Yanno how the birthday interviewers are chosen by luck (i think,idk) imagine miss raven being chosen as jades interviewer? He would be a very lucky eel indeed~ *wiggles eyebrows intensely*
I thought someone was roleplaying Grim in my inbox because of how that first Anon's ask was phrased 💦
MAN. If Miss Raven were Jade's interviewer ajdbasdailasdas you'd have to hold her back from bonking him with a clipboard she'd probably try to be all professional about it? Whereas Jade gives roundabout responses to prolong the interview, just to push her buttons.................
HLABDBABILDASDI ANYWAY, IT'S PIE TIME.
***Credit for Miss Raven's artwork goes to @shimmeryspark!***
Imagine this...
I’ll sneak in to leave my present, then I’ll leave before anyone notices me. Yes, that’s what I’ll do. He doesn’t need to know I was here.
Raven clutched a gift box to her chest, keeping it guarded as she wove by rowdy party guests, her head low so as to avoid detection. The box was teal and dusted with golden powder, tied together with a bow that glistened like sunken treasure. She had used the ribbon to secure a small bunch of preserved flowers atop the box, which gave off a faint, pleasant aroma.
And inside? A bottle of her latest concoction: Second Skin. The enchanted ink started off with a base of green-blue with an intense purple shift, and when imbued with certain ingredients and a dash a magic (trade secret, shhh!), its colors were ever-changing. Peacock blue, emerald, turquoise, deep violet, gold--it reminded her of the tail of a mermaid, his other form.
How easily he sliced through the waves, how the light reflected off of his sharp angles and flickering fins. A mouthful of sharp teeth, the glimmer in his eyes. Deadly beauty from the deep.
She could see him in the distance if she strained her ears and listened for his musical laughter. He was decorated in whipped cream, an unfettered, yet gentle smile at his wistful lips.
Enjoying himself.
Raven furiously shook her head. No, don’t think of that. Focus.
She ducked behind a leaning tower of presents and, steadying it with one hand, plopped her box down at its base.
There. Now I just have to...
“Raven. You’re here.”
She jumped, almost stumbling into the gifts. Her head snapped in the direction of the voice--and thankfully, it wasn’t the birthday boy, but Silver.
Perhaps it was his penchant to attract the forest critters (and her being a bird), or perhaps it was his overall reserved demeanor, but Raven had always found Silver to be safe. Someone steadfast and kind. The perfect fairy tale knight--maybe even a prince.
“You startled me, Silver-senpai.”
“I apologize. I thought you might have been someone suspicious from the way you were sneaking around.” He raised an eyebrow. “I was under the impression that you were already acquainted with Jade. It’s not as though you’re sneaking in uninvited to the party, so I don’t see why you’d...”
“SHHHHHH!” Raven hissed, pressing a finger to her mouth. “You’ll summon him if you speak his name out loud!”
“He’s not a demon or a monster. Jade has assured me of that.”
“Yes, he is!! You have no idea what he’s capable of...!!”
“Oya, to think that my own guests would be gossiping about me behind my back. It is a rather troubling notion.”
“You see? We should drop the subject before Jade finds... out... Raven’s voice slowly trailed off as horrible realization set in. “... He’s right behind me, isn’t he?”
“Yes.”
Her heart sank as a hand clamped down on her shoulder.
“How good of you to join my birthday festivities,” Jade murmured. His voice was a croon, the sort of tone put on to soothe others--or coax them into a false sense of security.
Raven flew away, slamming her back against the wall that was Silver’s chest. “I-I’ve completed my delivery, so I’ll be excusing myself now!”
“Wait.”
This time, it was Silver who placed his hands on her shoulders. His touch was not as firm as Jade’s, and it carried a reassuring quality to it. Raven’s stomach fluttered--and at once, she understood why the birds of NRC campus flocked to the sleepy student.
“Before you go, you should do Jade the courtesy of wishing him a happy birthday.” Silver produced a pie from a nearby table and held it out to her. “I’ve already had the first hit. Now it is your turn.”
“Fufu. An excellent idea, Silver-san.”
“What?! You want me to pie him!?”
“... Is there any other way to properly wish someone a happy birthday?” Silver stepped back and bowed. “Then, I leave it to you.”
She froze, staring incredulously between her two upperclassmen and the pie. Between a rock and a hard place (and the door that she desperately wished she could throw herself through).
“Well, Miss Raven? I am waiting.”
“Um...” Raven shyly glanced at the ground. “Jade, c-can you...”
“Yes?”
“C-Can you bend down?!”
A moment of silence elapsed. Then a low chuckle slipped out from the eel, his shoulders shuddering with laughter.
“I-It’s not funny!” Raven insisted, stomping a foot. For a second, she dropped all pretenses of maturity. “I-It’s too hard for me to reach your stupid face like this...!!”
“I never said that it was.”
To her surprise, Jade drew himself down--almost like a lithe cat, stretching out his long limbs. A few centimeters was all the distance left between them. So close, she could make out the golden ring set in his left eye, see the sparkle of the light as it reflected off of his earring. His long lashes, the glisten of his lips, the warmth radiating off of him...
