CHERRY 😭😭😭 DON'T BULLY ME

Hiii I just wanna request something (Srry if ur not taking requests rn) anyways can you do Ruggie,epel,riddle and lilia with a shy s/o who’s love language is physical touch (aka just hugs and cuddles half the time basically)

HII ANON I'm so sorry for taking so long!! I don't even know if you stuck around tho I hope so! and yes, I do take requests but they aren't my priority right now, as I have many other wips I'm working on, so they take forever, as you can see. still, I'm flattered you like my writing so much you'd make me a request! if you're seeing this, I hope you like it <3 

Summary: Riddle, Ruggie, Epel and Lilia with a shy S/O whose love language is physical touch (lots of hugs and cuddles)!

Notes: gn!reader, mostly fluff with some angst sprinkled in (mentions of overblots, nightmares and past traumas, but nothing too serious don't worry!), headcanons + short scenarios since a format wasn't specified, hope you enjoy it anon!

Riddle

Riddle isn't used to receiving affectionate touches, so it takes some time for him to get used to your habits. Not that he's complaining! Just... give him some warning next time, okay?

The first time it happened it went like this: Riddle, being the busy dorm leader he is, had a meeting with his dorm students to attend. He was helping you out with a subject you didn't understand and, as much as he loved to spend some quality time with you, he really had to go. As he got up, you did the same. Since you're shy, you'd usually just wave him goodbye with a cute smile, so this was quite unusual. He wasn't expecting to receive a farewell hug.

Riddle froze, unsure of what to do. His whole face was as red as Heartslabyul's roses and he was stiff, hand hovering at his side. Every place that you were touching felt like it was on fire, it was very strange. Still, it was... nice. It was very nice. The pressure from your body holding his, the pure affection transferred from such an act, the feeling of being cared for. It was nice.

You quickly let go of him, cheeks burning as well, and stuttered some parting words  before scurrying away. He stood there for some minutes, staring at the spot you had long left, face still red and thoughts running wild.

Riddle wasn't used to this at all, but it was nice, and he couldn't help but crave your touch.

(He was a little out of it during the whole meeting, the scene from earlier repeating on his head. Trey got so worried he ended the meeting halfway through.)

The next times you met, be it on a study date (you'd both deny it was a date though) or a casual hangout, Riddle would expect your farewell hugs, even look forward to them. He made sure to reciprocate them, wrapping his arms around you softly and resting his head against your shoulder, closing his eyes and taking a brief moment to just be there with you and feel loved.

Cuddles would take some more time to happen, since just the hugs were already a huge step for both of you. (Not to mention the casual touches you'd give so freely. A hand on his arms or your head resting against his was enough to make his face burst to flames and his mind be consumed by that single moment). 

It was on one of your late night studies session, you were both at Ramshackle's lounge, cups of tea gone cold on your table and books pilling up on each other. The couch was calling for you and your exhaustion from a long day of classes crashed onto you as you listened to Riddle's calm voice explain some potion's formula. Truly, you wanted to hear what he had to say, but you couldn't help but relax near him.

The weight of your head hitting his shoulder made him stop in his tracks and just stay still as he processed the situation. He normally would feel a tinge of irritation from his lecture being cut short, but he couldn't stay mad at you, specially when he saw how tired you were but insisted on keep trying to get the formula right. 

Riddle could try to clean up your table, but that would make him move too much and disturb your sleep. When he saw how peaceful you looked, completely safe by his side, he couldn't bring himself to wake you up. Thus he adjusted your positions on the couch, making you both lean down to not put a strain on your neck, and wrapped his arms around your torso to make sure you wouldn't fall in the middle of the night. Just a quick nap and he would be back at his dorm.

You both wake up cuddling the next morning. Both your faces burn in embarrassment and you're quick to get up and apologize, offering to make breakfest for him. He accepts the offer, but as you're having tea together, your hair tousled and your eyes drowsy, he thinks on how it was the best sleep he's had in a while.

From then on, you get a bit more bold in your physical touches, the shyness ebbing away bit by bit when you're near him. He still gets caught off guard at times, but he loves it. From someone who never got such things growing up, it means the world to him how you're willing to show your affection in such a way.

He'll always blush, no matter how much time passes. You find it extremely endearing. Throw in a compliment in the mix and you've got the ultimate combo to fluster and please him at the same time.

Ruggie

Ruggie found it adorable how your shyness contrasted his shamelessness. He thought you two made for quite the pair. 

He's used to physical touch, being in Savanaclaw where play fights and roughhousing is pretty common between students, so your occasional touches weren't anything new, though they were gentler than what he was used to, and he didn't give much thought to it.

That changed after Leona's overblot. When the fight was over, the feelings of helplessness came crashing down on him, the fact they'd surely lose the tournament even after all their efforts and that his closest friend (were they even friends? The doubt crept up to him) had betrayed him, uttered the words he hated to hear. The exhaustion and the fact he almost died- his friend- his dorm leader- Leona almost-

Before he could spiral any longer, you came crashing onto him, figure shaking as your arms held him close, tightly as if trying to get your bodies as close together as possible, to feel that he was there and real and alive. He could feel your heart beating like crazy against your chest, mirroring his own. His shoulder, where you were leaning your face on, felt wet. Your hands gripped onto his shirt like a lifeline. You were muttering something, voice breaking, as if saying "we're okay" over and over. 

Ruggie embraced you back, holding on just as tightly, burrying his face on your hair. He never was held like this, like he was something precious, like he truly had worth. In that moment, in your arms, he felt loved.

Ruggie's hunger isn't limited to food. In fact, you'd come to notice that he seems to be hungry to be loved too. Ever since the incident, Ruggie seemed more eager to share little touches with you, letting them linger longer, doing things out of his way to have an excuse for you to touch him, like doing little favours in exchange for a hug and, if you were feeling bold enough, a head rub. 

For him to take time out of his busy schedule to spend it with you in hopes that he'd get your affection back meant a lot to you, so you tried to overcome some of your shyness to be able to show him just how much you appreciated it and all the little things he did, even doing some acts of service on occasion for him as well.

The cuddles came some time later. You knew Ruggie had nightmares at times, some regarding his life before he came to NRC and some about Leona's overblot. He didn't want you to worry about it and waved it off, but you could see when they had an impact on him, his darker eyebags and exhaustion making it clear to you. You'd give him back rubs as he rested his head against yours, letting him decide if he'd like to talk about them or just spend some time in silence when that happened. 

One night, you were woken up by your phone ringing. You answered, still half asleep, and were surprised to hear Ruggie's shaking voice coming from the other side, breath ragged as he murmured something about being at your door. Without missing a beat, you ran down the stairs, not caring about the creaks of the floor or the coldness of it against your bare feet. You opened the door before he could even end the call, hurrying him in to get out of the chilly night air.

He looked like a mess, hands shaking and eyes dropping, chest heaving up and down. As soon as you closed the door, you embraced him, one hand rubbing up and down his back while the other patted his hair, trying to calm him down. The grip he had on you was so tight it could bruise, his voice came out rushed as he explained his nightmare. You decided there was no way you'd leave him alone that night, not when he sounded like that.

You took him to your bedroom, noticing Grim was still sleeping on his side of the room, and proposed to share the bed. You were a bit awkward as you got in a comfortable position, but seeing him in that state made you put the shyness away for a moment, focusing on making sure he was okay. You let him bury his head on your shoulder, arms wrapping around his back and hands playing with his hair until he fell asleep, waiting for his breath to soften. 

Both ended up sleeping in for the next day, but you couldn't bring yourself to feel bad about skipping class when you saw how refreshed he looked in the morning, his usual playful demeanor coming back as he joked with you while he cooked breakfeast. 

You've been showing him more physical affection since then, hugs and cheek kisses getting more common on the times you met with each other in the middle of your busy days. His ears perk up and his tail starts wagging as he offers you a cheeky grin.

As used to it as he is, there's a spot behind his ears that if you rub juuuust right will always fluster him and make him let out little giggles. If you rub it after a long day he'll melt in your arms. You got yourself a happy hyena! 

Epel

Epel is used to touch, living with a big family who'd always show affection with hugs and headpats. Therefore, when you started to show it to him the same way, he reciprocated instantly, going as far to initiate it himself, oftentimes through handshakes, pats on the back and side hugs.

If your shyness stops you from reaching out he'd notice and do it himself, helping you to come out of your shell bit by bit, not making a big deal out of it and letting these interactions be casual. He'd be happy to help someone he cares about! 

The first time you initiated a hug was very special to him. It was after he had another spat with Vil about his behaviour. As much as he pretended these didn't affect him at all, deep down he'd get hurt by the harsh words his dorm leader could direct at him. He knew Vil wanted only his best, but his methods weren't the most effective on someone as headstrong as Epel. 

He was hiding in a corner of the hallways, a secret spot he hoped not even Rook could find him in (if such a thing was even possible), head resting against his knees. His thoughts kept going back to the lecture Vil gave him this time, eyes watering against his will and making him furiously rub his face to get rid of them.

That's when a familiar soft voice was heard, making him look up at you. You had a worried expression as you kneeled over to meet him eye to eye, hand hesitating for a second before you rested it on his shoulder and asked what was wrong. He muttered that you didn't need to worry, it was just the usual routine that came with being part of Pomefiore, refusing to meet your eyes, ashamed you've seen him in such a pathetic state. 

You called his name and he turned around. He couldn't ignore it when you said it like that, with so much care, each letter dripping from your lips like honey. The hand on his shoulder pulled him forward until he met your chest, your other arm coming from behind to support his back. You told him it was okay to feel upset about what happened, that he could come to talk with you whenever he wanted to, that you'd listen to him.

He felt a rush of affection run through him as he noticed how firm your tone was, so certain. You were defending him, taking his side, and that meant a lot to him. It didn't feel patronizing, as it would sometimes happen with other people who felt he needed protection since he was so "small and cute". No, with you, it felt like he wasn't alone, like he had someone to count on to have his back, someone that trusted him and wanted him to trust them back. And of course he did, so he let himself lean into your touch fully, a nonverbal "thank you" both understood.

After that, he started to notice you liked to hug a lot. His side hugs became full ones and his heart oftentimes skipped a beat when he saw your pleased face. It felt good to see how happy he made someone he cared so much about.

The cuddles came in naturally, so much so neither of you noticed it until afterwards. You've gotten so used to each other's touch it wasn't anything novel when, a certain day, Epel rested his head on your lap as you were studying in the courtyard and started to talk about his day, complaining about the extra homework Crewel had given his class and gushing over the next spelldrive club meeting he'd have. You listened on, adding in your own two cents and laughing along, your hand playing with his hair. 

Only at night, once you're about to go to sleep do you think about that moment and notice how you two started cuddling like it was something you've always done. Your face heated up at that and you couldn't catch any sleep, thinking over and over about that. Epel was in a similar position, butterflies in his stomach as he thought about how soft your lap felt or how gentle your fingers were as they treaded through his hair. 

Even if there was a bit of awkwardness the next time you met, you quickly overcame it as you noticed how you were both in the same situation. The cuddling continued to happen more frequently, to the point none of your other first year friends even batted an eye at it. 

He likes it the most when he takes you to a ride on his blastycle and you hug tight onto him, head resting against his back, trusting him to keep you safe, it makes him feel dependable and adrenalin rushes two times more than when he rides alone. If you let him try to carry you he'd also be delighted, wanting to prove that he can (even if you two topple over after taking two steps, at least you're having fun).

Lilia

Lilia has lived for so long, touch isn't anything new to him. He'd seen the bad side of it, the hands that hurt and kill, and the good side, the hands that soothe and protect. He's done both, with his own hands. 

Raising Silver, he came to learn the importance of physical touch as an act of affection. For someone used to the violence of the battlefield, being able to experience touch as a soft thing, as a show of love, had been quite the change. He learnt to love the way fingers can run through another person's hair, the way lips can brush a forehead, the way hands can fit together, the way love can shine through little daily actions, every touch becoming a whisper of "I'm here, I care about you, I love you."

Being quite the extrovert, Lilia has no shame in showing affection for others in a physical way. A pat on their head, a hand on their back, chin resting on their shoulder, it all comes easily to him, and he's delighted when you start doing such gestures with him too! Considering your shy nature, he's happy you felt comfortable enough with him to reciprocate his antics.

Hugs aren't something he usually does, as he prefers more casual types of touches, but he likes it when you start hugging him more often! It's a good change of pace to keep things lively!

It starts small, little hugs as greetings or farewells, and then as thank you's and you're welcome's. It's like a whole language you two share, no words needed when your actions speak louder. 

It's on Halloween that it really hits him just how much these moments mean to you. The two of you decided to go check the other dorms' decorations when he was on break, arms interlocked as you walked around campus and commented on the details and costumes. Whenever a student would appear to jumpscare you, you turned to him in a hug, burrying you head on his neck, trusting him to protect you from anything that might come your way. It was the trust, the comfort, the smile you gave him everytime afterwards that made him realize that that's your way of saying "I love you" without words.

He starts to appreciate these touches even more, giving you hugs more frequently, be it to celebrate a victory or to console your sadness.

These hugs envolve to cuddling, as in one moment you'd find yourself sitting side by side, legs touching, and in the other you'd have your back against his chest as he propped his chin on your shoulder. It usually flustered you, but you've grown used to it enough to be able to relax into it.

One time, a history study session turned into him telling you stories from his past, tales of people long gone that managed to capture your interest, be it because of the enthusiastic way he spoke about them or because it was all new to you, someone who wasn't from this world before. The way your attention was solely on him, eagerly hanging onto every word and even making questions or little sounds of surprise, made him feel elated that his old stories could still entertain. 

When he started to talk about his travels, your eyes shone with excitement, the desire to discover a new world and the possibilities this chance presented. You asked him if he could show you it all someday, from the dunes of the Scalding Sands to the waves of the Coral Sea. This proposal of sharing important moments of your life with him made warmth spread through his body, fondness coloring his voice as he softly agreed.

It's not strange to find the two of you cuddling or stading closely to each other, touching in some way, be it by interwining your hands or leaning on each other. The Diasomnia dorm grew used to the sight of you huddled together on the lounge's couch, even Silver seemed happy that his father had found someone that made him feel loved.

Lilia specially likes when it's just the two of you, cuddling on his bed, and you take his face into your hands, fingers softly rubbing his skin, heavy lidded eyes taking in every detail and reaction. Such an innocent gesture, warm hands holding onto him so gently, makes him feel cared for more than grand declarations ever could. Give him a little kiss on the nose or the forehead and his chest will burst with affection, making him give you little kisses all over your face, your giggles sounding heavenly to him. 

Masterlist

punk jade leech has been rotting my brain from the inside out, so i drew him.

YESSS portuguese is kind of complicated since we've got a lot of verbal tenses and terminology but it's a lovely language! every country that speaks it has their own version of it as well so it's a bit confusing (I literally cannot comprehend Portugal's portuguese lol) but I think that's part of the charm! the language tells a lot about a place's culture and it's fascinanting to learn about it!

THIS IS SO SWEET I LOVE IT!! just like honeybee's, I also like to eat honey, so it feels very appropiate 🍯🐝

BEE I CANT BREATH THE TAGS ON THE JAMIL FIC JKSHKJSHK I CANT RN I SHOULD BE STUDYING HISTORY BUT INSTEAD IM TRYING NOT TO SMILE AT MY COMPUTER LIKE A CLOWN OMGOMG ILSYM I WENT TO GOOGLE TRANSLATE TO TRANSLATE THE PORTUGUESE AND WALLAH أعشقك كثيرا يا حب حياتي YOUR WORDS ARE SO KIND AND LOVELY THEY MAKE ME BURST WITH JOY TYSM

MORI I'M GLAD YOU LIKE MY SILLY LITTLE THOUGHTS SO MUCH !!! seriously your writing is wonderful and I love to learn new things about different cultures!!

good luck with studying!! and don't forget to take breaks and drink water!! you've got this!!

EU TAMBÉM TE AMO AMORINHA <33

[Club Activities - part 2]

Summary: Crowley keeps knocking at your door, quite literally, wanting to hear your club choice. You might as well get this over with.

Notes: gn!reader, humor, it's kinda long, reader is oblivious, mentions of minor injuries but in a funny way dw, it's the looong overdue pt2

Part: 1.0 / 2 (you're here!) / 2.5 (soon!)

"So, have you decided?"

Crowley stands by the doorway. He looks completely normal, a pleasant smile plastered on his lips. You blink, sluggish, resisting the urge to slam the door on his face.

"It's five a.m. on a sunday."

"Yes, that's correct, good to see you're keeping up with the passage of time."

You feel there's a jab aimed at you for taking your time on choosing a club. Or on answering the door. In your defense, Grim was sleeping on top of you and you didn't want to disturb his sleep. Nor yours. You were hoping the Headmaster would just give up and leave you alone, but instead he only knocked louder. 

"Well?"

"Uh..." You take a bit to remember the first thing he said. "No, I still have some meetings to go to."

"Were the sports clubs not to your liking? I'm sure you'd do well in one, should you put your efforts on it."

"Nah, I'll pass."

"I see. Then, you'll tell me your decision by the end of the week, yes?"

"Since when did we agree on this." It was a question, but with your drowsy state it just fell flat.

"Since now, of course! I was very kind to let you take so much time to chose a club, but you must understand I'm under some pressure as well to make sure you'll have the best possible education here. We can't afford to lose too much time!"

You blink again, your brain still sleepy. "Oh. Alright."

Crowley claps his hands in an excited manner. "Wonderful! I'll be eagerly waiting for your decision, then!"

Only as you watch his retreating back getting farther away that it finally registers just what you agreed on. You groan, closing the door and leaning against it.

Well, nothing to do about it now. You should really get onto it, anyway. Still, your break will be missed.

Film Research Club (Vil, Ortho platonically)

You had finally left the sports clubs behind, time to try something new, like arts!

Since you've worked with Vil at the SDC, you were already used to his strict personality and thought you'd be able to handle yourself pretty well. You might not have that much experience with acting but you did know how to pretend everything was ok and your life wasn't falling apart, so you think you might have potential.

