#writing: naberius

[rollingourinitiatives]

These Violent Delights

His anger was a violent, burning flame seated deep within his chest.

Even before the voice of the Whispered One echoed in his skull that they were up against a devil Naberius knew, at the sight of Bronvor’s deformed face stretched grotesquely upon the creatures boned form, this led back to the deal Senrab had struck with his mysterious new friend.

He knew the deal would strike back upon them all somehow. Naberius had told Senrab how foolish he had been to agree to it. Yet too focused he was on his own mission to see the warning signs, not realising that knowledge of what one desires is never offered without consequence.

Senrab was a Zhent, trained from his youth. He is wise, and he is smart.

He should have known better.

Even now, as Naberius helps the rest of the party sift through what had been recovered from the expedition in an attempt to determine what could be ‘cursed’ - a lie, made up in haste to cover any suspicion towards Senrab and his sole-made decision- the flame continues to burn.

Naberius glances towards Enna, trying to notice any trace of lingering pain from the injuries she sustained from the battle. He doesn’t expect her to have been watching him, only noticing by how quickly she rushes to look away, turning her attention to the heap of fabric sitting in her lap. Beside her Barsek is shaking his head, saying something about how valuable the fabric is, and how he wanted to sneak some away for later crafternoon sessions.

Naberius hears none of it, the young lads words drowning out as he falls back into his tumultuous thoughts.

He knows why she was watching him.

His hand discreetly rests against his side, his clothes hiding the bandage which covers his wound from the night prior. Even with magic it hasn’t healed like it should, the scar he found that morning looking angry, leaving an ache which Naberius has done his best to ignore. Along with the other symptoms he’s been feeling since returning to the ship, the tempest of worry he carries about what’s happening to him only grows.

Enna has noticed, this Naberius knows. After his refusal to drink and eat the night before she has been watching him with sharp, hunters eyes. He has tried to lessen her curiosity, lest it spark more concern from the others - concern he does not want, not when Barsek and Donald barely trust him right now - yet Naberius senses he is failing.

You’re hardly yourself now anymore, are you?

The words ring in his thoughts, shaking every vestige of strength he holds that they’re far from the truth. Senrab had shouted them at him out of anger, this he knows, yet Naberius cannot shake the feeling of how the words sunk deeply into him, cutting through the thin barrier of the feigned confidence he clings to as easily as a blade against skin.

He has not told Senrab the truth of how he had died - is unsure if he ever will, now, considering his own avoidance of the other and how Senrab has made it clear he doesn’t want to talk to any of them - and now he sits, alone once more, wondering if the death curse has finally found him.

In that moment, Naberius is overwhelmed by a sensation of grief. He misses when things were easy between them; when he understood Senrab’s intentions, or at least knew enough to be certain that Senrab had considered every option available to himself. Even in the past, when Senrab has kept his Zhentarim business separate from their friendship, Naberius has never felt as if there were a rift between them. They have argued before, but never has Naberius felt as lost at where they stand with one another as he does now.

He is used to being left behind. It is as natural as the breeze in the wind to Naberius, a fact that, at some point, he is always met with a parting. Perhaps this is the moment where Senrab pulls away too - a long overdue severing of what he had hoped was an inseparable bond, one which Naberius had once brought much earlier on in their lives, back when they were both still but barely children.

Yet his grief does not dissipate his anger. He has tried to help Senrab, even when he felt this idea was a mistake. He asked the others to help find a willing soul, not wanting to see Senrab’s taken in exchange - and gods, the mere thought of how that had been a real possibility is enough to send a shiver down Naberius’s spine - had even reached out to his own patron for aid. When asked as to how the devil had come to being - why it had worn Bronvor’s face, of all things - Naberius had been quick to cover with the lie of a curse.

If Senrab truly wished to be angry at him, truly wished to break their years of friendship over this whole ordeal, the least he could do was give Naberius the explanation he felt he deserved. He claimed his decision was made out of a desire to protect, but to protect for what? If it had been protection towards their companions, he failed in that the moment Enna nearly fell and when Naberius himself held felt the overwhelming pain of the devils sharp, bonelike tail embedding itself into his body.

Beneath the storm of his stewing emotions, Naberius feels the familiar echo of a caress against his skull.

I will remain with you. As I have until now. As I will continue to do so.

Perhaps … there remains one companion he can believe in.

Despite what difficulties he currently faces, Naberius vows to himself that he will set out to do what the Whispered One has asked of him. Perhaps then, with the aid of this soulmonger, he can also avoid whatever fate the death curse otherwise has planned for him.

[elixara]

taking his claim on you

summary: kalego needs to mark you to show who you belong to

content: marking, biting, possessive!kalego, straddling, hickies, fem!reader, soft kalego because he loves reader

note: this is short

you don’t know where or how it started but a few days after the gathering of the demons at a party one night, you feel like kalego is about to enter his evil cycle. you were only able to approach him after his work at your shared home.

once he arrived, you immediately pulled your lover into the sofa, straddling him.

”alright. tell me what’s wrong with you.”

kalego sighed. he knew that you’d sooner question him for his actions lately.