Raven reddened. Maybe that wasn’t such a good suggestion after all.
Jade chuckled, tucking his black stripe of hair behind one ear. His gaze locked with hers, and his lips parted. “... Will this suffice for you to ‘reach my stupid face’?”
“I-IT WORKS JUST FINE!!” Raven stammered. She instinctively shoved the pie at him, unable to stand staring him right in the eyes for prolonged periods of time. At this distance, it wasn’t so much of a throw as much as it was pushing the pie right into him.
Raven carefully rolled her hands, smothering every bit of Jade’s face with whipped cream. She took her time to meticulously smear it on, as though she were a painter, the pie was her medium, and Jade was the masterpiece to be put to canvas. Then--just for good measure--she smothered him with the pie a second time, leaving his face as an almost indiscernible, just a white cloud of cream.
She pulled back with an empty platter and let out a triumphant huff, pleased with her work.
“... If I didn’t know any better, I would think that you were intentionally trying to suffocate me with sweetness,” Jade mused, wiping a blob of cream off of his lower lip, “but sweetness, I find, is not your weapon of choice. Words are, yes?”
“What is your point?”
Raven suddenly felt a slight coolness on the tip of her nose. A white blob made itself known in her periphery as Jade withdrew his finger--he had cheekily left a dollop of whipped cream on her.
Wasn’t this just on...
Her face deepened--and her throat seized.
“Then I will simply have to steal those words away,” Jade declared with a snicker.
He looked absolutely ridiculous in that birthday jacket, and so uncool with a face full of whipped cream. Even so, Raven’s stomach churned. A movement far more tempestuous than what she had felt for Silver.
There were so many things she wanted to say to him, and not nearly enough time to blurt them all out. And so, holding the words close to her heart, she recited them only to herself.
another season has passed, the pleasant winds of spring has shifted to the basking heat of summer, and as the seasons change there brings the smell of opportunity, the taste of something different, new and perhaps exciting, and as such the Raven has felt inspired to greet the occasion with a plethora of fresh colours from her ink collection (this is my fancy way of asking raven if she’s got any new inks to show us please?)🥰
:000 I really enjoy these types of asks, as it gives me the chance to get creative~ so thank you very much for sending it, Anon!
You can read more about Miss Raven’s various enchanted inks here!
"This year, I paid a visit to the Scalding Sands to view their annual fireworks festival. I was very inspired by the rich history and culture of Silk City, its markets, and by the holiday itself, so I decided to model this summer collection of enchanted inks after them. I have also brewed a few inks in honor of the Star Sending ceremony, and various others inspired by more general summertime experiences."
Silk Swathe, a soft blue base with sheer veins of color shooting through it. Orchid purple, electric yellow-green, and bright turquoise tangle, yet somehow also maintain their own unique forms, like swathes of silk weaving together in the sky.
Spice of Life, a deep brown, leaning warm, and flecked with red and orange particles. There are larger bits floating in it, sticks of snapped cinnamon and star-shaped cloves of anise. If you lift it to your nose, you are greeted with several ground spices, which produce an earthen, comforting smell--reinvigorating you with a fondness for life.
Bizarre Bazaar, a kaleidoscopic formula, shifting constantly in the light. Uncorked, voices drift out from the ink, calling you to look, to test, to buy. When you replace the cap, the voices still and coalesce in the colors again.
Food from Afar, a dainty cream decorated with dots--capsules containing pure, concentrated flavors. Crushed, the taste and aroma of a particular dish released and spread across the paper like upon the tongue and coloring the cream into something new. Green for silk melon, yellow for starfruit, red for shawarma, blue for delightfully stretchy ice-cream... and many more.
Sky Blossoms and Sparklers, an inky blue fading into sunset, with periodic bursts of light coloring it. The pops released heat, warming your hands and shaking the bottle that held the ink.
Waterways, a clear, sheer aqua blue, complete with tiny white beads to replicate bubbling and foaming. Plain, at first glance, but its simplicity is its strength. Loaded into a pen or on the nib of a quill, it works wonderfully, even for beginners. A smooth ink, flowing like the most pristine of waters.
Unwinded Time, a crimson kept in an hourglass-shaped bottle. As the ink slowly trickles into the other side, it transitions into a cool blue. Left untouched for an hour, it becomes yellow. In direct sunlight, an opaque black--by direct moonlight, an equally as opaque white. (“Y-Yes, I’m aware the proper phrase would be ‘Unwound Time’, but allow me some poetic license!” Raven huffs.)
Diamond Sky, a navy littered with silver sparkles and glitter. Shake it, and all the particles seem to shimmer in unison, as if daring onlookers to soar through and pluck each one of its silvery stars out.
Dragon in Jasmine, a deceptive lime green that sheds its original skin in favor of a teal hide every few seconds. There is a beautiful white flower floating in the bottle, imparting the lovely aroma of jasmine.
