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jasmariswonderland · 1 year

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Shining Hearts Chapter 9 ~ Against The Current

Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8

Chapter Summary: Vil makes yet another fatal error where Danica is concerned but a sudden crisis finally brings her and her remaining swans together at last.

Word Count: 11222

Warnings For This Chapter: Vil being mean, Rook being tactless, lots of angst and hints of misogyny if you squint.

A/N: A huge thank you to @twstinginthewind and @twst-the-night-away for being kid enough to let me use their ocs for this story. I’m always nervous working with ocs that aren’t my own but I hope I was able to do them justice! ❤

~~~

“Mr. and Mrs. Ledelle, you are to be congratulated for raising such an exquisitely talented young woman. At twenty-one, Fiona is the youngest principal dancer in the company’s history!”

“Talented and gorgeous. She’s sure to have a dazzling career ahead of her!”

“Thank you very much, she is certainly the brightest star of our family.”

From her place in the studio, Danica heard the adults talking outside in the observation hall, fawning over her sister, as always. She bit her lip to stave off the burning sensation in her chest. Her feelings were petty, she knew they were, but it would be a lie to say she didn’t occasionally feel jealous of Fiona. Danica’s envy wasn’t so much directed towards Fiona herself but rather the praise and love she received from everyone, especially their family.

Her sister seemed to have it all; beauty, talent, grace, the primary model for their family’s cosmetic company and now a principal dancer at the Pyroxene Royal Ballet. Everyone in their world seemed to adore her and all Danica wanted was to be adored in the same way. She knew her parents loved her, but something about how they loved her was different compared to how they loved Fiona.

Perhaps it was because she was so much younger than her other siblings, perhaps it was because she was so quiet, or perhaps it was her peculiarity when she did speak. And perhaps Danica’s envy of Fiona wouldn’t run so deep if their family showed her even half the attention they would to her. Sometimes she even wondered how things would be if their roles were reversed and Danica was the elder sister. She wondered if their parents would treat Fiona with the same distance they did with her.

Still, Danica bore no ill will towards her sister and that made the comparisons their parents made between them sting all the more.

Focus, keep your mind on the barre.

Her feet went into relevè and she momentarily forgot her feelings to concentrate on keeping her position. Pointe work was far from easy, especially at barely ten years old. But it had been her own wish. After all the teachers often commented on how quickly she was improving, why should she have to wait three more years? It was still difficult though, maintaining her balance on such little support. Her sister made it seem as easy as walking.

“And it’s clear the well of talent does not stop at Fiona,” she heard one of her teachers say, piquing her interest again. “Danica has fantastic promise herself. To begin pointe work at such a young age with such incredible drive. Naturally, we have great expectations for her as well. She’s certain to follow in Fiona’s footsteps when she’s older.”

“Maybe not even that far in the future. She’s already cultivating her own grace and artistic style that differs from Fiona’s in the most striking way.”

“Danica is already proving herself to be a prodigy in her own right.”

This made her smile. Praise from the ballet masters was a rare thing and a sign that she knew she was doing well. And if they could see how hard she was working, surely her parents could too. At least, that was what she wished. Her mother's response, unfortunately, dashed that hope.

“Thank you, though I wonder if she’s too young to be wearing pointe shoes. In her enthusiasm to match her sister, we sometimes worry that she’s being overzealous.”

Danica did not hear the rest of this as she gripped on the barre in sudden frustration. No, once again the comparison was made between her and her sister. Why did it have to be that Danica was trying to match Fiona? Why couldn’t it ever be that she wanted to be the best she could be? Of her own volition? For her own reasons? And the proceeding comment from her father only made it worse.

“Really, she still has such a long way to go before she can even think to be on Fiona’s level.”

“But Mr. and Mrs. Ledelle, is it really overzealous if her talent comes so naturally?”

“She owes all her talent to her desire to be like Fiona,” her mother replied. “But if you ask me, allowing her to be en pointe is taking it too far. Fiona didn’t begin pointe work until she was thirteen.”

But I don’t want to be Fiona! She clenched her teeth. I just want whatever she has that makes you love her so much! I know I’m not like Fiona because if I were, maybe you’d stop saying things like that!

Danica was well aware of the eyes upon her and in a fit of frustration, stepped away from the barre to do’s pirouette. Hopefully showing just how capable she was with the pointes in spite of her young age. But her balance was still off and she quickly reached out for the barre so she wouldn’t fall. She tried the pirouette one more time and was slightly more successful, but her supporting foot was sickled and she landed too hard. Pain shot up her leg and she let out a little cry. She heard her mother reiterate to her teacher how she was too young to be en pointe and she gripped the barre with both hands, biting back humiliated tears.

No, I’m nothing like Fiona, I never will be.

~~~

“How’s my favorite little sister doing?”

It was later that evening and Fiona’s bright, smiling face peeked through the cracked doorway of Danica’s room. Danica was sitting on her bed, sewing a new set of ribbons to her shoes, and looked up to smile back at her sister.

“Yeah right, I’m your only little sister!” She giggled.

“All the more reason why you’re my favorite!” Fiona sat on the bed, close to Danica as she looked at what she was doing. “I know I’ve been busy lately, it seems like forever since we’ve been able to chat alone like this.”

“You’re a professional ballerina now,” Danica sighed. “And a model. You don’t have time for me anymore but that’s okay. You shouldn’t, that’s how it should be.”

“Danica! How could you say such a thing!” Fiona sounded genuinely hurt. “All of that may be true, our family will always come first to me,” she wrapped her arms around her sister. “And you’ll always come first to me too.”

Her embrace was warm, but somehow, Danica felt cold. Really, Fiona was the sweetest older sister a girl could wish for. She might have been more dismissive of her when she was younger, but in recent years, she had become much kinder and was nothing but gentle and encouraging to her younger sister. Making the indifference Danica received from their parents all the more disheartening and her feelings of envy all the more disgusting to her. She pulled away.

“What’s troubling you?” Danica didn’t respond with words, only staring down pensively at the pointe shoes she was sewing. Fiona acutely noticed a large red bruise on her sister’s foot. “Pointework can be really tough, huh?”

“Not for you!” replied Danica, feeling suddenly upset as she remembered that afternoon. “I’m sure pointework comes easy for you, like everything else!”

“Oh, Danica.” Fiona could see the tears coming and gently ran her hands up and down her back. “I still think you’re too young to be dancing en pointe, my teacher told me not to even think about it until I was twelve. But at the same time, I admire how determined you are. I know…”

“I’ll never be like you though!” Danica sniffed. “Mom and Dad are always saying I’m just trying to match you but I’m not! I can never match you because you’ll always be a better dancer than me.”

Fiona sighed, she had heard some of their parents’ comments as well and truthfully took issue with them, even if she never said anything. It was true when Danica was younger, she dismissed her desire to dance as copying her as well. But now she was older, en pointe, and had proven her devotion to the art was as genuine as her own.

To compare the sisters was not only unfair, considering how different they were in age and personality, but also somewhat cruel. Danica would never fully grow into her own as a performer if she wasn’t allowed to develop herself without having to live up to unfair expectations or comparisons. She would only continue comparing herself to Fiona and never see how gifted she truly was.

“Danica, listen to me,” she said at last. “You shouldn’t expect to be a dancer like me. You aren’t me, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have a lot to offer.”

“I don’t understand,” replied Danica.

“You are talented in your own right, not just because you’re my sister. You’re your own person, your own kind of dancer. You should focus on being the best version of that person you can be and no one else.”

“I want to be the best dancer I can be, that’s what I really want. I asked to begin pointe work because that's what I want.” Danica glanced up at her sister, locking eyes with her. “I want to be like you, Fiona. But what I want more than that is for who I am to be enough.”

