#ACE ( VERSE: spades )

[officialdaydreamer00]

Dream Diary of Irene Lovejoy

characters: irene lovejoy (aka the prefect), ace trappola

supporting characters: deuce spade, jack howl, epel felmier, ortho shroud, sebek zigvolt, grim

cw: weird and realistic dreams, liminal spaces, references to the backrooms™, use of blue matter to replace blood

first dream: the endless hallway (ace trappola)

they didn't know what they were expecting when they went to ramshackle dorm that day. the prefect and grim weren't present in classes as usual, so naturally, they were rather worried.

well, deuce and jack were, the others were more confused than worried.

deuce knocked on the old wooden door. "prefect? are you there, prefect?" he called. "grim?" but nobody replied.

"maybe they're still asleep?" epel suggested, but ace furrowed his eyebrows in doubt. "prefect doesn't sleep that much. usually, she should've been awake and walking by now."

now they were getting even more worried.

deuce tried to open the door. however, it did not budge at all. not even a single creak indicating its moves. it as as if they were in front of a solid brick wall. "it's... locked?"

"i say we force the door open by magic." sebek, who had been (surprisingly) quiet the entire time, proposed a plan with a serious solemn look on his face. they nodded and held up their pens, pointing at the dorm's door.

it took them a few tries before the door was blasted off of its hinges. the five stepped inside the dorm. immediately, a cold atmosphere engulfed them whole, sending shivers down their spines. even ortho had a feeling of utter dread blaring in his system. the hall was void of human presence, completely. there was no signs of the three ghosts who resided in this dorm either. it was like a no one had been here in decades, and that whole idea had never felt more wrong than in that moment.

the moment they made it to the lounge, they felt their heart dropped simutaneously. "great seven, what the hell happened here?" the entire place was wrecked from top to bottom. nothing was whole and blue splattered everywhere, on the floor, on the walls, on the broken furniture, on the prefect-

"wait, prefect!?" there she was, sprawling face down by the broken couch. grim was also found unconcious near her. deuce held the prefect in his arms as jack picked grim up. both of them were stained with the same metallic blue that covered the room, and on the prefect's wrist had a strange mark literally carved into her skin. and, by the looks of it, the mark was fresh and... glowing(?) a deep blue hue.

"what's that?" ace picked up her arm and stared at the symbol in confusion. and he touched it.

the next thing they all knew, was a sudden drowsy state, and five loud thuds as they dropped to the floor around the prefect, falling into a deep sleep.

"ugh..."

ace woke up, feeling disoriented. his head was throbbing painfully as he tried to sit up.

"what... happened...?" he cradled his head.

as his vision soon cleared, ace found himself in a hallway. the monotonous grey walls and the constant buzzing of fluorescent light were gnawing at his mind, ace thought he would go crazy if he stayed too long.

"hey. you're awake."

ace jolted at the sudden voice echoing next to him. he snapped his head towards the source, only to see...

"p-prefect!?"

the prefect was sitting close to him and staring at him with unreadable wide eyes. chills crawled down his spine, ace felt as if there was something so... wrong about the prefect- should he even call the one in front of him 'prefect'?

"you've been there for almost an hour now. come on, get up." the 'prefect' ushered him up, grabbing his arm rather roughly. "the others are waiting at the base."

there it was again. ace felt a pit of dread formed in his stomach. the prefect would never manhandle anyone like that. and she practically never called his name.

"what- who are you?" ace muttered, ripping his arm out of her (surprisingly) tight grip and keeping his distance.

"what are you doing?" the 'prefect' said calmly. she turned her head to ace in a slow but strange manner. "we don't have much time. we have to go, now."

it was then ace saw her face. she had the prefect's face, but her eyes. her eyes were a dull blue, while the prefect's were sea green. this further solidifying his doubts.

she- this person wasn't the prefect.

"you- you are not her."

ace took a step back, alarmed and on guard. who was the impostor wearing her face in front of him? where was the real prefect?

the 'prefect' only stared at him, never even blinked once. then, her head snapped to the side as if her neck broke. the thing began to take a step towards ace, who staggered backwards. his hand reached towards his shirt pocket, only to find his magic pen gone. the thing kept getting closer to ace, its skin began to melt like candle wax, revealing the grotesque bone structure that made up its being.

eyes glanced towards the thing, he ultimately decided. "oh, fuck this." he turned his heels and ran.

ace continued running, knowing full well the thing was chasing him down, considering the heavy footsteps gaining up on him.

"how long is this damn hallway!?"

ace glanced behind him. his heart nearly stopped when he saw the thing only a few steps away, its hands reached out just waiting to grab him.

'is this how i'm gonna die? to a creature before even finding the prefect or the others?'

no. of course not.

a hand outstretched from the endless wall, grabbing his hand and pulling him through. ace's heart almost leaped out of his chest when that happened, and before he could react, the hands slapped over his mouths, rendering him speechless.

"shhh quiet! it will hear you!" the person whispered-yelled. ace widened his eyes once he got a better look at the person under the flashlight they held.

"p-prefect?" his voice was muffled under her hand.

the person in front of him now had a rather disheveled look. messy black hair with wisps of white framing her face, tired sea green eyes marred with dark eye bags hiding behind a pair of round glasses. ace also saw the beauty mark under her right eye, just barely hidden behind her hair. this was the real prefect.

"prefect, where—"

"you touched the mark on my wrist, didn't you?"

the prefect gave ace a hard glare, to which he gulped nervously.

"i already sent my absence note to the professors the day before, but the little monster just have to touch my wrist, now you guys too?"

"w-who's the 'little monster'? gr-"

he was interrupted yet again.

"don't, and i mean don't, say your or anyone's name here."

he wisely shut up. the prefect sighed, a hand fixed her glasses as another hand ran through her messy mop of hair. "this place, where we're in, is my dream. in here, people like me are called the dreamers. the glowing mark you saw acts as a key leading people into a dreamer's mind. and those people can't return to the real world only until a dreamer found them, because if you somehow die here, you disappear from the real world too."

"us dreamers have to find a series of things or people who had fallen into our dreams the... wrong way. i can't explain how or why it's wrong, it just is." the prefect turned to look at ace. "like my tasks now. it went from finding my earrings to finding you guys."

the prefect shook her head. "i think i've said enough. you have to return to the real world, right now. and when you do..."

her hard stare turned softer with concern as she gripped his shoulders. ace could feel her hands shaking. "please, never try to come get me like that, ever, again."

a beat of silence. ace nodded grimly.

"okay, prefect."

"good."

she let out another tired sigh. in this moment, the prefect seemed to have aged more than she ever was. she rubbed her tired eyes, looking back at ace with a serious gaze she always had on duty.

"when you return, inform the dorm leaders about our... situation. text them, call them if you must, no one can leave or enter ramshackle until i've found all of you. am i clear, ace of hearts?"

ace nodded again, this time more firmly. "yes, prefect."

"good, good." she lifted a hand to cover his eyes and chanted something under her breath. his eyes went all blurry again, and he closed his eyes.

ace woke up with a gasp. he scrambled to sit up as chills creeped down his back. he looked around, and surely, he was back at ramshackle.

he then noticed the rest of the first year gang was still unconscious, and he remembered what the prefect had told him. he quickly pulled out his phone to send riddle a text, then he waited.

they'd wake up soon. ace sat there, waiting for the next person to wake up.

taglist🏷️ @azulashengrottospiano @aqua-beam @identity-theft-101 @siren-serenity @cookiesandbiscuits @minimallyminnie @moonlit-midnight @ceruleancattail @ang33333333l @twistwonderlanddevotee @axvwriter @silvers-numberonefan @leonistic @krenenbaker @savanaclaw1996 @i-like-forgs @bun-lapin @red-viewe

reblogs are appreciated!

