#ramshackle dorm

[sharkiewritesstuff]

Imagine Skully somehow winds up in Ramshackle and Yuu just rolls with it (it's the least of their issues at the moment).

They end up showing him around, only for Skully to suddenly beam and declare that he remembered something.

This was the dorm he was a part of when he went to NRC.

[wyvernslovecake]

[[Ramshackle Dorm]]

Grim: *using magic to roll the dice on a board game before moving one of his pieces* You ain't gonna knock the board over if your dragon falls into the pit this time, yeah?

Shriek: No way! I ain't some little kid with no control! I can- *notices a little boulder-shaped ball rolling out of a volcano in the center of the board and hitting her piece which drops into a tiny pit* EEEEEEHEEEHEHEHE!!!😆 *flaps her wings and upturns the board*

Grim: 😒

Shriek: *giggling sheepishly* Sorry... *ears perking up as she and Grim see the board put itself back together and the dice roll anew*

Azul: How adorable. 😊

Shriek: Azul! 😃

Grim: *rolling his eyes as Shriek flaps over to greet Azul* Oh great, what sorta scam we gettin' into today? 🙄

Azul: Goodness, Grim. You look so distressed, I'd think you just swallowed a fish bone whole. Do lighten up. I'm not here on any official business today. I merely have a favor to ask of the two of you. You see, I was on my way to Ignihyde to help with Ortho's maintenance-

Shriek: What's wrong with Ortho? 😧 Is he sick?? Does he got a virus??

Azul: Not in the slightest, dear! Idia is swapping out some of his body parts to give him a performance upgrade, but it's a very difficult task to do alone. *idly levitating some of the Dragon Pit pieces with magic* Idia sought out my help at a club meeting this morning. I imagine it took a lot of courage on his part just to approach me. But he did it. He came out of his shell for the sake of his precious kin. Ortho, with his mechanical body, and Idia, who goes to such lengths for his dear little brother... Does it not make your spirit soar? My heart melts for such beautiful brotherly love. 😌 Doesn't it make you want to chip in and support them somehow?

Shriek: YEAH!!!

Grim: Not happening. 😑

Shriek:*yanking on Grim's ears* YES, HAPPENING!! 😤 Ortho and Dia needs us!

Grim: *yanking on Shriek's ears in return* Can't that nose of yours sniff out trouble when it's right in front of ya?! 😾 This is clearly some kinda set-up! Besides, it ain't our problem, so why should we go outta our way to make it our problem?

Shriek: *practically shouting right next to Grim's ears, making both him and Azul flinch* CUZ IT'S ORTHO AND DIA!!!!

Grim: THAT AIN'T A REASON! 😾

Shriek: THAT'S THE ONLY REASON!! 👿

Azul: *shaking his head* Gracious, Grim, clearly I've misjudged you... Kidding. I was fully expecting this. Incidentally, what was it you happened to be doing the night before last?

Grim: The night before last? Uhhh, that was when... Oh, CRAP. 🙀 You didn't!

Azul: *waving a picture of Grim fighting Lucius in the teacher's lounge between his fingers* Lovely composition, isn't it? 😏

Grim: *waving his paws* It's not what you think, okay! That ain't me! 😨

Shriek: Damn, you even got a swipe in at his nose! 😗

Grim: Look, it's all Lucius's fault anyway. 😤He swiped my late-night snack roll! How could I possibly let that stand?

Azul: Dear me. From what I hear, Professor Trein's searching for the culprit even as we speak. And here I am, worried sick about Ortho. 😞 Why, I could absentmindedly drop this picture in front of the professor at any moment. If only there was a way we could solve Ortho's conundrum. Then maybe I could find the presence of mind to keep a secret. 😏

Shriek: *turning to Grim with a smug grin of her own* Yeah... if only. 😏

Grim: Y'know what? I'd be happy to help 'ol Ortho out!😅 Let it never be said the Great Grim left a pal out in the lurch!

Azul: Wonderfu- ACK!

Shriek: *lifting both Azul and Grim over her head* TO THE IGNILAAAAAAB!!😆

Grim: MRRAAH!! WARN SOMEONE NEXT TIME YA DO THAT!!

Azul: WE CAN WALK THERE JUST FINE!! 😖

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Ignihyde- Technomancy Workshop]]

Shriek: *tapping at a pressure valve on one of the machines* I haven't been back here since I got tested. 😯

Idia: *gently plucking Shriek off the machine and placing her down on the floor* That was the med bay. This is the wing for all our high tech stuff.