It was quite surprising to see Ortho there, but the sight of your friend's welcoming eyes and cheer made you feel relieved, relaxing amidst the Pomefiore students. They were intimidating, though in a different way the guys from the Spelldrive club were. The latter looked like they could easily beat you to a pulp, while the former looked like they'd give you a disgusted stare and call you a peasant in such a condescending tone you'd implode on spot. They were all very pretty as well, but you wouldn't let that make you self conscious since you knew no one could beat Vil anyway.

Speaking of, Vil himself comes to speak with you and explain about the club with a professional conduct as he says that Crowley had warned him of your special situation and that he'd let you help out, since they always needed extra hands on deck. You got hopeful at that, perhaps it was time for you to shine and discover a hiden talent of yours! These daydreams are soon crushed as Vil puts you on backstage duty and turns around, having something or other to talk about with the other members.

Well. That was... not what you were expecting. Ortho explains that in order to enter the club as an actor, you must audition beforehand and prove yourself worthy. That makes sense, you guess, so you accept it with grace. Backstage work might not be as exciting as being on the actual stage, but you had Ortho by your side to make sure things won't be too dull. And a side of you wants to make Vil proud of your work, so you suck it up and ask Ortho to lead the way.

Ortho shows you around the set you'll be working on for the day. It's one of Pomefiore's dorm ballrooms, and it's huge. You look in awe at everything, even though it's a bit plain in terms of furniture, it's quite detailed. In moments like this you remember Pomefiore's dorm is a castle, as you feel the royalty emanating from the ceiling, with it's luxurious chandeliers, to the walls, with it's intricate golden patterns, even at the floor, by it's quality.

He teaches you how to operate the lights and sound for a bit while the actors decide on what they'll film that day. You feel just the tiniest bit of jealousy at them, especially because Vil seems to be very focused on everything they say. Ortho must notice this (of course he would), and tries to cheer you up. After all, you're his friend! He doesn't want you to feel bored at the club when there are so many insteresting things to do!

You move from the more technical parts and go to the storage room, where they keep most of the props and extra accessories. You explore it, looking at everything but not touching, not wanting to get in trouble if you break anything on accident. As you're looking at an old mirror, Ortho picks up one of the pink cowboy hats and puts it on your head. It looks goofy, not matching with your uniform at all, and it makes you laugh.

You retaliate by putting a pirate hat full of colorful feathers that's way too big on him. It slides down and covers his eyes, making him look like a little kid trying on their sibling's clothes. Not to mention the feathers, that also clash with his body's design. You both laugh and go to different directions, trying to find more things to put on.

Ortho ends up with a vivid red sash wrapped around his waist and a wooden rod in hands, while you've got a pink feather scarf around your neck and a hollow steel rod in hands. You stare down at each other from your sides of the room, pretending you're on one of those western cowboy movies, even acting like it too. You drawl out something about the town not being big enough for the two of you. Ortho goes along, putting up the worst pirate accent with his robotic voice and telling you to prepared to be boarded.

Between giggles, the two of you meet at the middle, your rods clashing as if they were swords. You make exaggerated moviments that would be impratical in any fight while dropping the most cliche lines you can think of. Ortho dodges your attacks in slow motion and retributes with his own, making it seem more like some funny dance than a sword fight.

You were having so much fun you kind of forgot you were there to do a job. You're quickly reminded as the door suddenly opens and you, startled, let the steel rod slip from your hands mid attack and hit the wall with a loud clang. There stands Vil, hands on his hips as he stares at the two of you with one arched eyebrow, an unimpressed look on his face even after almost being hit right on it. You're not looking the most dignified, with your whole attire. Nor is Ortho, which helps you to not feel alone on the receiving end of Vil's judgment.

The three of you leave the props behind and return to the main area. More precisely, to the actors' dressing room part. It's not an actual separate room, but rather a space of the ballroom reserved for this. Most have put on their costumes and are adjusting the finer details, Vil instructs you to help them while he sets up the stage.

You try your best, but every actor sends you a glare as you approach them, making you turn on your heels and try another one. And another. And another. You're not feeling very helpful. How you wish you could just ignore it like Ortho does. The only thing you actually do is helping zip up some clothes when they can't reach their backs and do it themselves. You don't dare to touch their hair or you feel they'd explode you with their minds. There is one instance when you have to lace a guy into a corset, but you get a bit confused with all the laces. Maybe it's like tying a shoe? You pull on it with too much force at first, leading him to complain at you the entire time. In your defense, you've never done this before! You tie it up with a cute lace at the end to make up for it and scurry away before he could release more of his wrath upon you. You settle on following Ortho around like a lost puppy.

Finally, everyone finishes up and you move to the middle of the room, where the scene will be taking place. From what you gather, the movie they are making is about a royal family that's having their heir assume the throne, but there's a plot against him going behind the scenes. The main character seems to be corset guy, who still glares at you whenever you pass by his camp of vision, much to your (un)luck.

Ortho leads you to the first place he showed, since they'd start recording soon. You watch him work with the lights, turning them on dramatically as they start the scene and making it follow the main lead as he monologues about his woes of assuming such a big responsability and how he feels between the sea of people present. The actor does a good job, good enogh to appease Vil, who watches attentively near the camera. The thing is, he's trying to replicate a foreign accent and that, combined with his melodramatic lines, makes you have to stifle a laugh.

You try your best to stay quiet and pay attention to the story, but some of the lines and the way they dramatically deliver them sound so silly you can't help but giggle in your palm. Ortho looks at you inquisitively, tilting his head and trying to understand what you found so funny. You whisper an explanation to him, making him see the words in a different manner. As you laugh, he laughs along discretely, both of you having fun again.

Vil motions for you to keep your volume down, as to not disturb the actors and break their concentration, and you send him a thumbs up. Still, you keep on reacting, even mouthing their words with exaggerated facial expressions. Ortho seems much more interested in what you have to show than the lights, since he misses some of his cues and gets it later or sooner than intended. Which is also funny, since the confused looks on the background actors' faces are very entertaining. 

It comes to a point in which you're holding in your laughter so much you're a bit out of air, and you end up bumping into one of the controls, making the background music change suddenly, from a calm waltz to an action scenesque one. Your startled eyes meet Ortho's, and in true friendship fashion you both burst out laughing. Vil cuts the filming and strides up on you two, reprimanding you once again, and you feel like a guilty puppy being scolded by their owner. You must look like that too, since he sighs like an overworked mother and takes pity on you, deciding on something else for you to do and leave Ortho to do his job without distractions.

Vil gives you the role of an extra to play, just for you to have an idle conversation with the protagonist that won't last even five minutes. He shows you exactly how the scene should go, taking hold of your hand to conduct a dance and dropping casual chatter with you, looking you in the eyes, with a conduct that's so charming you're sure you feel your heart skip a beat (too bad it's just acting though). You feel like you can do that as well, so you hurry to change into one of the formal outfits and repeat the line Vil told you over and over again in your head, heart beating way too fast.

There is just one thing you didn't count on: you apparently have a bad case of stage fright. Or perhaps it's happening especifically because you know Vil will be watching you like a hawk. As you position yourself amidst the other extras, you feel your heartbeat accelerating and your hands start to sweat. You try to relax your tense shoulders and clear your throat, looking at the floor to steady yourself.

As your cue approaches, you move closer to the corset guy, whose attention snaps at you as soon as you enter his vision field. Even if his face looks polite, like a prince, you can feel the glare he's still sending your way, just on a more subdued level this time. You can also feel the stares of the others on your back and your tongue seems to have been tied. Your head comes up with a blank when you try to remember what Vil told you to say. Oh, this is not good. Why did this have to be so nerve wracking?

Time passes slowly, seconds feels like hours as the protagonist waits expectantly for your words. Trying to not disappoint, you blurt out a joke improvisation line, like the ones you see on movies sometimes. Unfortunately, your sense of humor is vastly different from Pomefiore's students', and the joke falls so flat everyone has to take a moment to recover. You wish for the ground to swallow you as Vil yells a "Cut!" and the other actors look judgmentally in your way. Maybe if you close your eyes it will go away? You can still hear the other's whispering, and although you don't understand what exactly they're saying, you can only guess they're mocking you. Welp, guess it's time to become a hermit at ramshackle and never show your face at school ever again!

It takes only a minute, but as soon as Vil has recomposed himself he commands everyone to be quiet. You open your eyes again, gathering all your courage to see the disappointed look on his face, but you're surprised that's not what greets you. Instead, Vil's got a nasty glare that's sharp enough to cut a man, and it's not directed at you at all! Vil procceds to reprimand the rest of the cast for being so inelegant as to make fun of a begginer and even mocks their need to feel superior. You've never felt more grateful for him in your life, maybe you can still go to classes after that, since no one will dare to mess with you and risk his wrath.

As the others look ashamed for being yelled at by their leader, Vil pulls you aside and tells you that maybe it's better to try something else if your stage fright is going to affect your performance so much. He sounds strict as always, but he has an almost soft look in his eyes as he congratulates you for trying to overcome that fear and that you did well enough for someone with no experience. You feel a lot better after that and thank him sincerely, promising to give it your all at whatever other job you can do to help! He smiles at your enthusiasm and it's as if the clouds have parted ways for the sun to shine. (The other club members look amazed, as they've never seen such a soft smile on Vil's face before.)

He then asks you if you know how to work with a camera. If taking pics with Cater to post on Magicam counts then yes, you do have some experience with it. Vil says he's got the perfect job for you: being part of the camera crew and helping to film everything. You accept, after all, how hard can it be, really?

Apparently, a lot. Vil had just left out a little detail from this job: you'd be filming the aerial angle of this scene. Which meant using Kalim's magic carpet. As you recall, you're not the most adept at riding it, flashbacks from winter vacation entering in your mind. Still, you had promised Vil you'd help on this, and you weren't sure if he'd find you another thing to do or get your complaining the wrong way, so you decide to give it a try anyway.

You wobble on it, camera propped up on your shoulder and secured by a sling strap just in case you losen your hold on it. (Which is very likely). Surprisingly, you manage to get the carpet off the ground without many complications, so things are looking up (quite literally)! And then comes the part where you have to guide it and you're almost thrown out of a window with the force it makes a turn. Your grip on it tightens and you try to wrestle it into submission, with little success.

Things procced like this, you trying to learn how to drive the carpet while making turns on the air and holding on for your life. (And making sure the camera is safe. You don't want a repeat of the chandelier accident from the start of the year, so you're not taking any chances). Anything you might have tried to film is probably so shaky and blurry it isn't even usable, but you have more important matters to worry about.

That goes on until you make a particularly sharp turn, causing the carpet to lose control and go spiraling straight to the floor. Luckly, you manage to land on a convenientely placed couch (has that been there before?) and doesn't get much hurt. You're clutching the camera to your chest in a protective manner, so it isn't damaged either. At least, not much, but it isn't anything the Ignihyde guys can't fix.

Vil and Ortho are by your side in an instant, asking if you're alright. Vil extends his hand and pulls you up like a gentleman, fixing your hair softly. He's really close to your face and you can feel your heart beating faster, though you're not sure if it's due to that or the adrenaline of the fall. Ortho reassures you that not even him got the hang of piloting the carpet, as it seems to only actually obey Kalim, and that you did your best!

You really did try, so you can safely say you won't discover any hidden acting talent any time soon. Time to check out other clubs. 

(Ortho tells you to drop by another time at practice and watch the recording with him, since he had a lot of fun! Vil tells you that should you wish and work hard for it, you may have potential and he'd be willing to help you reach it. You agree, since it was very nice to visit and, most of all, to get to see Vil on his element like this. There's an added bonus of you not having ended up at the infirmary as well, which is enough to put the club on a positive light in your books. It's a bit sad that's the standard, but oh well, nothing to do about it.)

Science Club (Trey, Rook)

Alright, art may not be for you, but maybe science is! Or... whatever it is that they do in this club.

It's a bit intimidating since there are way too many people there, more than you've seen in any other club. What could they possibly be doing to attract this many people?

Rook, as observant as ever, notices you before you've even set foot inside the lab, coming close to greet you and ask if you were going to join them for the day. You relutanctly agree, staying close to his side as he leads you deeper into the room, opening the path. You make sure to not bump into anyone and cause an accident.

Trey is at one of the work tables at the back, sharing it with Rook. He sends a calming smile your way and explains that it's a club with a vast variety of activities, as long as they're not of the physical sort. You sigh in relief, listening to him reciting things such as plant cultivation and chemistry experiments. You already have to do those things on your regular classes, so you're confident in your ability of succeding for once. Rook adds that this flexibility in activity has attracted many people, creating a beauté diversity of members. (Trey explains that there's a lot of odd people as he side eyes Rook).

You sit with them, since you don't know anyone else. Rook goes on about the experiment he'll be doing this time, something that will leave a beautiful impact and stay on the mind of anyone looking. It sounds a lot like what happens when you partner up with Ace and Deuce at alchemy class, that is, stuff is about to be blown up. You scoot closer to Trey.

Taking pity on you, Trey reminds Rook that there's an ingredient missing, since they had used all from the lab's storage on their last class, and offers to get it at the botanical garden for him, inviting you to come along. You jump at the opportunity, agreeing and getting up to follow him. Rook thanks his generosity and explains that there's no way a gentleman like him would leave all the hard work onto the two of you, so he follows along. Trey looks a bit annoyed, but you only wanted to get out of being roped into a crazy experiment so you don't mind much, as long as you keep Rook away from any potential explosive plants.

The fresh air from the gardens is much better than the stuffy feeling from the crowded lab, and you take a deep breath to appreciate it. Trey takes you to the temperate zone, the path filled with beautiful flowers of all colors and scents. The sound of the little river below you only adds to the pleasant atmosphere, the sun rays warming up your skin and soul. It's wonderful. You'd like it if your club classes were to take place there. It might be enough to convince you to join, the nature so full of life energizing your mood, a smile blooming on your face.

You pass by an area that has thicker vegetation and stands out from the whole, attracting your curiosity, so you ask Trey what could be there. He warns you to not wander to that side of the garden, as there were carnivorous plants being cultivated by the third years. You wave him off, saying you had those back in your world and they were pretty harmless. Trey looks at you in doubt, but decides to not question it, aceptting your answer and going back to his search for the missing ingredient. 

Since you have no idea what you should be looking for, you leave the boys to it, deciding to observe the flowers instead. Distracted, you end up getting farther away from them, the flora enticing you and putting you under a spell, demanding your attention. It's not until you bump into a tall... something, that you realize how far you had gone. You lift up your head, wondering if you had bumped into a tree, only to find two open hinged lobes dripping with sap closing on your face.

A scream gets caught in your throat as you take in the gigantic carnivorous plant in front of you, that's only coming closer. You didn't know that when Trey had mentioned them, he didn't explain that they aren't like the one from your world at all. Not only were they huge, but also seemed ready to eat a human at any given chance.

You're pulled by someone behind you, falling into a secure chest and feeling strong arms embracing your waist as the plant's jaw's close into the air where you were just a second ago. The sigh you let out shakes your whole body and you let your weight be supported by your saviour. You find out his identity soon enough, as a familiar voice by your ear calls you chéri and asks if you were fine.

After thanking Rook, he guides you to the main area of the garden with a protective hand behind your back, making sure you wouldn't stumble into any more potential dangerous plants, as he goes on about how they were "the hunters of the natural world" and how "such danger has it's own alluring charm, non?" You don't catch the glint in his eyes as he asks the question, too busy trying to get your heart beat back into a normal rhythm. 

Trey scolds you lightly for ignoring his advice, but he seems busier trying to equilibrate the plants he harvested in his arms and glaring at Rook, probably for leaving him alone to do all the work. Rook stays unbothered, putting his hands on your shoulders and staying close as he directs you to the exit, his usual smile stamped on his face.

As you put the fresh ingredients near the others that Rook had selected earlier, you notice some strawberries in the mix. You shot a questioning stare at Trey, making him laugh and explain he took the chance to harvest some of his hand grown special strawberries. He takes some from your hands, brushing your fingers together before lifting them up to inspect closely. The strawberries are a beautiful shade of red, making you salivate only by looking at them. Trey has a contemplative expression as he murmurs he should use them as soon as possible in order to make the best use of their ripeness.

You suggest him to make a strawberry tart with them and offers your help, on the light price of getting to eat it as well. He smiles and agrees to your proposal, telling you to follow him to the kitchens. You do, happily so as you carry some of the strawberries in your arms, leaving Rook to take care of the potions experiment. Really, you feel like you've killed two birds with one stone, so you pat yourself on the back for doing a good job.

Back at the first month of classes, you remember cooking with Trey, Ace, Deuce and Grim, and how much fun you had, despite the circumstances. With the group reduced to two, it might be more toilsome, but you were confident it would be worth it.

Trey finds an extra apron for you, tying it himself to make sure it would stay in place. He gently explains the steps to prepare the ingredients, helping you whenever you didn't understand something. It was quite nice, seeing Trey look so in his element, an unconscious soft expression on his face, as if he was enjoying himself. It's domestic, even, how you dance around each other in the kitchen, passing bowls and cutlery back and forth. He is good humored as he recalls stories from the club, making you laugh whenever he bemoans Rook's experiments.

The stories he tells are very captivating, so much so that you don't look at the recipe book, doing the steps on automatic. Once or twice you almost spill what you were mixing or use too much force to cut something, but it's salvageable every time, so you don't comment on it. You leave the crust on the oven for a bit too much, but it's only slightly charred, so you're pretty sure it's still edible. One of the flour bags slips from your hands and falls on the sink, covering your face in flour powder. Trey helps you clean up, but he's laughing at you and your now white hair. It comes to the point in which you're mixing the crème pâtissière and you get too close to the stove, making the ends of your sleeves to catch on fire. Trey quickly puts it out and runs your arm under cold water. The crème ends up a bit too lumpy, since neither of you were stirring it for a while, but it's not too bad.

