his chest.
What was the matter? Why were you looking at him so confused? It hurt him. You accepted his courting rituals, so why do you look like you don’t want this? Maybe you were just unfamiliar with how to treat him with the newfound advance into your relationship. He’d happily sit down and explain all the things you could do together.
You accepted him. You brought yourself into this. And now, he’ll never let you go again. You will smile only for him. And if you tried to leave? The twins would be by his side. They’d get you back. This was only just the beginning, your relationship was only going to deepen further from this point. You will be dragged down to the depths with him, where the light never reaches, where no plea of yours ever reaches any other creature’s ear. Where all you will have is him, and all you’ll think about, is him.
I don't think this is one of my best works, but I do hope it is alright! I think this might be a bit out-of-character, but I'm really trying my best writing everyone the best I understand of them. This was also rushed, I'm sorry... Thank you for reading!
Rules. A most fundamental part of Riddle’s life. He is Riddle Rosehearts, and he was born with the rulebook in his hands. He was born being taught all the different 810 rules that would lead his life for eternity, from his first to last breath.
His mother always taught him to obey the rules, that if you follow everything in line, nothing bad will happen. And after losing everything he liked after sneaking out and tasting that frivolous tart, he had no choice but to obey.
Because if you break the rules, you lose the best part of the day. The best parts of your life. Breaking the rules means breaking the trust of others– especially his mother. And they will always be skeptical of you. After getting caught meeting Trey and Che’nya, his mother never trusted him to lead his own studying again. He lost his free one hour of independent studying. He broke the only trust she had in him to lead his own path.
That’s why, if you follow the rules perfectly, you set a good example. Your days will always be the same, free of trouble. If you put in the hardship to be obedient, no harm will reach you. Because with the rules set, following them will protect you. They are the steps that prevent you from the grasps of discord and trepidation. They save you from the vessels of Crime and Punishment.
He doesn’t understand. With all this known, there are still people who choose to blatantly break these rules. They keep dreaming, dreaming of a way to escape the lines of order to pursue their own desires and goals. Unruly goals that can easily be achieved with enough patience if you put the hard-work in.
Sloths. He disliked lazy and sleazy people. People always want the easy way, the fast way– etc. There are no easy ways in this life. If you want to accomplish a goal you have your eyes set on, you go through all the hardships that stand in your way. You learn, you reach your hand out to wrap it around the good outcome. You work, and you work arduously. There is no such way as achieving something without effort, he believed.
Throughout his childhood years, his mother gave him instructors to perfect his magic skills. That was one goal: getting stronger. And by obediently following every step given to him, practicing continuously to hone his skill, he developed his unique magic. He had it down perfectly to a T. That was the result of his hard work. He had magic skills far surpassing his age.
And that is why, he was given a gavel in his hand. He alone would act to be the judge of the worthy and the slackers. He reached Night Raven College and challenged the Housewarden. He had a heart attack seeing how out-of-place Heartslabyul was. For the dorm following the oh-so admirable spirit of the Queen of Hearts, it was in ruins. Full of corruption and inorder.
The crown was placed on his head, and the trial-room was now his domain. He is now the ruler and guardian of the rose mazes, and he would diligently crave the rules on stone. He will raise his iron fist, gavel in hand, and pound it down ruthlessly on the rule-breakers. Even if it shatters with the sheer force, the bells will never stop tolling for the guilty. Every single one of them– it shall be off with their heads.
The rules will all be carved onto the trouble-maker’s heads, they will be brought forth and kneel towards him. All those weak enough to trod themselves in sin. No matter how hard their pleas echo throughout the walls, He– Riddle, the vessel of justice, will ingrain the punishment onto them so they may never disobey him again.
For He– For Them– For Thy– He will be as swift as day and dispose of the dark whispers plaguing the world.
He is Justice. And his gavel will pound for the entire world to hear. The pestilence of misdeeds shall be purged.
It was now the time where new students flocked to the college. He sat amongst the pews, front row– along the other housewardens. His strict eyes watched upon the headmage, watching all the new enrollees getting their houses assigned. His eyes fell upon a duo of new freshmen, one of orange hair and the other with dark navy blue. The former had an expression that bore the epitome of mischief. His robes were unkempt and his speech almost uncouth, Riddle frowned. New he was, but he was still going to give him a speech about how to carry himself. One must not be unrefined in important events like this.