Shriek: So it's Ortho's med bay! 😀

Ortho: *chuckling* I guess you could say that. Idia mostly works on my updates in his room, but we do a lot of the major stuff in here. Thanks for coming out here on my behalf, guys! 😊

Azul: Please, don't mention it. We Night Ravens all have to look out for one another. 😊

Shriek: Birds of a feather operate on each other! 😁

Idia: *giving Azul the side-eye* Yeah, the birds who aren't even remotely out of the nest and probably shouldn't have been brought near power tools. 😑

Azul: Did I not tell you I had the matter well in hand? Now then, time is money, as they say. Let's get to work, shall we? Are you all set on your end, Idia?

Idia: *sighing and pulling up a holoscreen* Yeah, good to go.

Grim: So where do we come in? 🤨

Idia: You two are handling the physical labor. Setting up Ortho's parts, taking 'em out, attaching 'em... You get the idea.

Grim: Y'know, I'm pretty sure you could handle that without us.

Idia: We probably could if Ortho didn't have such a complex structure. I gotta take care of the programming and motion controls all throughout the update.

Azul: Yes, quite a lot for one person to handle alone. Now, Ortho, I'd like you to lie down and stay still. I don't want you trying to help, understood? After all, isn't swapping out parts more or less the same as performing surgery? It would be terrible if anything happened to you.

Shriek: *skittering onto the table* Ya want me to get ya a hose to huff, Ortho?

Grim: We're not in the 1950s.

Shriek: Well his armor's too tough for us to whack him over the head with a hammer.

Idia: Whoever's letting you get your knowledge of medical procedures from Looney Tunes needs to lock the hell back in to babysitting.

Ortho: I'll be okay, you two. Do your best to help, okay?

Shriek: 'Kay!

Grim: That depends on if Azul plans on wipin' that blackmail photo. 😒

Azul: *waiting until Ortho is laying down and completely offline before inputting a code on a holoscreen* Am I registered as an admin?

Idia: *typing on a holoscreen of his own* Yeah. Systems fully offline. The plating on his back should be open.

Shriek: *watching Azul carefully open up Ortho's plating as Grim shudders* Ooooh... 😯

Azul: Alright, you two, have a peak inside.

Shriek: *looking at all the cords and metal components* It's like a Gundam in here, but there's no pilot.

Grim: *drooping his ears at the heart-like mechanical engine pumping coolant in front of him* Is that...?😨

Idia: Not what you're messing with, so don't mess with it.

Azul: You see those glowing blue parts way in the back? That's what we're swapping out today. Your job is to pull them out and put new parts back in the same place.

Shriek: *tossing the new part Azul hands her up and down with an affirmative nod* Got it! 😊

Grim: *tentatively grabbing his own part* This sounds like an awful lotta responsibility... Shouldn't you guys be the one doin' this? You ain't no programmer, Azul, so what's your excuse?

Azul: *typing* I've got to type in a password that gets updated every 15 seconds. The sheer amount of security here is downright tedious.

Idia: I-I mean, Ortho's internals are super valuable. I made the security extra tight 'cause I didn't want anything getting stolen, but... *cough* I ended up making it SO secure that it's impossible for one person to handle alone. I'm gonna need to patch that. Heh. 😌

Grim: You sound way too proud of that fact. 😒

Azul: Ugh, still... If I didn't have nine brains, this would be all but impossible.

Shriek: You got nine brains?? 😃 I knew it!

Idia: Chuunibat, focus!

Azul: When we give the signal, you're going to replace the parts. Understand?

Grim: Yeah, I guess that doesn't sound too bad. Okay, here goes...

Azul: Ah, how could I forget? Silly me. One last note—do NOT, under any circumstances, touch anything but the part you're swapping.

Grim: Why??? 😶

Shriek: Are we gonna get shocked?

Azul: Aha ha, that's just silly! 😄 You're perfectly safe! Isn't that right, Idia?

Idia: Yeah. There's no risk of shock from touching anything there. You'd just trip his immune program and get a blast of high-power technomantic energy to the face.

Shriek: *joyful gasp* 😃

Grim: *throwing his paws up* Nooooooooope! I'm done! GOODBYE!

Azul: Oh no! 😩The shock of such a rude refusal has me reeling so hard, my photo is just moments away from drifting out in front of Professor Trein...