[trixiegalaxy]

[hehosts-moved]

the academy / "that place" — run by that man, currently known as watanabe goro, that place or the academy is an academy for students between ages 6-18, with further educational opportunies for ages 18-24. from there, many students become employed either here (due to debts or desires), other academies, or individual pursuits. that man is always available to his students, current or alumni. many alumni eventually come back, even after going "their own way."

the academy exists, similarly to goro's office in main canon, in a pocket dimension. it can be located anywhere, and currently exists somewhere in japan. students of all origins are encouraged to attend, so long as they possess a gift.

aesthetically, it fits both a classic and gothic aesthetic, much like a castle, and is always shifting / changing, while remaining "the same." there is a sense that you know where you are, but something is different. the staircases, the art, the statues, the doors...there are gardens. quite a few, in fact. courtyards, dorms for staff and students, lounging areas, and expansive corridors.

have their been non-gifted students? yes. they are rare, but there have been exceptions. non-gifted students are typically indebted to goro, or someone in their life is (usually a parent or sibling), or their family has a history with the academy. many non-gifted students become gifted. not many students without "gifts" go without making deals to fit in with their peers.

what about non-gifted staff? same as the above, mostly. non-gifted staff members are typically indebted to goro, or have family that went to the academy. they might have gone themselves, they might not have. meeting goro outside of the academy is not unusual, especially for those that are non-gifted. sometimes those that have made deals or have taken loans from the traditional realm will "work off their debt" (meaning they get room and board, that's it). rarely — although it has happened — will goro just "give someone a job." they are typically staffed in traditional studies, if they are able to teach, as well as groundskeepers, working in the nurse's stations as assistants and front desk staff, TAs, housing, the cafeteria, and other positions best suited for those without gifts / non-supernatural individuals.

do students have to start at age 6? no, they transfer in at any age. transfers usually come from other academies, so there isn't much to catch up on other than how things operate at this place, as well as the traditional coming of age / fitting in with their peers. students who transfer in late from the traditional realm have a lot more work cut out for them, but it has been done. students that start at age 6 are typically well engrained in the non-traditional realm, or their parents and family went to the academy, thus having knowledge to enroll early.

how long has the academy been active? — seemingly as far back as formative studies have been a concept, if not longer.

what do students study?

— traditional studies. these are "core classes" that fall into the "traditional realm." many students have lived lives in "both worlds" or will have some experience with the traditional realm (the human world, as we know it). these classes not only go over the main foundations (mathematics, science, history, literature), but also cultural classes (as many students are from varying cultures that exist outside of their species/subspecies).

— formative studies. these are classes that are "core," "elective," or "specified" courses that are explicitly supernatural, as well as the bulk of the curriculum. for example, if your character is a shapeshifter, there are courses for shapeshifters. those would technically be specified courses. an elective can be anything that doesn't apply directly to their species / their gift / their power. caring for your familiar can be an elective. an example of a "core class" in formative studies would be a non-traditional history course.

taken positions of staff:

headmaster — the great man / that man / "watanabe goro"

security — currently headed by ji-hun, a former student. it is hard to remember a time that the academy has not been guarded by the cobra. he works closely with deng.

guidance counselor — yong-sun. he assists students in finding their paths, as well as listening to their problems and squabbles.

regarding ji-hun, deng, and yong-sun:

ji-hun's abilities: similar to what he can do in canon, but with the ability to transform into a cobra.

deng's abilities: similar to what he can do in canon, but with the ability to transform into a hyena.

yong-sun's abilities: similar to what he can do in canon, but also has the ability to tell the future. he is known as the dragon.

open positions of staff*:

* otherwise staffed by NPCs for most threads

nurses, teachers, teacher's assistants, groundskeepers, janitors, security guards, etc. any position that are a typical academy would have is likely necessary here.

goro's office — the same as it always is. there is still one window that functions the same way it does in canon. it primarily exists, and is always accessible, at the academy. however, it still "can be found" anywhere. just because he's running the academy doesn't mean he's not still running business as usual. a major difference would be that his business outside of the academy is handled primarily by him, not by extensions as usual (ji-hun, deng, yong-sun, etc).

what about ren? — what about him? he's not in this story. he's likely living his normal life, indebted to goro with no knowledge of the academy. however, there will be an AU where ren is attending as a student, given that he does (technically) have the sight.

[muselexum]

( Tag Dump 1 )

[enjomo-arch]

@taiixuan , emil ( masked deuce ) asked : [  ALMOST KISS  ]  *  my muse leans closer to your muse almost like they’re trying to initiate a kiss, only to pull away in the last second. ( TEEHEE ACEDEU )

as  the  day  drew  to  a  close  ,   the  sun  descended  toward  the  vast  expanse  of  the  open  sea  ,   casting  a  breathtaking  palette  of  colors  across  the  horizon.  the  sky  transformed  into  a  canvas  of  vibrant  oranges  ,   pinks  ,   and  purples  ,   while  the  tranquil  waters  below  mirrored  the  wonderful  spectacle.  a  gentle  breeze  whispered  through  the  air  ,   as  the  fire  fist's  relaxed  gaze  seemed  to  pause  in  awe  of  the  incredible  sight. 

despite  the  fact  that  he  had  seen  the  sunset  millions  of  times  before  it  always  left  something  special  in  his  heart  ,   a  feeling.  for  as  long  as  he  could  remember  ,   sitting  on  the  edge  of  the  cliff  with  his  younger  brother  ,   he  had  watched  this  image  of  natural  ,   maritime  beauty  every  evening.  now  ,   however  he  was  doing  it  with  his  first  mate  at  the  side  which  felt  just  as  special.  sitting  on  the  spadille's  railing  ,   one  arm  resting  over  his  knee  with  a  bottle  of  booze  in  the  other  ace  could  only  think  about  so  much  in  moments  like  these.  

he  didn't  say  anything  for  a  long  moment  but  it  was  clear  that  this  didn't  necessarily  catch  deuce's  attention.  his  lips  softly  parted  ,   as  to  speak  something  but  eventually  he  felt  on  his  cheek  the  leather  glove  that  belonged  to  the  writer.  his  hand  guiding  ace's  face  tu  turn  and  let  their  gaze  meet  ,   the  slowly  approaching  closeness  with  the  azure-haired  man  leaning  in  closer  and  closer  caused  ace  to  skip  a  beat  of  his  firey  heart.  he  didn't  even  know  how  to  react  ,   his  eyes  widened  slightly  in  surprise  but  as  deuce  leaned  closer  he  couldn't  back  off.  he  didn't  want  to.  

a  silent  breath  sucked  up  through  his  teeth  before  the  spade  captain  bent  down  to  close  the  gap  between  them  but  ,   before  their  lips  could  meet  at  the  end  of  the  road  ,   only  the  chapped  skin  of  ace's  own  ghosted  barely  over  the  writer's  petal  peach  ones.  until.

❝  oi  ,   captain  ace!  an  island  at  the  horizon  ,   at  eight  .  ❞

ace  snapped  his  head  to  the  side  ,   upon  hearing  skull  screaming  about  finding  an  island  at  the  horizon.  well  ,   deuce  ended  up  kissing....  the  side  of  ace's  wild  ,   raven  locks.  ❝  holy  shit !?  really !  skull  hold  on  i'm  comin' !  ❞  the  fire  fist  shouted  enthusiastically.  his  attentiveness  completely  changed  its  tracks  and  he  jumped  off  the  wooden  railing  of  the  ship  straight  onto  the  deck.  ❝  oii  deuce  ,   quick !  ❞  he  waved  a  hand  to  the  journalist.  chuckling  under  his  breath  like  crazy  ,   so  happy  about  the  information  of  land  nearby  he  absolutely  forgot  he  was  just  about  to  kiss  his  first  mate.  

[stillresolved]

k lee ga ram. 31. paralegal. the left hand.