”i’m just mad, darling.” he began explaining. “those damn demons were eyeing you lustfully as if you’re theirs.”

your eyes softened. you knew that kalego had that possessive streak because of his nature. “what do you need?”

“you.”

you adore your lover, kalego. you truly do. however, there were times you hated him. it was one of those days wherein you were just letting your dear lover mark you up literally everywhere because he needs you and had no choice on the matter. he also had the need to do so because of his carnal desires that were impossible to ignore.

so here you are right now, straddling his waist and he is sitting comfortably on the sofa. your shirt was long discarded somewhere on the floor of the living room and your chest bare against him.

it was a good thing that your hair is tied up so it won’t get in the way. but honestly? you just don’t want kalego pulling your hair.

kalego busied himself in sucking and kissing your collarbone, your neck, and your shoulder. you were clinging to him like a koala and trying your best not to grind your hips against his.

you yelped when he suddenly sank his fangs on your shoulder, followed by a long moan of pleasure mixed with pain.

”k-kalego!” you whimpered. “i can’t cover that up!”

kalego paid you no mind and continued sucking your blood and eventually retreated his fangs, now licking the wound on your shoulder.

“don’t cover up my hard work, darling,” he replied calmly after kissing your shoulder. he looks up to you and pulled your head down, claiming your lips hungrily. after all those markings that are now proudly bruised everywhere from your neck to your collarbone, he’s now attacking your lips.

kalego shows on mercy, not letting you breathe just for a second. his one hand is on your nape and the other is on your back, his nails digging into the flesh of your skin.

you eventually broke the kiss first because you were running out of breath. you were looking at him with doe eyes as you finally caught your breath and he grinned. “you little seductress, lusting for me with such eyes,” he whispered as he caressed your cheek.

”i can’t help it,” you answer. “you’re a beautiful man, kalego. i am lucky to have you.”

kalego softened his eyes and rested his head on your chest. “as am i, my beloved.”

”but i hate you for marking me on my whole chest! how am i supposed to go to work?” you whined. “it’s too hot to wear a turtleneck!”

kalego did not answer you because he had a smug grin on his face. he just kissed your breast and held you close to him.

[silkhy-john]

Might have a Kalego character study on my hands:

Idk I just feel… a LOT about Kalego, ESPECIALLY in regard to his relationship with Narnia. Maybe because whenever I think of them I think of a certain other set of siblings I know in real life. Whatever.

Yeah this one will just centre around Kalego piecing together Iruma’s identity (human). Or maybe that’ll be the backdrop? My bigger concern is looking like what [I think/I believe] goes on in Kalego’s head. But I haven’t even written the damn thing yet, so who knows.

[stuffymcstuffsworld]

Soi finds a complicated yet very interesting spell in the school's library (probably something for 6th years) and shows to the class. Everyone's like "hell yeah, let's do it!" and so magical fuckery ensues in typical Misfits fashion.

Nothing immediately happens so the kids just go about their classes as usual, but magical fuckery is still magic and young Kalego appears in the middle of the Royal One classroom just as Kalego's class was about to begin (he's not even surprised, the brats have been a bit too peaceful).

Absolute chaos takes over, young Kalego is silently awed by his older (manga current) self's success while possibly trying to fight the Misfits' chaos, and Kalego is dealing with his students in the ways a tired, strict, and loving father would.

At least the spell temporary and young Kalego won't remember a damn thing.

(TLDR: Misfits' Magic Fuckery TM, young Kalego meets his older self and discovers that he's inadvertently become the found family father of 12 uniquely impish demon children and 1 human child.)

apologies for the word vomit, the idea just keep going

Honestly... I feel like you've already written half of it. You should try it yourself. It would be great! We need more writers in the fandom!

[morgannite22]

Kalego’s Favorite Food

Robin was currently walking around the grounds of Babyls when we spotted the various students having lunch under the tree that Iruma had grown. Looking over he noticed the variety of foods the students had. It reminded him of when he made dinner for the teachers in the dorms last night. Kalego had been there since it was one of the times the teachers gathered to discuss assignments.

“Hmm, I wonder…” Robin pondered as he recalled Kalego eating the food he had made. “What’s his favorite food?” He muttered to himself. He thought about the various dishes he's made that he totally did not force Kalego to eat. None of them Kalego seemed too stoked about. It was then a thought came to mind and he grinned. “Guess I’ll just have to figure it out!”

On the other side of the school, Kalego felt a chill go up his spine as he was teaching the misfits.

The day goes by and Robin bursts into the faculty room. He notices a few other teachers there. He sets his sights on Marbas and walks over him. “Hey!”

Marbas flinches at the sudden yell and looks up to a sea of green. ‘Oh no,’ he thought. “Did you need something?” Marbas asked politely as despite not being the biggest fan of his coworker, he didn't want to be rude.

Robin grinned. “Do you know Kalego sensei’s favorite food?!”

He had asked loudly enough that it had attracted the attention of the other teachers in the room.

“I-I don’t,” Marbas answers.

Robin felt disappointed but thanked Marbas anyway. He continued to ask the other teachers but kept getting told no. By the end of it, he was feeling a tad hopeless. He walks over to his desk and sits down. ‘Does anyone know?’ He wondered to himself as he sighed.

