୨ Diasomnia As Royal Au Tropes ୧

closer

synopsis: barbatos’ birthday was an unusually important occasion to you but it left you feeling rather disappointed. That is, until you were able to meet Barbatos in the garden.  (meant to be read as if it was the start of the exchange program while you two were still distant.)

word count: 1.3k warnings: grass

Even for the briefest of times that you’ve found yourself inside the Devildom; you’ve always looked upon Diavolo with a certain sense of pity. A certain restraint too – how can someone so special to everyone around him, someone so powerful that holds strands of all that goes on – be so lonely? Is it even alright to pity him for that? Perhaps his kind of lonely was a luxury only few could ever afford?  

But then again; you are simply a human. Someone out there would surely be brave enough and ignorant enough to say that even your kind of lonely inside this darkness where you were treated so fragilely but also savagely, was a luxurious feeling.  

You might be lonely but you’re in the darkness that hasn’t swallowed you.  

But, why even compare?   Isn’t loneliness enough by itself so that it means something?  

But over time, things surely change and you’ve grown more open to this realm and in response it seemed to grow gentler to you too.  

And you’ve realized – that Diavolo sees Barbatos as an extension of himself.

Continuar lendo

skinship

no problem, I'm happy to serve!! 😁

[I refuse to drown - Azul Ashengrotto]

Summary: He had hurt you. Azul had hurt you and he wasn't sure how he could ever forgive himself, the guilt gnawing at his core. Despite that, you still smile at him. 

Notes: reader and azul knew each other before chapter 3, gn!reader, angst and hurt/comfort, self deprecating thoughts, some mentions of blood, injury and death but none too graphic, not proof read

Azul had lost everything.

Everything he had built painstakingly for years, crawling himself from the bottom of the depths, that he exhausted himself for, that he carefully planned and gained through his hard work. Gone, just like that, floating away in the wind the same way the sand of the beach is carried away by the waves.

But, the worst of all: he lost control. 

Control of himself, his actions and his mind. Azul couldn't remember what happened after seeing his contracts disintegrating, only that he felt more despair than ever before. Even when he was isolated and mocked by the other merman, he's never felt such helplessness, such anguish, such misery. 

His mind was muddy, he didn't feel like he was in his body. Why would it matter, anyway? It was all gone, gone, gone. 

He let himself drown in the feeling.

Drowning was a strange sensation. Azul, being a merman, never thought he could experience it, but Night Raven College was full of surprises. His lungs felt full, an inky substance occupying where once was air. His vision was dark, as if he had fallen into an abyss. He couldn't bring himself to care.

Azul didn't know which was worse, the hopeless feelings or the lack thereof. 

He stayed floating into nothingness for a while. He wasn't conscious, but he was. He was there, but he wasn't. He didn't have a body, but he did. If he could manage to string a coherent thought together, it might have been something like this: "Is this what death looks like?" Perhaps if he could muster enough strenght to feel something, he might have felt regret for all the things he still had left to do.

If he looked deep into himself, deeper than he was willing to, he might have found that he regretted making you sign one of his rigged contracts and dragging you into this mess. He should have known better than understimating you, he should have known that something like this would happen. After all, you were amazing enough to catch his attention. What made him think you wouldn't be amazing enough to find a way out of his deal? What made him think Jade and Floyd would be enough to disencourage you? What made him think someone like him, so dirty and insicere, could ever dampen someone like you, so determined and bright?

He didn't think about any of it. He didn't think about anything.

The first thing Azul felt when he came back to his senses was light against his eyelids. He was back at the surface. His body ached all over but his lungs no longer bled that viscous black liquid and he felt alive once more. He was still alive.

He could smell a familiar scent, one that he was used to smelling back at the Coral Sea, so used to he didn't identify it a first. He heard shouting that seemed to be miles away and right by his ear at the same time. His slugish head couldn't distinguish what was being said by whom, but he could swear he heard your name, it's mention alone being enough to jolt eletricity back into his being and keep him awake. There were hurried footsteps getting farther away and he finally recognized what the smell was. It was the metalic smell of blood.

He tried to open his eyes but the bright lights of Mostro Lounge burned them, so he kept them tightly shut. He couldn't get up, his legs hurt more than any other part of his body. What had happened? He couldn't have... could he? The last thing he could remember happening before passing out was... oh.

Oh. He did. Azul had an overblot.

His breath hitched, but he forced himself to keep breathing in the air, to keep the blot out, out of his system and out of his lungs and out of his veins and out out out of him. He bit his tounge, clenched his fists and forced his sore eyes to open.

The contracts, they were gone. His life's work. He had made a fool of himself in front of another housewarden. He had an overblot and put everyone in danger. He had put you in danger.

Jade and Floyd were by his side. They were talking to him, but he couldn't register the words. His head was underwater, the pressure weighting him down, his ears filled with water and dripping, dripping, dripping.

He could still smell the blood. Ah, it felt just like home.

Azul looked at his lower half, almost sure in some hysterical part of his brain that he would find his tentacles there. His legs laid on the floor, clean and useless. He breathed a sigh of relief. Still, he couldn't help but wish the blood was his.

He got the gist of what the twins were saying. Leona destroyed the contracts and you had managed to adquire his childhood photo. They were mocking him for the tantrum he threw, but he could tell they were worried. There wasn't much force behind the half hearted taunts and no matter how much they tried to hide, Azul knew them just like they knew him. They were aggravated at what happened as well, no matter how much they pretended they couldn't care less.

"What would you like us to do about the photo?" 

"I'm pretty sure we could just snatch it up with how shrimpy is now, but man, I'm not in the mood for it."

"...I don't care about the photo anymore. Tell me, what happened to the prefect?"

Jade looked at him with pity and Floyd's mood deteriorated. There was a bottomless pit of dread at his stomach, his throat felt dry all of sudden. His eyes burned, but no tears fell from them. When had his breathing become so erratic?

As soon as the twins broke the news to him, Azul tried to stand up and see you, not caring for how much his legs ached and hurt and screamed at him to stay down. Good, he thought with venom, so much loathing and disdain it left a sour feeling in his mouth, they better be hurting after what he'd done. He deserves worse.

Jade helped him balance himself on his legs and Floyd laughed at his clumsy footing, as if it was the first time the three of them set foot on land and were just learning how to walk. Azul felt like he had been stripped from his tentacles and siphon all over again. He had been stripped from his skin and from his mind, had been laid open and bare and vulnerable for all to see, had his chest teared apart and his lungs leaking onto the floor.

Once they arrived at the infirmary, Azul was almost jumped by your friends. The Heartslabyul duo and the young Savanaclaw seemed ready to plummet him to the ground, no care for his condition, if it weren't for Jade and Floyd tanking him by both sides like bodyguards. Azul was glad they didn't care, he was glad they worried so much about you. He would have let them hit him and taken the beating, there wasn't much of his pride left to salvage anyway.

The school nurse had just finished attending you and promptly went to work on his injuries. The Headmaster appeared at the infirmary right after Azul was discharged, no doubt already knowing what happened. He had never seem Crowley look as serious as he did when he asked for the three of them to accompany him to his office. 

Azul's body was exhausted, he clearly needed to rest. Still, he agreed without a fuss, the twins following him closely from behind. He could feel Jade's gaze burning the back of his neck, but he couldn't gather enough energy to care for whatever was going on the eelmer's mind. He felt empty, almost hollow. Frighteningly so, like he was still on that void state, disconnected from his body. Was he even awake?

The talk with the Headmaster was a long and tiring one. At the end of it, Azul accepted the new terms for him to keep running Mostro Lounge at the school, gripping tightly to the only thing he had left. He couldn't lose his beloved restaurant alongside everything else, it would be too much, more than he could handle.