[gemkun]

nah i’m so ill how dare it reference back to moments in the beast manga that are YET TO COME

[kitxkatrp]

“I’m close… Just a few more seconds…” ~Mizuki to Fenrir~

"Really? Am I doing a good job then?" He grinned, burying his face in her neck for a few kisses. His fingers were working on her down below and if he were to be honest, he was nervous. It was his first time doing this. But she was telling him he was doing well.

"Come on, I wanna see it..Show me, okay?"

[stormgardenscurse]

guys don't like me...

Summary: They’re your best friends! But some of the people (NPCs) crushing on you beg to differ, and are starting to hate seeing the guys flaunt their closeness with you.

Characters: Ace, Epel, Deuce, Cater, Leona

Ace

He’s someone that does this on purpose. It started with dropping in randomly while you were hanging out with other people. Ace picked up on their jealous stares whenever he stood a bit too close to you or laughed at his jokes.

It’s the way you visibly look more comfortable once he’s arrived, because with Ace there you feel less of a need to uphold politeness or conversation-carrying; his personality draws eyes to him instead. And then the one he’s talking to and looking at is you, but despite how that should make you feel put on the spot, it doesn’t. 

Ace dances between aggravating them on purpose and feigning ignorance. He glances at the others when you’re not looking before sporting a smile to ask if you’d go to his basketball match next week. You sigh and say of course you will, ruffling his hair so as to get rid of his smug grin. If Ace doesn’t win, then dinner’s on him. He agrees, happy to leave the room now that he’s left a mark on the conversation. The other students’ moods have dropped, but you don’t know why.

Ace is also the type to be casually touchy, to the point where strangers ask if you’re together - to which he offhandedly says ‘nope!’ only to share your drink (indirect kiss) and receive odd (and some frustrated) looks in the next minute. 

What, is this not normal? Color him flattered that you’re so lenient with him then! (Big faker, horrible horrible)

Epel

Another one that knows exactly what he’s doing, but what else should Epel do when people are eyeing you when he’s also hoping to confess as well? It’s only natural for him to take advantage of his circumstances - he’s already closer to you than they are, and frankly, while he feels bad at the way they deflate when he enters the room and your eyes immediately catch his, Epel feels a sense of pride from how charmed you are by him. It’s like seeing a garden of flowers lean towards the Sun for its attention, only to find that the sunlight has a favorite.

As jealous people sometimes do, his competitors try to subtly mention that Epel is quite cute for a boy, only for him to drop in (he wasn’t eavesdropping, just passing by) and invite you on a magic-wheel joyride. Your evident familiarity with this side of him only throws the others into confusion, and if they challenge Epel to a race, then… he can only accept it and beat them fair and square, no? 

Slightly reckless but also very well-versed (to your worry) with going at high speeds, Epel wipes the floor with them. As to why you’re not a fan of this, it’s because he suggested you sit behind him to ensure he doesn’t cheat! (He’s doing this on purpose of course, but despite your comments of “you’re trying to kill me” you comply, which only strengthens his resolve as you wrap your arms around him to hold on for dear life.)

Deuce

(the NPCs are your friends from outside of school/your hometown! Implied that you and Deuce live fairly close to one-another)

He’s just a nice guy! A guy you think to rely on when you’re in trouble because there’s no one else as genuine and willing to help, in your book. And also the person you dare to open up about your struggles too, if only because Deuce Spade is no stranger to goals that seem unreachable at the moment - like every time you try to climb higher, the earth loosens and slips from beneath your feet and tests your strength.

If he ever hears the other students telling you that he’s a magnet for trouble, Deuce almost slips into self doubt before seeing the look on your face; the obvious disagreement, the hint of offense taken just at the idea. It makes him happy that you have his back even when he’s not around, but a part of Deuce didn’t want to be a wedge between you and your other friends either.

Their complaints soon die however when Deuce’s goodness manifests in a way no one can deny (not anyone with a conscience, at least). When you texted him and mentioned you forgot some ingredients for hotpot when your friends were over at your house, half an hour later there’s a knock on your door because Deuce has run over from his place with said ingredients, saying he had extra at home (“it’s going to expire soon, just take it, don’t worry”), and in a swell of emotion you almost burst into tears at the gesture (Deuce is the only one ever).

Cater

Who’s that guy that always tags you on Magicam? Cater likes being able to see his presence on your profile - it makes him feel more supported on the vast social media sites and quick-moving trends. Whenever you comment on his posts, a smile reaches his face at the sight of a comment that actually knows the context behind the pictures.

So of course, his jealous competitors are quick to ask you about your relationship with Cater. Were you dating? If not, why was he so clingy to you?

You never thought of Cater as clingy per se. Sure, he likes to throw his arm around your shoulder and give you celebratory hugs when something good happens, and texts you a lot - but that’s just how he shows affection in general, you tell them. He’s just a really good friend, and in your head you think that a part of you also relies on his cheeriness to keep your mood up. He always seems to be keeping the energy fun for the sake of others, that you wonder if he gets bored when you both just do nothing at his dorm, flipping through your feeds and doing meaningless quizzes about your personality type.

And then you recall how Cater always asks you for your results, comparing it to his as he leans his shoulder against yours to get a better look at your screen. 

Does he know he treats you different? Maybe. But that’s for him to cling to as long as he can, before Cater has to fess up to his own emotions.

Leona

A mix of intimidation and annoyance is what your admirers tend to feel, whenever you’re with Leona.

You’re one of the only people that can approach him with a smile and ask the randomest things without fear of being shut down, and Leona simply regards you with a sway of his tail and comments here and there. If you’re feeling talkative, you strike a back and forth with him, engrossed in a conversation that onlookers can’t particularly intercept.

More annoying however, is when Leona knows they’re seething inside and just annoys them more by asking you if you could do something for him, like getting him food from the cafeteria. The goal wasn’t to make you run an errand, but have you ask him to go with you instead and buy it together. And with a purposeful act, Leona ‘reluctantly’ leaves his napping spot to be dragged away by you, hand pulling him lightly by the wrist or end of his sleeve.

Sometimes, you’re seen picking up an extra lunch while in the cafeteria line, thinking that you could save Ruggie some trouble by visiting Leona at the greenhouse yourself. Did you realize how much you were spoiling him? Leona says yes, though this awareness might be buried under several layers of him just being ‘a good senpai’ to hang out with. With time, he’ll make his stance clear though. No amount of daftness can ignore Leona when he wants to tell you something, after all.

[hopedefined]

That makes her scoff. Sure, she shouldn't let him get to her. But damn if he doesn't make it difficult. Propping a hip up on the wall behind her, Rogue looks up at him with a practiced tilt of her head.

Try it's same as come hither, anyway.

"I like your friends fine, but I won't say no to some time alone."

"You 'n Gambit both know dis ain't de place for you goody-two shoes X-types," he answers, looking her up and down. Remy knows she's stronger than him. It doesn't stop his tongue darting out to wet his lips.

"You just lucky it's only me, girl."

