Hello! My name is Iruma Sullivan and I am the youngest of my family! Or...at least I used to be. I was taken from my family by my teachers, Kalego Naberius and Shichiro Balam after it was found out that I didn't have wings. So now I live with them in the teachers dormatory.
I...I don't know when or if I'll be able to go home but...but I really miss Opera-san, grandpa and the kitties...
Oh! Uh, sorry! An-Anyways, my friends in the Misfit Class told me about this site and I wanted to give it a try! Anything to help me ignore my new caretakers...
MOD: Hi there! My name is Chi-chan and this is my portrayal of Iruma Sullivan from my main AU for Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun!, which I am writing a story for over on Ao3!
Below you will find out some info on my AU!
The AU!
In this AU Iruma is actually a demon that had a spell put on him when he was a baby by his blood grandfather as he is the result of a mixed species coupling of a Canine demon and a Gargoyle.
The spell that is affecting him stopped any and all demonic traits from forming as he grew older so he never gained horns, fangs or claws. But he did have wings.
But unfortunately the people who he was given to by his blood grandfather got them removed to sell to a satanist cult.
Along with this, as he was growing up, he was severely tortured by his "parents" due to them believing he deserved it for being a hellspawn.
So you can guess how gruesome his back and body look due to all the scars that were left behind.
He thought that he'd be able to hide the scars while living with his grandfather (adoptive) but unfortunately things just don't tend to go his way.
Unfortunately this and his grandfather hiding his true origins has gotten him removed from the Sullivan household and placed in the care of Kalego and Shichiro.
Lore
This is Iruma's bedroom in the teachers dorm!
The teachers made sure that Iruma would have everything he'd need close by and that it'd be his own little space away from Kalego & Balam.
It even has his very own nest! But for some reason he keeps trying to fill it with sticks and soft plants....wonder what that's about. 🤔
[Iruma looked around the room he was order to stay in cautiously before sitting down on the ground. For some reason he was brought along to a meeting between Kalego and his father but was left in a random room with a firm order to stay there.]
[But there was a problem...he was bored.]
[So what does he do? He silently opens his chest bag and pulls out the new toy he'd gotten the day before from Professor Dali. He didn't know why but he loved the sound it made when he squished it.]
Squeeeeeak!
[Grinning he kept squeezing it, not knowing that anyone was near his "hiding" spot.]
(Mod: I'm sorry but this entered my head and refused to leave. 😅)
"Can you stop that." [Narnia asked, emerging from where he was resting (read: napping on the job) between two file cabinets. His long hair was tied back with a rubber band (as he couldn't find something else), spilling over his shoulder. Don't ask how or why, just know he's just become a father in...three days time?]
"Wasn't Kimaris in charge of yo-" [he made eye-contact with Iruma
[Iruma looked up at the sudden voice and blinked owlishly with his hand hovering over his squeaky lizard.]
[His rounded ears seemed to twitch a bit in an effort to perk up but it seemed something was stopping them.]
O-Oh! Um...h-hello Mr. Narnia! [He chuckles nervously, picking up his toy.] I-I'm sorry! I-I didn't...notice...um...
[His eyes drifted away as he tried to figure out what to do. Kalego had told him to never be alone with anyone from his family for safety reasons but now he's alone with his teachers brother!]
[He already knew he was nice! He protected him for goodness sakes! But still...after finding out what he does for a living scared him to NO wits end considering the state of his back.]
[Iruma nodded from his spot on the floor, clutching his toy.] Professor Balam had to go help his parents with something, grandpa and opera had to go see Mrs. Levi and...he didn't trust any of the other teachers not to fill me with sugar. [He chuckles, gently scratching his cheek.]
He said he had no other choice but to bring me along while he spoke to Mr. Knightwalker about something. But...he seemed really scared to bring me here. [Iruma frowned, his feet wiggling side to side on thought.]
[Narnia tilted his head to the right and placed a finger under his own chin as he thought. Kalego talked to father? What could he want with him? Anyways.]
[There's that wierd smell again. It smells demon, familiar, but wrong. Like a pup being born from a canine parent and an avian one. It grated on his senses. It was so wrong.]
"Come. We should get you to a proper waiting spot." [Narnia walked to the door.]
"Hish also brought his...fledgling today. You two can entertain each other."
[Iruma slowly stood and went to follow but then he remembered what Kalego had said.] I... I'm supposed to wait here. [He tries to say confidently but one look and he crumbled like a sand castle.]
[He quickly ran up to Narnia and went to instinctively take his hand but once he caught on to himself he stopped and held his squeaky lizard with both hands again.]
[He so badly wanted to pull out his baby blanket from his bag but stopped himself as the last time his teacher had seen it, he truly thought that he was going to faint or cry.]
[He didn't want to see that kind of look again...especially not on Narnia.]
[They walked in silence until they reached a waiting room. A proper one this time. It had a reception right to the right when you entered the door, a few chairs on the left, and a row of offices spanning down a hallway further in.]
"Here." [Narnia pointed to a chair.] "I'll get someone to inform my brother of your current location, as well as the fault with your last one. (That it was a filing cabinet room they'd use for filing-punishments)" [He opened his hellphone and dialed a number. Sitting down himself while maintaining proper posture.]
[Iruma quickly sat down and noticed he was a little short for his seat since his feet weren't on the ground. He smiled and kicked his feet slowly, just happily sitting there.]
[He looked around curiously and even sniffed the air a few times to see if anyone was close by. He did catch a faint hint of someone familiar but he couldn't quite-]
[Feeling a chill go up his spine he whimpered softly, as if he was a frightened pup and looked around again. But this time he was looking for the danger he sensed. He hopped off his seat and moved to one much closer to Narnia.]
[A second or two later Officer Amy walked past the them and to an office with a stack of paper work, glaring at Iruma the entire way.]
[Narnia placed his hand, fingers pointed downwards diagonally to the ground besides Iruma, in front of the boy. He put the phone to his ear, shooting Ami a glare and making him walk away faster.]
[Finally, Hish picked up]
"Hello, Hish. Yes. All is well. My brother's student is with me in the east reception. Inform my brother of that. Ah. You're with the fledgeling. ...
You can leave it with me. Them. My apologies. I can watch them until you return. I'm serious. My schedule is free until," [he checked his watch,] "fourty minutes from now.
...No this is not because of Kalego. Stop that.
...Yes. He's at room 8212. Talking with fa-a prisoner.
Thank you. Yes. I'll see you soon."
[Narnia put the phone away.]
"Hish will arrive soon with his fledgeling before informing Kalego." [He explained, removing his hand from where it had guarded Iruma.]
[Iruma nods slightly, watching the door that his Senpai's brother went through with a slight shake in his shoulders.]
[Something in his brain was telling him to hide until papa Kalego returns or at least until Ami leaves the area fully. He could still smell him and it was making his danger sense to go crazy. Maybe he could...?]
[Slinking down to the floor he manages to fit himself under his chair and lays there on his belly. Ah! There! Now he felt safe.]
[If it were possible, flowers would've floated around his head from how proud he felt of his hiding spot.]
"What the-" [Narnia cut himself off, eyeing the way the kid hid himself. He rarely interacted with his clan's kids -often being far too busy to ever do so- save for Kalego, but Narnia recognized the way Iruma laid himself on his stomach. Hiding.]
[Hiding like a hellhound pup would do.]
[Like a Naberius child.]
[It made him so confused.]
[The door opened again and Fenrir Hish walked in carrying his fledeling. The small demon peeked over their father's shoulder with wide eyes before burrowing back into his shouder.]
"Hish." [Narnia greeted, getting up.] "Thank you for agreeing to this on such a short notice."
[Fenrir looks down at Iruma, then to Narnia. There seem to be some silent conversation going on between them before finally, Hish turns to the fledgeling.]
"I'll just be gone for a minute, okay? Narnia-san will watch over you for me, so a be a good kid, okay?" [The kid only clings tighter.] "I wanna be with papa!" {They whine into his shoulder.] "I wanna see how you work!"
"Your father's work right now is for older demons. And he needs both hands free." [Narnia says to the kid, trying to placate their fussiness]
[Some converstaion later, and the fledgeling's left with Narnia and Iruma, the former of who now has Fenrir's signarture coat in his hands.]
"Sit down on a chair, and I'll let you hold your father's coat." [Narnia says, taking a seat again.]
[Iruma gently guides the little one to a chair and helps them sit down since it seemed to be too tall to do so easily.]
[He takes a seat next to the child and slowly kicks his legs again, squeezing his lizard a bit but not enough to make it squeak.] H-Hi there. [He smiles softly in greeting.] I'm Iruma!
[Iruma smiles.] That's a nice name! Way better than mine. [He chuckles, watching them play with the coat.] Does playing with the coat make you feel better?
[Reaching into his bag he pulls his baby blanket out slightly to show the little demon.] My blanket always makes me feel better.
[Iruma stared at it curiously before safely placing his blanket down to take the offered sleeve. His eyes went wide as he happily played with the material.] Oooo! [He whispered.]
[Iruma was so focused on the sleeve that he hadn't noticed his blanket fell out his bag with a soft thump.]
[The blanket was now visible to Narnia. The fabric itself was a soft purple with dark purple dog prints all over it, it was free of stains and looked very well taken care of.]
[Narnia bent forward and picked up the blanket. Holding it between his slender fingers as he felt the fabric over. This was-]
[He brought it too his nose, almost dropping it and recoiling at the vulgar smell coming off. It was so strong it made him sick.]
[He swallowed the bile (mod: dramatic bitch) climbing in his throat and folded the blanket neatly. The hybrid (there was no other way around it) had already seen him in a...less-than-dignified state. There was no way Narnia would let him see him in another.]
[Iruma watched for a moment and quickly stood to try and help him but when he was leveled with a harsh glare, he felt his heart stop and a cold chill go up his spine.]
[Why...Where had he...felt those eyes before?]
Because you have. Just when you were very little...and there was another that used to be sent your way...
[When his heart started up again, Iruma felt sick. Like, sick sick. Panting he looks around and slips to the floor. He crawled under a chair and faced the wall, whimpers falling from his lips.]
[Why was he so scared all of a sudden?! He's used to feeling scared so why was he...he terrified right now?!]
[Narnia froze, his instincts hitting him like a pile bricks (or a certain slap). He forced his viceral, all-consuming disguest back into his core and stood up.]
[Slowly, he approcked the chair Iruma hid under, passing Diriel, who was hugging their Papa's coat tighly. Narnia took the blanket and laid it down a small distance from Iruma, waiting a moment before he backed off. He didn't even realize a small sound had escaped his throat until another tried to leave only to be shoved down again.]
[Narnia hoped, settling down again, that Kalego and Hish wouldn't be back just yet.]
[Seeing he blanket he peeks out with wet eyes and slowly reached out for it, for his first ever comfort item.]
[Whimpers still fell from his lips as his body started to shake, a strange image of a much older version of Kalego and a younger version of Narnia staring down at him in disgust flashing through his head.]
[He pulled the blanket under with him as quick as he could and curled over it, as if to protect it. From Narnia anyone that would try to take it.]
[Why am I acting like this?! I'm used to danger! I can deal with this!]
[Seeing no improvement or calming down in Iruma’s behavior, Narnia settles for the next best thing: Watching over Diriel as he fights his insticts to make a plan for when Hish and Kalego inevitably returns.]
[And finally, hearing the sound of hurried steps, Narnia executes it.]
[He lets Diriel run to Fenrir before following close behind. Quickly moving away from Iruma and dissappearing (but not without thanking Hish for getting Kalego,) down the hall and around the corner.]
[Iruma was quickly taken into Kalegos' arms and checked over for any wounds. When he found none he lifted Iruma and quickly got him out of the waiting room.]
[All the while Iruma was crying and clinging to his teacher. He didn't mean to scare Narnia away, he just didn't understand why he was so scared. He truly didn't! He really hopes he can make it up to him someday...]
[He wanders over to his teacher with an cautious yet relieved look on his face.] Hi Professor...I hope you're my professor this time...the last two looked so much like him...
Iruma.
. . . Is something wrong?
Last I checked I was Naberius Kalego. Hrm. Did you get lost and run into my uncle and my brother before you found me?
[Iruma sighed in relief at the sound of his teachers voice. At least he was right this time!] I think I did. [He admitted before catching the rest of what his teacher said.] Huh? Hurt? Um...oh! I did scrape my knee when I was running from some people but I tied my handkerchief around it!
[Putting his leg out in front of him he shows off the dark purple handkerchief that was tied around his knee.]
[Iruma nodded with a soft smile then remembered what the older Neberius had called him.] He did and...he called me a pup for some reason. [He hummed softly, still a bit confused.]
[Hearing his last question, Iruma froze slightly and moved his gaze to the floor.]
[He knew he should be truthful as he's been told to, but he also didn't want to burden the teacher. He wanted to tell him about being swarmed and chased around Magical Street by demons that wanted to talk to him about Walter Park, how he had fallen and gotten hurt, how he met both Narnia and Mr. Neberius...how when he got close to the school the same fourth years that attacked him before the battler party tried to jump him...but...he held it in.]
I-I uh...I just um...[He felt his eyes stinging but he ignored it and kept looking down at the ground, nervously playing with the hem of his shirt.] ...no sir. I'm sorry.
[Kalego raises an eyebrow, but he doesn't call Iruma out on that it's clearly a lie. There is something different about Iruma, like the other Iruma from another timeline/universe, but he's not going to take a simple feeling as actual evidence.]