He was shocked out of his thoughts when a familiar voice chimed in. Looking up he saw it was Dali and Raim. “Hi there,” he says tiredly.

Dali and Raim’s eyes widen at the unfamiliar greeting from their always-so-cheery coworker.

“Everything okay?’ Dali asks him with a small smile present on his face.

Robin sighs, “Not really.”

“What’s going on little guy?” Raim softly asks him.

“No one knows Kalego sensei’s favorite food?” Robin tells him with a gloomy expression.

Raim chuckles. “Yeah, no one knows much about that grumpy guy. We've been co-workers for years yet he refuses to tell us anything about him,” she pouts.

Dali lays a hand on Raim’s shoulder giving her a look of not right now. They both look down to see Robin looking even more depressed.

“Ah sorry,” Raim says feeling bad for upsetting Robin further.

Robin felt even more bummed at hearing what Raim said. It was then he was shocked from his thoughts when Dali chimed in. Grinning, Dali tells him,” We might not know, but we know someone who might~”

For the first time in the last hour, Robin felt a bit of hope. He looks up to Dali with a vulnerable look. “Who is it?”

“His high school buddy Balam sensei of course!” Dali tells him with a teasing grin. “He knows all about Kalego sensei’s deep dark past,” he chuckles.

Robin had completely forgotten about Balam. He didn’t know that much about Balam, but if Balam could give him the answer he was looking then he didn’t care. With completely disregarding Dali's last comment, he jumps up from his seat yelling, “Thank you,” at Dali, and he dashes out of the faculty room.

Dali and Raim chuckled as they waved at him all the while giving him words of encouragement.

Robin swiftly makes his way to Balam’s office. Not even knocking, he barges in causing Balam to almost drop the tea he was holding.

Before Robins's abrupt entrance, Balam and Iruma were having their usual chat about Iruma’s life as a human. Iruma had flinched as well with Robin entering. ‘I hope he didn’t hear anything,’ Iruma anxiously hopes.

Balam himself was also hoping that Robin hadn’t overheard anything as that was more trouble than it's worth.

“What’s Kalego sensei’s favorite food? Dali sensei told me you might know.” Robin asks him.

Balam and Iruma sighed in relief as it appeared that Robin didn't hear anything. They then both perked up at the question.

Iruma himself now felt curious as he didn’t know Kalego’s favorite food. ‘Maybe if I find out and make it he’ll like me more,’ Iruma thought to himself. It was then Opera felt a chill go up their spine.

“Kalego’s favorite food?” Balam asks with Robin nodding his head. “Do you know,” Robin asks.

Balam taps the chin of his mask as he thinks to himself.

“It has to be gourmet right? He seems fancy like that!” Robin asks. ‘Wait can I even cook gourmet? Well, no matter, I’ll try anyway,’ he thinks to himself as he shrugs.

Balam chuckles. “You would think that, but nope.”

“It’s not?” Robin tilts his head to the side with a confused look.

“Not at all. He actually enjoys home-cooked meals more.” Balam tells him.

Robin and Iruma were both shocked at the unexpected information.

Balam chuckles at the shocked expressions on their faces. Most would look like that when they learn about Kalego. Sometimes even Opera would be shocked though not often.

Robin quickly recovering from the shock asks, “What’s his favorite then?”

“He enjoys Hamburger Steaks,” Balam calmly tells him.

Robin felt happy to learn something about Kalego, but also sad as Robin hardly ever worked with meat dishes. He wasn’t exactly a vegetarian but he preferred vegetarian food. ‘If it’s for Kalego sensei then I’ll make it,’ he thought determinedly.

“That’s his second favorite,” Balam says causing Robin to perk up.

“What’s his favorite then?” Robin asks in anticipation.

Balam grins under his mask. He knew Kalego would be mad at him, but it was all too worth it. “His favorite is definitely Stuffed Devipeppers.”

Robins's jaw about dropped at the sudden news. Stuffed Devipeppers…’ he thought. With him often being the cook for the other teachers in the dorms they had to eat whatever he cooked. That being mostly vegetarian dishes. It just so happens that Stuffed Devipeppers were Robins's signature dish that he made quite often. When he realized that he felt a blush come to his face.

Watching this Balam couldn't help but smile at Robins's reaction. Robin hadn’t known that Kalego often made unnecessary trips to the teacher's dorms just for his cooking. Balam recalls Kalego one time telling him that despite Robin being annoying, he enjoyed the food he made.

‘He…He likes my food…” Robin thought as his mind was trying to cope with the fact that Kalego liked his food the entire time. He felt happy even ecstatic, but also a bit embarrassed. “I-I gotta go!” He yells at Balam and Iruma as he runs out of Balam’s lab.

Balam chuckles as he watches Robin leave. ‘Hope all goes well for him,’ he thinks. He then looks down at Iruma and notices that Iruma was messaging Opera. Looking closer he could see it was about wanting to cook a new dish. Balam felt happy that Iruma cared so much about Kalego, but Opera on the other hand was dreading it as they messaged back, “Yes Master Iruma.”

