ׅ ♡ vivi @sanjomey - Tumblr Blog

I love ur writing sm !! 😭😭 could I ask for a Yuu who’s very two faced/a huge people pleaser ? Not in a mean way . But they’ve been so used to putting up a mask in front of others that they just do it without intending to at this point— and when they’re alone (or at least they think so), the persona completely drops and they look like the most unapproachable person on earth .

After they’ve finished a favor for someone they swear under their breath the moment they turn around . And obviously there’s no place in NRC where you’re truly alone so the boys WILL catch Yuu slipping up unbeknownst to them .

uhh I really wanted to req this with leona , malleus , and the tweels . But it’s really up to you who to write for the rest . And you can totally just ignore this too cause I just wanted to ramble T . T

‘ ‘A New Side to the Beloved Perfect., ,

Premise; The Ramshackle Perfect, known across the Night Raven College corridors for their kind nature. Always helping others with a seemingly indestructible smile plastered onto their face.

But what if that person was just a front?

A mask, just so people wouldn’t know what hid underneath. To see the unbridled exhaustion that seemed to bury deep within their bone marrow.

Pairing; Leona Kingscholar, Jade Leech, Floyd Leech, and Malleus Draconia x Perfect! GN! Reader(separate)

Word Count; 7.9k

Side Notes: fear I wrote a lil too much for Leona(stares at 3,038 words…) though!! I’m so happy that you enjoy my writing.

apologies it took a second!! I wanted to get it done by the 11th but did NOT go to plan😭 trying to be aesthetic(and failing) is NOT for the weak(me)

I hope you tho!!<3

⤷ Leona would argue that he knew you were some sorta people pleaser from the first day he laid eyes on you. The ceremony, when you stumbled out of that coffin; panic etched into your features, acting as if you were pulled into a whole new reality(technically, you were.) That you reeked of it, even from where he lazed atop those wooden benches just before the floating mirror and coffins. Just out of harm's way, safe from the skittering beast with a forked tail, hellbent on casting everything he could ablaze.

⤷ And in truth, it always irritated Leona. He hated it when people were quick to follow orders, to make others happy. As if they were naught but a dog, doomed to servitude, wagging their tails pathetically at the slightest bit of attention. Barking when spoken to, being loyal to their adoring humans, etc. Whether it’d be to gain something in turn, or merely to make themselves feel better about themselves, to be seen by someone better than them, it didn’t matter to him. They all expected something in turn for their 'benevolent' acts. Prideless creatures, they were.

⤷ He remembered the days he roamed the palace at Sunset Savanna. Witnessed the way people praised his elder brother merely for his existence. Did everything they could just to keep that dumb lopsided grin on Falena's face that always looked like it was mocking him, all the while the people in court stared at him as if Leona was lesser. All because of their birth order, out of either brother's control. Seeing him as something they couldn't gain anything from, not unless Falena or his father perished.

⤷ Even within Night Raven College, it was clear there was a stark difference between people, or their groups. A distinction so obvious, although it'd never be mentioned aloud. Everyone naturally belonged to a hierarchy, and no one wanted to be at the bottom of it; using whatever tool—whoever they had to—to raise up the ladder.

⤷ Annoyingly enough, except you. The irregularity both in this world and in his views on society. And maybe he loathed that a little more.

Leona openly despised your existence. Outwardly, privately, spiritually, catastrophically. Any way he could, he probably did. It was a known fact around campus and especially to whoever knew the two of you, but no one knew why he seemed to be so averse to your existence more than anyone else. When you'd asked Ruggie—mostly joking, but genuinely concerned why Leona looked at you like you ate a decaying apple in front of him—Ruggie could only manage a shrug and a small comfort. "Y'know, maybe you're just too nice for 'em. Wouldn't put it past him if he just strived off negativity… Swear I've never seen a blemish on him."

Which was partially true. To some degree. He did dislike you because of that.

You aided people without thinking twice, always throwing yourself headfirst into something else; always ignoring those who'd told you it was foolish and a waste of time. Which, fine. Whatever. He couldn't be that mad if someone was getting something out of it. Even if it was just the title of being a "good person" in others' eyes, so be it.

But what made you so aggravating was that you never expected things from others. In fact, he'd sometimes argue that you anticipated them not to bat an eye at you afterward, making you yet another nameless face in a crowd of nobodies. And he couldn't fathom why such a person existed. How could someone function like that? Live that way, even.

To him, it only served to remind him of when Cheka first realized he had a tail. The way he'd chase it around fruitlessly, stumbling to his knees before getting back up, again and again. An unbreakable cycle, only halted whenever his nephew found something a little more entertaining than playing cat and mouse with the very thing that was attached to him.

So, he'd pick at you. Consistently. Without fail. Snide comments. Scoffing a little too loudly whenever you found yourself unable to voice that someone had crossed a clear boundary, instead allowing it to be pushed against. So far, a bent swordfish could fit the tip of its nose in the crevice. Broken beyond what could've been repaired. Mocking the apologies you handed out like candy under his breath.