“Who you are is enough, Danica!” Fiona hugged Danica again. “And trust me, Mom and Dad will see your determination in time, just like I did.” She softly lifted her chin up so she could see her smiling at her. “You will be so brilliant when you’re older, I can already see that. I’m so excited to see how you grow into your own as a performer. But no matter what, you will always be enough, Danica. You are enough.”

~~~

Ramshackle Dorm ~ Danica’s Temporary Room

In her hazy mind, Danica heard her sister’s voice. Or at least, a voice that sounded a lot like hers; it was kind, soothing, singing the lullaby Fiona would often sing to her when she was still a baby. It was comforting, but also painful as this could only be a dream, a memory of times long gone with the reminder of her grim reality forcing her mind awake.

She opened her eyes but her vision was blurry from a mixture of tears and the darkness around her. For a while she lay still, softly sniffing as she remembered all that had transpired before she fell asleep. Her head was throbbing and her body felt especially heavy with all the sadness she carried with her from the day. Sadness that continued even as she was sleeping and exacerbated further with the bittersweet memory of her late sister.

Why…why did you leave me? When I need you now more than ever?

A loud sob escaped her and she pressed her face into her pillow. Danica felt something shift on her bed, and the feeling of a hand gently patting the top of her head. This forced her to turn her body around, and freeze as her eyes made out a large shadow laying inches away from her nose. She was certain she closed her door when she returned to her room for the night and when she looked towards it, she saw it was closed. Her heart stopped.

“Who’s…there…?” she softly called out, her voice shaking. In response, a hand slowly ran down her arm, taking her hand in theirs. Danica tried to pull her hand away but they tightened their grip and she gasped. A familiar voice shushed her. “Rook-san! Why are you…”

“Mon Dieu, I seem to have woken you from your slumber.”

As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she could now see the intense green of his eyes gazing down at her. She shifted upwards to a sitting position and reached out to turn on her lamp. Seeing him with the lights on was somewhat more alarming than the realization that he was there in the first place. It was shocking, slightly frightening, but also, secretly, it was thrilling.

“W…why are you here?” Danica asked. “And why did you…were you…watching me sleep?”

“Ah mademoiselle, I was returning to my room for the night and heard your tears through the door. Oh, how it broke my heart to hear you in such sorrow.” Rook reached out to caress her cheek, but she flinched at the contact, still unsure what to make of this strange encounter. “I know you’ve had a rough day. So I decided I would come here and be a comfort to you.”

She sighed and looked up at him. He smiled and she lowered her eyes again, blushing. Strange as this was, there was something almost sweet in his words and it was enough for her to briefly forget her sadness. The greatest difference between him and Vil. Without realizing it, she moved closer to him and didn’t resist when he placed his arm around her.

“How long was I asleep?” She murmured.

“It is half past two, so about three hours. But you did not appear to rest at all in that time. You seemed so troubled that rest wouldn’t come to you.” He gazed thoughtfully at her. “I would love to know what is troubling mon petit cynge. And what I can do to ease her worries.”

“Oh Rook,” Danica closed her eyes as she felt the burning sensation of tears. “I don’t even know anymore. It’s just so much, and just when I think things might work out with my team or with the VDC, something else happens!” She pressed her face to her hands. “I feel so lost. I know I’m not perfect, but I’m doing my best. I just want him to see that.”

“You mean Roi du Poison?”

“Yes, I feel like nothing I do is good enough for him! It’s been that way for as long as I can remember, nothing I do is good enough for anyone! I can never be enough for anyone! And I don’t know how much I can take before…”

“Hush…”

Rook hugged her, pressing her face to his chest and rubbing her back softly. She was so close that she could smell his scent, pleasantly sweet, and hear his heart beating against her cheek. And he was warm, so warm. The feeling was overwhelming and finally, all of her emotions, her frustrations with Vil, her humiliation about the magicam leak, her sadness at missing Fiona, and her doubts for the VDC, all of it broke through at once.

“Why can’t I ever be enough?!” She cried. “I want to succeed. And I do want people to appreciate what I do. I don’t want to be vilified, like Vil is worried about. But what’s wrong with me? I’m really trying, Rook. And for once I just want…”

“Il n’y a acun probleme avec vous, cherie,” he whispered, gently running his hand through her hair. “You are enough, Danica.”

You are enough.

Hearing her sister’s words again, spoken by Rook, was somehow very comforting. She looked up at him, there was such kindness in his eyes, kindness she felt she had been lacking for a very long time. Whenever she felt stressed or sad, whenever Vil’s expectations were too much for her or his critique hit too hard, Danica could always be certain that Rook would give her the reassurance and the tenderness she yearned for.

“Rook-san…”

“Do you remember what I told you before?” he asked, taking her chin into his hand. “Every word I speak, I mean from the bottom of my heart. The question is, do you believe me?”

He subtly pulled her face closer to his and she felt her cheeks heat up with a strange mix of embarrassment and excitement. She couldn’t even ponder his question as all she could think of was what a lovely shade of green his eyes were, how close they were and how, at that moment, she wanted to be even closer. His gaze locked with hers and she closed her eyes for a moment of reprieve.

Rook took this as a silent confirmation of her heart’s desire and pressed his lips against hers in a slow, intentional kiss. This time, she did not resist him, nor did she want to.

Yes, she was enough. For the briefest moment, Danica believed it to be so. She allowed Rook to push her back onto the bed and sighed as she felt him deepening their kiss. His tongue brushed against her lips, encouraging her to open them up to him, which she did. All the while, Rook refused to let go of her, embracing her tightly as though she could never be close enough to him. No matter how hard she pressed herself to him, he pressed back with double the ardor. When their kiss broke, Danica nuzzled into his neck, soft sounds of contentment escaping her as Rook peppered soft little kisses along her cheek and jawbone. Every touch of his lips was like the sweetest whisper of his adoration, though he said nothing at all, leaving her skin starving more and more for his touch.

And for the briefest moment, Danica believed that she was enough, and was glad that at least Rook thought so too.

“Tu es parfait, mon cygne parfait,” he murmured, pulling back from his kiss to smile down at her, running his hand down her cheek. “My beautiful, perfect, pure white swan.”

Perfect pure white swan

Perfect white swan

White swan…

No… Danica quickly shut her eyes, biting the inside of her lip to force the sudden, rapid influx of intrusive thoughts. She wanted to enjoy this. She wanted to savor this moment with her crush, a crush where the feelings were mutual. Rook had always been kind to her, encouraging even when Vil was critical. They had a mutual attraction to each other, and he was now kissing her. His fondness for her had to be genuine. Surely he would love her for her, no matter how she presented herself or what kind of performer she wanted to be. Surely, as she was now, she was still enough.

“My perfect white swan…”

Why would our darling little potato wish to become a black swan? When she’s already so radiant as a white one?

Indeed…she was enough. The image of the pure and sweet damsel, led on the dancefloor or romanced by her senior for all to see, the cursed white swan loved by the prince. That Danica would always be enough for people, that was clear. But the Danica she was truly? With all her confusing thoughts, complex emotions, and secret desires, would she ever be enough?

“I adore you, mon petit cygne blanc…”

No. This wasn’t right. This was beginning to feel exactly how she felt with Vil a few hours prior. No matter how hard she tried to push back her thoughts, Rook’s praises didn’t sit right with her and she couldn’t enjoy his affection. No matter how hard she tried. No matter how much she wanted to.

A black swan can never stand by the side of a prince.

He was bringing her face to his for another kiss but he paused when he saw the look Danica wore. It was pained, her eyes were squeezed shut but a few tears had slid down her cheeks. And she was subtly shaking her head.

“What’s wrong, cherie?” he asked. “Am I hurting you?”

“Ahhh…ah, no! I’m fine!

She opened her eyes and looked up at him, his deep green gaze was beyond enticing and she cursed her mind for refusing to allow her to enjoy it. She brought her lips to his and tried to continue what he had begun, but he moved away.

“Your lips say you’re fine,” he said. “But your eyes say differently. Something is still troubling you.”

With someone as perceptive as Rook, Danica knew that further denial would be useless. She turned away from him, frustration and sadness flowing down her face.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” she whimpered. “I want this, I do. And I know I never gave you a…solid answer regarding what you asked me over winter break. When we were at your house and…”

“Non, mademoiselle. Do not apologize, you’ve done nothing wrong. And you have answered me,” he smiled, pulling her into an embrace. “When I kissed you, the way you responded to me, was that not your answer?”

Danica hesitated before burying her face in her hands. “I wish it could be. I want it to be, everything in my mind and heart is telling me this is right. But…but…”

I’m not good enough, I want to be. I want to be a perfect swan for you and for Vil. What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I…?

“I can’t…I don’t know why but this doesn’t feel right. It’s not like before, maybe it’s my stress. Or something else…maybe…”

“Something else, ma cherie?” He asked, patting her shoulder to get her attention. “Or, perhaps it’s someone else?”

Ever perceptive, but Danica vehemently shook her head. Her face was still in her hands. “What? No! No! No! NO! I don’t know what’s wrong with me! I’m sorry! I just can’t!”

“Ah, mon petit cygne, you have no need to apologize,” he sighed. “You have not upset me, for I understand what you are going through.”

“No, Rook. I don’t think you do,” she shook her head. “Because honestly, I do not know myself half of the time. I want to do my best, win the VDC and meet everyone’s expectations. But sometimes I wonder if I’m being pushed further away from what I want, and then I become confused as to what I really do want.”

“Ah but that is where you’re wrong. For when you explain it in that way, indeed I do understand,” he gave her a little smile, rubbing her back in a comforting manner. “Perhaps I can help advise you in the right direction. If you will allow me to.”

“You’ve always given me good advice, Rook-san,” she managed a small smile of her own. “And it’s always been useful. So yes, please advise me. I think yours is the only advice I can trust right now.”

Rook thoughtfully gazed at her, wondering to himself how best to explain what he wished to say. How to form his thoughts into words. The truth was, he was concerned for her as well, just as Sidonie was. But his concerns were quite different and what he said next reflected that.

“I have observed you over these last few weeks,” he said. “And I’ve observed Vil, as well as the both of you together. And when I do, I am reminded of an incident that occurred when I was still a child. I was playing too close to a fast moving river, walking along a bunch of logs that buckled under my weight. Causing me to fall right in.”

“Oh no!” Danica gasped. “That sounds scary!”

“Indeed it was, ma cherie. You cannot imagine my terror, and the current was so powerful that it quickly carried me away with it. I found it impossible to escape. My heart was racing, I struggled to swim to safety but I couldn’t. I was certain I would drown.”

“But you didn’t,” she replied, smiling a little. “How did you manage to escape?”

“The current was rapid and u relenting, but only when I stopped fighting against it, did it carry me to a low landing tree branch. I quickly caught hold of it and pulled myself up out of the water. But I was only able to make my way to safety after I allowed myself to flow with the river instead of against it.”

He gave her a thoughtful look, as if to tell her she should seriously consider his words.

“You are me, Danica. Myself as a child, and Vil is the river, flowing fast and unrelenting. You are struggling against the current which in this case are his wishes. And if you continue to struggle against this current…”

I’m…I’m going to drown…

Rook did not say this aloud, but his silence after this statement was just as good as if he had. Danica suddenly felt chilled, lowering her head with a distinct feeling of sickness. It was true, in spite of all that had happened, she was ultimately still dissatisfied with the direction of her VDC performance. And she wasn’t the only one, Iman made her disdain for her costume quite clear and Sidonie frequently hinted at her real feelings even if she never said anything directly.

From the beginning, she tried to hide her feelings. She made a promise to Vil to acquiesce to his wishes and for the most part was successful. But between Crisanta’s departure from the group and the events of the last few hours, she now felt it harder than ever. What’s worse was now, more than ever, Danica felt herself close to turning her back on Vil after what he had done. He had exposed her in a very personal way, put their budding romance on full display before she was even certain about him, and worst of all, had betrayed her trust.

Danica was hurt. She was hurt, humiliated, tired and was seriously considering going against his wishes and putting on the performance she truly wanted. As it stood now, Vil had made it clear that if she were to be enough for him, she would have to remain the same forever. Danica could never evolve as a performer, she could never try new things, she would always have to worry about not being provocative because just as he had said, a black swan could never stand by the side of a prince.

But with little more than two weeks before the VDC, she knew that doing something so drastic could prove disastrous. And yet, the thought would not leave her mind. Indeed, she was swimming against the current, and was at serious risk of being swallowed by it.

“I think…I understand what you’re saying,” she said at last. “And you’ve always given me helpful advice. But…” hesitating. “How can you be sure that I won’t be swallowed by the current? Even if I follow it? What would I do if the current takes me to a place further from the shore?”

“Because no matter how far the current takes you, soon enough you will find a way to pull yourself to safety,” Rook smiled. “But you cannot fight the current, cherie. And you cannot fight what you truly know in your heart to be right.”

He sounded so sure, so certain, and she had to admit there was some merit to his words. It seemed no matter how hard she resisted, whether openly or in her mind, everything around her was pushing her to remain one way even as she felt herself becoming another. Part of her wanted to remain the same, knowing it was what everyone around her wanted and feeling she might even be happier. But another part of her still questioned why change was so terrible in the first place.

And as long as she had those questions, Danica knew she would never know peace. Rook could tell by the pensive look she wore that she was seriously considering his words. And not wanting to disturb her, he decided it was best to leave, but not before cradling her head in his hands and kissing her forehead.

“Do not fight the current, mon petit cygne,” he said. “It’s not a fight you can win. Consider what I’ve told you and worry not, you do not have to give me an answer about my proposal until after the VDC has completed. By then, I know you’ll have an answer for me.” He gave her a little smile as he closed the door. “And by then, I’m sure you will have learned how to flow gracefully with the current.”

Danica was alone once again, alone with nothing but her thoughts for company. At the corner of her room was a full mirror and she slid out of bed to look into it. As she gazed at her reflection, she considered Rook’s words as well as what Vil had told her weeks prior. In the mirror, she tried to envision the girl they wanted her to be: innocent, sweet and fragile.

Unfortunately, the girl she saw was one who wanted to allure. Someone who wanted to inspire passion and derive power and confidence through performing. And after tonight, she had now become a girl with personal desires that were extremely unbecoming of an innocent white swan.

She knew what they wanted for her, knew what she needed to do to make them happy, but knew also that her own happiness would be the price. And it was a price that, as time went on, she was more and more unsure that she wanted to pay.

~~~

And yet, somehow, life continued on. The Swans of Six continued practicing and preparing to perform for the headmage. But Danica’s heart certainly was no longer in her performance and whatever comfort Joker and Violetta had given her had completely vanished once she knew the truth about the magicam leak. From that point onward, Danica felt as though she were constantly wearing a mask, a mask of sweetness to hide the anger and sadness that was bubbling under the surface.

Naturally, Vil did not bring up what had occurred between them that night in his room and made it clear to Danica that he expected the same from her for the time being. He did not have to worry though, as much as Danica wanted to, she wouldn’t dare. And as much as she wanted to understand the depth of what he was feeling, she knew it was best if she didn’t know.

As it stood, besides Sidonie, none of her teammates were aware of what had happened or even that Vil was responsible for the leak. They knew that they had a very heated row, there wasn’t a single person in the house that didn’t know that. But they figured it was related to what happened with Epel. And for the sake of peace and getting through the VDC with no more problems, Danica resolved to keep it that way and told Sidonie not to say anything either.

“I don’t understand,” Sidonie said when Danica told her. “The fact that I was right notwithstanding, what is the use of staying quiet? Who does it benefit besides Vil?”

“It benefits everyone!” Danica replied. “It benefits both teams because there will be no scandal or drama before the VDC. Crowley told me that this is the first time girls have been featured in the VDC in more than a decade! We can’t risk that! The important thing now is that we prepare to win!”

“And what about you, Danica? How does staying quiet benefit you?”

“It benefits me because I no longer have to deal with Vil’s anger. And as buzz about the video dies down…” she sighed. “The point is, I don’t want any of the girls to know so please, Sidonie, just humor me. I know you were right but there are more important things to consider right now.”

The older girl scoffed. She really didn’t see how anything was more important than Danica’s hurt or even her own personal vindication. But for her sake, Sidonie promised to remain silent on the matter, but she made her displeasure known at every opportunity. Her icy glare whenever Vil walked into a room spoke her disdain louder than her words ever could. And as the days passed and Danica slowly became more despondent, it was increasingly becoming too much for her to bear.