[officialdaydreamer00]

Child Of Wisdom, Legacy of the Dreams

irene lore, twst x pjo

in which the prefect has kept a secret from her friends, a rather godly one, to say.

character: irene lovejoy (aka the prefect), grim, ace, deuce

content: mentions of greek mythology and its questionable lore, monster attacks, weapons. it's PJO what did you expect

to ace and deuce, the prefect was a mysterious person.

it was not the fact that her being a girl enrolled and was studying at NRC, a all-boys private college. no, it was because there was just something that never made sense about her.

for starters, she had this aura around her that made everyone, especially those who interacted with her feel a strange sense of inferiority, as if she wasn't entirely human. no one could ever put a finger on it, however.

her appearance initially, when she revealed herself during the welcoming ceremony caught them off guard. she was tall, taller than both of them by a couple centimetres, and rather athletic-looking. she had a light tan complexion which glinted nicely in the sun. her hair was ink black with a single streak of white framing the left side of her face. at first, they thought it was dyed as a fashion choice, but when they asked her about it, the prefect only smiled albeit grimly, shaking her head and left.

deuce didn't know if his eyes had problems, and he was sure as hell he didn't. sometimes when he stared at the prefect's eyes for long enough, he swore he saw the sea green slowly bleed into a startling shade of grey, like storm clouds rumbling in the rain. pretty, but intimidating, too, as if she was analysing the best way to overthrow headmaster crowley and make professor crewel the new one. when he blinked, however, they were the same shade of sea green he was familiar with.

ace didn't know how the prefect did it, but she had somehow renovated ramshackle dorm into what seemed to be a pantheon by the time school's festival and the vdc approached. everyone was pleasantly surprised to see the simple yet intricate designs of the marble walls and the detailed paintings on the ceilings, and the marvellous library filled to the brim with books in english and a language they didn't recognise. housewarden vil commended her creative mind and efforts nonetheless.

the prefect was indeed an unsolved mystery. she was seen with owls surrounding her serene laughing figure, as she treated each one with such care that could only rival jade leech's obsession with mushrooms and nature. she sacrificed the best part of her dinner to the hearth that always burn brightly in ramshackle's living room. and someone swore they saw her with a bronze sword running into the forests, and leaving with golden dust clung to her uniform, but they could never provide any evidence afterwards. it was as if someone put blinds over their eyes, preventing them from seeing the truth.

that was what ace and deuce got from their observation. it didn't make much sense to them, but they wouldn't want to pry, no matter how curious they were. they trusted the prefect, and she trusted them. she would tell them one day, right?

... right?

it was just another day affter school. ace and deuce accompanied the prefect and grim back to ramshackle when a loud rustle coming from their right. the sudden sound made the group jumped.

"what was that?" ace exclaimed, clutching the fabric near his chest.

"myahh, probably just some animals sniffin' around the place." grim grumbled, snuggling into the prefect's hold.

the prefect, however, froze. she felt a shiver running down her spine as her eyes darted around in alarm. that, of course, didn't escape the eyes of the two students walking beside her.

"prefect? is something wrong?" deuce asked, concerned for his friend as he looked around as well. "what is it that makes you like... that?"

she didn't answer. shoving grim into deuce's arms, to which the cat monster yowled indignantly, her eyes locked on the direction of the sound. her hand moving to her earring, which was an odd looking, pointy silver cross.

"ace, deuce." they heard. there was a serious look on her face, which was rather strange to see. "take grim back to ramshackle, and stay there until i come back."

"wait, what-" their question were promptly cut off. "and do not, follow me. i mean it." she said, pointing her finger at them. then she sighed, her serious face turned weary.

"i know you have a lot of questions, but save it until i come back. i'll tell you everything when i do."

and at that, the prefect bolted straight into the forest, tugging the earring off of her ear, leaving behind a baffled trio who stared at her silhouette until she disappeared. ace and deuce shared a single look, a nod in silent agreement, and then they ran.

not to ramshackle, however, but after her.

metals clashing. sounds of people shouting in a different language. faint yet distinct thumping of boots that their prefect always wore. they all led the two to a clearer part of the forest behind ramshackle dorm.

there, they saw the prefect holding a baseball bat, swinging it at a bald middle aged man in a trench coat. she had a cold glare fixated on the weird man, and continued to try and strike him down.

the man, on the other hand, they had a feeling that this man was anything but normal. probably because his figure was constantly flickering from a bald man to a guy with long brown mane for hair. or it could be that he had a sinister look on his face as he jumped around the place, trying to tackle her.

the prefect, now sported a feral grin on her face, skidded below the man and swung her bat. a sickeningly loud "shwing!!" echoed all over the woods, and with that, ace and deuce finally saw the real being behind the flicker.

it was a horrifyingly giant monster, with the face of a man, the body of a lion and the tail of a scorpion, which was sliced off clean. it roared in pain and anger, and once again tried to pin her down with its oversized paws.

the prefect moved into another stance. in her hand was, to their surprise, not a baseball bat, but a three foot long sword with a bronze sheen, shimmering whenever the light hit it. she skillfully dodged the monster's attacks, and with all her might, she swung the sword at its neck.

the monster let out a final roar, before it exploded into golden dust, clinging to the prefect's uniform. the two could hear her muttering something in that same language they heard her speaking a while ago, before shrinking the sword back into the earring, clipping it back on her ears.

she scanned the area one more time and let out a silent sigh, she began her walk back to ramshackle. ace and deuce decided to run back before she realised they saw all that. sure, they have several... thousand questions, but it would be for another day. right now, they decided to keep it a secret, until the prefect told them herself.

god, what have they gotten themselves into?

the long awaited lore!! my brain hurt for waking up so early to finish this one lmao, so it's a bit rushed at the end oof

taglist🏷️ @azulashengrottospiano @aqua-beam @identity-theft-101 @siren-serenity @dove-da-birb @cookiesandbiscuits @minimallyminnie @ceruleancattail @axvwriter @moonlit-midnight @krenenbaker @twistwonderlanddevotee @bun-lapin @savanaclaw1996 @mermaidfanficlibrary @xen-blank @loser-jpg @taruruchi @cave-of-jade @cheezy-moon @thehollowwriter

reblogs are very appreciated!!

[hehosts-moved]

❝ you'll find the students here are quite ... unique. ❞ he offers a ghostly smile, speaking too easily as they walk the halls together. the great man takes it upon himself to induct each new student and teacher, giving them a private tour, and telling them exactly what will be expected of their tenor here. ❝ their education is my utmost priority. after all, i owe it to them. tell me, the subject your teaching, ❞ he prods, ❝ have you taught it before? ❞ // @boundcd liked for a starter from the academy verse and got the great man !!

[del-thetiredwriter]

Twisted wonderland mafia au? (Good luck while running away from mafia)

Introduction or something like that

Part 0.5 , part 1 , part 2 , part 3 , part 4 , part 5

Notes: If you liked it let me knew. I maybe do this an au.

Warnings: gn reader , be aware of my bad English, not really mentioned yandere traits

You looked at the time, you could only catch up with all of them if you started now. You were supposed to notify seven executives for the monthly meeting that evening.

Night Raven organization, also known as Night Raven mafia, one of the biggest organizations of the underground led by seven executives and boss Crowley. The organization was divided into seven divisions. Each department was managed by their own directors.

Heartslabyul

As you said, the Night Raven organization had seven divisions and directors. The first of these was the Heartslabyul division, which was responsible for the torture and the organization of the mafia . The head of this department was one of the executives , Riddle Rosehearts.

Riddle was a perfect fit for management. Strict, harsh, cruel. He showed no mercy towards those who broke the rules and traitors' heads.

Trey Clover is Riddle's right-hand man, his most trusted man. He was loved by all for his calm fatherly demeanor. No one who saw him walking down the street would believe that he was in the mafia, especially in the torture division Heartslabyul.

Cater Diamond was an entertaining type with his cheerful and fun personality. Although taking pictures and listening to music were among his hobbies, torturing traitors was the activity that amused him the most.

Ace Trappola is rookie of the year. He was a newcomer to the mafia. Even though he was 'good' at his job (the sadistic guy just likes to torture people so he's good at his job), this kid was really good at getting in trouble and getting others in trouble too. You don't remember how many times you rescued him from Riddle.

Deuce Spade rookie 2 . He joined the mafia at the same time as Ace . How come you didn't understand this kid in the mafia especially the torture division heartslabbyul?! He wasn’t really well versed in his business, but the boy really had a great respect for Riddle and Trey.