Things you swore you could've handled, including his sly remarks. So what? It wasn't like you could please everybody. Certainly, this wasn't going to irritate you or anything of the sort. Or weigh on your conscience. Nah.

⤷ But Leona had a terrible knack for getting under people's skin. Something you were convinced he was both subconscious and aware of.

⤷ Each time, he'd peel back another layer of paint that you'd coated on in hopes you could still pretend. Covering the mold spores that crawled underneath, act like they never existed. A seemingly invulnerable canvas, ensuring the corruption didn't reach the surface of the shell. But there was a piece of you that acknowledged that it was growing rapidly, despite your efforts. That soon, somewhere deep within your heart, you'd run out of paint, so that everyone would see you as you really are. A brittle mess, hidden beneath the prettiest of shades.

⤷ That was, until, unable to take it anymore, you bared your teeth back at him, unveiling what lay behind closed doors.

The courtyard was empty except for two. A Ramshackle Perfect, and an indigo-haired Heartslabyul first-year with a club marring his cheek, who spilled words at such a rapid pace you weren't too certain you'd caught them.

The indigo-haired student bowed halfway toward you. A habit, despite your badgering and teasing, telling him he didn't have to do that with you. "… Thank you! For promising to help me and Ace study for the upcoming magic history test, Yuu. I promise, I'll get a head start now so you can worry more about your own!" Deuce straightened up, letting you glimpse a confident smile plastered onto his face.

Turning on his heel, he waved goodbye, allowing your shoulders to ease just a smidge. Your smile to falter. But before he crossed the threshold into the school building, he paused, turning back to shout out, "I wouldn't know what to do without you!"

And there that mask went right back up as if it'd never left.

The bit of strain that subsided now swelled with tension as you waved back, beaming. "Any time! Can't leave you two behind now, can I?" Only to receive a snort in response as he ran off, into the abyssal hell that was Night Raven College. Leaving you standing there. Alone. Counting the seconds, your slowing heartbeat, until it was almost a guarantee that he wouldn't bolt.

A sigh stumbled out of you after a minute. Almost every bone in your body becoming mush but your legs that threatened to capsize under the pressure. Exhaustion bled out of you in waves, and a cruel part of you was so glad that Grim decided to head to Scarabia to gorge on delicacies enough to make a grown, redneck man swoon over. Just for a sliver of peace. Away from anyone. Even if you knew it wouldn't last long.

As much as you loved those three, you swore they were gonna be the death of you sometimes. Literally, too, whenever Grim decided to lie on your neck and nearly suffocate you.

Your tranquility didn't last long, though. Because of course it didn't.

The dull thud of someone's shoes came up from behind you moments after Deuce left, lazy enough where the tips of the soles seemed to drag on for an eternity—clearly someone who couldn’t care less about their personal belongings—before halting. "Crowley should see if those little Royal Sword Academy students wants ya'… They'd just love you," a gruff voice said, sarcastically. You didn't even have to turn back to see who it was. The sheer amount of malice that poured from his every word could only belong to one student.

Your eyes slammed shut, an attempt to rein in that bubbling urge to argue back. Something that was usually as effortless as breathing for you. But against your better judgment, you slipped. "And what's that supposed to mean?" You snipped, glancing back over your shoulder, to find exactly who you expected.

The Housewarden of Savannaclaw, Leona Kingscholar. The one person in this seven-forsaken school that never seemed to be pleased, no matter what you did.

"I think you know what I meant, herbivore."

"That your school is riddled with delinquents, despite being supposedly prestigious?" You squinted at him, taking in his lax posture. The way his hands burrowed deep within his pants pockets. "Is it that shocking that someone wants to be nice for a change around here?"

"It ain't like it workin' well for ya…" Leona sighed out. "Shocker you haven't been eaten alive yet. Thought you'd just be bones within a week."

You stared flatly at him. Of all people who could've bothered you, it just had to be Leona. "Do you always have to act this pretentious?" Whether that was a genuine question or an observation, you weren't quite sure. "I just don't get it. What have I done to upset you this much?" You started, shifting to face him front on. "Are you still that mad about the yowling? Come on. That was forever ago."

"If you think whatever that noise Grim was shriekin' was yowling, we gotta whole other issue," he bristled.

"That's still not answering my question, you know?"

"And what?" Leona crossed his arms over his chest. "If I answer, whatcha gonna do? Try n' fix whatever you've done? Like everything else in this school?"

Your brows knit together. "What are you talking about now, Leona?"

"I'd argue it's pretty obvious."

"It isn't," you bit the words out, teeth scraping together.

"The whole…" He waggled a finger at you. "Helpin' anything with a pulse thing you got goin' on."

"… Helping people?" You drawled. "Is that what this has been about? Are you serious? You can't be."

"When ya' do it, it's pathetic. Hell, I'd be shocked if you didn't hurl yourself off a mountain if someone asked you to." He said before adding, "It's like you're desperate for some form-a' control when ya' have none. Controllin' how others' view you by catering to their every need."

