#and maybe make a matching crowley

[lemodoe]

him!!!!!

[scribbledeggss]

Say live and let die

[himasgod]

Hiiii could I request a Rapunzel type reader with Vil? Nothing too specific just maybe the long hair and a Rapunzel-ish personality! Do whatever you please with it really <3

VIL X READER

Where you look like Rapunzel

Where you transfer as a new student from RSA, and Vil can't take his eyes off you after you join Pomefiore and make a mess of things.

probably one of my favorite vil things i have <3

“Who is that?”

The words left Epel’s mouth with the kind of innocent wonder that usually earned him a glare. And sure enough—

“Do not gawk like a bumpkin,” Vil drawled, casting an icy look at the first-year. “It’s unattractive.”

Epel winced. “Sorry, Vil. It’s just—look!”

Pomefiore courtyard was usually serene—prim apple trees, elegant hedges... Which made the sight of you even more surreal. You were standing near the bushes, humming softly to a group of birds perched on the gate, and your hair—

Saints, your hair.

It cascaded down your back in endless waves, golden and glossy, trailing nearly to your ankles. It swayed behind you like a living creature, each strand almost impossibly perfect.

“Is that enchanted?” Rook asked from nowhere, eyes gleaming. “C’est magnifique.”

“She’s a transfer student from Royal Sword Academy,” Rook explained, leaning in. “I heard her magic channels through her hair. Something about magic saturation from birth.”

Vil blinked. “That’s absurd.”

“Still pretty,” Epel mumbled.

And Vil Schoenheit scoffed.

You looked untouched. Like someone who hadn’t been bent to fit any mold. Like you didn’t even realize the attention you drew.

Naive. Unrefined. And absolutely radiant.

Vil frowned. That could be a problem.

You were, by every measurable social metric, a disaster.

You got lost three times your first week. You called Professor Crewel “sir puppy-coat” by accident and then tried to braid Jack's tail because you thought it was “pretty.” You asked if alchemy classes included painting.

And when you walked into Alchemy with a loose braid, Vil nearly had a coronary.

“Darling, what is that?” he hissed, grabbing your arm.

“What’s what?”

“Your hair. It looks like you rolled out of bed, tangled yourself in curtains, and then got caught in a wind tunnel.”

“Oh,” you said thoughtfully. “That’s kind of poetic.”

“It’s horrifying,” he corrected.

You didn’t seem offended, just tilted your head.

“I like when it’s free. It gets sad when it’s pulled too tight.”

“Your hair gets sad?”

“Yes. Don’t yours?”

Vil stared at you. You stared back.

Then, completely seriously, you said,

“You’re very shiny. Are you royalty?”

“…Close enough,” he muttered, rubbing his temples.

Vil tried to ignore you.

He tried.

But then you joined the Pomefiore dorm (“A perfect match for your magic affinity,” said Crowley, likely after throwing a dart at a wall) and began leaving strands of hair everywhere—on the banister, the staircase, the library chairs, even once trailing behind a moving tea cart like a golden ribbon.

And yet—despite the chaos—you were impossible to stay annoyed at.

You complimented everyone with alarming honesty. You greeted Rook’s dramatic entrances with claps and sparkling eyes like he was performing just for you. You offered to brush Epel’s hair “to make it extra floofy,” which he weirdly didn’t hate.

You braided flowers into your own braid and left extra ones for anyone who looked like they needed one.

And every morning, you smiled like the world was a gift.

Vil caught you one evening humming as you combed your fingers through your hair under the moonlight.

He sighed and stepped closer.

“You missed alchemy today.”

You turned to him, eyes wide.

“I didn’t mean to! I was helping a dust bunny out of a bookshelf and then I got distracted—”

“Enough,” Vil waved a hand. “I’m not here to scold you. Much.”

“You’re always very… sleek.”

“Thank you?”

“You remind me of a mirror, very shiny. And kind of cold.”

“That’s not a compliment most would take kindly.”

“I meant it nicely.”

And damn him, he almost believed you.

You’d float into the lounge while Vil was doing skincare, and he’d pretend not to look when you sat nearby, trying to braid your hair with too many ribbons.

He’d tut when you forgot conditioner, roll his eyes when you used flower water as toner, and scold you endlessly when you tried to trim your hair with hedge clippers.

But Vil realized something.

You took his advice to heart, asked thoughtful questions, even showed up at his mirror one morning with a shy,

“I tried the thing with the satin pillowcase. My hair didn’t cry today.”

He’d never wanted to scream and laugh at the same time before.

“You are…” he said one day, fingers brushing through your golden strands as you sat between his knees, “a complete mess.”

“Thank you.”

“That wasn’t a compliment.”

You twisted to look at him, eyes bright. “But I like the way you say it.”

Vil rolled his eyes and refocused on your braid.

“Why do you let me do this?”

“Because it’s preferable to watching you destroy your own scalp.”

“But you don’t have to,” you pressed. “You’re Vil Schoenheit. You’re busy and glamorous and probably have a million better things to do.”

He looked at your reflection in the mirror. The way you watched him— something softer.

“I do it, because you listen. Because you make this place…” he paused, searching for a word. “…brighter.”

You beamed. Vil groaned.

“Don’t look so pleased. I’m trying to be serious.”

“You’re being sweet.”

“I’m never sweet.”

You turned around on the stool, facing him. “Maybe just with me.”

And Saints help him, he didn’t deny it.

And you kissed him first.

Not dramatically, not in a burst of emotion.

He’d just finished pinning the final flower into your braid. You looked up at him and whispered, “You’re my favorite part of NRC.”

And then, without waiting, you leaned up and kissed him.

It was gentle. Like the way sunbeams feel through a window after rain.

Vil didn’t speak for a full minute.

“You are a menace.”

You smiled.

“…Yes,” he sighed finally, brushing your hair from your face. “My radiant menace.”

[ancientrimer]

last point of contention: all of their breakups were exact replicas of the s1 breakups?? who do you think you are, the Star Wars sequels?

[dalliancekay]

Aziraphale, misogyny and the female character treatment

I don't know if anyone wrote a post about this but I see from time to time comments to this end - that Aziraphale is treated like the female leads in films often are, obviously especially romantic films. So I'm gonna try to point how I see this. I welcome further insights of course.

Say we take a basic premise of a romantic film: A girl is wooed by a bad boy for example. And she is a good girl, from a good, proper family and everything so she refuses his advances. This goes on through his various ploys to entertain and romance her, do things for her etc etc and frustrates us as the audience because we can see the bad boy is actually good, her family is oppressive and holding her back and that she (deep down) cares for him (if only she was brave enough to admit it to herself) and so we want her to open her eyes and say she is actually in love with him cos her life will be so much better should she (finally) give in and run away with him.

Familiar? Reasons Aziraphale is not her and the analogy does not fit (but that I so often see in metas and takes about her):

Aziraphale always knew her family is shit. Or at least longer than Crowley did. She was already anxious in Before the Beginning about what she thought Angel!Crowley could and could not say or do without getting into trouble.

She knows Crowley is good. She never doubted him. Whatever he says or does or pretends to do or must do for his job. Aziraphale knows he's inherently good and would always do good if he can.

She knows she's in love - I mean we can argue about when each realised this and also when each realised the other loves them back just as fiercely, but they both know. And they both love. And they both long to be together. Aziraphale is not ashamed of her feelings nor hiding or suppressing them for fear they are wrong or immoral or other BS like that.

Aziraphale doesn't need to overcome her love for her family/employer and finally make the leap to be with Crowley. They simply can't leave their bosses without punishment. Neither of them. They live in a dictatorship with nowhere to go. And just because Crowley experienced both sides, doesn't give him some huge insight that Aziraphale completely lacks. Both places are awful. Their separation isn’t about fear of societal judgment (or Aziraphale's unwillingness to give up Heaven, being seen as good, being an angel - and to what end, to Fall? I really don't know what takes like this want from her, it would not work anyway), it’s about survival in a system that won’t let them be together.

Aziraphale doesn't want to change Crowley. She never did. She asked for Crowley to come to Heaven as an angel because that was THE ONLY option she had for them to be together in any capacity at that point. It was NOT an attempt to “fix” him—it was a desperate bid for a way they could be together at all.

One thing I don't see as much anymore is the call for Aziraphale to change. Obviously she's pretty but she would be prettier if she lost those century old clothes maybe and started listening to something made after 1950? Be more cool to match Crowley? Less stuffy?

These kind of film premises are already pointless, offensive and make me roll my eyes, but to stick them all over Aziraphale and huff cos she doesn't do what the clever sexy man in dark clothes and sunglasses says she should - well that makes me angry.

And so do takes and mischaracterisations that ignore Aziraphale as silly, her worries as pointless, sometimes excessive - maybe she's just hysterical, you know? The one time she shows more emotion, in F15, she is so often completely ignored in her obvious distress just because Crowley is trying to confess his love at the same time and seemingly 'not getting through,' because Aziraphale is not reacting the way everyone expects. So many takes that always assume Crowley is right, no matter what. Even when he calls Aziraphale an idiot. If Crowley says that, it must be true. No matter that the book spells out in Terry's voice that the angel is extremely clever.

Aziraphale’s charm lies in her kindness, her love for books and knowledge, her whimsy, and her quiet courage. These qualities don’t make her naive—they make her resilient. She often hides how she truly feels, hides her grief, her pain, her true desires, hides what she really thinks; always always to protect herself and her beloved. She is often forced to say stuff she doesn't mean. Again. To keep the one she loves and their fragile relationship safe. But where people seem to catch on with that on Crowley's side, they don't with Aziraphale. She is fierce when pushed and will defend the defenceless (humans) and the ones she loves (Crowley) to her last breath (whether she needs to breathe is irrelevant right now okay).

She loves her bookshop. She built this home, full of knowledge for herself and her demon and you can take this HC from my cold hands. That she was forced to leave it, only emphasises how little choice she had in Final 15. Good Omens has two main, equal characters; who are both gorgeous and complex and deep and neither is right or wrong or in need of saving or learning some huge lesson to get to their goal and be together. What needs to change is the world, the system they live in. And they will change it. P.S. Just to add, many, many (if not all) bad takes on Aziraphale are also bad takes on Crowley. They mischaracterise and misunderstand just how deeply and unconditionally he loves Aziraphale. How he adores her and understands and accepts her just as she is. He does not expect or want Aziraphale to change in any way. He knows why they are not together. And it's not Aziraphale's fault, it's because of circumstances, not because of her choices. Crowley would never ever want Aziraphale to suffer, he wouldn't expect her to come back from Heaven saying how sorry she is for what happened, how stupid and blind she was and how he was always right. That's just not going to happen. ------------------------------------------ @tenok I simply must highlight the awesomeness you put in hashtags!! EVERYBODY please read:

Thank you sm for this!!

[celesomnis]

❝ Loosen Up Your Buttons. . . ❞

Nyoka Wadjet x Photographer Reader

The Prefect assists Nyoka with what they expect to be a small and casual photo-shoot for his magicam profile. What transpires is the most breath-loss the Prefect's has ever experienced in a mere hour's time.