Authors note:

Really hoped you enjoyed it! I have more stories on AO3 so be sure to check them out!

Suggestions for stories are always welcomed!

[derseprinceoftbd]

This is a very good characterization metaphor. More people should do things like this.

Also, am I crazy or is this giving Theatre Of Coolty? Like... uA, man. Love her.

[cosmic-monstrosity]

I WANT/NEED a fanfiction of iruma-kun to be from Florida, to just be a tiny Florida man. He'll still be his sweet, helpful little doormat BUT he is CHAOTIC like Clara is calm compared to him kind of chaotic but you have to be like trust level:6 to see it tho.

Just imagine Someone attacks the misfit class 1 and dad!Kalego and dad!Balam day when they're like on a field trip or something like that and and Iruma just goes fucking crazy on the guy Full Florida man crazy and then afterwards he's like laughing hysterically saying "get wreck bitch" and just being chaotic as all hell WHILE not being in Evil Cycle and the class and teachers just looks at him like "what the fuck?!" Then realized he's not in Evil Cycle and goes "WHAT THE FACK?!?!?!?!? HES LIKE THIS NATURALLY"

[thelockedtome]

Naberious goes from being a jerkwad who makes it everyone else's problem to having his voice silenced by Ianthe in the lyctoral process.

In this essay I will explore how the lyctoral process is an allegory for abusive relationships and how one partner consumed the other...

[rollingourinitiatives]

“Alright,” Naberius says. “If … what you say is true then … I will help you.” “Excellent,” the being hisses. “Then, take this.” In the palm of his outstretched hand a dark mist of magic briefly appears, before in its place sits a blade. As the blade’s form becomes more solid he notices that the mist doesn’t disappear, but rather it seems to become the blade, strands of it curling off of the sharpened edge. “This, is Shadowblade. Cast it when you need it, and the shadows themselves shall weave together to bring it into existence. Consider it … a gift. On our deal, and for our first meeting.” The Shadowblade dissipates as quickly as it had appeared. The Whispered One finally lowers his hand back to his side, his long sleeve falling to cover over his arm. “I will remain with you. As I have until now. As I will continue to do so. We are very much alike, Naberius. Until we meet again.”

[harrowstibiasoup]

Thrilled to know if we ever got a book from Ianthe’s perspective it would be written as a screenplay where she is the main character in the grand show like she always thought she was

[silkhy-john]

WIP for your perusal:

This might read like the Kalego-Shichirou thing I keep yapping about, but it isn’t. I just figured that now that I have Kalego-Shichirou on the brain, there’s no reason not to use this fic (Kalego-(on)-Iruma) to see what shape that takes for me.

The thought running through my head here is that I imagine rank is an inconvenience to certain demons, especially cause the Netherworld seems very focused on role and place in society (eg Soi’s arc, the Many-Ears race) and Iruma breaking that mould is a BIG no-no . Ties into the thing about Shichirou and Kalego being different but ultimately similar.

(as a bonus: my prediction for whatever arc Asmodeus’ secret will be revealed is that it’ll be a wholesome thing of accepting that his bloodline magic is part of him but also accepting that it’s not a must he uses it/embodies it—he’s found his path with the flame… or something. Whether or not the conclusion would be that he uses it or doesn’t, the ultimate thing there would be that maybe it would be a decision born of a healthier relationship with himself? Yeah.)

[xatsperesso]

Sleepover: Gambling edition

It all started with a knock on the door, with a lot of demon children hanging out, and with three adults diligently watching over them.

The atmosphere was kind of tense, and for good reasons at that. Lied took a glance at the adults in the room, and scooted over to where iruma was sitting.

"Hey," he whispered to Iruma, loud enough that the rest of the class will hear, but the adults on the other side of the room won't "Not that I mind or anything, but why are Kalego-sensei and Balam-sensei at the sleepover?"

--

"Why am I here again?" a very tired Kalego asked Opera who all but kidnapped him into the kids little party. He imagines Shichiro was also kidnapped by their senpai too.

"Last time Iruma held a party it got a little out of hand, so I brought you here-" Kalego snorted at that. "Brought" like he isn't here against his will "-to help me keep this one in check"

"Ah, but Sullivan-sama told me that he wanted me here to help you relax a bit , Opera-senpai" Kalego whipped his head so fast he swore he heard a crac.

"Did you just say that you willingly came here??"

--

"Well, that sucks," Lied sighed at Iruma answer. "Last time was a mistake! we didnt know that it was supposed to be diluted!"

"You knew and yet you drank it"

"Purson!"

Iruma had to agree with what Lied says. It is a bit awkward with the adults being here. There's no rowdy talking or friends daring eachother, they're all just awkwardly trying to quietly make conversation

Except for Jazz, whos's looking very thoughtfully at the adults.

"What are you thinking about, Jazz-kun?" Everyone in the room (except for Kalego-sensei and Balam-sensei, who seem to be having a very lively conversation) turned to look at Jazz.

"Well, I've been thinking," he quickly threw a glance at Kalego-sensei before moving to the centre and lowering his voice even further "isn’t it kinda unfair that the teachers get to gamble over which of us is dating, but we don't?" If anyone wasn't interested before, then they sure are now.