Grim: And yet you literally just told us that we're riskin' a self-inflicted technomantic smackdown here!! 😾 I'm a mighty sorcerer, not a moron!

Azul: If you act now, I might be so overcome with gratitude that I throw in some premium canned tuna. 😏

Grim: *wheeling back around towards the table* But you know what, I think I can be an amateur technomechanic for a day. Let's do this thing.

Shriek: *a bit huffy* If you're gonna sell your soul for tuna, ya can at least give it to me.

Grim: Hey, when ya do delicate work, ya gotta be ready to commit. Now here goes nothin'! MROW! *delicately swipes the part out of its socket*

Shriek: *copying him* SKRAH!

[[Idia and Azul toss new parts to Grim and Shriek who swap them in perfectly in sync. Everyone waits for a moment until Ortho's LED lights flare back up]]

Ortho: New device detected. Now loading.

Idia: Hell yeah! GG for the Floof Squad! 😁 Now it's time for me to REALLY flex. This will boost Ortho's processing speed by 10%. Now he can run more intensive programs with higher minimum performance specs. Fweheehee!

Azul: Admirable work, you two.

Grim: Phew! My fur was standing on end there. Ya good, henchdemon?... Henchdemon?

Shriek: 🔴🖤🔴*smile widening as she eyes some of the machinery inside Ortho*

Grim: Shriek? Shriek, what are you- *sees where she's looking as his ears droop in horror* Noooononononono...!😨

Shriek: 🔴🖤🔴 *smile widening further*

Azul: What are y- dear Neptune, Shriek, don't you dare!

Idia: DON'T TOUCH THA-

Shriek: *giddily smacking both paws on one of Ortho's turbines as a concentrated technomantic beam sends her flying backwards, crashing into the wall with the force of a cannonball*

Grim, Azul, and Idia: SHRIEK!!!!! 😨😱🙀

Shriek: *blinking the soot our of her eyes before bursting into wild laughter as she kicks joyfully from within the bat devil-shaped crater she's lodged in* THAT WAS AWESOOOOOME!! 😆😆

Azul: *putting his arms down from where he was shielding his face* Of all the foolhardy fatalistic Leechesque stunts...!

Grim: That could have been ME if my paw slipped!! 🙀

Idia: *running over as Shriek wriggles out of the crater and somersalts onto the ground* Chuunibat! 😨Sevens, are you okay?? Do you have any burns?

Shriek: *staring up at him from the floor* No.

Idia: Any blindness?

Shriek: No.

Idia: *breaths a sigh of relief* Good... *hair turns orange as he fixes her with his "angry big brother face" while picking her up* Then what were you thinking, you fuzzy little Leeroy Jenkins?! 😠

Shriek: I think I don't think I've seen ifirits make light that deadly! 😃 Did ya see me tank it, Dia?

Idia: Who CARES if you can tank it! We are not in the business of having children tank deadly lasers!!!

Grim: No, ya just build it into 'em.😑 *startled at Ortho sitting up as his backplate closes* MRAH!

Ortho: Reactivation complete. Programs have been successfully updated. Energy 98% charged. Technomantic reactor online. Power stable. Logs show technomantic energy beam has been fired 1 minute 30 seconds ago... *sighs* It was Shriek, wasn't it?

Everybody: *varying levels of exasperated* Yes.

Ortho: *floating over to Shriek* You are incorrigible, young lady.

Shriek: And you're like a Hyper beam and a Pyro Blast combo move with robo hoof feet! 😁

Idia: *hair turning back to blue as he balances Shriek on his hip while guiding Ortho back over to the bed* C'mere, I gotta check you both over.

Grim: *shaking his head* Oi, that kid'll be lucky if she makes it to double-digits... Hey, Azul! I did my part! Now make with the canned goods!

Azul: Certainly. Here, I can take that used part off your paws too.

Grim: Sure, it's all yours. Not like I need this junk when I got my favorite fishy delight! 😺

Azul: I'm nothing if not a man of my word. 😌I'll also erase your little incriminating photo, and you won't harbor any ill will about what transpired today. *manifesting a magical scroll and inkwell* If you find these terms agreeable, I'd like your signature to ensure no issues arise further down the line.

Grim: *dipping his paw into the well without even looking at what he's signing* Yeah yeah yeah, less talking more tuna!

Azul: *pocketing the scroll and placing a can of tuna into the eager Grim's paws* Then we have an agreement. 😌 One can of premium tuna.

