Prompt: The Prefect and their friends talk about the events of the Glorious Masquerade and come to some... rather belated conclusions.
Pairing: GN!Prefect/ Yuu/ MC with Deuce Spade, Epel Felmier and Sebek Zigvolt (Platonic)
Genre: Crack
TW: Slight spoilers for Book 5 of Glorious Masquerade.
AN: So... finally read the ending of Glorious Masquerade. I have very many feelings about Malleus and Rollo (obviously) but I also have many feelings about the Prefect's immunity to the firelotuses that everyone so conveniently forgot. In Idia's words, they're all a bunch of 'unga bunga, brute force' kinda people lmao-
This is also my first time writing for Sebek and Epel so I'm very nervous lol. If they seem out of character or something else seems weird, let me know!
"Man, I'm beat."
Deuce flopped onto your bed, sinking into the soft mattress with a sigh of relief. You smiled at him, running a comb through your hair to remove any tangles in it.
The two of you were already in pyjamas, tired from a night of dancing and socializing. You were waiting on a few more people though.
"Did you tell Epel and Sebek to meet us in my room?" You asked him as you ran your comb through your hair. The older students had to report the entirety of the previous night to Professor Trein, so you had decided that the first years could have their own tea-spilling session in your room. Grim, however, wanted to hear the heroic tales of the older students (and regale them with his own, no doubt) so he was with Professor Trein instead of being with you.
"I told Epel" his voice was muffled as he spoke, face smushed against the pillow. "He said they'd be here-"
Knock, knock. "Prefect? Are you in there?"
You walked over to the door, opening it to find Epel and Sebek, both in their pyjamas as well. Epel smiled at you, holding his hands behind his back, "I got Sebek like Deuce told me to."
"Human, what is the meaning of this?" Sebek huffed, too tired to yell his words like he usually did. He crossed his arms over his chest, narrowing his eyes at you. "As a retainer of Malleus-sama, I must get the required eight hours of sleep to continue to serve him diligently. How dare you keep me up after a night of saving the entirety of Twisted Wonderland from those abysmal flowers, and another night of merry-making?"
His words lacked their usual fire, so you just gave him a cheeky smile and pulled the two of them inside, closing the door behind them. "Come on, I just wanna talk to you guys. Besides, I have snacks."
Epel gave you a side-eye, trying to keep a cheeky smile from forming on his face. "Vil would be so mad."
"What Vil doesn't know won't hurt him~" you hummed, and Epel giggled. Sebek just sighed, taking his place on your bed after nudging Deuce a little.
"And then, when the flowers started climbing up his tail, he climbed onto Professor Trein's shoulder!"
"What?!" "Oh my-" "HOW ILL-MANNERED!"
You giggled at the reactions of your friends as you recounted Grim's actions. The four of you were sat on your bed. You were sitting with your back against the headboard, a pillow on your lap on which Deuce rested his head. With his feet planted on the bed and his knees in the air, his legs made a backrest for Epel who leaned against them, sitting with his legs criss-crossed. On your right side sat Sebek, with the snacks you four were sharing in the middle of the bed.
"I had half a mind to pull him off Professor Trein, but before that, the Bell of Solace rang," you hummed, messily braiding Deuce's hair as you spoke. "And then all the flowers wilted, and well, you know the rest."
"I still can't believe Grim tried to climb Professor Trein," Epel giggled as Sebek shook his head. Deuce sighed, looking up at you, "Well, I can't blame the little guy for being scared. Those flowers were no joke."
"Yeah, for you guys maybe. For me, they were just plain old flowers, if a little persistent and irritating," you shrugged.
"What?"
"Magicless human, remember?"
All three boys looked at you like you had grown three heads and burst into song and dance. You gave them a defensive glare, "What? I'm just saying, those things were perfectly harmless to me."
"....Yeah... Wait, does this mean we could have just sent you up to ring the bell?"
