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diodellet · 1 month ago

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turmeric and disenchantment

wherein scarabia gets roped into caring for a bunch of tottering orphan kittens, written for @hesperious-sands zine! content warnings: -references to animal abuse/negligence and euthanasia -retroactive guilt and pet grief word count: 1.4k words

It all started with a jar of turmeric.

According to Kalim’s rapidfire rambling, the Ramshackle Dormitory got saddled with a litter of flea-ridden orphaned kittens. Since the Prefect had exceeded their monthly allowance to buy milk, they asked him for some help.

Of course they would take advantage of the dorm leader’s bleeding heart. At least Jamil was quick enough to stop him from donating the entire jar.

When Kalim returned, he gushed nonstop. There were five of the wriggly things. With folded ears and shut eyes, and impressively loud despite being palm-sized.

“—you should’ve seen how they all turned yellow, especially the black and white one! It looked like an oversized bee—”

“Tell me if you get bitten. We can’t have fleas infesting the dorm.” Jamil held back a shudder at the thought. He’ll need to add some citronella oil for Kalim’s evening bath and throw his clothes into the wash immediately after this. He couldn’t take any chances.

“Okay, Jamil—By the way, would you wanna visit them tomorrow after classes?”

Oh dear.

First, came the innocuous requests to check up on the things. Then the musing and the daydreaming. And then, of course, he’d feel compelled to adopt one. Or all five of them.

Jamil needed to nip this in the bud. “Sure.” (Who was he kidding, it was too late. Kalim was utterly entranced with the things. And Jamil would be lying if he said he wasn’t curious.)

The two of them stayed at Ramshackle until night had fallen. Kalim struggled to get the fifth kitten to latch onto the bottle. His brow was furrowed, lips pursed in concentration as the neonate mewed and wailed in one of his palms. With the bottle tilted downwards in his other hand, milk trickled down his wrist and onto the floor. “Come on, don’t be so fussy, your dinner’s right here…”

Jamil easily could’ve wiped up that mess, but he was stuck as a makeshift pillow for the remaining four. A plump, purring puddle of black, white, and orange on his lap. He idly stroked the top of the kitten’s head, one of the white kittens with splotches of orange tabby markings.

After some agonizing moments of watching Kalim muttering to the thing, the kitten miraculously found the bottletip. Its front paws curled around the bottle while he cradled it in his palm.

It was a frail, tiny thing.

“Hey Jamil, remember when Aunt Farah would bring over her cats?”

He nodded. “They were actually older than this.” They were beautiful Persian cats. A mellow cloud and her hyperactive cotton ball offsprings. Alongside one of the older servants, he was lightly chiding Kalim to be gentle, to not get overexcited.

Kalim’s aunt was the type of relative who brought lavish gifts for everyone. Whenever she visited, she’d have an array of bags hanging from both of her arms. She made sure that everyone in the room would receive something—snacks, toys, clothes, a quirky trinket, or a hand-me-down from her own children—a textbook example of a perfect guest. Greatly favored by family and the servants during reunions, and especially by Kalim and his siblings.

(While Kalim and Jamil watched the kittens tear across the ornate rugs and bump into furniture, the aunt went on about the circle of cat breeders she purchased the parents from. Their pedigree, their decorated history as show cats.)

“I can’t wait to see them open their eyes…” Kalim mused. Grim grumbled from his spot on the sofa.

“Feeling neglected, are we?” Jamil found solace in teasing Grim.

“No! They keep cryin’ through the night, ever since we’ve taken ’em in!”

A part of him sympathized with the fatigue that shadowed Grim’s features. “You could find someone to—”

The runt’s high-pitched crying resumed with renewed vigor and thrashing, surprising Kalim. The bottle fumbled in his hold. “Oh no! What’s wrong?”

“It’s still hungry,” Jamil said. He started scooping up the kittens and placing them next to Grim, who had his paws pressed over his ears.

“But it’s not taking the bottle…” Kalim set the kitten down, its little head nudged against his palm in between meows. “Did the milk already go cold?”

