#♥️ heartslabyul roomies ♥️

[twstinginthewind]

Here's Joker for the @bunnwich Yuletide event, one of the makers of the Heartslabyul Holiday Treats! This is a joint effort with @twst-the-night-away so make sure that you see Violetta's card for the second half of their shared story!

Card assets from @alchemivich and @100night, and Jo's sweater texture is by brightrainbow on freepik.

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Joker paced grouchily across the floor of the Heartslabyul kitchen, complaining to her roommate. They had been sent there as punishment by their housewarden, who had caught them in the act of breaking one of the house rules; they were making fudge for themselves in their room, without checking to see if anyone else wanted to be included. It was an often-forgotten bylaw, since very few of the students were likely to cook outside of the kitchen. “.... And if it’s not enough for everyone,” she said, in her best impersonation of Riddle, “you have to go make more, my ear! Oof! It’s not like we KNEW he was gonna walk in on us making candy in the dorm room.”

“Especially not at that hour.” Violetta sighed, half-slumped at the wooden kitchen counter. “I suppose someone tipped him off.” Her chin plopped into her hand, and she mumbled, just barely loudly enough for Joker to hear. “I guess they didn’t think to ask for a bribe …”

Joker paused in her pacing to stamp her foot petulantly. “Ridiculous. Who’d want to tell on a couple of adorable girls like us, just minding our own business in our own room?” She stood for a moment, thoughtful. “.... maybe he smelled the chocolate?” She twisted a lock of hair around her finger. How obvious was it from outside, when they did their little cooking experiments? She’d have to step out and do a sniff test the next time.

Violetta shook her head. “You’d think we would have been found out by now if that had been the case … and we have to make it all by ourselves, too.” She planted both elbows onto the counter, looking like she was trying to become one with it. “It’s not so bad when it’s just for the two of us, but … our whole dorm, and any guests?!”

“We’ll be up all night working on this. What a punishment, having to make all of the sweets for the Yuletide Treat spread.” Joker groaned, and started to pace again. She looked at the clock, impatient to get started. “Where’s our darling vice house warden with the ingredients, anyway?” she asked, saltily.

As if replying to a summons, the kitchen door creaked open. Joker’s heart fluttered as Trey came inside, arms laden with shopping bags. He smiled when he saw the girls. “Did someone mention me?”

“Ah, there he is.” Violetta straightened up slightly. “Need any help unloading?”

“Icanhelp!” Joker almost tripped over her own feet rushing over to take some of the bags, but was waved off with a chuckle.

Trey hoisted the bags onto the counter, giving his usual crooked smile. Joker felt her cheeks get a little warm at the sight, and hoped it wasn’t too obvious to the other two. She started to open a bag in an attempt to distract herself. “It isn’t all that much, I’m afraid,” Trey said as he unloaded one of the other bags. “Sam’s usually not prone to running low on supplies, but with the Yule preparations and all…” He shook his head apologetically. “I did my best, ladies.”

“Let’s see …” Violetta began sorting through the items that Trey had put onto the countertop. “Marshmallows. And … evaporated milk? And at least … ten bags of chocolate chips?! But they’re an assortment of flavored kinds.”

Joker was taking an inventory of her own as she unpacked, murmuring to herself. “A bunch of cookies, a couple pounds of cream cheese…” She closed her eyes for a moment, as if searching for an idea. Something went click, and she smiled briefly before looking over the items again. She turned to Trey. “No eggs?” she asked, giving him a sad look.

He shook his head again. “No eggs. Sam said most of his really perishable stuff was all bought up.” He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Come to think of it, I think I ran into Ruggie on the way over there... Anyway. Yeah.” He spread his hands over the assortment of items. “This is it.”

Joker pouted. There went that idea.

Violetta had also been thinking, it seemed. “Trey, we’re allowed to use any ingredients from the kitchen, right? Not only these? Because if I had some butter and sugar …”

Joker stared down at the stack of ingredients. “I bet we gotta work with what we’ve got,” she said bitterly, rolling her eyes. “Builds character or whatever. I can’t do a cookies and cream cheesecake with no eggs. I gotta think…” She put her hands to her temples, mentally going through the recipes that her mother had taught her over the years. Cream cheese and cookies, there has to be something there…

Trey laughed gently. “Butter, sugar, and flour are fine. I at least talked Riddle into letting you use the basics.”

“Eggs are basic,” Joker huffed, crossing her arms. She pursed her lips and gave Trey an impatient look, as if daring him to disagree.

He responded firmly, matching her gaze with a level one of his own and mirroring her arm-cross. “Those are reserved for the mini-quiches. I’ll be handling those.”

Defeated, Joker sagged, whining. “Wehhh. FINE.” She started to pace around the kitchen again, thinking out loud. “... I know I can make something with those ingredients… Lemme look at the chocolate chips again.”

Violetta read the labels of the bags to her roommate. “There’s dark chocolate, white chocolate, butterscotch and one bag of mint chocolate …” She closed her eyes, also deep in thought. She mumbled something just outside of Joker’s hearing, then nodded. “I think I have an idea.”

“Oh!” Joker slapped her forehead; the memory finally fell into place. She knew what she was doing now. “Save me two bags of the chocolates, the cream cheese, and the sandwich cookies.” She spun on her heel, and smiled sweetly at Trey, brushing a lock of hair back from her face. As cutely as she could muster, she asked him, “Sempaaaaaaai, do we have a nice, heavy hammer?”

Trey took a step back, startled. “A hammer? I have a mallet for tenderizing meat, I think …”

Joker nodded. “That’ll do. I need to smash things.” Trey raised an eyebrow, but didn’t pursue the idea further.

Violetta snickered into her hand. “Too bad my idea doesn’t involve a little therapeutic violence …”

Joker looked over at her, deadpan. “Who said it was for my recipe?”

“... Anyhow.” Trey straightened his glasses, and nodded towards the girls. “If you two think you can do this with what we have, I’ll leave you to it. Just make sure to clean up after yourselves, and make enough for the whole party. Understood?”

Violetta nodded, but Joker sighed. She tilted her head. “How much trouble will there be if we don’t?”

Trey tapped his foot. “At minimum, you’ll have to clean any caked-on messes that you leave in the morning. As far as not making enough….” He let his voice trail off, looking thoughtful. “As you know well, the Queen does have a rule about sharing sweets. I don’t think Riddle would be too lenient with you if you don’t make enough.”

Joker groaned, and drooped dramatically across the countertop.

Trey smirked. “I’ll get out of your way, then. If you have any trouble, call for me, all right?”

Violetta’s shoulders slumped, and her sigh echoed Joker’s. “Yes, Vice Housewarden …”

“We’ll let you know, Vice Housewarden.” Joker raised her head, and gave Trey a quizzical look. “But, um. What were we planning on serving the guests if Vivi and I weren’t roped into this?”

Trey paled slightly and took a step towards the door. “Funny you should ask. It was going to be—” He took a moment and stared at his bare wrist in shock. “Oh, would you look at the time?? It’s past curfew; I should be getting upstairs. Good luck, you two!” He stepped quickly out the door, letting it slam closed behind him, and leaving the two girls staring at each other.

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Thanks for reading, and don't forget to read part two!! Happy holidays and a wonderful Yuletide to you all!