One coffin left, one enrollee yet to be revealed. The headmage was in the middle of a speech, until– banging sounds were heard. Whoever was in the coffin was trying to escape. The lid of the coffin broke off, the mysterious last enrollee tumbling out. Silence. Everyone in the hall stared; shocked.
There you were, but where was your world? Your head turned in various directions, confused and panicked. What place was this? It resembled a church. There was a sea of people in front of you, all seated in rows. They all wore the same robes, the same purple, golden and black. A man with a bird-beaked mask strode towards you, a strange hat and cane in-hand.
All Riddle could do was gape at you, eyes fixed upon the sight of you having a back-and-forth conversation with the headmage. Anger bubbled up within him, no one had ever dared to break out of their gate. This was a sacred ceremony meant to welcome new enrollees to Night Raven College, and here you were refusing to join? He watched as you pleaded with the headmage, claiming you had no magic abilities.
He scoffed, this was an arcane academy. And magic was the absolute necessity one had to wield to join the ranks. You were here for a reason, and that was because of magic. But when the dark mirror confirmed your claims, everyone was sent into surprise. How did the college mess up and send someone wielding no magic to a school of magic? This was all so ridiculous, until the glass windows broke and a beast pounced in, claiming that the last enrollee’s spot be granted to him, introducing himself as Grim.
And the entire hall was in flames. Students scrambled to get out, their robes on fire. The entire place was set ablaze in blue fire, burning everything that got caught in. Riddle snapped, the anger he weld could be comparable to said flames as he angrily trudged towards the beast. He was going to make heads roll for this, the beast had to pay.
As it taunted him, he took his pen out. Breathing in, his chest puffed out. Eyes seeing red and fixed onto his target, he recited out his spell.
“Are you ready for your sentence? The verdict comes afterwards. Any last words?”
The cat-like being gulped, sensing danger. It nervously stepped back, fright taking over. And before he knew it, it scrambled to run.
Nothing could escape his spell, his justice. He will punish all fatuous acts even if they ran far enough. He will always get them sooner or later, no sentence could ever be evaded.
“Off With Your Head!” He fired; red blazes quickly catching up to Grim and quickly wrapping him in the spell. A collar materialized, binding itself around Grim’s neck. While Grim trudged over himself and tripped, falling face-first towards the floor. Leading to the headmage picking him up by his mane, tutting.
With the beast punished, his head snapped back to face you. His rampage wasn’t done yet. He marched towards you, anger still present in his gaze. He pointed his pen at you, starting a rampant and fierce lecture. You did as much as the equivalent of disrespecting the Queen of Hearts herself. He didn’t fail to notice how his accusatory and raged speech caused you to tremble with fear. Your eyes wide and full of confused guilt, staring back up at him.
You looked so lost. As he finished, his arm lowered. He subconsciously cocked a brow up. If you looked this remorseful… It can't be helped. He might as well forgive you– as shocked as he himself was at this thought, looking at you; he felt a twinge of guilt himself. You weren’t from around here, you didn’t know the rules, you were allegedly brought here against your will, and you were unfamiliar with this place and the beast causing the disturbance. And here he was, chewing you out for something you couldn’t help.
No matter. The headmage seemed to be offering you a temporary place to stay. He would make the effort to give you a rulebook, and hopefully you would follow. It would be quite bad if you turned out to become a delinquent… he wasn’t quite sure why he concerned himself this much over you.
And unfortunately, as weeks passed, you were quite the friend of Ace and Deuce. One could even argue that you were the best of friends. Riddle couldn’t fathom why you chose to befriend such distasteful people. Deuce was okay– yes, he caused quite the trouble, but he always felt remorseful about it at the end of the day. But Ace was shameful. He seeked to skip lessons, only putting in half the effort due to his laziness, and he had such unrefined speech. Not to mention the way he handled you, sometimes.
When you broke rules, he didn’t have it in his heart to punish you. A mere scolding, and you were left off the hook. If your tie was slightly ajar, he’d fuss over it and fix it for you, brushing off any speck of dust. As he promised during orientation, he did give you a book on the rules of the Queen of Hearts. He even made the effort to give you one filled with his own annotations and explanations of each rule, complete with methods on how to achieve perfect memorization.