Alright, maybe you're not the best at cooking. Still, arranging the strawberries in a circle on top of the tart was pretty fun. The last thing left to do is to let it cool. You lick your lips thinking about eating it once it's ready. You're about to help Trey clean the mess you've made in the kitchen when Rook bursts through the door, looking excited. He tells you there's no time to explain and takes you by the hand, dragging you back to the laboratory. You send Trey your best regards and wish him luck in cleaning everything alone. He sends you a pitying look back.

You should wish yourself some luck as well, since the motive for Rook to have brought you to the lab was for you to help him with the new formula he thought for his experiment. He explains that the one he was trying didn't have it's desired effects, as you could clearly see from the scorch marks on the table you were sitting before. He says that for the new formula, he'll need help to get the ingredients prepared and handed over, since he couldn't stop stirring it until everything was added in. You don't know how he came up with this solution, and honestly? You don't want to know.

Having no other choice, you agree to help him. He reminds you to put your gloves and safety googles on before starting, making a comment on how your cute apron would do as your lab coat. After getting into place, you follow all of Rook's instructions, preparing and handing over the ingredients he asks for. You have no idea what it is that he's going for, as your potions classes are still on a basic and more theorical level, but you decide to trust that he, as your upperclassman, knows what he's doing.

Dread pools on your gut as you watch the ingredients going into the cauldron. There's a hissing sound and bubbles emerge from the deep purple concotion. You have no time to react as Rook thows his arm in front of you just in time for the explosion to take place. You grip onto the table tightly and manage to stay upright, thanking the Sevens for your safety googles. If it were not for them, your entire face would be covered in a sparkling purple powder, some getting into your hair as well. Rook laughs and tells you that you shine bright like the sun. You look on unamused. Trey appears, having heard the explosion, and sighs, clearly being too used to this happening. He tells you and Rook to clean up as he starts to clean your mess, bless him.

Rook takes you to the nearest bathroom available, both of you trying to wash the explosion's results off. It has stuck like glue, and you have to splash your face with the cold water over and over for it to go away. You think there's still some of it on your hair, but can't bring yourself to care much. The apron wasn't enough to cover your body, so your clothes weren't spared either. Rook doesn't comment on it, but you can see him looking at you funny by the corner of your eye.

As you enter the lab, you see that the students that stayed after the first explosion had left. Rook wonders out loud on why they didn't like the innovation of his experiment, sighing as he goes on about the beauty of curiosity. You and Trey exchange glances as you clean everything together. You feel like you stayed way past the club's scheduled time and your arms hurt from moping the floor. At least you get to share your wonky strawberry tart. It doesn't taste as good as Trey's usual ones do, but you like it. You can't decide if it was worth all the trouble though.

Grim laughs at you once you get back to Ramshackle, your face is itching for the rest of the day, there's some sparkles in your hair for the rest of the week, your slightly burnt arm won't stop aching, you sent your clothes' laundry bill for Rook to pay. As much as you respect scientific advances, you feel that being involved in the research isn't for you (nor the cooking). Time to check out other clubs.

(Rook keeps approaching you at the halls to update you on how he's thought of possible changes to make the potion work. Trey comments he liked having company in the kitchen and help for cleaning up for once. They aren't very subtle. You don't even have to agree to visit the club again another time, as Rook has already volunteered you as his lab assistant and Trey has gifted you a recipe book with markings on which recipes you'll try to bake next. Guess you have no other choice but to go back now.)

Pop Music Club (Cater, Kalim, Lilia)

And back to the arts you go. But this time, instead of performing, how about playing some music? Joining the school band might be fun!

You're surprised to only find three people in the club. All the others had a bunch of people, but in this one, once you enter the classroom you're met with three of your friends hanging out in a couch. Why was there a couch in this classroom in the first place!?

It's not just three random people, either. It's the chillest and most extroverted people of the school, the ones that got along with everyone and were very popular. They whip their head so fast to the direction of the door once you enter you get a little worried for their necks. They seem elated to have a visitor, so you suppose this won't be so bad, even if you don't feel confident enough to play an instrument in front of other people.

Kalim jumps at you and envelops you in a big hug, a smile shining on his face as usual. Lilia pats you on the back, pushing you closer to the center of the room and welcoming you. Cater takes out his phone and takes a selfie with everyone, declaring it would go viral to have the cutest people of the school all together in one place and gushing over how many likes he'd get. They sure are a lively bunch.

Lilia plops you down on the couch, telling you to feel at home and winking. There's a center table with food containers in front of you, Kalim offers you a bite, explaining they made the snacks to bring to their club meetings, and Cater proposes to make it a culinary competition, in which you'd judge which one was the best. You were pretty sure you had left the cooking behind at the science club, what did it even had to do with music? Well, you weren't going to complain about getting free food!

Cater insists you try his first, a round tupperware with fried corn tortilla chips and guacamole in a dipping bowl at the center. It looks amazing, making your mouth water a bit. You take one of the chips, lightly lower it on the dip and take a bite. It's overall very good, the consistency and the crispness are wonderful, there's just one little problem: it's very spicy. Very spicy. Not the "oh no there's a tiny bit of spice in my otherwise bland food" type but the "my eyes are burning my thorat is burning my stomach is burning I'm going to burn from the inside out" type. And that's how you feel as you fan your face and drink the water Kalim brings you, though it only makes the burning worse, spreading it throughout your mouth and making your eyes water. Lilia appears upside down, hanging from the ceiling and scaring you, and offers you a glass of milk instead. You gratefully take it and chug it down as quick as you can.

Once you've calmed down, Lilia explains how he keeps milk around for Cater's food, that's way too spicy for his liking. Cater looks at you with puppy eyes, asking if you liked the chilli peppers he added to the recipe. You didn't, not really. It would be one thing to add some, sure, but it's like there's more pepper than anything else. You weakly smile at him and explain apologetically that it might not suit your tastes so much. Cater seems a bit down, but he only shrugs and jokingly says that not everyone can have good taste.

Kalim bounces up to you next, shoving his container in front of your face and telling you to try it. He proudly says he made it all without Jamil's help and that he hopes you'll like it. You look at the fried dumplings, remembering it's a sweet called awameh. It looks good as well, although a bit burnt, nothing that would stop you from eating it. You take one, getting surprised by how crunchy they ended up being, the sweetness exploding in your tongue. It would be very good, but you have the impression Kalim must have used the wrong measure of the ingredients. Yes, it was sweet, but it was way too sweet. Not only that, the sugar mixed with the cinnamon on the syrup also left you thirsty, as you downed another cup of water. It was like cinnamon was impregnated on your mouth, there was definetly too much.

While you accept your tongue will never be the same after the combo of strong flavours, Kalim reveals he tried to follow one of Jamil's mom's recipes for it, declaring it to be the best he's ever proved. He just got a bit confused when taking the measures for some ingredients, but he was proud of his work! You make a mental note to try to eat one of Jamil's awameh later, sure that it would taste delicious, and compliments Kalim on his efforts, suggesting gently to ask for help next time he has trouble with it.

The last one is Lilia, and you start dreading what might be hidden on his container. He seems preppy that someone will get to try his food, telling you that he's the one that cooks dinner at Diasomnia and how Silver and Sebek love his food. Cater and Kalim look at you with pity, shaking their heads. You've heard of Lilia's infamous cooking skills before, so you have to mentally prepare yourself before looking at what he prepared. It's... uh... something alright. Though it's unrecognizable, a dark glob that just looks sticky and burnt after the point. Your desperate look does nothing for Cater and Kalim to try to save you, as they look away furtively.

Aceppting your fate, you take one of the spoons Lilia brought and take the smallest bite possible while he stares at you attentively. It tastes foul, as expected, as if something had died in your mouth. You resist the urge to gag, trying to go for a smile and ending up with a grimace instead. It's horrible, there's no other way to describe it. All the rumors don't do it justice, it's way worse than what they say. You suspect you will get food poisoning later, as you down another glass of water. At least you're keeping yourself hydrated. Lilia seems to either not notice or pretend he didn't, as he keeps his cheery attitude and asks if you liked it. You nod weakly, hoping it would be enough for him to not force you to take another bite. He mercifully looks satisfied with the answer and you sigh with relief.

In the end you tell them you don't know which one was the best (you side eye Lilia's, thinking on how you knew which one was the worst at least). They don't look disappointed, content in having you prove their food as each munchs on their own snacks happily. You wonder how they manage to do it. Suddenly you miss Trey's baking and the wonky strawberry tart you've made.

As everyone sits together, Cater puts on some electropop song on the background that reminds you of the famous vocaloids from your world. You have an epiphany that Cater would listen to Hatsune Miku. You're not sure what to do with that information, staying quiet in shock as the other three talk between themselves. You remember him mentioning something like it when you went to do the SDC auditions, but you had other things to worry about and it must have slipped your mind. Once you've recomposed yourself, you ask what the food had to do with music, since the question had been burning in your mind for some time (not as much as your tongue burned tho).

They explain that the pop music club doen't really do much music, as the name suggests, they mostly just hang around to chat and chill. It has gotten them in a bit of trouble with the Headmaster, as they don't do anything that could actually be considered a club activity, causing him to have threatened to disband the club. Not to mention there's no new members for a while, no matter how much they try to attract more students. You consider joining this one just to spite Crowley. They clarify that they do play their instruments every once in a while to cover some song, but with their different music tastes they never reach an agreement on what to play most of the time.

You're curious on how they might sound as a band, sure it would be a chaotic but entertaining sight. You would ask to see this, if it was not for Cater excitedly declaring it's "gossiping time". They put on elevator music to play at the background and huddle close together, leaving a spot open for you to join their little circle, as if you were about to be in into the school's secrets. And that's exactly what happens, as the three of them seem to know about everyone and everything that goes on Night Raven College. There's so much drama you've never heard about, and you feel you know way too much about the lives of people you've never even met, but it's nice to create conspiracy theories about what would happen next in the soap opera that was other people's lives.

The topic changes to Magicam, since you were lowkey stalking the boy that had caused a ruckus in the cafeteria the past days. Cater likes his account's aesthetic, saying it passes the bad boy vibes he has, and whines about their club's magicam page. You weren't aware they even had one, so you ask to see it. It's... not what you were expecting. They might as well not have an account, since there are no photos other than their icon, which was the symbol of the club. Cater complains that they couldn't come to an agreement on how the page should look and were too lazy to try to work something out, so it has stayed like that for months.

Since you know how much he cares about this stuff, you offer your help! After all, it could be a lot of fun, and it'd feel as if you're the manager of the club. Cater lightens up with joy, throwing his arms around you and bringing you close to affectionately rub his cheeck on the top of your head, thanking you for being such a prestative underclassman. You enter your business mode, thinking on how you could go about this. It makes sense to promote the club doing something other than hanging out, so you tell them to pick up their instruments and pose.

You go around them and try many different angles. Kalim and Lilia have fun doing weird poses that makes very clear they aren't playing at all, but there's a charming genuine smile on their faces. Cater poses with his guitar like a professional, making captivating facial expressions that make even you swoon, only encouraging him to make different ones. He could be a model, you think, with how he knows all the right ways to smile at the camera and tilts his head just so to make him look cute and alluring at the same time, fingers skillfully positioned at the eletric guitar's chords, eyes lidded, hair messy deliberately, body facing forwards with confidence. He has everything to ace the rockstar persona, at least in looks.

You try taking some of them together as an unit, but none pleases you enough. There's something missing, but you can't quite put your finger on what. You give his cellphone back as you ponder about it. Cater looks through the photos, commenting how one looks "super cool~" and in the other he's "slaying". He decides it'd be a great moment to take advantage of his cuteness streak to take a photo with everyone together, yourself included. Cater drapes his arm around your shoulders and keeps you close to him, cheek coming to rest at your forehead. Kalim and Lilia make poses behind you two, laughing at how silly they look with all the filters Cater tries on. 

He ends up telling you to decide which photo looked better, as he couldn't chose just one, something like: "any photo with you would look cute, of course I can't chose!" You look through all of them, but only one gets your eyes, the only without a filter. Everyone looks genuinely happy, making your heart warm. Cater's is not looking at the camera itself, but slightly to the side, where you are, with such a soft expression you can't help but be endeared by it. It's him, not a forced smile and exaggerated pose, just Cater, happy. That's what the other pictures were missing. 

You show it to him, insisting it's the best and should be the first photo on the club's Magicam page. He pouts about the lack of filter, saying how the other ones look much cuter, but you explain that you like the real him much more than any filter, since nothing could ever come close to the real deal, no filter in the world could make him justice. You're very genuine with it too, since it's the truth. Cater stares at you, caught by surprise, and turns his face away from you, ears tinted pink, taking a minute to recompose himself, leaving you confused. Lilia looks on knowingly, smirking at him. You weren't alone in your confusion, as Kalim seemed to be just as clueless as you.

Your argument manages to convince him, though, as he soon comes up with an eye catching description and posts it, grumbling that you should be happy now. You are, actually, so you simply smile at him, giggling at his playful eye roll. Only after the picture was already posted and you entered on your own account that you notice your eyes were closed. You yelp and try to convince Cater to change it to another one, but he refuses, telling that you were the one that chose it so you should stick with it, sticking his tongue out at you in a childsh manner. You whine some more before giving up. Cater seemed really content with the choice, if the soft smile on his face as he glanced at it meant anything, so you let it be, resigning to your fate. You weren't even a member, so you hoped you wouldn't attract that much attention. (You really hoped Ace wouldn't find it, otherwise you'd never hear the end of it.)

He suddenly gets an idea to decorate the classroom to make it look more "magicamable", dragging Lilia with him to get the decorations. Lilia whispers something to him that makes him glance back at you with a red face, quickly scurrying away and leaving you and Kalim to look on in confusion. How weird, what had gotten into him? 

At that moment, the playlist shuffles, coming up with a song that has a very upkeep beat. Kalim jumps in excitement, saying that was his favorite song and he couldn't not dance to it. You can't help jumping your leg and moving your head to the beat, swaying to the contagious rhthym. Kalim notices and extends his hands in your direction, inviting you to dance with him. You know you're nowhere near his skill level and you'd look clumsy compared to his fluid moviments, but his earnestness convinces you to give it a try. You were sure he wouldn't make fun of you, so why not have a good time too?

Hand in hand, the two of you move together, not completly in sync, but in a rhythm that feels right, that's only yours. It's nice, seeing his content expression up close, foreheads almost touching, feet following the other's steps, hips swaying together. You spin once, laughing, he spins once, grinning wildly. You're lost in the trance of the hypnotizing beat of Kalim's heart.

The song gradually comes to a stop, making both of you calm down too. Kalim has one hand on your waist, the other still holding yours. You hold onto his shoulder, your noses touch, breaths coming in puffs, his eyes crinkle and it's warm, he's warm. Your chest follows his in it's rise and fall, your stomach does pirouettes, to the point you're dizzy, your cheeks feel hot. You start worrying you might have really gotten food poisoning from Lilia's cooking.

Before either of you say anything else, the sound of Cater's giggle burst your bubble, bringing you back to the real world. You whip your head to the door, watching as Lilia and Cater giggle deviously, Cater's fingers working fast on his cellphone's keyboard. You separate from Kalim's burning touch, your hands suddenly feeling cold, and stride up to them, demanding to look at what they found so funny. Lilia shows you, on his own phone, a videoclip of you and Kalim dancing together, nearing the end of the song. Your focus is initially on Kalim, as he glows, movements showing years of expertise, it's... beautiful. Then your gaze averts to yourself, and how, like you suspected, you were looking goofy near him, not matching the tempo at all.

You whine up at Cater again, asking him to delete the stories he posted, but he refuses, saying it was way too precious to miss. You lightly hit his chest and look up your lashes at him, pouting. His teasing expression falters, as if you were on the brink of convincing him. Lilia pulls you away and explains it was only on close friends anyway, so you needn't worry about the whole school seeing it. Kalim agrees that the video is very nice, beaming as he watches you two having fun. You sigh and give up, not having the heart to be a killjoy.

Lilia and Cater's hands are empty of any decorations, so you question them about it. Cater frowns exaggeratedly, drowning on dramatically on how they couldn't find any and how it was such a pity. Lilia covers his hand to hide a giggle, only making the action more obvious. Cater glares at him subtly. Kalim notices how the club's reserved time is almost coming to an end, deciding that to make a grand finale you should play an instrument, after all they should at least pretend they did something club related for you to report back to the Headmaster. And it'd be a lot of fun for you to play with them!

Lilia claps his hands together, agreeing it would be a most gleeful experience. He insists on teaching you how to play the bass, not wanting to hear whether you already knew how to or not. He gives you the instrument and shows how to hold it in the right way, trying to teach a few chords. It's a bit difficult to understand the confusing terms he uses, so he sighs and comes behind you, taking your hands in his and doing the movements, pressing his chest against your back, his deep voice right by your ear as he explains. You can't pay attention to it all, for some reason. You kind of feel dizzy again. Perhaps it's the food poisoning for real this time?

His fingers guide yours along the strings, gently pressing on the right spots, strumming the chords at the bridge. He murmurs the instructions, voice ressonating like the low pitch of the instrument, hot breath tickling your skin. You let him do as he pleases, dazed. The simple notes ring in your ears, lulling you into calmness, eyes closing as you let your sensations take the wheel, the frequency making your heart vibrate in your chest, as if dancing along, your head floating in the clouds.

It's all good and well until Lilia starts singing along. Or whatever it is that he calls "singing". In reality, he starts screaming some punk-rock lyrics right by your ear. Your heart jumps so quickly you swear you almost had an arrhythmia, your soul leaving your body for a second. Your eyes snap open so fast the lights from the classroom blind you and make black spots appear in your vision. You elbow Lilia in your surprise, thankfully making him stop trying to burst your eardrums. You get away, taking off the strap of the bass and giving it back to him. You think that's enough practicing for now.

Later on the day you confirm your food poisoning suspicions to be true. You've gained a new found respect for Sebek for enduring the poison Lilia calls cooking everyday and still managing to keep that impressive disposition of his. At least you helped the pop music club get more followers on magicam and spread their word out there. A bunch of people sign up to know the club, so you're all really happy! You felt like you've done a good job. (In the next week, the people arrive and see no sight of you, only of the dynamic trio. They don't show up again, leaving the members number back to it's original three.)