“We all know that if I don't do it, who will, Leona,” you growled out; venom leaking through your every word. Your exhaustion peering from the cracks in your facade.

“It doesn’t matter who does it, or if it gets done." He drew right arm up, gesturing to the entirety of campus. "Let them figure out their issues.”

“It doesn’t work that way… I don’t have a choice!”

“Then quit complainin’ if you aren’t going to just let it up.” He sneered, the tips of his canines poking from his upper lip. Sharp as they were lethal. “Do you really think helpin' Crowley— Helpin' any of us, will get you home faster, herbivore?" He spat out. Those jade green eyes of his flashed a form of hatred you didn't think possible, twisting into an acidic color. "D'ya think, for one second, we care enough to try?”

You flinched, taking a half step back. “…Huh?”

He tread closer in response, his strides consuming the distance between you as if it were nothing. “What progress has been made to get you home?”

Your mouth went dry. Nothing, some part of you told you to say. Instead, you glanced away, unable to look directly at him, only managing a close-lipped smile. “… Headmaster Crowley said that he was still researching. He has responsibilities to the school, you know?" You sounded as convinced as the expression on the beastmen's face.

“Is he, though? The man who nearly bolted to the mirror whenever came to winter vacation?”

“Well—" You started, but he was quicker.

“Is he the one studyin’ in the library whenever they have an ounce of free time?"

"No— but-" Words piled in your throat, arguments to thwart his claims. To prove that what you were doing was helpful for your cause, that Crowley was going to find a way, but none of them made sense strung together. Why didn't they make sense? You couldn't have been doing this for nothing, right? At the sight of Leona's quirked-up brow, practically egging you to go on, you blabbered, "He's busy! Okay?! I don't know! He's the headmaster!"

"You're smart, aren't you? You've survived this long. So get it through ya' thick, damn skull," Leona bellowed. "All you are is a damned pawn. Everyone can see it, so why can't you?"

"Crowley wouldn't. He promised."

"He lied." His voice sounded so close, it pierced your ears. "He's still lying." Closer, now.

No. That wasn't it. He, himself, was close, and when you shifted your gaze, risking a glance to meet his, something shattered in you at what you found.

It wasn't pity nor sympathy that loomed within them. It was blunt. Honest in a way you doubted anyone else could ever come close to. An attack that tore you to pieces better than any sword could, shattering everything and more in its path. His gaze, in that moment, could topple kingdoms, and people could still worship it as seven sent. And to think it'd come from a lion who lounged about the botanical garden like he owned the place, and practically maimed Grim, Deuce, and Ace in spelldrive.

“… Then what good am I if I can’t help others?" Your voice trembled around the edges. A husk of the confidence it'd once held at the start of this conversation. The conviction. Withered by revelations you'd not figured out fully. Not yet. "What am I supposed to be?”

Leona shrugged, drawing away from you. “Don’t go askin’ me. It’s your job to figure that stuff out. I ain't doing it…” He said, bored. Bored! "Go get a therapist or somethin'… Or Ruggie. He'd listen for a thaumark or two. Probably." He paused, looked you up and down, then muttered, purposefully loud enough for you to hear, "Probably not."

And then the prick walked—no, strutted away. Acting like he didn't dismantle your whole life, habits that were so etched into your psyche that you couldn't remember the last time you'd been selfish. Allowed yourself the pleasure of a break. Or even, why you forced yourself into helping so many, only to be let down time and time again, to the point it became a sickening running joke to you; to a point where you'd lost track of how many people walked all over you and then some more.

What a jag off. You thought as you bore holes into his retreating back.

He'd be a horrifically great, although morally corrupt, therapist. Stress your client out until all they want is to wring your neck, then bicker with them about their issues until they get it through their dense heads, was the next thought after he'd gotten far enough away, however traitorous it was.

You looked at your trembling hands that dangled uselessly at your sides. Still a jag off, though.

⤷ After that day, you blanked out for the entire week. Going over previous interactions during class. During anything, truly. Noticing patterns in the way people treated you, compared to what they would do to their friends. Reasons you were like this, why you were like this.

⤷ The first-years worried after the second day, even if they didn't show it outwardly; they stayed by your side, when you could only manage a small shrug in response to whatever they had to say. Letting you lean on them whenever you couldn't stand on your own, but giving you enough space so you could talk about it when you were able to.

⤷ Soon, you'd started to decline people whenever they claimed they so desperately needed your help. It was a slow start, and you certainly had your days when you snapped back into your former self, taking everything on your shoulders, pretending that you could deal with it, when you really couldn't. But you managed. Even if every instinct and sense in you screamed it was wrong. That someone probably despised you, all because you couldn't be at their beck and call.

⤷ With every boundary you'd rebuilt, with every firm no, people started to treat you more of a person, and not some robot people pushed things onto because they knew they could.