⋰🐍⋱🐍 ⋰🐍⋱🐍⋰🐍⋱🐍⋰🐍⋱🐍⋰🐍⋱🐍 ⋰🐍⋱🐍⋰🐍⋱

@cozymochi and @oddberryshortcake 's slitheringly handsome oc makes a return, baby

you know I had to do it to em.

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Now, truth be told, you didn't exactly grasp the huge draw to Magicam.

It seemed not to be dissimilar to your universe's version of instagram, and maybe fused with facebook too based on some of the interface.

Your old friends back home had always found it amusing that you weren't a social-media-bug, despite being so proficient in digital photography.

The short answer to that was: you preferred candids. And every photo on people's socials went through more edits and "touch-ups" than celebrity magazine covers.

Now, by some miraculous grace of fate, one of the first things you acquired when you entered this brand new world was the thing you can scarcely imagine living without - a camera.

A normal one? No. Professional one? Doubtful. Crowley gave it to you, after all.

But until you can get home, the pictures it develops are a high enough quality to satisfy your itch.

Now, even though you didn't exactly shy away from expressing your love for your hobby t your new friends here, it still took the NRC a little while to catch on to your exact talents.

It wasn't until Vil payed you a (shockingly substantial) amount of Thaumarks to photograph a few headshots for Epel that the school got its first a real taste for your skills.

And this was where a certain beastman came slithering back onto your radar.

"A photoshoot?" you repeat as you stall from placing down your final knight. You were in the middle of one of your now weekly sessions of chess matches, currently pretending you weren't vitally aware how badly you were losing this time. "Like, a real one? For your magicam account?"

"Yes." his reply is low and matter-of-fact, and, you notice, without shame.

Not that he should feel shame. Of all people, you think he should not. Every time you see him, it just re-instills in you how unnatural perfect he is.

You have to break yourself free of your own thoughts, teasing him to cover your blush, "Oh? So you don't 'have a guy' for that already?"

"I will," Nyoka leans more onto his knuckle, making the window light flicker across his glasses. "Have you. If you agree to it."

That sets off the heat in your face tenfold. You make a clumsy move on the board that Nyoka takes instant advantage of. A few more moves go by, between you both, before you finally answer.

"Alright" you say, holding up a finger, "On one condition. Outside of lighting and contrast adjustments, the photos get no edits."

You can't tell if the face he gives is because he finds that condition foolish, or if he is minutely approvingly towards your integrity.

Regardless, leans forward a tad more, showing off the sharp juts of his collarbones, and murmurs, "Very well." before checkmating you.

May the Seven have mercy on me, you think to yourself.

⋰🐍⋱🐍 ⋰🐍⋱🐍⋰🐍⋱🐍⋰🐍⋱🐍⋰🐍⋱🐍 ⋰🐍⋱🐍⋰🐍⋱

The Seven do not have mercy at all, and in fact, must have banded together for your downfall.

Because when you walk into the private Savanaclaw room where Nyoka texted you to meet him, your knees almost buckle.

"Wadjet." The sight before you is off-guard catching that you call him by his surname.

He gives you only an acknowledging "Mmh?" while adjusting his braids over the many, many defined muscles of his back. Each one sticking out against his sheer shirt.

You think you die while this happens. You're still standing, and awake, but you aren't breathing, so you can't be too sure either way.

"You're-" comes squeaking from your throat.

You were about to say "you're wet", because the statement is true. He is wet. His entire upper half is drenched enough that his shirt has become see-through.

And it so baffling that this is the reality you're in that you nearly just blurt "you're wet" at him, but you can't say that. Not out loud. That can't come out anything but wrong.

He's watching you now, pinning you with those snake charmer eyes. Without the glare of his glasses, the warm sunlike colors in his eyes shine unobscured, drying your throat like desert sand.

Oh hell, prefect, get ahold of yourself. Please. You're a photographer. He asked you because he must trust you to be professional. Do not ruin this already fragile friendship by being stupid.

"You're ready... for the pictures... like that."

Oh god.

"You were late. I got prepared to keep ahead of schedule." Nyoka points out dryly.

He surely must to see how disheveled your expression is, and how your eyes keep skating down his chest, but you're thankful he isn't bringing it up.

You force a breath in and out. "Right. Let's- let's just get started. Where do you want to stand?"

"Are you not the photographer?" Nyoka challenges coolly, "And I not the subject? Your job is to adjust me into the ideal image."

Hauntingly erotic visage or no, he is still the Nyoka you've been playing chess with for the passed weeks.

To yourself, you mutter, "like you need me for that.", while pointing your camera to a few different spots in the room. Looking for the points with the best lighting.

"Over here." you decide, directing him between two deep red curtails.

There's a scoff from him, but he moves obediently to the position. The first pose he tries is a simple one. Raising his arms into a loose grasp of each curtain, stretching his wet shirt up slightly up his stomach.

You swallow hard.

"Uh, maybe, um, turn a little. To the side."

Nyoka edges his body sideways slowly, waiting for your signal to stop. His movement is languid, smooth and fluid as water. His face, though is as impassive as ever, clearly unaffected by the alluded high intimacy of this venture at all.

But in front of the lens, it turns smoldering. His professional training kicking in. His eyes burn you, and his lips are very slightly pursed in a way that accentuates their shape.

The camera is shaking in your hands. If these photos come out blurry, there'll be nothing else to blame except you.

With all your will, you steel your arms.

"Good. Can you," you hear yourself say, "Curl your tale, around your body."

After a minute, his tail slides up from its spot on the floor, and begins to spiral around his waist, peaking up into the lens view of the shot.

"Higher?" you rasp.

He does what you ask. The tail curls up until its a loop frames his abdomen, and the tip is grazing a loose hug to his chest. You swear that somehow you can feel the tail as if its on your own body instead.

Photos snap. Your heart won't stop slamming itself into your ribs.

His scales glitter with the perspiration on his neck. The pose you adjusted him to reveals the contours of his figure like some kind of marble statue in a museum. His skin glowing in this warm, fiery light.

These are probably the best photos you'll take in your whole life, and you aren't sure you can ever look at them again, not if you want to maintain any semblance of sanity in front of Nyoka from now on.

You stop clicking.

"Okay... I got- I got it."

Nyoka relaxes into a more familiar pose, crossing his arms and inclining his head by way to call you over. Wanting to see the results.

You inch over to him. You mean to just hand him the camera, even though it feels like you're handing someone your own severed limb every time you let people scrutinize your work.

But instead, he leans over you. His tall form hunches to peer over one of your shoulders, his wet shirt pressing onto your back, and his hand grabs over your's that's still on the camera.

Nyoka lightly pushes you finger aside with his own and hits the scrolling button. Reviewing the footage.

You do nothing because you actually are dead this time. Every ounce of breath has exited your lungs. There's nothing left inside you except mush and a loud, deafening roaring sound at your's ears.

A hum blows passed your ear. "So Schoenheit wasn't exaggerating. You are well at what you do. I could be impressed, mouse."

Oh yeah, you're dead.

Some mild eternity later, Nyoka rescues your soul by detaching from you. Walking to grab a small towel and pressing it over his neck.

"Adjust the lighting on those final four how you see fit," you hear him instruct you distantly, "I will chose the best one when you send them to me. Have them sent to me before next week's shoot, we'll discuss pay and post dates then."

Life crashes back upon you.

You whip around. Nearly drop the camera, fumble for it, and squeeze it into your both arms like it can protect you from the prospect you just heard.

"Next week!?"

"Next week," Nyoka confirrms. His eyes find your's, they pool heat into like lava. "You're my 'guy' for this now. Wasn't that the deal."

Oh. What the hell have you gotten yourself into.

[sweetbunpura]

Christmas party at NRC with students and staffs and special guests

Yuu's dress

Kassie's dress (Snowy Night)

It must've been a Christmas miracle because that was the only way to describe it. Crowley had actually done everything himself while setting up the party, of course he had help from the staff so that everything wouldn't go completely wrong. The cafeteria was all decked out in holiday decorations as everyone started filtering into the room. Many of them wore a basic suit and tie combo, with colors that matches the dorms they were in. Others went all out with the winter outfits and easily stuck out among everyone in the crowd.

Ace sighed as he leaned against the cocktail table. "Where are they?"

"She said they'd be here soon." Rollo answered as he eyed the Heartslabyul student. "And why, might I ask, are you so eager for her to be here?"

"One, I wanna ditch but I promised Yuu I'd stay until she got here and I fear for my life if I break that. Two, I wanna see what she has on."

"...Why?"

"Cause we all know Crowley didn't pay her enough to get her a proper winter party outfit." Ace glanced over at him. "Wait a second, why didn't you come with them?"

"Because I had to babysit them." Rollo gestured to where Fellow, Gidel, and Grim were basically raiding the buffet while Skully was talking to Sebek. "....Wait a moment, were you going to make fun of her?"

"Not fully, maybe tease a little." Ace smirked.

"While her mother and I are here?"

"....Okay, so maybe just a tiny bit."

Deuce shook his head. "Everyday, you seemly test the limits of your own survival."

"That's rich coming from you, Juice."

"It's never on purpose like what you do!"

"I don't wanna another fight between the two of ya!" Epel broke it up before they could start. "Last time Y'all did this, you split the punch all over Vil's white outfit."

They shuddered as they remembered the whole event and how terrifying Vil looked. Rollo muttered something behind his handkerchief while Jack sighed as his ears turned towards the entrance.

"They're-"

"What? Why so quiet-Holy."

Yuu and Kassie walked through the entrance, the Homuras were sporting a pair of cute, beautiful, and mature dresses. Yuu had on short black sweater dress with a single leg slit and a star pattern etched into the bottom of the dress and it's sleeves. It also had adjustable yellow lace as part of it. Kassie wore a dark blue cocktail dress with a snow pattern on it, the top of the dress was mesh. Anyone who had been talking stopped and looked at the pair as they made their way down the stairs. Crewel stepped forward and helped Kassie down the remaining steps while Leona, smugly, did the same to Yuu.

"Thank you, Divus."

"Of course."

"I didn't take you as a gentleman, Leona."

"Only for you, Herbivore."

Divus led Kassie to where the rest of the staff was while Yuu made her way over to the group with Leona lingering behind her.

"Thank you for taking the troublemakers, Rolls." She hugged him. "They weren't too bad, were they?

"You're welcome and no, they weren't."

"They knew better?"

"They knew better."

Yuu laughed and looked at the first years. "Cat got your tongue, fellas?"

"Holy shit." Ace muttered. "W-Why are you dressed like?"

"Like what?"

"Like a cute girl!"

The guys winced and looked between Yuu and Ace, waiting for the inevitable punch, but it didn't come as the girl shook her head.

"Cause I'm adorable as hell, Acey, and every now and then, I wanna show it off." She smirked and placed her hands on her hips. "Besides, it caught your attention, didn't it?"