Wish Come True, an ink the color of daydreams--pink, lilac, and baby blue, with a slight pearlescent shimmer. It radiates a faint light when you hold it close to your heart, as if seeking your innermost desires.
Dark and Stormy Ceremony, a story blue beset by viscous grey blobs--one of which is distinctively whale-shaped. The ink smells of ozone, telling of thunder and a coming storm.
Real Boy, a cool and metallic silver, bits of it lighting up with cobalt. When the blue light fades, the silver turns into a warm and flushed peach. Alas, when the light comes again, it’s back to silver.
Bop to the Top, a color kept in a madly bouncing bottle. It rapidly runs through the full spectrum of blues, as if in a rush. (Raven looks a bit nervous and says, “I’d recommend keeping this one under lock and key--it’s always attempting to fly off the handle... but play it some music, and it will bop along to the beat instead of attempting to launch into the sky.”)
A veritable spread had been prepared for the celebration. Word on campus was, a certain MagiCam influencer had pulled some strings to secure connections with high class chefs for the occasion. Even after everyone had gorged themselves on food and drink, there was still an ample amount of leftovers, which was divided up and parceled out as the guests swept out the door.
“It appears the liver pâté was an unpopular item,” Vil regards the overlooked dish with a slight frown. “What a shame that it cannot be appreciated by the masses.”
Rook laughs at the remark, taking a generous amount of meat paste and slathering it onto sliced bread. “It is a rather acquired taste, Roi du Poison! There is no harm in it—I shall take great care in polishing off the remains myself!”
He chomps down on his snack, the thick crust of the bread providing a satisfying crunch. Thick, gamey, and spiced to perfection, the pâté spreads smoothly across his tongue.
“Délicieux!” Rook throws his head back and moans, savoring the flavors.
“... Must you always be this melodramatic?” Vil sighs. Yes, he himself had been smiling while indulging in a slice of cake earlier, but Rook took his reactions to an entirely new level.
“Ohoh. Forgive me, Roi du Poison. I cannot help but relish in all of the delights that life has to offer. Our time is short on this mortal coil, so I’d best enjoy while I still walk upon it!” Rook grins before taking another bite. And another, and another—until it is gone.
“Hmph. Do not stop on my account—though I doubt my say-so will do anything control that odd behavior of yours.” Vil folds his arms. “Ah, that’s right. There was something strange left on the table while the servers were preparing the leftovers for guests to take home.”
“Oh?”
Vil produces an inkwell with a placard from his sleeve. A tag is secured to the neck of the inkwell with a scarlet ribbon. Red Thread, it says—and what an apt name. The contents of the inkwell are clear and viscous, with a single crimson swirl running through it.
“I thought this to belong to the Shetland potato, but she insisted it was not hers.” The cruel curl to his lips tells Rook that Vil had not believed Raven, not for a single second. “She said it was likely a ‘gift from an undisclosed admirer’ and advised me to deliver it to you.”
“A secret admirer?” Rook repeats. He chuckles to himself, finding the term to be romantic—like a daydream.
“See for yourself.”
Rook accepts the inkwell and placard, which reads:
It is said that people who are fated to cross paths are bound by a “red thread”. Likewise, Red Thread will help you find that which you seek. Your tracking capabilites are second to none as it is, but... Red Thread can locate even lost items with ease, or that which you desire but have no face to put to it. As sure as the blood that pumps through our veins, Red Thread will help you find your way when you are uncertain.
“An odd concoction indeed,” he declares at long last. “I look forward to testing it—perhaps on my next hunting trip!”
“Accepting suspicious vials from strangers? You’re practically begging to be poisoned,” Vil tuts—but his expression softens slightly. “... Happy birthday, Rook. I do hope that today’s celebration was just as beautiful as you had hoped for it to be.”
The huntsman smiles like the sun. Bright, warm, and brilliant as any star in the sky.
I had to admit, it's really amazing how you make some inks like that. Uuuuum, i wanna ask, do you had seasoned flower or fruit-inspired ink? If you don't have, i'm sorry for asking. I'm just curious
You can read more about Miss Raven’s enchanted inks here!
“Oh? I am glad to have converted some of you into ink enthusiasts. It seems that I am no longer alone in the matter. Perhaps if we gained enough members, we could band together and start our own club to craft and discuss the intricacies of ink.”
“Hmmm...” Raven closed her eyes, pondering the idea. “I have considered it, but I have found that making ink inspired solely by a single flower or a fruit does not hold my interest. In terms of flowers, it would be like making a strong perfume rather than an ink, and for fruit... well, I would feel as though I were preparing a juice.”
“Flowers and fruit are fine additives, but by themselves, they do not tell a full story or scene. When I make inks... I want them to invoke an image, a feeling, like walking on the beach at sunset, or drinking something warm by the fireplace.”
“Flowers and fruits are not tied to any specific image or occasion, so I would rather use them to enhance an ink rather than design an entire ink around them. For example, a field of daisies is not nearly as memorable as daisies woven into the hair of a person rolling in that field.”