"I bet some of the teachers are dating each other. They all seem pretty close to each other" Allocer nodded as everyone scootched even closer to better hear each other.

"Woah woah wo-" Everyone quickly shushed Lied as to not grab their unwanted companies attention (unfortunately, several kids collectively shushing one of them is very suspicious to not watch closely)

"Sorry!" Lied whispered sheepishly "but are we seriously going to gossip about this in front of them?"

"True. We're going to need someway to distract them while the others places their bets" the second Kerori uttered the word 'bet', a very excited smile carved it's way through every demon's face (ah, purson thinks, this is what everyone felt during the music festival)

"But who knows how to distract Kalego-sensei, Balam-sensei and Opera-sensei?"

Collectively, all the young demons looked at a very not ready Iruma.

--

"They’re planning something"

"Kalego-kun, let the kids play. We're just here to make sure they don't injure themselves"

"Or drink too much, mess up the house beyond recognition and pass out leaving me to deal with thirteen teenagers having their first hangover"

"...that too"

--

"I mean, they all seem to watch me intensely whenever I use my spell to float, so maybe that?"

"Alright," Lied took the pencil and paper he asked from clara a second ago "since we all don't have money right now, and because some of you don't trust me-"

"You still haven't paid me back-"

"We're all going to write our bets down here. Do you want to write yours down before your very important mission, Soldier Iruma?"

"What?!" Azz exclaimed very loudly, and right behind him Iruma shook his head showing everyone that he doesn't want to place a bet

"How dare you suggest that Iruma-sama would participate in such cheap-"

"Do you have any bets to place, Azz?" Lied asked, handing the notebook to Azz mainly to spare his ears from one of Azz-kun's lengthy lectures

"Kalego-sensei is married to his work" Azz said with a serious face.

"Ooo! Me too, me too! I think-"

"Guys!" Ix clapped her hand to grab everyone's attention.

"Didn't Iruma want to show us the trick he's been working on?" She continued loudly, to allow the adults to clearly hear what she's saying

"Oh, yeah!" Iruma’s face lit up, as he quietly cast the spell and his body kept rising and rising, far away from hus friends so they would be out of the view of anyone who’s watching him, while Azz-kun and Sabro-kun stood below him in case he fell.

--

As Kalego watched Iruma floating further and further away from the ground, a question popped into his head.

"Why doesn't Iruma ever use his wings?"

Balam and Opera both slowly turned their heads, one looking at Kalego cautiously while the other looked exasperatedly.

"Kalego..humans don't have wings" now it was kalego's turn to slowly turn his head to his friends

"...what?"

"Yeah," all three adults jumped at a very quiet Purson appearing from nowhere "they also don't have horns or tails"

"Oh yeah," Balam looked at Purson, remembering a very embarrassing week "Purson also knows of Iruma’s nature"

Opera looked at Balam with shock. Their ears were flat against their head as he asked a question they very much feared the answer of.

"How, how many demons know?"

"Know what?" For the second time, the adults were startled this time by Gaap's appearance.

"That Iruma is an imaginary being" Purson answered

"That Iruma’s a human? I'm not sure about Azz and Clara, but I've figured it out during our first year so surely they have"

"Mhmm. By the way, why are you here and not with them?"

"Ah, right! Kerori had an idea for you, Purson!" The little demon quickly whispered to his classmate's ear before both of them went to join the rest of the class.

Kalego pinched his nose and let out a sigh as he foresaw the amount of headache this will cause him.

"We're gonna have to find out who knows of the boy's nature and who doesn't"

"How long have you two known?"

"Kalego discovered it last week, and I've known since the first year"

"...I'm going to have to relay this information to Sullivan-sama" Opera sighed as they watched Iruma descending carefully back to his friends. Sadly, they missed Iruma’s new trick. They’re going to have to ask Iruma-kun to perform it later so they can get a chance to see it.

--

"Robin-sensei and Kalego-sensei will obviously win!"

"Are you blind?! Kalego-sensei and Balam-sensei know each other since school! Plus, Robin-sensei is obviously with Orias-sensei!"

"I don't care as long as we all agree that Dali-sensei and Suzy-sensei are completely a thing"

"Are you kidding me?! There's no way Suzy-sensei would ever-"

"Hey, Iruma!" Lied waved at Iruma as he quickly floated towards Iruma "we still need more time. Do you know more ways to distract them?"

"Well, I know opera always watches anyone who plays with the hell-kitties like a hawk" Lied snorted, causing Iruma to tilt his head in confusion which Lied quickly waves away (he can’t believe anyone at this age still calls Infernal cats hell-kitties)

"I'm on it" Agares sped past them towards the two cats laying around on the fluffy carpet, adn proceeded to throw himself facedown on the floor, waiting for the cats to lay on him.

In less than a minute, Opera was watching a sleeping Agares who has two purring cats batting playfully at his hair.

"...alright, I didn't get to ask him if he want to bet or not but whatever. Do you know how else to distract them?"

"Hmm, oh! Clara, can you make chainsaws that can't actually hurt?"