"And everyone else's."

Yuu pats Leona's chest. "They know better. They can look, but they can't touch."

"Unless they want a broken hand." Leona placed his hand on her hip. "C'mon, I waited to eat for you."

"Aw, is the lion hungry~?"

Leona smirked as he whispered in her ear, which set her face a light and caused her to push him. Jack, thankfully, had lowered his ears before he could hear anything.

"Oh, Rolls, did you eat?"

"....I did not."

She pointed at the buffet with a sharp glint in her eye. "Go eat."

Rollo flinched and hurried off to the food, Leona watched him as he went before turning back to Yuu.

"You taming knows no bounds, Herbivore."

"Beast Master, remember?"

Leona's ear turned towards where Kassie was and he looked over to see the woman wrangling Crowley for something he said.

"Must be hereditary."

[cheapshrimpysheep]

2 Hot Chocolates & a Fortune Cookie

SUMMARY: “Never forget to tell people how much you love them. They may not know.” is what is written on the little piece of paper in your fortune cookie. But maybe the boy who gave you the cookie feels that these two phases applies to him too.

CHARACTERS: Deuce Spade / Kalim Al-Asim

TAGS: Fluff; GN Reader; Kiss

WARNING: Spoilers from "Sam's New Year Sale"

WORD COUNT: An average of 1.180 words per character.

COMMENTS: I like to write things based on the cards and I wanted to write something with the New Year's cards but I never thought of anything good enough. Until I reread the story looking for an idea and here it is.

I hope you all enjoy 🥠 And Happy New Year! 🎉

About the currency in Twisted Wonderland: From what I understand, on the JP server the Madols would be the equivalent of Japanese Yen while on the ENG server the Thaumarks would be the equivalent of US dollars. Which personally makes it easier for me to tell whether something is expensive or not in this world.

P.S.: In the second Sam's New Year Sale event, Vil is the one who says that the Mystery Bags cost 40 Thaumarks.

CONTEXT: You even thought about buying one of Sam's mystery bags, but when you saw all the commotion that there was every day in that store, plus the fact that the bags cost 40 Thaumarks (and it's not like you could afford to spend that much on a simple bag considering the money Crowley gives you), you ended up giving up on the idea and not even going to Sam's store to say hi to Deuce and Kalim.

It was evening and you were in the lounge of Ramshackle Dorm when you heard someone knocking on the door. You open it and see Deuce still in his New Year's Attire.

“Good evening, (Y/N). Sorry to show up so late, but I wanted to give you one of these.” He hands you one of Sam's mystery bags. “I bought one and saved it for you. You never went to the store, did you? Neither Kalim nor I saw you. I thought maybe you were too busy or couldn't make it because it was always full. But I thought you might like to receive one. ...Hm? Oh, don't worry, you don't have to pay me back. It can be a New Year's gift for you. Open it! I'm curious to see what you got.”

You thank him, take the bag and open it. You take out a large box that says ‘Hot Chocolate Kit’. In the box there is a bag of mini marshmallows, a packet of chocolate powder, a bag of cookies and two edible spoons.

“Did you like it? I'm glad. Since it’s random, people often receive things that have nothing to do with their tastes. But who wouldn't like a hot chocolate in this cold?”

You put that box down on the entrance table and take out a second box which is a set of matching winter themed mugs. You suggest to Deuce to use those new mugs with you and taste that hot chocolate together.

“I would love to!” He accepts with a smile. “I'll help you prepare it. I hope we can make a third mug for Grim too, otherwise he'll be mad at us.”

But you see something else inside the bag, it looks like shiny paper. You put the box with the mugs on the entrance table too, put your hand back inside the bag and take out a golden ticket.

“It can't be!” Deuce is shocked! “It’s an Amazing Ticket! So they really are true!” He is very happy and excited for you. “You don't know what it is? The students were crazy about Sam's mystery bags because of this. From what Jamil-senpai told us these are tickets you can trade for any one thing in the Mystery Shop. And there's no price limit. You can trade it for literally anything in the store! This is the first time I've seen one. You're so lucky! That’s awesome!”

You feel a little guilty because it was Deuce who paid the 40 Thaumarks for that bag. So you try to give him that ticket.

“What? No! The ticket is yours. I gave you the bag as a gift. I made enough money from this gig to buy what I wanted, don't worry. If you were lucky enough to get it, it means you deserve it. Really, keep it and buy whatever you want.” He gives you an encouraging smile. “Oh! One more thing.” He takes a small bag out of his pocket and takes out a fortune cookie and gives it to you. “Don't worry, these were free to any customer in the store.”

You take the cookie, break it in half, take out the paper inside, give one half to Deuce and keep the other for yourself.

“Never forget to tell people how much you love them.” You read the message on the paper. “They may not know.”

Deuce chokes on the cookie but quickly recovers.

“Y-yeah, I'm fine. Sorry.” He chuckles awkwardly.

You jokingly ask if he forgot to tell his mother that and he laughs awkwardly again.

“Ha ha, no, I always end my calls telling her I love her." He gets a little embarrassed by this statement, but he continues. "W-what about you?”

You say making Grim's favorite dishes is an ‘I love you’ enough for him. Deuce laughs with you and suggests that the two of you go make the hot chocolates. Even if you seem as flustered as he is, he's too oblivious to notice these things.

He thinks about that message a lot while he prepares the hot chocolate with you in the kitchen, to the point of getting distracted from time to time. When you're already putting the marshmallows on top of the hot chocolate, you make a heart with them and give the mug to Deuce. He blushes slightly when he sees the marshmallows heart, but maybe it was the incentive he needed.

“Hum... (Y/N)...” Deuce starts saying, a little nervous, but then he takes a quick and deep breath and looks at you with renewed courage. “I was thinking about the phrase in your fortune cookie and...” He looks away to the hot chocolate you gave him. “I know I always call you buddy and stuff like that but...” He starts blushing again. “The truth is... I think... I like you as more than a friend.”

He won't be able to say much more than this, it's all still very new to him. So, you are the one who takes the next step and tells him, just as the cookie advised you, how much you like/love him. He looks back at you, surprised and with a sparkle in his eyes.

Now knowing that you feel the same way about him, he no longer needs to hold back and attacks you with a hug that lifts your feet off the ground while kissing your cheek.

He puts you back on the ground but continues to hug you. He doesn't have the courage to kiss you on the lips even if he wants to. But if you do it, he'll try to reciprocate with the most affectionate kiss he can muster.

After that, you two will go to the lounge with your hot chocolates. Grim will start complaining that you didn't make him one and Deuce will reveal a third mug of hot chocolate for him.

While Grim burns his tongue because he tried to drink the still-scalding chocolate right away, you and Deuce sit on the couch together with one of his arms around you.

“Happy New Year, (Y/N).” He wishes you with one more kiss.

It was evening and you were in the lounge of Ramshackle Dorm when you heard someone knocking on the door. You open it and see Kalim still in his New Year's Attire.

“HI (Y/N)!” Kalim greets you with his huge smile. “Happy New Year!” He reaches out and hands you one of Sam's mystery bags. “I didn't see you at the store, so I thought maybe you didn't want to get in the meddle of all that crowd. These have been some really crazy days. Ah hah. That's why I bought a mystery bag for you. Here! I'm so curious to see what you've got!”

You thank him, take the bag and open it. You take out a large box that says ‘Hot Chocolate Kit’. In the box there is a bag of mini marshmallows, a packet of chocolate powder, a bag of cookies and two edible spoons.

“Wow! So cool! You have everything you need to make hot chocolate. It tastes so good in winter. Did you like it?” You say yes. “That's great! I saw many students who were disappointed with the things they got. It's great to see that it was a nice surprise for you.”

You put that box down on the entryway table and take out a second box which is a set of matching winter themed mugs. You suggest to Kalim to use those new mugs with you and taste that hot chocolate together.

“Really?! I would love-!” His overly enthusiastic smile fades, giving way to a sad one. “I... would love to... but...”

“You cannot eat or drink anything that has not been approved by Jamil first.” You finish his sentence.

He gives you an apologetic smile.

“Yeah... But I can keep you company and help you prepare it if you want. I'm sure it's great.”

However, you have another idea. You pick up your phone and search for something while asking Kalim if Jmail knew he was there. He tells you yes, that he told Jamil that he just wanted to give you a New Year's gift before going to Scarabia. You find Jamil's contact and call him. He answers immediately.

“Did something happen to Kalim?!” It's the first thing you hear Jamil say.

You say no, that everything is okay, and tell him about the mystery bag and the hot chocolate to ask if you prepare it and taste it before Kalim he can drink it with you.

“Hmm... I don't know...” You hear Jamil's uncertain voice say. “It's not that I don't trust you. I know you would never hurt Kalim but...”

“No one needs to know.” You add.

There was silence for quite a while.

“*sigh* Okay. But only because it's you. And if this came in one of Sam's bags it could have gone to any student, which makes it difficult for it to be something directed at Kalim... Still, be careful you hear!”

You thank Jamil and consequently Kalim also shouts a ‘thank you’ to him. Kalim's sunny smile returns and he is now more excited than ever to make this hot chocolate with you.

But you see something else inside the bag, it looks like shiny paper. You put your hand back inside the bag and take out a golden ticket.

“WHAAAT?! IT CAN'T BE!” He sees you looking at him perplexed. “Sorry. But you got an Amazing Ticket! Deuce and I were wondering if they were even real. And now you got one! Hm? You don't know what they are? It seems that it was because of them that so many people were buying Sam's mystery bags. Jamil told us that these are tickets you can trade for any one thing in the Mystery Shop. And there's no price limit. You can trade it for literally anything in the store! Isn't it amazing?! You’re so lucky!”

You would feel guilty for being the one who got that ticket and not the person who paid 40 Thaumarks for the bag. But Kalim was filthy rich, there was no reason for you to feel bad.

“Oh! Speaking of luck, I almost forgot to give you this.” Kalim takes a small bag out of his pocket and takes out a fortune cookie to give to you. “Sam was offering them to all the customers in the store.”

You take the cookie, break it in half, take out the paper inside, give one half to Kalim and keep the other for yourself.

“Never forget to tell people how much you love them.” You read the message on the paper. “They may not know.”

“Aww. That's a really nice message.” Kalim says as he eats his half of the cookie. “I love you, (Y/N)!” He tells you smiling.

“Aw, I love you too, Kalim.” That's what you felt was the best response back.

He said it so naturally that it seemed like something he would say to any friend, like Jamil for example. So you kind of responded the same way, even though you may really meant it.

You and Kalim went to the kitchen to prepare hot chocolates. Kalim looked like a child with a new toy, he was so excited to do something like that with you. He commented that the cookies were cute, the mugs were pretty, asked how to make chocolate with that powder, read the instructions on the back of the box with you, etc.

He was very happy to see the hot chocolate made, and all that was left was to put the mini marshmallows on top. He made a heart with them and gave you the mug with a cute smile. You do the same for him and he is very happy with your gesture, but something seemed to be bothering him a little.

