Ask Games My Beloveds... Thx For The Tag Cherry

jade for the character bingo :)

ANON. I'M SHAKING YOU BY THE SHOULDERS RN!!!

JADE MY MOST BELOVED OF ALL <3333333 THE WAY HE'S GOT ME WRAPPED AROUND HIS FINGER. EVERYDAY I THINK ABT THIS BASTARD AND SIGH DREAMLY. HE'S SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 💞💞💞 I'M LITERALLY INSANE ABT HIM

he's on my mind 24/7 fr fr... I have many thoughts abt him (most is incoherent screaming)... especially since he's a merman from the sea and is so very different from humans... there's sooo much to explore there...

I HAVE. THE BIGGEST HEART EYES EVER AS I LOOK AT HIM. HE'S THE BLORBO OF ALL TIMES. I'LL HOLD HIM DEARLY. I'LL GIVE HIM A KISS. I'LL GIVE HIM LOTS OF AFFECTION AND LET HIM DO HIS LITTLE BASTARD SCHEMES AS HE WANTS TO. I'LL BITE HIM TO SHOW MY LOVE

I literally have a whole post where I scream about his character design... it's so good, the many different elements don't clash with each other and create such a nice composition to look at... and a post analysing his personality too... where I also mainly screaming abt it...

sometimes the fandom bothers me when he's reduced as just some sadistic bastard that doesn't care about anyone's feelings and is cold and emotionless and a crime master like... 💀 babes he's a sophomore student that works in costumer service and likes to create terrariums on his free time... not saying that he isn't a bastard that could break your bones bc he is, but he's more than that too!

onto the shameless promo: I ALWAYS SAY IT AND I'LL KEEP SAYING IT. THIS SOULMATES AU AND THIS FAKE DATING FIC ARE SOME OF MY ALL TIME FAVES SO PLS PLS PLS GIVE THEM A CHANCE THEY ARE SOOOO GOOD. also I'll promote my fic too bc it's my fav so far from the one's I've done <3

i was judging you for not realizing grim(m) sooner but it took me a while to realize silver is supposed to be aurora

anon why are you joining in the bullying 😭😭 in your defense it is majorly a villain's school. tho the falling asleep everywhere and the "auroral eyes" should have been kind of a dead giveaway lol you're part of the clueless club too now !!!

oh oh what about rook for the bingo

HI AQUA!! AND HI ANON!! it's so funny the two asks came at the same time lmao

I THINK HE'S SO FUNNY. every time he appears he got me giggling at my phone, the way he says some of the most out of pocket things with a straight face... how his phrases are filled with fancy poetry no one else gets... he's a little bastard (affectionate)

I really like how his character was more flashed out in chap5! his relationship with Vil is so interesting, I love how they listen to each other and actually take in considerstion what they say, they can balance each other out. his appearence in events is also delightful, in the ghost bride event I KNOW he was having the time of his life being all romantic and stuff lol

still. I'm mad at him for being the one vote that made RSA win the VDC. I understand why he did it and I think it was an important lesson for Vil but. I'm still salty. he's going to the salad spinner for that.

tho I think the fandom takes the stuff he does and says way too out of porpotion at times? I've seen some discourse involving him but like. it's not that serious pls he was just in a silly goofy mood 😭 I do get criticizing his he-man haircut... Vil do something about it I beg of you

also he's some of my moots blorbo so he's kinda like my weirdo blorbo in law that I see at family events (my feed) every once in a while and I find it delightful

another shameless promo: this fic! even if I'm not a Rook simp it did get me feeling a certain way...

made an official profile for my version of yuu! + a yuu cheeb (つω`｡)

various assets provided by @/alchemivich!

i figured out what ortho is supposed to be by looking up chapter 6 but idk if you’ve read that so we’ll just have to wait

ooh, it's nice to know Ortho will get his time to shine more in chapter 6!! I can't wait for it to come out on the eng server!

also, I really appreciate you not spoiling it for me, thank you!

[Kissing it Better - Floyd Leech]

Summary: Floyd gets in a fight. You kiss it better.

Notes: gn!reader, fluff, slight mentions of blood and injury but nothing graphic! some more fluff for good measure

You sigh at the sight in front of you.

Floyd could get rowdy sometimes, you knew that. And he also has a tendency of chasing trouble, so it shouldn't be any surprise to find him as ruffled as you did. 

Still, usually he was the one doing the beating, so you weren't used to seeing him littered with bruises and a pouty expression indicating his foul mood.

You shake your head, setting the first aid kit on the bed beside him. You had to drag him to your room to attend to his wounds, him protesting weakly and pouting the whole time, insisting it was fine and he didn't need to be coddled.