It was pretty fun, all things considered. You didn't get hurt other than in your pride and your social image, so it's a win in your books. Still, you're not sure you could handle their energetic and chaotic personalities combined like this evey week and risk getting deaf or suffering stomach failure. Time to check out other clubs.

(Cater comments on how the photos you took together got the most likes, insisting you come over again for a photoshoot. Kalim says he's got new songs to dance with you and that he's asked Jamil to help him cook for the next club meeting. Lilia tells you that you still have to take some more bass lessons to get the hang of it. Well, you suppose you could pass by sometime to be in the know about what goes on at the school and to get to prove Jamil's cooking. And to enjoy your friend's company, of course!)

Masterlist

you play the drinking game and end up at the ER from alcohol poisoning 😔

ooh I have plans for these two, mc might not be the best at sports but they solo in board games 💪

[Club activities - part 1]

Summary: Crowley insists you join one of the school's clubs, even though your schedule is already full. Having no other choice, you oblige, on one condition: you'll attend a meeting of each club before deciding which one you'll join. As expected, shenanigans ensue.

Notes: gn!reader, humor, it's kinda long, reader is oblivious, mentions of minor injuries but in a funny way dw, I had to research about horse management and now you'll know about it too

Part: 1 (you're here!) / 2 (soon!)

"Do I really have to do this? Isn't it enough that I already am your unnoficial errand runner, Grim's babysitter, Ramshackle's prefect and have to deal with an overblot a month on top of whatever insanity the students decide to put me through while I try to keep my grades up to not lose my scholarship?"

You really hoped he would listen to reason, after all, you already have way more than enough on your plate. As it is, he obviously didn't hear to a word you said. How unfortunate. 

"Of course it's most crucial you participate in a club! As a model educator, I must set an example for my peers. How would it look if one of my students didn't partake in such an important school activity?"

Crowley looks agravated by the mere idea. You deadpan at him. He stares back at you. Grim snoozes in the background. 

"Well, which one will it be?"

You sigh, as if the weight of the world was in your shoulders.

"...Can I see the list, at least?"

Crowley smiles, his whole demeanor changing as soon as he got what he wanted. You brace yourself for what is to come, knowing it will be a headache.

After taking a look at your options, you decide to go in one meeting of each before choosing one to join. You could just randomly pick one and be done with it, but since you're already being forced to do this, you should do something you enjoy.

The headmaster gives you a genial smile and agrees on your conditions, telling you how kind he is for doing so and how it will be great for your education. You glare at him, defeated.

Better start sooner than later, right?

Spelldrive Club (Leona, Ruggie, Epel)

Good news, you've played spelldrive before, so you're not entirely lost!

You keep that in mind as you arrive at the field. It's pretty intimidating, with most of the players being thugs from Savanaclaw that look like they could fold you in half like a twig. You scurry to Epel's side.

He's surprised you decided to participate in a meeting, but really happy as well since it's a chance to show off his manliness to you. You chat for a bit as you wait for Leona, the captain, to arrive. Ruggie eventually joins you both, cracking some joke about your unexpected attendance and having a new member on the team.

Once Leona arrives, he looks just as grumpy as usual, but his ears are perked up and he's scanning the field as if looking for something. And it seems he finds it once his eyes land on you, leading him to your little group's direction.

Crowley had the decency of telling him in advance about your test drive of the club, but Leona warns you he won't allow you to slack off just because it's your first day. You're surprised he even bothered to tell you this, as you imagined he would be as unenthusiastic as he is about his normal classes. It seems he has high expectations for you. Epel and Ruggie look startled as well, but wisely keep their mouths shut.

Everyone did light stretchs and got their brooms, ready to play. It was... intense. You already expected it from what little experience you had from the tornament, not to mention that by being magicless you had a limited range of moves you could pull, but it seemed Leona was a strict leader when it came to the sport. 

That, or he wanted to show off today for some reason. According to one of Epel's snide remarks, Leona is usually more laid back than he was being. You couldn't help but worry it had something to do with you, so you kept your head low and tried to follow the best you could, least he screamed at you as well. Besides, his complaints did sound reasonable, even if he was blunt and kind of rude about them, so it was good he was so motivated!

And he wasn't the only one. Epel was giving his all, pulling stunts left and right to get points. You were amazed by his ability, since you've never seen him play before, you had no idea he was this good! Your gaze would wander to wherever he was and you could swear you felt him staring back sometimes, though he turned his head away too fast for you to confirm it.

Even so, he wasn't safe from blundering his play eventually. After marking a point, he turned in your direction, confident that you've been watching, chest puffed out proudly. Only to be met with your panicked look as you tried to signal for him to look behind. One of the players from Savanaclaw shoved him then, almost dropping him from his broom. Luckly, Epel managed to catch himself just in time to avoid an accident, making you sigh relieved, your clammy hands readjusting their grip on your own broom, heart beating wildly on your chest. Leona screamed at both of you for being distracted, but he glared harder at Epel.

Ruggie was another one set on impressing you with his techniques, doing dangerous tricks on his broom while in midair. You knew he was very good, he was the one you went against on the first time you played, after all, but still cheered on his tricks. His cheeky smile stayed firm on his face, growing at every compliment you threw his way. His tail was wagging behind him, but you didn't have to know that.

The thing is, if he started to pay too much attention on you to gauge your reactions, he got distracted from the game going on around him. On more than one occasion he was almost throw out while dangling on his broom with only his feet, somehow managing to get his balance back everytime. Leona looked ready to burst a blood vessel when it happened, you had a feeling he was going to be extra annoying to Ruggie for the rest of the week.

All in all, you couldn't do much, so you stayed at the sidelines watching your friends play. You were sweating all over, the scorching sun shining above you. Did you remember to use sunscreen? You closed your eyes and took one arm off your broom to wipe out some sweat from your brow, distracted. You were pretty tired. The shouting went on at the background. You had the impression your friends were calling your name. As soon as you were going to turn to their direction and see what it was that they wanted, everything went black and you lost consciousness.

You woke up at the infirmary, having a feeling of deja vu. Why whenever you tried to play spelldrive something had to happen? Epel, Ruggie and Leona were by your bedside, looking worried, upset or annoyed. They explained a disk went out of course and ended up hitting you at the back of your head, causing you to pass out. 

Ruggie proudly announced he was the first one to react and caught you just in time, before you hit the ground. Epel added that he helped Ruggie bring you to the infirmary and that Leona went off on everyone at the field for not catching the damned disk. Leona just huffed and pretended to not care, but you could tell he did just from how he stayed waiting for you to wake up.

As sweet as that little moment was, you didn't want a repeat of what happened and felt spelldrive wasn't really for you. Time to check out other clubs. 

(Epel excitedly asks for you to come and watch another pratice some time. Ruggie backs him up and pulls his puppy eyes on you. Leona looks like he would like that as well but stays silent, staring at you expectantly, ears perked up. You end up agreeing, not wanting to crush their enthusiasm. It seems they really enjoyed having you over. Not sure if the rest of the team could say the same, but a glare from Leona will shut them up if they dare to bother you.)

Equestrian Club (Riddle, Silver, Sebek)

There were horses on campus!? How come you never met one before? Time to rectify that!

You couldn't remember if you ever rode a horse before or not. Well, surely everything would turn out alright, since some of the most responsible people were on this club. Surely.

Riddle was the one that greeted you and showed you around the stables. There was a huge area dedicated to them, with all the horses having their own section and a fenced space reserved for riding them. They were all very well taken care of, as Riddle made sure to tell you about some of his duties as a member of the club. He even took you to meet his horse and taught you how to pet it!

You also met Sebek and Silver tending to their horses and talked with them a bit. Sebek expressed his diligence as always, talking loudly about his passion for the sport and how he would definitly make his Lord proud of his work. Silver was less overwhelming and seemed gentler surrounded by animals like that, as he told you softly that he was glad you showed interest in their club and how he hoped you'd enjoy it.

After such a warm welcome, you had your hopes high for this club! (Especially after what happened at spelldrive pratice). It didn't involve any magic either, so you could do everything just fine. All was well, until you were assigned a horse to tend for the day.

There was only one horse available, so you didn't have much of a choice, really. It was a beautiful white horse that truly looked straight out of a fairytale, with it's elegant aura and thick mane. If only it's temper could match it's appearence. It was one of the most petulant equines you've ever seen. It took a while for it to even let you get closer without trying to bite your hand off.

Silver said it still didn't have a name and Riddle told you that since you were it's handler for the day, you should name it. You decided to name it Maximus. Sebek liked the name, loudly approving it. Maximus seemed pretty content as well, so you patted yourself on the back for scoring one point with him.

The first thing you were going to do before actually riding him was to groom him. You decided to watch how your friends did it and mimick their actions. Riddle handed you a bucket with different brushes that you had no idea what should be used for. Sebek secured Maximus for you, saying it was to make sure he wouldn't move around while you tried to take care of him. Silver helped you two get acquainted, making sure you knew basic safety instructions.

You grab a round rubber comb, watching Riddle rub circles on his horse's side with a firm hold. Starting on Maximus' left side, you hesitantly bring the comb in contact with his fur, watching as he gives you a nasty side eye. You weakly start your sweeps, careful to not hurt him or press on a tender spot. Riddle tells you to use more pressure in order to remove the dirt from his coat. You increase your strenght as he nods approvingly. Just as he's about to turn back to his own work, he sees you sliding the brush down Maximus' shoulders and to his legs, his tail swishing in warning. He manages to pull you back just in time before Maximus closes his jaw where your hand was mere moments ago. Your arm trembles and your eyes are wide as he explains which areas are sensitive and that you'd better avoid them.

After using a stiff brush that reminded you of a broom to knock out the dirt you had loosened, being extra careful on the areas Riddle mentioned, you grab a soft brush. You feel dread pool on your stomach as you watch Silver kneel down to tend to his horse's legs. You stare at Maximus, hoping he would let you do the same, but you swear his expression is one that says 'I dare you to try and see what happens'. You gulp but still get down to it, better get it done as soon as possible. The front legs go swimmingly, the back ones not so much. As you're almost getting finished you accidently press on a sore spot. Maximus loudly neighs, stamps his foot and raises his knee, causing you to fall on your behind, surprised and very much still in hitting range. You were pretty sure that was it, you were going to infirmary again with the worst concussion ever known to man. Thankfully, Silver had noticed it just in time to drag you away, holding you by your armpits like a misbehaving kitten. Your knees feel weak, so you stay on the ground with a racing heart as you watch Silver calm Maximus down.

The next step was to clean Maximus' hooves. Anyone with half a brain cell could sense it was a bad idea to leave you to it, so you stayed back while Sebek did the cleaning. He didn't to it quietly though, he made sure to shout every step so you'd learn how to do it at a later date. You couldn't even find it in yourself to be mad at his condescending tone, too grateful for him helping you out. You thank him sincerely as he pauses mid rant. He stares at you with his mouth open, as if he had short circuited. Sebek stays strangely quiet for the next few minutes, not making eye contact with you but trying to steal glances your way without you noticing. Maximus huffs and it sounds mocking, somehow. 

To finish it up, you comb Maximus' mane, untangling it carefully, finding it surprisingly relaxing and by far the best part of this whole thing. When brushing his tail, you make sure to stand by his side, not behind, to avoid almost being kicked again. You look proudly at your work as Maximus flaunts himself. Riddle, Silver and Sebek compliment your efforts, making you smile sincerely despite being pretty sure Maximus hates your guts and has cursed your entire bloodline in his mind.

Finally, the time has come. You're going to actually ride the horse now!

That is, if you manage to mount it first. 

You try to mount Maximus' by his right side, but he doesn't budge. Plus, he's too tall for you to reach properly. He stares at you. You're sure he's laughing at your misery. Silver, bless him, comes to your aid. He hands you a safety helmet and calmly checks if the saddle is well secured with the girth and all buckles are fastened. He offers you his hand and you take it, letting him guide you to Maximus' left side as he explains just how to get up. He looks very princely like this, talking almost excitedly... or, well, as excited as Silver gets. He doesn't look like he's about to fall asleep, so that must count for something, and there's a rare smile on his face. He must really like his club. And the horses seem to like him just fine as well. Way too fine, actually, since they insist in interrupting him as he talks, demanding his attention. His horse smacks it's tail on your face as it nuzzles on Silver's hand. Maximus neighs amused, that bastard.

You thank Silver and let him get to his own activities, not wanting to take more of his time. He leaves, but his smile dropped and he looked almost disappointed. You wonder what that was about. Either way, you go find a steeping stool to help you mount Maximus. Riddle goes with you, insisting in supervising everything to make sure you won't have any problems. He holds Maximus' face to make sure he will stay quiet for you to mount him like Silver taught you to. As soon as you're seated Riddle withdraws from proximity, letting Maximus have some space. However, before you get time to grip the reins, Maximus takes off, leaving you to desperately hold onto his neck as he runs around. Riddle goes after the two of you, trying to stop him while you hold your screams in. After a full minute of this, Maximus suddenly stops, making you let go of your grip on him and fall to the side. Riddle fusses over you, making sure you're not badly hurt while reprimanding the horse for the stunt he pulled. 

You do feel sore all over, but refuse to back down. You're not going to let Maximus have the last laugh. You thank Riddle for his help and let him go back to his horse, assuring him you'll be fine. He checks on you once more to make sure you're ok before going, looking behing his shoulder as if you were about to fall again. You smile reassuringly. His face turns red like his hair and he scurries away. You take Maximus back to where you left the steeping stool, determined to mount him and actually stay there this time.

Sebek notices your struggle and decides to graciously help you once more. Maximus squirms around but eventually the two of you make him stay in place while you mount him. Sebek keeps his hand on Maximus while you adjust your footing and organize the reins. Once you're ready, you nudge Maximus with your lower leg, encouraging him to start walking. Sebek insists on being close the entire time, making corrections to your position and moviments, such as keeping your back straight and looking forward. Even with his harsh soldier like tone, you begin enjoying the ride and compliment him on his ability as a teacher, stating how much of an exceptional rider he must be. Sebek blushes and starts stuttering, words getting mixed up with one another. Without his clear instructions you start having a rockier time with reining Maximus, but he manages to not blunder his words too much when telling you how to halt and to dismount your horse.

At the end of pratice you're sweaty, covered in mud and sore all over. It was fun some times, but you rather not have to worry for your life at every meeting (the overblots and dealing with your friends antics was already more than enough life threatning excitement for you). You also feel you should steer clear from the stables, just in case Maximus tries to commit his revenge on you. Time to check out other clubs.

(The boys insist you only need some more practice, that you have potential, that Maximus will warm up to you. They are very earnest when telling you they enjoyed having you over, even if they had to keep an eye on you the whole time to make sure you wouldn't get hurt. When they ask you to come by another time, you can't say no. You suppose you do owe them one for all their help. They ligthen up when you agree, so you can't bring yourself to regret it, even if you know you'll have to deal Maximus once again.)

Basketball Club (Ace, Floyd, Jamil)

Oh, this is Ace's club, right? And it's a normal non-magical sport as well. Let's give it a try!

The first person to greet you is, obviously, one of your closest friends (and cause of your daily headaches), Ace. He had bragged to you about his ability in playing basketball before, something about being the best freshmen in the team and even Riddle complimenting him on his skill. He teases you, asking if you'll be able to keep up with him, which earns him an eyeroll and a friendly punch on the shoulder.

You quickly remember who else Ace mentioned being on the team as soon as you hear a loud voice call for 'Shrimpy' and two arms squeezing the air out of you. Of course, Floyd was overenthusiastic about your participation, telling you how your presence would surely make things interesting and how this class was starting to get boring so it was good to have something new added to it. You're not sure how to react so you reply telling him you'll do your best (and praying he'd let you go before you run out of air). Floyd stares at you for a bit, taken aback from such an earnest answer, before squeezing you even harder for being so cute. Ace comes to the rescue, saving you from passing out before the class could even start.

You also find another familiar face on the team, Jamil. You thank whatever higher being that was out there looking out for you for sending a sane person to keep you company. It seems Jamil shares the sentiment, as you start a light conversation about the club that ends up being more about Jamil complaining that he had to deal with Kalim's shenanigans his entire life and the only moment he's alone he has to babysit Ace and Floyd, least they cause a disaster and the rest of the team is blamed for it. You sympathize with him, promising to do your part in the babysitting duty for the day. Jamil looks really relieved as he thanks you.

Before pratice, just like in Spelldrive, you did light stretches, competing with Ace to see who can reach their feet when bending down or who can stay longer balancing on one leg. Everyone got separated in duos to train some passes before actually playing. Scattering across the gym, each at one end of the room, you and Ace threw the ball between yourselves. He always had some cheeky comment to make about your lack of skill, which only motivated you to throw the ball harder at his direction, technique be damned. All the while you had to be careful to avoid stray shots from the others around you. Perhaps you should have brought the safety helmet from the Equestrian club.

Floyd and Jamil (he must have been dragged into this, being one of the only ones able to handle Floyd) were right next to where your duo was. They both were obviously skilled, doing tricks with the ball to show off. You were actually pretty impressed as you observed them, so much so that you miscalculated your shot and instead of sending the ball to hit Ace, it went at Floyd's direction. As Floyd was busy annoying the closest student to his side, he only noticed the ball right before it hit him, too late to stop it. 

Thankfully his skull was thick enough that not even a basketball hitting him managed to hurt, though it did leave quite an impressive red mark on his face. Ace swore and scurried away from Floyd's other side, Jamil pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, you felt your heart drop. The student that previously had Floyd's attention took the opportunity to run away, leaving the four of you in this stalemate. Even with all the activity around, you could only focus on the way Floyd raised his eyes to meet your frightened ones, an impassive expression on his face and your basketball on his hand.