“Hey, (Y/N)... When you said you loved me back, did you mean it? Because I did!” He smiles at you, blushing a little. “You didn't realise that? Why not?”

You explain that since he is always very affectionate with everyone, it is difficult to realize when he is not just being nice or considering the other person just a good friend, or if it’s something more than that.

“Really?! Ow, I’m so sorry. I didn't mean to confuse you. Looks like your fortune cookie was right. Well, I need to fix that now!” He comes closer to you and holds your both hands with his warm ones, looks you in the eyes and smiles affectionately. “You are the best friend I have ever had. Every second with you makes me happier and more loved than I could ever imagine. I wish I could do the same for you, if you'd let me. I love you (Y/N).”

He's not afraid that you'll reject him. Will it hurt him? Sure, but the most important thing is that he was honest with you and you deserve to know that you're loved.

You confess that the feeling is mutual. He is so relieved and extremely happy to the point of hugging you and lifting you off the ground while doing a spin. He gives you all the kisses on the cheek he's ever wanted to give you and can't stop hugging you.

He doesn't want to go too fast so he lets you kiss him on the lips first if you're comfortable with that. And if you do, you will feel all his love and passion for you in response.

After that, you both go to the lounge and sit together on the sofa. Grim appears, attracted by the smell, and starts complaining that you didn't make him a hot chocolate too. Kalim starts to apologize but that's when you reveal a third mug of hot chocolate that Kalim hadn't even realized you had made. Grim thanks you and Kalim praises you.

While Grim burns his tongue because he tried to drink the still-scalding chocolate right away, Kalim puts one of his arms around you and starts imagining and talking about possible dates and that he should give you the best quality hot chocolate in Twisted Wonderland next time.

If you would like to read more from me, you can find it in my pinned post: INDEX

[yan-lorkai]

Heyyy! I hope you are doing well! (⁠◍⁠•⁠ᴗ⁠•⁠◍⁠)

I would like to request something!

Yan!Crowley with a darling who is his secretary! I hope you're comfortable with writing romantic stuff with the staff. If not then please ignore this request. ಥ⁠‿⁠ಥ

Stay safe and don't forget to stay hydrated! Byeee ♪⁠～⁠(⁠´⁠ε⁠｀⁠ ⁠)

.⁠｡⁠*⁠♡ a/n: This is my first Crowley request so I hope I wrote him right. Enjoy ~

Working as Dire Crowley’s secretary is a whirlwind of chaos, exasperation, and somehow endearment. On the surface, he’s an eccentric, bumbling headmaster who constantly piles his endless workload onto you while waxing poetic about how invaluable you are to him.

He often forgets appointments, dodges responsibilities, and somehow manages to create more paperwork for you with every half-baked plan he devises - it's like you are the headmaster and he is your secretary.

And yet, despite the frustration, you stay. Maybe it’s because you’ve grown used to the rhythm of his antics, or maybe it’s because he always finds a way to charm you into sticking around. He praises you endlessly, often with overly dramatic flair, declaring that no one could ever replace you. At first, you thought it was just his usual theatrics, but as time went on, you began to notice the subtle possessiveness behind his words.

Crowley has a way of making you feel both indispensable and trapped. If you so much as hint at being overwhelmed or mention needing time off, he panics. He flutters around you, begging for forgiveness and insisting he couldn’t possibly survive a day without you.

"What would this school do without my brilliant secretary?" He laments, clutching his chest like you’ve just stabbed him thirty times. "No, no, no! You must stay! For the sake of the academy and my sanity as well!"

His behavior grows more suffocating the closer you get to him. He begins to rely on you not just professionally but personally, pulling you into his orbit with every request and manufactured crisis. It’s not uncommon for him to call you into his office for “urgent matters” that turn out to be little more than an excuse to chat or keep you near him.

Despite his shortcomings, Crowley is remarkably attentive when it comes to you. He knows your favorite tea, the way you like your workspace organized, and even small details like how you tap your pen when you’re frustrated. He uses this knowledge to ingratiate himself further, always appearing with a solution or a grand gesture at just the right time.

The turning point comes when he starts making subtle comments about your interactions with others. If you spend too long talking to a student or a staff member, his demeanor shifts. The usually jovial headmaster becomes uncharacteristically quiet, his golden eyes watching you intently. Later, he’ll casually bring up the encounter, his tone light but his words carefully chosen to sow doubt or guilt.

"Ah, I see you’ve been spending a lot of time with Professor Trein lately," he’ll say, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. "I do hope you’re not neglecting your duties with me, dear secretary. After all, no one understands you like I do."

Over time, his antics escalate. He begins orchestrating situations to isolate you, ensuring you spend more time with him and less with others. The line between professional and personal blurs further as he starts calling you by affectionate nicknames, brushing off your protests with a laugh.

"My dear, you work far too hard," he coos one evening, handing you a cup of tea he made himself. "Allow me to take care of you. After all, you take such good care of me."

Though his behavior is overwhelming, there’s a strange comfort in his constant attention. He’s unpredictable and demanding, but he’s also fiercely protective and utterly devoted. And as much as you might want to escape the suffocating hold he has on you, a part of you wonders if anyone else could ever match the intensity of his obsession.

[amuseoffyre]

The Ineffable Mrs Sandwich

So. Mrs Sandwich.

I've been wondering at her relevance. I put a post up a bit ago about the signs at her front door that rang honking great foreshadowing bells: "Come Upstairs" and "No pairs. One only. Be Brave" on a wall surrounded by stars. Not to mention they now have a “New Model” with “Friendly Hands” up there.

In the party, she says something to Aziraphale that made my brain jangle because of all the meta that I've been eating: [her girls] stand on their own two feet. Initially I thought this was a sex-work joke, but there's the fact that at the beginning of the season, both lads are completely co-dependent, especially Crowley who talks about "my only friend". By the end of the season, the boys are separated and they will be forced to stand on their own two feet for the first time since 2500BC.

Throw into the mix that God's department is always referred to as "upstairs" and Mrs Sandwich is the only person shown coming down from an upstairs to a ground level that has a chandelier, much like Aziraphale's bookshop also has a chandelier on the ground floor, directly over his contact point with the almighty.

"I don't know why you invited me," she says and Aziraphale makes a point that she's part of their world, even if she feels she's separate from it. Then you have the seamstress conversation and yes, maybe she is a brothel madame, but the fact she can't say what her actual role/position is has very ineffable vibes to me. A convenient way to mask her real identity/purpose.

When Crowley walks her out the party, he says "Have you got your hand in?" and she replies "Oh, I've got more than that, love." which would track for the person who was playing three-card monty with the universe. Since they're so careful with their dialogue, between all of this and her calling Crowley “a good lad”?

Add the fact that her "girls" upstairs can tell when Nina is unhappy when making coffee and that one of the drinks she orders almost matches the order by the Metatron, who has professed to consume human food/drink. His version has almond syrup instead of hazelnut and almond is symbolic in the bible for watchfulness and promise of a new season. (However, interestingly, some Biblical translations of hazelnut and almond mean the same thing)

And what is a sandwich if not two separate sides with something in the middle?

[sylvestris123]

What does the pre-Fall scene actually mean?

I’ve been thinking about that first scene, with pre-Fall Crowley. We are all swooning over how sweet and innocent Angel!Crowley is, and how smitten Aziraphale is, but on reflection there is something odd about this scene.

The action takes place before the rebellion, before the Fall, when bad things hadn’t even been invented yet. So why is Aziraphale already worried about Angel!Crowley getting into trouble for asking questions? Shouldn’t he also be a cute innocent bundle of fluff without a care in the world?

There is a meta that examines this (sorry, I can’t find it, I’m useless at this), which comes to the conclusion that Aziraphale later on is suffering from guilt (that he might have unwittingly prompted Crowley to seek answers and hence fall), but this still doesn’t explain why Aziraphale knows that asking questions might be a Bad Idea, and Angel!Crowley doesn’t. After all, Angel!Crowley has apparently been working “very closely with Upstairs”.  Shouldn’t he be a bit more clued up?

This leads me to think that there are 2 possible explanations for this.

1. Angel!Crowley has been so far out of things playing with stars that he really is clueless about everything (possible but doesn’t really match up to the Crowley that we know today).

2. This is not a true record of events.

Either: it is one of Aziraphale’s memories, but coloured by what he knows today, so the conversation that actually occurred might have been quite different. Maybe it is because of Aziraphale’s less than perfect recall, or maybe the memory was tweaked (e.g. by the Metatron) to emphasize the innocence of Angel!Crowley and the injustice of his later fall.

Or: IT NEVER EVEN HAPPENED AT ALL. Their true first meeting was as S1, on the walls of Eden, and it is all a false memory planted by the Metatron. (This could also explain why we don’t get to hear Angel!Crowley’s name. It’s not actually known, so can’t be added to the ‘memory’). Why would he do this? It could be to make Aziraphale think that Angel!Crowley was so full of joy that he should be reinstated to recapture that innocence.

There are plenty of theories about the other flashback episodes in the series, all of which could be interpreted as showing off Crowley’s 'good' side, to make the thought of his reinstatement as an angel more plausible or even necessary to right an ancient wrong.

If any or all of this is the Metatron’s doing, what is the motive? He clearly loathes Crowley. Maybe reinstatement as an angel would automatically wipe out his memories of being Crowley and all of his Earthly experience, so you would end up with a cute innocent (and ultimately useless) angel with no memories of his friendship with Aziraphale. Or perhaps it was a way to get him to come up to Heaven where he could be ambushed and imprisoned.

Or maybe the Metatron always knew that the very concept would go down like a lead balloon and that its aim was to make Aziraphale and Crowley part in such a way that they would be less likely to try to contact each other later.

There are so many pieces to this puzzle. Just when I think that a couple might go together I find others that don’t fit with the patterns already made, and which sometimes seem to belong to a different puzzle altogether. I’m sure that I already have 5 corner pieces.

[rayroseu]

I have this theory that Prince Levan and Yuu are similar.

Don't you think their traits so far matches? Kind, patient, able to traverse through adversities (for now its just raging Draconias lol), aspires to resolve conflicts between oppositions, doesn't possess any bias (maybe because they prefer peaceful options).

There is also a scene that matched well with what we know of Prince Levan with Yuu --

• Prince Levan dealing with Malenoa's tantrum safely -> Yuu telling Malleus to calm down and Malleus actually listening (during their trip kn GloMas)

• Prince Levan manages the foreign affairs of Land of Briar, he is negotiating to stop ravaging their land -> Yuu is assigned as the Prefect of NRC, they deal with the trouble ensuing in every dorm and striving to make its members work together.

• Prince Levan is Malenoa's informant and seems to be on the frontlines while Malenoa's the strategist -> Yuu is always tasked as the record keepers or watcher of events (even in main story) by Crowley, and sometimes if there's actual trouble, Yuu tells Crowley about it, providing Crowley some stand-in in dealing with NRC troubles rather than himself.