It was dark by the time they were excused to go back to their dorm. Azul felt and looked like a mess, not like the businessman he took pride in being. His hair was dishevelled, there were eyebags under his eyes and his mouth was set in a firm line for a while, not managing much more emoting. 

There was a restlessness under his skin, on his muscles, deep in his bones, down onto every single cell. No matter how worn out he was, there was no way he would be able to sit back. Not until he saw you with his own eyes, saw exactly how much damage he had caused. 

He wasn't able to muster up the courage to look the twins in the face as he told them to go ahead, that he had something to do. Luckly, they decided he had suffered enough and didn't kick up much of a fuss before leaving him alone.

The walk to the infirmary felt like a fever dream, too long and too short at the same time. Azul wondered if your friends were still there at this time, if you were awake, if he was even allowed to enter. He stayed rooted in front of the entrance, trying to gather every last bit of confidence to put up his usual serene façade. 

He wouldn't let you see how affected he was by the whole ordeal. This wasn't supposed to be about him, he wanted to take a look at you. You, who had been nothing but friendly to him, who had caught his attention early on, who spent time with him at Mostro Lounge, who he admired so much, who wormed your way into his heart and refused to leave.

Azul was afraid you hated him now, but by the Sevens how much he wished you did. Why wouldn't you, after he tried to scam you out of your house and almost got you killed. All for his selfishness, for his stupid pride and greed. He was ready for you to scream at him, to hit him, say you never wanted to see him again. Even if the mere thought was enough for him to feel like throwing up, he knew it would be better if he stayed away from you and your light. That way, he wouldn't hurt you again, never again.

Steeling himself with the fakiest smile on his face, he pushed the door open, hands shaking.

The infirmary was quiet, no one in sight save for you. You were laying on one of the first beds, a peaceful expression on your face. You looked beautiful. You always did, to him. There were bandages all over where your skin was visible. Azul could feel the guilt choking him. How could he have the audacity to come talk to you after he was the one that did this?

He turned around and was about to leave when he heard you whisper. It was spoken so softly he wouldn't have heard at all if he wasn't hyperaware of you. "Stay." 

Azul stayed. He could never deny anything you asked for. Especially not when you sounded so pleading, when you looked at him like that.

There was a chair next to your bed, so umconfortable looking as it must feel. But it was the best way to stay closer to you, so he sat on it, waiting for you to drop the guillotine over his head for his sins. 

The silence was suffocating, denser than the pressure at the bottom of the ocean. He wanted you to say something, anything. His gaze was on the floor, lips pulled back, brows furrowed. If he closed his eyes, only the darkness would welcome him, swallow him whole, so he kept them stubbornly open.

"Azul." It felt like a blessing, like a drop of water after walking through the desert, like a warm embrace. Azul relished the way you said his name, the delicious entonation as your tongue rolled over every letter. He wanted to beg you to say it again and again. The only thing he does is lifting his head to look at you.

The proximity between you two was startling. He hadn't noticed how close you were, hadn't noticed you raising your hand, hadn't noticed the shine in your eye. He thought you were about to slap him, but couldn't drag his stare away from your eyes. They looked so gentle, so full of... something. He wouldn't dare try to name the emotion behind them, wouldn't dare hope.

Your hand made contact with his cheek, making him flinch lightly. There was no sting, only your warmth as you held his face. Your fingers left burning imprints where they touched, marked him from the inside out. Wide blue eyes meet your affectionate ones, so open and honest. Why were you being so gentle to him? Acting like nothing happened, like things were the same as before this whole mess occurred. 

"I'm glad." You confess softly, a secret meant only for the two of you, thumb brushing against his cheeks as he leans into your touch and lets himself melt into it while he still can. "I'm glad you're alright, Azul." 

"How can you say that when you're the one laying on a hospital bed?" His voice falls flat, trying to hide his emotions. But he's a cracked shell, his insides are spilling out into your palms, plain for you to pick apart and analyse as you please.

You smile, your joy is so sincere Azul can feel his eyes burn with unshead tears. How could he ever hurt someone like you? How could you still look at him without an once of hatred or disguist or fear?

"I was worried about you." You state as if it was the simplest thing in the world, because it is, to you. The sky is blue, the ocean is cold and you care about Azul. You say as if you aren't shattering his last bits of composure, as if you aren't breaking his heart into little jagged pieces. 

"Don't say that." He manages to choke out, as if the mere words hurt his throat, voice watery and breaking. "Please, don't say that." The 'I don't deserve it' is not said out loud, but both of you can hear it.

"How can I not? It's the truth." His tears flow freely, no longer under his control as he feels the urge to sob, to beg for forgiveness, to hide and never see you again in fear of hurting you. Only you had this effect on him, only you could break his barriers and composure so easily. 

You brush his tears away, whispering reassurances. Wasn't him supposed to be the one reassuring you? He had come to see how you were, to apologize, to let you scream at him, anything. He could take it if you hated him, he would understand, but how could your gaze still hold so much fondness in it, so much love? The guilt shatters him, pierces his heart, make his sobs louder. How cruel could your kindness be?

He had hurt you. Azul had hurt you and he wasn't sure how he could ever forgive himself, the guilt gnawing at his core. Despite that, you still smile at him. 

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He repeats, over and over. You say you forgive him, but he keeps going until his voice is hoarse. You don't, no, you can't understand it. You did nothing wrong, you're not like him, hands stained with blood and rot. He lets his guilt out before it festers and consumes him. It isn't enough to make up to you, although it does make him feel a little bit better, to let it all out like this.

You don't lie to him. You don't say it wasn't his fault or that he wasn't in the wrong, but you don't rub it in either. Azul appreciates it, the sincerity. He knows you can hold him accountable when the time is right. For now, you comfort him. You tell him how nobody else could put such effective notes together, how determinated and hardworking he is. How his past doesn't define him and how he has greater strenghts than any magic. He drinks every word up, commiting them to memory.

As his tears seem to dry out alongside his voice, you pull him closer to yourself. He submerges himself into you, your scent, your voice, your touch. He would happily let himself drown on the sensation. You just hold him, rubbing circles on his back and lending him your shoulder. 

It's like time has frozen over. Azul wishes it had. He could stay like this with you for hours if you'd let him, although he doesn't feel ready to admit it, be it to you or to himself. 

Everything is not right. You're still hurt, his contracts are still gone and Azul still feels wrong, the effects of the overblot lingering underneath his skin. His reputation took a significant blow and he'll have to change the method he's always used to work at his own establishment. 

But not all is lost, either. He can start over, the right way this time. You'll be by his side, cheering him on. There's a long road to improvement and Azul has never been one to get scared by such things. He'll put his efforts on getting back on his feet and breaking the surface of the water, as he refuses to drown. 

The late hour weights on your tired bodies, causing you to yawn, your hold on him getting laxer. With the way his body aches, he wouldn't be able to go back to Octavinelle. In fact, he doesn't feel able to move from the chair he is in. He doesn't want to leave you from his sight, to lose your touch. 

You ask him to keep you company, prompting him to lay his head on your lap, an umconfortable position, as he has to bend his torso to reach it, but he doesn't mind. Just having you nearby will be enough. One of your hands interlock your fingers with his and the other plays with his hair as you hum, not letting the silence engulf the room. He's beyond grateful for that, for how you just seem to know what he needs and is more than willing to give it to him. He's never been handled with such care before, like he's wanted, like he's precious. It makes his body feel warm and he basks on it.

He waits until you stop your ministrations, until your breathing evens out and it's just him alone with his thoughts. He keeps his eyes shut, as he knows that if he dared to glance at your sleeping face his heart would burst with affection, the feelings he's trying to rein in exploding from his chest. 