“Kalim, wait, I’ll come to you—”

At that moment, Yuu returned from cleaning up the kitchen. With a practiced motion, they set the kitten on its stomach and it quickly took the bottle with no further complaint.

“Is it easier for them to drink like that?” Kalim asked.

Yuu explained that it was the most natural position for them, that holding them like a baby risked the kitten inhaling milk into its lungs.

“Oh.” Kalim’s omnipresent smile faded. “I…didn’t know that.”

Jamil’s reflex to placate kicked in. “We were only children when your aunt visited…”

Neither of them could know any better.

(Well, even as kids, they could sense that Aunt Farah’s love was hollow for her pets. As if these living beings were like the luxury brands that decorated her walk-in closets, like mere seasonal trends.)

Kalim’s gaze was glued to the runt, watching it drink barely a quarter of the milk.

“That–That’s not enough…” He turned to the Prefect. “Can’t you make it drink some more, at least until half the bottle’s finished?”

He had a way of making big pleas sound like simple requests.

“They’ll be due for another feeding later,” Jamil said, scanning Kalim’s hands for scratches. Only faint lines, but his palm was sticky from spilled milk.

Yuu sighed tiredly in agreement. Not quite defeated, but as if they were bracing for the worst.

“Jamil and I could help you look for vets. No need to worry about shouldering the cost—”

Yuu interrupted Kalim. The both of them were already plenty of help today. At the very least, this kitten needed more care and attention than the rest.

That was their cue to leave. “It’s almost curfew,” Jamil said. “We can visit another time.”

After they washed up, Kalim bid the Ramshackle duo goodbye with a strained smile.

(The servants back at the estate were quick to hide any animal deaths from the young heir. Any sick animals were put to sleep or taken away to keep him from seeing their suffering.)

The walk back to Scarabia was far from silent. Kalim buzzed with suggestions to help Grim and the Prefect. Which were good ideas, if it weren’t for the fact that—

“You can’t give them round-the-clock care while juggling your school responsibilities.”

Kalim stopped in his tracks. “Am I supposed to just…accept that they might…?”

Yes. For his own sake. Jamil thought. “The Prefect had it under control. We shouldn’t overstep.”

“Man, I don’t know much about taking care of baby animals but…” Kalim made a short, frustrated sound. His hand scratched at the back of his head, bracelets clinking with the motion. “I just—it doesn’t feel fair. We can get them treatment, medicine, anything they’ll need but Yuu wouldn’t…!”

Calm and rational, Jamil could embody that. “In the worst case scenario, Yuu doesn’t want to prolong its suffering.”

“How can you just accept that, Jamil?”

He didn’t want to. Their lives were already filled with close brushes to death. Jamil couldn’t open any more room in his heart for another defenseless creature. The most he could do was to not get attached in the first place, to box up the sadness and pain, to keep it tucked away in the furthest corner of his mind.

Kalim continued as Jamil stayed silent, “remember when Aunt Farah started collecting Bengals afterwards? I pretended to be okay when she mentioned the…accidents.” He almost looked haunted at the memory, voice wavering as he spoke. “But I keep thinking of her old cats, and I wonder if things would’ve been different if we adopted them…”

A part of Jamil expected himself to feel angry at being expected to play caretaker again. Then he remembered how they were both subjected to the constant threats against rabies, tetanus, ringworm. Like neither of them were trusted to fully care for a pet.

“Wouldn’t it be better to still try?”

But watching Kalim clumsily bottlefeed the scrawny kitten was almost enough to drown out the warnings that were instilled in them. Maybe it was a good thing that Kalim’s bleeding heart persisted, that he steadfastly clung to kindness in a world of jaded and apathetic adults.

“...You have a point. But we might have more luck searching for someone to foster them.”

At Jamil’s reply, Kalim’s face brightened up. “Then…!”

“Not us!”

“Aww…” In spite of his pout, he looked happier once they reached the mirror to Scarabia.