Grim: *hoisting his fishy prize aloft* Myahahaha! 😸 Score one for the boys back home!

Ortho: *glancing over from where he's playing with Shriek as Idia's trouble-shooting his systems* Thanks again, you guys. All you wanted was just one can of tuna, Grim? You're a saint! 😊 If you'd sold my swapped-out part, you could've had an all-you-can-eat tuna buffet, but you gave it to Azul Ashengrotto instead.

Grim: *still holding up the tuna* What? 😶

Azul: Please. Who could be foolish enough to sell off a piece of technomantic equipment handcrafted by the renowned genius Idia himself? I'll be holding onto this until the value appreciates even further. Given time, it will.

Grim: *blinking* W h a t?

Shriek: *to Ortho* Hey, how many cans of tuna can ya buy with one of your parts, anyway?

Ortho: Good question! My best guess is enough tuna cans to fill a gymnasium, floor to ceiling.

Grim: *letting the can of tuna drop from his still lifted paws with a barely audible squeak* ⚪🖤⚪

Azul: That's "chump change," as the kids say, compared to the value I'll be getting for it.

Idia: "As the kids say?" What are you 40? 🤨

Azul: What I am is someone who loves the sound of a satisfied customer. 😌

Grim: *screams of feline despair from the ground*

[peony-veins]

I love the ramshackle hc you did ❤️

and it inspired me to ask/request how they react to the over-blots and how grim and yuu survived each one and took them down with out magic

I just know fellow will somehow to get money out of this maybe by blackmailing Crowley with the over-blot and the poor living conditions in ramshackle they all probably would lol

Ramshackle + ob!Aftermath

Masterlist

This might be more angsty because I can

• he’s suffered alongside with you

• he’d never admit it but the guilt gnaws at him so bad for when he lost control to the blot stones. Like when he sees you flinch at riddles anger or get nervous about upsetting any of the overblotters and he wonders if you’re like that with him when he’s not looking

• he tries in small ways to protect you and be less demanding. You’re not only his ticket into nrc but you’re his everything. His best friend , his protector , his henchhuman and he wants to prove to you he’s worthy of being your boss.

• when he finds out the extent of all of them? He is sick. Fucking sick. Like he has to take a moment to ignore the bile rising in his throat.

• he’s so many things all at once honestly. He’s angry, he’s terrified , his devastated , he’s numb. But one thing is in his mind , his absolute perplexed on how the fuck you’re still alive! You helped , without magic , to take down some of the best mages of the future?????? HUH?????????

• if you thought he was iffy about them before he openly loathes them now

• he does hide behind his mask and it does calm down the moment he realises that while he didn’t do anything as bad as Malleus Draconia he is…on par with Idia Shroud who was worst than most.

• he tends to your scars and gives you support if you struggle with things like movement because of Jamil throwing you or just making it through the day because of the residue of Vil’s poison

• he’s…he’s just happy you’re alright. Alright? He wishes he could help

• he does also go to Crowly for a screaming match for every day for the next two weeks. He doesn’t even care he looses his voice he just wants to bash crowlys skull in

• oh!

• when you tell him his eyes practically pop out his head because it takes him a good minute to process what the hell you just told him.

• you are not getting our his sight for the next week too by the way. You’re one of his now like Gidel and he doesn’t fuck around with his lot.

• he imagines how terrified he’d be if he had to face an overblot so he can only wonder how you were actually facing off against them

• he makes sure to check in with you more. He tries to remind you that you aren’t alone. Even if you have Ace and Deuce and all your friends you need people outside that circle. It’s okay to have them as your closest but look what’s happened?

• you need a fucking break in his advice.

• he tried to be as supportive as he can quite honestly but he’s more just so sad for you even if you’re not that broken up about it. Especially if you’ve come to expect overblots at this point. That breaks his heart.

• also while Rollo is giving Crowly the biggest verbal bashing of his LIFE he brings Gidel to get some more money for ramshackle or to just steal confiscated items that they think you’d like

• he’s lived a tumultuous life and so he’s pretty like “aw :/ that’s sad :(“ about it but not too sad?

• but if he sees you flinch or get upset about it? He gets that sinking feeling as he understand better the gravity of it all.

• he can’t help that much, but he tries. He cuddles up to you in hopes to ease your pressures.

• but! He is super giddy at times too because he wants to hear all about you being a cool hero!