It's fine. You don't need to apologise for that and you don't need any particular reason. . . . You can stay if you want, Iruma.
Though, if there's anything on your mind, it's alright for you to share it. You seem ... upset. Are you certain that nothing's wrong?
[Iruma bit his lip to hold back his words and shook his head.]
[This...was a bit weird. How come he hasn't been scruffed yet? Or been threatened with being kept in the nest indefinitely? Was this really his Kalego? He's heard about the alternate universe versions of his friends/family, actually from another him! So...maybe...?]
I-I'm fine. [He lies, still not looking up from the ground.] I-If it's alright, can I work on my penmanship? I just got a new tracing book...
[A soft, dog like whine left Iruma's throat at the kind pats. He flinched and stared at the ground in confusion instead of upset. Did he just make that sound? Again?! First it was the chirping and now it's the dog sounds. He really needs to talk to Professor Balam about this...]
Th-Thank you sir. [He bowed before turning to go sit at the closest table to work on his writing. It was still pretty bad but it was getting better! At least according to Miss Momonoki.]
[Kalego stares at him for a solid minute. The whine is familiar. He made that as a kid with his brother all the time. The source, however, is confusing.]
[Iruma looks up for a moment before continuing to try and trace over the letters. Every once and a while he'd glare at his writing and aggressively erase it.]
[Eventually though his head started to droop and his eyes started to close. It would seem he used too much energy today and was growing tired but he continued to work on his writing.]
[Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Iruma slowly shakes his head tiredly.] No...I can keep going...[He mumbled, looking up at his teacher with exhausted look on his face.] I'm not tired...
[But the hand that was holding his pencil twitched and nearly stabbed his other hand he had placed back on the table. Oh great. The muscle twitches were starting.]
[A soft yawn escapes him before he could stop it which was followed by a soft whimper due to the twitches starting to hurt.]
[Okay, now Iruma was REALLY starting to suspect that this wasn't his Kalego. Not only was he being told to go home to Opera and Grandpa, he still hadn't been scuffed and dragged to Balam's nest in his prep room.]
[Well...one more test couldn't hurt, right?]
...Professor Kalego? Do you remember what happened the day Professor Balam carried me to the teachers office? [He asks softly.]
N-No sir...[He whispered, looking down at his desk.] What happened to me was...was that when he and Professor Robin took off my top...I....I ended up...
[His hands shook as he tried to spit out what he so desperately needed to say. Gritting his teeth he lowers his head as the sleepiness from before quickly drains his emotional battery.]
[A choked sob escaped him as he remembered the events that led to him being taken away from his family. He may have been asleep through most of it but he could still hear everything very well.]
[Kalego knows that he could probably help this Iruma most by hugging him. Aria would hug him. Shichiro would hug him too. That's the correct course of action. Hug him and tell him that he doesn't need to talk about it but that Kalego will help him to figure things out. That's what he should do. That's what he wants to do, as strange as that is as an impulse—but he can't.]
[What Kalego can do is put a hand on one of Iruma's shoulders and give it a very careful (and somewhat awkward) squeeze.]
Iruma.
You don't have to tell me anything.
You don't have to follow what someone else has decided for you in that world either.
[Iruma looked up with a sad hiccup and immediately answered.] I wanna go home. I love all my teachers an-and how they've been tr-trying to protect me and show me they care but...but I want Opera-san and Grandpa an-and Salem and Hex! Bu-But I can't...not without you getting Border Patrol involved
[Rubbing his eyes he tried to force himself to stop crying, hating the feeling of tears on his skin.] I-If I had only worn my STUPID bandages o-or never insisted on staying-! [He growled, his hand subconsciously moving to scratch at his arm roughly but he managed to stop himself.] If I had just used my brain then my back never would've been seen-!
[Kalego offers him a hankerchief. He doesn't know what else to do about crying, because carrying him by the scruff, bringing him to Aria and Shichiro, and asking them to fix it isn't a good course of action—and will likely spook the kid even worse.]
The very last thing I'm going to do is getting Border Patrol involved with anything to do with you. The only time that I wouldn't be able to do anything is if my brother showed up with an army of Border Patrol demons and you did something so demonstrably stupid as confessing right in front of him.
It definitely sounds very, very concerning as your homeroom teacher, but it may be best to leave it to your family since you want to go back to them. It does sound, however, like you didn't do anything wrong. Having an injury isn't your fault. Other people getting concerned because of that injury also isn't your fault. Them disregarding your comfort and making decisions for you without your consent, however, is their fault, not yours.
Nevertheless, Iruma, I don't think wearing bandages would have removed all of the concerns either. It would have delayed it somewhat, but I think that was outside of your control.
As such, we should get you some control back, so if that's what you want, then I will simply call Opera-senpai to inform them and either have them pick you up or escort you there myself or ask Aria to do it. I don't think another Iruma will be an issue for them in the least.
If anything, I think the chair-demon would be overjoyed.
[Iruma nodded and tried to wipe away his tears, even as more fell to replace them. Unfortunately he didn't think when he spoke next.] I-I still don't e-even know why he thinks I was tourted. It was just punishments...[He mumbled softly but still loud enough his teacher could hear him.]
People sometimes call torture that if they want to stop you from realising that you've been unjustly treated. It's easier to say that you're simply being punished and allowing you to draw your own conclusions than it would be to deal with the fallout of everyone involved knowing that you're being tortured. It shifts the blame from them to you, so you don't escape. Did no one explain this to you? I'd expect Torture Studies to clue you in, but you may not have paid attention.
@opera-meow Opera-senpai, I have another universe's Iruma with me who wants to stay with you and the chair-demon while he's in this one. Is that alright? Do you have time to pick him up or should Aria or I drop him off?
[Iruma blinks away his tears as he looks at the table again. He..He thinks that Professor Marbas said something like that before to his Kalego and Balam when he thought he was asleep on the couch. But...no. No, he was bad and he deserved it!]
[He stayed quiet as he watched Kalego, his weirdly sensitive ears catching what Opera replied with.]
It's a major security risk to let just anyone stay at the estate. Especially someone we can't exactly do a background check on.
But, since it is Iruma, and from what I've seen he seems innocent enough, I'll go against my better judgement. He can stay with us for the time being, at least. I'll be there.
[Gently massaging the little guys horn, Iruma nods.] After a few sessions with Professor Murmur, he suggested that I try it to have something to look forward to every week. [He smiles slightly.] One of the nicer Boarder Patrol Officers comes to collect my letter whenever I'm finished writing it.
[What he hasn't said yet was the fact that it was a Prison Pen Pal system and that he was matched up with an ex 13 Crowns member.]
[Iruma tilts his head in a curious way at the tone in his teachers voice.] Y-Yes. [He nods slightly, never once stopping his petting.] The um...The program is for Prison Demons that are incarcerated within Demon Boarder Patrol HQ.
[Iruma opens his Three Magical Siblings book and pulls out a piece of paper with writing on it. He holds it out to Balam.] This was my last letter that I got from him.
[The letter was filled with typical, everyday banter and talk but near the last paragraph it started to get strange. The person was talking about finally getting out thanks to one of his sons connections and how they couldn't wait to rejoin their family...and to meet Iruma face to face. At the end it was marked simply "Sincerely, K.N."]
[Iruma thought for a moment.] Um...well he's in for kidnapping of his grandson and attempted murder, something he's told me he's regretted for a long time, I think he has purple hair because I found a piece stuck in the wax seal of one of the letters, he used to be a very powerful officer and he loves his sons very much...but not so much with his son in law. [He states with a frown.]
"Grand. . . son. . ?" [Shichiro repeats slowly, mind reeling as he tries to make sense of what he's hearing. If they're talking about who he thinks they're talking about, then the son-in-law is-]
[And to add the final nail in the coffin, Iruma frowned in what seemed to be confusion.] He had said once that he wished he could've just accepted that his grandson was a hybrid. He also said he should've listened to his old colleague when he said that all life is precious...[He spoke softly, gently scratching Nigipnir under his chin.]
[Shichiro feels light-headed. Things are suddenly adding up to make horrible, terrifying sense. Hybrid. Knightwalker's grandson. A cerberus. Gargoyle calls. Surgically altered ears. This- this Iruma is his-]
[Suddenly smells something off which made his nose wrinkle. Looking up at his teacher he gasped softly at how pale he had become and how his arms were slightly shaking.] Pro-Professor? Are...Are you okay? [He hops off his chair, only now noticing how close he was already, and reached out a small hand towards him.]
"Yeah." [Shichiro answers on autopilot again, reaching out to absentmindedly pet Iruma on the head.] "Yeah, I'm uh..."
He's getting dangerously stressed. He cannot go into a wicked phase right now. That would be a disaster. Deep breaths. Think it through. What does Iruma need? A safe place to rest, it's getting late. What does Shichiro himself need? To talk this through with his spouses. Devi, how is he supposed to do that without giving Kalego the biggest panic attack of his life-?! With support, that's how. Support sounds great actually. He needs- Yeah. He needs backup.
"Aria-chan-?" [He turns to adress the open air. With a soft little 'pop!' a woman appears out of nowhere next to him. She's only a little taller than Iruma himself, and looks oddly. . . familiar. Like a more distinctly feminine Opera, but with black hair.]
[Iruma yelped in surprise and instinctively dove into Balams' lap to hide himself and Nigipnir. He was usually used to people popping into existence as both Mother Purson and Soi Purson loved to startle him that way. But he was sleepy and still experiencing emotions he wasn't used to...so he was jumpy.]
[Shichiro, equally on instinct, catches him. Holding the boy with one arm and petting him over the head with his other hand, he gives his wife the best smile he can muster. She frowns immediately, clearly able to tell something is wrong and surprised to have caused such a reaction.]
"Oh my. . . I'm sorry, I didn't mean to alarm anyone."
"That's quite alright. This is Iruma-kun. He's a little different from the one we're used to and new to our side of things. Iruma-kun, it's alright. It's just Aria-chan."
"Hmm~ I see." [She smiles with gentle affection as she steps up to them, resting a hand on Shichiro's shoulder.] "Well, it's very nice to meet you again, Iruma-chama."💜
[Iruma whined like a puppy as he slowly looked up. He was still a little startled but the smile and the gentle Aura around her made him calm down quickly.]
H-Hello, Aria-sama...[He says softly, peeking out from Balam's arms.]
[He was a bit shy but he felt...he felt like he could trust this lady. After all, if Balam trusted her then he should too!]
[It was Iruma's turn to blink in surprise before coming out of his hiding spot fully, holding his little buddy like a baby against his shoulder. He didn't climb off Balam's lap but he did become more visible.]
Y-You do? I-I'm sorry, I don't think I've met you before...where I'm from. [He says softly.] Th-The one one that works for my family is actually Opera, my par-my caretaker.
[There is a long beat of silence. Both teachers appear to have frozen on the spot, staring. Shichiro tries to picture a world without his wife in it and is immediately hit with another wave of dread. Still, this. . . actually explains a few things-]
[The hand on his shoulder squeezes, grounding him back to the present as Aria recovers faster than he does. (Thank Devi-)]
"I see! In that case,"
[Smiling again, Aria takes a step back so she can dip into a sweeping bow.]
"please allow me to introduce myself~! My name is Aria, I am a Security Devil of the Sullivan household. In addition to assisting the chairdemon with his duties at work, I also teach siege tactics class and manage the student dorms here at Babyls. You've met my husband, Shichiro-" [she gestures to the man in question] "as well as my other husband, Kalego, I'm sure. As for Opera, our version of them is my older sibling! Does that help clear things up~?"💜
[Iruma's ears twitched like they were trying to perk up by they couldn't. He smiled softly and nodded slightly.] So Opera is your big sibling? That's cool! [He giggled, leaning against Balam again.] And your married to Professor Kalego and Balam, how nice!
...
WAIT! YOU CAN GET MARRIED TO MORE THAN ONE PERSON?! THAT'S ALLOWED?! [He asks in shock and awe.]
"Demons are greedy, after all." [Shichiro chuckles.] "Though many more territorial demons prefer not to share. It's a matter of personal taste, I suppose."
"The older generation was a bit stricter with it. The noble houses still are. Politics, I suppose." [She shrugs.] "Anyway, sweetheart, did you need something-?"
"Hmm? Ah, yes." [Shichiro pauses as something occurs to him.] "Hmm. . ."
"Iruma-kun? I'd love to talk more about all this tomorrow, but it's getting quite late. If you want to go home to the Sullivan estate, Aria-chan can take you. There is, however, already the Iruma-kun from our world living there. If that would feel awkward or uncomfortable, you would be more than welome at our house for the night. What would you like to do?"
[He didn't want to impose on the other Iruma's family time...or to draw the attention of anyone around the house...but if he went with Aria-san and Balam, he'd be imposing on them too!]
[Oh! Oh, he knew what to do!]
I-It's okay! I already have a place I can sleep! [It wasn't much of a lie! He's already found a tree by the second year tower that had nice thick branches and he had his baby blanket! So he won't be cold!]
"Now see here, young man. You aren't thinking of climbing up a tree or something like that, are you?"
Buzzer pings immediately. Unbelievable.
"Iruma-kun! You are still a student, and what's more, a human! The school grounds may be relatively safe, but that's still not a risk anyone wants you exposing yourself to. I don't even want to think about what could happen! It's admirable of you to be so considerate, but we'd be much more worried and bothered by you sleeping outdoors!"