For once in his life, Jamil couldn’t muster any further protest in following Kalim’s whims. He did have a way of making idealism seem infectious and simple.

a/n: yall gotta brace urselves im gonna be on a reblogging spree for all the art and fic that was made for this proj 😤💕 CHECK OUT THE FULL ZINE HERE!! edit: i was enabled to share a bit of the extra hcs and thoughts i had while writing this fic muehe

the jamil writing taglist: @mama-m1na @sillystr1ngs @pzlqpibz @warriorpacifist @chloemari-e

#dellet-writings #twisted wonderland #twst #twst fanfic #twisted wonderland fanfic #jamil viper #kalim al asim #twst kalim #twst jamil #scarabia #twst scarabia #twisted wonderland scarabia

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hesperious-sands · 5 months ago

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meet @cheapshrimpysheep, one of our many writers! shrimpy sheep is a well-known writer within the community (mod soru is a silent fan) and we hope you support their zine journey!

#twst zine #hesperious sands #zine contributors

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fungifanart · 1 month ago

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Grade AA Acting

Characters: Male Yuu, Kalim Al-Asim, Jamil Viper

Cw: Alcohol consumption, Actor AU

Word count: 1.9K

Notes: This is my piece for the @hesperious-sands zine! Go check out everyone else's works as well, they're really good!!!

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Kalim can't do this.

He REALLY doesn't think he can.

All that work to get his first big role and for what?

For the director to be constantly on his ass?

'Kalim, WHAT is your posture? You're a dancer, for Christ's sake! At least stand like one!’

'Brighten up your expression! This isn't a funeral!'

'Kalim, our mics can only pick up so much when you're not PROJECTING.’

'Where's the EMOTION in the line?'

'Kalim, are we even reading the same script?!'

After taking one last sip of his whiskey, Kalim sets his glass down on the counter and takes out his copy of the script.

"'Twisted Wonderland' by Yana Toboso, copyright of Disney Japan" the cover reads.

Flipping through the cast list, he stops at the names highlighted in bright yellow:

"Kalim Al-Asim ------------- Kalim Amin"

What a fucking joke.

A guy who lives paycheck to paycheck, barely being able to afford rent, basic groceries, and car payments, being cast in the role of a spoiled rich kid who solves all his problems by throwing money at them? Kalim’s not sure whether to laugh or cry.

Hell, he's still half-convinced that he was only cast in this role because he has the same first name as the character, if the other cast members are any indication. (Although, he's also pretty sure some of them are lying, because the jury's still out on what kind of person would name their kid "Riddle")

Kalim’s drunken thoughts are interrupted by the sound of the bar's front door opening and two sets of footsteps approaching him.

"We knew we'd find you here."

Kalim blearily turns towards the voice to see his co-star for Book 4, Jamil, with the protagonist himself, Yuu, standing right behind him.

"Hmph, you guys dunno nothin'." Kalim responds through slightly slurred speech.

The two men move to sit down on either side of him.

"Well, what I do know is that you've had enough for tonight." Yuu says as he moves Kalim’s glass out of his reach for the bartender to collect.

Pouting, Kalim turns his gaze back to the accursed script in front of him.

“Still having trouble with your character?” Jamil asks the other man.

Kalim sighs deeply as the subject sobers him up enough to come down from the alcohol-induced daze, “Well, that's one way to put it.” He responds with a mix of frustration and resignation.

“The director really laid into him about it during today's shoot. Hell, I'd need a drink too if I was raked over the coals like that in front of everyone.” Yuu reasons as he recalls the day's events with a shiver.

“I just…don't get it!” Kalim slams his fist down on the script, “She keeps having me adjust how I play him like there's SO much depth to his character when he's literally just a spoiled rich kid!”

The two other men exchange glances before Jamil speaks up.

“Ok. Kalim, I can sympathize with what you're going through to an extent, but that right there is exactly what the director's talking about.” He says bluntly.

“Oh God. Not you guys too.” Kalim responds, his shoulders slumping in exasperation before Yuu places a hand on one.

