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sunnysidesevenup · 1 month ago

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AKHSYPSIGSIGKWGKTTAFAJFUAUFA HLEP I LITERALLY HAD TO KEEP PAUSING READING THIS TO HAPPY STIM LMAOOOOO AKJSHSHSH

Okay okay I hope you don’t mind me rambling because I LOVE THIS SO MUCH MAHSHGSGAG THAT CLIFFHANGER KILLED ME ACTUALLY I WAS LIKE “NOOOOOOO I NEED MORE”

First off, I know you were nervous about Arlo not being in character so: YOU WROTE HIM SO WELL. He’s the perfect blend of being slightly subdued in this because of circumstances but still bitchy enough to be accurate. I love it. You’re doing a great job.

My personal favorite scenes in this: Vil and Mouse’s interaction at the start when talking about the competition. It was SO sweet and carried a lot of weight, and I’m very happy you touched on Vil’s thoughts about coaching for another competition!!! Also his description of Arlo,,,,, “he keeps to himself,” yeah, lmao.

Alise and Arlo getting along. These two,,,, I NEED more of these two. Her looking at jewelry and holding it up to him and him lowkey letting her do it akhshshsggs yeah. They are clicking. This will be a friendship I’m sure of it.

THE WORLDBUILDING YOUVE DONE. I loved LOVED reading about your interpretation of Everend’s Cove. Absolutely obsessed with the little tourist trap seaside town. And the Inn hostess’ reaction to Arlo’s name? Nervous but not wanting to make a fuss about it? The little “Arlo’s… singing?” PERFECT. AMAZING

I’m so excited for the Floyd interaction with his siblings. Genuinely.

IM SO IMPRESSED BY THIS WHOLE THING. IM SO IN LOVE WITH IT AKSHSHGSG I’m sure I’ll reread it many more times and might notice more things when I’m not literally shaking from excitement haha, but SERIOUSLY TYSM

Moonlight Song: Part 1

This, uh, got a little away from me. "Aw, this'll be fun! A cute little fic for @sunnysidesevenup 's Moonlight Song event!" 8,000 words later, and I'm not half done with everything I want to cram in here. So, I broke it up, and here's Part 1. It's long. Not 8,000 words long, but long.

"Shrimpy," Floyd drawled, settling on the bench next to Alise. "What're you up to this weekend?"

"Same as ever," she shrugged.

"No you're not," he told her. She was pretty sure he hadn't even heard what she'd said, and had the answer pre-loaded no matter what her plans were. "You're coming with Jade and me."

"Am I?"

"Mmhmm. We're gonna go help a friend out."

"Where do I figure in to this?" she asked suspiciously.

Floyd grinned at her, all sharpness and menace, eyes glinting mischievously. "You'll see. Friday after classes. Meet us in the Mirror Chamber." He stood up then, and wandered away, leaving no more room for argument.

"Mouse," Vil called, stopping the Ramshackle prefect in the hall between classes. "Mouse, I have a favor to ask you."

Mouse turned to look up at Vil, Jade and Riddle flanking each side before they moved to face the Pomefiore housewarden fully.

"Sure, what do you need?" Mouse asked, motioning for the other two classmates to continue on without them.

"Are you busy this weekend?" Vil asked. "We can walk to your class while we talk. One of the boys in Pomefiore is competing in a singing competition this weekend, and has asked for my help."

"As busy as I'll ever be," they responded, offering Vil a smile. "Which boy are we talking about though? Have I officially met him yet?"

"Hmm, I doubt it," Vil answered. "His name's Arlo. He's a sophomore, so I don't think you have any classes together. He's …" Vil paused, considering his words carefully. "He keeps to himself," he decided on.

"And he's in Pomefiore?" Mouse joked.

"He is," Vil chuckled. "We're not all social butterflies, you know. Just most of us. He's very good at some of the other, uh, defining characteristics." He flashed Mouse a villainous smile.