[Aria chuckles.]
There it is, Shichiro's famous mother-hen lecture. Still, she'd better cut him off before he really gets going and scolds the poor boy too long. This Iruma seems a little on the nervous side.
[Iruma bows his head as he's scolded, a slight pout on his face much like the one Shichiro used to do whenever he was scolded for picking up animals.]
[Thankful when Aria spoke, he went to say that he wasn't hungry at all, that he was okay, his stomach growled loudly at the thought of food.]
...traitor. [He whispered to his belly. Looking up at Aria again he flushed a little in embarrassment.] Um...m-maybe something fish? Or meat...? I don't know why but since the last time I was sick it's been almost all I've craved...
[Aria moves about the space as she listens to Iruma, tidying things away. Taking this cue they're getting ready to leave, Shichiro gathers up his papers as well.]
[Iruma hops off Balam's lap and gives a little cheer when he landed on his feet.]
[Watching them both, he tries to help but he was only working with one arm since he didn't wanna put down the little plant dragon that was happily snoozing with its head on his shoulder.]
Uh huh...apparently I fainted while playing with Atori-sensei and he panicked. Professor Dali and Robin found him trying to wake me up. [He shrugged as he lifted up some rather heavy books in one hand...pretty easily...alright, that's something to talk to Professor Blushenko about later.] And after that I was unconscious for a week with a high fever.
[Placing the books down by the correct shelf, he starts putting them back with his back towards the two teachers.] Then when I woke up I could only really stomach meats, fish and milk. Nobody knew why...but Grandpa did look worried and disappeared for a couple days. Still don't know what that was about.
[Listening to the teachers talk, Iruma tried to keep up but his sleepiness hit him right in the face.]
[Very quickly he started to see double, his feet started to drag and his head hurt bad. He felt something trying to come out of his throat - most likely one of those weird sounds again - but he swallowed it down.]
[Though all this, he kept walking as he didn't want to burden the two adults by asking to be carried as he usually did when he was extra sleepy and couldn't make it to the elevator to his room by himself.]
[Iruma mumbles a yes but he's very quickly leaning on Aria, as if his legs were going to give out on him.]
Just...um...hungry...[He manages to say, his eyes closing slowly.]
[It was obvious he was getting really tired, his earlier breakdown coming back to haunt him. He's always hated getting emotional and this was exactly why.]
[He'd always get so sleepy and the only thing that could really wake him up was food.] 'm okay...
[As soon as his head hit Balam's shoulder, the tickly fur around his neck from his shirt tickling his nose, Iruma gained a faint smile and gripped onto his shirt like he was a child again.]
[Soft, tiny chirp came from his throat as he settled down. Sleep quickly consumed him as he finally shut his eyes. But before he fully fell asleep another peep fell from his lips, one that if he knew what it meant he would be apologizing profusely.]
[Gently massaging the little guys horn, Iruma nods.] After a few sessions with Professor Murmur, he suggested that I try it to have something to look forward to every week. [He smiles slightly.] One of the nicer Boarder Patrol Officers comes to collect my letter whenever I'm finished writing it.
[What he hasn't said yet was the fact that it was a Prison Pen Pal system and that he was matched up with an ex 13 Crowns member.]
[Iruma tilts his head in a curious way at the tone in his teachers voice.] Y-Yes. [He nods slightly, never once stopping his petting.] The um...The program is for Prison Demons that are incarcerated within Demon Boarder Patrol HQ.
[Iruma opens his Three Magical Siblings book and pulls out a piece of paper with writing on it. He holds it out to Balam.] This was my last letter that I got from him.
[The letter was filled with typical, everyday banter and talk but near the last paragraph it started to get strange. The person was talking about finally getting out thanks to one of his sons connections and how they couldn't wait to rejoin their family...and to meet Iruma face to face. At the end it was marked simply "Sincerely, K.N."]
[Iruma thought for a moment.] Um...well he's in for kidnapping of his grandson and attempted murder, something he's told me he's regretted for a long time, I think he has purple hair because I found a piece stuck in the wax seal of one of the letters, he used to be a very powerful officer and he loves his sons very much...but not so much with his son in law. [He states with a frown.]
"Grand. . . son. . ?" [Shichiro repeats slowly, mind reeling as he tries to make sense of what he's hearing. If they're talking about who he thinks they're talking about, then the son-in-law is-]
[And to add the final nail in the coffin, Iruma frowned in what seemed to be confusion.] He had said once that he wished he could've just accepted that his grandson was a hybrid. He also said he should've listened to his old colleague when he said that all life is precious...[He spoke softly, gently scratching Nigipnir under his chin.]
[Shichiro feels light-headed. Things are suddenly adding up to make horrible, terrifying sense. Hybrid. Knightwalker's grandson. A cerberus. Gargoyle calls. Surgically altered ears. This- this Iruma is his-]
[Suddenly smells something off which made his nose wrinkle. Looking up at his teacher he gasped softly at how pale he had become and how his arms were slightly shaking.] Pro-Professor? Are...Are you okay? [He hops off his chair, only now noticing how close he was already, and reached out a small hand towards him.]
"Yeah." [Shichiro answers on autopilot again, reaching out to absentmindedly pet Iruma on the head.] "Yeah, I'm uh..."
He's getting dangerously stressed. He cannot go into a wicked phase right now. That would be a disaster. Deep breaths. Think it through. What does Iruma need? A safe place to rest, it's getting late. What does Shichiro himself need? To talk this through with his spouses. Devi, how is he supposed to do that without giving Kalego the biggest panic attack of his life-?! With support, that's how. Support sounds great actually. He needs- Yeah. He needs backup.
"Aria-chan-?" [He turns to adress the open air. With a soft little 'pop!' a woman appears out of nowhere next to him. She's only a little taller than Iruma himself, and looks oddly. . . familiar. Like a more distinctly feminine Opera, but with black hair.]
[Iruma yelped in surprise and instinctively dove into Balams' lap to hide himself and Nigipnir. He was usually used to people popping into existence as both Mother Purson and Soi Purson loved to startle him that way. But he was sleepy and still experiencing emotions he wasn't used to...so he was jumpy.]
[Shichiro, equally on instinct, catches him. Holding the boy with one arm and petting him over the head with his other hand, he gives his wife the best smile he can muster. She frowns immediately, clearly able to tell something is wrong and surprised to have caused such a reaction.]
"Oh my. . . I'm sorry, I didn't mean to alarm anyone."
"That's quite alright. This is Iruma-kun. He's a little different from the one we're used to and new to our side of things. Iruma-kun, it's alright. It's just Aria-chan."
"Hmm~ I see." [She smiles with gentle affection as she steps up to them, resting a hand on Shichiro's shoulder.] "Well, it's very nice to meet you again, Iruma-chama."💜
[Iruma whined like a puppy as he slowly looked up. He was still a little startled but the smile and the gentle Aura around her made him calm down quickly.]
H-Hello, Aria-sama...[He says softly, peeking out from Balam's arms.]
[He was a bit shy but he felt...he felt like he could trust this lady. After all, if Balam trusted her then he should too!]
[It was Iruma's turn to blink in surprise before coming out of his hiding spot fully, holding his little buddy like a baby against his shoulder. He didn't climb off Balam's lap but he did become more visible.]
Y-You do? I-I'm sorry, I don't think I've met you before...where I'm from. [He says softly.] Th-The one one that works for my family is actually Opera, my par-my caretaker.
[There is a long beat of silence. Both teachers appear to have frozen on the spot, staring. Shichiro tries to picture a world without his wife in it and is immediately hit with another wave of dread. Still, this. . . actually explains a few things-]
[The hand on his shoulder squeezes, grounding him back to the present as Aria recovers faster than he does. (Thank Devi-)]
"I see! In that case,"
[Smiling again, Aria takes a step back so she can dip into a sweeping bow.]
"please allow me to introduce myself~! My name is Aria, I am a Security Devil of the Sullivan household. In addition to assisting the chairdemon with his duties at work, I also teach siege tactics class and manage the student dorms here at Babyls. You've met my husband, Shichiro-" [she gestures to the man in question] "as well as my other husband, Kalego, I'm sure. As for Opera, our version of them is my older sibling! Does that help clear things up~?"💜
[Iruma's ears twitched like they were trying to perk up by they couldn't. He smiled softly and nodded slightly.] So Opera is your big sibling? That's cool! [He giggled, leaning against Balam again.] And your married to Professor Kalego and Balam, how nice!
...
WAIT! YOU CAN GET MARRIED TO MORE THAN ONE PERSON?! THAT'S ALLOWED?! [He asks in shock and awe.]
"Demons are greedy, after all." [Shichiro chuckles.] "Though many more territorial demons prefer not to share. It's a matter of personal taste, I suppose."
"The older generation was a bit stricter with it. The noble houses still are. Politics, I suppose." [She shrugs.] "Anyway, sweetheart, did you need something-?"
"Hmm? Ah, yes." [Shichiro pauses as something occurs to him.] "Hmm. . ."
"Iruma-kun? I'd love to talk more about all this tomorrow, but it's getting quite late. If you want to go home to the Sullivan estate, Aria-chan can take you. There is, however, already the Iruma-kun from our world living there. If that would feel awkward or uncomfortable, you would be more than welome at our house for the night. What would you like to do?"
[He didn't want to impose on the other Iruma's family time...or to draw the attention of anyone around the house...but if he went with Aria-san and Balam, he'd be imposing on them too!]
[Oh! Oh, he knew what to do!]
I-It's okay! I already have a place I can sleep! [It wasn't much of a lie! He's already found a tree by the second year tower that had nice thick branches and he had his baby blanket! So he won't be cold!]
"Now see here, young man. You aren't thinking of climbing up a tree or something like that, are you?"
Buzzer pings immediately. Unbelievable.
"Iruma-kun! You are still a student, and what's more, a human! The school grounds may be relatively safe, but that's still not a risk anyone wants you exposing yourself to. I don't even want to think about what could happen! It's admirable of you to be so considerate, but we'd be much more worried and bothered by you sleeping outdoors!"
[Aria chuckles.]
There it is, Shichiro's famous mother-hen lecture. Still, she'd better cut him off before he really gets going and scolds the poor boy too long. This Iruma seems a little on the nervous side.
[Iruma bows his head as he's scolded, a slight pout on his face much like the one Shichiro used to do whenever he was scolded for picking up animals.]
[Thankful when Aria spoke, he went to say that he wasn't hungry at all, that he was okay, his stomach growled loudly at the thought of food.]
...traitor. [He whispered to his belly. Looking up at Aria again he flushed a little in embarrassment.] Um...m-maybe something fish? Or meat...? I don't know why but since the last time I was sick it's been almost all I've craved...
[Aria moves about the space as she listens to Iruma, tidying things away. Taking this cue they're getting ready to leave, Shichiro gathers up his papers as well.]
[Iruma hops off Balam's lap and gives a little cheer when he landed on his feet.]
[Watching them both, he tries to help but he was only working with one arm since he didn't wanna put down the little plant dragon that was happily snoozing with its head on his shoulder.]
Uh huh...apparently I fainted while playing with Atori-sensei and he panicked. Professor Dali and Robin found him trying to wake me up. [He shrugged as he lifted up some rather heavy books in one hand...pretty easily...alright, that's something to talk to Professor Blushenko about later.] And after that I was unconscious for a week with a high fever.
[Placing the books down by the correct shelf, he starts putting them back with his back towards the two teachers.] Then when I woke up I could only really stomach meats, fish and milk. Nobody knew why...but Grandpa did look worried and disappeared for a couple days. Still don't know what that was about.
[Listening to the teachers talk, Iruma tried to keep up but his sleepiness hit him right in the face.]
[Very quickly he started to see double, his feet started to drag and his head hurt bad. He felt something trying to come out of his throat - most likely one of those weird sounds again - but he swallowed it down.]
[Though all this, he kept walking as he didn't want to burden the two adults by asking to be carried as he usually did when he was extra sleepy and couldn't make it to the elevator to his room by himself.]
[Iruma mumbles a yes but he's very quickly leaning on Aria, as if his legs were going to give out on him.]
Just...um...hungry...[He manages to say, his eyes closing slowly.]
[It was obvious he was getting really tired, his earlier breakdown coming back to haunt him. He's always hated getting emotional and this was exactly why.]
[He'd always get so sleepy and the only thing that could really wake him up was food.] 'm okay...
[Gently massaging the little guys horn, Iruma nods.] After a few sessions with Professor Murmur, he suggested that I try it to have something to look forward to every week. [He smiles slightly.] One of the nicer Boarder Patrol Officers comes to collect my letter whenever I'm finished writing it.
[What he hasn't said yet was the fact that it was a Prison Pen Pal system and that he was matched up with an ex 13 Crowns member.]
[Iruma tilts his head in a curious way at the tone in his teachers voice.] Y-Yes. [He nods slightly, never once stopping his petting.] The um...The program is for Prison Demons that are incarcerated within Demon Boarder Patrol HQ.
[Iruma opens his Three Magical Siblings book and pulls out a piece of paper with writing on it. He holds it out to Balam.] This was my last letter that I got from him.
[The letter was filled with typical, everyday banter and talk but near the last paragraph it started to get strange. The person was talking about finally getting out thanks to one of his sons connections and how they couldn't wait to rejoin their family...and to meet Iruma face to face. At the end it was marked simply "Sincerely, K.N."]