“It is the experience or a sensation I am looking to capture in a bottle, not an item. I hope that makes sense.”
Ms Raven, this has been nagging at my brain for awhile, but if you don't mind me by asking, do you have any inks that are "inspired" by the Diasomnia students? If not, then what new inks do you have for the holidays?
I actually have a message in my inbox that asked about inks inspired by the entire TWST cast (students and staff), so I’ll only be sharing some holiday inks for now. The students and staff inspired ones will come at a later date!
You can read about Miss Raven’s autumn and Halloween inspired magical inks here!
“I have a number of holiday inspired inks! Allow me to show you,” Raven rustles around in a drawer and plucks out a selection of bottles, each neatly labelled with a bit of washi tape and a unique name.
Twisted, a red and white striped concoction that bears the faint scent of peppermint candies--crisp and sweet.
W. Wonderland, a thick white threaded with pale blue. It has a strange viscosity, almost slushy-like in how it moves.
Frosted, a glassy liquid with bits of opaque white. It feels cool to the touch, and leaves a chill upon your fingers.
Caroling, a rich golden hue that jingles each time the liquid inside jostles. Shake it for long enough and the ink produces a short tune.
Candlebearer, a brassier toned gold with red and blue iridescence, like the crimson and cobalt of flames.
Evergreen, a healthy verdant color dusted with specks of white. It smells fresh, like pine and newly fallen snow.
Wrapped Up, an ink you could not see at all. The bottle was entirely covered from head to toe in thick parchment and wrapped with string. (”It’s photosensitive,” Raven informs you. “I only unveil it when I need to use it right away.”)
A Snap, a deep, warm-toned brown emitting an aroma of cloves and other spices. It reminds one of gingerbread baking in the oven.
Cup of Cocoa, a cool-toned brown in contrast to A Snap... Almost as dark as the night itself, topped with a few pools of white that colored the upper layer like milk caramel.
Bubbly, a pale yellow and effervescent liquid, bubbling with energy. Just holding its bottle fills you with hope and newfound confidence.
Midnight Magic, a black set against a base of blue-violet and sprinkled with glitter in all colors of the rainbow. When the ink shifted in the bottle, the colors burst like fireworks in the night sky.
“I’m quite satisfied with my work thus far,” Raven declares, proceeding to stow away the ink. “If you are interested in future collections of mine, please do not hesitate to ask. I should be working on a spring and summer series next, but... I’m also considering a Valentine’s line. There are simply too many ideas in my head, and not nearly enough time for me to tend to them all.”
For the 1200+ follower milestone, here is the next part of the cursed raven’s story!
Part 1 l Part 2 l Part 3 l Part 4 l Part 5
Today’s tale involves Octavinelle A-kun in a pinch...?! Fight on, Octa A-kun...! You can do it, Octa A-kun...!!
My name is Kon...! I’m just your average, everyday Octavinelle student. I tend to blend into the background, so a lot of my classmates call me Octa A-kun.
I’d say that my favorite food is salted fish, and I happen to like whatever seems to be popular these days. I have the window seat in my home room. Most of the time, I just go with the flow, but I like to keep my head low and stay out of trouble!
All I really want is a quiet, peaceful life!
...So—you may ask—how, then, did I find myself in this pinch?
An arrow whizzes at Octa A-kun’s head, tearing off his fedora and pinning it to the wall behind him. It just narrowly grazes his hair, ripping off a deep green strand with a sharp jolt. Octa A-kun squeaks in terror and collapses onto his rear end.
“Pardon moi, Monsieur Kelp,” comes the light-hearted chirp of his assailant. A young man in a bob cut steps forth, a bow in his hands and a quiver strapped to his back. The billowy white feather tucked in his hat bounces with each stride. “I was in need of some early morning target practice.”
Third year and Pomefiore vice-dorm leader, Rook Hunt, according to the rumors. Be wary of him--once he fixates on something, he will not relent.
“A-Ahahaha...I-It’s fine, senpai!” Octa A-kun stutters, scrambling back onto his feet. He glances at his poor hat, skewered clean through--he’d have to file a request for a replacement later. Azul would charge a fee for it--with interest.
“Ah, how merciful you are, Monsieur Kelp~” Rook laughs as he approaches, each step in his boots the resounding thump-thump of a predator on the prowl.
Octa A-kun shrinks against the wall. “U-Um...! Do you need something from me, senpai...?!”
“Hohoh. How perceptive of you.” Rook plucks his arrow--and Octa A-kun’s hat--and holds his weapon up in the sunlight, his green eyes focusing on the gleam of the arrow’s dagger-like tip. “I’ve merely come for a query, my friend! No need to make such a frightened face.”
“Just a question i-is fine. But it has to be a quick one...! I have to meet up with my partner for a project...”
“But of course. I will not keep you for long.” He tucks the arrow back into his quiver and replaces Octa A-kun’s hat upon his head. “Be honest with me--that is all that I ask of you.”
Rook maintains the curve to his lips as he brings his face closer to his prey. His smile darkens, and the glimmer in his eyes fades into something far more cruel.
