The Show Must Go On | Wenclair x Reader (Chapter 2)
Chapter 1
There are two things to know about Lyra Dusk: she is a bubbly pop star wrapped in gothic lace, and she is not at Nevermore by choice.
To the public she is the sacrificial lamb sent to the academy to be a symbol of unity. They believe that this is a gesture to heal the rift between normies and outcasts after the chaos of the last school year. Lyra knows better. This act isn’t about peace, it’s about control. It’s just another performance scripted by her stepmother. She’s just the star who can never refuse a role.
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Nevermore was meant to be another stage, another role she couldn’t refuse. But Wednesday saw through the script, and Enid rewrote it altogether.
Hi! Hope you enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed writing it. Let me know what you think. ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ I’m also taking requests for any Wenclair x OC/Reader pairing combination and maybe others. I want to have more writting practice.
Principal Dort’s office was something… Lyra considered it to be unnecessarily large, so much so that even the darker walls and decor did not seem to make the space diminish how grand it appeared. Her gaze was stuck on the medusa shaped fireplace for longer than it should have been if the slight glare she got from her stepmother was anything to go by.
“This place is very lovely, Principal Dort. The fireplace is a real,” she searched for the most appropriate word to say, “showstopper.”
She wasn’t sure if it was the compliments or the literal award-winning smile she told them with, but both the Principal and her stepmother seemed pleased enough with her performance and after a proud “Thank you.” from the man, went right back to what they were in the office for in the first place.
“Please,” Dort said sitting on his chair, indicating to the two other chairs placed before his desk. “Sit.”
Vivienne took the lead, sitting herself down on the chair like royalty would sit upon a throne. She kept her back straight, crossed one leg over the other and folded her hands together on top of her legs. Her face still stuck on that soft brightness that made everyone just a tad more agreeable.
Lyra stood just inside of the door for a moment longer. With her phone still in hand and her bag strap digging into her shoulder. Despite its size the room felt heavy to her, and cold in a way that didn’t help the chill still in her bones.
“Principal Dort,” Vivienne said as Lyra moved to the other chair, ”Thank you so much for personally welcoming us here. I am aware that the circumstances of Lyra’s enrollment are particularly unusual, but I strongly believe that all of that just gives us more reason to do this correctly.”
Lyra lowered herself into the second chair beside Vivienne and took the time to arrange her skirt so that the ruffles lay just right.
The principal nodded. “Oh no, no need to thank me for that Mrs. Dusk-Vale, after all, we here at Nevermore are all very thankful for the trust you are placing on us. I’m sure that in your line of work you understand how important optics can be, especially after the scandal we suffered last year. I have personally gone through everything you’ve sent us.” His gaze flickered to Lyra who still smiled up at him and then returned to Vivienne.”Our mutual goal here is to make sure Miss Dusk integrates into the student body in a way that sets a positive example for all others to follow.”
Vivienne’s smile grew just slightly. “Exactly, and I trust that a shared dormitory has been arranged for my little star?”
Lyra kept her face still, even if the words hit her like a punch in the stomach, the muscles on her face were too well trained after years of acting classes and slightly inappropriate questions in interviews to allow news like that to make her drop her smile. There goes her privacy. The principal, unaware of the thoughts in Lyra’s head, seemed extremely pleased.
“Yes, of course. That has been approved and handled. I also find that sharing a living space with her new peers will encourage cooperation and help us all mend some destroyed bridges.” He laced his fingers together at the last word.
“It most certainly will,” Vivienne agreed. “ I feared a private room would send the wrong message. Lyra definitely understands that being part of a community means being present in it.” Her hand settled heavily on Lyra’s shoulder. What would be interpreted as a loving gesture by others was read as the threat it was by Lyra.
“Yes,” Lyra interjected, “I can’t wait to meet my new roommate, we’re going to be best friends.” Her tone came out bright and cheery, with a cadence she’d not only spent hours perfecting, but also used hundreds of times before. Inside she just shoved the disappointment she was feeling into a little drawer and used all her metaphysical weight to slam it closed.
“Good, good,” Dort said. “One little correction though. Roommates. You’ll have two. We figured that, considering we are doing all of this to improve the normie and outcast relationships we figured that there was no better placement for you than with two of the people responsible for saving our beloved Nevermore. So you’ll be staying at Ophelia Hall with Wednesday Addams and Enid Sinclair.