And one day, when Grim, who was loafed in your arms, groaned and said that the "lion" is watching again, you blinked. Consumed with confusion and just a tad curious, you turned your head, meeting emerald green eyes from across the corridor. Except it wasn't filled with irritation. Not wholly, at least. Somewhere within those eyes was a spark of something new, a thing you'd never thought possible before. Something akin to respect.

Though it faded quickly as Grim raised, standing on his hind legs, bellowing that he should quit starin' already. Any sort of mutual respect transformed into pure, undiluted annoyance within mere seconds. Dusted into sand. Gone. Probably never to happen again, even in your wildest dreams. Sevens damn you, Grimothy the 3rd. This fuzzball was gonna be the death of you.

But you couldn't help but catch the smirk that came across Leona's face as he turned the corner to the next hallway, when Grim had hopped down onto the ground with a pout, grumbling that the lazy lion was just amazed at his grandness.

⤷ Leona may not be the person who will help you figure yourself out, nor would he comfort you. Hell, you were sure he was gonna be the reason you overblotted countless times. You'd even written it down somewhere, blaming him and Crowley wholeheartedly for any mental turmoil you went through.

⤷ But he knew babying wouldn't get you far, not with how stubborn you could be, and he was almost certain those pesky first-years wouldn't abandon you for the hawks. And, only you could've made the change. All he did was become the catalyst, springing you forward.

⤷ Jade would be the quickest to find out. Particularly, through the duration of stalking careful observation of you during the three days of the contract with Azul, when he was tasked with foiling your plans for snatching the photograph from the museum. Keeping track of your movements, noticing traits and habits as you set off to free your poor, unfortunate friends.

⤷ He'd been aware of your incessant need to help others, or even, accept tasks that were far too grand or heavy to bear alone. It was impossible not to. He'd heard it through the grapevine that was Night Raven College's gossip group. As you grew in popularity after the Heartslabyul and Savannaclaw Overblots, it was hard not to hear about your fervor for it.

⤷ It was a rarity alone in the Night Raven College to witness such a person, so willing to help others, despite rarely ever gaining anything in return. Another thing whenever you account for how vicious the sea could be. Oh, what was that saying land dwellers spoke of? Dog eat dog world? Something similar to the sort. A strange saying, when compared to the sea, but it fit well enough.

⤷ However… It was a whole other thing to witness it in live action. Such a person.

The first time he noticed something unusual about you was during the very conversation with Azul, when you sold your home for the price of 215 students' freedoms, which wasn't even a guarantee.

The smile propped on your face was hesitant, but still appeared easy-going, as he loomed in the corner beside his twin brother, watching as you heard the conditions for freeing the students. A wolf beastman sat beside you on one of the lounges, eyebrows furrowed so low Jade was convinced they'd reach his cupid's bow if they dipped any further. The companion you had from the other day, if the eel remembered correctly, whenever the hoard of anemones collected like fungi in the lounge.

Jade's hands were folded in front of him, with impeccable form as Floyd leaned back on the shelves behind them. Not yet fully putting his weight on it, but enough where it made a difference in the two's posture.

As the wolf beastman's teeth bared at the idea of putting Ramshackle as collateral, your face remained calm, never shifting into one of fear or full-blown worry. Neutral, despite the demands asked of you. Unusual, but Jade couldn't put his finger on why. Were you unable to process it fully? He supposed that'd made sense.

Until the door slammed open, emerging a small ball of bubbles that was more soap than cat, who nearly hacked up suds as he yowled about accepting the contract, loathing working in such a despicable environment. Rude. But Jade figured not everyone could handle the consequences of their own actions. Even direbeasts, apparently.

That was the first time he saw your expression change, and you didn't even have to look over your shoulder to see who it was. As soon as you heard a thunk of the door, your face morphed into a grimace for just a split second. So quick, he was convinced he imagined it at first. Except his eyes never failed him before, unless he'd found a particularly strange mushroom in the forest that emitted such an effect.

Hum.

⤷ Yet. That could've been explained. Seeing your dorm mate in such a sight, especially amidst a discussion of forking over your living arrangements for an expansion of a cafe, could've caused anyone to make such a sour expression. Even his eye would twitch, ever so slightly, if Floyd had done the same to him.

⤷ So, he didn't think much of it, filing it away, storing the information for later if need be. But something was still nagging him about how swift the action was. As if it were practiced. Not realizing a day later, he would find out why it seemed so natural for you.

The hallway was bustling with students without an end in sight. The school day, coming to an end. When people scurried to their clubs and friends or committed to their studies within the library. A good chunk, cursed to the Mostro Lounge. Floyd was already long gone, beckoned by Azul to deal with the anemones that were dragged back to the Mostro Lounge, abandoning him to keep watch of the Ramshackle Perfect, to which Floyd dragged his feet about.

Jade wasn't far from you, at a careful distance to make sure you weren't plotting something after rooming in Savannaclaw, and your previous interaction, finding out that he was a moray eel. Mixed in between students, lurking, as a predator would their prey.