Soon enough, Vil’s harshness was affecting her more than usual, Vidaria’s titters were becoming harder to ignore, and she soon felt like a part of one magnificent, beautiful farce.

~~~

The day before the Swans of Six and NRC Tribe were set to perform for the headmage, Danica woke up to the sound of heated arguing coming from across the hall. At once she knew who it was before even opening her eyes and she groaned. It was still early, couldn’t Sidonie and Vidaria at least have the decency not to start it until after breakfast? Her mind was still hazy with sleep, so she didn’t hear what they were arguing about despite how loud they were. And she did not realize that her team was about to lose yet another swan.

It wasn’t until a few hours later after the boys headed to Pomefiore for rehearsal, that Danica realized what the arguing was about. When the girls gathered in the reception hall, she saw that Sidonie was not present. She immediately thought it odd since Danica knew she had heard Sidonie earlier and it wasn’t like her to oversleep anyway. Iman and Vidaria gave each other a concerned look, both silently wondering if they should tell her what they already knew.

“Where’s Sidonie?” Danica asked, a question not quite directed at anyone in particular. “I know I…heard her earlier this morning.”

“D…Danica…” Vidaria began, rather hesitantly. “Have you and Sidonie…talked at all today? I know it’s still morning but has she…”

“Today?” Danica shook her head, thinking the question quite odd. “No, not today. We haven’t talked since last night after dinner. In fact, I haven’t seen her at all this morning, not at…”

“Are you serious?!” Iman jumped in. “How thoughtless! You mean Sidonie dropped out and didn’t even have the decency to tell you or even…”

“Sister!”

“HUH?!”

Taima and Ione collectively gasped and Danica’s mouth went agape, too shocked to move or utter a single sound. She closed her eyes as she felt the blood rush through her head and every other sound around her became a blur.

Sidonie was her closest friend in Pomefiore as well as her mentor. From the moment Danica entered NRC, Sidonie had gone out of her way to lend her a helping hand whenever she needed it. They had their disagreements, but when push came to shove, Danica knew that Sidonie always had her back.

And she had promised that she would stay with her and see her through the VDC. If Crisanta’s departure wasn’t difficult enough, Sidonie’s departure made her feel inconsolable. She grabbed at her hair, making a loud noise that was a mix between screaming and sobbing. When would this nightmare end?

“Why?” Danica asked, her voice uncharacteristically low as she quickly composed herself. “What happened?”

“What do you mean?” Vidaria asked her. “I don’t understand.”

“Don’t play dumb! I don’t wanna hear that!” Danica glared at her and Iman. “I heard you all arguing this morning! What happened? Why did Sidonie decide to…”

“She didn’t decide! Vil kicked her off!” Iman replied, folding her arms. “Or at least that’s what she told us. Frankly, I find it hard to believe.”

“And why would Vil-san do that?!” Danica asked, but as the words left her mouth, she realized that such a thing could very well be possible. “No…would Vil really…”

“I’m only telling you what Sidonie told us. She said Vil felt that she was the weakest member of our team and was holding us back. Lowkey, that’s kind of true but even so…”

“SHUT UP!” Danica cried, her head pounding and her cheeks burning with anger. “NOT A WORD! She was doing her best, just like all of us! At least she was committed and didn’t give up like Crisanta!”

“Crisanta didn’t give up!” Ione retorted. “She wanted to stay and you know it! Maybe if Iman and Vidaria stopped instigating things between Sidonie…”

“Who’s instigating who?!” Vidaria snapped. “She’s the one who’s always hated me, not the other way around! She’s the one who’s gone out of her way to ruin my life! She’s the one who couldn’t deal with me!”

“Yeah because you’re always sniffing around Trey!” Taima replied. “Because you know she likes him you get a kick out of flirting with him!”

“Hmph, did Sidonie tell you that?!” Vidaria rolled her eyes. “Everyone knows she likes Trey, she’s not subtle in the slightest but it’s not my fault if Trey is nice to everyone!”

“Seriously! Why was she even let on the team in the first place!”

“I could ask the same about you Iman!” Shouted Danica, not even bothering to hide her tears. “Hell, I could ask the same for ANY of you because ALL you have done since day one it bitch and fight! Bitch and fight! BITCH AND FIGHT! And now we have to tailor our performance AGAIN and tomorrow we perform for the headmage! What are we going to do now?! This is ridiculous!”

“Well, it’s NOT our fault!” Iman snapped back. “We’ll get past this! We’ll probably be even better now without the dead weight!”

“DON’T refer to her like that! And you’re right, Iman, we WILL get past this because at this point, I’M NOT ALLOWING FOR ANYTHING LESS!” Danica let out another loud sob before roughly rubbing her eyes and quickly scrolling through her tablet to turn on the music. She exhaled loudly. “I’m done being nice! Everyone get in position NOW! We have less than twenty-four hours to finalize our performance and NO ONE is leaving this room until we do!”

Iman was about to say something but Vidaria stopped her before she could. Taima watched her friend with a heaviness aching in her heart. She knew how much Danica relied on Sidonie and was honestly angry at her for leaving Danica in her time of need. And she was angry at Vil, Iman, and Vidaria for whatever they did to drive her out. It was only a matter of time now before Danica snapped and what was worse was that Taima knew there was little she could do. Looking at her was like looking at a house on fire and it was all she could do not to throw her arms around her. But now, as was often the case, was not the time.

~~~

“Aww no fair! The girls get flashy new costumes but we don’t?!”

Kalim moped looking at the five girls standing beside them. It was the day of their performance for the headmage and Vil decided that they would all practice in full costume from that point onward since the VDC was now so close. While Danica’s team had white feathered costumes, custom designed by Farron, the boys would perform in their school uniforms. Vil explained how the school uniform look actually worked better for the NRC Tribe since they were a boy group. But the uniforms they wore now were custom tailored with fabric that stretched and were better suited for dancing.

“Still, I personally would have preferred outfits with a little more razzle-dazzle,” Kalim went on.

“But it’s not our call to make,” Jamil replied.

“And why would you want costumes like those?” Ace asked, pointing sarcastically at the girls. “With all that white, they look like they’ve fallen head first into a fluffy pile of feathers!”

“Shut it, Ace!” Yuulan snapped. “I think they look adorable!”

“Oui! A flock of perfect white swans!” Added Rook.

“Eh, well I personally wouldn’t wanna be compared to a bird with a long neck that can’t even fly. But that’s just me.”

“Swans can so fly, idiot!” Ione grumbled under her breath.

But Danica barely heard Ace’s comments or the others for that matter. They were all tired after practicing all the previous day with little rest and even less food. She had been true to her word and none of them left the reception hall until they knew what they would be doing today. All things considered, tailoring their performance was surprisingly easy now that they once again had an odd number of members. Memorizing it in such a limited amount of time was what was difficult.

To say nothing about their costumes. This would be the first time they performed in them and they’d be lying if they didn’t find them uncomfortable. The material was soft and similar to the fabric used for the boys’ new uniforms, but besides Ione, none of them found what they wore appealing. Danica had thought she would have time to get accustomed to her outfit since she did like the design, but after all that had happened, she couldn’t be happy with it in good conscience.

When she looked in the mirror, she no longer felt confident and certainly not powerful. Danica felt like a child or someone not to be taken seriously. Expected only to be adorable and nothing else. This was not the kind of performer she wanted to be in the slightest and far from feeling confident, Danica felt repressed.

Do not fight the current, it’s not a fight you can win.

Taima saw the look in her friend’s eyes and subtly squeezed her hand, leaning into her to whisper in her ear.

“Screw Ace! He’s just mad he won’t be singing solo for their song!”

In spite of her dark mood, Danica smiled at this and turned to Ione to whisper in her ear as well.

“Be sure to sing out for your solo, and show them what you’re made of!”

“I’ll do my best, but I make no promises!” Ione sharply replied.

“Quiet everyone!”

Vil clapped his hands to command everyone’s attention. He instructed Yuulan to turn on the music and for his teammates to get into position.

“Danica, your group will go immediately after ours, so be ready,” he told her. “And feel free to observe, and marvel.”

Danica said nothing, still baffled that he could have such a straight face even after all that had transpired between them. That he could expose her and then kiss her all in one night and pretend nothing had happened the following day, was incredible to her and she secretly wished she could feel as nonchalant as he appeared. The fact that she knew nothing of how his own inner turmoil was plaguing him was a testament to what an incredible actor he was.

With talent like yours, you could definitely take on a more heroic role in the future. She thought. Such a shame your actions of late have been so cruel.

This was the first time she was hearing Absolutely Beautiful in its entirety and whatever her current thoughts, she had to admit it was a fantastic song. The music was catchy, the lyrics were impactful and the boys dancing was on point and beyond infectious. She had to hand it to Vil, he had really made great performers out of the NRC Tribe. Even Epel seemed to be having fun with it.

“Now this is what we needed for our performance!” Danica heard Iman whisper. “Stylish, sexy, and cool!”

“Jamil’s really killing that solo!” Vidaria added. “What was it you called that, Sister? It’s called rapping right?”

“Yeah, and I love it! Man, why do the boys get to have the fun song?”

“They are all surely talented,” said Ione. “And Vil-san in particular. He truly is radiant, even compared to Neige.”

Their comments forced Danica’s stomach into knots. Yes, Absolutely Beautiful was truly a beautiful performance worthy of victory. Unfortunately, its magnificence only highlighted how lackluster Our Happily Ever After was in comparison. At least to her.

Why can’t we be allowed to be as dynamic? It sucks! I hate being a girl sometimes!

“Oh! Ohhhhhh! Oh my goodness! That was marvelous!! So in sync. Such a stunning performance!” Crowley clasped his hands together, grinning and looking on the verge of tears. “Clearly I was right to allow Vil Schoenheit to produce the boys’ performance. Every factor of your performance was polished to perfection!”

Vil and his teammates took the headmage’s praise with gracious thanks.

“Even if we do not know what RSA has planned for the VDC, I am confident that victory for our boys is within our grasp!” Crowley turned to Danica with a benevolent smile. “And I am hoping for the same for our girls' team as well.”

“Naturally, Headmage!” Danica replied, with far more confidence than she felt. “As you’re about to see, we plan to bring as much beauty and style to our performance as the boys!”

“Our White Swan Quintet will now show you what they’ve been working on,” said Vil. “I’m certain you’ll be pleased with them as well.”

With only the most minimal of groans, the girls got in position and Yuulan clicked on their music. Danica began with a brief ballet solo before turning and moving in sync with the other four. Somehow, in spite of their exhaustion and recent bickering, they managed to put on a charming performance. Each girl sang part of the song and each voice was on point. Their choreography had greatly improved and what mistakes were made were so small, they went unnoticed. Vil and Crowley appeared to be pleased.

“Ahhhh! That was fantastic! Another beautiful performance!” Crowley nodded. “You girls have such lovely faces and grace to match! Ah, were I a younger man I would…”

The headmage immediately stopped his sentence as he realized what he was about to say. Yuulan side-eyed him from the corner of the room as he quickly cleared his throat to speak again.

“Ahem! I mean…this will definitely resonate with your audience! You are to be congratulated, Miss Ledelle, for creating such an adorable performance! Certain to capture hearts!”

“Yes, Danica. You are to be congratulated,” Vil replied kindly. “You have come so far in such a short amount of time, transforming into the perfect swan I always knew you could be. And,” he couldn’t help adding with a sly little smile, “it’s good to see that you are no longer plagued by bad influences affecting you creatively.”

At this, she and he locked eyes with each other and Danica felt another twisting sensation in her stomach. Bad influence indeed! Sidonie had been one of the few around her that she could be certain would fully be on her side! She was always supportive and kind and unfortunately, Danica had taken those things for granted and now she was gone.

But if Vil thought taking her off the team would make Danica more amenable to his wishes, he was sorely mistaken. In fact, she was now more than ever embittered at how he had essentially typecasted her as the innocent white swan and made it impossible to break free of that role. For all his talk about how she would be trapped as a black swan, she was feeling incredibly trapped at that moment. It grieved her to think she was slowly closing her heart against him. Wasn’t the prince supposed to break the curse upon the white swan? Why was he so determined to reinforce it?

After both teams had performed, Crowley then handed out tickets for the VDC to every member of each team. Affiliate passes meant for friends and family of the performers. Even Yuulan was given affiliate passes, as thanks and an incentive for allowing the teams to use her residence for the training camp.

“Great work, ladies. You all are excused to return to Ramshackle and continue rehearsing there,” said Vil. “We’ll be back this evening. As for the boys, let’s pick back up with our rehearsal as well!”

“YES SIR!” the boys said in unison.

Taima, Ione, Iman, and Vidaria began making their way out of the ballroom, all of them no doubt looking forward to removing their costumes. But Danica lagged behind.

“Wait for me out in the hallway, guys. I’ll be there in a moment,” she said, now trying to catch Vil’s attention. She softly tapped his shoulder and he turned to her with more curiosity than annoyance for once. “Before you and the boys resume practicing, can I speak to you in private?

“Can it wait, Little Potato? We really must get in as much rehearsal as we can in the time allowed.”

“No, Vil. It can’t wait. And I won’t wait.”

Vil looked at her with slight surprise as this was the first time she had ever addressed him without honorifics. He folded his arms. “This had better not be about what I think it is. After I specifically told you to drop it until after the VDC.”

“No, it’s not,” she replied. “Not this time. It’s about Sidonie.”

Vil went silent but gave her a look that told her he’d rather she drop that subject as well. But Danica remained standing there, looking up at him in a way that told him she wouldn’t leave. Rook saw them and decided to intervene.

“Ah, did I hear correctly, Mademoiselle Chanteuse? You require Vil’s attention for something?”

“No, Rook. She doesn’t,” Vil said wryly. “Danica was just leaving and…”

“Oh, no! Please see to what our petit cygne needs! I can oversee our rehearsal for a few minutes,” Rook gave Danica a small wink. “It’s no problem at all. Go, go.”

