#I wanted it to be obvious that Epel and Ortho had known each other for a long time and have been close friends

[nami-moittli]

I was gonna wait till I finished the chapter to post it on ao3 (if I posted it at all lol), but I want attention and feedback and stuff, so I’m gonna post the introduction scene for my (idek what to call it lmao) shoujo romcom AU-type thing 👍

“Ughhh…” A boy with light purple hair groaned, his back sliding down the barrier around the edge of the school’s rooftop. “This sucks. I hate my life.”

“C’mon now Epel,” Started a girl with blue hair tied up into high pigtails. “You’ve been saying that for years, and guess what? It’s been a lie every time!”

Epel looked up at her with a glare from where she was sitting at the top of the barrier.

He huffed and curled more into himself with a pout, crossing his arms. “You’re gonna fall and die up there, I swear.” He said, which got a laugh out of her. “Besides! This isn’t like before! It’s worse!”

“Oh really?” She said, turning to face him from where she was looking at the city before. “Do tell, I’d love to hear this!”

“Ugh. I hate you.” Epel said. “But, y’know how I like Jack?”

“You have since we were approximately ten years old! Most likely longer.” She helpfully chirped. “Why? Something happen?”

“You could say that. Well anyways, y’know Sebek?” Epel asked next.

“Ehe, silly Epel!” She laughed once more. “I know all of the freshman at this academy!”

“Ortho.” Epel deadpanned. Ortho just responded by lightly hitting her head and giving out another fake laugh.

“This is why people think you’re some kinda robot y’know? Why are you like this.” Epel told her.

Ortho fake laughed again. “Wrong again, Epel! People call me a ‘robot’ due to my prosthetics! It’s only once they get to know me that they call me an A.I. for my memory.”

“Hah! Still half right.” Epel called out.

Ortho let out a small sigh and giggled a bit, before jumping down to the roof.

“Y’re gonna hurt yourself if ya do that, ya dumbass.” Epel chided.

Ortho giggled good-naturedly. “Just a little. Anyway, what about Sebek Zigvolt?”

“Ah, well…” Epel’s cheeks turned red, and he quickly turned his face away from her. “A-actually, it’s nuthin. Don’t worry bout it, ya’hear?”

Ortho hummed, shifting her weight and leaning her torso to the side to see her friends face. To which Epel turned his head farther, to look out through the holes in the barrier.

“Oh really?” She drew her words out long and accusatory. “Nothing to worry about at all? Hm. How curious.” She stood herself upright and gave her best innocent smile, not like anyone could see it though, from behind her mask. “Well in that case, I should go ask Sebek Zigvolt himself!”

“Huh?!” Epel yelped, his face whipping around, red.

“Well, you’re obviously worried about something, but you wont tell me.” Ortho said, carrying on with her innocent act. “So since you mentioned Sebek Zigvolt, I figured it would make the most sense that he knows something you won’t tell me. And because of that, it’d make the most logical sense to ask him about it!”

“HAAHH??!!” Epel remarked, and it was almost as if Ortho could see the smoke coming from his head. She could almost laugh.

“No!” Epel said. “No, no no no no no no, no, you are not going to talk to him!”

“Aw, why?” Ortho asked, letting her arms slack.

“Ughh…” Epel whined. “You’re the absolute worst, Orth, ya know that?”

“Ehe, whatever do you mean, dear friend of mine?” Ortho lied.

“You know exactly what I mean, you little bitch.” Epel let out an exasperated sigh. “Well, you were gonna find out sooner or later.”

Ortho gave a smug grin, which she was sure helped him get out with it. Though, of course Epel could only see her eyes close slightly, but Ortho knew that the feeling got through. It was fairly obvious what Epel was going to admit, especially since Ortho was most definitely going to find out sometime, like he had said, but it was still funny to watch her best friend try and get his words out. How she wished she could record this right now. Good black mail material!

“I, uh, ugh, you already know it…” Epel glared.

Ortho put on a shocked face. “What? I really don’t, Epel! If you can’t get it out, then I’ll go ask Sebek Zigvolt!” She chirped as she turned to walk away.