“...You would not happen to have been sent by one Roi de Fort, have you? To, perhaps, spy on a little black bird?”
Octa A-kun pales. Sweat collects on his forehead. A lump forms in his throat.
“I-I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT...!!” he blurts out.
Unconvincingly.
Rook’s eyes narrow. “I have requested for you to speak naught but the truth, have I not?”
He reaches out and takes ahold of Octa A-kun’s collar, pulling him close--so close that the poor boy can make out his own fear-stricken expression in the green of Rook’s eyes.
The hunter still smiles, his teeth a stark, blinding white.
He’s beautiful, Octa A-kun realizes. Beautiful, but deadly.
“Y-You’re being r-really scary, senpai...! P-Please don’t bully me...!”
“La vérité, Monsieur Kelp?”
A drop of sweat races down Octa A-kun’s profile. Pupils dilated, breath hitching, body trembling.
In the distance, a bell tolls--granting him an opportunity to escape.
“Would you look at the time...!! I...I really gotta go now!! M-My project partner’s waiting for me, ahahaha...!! E-Excuse me!” Octa A-kun shouts shaking from Rook’s grip and sidestepping the hunter.
He begins to speed walk away, hands balled into fists and arms swinging stiffly, when Rook calls out to him.
“...Monsieur Kelp.”
Against his better judgement, Octa A-kun dares to glance back.
Rook is staring right at him, his gaze piercing.
“Know this: if you betray her, there will be more for you to worry about than damaged articles of clothing.”
And with that remark, Rook allows his prey to retreat.
But he watches every step of the way.
Until Octa A-kun is nothing more than a dot in the distance.
“Welcome to my roost,” Raven declares with the wave of her hand. “Ignore the mess, and make yourself at home.”
“D-Don’t mind if I do,” Octa A-kun says, carefully ducking into the attic space.
Mess is a bit of an understatement. Raven’s room is piled high with tomes, loose papers scattered on the floor and smears of ink all over.
Tucked away in a corner appears to be a mattress, with a blanket in a nest-like shape, a pillow laid in the center. A bookshelf overflows with volumes on ancient curses, while a strange teardrop shaped seat, decorated with ribbons and wisteria, hangs by a window.
Set upon a large desk is a snuffed out candle, a quill set with a magic gemstone, and several empty bottles and blank labels. A basket spills out its contents--herbs, flowers, and fungi--next to a mortar and pestle.
What really catches Octa A-kun’s attention, however, is the strange collection of glass apparatuses and tubes that line the desk. A small flame dances under the rounded part of a flask, heating up a rose-gold concoction.
“Looks like you keep pretty busy, huh?”
“You could say that. I like to remain productive.”
Octa A-kun offers a timid smile. “Um, if I may ask, what is it that you’ve got brewing at your desk...? I-I’ve never seen anything quite like it.”
Raven pauses.
“...Do you know that feeling of rediscovering a part of yourself you thought you had once lost? Or the rose-tinted glasses which clouds one’s vision? The wonderfulness of meeting an old friend? Think of those things, set in the color of dawn, beckoning a new day.”
“E-Eh?” Octa A-kun combs his brain for a response. “Uh...you mean nostalgia?”
“Precisely. This is my latest creation--Nostalgia. It took me two whole weeks to get this new ink color just right, but it shall be lovely to write with.” Raven puffs up a bit with pride. “Oh, but enough about my personal projects. We need to work on that Magic History assignment, yes?”
“Y-Yes. That report on Unique Magic Development...” Octa A-kun’s eyes follow Raven’s hand as it trails over a series of books on a shelf.
Hexes, and How to Break Them. True Love’s Kiss: Panacea or Poison? Ancient Curses: A Collection of Anecdotes. Journal of Magic Medicine, Issue 32: Jinx Edition.
“Ah, here it is.” Raven fishes out a maroon book with a few sticky notes jutting out of it--Unique Magic: Nature & Nurture--and hands it to Octa A-kun, along with a spare quill, an inkwell, and a fresh sheet of paper.
She gestures toward the seat adorned with wisteria. “Have a seat and work on your half of the report. I’ll be working on my half at my desk after I clean up. We can compare our halves and edit as is necessary when both parts are complete.”
He complies, sitting where he is directed and flipping open Unique Magic: Nature & Nurture.
Two sticky notes immediately pop out at him. One sports a list of various unrelated words (Nostalgia, Sorrow, Regret, and an L word that appears to have been blotted out, left illegible).
The other sticky note has a little diagram labelled Unique Magic, a heart in the center with arrows pointing outward. Needs faith, trust, and a little pixie dust, one arrow remarks. Infusion of feelings requires experience, says another. Practice with Nostalgia, a third states.
Octa A-kun slowly lifts his eyes from the page--carefully watching Raven tidying up her desk.
With the flick of her magical pen--or quill, rather--she extinguishes the flame beneath her flask and sets it into a test tube rack to cool. Raven collects her plants into a basket and tucks them under the desk, along with the rest of her glassware. Then she gathers stray papers and pops open her drawer to stow them away--
And that’s when Octa A-kun catches a glimpse of it.