Except… Not so violent of a situation.

A student came up to you. A Pomefiore student, he concluded, by the grape color of their vest, and the royal purple and crimson ribbon that was tied to their left arm, carrying a stack of books. Average height, with gray hair as loosely styled as his uniform. A pompous and arrogant expression was plastered onto his face, enough to make anyone scowl at the mere sight of it.

His voice rang out loud enough to where Jade could hear how boisterous it was, even if the sentences were not entirely tangible, echoing down the corridor. Stating that he was "Terribly busy," "Totally will owe you one," and "if you did this tiny favor." You nodded curtly at him before the Pomefiore student slid the stack of books into your arms.

Yet he didn't stop.

In fact, he became more talkative, even when you stepped away, attempting to flee, but trapped in a societal cage, knowing damn well he'd call you foul nicknames as soon as you scampered away if you left too quickly. A fountain, except only praise poured out of him instead of water, until you finally managed to round the corner. Leaving the student as he waved goodbye.

When he strode closer, resuming his pursuit, the student stayed there. His arms crossed over his chest. Passing him, Jade had noticed a sly, almost knowing smirk out of the corner of his eye before he turned on his heel, waving to his friends that he was now "free" to hang out. How the perfect, in his stead, took the task to return the books to the library.

How interesting… How he knew that you would've taken the bait.

Just how much of a reputation do you have for helping others, Perfect?

A hum escaped him at the thought, turning his attention back ahead of him. Only to find a desolate hallway with one soul to roam it. You, who sagged against the wall as if all of your energy had been depleted in a single interaction. His eyes widened at the sight, and even more so whenever he stepped closer, when he heard all of the grumbles that spilled from you. Words you'd never voice aloud, but to yourself. Where no one could hear your true opinion of them.

"Why can't these people ever do their own work?"

"If they can't even handle this, I feel bad for their future employers who'll have to deal with them… They'll be fired within minutes."

"Man… Nepo babies suck."

The corners of Jade's mouth quirked upward, his head tilting just a fraction. So, this was how you truly felt. Before he knew it, he was right behind you, a grin evident on his face, "Ah, Dear Perfect, are you in need of any assistance?" He said, pointing toward the hardcovers that went just above your collarbones, adding, "Those appear to be quite hefty…"

You leapt out of your skin at the sound of his voice, whirling around, only to find the very eel who booted you out of your house, but smart enough to retain your usual demeanor within milliseconds. "No thanks. I'm good! Just a… Few books. Nothing too strenuous." But your smile was a little too bright; your voice, an octave too high. As if you weren't sure how to react to him—like he was an anomaly, and you were standing on uncharted territory, where your mask couldn't yet solidify into what you needed of it.

"But I insist. After all, it'd be cruel not to help another in need."

"Really, I'll survive! Just gotta-" Before you managed to slip away yet again, he snagged half of the mass of hardcovers, so effortlessly you couldn't help but stare at his back as he sauntered off, without even a shred of hesitancy; momentarily dumbfounded. Realizing he was already at the next fork in the road, you must've snapped out of it, racing up to his side, leveling your expression back seamlessly. Not before whispering under your breath that he was gonna end up taking both your dormitory and your kidney for this, of course.

All the while, he played coy, with that stupidly polite smile on his face. Just as unreadable as the faux grin that was plastered onto yours.

⤷ From that day on, there was a strange sort of enthrallment that bubbled within him about you. How far you could be pushed until you snapped, one of his loudest, whenever he watched you bounce around from place to place. Helping people study. Grabbing entire grocery hauls from Sam's shop for people.

⤷ But he always managed to slither in before you started foaming at the mouth, whether it'd be by assisting you with your truckload of assignments or scaring the person off. You always did wonder why he did. Why didn't he ask for payment in turn? Wasn't it a perfect case for giving you 25% charge for his time? Azul would've been irked if he found out Jade missed out on such an opportunity.

⤷ Even outwardly asked him once. Only to receive a question instead. "Why don't you charge others for yours?" Truly a mystery, one neither of you may find out.

⤷ A strange match, the two of you are.

⤷ Floyd, in some way, did realize that you were exhausted, ever since your first few interactions. But not in the way that you actually were, how others treated you.

⤷ From his perspective, he'd thought it was only directed at him, never taking into account that you didn't grumble under your breath, believing he couldn't hear you, with anyone else. That your irritation, like with everyone else that had met him, came from his own inexplicable hot and cold personality instead of a trait rooted in your very essence. Something that crept under your skin, even prior to Night Raven College.

⤷ Didn't know that with every new order, assignment, and errand placed atop your shoulders, another pebble added to the collection. A weight that felt like it'd never relent, only accumulated as the days progressed. Made you wearier. Because people never pushed you around whenever Floyd was skulking by. They feared to, in some manner. They knew that he despised it when his toys, his entertainment, his shrimpy, were messed with by others.