"Of course! I can make them like rubber or plastic or-ooh! I can make chainsaw balloons that works!"

"Yes! Those will do great! Does anyone know how to juggle?"

"I do!" Gaap excitedly ran to them, happy that he gets to show his juggling skills

"Can you juggle chainsaws?" That seemed to make Gaap pale a little

"I-I can try?" Iruma beamed at his friend which helped soothe the poor scared boy

"Great!" Iruma took six balloon chainsaws from Clara, Gaap has never been more relieved to see a balloon, and handed three to Gaap "can you help me start them before we juggle? Oh, and let's go juggle over there"

--

"Is there anything else I need to know about Iruma?" Kalego knew that he should’ve picked up Balam's books on humans, but he was swept with correcting so many assignments that he didn't have any chance to read anything else (he should stop doubling the abnormal class's homework)

"You do know that he's a human, right sensei?" Kalego should really stop being startled by these hellions, or better yet should stop talking about Iruma all together around them (since when can these kid's sneak up on him?)

"Sabro, why do you know this?" A tired Kalego asked

"During our flying test Iruma told me that he healed the leaders leg using his blood, so I did some research on that and found out" That grabbed Opera's attention from the sleeping teens and the cats

"Pardon me, but how did Iruma get injured?"

"He went through the cutthroat valley-wait" something in the back of Kalego’s mind kept nagging at him that something's wrong

"Kalego," Balam's worried voice called him "did Iruma participate in the flying race last year?"

Ah, this is what was nagging Kalego.

"...shit"

"Kalego-IRUMA!" Everyone suddenly looked at Iruma, who was juggling chainsaws with Goemon?!

"IRUMA AND GOEMEN! LET GO OF THESE CHAINSAWS RIGHT THIS SECOND OR I SWEAR TO DELKIRA I WILL-"

--

Sure, Iruma and Gaap got lectured for thirty minutes over safety, common sense and what acceptable pranks to pull, but it was really fun juggling the balloon chainsaws. They actually brought Iruma so many memories.

And surely his classmates are all done-

"I just feel like Suzy-sensei and Raim-sensei would make such a cute couple!"

"And you're willing to bet actual money because of a feeling?"

"I bet Ifrit-sensei and Marbas-sensei are together"

"They're literally wearing wedding rings no one would bet against you on that one"

"So I'm gonna win the bet!"

"That's not how bets work, dumbass!"

"Are you sure this is what you want to bet on, Azz-kun?"

"There’s literally no one who would voluntarily put up with him"

So, they’re still not done.

But Iruma saw Jazz handing money to Purson, which puzzled him. He thought they were gonna write down their bets and hand over the money to the winners directly?

"Hey, Lied-kun," he looked over to a very sulking Lied who's playing in his ds alone on a bean bag "why are they giving money to Purson?"

"Apparently!" Lied threw his arms in the air as he huffed annoyingly "Purson is a much more trust worthy demon than I am!"

"I'll trust you with my money when you pay me back!"

"And I'll pay you back when I have money!"

"You literally bought three new games two days ago"

"Anyways," Lied turned to look at Iruma "they're still not done, so we're going to need some more time"

"Well, if I pull anymore stunts they might actually ground me, but maybe Sabro could tap dance? I saw him do it once and he's very good at it! What do you think, Sabro?"

"Sure, I don't have any bets to place anyway. A cool demon king doesn't place bets on people's love life"

Sabro walked to the centre of the room. He crossed his arms, and jumped into the air clacking his heels three times.

Everyone stopped what they were doing to look curiously at what Sabro is doing. He turned to look at his classmates and yelled at the top of his lungs "CHOOSE A SONG!"

"Gyari's new single!" A very excited Kerori screamed

Sabro smiled viciously as Iruma played the song on the room's speaker, and Sabro started dancing. He captivated everyone with his dancing, except for Purson who went around the room asking the demons what they bet on.

"Woah. He really is good" Lied exclaimed, before a very curious question popped into his mind

"Hey, Iruma, how did you learn how to juggle chainsaws?"

"I used to do it at the circus when I was young! But they insisted I use real chainsaws, I almost lost a finger that one time!" Iruma laughed at the fun memories before continuing to watch Sabro who's footwork was starting to get really intense.

Lied was left to watch Iruma in horror as he digested what was just said to him.

"...what?"

--

"He really is good at this" Balam mused as he continued watching Sabro smoothly dance to the peak of the song

"He is," Kalego commented, watching Sabro a second longer before turning to Balam "Do you know anyone else who knows about Iruma?"

"I know of Iruma’s nature, if that's what you mean, sensei" Kalego closed his eyes and took a deep breath, because really, he should have expected this. At this point it'd be better if he asked who doesn't know.

"And how, pray tell, do you know?" He turned to look at Caim, the fourth person to admit that he knows that Iruma is a human (after this is all done he's gonna have a talk with Iruma this is truly getting ridiculous)

"I was having a chat with Jazz's familiar and he told me that Jazz has been stressing over what to do with such sensitive information" at this point Balam is just trying his hardest not to laugh at Kalego's tired face. He does feel sorry for Opera though. They don't seem to be taking all of this information too well.