Instead of a frown and the deeper tone of voice you expected (alongside the promise of pain in your future), you were met with a wide grin, sharp teeth at full display, and a high pitched giggle. You didn't know which was worse. Either way, you felt like a prey caught in it's predator radar. Floyd told you that if you wanted to play so bad, he'd be happy to play with you! Ace was planning your funeral already.

And so, what was supposed to be a simple exercise of passing the ball became an impromptu game of dodgeball in which if you were hit, instead of being out you gained a concussion and a trip to the infirmary. Somehow, Ace and Jamil got roped into it as well, the three of you running around to avoid being hit by one of the deathly bullets Floyd threw at you. After noticing it, the club leader announced they could stop for a short break before picking out the teams for a game, in the hopes it would distract the eelmer enough to make him stop.

It worked, since the prospect of 'playing another game with shrimpy' made Floyd get excited to get you on his team. You sighed in relief, a bit out of breath. You and Ace sprawled yourselves at the floor to rest, not caring about how dirty it may be, your legs needed to lay down for a while. He turned his head at your direction and said it was your fault for having such bad aim. You replied with how it was his fault for being so bad at teaching you. You have a stare down that ends in both bursting into laughter.

Jamil and some other second year were the ones choosing the teams. He smiled mischievously, the same smile he had when he was planning something. Jamil could be the calmer one between your options, but that didn't mean he wouldn't cause trouble as well. In the end, you stayed on Jamil's team while Floyd and Ace were on the other. Floyd pouted and whined about how he had wanted to play in the same team as you and Ace seemed a bit miffed (you weren't sure if it was because he ended up against you or because he was with Floyd). Jamil had a very self satisfied smile on his face as he told you which formation your team would use. He sent a smug smirk to the others when you weren't looking.

You were wondering what kind of stunt Floyd would put to get what he wanted, but once the game started he just... didn't do anything. Jamil, on the other hand, was quick to catch the ball and take it to the other side of the court, dodging Ace's attempts at stopping him, jumping high and scoring some points. You were in awe, you had no idea Jamil was this good! As he went to your side with a self-satisfied expression in face, you showered him in compliments, saying how fast he ran and how high he jumped and how he looked really cool! While the smile stayed on his face, it seemed softer, and Jamil wouldn't look you in the eyes, murmuring something that you didn't catch about this being his strategy to win by having you on his side.

As the game went on you managed to get the hang of it, actually enjoying playing! Jamil and you made a great duo and Floyd was too desmotivated to try to win, so that only left Ace as your major obstacle. He'd often try to get the ball from your hands while making some sassy remarks and engaging in light hearted banter with you. Even when you weren't with the ball he stayed close to try to block you. It came to a point when you were going to try to score a point when he appeared in front of you, close enough that you wouldn't have time to dodge him. So, of course, you had to maneuver your way out, getting close to his face as you made sure to keep his hands away from the ball. His attention was solely on you, gaze unwavering as your noses almost touched and your breaths mingled. He was frozen in place and you took your chance, jumping as high as you could and dunking the ball on the net.

Your team cheered you on, a huge smile on your lips as you turned to see Ace's reaction. He was standing at the same spot, still looking at you. You winked playfully and blew him a kiss, rubbing your victory on his face, proud of your work. He blushed and crossed his arms, saying that you cheated by distracting him. His gaze remained on the lower half of you face. Before you could reply, Jamil whisked you away, congratulating you on your shot.

It was good your team got hyped up, but alongside it so did Floyd. He suddenly felt motivated to play against you and see you try to dodge around him like you did with Ace, since it seemed like lots of fun! (Which would not happen because have you seen his height?) It's not like you had a choice in the matter, anyway, since Floyd could easily take down any member of your team and go straight at you now that he felt like playing again. The last minutes were more like a game of tag between you two, Floyd giggling as he tried to catch you. You ran around the players, trying your best to make a complicated path to confuse him. 

You were actually having some fun, seeing Jamil get the ball from Floyd's hands to help you out and Ace try to get in your way to slow you down. Still, you were not used to that much exercise, your sore body becoming your own enemy as you got more sluggish, which in turn made you get more distracted. It was thanks to that you didn't notice Floyd until he was right beside you, ready to glomp you and squeeze as he trapped you in his arms. You'd blame it on your tiredness later, but as a last effort to get away from him you turned around abruptly, supporting your weight on your heel. Since you were worn out, you got dizzy quickly, tripping over your own feet and landing on the ground.

As soon as you felt sharp pain on your ankle you knew you were screwed, a whine coming out of your throat and tears welling in your eyes. Why must something like this always happen to you? The boys crowded over you, asking if you were okay or if you could stand up or if you wanted a hug to feel better. The answer was no to all of them.

In the end, you saw yourself staring at the infirmary ceiling once more, sweaty and tired, your ankle wrapped in bandages and propped up on the bed. Maybe you should stop going to sports clubs' pratices. Ace, Jamil and Floyd stood by your side, watching you to make sure you were alright, in their own ways. You felt a strong sense of deja vu, though you were grateful for them carrying you all the way up there (even if Floyd took the opportunity to squeeze you some). You could tell for sure that basketball wasn't for you. Time to check out other clubs.

(To lift the mood, Ace cracked a joke about how terrible you were at basketball and how you still had a long way to go before reaching his level. Jamil agreed, adding that pratice makes perfect. Floyd said he had much more fun with shrimpy around to keep him entertained. It wss pretty obvious they wanted to see you there again. The three of them looked at you with hope, even if Floyd's puppy eyes didn't work nearly as well as Ruggie's and Ace's and Jamil's tsundere act didn't fool you, you couldn't say no to them. You did have some fun as well, although next time you'll try to only watch and cheer on the sidelines, no need to be on the playing field and within squeezing distance.)

Track and Field Club (Deuce, Jack)

Despite your previous conviction, you decided to give the sports clubs one last chance. As this club didn't involve a game with complicated rules nor any magic, it seemed like the best choice. Positive thinking is key!

As soon as you steped foot into the field, Deuce and Jack came to great you, visibly happy to have you there! (They won't admit it to you, but they were a bit jealous that you had went to your other first year friends' clubs but not to theirs yet. They were determined to impress you.)

You tell them you're a little worried you won't be able to keep up with their pace, since Deuce has won prizes for his speed and Jack goes on morning jogs everyday. They reassure you that it's no problem, they'll help you the best they can!

The other members don't mind you much, letting your friends monopolize your attention. Jack asks if you've eaten and how has your diet been, you'll need some energy to run! Deuce asks if your uniform is comfortable and if the shoes fit in the right way, it's important to be able to move freely! They are very respectful and answer any question you might have patiently, which makes you feel welcomed. Maybe this time it won't be so bad!

To start pratice, the club leader tells all the members to run some laps. You notice you're pretty behind everyone else, but you're trying to not use all your energy at the warm up, so you don't mind. You take the chance to observe your friends running ahead of you, how the sun reflects on their skin, their shoulders going up and down, every step helping them gain speed. They looked really cool. This fills you with determination, promising to yourself to give it your best in this club.

After taking a break to drink water and stretching your muscles, you start the dynamics. It was a bit funny since you did them by basically moving in circles and changing the way you walk. Still, they were easier to accompany everyone than the laps. So far, so good!

Things start going downhill once you had to do the jumps. Everyone lined up, you staying at the last place, Jack and Deuce right in front of you. They explain that you should sprint, jump at the wooden board and land on the sand pit. Seems easy enough! 

It's not. On Jack's turn, he makes it looks effortless, even with his bigger built he manages to land with grace. You clap for him and he pretends to not notice, but his tail is wagging. On Deuce's, he catches speed quickly and jumps high, landing on his feet and turning to look at you. You cheer for him, a big smile in face as he rubs the back of his neck and thanks you with red cheeks. 

You try to copy their moviments, sprinting with a concentrated look on your face, focused on your destination. Unfortunately, you should have looked at the ground as well, since when it was time to jump you were just a tad too slow and tripped on the wooden plank, falling on the sand pit. You try again, this time focusing on where you're putting your feet, not missing the plank! However, you jump with too much force and doesn't land right, bouncing off the ground again before falling on your knees. You try one more time, jumping at the right place and not putting to much force. This time, though, your feet are not positioned the right way and you loose the strenght to support your weight, eating sand once more. You're going to blame this one on your recently sprained ankle and call it a day. (Thanks Floyd!)

After getting no luck on the long jump (and leaving with your hair full of sand), Jack and Deuce make sure you're ok. You reassure them that yes, your ankle is fine (for now), no, you didn't swallow sand (at least you're pretty sure you didn't) and yes, of course you want to keep going, it's going to take more than just that to deter you (you're a bit used to defeats). Finally, you start to train for the high jump. Especifically the landing, since if you fall the wrong way you could get seriously hurt. Please make sure you land right! Jack and Deuce will be watching closely, ready to help.

Everyone gets separated to go to different mats, some of the older students going straight to the jump. Your friends follow you, Deuce has a fist up as he talks excitedly about his progress on this jump. Jack listens by the side, nodding to some things or adding a comment on how he didn't jump quite that high, but it was an improvement anyway. They are like your personal coaches, instructing you to start by doing rollouts, than jumping and doing a rollout, then jumping higher and doing a rollout.

Once the basics are covered they join you, taking turns at running and flopping on their backs. It's fun, the way your body bounces of the mat and watching Jack and Deuce compete on who can flop harder. They add the bungee, which makes things more complicated since you had to reach a certain heigh to not get stuck on it, but it was a nice challenge. You did lose your shoe due to your feet getting caught in the bungee on the first try, though.

You were enjoying it, laughing along your friends! Until they added the bar. The bar changed everything. The height was a bit higher than it was with the bungee and it was nowhere near as soft. You watched, in awe, as Jack and Deuce flew just over lt and landed on a rollout. You were sure you'd get it too, after all, you did great on the other steps! You ran, turned around and used as much impulse as you could to jump. Instead of the soft embrace of the training mat, you were met with the metalic and hard feeling of the bar digging on your back as you landed right above it. Not even the mat could soften the blow, making you cry out, both in surprise and in pain. The sting was enough to have you wondering if you ever wanted to try this again in your life, the pain was not worth it.

Deuce was by your side instantly, bending down, asking if your back was ok and offering his hand to help you get up. Your hand clasps his, the force he used making your faces come very close to each other, noses touching, your breathless and flushed face right in front of his worried blue eyes. Said eyes widen as his face takes a red tone, he stutters apologies while backing away, hands covering his cheeks. Jack, who you hadn't notice coming close behind you, puts his hand on your shoulder, squeezing it comfortingly. He says you went well for a begginer and tells you how Deuce did the same thing on his first try. You giggle, putting one of your hands above his to show your appreciation. He quickly drops it and crosses his arms, saying the three of you better get going to the next exercise, eyes avoiding yours and conveniently looking at where the others on the field were gathering together.

There were obstacles scattered across the field, some closer than others. Deuce puffs out his chest and says it's time for the hurdle hops and that he'll show to you how it's done. You watch intently as he sprints and jumps at all the right times, not losing speed despite the things in his way. Jack follows him, a stoic look as he calculates just the right time to jump and cross every obstacle. It reminded you of when you'd watch race competitions back at home, how the runners looked as they crossed the finish line.

Filled with nostalgia, you try to replicate your memory, basing yourself on your friends' perfomances. You run and jump successfully on the first hurdle, feeling as if you're really improving! Though not for too long, since on the second hurdle you don't manage to jump high enough and just end up kicking it and falling on your butt. Oh well, you lasted longer than expected.

You refuse to back down, getting up and dusting yourself, ready to try again. Deuce and Jack support your enthusiasm, hyping you up on every try. It's a bit embarrassing to have them watching and commenting like this, but you feel warmth spreading through your chest and a smile blooming on your face. It's good to know people trust your ability to improve and do better, and you're not about to let them down!

There's one time you trip when you're near the hurdle and end up slipping under it. Another time you jump too close to it and almost full body slam it, falling on top of it. Your feet catches onto the edge of one of the hurdles and makes you fall. You end up knocking over one hurdle, keep running and then falling due to your lost momentum and equilibrium. You stay on the ground, defeated, your body screaming at you after so many falls. It wouldn't be so bad to give up, right? You really did try.

Deuce and Jack carry you to a bench and take care of you, Deuce handing you some water while Jack cleans the scratches you got from meeting the floor so much. They don't rub it in your face about your defeat (like a certain red haired first year would) and try to encourage you to keep trying. (They were pretty worried when you didn't get up though. They wanted to be one of the clubs that didn't make up you end on the infirmary.)

To end pratice, everyone would do a long run. The boys tell you can skip it, since you are already very tired, not used to this much exercising, chest heaving up and down and breath coming as short puffs of air. Jack says it'll do you no good to overwork your body and end up collapsing, Deuce backing him up. Still, you're stubborn, and you already did everything, you might as well go until the end. So you tell them you'll be just fine and agree to the run.

You keep Jack's words in mind, making sure to not overexerte it. Instead of holding a full on sprint you settle on a lighter jog, making sure your breaths are somewhat regulated. This makes you stay very behind the others but you don't mind, everyone has their own pace after all. Deuce and Jack were close to you, since they had very obviously slowed down significantly to keep you company, and you greatly appreciated that, flashing them a smile. Deuce offers a thumbs up and Jack nods his head.

There is a part where you trip and almost fall, but thankfully Deuce catches your arm and manages to keep you upright while still in movement. Though you two get extremely close again, your foreheads even knock on each other's. Deuce gets red faced again, instead of fumbling with his words he fumbles with his feet, tripping and taking you with him as his grip tightens on your arm.

Jack comes to the rescue and stays in the middle, still running prefectly even after having used so much energy during pratice. Guess the daily jogs do work. You look at his back muscles contracting, his shoulders moving, his tail helping him keep equilibrium, feet touchig the ground for a moment before they're gone. He seems to notice the eyes on his back as he looks over his shoulder, head tilting in confusion in such an endearing way you can't help but tell him what you were thinkin, about how cool he looks and how he must have trained so much for this! He looks taken a bit aback, ears twitching and tail wagging. So much so, in fact, that due to your closeness and his thick fur, it hits you, and due to your tiredness and the position it hits, you end up falling once again. You're not even mad, honestly. It was the nicest fall you've had so far.

Congrats, you manage to finish the run! Although you're drenched in sweat, hair sticking to your forehead and throat dry, you did it! But Deuce and Jack won't look you in the eye and keep blushing for some reason, you start to wonder if they're down with a fever at this point. Anyways, as soon as the run is over you throw youself (gently) on the ground, taking large gulps of air and spreading and stretching your limbs. 

All in all it was pretty fun, even if you did get some scratches and lost whatever little dignity you still had. But you found yourself all sweaty and sore again, not to mention that you didn't think that track was for you. You plan to check other non sport related clubs later, but first, you deserve a break.

(Jack's tail keeps wagging and Deuce's smile is glued to his face. They mentally high five each other for a job well done. They had made you feel welcomed! And you enjoyed yourself! Such a shame you're not entering the club yet... remember to not fall out ot pratice in order to build stamina. Jack can help you with that, going on jogs with you! And you were so good at the high jump, not to mention you were almost getting the hang of the hurdle hops, so maybe next time you try will be the time you make it! Deuce can help you if you need! It's very clear what they wanted, and since they did do their best it feels right to give them a little reward, so of course you agree to come to another pratice eventually. Their smiles give you the force to strengthen your resolve, as you bid goodbye to any possible dignity you had left.)

Masterlist

ME??

I'M HAPPY TO SPREAD THE JADE LEECH AGENDA !!!

I'm glad to serve <3 if I get the Jade brainrot, everyone else must get it too !! LMAO that's me when I was writing it, though please don't eat me (may I offer my writing in my place as a tribute??)

if mc won't be girlbossing (genderneutral) then what's even the point??

[Strawberry tinted - Jade Leech]

Summary: Jade sighs, closing his eyes. He wants to scream. These feelings of infatuation had long involved past a simple crush. No matter how much he denied, they wouldn't leave him alone anytime soon. You weren't leaving him alone anytime soon. 

Notes: gn!reader (use of they/them), fluff and humor, just a silly romcom based on this ask! jade is so whipped for the reader, I was having so much fun writing it got away from me and almost reached 10k what??? special shoutout to ramble anon <3 now cross posted on ao3!

Jade Leech was not one for sentimentalism.

It was quite clear for everyone around him. Jade didn't show his true emotions on his face and always kept his suave persona up at all times. If he was shocked or sad or angry, no one could ever tell behind his polite smile and sharp eyes.

Even Azul and Floyd, the ones closest to him, had trouble discerning his feelings at times. Jade was very discreet with his actions and words, oftentimes leaving things to be read between the lines.

Thus, everyone and their mothers could atest to that: Jade Leech was not a sentimental person. He was calm and collected, acting as if he was above and in control of every situation, untouchable by such fickle things such as emotions.

Although, not for the knowledge of many, there was just a tiny little exception in the shape of a certain magicless human.

Not even Jade himself could tell how this came to be. It was part of the charm, how you fascinated him so easily, without any extra effort on your part. There was something appealing in your sincerity and affection, things he was not that used to. You always managed to surprise him, making him fall deeper and deeper for you everytime you caught him off guard. His heart fluttered everytime you kept up toe to toe with him, be it in friendly banter or in deeper conversations.

There were not many people who could say they were able to see Jade showing his true emotions. You just happened to be one of them. When he was with you, his smile would reach his eyes and he'd show just a bit of his teeth, his voice would take a teasing tilt laced with barely concealed affection, his face would light up like the sun whenever you asked him to tell you more about a new mushroom he was tending to or about his newest mountain expedition.

It was the first time anyone made him feel like this. While Jade had no trouble holding his usual mask in place, his heart would race faster on his chest, his hands would get slightly clammy, he'd feel the urge to bite his lips or to play with his hair to release some of the pent up energy he felt around you. And he wanted more of your time, to be able to see you between his classes and work, to spend some time relaxing together or discovering new things. 

Life at the deep sea was very different from life on land. Love at the deep sea was very different from love on land. Perhaps that's what made the whole experience so fascinating, after all. It was something he'd have never been able to have if he had stayed down there on the murky cold waters. He'd never been able to bask in these warm feelings, so new and unknown. 