“Listen, I'm going to ask you something and I need you to answer honestly.” He prefaces in a gentle but firm tone, “How much of your portion of the script have you read?”

Kalim contemplates the question before answering, “Well…I obviously make sure to read ahead whenever we'll be working on a scene I'm in…”

“And how far into filming are we?” Jamil chimes in.

“We…uh…just started filming our Book?” He says while gesturing to himself and his co-star.

“And you haven't filmed any of your side stories yet?” Yuu continues the line of questioning.

“Well, no– Why're you guys asking me this?” Kalim asks confusedly.

“Just confirming something.” Jamil answers before continuing, “So you haven't read any of your character's scenes after the start of Book 4?”

“No???” Kalim responds, his confusion being slowly joined by irritation at the barrage of questions.

“So you HAVEN'T read any of the parts where he casually mentions the amount of attempts on his life he's experienced?” Yuu asks, his tone more blunt.

“I– He what???” Kalim stammers before quickly flipping through the script to find what he's talking about.

“Or the fact that he hates curry because my character, his best friend since childhood, ate some poisoned curry meant for him and almost died?” Jamil asks, his tone getting more harsh.

“U-uh…” Kalim starts sweating as he continues skimming over his lines he's highlighted, but hasn't actually read yet until Yuu slams his palm down on the papers and firmly pulls them away.

“Forget the script for now. I just have one last question for you.” The man says in a serious tone.

“Y-yeah?” Kalim asks, very afraid.

“What would you do if you had all the money and resources that would set you for life and then some, but you're constantly in danger of being assassinated because of it?” Yuu asks outright.

Kalim thinks for a few seconds, “...Well, I'd probably make sure that my family's taken care of.”

“And then?” Jamil adds.

Kalim thinks for a few more seconds, “Move into a really nice house??”

“And THEN?” The two other men urge in unison.

Kalim feels irritated again as he starts blurting out the first answer that comes to mind just to get the other two to lay off, “Well, if my life's ALWAYS on the line, then I guess I'd just throw parties as often as I could, at that point– Wait…huh?” He says in realization.

“Sounds familiar, doesn't it?” Yuu says knowingly.

“He…knows that he could be killed at any time because of his inheritance, so he’s living each day to the fullest so he’ll at least die happy???” Kalim interprets.

Jamil rubs his chin thoughtfully, “Not a bad interpretation, based on what you’ve read. That’ll be a good starting point until you can read the rest of your lines.” He muses while reaching over and moving the other man’s script back into his hands, “I’d recommend getting at least to the end of our Book by the next shoot.”

Kalim recoils in horror, “WH– But that’s–” His attempt at a rebuttal is cut off by Yuu.

“The foundation of good acting is thoroughly getting to know your character.” He instructs, “The director knows you have potential, so if you can’t even do that much, then her verbal criticisms will be the least of your problems.”

“UUUGGGHHH, fine.” Kalim relents as he stands up, stumbling because of the alcohol still in his system and being caught by Jamil.

“Whoa, okay. Let’s get you back to your apartment for now and you can start reading tomorrow.” He offers while already fishing Kalim’s keys out of his pocket.

“Oh, wait! I still need to pay for–” Kalim protests while trying to get his wallet so he can pay for his drinks, only for Yuu to cut him off again.

“I’ll take care of it.” The other man says while taking out his debit card, “You just focus on getting some rest tonight, okay?”

Kalim can barely stammer out a “T-thank you!” before being dragged out of the bar and into the passenger seat of his car by Jamil.

The rhythm of the street lights passing by as Jamil drives him home lulls him to slumber with the last thing he sees before closing his eyes being a billboard advertising the very film series he’s in, which, with the encouragement of his peers, is starting to look just a bit less menacing.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Several days later, at the next shoot for Book 4, Kalim enters the view of the camera, trying desperately not to crumble under the weight of the director’s calculating gaze, and begins reciting his lines, albeit with some shakiness at the start, but then he looks past the director and sees Yuu and Jamil giving him looks of encouragement and he feels the anxiety ease up enough to deliver his lines much more smoothly.