• he tries his best to walk that line but you can see his eyes light up as you tell him-

• terrible! Absolutely TERRIBLE!

• he immediately begins agonising over what you’ve been through! It’s just too cruel!

• even if you’re not all that broken up about it he definitely feels this big distress for you-

• he begins to lurk around you and tried to be a constant force to protect you!

• similar to Fellow he tries to get you to just relax and find people outside this bubble. You need to relax! Please!

• he’s especially weary now of the overblotters. You didn’t deserve to go through that

• he’s shocked don’t get him wrong. But he just starts laughing telling you how impressed he is!

• I mean c’mon you’ve gotta have a massive ego now because you helped taken down 7 overblots and a feral dire-beast? That’s gotta count towards something!

• though…he does make sure you know it’s not ALL gotta

• he definitely uses it all to your and his advantage. Like he advices you on how to guilt them and how to scrounge as much as you can out of this!

• but honestly you’ve totally earned his respect and he messed with you more just because he knows you can handle it and you probably need something lighthearted every once in a while

[wyvernslovecake]

[[Night Raven College- Near Main Street]]

Grim: *wearing a paper towel tube painted to look like a giraffe's neck and head like a hat as he's sitting behind a gate with some of Shriek's stuffed animals* What noise are these things even supposed to make?

Shriek: I dunno, I think somethin' like a donkey 'hee-haaw' spat out through a vaccum tube.

Grim: Yeah, I'm not doin' that.

Shriek: Ah, don't get your forktail in a twist, you'll get to bust out soon.

Grim: I mean technically I could bail any time. 🙄

Shriek: No ya can't! *holding up her plush grootslang* Ya can't break out of your cage until Hathi goes mad from years of captivity and busts out in a blind rage!

Grim: And then we can head back to Ramshackle?

Shriek: Uh-uh, then the magic marshals try to put him down with darts but they mixed up the doses so he gets all roided out and goes-

[[Elephant trumpeting nearby]]

Shriek: Yeah, like that! Wait...

Grim: The hell was... *ears drooping as he gasps at what's coming barreling down the street and immediately bolts* MRAAAAAAAAAH!!! 🙀

Shriek: *taking flight and picking up Grim, breaking out into a wide smile* ELEPHANTS!! REAL ONES!! 🤩🤩🤩

Kalim: *grinning from where he's seated on the back of an elephant* Hey, guys! 👋😁 Oh, nice giraffe hat, Grim! What's up?

Grim: Oh nothin' much, just the minor development of I ALMOST GOT TURNED INTO A SMEAR OF PEANUT BUTTER!! 😾

Shriek: *dropping Grim into Kalim's arms as she flies in and out of the line of elephants and perches on the tusk of the ones Kalim's riding* Are these guys your pets, Kalim? 😃

Kalim: Only some of them. We're renting out the rest and some other animals just for today.

Shriek: *squeaking with joy as she takes off to go check the rest of the menagerie* LIONS AND TIGERS AND BEARS, HELL YEAH!!!! 🤩

Grim: Lemme guess, you're addin' a zoo to Scarabia?

Kalim: No, no. My dorm is holding a banquet for the headmage today! 😊

Grim: BA-BA-BA BANQUET?!🙀

Kalim: Yup! We're putting together an extravagant venue, great entertainment, and a magnificent parade for him.

Grim: You brought all these animals just for that?! Man, rich people live in a whole different world.

Shriek: *roaring as she bats her paws at the lions and tigers who also take a swing at her*Ooof! Ahh! Shriek the Night Shredder is taking a terrible beating! Her eyeball's hangin' out of her socket! It's total carnage! 😆

Kalim: Don't get them too riled up, Shrieky! I just got the elephants and tigers to start getting along. One misplaced swipe and they might be back to butting heads.

Grim: Mrow. Guess ya picked up some new animal lingo in Sunset Savanna.

Kalim: Nah, I've always been pretty good with animals. Loved them ever since I was little. *holding out his hand for a red parrot to perch on his wirst* Though I admit, they're amazingly well-behaved today. Is it because you're all excited for the banquet too?

Parrot: *about to squawk in reply when Grim shoves it aside to get up in Kalim's face*

Grim: Hey, this banquet thing ain't a private shindig, yeah? I mean, if you're makin' that much grub, ain't no way the headmage can eat it all himself!