“Fine,” Vil sighed. “Come, Danica. We’ll talk in the hallway, and this had better be important.”

~~~

Vil made sure to bring Danica to a place further down the hall, away from the ballroom and hearing range of the other girls who were waiting for her. Even though she was the one who wanted this conversation, he was the first to speak.

“Your performance today was adequate to say the least,” he said. “But I saw several errors made by your teammates. You guys are still far from polished so I expect you…”

“Really?! REALLY?!” Whatever anxiety Danica felt about what she was about to ask was quickly replaced with anger. “All things considered, I think we did rather well considering we LOST YET ANOTHER MEMBER yesterday! Considering NRC Tribe hasn’t lost any members, you guys have been able to improve more and more without interruption!” She stamped her foot. “So give me a break! I’m doing my best for you!”

Vil’s mouth hung slightly open. She did have a point, but it was still a rather shocking thing to hear Danica answer back to him. Such was completely out of character for her and he would sooner expect something like this from Sidonie. All the more reason he was glad at her departure.

“But on that same note, I’d like to know something,” she went on. “WHY isn’t Sidonie here?! Do you understand how much losing her has affected us?! We probably would have looked a lot more polished if she…’

“You should ask that to her yourself!” snapped Vil. “It’s true, what you were lacking today probably would not have happened if she had not left. But that is proof of her lack of commitment to…”

“LACK OF COMMITMENT?!” Danica looked up at him, angry tears beginning to form. “Sidonie was wholly committed! It was you who decided to…”

“Lower your voice!”

“IT WAS YOUR DECISION TO DROP HER A DAY BEFORE WE PERFORM FOR THE HEADMAGE!”

Vil suddenly grabbed Danica by the wrist, with enough force to elicit a small cry from her lips. He pulled her closer to him but as soon as he had done so, he let her go, turning away from her. Danica had angered him, but that was beyond uncalled for. Such a thing was far from behaving like a hero and he knew he had already hurt her several times already. Only to do it once again.

What kind of monster am I?

“First of all, lower your voice. I won’t ask you again,” he said, his voice low and his back still turned. “And second of all, I don’t know what the others told you about why Sidonie left, but I strongly suggest you ask her for yourself. But I personally won’t pretend I’m not glad she is no longer around you to cloud your judgment and influence you down a path you won’t be able to return from.” Vil pointed down the hallway. “Now go! I will be evaluating your progress again in three days' time so you and your remaining swans better get to practicing!”

With his back still turned to her, Danica formed a fist and brought it to her mouth, biting hard upon it as she staved off further sobs. He would never listen, he would never understand nor explain and she was tired of pleading. Her frustration had fully mounted and while she could honestly say she hated Vil at that moment, a part of her still hated herself for not being able to acquiesce to him easily. If only she could be more like Fiona, then perhaps she could make him happy. Perhaps they could still have a chance.

She turned on her heels and ran back down the hallway and when Vil was certain she was out of sight, he slumped against the wall and crumpled to the floor. Inside he was screaming and he blinked back several tears of his own. He was aware that he was quickly losing Danica and he had no one to blame but himself.

It had been his hope that VDC prep would bring them closer but instead, they were more a part now than ever before. In a perfect world, the world would not villainize him for his beauty. In a perfect world, due credit and fulfillment would be granted solely for hard work, and in a perfect world, what Danica wanted for her performance would be perfectly acceptable.

“Vil’s beauty is otherworldly, but I’m afraid to get closer to him.”

“They say the most beautiful flowers are often the most poisonous.”

“Beautiful and poisonous, the perfect villain.”

“That’s the major difference between him and Neige. Who would be afraid of approaching him? Vil on the other hand…”

But they didn’t live in a perfect world and if he were to ever be free of his curse, Vil needed a perfect swan, even if it meant imprisoning her by the same curse as he. Vil blamed Niege, he blamed the world, he even blamed Adela for not covering her tracks more thoroughly when she leaked the video at his behest. But more than anything, Vil blamed himself.

And with blurry eyes, he pulled out his phone.

“Mira, Mira…”

~~~

“Vil said our performance was lackluster!” Danica said when she joined her teammates in the lounge.

“Hmph, that’s rich considering he cut another person from our group!” replied Vidaria. “I might not think much of her, but we’d probably be less lackluster if we weren’t suddenly forced to work around her absence!”

“For once, I agree with you, Vidaria. But Vil said he’ll be giving us another evaluation soon so we really need to continue practicing what we currently have. So once you all take off your costumes…”

“Please, Danica! No!” Ione whimpered. “I’m exhausted and it’s a wonder I didn’t collapse mid-song!”

“Yeah, Dani, we’re each running on a single smoothie and less than six hours of sleep,” added Taima. “I know Vil-san is probably breathing down your neck but we can’t…”

“Can’t what?!” Danica glared at them. “What can’t we do?! The boys are rehearsing now so I see no reason we can’t continue as well! And there’s more riding on us cause unlike them, we’re down another member! So I don’t wanna hear any of that!”

“But Dani,” Taima tried to reason with her friend. “Please try and be reasonable, we can’t…”

“We can’t be expected to keep practicing when none of us have had decent rest or eaten properly!” Iman spoke up. “A few hours won’t make a difference! Give us a break!”

“I’m sorry, care for me to reiterate WHY Vil thinks our performance was lacking today?!” Danica’s temper was wearing thin and an angry fist was forming in her hand that she quickly concealed behind her back. “WHY were we lacking today, hmm?! Oh! That’s right! Because Sidonie isn’t here and we had less than a day to work around her absence! And WHY isn’t she here?!”

“That’s not our fault!” Iman’s patience was also wearing thin and she got up in Danica’s face. “Maybe you should ask her yourself why she isn’t here!”

“I THOUGHT you said Vil kicked her off the team!”

“That’s what SHE told us!” Vidaria stood beside Iman. “She told us Vil kicked her off but when we asked Vil about it, he said nothing!”

“We really don’t care if you think she’s your friend or not,” Iman added. “But what kind of friend just leaves without explanation or even a goodbye? Even Crisanta had the decency to…”

Danica had enough and Taima could see the chaos about to ensue. She swiftly placed herself between Danica and Vidaria and Iman with Ione trying to pull her back for good measure. Danica swatted Ione away but even as she did so, realized her actions were quickly crossing a line she couldn't return from. She pulled further away from the group to face the nearby wall. Taima heard the soft sound of frustrated crying and even as she placed her arm around her, glared at Iman and Vidaria with enough venom to cut through steel.

“And after what I specifically told you about making Dani cry…” she said.

“Look, we’re sorry,” Vidaria replied. “But it isn’t our fault that…”

“You obviously aren’t 'cause we’re still doing this!” Taima patted Danica’s shoulder to get her attention. “It’s okay, Dani. All things considered, we’re still in a good place.”

“Clearly emotions are very high at this moment,” Ione spoke up. “Can we just agree to put further rehearsals on hold until this evening? Give us all a chance to rest, eat and return with better heads on our shoulders?”

“I’m gonna agree with Wallflower on this one,” replied Iman. “And I didn’t mean to upset you, Danica. I just think it’s kind of obtuse that…”

“Sister!” Vidaria quickly grabbed Iman’s hand before she could say anything more. “We should definitely pick this up later in the evening. And in that time, I can head over to Diasomnia and drop off my VDC affiliate passes.”

“Yes, that sounds like a good idea,” Taima nodded, still holding Danica as she soon calmed down. “Dani, I know you wanna keep practicing, but we can’t be at our best if we’re burned out!”

Danica turned around, looking around at her wayward teammates before letting out a loud and exasperated sigh. They couldn’t continue like this, deep down she knew it, and she finally conceded.

“Fine, I know we’re all exhausted. We’re probably all hangry too which is adding onto things. We’ll pick this up later this evening!”

“So are we off the hook until then?” Iman asked.

“Yes, Iman, you are!” Danica didn’t even bother to hide her irritation with her. “I’m going over to change out of this costume and then head over to Heartslabyul to hand out some of my VDC affiliate passes. You all can do the same, just be back at Ramshackle by this evening, I may even try to see if we can rehearse again here.”

~~~

Danica did not return to Ramshackle immediately after giving Joker and Violetta their affiliate passes, but opted to stay a little longer and have tea with them. Their company was one of the few solaces she had during this stressful time and she wanted to savor that for a[[s long as she could. And she had to admit that the herbal tea Violetta had made her had been wonderful for helping to clear her mind.

Punch had also not told them about what he had found out about the magicam leak, feeling it wasn’t his secret to tell. And Danica decided that it was still for the best that they did not know either, for now. But that didn’t stop her from fully confiding in them her frustrations with her dorm leader, and her sadness at losing yet another member.

“Have either of you ever wanted to do something that was very important to you, but you knew it was something you shouldn’t?” she asked them. “Like, it was something very bad? Because that’s how I’ve been feeling since Vil pulled Sidonie off my team.”

“Very bad?” Joker’s eyes widened. “Come now, Songbird. I can’t imagine whatever you’re thinking could be that bad!”

“Unless it’s murder, that’s kind of bad!” Violetta added.

“Oh no, not murder, not this time anyway.” Danica tried to laugh and Violetta and Joker gave mock gasps, surprised that their normally sweet friend would even suggest such a thing. “But what I’m thinking of doing is pretty bad, well, it would be bad in the sense it would cause a lot of issues between me and my teammates. I wish I could stop thinking about it.”

“Hmmm, now I’m curious,” said Joker. “What is this very bad thing you’re thinking about? Are we talking Lilia shattering a bunch of windows with his death screams bad or finding yourself in debt to Octavinelle’s dorm leader bad?”

“Or are we talking Riddle-san when he finds one of his tarts in the fridge with a bite mark bad?” Violetta asked.

“Hmmm,” Danica thought for a few moments. “More like Professor Crewel’s rage if any of us splashed chemicals on his coat bad.”

“OH!!!” Joker and Violetta gasped again in unison, for real this time, and Violetta added. “Yeah, that sounds pretty bad! Ohhhh, I don’t even want to think about such a thing!”

“Exactly! But at the same time, I’m so dissatisfied with how our performance is, I’m worried it will show on the day of the VDC and cost us victory. What I’m thinking about is the only thing I can think of that will salvage our performance.”

“If you think this bad thing will save your performance, how bad can it really be?” Joker asked. “Does Vil-san know about it?”

“Well, that’s the thing,” Danica took a sip of her tea, savoring the fragrant blend of herbs as she envisioned in her mind exactly what she wanted to do. She looked at her friend with a new, somewhat devilish smile. “If my plan were to work exactly, Vil-san wouldn’t know, not until my team takes the stage. The problems would be not only getting my teammates to agree to it but also for our dressmaker to agree to make a whole new wardrobe for us.”

“A new wardrobe? That kind of sounds like…” Danica quickly nodded, confirming Joker’s thoughts. “Whoa! Yeah, I’m not sure if I would consider that ‘very bad’ as you call it, but it would be a lot. Especially since we are eleven days out before the cultural festival.”

“Still, if it’s something you feel like you need to do,” Violetta thought out loud. “I’m not a performing type, honestly you guys kind of amaze me. But I know how it feels to want to do something you believe in with all your heart.”

“Yes, this has honestly been something I’ve been thinking about since we began prepping for the VDC,” Danica sighed. “Maybe it’s my fault for not being firm in my stance, but I think it’s why Vil-san made Sidonie leave the team because she thought it was a good idea too. Rook-san even compared me to someone swimming against a powerful current, with the current being Vil-san. He told me to swim with the current and not to fight it.”

“But sometimes, even if you swim with the current, it can still be too powerful and can spell danger if you’re not careful,” Joker said. “Hmmm, this is quite the dilemma indeed.”

They were silent for a few moments and Danica gave further thought to what she wanted to do. And the more she thought about it, the more appealing it seemed. It was becoming increasingly clear to her that the way she was developing as a performer would never suit Vil and Sidonie being forced to leave had been the final straw. If Danica was going to be miserable, she might as well have exactly what she wished for. If only she could convince Farron and her teammates of the same thing.

“But even so,” Violetta finally said. “I still don’t think what you want is as bad as you’re making it out to be, Danica.”

Danca nodded and thought further as she took a few more sips of tea. The conversation soon switched over to the light music club and their plans for the festival, when Danica felt her phone buzz in her purse. She groaned, she had been at Heartslabyul for about two hours now and she thought it was most likely Vil to chide her for skipping out on rehearsals or something equally as egregious to his mind. But when she picked it up, it wasn’t Vil after all, even more surprisingly, the text she saw was from a number she did not recognize.

TAIMA GAVE ME YOUR NUMBER! PLEASE RETURN TO RAMSHACKLE ASAP! THIS IS AN EMERGENCY!

She read over the odd message several times before showing it to Joker and Violetta, asking if either of them recognized the number, they did not.

“But it does sound urgent,” said Violetta. “If you must leave, we completely understand.”

“Yeah, I know, but at the same time, I don’t know if I’m ready to return to VDC stress. But maybe…” Danica dialed the number, it rang only once before someone answered. “Hello? Who is th..”

“Danica! I need your help!”

It was Iman. Danica noticed at once how her tone lacked its usual imperious air, and quickly surmised that this was something serious after all.

“Iman, what’s wrong?” she asked.

“I can’t explain this over the phone, but it’s about Vidi! She went to Diasomnia on her own to drop off some VDC passes but she never returned! I know that doesn’t sound serious but please! I’m begging you to trust me! I need you to come back to Ramshackle now! Right now! While the boys are still out!”

Iman hung up before Danica could ask any further questions. She thought for a moment about calling Lilia to ask if he had seen Vidaria himself, but something told her that wouldn’t be the best course of action. She looked at her phone for a few more moments before Joker asked what was wrong. Danica didn’t answer right away and even considered for a moment calling Iman back for a better explanation. But soon enough, her phone rang again. This time it was Taima.

“Dani, I know Iman just called you,” she said. “But now I’m calling to tell you, I really need you to get back here now.”

“Yeah, Iman did just call,” replied Danica, in the background she could hear loud voices along with what sounded like crying. The crying was coming from Iman. “Care to explain what's happening?”

“It’s Vidaria, she’s missing and has been missing since this afternoon. Iman has reason to think…well…” Taima made a sound of confusion. “I…really can’t explain this on the phone 'cause I’m still trying to figure this out myself.”

“But this isn’t something you can handle on your own, vice-leader?” Danica sighed. “I really don’t wanna leave now and if Vil isn’t there…”

“Please, Danica, just trust me. I know Iman has been hard to deal with but this is pretty serious.” In the background, Danica once again heard loud crying. “Just come back soon. We’re all here.”

Taima hung up and Danica stared down at her phone. Once again, she thought about calling Lilia but before she could, Joker tapped her shoulder, asking again what was going on.

“Just something odd,” she said. “One of my teammates just called about another who hasn’t returned to the dorm yet. And then Taima called, they both sounded…very worried.”

“Ohh! Well, that’s definitely something that cannot wait!”

Joker rose from her chair and began gathering the tea things off the table. Danica and Violetta rose from their chairs as well and Violetta gave Danica a small packet of the very same herbal tea they had enjoyed that afternoon.

“Drink this the next time you’re feeling stressed,” she smiled. “I made sure to pack enough to get you through the VDC!”

“And please keep us posted on what’s happening!” The last thing Joker did was embrace Danica, which she returned with great enthusiasm. “I don’t know what’s going on between you and Vil-san, but you got this! I know you do! I can’t wait to cheer you on from the audience, Songbird! You’re gonna be amazing!”