[Iruma thought for a moment.] Um...well he's in for kidnapping of his grandson and attempted murder, something he's told me he's regretted for a long time, I think he has purple hair because I found a piece stuck in the wax seal of one of the letters, he used to be a very powerful officer and he loves his sons very much...but not so much with his son in law. [He states with a frown.]
"Grand. . . son. . ?" [Shichiro repeats slowly, mind reeling as he tries to make sense of what he's hearing. If they're talking about who he thinks they're talking about, then the son-in-law is-]
[And to add the final nail in the coffin, Iruma frowned in what seemed to be confusion.] He had said once that he wished he could've just accepted that his grandson was a hybrid. He also said he should've listened to his old colleague when he said that all life is precious...[He spoke softly, gently scratching Nigipnir under his chin.]
[Shichiro feels light-headed. Things are suddenly adding up to make horrible, terrifying sense. Hybrid. Knightwalker's grandson. A cerberus. Gargoyle calls. Surgically altered ears. This- this Iruma is his-]
[Suddenly smells something off which made his nose wrinkle. Looking up at his teacher he gasped softly at how pale he had become and how his arms were slightly shaking.] Pro-Professor? Are...Are you okay? [He hops off his chair, only now noticing how close he was already, and reached out a small hand towards him.]
"Yeah." [Shichiro answers on autopilot again, reaching out to absentmindedly pet Iruma on the head.] "Yeah, I'm uh..."
He's getting dangerously stressed. He cannot go into a wicked phase right now. That would be a disaster. Deep breaths. Think it through. What does Iruma need? A safe place to rest, it's getting late. What does Shichiro himself need? To talk this through with his spouses. Devi, how is he supposed to do that without giving Kalego the biggest panic attack of his life-?! With support, that's how. Support sounds great actually. He needs- Yeah. He needs backup.
"Aria-chan-?" [He turns to adress the open air. With a soft little 'pop!' a woman appears out of nowhere next to him. She's only a little taller than Iruma himself, and looks oddly. . . familiar. Like a more distinctly feminine Opera, but with black hair.]
[Iruma yelped in surprise and instinctively dove into Balams' lap to hide himself and Nigipnir. He was usually used to people popping into existence as both Mother Purson and Soi Purson loved to startle him that way. But he was sleepy and still experiencing emotions he wasn't used to...so he was jumpy.]
[Shichiro, equally on instinct, catches him. Holding the boy with one arm and petting him over the head with his other hand, he gives his wife the best smile he can muster. She frowns immediately, clearly able to tell something is wrong and surprised to have caused such a reaction.]
"Oh my. . . I'm sorry, I didn't mean to alarm anyone."
"That's quite alright. This is Iruma-kun. He's a little different from the one we're used to and new to our side of things. Iruma-kun, it's alright. It's just Aria-chan."
"Hmm~ I see." [She smiles with gentle affection as she steps up to them, resting a hand on Shichiro's shoulder.] "Well, it's very nice to meet you again, Iruma-chama."💜
[Iruma whined like a puppy as he slowly looked up. He was still a little startled but the smile and the gentle Aura around her made him calm down quickly.]
H-Hello, Aria-sama...[He says softly, peeking out from Balam's arms.]
[He was a bit shy but he felt...he felt like he could trust this lady. After all, if Balam trusted her then he should too!]
[It was Iruma's turn to blink in surprise before coming out of his hiding spot fully, holding his little buddy like a baby against his shoulder. He didn't climb off Balam's lap but he did become more visible.]
Y-You do? I-I'm sorry, I don't think I've met you before...where I'm from. [He says softly.] Th-The one one that works for my family is actually Opera, my par-my caretaker.
[There is a long beat of silence. Both teachers appear to have frozen on the spot, staring. Shichiro tries to picture a world without his wife in it and is immediately hit with another wave of dread. Still, this. . . actually explains a few things-]
[The hand on his shoulder squeezes, grounding him back to the present as Aria recovers faster than he does. (Thank Devi-)]
"I see! In that case,"
[Smiling again, Aria takes a step back so she can dip into a sweeping bow.]
"please allow me to introduce myself~! My name is Aria, I am a Security Devil of the Sullivan household. In addition to assisting the chairdemon with his duties at work, I also teach siege tactics class and manage the student dorms here at Babyls. You've met my husband, Shichiro-" [she gestures to the man in question] "as well as my other husband, Kalego, I'm sure. As for Opera, our version of them is my older sibling! Does that help clear things up~?"💜
[Iruma's ears twitched like they were trying to perk up by they couldn't. He smiled softly and nodded slightly.] So Opera is your big sibling? That's cool! [He giggled, leaning against Balam again.] And your married to Professor Kalego and Balam, how nice!
...
WAIT! YOU CAN GET MARRIED TO MORE THAN ONE PERSON?! THAT'S ALLOWED?! [He asks in shock and awe.]
"Demons are greedy, after all." [Shichiro chuckles.] "Though many more territorial demons prefer not to share. It's a matter of personal taste, I suppose."
"The older generation was a bit stricter with it. The noble houses still are. Politics, I suppose." [She shrugs.] "Anyway, sweetheart, did you need something-?"
"Hmm? Ah, yes." [Shichiro pauses as something occurs to him.] "Hmm. . ."
"Iruma-kun? I'd love to talk more about all this tomorrow, but it's getting quite late. If you want to go home to the Sullivan estate, Aria-chan can take you. There is, however, already the Iruma-kun from our world living there. If that would feel awkward or uncomfortable, you would be more than welome at our house for the night. What would you like to do?"
[He didn't want to impose on the other Iruma's family time...or to draw the attention of anyone around the house...but if he went with Aria-san and Balam, he'd be imposing on them too!]
[Oh! Oh, he knew what to do!]
I-It's okay! I already have a place I can sleep! [It wasn't much of a lie! He's already found a tree by the second year tower that had nice thick branches and he had his baby blanket! So he won't be cold!]
"Now see here, young man. You aren't thinking of climbing up a tree or something like that, are you?"
Buzzer pings immediately. Unbelievable.
"Iruma-kun! You are still a student, and what's more, a human! The school grounds may be relatively safe, but that's still not a risk anyone wants you exposing yourself to. I don't even want to think about what could happen! It's admirable of you to be so considerate, but we'd be much more worried and bothered by you sleeping outdoors!"
[Aria chuckles.]
There it is, Shichiro's famous mother-hen lecture. Still, she'd better cut him off before he really gets going and scolds the poor boy too long. This Iruma seems a little on the nervous side.
[Iruma bows his head as he's scolded, a slight pout on his face much like the one Shichiro used to do whenever he was scolded for picking up animals.]
[Thankful when Aria spoke, he went to say that he wasn't hungry at all, that he was okay, his stomach growled loudly at the thought of food.]
...traitor. [He whispered to his belly. Looking up at Aria again he flushed a little in embarrassment.] Um...m-maybe something fish? Or meat...? I don't know why but since the last time I was sick it's been almost all I've craved...
[Aria moves about the space as she listens to Iruma, tidying things away. Taking this cue they're getting ready to leave, Shichiro gathers up his papers as well.]
[Iruma hops off Balam's lap and gives a little cheer when he landed on his feet.]
[Watching them both, he tries to help but he was only working with one arm since he didn't wanna put down the little plant dragon that was happily snoozing with its head on his shoulder.]
Uh huh...apparently I fainted while playing with Atori-sensei and he panicked. Professor Dali and Robin found him trying to wake me up. [He shrugged as he lifted up some rather heavy books in one hand...pretty easily...alright, that's something to talk to Professor Blushenko about later.] And after that I was unconscious for a week with a high fever.
[Placing the books down by the correct shelf, he starts putting them back with his back towards the two teachers.] Then when I woke up I could only really stomach meats, fish and milk. Nobody knew why...but Grandpa did look worried and disappeared for a couple days. Still don't know what that was about.
[Listening to the teachers talk, Iruma tried to keep up but his sleepiness hit him right in the face.]
[Very quickly he started to see double, his feet started to drag and his head hurt bad. He felt something trying to come out of his throat - most likely one of those weird sounds again - but he swallowed it down.]
[Though all this, he kept walking as he didn't want to burden the two adults by asking to be carried as he usually did when he was extra sleepy and couldn't make it to the elevator to his room by himself.]
[Gently massaging the little guys horn, Iruma nods.] After a few sessions with Professor Murmur, he suggested that I try it to have something to look forward to every week. [He smiles slightly.] One of the nicer Boarder Patrol Officers comes to collect my letter whenever I'm finished writing it.
[What he hasn't said yet was the fact that it was a Prison Pen Pal system and that he was matched up with an ex 13 Crowns member.]
[Iruma tilts his head in a curious way at the tone in his teachers voice.] Y-Yes. [He nods slightly, never once stopping his petting.] The um...The program is for Prison Demons that are incarcerated within Demon Boarder Patrol HQ.
[Iruma opens his Three Magical Siblings book and pulls out a piece of paper with writing on it. He holds it out to Balam.] This was my last letter that I got from him.
[The letter was filled with typical, everyday banter and talk but near the last paragraph it started to get strange. The person was talking about finally getting out thanks to one of his sons connections and how they couldn't wait to rejoin their family...and to meet Iruma face to face. At the end it was marked simply "Sincerely, K.N."]
[Iruma thought for a moment.] Um...well he's in for kidnapping of his grandson and attempted murder, something he's told me he's regretted for a long time, I think he has purple hair because I found a piece stuck in the wax seal of one of the letters, he used to be a very powerful officer and he loves his sons very much...but not so much with his son in law. [He states with a frown.]
"Grand. . . son. . ?" [Shichiro repeats slowly, mind reeling as he tries to make sense of what he's hearing. If they're talking about who he thinks they're talking about, then the son-in-law is-]
[And to add the final nail in the coffin, Iruma frowned in what seemed to be confusion.] He had said once that he wished he could've just accepted that his grandson was a hybrid. He also said he should've listened to his old colleague when he said that all life is precious...[He spoke softly, gently scratching Nigipnir under his chin.]
[Shichiro feels light-headed. Things are suddenly adding up to make horrible, terrifying sense. Hybrid. Knightwalker's grandson. A cerberus. Gargoyle calls. Surgically altered ears. This- this Iruma is his-]
[Suddenly smells something off which made his nose wrinkle. Looking up at his teacher he gasped softly at how pale he had become and how his arms were slightly shaking.] Pro-Professor? Are...Are you okay? [He hops off his chair, only now noticing how close he was already, and reached out a small hand towards him.]
"Yeah." [Shichiro answers on autopilot again, reaching out to absentmindedly pet Iruma on the head.] "Yeah, I'm uh..."
He's getting dangerously stressed. He cannot go into a wicked phase right now. That would be a disaster. Deep breaths. Think it through. What does Iruma need? A safe place to rest, it's getting late. What does Shichiro himself need? To talk this through with his spouses. Devi, how is he supposed to do that without giving Kalego the biggest panic attack of his life-?! With support, that's how. Support sounds great actually. He needs- Yeah. He needs backup.
"Aria-chan-?" [He turns to adress the open air. With a soft little 'pop!' a woman appears out of nowhere next to him. She's only a little taller than Iruma himself, and looks oddly. . . familiar. Like a more distinctly feminine Opera, but with black hair.]
[Iruma yelped in surprise and instinctively dove into Balams' lap to hide himself and Nigipnir. He was usually used to people popping into existence as both Mother Purson and Soi Purson loved to startle him that way. But he was sleepy and still experiencing emotions he wasn't used to...so he was jumpy.]
[Shichiro, equally on instinct, catches him. Holding the boy with one arm and petting him over the head with his other hand, he gives his wife the best smile he can muster. She frowns immediately, clearly able to tell something is wrong and surprised to have caused such a reaction.]
"Oh my. . . I'm sorry, I didn't mean to alarm anyone."
"That's quite alright. This is Iruma-kun. He's a little different from the one we're used to and new to our side of things. Iruma-kun, it's alright. It's just Aria-chan."
"Hmm~ I see." [She smiles with gentle affection as she steps up to them, resting a hand on Shichiro's shoulder.] "Well, it's very nice to meet you again, Iruma-chama."💜
[Iruma whined like a puppy as he slowly looked up. He was still a little startled but the smile and the gentle Aura around her made him calm down quickly.]
H-Hello, Aria-sama...[He says softly, peeking out from Balam's arms.]
[He was a bit shy but he felt...he felt like he could trust this lady. After all, if Balam trusted her then he should too!]
[It was Iruma's turn to blink in surprise before coming out of his hiding spot fully, holding his little buddy like a baby against his shoulder. He didn't climb off Balam's lap but he did become more visible.]
Y-You do? I-I'm sorry, I don't think I've met you before...where I'm from. [He says softly.] Th-The one one that works for my family is actually Opera, my par-my caretaker.
[There is a long beat of silence. Both teachers appear to have frozen on the spot, staring. Shichiro tries to picture a world without his wife in it and is immediately hit with another wave of dread. Still, this. . . actually explains a few things-]
[The hand on his shoulder squeezes, grounding him back to the present as Aria recovers faster than he does. (Thank Devi-)]
"I see! In that case,"
[Smiling again, Aria takes a step back so she can dip into a sweeping bow.]
