#khalix writes （＾＿＾）☆

[khalixvitae]

Thinking abt Leona lots and lots after talking to @v-anrouge bc there is SO much to unpack abt this man. I feel like he has so much potential for soft moments.

Like I’m stuck thinking about sitting in the sun with Leona. It’s a silent exchange, as are most moments spent alone with him, but you don’t mind. There isn’t really a need to speak- the quiet is comfortable, a testament to the fact that neither one of you has to justify or explain yourself to the other. He’s almost undoubtedly lying down, making himself right at home wherever he so pleases. With long lashes fanned over his cheekbones and his messy curls strewn about your lap, he’s a sight to behold. Every time you try and commit his relaxed features to memory. A vulnerable lion was a rare and privileged sight, after all.

He looks like he was made for this. You can’t imagine a world where he isn’t meant to live in the sunshine.

Or maybe you were made to admire him this way, working your fingernails along his scalp in a wordless act of reverence.

Maybe it’s a bit of both. You’re not entirely sure.

When you finally lie down with him, as you always eventually do, he lets out a sigh- it’s the most noise he’s made quite a while. He’ll wordlessly find his resting place on either your chest or in the crook of your neck. He feels closest to you that way. You’ll know he’s settled in when he sighs again- this time a low rumble from somewhere deep inside his chest. It’s a vulnerable position for both of you, one that relies on utmost trust. Leona is physically stronger than you, yes, but you could break him irrevocably. It’s not the threat of that mutually assured destruction that bonds you, but rather that the fallout will never come; and there is a very, very big difference. You both know that.

The quiet is sacred to you and Leona. It gives space for reverence and mutual understanding, things that aren’t easy to come by nowadays.

But as long as you two have each other and a warm sunny spot, maybe things will turn out alright.

[sol-saggitarius]

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞...

❝ I got so used to your presence that the mere second you’re gone, it turns my world completely upside down. ❞  

Pairing: Leona Kingscholar x Reader

Genre: Fluff

Word Count: 775

Warnings: None!

Author Note: Hello hello! This is one of my first fics I’m posting on Tumblr. I’m slightly nervous haha.. But nonetheless this is a sampler for how I write and I hope you enjoy and come back for more! I’ll be posting two more sampler fics in the near future so look forward to it.

Synopsis: Ever since you two have met, you’ve always been around him. But then suddenly one day you don’t greet him as per usual.

Love was never part of the equation of the life that Leona had thought for himself. All he ever wanted was a peaceful life of rest and relaxation. A life away from his repressed emotions, between his school life and the life he had back home. Just a simple life of resting under the beautiful midday rays of sunshine. 

One fateful day, as some would put it, you had clumsily tripped over his tail. An unfortunate accident of course, but he still felt the pain no less. His low growl pierced your core as you apologized, hoping that at the very least he'd ask you to just leave him alone. As with your luck, you happened to be running late and in a hurry. As if he were reading your mind, he just sighed and shooed you off like dust on his clothing, albeit he was still quite irritated. Nonetheless he was (mostly) back to his peaceful nap and that was all that mattered to him.

As time went on though, he found himself always running into you. Whether it was in the hallways, maybe some of his classes, trouble with some of his dorm mates, or even just you coming around and saying hi, you were almost always there. It became a regular event at one point. He expected you to show up in one way or another, that was a given to him. But then one day, you just stopped. Never in his life had he felt that sharp pain in his chest, like a needle being put into a pin cushion. This miniscule action has completely flipped his routine upside down. Ruggie was run ragged trying to get Leona out of bed and even more ragged when he was trying every move in the book to make sure Leona didn't stay back again. A heavy sigh escaped his lips as he asked Leona why he was sulking like a depressed housecat. To that, Leona became defensive and stated he just felt more irritated than usual and he didn’t know why, which wasn't out of the norm. Somehow Ruggie knew this was a lie. Whether Leona knew it or not. Being by Leona’s side had given Ruggie a third person perspective onto the things that tend to occur around the lion prince. One of those things was of course, you. He saw you everyday having a little one sided chat with Leona, a simple “hello!” or “how are you?” followed by a “humph”or “buzz off”, to which you always responded with a small chuckle and then a goodbye, and just like that you were on your way to repeat that same thing the very next day. Recently he's noticed you haven't shown your face at all within Leona’s vicinity. Was he upset about you not coming to greet him? How could that be with the way he responded to you? Who really knew. All Ruggie knew was that he HAD to figure out what was going wrong. Otherwise he'd be stuck with a sulking Leona for whoever knows how long. 

That very afternoon, with a little digging and intel collection, he had found you. Lately you’ve been bogged down by schoolwork. No wonder you never came by, it seemed excruciating. But his mission was more important than your work. Ruggie approaches you with a casual smile and his hands resting on the back of his head. He tells you that there's an emergency in Savanaclaw and he needed specifically YOUR help. Without much room to argue he takes you to Savanaclaw and then leads you to a sulking Leona. Upon seeing your face however, the ever stoic lion's eyes light up. Though it was extremely hard to notice. You question Ruggie but as soon as you turned around he was gone. Long gone. You awkwardly stood there, fiddling with the sleeves of your NRC uniform jacket. You asked Leona if he was going to say anything, or even tell you what this so-called "emergency" was, but he was silent. His predatory gaze closing in on you. The silence lasted only a few more excruciatingly long seconds until he asks, borderline pouts, why you haven't come to annoy him lately. To which you respond honestly and say that your school work has taken most of your time. He clicks his tongue and states, moreso demands, that if you needed help with the work that he'd begrudgingly help you. Without room to speak he then dismisses you to go get your work and bring it back to his room. As you left, below his breath he mumbled,

"I just missed you, you damn herbivore."

[intj-writer]

Find the words, tag game

Thank you @languishing-pineapple  for the tag 

The words: lately; paint; forward; moon; troubled

Lately: “We could spend the day together, I haven’t had much time at all lately, so I could make up for the past few days, and well 15 years”

Paint: Vladimir chuckled “It’s much too late for that now, his personality is already formed. I heard that he was raised with Hadës Luna of Royal Society, must have recognised that man to be his father. I can’t fathom why Lyla would have chosen him of all people, but it doesn’t matter now what is done is done, the paint is already dry”

Forward: He walked down the long hallway, where guards were posted at every other door on either side. They bowed as he passed a few of them chanting Midnos under their breath, their eyes forward and unfocused. Lyde found the chanting creepier than anything, even creepier than Casper Mir.

Moon: The time came and went. The moons now out, Hannah and Zion following each other across the dark silver sky.

Troubled: “The DNA result came back, it’s positive, you are indeed my nephew’s son, we weren’t sure before. Imposters can be troublesome for Empires as you well know” she explained (Didn't find 'troubled' only trouble/troublesome)

Find: spend, personality, hallway, dark, result

Tagging: @storyunrelated @writebruh @wchwriter @zombiefaewrites @lunarcottoncandy @fatal-blow @14thcenturyrat @wilde-writing @khalix-hyetology

[writingmessynaruto]

~Khalix, Demongod of Lust~

A color/character board for Khalix, the ranking demongod of Lust.

The following excerpt is from a WIP screenplay. (Will it stay in that format? Who knows.) It doesn’t have a title yet, and obviously I don’t normally write screenplays, so this potentially sucks a lot. It may end up as a novel instead.

But regardless, here are the first two scenes of this story, in all their narrative glory:

The following script is rated M.

Is this a screenwriteblr now?

An experiment this was. Wanted to write in a different medium/format. Let me know if you have suggestions. (Please be nice, I’ve never written screenplays before, and this is a rough first draft lol). Also, sorry for the poor image quality ^^’

That’s all for now. Figured I should actually post original work for once.

[tei-berry]

tagged by @marzofthestars

Rules: tag 20 followers that you would like to get to know better! (u totally don’t have to do this if u don’t wanna)

✦ nickname(s): Tei (thats about it outside the bedroom)

✦ gender: cis f

✦ star sign: Gemini

✦ height: 157cm (barely 5′2″)

✦ sexuality: Pan but I use the Bi label. Also, just... girls. Jesus. Amirite?

✦ favorite animal: Snow leopards

✦ avg hours of sleep: 6-13 (My life is a mess yo)

✦ dogs or cats: I have a dog, allergic to cats, you do the math.

✦ number of blankets: One of amazing quality.

✦ dream trip: 2 weeks in Japan coming up in 2021, and my 4 days in Maui coming up in 2020.

✦ dream job: Getting my book published or professional cosplayer

✦ favorite song of the week: Make Me Feel 

✦ things you find comforting: Drunk nights with my friends, music, a soft bed, candles, the smell of leaves burning, creek/canyon walking

I’ll try 20: @homosexual-et @notquitedeadyet @randomrhinoceros @khalix-hyetology @dupreerose@nurithemarxist @superorangerobin @raishe @lightsoutinthedark @gh5tlawyer @mindatworkk @makoshirogane @moodringz @i-write-shakespeare-not-disney  @i-like-to-listen @smolsarcasticraspberry @pilots and anyone else who wants to because I really want YOU to!

[shadowofthelamp]

I wish you would write a jba fic that’s angsty and involves khalix

*slams door open* SOMEBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT JBA AND ESPECIALLY KHALIX I AM HERE FRIEND

[kronecker-delta]

Nier/Nier: Automata Analysis Masterpost

*Note, the views and opinions linked below do not always align with my own. But even in the cases where I disagree about interpretation or think factual mistakes were made, I still found them to contribute a variety novel and interesting viewpoints.

Please peruse them yourself if any sound interesting.

NOTE: SPOILER WARNING FOR ALL GAMES!!!

General Analysis of Nier:

-: Nier: The List

By Zachery Oliver, an examination of Nier and its story from a Christian perspective. Quite interesting. Highly recommended.

-: The Futility of Violence in NieR

By Zachery Oliver, a short essay about the use of violence and how Nier subverts player expectations with its narrative.

-: Weird games for weird people by a weird guy named Yoko Taro

By Ruben Ferdinand, a long and excellent summary of shared themes and concepts of Drakengard, Drakengard 3, and Nier. Highly recommended.

-: In Depth With Drakengard’s World: Language and Magic

By @rologeass​, a quick explanation of Nier/Drakengard’s magic language, its meaning, and the Celestial Language in which it is written. Highly recommended.

-:  Drakengard & Nier - An Evolution of Soundtracks (Youtube Link)

By ValkyrieAurora, this analysis video covers the music of the Nier and Drakengard games. Definitely worth looking at to see how things have changed  and developed over the course of the series. 

-: “NIER” WILL TEACH YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IDENTITY.

By suduiko, a long and very in depth essay about Nier and the nature of identity as shown by the various characters in game. While the length and nature of this work can be intimidating, I found it to be a very interesting perspective to look at Nier from. Highly recommended.

-: ON NIER: OUGHT A GAME’S WORLD TO BE FUN TO EXPLORE?

By suduiko, a consideration on the ‘open’ world of Nier and how well it works within the narrative of the game itself.

-: THE TROUBLE WITH BODIES: A TRANS READING OF NIER

By Cayla Coats, an extremely interesting take on the characters of Nier. Definitely worth a read. Highly recommended.