Jade thought he was doing a good job, overall. He didn't change much about how he acts normally, most people wouldn't notice a single thing was different. There were times he had the impression you did, like you could see right through his façade as if it was nothing, melting away his walls and looking straight at him, for who he is. It was frightening and exhilirating at the same time, to be seen. Jade didn't know what to make of it, as of yet.

Azul and Floyd seemed to disagree, though. At first, Floyd thought it was hilarious, how his usually serious brother could have something as innocent as a crush. He'd tease Jade constantly whenever they crossed paths with the prefect just to ruffle his feathers and get a rise out of him. Seeing the unbothered Jade glaring at him with a clearly annoyed look was so entertaining. Azul didn't care, as long as it didn't affect his work at the lounge, Jade could like whoever he wanted, though he was quite curious as to how the situation came to be.

And then Jade's feelings grew and it become obvious, to them, that it was a little more than a simple crush. By the way Jade acted around you, as it seemed like he glowed when you were near him, and how he talked about you, mentioning something you did or liked or that reminded him of you every once in a while in conversation. It was subtle, as most things involving Jade were, but enough for them to take notice. It was almost at the level of his mushrooms obsession, and that was saying something.

No one dared to make a move. Having Jade being infatuated with someone broke the careful balance of things in the trio, taking him out of his position as the cold and calculating Vice-Housewarden and putting him in a more complex label. Floyd and Azul always relied on him to fall back onto should things go wrong, trusting he'd make it alk work out as someone that was above everything. Taking such a pedestal out, Jade seemed much less like some higher being and much more... human.

Not that they didn't know he was capable of feelings, of course. They were aware Jade cared about them, otherwise he wouldn't have sticked around so long by their side. It was just surprising to see someone else entering the little bubble of people Jade cared about after such a long time with it being just the two of them there.

That's why they thought Jade should do something about his crush. It was almost painful to watch you dance around each other, every interaction filled to the brim with affection, stolen glances and flirty tones. Floyd wanted to just tell you about his brother's feelings and get it over with, but he knew that wasn't the best way to go about it, as Azul had drilled onto his head after he suggested they did that. Jade insisted he was fine with things staying as they were for the time being, still not done with observing and experimenting with both his and your reactions.

"Prefect, what a wonderful surprise. How may I be of service today?"

You laugh, recognizing the irony on his tone. You tried to visit Mostro Lounge as often as you could when Jade was on the clock, even if your wallet weeped at this. He was expecting you, as he always did.

"Oh, I don't know, I don't come around too often. What would you reccomend?" You tease back, playfulness dancing in both of your eyes. It's a game you're used to, the banter coming naturally to you.

"You really should, then." He winks, somehow managing to look suave while doing so and wiping a glass at the same time. "How about... a strawberry milkshake?"

You gasp dramatically, doing an exaggerated expression of surprise. "That's my favorite! How could you know? Maybe it was destiny I came here after all..." 

That earns you a chuckle, making satisfaction swin in your stomach at warranting such a reaction. Jade's amusement is clear by the smile on his face and his scrunched up eyebrows. You can't help but smile back, warmth surrounding you as you take in the sound and commit it to memory.

"Perhaps it was. I'll bring you your drink in a minute." 

You lean on the counter of the bar, watching him work gracefully. At the corner of your eye, you can see Floyd making some kind of annoyed expression. Jade pointedly ignores him, making flourish of adding the finishing touches on the milkshake, adding in a little umbrella on top of the whipped cream, near the strawberry hanging onto the glass. 

"Here you go. I hope you enjoy it, prefect, I made it with the utmost care, after all." 

He hands the drink to you, hands making contact just for a second longer than necessary, and slides a biodegradable straw to the cup's side. You insert it on the milkshake, drinking in and closing your eyes in delight. It tasted wonderful, as all of Jade's drinks did. 

"I take it you do like it, from that reaction." He teases, leaning into where you're seated. There are other workers attending to the bar and the lounge isn't too crowded, so he can afford to keep conversation with you for some moments. You looked quite cute enjoying something so simple as if it was a five star meal.

"It's delicious! Here, have some." You spin the cup around, putting the straw right in front of him. Jade's eyes widen just the tinniest fraction as he looks taken aback by your proposal.

"Oh, it wouldn't do for me to drink something from a client. Azul would have my neck, you see." 

You roll your eyes, knowing Azul didn't intimidate him at all. Plus, what Azul didn't see couldn't hurt him. "Then don't drink it as a Mostro worker, but as my friend."

His eyes bore into yours for a few seconds before his blank expression breaks into a smile, the lighest pink tint coloring his cheeks, almost imperceptible. "Well, if you insist, I suppose I'll humor you." He tucks his longer strand of hair behind his ear before leaning in, taking a sip from your straw and closing his eyes to mimick your earlier action. It was quite a sight. Your heart beat faster and your throat seemed dry all of sudden, making you swallow on air.

"You are right, as usual. It does taste delicious." He keeps his head inclined, lips almost touching the straw as he licks them, eyes looking at you through his lashes, voice low. You grip your tigh and bite your lower lip, hoping your face won't betray how warm it feels.

"Of course, it was made by the best. I'll have to show you that guy sometime, he's really good." 

"I would be delighted to meet him."

He turns the milkshake back to you, still leaning in as his eyes sparkle with mischief. He seems as entertained by this game as you are. You put your hand on top of his, still at the bottom of the cup, and bring it closer, taking a sip while keeping eye contact. His smile softens at the corners and there's something fond on his expression. Your hand squeezes his before letting go. He opens his mouth to say something before he's called to attend another client. 

His face falls and he looks disappointed to leave this little moment behind, almost as if he forgot he was still working. He apologizes for the interruption and you wave him off, saying how it was your fault for taking so much of his time anyway. The milkshake is still as good as it was once he leaves, but it feels like it's missing something.

By the corner of the bar, Azul and Floyd stand observing the interaction. Floyd wants to tear his hair out and Azul looks constipated. How long will they have to watch you two doing this? It's about time they staged an intervention, for both yours and their sake.

Things continue like normal for some time. You still visit him at the lounge, Azul and Floyd still suffer through your blatant flirting, Jade still observes things carefully. 

And, as usual, Jade tends to his beloved mushrooms. He's gotten a new species on his latest mountain excursion, one with a pretty pink and wrinkled cap and white stem. It reminds him of your strawberry milkshake and he thinks you'd like to see them. He'd even give one to you in a carefully decorated terrarium if he was absolutely sure it wasn't poisonous. Oh well, just seeing them would have to suffice. Jade would make sure to keep them as pretty as possible.

They grew on a hardwood trunk, the soothing scent of camphor drifting through the wet air of the botanical garden. Under the canopy of dense trees, they looked even more peach in the midst of all the greenery. The wrinkles tickled his gloved fingers as he caressed the mushroom, treating it with care. The artificial river followed it's course nearby, providing with a lullaby of serenity. The scene felt comfortable, Jade felt content. He felt as much at home as he did under the sea.

Perhaps it was due to this mushy atmosphere that Jade felt compelled to talk about you. He's used to talking with his mushrooms, as he'd read that it helps them grow, but this time it felt different, like revealing a secret to a confidant. Almost like a confession. 

"The prefect came to visit me at work today, once again. Even if the menu of the lounge takes a toll on their budget, they come almost every day. I don't see why they keep doing it." 

The mushroom doesn't reply, as it is simply a fungi and it doesn't know how to talk. 

"You are right, I do know why. They want to spend more time with me, just like I do with them. It is truly a shame I'm so busy we have to resort to meeting while I'm at work. I wish I could give them my full attention, without having to go serve other customers." 

The river goes on, birds chirp outside, the wind rattles the foliage gently. 

"The fact they keep going makes me... happy. I'm glad to see them there. I would even dare to say it is the highest point of the day. I look forward to it every shift."

Naturally, a gentle smile takes over his face. His eyes are soft as he keeps caressing the mushroom's cap.

"Azul and Floyd say I should confess soon. How out of character it would be for me to do so. I have considered it before, even, but... I'm not sure if I want to change our current relationship. It is comfortable. And I don't want to lose it."

Jade sighs, full with yearning. The next bit comes out as a whisper, almost as if he spoke a little louder it would become more real than it already is. He feels vulnerable admiting such a thing, as he's not one for sentimentalism, but it also feels... right.

"I really like the prefect. I would like to take them out on a date and give them my full attention. I would like to receive their affections and have their smile directed at me. I would like to hold and to kiss them. I would like to bask in ther warmth for as long as they would let me."

It feels ecstatic, like a weight being lifted off his chest. Now, if only he could tell this to the person who was meant to hear it.

Footsteps pop the bubble of quietness, startling Jade and making him get up from the ground, dusting of his pants and calming down his heart. He was unusually jumpy, as if the admission of his feelings out loud could have reached your ears.

"Jade, here you are!"

Talk about the devil and he shall appear. Although in this case, you were more like an angel, such an ethereal presence lightning up the path, quite literally as the sun shone past the leaves and created a halo on your head. 

"Prefect. Were you looking for me?"

He's sure his voice was perfectly level, but something on his tone makes you pause and tilt your head at him, a contemplative look passing through your face fast as flash, gone as soon as he saw it. Jade feels like you saw through his act, but decided to not comment for his sake. 

"Oh, there's something I want to give you!" 

Your sing song voice breaks the tension on his shoulders. He remembers you mentioning being busy working on a surprise for him, though you wouldn't budge at any of his questions to expand more on what exactly this surprise was.

"Is it related to a certain surprise, perhaps?"

"You know me too well, Jade! C'mon, close your eyes and give me your hands."

He considers not doing so just to see your reaction, but the excitement dancing in your eyes was too endearing for him to disturb, so he complies.

"My, my, I wonder what could it be that you couldn't wait for my shift to give it to me."

"You'll see!"

You deposit something gently on his hands, a small and fragile thing by the feel of it. There are two of them, smooth with a pointy end and fitting on his palm. He opens his eyes, curious, while you stare expectantly. 

On his open hand sits a pair of handmade mushroom earrings. They are blue dotted with white spots, a twist on the classic red to fit more with his color scheme. They had been lovingly coated with paint and varnish, wrapped with silver wire. 

"There you go! Do you like it?"

Jade blinks. He can't stop looking at them, at every detail imbedded on the accessories, at the care you must have for them.

"Did you make it?"

"Yep! I saw it on magicam these days and thought of you, so I decided to try my hand at it. I get it if it's a bit wonky, that's the first time I do something like this."

"It is perfect."

He says it on a whisper, almost as if all the air on his lungs was used to push the words through the lump around his throat. His heart flutters and Jade feels the overwhelming urge to thank you over and over again. It's a simple gift, but the mere fact that you made it simply because you thought he might like it meant the world to him.

You seem mesmerized by his reaction. It is quite uncharacteristic of him to show so many emotions, but he needs to express his gratitude, he needs you to know how much he appreciates it.

"Thank you, prefect. They are truly wonderful." He pockets them carefully, making sure they won't be damaged. He can't meet your eyes. He's sure that if he does, you'll see straight through his heart, dissecate his chest and pull out all his ribs to discover the mushy feelings inside, growing like vines on his lungs. "Ah, I don't have anything to offer in return, I'm afraid."

"There's no need to give me anything back. I just did it because I wanted to make you happy, that's all there is to it."

"I... I see." Jade wasn't sure what to make of it. Your smile was sincere, your body language suggested you were entirely too comfortable, your tone of voice was it's usual melody. "You might want to be careful when making such heartfelt remarks like that, prefect. People might get the wrong idea."

His atempt at deflecting the topic was quite weak, not fooling you in the slightest. "Let them think whatever they want. I only said how I feel, after all."

And against facts there were no arguments, were there?

"I suppose you are right once more."

You only laugh, looking around the area for the first time since you arrived. You notice the mushroom quickly, it's peach color catching your attention and making you coo at it.

"Oh, it's so pretty! That's the new species you found, yes?"

You crouch near the trunk, observing the fungi. Your hair falls slightly over your eyes as you take in the sight. The sun still shines above, surrounding you and creating an illusion of dancing light specks around your figure. There was something magical on the scene itself. Jade was captivated, he couldn't look away.

"Jade, they're beautiful." You murmur, extending your hand to touch it lightly, a delighted smile spreading through your face at the tickle of the wrinkles. 

"Yes, they are." Jade agrees. He's not looking at the mushrooms. There's something much more charming for him to see.

You turn to face him, unguarded wonder on your expression, as if Jade had shown you one of the most fascinating things you've ever seen. His ears are most likely as pink as the subject of your admiration. He mirrors your smile, adapting a softer version of it.

"Can you tell me more about it, please?"

Oh, what was Jade going to do with you? You were going to kill him with an arrhythmia at the rate things were going.

"Of course, it would be my pleasure to do so."

He crouches down by your side, your legs pressing against each other. His hand comes up adjust your hair behind your ear, fingers grazing your skin just a touch more than necessary. He starts with a low whisper, making you lean into him to hear. "You see, this is a rare species called Rhodotus Palmatus. It is quite unique, as there are no others that can compare to it. It is said to be the prettiest mushroom in the world, so imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon them on my latest excursion..."

You let him ramble on, making questions or comments to show your interest. Jade feels his chest blooming with pink azaleas, throughly charmed by you.

He ends up getting late for his shift at Mostro Lounge. Before Azul could berate him for it, you took responsability and said you were the one taking his time. Azul, strangely enough, decided to let it pass and just told him to get to work. Your milkshake that day had an extra strawberry and a pink flower decorating the cup. 

After they closed up the lounge, Jade got Floyd to pierce his other ear. His brother looked at him with curiosity at the sudden request but obliged, not kicking much of a fuss. 

The eelmer found himself on quite the embarrassing situation. He was alone on the bathroom, staring at his reflection on the mirror. On one ear, his usual sturgeon scales earring. On the other, a shiny new mushroom earring. He kept staring, feeling the sensation of the extra weight, how it'd shake alongside his head movements, how the blue was the perfect shade to match his hair.

Jade took it off, staring at it in his hands. It was so small. He thought about how much time you might have spent on the details, each white dot made with the utmost care. How you might have struggled to get the shape right, as noticible by the slight imperfections around the edges of the mushroom's cap. How, through it all, the thing motivating you was to see him smiling.

Such a sentimental thing innocently resting against his palm.

His other earring was taken out as well, the three of them put on a small box at the bathroom cabinet. Jade brushed his teeth on automatic. He went to the empty bedroom, Floyd nowhere in sight, and sat on his bed. There was some kind of restlesness shivering under his skin, his heartbeat didn't feel right, his face remained warm. He had to admit, you had quite the effect on him. 

Jade Leech was not one for sentimentalism. Then why did a simple earring cause such a reaction on him?

He had to remain calm. It would not do to lose the firm grip he held on his emotions. His usual polite façade relied onto such control, on how Jade managed to keep a level head in all kinds of situations. If he broke that mask, what would become of his reputation? The cunning vice housewarden of Octavinelle, one known to be just as dangerous as his twin brother, acting all sappy with the magicless human, arguably the least threatning person in the entire campus.

Your words from earlier come to mind, sweet voice carrying like a whisper on the breeze. Let them think what they want. Either way, he had other means of making them talk, whether they thought of him as weak for showing his affection or not. It could even be advantageous, creating a more open image of him that might make them more willing to share their secrets.

Once he thinks of you, a calm look in your face as you feel at home in the middle of the foliage, listening attentively to every word he says, eyes shining with fondness, he can't be bothered about what others would think at all. He thinks of strawberry milkshake, a lazy afternoon at the lounge as you fill him in on the gossip of the freshmen. He thinks of a peach and a teal mushroom, the two making quite the pair together. He thinks of your concentrated expression as you ramble about your latest interest on a nightly walk. He thinks of your warm touch on his cold skin, never shying away from his sharp edges.

Jade sighs, closing his eyes. He wants to scream. These feelings of infatuation had long involved past a simple crush. No matter how much he denied, they wouldn't leave him alone anytime soon. You weren't leaving him alone anytime soon. 

On an uncharacteristic manner, he threw himself on the bed, his face smushed against the pillow. There was no one around to judge this slip of posture and show of vulnerability. Just him and his thoughts of you. He felt the childish urge to kick his legs and trash around, something so like Floyd it almost made him laugh. He felt feverish, his chest ached with a yearning he couldn't describe. Pathetically, he wanted to be yours, he wanted you to be his, a feeling so overwhelming he didn't know what to make of it.

He had to get a grip. 

He did kick his legs a little though. Simply to see what was so appealing about it. 

Unbeknown to him, Floyd happened to open the silent door at that exact time. He took one look at his brother's state, remembered the handmade mushroom earring he was given as a gift and your cheery presence by his side once he arrived late to his shift, and decided to close the door again. He was so not in the mood to deal with this.

It was time him and Azul did something about it. If neither Jade nor you would give the first step, Floyd had the perfect plan to give you the little push you needed.

And so, the next day had the twins walking together at the hallways of Night Raven College, moving from one class to another. It was an uneventful scene, something that could be observed everyday. Still, there was something bothering Jade. He could feel something was different, somehow, but couldn't put his finger on what it was.

After he had a mini breakdown of drowning in his own feelings in the previous night, he felt more on edge. He was sure he looked immaculate on the outside before leaving his room, uniform ironed and buttoned up impecably, hair combed properly and the usual polite smile on face. It would do no good to look frazzled. The only difference was the teal mushroom earring hanging from his right ear.

Floyd was in one of his good moods, chirpy and with a skip on his step. He seemed to be looking for someone but kept himself at Jade's side, despite them having different classes that period.

Both twin's faces light up as soon as they see you coming out of a classroom, balancing books in your hands. Floyd's scream of "Shrimpy" is enough to clear the path to your direction and to catch your attention. You try to wave at them, almost making the books fall before you catch them just in time.

"There you are, Shrimpy!"

"Good morning, prefect."

"Ah, Jade, Floyd, hi! It's good to see you guys!"