"Now, stay still for me to clean it up, alright?"

He just glares at you, an expression that might have scared off the majority of NRC campus, but wasn't effective on you. You knew he wouldn't do anything to hurt you, he just wanted to be left alone to lick his own wounds and sulk, which you weren't about to let happen.

Your hand lifts the gauze pad with antiseptic to his face, making him dogde stubbornly. You try a few more times, with no success. Floyd just glares on. You bite your lip, wondering how you should go about this.

"Please, Floyd, it could get infected if I don't clean it." Even if you know your plea won't be very effective, you still give it a try.

"I don't care."

The frustrated noise that leaves your throat makes his lips twich upwards. He was enjoying messing with you, it seemed.

The next time you do the motion, he doesn't bother dodging, just swipping away your hand like it was a pesky fly. 

"Just leave me alone Shrimpy, I don't wanna play right now."

"It'd be over very quickly if you'd just let me do it."

"Hah? Why should I? You don't get to order me around." He does the scary face that usually wards off anyone that might be bothering him, arms crossing, voice dropping and pupils contracting, lips forming a snarl that shows just enough of his pointy teeth.

You lower your arm and set the gauze down, eyebrows furrowing at him. "Alright." Better to not push him too much and make him close up. There's no point in trying to aggravate a sea storm. "How about a hug, then? Surely it'll make you feel better."

Floyd's scary façade breaks, giving way to surprise. He never understands how you could ask for something the others avoid as if their lives depend on it, yet you do it time and time again. The truth is, Floyd could easily squeeze until he felt your ribs breaking under his palms, but there's something about the way you treat him, the way you actually seem to like having him around, that makes him be more gentle.

(Jade pointed it out, once. He made a side comment about how Floyd's hugs are unusually soft when it's with you. At the time you didn't agree, as they are still very tight, but you started to pay more attention. His hugs might envelop you whole and trap you in his arms with no way of getting out, but they never left bruises or made you breathless. His laughter sounds more genuine as well. It has only served to fuel your affection towards him. You have a feeling that was Jade's plan all along.)

Floyd stares at you before unfolding his arms, spreading them out for you. An invitation. "Since you're so cute, Shrimpy, if I squeeze you reaaal hard it might change my mood."

A small smile forms on your face, endeared by his redundant way of asking for a hug. The empty threat doesn't faze you and you waste no time in straddling his lap, letting his arms hold onto your waist and back tightly as your hands clasp behind his neck, burrowing your face on his shoulder. 

It's a comfort both of you are used to, the contact making him relax and prop his chin on the top of your head. You breath in deeply and sigh contently, tickling his skin and making him giggle on your hair. Your smile grows as you notice how his mood has improved already.

A few moments pass like this, Floyd's hand making patterns on your back and your hand playing with the hair at the nape of his neck. You wait until you think he's calmer before pulling away by pushing his shoulders, coming face to face with him. He whines at the loss of contact, squeezing your waist in protest. 

You let out a huff of laughter at his affronted expression, but you can sense the playfulness under it. You cup his cheek with one hand, tenderly brushing your thumb on the sore spot and making him squeeze his eyes shut because of the sting. "I'll take care of it now." You murmur, getting the gauze back and apllying it on the wound before he could complain, wipping off the flakes of blood that clung to his skin.

He whines as you clean the cut on his eyebrow and the blood down his nose and on his lips, one hand on his chin to keep his head still. You only hum in response, analyzing your work and covering the bruises with a colorful plaster. 

"There you go, all done."

There's a petulant frown on his face, clashing with the eye cathing patterns of the plaster and his messy hair, his eyes boring into you with some emotion you can't describe. You feel a rush of affection flow through yourself, so sudden it makes you feel light headed. You cup his cheeks and brings his face closer to yours, giving the tip of his nose a light kiss before pulling away once more. You're, as they say, kissing it better.

There's a tinkle in your eyes as you look back at him, they wrinkle at the corners as your smile stretches your cheeks. Floyd's face feels hot and he doesn't know what to make of it all, what to make of you. Your fingers are warm against his cold skin and so unbearably tender. He can feel your heartbeat against his, your weight on top of him, your sweet scent surrounding him. He isn't used to this, to being treated as if he's precious, as if he's something worth of protecting, of taking care of, of looking so fondly at.