Shriek: *shoving Grim aside in turn* What kinda grub we talkin'?! 😃

Kalim: In the Land of Scalding Sands, banquet fare is usually bursting with spices and stewed stuff.

Shriek: Like curry? 😋 Jamil's curry's the best!

Grim: Oh yeah, I gotta get me some of that! 😋

Kalim: *nervously chuckles* Sorry, but we Asims have a rule against making curry for banquets.

Shriek: Aww, how come?

Kalim: Well, a while back one of us had a pretty bad experience with it.

Grim: What, someone get sick eatin' too much? Still think it's weird that's a thing...

Kalim: Not exactly, but close enough. Let's just say it involved being bedridden for weeks on end. I haven't touched curry since.

Shriek: *noticing Kalim nervously fiddling with his bracelet and giving him her plush grootslang to hold, leading him to gratefully ruffle her hair*

Grim: Huh. You're more delicate than I thought.

Kalim: Oh, it wasn't me who was bedridden. It was Jamil.

Grim and Shriek: Jamil??

Kalim: Mhm. One day, when we had curry as usual, he tried some before me and immediately went pale. *holding up his hands* Don't get the wrong idea, though. It wasn't because the food was bad. My family's cuisine is always made with the freshest of ingredients. Everyone else was fine after eating it. Only Jamil got sick after tasting some from my plate.

Grim and Shriek: *sharing a look before their eyes dart back to Kalim*

Shriek: Dude, you were poisoned.

Kalim: W-well we never found out for sure 😥... But that was the first time I ever saw him so sick. I don't think I'll ever forget it. Jamil himself wasn't really bothered by it, though, and he still loves curry to this day! I'm the one who's against having it.

Shriek: Because it was poison.

Grim: Blegh... He must have an iron stomach. A gourmet like me would never be able to handle that.

Shriek: If you drank oil yesterday you can drink drink poison today!

Grim: I keep tellin' ya I thought it was lukewarm cola! 😠

Kalim: Well, we aren't offering curry or poison, but we have plenty of other great traditional cuisine. You two still want to join in?

Grim: Like you even have to ask? 😸

Shriek: You can put a little snake venom in mine if ya want. It's tasty! 😋

[wyvernslovecake]

Malleus: I have a special place in my heart for abandoned buildings like Ramshackle dorm. The ivy running over the cracked walls, the drafts sneaking in through the broken window. Forgotten places have a kind of desolate, silent ambiance I find soothing.

[[Hard cut to Shriek chanting in Pandemonian as she dances around a bonfire with the ghosts swirling around in the air and various barn animals shuffling about on their hind legs as Grim keeps repeatedly failing to arrange some twigs into a Blair Witch-esque pattern before giving up and making it in the shape of a fish]]

Malleus: But this is nice too. 🙂

Shriek: Maaaal! Come be our effigy!

[wyvernslovecake]

[[Ramshackle Dorm- Living Room]]

Shriek: *grumbles as she turns the TV off and on* It still ain't workin'! 👿

Grim: *wriggling a Bubble Bobble cartridge around in the gaming system* Mrah! I've already moved it in every direction I know! 😾

Shriek: Hm... it needs a demon's touch. *lifts Mangal above her head like a mallet* HRAAAAAAAGH-

Idia: *bolting over to Shriek and yanking Mangal out of her hand* NONONONONONO- WE'RE NOT DOING THE NEANDERTHAL ROUTE!! *yelps at the flare-up of plasma from Mangal and shakes it out before picking up the cartridge* Guess now's as good a time as any to teach you floofles how to clean one of these bad boys.

Grim: Clean it? 🤨 Looks fine to me.

Shriek: Yeah, I didn't spill nothin' on it this time.

Idia: And I am oh so grateful that you didn't equip this one with ketchup stains. But nah, they get super dusty just from sittin' around. See?

Grim: That's what put it on the fritz? Here, I'll just blow it out.

Idia: Ah! Ah! Ah! Rookie mistake! Once the moisture from your breath and the saliva droplets get into the pins, it'll do crit after crit to the circuits and you'll be speedrunning rust buildup. What we really need is-

Shriek: A HURRICANE!! 😆😆 *flaps her wings and sends Idia tumbling backwards into a pile of toys and bones*

Idia: An air gun! 😵‍💫

Shriek: Ohh, a gun! 😃 Why didn't ya say so?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shriek: *watching along with Grim as Idia blows some pressurized air into the cartridge* There's gotta be way more excitin' things you can do with a gun than that. 😒

Grim: Like shoot fish in a barrel! Which I should totally get to do!