• If we assume that all Draconias are similar, perhaps its safe to assume that Malenoa was also interested with Levan because he treated her normally (because like Malleus she was also revered too much and didnt experience much normality).

It mirrors similarly to the dynamic of Malleus and Yuu in the present, how Yuu is not afraid of him and in turn, makes Malleus feel like a normal person.

• Lilia mentions him, Malenoa, and Levan are childhood friends. So, it means that Levan and Malenoa probably met when they were children. Malleus is only 178 out of 1000 years adult age, Lilia stated him as a child. Plus, if we refer to the past ages of official Yuu's (Yuuken and Yuuka are 17), they are children -growing up as well. (At least I think so-- 17 is really young for me lol) Anyways, we see that Malleus and Yuu got to know each other in their developing years or something--

• This is kind of a theory but Levan and Yuu have the traits of a beasttamer- Lilia states that Draconias are montrous (but they're still faes.) Yuu was dubbed as beasttamer by Crowley because of how they took care of Grim. Grim is a monster. And, both Yuu and Levan, like stated before, deals with "their monster's rages."

• Both Malleus and Malenoa seems to get attracted by Levan and Yuu because of their compassion to them. (Malenoa views Levan as "he's the only one she can depend on" and he cooked for her so we can believe that Levan was kind to Malenoa.) In contrast, Draconias are always seen as "ruthless villains" "cruel" and "terrifying."

• As the game repeatedly tells us, Draconias exceeds so much from the average. They are seemingly evil, powerful and ruthless to people, even when Malleus was raised by Lilia to be "a gentle fairy" he struggles still. And, because of the normality/kindness of Yuu and Levan, that they are most interesting to Draconias. Since all those traits (being normal) are essentially their unknown and the impossible---

• I think Draconias are also fascinated by the "weakness" and braveness of Yuu/Levan. (Levan was pitiful during the time where he, Lilia and Malenoa got lost while Malenoa just had a fun time out of it). Malleus teases Yuu about is he scary now since we always seem fearless to him- I wonder if Malenoa treated Levan this way as well... (because all Draconias seems to have same personalities lol i.e Malenoa has a habit of being talkative at unusual hours too much like how Malleus visits us to talk in the night)

• This is a reach, but Levan didn't get any silouette despite the fact he was explained many times by Lilia, just like how Yuu never gets revealed in game.

• The fact that Levan seems to be referenced from the two events: Glorious Masquerade and Halloween. These events have involved Yuu importantly instead of them just being on the sidelines-

Glorious Masquerade because it seems like he's Diablo-inspired and Malleus' outfit in that event has feathers of a raven. And, the fact Levan's Name is spelled like Raven. Plus, his outfit was designed to resemble royalty Briar Valley clothing and Levan IS a Briar Valley royalty (the princess' husband.)

Halloween Event because of Levan's title containing Long/Dragon Prince Levan. Malleus' Halloween costume was a Long/Chinese Dragon. Plus, the event highlighted the difference between Western and Eastern Dragon when Malleus info-dumped Vil about it so it holds significance that Eastern Dragons exists.

• There's also this parallel of Levan and Yuu being the one who goes and never returns. It seems that Malenoa sent Levan as her messenger to the Silver Owls to stop ravaging their land-- and now she is searching for him since he hasn't returned. Maybe we can assume Malenoa is regretting it because Levan's abscene is alarming that she is sending Lilia to find him. I think the act of "sending away" can be related to how Malleus accepted immediately that we're leaving to go back home despite his fear of losing us.

In conclusion, Malleyuu is generational OR In every Draconia heir there is a Yuu for them in the Yuuniverse population😂🐉🦐

Also, correct me if any of the info mentioned are amiss 😭 sometimes my mind just rolls and makes stuff up and I'm convinced it was real LOL

sorry if i didnt add sufficient screenshots, i didnt want to reach the photo limit lol and most of the things i mentioned about Malleus (for me) seems to be basic facts in the fandom so i thought it unnecessary.

credits to gasmask01 on YT and @/081314 for the translations

[twstfanblog]

~Manhwa AU- A Fairytale Do-Over~ Pt 4

A/N: GUESS WHAT!? Manhwa AU is back! I've gotten a new writing process that I've been trying out and it's been working wonders for me so far. So, as a treat, I thought I should finally give you guys the AU you were actually waiting on Word Count: 3.8K Pairings: Azul & His Parents, Political Marriage Crewel x Crowley Warnings: Children bullying, Mild description of an injured child, Google translate Prev / Next

“Pull her harder!”

“Sir-”

“Harder I say!”

“No!”

Dire stood in the doorway of his daughter's room, dressed for the long journey ahead of them.

Going from one side of the empire to the other in one day was technically possible. Though technically, the Northern and Southern tips of the empire were much further than the general public thought about. To make it from the Crowley Duchy to the Mostro Beach Front was nearly a full day's journey. So, to get there in time for the Ashengrotto’s dinner party, leaving time for Divus to prim and prep himself and their daughter, the Crowley family left their estate before the sun came up.

Normally, the two would have everything packed and simply scoop their sleeping child into the carriage With them. But, today —tonight? — Yuu was already awake and seemingly waiting for them. Sitting up in her bed as she firmly stated she would not be going to the dinner party.

Which is how things have escalated to this moment. Bernadette and Annette trying to pull Yuu from the post of her bedframe under Divus's orders. The two maids being shoved to the side as Divus gripped Yuu by her ankles and tugged.

“Puppy, remove yourself from that post this INSTANT-”

“Noooooo! I'm not going!”

“Excuse you-”

“Divus. Enough.”

Sound stilled. Divus and Yuu both looking over their shoulders in wide-eyed surprised at the man’s serious tone.

Sputtering, Divus let go of one ankle to gesture to Yuu, “You can't simply cave to her tantrums! This dinner party was RSVPed MONTHS AGO!”

Walking closer, Dire easily removed Divus's hand from Yuu's leg, scoping their child in one arm as he placed her back onto the covers of her bed, “She's clearly unwilling to attend. Lord only knows what she'd be like in the carriage…This isn't a fight you will win, Divus.

“...BUT-”

“Divus.” Dire sends Yuu a concerned look, stepping closer to his husband and speaking in a hushed tone, “We both know she's been…unsociable since her nightmare. Maybe she simply feels safer being home for now. She only stopped bursting into tears a week ago…”

“...” Divus wanted to fight, to bite and bark as he normally did, but instead stomped toward Yuu's closet, “Fine! I'll set some outfits aside for her, since we'll be gone the next few days…” He had quickly pulled out nearly a dozen dresses, choices for the days in their absence. Turning back to Yuu, he pets her hair softly, almost sighing out, “Be good for Bernadette and Anette, puppy.”

“Yes, daddy…”

Dire walks close as Divus all but flies out of the room, angry that Yuu's dinner outfit will be going to waste, kneeling before her seat on her bed, “My darling, I have an assignment for you.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. I want you to get all of your homework done before we come back from the party.”

Yuu’s expression sours, nose matching Divus’s in how it scrunched, “But that's not due for another four days!”

Dire stands, shrugging his shoulders and pinching Yuu's cheek teasingly, “Well, if you make a fuss, you will have to pay the price. Have your homework done when we get back and I'll make sure your papa doesn’t get to punish you for a whole week.”

“...Promise?”

“...” He could only smile, seeing a bit of his mischievous daughter finally poking through the haze of confusion and sorrow she had become recently, “Promise, my darling.”

The Southern district was a secondary crown jewel of the empire behind the capital. Pristine white buildings with their cool-toned shingled tops mimicked the sea in both the day and night. Cafés, clothing stores, toy shops, and every type business gathered in its sand boarded location. The southern district was an area made for the populace not afraid to drop their coins.

The Ashengrotto family played a small but important part in its success. The family trade was that of lawyers, generations of nobility putting their minds to use for the greater good of the kingdom in building fair guidelines for trade with their nautical neighbors. And while the current head of house kept true to his empirical duties, he had recently taken interest in the culinary scene. A change brought on by his second wife, a lovely woman from the sea who had opened a restaurant when coming to land.

She was a merfolk, uncommon but not rare to their empire, who originally had her own underwater eatery not far from their coast. A chance meeting, as she had returned a lost crate to the Asim harbor and refused to allow anyone to touch it that was not Sir Ashengrotto himself. From there, it was simply love at first sight.

And while the move had seemed exciting, he and his mother were so happy in their new family, Azul had come to feel like land was a never ending nightmare. He wasn't popular in the sea as far as he could remember, though his mother was such a marvel at parties and her own restaurant, land wasn't much different. While one of his playmates was almost as antisocial as him, the other was a torture to be around. 

Yuu Crowley was the meanest child Azul had ever known, he's sure of it. She'd pinch his cheeks and pat his stomach every time they had tea parties. He'd be dragged around at parties, forced away from the other noble children and kept to her own devices. He's sure at some point she'd give him a bald spot from how she'd tug on his hair at random times. His playdates with Yuu were mostly him trying to escape her, unable to understand why his parents thought the girl's attacks against him were ‘cute’.

Azul sat at the vanity in his bedroom, allowing the butlers to fuss over his hair and bowtie as he pondered. Maybe he could fake sick and hold up in his room for the night, Yuu had recently been ill as well if his memory serves. Surely her fathers wouldn't want to risk her being infected again so quickly after recovering. 

He sighs as he thinks it over, ‘No…she'd surely insist that all was well and he needed to have company. That her own brush with sickness made her less likely to catch anything.’ The thought bounced around his head, a loud taunt to him as none of his plans to avoid the girl ever worked. Yuu was persistent, and frighteningly strong for a girl her age, even by merfolk standards. While Azuls talents were in evasion and his own quick mind, even he wasn't able to fight against someone strong enough to physically lift him over her head…

The butlers pulled back, allowing him to see his purple and pearl detailed outfit, the centerpiece of a seashell brooch over his bowtie.

“What say you, young master? Down right dapper if I do think myself!” The oldest butler speaks, his mouth hidden by the salt and peppered moustache.

Azul may have still found the land to be confusing and torturous, but it was never by anyone in the Ashengrotto household. He and his mother were welcomed and basically pampered since they had entered the manor. He gives the team around him his best smile, adjusting his glasses in mimicky of his step father, “I would have to agree with you, Barcel. Some of your finest work.”

Primed and dressed, looking out the windows to the seaside cradling the setting sun as he made his way to the kitchens. Gently opening the door, he poofed his cheeks at the sight before yelling, “Mama! The party starts in an hour!”

His mother pauses in her taste testing, eyes wide as they take him in only to turn toward the clock against the wall. Seeing the time she flings the spoon back to the chef and moves her way through the kitchen, “Dannatu! Grazzi, tesoro meu.” She takes a moment to wipe her hands on her apron, bending down to pinch his cheeks gently, “Ah! You look so handsome. I can’t wait for you to dazzle everyone at the party.”

“Please go get ready. It'd do no good for the hostess to be late for her own party, mama.”