“Wait!” Epel yelped, grabbing her wrist. “I hate you so, so much.”

“Ehe, love you too, Ep!” Ortho laughed, now once again facing him.

Epel sighed, and his sharp gaze softened into a look of exasperated defeat. Ortho was so proud of herself.

“Alright fine. Ah’ve got uh crush ahn Sebek, how’zat for ya?” Epel said.

“Wow! Really? I couldn’t tell at all! You’re really good at hiding it, y’know?” Ortho said helpfully, which made Epel groan with his face buried into his hands. “If we we’ren’t so close, I never would’ve known!”

“Don’t patronize me, you witch.” He said, as if he were mad at her. Who could’ve guessed why?

Ortho laughed, genuinely this time, while putting her made-of-flesh right hand on Epel’s head, ruffling his hair a small amount.

“Sorry, sorry.” Ortho said. “It was just too good of an opportunity.”

“Wow, that makes it so much better, Orth.” Ortho could feel him roll his eyes at her while saying that.

Ortho took her hand off of his head and let out a small giggle. “Sorry.”

Epel sighed as he stood up straight and checked his phone.

“Well, it’s about time for class to start back up now.” Epel said, pocketing his phone again. Though Ortho could hear him mutter, “Vil’s gonna kill me, ain’t he?”

“Nah, don’t worry.” Ortho said as she opened the door to the roof. “I didn’t mess up your hair too badly, so you’ll be fine.” She told him as he caught up to her. She let Epel through the door as she said, “Besides, your hair is already fairly messy. In a styled way, of course!” She said the last sentence as she too, went through the door.

“Good.” Epel said, his hands in his pockets waiting for her. “I really don’t feel like getting chewed out this early into freshman year.”

“True.” Ortho smiled as she finished locking up the door to the roof. Students aren’t usually allowed up there, and honestly, considering how easy it was for her to climb the barrier around the edge of the roof, that may be a good idea.

“Sooo,” Ortho started as the two made their ways down the stairs. “You like Sebek Zigvolt,”

Epel got a look on his face that said he did not want to have this conversation right now, his cheeks gaining a hint of red. “Yes…?”

“But you still like Jack Howl, correct?” Ortho asked.

The red of Epel’s cheeks grew as he groaned and said, “Ah jus’ knew you w’re gonna ask that…”

Ortho laughed before she realized something, stopping in her tracks. “Wait!” She said, as if it was a life-changing revelation.

“Huh?” Epel said, also stopping and looking up at her now. “What’s it now?”

“If you like both Jack Howl and Sebek Zigvolt,” Ortho said.

“Uh-huh…?” Epel confirmed, obviously tense due to not liking where this was going.

“And this is our freshman year of high school,” Ortho continued.

“Yes…?” Epel once again confirmed.

“Do you know what that makes you?” Ortho probed.

“A… gay disaster?” Epel guessed.

“No.” Ortho told him, before re-evaluating and correcting herself to, “Well, yes, you most definitely are, but another thing!”

Epel sighed and just asked, “What am I than, if not that?”

“It makes you,” Ortho paused for dramatic effect. “The protag for a romcom!” She announced with utter seriousness, pointing at him.

The words hanged in the air for a few moments. And then,

“Uuuughhhhhnnnnooooo…” Epel groaned into his hands as Ortho burst out laughing, resuming her walk down the stairs.

“I hate you.” Epel muttered as he also continued to his way to class. “I hate you, I hate you so, so, so much.”

“What? Am I wrong?” Ortho asked. “You’ve got the childhood best friend type and the, well, admittedly I don’t know what type Sebek Zigvolt is, but I’m sure you could spin it the right way!”

“The thing about that is,” Epel said with a dejected face and the weight of disappointment in himself in his voice. “They’re both super tall and buff, so I can’t even tell if I have a type, or if it’s gender envy.”

Ortho burst out laughing again but quickly corrected herself to patting Epel’s back. “That must suck, I get gender envy from Hatsune Miku, so I’m pretty good on that front.”

Epel muttered another, “I fucking hate you.” Before straightening himself. “What’s that goddess of love again? The one that loves drama? Aphrodite? Yeah, that’s it. If I pray or something to her, than will you have a terrible love life too? Please?”