Azul only has made a promise to himself once, when he was a little kid being bullied by his peers, eager to prove them wrong, to prove he could be better than their expectations. Now, he makes a new promise, to protect you and your kindness, to never let someone, least him, hurt you again, to make up for his own shortcomings and become someone you can be proud of.

He loses consciousness for the second time that day, but this time he knows he's alive. He feels it in the way his heart beats in sync with yours, the way his breaths come out from his mouth, the way your fingers are laced with his. 

Azul is alive and swimming to the surface, as he refuses to drown.

Masterlist

Hey hey if you could make an event in twst what would you want it to be about?,what characters would you wanna learn more about?

hello anon!!! oooh that's such an interesting question, I really like it!

to be honest I haven't given much thought to it before, as I've started to play the game kinda recently (almost 2 months now!) and haven't participated in a lot of the events, so I still have many of the available ones I wanna explore. all the events are so interesting, with their disney movie themes, character interactions and exclusive cards!

also, I'd be pretty content with learning more about any character, really, since they're all very well written and any new detail would be nice to learn and add to their whole picture! of course, if some of my favorites were to get choosen, that would make me happier, but I'd be satisfied with any character.

hmm, as I said here, I do think an April fools event would be nice! something more light hearted, filled with jokes and chaos. one example of April fools event that I've really enjoyed are from Mystic Messenger, as they are SO FUNNY, the characters are acting kind of crazy and it makes me lose it every time.

another event I think would be interesting is a valentine's day one. I know many people would like it to follow a more romantic route, and while I don't think it would work that well and am satisfied with the way things are, a valentine's event could be great for world building! do they have something like it? are their traditions like ours? is the date inspired by some famous tale? also, valentine's is a time to celebrate love, which can also be platonic and shared between friends! it would make a very wholesome event, after we get past the usual shenanigans.

if we are following the cliche route, then we need a beach day episode type of event. it would be even funnier if none of Octavinelle was included on it. imagining the first years going to spend a day at the Island's beach together sounds like so much fun!

I'd also LOVE a masquerade ball! maybe as a reference to Cinderela? the high tension and mystery and elegance of this type of event would be very appealing to me. AND IMAGINE THE BEAUTIFUL CARDS!! I just KNOW everyone would look amazing! the masks have a lot of potential to be creative and recall the original movies. I think it would work as a twistune event, and the soundtrack would be wonderful. imagining their little chibis all dressed up and dancing together in the background now.

one in which we get to explore more of the world would be nice as well, visiting the boys homeland (such as with the Harveston and the Scalding Sands events). the world building we would get to see would be amazing, and it might answer many questions! I particularly would be interested in visiting Sunset Savanna, maybe meeting Falena and the queen while having more Cheka cameos, and of course granny Bucchi as well, perhaps even Rook's family. or the Briar Valley, take a look at how different a fae habited land is and shine some light into Malleus' grandmother mystery. as both are kingdoms, I'd also want to explore how being part of royalty would affect their lives once they're in their own countries, and not at a neutral territory like NRC.

as I've seen it being done in fanfics before, an event in which some kind of potion experiment goes wrong and turns some of the boys into little kids would also be so cute. babysitter MC to the rescue! looking after the little brats as they cause trouble would surely be endearing. and if we get little kid cards, then what? (also, I think it would be a twistune event with nursery rhymes, but imagine it as a battle event for a second. we would get to fight literal little kids. yes they are bastards once they grow up but still. it would be so funny.) and any card would be extremely cute too.

as for something elaborate, I can think of a little storyline. Peter Pan, despite being one of disney's oldest movies and also iconic ones, didn't get any references in the game, at least none that I know of. Captain Hook is such a cool character, and I think there could be some teacher twisted from him, if not an entire dorm on his name. the point is: I really like pirates. so, I'd like a pirate themed event that would make references to Peter Pan. (look, I'm gonna be very biased towards my favorites right now, this would be a completely self indulgent event)

here's how it could go: there'd be rumors of a treasure somewhere in the Coral Sea, as recently many pirate ships have been swarming the waters in search of it. Crowley, of course, would also like to get his hands on the treasure, and who better to send to do his dirty work other than his minion MC? Azul, naturally, would want in, as the Coral Sea is his home and there is no better guide than him, though his help will come by the hefty price of 50% of the profit. the twins will be dragged into this as well, but happily so, as they'd love to visit their home again, even if it's on a boat.

other characters I think could enter: Ruggie, that was working at Mostro Lounge, heard everything and wanted in to get some of the supposed money too. Deuce, who might have been roped into another contract and was dragged by Azul to help them (they needed more hands on deck. Deuce will be cleaning it). and Silver, who either got roped into this mess by Lilia or got in trouble with the octatrio because of his sleeping habits and would go with them to make up for it.

I think their interactions as they imitate a pirate crew in the middle of the sea, stuck on a ship together, have immense comical potential. someone WOULD walk the plank (most likely Floyd). Ruggie would tell pirate stories and sing sea shanties. Deuce would do his best to act the part and try to talk like a pirate during the entire thing (he's really bad at it but he's got the spirit). Silver would befriend a bunch of seagulls and fish. Floyd would play with swords and almost cut something in half. Jade would have his fun by exploring their ship and learning how's the sea experience for people of the land. Azul would be stressed because where is that damn treasure!?

another thing that could happen would be a prince Rielle appearence! I'm super curious to see how he is and what exactly is his relationship with the Octavinelle guys. and imagine if he joins the crew to help? it would be so funny, the potential of someone who has known them since they were little kids joining in... plus, I'd get Neige and Che'nya to make a cameo at the end of the event and reveal Rielle has been going to RSA and is Neige's classmate!

for their cards I think Azul would be an SSR, as the captain of the crew (and finally would be wearing a hat that suits him). Ruggie would also have one, in which, differently from his halloween one, he would look more like a first mate (think Mr Smee like). Jade would be an SR, as the quartermaster. Floyd would be the other one, as the gunner, and he'd be holding pirate swords on both hands. Silver would be a R, as the boatswain, alongside Deuce, as the swabbie of the crew (bless him).

it would make a lot more sense for it to be a battle event, but I like twistunes and would like to hear the sea shanty like rythm they could come up with, too. if it was an option, a mix of the two would be ideal.

in the end, there might not be any treasure, or it doesn't have what they expected it to, rendering their efforts worthless, but it would have been such a nice trip! I'd have a lot of fun playing an event like this!

yall heard the man

Hey bestie 🥰 could i maybe request a part two to this wonderful work of art, but for the dorm leaders (or first years, i dont mind at all :D) this time?

If requests arent already full that is.