"please allow me to introduce myself~! My name is Aria, I am a Security Devil of the Sullivan household. In addition to assisting the chairdemon with his duties at work, I also teach siege tactics class and manage the student dorms here at Babyls. You've met my husband, Shichiro-" [she gestures to the man in question] "as well as my other husband, Kalego, I'm sure. As for Opera, our version of them is my older sibling! Does that help clear things up~?"💜
[Iruma's ears twitched like they were trying to perk up by they couldn't. He smiled softly and nodded slightly.] So Opera is your big sibling? That's cool! [He giggled, leaning against Balam again.] And your married to Professor Kalego and Balam, how nice!
...
WAIT! YOU CAN GET MARRIED TO MORE THAN ONE PERSON?! THAT'S ALLOWED?! [He asks in shock and awe.]
"Demons are greedy, after all." [Shichiro chuckles.] "Though many more territorial demons prefer not to share. It's a matter of personal taste, I suppose."
"The older generation was a bit stricter with it. The noble houses still are. Politics, I suppose." [She shrugs.] "Anyway, sweetheart, did you need something-?"
"Hmm? Ah, yes." [Shichiro pauses as something occurs to him.] "Hmm. . ."
"Iruma-kun? I'd love to talk more about all this tomorrow, but it's getting quite late. If you want to go home to the Sullivan estate, Aria-chan can take you. There is, however, already the Iruma-kun from our world living there. If that would feel awkward or uncomfortable, you would be more than welome at our house for the night. What would you like to do?"
[He didn't want to impose on the other Iruma's family time...or to draw the attention of anyone around the house...but if he went with Aria-san and Balam, he'd be imposing on them too!]
[Oh! Oh, he knew what to do!]
I-It's okay! I already have a place I can sleep! [It wasn't much of a lie! He's already found a tree by the second year tower that had nice thick branches and he had his baby blanket! So he won't be cold!]
"Now see here, young man. You aren't thinking of climbing up a tree or something like that, are you?"
Buzzer pings immediately. Unbelievable.
"Iruma-kun! You are still a student, and what's more, a human! The school grounds may be relatively safe, but that's still not a risk anyone wants you exposing yourself to. I don't even want to think about what could happen! It's admirable of you to be so considerate, but we'd be much more worried and bothered by you sleeping outdoors!"
[Aria chuckles.]
There it is, Shichiro's famous mother-hen lecture. Still, she'd better cut him off before he really gets going and scolds the poor boy too long. This Iruma seems a little on the nervous side.
[Iruma bows his head as he's scolded, a slight pout on his face much like the one Shichiro used to do whenever he was scolded for picking up animals.]
[Thankful when Aria spoke, he went to say that he wasn't hungry at all, that he was okay, his stomach growled loudly at the thought of food.]
...traitor. [He whispered to his belly. Looking up at Aria again he flushed a little in embarrassment.] Um...m-maybe something fish? Or meat...? I don't know why but since the last time I was sick it's been almost all I've craved...
[Aria moves about the space as she listens to Iruma, tidying things away. Taking this cue they're getting ready to leave, Shichiro gathers up his papers as well.]
[Iruma hops off Balam's lap and gives a little cheer when he landed on his feet.]
[Watching them both, he tries to help but he was only working with one arm since he didn't wanna put down the little plant dragon that was happily snoozing with its head on his shoulder.]
Uh huh...apparently I fainted while playing with Atori-sensei and he panicked. Professor Dali and Robin found him trying to wake me up. [He shrugged as he lifted up some rather heavy books in one hand...pretty easily...alright, that's something to talk to Professor Blushenko about later.] And after that I was unconscious for a week with a high fever.
[Placing the books down by the correct shelf, he starts putting them back with his back towards the two teachers.] Then when I woke up I could only really stomach meats, fish and milk. Nobody knew why...but Grandpa did look worried and disappeared for a couple days. Still don't know what that was about.
[Gently massaging the little guys horn, Iruma nods.] After a few sessions with Professor Murmur, he suggested that I try it to have something to look forward to every week. [He smiles slightly.] One of the nicer Boarder Patrol Officers comes to collect my letter whenever I'm finished writing it.
[What he hasn't said yet was the fact that it was a Prison Pen Pal system and that he was matched up with an ex 13 Crowns member.]
[Iruma tilts his head in a curious way at the tone in his teachers voice.] Y-Yes. [He nods slightly, never once stopping his petting.] The um...The program is for Prison Demons that are incarcerated within Demon Boarder Patrol HQ.
[Iruma opens his Three Magical Siblings book and pulls out a piece of paper with writing on it. He holds it out to Balam.] This was my last letter that I got from him.
[The letter was filled with typical, everyday banter and talk but near the last paragraph it started to get strange. The person was talking about finally getting out thanks to one of his sons connections and how they couldn't wait to rejoin their family...and to meet Iruma face to face. At the end it was marked simply "Sincerely, K.N."]
[Iruma thought for a moment.] Um...well he's in for kidnapping of his grandson and attempted murder, something he's told me he's regretted for a long time, I think he has purple hair because I found a piece stuck in the wax seal of one of the letters, he used to be a very powerful officer and he loves his sons very much...but not so much with his son in law. [He states with a frown.]
"Grand. . . son. . ?" [Shichiro repeats slowly, mind reeling as he tries to make sense of what he's hearing. If they're talking about who he thinks they're talking about, then the son-in-law is-]
[And to add the final nail in the coffin, Iruma frowned in what seemed to be confusion.] He had said once that he wished he could've just accepted that his grandson was a hybrid. He also said he should've listened to his old colleague when he said that all life is precious...[He spoke softly, gently scratching Nigipnir under his chin.]
[Shichiro feels light-headed. Things are suddenly adding up to make horrible, terrifying sense. Hybrid. Knightwalker's grandson. A cerberus. Gargoyle calls. Surgically altered ears. This- this Iruma is his-]
[Suddenly smells something off which made his nose wrinkle. Looking up at his teacher he gasped softly at how pale he had become and how his arms were slightly shaking.] Pro-Professor? Are...Are you okay? [He hops off his chair, only now noticing how close he was already, and reached out a small hand towards him.]
"Yeah." [Shichiro answers on autopilot again, reaching out to absentmindedly pet Iruma on the head.] "Yeah, I'm uh..."
He's getting dangerously stressed. He cannot go into a wicked phase right now. That would be a disaster. Deep breaths. Think it through. What does Iruma need? A safe place to rest, it's getting late. What does Shichiro himself need? To talk this through with his spouses. Devi, how is he supposed to do that without giving Kalego the biggest panic attack of his life-?! With support, that's how. Support sounds great actually. He needs- Yeah. He needs backup.
"Aria-chan-?" [He turns to adress the open air. With a soft little 'pop!' a woman appears out of nowhere next to him. She's only a little taller than Iruma himself, and looks oddly. . . familiar. Like a more distinctly feminine Opera, but with black hair.]
[Iruma yelped in surprise and instinctively dove into Balams' lap to hide himself and Nigipnir. He was usually used to people popping into existence as both Mother Purson and Soi Purson loved to startle him that way. But he was sleepy and still experiencing emotions he wasn't used to...so he was jumpy.]
[Shichiro, equally on instinct, catches him. Holding the boy with one arm and petting him over the head with his other hand, he gives his wife the best smile he can muster. She frowns immediately, clearly able to tell something is wrong and surprised to have caused such a reaction.]
"Oh my. . . I'm sorry, I didn't mean to alarm anyone."
"That's quite alright. This is Iruma-kun. He's a little different from the one we're used to and new to our side of things. Iruma-kun, it's alright. It's just Aria-chan."
"Hmm~ I see." [She smiles with gentle affection as she steps up to them, resting a hand on Shichiro's shoulder.] "Well, it's very nice to meet you again, Iruma-chama."💜
[Iruma whined like a puppy as he slowly looked up. He was still a little startled but the smile and the gentle Aura around her made him calm down quickly.]
H-Hello, Aria-sama...[He says softly, peeking out from Balam's arms.]
[He was a bit shy but he felt...he felt like he could trust this lady. After all, if Balam trusted her then he should too!]
[It was Iruma's turn to blink in surprise before coming out of his hiding spot fully, holding his little buddy like a baby against his shoulder. He didn't climb off Balam's lap but he did become more visible.]
Y-You do? I-I'm sorry, I don't think I've met you before...where I'm from. [He says softly.] Th-The one one that works for my family is actually Opera, my par-my caretaker.
[There is a long beat of silence. Both teachers appear to have frozen on the spot, staring. Shichiro tries to picture a world without his wife in it and is immediately hit with another wave of dread. Still, this. . . actually explains a few things-]
[The hand on his shoulder squeezes, grounding him back to the present as Aria recovers faster than he does. (Thank Devi-)]
"I see! In that case,"
[Smiling again, Aria takes a step back so she can dip into a sweeping bow.]
"please allow me to introduce myself~! My name is Aria, I am a Security Devil of the Sullivan household. In addition to assisting the chairdemon with his duties at work, I also teach siege tactics class and manage the student dorms here at Babyls. You've met my husband, Shichiro-" [she gestures to the man in question] "as well as my other husband, Kalego, I'm sure. As for Opera, our version of them is my older sibling! Does that help clear things up~?"💜
[Iruma's ears twitched like they were trying to perk up by they couldn't. He smiled softly and nodded slightly.] So Opera is your big sibling? That's cool! [He giggled, leaning against Balam again.] And your married to Professor Kalego and Balam, how nice!
...
WAIT! YOU CAN GET MARRIED TO MORE THAN ONE PERSON?! THAT'S ALLOWED?! [He asks in shock and awe.]
"Demons are greedy, after all." [Shichiro chuckles.] "Though many more territorial demons prefer not to share. It's a matter of personal taste, I suppose."
"The older generation was a bit stricter with it. The noble houses still are. Politics, I suppose." [She shrugs.] "Anyway, sweetheart, did you need something-?"
"Hmm? Ah, yes." [Shichiro pauses as something occurs to him.] "Hmm. . ."
"Iruma-kun? I'd love to talk more about all this tomorrow, but it's getting quite late. If you want to go home to the Sullivan estate, Aria-chan can take you. There is, however, already the Iruma-kun from our world living there. If that would feel awkward or uncomfortable, you would be more than welome at our house for the night. What would you like to do?"
[He didn't want to impose on the other Iruma's family time...or to draw the attention of anyone around the house...but if he went with Aria-san and Balam, he'd be imposing on them too!]
[Oh! Oh, he knew what to do!]
I-It's okay! I already have a place I can sleep! [It wasn't much of a lie! He's already found a tree by the second year tower that had nice thick branches and he had his baby blanket! So he won't be cold!]
"Now see here, young man. You aren't thinking of climbing up a tree or something like that, are you?"
Buzzer pings immediately. Unbelievable.
"Iruma-kun! You are still a student, and what's more, a human! The school grounds may be relatively safe, but that's still not a risk anyone wants you exposing yourself to. I don't even want to think about what could happen! It's admirable of you to be so considerate, but we'd be much more worried and bothered by you sleeping outdoors!"
[Aria chuckles.]
There it is, Shichiro's famous mother-hen lecture. Still, she'd better cut him off before he really gets going and scolds the poor boy too long. This Iruma seems a little on the nervous side.
[Iruma bows his head as he's scolded, a slight pout on his face much like the one Shichiro used to do whenever he was scolded for picking up animals.]
[Thankful when Aria spoke, he went to say that he wasn't hungry at all, that he was okay, his stomach growled loudly at the thought of food.]
...traitor. [He whispered to his belly. Looking up at Aria again he flushed a little in embarrassment.] Um...m-maybe something fish? Or meat...? I don't know why but since the last time I was sick it's been almost all I've craved...
[Iruma looked around the room he was order to stay in cautiously before sitting down on the ground. For some reason he was brought along to a meeting between Kalego and his father but was left in a random room with a firm order to stay there.]
[But there was a problem...he was bored.]
[So what does he do? He silently opens his chest bag and pulls out the new toy he'd gotten the day before from Professor Dali. He didn't know why but he loved the sound it made when he squished it.]
Squeeeeeak!
[Grinning he kept squeezing it, not knowing that anyone was near his "hiding" spot.]
(Mod: I'm sorry but this entered my head and refused to leave. 😅)
"Can you stop that." [Narnia asked, emerging from where he was resting (read: napping on the job) between two file cabinets. His long hair was tied back with a rubber band (as he couldn't find something else), spilling over his shoulder. Don't ask how or why, just know he's just become a father in...three days time?]
"Wasn't Kimaris in charge of yo-" [he made eye-contact with Iruma
[Iruma looked up at the sudden voice and blinked owlishly with his hand hovering over his squeaky lizard.]
[His rounded ears seemed to twitch a bit in an effort to perk up but it seemed something was stopping them.]
O-Oh! Um...h-hello Mr. Narnia! [He chuckles nervously, picking up his toy.] I-I'm sorry! I-I didn't...notice...um...
[His eyes drifted away as he tried to figure out what to do. Kalego had told him to never be alone with anyone from his family for safety reasons but now he's alone with his teachers brother!]
[He already knew he was nice! He protected him for goodness sakes! But still...after finding out what he does for a living scared him to NO wits end considering the state of his back.]
[Iruma nodded from his spot on the floor, clutching his toy.] Professor Balam had to go help his parents with something, grandpa and opera had to go see Mrs. Levi and...he didn't trust any of the other teachers not to fill me with sugar. [He chuckles, gently scratching his cheek.]
He said he had no other choice but to bring me along while he spoke to Mr. Knightwalker about something. But...he seemed really scared to bring me here. [Iruma frowned, his feet wiggling side to side on thought.]