"And how does Jazz know??" It's getting too hard not to laugh at Kalego. He shouldn’t laugh at his friend's suffering, but it's just so funny.

"Iruma accidently told him at the last slumber party when he drank too much relax juice"

"Told me what?"

"That he's a human"

"Ah, yeah that. I'm cool with that and all but he told me when he was drunk, you know?"

Opera is just looking sadly at the ground. All this time they've been going under tye assumption that only they, the chairman and Bachiko know of Iruma’s origins. Are they really fit to be called Iruma’s bodyguard if they can't keep track of who knows his most intimate secret?

"By the way, sensei wants to know who else knows"

"Knows what?" Allocer asked Caim curiously, much to Kalego’s chargin

"That Iruma’s a human" and with each kid coming closer, curious as to why their classmates are surrounding their teachers

"Wait, didn't we agree that we won't talk about this until Iruma tells us himself?" Kalego felt his patience running thin

"Talk about what?" Until he just snapped

"Alright!" His voice boomed across the room, startling all the younglings in the room (serves them right for almost stopping his heart multiple times)

"How many of you brats know of Iruma’s nature?!" He screamed at the twelve demons in front of him, and to his annoyance, Balam's amusement, and Opera's Alarm, almost all the kids raised their arm, save for two very confused demon's and one mortified human.

"Iruma-chi's nature?" Clara asked, feeling very left out as she saw that almost all her friends knew something about Iruma that she doesn't.

"Excuse me, but what do you mean by this statment, Kalego-sensei?" Azz felt embarrassment as he asked this question, because almost everyone knows what sensei means except for him! And it's a question about Iruma-sama! How does he not know?

"You know, that Iruma’s a human" Gaap said, unaware of the dumbfounded looks Azz and Clara are throwing him, nor the fact that Iruma’s near tears "I apologise, Iruma-kun, for not informing you that we know sooner, but we thought it'd be better if we waited until you trusted us enough with this information"

"...what?" Azz and Clara asked very, very quietly as everyone in the room slowly realized that Azz and Clara, tha two demons that are glued to Iruma at the hip, are the only ones who don't know.

"Huh?!" Poor stunned Iruma doesn't know how to deal with the fact that all of his classmates mow know of his identity.

He really doesn't knows what to do now?

--

Deep in the castle, Sullivan sits alone in his room contemplating whether it'd be better to let the youth have fun on their own or if he can go and join them.

He really wants to have a slumber party with Iruma, it's not fair that Opera and his friends get to be there and he doesn't! So not fair!

[monroeknoxwrites]

wow I wrote over 1k more of this babs/colum stranded at canaan house au without even realizing it!!

“Third?” Colum’s voice was hoarse. How long has he been screaming, how long had he been searching the halls?

Naberius startled. The floppy ruin of his once vainly coifed hair covered half his face, pale and miserable. Blooming on his chest like some bit of Third extravagant flair was a red spot, and in the center, the gleaming point of his own rapier.

“Colum?” He spoke his name so freely, without arrogance or strength. The gaze he cast at Colum was disoriented, unfocused. He was a picture of misery and confusion.

“What happened?” Colum anticipated the utter lack of understanding on Naberius’s face, the little shake of his head, but it served to deepen his anxiety nonetheless.

“We were looking for her, for Ianthe. That's. That's all I remember.”

Colum acknowledged that with a rough hum. His throat was in shambles. He didn't often raise his voice and screaming desperately into the dark maw of the house for God knows how long had strained him. He turned his attentions to Naberius's wound.

Here his expectations flatered. He had steeled himself for a grim prognosis. Lacking a necromancer, he didn't think such a wound would be survivable. But it wasn't bleeding any longer. While Colum’s expertise laid more in inflicting wounds than healing them, he could surmise the blade missed anything vital.

With how Naberius looked and sounded, Colum would have thought he was on death’s door.

To think he felt relief in not losing Naberius Tern's company of all people. But anyone’s company was better than being alone in this place.

Alone being a complicated term here…

He stood and in the shadow he cast on Naberius he saw flickers of fear and abandonment amid the confusion. Fingers twitched in an aborted motion for him, curling back into themselves. Naberius still carried some pride with him.

“What— What are you—?” Naberius struggled to find words.

“I'm going to retrieve my needle and thread. It would be too risky moving you.” Naberius paled further at that.

Colum thought it was fear of the needle until Naberius whispered, “There's no one else?”

“I don't know.” It wasn't a lie but it wasn't his true belief either.

He vanished before the weight of Naberius's dread froze him in place.

Colum worked best with a task laid out before him. His quest for Silas kept him moving through the halls as they threatened to close in around him and the search for his room did the same. Silas’s room. Their room.

The look Naberius gave him before he disappeared proved a distraction. It reflected his own feelings too closely. He physically shook himself of the mounting feeling of loss, coming to the eighth house living quarters.

The little box for his sewing kit was easy to find. He lingered only in the space between one deep breath and the next. He had checked here before—there was no sign of Silas other than his things. They were cold to the touch as they were now.

Colum pressed on.

