ADORABLE! And yes I do write platonic
New Point System!
Twisted wonderland x reader
CHARACTERS: First Years implied that reader does not like heavy workouts summary: the chaotic first years in another silly competition
It all started because of tuna, Grim kept pestering you for tuna for 3 days straight, even going as far as to sneak it in the grocery basket when shopping with you at Sam's store, safe to say that you had enough of it. Grabbing a pack of sticker sheets from one of the shelves, you made a deal, a silly one, enough to keep him busy, quiet, and behaved. Even if it was just for a little while.
"Grim if you earn 100 stickers by the end of the week, I'll buy it"
You explained the rules to him, all he had to do was be on his best behavior, no running in the halls, slacking off homework, and to not get in trouble with any teachers. Grim gulped complaining how you should take it down a notch but immediately shut it down once you 'joked' about retracting the offer.
"Mraah! ok ok hench-human! I'll do it!"
Day-1-Recess
Ace and Deuce were the first to notice Grim's odd behavior. Suddenly he was quiet, obedient, even helping you write down notes during lectures? WHOSE CAT IS THAT?! What they found even more jarring was that Grim was carrying a notebook filled with stickers, as soon as the bell rung and signalled their recess, they went straight to you for questioning.
"Hey Prefect, is Grim ok?" Deuce whispered in concern as Grim flipped through pages overruled by stickers, "C'mon, he probably ate something weird from the ground again" Ace snickered, nudging your arm with his elbow, before you could explain Grim had started hugging his little notebook, letting out squeals about tuna and daydreaming about what could be in the next few days.
"Uhm yeah about that... I promised him that I'd buy him tuna if he managed to behave himself" you sighed into your palms, already calculating your weekly expenses trying to find room in your budget for Grim's promised prize.
"Ah, that makes more sense..."
"Yeah, but what's the little notebook for?" they both looked at Grim in utter confusion while the direbeast kept recounting his stickers. "Every time he behaves well I give him a sticker, depending on what he does the number of stickers I give him varies, and if he can manage to collect 100 stickers by the end of the week, he gets his precious tuna" You explained, not one stutter in your tone.
Deuce then began to see what an effective method it was, a motivator that rewards and keeps one's mind focused on specific goals, realizing it could also be well suited for him if he puts it into practice, another step to becoming a well respected honor student,
"Not bad, it's a great focus method, maybe he might even do better in our upcoming quizzes if it affects him well!" He huffed in admiration "Pfft, like you in our last history exam?" Ace snorted, then began their petty squabbling, not that you weren't used to it or anything.
You suddenly felt a tug on the sleeve of your uniform, and there Grim was holding his somewhat legible handwriting, holding it proud with his chin up as he stood proudly on your desk like it was a medal expecting another point from you. The mere sight of it made you chuckle but you gave him 2 stickers nonetheless that he immediately stuck onto his little collection."So he gets 2 for badly written notes?"Ace's skepticism on your judgement cuts through the adorable scene,
"Hey! You can still read it, plus Grim's getting better on his stucture of note taking"
"Yeah you tell him hench-human! But it's ok cause I bet they can't even get more stickers than me even if they tried, nyehehehe!"
"What?!" Deuce took a step back, "You seriously think you can beat us at that?" Ace leaned his body towards Grim, a scowl that contrasted the cat's smug features. "By a landslide! You guys cause more trouble than I do!" he retorted, still standing on his 2 hindlegs.
"That's not true! You're worse compared to us!" Deuce slammed his hands on the poor desk, "Yeah! what loosey Deucey said!" Before Deuce could get upset at Ace again Grim spoke the sentence that got them roped into this discipline method only meant for the troublesome child of yours. "If that's true then where's your stickers? Oh right you don't have any, nyeheheheheh!" Good grief...
Ace paused for a moment, "Fine! but if we win we get what we want by the end of the week too, prefect buys me all the snacks I want from Sam's~" he said the last part in his signature sing song tone as he placed his hands on your shoulders,
"Wait what? Don't join-"
"There's this fancy iced latte in Sam's shop I've been eyeing on" Deuce placed his curled finger on his chin with a pleasant close eyed smile,
"Deuce don't-"
"Then it's settled! If I win I get snacks, Deuce gets latte, and tuna for Grim, sorry guys but you might as well give up now since I'm really nice"
"Yeah right, like I'm doing that"
"Goodluck on beating the great Grim!"
*RIIINNG*
The 3 immediately scurried back to their seats, waiting for the next professor to enter the room. Great now they're involved too, the competitiveness will definitely get in the way, but on the other hand they'll be on their best behavior. So maybe it wasn't all bad?
Day-1-Lunch
"What's their deal?"Jack asked as he slowly ate his meal,"Did ya'll get in trouble again?" Epel snickered, a wicked smirk plastered on his soft features, "I must say that I'm rather pleased of the silence that replaced the meaningless arguments you three usually exchange" Sebek held a triumphant smile, "It's quite interesting to see their behavioral patterns change" Ortho chuckled at the new information, as they all stared at the 3 main troublemakers wondering what events had led up to this. After your explanation it all started to make sense for them.
"So it's some kind of challenge?"
"It sounds kinda fun, and you get the winner anythin' they want?"
"What an interesting point system"
"Hmph! You humans make such silly games, time that should be spent on more important things, like training to protect the GREAT MALLEUS DRACONIA!"