"The term 'social butterfly' is the last thing I'd use to describe Epel," Mouse hummed, glancing up at him before looking away and continuing on. "Tell Arlo that I wish him good luck on his competition though."

"Ah, that brings us neatly back around to the point of this conversation. I was hoping, if you're not doing anything else, that you would come with me." He glanced at Mouse out of the corner of his eye, watching for their reaction. "The last time I was in charge of coaching for a competition, I went a little, um, overboard."

"Oh, Vil…" they cooed, turning to face him with a frown. "I'll… I'll talk to Azul and get my schedule cleared for this weekend, but I'm sure you don't need me there. You're doing so much better now…"

It took Mouse a moment of silence before they reached out. They grabbed onto Vil's sleeve like a scared child, their expression matching as they whispered, "You are doing better now, right?"

Vil looked down at Mouse, his smile full of relief. He found Mouse's hand on his sleeve and squeezed it gently. "I am. I am doing much better." He gave their hand another little squeeze, and they could see the worry hiding in his eyes. "But you're very good at keeping me in line, and I would appreciate having that safety net this weekend."

"If you need help convincing Azul, let me know," he offered. "We're meeting in the Mirror Chamber after classes on Friday. And don't worry about anything this weekend, it's all my treat."

—-

Mouse scanned the cupboards, trying to come up with meals that they could leave Grim and Alise with for the weekend that neither of them could screw up. Maybe they could ask one of the other dorms to take them in in the meantime?

A huff left them as they closed the cupboards and crossed their arms. The front door opened at the same time, and they heard Alise and Grim in the hallway, arguing about something.

"What's for dinner?" Grim demanded as soon as they entered the kitchen, sniffing the air hopefully.

Mouse turned to face the two new arrivals. "Hm? Oh! Uhm… Not sure yet, I'll figure something out in a minute."

"What were you going through the cupboards for if you're not making dinner?" Grim demanded, crossing his little arms over his chest.

"Trying to figure out meals that you and Alise can have while I'm gone this weekend," they responded, looking back at the cupboards. "Vil invited me out this weekend for some kind of competition."

"Just Grim," Alise said, leaning against the doorframe. "Floyd's got me for the weekend."

"I can't come, too?" Grim asked, looking at Mouse with big, wet eyes.

Mouse knelt down to talk to Grim, their heart hurting at the sight. "I'm sorry Grim, but I think it might be best if you didn't come with me this time. I'm going someplace completely new that no one we know has been to. But what if I talked to Rook and asked him to bring you on your own adventure? And then when I come back you can tell me ALL about your travels with Rook."

Grim made a little grumbly noise. "He's weird, but I guess that would be okay. He does have pretty interesting ideas for adventures." He thought about it a little more, and a grin started across his face. "We're gonna have the best adventure. I gotta go pack!"

Grim turned around and ran out of the kitchen, his feet pattering up the stairs.

Mouse smiled to themself, watching Grim run off before standing up to look at Alise.

"Floyd's taking you somewhere this weekend?"

She shrugged. "Apparently. Starting Friday after class, he's got plans for the weekend that I am a part of, I guess. Man, the house'll be empty, huh? It's a good thing there are multiple ghosts so they don't get lonely."

"Huh…" Honestly shocking, but seeing as it was Floyd… Well. "Well, it's not the least expected thing for him to do I suppose. Just make sure you pack for everything and anything?" They looked around the kitchen, messing with their sleeve nervously. "The house will be pretty empty though… It's…"

Mouse didn't finish the thought.

—-

"Alright, I'm here," Alise announced. "Where are we going?"

There was a small collection of students in the Mirror Chamber. Floyd and Jade were there, with Vil, Cater, and Lilia. Mouse stood between Vil and Cater. The short, dark-haired Pomefiore boy that Epel was sometimes with was there, too. Short, but still almost half a foot taller than Alise. Arlo, maybe? Epel had introduced them once.