In the kitchen he discovered alcohol. A poor substitute for proper sterilization but he didn't wish to search further or leave Naberius alone for too long.

He did not like Naberius, found him self-centered and obnoxious, but he had no desire to return to a corpse. Or worse, noting at all.

“Colum.” Naberius breathed his name like a prayer, salvation, a way he had never heard it spoken before, on his return. Naberius covered it by swallowing and leaning his head against the wall. “You were gone a while.”

Colum had no response for the former, he addressed the latter instead. “Apologies. This house is vast.”

He placed the items he'd needed on his cloak he laid across the floor for a somewhat clean space. Sterile was too much to ask for in their position.

“I'm removing the blade now.”

Naberius’s mouth became a thin white line. His face bloodless. He nodded.

He laid sprawled on the floor, shoulder slumped on a wall. At the angle Colum first entered, he didn't see the elegant hilt woobling a few inches from Naberius's back. There was a matching rose like blood stain there as well. Colum allowed Naberius the comfort of his shoulder as he gripped him firmly and pulled in a quick, smooth motion.

To his credit, Naberius did not scream. He choked on some pained noise muffled into Colum’s robes, a hand ball into the front of it.

Colum respectfully placed the rapier on the ground beside Naberius.

“Do you consent to my removing your clothes?”

Naberius huffed a rueful, self-pitying laugh. “How very eighth of you. This thing is ruined anyway, just do it.”

Colum puzzled at his response for a second then set to the business of tearing the stained fabric.

Looking at the wound, he found the needle and thread were an unnecessary precaution after all. A rapier wasn't known for leaving wide stab wounds but Colum would rather have the tools at hand than be without. Blood trickled out of the wound, noting too concerning. He braced Naberius against him again, afraid he'd buck and cause their heads to collide, then dabbed at both injuries with a bit of alcohol.

Naberius hissed a strong of curses—most unfamiliar to one of the eighth—clutching Colum in a burst of stretch that waned quickly.

Next Colum bound it in gauze he carried on him on the off chance it'd be of use.

By the end, Naberius was slack against him, breaths coming shallow and tickling his neck. Colum wasn't accustomed to being in such close proximity to others. He rearranged Naberius against the wall, mindful of the wound.

“Are you alright?”

If Naberius was pale before, he appeared practically drained of all color now. His eyes were shining but not with tears. They traveled slowly, unwillingly, to the bloody blade on the floor.

For all his unpleasant traits, Naberius was a capable cavalier. Perhaps too much theory and flourish but he trusted the man wouldn't let his guard down enough to be stabbed with his own weapon. Unless it was someone he trusted.

The thought hung heavy around them both.

Naberius wrapped his hand around the hilt with the reluctant caution of a man grasping the back of an asp before it struck him first. He lifted his hip and slipped it into its empty sheath, biting back on a grunt at the difficulty. The color returned to his face a little once it was sheathed, out of sight.

“Will you…” It cost Naberius something just getting that far.

Colum lifted him, an arm under his shoulder on the uninjured side.

Despite his personal feelings, they were in this together. If the third cavalier didn't object, he wished to cooperate civilly.

part 3 here

[theriverbeyond]

btw. the unwanted guest gave me a brain disease.

[yi-kers]

There is a criminal lack of Balego (shichikal? Kalam?) on ao3, and I’m getting desperate. I feel the call of google docs. I must resist.

[rainee-chu]

When henri drifts into wakefulness, he’s surrounded by the warm scent of a homemade meal. There’s a hand on his shoulder, shaking him gently.

“Henri, wake up.”

Henri half processes the words spoken to him, the remnants of sleep still clouding his brain. He hears a faint huff before a hand reaches over and brushes the bangs out of his face.

“After all these years, you’re still terrible at waking up,” the voice remarked, sounding quite amused. “Ameri’s waiting for you at the dinner table, a father shouldn’t keep his daughter waiting.”

Henri’s eyes shot open, he had completely forgotten to make dinner for Ameri! The grogginess immediately seeped out of his body; he scrambled to get up but a familiar face was in the way, just inches away from his own.

“…Narnia?” He breathed. “What’re you doing here?”

“Ameri called me while I was filling out some paperwork, saying something about how you had passed out and wouldn’t wake up,” Narnia said flatly. His long, jet black hair swayed as he stepped back to give Henri some space. “She was crying, you know,” he continued with a monotone voice, picking apart Henri’s expression with a piercing gaze.

A surge of anxiety filled Henri’s body, what was he thinking leaving Ameri alone for so long! At such a young age too! He needed to go and make sure she was okay.

He quickly shuffled off of his bed, taking swift strides and making a beeline to the dining room. Narnia watched as Henri practically tripped over his own feet trying to find Ameri; he let out a quiet sigh, ran a hand through his hair, and followed Henri out of the room.

Henri bursted into the dining room about to call out to Ameri, when he saw her quietly sitting at the table.

And then I gave up on finishing it cuz of school.. WAAHHHH IM SO TIRED EVERYDAY SOMEBODY SAVE ME

Also I don’t know how to format this I barely use tumblr and I’m still kinda new to the app😞 so I’m sorry if this looks and sounds really terrible I’m not much of a writer 💔