i’m going on a week long trip to orlando today and won’t be able to finish this in time so here’s a rough draft of a grom comic, hopefully when i get back i’ll finish painting it
(also i feel like hunter would use a scythe. i don’t know why i just feel it in my gut.)
so many parallels from the last time they were at the grom tree... grom being a dreaded day for amity, the anniversary of her dad’s death being a dreaded day for luz. both episodes centering around physical fighting but really being about luz and amity battling their own emotions. both girls having something they want to hide from the other. both of them realizing they don’t have to face their problems alone. ugh. so well done
A Concept For an antagonist for the Wrong Entrance owl house au i thought of. though i don’t have a full fledged backstory for why this brain exists. what i do have planned is that he's managed to tame grom and treat him as both his pet and weapon, he joined the emperor's coven as not only a hunter, but also as a general too, commanding his own army to collect bewitching artifacts or capture wild witches, and he's been given a special task from belos, Find luzura and return her to belos. His personallity is that of a genious mafia/crime boss, a form of mafioso, commanding his members with a wrinkled mind and always show’s care for grom, but not to anyone who stands in his way.
He’s partially inspired by benedict cumbersnatch from sunset paradise. and is a fun way to incorperate grom into this au in a more central way
The au belongs to @wrong-entrance-au-blog Aka @phoenixparadox
Vee asks Masha to go to Grom with her and gets friendzoned. She doesn't want to go, but when Luz begs her to go, she makes a new friend there. Two basilisks are hiding in Hexside and one doesn't want to hide anymore. With Vee's help, Otto will join the students at Hexside and do what he wants to do most: play music.
Ethan stood up and wiped off his pants.
“Sorry, gotta go to work; see y’all later at Cal’s?”
Vee shook her head, but Masha nodded.
“I’ve got practice today and can’t make it,” Vee said. Softball had taken over her afternoons and in spring she was going to try out for the boys’ baseball team and would likely make it.
“I’ll be there; I don’t have to work today.” Masha waved as Ethan walked away.
“Got time for one more VOD?” Masha asked.
Vee looked at her phone.
“Yeah, I think so.”
Masha started the VOD and laughed as the guys on the stream started pranking each other. Vee watched their lips twitch as they laughed and her eyes went to the gap in between Masha’s front teeth. Masha noticed that Vee wasn’t watching the video and paused it.
“Gonna just watch me?” they asked, laughing.
Vee blushed crimson and lowered her head.
“I—I’m sorry!” she blurted.
Masha put their hand on Vee’s face.
“What’s up?” they asked. Vee put her hand over Masha’s and held their hand to her face.
“I—I—” Vee stuttered again.
“Oh, honey,” Masha said. Vee thought they knew what she wanted to say.
“I wanted to ask you to Grom in the Boiling Isles.” Vee’s words all ran together and her face flamed even more.
“As my date,” Vee clarified, seeing the look on Masha’s face.
Masha squeezed Vee’s cheek gently.
“Oh, Vee; I’m sorry. I’ll go with you as your friend, but I can’t go as your date.” They sighed.
Vee lowered her head and tears began leaking out from under Masha’s hand.
“I thought that was what you’d say,” Vee gulped around tears.
“I should have known you didn’t feel the same way.” Now Vee was sobbing.
Masha scooted forward on the grass and hugged Vee tightly. Vee put her head in Masha’s shoulder while Masha stroked her back.
“You’re my friend. You’ll always be my friend, but I don’t feel that way about you.”
Masha sighed.
“Look, I haven’t told anyone this yet, but I don’t know if I feel that way about anyone . I’m Aro.”
Vee looked up from Masha’s shoulder and met their eyes.
“I’m sorry; I didn’t know.” Vee’s tears slowed. She pulled away from Masha who let her go reluctantly.
“Like I said, I haven’t told anyone. You couldn’t have known. I know it has to hurt, but I meant what I said; I’ll always be your friend.”
“Friendzoned,” Vee said with a bit of bitterness.