Anyways thank you for ur time! I really love ur writing 🥺💖

𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲'𝐬 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 - 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭

| Notes: Hi, anon!~ If you don’t mind, I picked the first years to do first. It’s been a while but I commented on a side-delayed project that would be basically requests that required two options and I choose one to do first or an add character on a request when the normal limit is 3. The thing is: I’ll write to the dorm leaders for this one another time, but I’ll still write for them… it will just take much more time since it won’t be a top moment priority. Okay, okay. To the request in question! It was so sweet to make. I actually have another “sleep-related” fic in the going so, it all ties together like this huge reader sleepover lol Hope you like it! Thanks for the request <3 |  

Ace Trappola, Deuce Spade, Jack Howl, Epel Felmier, Sebek Zigvolt x g!n reader who sleepwalks / headcanons / established relationship / sleepwalker reader part 2 / first years / good old fluff / really cozy / use of “you” pronouns 

Cherry’s Harvesting 🍒 Masterlist

Five More Minutes

Heartslabyul looked really different at night, Ace liked that. Chaotic air aside, it was a very nice and respectable dorm. But in the shadows of the night, it gained that air of mystery and a certain horror-like aura that Ace found simply irresistible. It was like taking something beloved and colorful from childhood and watching it distort into something dark;

Ace wasn't one to do this all the time because it was against the rules and Riddle would just cut his head off again if he caught him wandering around the dorm during the night but he wasn't getting any sleep and wanted to clear his mind a bit. He couldn't do that with Deuce snoring horrendously in the bed next to his;

Speaking of snoring, Ace felt like he could still hear that sound right next to him as he was walking down the stairs. At one point, he felt a presence pass right below him and as he reached for his cellphone to identify what it was, Ace took a fright — and almost, almost woke up the entire dorm — to discover that you were right there sleeping on the stairs;

“Are you crazy...?! Geez. Easy, Ace, easy. Pull yourself together, dude… pull yourself together!,” Ace held his own face, trying to absorb better what was happening in front of him. Or below, theoretically. He looked at you once more, still surprised that you seemed so peaceful sleeping on that steps;

When you told Ace that you had sleepwalking problems, he understood the situation but found a bit exaggerated your comment that sometimes you walked so much in your sleep that you woke up in the most inhospitable places possible. It's kind of insane to think about, right? Apparently not. And Ace could only gasp at you for a solid minute;

After that minute, Ace sighed and tried to find a way to pick you up and hold his phone’s flashlight at the same time. Because it was one thing to wander around Heartslabyul alone in the dark, another thing to go through a staircase with someone who is sleeping. But Ace is a good boyfriend and he wasn't going to just leave you there on the stairs, in the cold and on the most uncomfortable floor in the world;

Ace put you on one of the sofas in the lounge, letting you use his favorite cushion as a backrest — he liked that cushion, it was soft, and he always had a way of grabbing it before anyone else when everyone gathered there. In perspective, Ace had no idea how to handle this situation. He didn't have much experience with dating, let alone sleepwalking;

But after a while, Ace woke you up and calmed you down when you worried that you two would get in trouble for meeting in the middle of the night — even if by accident. Ace accompanied you to the Ramshackle dorm and had that moment to appease his mind that he was looking for;

Ace ended up sleeping on the couch in the living room, having a good feeling of nostalgia after saying goodbye to you with a kiss goodnight and a question if he really couldn't sleep with you — you know, just for safety’s sake. At least this time, he got a laugh out of you. The next day Trey came over to ask what happened but luckily Ace kept his head in place for the rest of the day;

This experience made him do a little research on sleepwalking and recommend teas that would help you sleep better. Since it's not all roses, Ace definitely jokes a little about it just to make you relax. Some jokes are pretty creative, at least. Like he'll find you someday sleeping on your head in his room or something;

And... your unconscious took it very seriously. Ace first felt a foot on his face and as he sat down, he discovered your body facing inversely to his position. He yawned, too sleepy to think about what to do and left you there. You both would get in such trouble, for sure. But Ace just put it aside, hugged your shins and went back to sleep.

Deuce’s mother used to say: “all good things to those who wake up early.” And even though he was already several times late for school throughout his pre-teen years, Deuce wanted to do his best in high school and get up early. It was his turn in the task of taking care of the flamingos and he wanted to solve everything as soon as possible;

Deuce grabbed his pink leopard-print jumpsuit, put on gloves, and set off for his mission at the time one would normally hear the rooster crow for the first time. The Sun hadn’t yet fully risen, but it was much clearer than the nightly hours allowed. He passed quietly through the silent and at that moment, gray dormitory. He almost missed hearing Ace complaining by his side;

Deuce went to the special garden assigned to flamingos and hedgehogs, calm because he was more used to this task. But to find you sleeping there in the center of the garden was a big surprise. Deuce saw how hedgehogs were trying to protect you from curious flamingos, some even ready to peck you for your insolence — they were the ones that Deuce had the least tact to deal with;

“Shoo-shoo! If you do anything, we'll have fried flamingos for lunch!,” Deuce threatened those graceful-legged birds, pounding his fist into his hand as if he were defending you from a gang. Some flamingos cawed at him but they got out of there and he could get closer to you;

All that confusion didn't seem to make much difference to your sleepy state. The most you did was stretch out and shrug a little when turning to the side, scaring the smaller hedgehogs. Deuce brought your body closer to him and deposited your head on his thigh, a place a little more comfortable than the garden’s grass;

You had commented before about your sleepwalking with Deuce and seeing you in this situation, he had no doubt that you would really end up in the strangest places when you walk around sleeping. He cleaned you a little from dirt and tried to wake you up. On the first try, you just mistook Deuce for a pillow and clung to his torso to get some more sleep;

Deuce needed a moment to regain his composure. One flamingo seemed to say something to the others and he felt as if the group was laughing at his red face. Deuce tried one more time and you finally got a little sense of where you were. Since it was still morning, Deuce told you to sleep on the bench while he went to take care of the flamingos;

Deuce tried to act as if you hadn't squeezed him for a moment like a stuffed animal but you could tell he was anxious about something just the same. It was a good moment of silence, at least. You didn’t go back to sleep, concentrating on watching Deuce feeding the animals and you smiled alone;

Deuce didn’t understand much about sleepwalking but he sought to seek more on the subject. At least to know what you needed. The class that morning went pretty smoothly, but Deuce worried about the way you were almost falling asleep on top of Grim. He wanted you to get a normal night's sleep at one time or another;

A few days later, Deuce woke up early again. Not to feed the flamingos but to check on you at Ramshackle. Deuce didn't consider himself the author of many good ideas, but he was glad he thought of doing so. After all, he found you sleeping next to the portal that led to Heartslabyul;

Deuce snuggled you into his arms and led you back to your dorm. He put you back in bed, straightened your blanket and put Grim next to you — the little monster wouldn't admit it but he would miss you when you leave like that to walk around. Deuce sat in an old armchair nearby, watching you sleep more comfortably. He couldn't stop a sweet smile from escaping.

Jack was never one to wake up in the middle of the night. His sleep schedule was as neat and well-organized as his studies. It might not be perfect, but it was the best he had come up with so far. But he ended up hearing a noise in the distance, too strange to be something natural or be someone from the dorm itself;

None of Jack’s roommates seemed shaken by the sudden noise, but he couldn't sleep until he found out what it was. Jack went outside and took a deep breath, sniffing the various smells and aromas present there. Then he came across your scent and followed it in the direction of the magift stadium they had in Savanaclaw;

He went up the stone staircase and found you there at the entrance, sleeping so soundly that it didn't even seem like you were lying in the dust. Jack needed a moment. You had already told about your sleepwalking problem before, yet it was a different thing to actually witness it. Jack turned to where your trail began, surprised that you walked from Ramshackle to there without knowing it;

“Hunf, everytime you get into a mess and for what?,” Jack sighed. Despite these words, he took you in his arms with all the care in the world, gently slapping the dust away from you and drying the drool that dripped from the corner of your mouth. He would worry later if the others would ask questions tomorrow when they notice faint traces of your scent over there;

The most important thing at that moment was to take you back to your dorm. Jack made his way out of the Mirror Chamber, holding you deftly close to him so you wouldn't feel the rush of his running. He didn't want you to wake up scared because you weren't in your room;

But when Jack put you back in bed, you ended up waking up just the same. All because you felt that cozy warmth of a few minutes ago suddenly leave you. You opened your eyes and Jack was still there, worried. He explained to you what happened and advised you to go back to sleep;

Jack might not admit that he was a careful boyfriend, but you could tell by the way he tucked you under the covers and ran his hand lightly across your face. He had a small smile on his face. Protective, but not paternal. Just caring. It was a sweetness that only Jack was able to express in his actions. You went back to sleep a bit better after that;

In the days that followed, Jack researched a few more things about sleepwalking and tried to come up with the best number of possible solutions to help you. He went so far as to ask Leona if there was any special secret to him getting enough sleep and the only answer he got was “get a nephew and half a dozen people who make your life unbearable.” Huh, one person with issues at a time;

You two talk a little bit about it from time to time. You realize that Jack cares about you and that's very kind of him — even if he tries to tell you that it's just his role as your partner in life. Whether in big or small problems, Jack would like to help you in any way possible;

On a certain Full Moon night, Jack ended up spending past the hour with his running exercises around the school after dinner and homework. It wasn't too late, but you should be asleep by now. He went to the Ramshackle to check and his fear was right: you weren't in your bed. When Jack passed through the dorm’s gate, he found Grim who guided him to where you were sleeping;

Few things surprise Jack but seeing you riding on the King of Beast’s statue and snoring softly at its stone back was something he wasn't expecting. No wonder Grim was worried, he couldn't get you out of there. First: how did you get there?! Jack would ask you in the morning. But he managed to rescue you and return to your room, where he was determined to guard your sleep just in case — and see you dream away, but that's beside the point!