Floyd ruffles your hair playfully, making it stick in every direction and letting out a laugh. Jade finds your answering pout endearing.

"Prefect, if you wouldn't mind?" Jade offers his free arms, letting you slide most of the books to him. It was a natural action, well praticed as Jade was used to helping you with little everyday chores. Even when you tried to deny giving him more work, he insisted it was his pleasure to help. Eventually you understood that was simply his way of showing affection and let him do as he wanted to, as long as he didn't overwork himself in the process. 

"Thank you! C'mon, I have to take these to professor Trein before we have our next class with him at the end of the hallway." 

The three of you walk together, even though the twin's classrooms weren't near yours. You appreciated the company, so it wasn't like you were about to complain. Floyd wraps an arm around your shoulders, leaning on you, as Jade looks on curiously, wondering what his brother could have come up with this time.

"Say, Shrimpy, are you free tomorrow?"

"Hmm... tomorrow is Saturday, right? Then I think that I've got some free time, yes."

"Great! You know who else is free tomorrow? Jade is! How about the two of you have a date, then?"

It's as if time paused, the three of you stopping in the middle of the halls. Both you and Jade stare incredulously at Floyd, not daring to make eye contact with each other. Jade feels his heart stopping for a second as well, followed by a feeling of annoyance. Oh, he'd have a few choice words for his dearest brother once they were alone.

"I didn't hear a no from either of you, so I'm taking it as confirmation. You'll have dinner together at Mostro Lounge! Don't be late or else Azul will raise the price of the bill, you know how he is." And with that, Floyd simply turns around and leaves you two stunned into silence, watching his retreating back. 

Jade would have gone after him if he wasn't busy helping you carry your books. As it was, he was left to deal with the mess Floyd caused, as usual. He clears his throat, making you turn your attention to him. The confusion in your face would normally warm his heart, but this time he only feels dread.

"I'm sorry, prefect, I don't know where this came from. I will have a talk with Floyd for the inconvenience."

There's a pensive look on your face before you avert your eyes, words coming out in a low tone.

"Actually... I wouldn't mind going on a date with you tomorrow. If you want to, that is."

Jade feels his heart stop once more, for an entirely different reason from the last time. He should get it checked with how often it's been doing that.

"You... wouldn't?" His words are laced with tentative hope, so fragile.

"No. I'd love to, actually." Your cheeky smile blinds him like the sun and gives him the confirmation he needed. Wearing his confidence like a well worn glove, he puts on his best charming expression.

"In this case, allow me to ask you out properly. Prefect, would you like to go on a date with me tomorrow?"

You chuckle, mirth coloring your gaze as you bounce on your feet. "Why, yes Jade, I'd love that."

"Perfect. Then, I'll pick you up at your dorm for dinner. My treat."

"Oh, how charming. I'll be waiting for you!"

Before Jade can answer, the bell rings and you're reminded you do have a class to get to. You both scurry to your classroom at the end of the hallway, stealing glances between yourselves, a giddiness enveloping you. Jade arrives fashionably late for his own class with a smile on his face, teeth exposed and all. His classmates give him a wide berth, creeped out by whatever trouble that expression could bring. Jade doesn't mind, too busy thinking on what to put on the menu for your dinner to care about his classmates fearing for their lives.

Later on the day, he had quite a pleasant conversation with Floyd about the stunt he pulled. Floyd got to feel how his squeezing victims felt. He's sure it was eye opening for his brother.

Azul also got bombarded with an intricate menu request for the following day. He knew Floyd had to be involved with this somehow, but couldn't he had asked him beforehand about reserving the lounge for the night?

It was not until the next day that you saw Jade again. As promised, he was knocking politely on the door of Ramshackle by the time the clock hit six p.m.

He looks stunning. You had to take a moment to take him in fully. The smart suit fitting him perfectly, black social shoes and hair properly combed. On both his ears, blue mushrooms hanging contently. You could feel a faint scent of cologne, some earthy smell that was so much like him you couldn't help feeling endeared by it.

"Good evening, prefect. You look wonderful."

"Thank you. You're not that bad yourself." You wink, letting him in as you finish putting your shoes. 

"Not that bad? My, my, you wound me. And after I took so much time getting ready to meet your standarts, too."

You chuckle, shaking your head, sincerity taking over your teasing tone. "Oh, Jade, you already met my standarts, no need to get all dolled up."

"You flatter me." He offers his hand for you to stand up. 

"Maybe I do. Would you rather I stop?" You accept it, letting him pull you.

"No need, I'm quite content as it is." He brings your hands to his lips, grazing them so lightly you almost can't feel them. It sends shivers across your arm and heat to your cheeks. "I brought you a gift."

"Really?"

"Of course. Here, please allow me to put it on."

Jade shows you a necklace with a silver chain and a pretty peach colored shell. You brush your fingers on it, feeling the spiral pattern and it's roughness. It has a slightly salty smell, as if there was a piece of the sea itself imbedded on it.

"It's beautiful, Jade, thank you." The way you say it as if Jade had given you some priceless jewel makes satisfaction wash through him in waves. 

You turn around, holding your hair out of the way for him to put it in place. His cold fingers brush against your sensitive neck, once again making shivers rise along your skin. His hands rest on your shoulders as he leans in, mouth so close to your ear you can feel every puff of hot air.

"It was the least I could do after receiving your enchanting gift."

He pulls away, leaving your neck feeling oddly bare despite the extra weight on it. You spin around to face him, holding the shell close to your heart.

"I told you there was no need to give me anything back!"

"Don't get it wrong, this isn't pay back, prefect. I merely did it because I wanted to make you happy, that's all there is to it." He looks quite smug throwing your words back at you.

"That's not fair, you know." You pout playfully, making a low chuckle leave his lips. "Oh, I got a gift for you too! Wait just a second!"

That picks his curiosity, as he wasn't expecting anything this time. It seemed that you truly took delight in giving him things. His chest felt warm at the thought.

You come back holding a bouquet of pink hydrangeas, the shade remembering him of the newest mushroom he had showed you. It's beautifully done, wrapped in a light blue paper and tied by a pink ribbon. 

"My heartfelt emotions, to you." You make flourish when giving it to him, bending down in a bow.

His cheeks tint pink, matching the lovely shade of the flowers. He accepts them gracefully, thanking you. It's quite a sight, Jade fully buttoned up, the image of a perfect gentleman, carrying the flowers as if they were the most precious thing he owns.

"C'mon, let's get going before Azul charges us extra for the wait."

"Don't worry, he wouldn't dare to." There's a hint of pointy teeth in his smile, enough to imply the threat Azul'd be under should he try something.

You lead him out of the door, walking side by side to the mirror chamber. Neither of you are in a hurry, so you take your time to appreciate each other's company. It feels like only a second has passed by once you're in front of Octavinelle's entrance.

"Shall we enter, my dear? We can't have the food turning cold on us."

His free hand finds it's way around your lower back as he guides you through the mirror and to the lounge, navigating tables expertly. The whole establishment is empty besides the two of you, smooth jazz playing on the background and dim lights creating a cozy atmosphere. The fish pass you by on the water tanks, creating an entrancing dance, a blur of colors reflecting on the glass.

You take your seat on a table right in the middle, one more decorated than the others, a white cloth and a vase of flowers sitting on top of it. You can see the whole room from there, from the bar to Azul's VIP room's door.

Even with the formality of the situation, you find yourself comfortable in his familiar presence. Jade can talk with you for hours on end, each word capturing your attention wholly. As you wait for your order to come, you let the jazz rythm lull your conversation, playing with the shell on your necklace from time to time.

Many would say Jade Leech is a scary man. It's true, you think. The way he's entranced you is terrifyingly thrilling. At the same time, it isn't true at all, not to you at least. You know how dangerous he can be, you're not that naive, but you feel safe with him. How ironic that the sharp smile that makes so many shiver from fear is what warms your heart. 

Floyd is the one to arrive with your order, making a show of spinning it before putting it on the table. You chuckle at his antics, watching him dance as he retreats to the kitchen. 

"I hope it is up to your taste. I made sure there were only the best ingredients being used, handpicked by myself."

"It looks delicious! Not sure if I trust the handpicking part, tho. You're sure you didn't slip any poisonous mushroom on it?" You joke, taking a bite of the food. The taste disperses on your tongue and you hum contently, the warmth spreading to your body as you swallow. You take another bite, making amusement shine in Jade's eyes.

"Well, now that you mention it... you can still feel your tongue, yes?"

You almost choke in your laughter, coughing as he makes a worried face that doesn't fool you for a second. "Ugh, you're the worst. But this is so good I think it'd be worth the trip to the infirmary."

"I'm glad you like it so much, then."

"Yeah, the company isn't half bad either."

"I could say the same. You're rather delightful to have around. Much more so without being delirious from an unfortunate accident, so you don't have anything to worry about."

Your smile grows bigger at the compliment, mischief sparkling in your gaze as you wait for him to take a bite before answering. "Awn, you care about me? That's cute."

It's Jade's turn to splutter, although he does so in a much more dignified and contained way than you did. If it wasn't for the rising of his shoulders and the widening of his eyes, you wouldn't be able to tell he was fazed at all. Lucky for you, you took notice of his reactions as much as he did for yours. Before he can retort, there's an interruption in the shape of a certain Housewarden. 

"Is everything going alright? How do you like the food?" Azul has a polite costumer smile plastered on his face, but his curiosity is obvious. You and Jade exchange a glance between yourselves.

"It's wonderful, as always."

"I see, I see." He pauses for a second too long, taking in the scene fully. Jade glares at him once they meet eyes. You stifle a giggle. "I wouldn't want to take more of your time. Please continue to enjoy your evening." 

"We will." Jade replies curtly, eyes boring into Azul until he's out of view. He turns to you, composure back in place, which only makes you want to laugh more. You pretend you didn't notice it, taking another bite from your dish.

"You know..." You catch his attention, making him look inquisitively at you. "Your plate looks really good too. What is it?"

"Interested, are we? It's a mushroom risotto, made with mushrooms I collected on my mountain expeditions."

"Oh, I think I saw one similar to this on the cafeteria once!"

"Yes, the club contributes with foraging some of the ingredients used on the cafeteria's dishes."

"Woah, that's so cool. How come I didn't know this?"

"You didn't ask." His eyes wrinkle at the corner, clearly pleased with your praise to his beloved club.

"How was I supposed to ask this? It's way too specific!"

"Hm, I suppose it is."

You stick your tongue at him, knowing it's just like Jade to pull something like this. "As recompensation, I want a bite!"

"It does taste delicious." He takes another bite and chews slowly, eyes locked with yours the entire time. 

"C'mon Jade! Please?" You bat your lashes at him playfully, although it seems to have some effect. He gets a good amount of it on his fork before lifting it to your lips. You take it eagerly, humming.

"Well?" There's a certain antecipation on his tone.

"You're right, it tastes as good as it looks. Which is saying a lot."

"If you would like, I can cook it for you on another occasion."

Your eyes widen, the sincerity on his voice taking you by surprise.

"For free?"

"Of course, I wouldn't charge you for it. It would be my pleasure, truly."

"Then I accept! We could cook it together at Ramshackle sometime next week." 

"That would be perfect."

"It's a date then." You wink at him, patting yourself on the back for your smoothness.

"Enjoying this one so much you can't wait for another?" He answers with a smirk, tilting his head, his earrings tilting alongside it.

"How could I not enjoy it with such a charming gentleman across me?"

"You will make me blush if you keep saying things like this, prefect." 

"That means it's working! You'll fall in love with me in no time."

You chuckle, but Jade's gaze only softens. His eyes look so tender it makes your breath catch on your throat. You can't look away from him, from the way his smile curves just right.

"Can I bring the dessert now?" Floyd asks, making both of you turn to him in surprise. He scratches the back of his neck and stand casually at the end of the table as if he hadn't sneaked his way to it.

"We haven't finished eating yet."

"So?"

The twins hold eye contact for a few seconds, surely having some conversation you stand clueless about.

"So. You can bring it later." 

"Ah? But it's ready, shouldn't I bring it now? Shrimpy would like it fresh, right? You were the one that said that!"

Jade sighs at his brother stubborness. You stifle another giggle. 

"Floyd, I don't mind eating it a bit after it was done. I'd prefer to finish the main dish first." 

"Hm, if Shrimpy says so. I'll see ya in a bit."

"Now he listens..." Jade comments as you both watch him leaving. The frustation in his voice is a little funny, honestly. You sip on your drink.

It goes on like this. As your conversation with Jade follows it's usual course, Azul and Floyd interrupt constantly, always with a different excuse. You can see Jade getting fed up with their antics, but as much as you sympatize with him, you can't help but find the whole thing rather amusing.

Dessert consists of a mouth watering strawberry shortcake, the whipped cream melting in your tongue, the strawberries, coated in sugar, fresh and sweet, the cake fluffy. You make a different pleased sound at every bite, savoring it to the max. Jade seems fixated on your reactions, not paying nearly as much attention to his own slice as he's doing to you.

The jazz on the background takes a slower rhythm, as if accompanying the passage of the night. You feel at ease, smiling at Jade once you finish eating your slice. His intent gaze on you holding an unspoken weight, affection shining through. It makes your own feelings scream at you to do something, and that's what you do. It feels right to take his hand resting onto the table and interwine your fingers with his.

The touch of your hands sends eletricity through his skin, shocking his heart. Your eyes are littered with stars as you look at him, the colorful sea life reflecting on them beautifully. You look beautiful. The way his name falls from your lips, dripping as sweet as honey, makes him want to hear you say it again and again. He's addicted to your charm, letting himself drown on it.

Jade wants to confess his feelings to you at that moment, spill his mushy insides in your palms, transfer the warmth from his chest to your cheeks. He licks his lips, glancing at yours looking so inviting and soft, and opens his mouth to say it, to give you the key to his heart, to trust you and give himself to you fully, to be frighteningly open.

Before a single word can make it past his throat, there's a loud crash on the background that breaks the moment, making you jump and look around in alarm. Never in his life has Jade felt so frustrated, teeth digging through his bottom lip so hard he feels the coppery taste of blood.

There's a hiss of Floyd's name and a slurred complaint of Azul's. The two emerge from the bar, looking slightly frazzled. 

"Are you two ok?" You ask, more curious than concerned. 

"Perfectly. No need to worry about us." Azul smooths out his shirt, not really looking you in the eyes.

"Shrimpy, when are you gonna make a move?" Floyd pouts, arms crossed.

Jade's glare is a promise of pain in the future for the two that dared to interrupt him once more. How could Azul and Floyd be so irritating when they were supposed to be helping him? He makes to get up and have a talk with them in private, being at the limit of his patience, but you hold his hand closer to yourself, making him stay put.

"If you two leave us to have a private moment I'll do it." 

His eyes widen at your boldness, no hint of a joke in your tone. 

"Bet. C'mon Azul, let's leave the lovebirds alone." Floyd basically drags Azul away with him, finally leaving the two of you. 

"Prefect..."

You don't let him continue, bringing his hand closer to your heart, to the shell necklace, and taking a deep breath before letting it all out, looking at him in the eyes the entire time. You feel a rush of energy run through your nerves, the moment you've been waiting for finally having arrived.

"Jade, I really like you. I enjoy every moment I spend by your side, even when you can't give me your full attention. I know I'm in your thoughts and you're in mine, too. I love to hear you talking about your interests and I feel safe when I'm with you. You have my trust and my affections. My heart beats faster because of you. These are my heartfelt emotions. I'd be really happy if you feel the same for me, my pearl."

You close your eyes, bringing his hand to your lips and kissing his knuckles, holding it tenderly. Your thumb press against his pulse point, relief flooding you at confirming it's as accelerated as your own. Your look at him through your lashes, seeing his face is coated in the pretty pink you love so much.

He calls you by your name, each letter molding perfectly to his lips, as if it was choosen to be said by him. "Do you have any idea of the effect you have on me?"

You smile gently, squeezing his hand and letting it go. "Hm, no, I don't think so. Please, elaborate on it."

Jade gets up from his seat, standing in front of you before kneeling down, taking your hand in a similar way you did with his.

"Jade, don't you think it's a bit early to ask for my hand in marriage?"

He chuckles, his face radiating so much fondness there's no doubt in your mind that he reciprocates. He takes your hand to cup his cheek while he speaks, nuzzling into it and looking up at you, making himself vulnerable, as close to a lovesick expression as you'd ever see on him.

"Dearest, I'm most devoted to you. There's not a day that passes by without you filling up my thoughts. You have carved your way into my heart in a way none were able to before. I want to give you anything you may wish for, as long as you'll give me the one thing I ask of you. Would you allow me the pleasure of belonging to you, just as you would belong to me?"

Your thumb brushes against his skin, passing through and pulling on his lips as your lidded eyes take them in. Jade lets you do as you please, a show of great trust from someone as guarded as him. 

"Of course. I'd love to."

It's fascinating, the way a smile blooms on his face and his eyes light up, as if you had promised to give him the world. Perhaps you had, you just didn't know it. Your hand pulls him closer, making him get up and put his hands on your shoulders, leaning in, foreheads touching.

"I recall you saying something about wanting to hold me and kiss me, right? What are you waiting for?" 

That makes him pause. "Wait. Were you listening to me on that day, at the botanical garden?"

"Maybe, maybe not, who knows." You sing song, the glint of amusement dancing in your eyes enough to answer him. He chuckles incredulously, wondering just how used to your presence he was to not have noticed you approaching him then. 

"How secretive of you, prefect." He sounds proud as he says it. Maybe he's rubbing off on you after spending so much time together. "Very well. If that is what you wish for, I will do it." His thumb and forefinger hold onto your chin, tilting your head to meet his easier. "May I?" His low voice, laced with desire and yearning leaves you breathless before the kiss even has started. You whisper your consent, closing your eyes in antecipation. 

Jade, the bastard, teases you by leaving a little kiss by the corner of your mouth before grazing his lips against yours in a feather like touch, making a needy noise leave your throat. You can feel his smile against your lips, his hot breath mixing with yours, his nose brushing against yours in a tender gesture before your lips finally meet with a firm yet gentle hold.