"Probably not...? I mean, Rollo was there on the top guarding the bell wasn't he? If he used magic against me, I'd be defenceless."
"Well, Rollo seemed a bit... partial towards you? You could've tricked him like you did with Azul-senpai that one time..." Deuce trailed off, and the four of you took in his words.
There was a moment of silence before-
"YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THERE WAS NO NEED TO PUT MALLEUS-SAMA IN DANGER?!"
Prompt: "You, whose image the Dark Mirror did beckon forth... If your heart bids it, take the hand of the one reflected in the mirror."
Pairing: Dire Crowley and GN!Prefect/ Yuu/ MC
Genre: Yandere (platonic)
TW: Yandere Dire Crowley, crow man's delusional and literally does not give two fucks, just generally creepy vibes all around.
AN: I am so, so, so sorry for what you are about to read now lol. If you get too confused in the middle, don't worry, I was just as confused writing this but my brain just wouldn't rest until I finished and posted this so here we are. The basic summary of this is that Yuu or the Prefect is trapped in an endless cycle because Crowley overblotted. You might have to read this twice or thrice to understand the how and why <3
He knows.
From the moment he sees them, he remembers.
He remembers and he watches as they do it again.
And again.
And again.
A puppet, unaware of their being handled by someone else, someone kinder and gentler who just wants to keep them safe and sound.
Even if it means trapping them in an endless cycle.
Even if he is the only one who sees and notices and remembers.
Dire Crowley cuts an imposing figure as he stands in his office, facing an ornate mirror. Not the Dark Mirror, no. This particular mirror has its roots in mystical arcane magic, from the times of Jupiter and when the Titans roamed free. Dire has a faint memory of his mother, the Crowley Matriarch, telling him to be careful with it, to pass it down to his heir as she had, to him.
Crystal clear, it beckons to him to reveal himself. To bare himself, imperfections and flaws laid out in the privacy of his office for it to see.
A selfish, sadistic desire to pick apart every carefully constructed lie, each bejeweled facade to show the utter mess of a man that lies beneath it all arises in him; he finds himself indulging in it more often than he likes to admit.
The masked man removes his mask for what is not the first time, and most certainly would not be the last. Sharp golden eyes look on as black ink, once held within the confines of his mask, drips down his face. Times like these make him wonder and marvel at how he has not met his demise yet.
Fingers adorned with golden claws rise and touch the blot, marveling at how cold it feels as it stains his skin. Lesser mages would have been dead long ago, Crowley knows this. Slight dread rises in him at the thought, knowing that his magic reserves are long finished; he lives on borrowed time and magic.
But then again, who cares? As long as he can have them here, where they belong, safe and sound-
A knock resonates through the room, startling the headmage. He quickly puts the mask on his face again and clears his throat, saying, "Come in."
He watches as they walk in, no doubt to complain about something, or to talk about their financial situation. Perhaps he should increase their allowance? After all, it is their being, their magic that sustains him, and allows him to live through these lifetimes watching over the unassuming, now magicless human he had imprinted on and the students they had endeared themself to.
Crowley watches as they speak, unable to stop his lips from curling up into a smile. He hems and haws and lies through his teeth about not being able to find them a way back.
He sees the light in their eyes dim; it is a small change, one that doesn't stay for long. But the magicless human is precious to him, and so he observes them. He watches them leave his office silently, a stark contrast to when their impatience and indignance have them cursing his name to the skies. No outcome, no outburst of their emotions will be able to move his cold, frozen heart to thaw, however; they belong to Twisted Wonderland, as Twisted Wonderland belongs to them.
In their first lifetime, Crowley recalls with the fondness of a father thinking of his grown-up child, they did possess magic; far different in nature, but magic nonetheless. And powerful too, considering the aura of it radiated from their being even as something stopped them from being able to use it.
Crowley wonders if it was so that he could see how invaluable, how indispensable they were.
How the entirety of Twisted Wonderland was made for them.