Nier: Automata Focused

-: (In)visible Disabilities and Machine Bodies in NieR: Automata:- Plato 1728′s plight in a posthumanist light (Links to Tumblr post)

By @khalix-hyetology​, an analysis of Nier: Automata’s themes from a specific post-human/transhuman theme. A great deal of focus is given to the DLC elements, or at least those that are of narrative importance. Highly recommended.

-: Death, Sex, and Love: A closer look at NieR Automata

By Kyle Campbell, a brief discussion of the relation between sex and death within the narrative of Nier: Automata. 

-: The Hidden Humanity in Nier: Automata’s Fashion

By Caty McCarthy, a deeper look at the meaning of fashion and clothing designs within Nier: Automata. While there are deeper meanings connected with costume design, such as the feathers on 2B’s outfit, this is good start for those interested in exploring the character designs of this game.

-: Nier: Automata and the Illusion of Survival

By Caty McCarthy, a essay considering the central themes of Nier: Automata and how the character stories show this over the course of the game.

-: Ghosts of Humanity: Being Human in NieR: Automata and Xenoblade Chronicles X 

By Kelira Telian, a comparison of themes between Nier: Automata and Xenoblade Chronicles X on the nature of humanity and inhumane inheritors thereof. While I actually agree with some of the conclusions reached in this short piece, I’m not sure if they can be drawn as assuredly as the author does here.

-: The Girls of The Tower-The Unexplained Story of NieR Automata 

By UNKNOWN, a theory on the story of Nier: Automata. Sadly I think this has been mostly disproven at this point by post-game materials. It is none the less interesting to read and does represent a fruitful interpretation of in game events.

-: NieR: Automata – Dynamic Music Transitions and Events | Music Analysis

By Shawn Kays, a analysis of music and its uses in Nier: Automata. Specifically how it emphasizes motion through the game world and the nature of transitions between areas. Full material here at the site’s Youtube channel. Highly recommended.

-: NieR: Automata Analysis

By Hunter Galbraith, a long analysis of Nier: Automata in the context of Yoko Taro’s earlier games. Covers most of the important concepts. The opening section about the relative ‘artistry’ of games seems unnecessary though. Still, quite good for both depth and length of discussion. Highly recommended.

-: NieR Automata meets amazarashi “Deserving of Life” MV Trivia + NieR Automata Technology Analysis

By @rologeass​, an in depth examination of the music video (Youtube link) that came out before Nier: Automata’s release. Quite interesting how much could be discerned even before the DLC elaborated on it. Highly recommended.

-: WHERE ARE THE HUMANS IN NIER: AUTOMATA? 

By suduiko, a meta-narrative analysis of Nier and Nier: Automata. I can’t really say to what extent I agree with the conclusions drawn here, but I do find them interesting to consider.

-: YOKO TARO’S ETERNAL RECURRENCE: TRANSHUMANISM IN NIER: AUTOMATA 

By Kastel, an extremely detailed look at the themes and narrative of Nier: Automata. Probably my favorite critical examination of the game thus far. Highly recommended.

​-: Nier: Automata is a Brilliant Takedown of Drone Warfare and the Escalation of Conflict 

By Michelle Ehrhardt, a very interesting starting point for looking at Nier: Automata. Don’t let the title fool you though, it goes well beyond making comparisons between Androids/Machines and drone weapon systems. Highly recommended.

-: Nier: Automata’s Past Tells The Story of Our Apocalyptic Future 

By Matthew Kim, is mostly a summary/consideration of Nier: Automata’s story.

-: Drakengard Analysis

By Clemps, currently covers all Drakengard games and Nier with Nier: Automata hopefully planned later. Detailed examination of plot, themes, and character arcs throughout Yoko Taro’s games. Highly recommended.

-: NieR: Automata's Secret Meaning

By Strat-Edgy Productions, discusses the ramifications of AI and how that effects the search for purpose... among other things. Worth a view as it covers the game in its entirety.

-: Nier: Automata's Uplifting Existentialism (Story Discussion)

By Super Bunnyhop, comes at Nier: Automata from the perspective of the search for meaning in existence while also considering a Marxist examination. Highly recommended.

-: What You Missed From Nier

By Super Bunnyhop, goes over the plot and narrative of Nier quickly to summarize new comers to the series. Also briefly discusses side content such as the YoRHa stageplay. Highly recommended.

-: Why NieR: Automata Could Only Work as a Game (Spoiler Analysis)

By Writing on Games, a video that explains how the narrative is interwoven with the interactive nature of video games. 

-: Nier: Automata - Story Summary

By ValkyrieAurora, an excellent summation of the plot and events of Nier: Automata. Her channel also has numerous other videos on Nier and Drakengard content and all  are highly recommended as well for in depth considerations on game narrative and characters.

-: Nier Automata Analysis - A Love Story (Spoilers)

By Peahnuts.

-: The Meaning Behind Nier Automata Character Designs - 2B & YoRHa

By Peahnuts, these two videos discuss the specifics of the relationship between two of the main characters, and related elements, as well as the meaning in the costume design of the YoRHa Androids. Highly recommended.

-: NieR: Automata Analysis

By MisterCaption, a three hour video discussing Nier: Automata and most everything in it. While quite in depth, it does come from a newcomer to the series so there are some factual errors here and there, but I enjoyed the new perspective despite that.

(Note: Later deleted and uploaded to a new channel, Link Here.)

-: Thoughts on NieR: Automata

By Jason, a brief overview of the story of Nier: Automata and some conclusions that might be drawn from that.

-: Nier Automata: Introduction and History

By Pete Davison, at Moegamer this goes over the basic history of the Drakengard and Nier games in order to set up more detailed analysis to follow.

-: NIER AUTOMATA: CREATING A GAME THAT IS “UNEXPECTED”, THAT “KEEPS CHANGING FORM”

By Pete Davison, at Moegamer this article looks at the game design choices and how they are a particular figure print of creator Yoko Taro’s sensibilities.

-: NIER AUTOMATA: NARRATIVE, THEMES AND CHARACTERISATION

By Pete Davison, at Moegamer this article focuses on the characters and how they large scale trends on display are part of the narrative and the games own message.

-: NIER AUTOMATA: A GAME BETTER WITH — AND BECAUSE OF — ITS NARRATIVE

By Pete Davison, at Moegamer the last article, and one that posits to consider how important the narrative of Nier: Automata is to its own quality. 

This is a list of numerous sites and articles at Critical Distance for Nier.

Nier Criticism Guide.

Both of these contain links to numerous other short and long discussions on Nier and Drakengard material. Some of which I have linked specifically.

NieR: Automata - Sacrifice and the Meaning of Kindness

By Extra Credits, a focus on mechanics and narrative in regards to Nier: Automata’s ending.

Most Philosophical Game Ever? – The Philosophy of NieR: Automata

By Wisecrack, a discussion of Nier: Automata and the use of philosophical concepts within the game. Mostly centered on what all those philosopher names mean. Recommended.

Character Analysis Specific

-: Design Shop: NIER - Sins Of The Father (Links to Youtube video)

By SugarPunch Design Works, this video looks at the design and animations of Nier (default name of main character) from Nier. Quite interesting and worth a watch if you want to go into detail on Nier’s character design.

-: Design Shop: KAINE, A Delicate F***ing Flower  (Links to Youtube video)

By SugarPunch Design Works,  video looking at the design of Kaine and her place in the story of Nier. A very good and insightful look at the reasons for her striking design.

-:  Design Shop: EMIL & GRIMOIRE WEISS - A Face Worth 1,000 Words(Links to Youtube video)

By SugarPunch Design Works, and the conclusion of this character design look. Going into detail on the last two party members of Nier.

-: The pleas of false people mean nothing: Nier’s sound and enemy design carries a vital message (Links to Tumblr post)

By @revolutionaryduelist​, examines the detail and meaning behind the enemy design of Nier: Automata. Also makes comparisons to the webcomic Homestruck, the validity of which I cannot vouch for.

-: Nier: Automata’s Characters and Themes

By Jason, a short article considering the characters of Automata and how they contribute to the games overall themes and concepts.

-: Nier: Automata, Near Genocide

By Jed Pressgrove at GameBias, a review and short essay analysis of Nier: Automata and how the game’s plot focuses on the nature of persecution and bigotry.

Reviews

(Mostly lesser known reviewers I found interesting.)

-: Nier: Automata (UBGaming)

By UBGaming

-: Nier: Automata Review (Alexxdz)

By @alexxdz.

Let’s Plays

-: Nier Let’s Play (Two Best Friends Youtube Playlist Link.)

By TheSw1tcher, A play-through of Nier with one experienced player and one that has never done so before. Interesting to see how they react to the game’s twists and surprises.

-: Nier Playthrough,

An excellent Nier play-through by @something-very-special on tumblr with numerous discussion on game elements and themes. Definitely worth a look. Highly recommended.

-: Nier

-: Drakengard

-: Drakengard 2

-: Drakengard 3

By the Dark ID, these are complete play-throughs of all games as well as examinations of supplementary material availible at the time. My only complaint is that some of the running gags aren’t that funny (to me personally) and some headcanon ideas have been spread as if they were true. Still highly recommended.

Podcasts:

-: Spoilercast with Mr. Clemps

Featureing the Two Best Friends as well, this is a discussion of Nier: Automata and its story with Clemps.

-: ProZD (With Kira Buckland, 2B’s voice actress)

-: Close Playing

Supplementary Links:

-: amazarashi - “Deserving of Life” featuring NieR: Automata (Links to Youtube video)

-: Timeline of Games

Timeline for the Nier and Drakengard games.

-: Nier2

Fansite with numerous articles and translated supplementary materials cataloged.

-: Fire Sanctuary

Fansite with translated materials and news about Nier/Drakengard games.

-: The Ark

Another fansite that catalogs translated materials and in-game content.

Trailers and Intros:

Drakengard Opening and Alternate Opening

[lifeinvirtualreality]

Tagged by @khalix-hyetology :)

RULES // POST TEN RANDOM FACTS ABOUT YOURSELF AND PASS THIS ON TO 15 PEOPLE

1. I love bathtubs. Like crazy love 2. I cant like things lightly 3. I miss my grandma everyday 4. I want to have more dogs. 5. Im not sure if i want kids or not. Or if i ever want to get married. 6. No sure about the whole sexuality thing either 7. I got bad anxiety and i have problems dealing with people. 8. Like animals more than humans 9. I used to write but since my grandmother died i cant anymore 10. I rarely have dreams.

[mikototsu-trash]

get to know me, pick some numbers: #46-56

46. what my last text message says

My mum telling me tea was on and she’d leave it to warm for me when I got home

47. turn ons

gentle, tickly gives-you-goosebumps touches; light masochism (hair-pulling, biting, scratching etc); love bites/possessiveness in general; stuff to do with the ear area (like whispering/breathing into, biting earlobe), my partner being happy/enjoying themselves and doing things for them I know they like and seeing their reaction

48. turn offs

poor hygiene and laziness/inattentiveness (esp. in terms of prep- foreplay is important u can’t just shove it in there it’s just gonna hurt), bad kissing (pls don’t just shove your tongue down my throat it’s very unpleasant and slobbery) and lack of romantic intimacy

49. where i want to be right now

with @asahii-a

50. favourite picture of your idol

I don’t rly have an idol??