~~~

The sun was just beginning to set when Danica opened the door and walked into the lounge to find Ione and Taima comforting Iman, who was loudly sobbing and breathing heavily, almost hyperventilating. Yuulan and Grim were with them, having been summoned to join them as well.

“Okay, I’m here now,” Danica said to them. “Now tell me what’s happened.”

“I’m such an idiot! I should have gone with her! Or told Silver or Sebek to walk back with her!” Iman didn’t seem to hear Danica and continued her lamenting. “Why would she go on her own?! And why didn’t I go with her?! What the hell is wrong with me!”

“What happened?” Danica asked again.

“It’s Vidaria,” Ione answered. “She hasn’t been seen since we left Pomefiore and Iman believes she’s…”

“I DON’T BELIEVE! I KNOW!” Iman cried. “She’s been kidnapped! This isn’t the first time this has happened either! When she visited my home over winter break, they targeted her there too! That’s why the Diasomnia students wanted to stay here with her!”

“I still don’t understand,” said Taima. “Why would Vidaria be kidnapped? Wouldn’t it make more sense to kidnap Malleus?”

“Not that anyone could,” Yuulan pointed out. “From what I’ve heard about him, apparently he’s crazy powerful and one of the most powerful mages in this world.”

“That’s the point!” Iman continued crying. “Vidi is Malleus’ bride!”

“BRIDE?!” the four girls along with Grim gasped in unison.

“Vidaria is engaged to…Malleus Draconia?!” Taima’s eyes widened. “SHE’S ENGAGED TO MALLEUS DRACONIA?!”

“MYRAH?!” Grim’s fur bristled. “You mean, Vidaria is going to marry one of the most powerful mages in the world?”

“YES! And when she marries him, her kingdom will be united with his!” Iman went on, “But there are a lot of horrible groups from her home that don’t want that to happen! She’s had to deal with this shit on a regular basis since before freshman year!”

“But how would kidnappers get on campus in the first place?” Ione asked. “Isn’t the front gate supposed to be protected by magic? And isn’t…”

“YOU GUYS AREN’T LISTENING TO ME!” Iman waved her arms hysterically. “The group who took her have magic that’s just as powerful as Malleus’! She’s in real danger right now!”

“Why not just wait until Vil gets back and you can get his help?” Ione continued rather impertinently. “Or better yet, tell Malleus-san himself or Lilia-san. Why do we need to get involved?”

“If they’re as dangerous as you’re making them out to be, we’d ALL be in danger if we go after them!” Taima pointed out.

“In fact, I was very close to calling Lilia-san before I came here and…”

“DANICA YOU DIDN'T?!” Iman jumped up, frantically shaking Danica. “PLEASE TELL ME YOU DIDN’T!”

“I didn’t call Lilia, don’t worry!” Danica gently pushed Iman back. “But why shouldn’t I? Isn’t Lilia supposed to be in charge of protecting both Vidaria and Malleus?”

“That does seem to make more sense,” Yuulan said. “We are just five teenage girls and a single ornery fire cat.”

“I told you a million times, I’m not a cat!” Grim scoffed at Yuulan. “And don’t sell me so short! Just lemme see these mist fae Iman’s going on about! They’ll taste the fiery wrath of the great and powerful Grim and wish they never took Vidaria!”

“We CAN’T tell Malleus or Lilia anyway!” said Iman. “Vidi was already on probation after the incident back home! If Lilia finds out that she was successfully kidnapped one more time, she’ll be taken out of NRC! She’ll be sent back to Briar Valley and will essentially be on house arrest until her wedding day! I’ll never see her again, don’t you see?! We have to go after them to keep her from being locked away forever!”

And then, Iman did something none of them ever expected from someone normally as conceited and imperious as she. She sank to her knees, taking several deep breaths before being taken over by a fresh influx of tears.

“Please…help me find her. I…can’t lose her!”

For a few moments, there was silence save for Iman’s weeping and Danica watched her with silent sympathy moving her heart. She would be lying if she said Iman had been the easiest to get along with, and she had definitely said some things that had been very hurtful. But one thing Danica had to admit was whatever Iman thought of the rest of them, when it came to Vidaria, her devotion to her was strong enough to be called fierce. It was incredibly touching to see it and she gave a look to Taima, Ione, and Yuulan that silently told them what they knew they had to do.

“I don’t know what we could do to help you, Iman,” she said as she gently pulled her up to her feet. “But I know it’s extremely bad form for a princess to snivel and cower before situations beneath her.”

“I’m just so scared…” Iman whimpered. “I’m so fucking scared! Vidaria is one of my only real friends. She’s in danger and I feel so powerless to help her!”

“Powerless,” Danica sighed. “Yes, after these last few weeks, I definitely understand that feeling.”

“Me too,” Taima added. “Dani has been dealing with so much and for the most part, there’s been little I can do. For all my boasting about being vice-leader of our group, I haven’t done anything really and I hate it.”

“Same here,” Yuulan also spoke up. “Being in this world, I don’t know anyone here. I have no magic, I can’t even remember where I came from and I must always depend on the good humor of that fucking bird man. If I die tomorrow, no one would even know. I feel powerless every day of my life!”

“And me too, I can’t remember any moment in my life where I didn’t feel powerless,” Ione sighed. “I’ve been powerless from the moment I was born.”

“I really can’t relate,” Grim admitted, earning him a fierce glare from Yuulan. “But I think right now is a good time for all of you to find power and use it to rescue Vidaria! And I’ll help you!”

“I don’t have magic,” Yuulan said. “But I have other skills at my disposal! I’ll help too!”

“We’ll all help!” Taima pulled out her magipen and Danica and Ione did as well. “We might be powerless now, but I have a feeling all of us together can find it in ourselves to make this happen!”

Iman glanced at them, wiping her tears before also pulling out her magipen. She admittedly never had the highest opinion of ordinary people, having interacted with few in her life and most of those experiences being negative. But as she looked at Yuulan and her teammates, agreeing to help her and her friend in spite of the very real danger involved, she saw a certain nobility in them that could rival any king in the world.

And then, to the great surprise of her companions and herself, she threw her arms around Yuulan and Grim, with Taima following by embracing her, and Danica and Ione embracing Taima.