He did try, the first time, to find them a way back home. Endless efforts were dedicated to researching the existence of universes and multiverses. Of course, such exhaustive research would take time, time which he saw them spend getting close to the students of Night Raven College and fighting overblots.
Seven overblots, in the span of one year.
A record untouched by any other being, mage or otherwise. A record they kept making each and every lifetime they spent in the loop. A record that became his new normal, so much so that he no longer gives more than a cursory glance to the overblots and their aftermath.
He knows how it all ends, after all.
In their first lifetime, his efforts had bore fruit. His studies revealed a way to connect the Dark Mirror to their plane of existence, through the use of the very mirror that was hidden behind his back. His blood had run cold at the revelation, and he spent the next few weeks? months? looking for alternatives. For other ways to be able to send them back.
Until one day, the Prefect found out.
As they angrily interrogated him for the reasons behind his silence, asking him why he would not send them back even though there was a way, he realized exactly why he was hesitant about sending them back.
Crowley had no spouse, no children. But the mirror, the mirror which had been in his family for generations, needed an heir. One who could gain control over it, rather than have it control them like it did with so many of his ancestors, including his mother.
Surely the one dubbed a beast-tamer could tame such a dangerously powerful magical artefact?
He desperately begged and bargained with them, trying to change their mind. Trying to entice them into staying forever in Twisted Wonderland, as his heir. He offered them gold and silver, riches beyond what one would expect a man like him to have. He offered them the immense honour and prestige that came with being a deity that the entirety of Twisted Wonderland bowed to.
But they... they refused to stay. The only thing that was in their mind was to go home. Why couldn't they get it through their head that Twisted Wonderland was meant to be their home?
The aftermath of that argument... Crowley's memories are hazy at best. He remembers waking up in a pool of blot, the sticky ink covering his hands and the top of his face, dripping constantly. He remembers the mirror glowing as he dragged himself to it like a mindless moth flies to the flame even with the risk of getting burned.
Words had slipped through his mouth like the prayers of the devout at the altar of their deity, the faint and familiar hum of magic accompanied by a slight crackle of dark miasma.
"Ah, my dear esteemed benefactor... My proud, beautiful flower of evil. You are truly the fairest one of all," he had spoken, not knowing exactly what spell he was casting. All he knew, was that he was succumbing to the mirror, the same way his mother had; the same way all of his ancestors had, giving into the madness that such unchecked power and magic could create.
"O magic mirror, thy wisdom I entreat... Reveal unto me the visage I seek.." A vision of them, standing on the other side of the mirror, had Crowley try to reach out to them. His hand grazed the solid glass, before passing through it. He watched as their eyes widened and they took a step back.
"You, whose image the Dark Mirror did beckon forth... If your heart bids it, take the hand of the one reflected in the mirror." A shiver of thrill ran up his spine as they gingerly placed their hand in his after giving his words some thought, even with all the doubt in their eyes. He curled his fingers around their warm hand, and pulled.
He later found out that, during his overblot, he had managed to trap a significant portion of their soul in the mirror that was his family heirloom. The mirror rejected their magic, foreign as it was, and somehow those powers transferred themselves over to Crowley.
The words Crowley spoke, was the way to invoke their soul and bring them back each time they left Twisted Wonderland. A reset button, if you will.
Every time they show the slightest hint of wanting to leave, the slightest glimpse of understanding that he is the one they need to defeat in order to go home, he resets. Memories get wiped and Twisted Wonderland moulds beneath his gold-plated fingertips to what it was before. They say time waits for no man, but then again, Dire Crowley is more monster than human now. And so it bends to his will, but not without taking away his memories as well.
Prompt: "When you were a kid, didn't you ever like to catch snowflakes on your tongue?" "It didn't snow where I used to live." "Wait, you've never seen real snow?!" "Yeah, it's not that bizarre a concept."