51. starsign

scorpio

52. something i’m talented at

I’m really good at the game 2048 my highscore on the 5x5 version is 2.7 million (and counting) and I have a 131,072 tile

53. 5 things that make me happy

@asahii-a, my dog, nice ao3 comments/tags on my fics, spending time with/talking to my friends, scented candles

54. something thats worrying me at the moment

my upcoming creative writing deadline (it’d probably be worrying me less if I actually worked on my assignment but what can you do)

55. tumblr friends

I’ve met so many wonderful and incredible and lovely people on this site that I don’t think I could list everyone, but the people I’ve become the closest to through tumblr are @mikotoismyking @theotakufairy and @khalix-hyetology ilu guys!!

56. favourite food(s)

mashed potato!!

[khalixvitae]

★Stitched ★

Idia Shroud x Reader | ~5k words

Warnings: none really??? Idia is self deprecating as usual. Allusions to book 6 lore but no spoilers. I leaned into Idia’s weird hybrid inferiority/superiority complex (he’s frustrating and annoying but that’s my wife). I wrote way more than I intended lmao.

Info: GN Reader with no physical descriptions. slowish burn, potential to be friends to lovers? No resolution in the end, a smattering of angst bc Idia is… well he’s himself. Heavily based on his vignettes, Home Screen idles, etc etc (this is for the detail oriented baddies and by that I mean I have capital A Autism and I’ve been fixated on him for months). I have been very into the idea of Idia making cosplays and props since becoming obsessed w his Halloween card, so uh. Yeah! There’s no mention of what the reader’s costume is, so it can be whoever you want! Only mentions that it’s from a manga so go wild! <3

——————————————————————————

When Ortho Shroud suggested that you commission his brother to build a prop for your Halloween costume, you’d agreed enthusiastically. You’d even said something about how sure you were that it would look great- a compliment he’d pass on to his reclusive sibling. After all, Ortho was living(?) proof of Idia’s handiwork, so making a prop would be playing on easy mode. Ortho did neglect to mention that his brother was not taking commissions (and frankly never would if Idia had it his way), but it wouldn’t be that big of an issue, right?

Wrong. The second Idia’s phone pinged with a message from an unknown number, from your unknown number, he was convinced he was going to die.

You were lucky you’d stated your case all in one message- if you’d started with just a greeting and expected small talk he would’ve just preemptively blocked you to avoid your little side quest. Besides, who messaged someone so early in the morning? Another look at his phone through bleary eyes would show that it was actually 6 pm, but nonetheless! He’d just woken up, so it was still far too early for that kind of shameless extrovert behavior. At least your message was pretty concise; Ortho had passed along his number because you wanted to commission him, and you’d offer payment in exchange. As clear as that was, there was still a lot to unpack. Ortho’s intentions to find friends for him were clearly at play here, which would’ve ground his gears more if it all wasn’t so well meaning. But giving someone his number for a cosplay commission? That felt a little excessive! What kind of meet-cute scenario was this? And how on earth did you plan to pay for a custom piece anyway? Not that he would actually make it, of course, but hypothetically. He’d heard through the grapevine (read: Azul’s chattering during board game club meetings) that you had a part time gig at Monstro Lounge, but surely you wouldn’t be spending your limited in-game currency on a cosplay prop. While he thought it would be a stupid decision, he had to respect your dedication.

Hypothetically, of course.

Despite any reluctant interest he had in knowing what costume you were putting together, there was no way he’d actually agree to a commission. Besides, it was probably a lame request anyway. And who cares if you’d probably (definitely) look great in your costume? Certainly not Idia, no sir. And he totally didn’t think about how happy you’d be if he were to accept your commission (which he’d never do, of course), or how you’d look holding a piece of his unquestionably perfect work. No, he wouldn’t lie awake thinking about any of that at all. Thus he decided to ignore your text indefinitely- it’s not like he had his read receipts on or anything. He’d just kick back, work on his own nearly finished costume, and maybe even send a halfhearted “soz, just saw this :/” a day or two before Halloween night. No unnecessary and draining social interactions, and you wouldn’t have to be inevitably disappointed by… well, by him. His craftsmanship was S tier without a doubt, but he had a charisma stat of 4 at most. So he’d just let the message sit there. That would be easier for everyone involved.

Well, that was the plan. But as it turned out, Ortho would have none of it. When he’d caught wind that Idia hadn’t bothered to answer your message a whole day later, he’d immediately bombarded his big brother with endless arguments for your case. It was the usual string of points- that Idia would be happier if he had irl friends (as if), that his general quality of life would improve if he had some positive social interaction (no way!), and so on. At least he was sure Ortho’s logic processors were working as irritatingly well as ever, though Idia found his points far too idealistic. But logos wasn’t the way to go when talking Idia into something he had no interest in doing- it would have to be pathos all the way baby, appealing to what really made him tick. Unfortunately for him, Ortho knew that too.

“I need you to make a friend before you graduate,” he said abruptly, arms crossed like he was prepared for a one shot k.o. “Just one. I’m sorry I gave them your number without permission, but I really think this could be fun. You make the coolest stuff ever, and it’s your favorite holiday, so I thought it was a good opportunity for you to talk to someone.” He was silent for only a moment, as if deciding whether or not to deliver the final blow. “I just need to know my big brother will be okay after graduation. And I’d like to see you have fun every once and a while, you know.”

There it was, the absolute punch in the gut Idia was dreading. “You see me having fun all the time, Ortho. We hang out every day.” It was a weak argument and he knew it.

“Yeah and I love hanging out with you, but that’s different! And I know other people would love hanging out with you, too! You’re the coolest person ever, big bro.”

And how could he ever say no to that?

“What’s the costume anyway?” Idia muttered, pulling his lower lip between sharp teeth.

“I’m not sure. They told me it was someone from a manga they really like! You should ask them about it!” Ortho was absolutely beaming. Something in Idia’s chest ached.

His response to your message was short and simple. He asked what your inspiration would be, and what prop you were looking for. Price could be negotiated, etcetera.

You responded with astounding speed; it made him nauseous. At least you were courteous, though. You gave him a lot of info to say the least- more than he needed considering he was a fan of the same series. Ortho had definitely known that, but that was a complaint for some other time. He had to admit it was a good choice- and the character you had in mind would suit you well (he’d never put that in writing so long as he lived). You sent him all of your inspo pictures- purely from the manga, you explained, as the anime adaptation had changed some of the details and you had a strong preference- as well as any measurements he might need. Idia couldn’t resist pointing out that the anime had made a number of phenomenal aesthetic choices, which did start somewhat of a tangent. Before he knew it, he was caught in a back and forth with you. It was… easy. Way easier than he had expected. When you stopped replying he was even a little disheartened; that is until he realized it was nearly 4 am. It had been that long of a conversation? Something about that made him warm all over. He’d ignore it for the moment.

When you messaged him back the following morning he felt the same rush of… something wash over him. And so a tentative back and forth between you two began. Draft sketches and material concepts on his end, and what felt like endless amounts of praise from you. That’s not to say you never brought any criticism to the table. You were just as fickle as he was, it seemed- and he liked arguing with you. Whether it was about the commission or over some unrelated tangent (which the two of you frequently succumbed to), there was something uniquely fun about debating your shared interests.

Over the week or so leading up to Halloween, your communication persisted outside of his prop updates. You even sent him photos of Grim! It was hard to stomach that he’d hit it off so well with some normie, but if you were sending him cat photos and had some (several) based media takes he’d tolerate that discomfort. Part of him kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, of course. The exchange was transactional- after Ortho delivered the prop to you, there would be no need to keep socializing with him. He couldn’t imagine why you’d want to anyway. Speaking of transactions, the two of you hadn’t decided on a price point. Or rather whenever you’d ask, he pushed the question aside by saying he ‘wasn’t sure yet’. He’d given you a relative range, but no exact number. He felt pathetic, but part of him didn’t even want to charge you for it. It wasn’t like he needed the money anyway, and Ortho had been right about the whole arrangement entertaining him. He couldn’t believe he was going so soft. But it wasn’t entirely his fault! Every time he’d start to work up the nerve to give a number, you’d do something so nice it made his head hurt. Sometimes it was asking questions about his games, or sending him voice messages so you could keep the conversation going when you couldn’t text. You’d even asked to vc once or twice! He’d denied that request, but nonetheless you asked! How was he supposed to follow that up? “Oh haha yeah, it’ll be like half your last paycheck sry lmao”? He’d rather die! He knew what his work was worth (and frankly so did you), but the idea of charging you that amount was a little nauseating. How fucking lame could he get?

And the other shoe did drop eventually, just not in the way he’d expected. It came as a lull in your late night banter, followed by ‘[name] is typing…’ for quite some time. That totally didn’t make him want to puke, no way. The message that followed was as short as it was sweet.

“Hey, so ik it’s not really your scene, but I’m having a Halloween thing at Ramshackle. Idk if I’d call it a party but yk it’s something. I was wondering if you’d want to stop by? If not that’s totally cool!”

Idia stared at that message for a while. Shit. Of course there was no way he’d go, not a chance, but he couldn’t just say that could he? He’d rather be dropped headlong into Tartarus than to go to some gathering of extroverts and npcs when he could be collecting his Halloween login rewards. At the same time, giving you a resounding ‘fuck no’ sounded just as unpleasant. So he just sat there and stared for a while before doing what he did best: he gave some vague, noncommittal answer.

“uhhh idk. I don’t wanna intrude haha. plus i have a raid planned so idk if i could make it sry”.

It seemed like you got what he was trying to say; Idia was beginning to resent just how well you listened to him.

“Totally get it! Just thought I’d ask :)! Send pics of ur costume tho! I wanna see it all put together :D!”

He tossed his phone aside, opting to throw himself face down in his pillow with a resounding groan. Why did you have to be so considerate? You had to have known he’d reject that request, so why even ask? And why did it mean so much to him that you had? His moping was interrupted by Ortho knocking at the door. Idia just grunted in response, turning his head to face him.

“What’s the matter bro?” Ortho hovered in the doorway, glowing eyes keenly focused on Idia’s sprawled figure. At times like this, only illuminated by blue screens and his own artificial fire, he had an uncanny effect that was hard to shake.

Idia peeked at him through his flickering bangs, huffing a little and sending the flames askew. He subsequently realized that they were streaked with a mortifying shade of pink, one that made him want to scream into the pillow all over again. “Nothing, I’m good. What’s up?” It was obviously a lie and he wasn’t helping his case by rolling over to face the wall.

“I wanted to see if you were up for a few pvp rounds before I set up to charge for the night. But what’s going on? My scanners detect no signs of physical injury, but your vitals indicate distress. Do you need medical attention?” Idia didn’t have to turn around to know his ‘brother’ had hovered closer.

“It’s nothing. It’s stupid-,” he planted his face back into the pillow defeatedly. “It’s- [name] invited me to some stupid Halloween thing.” It was muffled, but that didn’t matter. There was no way Ortho wouldn’t hear him, so there was no need to sit up.

“They invited you to a party? That’s awesome! We could go together! I know, you could even give them the prop in person and see their costume completed!”

“I’m not going.”