And oh– how his heart fluttered when he saw you actually flip through it during your free time. He fought so hard to not look visibly flattered whenever you declared your admiration for his studying and magical skills. Whenever you left his company, he felt sad not being able to spend more time with you. Trey always caught Riddle whenever he stared at you for longer than he’s supposed to, giving him a knowing grin.
After his overblot, he found himself lingering by your side more and more. He enjoyed your company. Lately, whenever he saw couples hold hands, he always looked at his own and wondered what it would feel like intertwining his fingers with yours. Riddle wanted to be the person you chose to stay with so bad, but knowing you, you’d probably pick Ace or Deuce.
He was losing his composure so much, little by little he became more vulnerable. Less strict, less fierce. The gavel he once held in his hand, never wavering and never faltering, his grip on it grew looser and looser. Justice’s sword he was, but the mere presence of you caused waves in his mind. Whenever you seemed to disagree with his immediate punishment via ‘Off With Your Head’, he begrudgingly put his staff or pen down claiming he decided to hear the person out. But truly, it was to avoid your disapproval.
Riddle wanted to be the person you would never hesitate to come to if feeling down, he wanted to hug you and hold you close, and tell you that everything is okay. He would do anything for you. He would treat you the best he can. If people saw him akin to the Queen of Hearts, you were his King. He always made exceptions for you.
He needed you so desperately, he wished you knew what you did to him. He was once the fierce tyrant that prioritized rules above everything else and never made exceptions; and with your sudden appearance, he warmed up so much. The overblot made him lenient, and even if he still struggled with reducing punishments, you were still there to encourage him.
At this point, you were so impactful to his life that all this wouldn’t have happened if you never were summoned to NRC. Not the orientation disaster, not the apology tart, not the overblot. He would theoretically still have been as strict as he used to be.
So please, please understand how important you are to him. He loves you in a way he cannot describe. It has only been a month, but he’s so attached he doesn’t know what to do.
It was another one of those days where he helped you with studying. The History of Magic topics were getting too hard for you to understand, so Riddle graciously offered to help. As you thoughtfully tried to answer a question he gave you for practice, your phone lit up with a notification.
Riddle hoped you didn’t notice his eyes immediately flicking towards the screen to see. But how dare someone message you during your studying time?! They were interrupting the moment you both were having– which was just tutoring! Nothing more than that.
Though he did hope it was much more than that…
You took a look at your screen and stood up. Riddle’s heart leapt, surely you weren’t leaving this early? You told him that Grim was causing trouble back at Ramshackle and Ace couldn’t deal with him anymore.
You said you had to leave.
He panicked, he tried so hard not to let it be evident on his face, but he really didn’t want you to leave…
You gathered your books and turned to walk away in a hurry. His mind conflicted, he decided.
He really needed you. You were going to stay with him. You had to.
You felt a hand wrap around your wrist, tugging you. Surprised, you turned and saw Riddle behind– looking bashful and distressed.
You could only question him, worried and concerned.
He let out an unstable sigh, eyes closed as his thoughts were in chaos. His grip around your arm only tightened, it started to hurt.
What could he say? He was too reluctant to admit he had an unhealthy obsession over you and really needed you to stay with him. And never leave. Nor escape.
He was going to keep you trapped in his room and you were never going to leave again. Do not fret, he will take good care of you. He will never let harm reach you again, so stay with him. Riddle will give you everything and anything you need, including his soul. Definitely, his love.
Broken the rules, he has. But it has only given him you in doing so. He has you all to himself, and he will continue to break as much rules as he has to keep you here. Never will he let anyone take the best part of his day, the best part of his life; You.
He lost your trust, and he mourns heavily knowing that. But at what cost? He wanted your praise, your admiration, your approval– so he will keep you here and give you nothing but happiness and pride. One day, you’ll reciprocate. You’ll stand by his side with unwavering trust. And he will be the most reliable Queen he can; with you, his precious and ever innocent King.
Please forgive me if this was all over the place or out of character 🙏 I really hope this was enjoyable, thank you for reading!
The ocean was a terrifying place. It swallowed up light and looked like a vast, indifferent void. A desert of water. It looked like such a bottomless dark expanse under the dark night sky, pitch black. It looked uncaring. A place that has never cared for you, the cruel harsh waves that would swallow you in an instant.