You knocked on the open door. Ignoring the tied mens staring at you with pity-eyed eyes on the ground, “Sorry for interrupting . I didn’t thought you would be in the middle of your work. Is Riddle-san here?" . “Oh Y/n-chan what a pleasant surprise. Sorry, I'm a little dirty,” Cater said with a smile. His white shirt was visibly soiled with the blood of those mens. "These?" ' you asked, pointing at the mens with your eyes. “They're not people to worry too much about. Just a few traitors, that's all." ' Trey said, appearing behind you.

"You're looking for Riddle, right? Those rookies, Ace and Deuce, seem to be in trouble again. They're in his office with Riddle right now. They are waiting to be saved by a savior angel.”

You laughed at what Trey said, but you should meet the other executives. “I'm sorry, but I don't think I can save them this time. I need to talk to other executives as well.”

"I see, it's for the monthly meeting, right?"

"Yes. I think Riddle has already prepared all the paperwork for the meeting.”

“You know him very well.”

“The meeting is in the main headquarters meeting room at 8 pm . I texted him but you remind him anyway. Then goodbye.”

Savanaclaw

The second division was Savanaclaw, which fought the power of the mafia and other organizations when necessary.

Leona Kingscholar is one of seven executives and head of this department. Usually he slept somewhere, unless he had any duties. His right-hand man, Ruggie, often took care of the documents he needed to deal with as a executive . You were one of the few people who knew how cunning Leona was, even though he was the power of the mafia, you knew very well how he analyzed his enemy and planned strategies before the battles.

Ruggie Bucci , Leona's right-hand man. Despite his weak appearance compared to the other members of Savanaclaw, he is respected by the members. He would take care of the department more than Leona. In wars, he usually stayed in the back line and took care of post-war cleaning. He was more concerned with the documents Leona had to deal with.

Jack Howl is a rookie who just joined Savanaclaw. With his strong build, he quickly adapted to Savanaclaw. Despite his stern appearance, Jack was very polite. Because of his character, Jack was among the people you couldn't understand why he joined the mafia. What was someone like him, who was boiling with a sense of justice, doing in the mafia?

The phone was busy for the tenth time. But you knew him, after a while he was going to get angry and answer, and he finally answered your call.

“Hi Leona-san this is Y/n speaking. How are you sir."

“Damn! What do you want, herbivore!” Leona shouted. There were shouts and gunfire from behind. Looks like he was in a fight again.

“Excuse me for bothering you in the middle of your work, but I was supposed to inform you that you have to come to the main headquarters meeting room at 8 pm for the monthly meeting. The boss wants all seven of the seven executives.”

No response, just shouting.

“Leona-san?”

“Y/n-shii this is Ruggie. Leona-san is busy right now but he heard you. Don't worry, I'll bring him to the meeting. But in return for this favor buy me a meal.”

“Thank you Ruggie-san. I’m counting on you ."

Octavinelle

The third division was Octavinelle, which controlled the money flow of the mafia . At the head of this department was Azul Ashengrotto, one of the seven managers.

Azul Ashengrotto was the type of person who could bargain with the devil with his quick wit. In addition to being a well-known businessman in the business world, he was also a well-known casino owner in the underground world. Usually, those in financial difficulties would be deceived by his smile and beggar and borrow money from him and then become his slaves because they could not pay the debt.

Jade and Floyd Leech are twins who Azul trusts more than anyone else, often doing the dirty work. They had jobs such as finding those who did not pay their debts and threatening them. Floyd was the emotional, active of the twins. He liked to play with things that caught his attention. His twin, Jade, was the same as his brother , both in appearance and character. The only difference was that unlike Floyd, Jade was calmer.

You opened the door and entered the stylish bar. Although it was noon, the bar, which was always crowded with customers, was empty.

“Oh the shrimpy has arrived~” Floyd jumped at you.

“Hello Y/n, how can we help you at the Mounstro Lounge?” Jade greeted.

“Hi Jade and Floyd. I came to see Azul-san. Are they here?"

“Ah Azul is currently meeting with an important client. Would you like something to drink while you wait?" Jade handed the menu.

"No thanks. If it's going to take a long time, I'll go. I was going to tell him to be in the main headquarters meeting room at 8 pm for the monthly meeting.”

“I thought you came because you needed money.” said a familiar voice.

“Azul-san,” you greeted Azul.

"You're done early," said Jade.

“Then, as I said, please come to the meeting tonight, Azul-san.” You got up.

“Eh~ shrimpy are you leaving already?” Floyd whined.

“I have a lot of work to do so I have to go.”

“See you then Y/n. Remember, whenever you need money, come.” said Azul.

“I don't think such a day will come. Even if I need money, Azul-san is the last person I would borrow money from.” You said and left.

Scarabia

The fourth division Scarabia was concerned with the external relations of the mafia with other organizations, high-ranking persons, etc. The head of this department was Kalim Al-Asim from the famous Al-Asim family.

Kalim Al-Asim, the cheerful head of the Scarabia department. Unlike other executives , Kalim was a kind, naive, sweet person. He treated his subordinates more like a friend than a manager. Sometimes you would forget that he was the executive of one of the most dangerous underground organizations. Apart from looking so naive, Kalim was pretty good at his job. His attitude towards people made many people like him, even though Jamil was the one who handling matters such as politics etc.

Jamil Viper is the director behind the shadows and Kalim's 'best friend'. He was the complete opposite of Kalim with his quiet, calm and cunning personality. Although Kalim got along well with people, Jamil usually made the deals. Jamil was the one mostly (almost entirely) take care of the department. Many people even call him the real director or the executive in the shadows for this reason.

“Some coffee?” You handed the man with his head buried in the documents a cup of coffee.

"It'll be fine," said the man with tired eyes.

“Looks like Kalim has left most of the work to you again, Jamil.”

"Why did you come ? Or is there another task or something? I swear, if the number of documents I have to deal with increases, I will throw myself from the highest floor of this building.”

You chuckled at his words.

“All executives should be in the main headquarters meeting room at 8 pm this evening for the monthly meeting.”

“Monthly meeting… Yes, I remember. Out of all the work, I forgot for a second. Okay, don't worry, I'll inform Kalim about the meeting."

"Okay then I'm leaving. Don’t work too much, it’s not good for your health ."

“If you don't want me to get too tired, you can do these things for me Y/n.”

“Sorry, next time, bye” you waved your hand from behind the door.

Pomefiore

Fifth division , the mafia’s assassin department Pomefiore. This department consisted of specially trained assassins who committed the perfect murder without leaving any evidence. At the head of the department was Vil Schoenheit ,one of the most famous assassins of the underworld and also one of the seven executives.

Vil Schoenheit , the best assassin of the underworld. Because he kills his targets with poison, he is nicknamed as the Poison Apple. He is known as a tough and strict person as a executive. He wants his subordinates to show their best. He dislikes being told about the Rival mafia’s assassin as well as his ex-partner Neige LeBlanche from whom he used to be trained by the same teacher.

Rook Hunt Vil's right-hand man, nicknamed Hunter. A lunatic who says death is when people are most beautiful. Unlike Vil, he likes to play with his prey. He talks endlessly about how sweet the way his prey escapes him seems to him.

Epel Felmier Pomifiore's rookie. The poor boy had only wanted to join Savanaclaw, but Vil had taken him in, claiming he saw potential. Unlike the other members of Pormifiore, Epel was a noisy, uncontrollable person. That's why you still didn't understand what kind of potential Vil saw in him.

“Oh Y/n welcome, I didn't expect to see you.” ' Rook called out. He and Epel were outside for target practice.

“Yes, I came to meet with Vil-san. Is he in his room?"

“Oh yes, he just got back from his Duty. Right now he’s probably busy with his skincare routine."

"I understand. What are you doing ?" you asked.

"Oh, I took little Epel with me on my last mission, but he's still not good at using weapons, so we were practicing target practice with him."