[Narnia tilted his head to the right and placed a finger under his own chin as he thought. Kalego talked to father? What could he want with him? Anyways.]
[There's that wierd smell again. It smells demon, familiar, but wrong. Like a pup being born from a canine parent and an avian one. It grated on his senses. It was so wrong.]
"Come. We should get you to a proper waiting spot." [Narnia walked to the door.]
"Hish also brought his...fledgling today. You two can entertain each other."
[Iruma slowly stood and went to follow but then he remembered what Kalego had said.] I... I'm supposed to wait here. [He tries to say confidently but one look and he crumbled like a sand castle.]
[He quickly ran up to Narnia and went to instinctively take his hand but once he caught on to himself he stopped and held his squeaky lizard with both hands again.]
[He so badly wanted to pull out his baby blanket from his bag but stopped himself as the last time his teacher had seen it, he truly thought that he was going to faint or cry.]
[He didn't want to see that kind of look again...especially not on Narnia.]
[They walked in silence until they reached a waiting room. A proper one this time. It had a reception right to the right when you entered the door, a few chairs on the left, and a row of offices spanning down a hallway further in.]
"Here." [Narnia pointed to a chair.] "I'll get someone to inform my brother of your current location, as well as the fault with your last one. (That it was a filing cabinet room they'd use for filing-punishments)" [He opened his hellphone and dialed a number. Sitting down himself while maintaining proper posture.]
[Iruma quickly sat down and noticed he was a little short for his seat since his feet weren't on the ground. He smiled and kicked his feet slowly, just happily sitting there.]
[He looked around curiously and even sniffed the air a few times to see if anyone was close by. He did catch a faint hint of someone familiar but he couldn't quite-]
[Feeling a chill go up his spine he whimpered softly, as if he was a frightened pup and looked around again. But this time he was looking for the danger he sensed. He hopped off his seat and moved to one much closer to Narnia.]
[A second or two later Officer Amy walked past the them and to an office with a stack of paper work, glaring at Iruma the entire way.]
[Narnia placed his hand, fingers pointed downwards diagonally to the ground besides Iruma, in front of the boy. He put the phone to his ear, shooting Ami a glare and making him walk away faster.]
[Finally, Hish picked up]
"Hello, Hish. Yes. All is well. My brother's student is with me in the east reception. Inform my brother of that. Ah. You're with the fledgeling. ...
You can leave it with me. Them. My apologies. I can watch them until you return. I'm serious. My schedule is free until," [he checked his watch,] "fourty minutes from now.
...No this is not because of Kalego. Stop that.
...Yes. He's at room 8212. Talking with fa-a prisoner.
Thank you. Yes. I'll see you soon."
[Narnia put the phone away.]
"Hish will arrive soon with his fledgeling before informing Kalego." [He explained, removing his hand from where it had guarded Iruma.]
[Iruma nods slightly, watching the door that his Senpai's brother went through with a slight shake in his shoulders.]
[Something in his brain was telling him to hide until papa Kalego returns or at least until Ami leaves the area fully. He could still smell him and it was making his danger sense to go crazy. Maybe he could...?]
[Slinking down to the floor he manages to fit himself under his chair and lays there on his belly. Ah! There! Now he felt safe.]
[If it were possible, flowers would've floated around his head from how proud he felt of his hiding spot.]
"What the-" [Narnia cut himself off, eyeing the way the kid hid himself. He rarely interacted with his clan's kids -often being far too busy to ever do so- save for Kalego, but Narnia recognized the way Iruma laid himself on his stomach. Hiding.]
[Hiding like a hellhound pup would do.]
[Like a Naberius child.]
[It made him so confused.]
[The door opened again and Fenrir Hish walked in carrying his fledeling. The small demon peeked over their father's shoulder with wide eyes before burrowing back into his shouder.]
"Hish." [Narnia greeted, getting up.] "Thank you for agreeing to this on such a short notice."
[Fenrir looks down at Iruma, then to Narnia. There seem to be some silent conversation going on between them before finally, Hish turns to the fledgeling.]
"I'll just be gone for a minute, okay? Narnia-san will watch over you for me, so a be a good kid, okay?" [The kid only clings tighter.] "I wanna be with papa!" {They whine into his shoulder.] "I wanna see how you work!"
"Your father's work right now is for older demons. And he needs both hands free." [Narnia says to the kid, trying to placate their fussiness]
[Some converstaion later, and the fledgeling's left with Narnia and Iruma, the former of who now has Fenrir's signarture coat in his hands.]
"Sit down on a chair, and I'll let you hold your father's coat." [Narnia says, taking a seat again.]
[Iruma gently guides the little one to a chair and helps them sit down since it seemed to be too tall to do so easily.]
[He takes a seat next to the child and slowly kicks his legs again, squeezing his lizard a bit but not enough to make it squeak.] H-Hi there. [He smiles softly in greeting.] I'm Iruma!
[Iruma smiles.] That's a nice name! Way better than mine. [He chuckles, watching them play with the coat.] Does playing with the coat make you feel better?
[Reaching into his bag he pulls his baby blanket out slightly to show the little demon.] My blanket always makes me feel better.
[Iruma stared at it curiously before safely placing his blanket down to take the offered sleeve. His eyes went wide as he happily played with the material.] Oooo! [He whispered.]
[Iruma was so focused on the sleeve that he hadn't noticed his blanket fell out his bag with a soft thump.]
[The blanket was now visible to Narnia. The fabric itself was a soft purple with dark purple dog prints all over it, it was free of stains and looked very well taken care of.]
[Narnia bent forward and picked up the blanket. Holding it between his slender fingers as he felt the fabric over. This was-]
[He brought it too his nose, almost dropping it and recoiling at the vulgar smell coming off. It was so strong it made him sick.]
[He swallowed the bile (mod: dramatic bitch) climbing in his throat and folded the blanket neatly. The hybrid (there was no other way around it) had already seen him in a...less-than-dignified state. There was no way Narnia would let him see him in another.]
[Iruma watched for a moment and quickly stood to try and help him but when he was leveled with a harsh glare, he felt his heart stop and a cold chill go up his spine.]
[Why...Where had he...felt those eyes before?]
Because you have. Just when you were very little...and there was another that used to be sent your way...
[When his heart started up again, Iruma felt sick. Like, sick sick. Panting he looks around and slips to the floor. He crawled under a chair and faced the wall, whimpers falling from his lips.]
[Why was he so scared all of a sudden?! He's used to feeling scared so why was he...he terrified right now?!]
[Narnia froze, his instincts hitting him like a pile bricks (or a certain slap). He forced his viceral, all-consuming disguest back into his core and stood up.]
[Slowly, he approcked the chair Iruma hid under, passing Diriel, who was hugging their Papa's coat tighly. Narnia took the blanket and laid it down a small distance from Iruma, waiting a moment before he backed off. He didn't even realize a small sound had escaped his throat until another tried to leave only to be shoved down again.]
[Narnia hoped, settling down again, that Kalego and Hish wouldn't be back just yet.]
[Seeing he blanket he peeks out with wet eyes and slowly reached out for it, for his first ever comfort item.]
[Whimpers still fell from his lips as his body started to shake, a strange image of a much older version of Kalego and a younger version of Narnia staring down at him in disgust flashing through his head.]
[He pulled the blanket under with him as quick as he could and curled over it, as if to protect it. From Narnia anyone that would try to take it.]
[Why am I acting like this?! I'm used to danger! I can deal with this!]
[Gently massaging the little guys horn, Iruma nods.] After a few sessions with Professor Murmur, he suggested that I try it to have something to look forward to every week. [He smiles slightly.] One of the nicer Boarder Patrol Officers comes to collect my letter whenever I'm finished writing it.
[What he hasn't said yet was the fact that it was a Prison Pen Pal system and that he was matched up with an ex 13 Crowns member.]
[Iruma tilts his head in a curious way at the tone in his teachers voice.] Y-Yes. [He nods slightly, never once stopping his petting.] The um...The program is for Prison Demons that are incarcerated within Demon Boarder Patrol HQ.
[Iruma opens his Three Magical Siblings book and pulls out a piece of paper with writing on it. He holds it out to Balam.] This was my last letter that I got from him.
[The letter was filled with typical, everyday banter and talk but near the last paragraph it started to get strange. The person was talking about finally getting out thanks to one of his sons connections and how they couldn't wait to rejoin their family...and to meet Iruma face to face. At the end it was marked simply "Sincerely, K.N."]
[Iruma thought for a moment.] Um...well he's in for kidnapping of his grandson and attempted murder, something he's told me he's regretted for a long time, I think he has purple hair because I found a piece stuck in the wax seal of one of the letters, he used to be a very powerful officer and he loves his sons very much...but not so much with his son in law. [He states with a frown.]
"Grand. . . son. . ?" [Shichiro repeats slowly, mind reeling as he tries to make sense of what he's hearing. If they're talking about who he thinks they're talking about, then the son-in-law is-]
[And to add the final nail in the coffin, Iruma frowned in what seemed to be confusion.] He had said once that he wished he could've just accepted that his grandson was a hybrid. He also said he should've listened to his old colleague when he said that all life is precious...[He spoke softly, gently scratching Nigipnir under his chin.]
[Shichiro feels light-headed. Things are suddenly adding up to make horrible, terrifying sense. Hybrid. Knightwalker's grandson. A cerberus. Gargoyle calls. Surgically altered ears. This- this Iruma is his-]
[Suddenly smells something off which made his nose wrinkle. Looking up at his teacher he gasped softly at how pale he had become and how his arms were slightly shaking.] Pro-Professor? Are...Are you okay? [He hops off his chair, only now noticing how close he was already, and reached out a small hand towards him.]
"Yeah." [Shichiro answers on autopilot again, reaching out to absentmindedly pet Iruma on the head.] "Yeah, I'm uh..."
He's getting dangerously stressed. He cannot go into a wicked phase right now. That would be a disaster. Deep breaths. Think it through. What does Iruma need? A safe place to rest, it's getting late. What does Shichiro himself need? To talk this through with his spouses. Devi, how is he supposed to do that without giving Kalego the biggest panic attack of his life-?! With support, that's how. Support sounds great actually. He needs- Yeah. He needs backup.
"Aria-chan-?" [He turns to adress the open air. With a soft little 'pop!' a woman appears out of nowhere next to him. She's only a little taller than Iruma himself, and looks oddly. . . familiar. Like a more distinctly feminine Opera, but with black hair.]
[Iruma yelped in surprise and instinctively dove into Balams' lap to hide himself and Nigipnir. He was usually used to people popping into existence as both Mother Purson and Soi Purson loved to startle him that way. But he was sleepy and still experiencing emotions he wasn't used to...so he was jumpy.]
[Shichiro, equally on instinct, catches him. Holding the boy with one arm and petting him over the head with his other hand, he gives his wife the best smile he can muster. She frowns immediately, clearly able to tell something is wrong and surprised to have caused such a reaction.]
"Oh my. . . I'm sorry, I didn't mean to alarm anyone."
"That's quite alright. This is Iruma-kun. He's a little different from the one we're used to and new to our side of things. Iruma-kun, it's alright. It's just Aria-chan."
"Hmm~ I see." [She smiles with gentle affection as she steps up to them, resting a hand on Shichiro's shoulder.] "Well, it's very nice to meet you again, Iruma-chama."💜
[Iruma whined like a puppy as he slowly looked up. He was still a little startled but the smile and the gentle Aura around her made him calm down quickly.]
H-Hello, Aria-sama...[He says softly, peeking out from Balam's arms.]
[He was a bit shy but he felt...he felt like he could trust this lady. After all, if Balam trusted her then he should too!]
[It was Iruma's turn to blink in surprise before coming out of his hiding spot fully, holding his little buddy like a baby against his shoulder. He didn't climb off Balam's lap but he did become more visible.]
Y-You do? I-I'm sorry, I don't think I've met you before...where I'm from. [He says softly.] Th-The one one that works for my family is actually Opera, my par-my caretaker.
[There is a long beat of silence. Both teachers appear to have frozen on the spot, staring. Shichiro tries to picture a world without his wife in it and is immediately hit with another wave of dread. Still, this. . . actually explains a few things-]
[The hand on his shoulder squeezes, grounding him back to the present as Aria recovers faster than he does. (Thank Devi-)]
"I see! In that case,"
[Smiling again, Aria takes a step back so she can dip into a sweeping bow.]
"please allow me to introduce myself~! My name is Aria, I am a Security Devil of the Sullivan household. In addition to assisting the chairdemon with his duties at work, I also teach siege tactics class and manage the student dorms here at Babyls. You've met my husband, Shichiro-" [she gestures to the man in question] "as well as my other husband, Kalego, I'm sure. As for Opera, our version of them is my older sibling! Does that help clear things up~?"💜
[Iruma's ears twitched like they were trying to perk up by they couldn't. He smiled softly and nodded slightly.] So Opera is your big sibling? That's cool! [He giggled, leaning against Balam again.] And your married to Professor Kalego and Balam, how nice!
...
WAIT! YOU CAN GET MARRIED TO MORE THAN ONE PERSON?! THAT'S ALLOWED?! [He asks in shock and awe.]
"Demons are greedy, after all." [Shichiro chuckles.] "Though many more territorial demons prefer not to share. It's a matter of personal taste, I suppose."
"The older generation was a bit stricter with it. The noble houses still are. Politics, I suppose." [She shrugs.] "Anyway, sweetheart, did you need something-?"