Floyd is not fragile. He isn't weak and he can take care of himself just fine. He is vicious and can be cruel and doesn't care about the feelings of others, as long as he's having his fun. He doesn't bother trying to rein his emotions in and he's scary and the campus avoid him like the plague and he doesn't care. He really doesn't. But when you took the time to get to know him, when you stayed by his side regardless of his mood, when you look at him with eyes so full of affection, never fear, he feels like he can let himself open up a bit. And then a bit more, and a little more and suddenly Floyd's walls are crumbled on his feet and you stand right on top of their ruins, victorious smile shining down on him and he lets himself think that maybe it's alright to be vulnerable, to let someone take care of him. 

"Does something still hurt? You're awfully quiet." Your voice lulls him like the calm waves, your hands kiss his skin like sun rays on the beach, your scent a refreshing breeze. He wants to lose himself in it, on you.

Instead of answering, he props his head on your shoulder, a needy sound leaving his throat, nuzzling on your neck, feeling you, you, you. You're safe. He grips your waist tighter, making sure you stay flush against him and let him enjoy the moment.

You laugh, being used to his antics. Your hand reaches the back of his head and you play with his hair, the other one on his back. You leave a kiss on the top of his head, resting yours against his and preparing to stay like this for some time.

The moment eventually breaks when Floyd nips on your neck lightly, his sharp teeth stinging and making you yelp. He chuckles next to your ear, saying how Shrimpy put him in a better mood already.

It seems like kissing it better did work, after all.

Masterlist

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

I think something twst does really well is show the characters improving in a realistic way. No one can change overnight which makes the aftermaths of the overblots so interesting. I think it’s shown the most through Riddle during Book 2 you get to see him changing, trying to adapt now that he’s acknowledged what his mom did. You see him slowly improving and of course he isn’t perfect none of them are, but you get to see them make active efforts to better themselves- 🦭

YESSS YOU'RE SO RIGHT ONCE AGAIN 🦭 ANON!!!

I had a conversation with Gabi about Riddle in the reblogs of one of my oneshots (see here, just scroll down to the end) in which we mention a chapter of the anthology that makes this change very clear (this one!) and as you mentioned yourself in the Floyd ask, there's one chapter in which we get to see it more! in my Azul brainrot I also mention how I like the change in his acts and how he puts some efforts into being better. in my writing I love to explore this aftermath and their inner thoughts on it, especially in this Azul oneshot in which his overblot ends up a little differently!

I have individual thoughts on how each character reacts and improves after their overblots, so I'll go over them really quickly!!

first I just wanted to go over the concept of an overblot on itself. it's mentioned at the beggining that's a rare and dangerous occuring, but at NRC it happens every other month after MC's arrival, so that must be shocking. an overblot also leaves them sore and exhausted, both physically and mentally, as it's the result of the dangerous combination of too much magical usage and too many negative emotions due to years of distress. it's truly interesting how MC and/or Grim seems like a trigger of sorts to these overblots, as I believe there wasn't any before they suddenly appeared, getting involved in the middle of each of them. it's definetly not a coincidence how some of the most powerful and influential students suddenly overblot on the same time period, almost as if there was some higher force making it happen on purpose, for some reason. I hope it gets more explained in the future, perhaps after chapter 7!

as stated, I feel that Riddle, for being the first overblot, has gotten more time to show how much he's changed. from the tyrant from the start of the game to an actual dorm leader worthy of his title! he hasn't dropped his appreciation for rules entirely, but he won't go around cutting other people's heads for minor things. he's still strict with proper conduct and Heartslabyul's students' grades, but in a less overwhelming way, as he's seen how the way he's been taught to do things was wrong. during the second chapter, Riddle is much calmer and more rational, he helps MC solve the mystery even when he didn't have to do so. he was a great help at Leona's fight, and it's due to his quick thinking that no one was hurt at the stampade stunt. even when it's hard and causes him some mental turmoil, Riddle has reflected upon his actions and does his best to change for the better! having Trey, Cater and Che'nya by his side, lending him support, is probably a big motivator, as well as Ace's judgment and sharp words, as he's not afraid to speak his mind and call out people who are in the wrong. Deuce's admiration for him also contributes to it all, as he'd like to set a good example for his underclassmen to follow. all in all, Riddle has improved a lot in his behaviour and I'm very proud of him!