An unopened letter, in a pale blue envelope.
To My Dearest Raven scrawled across it.
“...And that is the g-gist of it,” Octa A-kun concludes his report, “dorm leader.”
“Excellent work, Kon-san. You efforts are greatly appreciated.” From behind his ornate office desk, Azul clasps his hands together and beams. “I suppose there is no longer any need for Floyd to pay your friends in Pomefiore and Scarabia a little visit.”
“Boooo,” Floyd groans from beside him.
“Th-Thank you for your kindness, dorm leader!” Octa A-kun gushes--if only to (poorly) mask his own fears. He wants to sink into the couch cushions and disappear like sea foam. “B-But...But if I can make a request, sir!”
“What is it?” Azul sounds mildly annoyed, but Octa A-kun steels his courage and persists.
“Um...i-if possible, can you assign s-someone else to check on Miss Raven? I-I’m scared of what Rook-senpai will do to me if I make the wrong mo--EEP!!”
Before he has even finished his sentence, Floyd is flying at him like a shark tearing through water.
WHAM!
Octa A-kun screams as Floyd’s foot connects with the couch, boxing him in and nearly knocking the furniture over. Azul’s glasses flash a pure white, and he makes no move to restrain the feral eel.
“What was that, Konbu-chan?” Floyd asks--no, demands--as he leers down at him. Teeth gnashing. “Did I hear you right? Umineko-kun got in the way?”
“E-Eeeep! Ch-Chill out, Floyd-senpai! You’re...you’re scaring me!!” Octa A-kun whimpers, his poor heart pounding out of his chest.
“Speak freely, Kon-san,” Azul prompts, waving a gloved hand to silence Floyd--but his tone is just as icy and cruel as the eel’s eyes. “What is this I hear about...interference?”
“W-Well...h-he seemed to know that you sent me. And he said he might...do things if I make a misstep.” Octa A-kun furiously shakes his head. “I’ll need a replacement hat after th-that encounter...I-I’m sorry, dorm leader, but I r-really don’t want to be involved in this any more than I have to...!”
Azul leans back in his chair, and his face settles into a serious expression.
“Uwaaah, Jade wasn’t kiddin’ when he said Umineko-kun was guarding Black Pearly like a shark on sunken treasure,” Floyd flicks his tongue along his teeth, which gleam dangerously under the lights of the VIP room. “Even the low level lackies get chewed up and spat out, ehehehe~”
“This is not funny, Floyd. This just makes things that much more difficult,” Azul snaps, pushing his glasses up.
“It’s fine, it’s fiiine,” Floyd insists dismissively with a giggle. “I’ll just follow Konbu-chan--and if that creep Umineko-kun gets close, I’ll beat’em bloody~”
“I-Isn’t that a bit extreme?!” Octa A-kun protests, only to earn a withering glare from Floyd.
“Shut your trap, guppy. No one asked for your opinion,” Floyd hisses--then his expression brightens considerably when he addresses his dorm leader. “Ne, ne, Azul! Can I, can I?”
“Absolutely not. We still need to collect more information before taking such drastic action,” Azul says, his voice tinged with irrtation. “Might I remind you, Floyd, that Octavinelle is, once again, in poor standing with the headmaster? It would not do to further tarnish our reputation with another incidence report.”
“Laaaame~” Floyd pouts, backing away from Oct A-kun. “I’m not allowed to do anything fun anymore.”
“As I was saying,” Azul continues, ignoring the eel, “thank you for bringing this to my attention, Kon-san. Your work here is done--you are relieved from your duties until further notice. Dismissed.”
“Y-Yessir!! Th-Thank you so much, sir!” Octa A-kun breathes a massive sigh of relief. He is quick to gather his coat and hat, then bow to his senpais and hurriedly exit.
Azul pinches the bridge of his nose. “...This will become a problem if it persists.”
“I don’t get it, Azul!” Floyd whines loudly, slamming his hands on his dorm leader’s desk. “Why don’t we just kidnap Black Pearly already and make her ‘n Jade ‘fess up? That’d be sooo much easier than dancing around Umineko-kun!”
“That is not how proper reconciliation works, Floyd,” Azul points out. “If we are to fix this mess, then we cannot hope to resolve it overnight.”
He thinks of the details Octa A-kun had divulged--the countless books that litter Raven’s abode, the fixation on work, the strangely named ink, the interest in curses...Surely they must all mean something.
He pauses, before adding, “...I feel as though I am missing a vital piece of the puzzle.”
“Ehhhh? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Call it...octopus’s intuition. There is something bigger at play here, something far more powerful than you or I can comprehend.” Azul folds his arms. “And if we intend to bring back Miss Raven into Jade’s arms, then that is one puzzle piece we must find.”
“Hmmm.” Floyd leans down, peering into Azul’s solemn face--then breaks out into a toothy grin. “Ne, ne, you really care a lot about Jade, don’t you?”