“What? Why not? You’ve had so much fun talking to them and working on this commission! You should go see them!” Ortho was gearing up for another uphill battle, one Idia was once again going to resist him on.

“Because I don’t want to. You can go, I guess. I mean I’m sure you’re invited. That’s probably why they asked me, right? Because we’re a package deal? You’ll have more fun without me there to weigh you down. And anyway, I don’t wanna be around that many people. It’ll probably be total npc shit anyway.” He fell silent for a moment, the quiet whir of machine fans filling the air in his stead. Ortho didn’t try to interject.

“It’s not like- it’s not like they wanna see me anyway. Maybe my costume, I mean its S tier, but not me. And I can’t even get on a vc with them- I’d be seriously delusional if I thought I could hang out with them irl.”

“Hey, they totally want to see you. I mean, I’m sure they want to see your costume too. But I know they want to see you. If you don’t feel like going that's okay, but I don’t want you to miss out because you think their invitation wasn’t genuine.”

“Why? Like I know we get along fine over chat, and they’ve interacted with my tablet, but what if they see me irl and get all weirded out? ‘Oh, why is he blue all over? What’s with his teeth? Ewww’. I think I’ll pass.” He chewed at his sleeve, nervous over the mere prospect of facing you like that. “Even if they’ve seen me in passing like once, being up close is a whole other level.”

There was another long pause before Ortho spoke again. “They like your hair.”

“What?”

“They told me they like your hair. Like you said, they’ve seen you irl once or twice in passing. Should I play the recording for you?”

Idia felt a little conflicted about that. It felt a little invasive somehow. But a far less conflicted part of him (his massive ego) needed to hear it, and ultimately triumphed. “Yeah, fine. Go ahead.” He curbed his anxious enthusiasm by biting his sleeve even harder.

“Sure thing! Commencing playback.” There was the sudden background noise of hallway chatter, followed by your voice. “I think I saw your brother in the library yesterday. Well, I’m assuming it was him, he looked a lot like you. He’s got great hair, I’ve never seen anything like it. It must’ve taken forever to grow it out that long.”

There was a measured click as the clip came to a stop. “Recording ends. See? They don’t think you look weird. And there’s nothing else in my data logs to indicate that they would.”

“That’s… not exactly reassuring,” Idia muttered, watching as the mess of curls surrounding him flickered to life with the same rosy hues as before. Of course you wouldn’t tell Ortho that you thought he looked weird, that was his brother. But nevertheless, that was technically a compliment. A win was a win right?

“We should go, I think they’d love to see you there in person. We could even go super early to drop off the prop and leave before everyone else gets there,” Ortho chimed in, clearly trying to find some loophole in his brother’s anxiety. “And we can show off our costumes again.” There was another long pause.

“Fine. But just to drop it off.”

The remaining few days passed without incident, aside from Idia’s mounting anxieties (which he was sure would culminate in sudden death). Half dressed for the function, he sat on the edge of his bed and sent you photos of the final product. At the very least he was sure you’d like it- how could you not? He was a master craftsman after all. Your response came back at the typical lightning speed. He doubted he’d ever get used to that.

“Holy shit, it’s perfect??? Thank you so so much, I love it!! <3 did u sign it?”

“no lmao?? y?”

“Bc it’s your work??? And u should be proud of it and put ur name on it ??? Duh??? And bc I want you to ofc.”

Well that was certainly unexpected. He sat there for a minute and mulled it over- what could you possibly gain from him signing it? Did you really just want that, plain and simple? God you were fucking weird. It did feel kind of nice though. Nice enough for a smile to fight its way onto his face as he meandered back to his workstation. What was the harm in indulging that request?

“can do ig. i charge extra for autographs tho, soz. so ik ortho was gonna drop this off, but is it cool if i come? want to make sure it doesn’t need any adjustments etc yk”

Even though it took him a few (fifteen) minutes to type, it came out smoother than he’d expected. He’d consider it a win. Of course the piece didn’t need any adjusting, it was perfect and he knew it, but he had to justify his sudden appearance (mostly to himself).

“You can make it ??? Nice !!! Yeah ofc! Come over whenever :D !!! <3”

Hearts. Were you trying to kill him? And why did your texts read like the logs of a dating sim? Maybe he should lay off the otome games.

Getting fully into costume was a little more complicated than he’d anticipated. Combined with putting the finishing touches on Ortho’s matching specs and engraving an insignia onto your prop, there was no way the Shroud duo would arrive early. In fact, they’d be perfectly punctual (which Idia loathed). Halfway up the driveway to Ramshackle he started digging his heels into the dirt. Even from a distance he could see light streaming through the dingy windows, along with far too many figures crowded on the porch. Part of him wondered how many students such a dilapidated structure could support- he decided to drop that train of thought before he collapsed in your front yard. “Hey- maybe this is a bad idea. Even if they wanna see me-“

But it was too late. Cater was the first to spot the two, and immediately came down the stairs to greet them. Oh great, a boss level extrovert right off the bat? He had to get out of here!

“Hey hey! I didn’t expect to see you two here! Ooh, whatcha got there? And nice costumes! Did you make them yourself?” The redhead had a cup in one hand and his cellphone in the other, his head cocked as he observed the brothers.

Idia’s mouth just sort of stopped working, and the more questions Cater asked the more he wanted to dip out. Luckily Ortho was way better at navigating normie conversations.

“Hi Cater Diamond! [Name] invited us! And yes my brother made our costumes, aren’t they so cool? We’re kind of in a hurry though, we have the last piece of [Name]’s costume! Once we get it to them, we’ll have more time to talk.” He started to move past Cater, who was now more than ready to usher them through the throng of people in the foyer. Idia followed behind in amazement. Having Ortho around was such an op move.

“Oh nice! They should still be upstairs. Once they’re all set the three of you should come back down so I can snap your pics, ‘kay? You guys really went all out!” Cater slipped away easily before either brother could refuse his invitation. Well, Idia would just have to make sure the coast was clear when he decided to make his escape. The two made their way up the rickety staircase (seriously, how was this place still standing?) and onto the landing above. Your bedroom door was open so at the very least you were easy to locate. Before Idia would go any further he slipped on the pumpkin helmet, properly obscuring his face. That felt a little better- maybe he’d actually be able to look at you.

He lingered behind Ortho as if it would block him from your view (despite being much taller than the android model), knocking at the door frame twice. “Uh… hey. Can we come in?”

You looked up from your phone with a start, eyes widening as you took them in. “Idia? Wait, holy shit, you guys look sick.” You were fully in costume- had you been waiting for them? The way you said his name nearly made him keel over right then and there. “Like I knew they would be cool, but this is insane.” Your gaze flickered to the prop in his hands. “And that’s for me? Dude, it’s perfect. Seriously, thank you so much. I’m so glad you came.”

Idia didn’t process half of it, including you taking the prop from his grasp. You looked so good he felt lightheaded. Forget talking to you, now he was worried about remaining upright. “You- uh- yeah. You too,” he stammered weakly. You too? That didn’t make any sense! “I mean- I mean you look cool. And yeah this is for you.” Breathing in the helmet was a bit of a challenge and he couldn’t recall a time his throat had ever been drier. Ortho made no effort to intervene either- he was just watching, practically on standby mode as his brother made a fool of himself. Great. So much for his op cheat code.

He decided that looking anywhere but at you was his best option, his eyes scanning along the walls of your bedroom. It did look liveable, he’d give you that much. You even had a small shelf with a decently sized manga collection- considering how long you’d been there and the wages Monstro paid, he was kind of impressed. It was cute (you were cute). Your voice snapped him back out of his meditative scanning.

“Sorry there are so many people. I would’ve given you a heads up, but I had no idea it would be this crazy. People just started posting about it and,” you sighed. “So now like half the school is in my condemned house. Happy Halloween I guess? Deuce and Jack got a few of the other first years to preemptively agree to help with post party cleanup, so that’s nice.” You were still looking at him intently; Idia had to remind himself that you were checking out his costume and not him, of course. Unfortunately that didn’t stop the ends of his hair from flickering a dull but obvious pink. He knew it caught your attention, but you didn’t mention it. Instead you opted to change the subject entirely. By the Seven, how were you so good at this? “Anyway, I wanna hear all about your costumes. I got bits and pieces over messages but give me the rundown!”

Now that he could do.

Infodumping was an art form, and boy had Idia Shroud mastered it. From the materials he used to the classic inspo, he was more than happy to tell you all about his creations. It took him a little warming up, but he was quickly in full swing. Down to the sound effect rigging, he gave you a thorough explanation of his work. You seemed particularly delighted in how he and Ortho’s costumes were a matching pair, and of course that opened the floor for him to explain the intricacies of making new specs for his brother. In his excited haste, he’d even taken off the helmet to show you its interior. He didn’t notice for quite a while, nor did you make any mention of it. You just watched him, smiling and nodding attentively. By the time he picked up on just how greatly his range of vision had improved, it was far too late. With his peripheral unblocked he also realized that Ortho was gone. A wave of panic washed over him as he reassessed his surroundings. It was just the two of you, standing beyond the threshold of your bedroom, alone. How long had he been talking? And why were you looking at him with those big, starry eyes? He tried to tell you to stop staring, but no sound came out. Once again, Idia was convinced he was going to die.

You definitely caught onto his nervous demeanor- he wished you’d stop doing that. “Hey, so how much do I owe you?” You asked, your voice gentler than he’d realistically want it to be. Why were you being so nice to him? You had the prop already, so just kick him out! There was a whole party going on downstairs, yet here you were spending god only knows how long alone with him! Wasn’t that depressing?

“Nothing. Don’t worry about it. It wasn’t a hard ask, and only noobs care about production costs,” he muttered, his tone not entirely unkind but thoroughly dismissive nonetheless.

“Oh- are you sure? Idia, it’s really beautifully done. Even if it wasn’t hard to do, you still took the time to do it. I owe you something.”

“I could make another one in my sleep. Just take it,” he was planning his escape, but could see no easy way out besides just turning tail and running. “Sorry for uh- well, for keeping you up here for so long. You’ve got a party to get to.”

“I’ll take it if you’re sure. Thank you, seriously. And don’t apologize, I like talking to you. I know this really isn’t your scene, so I really appreciate you coming out tonight.” The way you looked at him had him itching to put the helmet back on in record time. Your next words would foil even that half baked plan and freeze him in place. “If you wanted, maybe you could come over and hang out sometime? It’s not normally this crowded, it’s usually just Grim and I. You’re welcome here whenever, and so is Ortho.”

Every turn of phrase felt like you were whittling a hole in his brain, which made it increasingly difficult to think straight. What angle were you trying to work here? Was it just to embarrass him? He couldn’t think of a single thing you could gain from befriending him, which frankly made your kindness even more concerning. You had him one friendly gesture away from counting five things he could see, four things he could touch, and so on in the middle of the function. “I’m gonna go find Ortho,” he stated, abruptly turning on his heel. Now was not the time to go nonverbal, but that was steadily where he was headed. And he’d been doing so well! He’d talked to you irl, face to face! You hadn’t even seemed grossed out- if anything it felt like the opposite (which he would ignore). But of course his brain had to catch up and ruin everything. No, he had to ruin everything, just like always. This fucking sucked. The pumpkin helmet was back on, and he wasn’t showing his face until he was safely back at Ignihyde.