Every crash of water against the shoreline feels like the large reservoir has awoken, to try and drown anyone in the harsh and heavy liquid suppressing all noise before you can scream. The deep depths are so silent it feels like lonesome noise to your ears. It’s so cold, so crushing, the world underwater is beyond comprehension. Where you are but a worthless speck in the miles of emptiness.
Who knows what lurks in the dark trenches running deeper than mountains, where sunlight never reaches, where you would be a weak prey in comparison to what lurks under, hidden from human civilization.
You knew. There were things roaming around under eerie, dark blue. Unfathomable creatures gliding through the void with predatory glints in their eyes, strong claws that can easily tear away at anything, strength so incomparable to anything anyone has ever faced. Anyone could be crushed and devoured easily. And you know that the most.
You shivered recalling that day. The day when you were but still a curious child, unaware of the tidal terror that the sea was. Your parents weren’t home, leaving you all the more to the opportunity of running out to the ocean. Your house was quite near the shore, a mere six minutes of running and you were there already. You didn’t get to come here often, especially not when it was all-empty like this. You probably shouldn’t be here this late, but you were intrigued by the large body of water.
In your storybooks, the ocean was always described as a fun place. A place where all the aquatic creatures swam and were happy. A place where adults bring yummy fish home to be cooked and eaten. An overall joyous place. You always wanted to learn how to swim. You were a bit scared as you didn’t know how, so all you could bring yourself to do was to walk over to the shoreline, where the water lapped against your ankles. It felt cool and relaxing, an overall nice sensation.
Foolishly, you decided to delve deeper, straying further from land and deeper into the water. Until the level was up until your hips. Out of the corner of your eye, you spotted something glinting. The eccentric child you were, you immediately turned trying to get it. It was such a pretty shell… off-white with some pink tones. Distracted you were with the shell, unable to notice the giant wave approaching behind your back.
It crashed against you, causing disbalance. You fell face-into the water, a yelp escaping your mouth. Flailing helplessly, you only caused yourself to drift further and further away from solid land. You panicked and big tears escaped your eyes. You didn’t want to die like those adults that went too far into the sea. You were too young. You still had your best friends and your parents and you loved them very much. you were going to get into so much trouble with mom when you come back, she will ground you forever and ever.
The more you tried, the more you worsened your situation. But persistent you were, and you continued waving your limbs around, shouting out pleas of help. You watched in horror as the water fully submerged you. It was like those horror films where the people drowning stuck up one hand above the water, until they fully sunk to meet their fate. This had to be a dream, right? When you wake up you’ll promise mom and dad that you’ll never watch those scary movies again, that you’ll never stay up past bedtime, that you’ll never sneak out by yourself again.
It was useless. Your tears dissolved into the ocean. This wasn’t how the stories described underwater… It looked so empty. Where were the colorful fish? The adorable dolphins? It felt so cold… so uncaring… so heavy.
You started making amendments in your head, bidding goodbye to every single person you’ve cared about.
And slowly, your eyes fluttered close, your vision growing darker and blurrier. It got harder and harder to breathe.
You felt like the ocean was hugging you, feeling the presence of two arms grabbing hold of you.
Wait, what? Someone was grabbing you. Were you being saved?
It felt like you were being pushed higher and higher, the light was getting brighter. Until finally, you reached out,
You felt the breeze greet your face again, you’ve never felt this much relief in your measly little life before. You were so happy to be alive. You trudged back onto the shoreline, coughing out the intense pressure in your throat, water falling out. You looked behind you, you had to thank the person that saved you, you were so grateful to them.
A pair of mismatched eyes stared right back at you, boring into your soul. Chills ran down your spine. A boy… no– a thing floated in the sea behind you. It peered at you with such curiosity, a curiosity you once felt when you ran down here not so long ago.
He– It didn’t look human at all. Dull-teal skin, fins and gills, iridescent scales. It seemed to be scanning you, as if you were something it had never seen before. And rightfully so; to it, you are as much of an alien as it was to you. He must’ve found it irregular that you were missing gills or a tail. A tail. You saw a brief glimpse of a tail in the translucent blue. You were shocked, in a horrified demeanour. This was a monster. It didn’t look like the mermaids in the fairytales you were fascinated with. You felt so panicked.