It all started when Epel woke up in the middle of the night hungry. Dinner the day before had been a lackluster and he got so busy with the extensive math homework that Crewel gave that he didn’t remember to make his secret apple snacktime. Now all that remained to do was to leave his room as quietly as possible and sneak into the kitchen to find something;

He didn’t have any with him. Epel had to wait another week for the next packet of apples from Harveston to reach him, which would make it easier to store in the room. “Meemaw” always enchanted the crates with a special magic that preserved the fruits  for a longer time and prevented insects from infesting them. This was very useful when left beside his bed;

Epel controlled a sigh halfway through. He didn't want to do any of that, but what to do when all of Pomefiore’s students considered dishes with an eight-centimeter food as a meal? But Epel had to put his complaints aside because he heard a small noise. Luckily it was weak enough for no one upstairs to notice;

Or so he hoped. Sneaking into the direction of the lounge room where the sound had come from, Epel turned on his cell phone flashlight and to his immense surprise, it was just you. What ended up scaring Epel, however, was when his mind — now not so sleepy — processed that you were there, sleeping on Vil’s throne;

“What in tarnation! Ya want our hearts on a darn box or what…,” Epel suddenly covered his mouth, trying to calm down. If he had scheduled one night to break every possible rule of Pomefiore, he wouldn't have gotten away with it so easily. Epel approached you and remembered the first time you told him about your sleepwalking;

This has been a while since you all had to stay together in Ramshackle to train for VDC. Epel had heard you leave the dorm and went after you only to find that you were walking in your sleep. Your luck was that Epel already had some experience with it. His aunt went through a sleepwalking phase when he was very young and the whole family would turn to help her anytime;

You were sleeping very peacefully, your legs resting on the right arm of the throne. Epel ended up smiling as he watched you. It would be a pity to interrupt your so serene sleep, you looked lovely and innocent like that — funny enough, you were doing something that could bring a lot of trouble. Bless your heart, would you actually be the “bad influence” of your relationship?;

When Epel woke you up, the first thing you saw was his smile as if he was quietly chuckling. After the initial panic of knowing where you were and Epel’s confident words that everything would be fine, you two went to the kitchen, picked some apples and Epel accompanied you back to Ramshackle. He couldn’t spend the night there but, would ensure you returned safely;

It was a very unusual night but Epel had fun anyway. You said goodbye with a kiss at the Ramshackle’s gate and Epel assured you that you weren't bothering him. Even if he narrowly escaped being called out, it would be worth it for being helping and taking care of you;

Luckily for Epel, no one seemed to notice anything strange the next morning. Rook was smiling more than usual at him, but nothing that made Vil look for answers. Epel called his family in Harveston and asked for some advice on how to help you with your sleepwalking, anything that could ensure you a healthy night's sleep;

After all, one night, Epel found you asleep again. He had stayed up late to finish a history report and heard you walking around the dorm. Epel stopped you from entering the potions basement and, with care, he guided you back to your dorm. He was running out of patience to sleep in his room and decided that it would be better to stay by your side — a pleasant solution like apple tea.

Sebek had been the only one left in the training room after 10 p.m. He practiced sword techniques for another hour and when he finally managed to cut off the head of a test dummy, Sebek was satisfied. At the time he yawned, he started to feel a little sleepy and decided to go back;

As Lilia says, an excellent guard also needs to get a good night of sleep and Sebek didn’t intend to disappoint him in this task. He put away the swords he used, closed and locked the room. But as he passed through the Diasomnia’s lounge, he saw a strange figure being illuminated by the greenish flames of the room candles and quickly became alert;

With his wand in hand, Sebek carefully approached the stranger who seemed to be motionless. The emerald light from the fireplace helped the boy finally recognize you. You were lying on a large couch nearby, warmed by the fire and comforted in that furniture worthy of a prince’s castle. Sebek sighed loudly, putting away the wand and putting his hand to his heart;

He had been by a thread of attacking his beloved in believing that it was a killer who could injure the Young Master. “How careless I am! I would never forgive myself if I hurt you, but what are you doing here?!,” Sebek asked despite the fact that you were in such a heavy sleep that it would be impossible to answer;

Sebek then understood. But of course! You sleepwalked! For a solid moment, he had forgotten what you told him about this strange problem of walking while sleeping, resulting sometimes in you walking to the most unusual places. It was similar to Silver’s condition — with the only strong difference that he at least stood where he had slept;

Suddenly, you moved but it was only to change your position on the couch. You had no idea where you were. Sebek then leaned against the arm of the couch, contemplating what to do to help you while watching your sleep. You were so peaceful there, sleeping like a beauty. Sebek couldn’t prevent a docile smile from appearing on his lips;

Carefully, Sebek crouched close to you and deposited a small kiss on your forehead, just before actually trying to wake you up. When you opened your eyes, the first thing you saw was Sebek’s gaze on you, he seemed strangely quiet. You started to apologize but he put a finger to your lips. It was all right, he understood;

Sebek escorted you back to Ramshackle and even though you didn't want to bother him beyond necessary, Sebek decided to sleep on the living room’s couch just in case you had another episode of sleepwalking during the night. He would explain the situation to Malleus and Lilia in the morning and everything would work out — the two faes could bring out his uniform after all;

From that day on, Sebek began to look for more about sleepwalking, causes, precautions and treatments. It didn't matter to him whether it was a disorder or a curse, he was willing to do anything to help you face this situation. Sebek's support was always welcomed and you rejoiced at his enthusiasm;

In fact, in another time — in which you two hadn’t yet fallen in love — Sebek would have quarreled with you for appearing on Diasomnia uninvited. However, he found himself thinking about the possibility that you might want to visit him unconsciously while you were asleep and that was already enough to warm his face any time he reflected on it;

One night, you showed up again at the dorm and it was Sebek who found you again, fortunately. Practically at the witching hour, Sebek suddenly woke up and left the room to check the hallways. You were lying at the top of the staircase leading to the first-years’ rooms, relaxed as ever. Sebek pulled himself together and led you to the lounge, where at least you wouldn’t come into contact with the cold floor. This time he slept sitting on the couch, your head resting on his thigh — a strange but comfortably familiar pillow.

Ok i raise to you though jade when he crushes talks to his mushrooms about said crush as well as maybe azul and floyd on occasion send help to them cause he probably doesn’t stop

HI ANON!! I'M. SHAKING YOU BY THE SHOULDERS RN. YOU'RE SOOO RIGHT!!!!!

he'd have a very soft smile and his eyes would look so gentle as he'd whisper about something his crush did that day... such a vulnerable moment...

tho when he talks with Floyd and Azul, I feel he'd be bragging about them? like, still with his mushy feelings yes but in a less vulnerable lovesick way and more in a "my crush is so cool look at what they did, bet you wish you had a crush cool like that too huh" way. because he's a little shit like that. Azul and Floyd know how much affection he holds for them from the sheer amount of times he's mentioned them in conversation in the past two hours. they are planning an intervention asap.