“Oh! Yeah, of course. I’ll walk down with you.” You wasted no time following after him, still holding your new prop. The trip down the main staircase was a silent one, but the raucous sounds of the party below more than made up for it. You didn’t push him to speak, which he was begrudgingly grateful for.

It was no surprise that your arrival from upstairs with Idia in tow drew a little attention. Cater even snapped a photo, saying something about how “cammable” you two looked (Idia didn’t have the strength to wonder where that photo would end up). You handled your entrance to the gathering like a pro, deflecting all the attention away from him with a small smile. He really couldn’t decide whether or not he hated how considerate you were, but that would be a viable train of thought once he was safely in his own bedroom. As he slipped away to find Ortho, he heard you discussing your costume with those gathered at the bottom of the stairs. Working up the nerve to risk a look back, he saw you proudly showing off the piece he’d made for you. The way you were so eager to credit him for it was debilitating.

Part of him wondered what would happen if he walked back over and joined the crowd. He knew he didn’t belong there, of course, but hypothetically. He couldn’t stop himself from imagining what it would be like to stand there by your side for just a little longer, to even let people photograph the two of you together. You hadn’t seemed to mind it a moment before. But maybe you were just being nice. You were always so nice. Regardless these were only hypotheticals, and he was bound to ruin your time if he stayed any longer. He’d be doing you a favor by leaving, right?

Right. With one last look at you, he resolved to find Ortho and get the hell out while he could, for your sake and his own.

Maybe next year, then.

——————————————————————————

Tag list: @v-anrouge @vtoriacore @phoneymedic @gum-gum-time @heatofmyexoheart (dm to be removed or added! <3)

Soz for not posting for a while (and this late as hell Halloween fic eek!), I obliterated my ankle about a week ago and have just been taking time to recover (that is a lie I’ve had to go to work every day on it but I digress!!!)

[sol-saggitarius]

𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫.

❝ The memories we make together will forever be locked within my heart. ❞  

Pairing: Vil Schoenheit x Reader

Genre: fluff

Word Count: 1717

Warnings: none!

Author Note: this is purely self indulgent JGHGFJJ- HELP ITS LONGER THAN MY ROOK ONE. also this is definitely not proofread so sorry for any errors-

Synopsis: The biggest formal at NRC was just around the corner and you’ve been trying to stay away from it. However, that’s not going to end up being the case.

The biggest formal of the year was fast approaching and every Night Raven College student was scrambling. Well, most of them. You however, were an exception. 

Formal events like that were never your thing, you’ve only attended them when you were essentially required to do so. Otherwise you stayed home and skipped the event entirely, only hearing bits and pieces from your classmates. Even though you were transported to another world you still couldn’t escape these events, thus you had planned to skip like you always did, opting to stay at ramshackle. However, as your luck had it, no matter where you went on campus there was always a talk of it. Inherently there was nothing wrong with some conversation about this kind of event, but it was getting excessive. At least for you. 

“WHAT?! You’re not going?!” Deuce had exclaimed as he heard your answer to his previous question.

“No… I’m not? I just don’t like those kinds of fancy and formal events. I’d rather spend my night doing things I actually like doing.” you casually shrugged.

“What a loser!” Ace jumped in, laughing jokingly.

“Haha, yeah keep laughing Ace, it won’t sway me.”

“It’s like, literally one of the biggest events of the year, I don’t see why you’re so casually skipping it like this.” 

“Well, like I said, it’s just not my thing. I don’t like the idea of dressing up and mingling.” 

“Oh how bad can it be? Just some people, I mean if it says anything Deuce and I will keep you company if you’re so afraid of it haha!”

“I’m not afraid of people or the event itself. Sevens, what do I have to say to shut you up.” an irritated tone arose in your voice.

“For one, you could just go. I mean sooner or later you’re gonna go back to your world right? So why not just go for the experience and memories. Like Ace said, we’ll all go together so what’s there really to lose?” Deuce said, a hopeful ping within his voice.

“You do have a point there. I mean, as long as I don’t have to spend hundreds of thaumarks for an outfit and put on copious amounts of makeup, then maybe I’ll think about it.”

“Alright, deal.” Ace then put out his hand, waiting for you to shake on it.

“I just really hope I don’t regret this.” you sigh, taking his hand in yours and shaking it.

Over the next few days, things had surprisingly gone as normal as it could. It felt like something was off. Classes had just ended and as you were making your way out of your class, you had bumped into someone. 

“Oh dear me.” The ever so familiar voice had spoken, placing their arms around you as a means of support. “You really must be careful where you’re going, my tater tot.”

“Vil! I’m so sorry- I guess I was just a little distracted.” you stuttered out, still composing yourself from the encounter.

“No worries, make sure you don’t make the same mistake in the future. I wouldn’t want you to fall and hurt yourself.” he let go, the warmth that had enveloped you suddenly gone. You had felt cold.

“Yeah, of course. Um, well if you’ll excuse me then-” Before you could make your escape, he had gently grabbed your wrist, pulling you back towards him.

“First, I wasn’t finished, and second, what made you so distracted that you weren’t aware of your own surroundings?”

“Er… I suppose I just felt like things have been too normal I suppose. I can’t really explain it. But I promised Deuce and Ace I’d go to that formal event. I’ve never been too fond of those types of things so I wanted to opt out, but they weren’t having it and goaded me into going.” you exasperatedly sigh, recalling the conversation.

“Going with Deuce and Ace hm? I see…” His voice lowered.

“Something the matter, Vil?”

“No nothing at all. I just remembered something important. I must attend to that, but in the meantime, don’t let that event get to you. I’m sure you’ll be fine.” with that, he gently patted your head and left.

At this point the dance was only a few days away. The atmosphere of NRC was as chaotic as the cultural fair or even the winter break. It was quite intense and you were getting caught up in the middle of it. Whether it was being accidentally shoved in the hallways or getting an earful about the event from other students. You had promised to Ace and Deuce that you’d go, well more like shook on it but it was the same either way. You had owed it to them at the very least. So at one point you had gone into the local town and scoured the selection of possible outfits. You had found a few but they were all way above your current price range, so those were no doubt out of the question. With that, you’d surmised that the best option would have to be making due with the current clothes you possess. Which so happened to be your uniform. 

A heavy sigh escaped your lips when the night of the formal had come. You had just finished tying the tie to your uniform when you suddenly heard a knock from the front door. Initially you had thought that it was either Ace or Deuce, or both, but when you got to the door and opened it, there was instead Vil with a mysterious box in hand. 

“Vil what are you doing here?” you asked with a bit of disbelief in your voice.

“Just as I thought.” He said, making his way towards you in haste. “Here, come with me. You are not wearing that to the formal.”

Without room to argue he drags you towards your room. 

“You can’t go to the formal wearing your school uniform.” he scoffed.

“It’s the only formal thing I have. I tried going into town to see if I could get anything better but…” a frustrated blush appeared on your cheeks. “But… I didn’t have enough to afford it.”

He sighs, “Well you’re lucky you have me. Here, have this. It’s an outfit to wear.” He hands you the elegantly wrapped box. “Come out when you’re done, I’ll be waiting for you in the living room.” 

With that, he leaves and closes your door, leaving you flabbergasted and confused. Once the initial shock leaves you, you carefully open the box, making sure not to rip anything. What you saw was an eloquent outfit. It looked far beyond what you could ever pay for, not to mention it was very… out of your comfort range. Funny enough, when you had unfolded it, it looked like a design within the same family as what Vil was wearing. Did he just get an extra? Is this some kind of prototype piece that he got from modeling it? Thoughts were swirling around your head as you tried to make sense of what was in your hands. There was no way he was trying to say something with this was he? When you had finally come back to reality you quickly, but carefully, put on the outfit, making sure you put it on right, before you left for the living room.

“Vil, I’m not so sure about this.” a hesitant tone coating your voice.

When he had heard you, he turned around towards the staircase, his eyes fixated on the way you had looked. “See, you look so much better.” He got up and straightened out the small wrinkles you had failed to get out previously.

“Why did you give me this? Was it some sort of leftover prototype outfit that you needed to get rid of?”

“Of course not. It was part of a matching set.” he let out a small chuckle, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear. “A matching set to what I’m wearing. I saw it and thought you’d look beautiful in it.” 

“Wait- Repeat that again?” 

“I said, I saw this and thought the set would look good on us. Does it not?”

“So… You’re telling me you got a matching set so that you and I could wear it together to this formal event?” you had felt like your soul was about to ascend from your body.

“That is what I said. Sorry to spring this idea upon you so suddenly, but this is my way of asking if you’d like to go to the formal with me.” he holds out his hand, waiting for you to take it.

“Oh wow- Ok- This is a lot-” you stammer out. “What will people say- Vil asked me to the formal… Um ok- I um…” 

Vil lightly laughs at your confused state, gently grabbing your hand to try and calm you down. “Again, I know it’s sudden, but ever since you had said you were going I couldn’t help myself. To be quite honest, I had expected you to not go. You’ve never seemed like the type of person to go to events such as these. Well, of your own free volition. So it took me by surprise.” 

“I see… Well I mean- I really didn’t want to go. But actually, maybe I’m kind of glad I’m going.” a blush creeped across your face as you looked down at his hand in yours.

“Oh? Really?” He smirks, squeezing your hand a little tighter. “Why is that?” 

“If I have to be honest, it might be because if I didn’t go, I wouldn’t have been able to go with you.” 

“So it’s a yes?” 

“It’s a yes, Vil.” 

“I wouldn’t have it any other way. We should get going now, otherwise we’ll miss the formal.” a smile gracing his ever so beautiful face.

“Yeah, ok, let’s go.” a flushed expression present on your face.

Before you two had left, he pulled you forward into his arms and gave a small peck on your forehead, of course making sure not to smear his lipstick. 

“I’m glad you said yes my dear tater tot. Now I can show you off to everyone at the formal and show them that you chose me.”

“Vil, you and I both know that it was you that chose me first.”

[khalixvitae]

★ Birds of a Feather ★

The Wanderer x Reader | ~ 4k words

Warnings: The Wanderer is… the way he is- he’s just generally very antagonizing. Has absolutely no grasp on how to healthily interpret or express his own feelings; TL;DR he’s emotionally messy but it’s mostly internal. Gets very introspective, brief mentions of body horror (not intensely descriptive but it’s there). Gets a little suggestive at the end bc apparently I’m nothing if not existential and vaguely homoerotic. Vague worship??? Idk you can tell I have religious trauma.

Info: GN Reader who is also in Vahumana (specialty of study is not specified) has been recruited by Nahida to collaborate with the Wanderer. The reader knows Kaveh and is stated to be around his age. No physical descriptors used. Heavily inspired by his birthday letter from last year where he mentions his inability to connect with his peers but how he is admittedly kind of lonely/doesn’t believe he’s capable of connection.

——————————————————————————

Sumeru was a strange nation; nearly as strange as its archon. At least that’s what The Wanderer had decided over the course of his self imposed imprisonment. But in a competition of peculiarity, you’d always take the cake.