Adults are liars. The ocean isn’t friendly. There aren’t happy and welcoming mermaids that sang songs in joy, flocks of bright-colored fish that were best-friends with said mermaids. The ocean is scary. Icy. Bitter. Empty. And likely full of scary creatures like the one before your eyes.
But it saved you. No– it must’ve saved you because you were its next meal. All the monsters in those spooky stories ate children, you knew because dad would tell you whenever you went to bed.
The ocean is scary and you didn’t want to come back. Terrified and heavily traumatized by the experience, you ran as past as your little legs could carry. Warm tears overflowing once again. You would never come back to the spooky ocean.
And yet, recalling that ever-so-clear memory in your head that forever tormented you, developed your fear of the ocean, you still found yourself by the beach. That was twelve years ago, and you were all grown-up now. An adult about to start hunting for a job. Just seeing the waves crash against the sand, taunting you, was enough to make your breathing quicken. Your body remembered the incident, the heavy sensation on your lungs returning from that day, the day you met that creature.
Your favorite sun-hat got caught by the wind and flew along its grasp, and as you chased after it, it landed onto the ocean, bobbing along the tide. You really didn’t want to come within a 6-feet-radius of the lake. But– that was your favorite sun-hat…
Legs finally, reluctantly moving forward after seeming like they were glued to the sand, you approached cautiously. There you were going again, venturing out again because of a frivolous reason with no one else present. But that was your favorite sun-hat – perfectly cheap but beguilingly beautiful.
Arm stretched out and body leaning forward, you tried to get it. The water was already just below your ankle. You shivered, not liking the feeling of it. Not one bit. The once gentle lapping of the water that soothed you, now only panicked you even more than you already were. Damnit, you only pushed it further by only getting to poke it with a finger. You swear you saw something move somewhere under the water, it only spiked your paranoia further. You really shouldn’t be here, all this over one measly hat? But that was your favorite sun-hat…
You dug your grave further as you continued moving, trying to get a closer reach. The water was now up to your thighs, slightly below your hips. It felt so uncomfortable, but your mind came to the decision of giving up and leaving a bit too late.
Something wet and slimy grabbed at your outstretched hand and tugged. Due to the sudden pull, you fell into the water. Panic bubbled up in your mind yet again, you were going to start hyperventilating any second now. You trembled. Trying to gain composure, you tried getting back to land again.
But you got yanked by the arm again, deeper. It kept on pulling at you, pulling and pulling. No matter how hard your legs kicked, no matter how hard you tried peeling off whatever was around your arm, it was all futile. Nothing changed. You were still losing sight of the light above and being embraced by the frigid temperatures of the waters.
Until it finally stopped.
You blinked. Something started wrapping around your lower body, like a snake. You squinted, seeing someone appear in front of you. The owner of the tail. A familiar heterochromic gaze greeted you. Your stomach lurched seeing the dull-teal skin, fins and gills, the scales. He was the same creature. The same thing from that day. He bore a smile on his face that resembled amusement and triumph. A small hint of insanity in his eyes that seemed different from the composed and calm expression on his face.
“I have been waiting months and years for you to make an appearance again, my pearl.”
The nickname only sickened you more than you already were.
“You never seemed to leave my thoughts, not once. Ever since the day I first saved you, you’ve been the only being present in my mind.” His tail’s grasp tightened, sending painful pressure to your lower body. His hands roamed around you– your hair, your face, your neck, the sides of your waist.
His eyes bore some reflection as he continued speaking, all the while he continued burning you with his stare. The way he looked at you made you want to crawl in a hole and die.
“I naively awaited day-by-day for you to come back, I longed to speak to you. But you never came.”
His hand now traced your chin, and you couldn’t slap him away. You were trapped by his tail like a dove in a snake’s grasp, entangled and oxygen leaving you by the second. He then so roughly clutched your face with his large hand, it hurt so much; like he was going to break your jaw with his sheer force.
That was it. The end of your life story. A pathetic human that feared the ocean. He was going to devour you and not leave anything but your bones behind. You closed your eyes, it was no use crying. The water would dissolve the tears, anyways.
It happened so quickly, his cold lips smashed themselves against yours. Your eyes fluttered open in shock. His sharp teeth grazed at the soft flesh of your lips, poking against them. He even slightly bit, It hurt so bad. You could taste the metallic taste of your blood in your mouth, and you could tell he did, too. He groaned against the kiss, pressing his chest against yours, an arm behind your back to deepen the kiss. You felt like you were going to lose breath in the next few minutes and die of the lack of oxygen.