“How many times have I said I don't want to be a Pomefiore assassin. Let me go to Savanaclaw." whined Epel.

This rug of his made you laugh.

“If Vil-san sees potential in you, there must be something in you. I have to go now, I have to meet with Vil-san.”

You knocked on the door, when the answer came, you entered. Vil was lying on the bed with a clay mask on his face, filing his nails. When you entered, he stopped and looked at you.

"You look wonderful as always, sir." You greeted him.

“And You look awful as always, Potato. Why did you come ?"

You smiled.

“Please come to the main headquarters meeting room for the Monthly meeting tonight at 8 pm. The boss wants all executives to be there.”

“Agh! Was it today. OK, is there anything else I should know ?"

“No, sir. Then with your permission"

As you were about to leave, you stopped at Vil's call.

“Potato, I will be free this week. I need to take care of your situation. You really have to take care of yourself a little bit.”

“Thank you for your thoughtful consideration. I will contact you when I am free.”

Ignihyde

The sixth department was Ignihyde, this department was the source of information for the mafia as well as producing state-of-the-art weapons and vehicles with great engineers. At the head of the department was Idia Shroud, one of the seven executives.

Idia Shroud , the mysterious director of the Ignihyde department even his subordinates in his department almost never saw his face . Although he was known as a genius, the nerdy genius Idia would never leave his room (aside from the urging of his brother and you) and would work all day with new weapons or stuff . He would even forgot his daily basis so you had to call him every day to remind him.

You suddenly opened the door, only computer light illuminating the dark room. You entered the room, ignoring the owner.

“Ahh Y/n-shii stop!” ' the blue-haired man pleaded.

You opened the curtains.

“Agh sunshine!”

“You are overreacting , you played video games all night again. Your eyes are purple from lack of sleep. You haven't even eaten. What am I going to do with you, Idia-san.”

Idia averted his eyes like a child scolded by their mother.

“I made you dinner. Don't forget to eat it or I’ll be really pissed off . If I didn't had any work , I'd stay and feed you with my own hands, but - whatever. Come to the main headquarters meeting room at 8 pm this evening. For the monthly meeting, the boss wants all the executives.”

“Do I have to come? Can I talk through the tablet? I can right? “

You raised one of your eyebrows as meaning to say was it even a question . Upon your gaze, Idia clung to your leg and began to whine.

“Y/n-shii please I don’t want to come. You can't leave me alone in the same room with those horrible mens."

You ran your hands through your hair.

“Idia-san please let go of my leg. I still have a lot of work to get done. Have your dinner and come to the meeting tonight. Then with your permission-”

“I don't allow it!”

“I said it because of politeness.” You finally saved your leg and left.

Diasomnia

Finally, Diasomnia, even you didn't know what this department was in charge of. All you knew was that only the most talented, powerful people could get in. In other words, it could be called the special department of the mafia.

Malleus Draconia is the heir to the famous Draconia family and also the head of Diasomnia, one of the seven executives of the Night Raven mafia. Even though you were friends with him, you didn't know much about him. He was just a mysterious and kind man.

Lilia Vanrogue is a jovial, playful Diasomnia member. He may be the mafia member with the most gossip about him. According to some rumors, he was a former government agent, according to others he was a former mercenary who fought on the battlefields but who knows what was real ,only God knew.

Silver was a mysterious type like the other Diansomnia members, not much was known about him. He was a quiet man, spending most of his time sleeping. On rare occasions you've seen him train with Sebek or Lilia. He was a really great fighter.

Sebek Zigvolt a Diasomnia member who is the complete opposite of Silver. Although he was often with Silver, he was the complete opposite of him. Every time he saw him he was baffled by Silver that he should be a suitable subordinate to Malleus.

“Hello Y/n.” You reflexively drew your gun at the sudden sound you heard.

“Oh your reflexes are pretty good.” Seeing that the voice was owned by Lilia, a member of Diasomnia with short black-purple hair, you relaxed and put your gun down.

“Lilia-san you scared me.”

“Oh really ,” Lilia chuckled.

"If you're looking for Malleus, he's having tea in his study."

"Thank you sir."

Malleus told you to enter before you even knocked on the door. When you walked in, you saw Malleus drinking tea by the window. While drinking tea he was watching Sebek and Silver, who were training outside.

“Malleus-san , good day sir.” You greeted him.

“Good day to you too Y/n.” said Malleus gently.

“I'm disturbing you, but I came to inform you that the monthly meeting will be in the main headquarters meeting room at 8 pm this evening. The boss wants all seven executives to be there.”

“I know Y/n. Would you like to join me while drinking tea? There are also cookies you like.”

As expected of Malleus Draconia, he already knew everything.

“I am sorry sir but I must decline your invitation. But I'll be happy to have tea with you another time."

Malleus smiled. "I understand"

“Then with your permission, sir” and you left.

Everything was ok. The documents were lined up in order, the food and drinks that each executive liked were prepared. One hour left until the meeting. You took a deep breath as you got everything done on time.

“Good job again as always Y/n.”

“Crewel-sensei!”

Divus Crewel , a former mafia executive. He had quit running a long time ago, but was still training newcomers to the mafia. He used to be your teacher.

"I heard you're leaving the mafia."

Your eyes got huge with what he said.

"Sensei-"

“Don't worry no one knows but me, but I don't think it will take them long to find out huh. “

“You are right sir,” you said shamefaced.

“Before you came, these seven brats were always arguing. Not a single day in the mafia would go smoothly, but after you came, at least the departmental fights within the mafia were over. “

You were silent, not knowing what to say.

“Y/n you have to be very careful ,those seven are not the ones who will just accept the fact you’re leaving the mafia. The more you run, the more they will find you. You know right ? They're not the seven executives of Night Raven for nothing."

"Yes sir."

“Then there is nothing to do. I hope you live a peaceful life after the mafia.”

“Thanks sensei”

[enjomo-arch]

@taiixuan , emil ( masked deuce ) asked : " the trip's gone smoothly, that's what matters. " for by now he's so gotten used to firefist of the dawn to fall asleep and almost risk dragging himself off striker's lithe frame, often forcing writer's chagrin to push and halt and switch their places so that only seat of small little thing could take onto sleeping figure whilst charged dials would continue pushing and pushing further in their stead, a breather when coasts had been by now oh so close for a little more effort and a pat on other's face —gentle smile in palerose's hues onto deuce's lips, a chuckle following suit. " now how about you help me secure the striker to the shore so we can get to survey the place ? i saw a village not that far from here, so maybe we can get some food.

❝  geez  ,  can't  do  deuce.  you  remember  ?  sea  water  ,  devil  fruit.  'm  gonna  faint  if  i  gotta  push  it  to  the  shore.  ❞  a  vague  motions  of  hands  underlined  his  words  with  a  stupid  smirk  -  a  grin  that  deuce  had  seen  dozens  of  times  now  plastered  right  over  the  firefist's  freckled  features.  

his  naps  weren't  the  biggest  problem  ,  and  maybe  they  were  when  his  body  leaned  toward  the  sea  that  would  devour  him  for  such  a  piercing  sin  by  turning  away  from  him  to  let  the  powers  of  the  devil  sink  into  his  skin.  

true  enough  ,  they  arrived  at  their  destination.  and  the  striker  was  lightly  swayed  by  the  calm  waves  lapping  the  shore  of  the  carcass  at  their  fingertips.  ace  was  as  always  ,  slick  and  first  to  avoid  the  weakness  that  was  carried  by  the  sea. 

❝  i'm  so  damn  hungry  how  'bout  you  secure  the  striker  and  i  get  a  look  what  we  can  eat  on  our  way  ?  thanks  deuce  ,  you're  great  !  ❞  a  wide  grin  was  all  the  writer  could  notice  before  the  spade's  body  would  turn  into  hellfire  and  like  a  pillar  of  flames  jump  out  of  the  boat  ,  once  again  assembling  and  appearing  right  on  the  other  end  of  the  shore.