"Hmm? Ah, yes." [Shichiro pauses as something occurs to him.] "Hmm. . ."
"Iruma-kun? I'd love to talk more about all this tomorrow, but it's getting quite late. If you want to go home to the Sullivan estate, Aria-chan can take you. There is, however, already the Iruma-kun from our world living there. If that would feel awkward or uncomfortable, you would be more than welome at our house for the night. What would you like to do?"
[He didn't want to impose on the other Iruma's family time...or to draw the attention of anyone around the house...but if he went with Aria-san and Balam, he'd be imposing on them too!]
[Oh! Oh, he knew what to do!]
I-It's okay! I already have a place I can sleep! [It wasn't much of a lie! He's already found a tree by the second year tower that had nice thick branches and he had his baby blanket! So he won't be cold!]
[Iruma looked around the room he was order to stay in cautiously before sitting down on the ground. For some reason he was brought along to a meeting between Kalego and his father but was left in a random room with a firm order to stay there.]
[But there was a problem...he was bored.]
[So what does he do? He silently opens his chest bag and pulls out the new toy he'd gotten the day before from Professor Dali. He didn't know why but he loved the sound it made when he squished it.]
Squeeeeeak!
[Grinning he kept squeezing it, not knowing that anyone was near his "hiding" spot.]
(Mod: I'm sorry but this entered my head and refused to leave. 😅)
"Can you stop that." [Narnia asked, emerging from where he was resting (read: napping on the job) between two file cabinets. His long hair was tied back with a rubber band (as he couldn't find something else), spilling over his shoulder. Don't ask how or why, just know he's just become a father in...three days time?]
"Wasn't Kimaris in charge of yo-" [he made eye-contact with Iruma
[Iruma looked up at the sudden voice and blinked owlishly with his hand hovering over his squeaky lizard.]
[His rounded ears seemed to twitch a bit in an effort to perk up but it seemed something was stopping them.]
O-Oh! Um...h-hello Mr. Narnia! [He chuckles nervously, picking up his toy.] I-I'm sorry! I-I didn't...notice...um...
[His eyes drifted away as he tried to figure out what to do. Kalego had told him to never be alone with anyone from his family for safety reasons but now he's alone with his teachers brother!]
[He already knew he was nice! He protected him for goodness sakes! But still...after finding out what he does for a living scared him to NO wits end considering the state of his back.]
[Iruma nodded from his spot on the floor, clutching his toy.] Professor Balam had to go help his parents with something, grandpa and opera had to go see Mrs. Levi and...he didn't trust any of the other teachers not to fill me with sugar. [He chuckles, gently scratching his cheek.]
He said he had no other choice but to bring me along while he spoke to Mr. Knightwalker about something. But...he seemed really scared to bring me here. [Iruma frowned, his feet wiggling side to side on thought.]
[Narnia tilted his head to the right and placed a finger under his own chin as he thought. Kalego talked to father? What could he want with him? Anyways.]
[There's that wierd smell again. It smells demon, familiar, but wrong. Like a pup being born from a canine parent and an avian one. It grated on his senses. It was so wrong.]
"Come. We should get you to a proper waiting spot." [Narnia walked to the door.]
"Hish also brought his...fledgling today. You two can entertain each other."
[Iruma slowly stood and went to follow but then he remembered what Kalego had said.] I... I'm supposed to wait here. [He tries to say confidently but one look and he crumbled like a sand castle.]
[He quickly ran up to Narnia and went to instinctively take his hand but once he caught on to himself he stopped and held his squeaky lizard with both hands again.]
[He so badly wanted to pull out his baby blanket from his bag but stopped himself as the last time his teacher had seen it, he truly thought that he was going to faint or cry.]
[He didn't want to see that kind of look again...especially not on Narnia.]
[They walked in silence until they reached a waiting room. A proper one this time. It had a reception right to the right when you entered the door, a few chairs on the left, and a row of offices spanning down a hallway further in.]
"Here." [Narnia pointed to a chair.] "I'll get someone to inform my brother of your current location, as well as the fault with your last one. (That it was a filing cabinet room they'd use for filing-punishments)" [He opened his hellphone and dialed a number. Sitting down himself while maintaining proper posture.]
[Iruma quickly sat down and noticed he was a little short for his seat since his feet weren't on the ground. He smiled and kicked his feet slowly, just happily sitting there.]
[He looked around curiously and even sniffed the air a few times to see if anyone was close by. He did catch a faint hint of someone familiar but he couldn't quite-]
[Feeling a chill go up his spine he whimpered softly, as if he was a frightened pup and looked around again. But this time he was looking for the danger he sensed. He hopped off his seat and moved to one much closer to Narnia.]
[A second or two later Officer Amy walked past the them and to an office with a stack of paper work, glaring at Iruma the entire way.]
[Narnia placed his hand, fingers pointed downwards diagonally to the ground besides Iruma, in front of the boy. He put the phone to his ear, shooting Ami a glare and making him walk away faster.]
[Finally, Hish picked up]
"Hello, Hish. Yes. All is well. My brother's student is with me in the east reception. Inform my brother of that. Ah. You're with the fledgeling. ...
You can leave it with me. Them. My apologies. I can watch them until you return. I'm serious. My schedule is free until," [he checked his watch,] "fourty minutes from now.
...No this is not because of Kalego. Stop that.
...Yes. He's at room 8212. Talking with fa-a prisoner.
Thank you. Yes. I'll see you soon."
[Narnia put the phone away.]
"Hish will arrive soon with his fledgeling before informing Kalego." [He explained, removing his hand from where it had guarded Iruma.]
[Iruma nods slightly, watching the door that his Senpai's brother went through with a slight shake in his shoulders.]
[Something in his brain was telling him to hide until papa Kalego returns or at least until Ami leaves the area fully. He could still smell him and it was making his danger sense to go crazy. Maybe he could...?]
[Slinking down to the floor he manages to fit himself under his chair and lays there on his belly. Ah! There! Now he felt safe.]
[If it were possible, flowers would've floated around his head from how proud he felt of his hiding spot.]
"What the-" [Narnia cut himself off, eyeing the way the kid hid himself. He rarely interacted with his clan's kids -often being far too busy to ever do so- save for Kalego, but Narnia recognized the way Iruma laid himself on his stomach. Hiding.]
[Hiding like a hellhound pup would do.]
[Like a Naberius child.]
[It made him so confused.]
[The door opened again and Fenrir Hish walked in carrying his fledeling. The small demon peeked over their father's shoulder with wide eyes before burrowing back into his shouder.]
"Hish." [Narnia greeted, getting up.] "Thank you for agreeing to this on such a short notice."
[Fenrir looks down at Iruma, then to Narnia. There seem to be some silent conversation going on between them before finally, Hish turns to the fledgeling.]
"I'll just be gone for a minute, okay? Narnia-san will watch over you for me, so a be a good kid, okay?" [The kid only clings tighter.] "I wanna be with papa!" {They whine into his shoulder.] "I wanna see how you work!"
"Your father's work right now is for older demons. And he needs both hands free." [Narnia says to the kid, trying to placate their fussiness]
[Some converstaion later, and the fledgeling's left with Narnia and Iruma, the former of who now has Fenrir's signarture coat in his hands.]
"Sit down on a chair, and I'll let you hold your father's coat." [Narnia says, taking a seat again.]
[Iruma gently guides the little one to a chair and helps them sit down since it seemed to be too tall to do so easily.]
[He takes a seat next to the child and slowly kicks his legs again, squeezing his lizard a bit but not enough to make it squeak.] H-Hi there. [He smiles softly in greeting.] I'm Iruma!
[Iruma smiles.] That's a nice name! Way better than mine. [He chuckles, watching them play with the coat.] Does playing with the coat make you feel better?
[Reaching into his bag he pulls his baby blanket out slightly to show the little demon.] My blanket always makes me feel better.
[Iruma stared at it curiously before safely placing his blanket down to take the offered sleeve. His eyes went wide as he happily played with the material.] Oooo! [He whispered.]
[Iruma was so focused on the sleeve that he hadn't noticed his blanket fell out his bag with a soft thump.]
[The blanket was now visible to Narnia. The fabric itself was a soft purple with dark purple dog prints all over it, it was free of stains and looked very well taken care of.]
[Narnia bent forward and picked up the blanket. Holding it between his slender fingers as he felt the fabric over. This was-]
[He brought it too his nose, almost dropping it and recoiling at the vulgar smell coming off. It was so strong it made him sick.]
[He swallowed the bile (mod: dramatic bitch) climbing in his throat and folded the blanket neatly. The hybrid (there was no other way around it) had already seen him in a...less-than-dignified state. There was no way Narnia would let him see him in another.]
[Iruma watched for a moment and quickly stood to try and help him but when he was leveled with a harsh glare, he felt his heart stop and a cold chill go up his spine.]
[Why...Where had he...felt those eyes before?]
Because you have. Just when you were very little...and there was another that used to be sent your way...
[When his heart started up again, Iruma felt sick. Like, sick sick. Panting he looks around and slips to the floor. He crawled under a chair and faced the wall, whimpers falling from his lips.]
[Why was he so scared all of a sudden?! He's used to feeling scared so why was he...he terrified right now?!]
[Iruma looked around the room he was order to stay in cautiously before sitting down on the ground. For some reason he was brought along to a meeting between Kalego and his father but was left in a random room with a firm order to stay there.]
[But there was a problem...he was bored.]
[So what does he do? He silently opens his chest bag and pulls out the new toy he'd gotten the day before from Professor Dali. He didn't know why but he loved the sound it made when he squished it.]
Squeeeeeak!
[Grinning he kept squeezing it, not knowing that anyone was near his "hiding" spot.]
(Mod: I'm sorry but this entered my head and refused to leave. 😅)
"Can you stop that." [Narnia asked, emerging from where he was resting (read: napping on the job) between two file cabinets. His long hair was tied back with a rubber band (as he couldn't find something else), spilling over his shoulder. Don't ask how or why, just know he's just become a father in...three days time?]
"Wasn't Kimaris in charge of yo-" [he made eye-contact with Iruma
[Iruma looked up at the sudden voice and blinked owlishly with his hand hovering over his squeaky lizard.]
[His rounded ears seemed to twitch a bit in an effort to perk up but it seemed something was stopping them.]
O-Oh! Um...h-hello Mr. Narnia! [He chuckles nervously, picking up his toy.] I-I'm sorry! I-I didn't...notice...um...
[His eyes drifted away as he tried to figure out what to do. Kalego had told him to never be alone with anyone from his family for safety reasons but now he's alone with his teachers brother!]
[He already knew he was nice! He protected him for goodness sakes! But still...after finding out what he does for a living scared him to NO wits end considering the state of his back.]
[Iruma nodded from his spot on the floor, clutching his toy.] Professor Balam had to go help his parents with something, grandpa and opera had to go see Mrs. Levi and...he didn't trust any of the other teachers not to fill me with sugar. [He chuckles, gently scratching his cheek.]
He said he had no other choice but to bring me along while he spoke to Mr. Knightwalker about something. But...he seemed really scared to bring me here. [Iruma frowned, his feet wiggling side to side on thought.]
[Narnia tilted his head to the right and placed a finger under his own chin as he thought. Kalego talked to father? What could he want with him? Anyways.]
[There's that wierd smell again. It smells demon, familiar, but wrong. Like a pup being born from a canine parent and an avian one. It grated on his senses. It was so wrong.]
"Come. We should get you to a proper waiting spot." [Narnia walked to the door.]
"Hish also brought his...fledgling today. You two can entertain each other."
[Iruma slowly stood and went to follow but then he remembered what Kalego had said.] I... I'm supposed to wait here. [He tries to say confidently but one look and he crumbled like a sand castle.]
[He quickly ran up to Narnia and went to instinctively take his hand but once he caught on to himself he stopped and held his squeaky lizard with both hands again.]
[He so badly wanted to pull out his baby blanket from his bag but stopped himself as the last time his teacher had seen it, he truly thought that he was going to faint or cry.]
[He didn't want to see that kind of look again...especially not on Narnia.]
[They walked in silence until they reached a waiting room. A proper one this time. It had a reception right to the right when you entered the door, a few chairs on the left, and a row of offices spanning down a hallway further in.]
"Here." [Narnia pointed to a chair.] "I'll get someone to inform my brother of your current location, as well as the fault with your last one. (That it was a filing cabinet room they'd use for filing-punishments)" [He opened his hellphone and dialed a number. Sitting down himself while maintaining proper posture.]
[Iruma quickly sat down and noticed he was a little short for his seat since his feet weren't on the ground. He smiled and kicked his feet slowly, just happily sitting there.]
[He looked around curiously and even sniffed the air a few times to see if anyone was close by. He did catch a faint hint of someone familiar but he couldn't quite-]
[Feeling a chill go up his spine he whimpered softly, as if he was a frightened pup and looked around again. But this time he was looking for the danger he sensed. He hopped off his seat and moved to one much closer to Narnia.]
[A second or two later Officer Amy walked past the them and to an office with a stack of paper work, glaring at Iruma the entire way.]
[Narnia placed his hand, fingers pointed downwards diagonally to the ground besides Iruma, in front of the boy. He put the phone to his ear, shooting Ami a glare and making him walk away faster.]
[Finally, Hish picked up]
"Hello, Hish. Yes. All is well. My brother's student is with me in the east reception. Inform my brother of that. Ah. You're with the fledgeling. ...