[ ✽ ] ˖ ˚ ◞ ┊ʺ HOME IN THE HOLIDAYS ,

[ ✽ ] ┊⠀❛ in which you find home in the holidays with octavinelle

[ ✽ ] ┊⠀❛ jade , azul , floyd x gender neutral reader

[ ✽ ] ┊⠀❛ warnings ,, none. all fluff here <3

[  ✽ ] ┊⠀❛ heyyy besties. so this was an anon request but i had to research some stuff about the holidays ?? i dont celebrate christmas and even though i’ve been around it for so long , im not too familiar with the customs </3 but it overall seems so fun and lovely !! also college started around the time i got this request too </3 im so sorry anon. anyways , as i said in the other post , i am gonna be adding a taglist now since a lovely person requested i did so <3 just tell me if you want to be on it :D

Continuar lendo

Hello :D back again with more rambles !!! So as much as the Leech twins say they don’t care about Azul and would leave him; I have a hard time believing they genuinely would. I mean yes they clearly don’t have a traditional friendship but they definitely have one. The twins seem closer to each other but they often shadow over Azul even when he does things that seem boring. Playing more on the thought I mentioned in my Floyd ask, I think they might not say they’re friends because it could be exploited? Of course the twins are obvious with how close they are, but they can protect themselves. Meanwhile, Azul is powerful but not so much in the physical parts. They could avoid showing their friendship simply because it would make them seem “weaker” or that someone could harm Azul to harm them. Their dynamic is interesting because it breaks the stereotype of having 2 loyal servants. The twins are free to do whatever they want and deny a request unlike in other shows. Overall I think they have a friendship it’s just different than a traditional one- 🦭

HIII 🦭 ANON HOW ARE U?? I'm so sorry for taking so long to answer, life has been real busy lately, but I'm powering through!! thank you for sending your thoughts again!!

I agree with you, the twins and Azul are not only friends, but also very close ones! they've stayed with Azul for years and have watched him grow into the person he's now, being by his side the whole time! they all know each other on a very deep level, thus they also care about each other, in their own eccentric ways.

the twins, at first, only stayed because Azul was different from others (as this is the reason he was bullied in the first place). because of that, they didn't know what to expect with him, thus making him insteresting to be around. they ended up actually becoming friends though, and stayed together after that, following each other from dephts of the cold ocean to the lands of the warm earth.

of course, they say they'd leave should Azul start to bore them, but I don't think Azul would ever get boring, not with his witty intelect and shady schemes. Azul says he doesn't control the twins, which is absolutely true, but that doesn't mean they won't stay by his side. as they said themselves, they don't care about the money, as long as they're kept entertained.

naturally, the twins are closer, as they've been working together since their birth, only them against the cold and cruel sea. they always been odd ones as well, so that's why they clicked with Azul so well, but they're still different brands of weird.

hmm, I could see that! with the line of business Azul conducts, it might be dangerous to have weak points such as a soft spot for his two closest and most competent employees. not only that, but being openly friendly with people that are supposed to obey him, as their boss, could crack his intimidating untouchable image, thus making him seem weaker.

still, Azul isn't weaker, as he seems to be! he's actually stronger than the twins, as Floyd mentions on beans fest, so he's got strong magic, strong muscles and a strong brain. I think it'd be hard for anyone to harm him, unless they could get under his skin by attacking his more emotional side. Azul's got an amazing mask of indifference and faux confidence, but he's still very insecure about his past, which could be one way to get to him that would involve the twins.

I personally think that their refusal to be seen as friends might have come from old habits they carry from their home. as I see the Coral Sea, if it's anything like real sea life at all, it's a dog eat dog world, where everyone lives by themselves and protect their own. sea life can be very cruel, even to their own kind, so it would make sense for them not want to appear weak. it also is related to their own personalities, as they're not very open and emotional people, like Kalim for example, and they don't like showing their hand, prefering to keep their cards close to their chest.

their dynamic reflects that of Ursula and Flotsam and Jetsam very well! differently from other disney villains, who are cruel to their minions and oftentimes only put up with them for their own gain, Ursula genuinely likes the eels, as they are her beloved pets, not her servants. the eels are very cunning and like to create trouble, aiding Ursula in her evil schemes. when they are accidently killed by the end of the movie, Ursula gets furious, going on a rampage and attacking the ships. (see background part of the wiki!)

also, I really like this meme that sums up what you said really well lol

their relationship is very insteresting indeed! since they individually are already so fascinating, as part of a dynamic they have even more potential. a non traditional friendship like theirs is a nice break of stereotypes that TWST does once more!

𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲'𝐬 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 - 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭

| Notes: Hi, @diavolosbaby and dear readers~ This is the part finale of my Idia’s scenario, “Winter Melts Into Spring”, and our 50th and last request for the Cherry’s Harvesting event. As I said, this fic got so looong, that I had to split it into two parts.

Curiosity: the title of this fic is inspired by a track from Fruits Basket’s (2019) soundtrack, the original name being “Snow Melts Into Spring” and its alt and longer version, “Spring Will Come When the Snow Melts Away” (here so you can listen to if you’re curious). For those who don't know, the myth of Persephone and Hades is what explains the change of seasons and that’s why this theme is so heavily implied here, just as other videogame references (tho I’m not much of a gamer myself… ik Idia, shame on me).

Hope you like the part finale and I really hope I did justice to Idia’s character, I tried the best I could. I needed to condense most of the story or this would be a longfic and not a one-shot. And it’s already a hell of a long one-shot (for my normal amount of writing, at least). Now, grab a hot beverage, a blanket if its cold where you are (its here for me) and hope its a good read.

Thanks for the request <3 |

Idia Shroud x gender neutral reader / scenario / part 1 (here)- part 2 (3550k words) / mentions of breakup with Vil Schoenheit / angst, hurt and comfort, fluff / seasons and greek mythology references / minor chapter 6 mentions and references / use of “you” pronouns

Cherry’s Harvesting 🍒 Masterlist

Winter Melts Into Spring

{𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐈𝐈, “𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐬”}

        You quickly turned to him, waking up from your incessant thoughts. It was another game night and you were sitting side by side in his bed, cellphones in hand. As your game was over, you became a bit dispersed.

        “Have you listened to Euterpe-ram’s new playlist?,” Idia shyly showed you his phone, your surprised and intense gaze had taken him by surprise at that moment.

        Without paying much mind, you read the title, the number of songs and the cover image, things that made you sigh. Then, almost in auto mode, you said:

        “It took me a hell of a lot of work to find that image…”

        Panic hit your senses as you turned your gaze to Idia and he looked as painfully surprised as you. You tried to think of something to say but he quickly realized what was going on.

        “Are you Euterpe-ram?!,” Idia exclaimed. You see his brain cells going short-circuit. “W-when? Come again? Ah! What you said... about what I thought… the playlist…? You wanted my opinion? Is that why?! I had no idea!”

        Idia held back a little as he noticed that you had cringed in your place, a little shaky from the quick way he was speaking. You knew that Idia spoke like that when he was agitated and although you had been amused by this little quirk on other occasions, at that moment you felt as if you had dropped a bomb.

        Well, was it a secret worth hiding? Actually, everything that happened was just an omission of information. 

        As you regained your composure, Idia looked back at his phone and remembered the playlist he was listening to when you walked into his room that night. Songs to listen to when you're heartbroken but don’t want to admit it. 