Idia: Anybody who gives either of you two access to firearms is an official enemy of humanity. *grabbing a q tip* Alright, now that should do it but we'll just give it a little sweep with isopropyl just to be safe.

Shriek: You froze and melted the pope? Without me?!

Idia: It's rubbing alcohol, Chuunibat. 🫤

Shriek: Ohh...

Idia: Welp, moment of truth. *inserts the cartridge into the system and gives a smug smile as soon the title screen appears on the TV*Boom! EZ.

Grim: Well dang, guess ya do know your stuff.

Shriek: *gives a happy screech and tackle-hugs Idia* It worked! It worked! 😃

Idia: Oof! Well yeah no duh. What kinda gamer would I be if I didn't know all the maintenance tips for classic carts? *tapping Shriek's heart-shaped nose* You remember all that, okay?

Shriek: Okay! 😊

Ortho: *floating in* Idia! My classes are done for today. Did you still want to check the manga racks at the Mystery Shop for new titles?

Idia: Yeah, gimme a minute!

Shriek: Ortho! Ortho! Dia taught me to use guns and alcohol to solve problems! 😁

Everyone:

Idia: *so frozen in mortification that he can't even look at Ortho who's slowly turning his head in Idia's direction*

Grim: Game over, pal.

[a-letter-from-yuumi]

🌸 a day in my life at nrc! ♡

“come spend the day with me at night raven college!”

⸻

“Good morning, everyone! ♡”

“I thought it’d be fun if you all spent the day with me!”

“…Hopefully today will be nice and peaceful.”

A loud explosion echoes somewhere across campus.

Yuumi blinks.

“…That happens sometimes.”

⸻

“Isn’t the weather pretty today?”

A student is suddenly launched across the courtyard.

Yuumi watches them fly by.

“…I hope they’ll be okay…”

She continues walking as if nothing happened.

⸻

“I always try to have something warm for breakfast…”

Grim reaches over and steals half her toast.

“…”

Yuumi slowly turns toward him.

“Grim…”

“…That was mine.”

⸻

“I actually really like today’s lesson!”

A spell backfires.

A desk bursts into flames.

Yuumi quietly takes one step backwards.

“…Maybe we should all take five…”

⸻

“I wanted to show everyone my favorite flowers around campus!”

She crouches beside a flower bed with a smile.

Before she can finish…

Two students sprint straight through it while yelling at each other.

Yuumi stares at the destroyed flowers.

“…”

“…I’ll…find another patch.”

⸻

“I packed strawberry sandwiches today!”

Floyd walks past.

…

…

“My sandwich is gone.”

⸻

“I thought we could do a little stargazing tonight…”

Crowley appears out of nowhere to announce another mandatory school event.

Yuumi sighs.

“…Maybe tomorrow.”

⸻

“Now that I’m back at Ramshackle, I can finally relax…”

CRASH!!

Something heavy falls upstairs.

Yuumi’s head whips toward the ceiling so fast her neck lets out a loud pop.

“…GRIM!!”

Without another word, she drops everything and sprints upstairs.

⸻

A few minutes later…

Yuumi returns with soot on her face.

“…Everything’s fine.”

A beat passes.

“…Mostly.”

⸻

“Despite everything…”

“I really do love it here.”

“My friends make every day interesting…”

“…Even if I almost get caught in the crossfire sometimes.”

“Thank you for spending the day with me!”

“See you next time! Bye-bye! ♡”

She smiles and waves.

Another explosion is heard somewhere in the distance.

“…”

“…I should probably go check on that.”

🏃‍♀️💨

[wyvernslovecake]

In a field near the main Bead Brawl arena, several beastkids are waiting for the junior rounds to start. Some tussle and talk, but most are painting themselves with colored pigments from little bowls left out for them. The most of which have been taken by Grim and Shriek

Leopard Beastkid: Those two even supposed to be here?🤨

Impala Beastkid: No way. They're babies.

Hyena Beastkid: Two minutes in and the stubby one with the wings is gonna go crying for her mom😏

Grim: *glaring from where he's helping Shriek paint her arms* HEY, MY HENCHDEMON'S GONNA KNOCK YOUR BLOCKS OFF-

Shriek: *places a hand on Grim's shoulder before unfurling her wings to show paintings of giant bat devils descending upon fleeing, screaming animals and giving the other kids a Kubrick stare*

Leopard, Impala, and Hyena Beastkids: 😧😧😧

Grim: You brats got life insurance, yeah?