“Is that so bad?” Masha asked.
“No,” Vee lied, “it’s not so bad.”
She looked at her phone again.
“I’ve got to go to practice.”
She stood to go. Masha stood with her and hugged her. When Vee pulled away, their hands lingered on each other for one second, then two, then Vee walked away, her shoulders slumped.
A few weeks later, Luz pounded on Vee’s door.
“C’mon we’re going to be late!” Luz yelled through the door.
Vee put her head down in her damp pillow and yelled back.
“I’m not going!”
The door opened and then closed. Vee heard Luz’s footsteps come closer and then felt her weight on the bed as she sat. She put her hand on the back of Vee’s neck and rubbed it gently.
“You should come, it’ll be fun and you haven’t done anything fun for weeks.” Luz’s voice was gentle.
“I don’t want to go,” Vee whined.
“I won’t make you, but how long has it been since you’ve seen Gus and Hunter? They’ll be there, too.”
“Yeah, you’ll be there with Amity and Hunter with Willow and I’ll be there with no one.” Vee’s voice was thick.
“So will Gus, and Skara, and…and…Boscha,” Luz finished lamely.
Now Vee laughed.
“Who’d date Boscha?” she said.
“My point stands though; not everyone there will have a date. It’ll be fun, especially since Grometheus hasn’t matured yet, so the Grom King and Queen will just be symbolic this year and no one will have to face their fears.”
“Do you think Gus would dance with me?” Vee asked. She always got along best with Gus out of anyone in the Hexsquad.
“If you ask him he’ll dance with you. Amity and I will dance with you, too.”
“Promise?” Vee asked, looking up.
“Promise,” Luz said, holding out her hand. She stood up and Vee took her hand and stood up, too.
Luz grabbed some tissues from the bedside table and handed them to Vee. Vee wiped her face and then shifted to human.
“Going as a human?” Luz asked.
Vee shook her head.
“When we get to the Boiling Isles I’ll change.”
Luz laughed.
“It’s no fair that you can just poof and have a fancy dress when I have to spend so much time dressing and getting ready.”
She punched Vee’s arm, who laughed a genuine laugh for the first time in weeks.
“Basilisk’s prerogative,” she laughed again.
They said their goodbyes to Camila who insisted on pictures. They went through the portal in the abandoned house and then to the Owl House where Luz got ready. Amity showed up a few minutes after Luz had gotten dressed with pink flowers picked from the previous year’s Grom tree: their Grom tree. Right before they left, Vee shifted into her basilisk form and a traditional yellow dress. It flowed nicely and was well-tailored, but it was part of her. Luz held out a velvet box to Vee.
“Mom wanted you to wear this. She wore it to her first dance with my dad in college.”
Vee opened it. It was a pearl necklace that felt like real pearls. On Camila it was a necklace, but on Vee’s thicker basilisk neck it was a choker. She adjusted her size until it fit perfectly. Luz clasped it shut under her hair and smiled at Vee.
“It looks better on you than it would on me,” Luz said and Vee blushed.
Vee handed the box back to Luz, who tucked it into a pocket in her slacks.
“Is that a box in your pocket or are you just happy to see me, Noceda?” Amity joked.
“Both,” Luz said and they all laughed as they walked to Hexside making small talk. Amity was really curious about softball and baseball and tried to understand why making the boys’ team for baseball was a big deal.
The teacher at the door stared at Vee and wouldn’t let her in at first because she wasn’t a student. Luz went in and came out with Gus.
“She’s my date,” Gus said, taking Vee’s arm.
The teacher still hesitated.
“I’m not sure if I can let a basilisk in,” they said finally.
Luz went in and found Principal Bump, who had a word with the teacher off to the side. The teacher came back to the door and waved them all in with a pinched, sour look on their face.
“Thanks, Princey B!” Luz shouted back.
He frowned, then smiled and waved at them.