"You're bringing her?" The tone of Arlo's voice was withering, and the look he favored Floyd with matched. Alise bit back a smile, she wasn't sure if he genuinely hated her or not, but she found his general distaste for people delightful.

"Yeah," Floyd grinned. "Shrimpy's got a voice that's perfect for luring sailors overboard."

"I - what?" Alise stared at him.

"My understanding of this festival is that it's about exactly the opposite of that," Vil said coolly.

"Yeah, I thought the sirens saved the girl," Cater added.

"Sure they did," Floyd's grin grew sharper. Jade chuckled, darkly polite. Arlo's face remained carefully blank.

"Oh, how interesting!" Lilia giggled.

"I didn't know you two knew each other," Alise said, gesturing between Arlo and Floyd.

"Sure," Floyd nodded, pulling her toward the mirror. "We go way back."

"I wasn't aware you two knew each other," Jade commented.

"We don't," Arlo answered dryly.

"We've been introduced," Alise chuckled. "But I wouldn't call us friends."

"Good. Can we go now?" He gestured impatiently at the mirror.

"Wait, all of us?" Alise looked up at Floyd as he dragged her through the mirror. His grin offered no explanation.

"All of us?" Mouse echoed, looking up at Vil. Vil shrugged, the development just as much a surprise to him.

The mirror turned them out at the top of a low hill. The road in front of them ran down the hill in both directions, leading to a town that meandered across the island. Turning right would take them toward the ocean, white washed buildings clustered along the road, and spreading out along a boardwalk. It was sweet and quaint, and also screamed "tourist trap". The left led inland, were hotels and cozy bed & breakfasts could be found, fading into the homes and everyday lives of the local population.

"We'll go check into the hotel, you stick with lil' Piranha, he'll show you around." Floyd held out his hand for Alise's bag, and she surrendered it. "We'll catch up." He jerked his head for Jade to accompany him, and set off toward the hotel.

"That's a good idea," Vil conceded. "I don't want to be carrying my luggage everywhere."

"Do you need help with your bags, Mouse?" Jade asked politely, stepping a little closer to them.

"M- Wha- Huh?" Mouse looked up at Jade, clearly a bit dazed from going through the mirror as they leaned against their suitcase for much-needed support. "Oh. Oh! Uhm. S-sure?"

Jade kept his smile, eyes searching over Mouse, concern sunk in their depths. He was no stranger to the unique effect mirror travel seemed to have on Mouse, and it worried him every time. Jade offered his arm for support, expertly managing both Mouse's suitcase and his own with his other hand. Mouse flashed a small, grateful smile as they took his arm.

"We'll stay on Main Street," Arlo sighed. "We'll be easy to find that way."

"Wait for me to start the mischief," Lilia whispered to Alise before following Vil and Cater.

"Come on, then," Arlo said grudgingly. "I guess I'm playing tour guide."

"You don't have to," Alise told him.

"No, it's fine." He started walking down the hill toward the the town. "Just don't expect pages of exposition about every little thing."

"That's fine. But … I would like to know the name of the town at least?"

Arlo stopped walking and looked back at her in surprise. "You … don't know where we are?"

She shook her head.

"Or why we're here?"

"Floyd just told me to show up."

"And you did?"

She shrugged.

He stared at her for a long minute. "This is Everend's Cove," he said finally, starting to walk again. "It's my hometown. Well, sort of. This is the land half of it. More properly, my home's the ocean half."

"Oh!" Alise said, sounding genuinely surprised. "I didn't realize."

"Yeah," he answered simply.

"Floyd said he was helping a friend with something, but that's all he'd say."

"Sounds right. This weekend is the Moonlight Festival here, and Everend's Cove holds a song competition as part of it. My siblings decided to sign me up for it," Arlo explained. "Vil, Cater, and Lilia are here to help. Vil brought Mouse to help them, I guess they were a huge help during the VDC. I don't know what Floyd and Jade's plans are, honestly."

"I really wish I had some insight into that, too," Alise sighed. "And where I fit into it."