He tastes like strawberries. You let out a delighted groan, your hands coming up behind his head to play with his hair, pulling him even closer to you.

As he makes to pull away, you nibble on his lip, getting a surprising whine in response. It only fuels you, the sound reverbating through your head like a prayer. It sure felt like a holy experience, to get such a sound from him. 

His face is flushed a pale pink and his hair is messy, lips red from kissing. It's the most beautiful sight you've ever seen. You're sure you don't look much better, but you can't bring yourself to care, the ecstasy pumping your blood and making your heart race.

Your cheeks hurt from how wide they're being spread by your smile, one so sincere you couldn't fight it even if you wanted to. You brush your nose against his, making a loving sigh escape his lips.

"...How do you like it?" For once in his life, Jade Leech let's himself be vulnerable, completly at your mercy. You feel powerful, at the top of the world having him in your palms like that, drinking up the sight. Although you know, he's got you just as good.

"Strawberries."

There's confusion on his voice as he repeats the word, taken aback by how suddenly you said it, how firm your tone was. You bury your face on his neck, whispering your answer against his skin. 

"You taste like strawberries. My favorite."

"Oh. I see it was a good idea to have strawberries on our dessert." There's the usual satisfied tone on his voice by knowing his plan was a success.

"You planned this?" You laugh, knowing you should have expected it from him. There is a buzzing of contentment swallowing you whole, fondness swimming in your chest.

"Naturally. I wanted it to be a most joyous experience."

"Well, you succeded. You taste delicious." You lick your lips for extra effect, nuzzling your head on his neck and leaving a little bite. "Still do."

You can feel the shivers of his skin against your lips. You pull on his hair a bit and hear the yearning sigh he lets out. It's exhilirating. You pull away, coming face to face with his lovely infatuated expression, one reserved just for you.

"One more?"

"As you wish, my dear."

Your lips meet once more, the pressure of his against yours making you light headed. It's wonderful, he's wonderful. You could get used to this.

Unfortunately, the moment is broken by the loud cheers and polite clapping from the backgroung. Floyd whistles as Azul congratulates you two. Jade's hands' grip on your shoulders tightens and you can feel the annoyance from before coming back tenfold, his red and swollen lips not making his sadistic smile any less treathining.

"And just what do the two of you think you are doing? Haven't you interrupted enough?" 

Your head falls back on his shoulder, not being able to hold your laughter anymore, your giggles against his ear making him soften the slightest bit, almost enough to forgive the two noisy merman. Almost.

He could deal with them later. Right now, he had much better things to do, as your breath tickling his neck reminds him. 

Jade Leech is not one for sentimentalism... perhaps he could make an exception for you.

Masterlist

Ahahahah! I found you! I read your situation where Mc goes and tries out the different clubs and I enjoyed reading it fully! Then I lost it- but I have now found you!! MWHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Anyways love your work! Keep it up!

hi there anon!!

yeah that's me! I'm really happy to read that! you remembering my writing means a lot to me 😭🫶 I'll keep doing my best, promise 💪 in fact, I'll finally post the (long overdue) second part of that post, I hope it lives up to your expectations!

🎤 so a fellow jade leech fan im curious is there anything per chance you want to know or see more about him?

hello fellow Jade Leech enjoyer !!!!

honestly there's a lot I'd like to see more about him! in particular I'd like to see more of him being genuine (like when he does things he actually enjoys or shows that he's displeased or angry with something), or him using magic (be it in battle, as I think he'd be very good with his attacks, or just his unique magic, like in chapter 4) or him being insane for a little while. as a treat. (kinda like when he was possessed in the halloween event but without the being possessed part. just him going feral for a bit).

I'd also like to see him not being so composed? like something going so unexpectedly out of plan his perfectly constructed mask cracks, maybe even making him a bit desperate (imagine the sheer genuine emotion he'd show). there's something about him being used to things going his way and then they don't anymore. he's the one with the upper hand most of the time but it'd be nice to see the roles reversed for once!! also some interactions with characters like Leona and Malleus in which they clearly are more powerful, to see how Jade would navigate situations like these.

maybe some event in which he's the one in a position of leadership, since it's not really his style, as he prefers to keep to the shadows. or some event that he gets to show his knowledge in alchemy! or to see him playing spelldrive or just flying in general because his sprites on flying lessons are. very funny.

also I'm a sucker for backstories so I'd like to see more about his past and his family in general! expanding on what Mr. Leech does for a living would surely be interesting, though part of the fun is not knowing what it is exactly, so maybe implying it more.

oh and some sprites that show more skin, not even in a "beach episode" way but just not covering everything up like he always does you know? if he just. rolled up his sleeves. or unbuttoned the first buttons of his shirt. it'd be like looking at a victorian woman's shoulders or ankles. I'd go crazy.

#HOW THEY HUG YOU

featuring; every twst boy 

ACE TRAPPOLA hugs you like he can’t afford to lose you. each hug with ace is tighter than your last and warmer than anything you’ve ever felt before. ace likes to lift you up when he hugs you, squeezing you so hard you have to whack his back to release you. will hug you as a hello, a goodbye, a how are you, literally will hug you for Any Given Reason.

RIDDLE ROSEHEARTS hugs you like a wooden plank. at first. he’s stiff and sore in all the wrong places as he awkwardly wraps his arms around you, one around your back and one on your shoulder as he taps your back repeatedly. feels like your 97 year old grandpa with back problems the first time he hugs you. as time goes on, and he gets used to your constant physical touch, he starts melting into your hugs. enjoys burying his head in your neck as he tells you about his day. 

DEUCE SPADE hugs you like a sweetheart. his hugs are soft and welcoming, and feel like home. always blushes when he hugs you- it’s a tradition at this point. although deuce prefers hand holding over hugging, he will never hesitate to drop everything to embrace you. literally. will drop all of his books if you hug him in the middle of the halls. 

Continuar lendo

[Octopus piercing - Jade Leech]

Summary: Hand slipping down from his cheek to his chin, you pull away to take in the whole picture. Jade, octopus piercing covering his whole ear, skin flushed a delightful shade of light pink, eyes looking at you the whole time, entranced. 

Notes: gn!reader, based on the early concept of punk Jade, in this household we like flustered Jade who's down bad while also being a tease, now I'm certain he had a punk phase at some point and still has the piercings!

"Oh? What's this?"

Your voice rings out in the otherwise silent room, being quickly replaced by the sound of clinking metal.

Jade turns his head around your direction, tilting it to the side in interest. If you had been looking at him, you might have noticed the ever so slight widening of his eyes as he realizes what you found (you always do, as attentive to his expressions as he is with yours), but alas, something else had caught your eye.

It's as if the air in his bedroom stilled and time had stopped for a moment as you lift up your hand to look closer at your finding. He watches attentively, wanting to drink in your reaction.

You don't disappoint (you never do). Your lips part as you let out a breath of amazement, your eyes shining as they reflect the light of the jewel. Something so simple managed to mesmerize you. Your fingers delicately, as if afraid they could break it, toy around it, spinning it from one side to the other, taking in the texture and the coldness.

Jade gets so deep in watching you he almost forgets his comeback. Almost.

"Prefect, you shouldn't mess with other people's things, it's not very polite."

You turn to him, making him feel exhiliration tickle down his spine from having your attention on him, your humorous smile directed at him and only him. 

"You didn't seem to share the sentiment a few months ago, huh?" You refer to the little... incident with Azul's contracts at the end of the year. It was all water under the bridge now, but you still liked to tease them about it.

"These were very different situations, wouldn't you say?" 

For emphasis, he lowers his voice and slides to the side you're seated on his bed, his leg touching yours and his face close enough you could count his eyelashes if you wanted to, but not enough for his nose to touch yours. 

There's a hitch in your breath, so quiet that if it was anyone else they would have missed it. Jade doesn't. His smile turns more genuine at the corners.

"No, I don't think so." 

Instead of trying to get away, you stay where you are, attracted like a moth to the flame. Your hand comes between your faces, putting the object of your fascination in display.

It was an octopus tentacle piercing, one that would curl around the top of the ear and pass through the earlobe. It was quite detailed, with all the suction cups carefully craved in silver.

"It's beautiful. I didn't know you had other earrings."

There it is, that curious look in your face, the one that promises to deliver endless entertainment. He decides to indulge you to see where you're heading with it, although he already has an inkling.

"That must be because I only use this one nowadays." He touches the signature scales earring he's using. "But there was a time I was still experimenting with my appearence. I suppose I couldn't bring myself to get rid of them."

"It's a bit hard to imagine you using anything other than this one, but..." Your gaze turns to the octopus earring, evaluating it, before sliding to his face again. Jade feels as if he was being examinated from the inside out, as if you could investigate his very soul from the intensity of your stare. "I think this one would look pretty good too."

"Shall we check?" 

His fingers do quick work of taking off the backing and pulling his current earring away from his ear, leaving it bare. He puts it on the nightstand and turns around, exposing his side to your ministrations.

You stare for a second, caught of guard. "May I?"

"Of course, go ahead."

You hesitate for a second longer, hearing him let out an amused huff of laughter, before your fingers approach him. You tuck the longer strand of black hair behind his ear to give you space to work. In the process, your warm hand brushes against it, making him shiver. 

Taking your time, you let your touch ghost his cold skin, captivated by such a rare chance to be so close to his space. You notice, for the first time, that there are more little holes alongside it, where other piercings might have been before. The image you conjure in your head is charming enough to make you smile.

The pad of your thumb strokes his earlobe before you insert the post and screw the back, holding it in place and sliding the cuff to hook it on his upper ear. 

Your hand stays in place as you admire your work, rubbing the helix absentmindedly. You hum, your other hand cupping his cheek to turn his head in your direction so you could see how it looked.

"Something's wrong?" You whisper, noticing how he feels warmer under your touch.

Jade's pupils look slightly blown when his eyes meets yours. "Go on." It comes out in a rushed breath. 

Humming once more, your smile widens. "As you wish." 

Hand slipping down from his cheek to his chin, you pull away to take in the whole picture. Jade, octopus piercing covering his whole ear, skin flushed a delightful shade of light pink, eyes looking at you the whole time, entranced. 

"What's the veredict?"

"I was right, you know. It does look good."

"Is that so?" There's something to his tone, something you can't quite name.

You turn his head around, enjoying the thrill you get when he complies and lets you do as you please.

"Actually, maybe I wasn't."

At this, he turns around by himself, a calculating look on his face, trying to guess what you where going to say. He catches up just before the words leave your mouth, but it doesn't make them any less enjoyable to say.

"It's more than good. You look lovely."

The sincerity in his answering laugh is elating.

"You flatter me, prefect. If this is the reaction I'll get, then I might change around my looks more often."

"There's more, right? I'd like to see them too!"

The pleased glint in Jade's expression turns into mischievousness as he pulls away from you, moving to get up.

"Perhaps another time. This would take time I can't afford without risking running late to my shift at Mostro."

"C'mon! Just one more!" You hold his arm before he can move out of your reach, looking through your lashes at his towering form. "Please?"

Sighing, he concedes. "If you insist so much, I suppose we could look at another one." You cheer, pulling him back to where he was, already looking through his other piercings in the drawer. "For a price, naturally."

You only deadpan at him, earning an amused chuckle.

"My, my, what's with that face? Can you say you weren't expecting it?"

"Of course I was, it is you after all. What will it be then?"

A sharp grin exposing his teeth blooms. Most would be scared by it, but the only thing passing through your mind is how this expression goes quite well with this new piercing.

"Not backing down? Very well. How about you participate in this week's Mountain Lovers Club meeting?"

"Deal." There's not even a moment to blink before you agree. Truly, you didn't mind going on his club meetings. In fact, they were very enjoyable most of the time, and if that would make him happy you could sacrifice a few hours from your day. Besides, you were having a lot of fun with your new discovery. "Now, how about this one?" 

You show him the piercing you chose, a little fish skeleton that looked cheaper than the other one. You thought it would look quite cute.

"This was a gift from Floyd, so I'm rather fond of it." You can tell it's true from his softer tone. "We have a deal, you can go ahead."

Letting you have full access to his ear once more, you explore the options where you could put this new piercing. Since the other one covered a good part of the available space, you decided to insert it on the helix, where they wouldn't clash.

You carefully hold it on one hand while your other supports his ear. It's almost reverent the way you insert it, treating it like it was a precious jewel, watching intently as it pierces the skin and appears on the other side, nimble fingers screwing it in place.

Like before, you take his chin between your thumb and index finger, taking in the sight of him. Your lips pout as you think, his eyes darting to stare at them as if in a trance before quickly glancing back to meet yours.

"If feels like there's something missing..." You mumble, thinking out loud. "Oh! Maybe if I just..."

Without further explanation, your free hand combs his hair backwards, messing with it enough to get a spiky look that could rival his twin's. The strand of black hair you had tucked behind his ear gets loose, only half of it staying in the place you left.

Thumb gently rubbing his skin, you push his face away. The messy hair alongside the piercings made him resemble a delinquent. If it wasn't for his awestruck expression, Jade would look quite intimidating. 

"There you go! You look great!"

A second passes where he just stares at you, as if taking this moment in and commiting it to memory, before there's a signature smile adorning his face.

"I trust you did a good job then."

"Nah, you already did before, I just tweaked with a few things here and there."

The amused huff of breath he lets out warms your fingertip. You feel your cheeks getting hotter. 

"I see. In this case, thank you for your assistance. Hopefully Azul will be able to appreciate this new look as much as you do."

Imagining Azul's reaction to his usual put together employee going to work with such a carefree look makes you chuckle.

"I have no doubt that he'll love it. Not as much as I do, but close enough."

"That's a relief, seeing as I have to go now in order to not get late." 

He gets up again and extends his hand to you. You take it, letting him help pulling you up to your feet, standing so close you're pressed against his chest. You can feel his hum resonate through it. Your arms embrace his torso to keep you balanced.

Before you can make a comment, his hand holds your chin, mirroring the position you were in minutes ago, while his other tousles your hair.

"I enjoyed our time together, it's truly too bad it had to be cut short. Let's meet up another time for you to look at the other piercings, yes? There are quite a lot of them, after all."

"I'd like that." You close your eyes to enjoy his touch, leaning into it.

"I'm sure you do." Jade's teasing actions turn softer as he starts to stroke your hair affectionately. "I'll look forward to our next meeting, prefect." 

His tone makes you open your eyes to peek at him. It sounds far too tender, far too sincere. His smile betrays nothing of his thoughts, but you know he said the truth. 

"Me too. Make sure to prepare a special activity for the club meeting since you'll have a special guest!"

"I'll do my best to keep you entertained, don't you worry. I'm sure you'll enjoy what I have planned."

"You sure know how to make someone curious." You tease, hoping he'd give you a hint at what he had planned, but no luck.

"I'm afraid you'll have to wait and see."

You sigh exaggeratedly. "That I'll do." 

"I promise it'll be worth the antecipation. Now, I truly must get going." 

Leaning down while his hand combs your hair backwards, his lips leave a fleeting touch on your forehead, an almost kiss that leaves you wanting more.

"Until we meet again, dear."

With that, he leaves the room in quick strides, leaving you alone to process what happened. Your hands shoot up to your forehead as you splutter, trying to get your thoughts in order. 

Just what was that?

Sighing, you decide you'll have to wait until the mountain lovers club meeting to confront him. It's shaping up to be quite an eventful day and you can feel your excitement bubbling up.

Jade sure knew how to keep someone on their toes.

Glancing one last time at the nightstand, the light catching on his scales earring laying there innocently, you leave to go to your dorm.

Your thoughts turn to the mental picture of Jade, flushed face and blown pupils, messy hair and piercings on his ear. Involuntarily, your lips shape into a giddy smile. 

There was a jewellery shop at the island's city, right? Maybe you'd take a look at which piercings they had next time you go run errands.

BONUS SCENE!

"Azul! Jade's here!" Floyd's excited giggle rings out in the otherwise silent office as he opens the door with a bang.

"Finally! I was starting to think he forgot about his shift..." Azul trails off as he takes in the sight before him.

Right next to a smiling Floyd was Jade. His outfit was in perfect condition and his posture was as formal as always. Still, Azul couldn't stop staring at the different hairstyle and piercings he was using.

There was a time when they were first years and very new to living on land in which Jade decided to experiment with his appearence. He got a lot of piercings and cut his hair in what could be known as a "punk hairstyle", contrasting terribly with his buttlerly personality. He seemed to find it very amusing, but after getting in trouble with the teachers for breaking the dress code and getting bored of the usual reactions he'd get from the other students, he decided to take them off and let his hair grow, going back to his usual look.

So it was quite a shock to see them making a comeback, although in a much tamer way than how he used to be.

"What... what has brought this back?" Truly, Azul thought he'd gotten used to the twin's antics by now and couldn't be surprised anymore, but they always found a way of surpassing expectations. 

"Yeah, I wanna know too! When I asked you to put them back you just ignored me." Floyd pouts, crossing his arms and slouching dejectedly.

"It's a long story, but it started when the prefect and I were studying in my room..."

"Wait, you know what? You can stop right there, I don't want to know. Please just get to work." Azul sighs, massaging his temples.

Whenever Ramshackle's prefect was involved, there surely was some crazy story following, and they were already behind schedule as it was.

"Of course, as you wish." Jade agrees with his usual polite smile, but no one in the room was fooled by it. They both knew he was extremely amused by their curiosity. 

"Awn, I wanted to know." Floyd complains, whining. 

"Perhaps I'll tell you another time. Right now, let's get to work, shall we?"

With a groaning Floyd in town, Jade walks out of the door as if nothing was amiss. Azul simply accepts that he'll have to deal with this new development and decides to have a talk with the prefect later. Not that it would change much of anything. When Jade had his mind set on something, he didn't stop until he was satisfied, and for some reason or other he seemed to be interested in experimenting again.

The Octavinelle dorm leader could only wonder what had caused this sudden interest.

Masterlist