        When he found that title, he thought it was a strange coincidence to find something that could express so well what he was feeling at the moment — and Idia already had a bad opinion about coincidences. 

        There are no such things. Everything happens for a reason. And he was right in part. Idia didn't have to ask why you had created that melancholic playlist about love. Given your situation, there was no other reason.

        Mindlessly, Idia went to Euterpe-ram’s profile — your profile — on magify and found the playlist he wanted to review with you. This one, with a completely different theme, was pretty much the opposite of its playlist-sister. A playlist of positive love songs and some hesitant, longing ones. Again, you two were in sync yet by pure coincidence. How was that possible?

        “This playlist... is cool,” Idia said suddenly. You nodded silently, not knowing what to say.

        He had noticed that you were slowly returning to your usual “you” along the weeks, going back to being the endearing spring that captivated him so much. The choice of those songs seemed a manifestation of that. 

        “Are you in love?,” this question slipped away unintentionally, and Idia’s heart failed for a second. “S-sorry! I shouldn't meddle in these things!”

        “Nice move, Idia! Go there, spoil these good times you have been having!” He wanted to hide somewhere, but he was already in his own room. There weren't many places to run at the moment.

        “It’s alright... I think that would be inevitable to talk about,” you replied. You were completely turned to him but your gaze was caught in the zipper of his coat, an easy point to stare at as you talked about these complicated feelings. “A fantastic thing happened to me…”

        Idia felt as if he had stepped into a bath with cold water, disappointment already taking over his heart. He already had an idea of what was going to happen. You’d say who you were in love with at this time, he would inevitably be the Protagonist’s Friend once again — an improved version, he tried to convince himself to be — and you two would have a long, awkward conversation about love.

        “What happened?,” he asked in a low tone, since you had paused the sentence in the middle.

        “You.”

        At that, you looked up and bravely, faced Idia’s eyes. You were like a mythological hero facing the depths of Hades, ready to throw yourself into an epic adventure of life and death with no regrets. On the other hand, Idia felt like you had slapped him.

        “W-wha-what?,” he didn't even know what to say. How to talk. How to put words together. How to form a coherent sentence. His hair seemed to fry his neurons again, pink crackling at the ends.

        “It's a long story... but at first, I was always curious about you. It's hard not to notice you, to be honest,” you tried to laugh a little to relieve tension. “The more I talked to you, this curiosity increased and I really wanted to be your friend. I have met many nice people all these months and you are all special to me... well, I admit that you and Vil have had a certain prominence.”

        You sighed, like a flower after a strong breeze shakes it in the field but doesn’t get taken from from its roots.

         “Perhaps I’m a very aesthetic person and never noticed it, but Vil’ beauty captivated me. Just like you. But in different ways. And at first, I thought my admiration for Vil had become strong enough to be a passion. Epic love like in the movies, you know? Two hours of film for a splendid and satisfying ending. But it was… not so. It wasn't love. It was something good, positive, full of empathy... but not love.”

        It was the first time Idia noticed a bit of winter in your eyes, as if a snowflake had landed on one of your petals. Your gaze had dropped a little, you were still playing with his coat’s zipper — you liked to stare at that little skull for some reason. 

        Idia bit his tongue, trying to stop himself from saying something, but he couldn't help but ask:

        “When you talked about your breakup with the Vil... well, it always bothered me a little,” having said that, your gaze returned directly to him. “There's something very vague, you know? Something you didn't say. What was it?”

        He felt a bit stupid asking that. Truth be told, he was afraid of this conversation and what could happen. Still, he wanted to understand the situation better. Vil and you seemed like the perfect couple — so, what went wrong? 

        You talked about incompatibility but it only seemed like half of the truth. Something that had happened, however, wasn't the main reason. Something you wanted to say but didn't. Part of Idia wanted to know what it was, meanwhile the other wanted to be consumed in flames and simply disappear from there. 

        For a moment, you hesitated about giving him an answer. Quick flashbacks of some of your conversations with Vil flashed through your mind. During the time you spent together, you talked about a lot of things — especially after his overblot. But most subjects ended up stopping at a specific topic.

        “When we broke up, we talked about some problems between us. Things that happened but we didn't know how to solve them. Vil said that I was talking a lot about you. More than anyone else,” you revealed, feeling your heart tremble for a second. It was as if something burned inside, taking away the cold from before.

        “Because of what happened to me...?,” Idia risked saying.

        “No,” your answer was immediate. “Before that. I asked what you were like, if you were always so reclusive, if there was a way I could talk to you, if you two were in the same class. A lot of stuff. I said, you make me very curious.”

        “And I don't know why.”

        It had been a grumble that Idia let slip and fastly, he covered his mouth, looking away from you. You already anticipated such a reaction from him and, contrary to what Idia thought was going to happen, you smiled at him.

        “You're more interesting than you think, Idia,” you giggled as you watched him try to hide inside his coat, but the pink ends of his hair didn’t lie. “You can deny it all you want but you are someone very intriguing. Your way of acting, of dealing with the world... I want to understand and know all this.”

         From the depths of Idia’s hood, his eyes began to stare at you as if you were the weird one there. You leaned more into your pillow, your head tilted and looking at him the way someone stares at their favorite packet of snacks they haven’t found on the shelf in months — and finally Sam had stocked up on them again. 

        Were you trying to kill Idia?! Was this your evil plan? Not you, the sweet deity of spring, being a character with a secret sadistic side underneath your gentle smile and gaze sweet as honey and ambrosia. 

        “Maybe I should have been honest with Vil from the beginning. Maybe if I had better understood what I was doing... my own feelings,” you sighed. 

        “Did you really talk about me that much?,” Idia asked, still incredulous. 

        To his great surprise, it was your turn to take an embarrassment hit with medium damage. It was a little dark inside his coat and the lights weren’t extremely bright — even if it managed to illuminate the room well — but even so, Idia had the strange impression that your face was tense and flustered. 

        “Maybe... enough to make Vil a little jealous…”

        “WHAT?!,” Idia exploded out of his hood. “In what universe is this possible?! What kind of scenario is this? Vil Schoenheit envy me? Under what circumstances? Does he have to act like a socially awkward guy who doesn't go out in the Sun and has dark circles under his eyes and he, at the must of perfectionism, hates the fact that his makeup doesn't give as realistic an impression as my appearance? Never!”

        Idia had heard of stories of a goddess of love being jealous of some very beautiful mortal women — but in those stories, there was the implication that she had a pretty good reason to envy them. Would anyone, under any circumstances, envy Idia Shroud? 

        “Idia, your hair!,” you warned him.

        The flames of his hair were in an interesting gradient of blue, orange and pink, mixing all his emotions at once. Idia took a deep breath and tapped his long locks back to its usual blue. Was he still angry? Yes. Embarrassed? Extremely. Confused? Even more every second.

        However, his agitation has yet to be overcome. In the heat of the moment, Idia held you by the shoulders for you to face him directly. His grip was firm but weak enough for you to let go of him if that were your desire. He felt like someone who hurriedly picked up a large handful of wheat in the field to run and protect it from the heavy rain.

        Your cellphones lie forgotten somewhere between the bedsheets, unaware of the emotion-filled moment between their owners that would make tragedy plays and shojo anime envious. 

        “Please, just explain to me why you are so obsessed with me,” Idia asked, desperate. He could no longer endure such uncertainty and confusion. “You’ve finally met me! There you go! Game over. It takes no more than a day to understand how I act, how I eat and my habitat. I’m the lamest kind of lab mouse there is! How can you have fun with me?! Either you’re too bored...!”

        “Idia, you don’t understand! What I feel for you isn’t an obsession.”

        “Hyperfixation?,” he tried to correct it.