She waves her hands at him playfully, standing up and sashaying down the hall to her no doubt furious team of maids, “It's as Divus calls it, me tesoro, fashionably late!”

Her laughter does nothing to ease the pit in his stomach at the reminder of what his night was to become.

His mother just barely made it to his stepfather's side to greet the guests with them. Each of them in seafoams and purples with different types of shells, his stepfather in helmets, his mother in westletraps, and his bowtie proudly holding its moonshell.

The greeting stage was always quick. Everyone normally hungry from travel, eager to try his mother's new menu items, or simply network. He bows in sync with his stepfather to each guest, the older man keeping a gentle hand to the back of his neck in silent parental claim. Azul does his best to smile and wave to the other noble children, feeling defeated and crushed each time they avert their eyes and give him tense bows and curtises in return.

Azul wasn't sure if he ever had other playmates; his first memories on land a haze to him now. But he does clearly remember the night Yuu Crowley punched another child so hard they spat blood as they wailed. No other noble child had dared to approach him since. He's sure she was punished, seeing how he didn't see her for the entire rest of the season outside of traveling to the Crowley estate for her birthday party. He wonders if life on land would really be so bad if he had someone to speak to other than the violent Crowley Heiress and the ever-withdrawn Shroud Dukeling.

He felt himself tense seeing the midnight in motion carriage of the Crowley family. He held his breath as the door was opened, Divus and Dire exiting it hand in hand. As the door was closed behind them, he could physically taste the confusion in himself and his parents.

The couple walked up the stairs, Divus instantly smiling and greeting his mother with two kisses above her cheeks. Though briefly startled, she kissed his cheeks in turn, hands gripping his gloved ones, “Where is the cucciola?”

Azul watches the second the smile turns strained on Divus's face, but before he could speak, Dire had but in while still shaking his father's hand.

“Ah! She is still a bit under the weather. Though the Southern District is warmer, we didn't feel comfortable making her travel.”

“I see…”

The conversation faded to the background for Azul, eyes widening at the news. Yuu was still sick, she wasn't there.

He tired to hide his smile, almost bouncing on his feet and waving his hands at his side before looking up to his mother, “May I be excused from greeting!?” He only realized he had yelled when the four adults turned to him stunned. Clearing his throat, he moved into a more calm stance, arms folded behind his back and chin held parallel to the ground, “Please?”

His parents share a brief look before his step father smiles, gesturing further inside, “Of course, son. Do well to not fill up on the hor'dourves.”

“Understood, I will see you both at the dining table.” Azul was barely out of the entryway before he broke out into a sprint.

The main dining hall was comfortably packed, noblemen and commoner business partners loitering around with glasses of champagne and small tea plates of food. He felt nervous, bubbles filling his chest at finally being able to network as all grand and true nobles do. He just had to…

There. 

Tucked into a corner, hovering and sitting on multiple couches, where most of the children he had greeted at the door. He brushed off his coat, tightening his bowtie the way Barcel had shown him ages ago before making his way over to the children.

At his approach, they all looked briefly panicked, each physically turning away and whispering before going silent. He didn't let it deter him, walking with a quicker pace and chin held high. Standing in front of them, he could feel the smile on his cheeks hurting, “Hello. We haven't spoken often, but I am Azul Lee Ashengrotto. It's a pleasure to meet you all.”

The silence in response hurt, but he didn’t let it stop him. He stepped closer, bending at the waist to whisper, “It's ok. I know you all didn't talk to me because Yuu was here. She didn't come tonight.”

The news made the children all blink at him in surprise, tense postures relaxing as they looked toward him. A few whisper, though one girl openly starts to look around for the Crowley heiress.

Smiling, Azul gestures to the space around, “I know! Finally, we can all have civil conversations without-”

A boy laughs, sharp and nasal as he looks down his nose at Azul, “So the Crowley girl finally dropped the dead weight?”

…

Azul’s smile stopped hurting, his cheeks loosing tension as the pain started to grow in his chest, “Huh…?”

A girl snickers behind her fan, turning away from him as she speaks to another child beside her, “Is it dead weight? I think the better term is blubber.”

The group of them laugh, loud and cold as Azul slowly feels every bit of happiness recede into him, “I…W-what?”

“Ugh. Nothing going for you, huh? Fat, common blooded, and slow? Really, what does Sir Ashengrotto see in you?”

“He- My stepfather is nice to me!”

“Yes, just that.” The first boy steps closer to him, a hand poking him hard in his chest with each word he speaks, “Step. Father.” He pulls back, arms crossed over his chest, “Did you really think we'd bother with the son of some common woman? You're basically a pitied bastard.”

Another girl whispers loudly to the one with the fan, the two of them semi hidden behind the accessory, “Did you hear how proudly he said his middle name? As if carrying ‘Lee’ in one's name is something to be proud of.” The two snicker, the laughter only growing louder as Azul’s eyes snap toward them.

“T-this is my home and my mother's party. Show some respect!”

Another boy steps forward, nearly stomping on Azul’s shoe, “Huh!? Says the common blooded stray who was adopted because his mother wouldn't say yes unless he could come. You're a burden.” 

“Stupid too. Poor thing really didn't notice the Crowley girl was the only one who wanted to play with him. Boohoo. Wah~.”

Each child took their turns, insulting him, his mother, his blood, his face, his body. Anything and everything about him deemed unworthy and pitiful, finally free to rip him apart in his very home. Azul looked down, eyes burning as he tucked his chin to his chest.

“Ah! Look he's gonna cry!”

The laughter that followed was the nail in his coffin. Azul turned on his heel, barely keeping his balance and ran from them with tears poking through his lashes. He run into more than a few dresses, scratchy lace and overly perfumed skirts clouding his senses before the thick scent of the sea brought him to his mother. He slammed into the back of her dress, hands clutching the fabric and pearls as he cried into it.

“Oh, me tesoro, what's wrong?”

He didn't want to say, he didn't want to make things hard for her again. His mother was happier on land, more successful, a man loved her here. He couldn't…he couldn't be a burden to her and the thought made him cry harder.

Above him he heard his parents speaking before smelling lemon and rosemary, two strong hands gripping him and pulling him upwards. He curls just as hard into his step father as he did his mother's skirts, letting the older man pat his back comfortingly.

“You don't need to tell us now. Let's get you upstairs and we'll have the staff bring you dinner there.”

“...” He sniffles, pulling his eyes away from his stepfather's suit in fear he'd cry ink into the light fabric, “Okay…”

“I love you, son.”

“Ti vogghiu beni, tesoro meu”

Azul loved them too, with everything his hearts could hold. But now he wasn't sure how to feel. Alone, bullied, furious, abandoned. He couldn't help but wonder if Yuu had thought he was useless and pitiful too, or did she only feel that way about him now? Was torment at her hands truly the only happiness he could find among his peers? A happiness that was seeming to slip through his fingers

Tightening the grip he held on his father's suit, Azul manages to give his mother a watery smile, one that doesn't ease the worry in her eyes, “I love you, too…”

Dire And Divus returned to their estate later than normal. Walking into the manor both exhausted late in the night two days later. While the dinner had proceeded normally, Dire taking note of the empty seat to the left of the Lady Ashengrotto, it was after the meal that had ruined Divus's carefully crafted timeline.

The Lady Ashengrotto was a pleasant woman, friendly, charismatic charm oozing like the ink she held in her true form. She was also big — in both body and emotion — a fact that made her a threat when her emotions went too far in one direction, becoming prone to manhandling. Dire had truly feared he would have been thrown from the office window more than once as the couple questioned them on Yuu's whereabouts.

They stayed true to their agreed lie, Yuu was sick. She was weak in body to the point she did not wish to travel in any capacity and what kind of monsters would they be to force her to?

While the Sir Ashengrotto was willing to take their words, his wife was in a fit for most of the night, rounding back from tantrums to questioning them again and again. It was only by pure luck of Sir Ashengrotto calming his wife enough to point out that Azul would love to be tucked into bed after the night he no doubt had. She was quick to flee the room, Dire and Divus not far behind after hasty spoken goodbyes.

Now standing in their entryway, Divus could barely mumble a good night toward Dire before making a path toward their bedroom, Bernadette and Anette each keeping him steady.

Dire turned to the maid who took his hat and coat, “Is our child in her room?”

She nods, the floor length coat tucked neatly in her coats as she cursties, “Yes, sir. She had her dinner and tried to stay up to greet you both. But when it got too late we made sure she was sent to bed.”

“Perfect. And her work?”

“Managed to finish the last of it just after lunch.”

“Hm….” He nods, dismissing the maid and walking toward his office. Though it was more common for nobles to hire private tutors for their children, Dire and Divus had elected to other methods. Yuu would self study, completing worksheets that were sent off to off seasoned and retired tutors to be graded. He would review her work himself before sending it off of course, learning from Yuu’s moments of vengeance against him as she wrote a message on her work to ‘Please send help’. 

Opening the folder, he chuckles at seeing his daughter's angry scribbles acting as a cover page. The fountain pen she was gifted was beautiful, she just couldn't hold the damn thing without nearly emptying it out in one big ink blot at least once when using it. As normal her writing became more confident as she went further. And the longer he looked, the more he feared he had hit another dead end.

Then he pulled out her math homework. He loved his daughter, but math was not her strongest subject by far. Her work was normally long, the girl managing to work herself in circles before coming to the wrong answer. But before him — though still peppered with wrong answers— was neat lines of math work. Looking closer, he recognized the method, a shorthand used for its ease by merchants. A method that Yuu should have no knowledge of at this stage of her schooling. He places that sheet to the side, electing to rewrite the homework copying Yuu's script. It'd be easy to lie as to why it was a copy should the teacher ask. Yuu was unfortunately subject to more than a few extensions due to ink blotted papers.

He wasn't sure what lie he could think of if they saw she had seemingly learned an intermediate method all on her own.

He and Divus had spoken on the ride home, each with their own concerns about their child. It wasn't hard to see she was isolating herself, slowly but surely cutting off her friend group with little explanation than tears. And neither could bear to see her cry.

Divus worried for her studies. She and Azul meeting monthly in the capital library to overlook their homework and correct whatever the other got wrong acting as the scene of their playdates. Though from the sea, Azul was more than capable with math and Yuu was easing him through surface life by explaining its history to him in more understandable terms. Both sets of parents fearing for the effects breaking their bond could mean for the other.

With a sigh, Crowley picked up his quill and penned a letter. They could try in the morning to convince Yuu to not reject Azul as she had Malleus. But from how hard she had fought them before, Dire was sure she had already made up her mind. And while it was less than ideal, Crowley had to find a new study partner for his child.

Ortho's room was dark, a part of Idia liked it that way. Their hair gave off soft lighting, leaving them floating in the dark untouched by bad things. Sitting at his brother’s bedside, Idia tinkered away silently. Turning the final screw on his project, he smiled and moved to place his tools back into their box before returning to Ortho’s side. Setting the machine on his brother’s side table, Idia gently patted his brother’s small chest, “Ortho, it's ready. Wake up.”