“Thank you so much, you guys,” Iman said. “I know I’m not the easiest to get along with and what I’m asking now is not something to take lightly. But I appreciate it.” When they let go of each other, Iman walked to the door with the others following her. “Come on, I have a vague feeling I know where they might be.”

~~~

#twisted wonderland #twisted wonderland oc #twst oc #twst fic #shining hearts ~ melodies and melancholy #things i write

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olivyh · 3 years

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TWST FAMILY HCS PT 3) Scarabia and Pomefiore

Scarabia:

Jamil:

-Mama Viper: She’s on the quieter side, similar to Jamil. She’s a very hardworking woman and incredibly loyal to whoever she gets close to, which extends to Kalim as well. Seeing the two boys grow up together, and considering how I think Kalim didn’t get the most attention growing up (with thirty siblings and counting, plus having his father working all the time) she felt sorry for him and took him in as her own as well. She sometimes feels Jamil’s pain at being stuck in the life of servitude, but is incredibly proud of him for sticking up for himself and doing what she never got to do, even if she scolded him after word got to the household. She can’t put much focus on either of her children, which deeply saddens her, but she looks forward to watching them grow up to be strong, intelligent, and independent. I think she’s a little shorter than Jamil, with the same long black hair that she braids down her back. She has dark brown eyes that almost look black.

-Papa Viper: He’s on the more reserved side as well, but not by choice. He’s very talkative when talking about his experiences, often going into rants where he has to remind himself to not overstep his boundaries. I think Papa Viper and Papa Al-Asim have a similar relationship to Kalim and Jamil pre-overblot, where it’s very one sided and there’s a lot of bitterness. Despite this, Papa Viper remains loyal to the Al-Asim family. Deep down he wishes he could spend more tike with his children and deeply regrets telling them to lessen themselves to make the Al-Asims higher than them yet again. And, like Mama Viper, he is incredibly proud of his son for being so intelligent and independent, sticking up for himself and trying to break the chains that kept their family held down foe generations. I think he stands at the same height as Jamil, with shorter cropped hair with grey streaks going across the sides.

-Little sister Viper: A spitfire who’s not afraid to speak her mind, often getting scolded by other servants and the rest of her family. Very close with Kalim’s younger sister who she has to watch over- they have movie nights and makeover nights as often as possible. She often scolds her older brother, telling him little things he needs to change (“haven’t you been wearing your hair like that since forever?”), which often gets them in little passive-aggressive arguments. She and Kalim’s younger sister aspire to be as magicam-popular as the Vil Schoenheit- they even have their friend from the land of Pyroxene to help them boost their account and make their pictures look better (Yes, they call and chat with Cater’s second oldest sister all the time)! I think she has long hair tied in a way similar to their mother’s, with Jamil’s dark grey eyes. I think she stands shorter than the rest of the family, at around 5’2.

Kalim:

-Papa Al-Asim: A cheery, joyful man much like his oldest son! He’s a little dense sometimes, but is actually a very smart man (it’s not easy to own a company after all!). He tries his best to bond with all of his children and wives, but often struggles to juggle everything at once (which leads to him being very teary eyed at every little interaction with any one of his children). Will also spoil his children and wives as often as he can! He likes to see all their different interests, and is overjoyed when he can watch some of them perform during dinners or hang up their paintings or drawings or, if he’s lucky and has the time, he can attend one of their sport games! I think he’d be a little taller than Kalim, with white hair similar to his, with dark brown eyes.

-Mama Al-Asim: A princess at heart. A very quiet and patient woman, who adores her children with every ounce of her being. I think Papa Al-Asim might have four-five wives? Bc these poor woman cannot be having six plus children in the span of seventeen years. I think she gets along well with the others, but would rather it be her and her children getting closer. I think she’s enamored with everything each one of them does, whether it be something as small as a craft they made or a little magic trick they learned, and will keep pictures of every little thing they do. She tries to include every one of them when she does something, whether it be reading aloud to them and the other children, or teaching them how to knit and sew, or helping them learn new dances and wearing new things. She teaches them to be kind to others, often retelling the story about the Thief and the Princess to point out how kind each of the protagonists were. She teaches them as much as possible, from how to help their Papa to how to fix your mistakes and catch them before they happen. She will listen to whatever problems they have, and will offer her shoulder to cry on for each and every one of them. She is also very affectionate to them, still offering cuddles and forehead kisses whenever they look upset (no matter how old they may get). I think she’d have very long brown hair that she tries to add as many intricate little designs to as possible, with Kalim’s bright red eyes. I think she’d be around 5’1-5’2?

-I AM NOT DOING ALL THIRTY YOUNGER SIBLINGS SO HERES A FEW HONORABLE MENTIONS: Twins who get into as much trouble as they possibly can, driving the servants insane. One of them often sneaks out of the palace and comes back after everyone spent hours searching for them with souvenirs. Nobody knows where they went or how they got there, and they won’t tell anyone. His little sisters often dressing up as princesses and performing whole musical numbers during dinner, with the dances down and everything. Hide and seek. With all thirty plus of his little siblings. It’s insanity for anyone wandering the palace. Their drawings are all over the palace. Animals. So. Many. Animals. They have anything from birds, to reptiles, to insects, heck, one of Kalim’s little sisters even has a domesticated tiger! All of them plan as many movie nights and pillow fort building days as often as they can- seeing each other not only as siblings but as close friends! Of course, when their oldest brother comes home from school, they all sit around his room as he tells them stories about things he’d seen and learned, as animated as possible. Of course, he tells them classic fairytales as well, acting them out and jumping around his room, trying to get as many reactions to them as possible. Of course, many of the quieter ones prefer to stick away from the action and near Jamil, who will quietly talk with them in the corner of the room.

Pomefiore:

Vil:

-Papa Schoapjfaojfpak: As already stated, a popular actor and stage director. With this comes the same publicity that Vil has to deal with, making him look nearly flawless and act as such when out in public. He keeps his son’s attitude when it comes to fans, keeping most interactions short and simple, putting on a show offstage nearly as much as he does onstage. Behind closed doors, however, he’s a very kind yet strict father, making sure that Vil takes proper care of himself and is happy at the same time. He struggled with the aspect of having to leave Vil alone for much of the time when he was a child since he had to work often. When these times were especially bad, he’d often bring Vil into the sets to help him get ready for filming or to watch his Papa from a little seat next to the directors. He would always chuckle and pat Vil’s hair whenever he told him something he could’ve done better after the filming process, glad that his son has an eye for these sorts of things. He’d even let him experiment with the expensive costumes and makeup, helping him fix his own small mistakes. He tries to make it to every show and movie that Vil does, often going undercover to ensure that fans don’t take his attention off his son. He has a box full of their own home movies that the two of them made, including action, comedy, even a few thrillers thrown in (of course, Vil was the strong hero who defeated the bad guy)(The bad guy being his poor father with fake blood smeared on his face). He watches them sometimes when he misses his son (and he cries about how far he’s come, not that he’d ever tell Vil). I think he’d be the same height as Vil, and a little muscular due to having to keep up appearances. He has Vil’s hair and eye color.

Rook:

-Mama Hunt: Okay back to my headcannon page about species, I saw something that said that Rook was half beastman. So, I like to think that Rook’s mother is the beastwoman in the relationship. She’s a strong, loving caracal beastwoman. She’s kind and often spoils her son as much as possible, coddling him whenever he’s around, no matter the age. He get’s his poetic nature from her, an artist, poet, author, whatever she could get her hands on! Despite this, she’s still a woman from the Savanah, so she gets very protective over her husband and son, and is a lot stronger than she looks! She would be the kind of woman who’d tell you the most vague, unsettling threats with a smile on her face, and she’s had some pretty close scrapes with people who thought that they could try to hurt her son because he was half human (and also, due to Rook’s nature, likely trespassing on their property). She tries to show her son the beauty in the world, complimenting him on every little thing he did and poetically pointing out everything beautiful around her during their walks (even if it wasn’t)(Mrs.Hunt please don’t show your son that roadkill)(please don’t compliment the roadkill)(let it rest in peace im begging you). She and her husband are incredibly proud of everything Rook does. I think she has short blonde hair that goes black at the ends, yellow eyes, and is only an inch shorter than Rook.

-Papa Hunt: Where do you think Rook got his hunting instinct from? Not from his beastwoman mother, surprisingly. The infamous Mr.Hunt was but a hunter who had wandered too far away from where his friends had decided to go camping in the Savana. He, like his son, was enamored with any non-human species, his curiosity leading him to a beastwoman quietly painting not too far from her home. With her enhanced hearing, she quickly whipped around and glared at him, shocking the man to the point of falling down. And from that point forward, he was in love. He’s incredibly supportive of his wife’s artistry, complimenting her at every moment about how perfect she did and how amazing she is as what she does. He’s a romantic, like his son, so you can expect many, many mushy moments between the two of them (que baby Rook making a face at the display). He wanted to teach his son as much as possible about the world, to make him as curious as possible. Of course, he wanted to bond with his son for as long as possible. How would they do that? Father-son camping trips, in which Papa Hunt would teach the boy how to shoot a bow (it took him a minute to realize that his son’s laser-point accuracy could be because his beastman instincts tell him how to get the kill as fast as possible, and he was the proudest Papa in the Savana when he went to tell his wife). He also often took him to larger towns, letting his boy get acquainted with his beastman culture so he didn’t feel too left out around others. He is the same height as Rook, but with shoulder-length black hair and bright green eyes.

Epel:

-Great-Meemaw Felmier: A very old and wise woman, shockingly stubborn and independent for her old age. She adores her great grandson and was the one who taught him how to carve apples in the first places. She’d tell him stories about when her father first bought the farm they lived on, and what things were like then, how they changed. Of course, she gets tired very quickly so these stories are often left with open endings, much to Epel’s dismay. She always knows what advice to give for any situation, and won’t be afraid to tell you the truth. She’s likely around her late nineties, and often carries around a walker that she smacks people’s ankles with. I think she’d have very, very long hair (“To preserve my youth”, she says) that she lets hang as much as possible.

-Meemaw & Peepaw Felmier: Two very sweet people. Both hailing from families of farmers who had lived in and around the village of harvest their whole lives, they grew up around each other and are practically inseparable. They care very much for their children and grandchildren, and often act as their grandchildren’s partners in crime whenever they get into trouble, patching them up when they get hurt and helping to clean the mess they might have made in the kitchen. would have shoulder-length light purple hair (almost white) that she ties back. They look like Mr. and Mrs. Claus that you see on those old Christmas animations that you can never remember the name of but see every year.

-Uncle & Aunt Felmier: A stern, but kind couple. Uncle Felmier is a gruff man, often being too blunt and too focused on work to take a break every now and again, and Aunt Felmier is strict with her child’s rules and schedule. Luckily, they have Epel’s parents to balance them out when they get too far. Uncle Felmier enjoys working out in the farm with his younger brother, and Aunt Felmier is Mrs.Felmier’s best friend, which made both the men very happy when Papa Felmier was getting ready to marry Mama Felmier. Whether it be cooking, baking, attending festivals in town, or even sitting near the fire and drinking tea/coffee, the four of them greatly enjoys each other’s company. Uncle Felmier is a taller man with light purple hair, with grey streaks going up the front, he’s more built due to working on the farm. Auntie Felmier is a stout woman, with light brown hair that’s often tied up in a low ponytail.

-Papa Felmier: A very kind and hardworking man, who lives for his family. He gets up at the earliest hours in the morning and goes to bed at the latest at night to keep the farm going and to help out their elderly neighbors. He’s a little strict with Epel, but that changed as Epel grew up and became less rowdy (not by a lot). He tries his best to understand his son and let him grow as his own person, hearing him out when he gets upset about others calling him feminine. He even tries to put a stop to his brother making comments about the boy, at least around him. He is a little scrawnier than his brother, but still fairly muscular due to constantly lifting things and operating machinery to keep things running. He has Epel’s purple hair and light green eyes.

-Mama Felmier: Another one where, if you hadn’t known she was a farmer, you’d think she was a lost princess. She’s a kind, generous, quiet woman who does her best to keep her chaotic household from falling apart. Similar to the Tweel’s father, she tries to protect Epel as much as possible, and him going so far away for school made her panic internally, as proud as she was of him. She does her best to calm her son down when he gets rowdy or frustrated at something, and often approaches him with hot cocoa or an apple tart to make him feel a little better. She solves everything with food, which mostly incorporates apples, and believes that by baking for him and by extension, his friends at school, she makes their days a little better, no matter how horrible they may be. She is welcoming to any of the boys from school who may have a hard time at home or who need a place to stay, and was happy to the point of tears when he told her that he made friends at school. Is another one who will proudly display pictures of their child, often having long conversations with their neighbors about how he is, what he’s doing in school, etc etc. She is incredibly beautiful (where else would he get that face?) and has long ginger hair with Epel’s blue eyes.

-Little cousin Felmier: Epel’s baby cousin is only around six or seven, and follows his older cousin as much as he can. He defends Epel as much as possible whenever people call him delicate and girly, and will go on long rants about all the cool things he’d seen him do over the years (“He jumped out o’ th’ tree! Without thinkin’!” “We were sleepin’ outside n’ he heard an animal outside o’ our tent n’ he scared it off!”). Is quick to help around the house, despite being stubborn and upset about not being strong enough to help his father and uncle work outside yet. He’s always quick to ask Epel about school, and has begged him on multiple occasions to let him go with him (“We already sleep in the same room! What’s the difference if it’s here or at your dorm?”). I think he’d have Epel’s hair color but with light green eyes.

Im just imagining Epel’s giant family living in the same farmhouse and it being this small, warm, friendly place out in the country with plaid red curtains and little apple accessories everywhere and quilts and a big fireplace they all talk by 🥺🥺

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beni-draw-ikemen-please · 3 years

Text

Casablancas

Tags: 5+ Years AU, Fingering, Vaginal Sex, Teasing, Hair-pulling, Vanilla, Rough Sex, Cunnilingus, He is a boob man, Not Beta Read, Hurt/Comfort, Angst and Feels, Light Angst, Waiting, Unrequited Love

Fandom: Twisted Wonderland

Word Count: 6,443

Rating: Explicit

Pairing: Jade Leech x Asami Oda (OC)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/32076625/chapters/79462633