⤷ So, he'd poke and prod, obliviously. Laugh as you grouched to yourself when you set off on one of his downright stupid tasks that made little to no sense sometimes. Only to surprise him when you returned from whatever expedition he sent you on now, accomplishing it with flying colors, to a point where he wondered if you did have some mystical force within you, encouraging that inquisitive nature he had. To see how much he could push until you finally couldn't secure his foolish wishes. To figure out why.

⤷ Only to find your driving force was spite. And maybe self-deprecation. Probably self-deprecation.

It was lunchtime. Where people collected like families of fish in the hallways and the cafeteria, or sat by themselves, preferring solace over the fast-paced world and drama from friend groups. Or maybe, left alone, abandoned because of a strange illness or flu that overtook their buddy, living only their existence in a crowd, and breaking apart their beloved routine.

The moray eel didn't know. He didn't really care, either. Even if he was, just like them, deserted. Left alone in these corridors. A sole eel, in a crowd of land dwellers of all kinds.

Well. No. Technically, he left Azul and Jade in the lunchroom himself, not feeling like grabbing a snack or anything… Nor did he find anything interesting going on in the lunch room, any people he wanted to be around. Even bothering goldfishie seemed like a waste of time… But that was besides the point, y'know? Let him lament.

But the minnows in the halls were just as boring as the ones who ate in blissful peace, safe from whatever antics Floyd was conducting inside his head. Chatting with one another. Scampering into different classrooms to ask one of the professors a question. Flinching whenever he came into their line of sight before hunching over, hoping he didn't notice; cowering away.

A huff escaped him at the sight, a prominent frown etching deep into his face. Man… He never realized how borin' this place could be sometimes. Was everyone this aggravating all the time? He'd round a corner, only to come across the hallway to his greatest enemy… The library.

The place where even a hushed whisper would get you aggressively and synchronizedly shushed at by every single person in the room, including the many dust bunnies that collected on tomes older than the school itself. Where hopes and dreams of turning a new leaf, becoming an honors student, came to wither and die. Every whiff was a newfound urge to sneeze uncontrollably, where saying watermelon became futile, where people broke records of "most sneezes in a minute."

Even the dark oak door was set ajar, creaking every time the wind blew past, before turning back to its original stance. A beckoning hand, urging people to enter, despite the sounds of weeping looming within it.

He took one look at it, squinted, before going to storm past it. Yeah. Nah. Last time he went in there, the ghosts banished him without a second thought, threatening detention with Professor Red Squid again. He ain't trying that again. He already got yelled at too much for sleeping in Magic History enough; soon, he'd have no ears to talk off.

But he couldn't help but glance in when he passed by, raking his gaze over the scenery many supposedly found "comfort" in. A thing he'd never understood himself from the blasted place, way too quiet…

Floating leather hardcover books and candles. Endless shelved tomes, with one shelf's end carrying splotches of dried crimson—probably someone slamming their head into it from stress. The wails of people studying for their upcoming tests. Wooden decks perched with hunched over students, scribbling down information like their lives depended on it. Carpeted floors that were thicker than the overgrown grass in his brother's terrarium, which Jade claimed was "useful for the environment." Oh. A Shrimpy with their lil baby seal. Talking to some guy.

Huh. That's kinda new. But still. Usual stuff. Nothin' too fun.

He kept walking. Until it hit him, a moment later.

Shrimpy?

He paused. Retreated a few steps. Peered back into the library. And there you were, conversing with one of your peers, Baby Seal at your ankles with his arms crossed, the tip of his forked tail swishing as wildly as a pelican stuck in a whirlpool. You were at the opposite end of the library, your back faced to the door, but he'd still recognize you anywhere, even from a quick, meaningless glance.

Yet the other person he wasn't familiar with. Wasn't the dull red of Crabby's hair or Mackerel's navy blue, the two who usually hung around you. He couldn't see the color of their uniform, either, with you blocking the guy. But that wasn't the issue. The issue was that you were acting strangely. Subconscious habits he'd taken notice of when he'd messed around with you, waiting for how you'd react, were on full display. Ones others would overlook without a second thought.

How your fingers twitched ever so slightly, changing between messing with the hem of your makeshift uniform and cracking your knuckles; to a point, even in the minute he witnessed, he was convinced your knuckles were gonna merge together from stress or fall apart. Your foot tapping incessantly in between the many desk and chair legs as if you couldn't wait to be done with this conversation.

Maybe you just couldn't stand still. He couldn't, often. That made sense. A lot of people couldn't.

But something tasted sour about it, nagging at him, and he didn't like it…

He slithered into the cracked doorway, careful to avoid pushing it too far. Past desks and bookshelves, where people barely tore their gaze away from their textbooks, and if they did, it wasn't for long. His footsteps were nimble, despite his height, the plush carpet cushioning the soles of his shoes.

From this range, he could take notice of the bright cherry colored vest, with gleaming gold buttons—a Heartslabyul student. He skulked closer, and closer, dangerously silent, until he peered over your shoulder. Staring, blatantly, like he wasn't going to stop until the Heartslabyul student forked over his wallet. Or soul. Both, probably.