Leona is a complicated case, in all aspects. before his overblot, he had such an intense inferiority complex he didn't put effort in anything, thinking he wouldn't be recognized either way. not only that, he stays stagnant at NRC, most likely because he didn't want to have to go back to his kingdom where he's always second place. it's due to this that he tries to win against Malleus, spelldrive is one of the things he's best at and he used to be recognized for it before Malleus appeared and took his spot. for someone as smart as Leona, I feel that the plan from chapter 2 is kind of... half assed? him and Ruggie appear scheming all smug, but it's a pretty shitty and obvious plan, honestly, and he had potential to do something better. maybe, some part of him couldn't bring himself to care, since he was so used to being second place, it's not like that would change anytime soon. and that's why Lilia's words are so important, to make him realize: he wasn't second place because the world is against him and won't recognize anything he does, but because he can't bring himself to put an actual effort into things and get over his pride and ego to do what's best. I could go on about that but I didn't even get to the point yet, so I digress.

going back to the main topic: after Leona's overblot, I don't think I see him changing that much? while in Riddle's case it's plain to see how he's been trying to be better, Leona seems the same as before. he doesn't go to classes nor starts taking an initiative in things, much less apologize for hurting Ruggie and putting so many people in danger. (not that I expected him to actually say "I'm sorry", but maybe show in his own way that he regrets what he did?) even in chapter 3, he doesn't help because he wanted to, he begrudgingly does as MC suggests only because it benefits him too. I don't believe for a minute that Grim and MC posed any threat to his sleep, as he could easily beat them up and get it over with. no, Leona went along with MC's plan an destroyed the contracts because it was what he wanted all along. in the previous chapter he had made a deal with Azul in order to get Ruggie's potion, so he must have wanted to stop beind indebted with him and/or get back whatever it was that he bargained.

don't get me wrong, I do like Leona a lot! when I first started playing, he was on my top3 characters, and even though he isn't anymore I'm still rather fond of him. it's just... disappointing to see how much potential he has and how he doesn't do anything to reach it. one way for him to change would be to drop the unbothered attitude and actually start making an effort. there's still a long way for him to go, and only he can take the first step. I do like how his problems aren't all solved after a little motivational talk (and being beat up), since his overblot doesn't change his depression, nor his country's political state, nor his family issues, nor his complexes.

Jamil's and Kalim's relationship is a major theme of chapter 4 and very connected to Jamil's overblot in the first place. I like how Jamil becomes more open after it, even if he's blunt and rude, possibly making him seem worse than before. the thing is, before he only hid what he was thinking and kept it all to himself, bottling up his emotions to the point that they end up exploding. afterwards, even if he voices his annoyance and is pretty harsh with his words, not trying to spare Kalim's feelings, it feels better that he's being honest for once. the work his family serves under Kalim's family creates a very complex relationship between those two, as there is a power balance, no matter how much Kalim tries to treat him like an equal. Jamil should always present himself as less than the heir of the Al Asim family, should always follow along his heat of the moment decisions and make sure to keep him safe between the sea of shady students that could take advantage of his naivety and positive thinking. the way Kalim's childhood molded him into such a different person, almost the complete opposite, from Jamil also aggravates their dynamic's problems.

anyways! as I discussed in Azul's post, I like how we can also see a change in how he does things post overblot. while he still might do some shady deals, his focus goes into his business and ways of improving it, showing his change of perspective. he no longer tries to hoard other people's powers, as he finally recognizes his own merits and learns to be proud of them. he's still cunning and witty, not losing the interesting parts of his personality, but he's changed on how he uses those traits. he isn't suddenly one of the "good guys" and he doesn't do things out of the kindness of his heart, as he wants people to believe, but he's improved a lot from how he used to deal with things, even helping MC on chapter 4. (he also had other interests, but he didn't necessarily have to help MC, even if he felt indebted to them for the help during his overblot fight)

I throughly enjoy how the consequences of a change in their careful and fragile balance are explored in chapter 5, with Jamil finally putting himself out there and letting his potential show, not holding back, and Kalim feeling frustrated for the first time for not getting what he wants, and how it makes him understand better where Jamil is coming from and be more considerate to his feelings. all in all, even if Jamil doesn't become a good person in the traditional sense, as he's still sassy and deceitful at times, it serves to help him improve himself in a more internal sense, to try to be more open with Kalim and to break some of the old patterns he's been taught to follow.