The two other men were really spot-on with their advice; Reading through the entirety of Book 4 beforehand really helped Kalim Amin get a much better grasp of Kalim Al-Asim, which he can tell from the director’s expression being more thoughtful and less frustrated this time around.

Once the first scene is finished, the director addresses Kalim after being mostly silent, “Kalim, whatever you did between the last shoot and this one, keep doing it. This Kalim is already leagues better than the old one.” She compliments, leaving him in a mild daze as the crew sets up for the next scene.

He…he’s doing it! He’s actually doing it!!

Bubbling with excitement, Kalim practically jumps for joy as he goes behind the cameras to let Yuu and Jamil take their places, but not before both of them can offer him a high five for the improvement.

Things are finally looking up!

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Months later, there Kalim sits, in his (Bargain bin) suit and bowtie, at the screening party for Book 4 of Twisted Wonderland.

He wasn’t sure where to sit, initially, as he definitely isn’t rich or famous enough to casually plop himself next to half of these guys, but seeing Yuu and Jamil wave him over to their table made his heart fill with warmth as he sat down with them.

Kalim looks around at the other tables, seeing many of his peers indulging themselves in the complimentary champagne, ‘Mom and dad DID say they could pick me up just this once if I decided to drink…’ He contemplates to himself, but the sound of metal tapping against glass at the front of the room draws his attention before he can make a decision.

The director lowers her spoon from her glass as she addresses the whole room, “As per usual at this point, I’d like to thank all of you for making it to the screening party. The fact that we’ve come this far already is truly an incredible feat in itself and I look forward to working with all of you on the Books to come!” The room fills with applause and cheers at that statement before quieting down as she keeps speaking, “However, before we get on with the viewing, I’d like to give a special shoutout to our very own Kalim Amin for how much he’s improved since we started filming!”

Kalim nearly chokes as all eyes turn to him, following the director’s shoutout.

“Kalim, I could tell that we both had our doubts at the start, but you stuck through it, you learned, you’ve grown and have truly become a sight to behold on camera. It was a wonder to see and I greatly look forward to seeing how you’ll grow from here on out, not just as part of this cast, but in your future as an actor, which I know for a fact will be bright!” Kalim struggles to process the director’s genuine praise as the previous cheers and applause turn to him this time, “And now, without further ado, let’s see Kalim and everyone else’s great talent in action in ‘Twisted Wonderland Book 4: Schemer of the Scalding Sands!’”

The applause dies down as the lights dim and the title card for the film is projected on the screen and the director takes her seat.

Finally, with no eyes on him, the weight of the director’s words finally hits Kalim, causing his chest to swell with pride and hope for the future.

As the film begins to play, Kalim looks at his reflection in the champagne glass in front of him, his first genuine smile in quite some time looking back at him, and thinks, ‘At this point, I think mom and dad would yell at me if I DIDN’T let loose!’ while bringing the glass to his lips.

#twisted wonderland #twst #twst kalim #kalim al asim #twst jamil #jamil viper #twst mc #twst yuu #twst zine #Why is this mushroom writing fanfics?

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sorus-zine-bazaar · 26 days ago

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meet @dicenete, an artist who also contributed to the @hesperious-sands fanzine!! dice is an amazing artist who puts a sheer ton of detail into her work <3 stay tuned for what it looks like <3333

#twst zine #the valley of dreams!#zine contributor

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viperwhispered · 19 days ago

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Life With the Fool with The Gold(en Heart)

My second piece for the @hesperious-sands zine, this time delving inside Jamil's head for a bit.

Jamil never should have gotten that taste of freedom during his first months at NRC. Because now that he’d glimpsed it, had savored a taste of a world where he could simply be himself – simply Jamil Viper, not Jamil Viper the servant of Kalim Al-Asim… Now he could not forget it, could not let go of the sweetness of it all.