“That’s great!” Lyra said. “Can’t wait to meet these two extra special roommates.” Extra special freaks. She corrected in her mind but the two other people in the room only saw her excited smile.
Vivienne seemed satisfied. “Wonderful. There is also the matter of the uniform. Consistency is important and my little Lyra does have a certain image to uphold.”
“Oh, yes,” Dort cleared his throat, reaching for something behind his chair. It was a garment bag that had been hung on the top of the chair. “Your team provided very detailed specifications that we followed to the dot. We have made this one for you to double check if you need any alterations they will be done, if everything is alright they should have a few more uniforms sent to her room within the next few days.
Lyra and Vivienne watched as Dort unzipped the bag. Overall it did look similar to the uniforms she’d seen on the other students on the way to the office. She would fit in but not blend in.
The blazer had the school’s black and purple pinstriped pattern but the waist had been drawn in and the sleeves were a little tighter and shorter. The blouse was white and made of a light fabric that wouldn’t add bulk to her frame and the sleeves ended in small lace ruffles that started at the place the blazer ended around its neck was a silk ribbon bow. The plaid skirt would end well above her knees and held a second layer that gave it some shape, the hem ended in more silk ruffles.
The principal reached under his desk and placed two things on the desk besides the opened bag. The item on top was a pair of knee-high socks that also ended in some ruffles, which she thought she’d be able to avoid by wearing a uniform. They always make the back of her knee itchy. Below the socks were platformed black shiny Mary Janes.
“It remains within code.” Dort said. “Barely, but yes. I expect proper conduct from Lyra whilst in this uniform.” “The uniform is perfect and she already knows what is expected.” Vivienne replied before Lyra could. It suited her fine, she was already past done with this conversation.
The uniform was laid on the table and the end of the blazer fell onto Lyra’s and Vivienne’s side of the desk. Lyra reached out to feel it. It was soft at least and she didn’t find it ugly, at least it had some color unlike all the other clothes her stepmother had chosen for her. However Lyra was not under the delusion that this would simply be another stage outfit. Just another set of clothes chosen for her to play the character they need.
“One more thing, As we discussed little Lyra has a standing appointment in town every other Tuesday.The first one will be tomorrow, there will be a driver at the gates to pick her up and she will be brought back by a driver as well.”
“Ah, yes, we did not forget that. With the tightened restrictions that was a little harder to obtain, but Lyra does have permission to leave the grounds on Tuesdays and is excused from classes. It would be better if we did have a time frame to adhere to.”
Vivienne’s left eye did a slight twitch at the last part. “I understand that fixed hours would help you, however, I can not provide them. You must understand our side here. These Tuesdays are for her to have a few classes to make sure she doesn’t lose her talent, she may also need to record a few things. Some days she may be done earlier than others, some days she may need to stay until later in the night. Unfortunately without that it would be impossible for her to attend this prestigious academy.”
“Well, we’ll have to make do then.” He took a laminated piece of paper from the folder in front of him and handed it to Lyra. “You shouldn’t need this but if you are caught by someone who isn’t properly informed of the situation just hand them this and everything will be fine.”
Lyra took the pass and smiled at him. “Thank you, Principal Dort.”
“Yes, thank you. We appreciate what you are doing to make sure this works out for everyone.”
Dort closed the folder. And stood from his own chair. “With all of that being taken care of, allow me to properly welcome you to Nevermore, Miss Dusk. We will have a student bring you back to your dorm where your luggage should already be waiting. Orientation materials are in this packet, including the rule book.” He slid a slim binder across the desk towards Lyra. “Your mother and I will finish up here with contracts and signatures, then meet you at the entrance as soon as you finish up a school tour. Vivienne rose first and bent down to press a gentle kiss to Lyra’s hairline. “Make me proud.” She whispered.
Lyra stood up from the chair. The lace of the knee highs she was wearing brushed the back of her knee. She put her smile back on and held it.
“Thank you, Principal Dort,” she said, ”I’m glad I get to experience this school.”
The lie settled around her next to all the other ones she had had to say.
The phone at his desk rang and he answered it, having a short conversation before hanging up.
“Right on time,” he said, zipping up the garment bag and giving it to her. ”Your tour guide is just outside, I’m sure you’ll get along great.”
She bid them both goodbye, receiving an extra hug from her stepmother that she couldn’t reciprocate due to having her phone and packet in hand, and her new uniform and her bag in the other arm. Sad, she thought quite happily, and moved to leave the office.