—-

"Here we are," Vil said, stopping outside a sprawling blue house. A wide porch wrapped around it, sparkling garlands of pearls and crystals hung between white pillars. Three chimneys rose from the maze of slate-shingled gables. The white sign planted in the garden, pale purple clematis reaching up the posts, read "Sailor's Rest Bed & Breakfast."

The entry hall was paneled in polished cherrywood, stairs led upstairs behind a wooden check-in desk. A cozy parlor could be seen through a wide doorway to the left, and a dining room on the right.

The woman behind the desk looked up from her novel and smiled as the small group entered. Her white hair was pinned back with pearls and amethyst combs, and she wore a flowing tunic in a rich purple ombre.

"Checking in," Cater approached the desk with a warm smile. "It should be four rooms, under Diamond?"

"Of course," she smiled, pulling up the reservation. She scanned the group, her eyes lingering on Vil. "Are you all here for the festival?"

"We are," Cater nodded. "A classmate of ours is participating in the song competition."

"Really? How exciting! Now, I do need a credit card for incidentals. Should I use the one the rooms were reserved with?"

"Please do," Vil answered.

The woman smiled at him, a little brighter than necessary. "What's your friend's name? So I know who to cheer for tomorrow night."

"Arlo Wake," Cater said, signing the room agreement.

"Arlo's … singing?" The woman looked sharply at Cater, smile frozen on her face.

"Oh, do you know Arlo?" Vil smiled smoothly at her.

"Oh. Yes," she answered uncomfortably. "He, well, he grew up here. Well!" She flashed a smile that wasn't quite as bright as it had been a moment ago and collected the paperwork from Cater. "Let me show you your rooms." She collected four keys from the hooks behind the desk and motioned for the group to head up the stairs.

"We start serving breakfast at six, and usually end around ten. But don't worry about it if you sleep late, we can always scare something up for you," she told them as she followed them to the second floor.

"On the listing, it said you have a music room with a piano?" Vil asked.

"Oh, yes we do!" The woman exclaimed. "It doesn't get much use, but it is in tune, if you'd like to play it."

"Do you think we could use it to practice in?" Vil awarded her sweet smile.

"Oh, for the competion?" Her voice faltered, but then she gave a little sigh and smiled back at Vil. "Yes, that would be fine."

"That's so kind of you."

"Of course," she waved him off, opening a door at the top of the stairs. "This is the Coral Room."

Pale pink curtains fluttered in the breeze from the open window. A vase of peonies and baby's breath sat on the white marble topped dresser, and a pink Dresden plate quilt lay on the white four-poster bed.

"Mouse?" Vil suggested, looking at the prefect with their pink-tipped hair.

"Mouse," Cater agreed, snapping a picture of the room for stepping aside to let them through.

"Just cause it's pink doesn't mean I'll immediately love the room, you guys…" Mouse commented, pouting at the two but moving into the room regardless. They did, in fact, immediately love the room.

"Yes it does," Lilia said, grinning at Mouse.

The proprietor handed the room key to Mouse with a smile. "The bathroom is through there. Let me know if you need anything."

Mouse nodded along, taking the key from the proprietor and returning the smile. "Thank you."

"Of course!" She turned back to the boys. "Now, the next room is our Sea Foam Room - " she started, leading them away and leaving Mouse to settle in. Cater offered Mouse a little wave before following the group.

Mouse pulled their suitcase into the room, setting it on the suitcase stand in the corner. They ran their hand over the cool marble of the dressed, breathing in the fragrance of the flowers.

There was a knock on the doorframe. Mouse looked up to find Vil standing there, Cater and Lilia heading down the stairs behind him.

"Are you ready?" Vil asked. "We should meet the twins and find Alise before she burns the town down."

"Yep!" Mouse smiled up at him, quickly stepping out of the room and locking their door. "And I'm sure Jade has Alise under control, it'll be fine!"

"Are you?" Vil chuckled. "I'm not sure that girl is controllable."