When Amity and Luz came in, the buzz in the room got louder as people noticed them; they were the saviors of the Boiling Isles after all, but then Vee came in with Gus and the room went silent. The buzz started again, with students talking with their hands over their mouths. A student playing a guitar-like instrument on stage paused and stared openly at Vee and only started again when his neighbor nudged him.
Vee felt the eyes on her and noticed that most of the students gave her a wide berth. So did Gus.
“Forget them. Dance with me!” He yanked her onto the dance floor as a fast song started. He deliberately flailed around, dancing more poorly than Vee knew he could. She smiled and flailed with him. He laughed then as the music slowed, he pulled her into an embrace and danced slow with her. Vee knew it wasn’t meant as a romantic gesture as neither of them felt that way about the other, but she liked the dance anyway. When it was over, Gus kissed her on the cheek and they went to the side to get some punch and a cookie.
Skara gave Vee a hug and it was like a dam burst and most of the students didn’t avoid her anymore. Skara had visited with Viney a few times to look at Gravesfield and go to Camila’s clinic to see the animals and how they were healed here. She denied they were dating, but they were always together now, so Vee wasn’t sure. On cue, Viney came up and took Skara’s hand and dragged her to the dance floor.
Vee felt a tap on her shoulder. It was the guitar player from the stage. His long lank hair made her think of Ethan back in the Human Realm and she smiled at him.
“Dance?” he asked in a surprisingly rich, mellow voice.
“Sure,” Vee said and took his hand. He walked with a smooth gait and his hand in hers was warm and dry. When they danced, it was like they had known each other all their lives and they synced perfectly. Other couples gave them room on the dance floor and when the song was done, some of them applauded. Another fast song started and they danced again, mirroring each other, taking turns leading. He dipped Vee in a deep dip and she snapped back up. This time the students applauded longer. A slow song started and he led her off the dance floor. She was grateful to not slow dance with a stranger.
“I’m Otto,” he said and held out his hand.
Vee shook it and said, “Vee.”
He nodded.
“I couldn’t believe it when I saw a basilisk here, not in disguise.” He took her hand again and suddenly she felt claws in her hand. Her eyes widened as she understood: he was a basilisk also.
“Want to go outside for some fresh air?” he asked and she nodded.
She caught Luz’s eyes and flicked her head outside. Luz smiled and nodded; she’d watch out for Vee.
Otto and Vee went out the door and around the side of the building hand-in-hand. He kept his claws out and Vee ran her claws over his.
“How?” she asked and he shook his head, indicating the couple making out a few feet away. They walked on twenty or thirty feet more before he let go of her hand.
“I escaped after you did. You’re Number Five, right?” he asked. He shifted his hand back to witch shape.
“I go by Vee now, but yes.” Vee’s eyes widened again.
“Otto! Number Eight!”
“Shh, shh, not so loud,” he whispered.
“You don’t have to hide anymore, do you?” Vee asked.
“You saw how it was when you came in. Everyone was suspicious. They know basilisks are extinct and dangerous and one came here last year and hurt a bunch of people. They’d never trust me.” He sighed.
“I think Principal Bump would,” Vee whispered back.
“He might, or he might not, but the students wouldn’t.”
“Some of them would. You’re a bard, let Skara know; she’s okay.” Vee smiled.
“I know she was Boscha’s friend and she’s kinda cold sometimes.” His eyes were guarded.
“Nah, she’s changed. She’s still popular, though and a lot of the others would follow her lead. Also, Luz, Amity, Gus, Willow and Hunter will be there and they’ll support you.”
“I don’t know them, though and I don’t know if I can trust them.”
“I trust them. Luz is my sister and one thing about Luz is she’ll do what’s right. She’ll be there for you and that means the rest will, too.”
They both turned at a voice from behind them.
“Otto!” it hissed.
It was a girl in a blue princess dress. Vee immediately recognized the yellow trim on it as not real.
“Number Nine?” she asked in a whisper.
The girl rounded on her.
“Yes! Not so fucking loud, all right?” Her face was twisted.
“What did you tell her?”