He never should’ve been allowed to dream of something different than constant servitude, because now he could not let go of that dream.

Oh, he’d keep up the charade, like he always had. He knew better than not to. But even as Jamil went through the motions, one eye and ear always on Kalim and his incessant needs, his mind was constantly working, constantly circling the frayed edges to find the thread to pull that would unravel it all.

Yet, it ground him down, bit by bit.

That fool and the way he threw money – or Jamil – at his problems.

The worst part was that Kalim didn't even realize what he was doing. How he was spilling gold and promises – of Jamil’s time and effort, not his own – with the same ease others spilled empty platitudes. So lulled was Kalim in the knowledge that there was more where it came from, giving endlessly without considering he could one day run out.

It was infuriating, how Kalim trotted about the world in blind ignorance, never pausing once to exercise a modicum of judiciousness over the way he used his tools. Over the way Jamil paved Kalim’s path, again and again, until it seemed the spoiled brat might forget to breathe if Jamil wasn’t there to remind him of it.

“Kalim!”

Jamil tried to tamp down the panic choking at his throat, turning his voice into something strange and foreign.

If something happened, if Kalim got hurt, or worse…

No time to think about that now.

Jamil steeled himself, draping himself over the broom as he raced to where Kalim was precariously dangling.

He had to make it in time, he had to save Kalim, had to make sure everything was fine, had to-

The rush of relief was undeniable once they were both on the ground, safe and sound.

“Ahaha! I knew you’d catch me, Jamil!”

Oh how that careless laughter grated on Jamil’s ears.

“Next time I might not. You need to be more careful, Kalim.”

Why couldn’t this bumbling fool realize his actions had consequences – and not just for himself, but to those around him, too.

Jamil looked Kalim over, his hands soft as they adjusted Kalim’s clothes, checked to see for bruises and anything worse.

He was fine.

Thankfully, Kalim was fine.

Hearing voices from the kitchen, Jamil slowed his steps, lingering in the corridor.

“It’s weird, isn’t it? The way the housewarden is so demanding all of a sudden.”

“I suppose he really took our standings in the Spelldrive tournament and the midterm exams to heart.”

“Maybe… I just hope we can stop walking on eggshells around him soon. It gets tiring, never knowing what mood he’s in.”

“Yeah, seriously. He’ll be all nice and friendly one moment, then totally harsh the next. What gives?”

Perfect.

Jamil didn’t allow the satisfaction to show on his face as he stepped into the kitchen.

“Ah! V-Vice housewarden!”

“Yes? Is something the matter?”

“Ah, nothing! Nothing at all!”

Jamil got to work, directing the other students in making the meal just to Kalim’s tastes. Yet, even as he gave out instructions, overseeing the process, part of his mind was somewhere else.

What a fool Kalim was. Going about his days as if nothing was wrong, as if he wasn't seemingly losing his grip over himself.

Then again, Kalim had always been like that. Blind. Even – and especially – when it came to things concerning himself.

Jamil would’ve hoped that Kalim would choke on the food they were preparing, if that wouldn’t have only brought on more problems.

Still, the idea of the bumbling idiot being out of Jamil’s life, just like that…

It certainly was a satisfying thought.

“Vice Housewarden, will one tablespoon of spices be enough?”

“The housewarden's palate veers spicy. Add another teaspoon.”

But until then, until he was free, Jamil would do his job to utmost perfection.

After all, everything depended on that.

Everything.

And then, for once in Jamil’s life, it seemed that fortune smiled upon him.

He truly meant it when he called the meeting with the Prefect fortuitous.

After all, he would welcome anything to push things along faster, to direct things on the right course.

The sooner he could end this bitter charade, the better.

Mayhaps in the future there'll be a bit of a companion piece from Kalim's point of view to this as well.

Tag list:

@colliope @crystallizsch @diodellet @jamilsimpno69 @jamilvapologist

@lex752 @perilous-pasta @twstgo @moonyasnow

#ner writes #twisted wonderland #jamil viper #kalim al-asim

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