Pairing: Ace Trappola x Gn!Reader/Prefect/Yuu
Genre: Fluff
TW: NA
"(Name)" Poke.
"(Name)" Poke.
"(Name)" Poke.
"(Name)-"
"Oh for Seven's sake Ace, what? " You turned to look at the ginger, slamming your potionology textbook shut with a loud slam. The coffee table shook under your hand, its creaky joints protesting against your abuse. Ace smirked, before poking out his tongue at you, a childish move to flame the embers of irritation he had so painstakingly built over the past hour.
His troubles earned him a smack on the head.
"Ow! What was that for?"
"You know exactly what that was for."
Ace huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "You're no fun," he mumbled, nudging you with his elbow. "It's snowing outside, and we're stuck here, doing homework."
"Would you rather be out in the cold?" You asked, raising an eyebrow at him. Ace leaned back against the couch, sighing as if in great emotional pain like the drama queen he was.
"Don't you like the snow? It's the best thing about winter, well, except when my brother stuffs it down my shirt."
You smiled at his complaining, and Ace kept talking.
"Like seriously, name something that's better than playing in the snow."
"Staying warm and cosy inside? Having hot tea or coffee? Getting our assignments done so we don't piss off Professor Crewel?"
"Woah, woah, what's with all the snow hate?" Ace chuckled, raising his hands in a show of surrender. "When you were a kid, didn't you ever like to catch snowflakes on your tongue?"
"Well, it didn't snow where I used to live. So no."
Ace's eyes widened as he sat up straight. "Wait, you've never seen real snow?!"
"Yeah, it's not that bizarre a concept," you shrugged. "I didn't see it before I came to Twisted Wonderland. And even then I didn't really enjoy the first winter I spent here, considering everything that went down in Scarabia..."
Ace was silent at your reminder of the incident with Jamil's overblot. His eyebrows were furrowed as though he was thinking hard about something. After a few minutes of thinking, he stood up and pulled you to your feet. "Let's go out and play in the snow."
"What? Why- Ace?!" You floundered as Ace began pulling you towards the door, stopping near the cupboard to pull out some jackets and scarves for the two of you.
"C'mon, it'll be fun. Live a little, will ya?"
You rolled your eyes as you let him help you into your jacket. "Fine, but if you get sick, I'm not going to be doing your work for you."
Prompt: “I think December 1st is my favorite day of the whole year. On winter’s edge, with the promise of the holiday season, but not close enough to feel rushed. It’s just always felt perfect.”
Pairing: Grim and Gn!Reader/Prefect/Yuu (Familial)
Genre: Fluff
TW: NA
AN: 1st of December, and here we go! Kicking this thing off with everyone's favorite son/sidekick, Grim! Also, for the entirety of the event, let's just pretend that Christmas is a thing in Twisted Wonderland lol. I'm kinda not happy with the ending, but I'm proud of the rest. I hope you enjoy ^^
"Grim? I'm home," you called out, and a sleepy little purr reverberated through the air in acknowledgement of your words.
A familiar bundle of grey fur and warmth made his way to you as you put away your coat and scarf in the small cupboard beside the door. Grim rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, his paws pitter-pattering on the floor of your home as he made his way to you. Your favourite blanket was draped on his shoulders like a cape, the rest of the (f/c) cloth dragging on the floor behind him. He must've fallen asleep waiting for you.
You couldn't help but smile at the cat monster who had become family to you in the unfamiliar world that was Twisted Wonderland. He looked like a small child walking over to greet his parent after a long day. Carefully you scooped him up, with only a grunt and a grumble of protest from him, wrapping the rest of your blanket around him like a cocoon.
"Did you miss me, Grimmy?" You teased him, your tone as soft as it was mischievous. Grim huffed from his place in your arms, turning slightly and nuzzling against the crook of your neck. You already knew his answer.