In all his years of traversing Teyvat, he’d amassed quite the collection of experiences and stories he liked to chew on until they lost their bite. Much like the bitter tea leaves he enjoyed so much, he’d sit and mull over whatever memory struck his fancy until it started to come apart at the seams. He’d steep in it over and over until it lost its taste- then he’d give that one a break and move on to the next, only to inevitably repeat the process again some other time. He knew it wasn’t productive, of course. But it was a not so guilty pleasure of his, one he intended to indulge in as long as it kept his interest. Nahida would have none of it though, much to his chagrin. She’d given him some shpiel about not spending all his time in his head, something or another about a “self affirming echo chamber leading to stagnation”. A valid criticism, sure, but he thought he deserved a little stagnation every once in a while! If anyone had experienced periods of dynamic and continuous change it was him. He had three iterations already, and he most certainly was not aiming for a fourth any time soon. He figured she’d let it go and let him continue on with his innocuous hobby, lest he be unleashed onto her citizens in any greater capacity than his academic pursuits.

Of course he should’ve known better than that.

When she called for him a few days later, it shouldn’t have been a surprise that she wasn’t alone. There you were, standing at her side as if it was the most natural thing for you to do. Immediately he had a sinking feeling.

When you introduced yourself it only worsened- great, you were going to be around enough for him to need to know your name? What was Nahida planning? You weren’t entirely unfamiliar- he was pretty sure you were also in the Vahumana Darshan. At the very least you were bright enough for him to vaguely recognize; that was more than could be said for most of his peers.

“They’re going to be accompanying you for a while,” Nahida told him simply, as if that one sentence didn’t obliterate his established day to day routine.

He cut his eyes at you, then the Dendro Archon. “Goodness, well. I had no idea my social performance was so abysmal that you’d try hiring friends for me.”

The tiny god just shook her head, hands on her hips. “Now don’t be like that. I just want you to get a different perspective on things. That includes Sumeru and its people at large.”

“Ah, so you’ve booked me a tour guide then.” He bit back, clearly uneasy with this direction Nahida’s lessons were taking.

He certainly wasn’t expecting to hear you laugh at his attempt to retaliate. As much as he wanted to snarl, he didn’t detect an ounce of pity or mockery in your tone. “I’m maybe the worst person you could’ve picked if that’s the case.” The way you met his gaze so easily was enough to make him nauseous.

“It’s not that either. I just think you two would get along well, that’s all.” Nahida still had the same soft expression, one he still couldn’t read but knew it meant trouble.

And so his new routine began. At first he tried to ignore you, but Nahida would have none of that. It didn’t take long before his avoidant tactics were worn down by her valid criticisms and patient lecturing, and soon he found himself in your company whether he wanted to be or not. His new problem, however, was that he was beginning to not mind the arrangement. He wasn’t sure when it happened, but as weeks turned into months of awkward conversation and biting sarcasm, he grew used to your presence. He had to admit that Nahida’s plan worked far too well. He hardly had the time or need for his little hobby.

There were logical reasons as to why he didn’t mind your presence, of course. You were wickedly smart (for a mortal, he told himself) and observant to a fault, and your brutal honesty was oddly refreshing. There was no pity or malice in the way you talked to him- he was just like everyone else for once, something he didn’t know he’d find so thrilling until you were lazily telling him to fuck off like anyone else who dared to disturb your work. You listened to him- even though you didn’t agree with his personal philosophy, he felt strangely validated by the way you’d think about it before refuting his arguments. And the way you made note of the things he liked and responded accordingly, like bringing him teas or research papers that you’d thought he’d enjoy, made him keenly aware of the fact that you did acknowledge him outside of your allotted time together. He didn’t cease to exist to you once he was out of sight- something he couldn’t quite wrap his head around. And yet there was something else that he enjoyed about you even more than any of those logical, reasonable attributes.

It was the way you handled him.

When he got mouthy, or went just a little too low, you had a way of putting him right back in his place. Whether it was an equally sharp remark back or a silent stare that made his spine tingle, you seemed to have no qualms with biting back. It was strangely exhilarating, and each time he found himself wanting you to do it again. Frequently he’d wind up intentionally pushing your buttons in the hopes that you’d respond. At times it was a destructive self defense mechanism, as if to try and push you away when you got just a little too under his skin, but sometimes it was something else. Something he’d never admit to a solitary soul, himself or otherwise. Sometimes, he did it to see if you’d get tired of him. He was sure you had an end to your patience, your companionship archon appointed or not. There was something that made his chest tighten when you’d return fire without fail. Not only that, but sometimes it felt like he needed you to handle him because he couldn’t handle himself.

You couldn’t physically overpower him if you tried, neither could anyone else really, but it wasn’t about that. It was the way you’d laugh at him when he said something meant to rub you the wrong way, as if it was so stupid it didn’t deserve a reaction. Or how you’d respond with something equally pointed, as if it was all one big game- and it was. It had become a conspiratory back and forth that put everyone around you on edge. Even Nahida would sometimes appear put off by your complicated dynamic- if there was one time she truly felt that she didn’t understand humans, it would be while watching you two go at each other as you combed through the respective materials you’d brought to exchange. Despite being downright verbally aggressive towards one another, your actions were the complete opposite. You’d show up with two drinks any time you expected to meet, even if he always undercut the gesture with some comment about transactions and ‘owing you’. He’d edit your work without warning, handing over a copy of your most recent piece with a vague wave of his hand as if he hadn’t stayed up all night reviewing it. It was a dance of sorts- neither of you could sufficiently say you trusted the other. How could you when you rarely made it a point to get personal? Even if you were to try, he wasn’t exactly keen on explaining a lifetime's worth of unbelievable events without proof. Besides, he was a wanderer, destined to pass through and eventually leave Sumeru. What point was there in cementing a bond that was already too sturdy for its own good? You saw him, or perhaps saw through him, and shouldn’t that be enough? Despite that, he sometimes found himself testing the waters. It was sort of an experiment- he wanted to see how far he could push it, how much you could really handle him for all he was worth.

When you invited him into your home for the first time, he knew you were just as curious.

Sitting there side by side in your living room, surrounded by research materials of all kinds, he felt that familiar itch to pester you overcome him. The way you’d methodically skimmed the same page for the past half hour was beginning to make him feel weirdly exposed.

“You’ve been reading that passage for a while,” he began, leaning in to get a better look at your face as you hunched over the manuscript.

“Mhm.”

“Ah, a response. I was beginning to think I’d finally bored you to death. But it looks like I’m not that lucky.”

“Mhm.”

“What’s got you so focused? I thought this passage was relatively straightforward. Maybe I just overestimated you,” he sighed rather dramatically.

You didn’t reply that time, his insult falling on deaf ears.

“If something like this is your limit, then perhaps I should find someone else to edit my work.”

Silence.

“Or I’ll just do it myself- it’s not like anyone else in Vahumana could do any better. I’d had hope for you, but I-“

You finally tore your gaze away from the papers in front of you, instead locking onto him. When you hissed his name- not his title but his name, the one he’d only recently acquired- he knew he’d finally get what he was so desperately seeking.

“You wanna know what has me so focused? Trying to make this publishable,” you snipped back.

When he laughed at your outburst you pressed forward. “The information is solid, but it’s full of jargon that most people would find hard to stomach. Syntactically you could do well with having the comma taken away from you until you learned to use it appropriately. It’s not used incorrectly per se, but archons, I’m begging you to use any other form of punctuation. A semicolon, even a dash, anything to create variation. When your sentences are all structured the same way, it makes for a dry read and wastes otherwise good writing. But the biggest problem is that all of this,” you took up your pen and bracketed roughly half the page. “This is purely conjecture, no matter how sound it may look. And while I personally enjoy your theoreticals about Inazuman political history, I cannot think of a single source to back some of these arguments. A hypothesis is not publishable unless presented as such, but the framework of your thesis hinges on these claims as proven fact. I could maybe swing it if it were possible to prove them in the future, but half of these don’t even meet that criteria. So yes, I’m stuck. I’ve been racking my brain for sources I could offer you for citations. And if you could give me just fifteen minutes of silence that do not involve you staring at me like there’s a countdown until you vivisect me on my coffee table, I might be able to get somewhere.”

He took a second to recover- he often needed to when you’d sink your teeth into him like that- before cocking his head at you with an absolutely infuriating grin. “Well I’ve published papers before with my so-called conjecture. Why is it a problem now? Last time I checked my ‘hypotheticals’ were called groundbreaking.”

“There’s a fine line between groundbreaking and unfounded. Look, if I had to believe anyone on this subject it’d be you. I can’t think of anybody else who could put together work like this. But if I’m editing, I want to actually fine tune it. Even if it’s passable at this stage, I know it can be better. Something this interesting should be perfected.”

“How flattering, I had no idea you were such a fan of my work. Even if it is a ‘dry read’. But fine, if you’re so inclined then go ahead. I don’t really care either way. At least give me something to do in the meantime.” He leaned in again to ensure he had your full and undivided attention. “And by the way, I wouldn’t vivisect you. That’s excessive even for me. I’d at least have the decency to kill you first before I went prodding around.”

When you met his gaze without hesitation, he felt that familiar prickle run along his spine.

“How sweet of you. Anyway, I don’t really have much for you to do. You’ve already finished editing my most recent arguments. If you want to go home I’m fine with that. I can give this to you tomorrow if so. If not, I’m happy to have company. I mean you could help yourself to my bookshelf, but other than that your options are limited.” You returned to the task at hand, combing over the text just as thoroughly as before.

Now it was his turn to look perplexed.

“Well that’s stupid. Then you’d be doing this for free.”

“I already do it for free,” you sighed, knowing exactly where he was going.

“You do it as a part of an exchange. If I didn’t do the same for you, it would be for free. And right now, your labor isn’t being reciprocated. So what exactly do you get out of this?”

“I don’t want anything in return. I’m doing this because I like your work, and because you’re you. I wouldn’t do it otherwise.”

“What, because Lesser Lord Kusanali says you have to?” He sat with his arms crossed firmly over his chest, far too motionless to resemble anything human. “More than that, you could get anybody to edit your work. You’re established enough. So why do you still agree to this?”

“Oh don’t be dense. You’re the only person I’d ever let near my research aside from the Dendro Archon herself. Anybody else would try to rip off my work or make a quick buck as a ‘ghost contributor’ or some other bullshit.” You still didn’t look up from his writing despite how candidly you spoke. “You see my work for what it is, and criticize it accordingly. You don’t want anything else from me, and I don’t want anything else from you. That’s what I get out of this. And yes I know that’s paradoxical, but you’re smart enough to know what I’m getting at.”

When you finally did look back at him he noticed just how exhausted you looked. He almost felt bad for pushing your buttons. Almost. Your answer had been… strangely enlightening. He’d never believed a net zero transaction between two people was possible, and yet if he took your words at face value that’s what he had. And so he needed to push it further.

“And what if I do want something from you? What then?” He half expected you to burst into tears, or at least kick him out. But you simply pinched the bridge of your nose, letting out a long sigh.

“Well, then I’ve got no idea what it is. It seems like the only thing you want is to drive me fucking insane.” There was no bite to your remark, only a kind of resignation. “Or maybe you just want me to talk to you. It’s gotta be lonely, being the most pompous asshole around.” You paused, leaning back against the cushions of your couch to stare at the ceiling tiles. “Maybe you’ve got a little crush on me or something.”