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Charles: *noticing drums beating and chanting* Hey, here come the kids!

Lilia: By the stars, they're so adorable in their little lion garbs! ☺️

Mahina: *trying not to grimace as she sees just how many young girls are among the contestants and how proud their parents and the other spectators look* Not what I'd call it...

Lilia: Oh, this takes me back! *waving to Shriek who takes a break from looking fierce to wave and flap her wings at him* You're going to do splendid, sweetling! 😁

Kalim: Do your best, Shrieky! 😊

Vil: Just because it's acceptable for athletes to get dirty, don't get distracted rolling in the dust! Keep your focus.

Grim: Knock 'em dead, henchdemon! 😸

Charles: Not literally! Anything but literally!

The beastkids stand at attention in the main arena in front of the royal stands, Shriek grinning up at Leona while Sanaa looks up at him with quiet awe and a bit of nervousness

Cheka: Look, Unca, look! It's Shriek and Sanaa! Hi, guys! 👋😃 You look so cool! Kick some butt!

Kifaji: Prince Cheka! Do not conduct yourself with such insolence. 😠*clearing his throat at Leona, making the latter sigh as he steps forward*

Leona: *bored* It is my greatest pride and pleasure to begin this year's Bead Brawl tournament by shining a golden light on these young cubs, our savannah's most precious... *sneering at one of the kids picking their nose*treasures. One day the sun will set on our time and rise with yours as future Sunset Warriors, yadda yadda yadda, we all know the drill by now 🙄

Kifaji: *sighing as the crowd is already beginning to murmur in displeasure*

Leona: So who's up first?

Sanaa: *raising her paw M-

Shriek: *raising her paws* ME! Memememe! Me! MEEEE!!!

Leona: Alright, you. The fuzzy one with the fruit bat face right there, yeah. Choose your opponent.

Shriek: *points to the leopard beastkid from earlier while mouthing "Watch" to Sanaa*

Leona: Alright, let's get this over with.

Kifaji: Prince Leona, I would have thought you of all people would not make the mistake of writing off the efforts of precocious young cubs. These youths...

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Shriek: *pouncing on the screaming leopard beastkid and puts him in a headlock before ripping off his beads* HYAH!

Shriek: *dodging a swing from the impala beastkid and grabbing her wrists to spin him around so fast he's drilled into the ground, taking his beads as well* GRAH!

Shriek: *using her wings to judo-flip the hyena beastkid before elbowing her in the stomach, tying her own beads around the little hyena's ankle, and swinging her out of the ring* RROUGH!!

Hyena Beastkid: Mommmmyyy!! 😭😭😭

Shriek: SKRAAAHAHAHAHA!! 😈

The carnage continues as the junior contestants are punched, grappled, bitten, kicked, and even tossed into submission as the crowd half-cheers and half-groans

Kifaji: ... don't stand an iota of a chance. 😥

Cheka: Shriek's super strong! 😃

Leona: *smirking as he watches another young contestant get thrown like a sack of potatoes* See? I can appreciate a brat who puts in some effort. 😏

Kifaji: I wasn't aware you had a meeting scheduled with the kettle. 😒

A 12 year old baboon beastkid takes one look at Shriek's deranged fanged smile* and bolts screaming for the edge of the ring, only to get dragged back into the fray

Shriek: Where you goin', cupcake?? 😈 The action's back here!

Baboon Beastkid: *gets swung around by the tail like a helicopter* AAAAHHHHHHHH!! 😭😭

Shriek: *smirks as she grabs the beads and waves at the baboon kid she chucked into a pile of his defeated friends, near which Sanaa and her team are watching*

Ruka: *hiding under the stands* We're doomed! Doomed, I tell ya! 😖

Guvu: Quit hidin' behind your ears, Ruka! 😤 We gotta get ready!

Ruka: For what? Our funerals?? 😭

Imara: There's no way we stand a chance out there.

Sanaa: Yes, we do! We know all Shriek's moves now, remember?

Imara: But she got training from Prince Leona!

Sanaa: *looking at the royal stands* And so will we. *turns to Shriek who finishes pummeling a lion cub beastmen and grins as she locks eyes with Sanaa, raising a claw to point at her*

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Charles Hopps and Mahina Manu belong to @inzendino