When he pulled back, he could feel a twisted twinge to his heart as he saw the sight of what it had done to you. Your lips were parted and tainted with your own blood, your eyes opened so wide as you gawked at him with such fear in your eyes. A sick grin developed on his face. You looked so enticing.
“Nevertheless, you are finally here. Forsake your legs, my dear pearl. You will join me in the underwater world. I will give you my love and we will live together. I am sure my mother and twin brother would be so delighted to see you.”
I love deranged Jade, this was also really fun to write! Thank you for reading and I hope I didn't make any mistakes here. I am very scared of mischaracterizing the twins by accident, especially Jade. But I hope I did well! this is not beta-read, oops..
Jamil was always second. He was always the shadow. When people thought of Jamil, they thought of Kalim. He always held himself back so Kalim could be first. He always had to make sure Kalim got what he wanted. Always making sure he placed Kalim above himself.
You were something that didn’t stand out at first. You were just another person among the sea of students at Night Raven College. Your only one unique quality was that you didn’t possess magical abilities. Not one bit. You did cause quite the uproar at orientation, but it all went back to normal after that. To Jamil, at least. For he still woke up every before-dawn and continued the same routine. The same concern he had to plaster on for Kalim.
He couldn’t care all too much, but it was his job. If he let anything happen to the Asim in front of him, his own family would be at risk. He had to concern himself with Kalim. He had to care. He had to walk by his side everyday, plan parties and parades on short-notice, teach him subjects he didn’t understand, and make sure he lives. That not one hurtful sensation pierced at his stupid, warmth-engulfed heart.
But as time passed, he noticed more and more unusual events happening. Hushed rumours that the housewarden of Heartslabyul had overblotted. Overblot. A topic he never much spoke or even thought about. It was a term that stood-out from his usual, decided day-by-day routine. It did not belong there. Anything that spoke of harm and threatened to change the life of the person he was made to commit to protect was taboo. He ignored the whispers and continued on. Rumours had no place in his life.
It kept happening. Apparently similar incidents were reported to have taken place at Savanaclaw and Octavinelle. With you there, front and centre. Noticeably, Housewardens Riddle, Leona and Azul were approaching you more than they should; trying to curry your favor. Offers to help you with studies, give you meal discounts at the Mostrolounge, all flown your way. All the while you stood, smiling and slightly unsettled with the sudden attention. But you were pure of heart, Jamil could tell, and you always promised to see them later or believe whatever excuses they made to stay with you longer.
He didn’t understand. Ever since you arrived, strange incidents have been happening. Most people were acting differently. All of them briefly mentioned you in most conversations. They had such strange expressions on their faces when you were present or being spoken about. It was like they were all under a spell. But you didn’t possess magic. What were you doing? Who are you, really? The night he pondered all those questions, he started developing an interest in you.
When he offered you lend him a hand in the kitchens – seeing as you entered in – you helped and dutifully learned the cooking techniques he taught you, not once retaliating to his commands. When Grim asked the question of what the Scarabia students were doing at school during winter holidays, you offered to drop the inquiry when everyone in the room seemed uneasy, making his job easier. When he invited you to Scarabia, you enjoyed the food and his company. You even happily conversed with Kalim, no ulterior intentions radiating from you.
When he saw you smile– the smile you showed everyone, the smile seemingly always present whenever you spoke, the smile always plastered on your face when you were happy, he started to understand. He started to understand why everyone was always adamant on capturing your attention, it felt so nice and reassuring. It didn’t feel like a fake smile. It was genuine and warm.
You didn’t know Kalim’s status or Jamil’s role since you weren’t from this world. You treated them like normal, ordinary people as you did with everyone else. Jamil felt like he could be himself when he spoke to you. He felt like dropping his guard around you, he wanted to. When you thought of him, you didn’t think of ‘Jamil: Kalim’s servant’. You thought of Jamil as someone different. And that is what melted his heart the most.