“Hmph. Don’t be ridiculous,” Azul snaps, lips pursing into a straight line. “This is merely a case of an employer fretting over the well being of his employee. Jade cannot perform at his best if he is emotionally distressed. I am simply doing my due diligence as his employer to ensure that he is content--it benefits the business.”
“Ehehehe~ In the end, Azul’s heart is juuust as squishy and soft as his octopus form~” The eel wraps his arms around Azul, squeezing the dorm leader against his chest. “That’s sooo cute~”
“FLOYD, DO NOT PRESUME TO KNOW MY INTENTIONS...!! AND UNHAND ME THIS INSTANT!”
“Nope! Don’t wanna~”
Octa A-kun is halfway down the corridor when a hand clamps down--hard--onto his shoulder. The student squeaks in terror as he is whipped around--and comes face-to-face with his smiling vice-dorm leader.
“Good evening, Kon-san,” Jade says nonchalantly, his tone light but his aura dark. “Might I have a moment with you?”
For the third time that day. Octa A-kun’s stomach sinks--but he lacks both the strength and the willpower to resist.
“S-Sure...Wh-What is it?”
Jade cranes his head down, his single golden eye glowing despite his sinister shadow. “I have received word that you have been snooping around campus. Naughty, naughty Kon-san. You should know better.”
Octa A-kun instinctively takes a step back, putting some distance between him and his vice-dorm leader--the information broker of Octavinelle. No secret can evade him, it seems.
“Th-The dorm leader asked me to...!” he confesses, cheeks turning pink in embarrassment.
“Please, be at ease. I do not bite,” Jade says smoothly, chuckling into his glove. “Now then, my sources tell me that you happened upon Miss Raven’s quarters. Is this correct?”
“Y-Yes...”
“Then let me ask this of you--did you, by chance, see a blue envelope?”
“Blue envelope...” Octa A-kun’s eyes light up in realization. “A-Ah, I do seem to recall seeing something like that. She...She keeps it in a drawer. It was unopened.”
“Unopened...?” Jade repeats the word carefully, as though handling a delicate artifact. He brings a hand to his chin in contemplation, his brows furrowing. “It is no wonder why she continues to behave in such a vehement manner,” he mumbles under his breath.
“Um...vice-dorm leader? Is everything alright?” Octa A-kun asks nervously.
“...No. It is nothing, I assure you.” Jade composes himself, smiling once more--this time, without a hint of darkness to it. “Think nothing of it, dear Kon-san. Please, do retire for the night--that was all I wished to know, fufu.”
“O-Of course, vice-dorm leader...”
Jade sees him off with a polite wave.
Octa A-kun waits until Jade is completely out of sight before he collapses into a heap on the ground. He clutches onto his stomach, which twists and knots with fright, and sniffles softly to himself.
Why, oh, why was he not sorted into a normal dorm with normal non-scary students and normal, healthy relationships with their peers? No, instead he’s trapped in the mermaid mafia and witnessing Overblot incidents every single month.
Go to Night Raven College, they said. It’d be fun, they said. You’ll get a great education, they said.
J-Just...Just give me a quiet, peaceful life already...!!
Jade brings a forkful of birthday cake to his lips. Then another, and another. Each bite is carefully monitored by his twin, who sits beside him on the couch.
“Ne, Jeido~”
“Ee, Furoido?”
“I’ve decided!” He suddenly reaches over and plucks the crowning jewel off of Jade’s slice cake. With a cheeky grin, Floyd closes his lips around the ruby red fruit. “Jade’s strawberry is mine now~”
Blink, blink.
Jade stares at the face of his cake, which now bears an indentation where the fruit had once been. Without that blotch of scarlet, the slice seems strange, almost naked. Vulnerable, even.
“... Pfft.”
“Ehe”
“Fufufu.”
“Ahahaha~”
“You deserve it, Floyd—since you have provided me with much entertainment today.”
“Hehe. I just wanted to make your birthday wish come true, Jade! Did I do a good job?”
“Yes, very much so.”
Upstaging the light music club, attempting to shock Azul, consuming dandelion-laced takoyaki... Exchanging the gag gifts, the Russian Roulette cupcakes... There had never been a truly dull moment for either of them.
The brothers share another laugh.
“Ah-HEM.”
The twins glance up to find Raven standing before them, her hands behind her back.
“Sorry to disturb you two, but...” She brings out a box the color of a bleeding midnight sky, speckled with dots of glitter. A sky blue ribbon tops it off. “... Here.”
“Mm? What’s that, Black Pearly?” Floyd flashes a lazy smile. “Is that your present for us?”
“Oya.” Jade’s lip curls in mild amusement. “It appears that Miss Raven did not forget us after all.”
“Wh-What?! N-No...!” She snaps, shoving the box at the two of them. “I-It’s just an unopened present. You two must have missed it among all the mushrooms and pairs of shoes you were gifted.”
“Of course, Miss Raven. We believe you.”
They don’t.
“Just... Just open it already!”