Now it was his turn to sigh. You’d never gone that direction with your taunting before. He figured he’d take the safest route out of whatever web you were building. “I could say the same for you, you know. Of course we both know better than that, so don’t trouble yourself with that train of thought. That pretty little head of yours is already at capacity as it is.” He tapped a finger on the manuscript you’d ceased editing.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” He realized you were looking right at him once more, clearly tired of his never ending vague statements.

“I mean it’s obvious you’d have eyes for somebody else.” He decided to drive his point home- he wanted to embarrass you away from the subject because now he felt quite exposed. You were right, of course. But that was unthinkable. All those years spent without genuine connection and now that he’d found it, something inside of him wanted to squander it for a chance at more? For a creature born without a heart, he sure was greedy. He wasn’t equipped to admit that to himself, much less to you. No way, he’d have to end the conversation and never let it resurface.

“You’re awfully close with that blonde from Kshahrewar. It wouldn’t surprise me if you two were… involved with one another. He’s a bit of a mess but- well, that makes it even more fitting.”

“Kaveh? Nah. I mean we’re close, but not like that. He’s got a lot going on that he needs to sort out before he tries dating anybody, especially me. It would never work.” You didn’t seem flustered, which made him even more uncomfortable than he was before.

“Oh? Too much baggage? I see.” Why did he feel a little wounded by that? He’d ignore it for the moment.

“No, I don’t think there’s such a thing. It’s more so how he chooses to deal with his problems- or really how he refuses to. We work through things differently. He makes a great friend, but we’re fundamentally different people when you get down to brass tacks.”

Why did you have to be so reasonable? It was getting on his nerves. “Really now? But don’t opposites attract? And he’s easy on the eyes, I’ll give him that. And he’s your age, right?”

“Gods, why don’t you date him then? Sounds like you’ve got a whole lot to say about him. I can even set you two up, my treat. And back up, what do you mean he’s ‘around my age’? So are you, I don’t see how that’s a differentiating factor. Unless you aren’t- how old are you anyway?” You fully faced him then, illuminated in the orangey glow of your desk lamp.

“Wouldn’t you like to know? Older than the two of you, for certain.” He smiled placidly. “Anyway, he’s not my type. He’s too… kind. Being around him would make anybody feel awful. But again, you two-“

“Drop it already,” you cut him off decidedly. “It feels like you’re deflecting. If you’re going to fish for something, at least be direct.”

“I’m only pointing out the obvious. What, you think I’d tell him? I mean-“

“I said drop it. You’ve already beaten the subject to death and back, can you please just let it-“

“Make me.” The phrase had escaped him before he registered it. Something about seeing you so irritated with him made his pulse quicken. The look on your face was one he was well acquainted with- you were ready to bite back. There was a moment of pause, the two of you locked in a tense silence that filled every corner of the room.

“So that’s what you want. Huh.” He watched something in your eyes change as you mulled over your thoughts. In a second you were even closer- the image of a rishboland tiger crossed his mind for a moment. He began to wonder if he really had messed up this time, if he’d completely ruined your net zero relationship with such a silly little outburst, if you’d finally tell Nahida you were done and-

Your hands were so warm against his skin. How you murmured his name carried the same heat. “May I?” It was an odd question, but the way your fingers brushed any loose strands of hair away from his face had him nodding without a thought to the contrary. He wasn’t used to someone asking him for permission for anything- hell, he didn’t know what you were asking for. All the same, he knew he lwanted whatever you were offering.

The kiss that ensued was bruising. While he was accustomed to others being rough with him, something about this was different. When you brushed your thumbs over his cheekbones soothingly before carding through his choppy bangs, he felt nothing short of delight. You were handling him as you always did. For someone who didn’t need to breathe, he seemed to have the wind knocked out of him. After a short while he realized he’d grabbed onto your shoulders so tightly his fingertips ached- he had no idea when he’d taken hold of you, but you made no effort to pull away from his harsh grasp. His efforts at reciprocating were very clearly unpracticed, but by the gods did he ever have enthusiasm. He was all teeth and nails; he had no idea if he was even capable of gentleness after so many years. Even so he tried desperately, pulling at you, pushing you into him, doing everything in his power to convey just how badly he wanted whatever this was.

“Hey, hey. Relax. I’m right here. I’ve got you,” your words nearly made him keel over, each one spoken against his skin as you worked your way down the column of his throat. You treated him like he was something to be revered by virtue of his very existence. Is this what it felt like to be worshiped as a god? No, he knew better than that nowadays. This was something sweeter, even more devout- and he would’ve died right that second had you asked him to. “Is this alright?” Once again he nodded without hesitation, afraid that his voice might betray just how badly he needed you to keep going. He wanted to scream, to maintain his composure enough to insult you and save face, but any attempts at that were a lost cause.

When you sank your teeth into his skin he thought maybe he’d died already. Physical pain was an old acquaintance of his, a familiar companion he took a sort of sick comfort in. This time though the sensation had him teetering on an edge he’d never conceived of. You’d made quick work of his hat already, and with nothing left to hide behind he knew he had to look so pathetic. But you didn’t laugh at him; for all your previous sharp words and pointed jabs, in that moment you were so good to him it made him ache. It was humiliating. He wanted to hide, to crawl back into his own skin and recompose himself. Simultaneously he could only think of chasing after you for more.

You took your time marking along his neck, glancing up at him for silent permission before beginning each new bruise. He figured you had to be some variety of insane to want him this way (or in any way for that matter), but he couldn’t find the strength to tell you so. He felt weak, and for that he loathed you. At the same time he wished he could crack open his ribs and house you in the hollow space where his heart should’ve been. The way he ceaselessly pulled at you only made that more and more apparent. He wasn’t alone in his desire, though. Your methodical pace and mumbled string of praises told him that you may even agree to be enshrined within him- of course he’d never say so, instead resigning himself to breathless sighs and noises he’d only ever describe as pitiful.

When you finally backed off he attempted to chase after your touch. He was a mess and he knew it; with mussed hair and bruised lips, he looked every bit as weak as he felt but he couldn’t be bothered to care. He’d endure the humiliation of being perceived so long as you’d show him you wanted him.

“I have to finish editing your paper,” you murmured, brushing down the mess you’d made of his bangs.

“Wha- who cares about the paper?” It wasn’t as much of a quip as he’d intended, but it would have to suffice.

“I care about it. I want your work to do well. You deserve it.”

He opened his mouth to protest, but no sound escaped.

“Give me that fifteen minutes, that’s all. Deal?”

For once, he couldn’t bring himself to argue with you.

——————————————————————————

So uh. Idk what happened here. I am unwell over him I will not lie. I’m currently stoned out of my mind enjoy this tho

Tag list: @v-anrouge @vtoriacore @phoneymedic @gum-gum-time @heatofmyexoheart (DM to be added or to be removed ! <3)

[khalixvitae]

★Under The Skin ★

Rook Hunt x Reader | ~3k words

Warnings: mentions of death and dying (not descriptive), a smattering of angst but we don’t have time to unpack all that; semi suggestive at points because I cannot seem to help myself; mentions of book 6 but nothing too descriptive! Reader is also implied to know Floyd. Vaguely canon compliant, takes place ambiguously after book 6

Info: I’ve been obsessed w the idea of Rook w an implied goth reader who collects bones and makes bone jewelry. Entirely self indulgent (i am goth and I collect bones and make jewelry Lmao). GN reader, no physical descriptors used other than that the reader wears jewelry.

——————————————————————————

Rook Hunt was an odd duck, you’d always known that much for certain. He was hyper observant and yet seemingly unaware of social norms, constantly invading the personal space of those around him. Ever the chatterbox, he’d seamlessly suck any passersby into a whirlwind of a conversation, gleaning whatever information or entertainment he’d sought out before discarding his still confused target with a friendly adieu. He would regularly monologue, lyricize, and wax poetic about even the most mundane of things. Frankly it was difficult not to notice such glaring personality traits- he had a habit of making his eccentricities everyone’s business.

Even so, his outlandish tendencies and flowery language only further obscured what kind of person he was hiding beneath the surface (and beneath that bizarre hat). He was in Pomefiore, after all- and a Vice housewarden no less. It only made sense that his public persona, as bewildering as it may have seemed, was carefully crafted by his dexterous hands. Always guiding the conversation away from himself with a practiced ease, it was obvious he sought to keep any clear image of his character permanently out of focus. He was like a mirage- not quite tangible, his perimeter fuzzy and constructed only of contradictory statements or nearly mythological anecdotes. No matter how hard you tried to get a peek behind the veil, he was always just out of sight. You had always been certain that the trajectory of any arrow fired by those same hands would be far straighter, cleaner, than any conversation you could ever hope to have with the huntsman.

Which is what made your current situation all the more unexpected.

“And this one?” His eyes darted to another one of the many trinkets you’d scattered across your bed. Lithe fingers hesitated over the pendant he’d zeroed in on, an owlish gaze flickering up to meet your own. He wanted permission. How very unlike himself, you thought. Or perhaps it was more like him than he’d ever been in your presence- you had no way of knowing, of course. You pushed the thought away and instead nodded affirmatively. He plucked the necklace from the duvet, its weight remembered by an indentation in the plush down.

“Yeah, I found that amber while digging around on the beach with Ace and Deuce. I’d never seen inclusions like that before. It just needed a little polishing up and it made for a really nice piece. The other stones are tigers eye- I got those online.” He held the petrified resin up to the sunbeams streaming through your bedroom window, nodding affirmatively as you spoke.

“Magnifique! How lucky you are, mon Trickster.” He rolled the stones between his fingers, a musical lilt coloring his speech. “You have quite the collection- a proper Cabinet des Merveilles.”

You shrugged at that, glancing down at the innumerable treasures you’d accumulated. Well, treasures was a subjective title to say the least. Bones or teeth belonging to unknown animals, each fragment you’d found in the woods and painstakingly cleaned to later preserve. Carefully dried flowers from plants you’d never seen prior to your arrival in Twisted Wonderland, as well as some familiar varieties you’d taken comfort in coming across. Sea glass, petrified coral, and iridescent shells you’d collected on trips to the coast with your friends. A shadow box of butterfly specimens found around the school’s botanical gardens, each one you’d mounted with care. Evidence of your time there, proof of your experiences and your memories and your love for a foreign place you’d slowly made home.

When you managed to untangle yourself from your own sentimentality, you realized he was watching you. He was waiting. His vibrant green eyes were too green in the early evening light, shining like pools of opaque, still wet oil paint.

“I’m glad you like them,” you answered simply, your voice far more hoarse than you’d anticipated. The bizarre nature of your situation only hit you further when he shifted his weight, his attention now focused solely on you- as if you were a specimen in your own collection.

All of this because he’d inquired about your earrings in homeroom.

They were simple things, really. Pretty green glass beads strung together with tiny bones you’d unearthed on one of your many hikes. They had belonged to something small, and you were certain the delicate pieces were vertebrae. It was a wonder they were so intact- however despite their relatively pristine condition, you had no idea what creature they’d belonged to.