“Please don’t do that Epel.” Ortho said, taking her hand off his back as they stopped at their floor to head to class. “I don’t feel like dying this year. Or at all, honestly.”

“Oh fine.” Epel sighed. Ortho knew that he was joking when he suggested that, but it was kinda funny to take it seriously. “Well we’re almost at my class so, I’ll see ya after school?”

“Mhm!” Ortho nodded. “See ya then, and we’re still seeing that new movie?”

“It’s one of Vil’s, so of course!” Epel confirmed. “Bye!” He said as he gave a small wave.

“Bye!” Ortho returned as she turned to walk to her own class. They might not be in the same class, but their classes were right next to each other.

She pulled out her phone, not really checking anything in particular as she mentally noticed that the constant stream of music that always was in her ears changed from one song to the next, going from a VOCALOID song to one from a musical.

“STOP RUNNING IN THE HALLS!” Came a voice that snapped her to attention just in time to see someone bump into her.

“WOAH!” Both Ortho and the person that had bumped into her yelled out, as Ortho just managed to stop herself from falling.

“Oh crap!” The red headed boy, Ace Trappola, Ortho gathered from her memory, spoke as he quickly glanced behind him and hurriedly said, “Sorry!” as he continued running.

Ortho stood there in shock for a few moments before another person, another red head at that, came running by her too.

Riddle Rosehearts, Ortho knew. She had heard about her from her older brother before. That Riddle was the strictest person on campus - and probably ever - she remembered her older brother had told her. Break even the tiniest rule and Riddle would start screaming her head off about it.

Ortho sighed and shook her head. Poor guy. Epel had apparently met Ace before during the school’s orientation day. Seemed like a troublemaker. No doubt that he and Riddle will butt heads a lot. Unless Riddle managed to straighten him out.

Ortho started to make her way back to her classroom when Cady’s “Shit.” from her headphones matched up with Ortho’s noticing of the two kids in the hallway talking about her.

She gave a small glance to them from the corner of her eye before returning to her phone. Seriously, just because she wears headphones all the time doesn’t mean she’s deaf.

Though, of course, it’s nothing new to her.

She was born this way.

Like a “robot.”

[thesunshinebunny]

May I be the first to ask for a reaction of the dorm leaders to a fem!reader dancing erotically/sexy?

OF COURSEEE U CAN SWEETY!!!!!

I am very excited to start having the first orders for TW. This is the one that caught my attention the most and  wanted to write ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Off with the spiciness!!

Vice Dorm Leaders reaction

Cater/Jack/Floyd/Epel/Sebek/silver reaction

Riddle

King’s and Queen’s - Ava Max (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rj--hAP_Zo0&list=RDRj--hAP_Zo0&start_radio=1)

The tea party was being a total disaster. Dorm members breaking the rules left to right, incompletely painted white roses, lack of control at the tables, a total madness.

Riddle was getting redder and redder, until he reached the same shade as his hair color.

Time to intervene.

“Cater go get your speakers and connect them to your phone with the music I am going to tell you, on my sign you press play. Trey distracts Riddle for a few minutes, lead him to the loung room if necessary. Ace, Deuce, Grimm, get away everything on the main table. NOW NOW NOW”

“YES MA’AM”

You ran into the bushes behind the main table and started to peel off your top, leaving you in a red lingerie bra. You ripped the bottom to fit some modern shorts and waited for everyone to be in position.

Show time, press play

With the beginning of the music, everyone fell silent, looking for the origin of it, but only finding you positioning yourself on the table.

Riddle shot out into the gardens, about to go "OF WITH YOUR HEAD" who deigned to put that kind of music. But ... like everyone else, he only found you....starting to dance.

People were crazy to see you dance with fluidity and speed ... a good crazyness. They were deconcentrated.

Ace and Deuce cheering as gay friends

Riddle was bewildered, he wanted to speak but the words didn’t come out of his mouth.

ASS TIME!

You broke this boy right then. His eyes followed the movement of your hips and hands, unable to avoid thinking of...

Cheers were raised when you stopped at "of with your head" Your eyes locked at Riddle’s and you gave him a...lewd smile.