The Heartslabyul student stuttered, glancing upward toward the eel, meeting his mismatched gleaming irises. Taking in his sharp, pin-prick teeth peering from his lightly parted lips. And Floyd watched as all of the breath from the student came out into a drawn, shuttered breath, retreating until his back slammed against a wall, and further; trying to meld himself into it. To disappear, and pretend he'd never walked up to you.

"Eh? Are you finally stricken by my brilliance?" The feline-shaped monster preened, a smirk overtaking his face. "Can you believe that, henchman? Demandin' all sortsa' stuff—" Only to wither whenever he looked to his side, noticing a pair of legs that his henchman did not just randomly sprout. "Oh, it's this one…" Grim grumbled.

When you turned, perplexed as to why the person in front of you practically leapt out of his skin, and Grim's sudden solemn tone, you squinted at Floyd, studying him with a pinched look. But you weren't quick enough to witness the biting chill of his glare; instead, you were met with a lopsided, lax grin. As if he'd not wilted a man with a mere look. "What are you doing?" You asked, but before he could utter a word, you hissed out, as if you came to the sudden, terrifying realization, "Weren't you banned from the library?"

Floyd beamed, "Temporarily."

"… Ghosts said for two weeks, y'know? Not a day n' a half," Grim muttered, his ears flat against his round, fuzzy head.

Floyd shrugged. "Ehh… They can't be that mad. Who can ban a student from a library anyh—"

"Intruder!" A ghost shrieked, spotting the teal-haired student.

"The library is off-limits!" Another caroled, mist coiling around them like they were a ballerina, their drifting a dance no living soul could replicate.

"How dare you encroach upon our sanctuary!" One bemoaned, their ghostly figure trembling at the edges.

"Your banishment is not yet lifted!" And lastly, the leader of the four, bellowed. Ghostly glasses perched on the bridge of their nose. Did ghosts even need glasses?

As soon as the roar of the ghosts shot out, shattering the peaceful cove that was the library as they phased through the desks. Aiming directly for the moray eel. You three looked at the apparitions. Your eye twitching ever so slightly, Floyd's dumb grin still plastered on his face, Grim, already plotting to run for the hills or damn the place in eternal flame.

You risked a glance at Floyd, and when he met your eyes, your face contorted into one of genuine, pure irritation. "No. Don't you do it." You pointed your finger at him, accusation heavy in your eyes. But in Floyd fashion, he ignored every bit of warning in your gaze that told him you were gonna swat him later for this, or snitch to Riddle that he was bullying one of his students.

He picked you up. Hoisted you over his shoulder. Yoinked Grim by the scruff before slinging him in the crevice between his side and inner elbow. And bolted out of the library, despite your incessant shrieking that this was, as you deemed it, "shrimpy-napping." The ghosts following behind.

⤷ But from that day on, Floyd Leech became a constant in your life. More so than he was before, which you didn't think was possible. Always trailing behind you with his hands in his pockets, looming over your shoulder with the kind of vicious glare that promised he'd bite dozens of holes into anything that irritated you. Except him, of course. Maybe Baby Seal too, n' your other lil freshmen friends. He liked 'em enough. Sometimes. Depended on his mood.

⤷ And even when he wasn't around due to the Mostro Lounge or during classes, rumors always seemed to float about. That messing with you would lead to someone doomed to servitude in the Mostro Lounge one way or another, or fish food. Whether that was Floyd himself or an actual trout, there was no clear answer.

⤷ Great job, Perfect. You've scored yourself a glorified guard eel who's threatened to squeeze at least 1/3 of the school for you, who gets paid by annoying the living hell out of you. Seriously, why does he keep grinning like a fool whenever his around you? You're beginning to think his up to something, and everyone knows that whatever the eel is plotting is never good.

⤷ Honestly, maybe overworking yourself was the better deal here. Maybe Azul will take him back if you beg enough.

⤷ Good luck, Perfect?

⤷ Malleus, I feel like, wouldn't notice for a while. Not because he lacks a sort of observational skill to realize, but because he does eventually notice signs of your exhaustion, even if he presumes it's not as deep-rooted as it really is at first.

⤷ But it'd probably be because of his upbringing being more sheltered than others, paired with the fact that he never hangs out around you as often as the rest of your peers and friends. For they'll never act the way they do in front of you, never be the same in front of the Prince of Briar. He didn't even know if you would change, too, when you became aware of his title, his prowess. Or maybe when he'd start to notice a shift in your demeanor, too.

⤷ So, it didn't feel wise to interact further than the occasional interaction when you'd stumble into each other in front of your dormitory. An upcoming event. The nighttime walks, whenever you just needed to get away from everything and everyone. Small things.

⤷ But the first time he noticed something was off was during one of his nightly "nocturnal constitutionals."

The night was bleak, overcast with a thick layer of impenetrable clouds. The moon was shrouded in the mist, only peering out through sheer, murky splotches of cream white before becoming elusive once more. The stars, not so lucky, unable to twinkle and shine down upon the world. Leaving it in a gloomy darkness, only able to be navigated through tremendous effort or artificial light.