A/N: All my TWST works will reference my original long fic of my OC, Asami and Leona Kingscholar.

If you'd like to know how the relationships got established, you may read the long fic EYES NOSE LIPS. I was in desperate need for some Jade teasing and smut and this came to me and I JUST - I needed to write it. Thank you so much for @pseudofaux for the help with writing some of the imagery I had for this piece.

She is an amazing writer and writes for most Otome Fandoms (and anime) tastefully, skilfully and beautifully!

Chapter 1: I’ve missed you

It would be like this. The quiet week when Jade finally takes a few days off from work. It would be subtle, but it was a regular occurrence, a few days in the middle of the month.

A few months before he finished his final year in the magical university, Jade was given a shiny opportunity as a manager-in-training for a luxurious hospitality agency. And while Floyd opted for a more adventurous career, Jade quite liked the more domestic approach. He liked staying in one place, and doing what he knew he could do best. To serve .

Triton Hotel is strategically and most notably one of the most iconic landmarks of Santería — a neighbouring Savanna sharing a border with Afterglow. About six hours by plane, but only two hours to pass through a magic mirror.

He’ll clock out with everything in order, a set of phone numbers and potions at the ready if an event where he is desperately needed may occur. He'll make sure though, prior to this appointment that he won’t be needed. At least, until his awaited engagement was fulfilled.

══════ ∘◦❁◦∘ ══════

As his gloved fingers aligned the last bit of stem on a vase of casablanca lilies, he straightened himself, brushed his jacket neatly in place as he eyed the clock. Any minute now—

A soft knock by his door. Precisely just as he predicted. His loft had been thoroughly cleaned, and he put on fresh flowers she liked. Got that room mist she picked out the last time they went out for tea. Jade Leech would breathe in, as if savouring the air through his lungs in this form. The form he felt fortunate to swell in.

To have this skin—

He reached for the brass handle, and as he opened the door, there she was. Raven hair tied neatly behind her. Her collared shirt buttoned just how he liked it. Her dark long skirt covered most of her beauty, beauty he was all too familiar with. Jade smiled at her, and gestured for her to come in. A gloved hand slowly finding themselves ghosting the small of her back. “Come in,” it tells her. Quietly, very gently hovering over, already anticipating the warmth of her supple—

“You’re late,” he chuckled, and instantly her cheeks would sport a mellow pink. And then, as he spoke and approached her, as his hands found her close and closer, the colour growing as intense, her apology now irrelevant, her face now too alluring, too inviting for him not to be this close. “Jade-san—

He wished she dropped the honorific. He felt as if she was calling someone else, someone familiar yet at the same time, still a stranger, even after all those years.

And though he was not present in her life, he hasn’t been for years— almost a decade— Jade felt that his shadow still clung around the scent of her hair.

Still clawed its way into her dreams when they lay together at night.

“I’ve missed you so—” she did, and he could feel it. The way she pulled him close, so close to her, he would always need to reach down even though Jade knew he could easily lift her in his arms. But she wasn’t fond of that, he knew better. It would remind her of him— her other, her long-lost love. The one who didn’t return her affections. The one who left.

Remembering him ticks something inside of Jade.

Hands would trail from her small shoulders, slowly removing the white gloves with his teeth. A sight he knew always excited her.

Thumbs slowly finding themselves by the small of her neck. He’d stop there, mismatched eyes of ochre, and lead admiring her features, gently—fiercely. Jade always felt the need to compete with a ferocity that’s been a struggle for her to forget. Even with him there.

She is the same Asami, yes she is— though, the years have certainly made her even more impeccable than the days she used to waltz across the floors of the Mostro Lounge. And her long hair now, framed her face better. Not that her shorter hair didn’t. Something about her keeping it tight and in place behind her excited the fins under his flesh, under this form.

Something about the way she kept herself from others; from the long sleeves she always wore, to the way her hosiery clung to her skin, something about it made the corners of Jade’s lips pull up to a satisfied smile. Thumbs now gently finding their way around her jaw, and now she’s looking up at him. Lips slightly parted, pale and luscious — just the way he likes her. Flushed and eager with anticipation. She’s always been stirred around him, and as the years went by, and as she learned of his affections towards her, she was able to let her guard down.

She was able to relax around him, and every now and then, she’d open the doors that led to her locked heart.

Heart that’s been locked away for him— thinking about him made the inside of Jade’s stomach coil and quiver.

A man he loathed but thanked at the same time. For he made her so beautiful, made her wait, made her patient — exactly how he loved her.

Devoted, hungry and yearning — and how, as time twirled her around and around, the precious seconds that she’s on her own on this marble polished twisted floor—of magic and wonderland, of things that will never be known to her— he was able to perform his best steps so far. Like Rothbart, he was patient to learn that dance, he was patient to learn the music, patient to learn when the prince would step away from crescendo, patient to finally have her hands slowly find his.

And he was sure not to ever let her escape, not ever.

His lips were gentle on her cheek, and Jade could hear her soft humming as he trailed gentle kisses up to the side of her head just above her eyelid. Gently, very gently on her forehead, then his hands would slowly and gingerly press themselves along her jawline, his lips—now hungry and bruising against her chin, and then her jaw.

Longer, sweeter, and heavier kisses followed his fingers as he carefully trudged across her skin like gravity couldn’t help but press himself towards her . And Jade would feel her hands on his forearm, desperately pulling him closer. She can be impatient, with so many years being too patient. For him, it wasn’t an issue. He is willing to give her what she wants, what she always wanted but never felt like she deserved.

His lips would finally land on hers, and she was very quick to open her mouth to him. Inviting him into this world only of lush and velvet— of sweetness and bitterness, the taste that’s uniquely her.

He would always know.

“Jade,” when she is desperate like this, she is quick to lose herself. Quick to drop the politeness she once so carefully honed like he did. They were quite similar in this aspect. But in the way Asami lost herself, Jade found her over and over again. His tongue now finding salvation, finding comfort in her mouth. It’s been weeks since they saw each other. His work didn’t allow many days for him to be away, certainly not even weekends, to their dismay. And she was unable to travel through mirrors without a companion bearing magic. Certainly not for more than a few minutes.

Her hands pulled him closer by the nape, her smaller figure trying her bestest to reach up to him, “I’m—

She is panting now, and it’s one of the things that Jade loved the most. Even more than his precious terrariums and the many trinkets he’s collected off the land throughout the years. She was like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow . The trinkets he’s collected, polished and admired were merely coins, coins that just sunk to the bottom of this grand marble fountain. And she was the centerpiece, and the rainbow her mere crown. Jade didn’t think it was possible to be this hungry, this crazy about a human woman.

Asami tugged at his collar, and with fingers almost as skilled and swift as Jade’s, his tie was immediately on the floor. His jacket was already coming off as she pushed him down his leather couch. A rich crimson, and with dusts of gold, much like her eyes. Eyes he’d admired for so long. Jade is relaxed under her stare, she looked like a beast from this angle. Like a panther, ready to devour. He quite liked that contrast as she was as quiet and as shy as he could be prowling. Her knees resting between his legs, letting him know she wanted to take charge, maybe today if he let her. And Jade would smile, hands tight around the small of her back, and gently smoothing themselves around her waist, and then resting firmly by her lower abdomen.

“Come,” he invited her, his voice a smooth Ambrosian—a drug to Asami.

Her hands rested around his shoulders as she leaned for another sweet kiss.

Jade loved the way she would seem brave as she leaned close, and how softly and easily she melted under his embrace. And her head would gently rest on his shoulder after kisses, she would always be embarrassed like this. And Jade's hands would only pull her closer, gloved hands like a virtuoso of her melody, gently lifting the hems of her shirt, untucking her blouse and slowly undoing the buttons from the bottom, and then she moans.. And she would watch him, cheeks flushed red as he unbuttons her shirt.

Her hands, still on his shoulders.

Jade would run his hands, from the bottom wire of her brassiere, to the fullness of her, cupping her breasts with his hands as she slowly reached for another kiss. Hands heavy around her, and then back to where he knows she loves it best. Orchestrating touches that earned him the sweetest of sounds. Her chest, her neck, and then again, her jaw. Followed by wet kisses, and eager nips. Hands finding themselves back down her breasts again, and Asami would always wonder when she’d black out during this slow languid way he fondled her. Her blouse would be on the floor in an instant. And his hands were already pulling by her ass, lips and tongue now lapping at her full softness.

Jade was sure she won’t always be conscious of it, but her hands would pull him closer by the nape, breathless and parched for him. Music clung to its pilgrims. And he is, as he so lovingly puts it, both the virtuoso and the instrument. Only for her songs, only for her pleasure.

“It felt like forever,” it was a gradual process, how she eased into his fins. And Jade almost marveled at how their little human lost her composure the closer they fell for each other. Closer and closer , slowly, she revealed herself to him like she had never before, even after all these years of knowing.

Jade knew how much of herself she devoted to Kingscholar, so, to see her come undone like this, for him specifically, was a sight to behold. A reward for all that waiting.

Though she wasn’t one to take charge, the way she pushed him down his leather sofa proved to be quite the surprise for Jade. The way her chest heaved let the silk organza she wore shimmer under the warm lights of his loft. Like mellow clouds illuminating heaven, and she was the brightest shine, the goddess that pulled that world of light and love together.

He felt blessed to be in this form. In this form, his hands could run from her shoulders, to the small of her back. Down to her ass, a place he didn’t think would be this delectable, this tempting. Her cheeks have the sweetest tint of apples, and he quite liked the way she looked whenever she was embarrassed. Parted lips that seemed to call out to him, in every language--- human and merfolk, how her shoulders pulled themselves together under his gaze, how she’d avert her eyes— his stare can be too much for her— she admits that one time.

But Jade was quite fond of that look on her face.

And as Asami watched his eyes, she almost forgot how his hands were already undoing the last button that let her blouse down. Curious, slender fingers now teasing the top part of her chest as he pulled her closer, and closer.

She knew Jade knew his way around her like this. Her bra would come undone in an instant, and sometimes she’d wonder how much experience he’s had before her. Before all of this.

He is careful as his mouth enveloped her like this. She trusted him to be careful, though Asami knew, after a certain point in time, that Jade needed more. He needed to let the ferocity hidden behind features like alabaster and pearl, behind polite speech, behind knifelike teeth out.

Out to ravage her.

And the old fear she knew around him slowly sublimated, slowly fed a newfound feeling for him.

Something akin to the hunger she once felt for someone else, though she tried her bestest not to compare.

Wet. It was warm and wet. And though at times Jade Leech looked like he was nothing but.

Though she knew his form under the sea, savage and cold— unforgiving—the Jade before him was warm, inviting, just as hungry as she was. Just as parched as she was.

And she would gasp, and wrap her arms around him. Her face hid by the crook of his neck. Jade’s hands now grabs her thighs, and slowly drags himself across her skin. Fingers now find himself on her inner thigh, and she would gasp again. The anticipation nearly unbearable for Asami, but she quite liked the thrill of waiting. She was primed to wait, and Jade was always set to reward her.

“I— I thought I’d,” she thought about it. Taking charge. But Jade is always quick to give her the illusion that she could. It wasn’t so much that he didn’t think she would be capable of it. It was more that he enjoyed the image of her unravelling. The sounds she makes as his fingers tease her wetness. Her eagerness was fully displayed by the lack of underwear. But Jade quite liked how she kept the garterbelt on, and how the stockings hugged her plump thighs. Jade didn’t think it would be possible to want a human woman like this. To hunger for a creature of land, like this.

“I didn’t think you were the naughty type,” he chuckled against her hair. And then, he inhales . A deep inhale, savouring the air around her like this, with this form . His two fingers now inside her wet cunt, Asami moans and Jade lets himself breathe more of her, strands of her raven hair getting caught between his teeth, her hands around him tighter.

“Only, if you’ll be the one to punish me,” she tries her best, sometimes she’ll play a part - but Asami is always soft, always so sweet. He admits playing pretend sometimes gets his fins excited, gets his mouth watering, his cock hard. But Jade loved her like this. Just as much as the timid and docile Asami he’s loved over the years.

His hands reached for her ponytail, a soft thug. She moans after a soft gasp. Jade’s mouth smothering her breasts with kisses and nips. His other hand pumping into her core softly, but deeply. Two, and then three. Asami’s hands are tight around him, holding herself together. He could be unforgiving, and she’s learned to brace herself when he is in a steady pace like this.

His hands on the knot that holds her hair together, now tighter. Pulling her hair tight, slowly wrapping her hair around his wrist. His mouth lapped at her nipple, taking her— as much as possible — in his mouth.

“I’ve missed you, Asami—” he murmurs onto her skin, followed by wet nips and then gently picks her up. She holds on to him, arms wrapping tight around his neck. She didn’t like it when he did this, but it stirs something inside Asami and she can only go quiet, she can only let him.

And he carries her, legs wrapping around his lithe figure, towards his bedroom. He is as quiet as she is. And he inhales the scent of her hair. Jade gently pushes the door close with his heel, and then very gently settles her there.

The finest artefact he’s ever acquired off land.

Chapter 2: Tamed by You

Trinkets and treasures, flora and fauna he’s collected off the land receive a special space in his loft. Carefully curated around him, like the work of the princess of the sea who collected treasures from sunken ships. How he admired her fortitude. How he wished to be surrounded by such beautiful, such wonderful things, too.

Surely, none of them could be bad?

But only the empress of his world deserves the prime space of his collection, the shelf of his bed.

Unfortunately, his empress seems displeased. Being carried, like the way he brought her to the bed… Jade knows she dislikes it. That it reminds her of someone else, someone with the same kind of fury, but rougher, harder.

The sight of her pouting worries Jade, but it amuses him just as much. He hovers over on his mattress , the weight of him like an aphrodisiac seeping into her skin, into her lungs, into her lust.

“I told you,” she whispers, cheeks flushed, and the corners of her eyes shining with almost tears. “I don’t like being carried,” and he knows this. He knows this well.

But couldn’t help doing it anyway.

He plants a chaste kiss on her cheek, and then her forehead, his hand smoothing her forehead under him. “Forgive me,” he hisses, whilst taking her hand and planting soft kisses around her knuckles and fingers. Jade never wants to truly disappoint or upset her in any way.

But if it will rile her up in the end, he has the tendency to try.

“What would you like?” Another kiss, to her wrist. Then to her elbow, while he waits for her to decide and answer. His eyes never leave hers. Asami hums, and she takes a minute, while watching him plant kisses all over her hands and wrist, and then she takes him by the hand.

Pulls him back up to her into a full embrace.

She is quiet for a bit as Jade holds her tight. Then, she is facing him again, her eyes misted with want, and lips parted — ready and very, very delectable, to Jade.