Vil is quite interesting, as he's the only character that overblots that I liked a lot straight away. I didn't pass through the phases of "I hate his guts he's so annoying" to "alright he's not that bad" to "wait I think I might like him" like I did with the others. and I'm not saying he didn't do a lot of wrong things, since besides almost poisoning an innocent person, there were also times when he acted out of line and showed his arrogance, such as when he fought with and made Epel cry only to prove a point, without much respect or care for his feelings. still, he also felt more reasonable than the other overblot characters, as he's more down to Earth, shows his hard work and efforts, and is up with social causes like gender equality and not conforming to toxic masculinity.

by the end of chapter 5, he expresses regret (as he "wishes they hadn't seen him in such an ugly state") and keeps his head high as he performs with Neige after losing. he doesn't seem to particularly feel sorry about almost hurting Neige though, and maintains his feelings of animosity. I have yet to see how he behaves in chapter 6 and how he might have changed, perhaps by trying to find compromises when things don't go the way he wants them to and by praising people's efforts rather than only criticizing their errors.

so! I agree anon, TWST does very well show that things don't change overnight and that there must have some effort put into these changes. the characters' problems aren't magically solved by the power of friendship (and violence), but they can get started on working on them. acknowledging your mistakes and trying to improve is rather hard, but a very necessary part of personal growth. with each passing chapter, I hope we get to see more about how the overblots have changed them and how they have improved themselves!

I toss this to you for more floyd analysis that last post had me thinking about how he’d act with a crush and on one hand hed definitely still act like his normal self and whatnot but At the same time I definitely think he wouldn’t know really how to go about a crush

like with how these guys have mostly zero game (like the ghost marriage event 😂),I wouldn’t be surprised of he had moments where he gets frustrated cause he doesn’t get why hes feeling a certain way and checks out for a lil while n cant help but feel like hed also not be sure how to react if he ever (or ever really has) gotten flustered

—that last bit may be a lil ooc but it’s highly amusing to think he wouldn’t know how to react to certain things (also along with they probably do ‘love’ differently in the sea). wow this got long I apologize 😭

hi hello anon!!!

thinking about Floyd with a crush is SO entertaining, his unpredictable nature makes it possible for him to act in many different ways! even if it may seem out of character, we have no way of knowing if it could be true in this case and, considering Floyd's ever changing nature by mood, it's a possibility!

there's this post, that I think is so cute, of Floyd being secretly a hopeless romantic at heart and wanting to do the stuff you see in cheesy movies and books. whether is something he canonically would do or not is up to debate, but it sure is fun to imagine!

the way I think of it, Floyd with a crush would act as touchy as he usually does, giving hugs and staying close their personal space, and would be kinda blunt like always. I don't think he'd dance around the issue, but he might not know how to react and just do whatever feels right at the moment. so if he thinks they look cute, he'll just outright say it, no shame at all.

and if they return his affections, he'll be delighted! he'll gladly accept any nicknames and hugs and compliments! he'll want to stay by their side for as much as he can, as every moment with them is so entertaining! tho he might get flustered if they surprise him with some sincere declaration of affection when he isn't expecting it, he wouldn't know how to react due to it being a first for him. yes, he knows they like spending time with him since they never run away from him, but actually hearing them say it to his face? it makes his heart flutter and his face feel warm.

so I agree with you, anon! he'll mostly be like normal, but you can see a certain softness whenever his crush is around. Jade and Azul might notice about his feelings before he himself does, since he isn't used to feeling like this and just doesn't know how to recognize a crush. love at the deep sea is very different from how land dwellers deal with it, he'll need some time and patience to get it.

no need to apologize, anon!! talk for as much or as little as you'd like! I love to hear your thoughts and it makes me happy that you're sharing them with me <33

FAKE DATING! WITH JADE LEECH

In which Azul coerces you into fine-dining at the Mostro Lounge for their third anniversary. One major problem? You’re tight on Thaumarks for the month, and only couples get a discount.

“And then he clawed me in the face,” you exclaim, motioning wildly with your hands. “Like, what the hell! I carry that furball everywhere, and he decides to pull this shit just because he’s hungry? I slept in for fifteen minutes!”

Jade carries your books at his side, nodding every-so often in careful attentiveness. “If I may, why not let Grim loose at Mostro Lounge? I’ve grown quite fond of him.” 

It starts off genuine, until he lets loose a smirk, sharp teeth rising above his bottom lip. “In fact, I was about to suggest another test-run of Azul’s parasitical anemones.” He laughs, shrouding his reaction beneath his hand in polite courtesy. “What do you think?”

“I think you’re a sadist.” Looking around, you tug on Jade’s sleeve, lowering your voice. “But speaking of Mostro Lounge … what’s your stance on favors?”

“I’m not particularly fond of them.” He side-glances you, curiously. “Will you be joining us for dinner tonight? If you’re unaware, it’s our third-anniversary. We’ll be providing an unforgettable dining experience, along with a special discount for couples celebrating their own relationship milestones.” 

“Jade,” you groan, frustrated. “wrong answer. Try again.”

“Hm?” The smile tugging at his lips feels too innocent. In fact, the gleam within his eyes makes you think he knows exactly what you want. “Use your words.”

“Wanna help me out?

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