The way everyone looked at you felt like a piercing sensation to his heart. It was not only the housewardens anymore, even Ace seemed off with his touches on you lingering longer than they should. Jamil felt sickened. Surely, he was better than everyone, he could care for you much more than the others could. He knew what was better for you. They were only after one goal, and it wasn’t for your love. It was for what you could give them. For what they could do to you to satisfy their desires. Leona, Azul, those twins, everyone. They all had the same predatory glint to their eyes. While you failed to notice them, Jamil did.
He decided that inviting you over to Scarabia repeatedly was the best option. There, he could keep his eyes on you. And if he wasn’t there, he could do so through Kalim. Throughout the week, you ran into either Kalim or Jamil asking if you could come to Scarabia, inviting you to eat over, offering to help you with any subjects or homework, even helping out with cooking– though it always ended up with Jamil refusing to let you touch the stove most of the time.
You were precious to him. And he was not going to let you fall into anyone else’s grasp. He was going to make sure you fell for him instead. That you would know he cares the most about you. That he would be the person you go to if you had any worries.
Verily, he was close to this goal. He couldn’t care less about Grim. But the duo of first years… it would be hard peeling them off your company.
Jamil was no idiot. He knew what he was doing was wrong. He knew what he thought and felt was unhealthy. But it didn’t matter. He was doing this for your own safety, right? It doesn’t matter if he had to threaten a few students here and there or feed you false information about them. This was for your own good, he told you.
And so was it when he once proposed that you stay over in Scarabia in an empty room. Ramshackle was too unstable, too broken down, too detrimental to your safety, he said. It would be much better if you stayed someplace with other people, where you could share your burdens with actual people instead of ghosts. And Kalim would be delighted to have you there. There was hesitance in your eyes, he could tell. But he continued persuading you until the only answer you could give him was a yes. He wanted to hold off on using Snake Whisper on you so early.
When you informed Crowley you wanted to join Scarabia, Jamil was by your side. In case it went wrong, he wanted to steer it right. To make sure Crowley agreed. It once again took heavy effort, but in the end, Crowley was forced to agree and commented on how much of a kind soul he was, to let you transfer with Grim like this. Of course, Grim came with you. That was non-negotiable, Jamil knew. But anything to make sure you were close to him.
It was a lie, sharing your burdens with others. Jamil made sure your room was in the same building as his, in the same hallway at the very least. It was so whenever you needed someone, Jamil was right there. His room was close, and you trusted him. So you could always go to him with whatever was troubling you.
And the very last issue that Jamil had been putting off taking action on, was Kalim.
It was his job to protect Kalim. He always had to make sure Kalim got his way, got whatever he wanted, and was protected. But his heart was full of spikes, seeing him so close to you. The blush on Kalim’s face whenever he was with you was so subtle, but Jamil noticed. He always did.
Jamil was always expected to give over whatever he had to Kalim if Kalim wanted it. He was always expected to put Kalim before himself. Even if it cost his own life. He always made sure he never developed an attachment to anything so he wouldn’t feel reluctant on handing it over. But you, you were something Jamil would never give over so easily. In fact, he will never share you.
You watched Jamil methodically chop vegetables on a cutting board, eyes narrowed with focus. He had called you over, claiming he needed assistance with something in the kitchen. As he slid all cut parts into a pot with his hand, he noticed your presence.
“Ah, Prefect, could you please bring the spices over? They’re over in that cabinet. My hands are too busy to retrieve them for myself.”
Nodding, you went over to the compartment he referred to. Since your addition to Scarabia, you got accustomed to the kitchen and where specific ingredients were kept. Scarabia was much bigger and more spacious than Ramshackle, and you still had trouble navigating it, but you were enjoying your time here. Jamil was right when he said staying at a place with more people would be better for you.
Bringing small jars of the spices over, you placed them in a line on the counter. Jamil washed his hands, before he strided over and thanked you.
You were about to leave, before he called your name. Turning your head back, you made eye contact. He smiled. An unsettling and triumphant one.
“The one you behold is your master. When I ask you a question, you will answer. When I give you a command, you will assent. Snake Whisper.”
Even if it means he has to force his love onto you, he will do it. He will pour his heart out onto you and fill you with all the love in his being, and then you’ll understand. He is the one for you, and you are the one for him.
I tried my best with this!! Thank you for reading, this was immensely fun to write! Please tell me if there were any errors in this, I didn't beta-read </3
I will likely make a second chapter/epilogue to this, it depends how well-received this work is 🙂↕️
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