“Oh-kaaaaaay~”
Each Leech pinches the ribbon and tugs at the same time. The sky unfurls, revealing its contents.
Inside are two sets of moleskin notebooks—one imprinted with a mushroom and a cup of tea, the other with a basketball and a shoe. Two fresh quills. And two inkwells, each offering a different label and color.
The first of the inks, Party of Odd, appears murky, almost muddy. However, the longer one stares at it, the more colors one is able to discern, for the ink is always shifting—in appearance, in scent, in temperature. The changes are never ending, so states a card under the inkwell, much like the changes that come with each passing year.
The other ink, Secret Celebration, is a sheer white with small beads of colors woven throughout. A small card is tucked under it with instructions: When you first bring Secret Celebration to paper, the ink will be invisible--but worry not. This can be remedied by bringing the words to a flame. Your message will reappear in all vibrant colors of the rainbow, bleeding into one another, much like the sprinkles upon a pure white birthday cake.
“Oh, would you look at that,” Raven says stiffly doing a very poor job of feigning shock. “Something to amuse yourself with, Floyd. And perhaps something useful for your... less savory business dealings and classified notes, Jade.”
“Geeeee~ I wonder who must’ve gifted it to us~”
“Yes, I do wonder.”
“D-Don’t think about it too much!” Raven insists. “Again, I’m sorry for disturbing you. You may return to partaking in the remains of your birthday cake no—MMMPGH?!”
The bird is cut off by something cold and sweet and crimson being crammed into her mouth—a strawberry, still coated in a glossy sheen and lingering bits of frosting.
Her assailant, Floyd, giggles. “Have some too, Black Pearly! There’s plenty to go around~”
“Fufufu. Floyd... You mustn’t inconvenience the hostess in such a manner.” Jade chides his brother, but his heart is not fully there. “Miss Raven, I believe it would be best if you sit and have a slice of your own—before Floyd stuffs you with more strawberries himself.”
Hey Miss Raven! I was thinking about your ink making hobby and wanted to ask, what other colours have you got in your collection? Do you have any favourite ingredients? Also are any of the inks scented? Or do they just look pretty on paper? Did you make any colours that remind you of anyone?(like a certain eel or hunter perhaps?)
“Ah, are you interested in my inks? I have brewed a number of them since arriving at Night Raven College. I am afraid I have made far too many to list each and every one, but you are free to take a look.”
Raven opens a drawer at her writing desk, which bears several bottles, each containing a different color and finish. If one were to take a rainbow and stretch it like cotton candy, its tints, shades, and tones would be nowhere near her selection of hues.
“For the fall season, I am rather fond of these colors.”
She picks up a few bottles and sets them on the desk.
Void, a black so dark that it seems to swallow the light. Staring at it for too long makes your eyes quiver.
Change, a verdant brew shifting from green to gold, then red, and back to green.
Candied, an ink in three layers--orange, yellow, and white. When you shake it up, the contents meld into a pastel marigold--and when you pop for cork off, Candied punches your nostrils with the scent of sugar.
Warmth, a rich chestnut that radiates a pulsating heat. Somehow, it is comforting to hold.
Crisp, a muted and earthy periwinkle. A cool breeze greets you when you pick the bottle up to swirl its contents around.
Dearly Departed, a thick white, opaque in a single layer--or so Raven claims.
Fear, a deep purple, almost black, streaked with crimson. Your stomach flips and flops upon seeing it.
She puffs out her chest. “I worked really hard on these...! I wrote the recipes up myself, and I imbued some magic into them. Each ink is special in its own way.”
“As for favorite ingredients...I think each and every ingredient I use serves its own purpose. They are all equally important and help to achieve a certain color, finish, or viscosity. However, I must say that I am not fond of collecting what I need from live animals. That is simply cruel and unusual.”
Raven jolts back at your final question.
“Wh-What...What are you...erm...!!”
She clears her throat in an attempt to regain her composure.
“...I do suppose I have a new collection in the works--b-but it is not as though it specifically features them.” Raven folds her arms. “I have met many wonderful people here at this school, so my next project was to brew a color to represent each of the familiar faces I see around campus. The eel and the hustsman are two such people.”
She pauses. “...Would you like to see?”
You nod.
Raven opens another drawer and produces two vials--one labelled “Jade”, the other, “Rook.” She passes them to you with a faint blush on her cheeks.
“Th-The names are still works-in-progresses,” Raven insists.
Ah.
How lovely.
Jade is teal--and in the light, it takes on a shining appearance--fine bits of gold glitter woven throughout. The ink smells like the sea, all salt and sunshine...and something earthier behind all of that. Mushrooms, perhaps?
Rook, on the other hand, is violet, but with a green chrome shift. It changes color at the drop of a hat, a fleeting as a first kiss. If Jade is the sea, Rook is the forest, boasting the aroma of woods and chlorophyll.
“A-Anyway. If you are done browsing, I will take my inks back now. I’m still working on them,” Raven says, plucking the vials up. “...But I suppose I can share them with you again if you are ever interested. Only if I feel like it, of course.”