Dark bagged eyes slowly blink open, raspy breathes behind an oxygen mask turning to a weak smile as his eyes focused on matching topaz.

He turns, hand hovering over the machine as he looked to his brother, “Ready?”

The grunt Ortho lets out almost sounds painful, but he nods with as much excitement as he can.

Idia presses a button on his creation, neon blue and yellow projected stars filling up every corner of the room. With each speck of light, it only felt more and more that they were floating above it, safe and untouched in the vacuum of space. He smiles, watching as Ortho's dull eyes brighten and scan around the room in awe. Reaching over, he holds his brother's hand in his, ignoring the way the cold limb twitches under his touch, reconnected nerves still tender and fighting their way to healing.

“When you're all better, we can go stargazing again…I promise.”

[ducksido]

Hi! I hope you're having a lovely day. I was watching some "Avengers" movies (god, I can’t stop watching the one called "war" or something like that), and out of nowhere, I started imagining—how would the characters from Twisted Wonderland react to a Yuu (preferably male) who’s an Avenger? I was thinking you could take inspiration from different characters(? I mean, maybe a Wonder Woman (in this case, Wonder Man? 😓) dating Riddle, and Leona with Black Panther?? Sorry if I’m not making much sense. 😭😭

Riddle Rosehearts × Wonder Man!Yuu

Powers: Super strength, flight, indestructible bracers conjured from magic. Noble, principled, and terrifyingly efficient in battle. Vibe: You’re basically a walking justice manifesto wrapped in charisma and polite sass.

Riddle tries to scold you for breaking school rules, but the moment you disarm a rogue monster from the Ghost Camera event with your bare hands, he’s sputtering.

“That’s... not how we duel at NRC, Yuu! And also—did you just catch a bolt of lightning?!”

You: “You said to handle it without causing damage to the courtyard.”

He becomes lowkey obsessed with your sense of justice. You believe in rules because they protect the weak—his heart does a full 360. The Heartslabyul students are so confused when Riddle starts blushing every time you call him “your little rose.”

Leona Kingscholar × Panther King!Yuu

Inspired by Black Panther Powers: Superhuman strength and reflexes, enhanced senses, vibranium-clawed gauntlets, ancestral magic from a hidden jungle kingdom. Vibe: Calm, strategic, and a bit smug, with deep loyalty to your people.

Leona thinks you’re just another high-and-mighty noble at first—until you outmaneuver him during a Spelldrive match without even sweating. The audacity.

Leona: “Don’t think I didn’t see that fake-out. You trying to show me up?” You: “Just making sure the prince gets his claws sharpened.”

He finds you infuriating and attractive in equal measure. He respects strength, but he adores subtlety—and you’re both. You challenge his laziness and show him what it means to lead with grace. Over time, your quiet authority makes him soften (just a little).

Azul Ashengrotto × Iron Mage!Yuu

Inspired by Iron Man/Doctor Strange fusion Powers: Tech genius, magical artifact wielder, portal manipulation. A dramatic cape. Vibe: Snarky, charming, and too smart for your own good.

You run circles around Azul in business negotiations and smugly open portals like it’s child’s play. He pretends to be annoyed, but really? He’s obsessed. You two are the “too powerful for anyone else” power couple. Everyone is scared of you both.

Azul: “I’d offer you a contract, but I imagine you’d find a loophole I didn’t even write yet.” You: “Oh, Azul, darling—I invented loopholes.”

The Lounge thrives with your tech support. You built Jade and Floyd magical espresso machines. You made Azul a holographic customer tracker. He’s in love and terrified.

🐉 Malleus Draconia × Stormbringer!Yuu

Inspired by Thor Powers: Weather control, god-like durability, storm-born magic. Can summon storms with your voice. Vibe: Regal, intense, a bit dramatic—but charmingly clueless about Earth things.

Malleus stares in awe the first time you call down a thunderstorm during a Night Raven blackout. You stand in the middle of the storm, eyes glowing, and then say:

“Sorry, I was cold. Thought I’d make some lightning to warm up.”

He finds you fascinating. You're powerful in a way that’s natural to him. The others fear him, but you match his energy—no fear, only wonder. You talk to him like an equal, even when sparking with raw magic.

You two take midnight flights together, him with bat wings, you surfing clouds like a celestial.

Vil Schoenheit × Vision!Yuu (aka “Aesthetic Android” BF)

Inspired by: Vision Powers: Intangibility, flight, hyper-intelligence, and emotional evolution through data and experience. Elegant af.

Vil didn’t know what to expect when Crowley introduced you as a “foreign exchange student from a distant… timeline.” You glide into the room, composed, graceful, and glowing faintly with cosmic energy. You analyze NRC like a poetic computer:

“The beauty of this place… is data arranged into visual harmony.”

Vil's ego was ready to scoff—until you proceeded to walk through a wall, save a Dorm Spelldrive match mid-game by phasing through the field, and then compliment his foundation by comparing it to nebula shimmer.

You’re logical, well-spoken, and slowly learning emotion—especially love. Vil finds himself constantly surprised when you’ll suddenly say things like:

“Statistically speaking, I find myself recalibrating around you, Vil. I believe this is what humans call… affection?”

He is NOT prepared for a boyfriend who phases through mirrors to bring him fresh tea during spa days. But he adores it. You remind him beauty isn’t just visual���it’s emotional, too.

Idia Shroud × Spider-Man!Yuu (aka “Neighborhood Chaos Gremlin” BF)

Inspired by: Peter Parker / Spider-Man Powers: Wall-crawling, web-slinging, spider senses, chaotic hero energy. Vibe: Nerdy, snarky, and charmingly awkward.

Idia has never met anyone who can beat him at games AND do backflips off the ceiling. You’re the only one in the entire school who can sneak up on him—by hanging upside down outside his window and tapping on the glass with a webbed hand.

“Hey babe! Wanna skip class and swing around the school? I found a cool mossy rock!”

He thought you were a hallucination at first. “There’s no way a real person just thwipped onto my gaming chair.” But then you offered him a home-coded arcade cabinet with your webs spun into LED wiring.

You two bond over tech, coding, and being the most awkwardly brilliant people in the room. You call each other dumb nicknames like “WiFi Warrior” and “Web Head,” and you cling to walls during romantic conversations just because you can.

When you get serious (like, defending him from a magical cyber attack), your goofy nature flips into “calm hero mode,” and Idia melts.

Kalim Al-Asim × Captain Sunshine!Yuu (aka “Yuu Rogers”)

Inspired by: Captain America Powers: Enhanced strength, speed, leadership instincts, a shield made from sunsteel. Glowing hope incarnate. Vibe: Sunshine protector who makes inspirational speeches and also loves hugs.

Kalim was already sunshine personified—but then YOU showed up.

You caught a falling chandelier on your first day with one hand, told Crowley “with all due respect, sir,” and then helped mop the floor. Kalim was starstruck.

“Waitwaitwait—are you a hero hero?! Like—defends the innocent and jumps off buildings and helps little kittens cross the street?! THAT’S SO COOL!!”

You both get excited about the smallest things—buffet tables, flower crowns, matching outfits. You're a “power couple” in the most literal way.

You give heroic speeches and Kalim claps every time. You protect others without hesitation. And when he gets overwhelmed? You kneel down and smile softly:

“You shine so bright, Kalim. Let me shield you when you need it.”

He’s sobbing. Jamil is quietly begging you to not encourage his chaos. You do anyway.

[cryptidghostgirl]

Are your requests still open? I was hoping for a request for a Lucifer x sinner reader where she was once in love with someone when she was alive but they betrayed her leading to her death causing her to be afraid of letting others in. She's been a resident of the hotel since the pilot, but doesn't really talk much about her feelings or past life but is convinced by Charlie who says singing helps her when she needs to get out her own emotions. So when she thinks everyone is gone for the day on one of Charlie's bonding field trips, she uses the piano in the main area to sing her heart out, not realizing Lucifer decided to stay. The song I'm thinking of is "Perfect Doesn't Last" by Beth Crowley. So when she sings it and he overhears listening and watching her he's reminded of Lilith and feels for the reader understanding her more than when they first met during his first visit to the hotel (ep 5). I'm not sure of how to end it, so if you want to add anything to it I'm totally up for it. I just thought this song would match him so well.

A/N this is my first time writing for this man. Also,, i think it’s so funny that everyone is just like “short king” even tho alastor is canonically at least seven feet tall and charlie is at least like six feet tall. that’s so silly of us.

Encore (Lucifer x Reader)

Paring: Lucifer x Reader

Warnings: Domestic abuse briefly mentioned.

Word Count: 2,169

Master Lists:

Master Lists 

Hazbin Hotel Master List

Lucifer had just wanted to visit Charlie. With their relationship on the up and up, he was eager to not give up his chance to fix things with his favorite and only daughter. However, when he arrived at the hotel, throwing the doors open in unadulterated excitement, it was to find the normally busy lobby area empty.

The door fell shut behind him and his smile slipped from his face. Carefully, he ran his eyes over every inch of the room. There really was no one to be found.

"Maybe they're just all in their rooms, yeah." he said aloud to himself, "Charlie is probably... in her office! It must take a lot of work to run a place like this. Yeah, that's what it is."

Charlie, Vaggie, and Alastor had asked her to come with them to the movies. It was supposed to be a reward, for how hard they had all been working. They had really tried their best to convince Y/n to join them but, as always was the case when activities that took them out of the hotel were not required, Y/n had declined the offer.

Y/n was still getting used to Hell in all its big scary wonder, she still hurt. Everything was so complicated and while spending time with her thoughts didn't make her feel good per-say, spending time with others had been making her feel even worse. Besides, Charlie had given her some advice a few days ago she wanted to test out and she didn't exactly feel comfortable doing that while the hotel was crawling with people.

Y/n trusted Charlie. She was the first person to have extended a kind hand in her direction since her arrival in Hell. When Charlie had found out Y/n had been a concert pianist in the living world, she was elated.

"That's perfect!" she had said, leaning across the desk towards her, "We have a piano in the Hotel's auditorium!"

"I... I don't know if I really can... perform, right now. If that's alright." Y/n had replied, wringing her hands and unable to keep eyecontact.

"What? Oh no! That's not what I meant at all. It just seems... well if you did it for a living, you must have loved it. And it seems like you always have a lot on your mind, lots of stuff to process, and I know you don't like talking to people about it and, well, music always makes me feel better. It feels freeing, like I'm getting everything bottled up inside me out when I sing."

"I... I don't think I've ever really thought about it that way." she had admitted in response, "It was just something I had always done. I started lessons when I was three."

"Well, you should try it some time." Charlie had smiled back, "Maybe it will help."

Once she was sure everyone was gone and the hotel was hers alone, Y/n had slipped quietly from the confinement of her room. It had taken her a bit to find the auditorium. When she finally did and saw the piano it held, her breath caught in her throat.

It was a beautiful old baby grand made out of a warm cherry wood that matched the hotel's theming well. The lid had creaked when she had opened it, the keys had been dusty to the touch.