"Then don't join genius, no one even asked you, also tone it done will ya?"
"Ace said something mean, does that mean I can steal one of his stickers?"
"Go ahead Grim, Ace you know the rules"
"Man I should've pointed that out faster..."
Grim peeled one from Ace's collection to put it on his own, Ace definitely grumbled an incoherent damn it as Grim peeled off a foam heart sticker.
"Nyeheheheh! 1 more point closer to my tuna!"
"Serves you right!"
"I get it now, they've been quiet so they'd stop insulting each other and lose their points"
"Ya guys prally argued a ton before gettin ere then"
"Oh! Deuce's heart rate spiked, you're right!"
"You have no idea, Professor Trein found them arguing and nearly gave them detention..." cold shivers ran down your spine as you recalled the chilling memory.
"Can I join? I'd like observe this experiment, maybe some of their new behaviors will permanently add themselves to their existing behavioral pattern"
Ortho looked at you with an excited sparkle in his artificial lenses that you couldn't say no to. "Well, alright..." giving into his request.
"Me too!"
"Why would you put yourself through this unnecessary challenge?"
"Because Vil said he'd sit me down next week and teach me a proper step by step face preparation"
"So like moral support?"
"Yeah, also ya take down simple notes which'll be helpful"
"Ok, anyone else?" you pretty much already accepted your fate when the first two got involved so the more the merrier now,
"I guess since everyone's joining..."
"You too?!"
"Oho!~ So what do you want?"
"Prefect, Train with me, training with company makes it so much easier" he gave a smug expression watching your face contort into a mix of disbelief and betrayal "I had the most faith in you... If all of you lose to Jack I will be VERY dissapointed"
"WAIT THAT'S NOT FAIR! He's already such a goody 2 shoes he'll win right away!" Grim complained, pointing a paw at jack angrily!
"Well, then you guy's will have to try twice as hard then" you shruged your shoulders, Jack's tail was definitely smacking your leg in a rapid pace afterwards, not wanting to bring it up to save him the embarrassment.
"Well, I hope you enjoy this waste of time, I have much to do!"
"Really? You don't want help finding that book you've been trying-"
"I have decided with great judgement to participate and indulge in this challenge!"
Throughout the competition they've all been consistent in keeping their good behavior, although easier for some, others would occasionally mess up. This challenge had maintained on and off campus 24/7, and because of this they'd start messaging and calling you to report the other player's misdeeds to benefit themselves another point in their collection.
Day-7-After Class
They had been waiting for this day, gathering up to your desk they surrounded you like loansharks collecting their debt. You counted off their stickers and didn't show them to make suspense and victory all the more sweeter.
"And the winner is, Ortho!"
"WHAT?!"
"So it wasn't Jack or Sebek..."
"But... I didn't even see him much at all this week"
"I DEMAND A RECOUNT HUMAN!"
"Come to think of it, how did he win?"
What they didn't know was that Ortho would visit the Ramshackle dorm after every schoolday for the entire week. Trouble reaching something from the top shelf? He'd fly up to get it for you. Wondering where Grim is in the dorm? He'd find the direbeast in an instant with those built in scanners of his. Trouble understanding a specific topic in magic history? He'll find articles and online references for you to learn from that's easier to understand than your physical study materials.
He had made sure that no one other than his brother knew where he was, even going as far as making sure that no one suspected him of any tricks. As far as the other players knew Jack and Sebek were the ones battling for first place. Grim had understood Ortho's plan and made an alliance, he'd keep his mouth shut in return he wanted tuna the entire week. You had explained what happened to the rest of the boys, and in all honesty you also told them you had no idea of this alliance whatsoever, only finding out a day before the last day.
"I can't believe you cheeky bastard still got what you wanted. You didn't even win!"
"Yeah that's not fair!"
" They're right, I never said alliances weren't allowed but I should have banned it, plus, every time Ortho helped me you guys were too busy sabotaging each other and stealing points that you didn't see him at all"
"Sneaky, reminds me of Leona and Ruggie-senpai..."
"Well congrats, but I still feel kinda cheated"
"I SUPPOSE CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER!"
"Thank you! I've learned so much from this! I had so much fun!"
"Mrah! Wait! you didn't say what you wanted?"
"Oh right, could I have those puffy cat stickers?"
"Oh, these?" You pulled out a fresh sheet of cute cat stickers from your bag and handed them out to him.
"Cat stickers...?"
"What an odd request?"
"Any reason behind it?"
"It's for my onii-san, I want to show him this new point system!"
"Oh right, he's a cat fanatic ain't he?"
"Right, I saw him trying to pet Grim once..."
"Congrats again, I hope Idia can enjoy these with you"
"I hope so too!"
"Just know I won't lose next time! Especially since alliances are no longer allowed!"
"Yeah right, no way I'm losing to you, I'm having a week long sleepover at Ramshackle"
"I'm sorry what?!"
"Me too!"
"Stop jumping on my idea juice!"
"It's Deuce!"
"Get ready to lose a second time! Neyehhehehehehe!"
"I want a real win!"
"I'll win fairly, no need for loopholes"
Yeah you most definitely need to shut this game down and find another method to motivate your roomate lest you want to find yourself in between a group of boys fighting over hello kitty stickers.