Night Raven College was eerily silent, an unusual feat, seemingly without a soul in sight, including the more… incorporeal ones that roamed about, past their life spans. The crickets refused to chirp their melody, instead choosing to bask in the serenity of the time. Even his own footsteps sounded muted against the stone bricks, without even a thud or click of his heels to announce his presence, as if he were a mere specter, doomed to amble endlessly amongst the people.

Unable and unaware that he wasn't to be seen with a mortal eye.

The deteriorating dormitory, Ramshackle, loomed ahead of him. Its familiarity, despite the state, was oddly comforting, even with the roof crumbling, the windows either shattered or threatening to collapse if someone even attempted to clean it with a rag, held together with cobwebs. Spiders, creeping in through the holes, residing there as if it were their own.

But it was different, now. More… Homely, compared to how desolate it used to be—though it'd not changed much structurally.

Only small changes that made the dusty dormitory seem lived in. Surrounding grass no longer brushed up just below his knees, however patchy it looked in some spots, considering the tenant only held a scythe for a garden tool. The small, cute little welcome mat with paw prints stamped on it at the entryway, just before the rusty wood door that creaked unsettlingly every time someone opened it, audible from the sidewalk. The potted plants that dotted the area—likely stolen from the botanical gardens—so it didn't look like only a bunch of ghosts lived there.

Well. Not only a bunch of ghosts lived there.

Malleus wasn't even certain why he veered in this direction, down the twisting pathways that appeared to go on perpetually. He'd planned to visit the other side of the school grounds, toward the befallen ruins of what was once a ballroom; now a husk of its once ornate beauty, in shambles from lack of care. Yet something drew him here. Fate, perhaps. A captivating force not to be reckoned with, though he was not certain the reason why it'd beckoned him out this far. This way.

But to his surprise, once he came to the edge of the property, he noticed a hunched-over figure over one of the plants, cradling what looked to be a withered leaf within their hand. Possibly one from the stolen foliage. He squinted, focusing his eyes on the shadowed figure, only to find the person who loomed in the halls of such a place, who made it possible to make a haunted, abandoned place seem less ragged. The infamous Ramshackle Perfect. You. Without the fuzzy companion that always seemed to trail behind you or was carried in your arms.

Malleus couldn't see the entirety of your face from his position, only your side profile, but something was odd about you this night. Your eyes, which were usually filled with a sense of inexplicable determination, were diminished. Vacant, almost, as you pinched the leaf into your pointer and thumb, watching the way it crumbled beneath your firm touch before the pieces glided away at the brush of the wind. Your expression, solemn. Exhausted-looking.

Maybe it was that sight that made him take a step back, away from you.

Maybe it was the way you tensed whenever you heard the crunch of leaves, as if you were expecting something—someone—to disrupt you. Your shoulders hunched up, tight as a bowstring just before the arrow launched and burrowed itself into its target. The way you held your breath, waiting for the shoe to drop, that made him turn his heel.

Or maybe it was the way you sagged right after, a guttural sigh of relief that felt as ancient and intangible as he, after realizing that it was a squirrel or rabbit that scurried through the gardens that made him flee, his form whisked away, carried away by the wind. Leaving sparks of emerald light trailing behind. Ones you mistook for the illumination of fireflies, dancing within the breeze that swept through, and not the fae prince you'd befriended months prior.

⤷ Malleus didn't know, and he doubted you'd ever wish for him to find out. Perhaps you were simply tired that night.

⤷But he knew of your actions, the rumors that circulated around you just as much as they did him. Knew from Lilia how "brave" and "courageous" that little Ramshackle Perfect was whenever he'd go on some new story that he'd heard in the halls. Fending off Overblots when you were magic-less.

⤷ But he saw it especially in the few interactions he had with you, too.

⤷ How the days when you dragged your feet to Ramshackle after school, when you hadn't yet seen him. The dark spots underneath your eyes, weariness clinging to them as Grim ran up ahead of you, desperate to get home, complaining aloud how you shouldn't have said you'd tutor those students. Resembling the books he'd read, years back, when he was just a child, on forbidden magics, the lifelessness of the undead.

⤷ Only to snap back into the person everyone else knew when you caught him. With a smile that seemed to twitch at the corners, never quite reaching your eyes, when you greeted him.

⤷ From that day on, Diasomnia students often appeared at your side. Helping you wherever they could, and taking tasks that other students and professors delegated to you to deal with. One common helper was a mint-haired first-year who, for some reason, always went off about how his actions were all for "Waka-sama" or his "liege." How humans could never understand how gracious his prince was, all with a glimmer in his eye, devotion bleeding into his every word and action. Hell, even his aura, at this rate.

⤷ Okay… Whatever that means, buddy ol' pal… You weren't gonna question it, even if you were heavily concerned about why he was doing this for a "mere human."

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