You can leave it with me. Them. My apologies. I can watch them until you return. I'm serious. My schedule is free until," [he checked his watch,] "fourty minutes from now.
...No this is not because of Kalego. Stop that.
...Yes. He's at room 8212. Talking with fa-a prisoner.
Thank you. Yes. I'll see you soon."
[Narnia put the phone away.]
"Hish will arrive soon with his fledgeling before informing Kalego." [He explained, removing his hand from where it had guarded Iruma.]
[Iruma nods slightly, watching the door that his Senpai's brother went through with a slight shake in his shoulders.]
[Something in his brain was telling him to hide until papa Kalego returns or at least until Ami leaves the area fully. He could still smell him and it was making his danger sense to go crazy. Maybe he could...?]
[Slinking down to the floor he manages to fit himself under his chair and lays there on his belly. Ah! There! Now he felt safe.]
[If it were possible, flowers would've floated around his head from how proud he felt of his hiding spot.]
"What the-" [Narnia cut himself off, eyeing the way the kid hid himself. He rarely interacted with his clan's kids -often being far too busy to ever do so- save for Kalego, but Narnia recognized the way Iruma laid himself on his stomach. Hiding.]
[Hiding like a hellhound pup would do.]
[Like a Naberius child.]
[It made him so confused.]
[The door opened again and Fenrir Hish walked in carrying his fledeling. The small demon peeked over their father's shoulder with wide eyes before burrowing back into his shouder.]
"Hish." [Narnia greeted, getting up.] "Thank you for agreeing to this on such a short notice."
[Fenrir looks down at Iruma, then to Narnia. There seem to be some silent conversation going on between them before finally, Hish turns to the fledgeling.]
"I'll just be gone for a minute, okay? Narnia-san will watch over you for me, so a be a good kid, okay?" [The kid only clings tighter.] "I wanna be with papa!" {They whine into his shoulder.] "I wanna see how you work!"
"Your father's work right now is for older demons. And he needs both hands free." [Narnia says to the kid, trying to placate their fussiness]
[Some converstaion later, and the fledgeling's left with Narnia and Iruma, the former of who now has Fenrir's signarture coat in his hands.]
"Sit down on a chair, and I'll let you hold your father's coat." [Narnia says, taking a seat again.]
[Iruma gently guides the little one to a chair and helps them sit down since it seemed to be too tall to do so easily.]
[He takes a seat next to the child and slowly kicks his legs again, squeezing his lizard a bit but not enough to make it squeak.] H-Hi there. [He smiles softly in greeting.] I'm Iruma!
[Iruma smiles.] That's a nice name! Way better than mine. [He chuckles, watching them play with the coat.] Does playing with the coat make you feel better?
[Reaching into his bag he pulls his baby blanket out slightly to show the little demon.] My blanket always makes me feel better.
[Iruma stared at it curiously before safely placing his blanket down to take the offered sleeve. His eyes went wide as he happily played with the material.] Oooo! [He whispered.]
[Iruma was so focused on the sleeve that he hadn't noticed his blanket fell out his bag with a soft thump.]
[The blanket was now visible to Narnia. The fabric itself was a soft purple with dark purple dog prints all over it, it was free of stains and looked very well taken care of.]
[Gently massaging the little guys horn, Iruma nods.] After a few sessions with Professor Murmur, he suggested that I try it to have something to look forward to every week. [He smiles slightly.] One of the nicer Boarder Patrol Officers comes to collect my letter whenever I'm finished writing it.
[What he hasn't said yet was the fact that it was a Prison Pen Pal system and that he was matched up with an ex 13 Crowns member.]
[Iruma tilts his head in a curious way at the tone in his teachers voice.] Y-Yes. [He nods slightly, never once stopping his petting.] The um...The program is for Prison Demons that are incarcerated within Demon Boarder Patrol HQ.
[Iruma opens his Three Magical Siblings book and pulls out a piece of paper with writing on it. He holds it out to Balam.] This was my last letter that I got from him.
[The letter was filled with typical, everyday banter and talk but near the last paragraph it started to get strange. The person was talking about finally getting out thanks to one of his sons connections and how they couldn't wait to rejoin their family...and to meet Iruma face to face. At the end it was marked simply "Sincerely, K.N."]
[Iruma thought for a moment.] Um...well he's in for kidnapping of his grandson and attempted murder, something he's told me he's regretted for a long time, I think he has purple hair because I found a piece stuck in the wax seal of one of the letters, he used to be a very powerful officer and he loves his sons very much...but not so much with his son in law. [He states with a frown.]
"Grand. . . son. . ?" [Shichiro repeats slowly, mind reeling as he tries to make sense of what he's hearing. If they're talking about who he thinks they're talking about, then the son-in-law is-]
[And to add the final nail in the coffin, Iruma frowned in what seemed to be confusion.] He had said once that he wished he could've just accepted that his grandson was a hybrid. He also said he should've listened to his old colleague when he said that all life is precious...[He spoke softly, gently scratching Nigipnir under his chin.]
[Shichiro feels light-headed. Things are suddenly adding up to make horrible, terrifying sense. Hybrid. Knightwalker's grandson. A cerberus. Gargoyle calls. Surgically altered ears. This- this Iruma is his-]
[Suddenly smells something off which made his nose wrinkle. Looking up at his teacher he gasped softly at how pale he had become and how his arms were slightly shaking.] Pro-Professor? Are...Are you okay? [He hops off his chair, only now noticing how close he was already, and reached out a small hand towards him.]
"Yeah." [Shichiro answers on autopilot again, reaching out to absentmindedly pet Iruma on the head.] "Yeah, I'm uh..."
He's getting dangerously stressed. He cannot go into a wicked phase right now. That would be a disaster. Deep breaths. Think it through. What does Iruma need? A safe place to rest, it's getting late. What does Shichiro himself need? To talk this through with his spouses. Devi, how is he supposed to do that without giving Kalego the biggest panic attack of his life-?! With support, that's how. Support sounds great actually. He needs- Yeah. He needs backup.
"Aria-chan-?" [He turns to adress the open air. With a soft little 'pop!' a woman appears out of nowhere next to him. She's only a little taller than Iruma himself, and looks oddly. . . familiar. Like a more distinctly feminine Opera, but with black hair.]
[Iruma yelped in surprise and instinctively dove into Balams' lap to hide himself and Nigipnir. He was usually used to people popping into existence as both Mother Purson and Soi Purson loved to startle him that way. But he was sleepy and still experiencing emotions he wasn't used to...so he was jumpy.]
[Shichiro, equally on instinct, catches him. Holding the boy with one arm and petting him over the head with his other hand, he gives his wife the best smile he can muster. She frowns immediately, clearly able to tell something is wrong and surprised to have caused such a reaction.]
"Oh my. . . I'm sorry, I didn't mean to alarm anyone."
"That's quite alright. This is Iruma-kun. He's a little different from the one we're used to and new to our side of things. Iruma-kun, it's alright. It's just Aria-chan."
"Hmm~ I see." [She smiles with gentle affection as she steps up to them, resting a hand on Shichiro's shoulder.] "Well, it's very nice to meet you again, Iruma-chama."💜
[Iruma whined like a puppy as he slowly looked up. He was still a little startled but the smile and the gentle Aura around her made him calm down quickly.]
H-Hello, Aria-sama...[He says softly, peeking out from Balam's arms.]
[He was a bit shy but he felt...he felt like he could trust this lady. After all, if Balam trusted her then he should too!]
[It was Iruma's turn to blink in surprise before coming out of his hiding spot fully, holding his little buddy like a baby against his shoulder. He didn't climb off Balam's lap but he did become more visible.]
Y-You do? I-I'm sorry, I don't think I've met you before...where I'm from. [He says softly.] Th-The one one that works for my family is actually Opera, my par-my caretaker.
[There is a long beat of silence. Both teachers appear to have frozen on the spot, staring. Shichiro tries to picture a world without his wife in it and is immediately hit with another wave of dread. Still, this. . . actually explains a few things-]
[The hand on his shoulder squeezes, grounding him back to the present as Aria recovers faster than he does. (Thank Devi-)]
"I see! In that case,"
[Smiling again, Aria takes a step back so she can dip into a sweeping bow.]
"please allow me to introduce myself~! My name is Aria, I am a Security Devil of the Sullivan household. In addition to assisting the chairdemon with his duties at work, I also teach siege tactics class and manage the student dorms here at Babyls. You've met my husband, Shichiro-" [she gestures to the man in question] "as well as my other husband, Kalego, I'm sure. As for Opera, our version of them is my older sibling! Does that help clear things up~?"💜
[Iruma's ears twitched like they were trying to perk up by they couldn't. He smiled softly and nodded slightly.] So Opera is your big sibling? That's cool! [He giggled, leaning against Balam again.] And your married to Professor Kalego and Balam, how nice!
...
WAIT! YOU CAN GET MARRIED TO MORE THAN ONE PERSON?! THAT'S ALLOWED?! [He asks in shock and awe.]
[Gently massaging the little guys horn, Iruma nods.] After a few sessions with Professor Murmur, he suggested that I try it to have something to look forward to every week. [He smiles slightly.] One of the nicer Boarder Patrol Officers comes to collect my letter whenever I'm finished writing it.
[What he hasn't said yet was the fact that it was a Prison Pen Pal system and that he was matched up with an ex 13 Crowns member.]
[Iruma tilts his head in a curious way at the tone in his teachers voice.] Y-Yes. [He nods slightly, never once stopping his petting.] The um...The program is for Prison Demons that are incarcerated within Demon Boarder Patrol HQ.
[Iruma opens his Three Magical Siblings book and pulls out a piece of paper with writing on it. He holds it out to Balam.] This was my last letter that I got from him.
[The letter was filled with typical, everyday banter and talk but near the last paragraph it started to get strange. The person was talking about finally getting out thanks to one of his sons connections and how they couldn't wait to rejoin their family...and to meet Iruma face to face. At the end it was marked simply "Sincerely, K.N."]
[Iruma thought for a moment.] Um...well he's in for kidnapping of his grandson and attempted murder, something he's told me he's regretted for a long time, I think he has purple hair because I found a piece stuck in the wax seal of one of the letters, he used to be a very powerful officer and he loves his sons very much...but not so much with his son in law. [He states with a frown.]
"Grand. . . son. . ?" [Shichiro repeats slowly, mind reeling as he tries to make sense of what he's hearing. If they're talking about who he thinks they're talking about, then the son-in-law is-]
[And to add the final nail in the coffin, Iruma frowned in what seemed to be confusion.] He had said once that he wished he could've just accepted that his grandson was a hybrid. He also said he should've listened to his old colleague when he said that all life is precious...[He spoke softly, gently scratching Nigipnir under his chin.]
[Shichiro feels light-headed. Things are suddenly adding up to make horrible, terrifying sense. Hybrid. Knightwalker's grandson. A cerberus. Gargoyle calls. Surgically altered ears. This- this Iruma is his-]
[Suddenly smells something off which made his nose wrinkle. Looking up at his teacher he gasped softly at how pale he had become and how his arms were slightly shaking.] Pro-Professor? Are...Are you okay? [He hops off his chair, only now noticing how close he was already, and reached out a small hand towards him.]
"Yeah." [Shichiro answers on autopilot again, reaching out to absentmindedly pet Iruma on the head.] "Yeah, I'm uh..."
He's getting dangerously stressed. He cannot go into a wicked phase right now. That would be a disaster. Deep breaths. Think it through. What does Iruma need? A safe place to rest, it's getting late. What does Shichiro himself need? To talk this through with his spouses. Devi, how is he supposed to do that without giving Kalego the biggest panic attack of his life-?! With support, that's how. Support sounds great actually. He needs- Yeah. He needs backup.
"Aria-chan-?" [He turns to adress the open air. With a soft little 'pop!' a woman appears out of nowhere next to him. She's only a little taller than Iruma himself, and looks oddly. . . familiar. Like a more distinctly feminine Opera, but with black hair.]
[Iruma yelped in surprise and instinctively dove into Balams' lap to hide himself and Nigipnir. He was usually used to people popping into existence as both Mother Purson and Soi Purson loved to startle him that way. But he was sleepy and still experiencing emotions he wasn't used to...so he was jumpy.]
[Shichiro, equally on instinct, catches him. Holding the boy with one arm and petting him over the head with his other hand, he gives his wife the best smile he can muster. She frowns immediately, clearly able to tell something is wrong and surprised to have caused such a reaction.]
"Oh my. . . I'm sorry, I didn't mean to alarm anyone."
"That's quite alright. This is Iruma-kun. He's a little different from the one we're used to and new to our side of things. Iruma-kun, it's alright. It's just Aria-chan."
"Hmm~ I see." [She smiles with gentle affection as she steps up to them, resting a hand on Shichiro's shoulder.] "Well, it's very nice to meet you again, Iruma-chama."💜
[Iruma whined like a puppy as he slowly looked up. He was still a little startled but the smile and the gentle Aura around her made him calm down quickly.]
H-Hello, Aria-sama...[He says softly, peeking out from Balam's arms.]
[He was a bit shy but he felt...he felt like he could trust this lady. After all, if Balam trusted her then he should too!]
[It was Iruma's turn to blink in surprise before coming out of his hiding spot fully, holding his little buddy like a baby against his shoulder. He didn't climb off Balam's lap but he did become more visible.]
Y-You do? I-I'm sorry, I don't think I've met you before...where I'm from. [He says softly.] Th-The one one that works for my family is actually Opera, my par-my caretaker.