        “It's love, Idia.”

        On the Isle of Lamentation, the only grasp of vegetation is a series of large shrubs around the entire island to keep oxygen levels regulated and healthy. Nevertheless, there weren’t many flowers — or anything Idia had ever been interested in planting and observing. But he wondered if the opening of a flower bud was equal to your eyes blinking in his direction.

        “Love?!,” Idia’s blood boiled and exploded again. His hair rose in a big, hot pink blaze.

        You weren't shaken by his reaction this time. On the contrary, his heart beat fast in continual captivation — and a certain amusement too. 

        Idia was this big papyrus that was easy to open, even if it was hard to read at times. But you could understand him perfectly. Maybe it was a gift, maybe you just were very similar to him or there was some other reason. What mattered, deep down, was that his mannerisms endeared you in a way that not even the fairest of them all could. 

        You didn’t bother to ask how this was possible. 

        You already entertained yourself with the possibilities of the Underworld by facing the place from afar. When Ortho — your petite Charon — took you there, a poor sorrowful soul, you let yourself be led like someone who had no choice. Dying is never a fully realized wish, there is always some sort of regret and fear. For you, for others.

        Yet, the lord of the dead received you in his realm even in your deplorable state and let you wander there, no longer as a soul but as an equal. Someone who could belong there and make your own pomegranate garden.

        “These last times have been the best. I’m grateful for your kindness and your patience with me. This whole time you have been acting like yourself around me,” you said. “While most people here are walking on eggshells about it and another part doesn’t really care, you managed to balance the two things perfectly.” 

        Your friends sought to avoid talking about Vil. Your more distant colleagues couldn’t be less shaken about any of this. Ortho wanted to cheer you up because he had the purest of youthful hearts. And Idia just stretched out a game control for you and listened to a playlist beside you — your own pain, whether spoken, whether chosen musically.

        He didn’t have a heart of stone. He cared about you and, in his own way, he made things easier. If it was someone else, you wouldn’t have recovered so quickly. This conditioning made you feel self-doubt about what you felt. 

        But doubts aren’t such a powerful titan that cannot be overcome sooner or later. 

        “To tell you the truth, getting to know you better has only made me realize that it is you who gives me the biggest comfort to be who I am. Here there are no worries, pressure, challenges. I'm just me... and you're just you. Every day, I discover something new about you, Idia, and it's valuable. Genuine. Feel right.” 

        The more layers you peeled off of Vil, you found that he covered himself with others. He didn't want to worry you beyond what was necessary. His heart was a castle with a trapdoor, dungeons and endless catacombs, things he didn’t want you to explore in any circumstance. He wasn’t ready yet.

        One day in the future, he would find someone who could understand him better and would have more persistence in uncovering the shadows and wrinkles he strove every day to disguise and get rid of. Someone who could convince him that this ugliness is natural and not a terrible punishment. A person who Vil would listen to. 

        That someone wasn’t you. Even as a friend, your words grew on him in a sufficiently deep and, at the same time, superficial way. Beautiful roses in the first days, dried and yellowed petals at the weekend — flowers that needed to be changed in the vase every week. 

        It wasn’t what Vil or you needed. You weren’t meant to be the Hercules of his story. Your fate was connected with someone else’s.

        “I won’t delude myself and think that I know everything about you. Or that you won’t have parts of yourself that you obviously won't want to show me. But...,” Idia’s figure, with his huge golden eyes, staring at you seemed to blur suddenly. “...I’m so glad to be with you. Every day, every night. Grim sometimes needs to come here to take me off, because otherwise I won't go back to Ramshackle. But it’s not because I want to avoid memories anymore!”

        There were tears that flowed down from your eyes, just like light rain in a field of daffodils. You stood up on top of the bed, arms outstretched gesticulating energetically to everything around you two. 

        “I love this place! This dorm, this room, these sweaty sheets, bright screens at midnight, opening a Goblin can with you and toast for one more victory, smell of snacks each week. I want to convince Grim to be here too because everything about this place is wonderful. Can’t you see? We are like the gods of this cosmos...!”

        Idia held your hand suddenly and you interrupted your stately monologue to look at him --- and also take a moment to wipe some tears from your face. Idia had his eyes fixed on you, the ends of his hair crackling the same hot pink as before. 

        Your words touched him deeply, making it seem for a moment that you were talking about Elysium and not Inferno. It didn't have to have such impressive glory. He was entirely satisfied with his humble piece of Underworld. Still, you filled that morbid, dark place with flowers and fruits, finding fertility in even the dustiest graves.

        Why were you like that? Why did it make his insides crawl with shame and embarrassment at the same intensity that his heart was pounding fast? Completely unfair! 

        “Damn it, you look like an anime protagonist talking. It gets on my nerves,” Idia lowered his head so you wouldn’t see his pale face heat with color. “Ah... I love you too much to bully you about these things…”

        If you were drinking something, you would have choked. Or spilled it. It would be more mess than what was already.

        “Idia?,” you knelt there, trying to make him face you again. “Do you love me?”

        “I-I’m not saying it again.”

        “Idia, with a thousand hydra heads, put something in your stove of a head!”

        In what he wanted to run away from his bed, you held his face and stood close enough that your noses crushed together.

        “I love you. Not out of pity, not out of simple curiosity. I want to know more about you just so I can love you more. The good, the bad, the neutral parts. Everything.”

        What was that sound in your head? Your heart? Epic music?

        “You’ll be that precious game that I will play infinitely because it’s my favorite and never fails to bring me a smile on my face!”

        “Please stop talking like that. You drive me crazy,” Idia also held your face, a little harder this time, and pulled you a little away from him.

        Idia’s hands were cold as mausoleum stones. His long, pale fingers gripping the entire outline of your face. Despite the cold hands, his face was warm. 

        Your words were like gasoline to him. He was only stopping you from going on because one more intense speech about how much you loved him — unbelievable, you really hit rock bottom, huh? — would have him have a heart attack right there.

        Idia would die of embarrassment in your arms. And, for Hades’s curved chin, you would have the audacity to mourn his death with more shameful oaths of love.

        Idia was determined to be strong. For about five minutes, at least. With you there, it was as if he could hold the whole universe in his hands. It was such a scary realization, but also amazing.

        “Briger of death. Ramshackle muse. Spring deity...,” he tried to list titles for you, beautiful words that could express what he felt. But he needed a serious backup for this. “Ugh, I wasn’t made for these types of dialogue! To be honest, you make me look so normal!”

        “Thanks.”

        “Consider that I am the basis of comparison. This is not a compliment.” 

        “It is. For me, it is.”

        You gave a big smile that almost broke Idia. You really had no compassion. At the end of the day, maybe you weren’t a perfect deity. You were just a weirdo like Idia, probably more. But he liked it — without realizing it, he smiled too. 

        In your romantic playlist, Idia had found a song to call his favorite. It had no lyrics, just a melody. “Snow that melts into spring”. It was how he felt with you right there in front of him. You two could really be who you were together. Both gods and mere mortals. 

        Idia wasn’t the Protagonist’s Friend. He was just Idia Shroud. In its pathos, in its awesomeness, in its card SSR level and in its simplicity of R card. And you loved him all despite this. 

        “You’re so weird...,” Idia brought your faces closer to each other again and like a key stuck on the keyboard, he continued. “...and I love this in you.”

        Winter might be over but you felt vividly what a kiss of snow was. Frosty, gently melting into warm lips of spring petals. Love can be so lively.

| Special notes: Euterpe is the name of the Muse of Music. "Ram" is the acronym for "random-access memory" (is a form of computer memory) + Ramshackle. I forgot to explain this when I posted in case someone didn't understood the whole thing behind Reader's magify username... yes, magify, I made it |