“I want you,” she whispers as she pulls him close, lips parting just for him, at least Jade hopes. Her mouth invites him in, making way for only him between those lips of hers. He loves them so dearly. But whenever she expresses it like this, Jade can’t help but wonder if it is really him that she is asking for. He would very much prefer that she call his name.

Sometimes, even in these heady moments of pleasure and satisfaction, Jade’s mind can’t help but go there — to Kingscholar’s image. The subtle ways he dragged her around, as if wielding lace entwined with barbed wire around her neck and she couldn’t quite tell the difference. His indifference towards her, and how she lapped every crumb of affection he hands out every now and then.

How she deserved so much more.

It was ridiculous, how easy it all looked, how easy it all felt. All of a sudden, she was within Leona’s arms. And just like that, he let her go. No explanations, nothing.

But Jade tries to convince himself. That he is the one there, not him.

He is the one undressing Asami, with his hands, in this skin.

Not him. Not Leona Kingscholar.

Jade’s hands push the hems of her skirt up to her waist, and part the soft fabric to reveal her skin. How he has missed her like this, quivering and wet underneath his stare, underneath his hands. He leans in and trails wet, rough and jagged kisses across her neck, to her collarbone, to her shoulder, biting his way back down to her chest. His hands tightly pin her wrists down.

You’re mine, they tell her.

All mine, she hears it through his ragged breathing, through the grip on her skin. His kisses feel like warnings, beware, they tell her. But she isn’t one to listen. Not when his lips are so inviting, not when his hands of alabaster guide her so lovingly toward him. Another kiss, on the side of her breast, and then he sucks on her sensitive skin. Jade knows exactly where to kiss, exactly where to touch to put her in pieces, moaning underneath him. His fingers are trailing where the garterbelt clips, and they are easily undone by his skillful hands.

The sound of his belt unbuckling is music to Asami’s ears. She loves it, and she looks forward to the events he can lead her to after.

Her eyes try their best to focus on him, and the shape of his waist. The abdominal lines that excite her so. His trail, a darker shade of teal that makes her insides quiver. Jade Leech is a curious creature. He’s also a creature of beauty, of ferocity, and something else Asami can’t spell, not with the letters that this world can wield.

Jade knows how much it pleases her, when he is in this state of undress. The blush on her face alone is enough to know: she can’t get enough, and she wants more. More.

Jade leans in, for another sweet and tender kiss, and Asami’s hands are pulling him close, from the nape, and her hands snake around the back of his ear, her fingers gingerly caressing his earlobes. Jade doesn’t understand why she does this, what the need for it is but he lets her anyway. Maybe she is amused with sleeping with a partner who has human ears, maybe? The thought makes Jade chuckle, though she doesn’t ever seem to notice it.

“Jade.” He hovers over her like a spell gone wild, a premonition, and he languidly breathes into her skin, down her abdomen, his fingers following after— and then down her belly, fingers stroking her thighs. Heavy hands now guide her thighs up and open for him, so he can finally have the perfect view of her.

He was quick to learn the ways of pleasure for creatures of the land, but for Asami’s sake, he had to go very slow. He had to make sure he knew what she wanted, or at least, what she thought she wanted. Jade Leech leans in, and she holds her breath, her hands anchoring her to his mattress.

Asami feels him, wet and hot, a very very hot mouth on her. Tongue, a different kind of sensation than what she was used to, not as rough, not as shocking. And she feels the movement of some smooth recitation from Jade Leech’s curious and dangerous lips onto her wet cunt.

He hears the softness of her breath, the music it brings out of her, and Jade is delighted. His hands tighten around her thighs as dips his tongue deeper, alternating sucks and broad drags of his tongue. Tasting her.

She reaches for him, hands desperate to hold him as she looks into his mismatched eyes. Asami likes it whenever Jade does this, and his eyes never leave hers.

When he stares right back into hers, into her core, she feels the affection she has never thought she deserved. The love she has been hoping for. It just took her several years to realise that perhaps, it was meant to come from someplace else, from someone else. She is grateful.

Jade reveres her like an empress, like she is the fairest of all the land - maybe she truly is , for him at the very least.

She is a confection of delicateness, and melodic sighs— everything Jade wants, everything he loves most. Her legs shake from pleasure and the intensity of his touch, and he loves the way she looks as she searches for something, anything, to tether herself into this bed— his domain — desperate to keep herself in place. Because she knows if she doesn’t, she will be drifting away in pieces at how hard he is going at her clit, how hot his mouth feels on her and how much he is teasing her.

But his hands remind her that he is present, he is there.

He is her anchor, and her storm at sea — all in one.

His forearms push her down, while his hands reach for her breasts— he can, even with this form, he surely can— mouth, tongue and almost teeth still on her cunt. There have been times when he thought about doing all of this to her, with her, in his true form, and he wonders if she will ever be up for it. Jade’s mind wanders for a second, but he does not let up, it is still all about her. If he wanders too long, her voice will bring him back, her voice— as if it is truly the most precious, valuable thing in this world — brings him back to the shore of her body, the coast of her softness.

Asami holds her breath when she feels she is close, but Jade Leech wants this to last.

So he sucks hard, earning him a gasp, and then a groan. Asami chants towards enlightenment; she has to redo it and try again, if Jade lets her.

Jade feels it when she opens herself wider, urges him to push her down harder and heavier, she is close. Jade takes her by the thighs, and adjusts himself so he almost looks like he is ready to slip his entire self into her and his tongue yields her soft, hot and wet flesh, and invites her to come. Softly grazing her with his tongue, and then, sucking, and then again licking her softly.

Time feels like it stops when Asami holds herself like this, holds her breath again.

When Jade finally lets her have it, he continues his pace as he listens to her. He is desperate to make her concentrate on her sweet bundle of nerves, the touch of his tongue, and the warmth of his breath onto her.

And she finds release, her thighs tighten around his face and she cries out incoherent words and mews of satisfaction. Jade adores how she coos, and he kisses her inner thigh, continuously, letting her ride the waves of pleasure he so patiently lavished. Jade carefully moves her legs, and moves up to watch her face as she pants. Her eyes find him, smiling, and she doesn't utter a word, but Jade’s fingers are quick to trace her cheeks that are now so red, down to her lips that now look so desperate and wanting for more.

When they meet like this, a few days in the middle of each month, he savours every opportunity to make her come, and Jade finds great satisfaction in making sure she enjoys the best release, every single time. He is particularly proud of the way his masterful hands seemingly wrenched the pearl of her soul out of her oysterlike prison— out of the steel bars of the lion’s den— and into this world that is his bed.

She is his pearl, his treasure.

His precious Asami, pearlescent and soft and beautiful in the centre of his world. How he loves her, how desperate he is to keep her right there. Away from the clutching grip of the past, away from the claws of unrequited love and away from Kingscholar, forever, if this world so allows.

“P-please,” she moans, and she begs. Jade can’t refuse her when she does this. Her voice sounds like she could break, any minute now, his precious pearl. His lone casablanca.

Jade starts slow. Getting accustomed to the pleasures of this form, within this skin, didn’t take very long. She is irresistible to him, and when she first let him have her, he was surprised to find how easily he could break underneath this spell she is so unaware that’s binding his heart, his fangs, his claws and his very essence to her. Her alone.

Jade’s hand now firm on her ass, Asami opens her legs a little bit more, his grip tighter and his breathing slower and heavier than hers as he brushes the tip of his cock against her cunt.

A greedy woman, she truly is. And Jade can feel his lips form a satisfied smile, so maybe he made her this way.

“P-please,” she moans and she begs as he rolls her over.

They fuck hard and she can barely keep herself upright as Jade pushes his entire length and girth inside her. She is thankful he is so considerate, making sure there were pillows underneath her, and her face is properly cushioned. But sometimes she wonders if he truly is thoughtful, with how hard his nails are digging onto her skin, with how hard he is fucking into her.

A heavy force, just as rough when you let him be, Jade Leech.

Leona and Jade - different sides of the same ferocious coin.

But it is funny to Asami how, in between gasps and out-of-breath kisses, in the spaces between Jade thrusting himself into her, she finds these comparisons. She doesn’t want to compare them, but a common ground always seems to connect her hearts to them. Her past, and now present.

Her maelstrom, her lighthouse. Her Jade.

His scent long forgotten, his fangs long absent from her skin. Bruises long healed.

Jade bends down, sucks on her shoulder as he pounds her harder. Harder. Faster. And Asami cannot hear herself and how she is moaning, but Jade can hear her, only her. Sometimes muffled against the pillow, and then she tilts her head to the side and gasps for air.

Hands circle around her, feeling her breasts, and then he adjusts himself, his hands supporting themselves on her hips once more. He smoothes them down to her ass.

Jade knows she likes it hard, and he has always found that he wants to compete with that ferocity he knows she once loved. The only kind of love she knew, until him. Sometimes he wonders if she still loves him. If he is only a replacement. Sometimes his mind wanders. And then he goes harder, harder, pulling her pony out so he can let her hair down. Just to grab it up so it is held by his fingers instead and he can pull her hair so much tighter as he bottoms out. He is rough, and Asami is near to tears. But she likes it, she loves it. He knows she does.

“J-Jade,” she moans, drooling on her pillow. Jade pulls out, turns her so she is laying on her back. “Face me,” he growls. His voice lower now, deeper. His hands are pushing her thighs down and open, and he goes for it yet again. His thumb slowly glide down her clit as he enters her again. She gasps sharply, her eyes watching his every move, so she sees the shimmer in his eyes - dark and dangerous- and the way it encourages her to let go and come again.

He wishes someone could watch the way he fucks her. There is elegance there. His ferocity is carefully wrapped around by elegance, wrapped around her and her finger, though she doesn’t know this. Not fully.

He fucks her hard. And he takes her ankles and plants wet kisses there. Alternating with eager nips, bending and then pushing her down, harder. Kisses to her knees, it feels so good. “Ah-,” he grunts as he pushes down her legs, this lets him go deeper, more forceful.

The composure and finesse that hold Jade Leech’s demeanor together slowly break as he fucks her.

Jade knows that she isn’t made of glass. She can take it, blow by blow. So he wants to make her. He repositions them again, and puts her up so she is sitting on his lap. And then he lets her work herself down on him. He grips her tightly around the waist before he slides his hands toward her ass. His middle finger gently strokes her there, wringing another sharp gasp out of her. He knows Asami finds support around his neck whenever he teases her like this. She is breathless, and she is blushing, but she wants all of this and more.

The perfect view of her face, and the expression she is now wearing— so different, a far cry from her prim, proper, pure self outside his domain.

Only for him, she is like this only for him. Only like this— because of him.

Jade Leech doesn’t think he is deep enough, so he pushes her down, shocking Asami with the swift movement. Jade’s laboured breathing is something she can never get used to, just like the way he blushes whenever they are so close like this thrills her. His hungry eyes seem to see through all of her, exciting her insides, making her drip. Jade is thrusting into her again, and she can feel how close she is. His pace becomes more erratic, his elegance slowly crumbling to a jerky staccato that’s very unlike his usual rolls into her.

“Asami,” he hisses in between heavy breaths, and she tries to touch his thighs— as he fucks into her, starved and ravenous like the predator that he truly is. She wants to touch him too. She wants him too. She wants her hands all over him too.

Asami’s soft fingers call out to him, and he is quick to go into her embrace. His hips crash onto hers so feverishly she feels her whole body jerk and bob up and down. She feels good, she loves his relentlessness. He is close himself, brought there by her body, by her arms around him.

She stretches for a kiss. Her fingers toy with his earring, as their lips lock once more.

What is it about predators that attract her attention, make her fingers tingle? What is it about carnivores? Asami doesn’t understand it, but she knows Jade is so beautiful to her. She can feel him hitting the deepest parts of her. There is a slight sting, but the pleasure of him, the pleasure of it all, is stronger.

“I love you,” escapes her soft lips, and Jade wonders if she is really talking to him. Sometimes the trust he so lovingly bestowes upon her betrays him in the most unfortunate moments. But he tries to push that thought aside, looks directly into her eyes so he can see only her and she can see only him.

And how the light seems to reflect on her eyes, always. He loves her, too— of course he does, so much. He has thought of her with fondness since the first time they met. It took him a long fucking time to make his move but here he is, cock-deep in her, finally.

Not for the first time and not the last.

That thought is what makes him come, hot and slick inside and desperate to stay there. Her legs squeeze him lovingly, her arms pull him tight as he bites the side of her neck and feels how the last of his release oozes into her This skin, his temporary form, how grateful he is for it right now. How grateful he is for anything that lets him be with her.

══════ ∘◦❁◦∘ ══════

The aftermath of it all is a sacred time for Jade. He lays beside her, eyes carefully watching the soft shadows of her lashes on her cheeks, even breathing from her softly parted lips. The dark of her hair all over his pillow and her back, she lays on her tummy and he pokes her cheek with a soft chuckle.

What a beautiful creature, he thinks to himself. He won’t ever get used to it, he won’t ever get tired of her, this view and the many things they could learn and explore together. Jade runs his fingers through her hair, and gives her a kiss on her cheek.

And then on her fringe, inhaling deeply. He wanted to run a bath for her, but she insisted on staying in bed, and being held. He can never refuse her.

Even though Jade is the one who trims the stems of the bouquet, and sets each flower in place...even though he is the one usually in control, she rules his heart. He is on his knees because of her. She is the queen of lilies after all, the empress of his world, his precious pearl. He cannot force her and he cannot taint her.

He can only try to improve her vase.

Maybe this is what brought the king to his knees. Maybe this is why he left. Maybe he realised how big an impact she could make on his life, on his heart. But that thought makes Jade chuckle. He hasn’t been a coward, he thinks. And he marvels at how long she has waited, and how long he waited for her, the intersections in the past where they connected and met. He believes, has believed for so long, that he is the one for her.

The delicate petals, much like her lips, the precise way the flower bends, the purity of it all— his heart sings for the queen of lilies, for his casablancas.

Carefully curated, skillfully placed, within his domain.

Purest white set upon the backdrop of his darkness, elegance and ferocity…but he knows deep down, he is a mere devotee. Not a director.

Beauty tames ferocity. Always.

A/N: I just want to say thank you A BIG BIG THANK YOU to pseudofaux for helping me with this delicate piece. I wanted to stay consistent and faithful to the first chapter. I also never really written a full sexual scene so I was struggling a lot. Thank you Pseu for your patience and for your hardwork. Thank you.

I also want to thank scummy for helping me sent the pace and tone/flow of the first draft. Thank you so much!

Thank you so much for reading this piece! If you enjoyed this story, please do let me know what you think! If you're interested to see more of my TWST art,

I am over twitter most of the time. ♡(｡- ω -)

#twisted wonderland #twst jade #Jade Leech #Asami Oda #onibeni writes

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