The two of you graduated from Night Raven College years ago. Scouts from all over Twisted Wonderland sought you after learning about the magicless human who had managed to graduate with flying colours from one of the top arcane institutions. But you decided to pursue even higher studies, eventually ending up back at Night Raven College, this time as one of the faculty members.
You walked over to the living room, where the fire burned in the hearth and warmed the entire house. Settling in front of the fire with Grim lying on your lap, you hummed a soft little tune. Christmas was a long way, but your students had already started listening to festive tunes, leading to this particular one getting stuck in your head.
"Grim, what's your favourite day?" You asked him, not really expecting an answer from the feline as you scratched that one spot behind his ear that you knew he liked. Grim's ears perked, his attention now on you.
"Whaddaya mean, hench-human?"
You smiled at the nickname. "You know, the day you like the most? Personally, December 1st is my favourite day of the whole year. On winter’s edge, with the promise of the holiday season, but not close enough to feel rushed. It’s just always felt perfect.”
Grim turned in your lap, looking up at you with bright blue eyes heavy with sleep. He pawed a little at the necklace that dangled from your neck absentmindedly as he seemed to mull over your question.
"Mine's... my birthday," he said, a yawn leaving him after the sentence.
You paused your careful scratching behind his ears momentarily, a little surprised. Grim didn't use to have a birthday. At least, not until you decided to give him one, after a night of celebrating your own. The two of you celebrated the day he had met you at the entrance ceremony as his birthday, because that 'marked the start of the Great Grim's magical journey!' (his words).
"Oh?"
"Hmm.."
"Any special reason?" You asked, voice soft as you continued scratching behind his ears. Grim leaned into your touch, eyes closed as he replied, "'cause... it's the day I met you, hench-human..."
Your eyes softened as Grim's breathing evened out, your gentle actions nudging him into a deep sleep. Your hands continued lightly petting him, smoothing down the grey fur.
As the light from the hearth illuminated your figure curled up comfortably on the couch with Grim sleeping away on your lap, you couldn't help but agree more with your previous statement.
Pairing: Ortho Shroud and Gn!Reader/Prefect/Yuu (Familial)
Genre: Fluff
TW: NA
"Prefect, what are your plans for the winter holidays?"
As Ortho walked, or, well, hovered beside you while you walked to Ramshackle, he asked you the question. You adjusted the books in your arms as you thought about his question.
"Well, I don't exactly have anything planned out. I might bake some cookies if I'm feeling festive enough."
Ortho tilted his head as he listened to you carefully. "Bake cookies if you're feeling festive?"
You nodded, a smile on your lips as you seemed to reminisce. "Where I'm from, winters are a time when the entire family gathers to have fun and catch up with each other. One of the things associated with wintertime is baking cookies and decorating them with icing."
Ortho's eyes sparkled with childlike wonder as you continued to talk about your world and its many traditions related to winters. He was always excited to learn more, and your knowledge of your world was an untapped goldmine of information for him, even if that knowledge was mostly useless here in Twisted Wonderland.
The two of you spent the entire walk talking about winters and traditions, smiling and laughing while exchanging stories.
A few days later, you found yourself standing in front of the mirror to Ignihyde. Ortho had sent you a message, asking you to come over as soon as you could. Curious, you walked through the mirror, reaching the dorm.
The Ignihyde dorm members that were out and about didn't bat an eyelid at your arrival. They had gotten used to seeing you come over to hang out with either their reclusive house-warden or his bubbly younger brother. Upon asking, you were directed to the kitchen, where an enthusiastic Ortho waited for you, an apron loosely tied over his gear and various ingredients out on the countertop.
"Do you want to bake cookies with me?" He asked, happily zooming over to you with an apron in his hand. You smiled, accepting the apron and wearing it.
"This was your emergency?" You teased the humanoid, and he giggled. "I wanted to partake in some of the festive activites from your world. During our conversation I noticed you favored baking and decorating cookies."
"Since Nii-san and I will be returning home for the holidays, I wanted to experience this with you before leaving, Prefect."