Ace and Deuce came up to the table to dance with you and all the members of Heartslabyul began to dance in their places.

Cater had filmed everything and had a mischievous smile drawn on his face, just like Trey. May or may not will send it to Riddle late at night

One thing for sure. That day, you broke Riddle in the most erotic way there is.

Leona

Theeth - Lady Gaga (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnwLh6CWdUY)

That fucking bet. That damn Ruggie.

He convince you that if you managed to do the challenge without Leona being intimidated, he would do your homework for a whole month.

You accepted without measuring the consequences and without even thinking clearly about the challenge.

Leona, Ruggie and Jack were going to be training magift after class with their teams in their arena. Time to attack.

The game was about to start, each player in his position, when suddenly ... a few blows began to sound.

Music came from the speakers. Everyone was baffled, including Leona, he was going to teach the herbivore who dared to interrupt his training a good lesson.

Before he even raised his voice angrily, he caught sight of Ruggie who was pointing him, with a wicked smile, toward the stands.

You were standing there, slowly going down and positioning yourself on your stomach. It’s when you started moving your hips that Leona clicked.

You’re dancing, erotically.

No dorm member could swear to have seen Leona so expressive before. His eyes wide open, his mouth almost reaching the floor, and ... if they dared to go lower, they could sight a tent in his pants.

In the middle of the choreography, you turned around, and Leona was nope and went to you, grabbed your hips and placed you on his shoulders.

“the show is over, go back to training”

From your escort, you could see Ruggie laughing and waving at you with an evil grin. You lost the bet.

“You want to move your hips? I'll give you a reason to move them”

He spanked you and took you to his room.

Moans and grolws could be heard at the arena.

Azul

Dangerous Woman - Ariana Grande (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tkfX2phlfE)

It was a disaster.

The person hired to give an entertainment canceled at the last minute. Azul’s throat vein was about to explode.

Customers in Mostro Lounge were getting hysterical, demanding music, dancing, singing, whatever, something.

In desperation he turned to you.

"You need someone for a show, I can help with pleasure"

"Do you know someone who dances, sings, plays an instrument, or tells jokes?"

you gave him a look. Is he serious? You asked him to give you about ten minutes to get ready.

When the lights went down, leaving a dim light directed at you, Azul immediately regretted his choice.

positioned in the middle of the stage, wearing a black top, leaving little to the imagination and tights squeezing your butt, you began to dance a song that he did not know.

“Oh Carp”

The clients, now hypnotized by your dance, began to scream with happiness. Finally the show they were promised.

"The little shrimp sure know how to move" Damn Floyd, don’t make it worse than already is.

Azul felt very uncomfortable from the waist down and felt that at any moment he was going to get ink wink wonk

He asked you to go to the vip room when you’re done to ... discuss your little show in private.

He’ll have to get a few customers to sign a contract to avoid putting their dirty hands on you.

But for now, he's pleased to put his own hands all over your body, and inside you.

Kalim

O Saki Saki - Nora Fatehi (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohRFMg9OxfU)

I know, I know, it is too cliché to put a hindu song for Kalim, but this choreo was around all over tiktok and I couldn't get it out of my head.

Kalim was fascinated when you told him about your old hobby back at your world. Belly dance

He organized a party at his dorm only and exclusively for you and that you could teach not only him but also everyone your fantastic steps.

He even left you a change of clothes in his room and asked you to tell him when you were ready.

Show time, press play

At first he was delighted, you had directed him to cloud nine and had no intention of going down. But...when your movements started to go down, his happy gaze started to fade away.

He settled into his seat and put his hand on his mouth, trying to hide his obvious redness. Jamil realized don't worry. It was hard not to realize that Kalim’s mood had changed and that he needed to solve a...thing.

When you got to the famous part of the dance, he was controlling himself not to go up to you and take you to his room in front of everyone.

Whe you were done, he excused himself from his dorm members and Jamil, grabbed your hand, and the two of you didn't leave his room until the next morning.

Let's say that Jamil didn’t sleep well that night ... or nothing at all.