It had been a long time since she'd played. With mild joy, she let her fingers run the usual scales and arpeggios, finding a comfort in the familiarity of it all. Once satisfied her fingers were all warmed up and ready to play something real, she posed them over the keys.

Lucifer had lost himself in the depths of the labyrinthine hotel. The twists and turns of the hallways were unfamiliar to him despite the tour Charlie, Vaggie, and Alastor had lead him on. His hope at finding his daughter and spending some time with her had long since flickered out. He was on the verge of going home, his hand half raised to open a portal, when he heard it.

A faint echo of music flooded the hallway and Lucifer froze. It was haunting and distant, it drew him in. His sights set on a new sort of entertainment for the afternoon, he listened carefully and began to follow the sound.

As he got closer to its source, Lucifer realized that who ever was making the music was not just playing the piano but singing. Their voice was soft and lovely, nearly ethereal in its sheer humanity and anguish.

I would have bet on us

We were untouchable, you and I

I couldn't get enough

It was a fairytale come to life

Lucifer at last reached the half open door to the room the music appeared to be coming from. Not wanting to disturb the artist just yet, he transformed into a snake and slithered his way silently into the room. There, sitting at the piano on the stage, was Y/n.

I had your heart

At least that's what I thought

Now I'm second guessing every moment

Wondering where we went so wrong

He didn't really know much about Y/n except that she was new to Hell. Charlie had mentioned off hand that she had died in an incident of domestic abuse. Lucifer had no idea why she had ended up in Hell or what she was really like. When he had visited the hotel the first time, Y/n had been quiet and reserved. She had stood to the side and watched, barley even introducing herself to him.

At first, he had thought it to be disrespect. Not every demon in Hell was his biggest fan after all and while he was used to it, it still stung that even one of his daughters would be reformed sinners would be blatantly rude to him. He had quickly realized however from her flittering eyes and the way she clutched at herself that it wasn't disrespect at all. Y/n had been nervous.

Of course, Lucifer had made an attempt to make her feel more comfortable but, when he had extended his metaphorical hand, Y/n had just closed herself off even further. According to Charlie and Angel Dust, that was just what the demoness was like. She was shy.

You got inside my head

Taking up every inch of space

'Til there was no room left

Her hands flew across the keys with a practiced grace. Lucifer felt she knew he was there, watching. He felt that she just might be performing for him.

So many parts of me erased

You had my heart

And tossed it in the dirt

As he listened to the words she sung, they resonated with him. For a split second, he could have sworn it was Lilith sitting there at the piano, not Y/n. He shut his eyes, shaking his head slightly. He was oddly grateful when he opened them again to find it had just been his imagination.

Now that was a first. Since Lilith had disappeared seven years ago, Lucifer had been a mess. Lucifer was always a mess but, Lilith leaving like that really did him in. She had been his rock, his guiding light, his everything. He had risked everything for her and he had lost. At least, back in the old days, he had gained something out of the chaos. A daughter, a wife, a world to try and shape. One after another, they were all taken from him. Even now, even with their relationship improving the way it was, he felt Charlie slipping away again.

Now I'm second guessing every moment

Wondering where we went so wrong

I just keep asking

Would this have been worth it if I knew the ending all along.

Without really thinking about it, Lucifer retook his normal form and sat down in one of the auditorium's front row seats. Thankfully, Y/n was too wrapped up in her own world to notice and she just continued to play.

What started so perfect was over too fast

I should have seen the warning signs

'Cause perfect doesn't last

Perfect doesn't last

Light shined off her face, that was how Lucifer had realized she was crying. Despite the tears, her voice never wavered. A performer at her core, just like him.

I would have bet on us

We were untouchable, you and I

As the last lingering notes echoed through the room, he began to clap. Y/n jumped at the noise, turning to face him with wide eyes and cheeks flushed red with embarrassment. Lucifer was undeterred and, getting to his feet, gave her a standing ovation. After a few moments, he ceased in his applause.

"That was beautiful." he said, breaking the new silence that had fallen between them.

"Um, I'm sorry." Y/n's gaze fell back to the piano.

"No! No no no!" Lucifer exclaimed, jumping up onto the stage.

He kneeled before her, lifting her hands from her lap and taking them in his own. She turned to him, surprise drawing out the features of her face once again.

"Don't apologize for taking up space."

"I... I just didn't mean to disturb you is all. If you're looking for Charlie, she's out at the movies with everyone else."

"I was but, I can talk to her later, when she gets back. You didn't disturb me at all, Y/n. As I said, it was beautiful. It was..."

He trailed off, the smile slipping from his face.

"Oh fuck!" Y/n exclaimed, "I didn't mean to upset you! I'm really sorry, what can I do to make it better?"

"You didn't upset me." Lucifer shook his head, "You just... somehow managed to put words to the very things I've been struggling with the past couple years."

A smaller, much kinder and more genuine smile made its way onto his face.

"If you'd like to play more, I'd love to hear it."

Y/n's cheeks flushed red again.

"Theres no pressure." Lucifer shrugged, "Just giving you the option."

"An audience of one... well, it's a little intimidating." she admitted bashfully, "I'm used to the faceless mob of the crowd."

"I can see why. You have an undeniable gift."

"I guess... I don't know. Charlie just said it might help me process stuff. To play again, I mean."

"Was she right?"

Y/n paused in thought for a moment before nodding slowly.

"I think she might have been. My chest does feel a little lighter now."

"Then play."

"Um, mister... king of Hell? Sir?"

Lucifer laughed.

"You can just call me by my name. No formalities necessary. 'Mister king of Hell sir' was my fathers name."

Y/n laughed lightly at his terrible joke. The sound sparked a sudden joy in Lucifer's chest, one he hadn't felt in quite a long time.

"Well, Lucifer." she began again, stumbling a bit over his name.

"Yes?"

"I'll... um, I'll need my hands back. If I'm to keep playing."

"Wh..."

He looked down and his eyes widened. Lucifer hadn't realized he had still held her hands in his. Immediately he dropped them, getting to his feet and looking away in mild embarrassment.

"Sorry, about that."

"Don't apologize for existing." Y/n parroted his earlier words.

When he turned back to her, it was to find she was smiling slightly.

"How bad would it be if I said sorry again right now?"

"You'd be sounding like me."

"Lets make a deal then: no sorries unless something is actually wrong."

"What if I can't tell if your mad at me or not?"

Lucifer looked down at the seated demon. In not one of his wildest dreams could he ever imagine being mad at her but, that wasn't exactly something he could say.

"Then you can always ask."

"And you promise you wont lie to me?"

"I promise."

"Promise promise?"

"Yes!"

She eyed him suspiciously for a moment before nodding her head. Turning back to the piano, her hands found their place on the keys once again. She hesitated.

"I..." Y/n shot Lucifer a look over her shoulder, "Thank you."

"Thank you. There is some solace in knowing someone else out there feels the same way I do, if for different reasons."

"Yeah. There is, isn't there? Maybe part of our deal can be helping each other figure that all out too."

The suggestion had been half thought out. Y/n hadn't really meant to give it a voice, it had escaped her locked lips. She quickly turned back to the piano.

"Sorry. That was dumb."

"What did we just say about sorries!" Lucifer exclaimed, "No apologizing for existing. I think that suggestion sounds rather nice."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Okay. I... I'm actually going to play now. Is that okay?"

With a snap of his fingers, Lucifer reappeared in the seat he had previously inhabited. He crossed his legs, resting his hands on his knee.

"Whenever your ready."

----

Song is Perfect Doesn't Last by Beth Crowley as requested :)

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

Hi! Have you seen the new Mickey Mouse Rebrushed trailer??? Twitter is goin crazy over it and how it’s related to twst 😭 just wanted to hear your thoughts on it

I did spot quite a few parallels with TWST from the Rebrushed trailer! I'm not familiar with Epic Mickey at all, so I'll just be commenting on what I noticed right away. You'll have to excuse my limited knowledge.

Firstly!! This design of Mickey is the exact same as the one we see in TWST. Most noticeable is his white face, which is a fleshy peach color in most modern iterations.

Mickey is reading Alice in Wonderland’s sequel, Through the Looking Glass. Of course, Twisted Wonderland has Wonderland in its title, and even opens with an Alice in Wonderland inspired dorm. Yuu and Mickey also connect via their dreams and through the mirror shared in their rooms.

The theme of dreams is very present and upfront here; Mickey wakes up from sleeping and then creeps to his mirror, which appears to be a portal into another world. Hmm... dreams, mirrors, and traveling to other worlds, now what does that remind you of? You'll also notice that Mickey's room is the exact same as Yuu's room in Ramshackle, right down to the "inverted" room that appears when Mickey passes through the mirror. Everything up until this point is very similar to what is depicted in the 1936 short, Thru the Mirror.

Next, Mickey spies on a wizard carefully using a magic paintbrush over what seems to be a diorama of a bunch of buildings on a plot of land. When the wizard leaves, Mickey fiddles with the paintbrush, causes a mess, and calls forth some kind of black ink monster with green light coming from within it. This seems to be a very close parallel to Overblots, particularly since the most recent OB has a signature neon green color. If we really are to connect Epic Mickey to TWST, this scene also seems to allude that Yuu, Mickey, and/or the "wizard" have parts to play in bringing these Overblots to life. And who do we know that is a powerful wizard that is aware of the corrupting power of blot and runs a large chunk of land... say, a campus? Crowley. This goes hand-in-hand with the theory that Crowley is intentionally allowing these OBs to happen or is even puppeteering his students into OBing.

I find this visual in particular to be very ominous; again, we have the colors that match a certain OB dragon fae but also the map itself reminds me of Twisted Wonderland's and the eerie visual of Malleus's thorns digging into Sage's Island and aiming to go way beyond it.

Anyway, the ink monster is temporarily contained while Mickey returns to his own world. We then get a montage of various Mickey media passing by, as well as a lot of imagery that would imply the passage of time (clocks, the date on the calendar changing, etc.). So... what? Is that implying not only parallel worlds, but also a time skip? Or maybe a time... loop? Like time loop theory???

The ink monster somehow eventually escapes and makes it to Mickey's world, with the blot dripping from the ceiling waking Mickey up from his sleep. It drags Mickey away into a hole drenched in ink. Kind of foreboding when you realize Yuu has also had prophetic dreams... Not of OBs, but of the events leading up to them. And being dragged away into an inky... opening? Like an... abyss? Like book 7, Ruler of the ABYSS?

That's how the trailer concludes!! Gotta say, there's definitely a lot of shared elements between this and TWST. If I recall correctly, Epic Mickey was a game that existed on the Wii waaay before TWST. It even has largely the same cinematic trailer (just with older graphics), so to me it feels like TWST probably took inspiration from Epic Mickey rather than the other way around. There are definitely too many parallels for it to be a coincidence. If that's the case, then we can probably pull some hints for what awaits us in the rest of book 7 from these cinematics. (This is a video comparing the two side-by-side if you think that might be of use!)