[azen13]

I'd love to inquire about the Starlight Pawnshop. While the chess piece intrigues me, can I have the double sided coin? (Hoping for Aventurine, you see!)

King of Hearts, Ace of Spades

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆

Double-Sided Coin: A coin where both sides show the same pattern, allowing its desperate holder to not need to rely on luck to win this bet and secure their prize.

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆

Description: You live on a dying planet, making just enough money playing poker to get by. One day, you meet a new player, Aventurine of the IPC, who has come to your world as a part of the IPC's plan to take your planet over. While he wasn't planning to make any big gambles himself, the thought of you being his might change his mind.

CW: Yandere Themes, Drinking, Mentions of Death, Non-Sexual Intimacy

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆

The scent of smoke and spirits is heavy and acrid, looming over your favorite poker table like a thunderstorm as the dealer shuffles a deck of cards. They’re red and black waterfalls in his weathered hands, rippling from left to right, right to left. Left to right, right to left, and again, and again. After you and the dealer, there are four empty wooden chairs, once occupied by players earlier in the night, now long gone after losing all their money. That left you and the strange man.

In your eyes, he looks rather gaudy in his well-pressed suit, practically shimmering from head-to-toe due to all the jewelry he wears. Unlike you and your rigid, controlled posture, he seems perfectly relaxed, draping himself over his chair, a king on his throne, overlooking his kingdom with a smile that seems to shine in his neon-colored eyes like diamonds. When the dealer passes out cards, dealing two to you and two to him, he glances at them without so much as a change in expression before he has settled back into his original position. His cards are so close to you that if you craned your neck just a little to the right, you might be able to know how to play this upcoming round. You know better, though. This is an impossibly important match, and if you lose it, you wouldn’t be able to pay your electric bill.

Still, the thought is tantalizing. Unlike the people you usually played against, who had easy tells and rarely won–unless you were having an off day–he was clearly well-versed in the game of poker, and had the luck to go with it: pocket aces, straights, a royal flush, even. You were certainly no novice either, but he had slowly been chipping away at you, taking high risk after high risk, to which you always folded, even when you had the cards to win.

Looking at your cards, you have to bite back a smile. In your hands lie the ace of diamonds and the ace of hearts: pocket aces. It was as though the stars–however invisible they were in the sky on your planet–had aligned in a serendipitous syzygy. This was the moment you needed. The moment your hard work would pay off. If all went well, you could pay your electric bill, as well as buy some bread. If you were really lucky, you could purchase a ticket off this planet, a world of decay and death, to go somewhere brighter and better, and start a new life.

Of course, that was all just wistful thinking, you remind yourself. Snapping yourself from your momentary reverie, you place your cards on the table, glancing over to the blonde stranger opposite to you. His eyes gaze at you with such unceasing focus, it almost feels like you’re being lasered straight through. You squirm in your seat a little, concentrating on the curve of his lip and the calm emanating from his posture, hoping to find some clues as to what your opponent might be thinking. Despite your best attempts, you come up with a blank.

“Why the long face, friend?” His voice snaps your attention like a toothpick, the words as thick and syrupy as honey as they pour over your ears. You do your best to force his voice out of your head, instead watching as the dealer lays out five cards in the center of the table and flips three over: king of hearts, jack of clubs, ten of diamonds. Just the sight of each card makes your heart thrum with excitement.

With shaky hands, you throw caution as far away as you can, and push your meager stack of chips into the pot. “All in,” you whisper. You have not prayed to the Aeons in many years, but in this moment, you send a silent prayer out to the cosmos, hoping for a response.

The stranger raises an eyebrow, clearly amused. Suddenly, you feel very small and insignificant, like an ant beneath a shoe. Perhaps this wasn’t a good decision, not when you’re on your last leg in this match, and you need this money. But playing it safe wasn’t working, and you’re almost out of money, so might as well go out with a bang, right? “All right,” he chuckles, leaning forward and using his free hand to push all his chips into the center of the table, “I suppose I’ll do the same.” 

After a moment, the dealer flips over the remaining two cards: a queen of clubs and a ten of clubs.

Shuddering, you lay down your cards.

Your heart shatters so violently and thoroughly, nothing remains but a pit in your stomach.

He has pocket aces too, but unlike you, he has the ace of clubs, giving him a straight flush.

For several minutes, you watch yourself sit listless, as the dealer gives your opponent the winnings and heads off for the night. Now, in this part of the gambling den, only you and the winner remain. The man picks up a red and white chip, running a gloved finger across its damaged edge. “A good game. Excellent, even,” he remarks, flipping the coin in the air and catching it in his palm. He looks at you again, his eyes flickering with something unreadable. “How about a drink? I’ll pay.” 

You want to say no. All you want to do is go home and cry and scream and figure out how you’re going to sustain yourself for the next week or so. You want to eviscerate this stranger for taking your money when he hardly needs it. He isn’t struggling to pay bills, or afford food and water. But you are. Even though you want to do these things, a free drink is a free drink, and with how tight money will be in the upcoming weeks, it’s not like you can decline the offer. “Sure.” You let him guide you away from the poker table, past strangers clad in shadows betting their miniscule fortunes and drunkards drowning in fleeting moments of hedonism to a small bar.

Lit by flickering neon lights and pungent with the smell of cheap liquor, it reminds you of everywhere on your home planet: trashy. There are no patrons by this time of night; all the reckless people have already spent their money, and those smart enough to not give into temptation know the price is far too much for just one pleasant night.

The man sits on a stool, lounging just as comfortably as he did at the poker table. “Well, what do you want?” He asks, propping up his chin with a hand. You search the bar, trying to find a menu, but come up with nothing. Not knowing what to do or say, you shift on your feet, chewing on your lip as your eyes flit over the room again.

Noticing your unease, your former opponent simply chuckles, sidestepping you to walk up to the counter. “Two glasses of sparkling water please,” he says, pulling out a black and gold credit card and sliding it over to the bartender. After a moment, he’s already handing you a fluted glass full of a pale, effervescent liquid. “By the way, I’m Aventurine,” the man says, offering his free hand to you. 

In return, you muster up a weak smile, though bitterness leaks through the cracks. “I’m Y/N,” you respond. You clasp his hand and shake it once or twice, before letting go. After a moment, you take a sip of your drink. “Thank you for buying me this,” you add.

Aventurine waves a hand dismissively. “Oh, it’s nothing,” he says, “it’s not every day I get to play against someone so talented.” Even with how horrible you feel, the compliment is enough to brighten your expression a little.

A momentary silence settles over the two of you, and you feel the urge to say something. To do something. But before you can ask a question, something stops you in your tracks.

Your stomach growls.

You feel your face warm a little, embarrassed at how loud the sound is in the quiet. Aventurine tilts his head a little, an eyebrow raised. “Hungry?” he asks.

You give a curt nod. “Food is hard to come by nowadays. I make it by with gambling, but…” your voice falters into a sigh. This man isn’t family, a lover, or even a friend. Just an acquaintance you met only hours ago. You shouldn’t be sharing your life problems with him. “With everything getting worse, it’s only getting harder and harder,” you explain. 

Aventurine’s eyes are intense. You never noticed how strikingly beautiful they are, as luminescent as the lights overhead. They gaze at you with a certain understanding, a solidarity even, as though he is silently saying ‘I have been hungry, too.’ Then you watch the light in them shifts, darkening like clouds covering the sun. “I could help you,” the blonde gambler offers, a smirk dancing on his lips, “for a price.”

At the sight of your confused expression, Aventurine continues. “I could give you anything you might want. Food. Water. Shelter. Luxury. I can show you the universe,” he says, gesturing to a cracked window showing the expansive, empty night sky. You have a distant memory of seeing the stars as a young child, but they are long gone, obscured by decades of pollution. 