You figured they’d caught the light just right, or maybe you’d tilted your head just so- it didn’t take much to catch the hunter’s attention, after all. Whatever the case, halfway through the lesson you’d noticed his keen eyes on you. Your recognition did nothing to deter his blatant staring; in fact, he’d waved at you. As strange as it may have been, you didn’t pay it much mind. Rook was odd, sure, but he’d never done anything outright malicious. Well, not towards you. This kind of behavior was well within his usual repertoire and therefore easy enough to ignore.

In much the same way, it wasn’t totally unexpected for him to descend upon you as soon as the bell rang for dismissal. Rook wasn’t an especially large guy, at least not compared to some of your other classmates. He was broad shouldered and sturdily built, sure, but he wasn’t a notable giant like Jack Howl. And yet something about Rook made him loom, an imposing presence despite his cheerful cadence and charismatic smile. He always toed a fine line, giving the impression that he was all over you without ever once making physical contact. Your encounter that day had been no different; he’d spouted off a laundry list of greetings and praises, only half of which you’d managed to catch, before dipping in closer to view your handiwork.

“Oh! Beau savoir-faire! Did you make these yourself, Trickster?” The way he’d honed in on the dangling vertebrae made you keenly aware of how they framed the vulnerable column of your throat; the equivalent to a neon sign for any apex predator, Rook himself included. Feeling ever more exposed, the rest of the conversation passed with a quickness you had grown to expect from the hunter. Before you knew it, you’d invited him to come by Ramshackle so he could view the rest of your collection. After all, it wasn’t often that someone took vested interest in your little hobby. Ace thought it was outright creepy. Shells were fine, and he could almost (almost) give the butterfly thing a pass, but bones were where he drew the line and made a point to tell you so. And tell you he did. Frequently. Deuce was less outright rude about his discomfort- he wasn’t Ace, after all- but the squeamish look on his face was enough to deter you from showing him any unusual specimens.

When you’d arrived home from classes that day, Rook was already on your doorstep. He looked excited, nearly childlike in his enthusiasm. You’d resolved to yourself then that letting him into Ramshackle would do no harm- Rook was strange, yes, but he was only as dangerous as the rest of your peers. He’d never been remotely unkind to you; in fact, he’d been extraordinarily helpful on more than one occasion. Besides, he was already there, patiently waiting for you on your own stoop. Turning him away now would be just plain rude, not to mention he often made pleasant company.

And so there you were, settled across from Rook Hunt of all people. Alone, in your otherwise desolate dorm- the Great Seven only knew where Grim had slinked off to when your guest arrived. Even the ghosts had made themselves scarce since you’d guided Rook to your bedroom. That being several hours prior, you were astonished that not a solitary soul had intruded upon your peace. Normally something or someone would’ve stirred up trouble for you by then, but the dormitory was silent. He was still silently observing you, and that exposed feeling from earlier in the day seeped back into your bones.

“The ones you’re wearing. May I look at them again? The lighting here is much better, no?” As always he sounded so sublimely agreeable, and it would’ve felt even more revealing to tell him no. Not that you wanted to tell him no, necessarily. If anything, you didn’t mind the thought of him getting closer. That was a damning thought you forced down immediately as you gave him the go ahead. He removed his hat and placed it somewhere beside him- you didn’t keep track of where, far too focused on his reasoning for doing so. He leaned in closer, so close in fact that the brim of his trademark accessory would’ve prevented him from achieving the proximity.

“Snake vertebrae,” he murmured, as if identifying them didn’t take a moment’s thought. “And my, how wonderfully preserved! You’re quite talented, mon Trickster.” His breath grazed your cheek as he spoke, words ringing impossibly close to your ear. The sudden thought that he smelled nice passed over you, only serving to grow your list of absolutely damning thoughts about Rook Hunt. The subsequent realization that there was a list to begin with would have made your blood run cold had the heat of your embarrassment not warmed you down to your bones.

You briefly recalled one of Floyd Leech’s many complaints he’d voiced to you on your living room floor. He’d dropped in uninvited, if memory served you right, but you’d digress for the moment. You weren’t sure of the full context- you didn’t make point to pay that much attention when Floyd was in one of his moods- but what you did remember was a rather innocuous detail he’d given you about the hunter sitting on your bed. That he only wore perfumes when he wanted to be noticed. Of course Floyd’s delivery had been much more coarse and insulting, but nonetheless. And the herbal, nearly floral scent you’d caught was definitely cosmetic, you were sure of that. So he wanted to be noticed by you, then? Another idea to add to your ever growing list.

The soft shuffling of leather brought your senses back into sharp focus. He’d removed one of his gloves, brandishing his bare hand in your line of sight. “May I?”

You nodded silently, watching it for as long as you could. A gentle tug on your earring let you know he was turning the charms around, looking it over carefully with those unnerving eyes of his. Wheatgrass strands of his cropped hair tickled your skin, but you held as still as one of the courtyard statues.

When he finally sat back he looked more than pleased. “Your finds are most impressive,” he chittered, tapping his bare fingers against his gloved ones. You watched them for a moment, taking note of the practiced calluses on each exposed fingertip- marks of his upbringing that even Vil’s carefully coordinated skincare routines couldn’t fully erase.

“But why do you collect them?”

The question wasn’t entirely unexpected- it was quite common for people to be curious about what motivated such a strange hobby. What was unexpected though was the glint in his eye. Something hopeful and genuine brewed behind his placid expression, something you couldn’t quite place but intended to figure out.

“Because they’re beautiful,” you replied, far surer and more steadfast than you’d been moments before.

“Even though they’re dead?” He raised a manicured eyebrow at you expectantly, the shine of his eyes catching the sun’s last bright rays.

“Of course. I mean why wouldn’t they be? It’s not like death itself is innately ugly. And dead things aren’t either.” It was your turn to lean forward, soaking up his expression that wasn’t all that unlike surprise.

A quiet laugh bubbled up past his lips. “So you do not fear death, then?”

You shook your head, matching the soft smile he offered you in exchange for your thoughts. “Death, no. Dying? Absolutely. Dying has a sensation- well, probably, its not like I’ve done it before- and that’s what I’m afraid of. What it feels like. I��m way more impartial when it comes to death itself. Mostly because it’s also impartial. It just is. It’s not malicious, or calculating. It’s just there.”

You brushed a hand over your trinkets, choosing your next words carefully. “I guess the only scary part about death is that when you’re dead, you run the risk of being forgotten. I mean, that’s why stuff like ruins and run down cemeteries are a thing. It’s not that those things don’t matter anymore because they’re dead, but because they’ve been forgotten about. Bones are a lot like that. Just because they aren’t up and moving anymore doesn’t mean they just cease to exist. The thought of dead things being forgotten about… bothers me? I guess? Especially when they’re beautiful things. Because all beautiful things were loved at some point, even in passing.” Perhaps this was all getting a little too introspective. Part of you wondered if you were a forgotten thing back in your own world; what had your loved ones done? Sometimes you felt like a dead thing with no body, no grave for them to visit. Something that had truly ceased to exist outside the memory of those around you. You worried you were revealing far too much, however his wide eyes and parted lips were all the encouragement you’d needed to continue forward.

“So I like to find them and clean them up. Yeah they’re inanimate now, but they deserve to be remembered and loved, even if they’ve changed. And I do love them. They’re special to me, just like the times and places I found them.”

Rook was wound taut like a bowstring, his posture rigid and features affixed in an expression of unmistakable awe. And there he was. Suddenly his usual shifting demeanor was frozen in time. The smoke and mirrors he usually deployed were no longer in effect, and you were absolutely sure that you were getting an honest look at him. Staring at him like that, you could recall a few instances where you’d seen him in momentary clarity. When he’d jump to protect his juniors, or when he nearly took off alone during the STYX debacle, and when something would catch him so off guard he’d throw his head back in unpracticed laughter. This was that Rook. The prolonged sight made it hard to breathe.

The final fiery glows of the setting sun illuminated him, now uninterrupted by the wide brim of his hat that still lay discarded on your bed. In the warm evening light you could faintly see the ghosts of freckles along his high cheekbones and the bridge of his nose, faded but still a part of him. His soft woodsy perfumes, the bare hand laid flat against your duvet and the hopeful way he stared at you, as if begging you to accept some sort of invitation you’d never consciously received.

For the first time you could recall, he looked weak.

And just as quickly, he began to slip away. His long lashes fluttered and he forced a quiet laugh- he was beginning to recompose his facade piece by piece. He went to work slipping on his missing glove, beginning one of his typical monologues- he was running. Whatever silent offer he’d given you, you’d sorely missed your chance. If you didn’t think of something, anything to stop him, you were sure this wouldn’t happen again. “Magnifique! Another devoted to the pursuit of love, much like myself! How dreadful it is that the evening is drawing to a close-“

“You’re so beautiful.”

Whatever door he’d tried to close was promptly blown off its hinges. There was a heavy silence that settled over the two of you as his already wide eyes grew to the size of saucers. The sun had fully dipped below the horizon, and now the fluorescent street lamp by your window illuminated his visage in new shades of blue.

“Excusez-moi?” His honey colored lashes fluttered as he once again met your gaze. You may as well have punched him in the gut.

“I said you’re beautiful, Rook.” By lightly nudging his hand away from his hat you only further disarmed him. Something in his posture went lax; the bowstring had finally snapped, leaving him boneless, powerless beneath your intense gaze. He looked relieved. Being so exposed was exhausting, yet set a visible shiver down his spine.

All at once you placed that glint in his eyes from before, his silent request coming into vivid focus. An aching desire to be a part of your larger collection- something to be coveted, something to be loved regardless of form. You supposed one devoted to the pursuit of love would crave it the most. Had that been what this was from the start? His benevolent assistance, his endless compliments, his unwavering attention? You’d written it off as his usual eccentricities, but had he been subtly peacocking this whole time? The way he allowed you to ever so gently remove both gloves and press your skin against his gave you all the confirmation you needed. When you trailed your fingertips along his forearms before encircling his wrists, he all but pushed them into your grip. There was something else in his verdant gaze, something that told you he’d ask you to maim him and enthusiastically thank you after the fact. Not that you’d ever want to harm him at all; no, seeing him in such a state gave you an abrupt and thorough understanding of his desire to protect all things beautiful.

However, Rook would, in fact, leave shortly after. Your time had drawn to a close, and he did have duties to tend to at his own dormitory. Part of you worried he wouldn’t come back- that the moment of weakness the huntsman shared would be regretted as soon as he slipped away.

How foolish of you.

A few days afterward on your way to class, you noticed something glinting in the morning light. An arrow, cleanly wedged into the clapboard by your front door. A little bag of trinkets had been secured to it, along with a note.

“Pour le Cabinet des Merveilles de mon amour” - R.

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Tag list for those of y’all who were on the same wavelength over the last few days! Feel free to DM to be added! A Vil fic is probably gonna be next bc I have Pomefiore brainworms alsjdkdj (and dm if you wish to be removed ofc! <3)

@v-anrouge @vtoriacore @phoneymedic @gum-gum-time

[khalixvitae]

Had a very weird dream about Tartaglia. May make it into a vaguely spooky Halloween fic???

[khalixvitae]

The number of half finished Idia fics I have in my docs rn is. Concerning. There’s also a good bit of rook so more on that later

[khalixvitae]

How is this Idia fic already 4k words someone please put me down