"Well yeah, he usually does," Mouse responded, before sighing. "He's honestly the only person who can control her… Must be all that practice with Floyd."

Vil blinked at Mouse in surprise. "I'm impressed."

They gently pressed their side into Vil's, smiling up at him with faux innocence. "He's as sweet as honeydew once you get to know him, trust me!" They chuckled before heading towards the stairs, not bothering to wait for his response.

"I'm not convinced," Vil laughed, following behind them.

Jade and Floyd were waiting for them outside the Sailor's Rest, flanking the stairs down from the porch. They had changed out of their school uniforms, and into outfits more appropriate for the festival.

Jade stood patiently at the bottom of the stairs. His hair was carefully pinned back, decorated with pearls and pale shells, and stones sparkling in dark blues and purples. His top was dark blue, almost black, tight to his chest. Short strands of amethysts anchored points in the center of his chest and sides, leaving his stomach and back bare. Several arm bands, gold and elaborately decorated with stones and shells, wound their way around his biceps and peeked through sheer, open sleeves in the same pale purple. He wore a set of false claws on his right hand, fine gold chains stretching from his fingertips and meeting at an elaborate filigreed rosette on the back of hand, and spreading out again to get lost in the shimmering collection of bracelets he wore.

Floyd leaned lazily against the pillar at the top of the stairs, arms crossed over his bare chest. He had forgone a top entirely, in favor of layering long strands of pearls and shells and gems. A collar of black pearls and shells fastened to a delicate harness made of fine silver chains and strings of black pearls. Gauzy, pale blue sleeves, mimicking Jade's sleeves, attached to the collar with drapes of black pearls. Silver cuffs circled Floyd's upper arms, and a set of silver claws to match Jade's gold ones spread from the bracelets on his left wrist.

Both twins wore wide sashes, tied at opposite hips, over loose pants, Floyd's in deep blue and Jade's in deep purple. More strands of pearls and crystal decorated the sashes.

"'Bout time," Floyd grumbled, pushing himself upright and bounding down the stairs.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," Lilia laughed, taking the steps in one leap.

"Well, aren't you two pretty," Mouse complimented, looking over both the tweels with stars in their eyes.

Floyd preened, posing for Mouse to admire, and Jade's smile was sharply pleased.

"It's traditional, you know, to wear outfits reminiscent of the water in the moonlight," Jade said, falling into step beside Mouse as the group walked downtown. "We'll be able to get you something from the shops in town, I'm sure."

"Then you'll be just as pretty as we are," Floyd teased.

"Oh! Uh-" Mouse raised their hands in protest, lightly shaking their head. "Th-thank you both, for the offer. But I don't think anything would really, um … suit me, the same way it suits you guys! You know? Clothes are very picky about who wears it or whatever-"

"There's certain to be things that will look lovely on you," Jade assured them, his smiling softening. "Ours are what they are so we can wear them on land or in the water."

"And because shirts are stupid," Floyd put in.

"But that's not something you need to consider," Jade continued smoothly, ignoring the interruption. "There will be something you'll be comfortable in."

"You don't have to dress up if you don't want to," Vil assured Mouse, and Jade nodded his agreement.

"Of course," Jade agreed. "On the very slight chance you don't find anything you love, you don't need to get anything. You are lovely just as you are."

"You'd be very 'cammable in one of these outfits, though," Cater said with a little smile.

"R-right… Of course." Mouse just smiled, nodding along to everything said.

The closer they got to the boardwalk, and the beach beyond it, the more people there were. There were some people dressed in every day clothes, but it seemed like most of them had opted to embrace the spirit of the festival and were clad in flowing silks in soft colors and decorated with sparkling jewelry.

"So how do we find them?" Cater asked, scanning the crowded street.

"Listen for the screaming?" Vil joked dryly. "Look for people fleeing the area in tears?"

Jade chuckled. "I hope they could both behave themselves for the short time we've been apart."

"Why are we assuming Arlo is included in this?" Mouse asked, turning to Vil. "I thought you said he keeps to himself? And he seemed so… Not confrontational at the mirror?"