“What’s the price?” You ask, immediately thinking of an old saying your parents used to tell you as a child: nothing in life comes for free. For such a bargain, surely there must be a price to pay?

With the flick of his wrist, Aventurine procures a poker chip in his hand, tossing it up and catching it; unlike the warped, dingy ones the gambling den owned, the one he held is in mint condition, colored green and gold. “Oh, nothing too costly,” he chuckles, leaning in. “Just you,” he murmurs. 

While the air feels electrified, you feel frozen in place. “I don’t understand,” you respond, the words moving past your lips like a drunk man hobbling home. Perhaps you are drunk with how your mind is spinning in every direction like a tornado. You check your glass. Still practically full.

Aventurine’s smile widens. “And you don’t have to.” His eyes bore into yours; for a moment, you feel like you’re being hypnotized by how the kaleidoscopic hues in them seem to swirl and shift. You want to move, but you’re still frozen where you stand. “To be honest, I myself hardly understand what I see in you,” he adds, “but I know I need it. I need you.” 

The declaration hangs over your head like a thunderstorm, ready to strike you down in all its passion. Before it can, though, you manage to stand up on shaky limbs. “I refuse,” you mutter, storming out of the gambling den, leaving Aventurine sitting alone.

An easy smile rests on his face, his mind assured that this won’t be the last time he sees you.

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆

You return to the gambling den the next evening, intent on one thing: winning. Your electric bill payment might be late, but if you manage to eke out a victory, you can pay for both that and your upcoming water bill. Your dreams are immediately halted by the sight of Aventurine, lounging at your table as though it’s his, eyes glittering with what you now recognize as greed. It only takes a moment for you to put the pieces together: how precarious your finances are; how you make most of your money through gambling; how much he needs you.

He’s trying to crush any chance you might have at earning money, so that you willingly walk into his arms.

His expression is unceasing. He knows you’ll give in eventually, you have to. But you aren’t going to give him the satisfaction of winning. Not yet. So, with fire in your heart and daggers in your eyes, you stalk over to your table, and sit yourself down.

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆

It’s only a matter of days before you lose everything. Electricity. Water. Heat. Sewage. Waste. You don’t try to scrounge around for food or water, and don’t even bother looking for a job. You haven’t heard of an open one for weeks, especially with unemployment rising steadily. Most of all, you don’t bother going to the gambling den. You don’t want to see Aventurine’s smug expression.. Your home, a small, drab concrete box, will be your tomb. You’re sure of it. 

That is, until you see those neon eyes glowing in the darkness of your room. 

Immediately, you attempt to stand up, but your body protests, your vision growing blurry from vertigo. “What are you doing here?” You mumble. You try to channel fury in your voice, but you can’t find any fire in yourself, only weak, meaningless sparks.

Aventurine only laughs. “I’m here to offer you another deal.” With the flourish of a hand, he pulls out a small poker chip, the same one he held that fateful night you first met him. “If you accept, I’ll uphold my end of the bargain, and give you anything you want. But if you win a coin flip, then you don’t have to uphold your end,” he explains. “And let’s be honest: you don’t exactly have any more options, do you?” he asks, that smug smirk easily settling on his face. You scowl at him, but say nothing.

Finally, after a few seconds, you mutter a half-hearted ‘fine’. With the way Aventurine’s eyes light up, it’s like he’s already won. You suppose he has. After all, he has an extraordinary ability to get lucky when necessary.

“Hearts or spades?” he asks, though you hardly pay attention. You grunt out the former, watching as the coin flies high into the air, a blur of motion, before settling back down into Aventurine’s palm. 

You see the symbol of a spade, but instead of fear, you feel relieved, oddly so. You slump into yourself a little more, sinking back down to the floor. After a moment, you feel Aventurine’s presence by your side. “Hey, love, it’s okay,” he murmurs, tenderly brushing some of your messy hair out of your face. Then he starts working his hands against your scalp, gently attempting to detangle the knots in your matted hair. “I know how hard this must be, but it’s going to be alright,” he whispers. “I’m going to take good care of you, I promise.”

To your worn-down mind, that sounds divine.

[sapphiel]

Introducing The Menavlions, a band of rebels who spearheaded a rebellion against the Kingdom of Spades.

All are survivors of raids by the Spades Army and their Ace, and are taking care of refugees they have saved or escaped to them. They answer to no government and do not accept aid from the other Kingdoms, for they have a disdain for any form of royalty or authority due to their former experiences. They also have all donned new names, based on types of polearms.

(Detailed character explanations below the cut:)

Pike is the head the Menavlions, the one who started it all and considers themselves responsible for everyone else. Constantly angry, aggressive, and vengeful, but does show a soft side to his friends and the refugees. Having lost most of his family, he has become incredibly protective the Menavlion crew, people they now consider to be their new family, and he is more than willing to die for them. Trans male, he/him.

Fauchard, Pike's biological younger sibling, a youngin who's had aspirations to be a performer for the King and Queen, but ever since the latter's sudden reign of tyranny, and having one foot injured and ultimately amputated during their attempts of fleeing, those dreams were dashed and broken. But despite that, she is surprisingly optimistic and cheerful, serving as the light of inspiration and motivation for everyone else. But, she's no idiot. She simply believes that complaining about everything is not the way to go. Trans female, she/her.

Voulge, the self-titled rogue, has always excelled in sneaking about and knowing all the secret routes and hiding spots all over the kingdom, be they natural or self-made. Surprisingly (and disturbingly), they are very well-versed on human anatomy, especially weak points. They always act a bit devious and secretive, as if knowing more than they are letting on. Non-binary, they/them.

Sovnya, the tall towering wall of muscle, was a former soldier who joined because of a last minute change of heart. She actually had captured Pike, and was on the verge of killing him then and there, but after seeing his kept refugees, seeing starving children and elders, she felt a sudden flow of remorse, something she thought she had lost long ago. She's very quiet, almost mute, speaking only in short brief sentences. However, they almost always mean well, they just happen to be in a constant MASSIVE self conflict and doubt. She's also missing one arm after helping Pike and the others escape from Atrocitus. Has a Russian accent. She/her.

Corseque, a nervous wreck of a nurse who joined the cause after seeing too much pain and death, and thinking enough is enough. However, despite her medical expertise and knowledge, she is actually extremely squeamish to blood and gore, but what she couldn't stomach even less so was the suffering that happens around her. She has a fighting spirit, and is in a constant battle between her cowardice and her willpower. …sometimes though, you might find her having a breakdown… and even emptying the contents of her stomach from time to time in an unwilling vomit session. She/her.

Roncone, the Menavlion's spy, was, or is, a priest that tried to work for the King and Queen, but he seems to know something that the others don't, claiming it to be the reason behind his defiance to the monarchy. Powerless to do anything directly, he instead feeds crucial information to the Menavlions, be it plans for raids and attacks, the Ace of Spades' activity, or any civilians whose lives will be endangered and need saving. He/him.

Guisarme, an elderly man who's a skilled armorer, and once thought he was going to die then and there, but after being rescued by the Menavlions, he's since dedicated his life to their cause, and being a former blacksmith, he supplies them with much needed tools, weapons, and armor for any type of problem. He's a bit rustled at times, and may be hard to get the attention of due to his focus at work, sometimes resulting in a very startled response if pushed. He/him.

Trident, a fisherman who lost all of his beloved family, is the de facto chef for the rest of the group. Being rather jaded and traumatized from that whole ordeal, the food he makes tends to be bland and unenthusiastic, but no one can really complain as it's better than eating literally nothing but dirt and gravel. He sometimes apologizes for what he's made, but assures everyone that it's going to keep them going for a bit longer if need be. He/him.