“I told her that I was here, but that’s it. I didn’t tell her about you, Nona, but now you’re here, that secret’s out.”
Nona closed her eyes and Vee could see her lips moving as she counted to ten.
“I was telling Otto that you guys should come out. Bump and my sister and friends will protect you.”
“We don’t need protection!” Nona snapped.
“Yes, we do,” Otto said.
They argued quietly for a long time, Otto, with Vee’s support, saying they should just be themselves. Nona wanted to stay hidden and protected.
“Vee, you okay?” Luz’s voice called from the corner.
“I’m all right,” Vee said as Luz and Amity walked toward them.
“You’ve been gone a long time and we were worried.”
“You’re Otto and…Nona, right?” Luz asked.
They both nodded.
“I’ve seen you around, but never been introduced. I’m Luz Noceda, the human.” She held out her hand. Nona just looked at it, but Otto shook it. Based on Luz’s eyes, he had changed back to his claws. Amity noticed, too, her eyes tightening, but she didn’t say anything.
“I see,” Luz said as she released the handshake.
“Otto, you fool,” Nona said and walked away.
“So you’re a basilisk,” Luz whispered. Amity gasped a little, but recovered.
“Yeah, and that’s why I’m not out.” He indicated Amity’s reaction.
“I told him that he should be himself, but he’s worried how the other students would react. You saw how the teacher at the door was.” Vee sighed and took Otto’s hand again.
“Are you just here hiding out?” Amity asked.
Otto shook his head.
“I like the Bard Track; I’m good at it. I’m good at music. I want to study here. I hear The Owl Lady's going to start a witch University and Raine Whispers is going to teach there. I want to learn from them. I want to just play music and not have to hide anymore.”
“And Nona?” Luz asked.
“She’s more comfortable hiding.” Otto sighed.
“If you come out will that be outing her?” Luz asked.
Otto shrugged.
“We’re not ‘friends’ in school, so I don’t think so.”
“Then, if you want to be out, be out.”
Vee held out her hand, shifted to human and he took it. She hugged Otto tightly and kissed his cheek.
“I can go in with you as a human or a basilisk: your choice.”
He hugged her even more tightly then shifted in her arms. She shifted back to basilisk and they both laughed. He was bigger than she was. He’d kept his tuxedo on as best he could, but it hung strangely.
“I’ll teach you how to shift in clothes,” Vee laughed. They went back to the door together, Luz and Amity behind them.
When they reached the door, Bump was on duty. His eyes flicked over Vee and Otto and he nodded.
“Good to see you in your normal form, Otto.” He waved them in.
“You knew?” Otto whispered.
Bump nodded and touched the Palisman covering his eye.
“After last year I worked with Frewin on seeing through shape-shifting and illusions. I’ve known since you applied here.”
“Thank you, sir,” Otto whispered. Luz jumped up to Principal Bump and hugged him. He returned it awkwardly.
Vee went in with Otto. Not many noticed until Otto went back onto stage and took his guitar up. Skara made a motion on the stage and the music abruptly stopped. She winked at Otto. He picked up his guitar and played.
It was a song of longing and pain. It permeated the room and its plaintive emotions spilled across the dance floor. Students embraced and tears started to flow as they felt it. Vee saw Nona stalk out, past Bump who said something to her that stopped her in her tracks.
Otto kept playing, his eyes screwed shut. When he was done, there was a deep silence then applause led by Vee and Luz. He opened his eyes as tears streamed from them. He struck up a new, faster, livelier song and a moment later Skara joined in on the harp. Someone produced a small pipe and the song morphed into a jig. The rest of the band joined in and the dance floor erupted.
When Vee got home that night, she showed Camila all the photos on her phone. As she was showing her, her phone pinged with all the incoming pics from Luz’s phone.
“Oh, mija, I’m glad you had a good time,” Camila leaned close and hugged Vee around the shoulder. They scrolled through all the photos together. Camila stopped at the picture of Vee with Otto, both in basilisk shape.