Floyd just laughed.

"He does prefer not to be bothered," Vil agreed, scanning faces. "And he has a talent for ensuring no one bothers him a second time."

"Oh." Mouse looked away, a tad concerned.

"Oh, there they are!" Lilia pointed through the crowd to Alise and Arlo, talking to an unfamiliar pair of people.

"Shit," Floyd said, cutting through the crowd.

—-

"I feel under dressed," Alise commented.

"You are," Arlo answered. "It's kind of tradition. Everyone dresses up. Tourists usually don't already have clothes, so they buy them when they get here. Most places will do alterations for you when you buy from them, too."

"You have something pretty," she said, running her hand through a rack of skirts on display on the street, letting the soft fabric flow over her fingers.

"Yes," he confirmed.

"I wish I'd known." She wandered into a store, looking over a display of necklaces. "I'd have … still been under dressed," she laughed. Alise draped a string of pale purple and pink stones over her hand and then held it up next to Arlo. He looked at her with equal parts curiosity and irritation.

She shook her head and put it back, pawing through the display again. "Still, it would have been nice to have a heads-up," she commented, pulling another necklace out. This one had a deeper purple, and chips of jade.

"This one would look pretty on you," she told him, holding the string of beads up to him. "It brings out the green in your eyes."

He frowned, taking the necklace from her and putting it back on the stand, then shooing her out of the store.

"Maybe we should stay on the street so Vil and everyone can find us," he said when they were outside.

"That makes sense," Alise nodded, ducking into another store and zeroing in on a rack of sparkling hair accessories. It was like babysitting a particularly small magpie.

He rolled his eyes and followed her into the store, herding her out before she could pick out some other piece of jewelry for him.

"I'm sorry," she said, dragging her eyes away from the elaborate display in the front window of another shop to look at him. "This must all be so boring to you. It's just so pretty, and I've never seen anything like that jewelry before."

He glanced at the window display. The sun sparkled off crystals and pearls, delicately woven with tiny chains of silver and gold, displayed flat and draped around jewelry busts and stands. A faint smile ghosted across his face.

"It is pretty," he conceded.

"I just really like shiny things," she grinned sheepishly.

"I've noticed," he chuckled.

"Aw, look, Arlo brought a little friend with him," someone cooed, sliding up next to Alise. Arlo stiffened, his expression suddenly guarded again. "Aren't you going to introduce us?"

There was no mistaking the resemblance. She was taller than Arlo, but had the same delicate features and dark, softly waving hair. Instead of the shock of honey-colored hair, though, her bangs were a deep red. The smile beaming down at Alise was made of teeth and plastered-on pleasantry, and wasn't reflected in her calculating green eyes.

"I wasn't," Arlo answered flatly.

"Don't be like that, baby brother," the man that appeared on Arlo's other side, hair like spun gold, wore a smile to match the woman's. "We've been waiting all day to meet your friends."

Arlo crossed his arms defensively across his chest, glowering at the ground. Alise took a sideways step closer to him, away from his sister, her eyes sharp and her smile far too calm.

"Have you? I doubt it," Arlo growled. "You could just leave me alone."

"Since my brother's being rude," the woman said, grabbing Alise's hand and pulling the girl toward her. "I'm Darla. I'm his big sister."

"I gathered," Alise said.

"And you are?" Darla prompted, irritation dancing around the edges of her question.

"I see you met my Shrimpy," Floyd melted out of the crowd, draping an arm over Alise, with just the slightest emphasis on the possessive.

"Oh. You're here," Darla said, distaste dripping from her voice like honey. She dropped Alise's hand like it had burned her. "Is your brother here, too?"

"Course he is," Floyd answered in a tone that made clear the feeling was mutual.

#moonlight song competition #twisted wonderland #disney twst #EVERYONE READ THIS RIGHT NOW #arlo wake oc #cherished gifts <3 #beloved moots <3

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