Vil

Earned It - The Weeknd (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji-l0n6GcnA)

You went to his dorm asking if you could use his ballroom. You've been wanting to dance again for a long time and your own dorm wasn't going to give you the space you needed.

He said yes without problem and left you alone while you practiced.

After a while and intrigued to see your practice, Vil returned to the ballroom hoping to surprise you, but it was he who was surprised.

"Oh ... my, what a view"

His gaze was on your butt, for it round and apple-shaped.

He was intrigued by your dance, impressed by your flexibility and how in those lewd movements, he could find pure beauty.

You were completely immersed in your choreography that you didn't notice Vil standing at the door.

Reaching the end of the dance, you noticed Vil smiling from ear to ear. "Oh no potato, don't stop for me"

You smiled at him and positioned yourself in the middle of the room, turning your back on Vil and looking at him through the huge mirror.

He stood behind you, his hands on your hips. You both waited for the start of a new song.

The two danced together an erotic moves with it’s ending was between the bars and the mirror.

Idia

God is a Woman - Ariana Grande (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evlwPF6g-c8)

Idia was playing on his computer when a movement on his camera caught his attention.

You two used to make video calls constantly because of his fear of interact to other people.

When he opened his app, he noticed that you had left the camera and the computer audio on. He was to say something when music started playing.

You appeared in his field of vision wearing only shorts and a transparent black shirt, which left your nipples visible.

“Oh my Aphrodite. What is this? An unlocked Ero scene?”

Seeing you move so smoothly, he couldn't help but imagine his blue lips on your nipples, watch them harden and turn violet when sucked by him.

Ortho had to enter his room with a fire extinguisher when he started to see smoke coming out of his door.

Idia was completely red, from feet to hair and with a serious problem in his pants.

You may or may not have known he was watching from the beginning.

You will have to pay a visit to Ignihyde dorm leader that night.

Malleus

Buttons - The Pussycat Dolls (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7E3CgGyPSr4)

Malleus was taking his night walk when he heard music come out of your dorm. Interested on that unrecognizable music, he went to your door.

He was about to knock when it slammed wide, apparently you had forgotten to close it. It wasn't in his plans to interrupt you, but he was completely curious about what was happening here.

His gaze met with your body dancing something he deciphered as erotic.

"my, my"

He was delighted with your movements to the point of bringing out a genuine smile, which disappeared when your top disappeared, leaving you alone in black and green lingerie.

His eyes widened. His hands began to sweat and he had a strange need to get close to you.

At the end of your dance, you had the scare of your life when you saw the tall and horned figure of Malleus on the doorway of the lounge room.

"Sorry if I scared you, it was not my intention to interrupt you while you’re enjoying yourself"

"How long have you been standing there?" "Since the beginning"

He approched you. He put his thumb on your lips and his piercing gaze met yours. You weren't sure if your legs were shaking from the exercise or how hot and wet Malleus could make you with just his gaze.

"Could you dance for me again?"

You nodded, unable to speak.

He kissed you, lifting you up from your hips and heading to your room.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

If you like what you read, I would appreciate if you could support me on: https://ko-fi.com/abrightsunshine

[sassaetcie]

Secret Santa: Ari’s Present

Ortho, Kalim and Jamil meeting each other and having fun even if it not especially located during Christmas fdsklklgkl! I hope it will warm your heart, it’s my first time writing Ortho and Kalim especially :D

Merry Christmas @skyflicker @shiningskiies !!!

I – DEN – T – TY

I. Remember.

My memories. These may be filtered, I reckon. These numbers allow me to be sure, and unsure. Or unsure in the end. Are they filtered? Are they authentic? If there are filtered, I knew it. If there are not, then I may have another filter in the end. Can I be sure that they are not? I should trust Big Brother for sure... I shouldn't worry that much! I can shoot laser beam if something bad were to happen. He made me powerful! He gave me so much power! He even calculated how much I can bear, how many limits I have before breaking down, how much energy I can accumulate and release, how I can fly on a regular basis, gave me legs when I asked him to... Maybe that was selfish to ask him this but... Am I a replacement? Who is Ortho Shroud?

No.

Who is Ortho?

What is Ortho?

I know who are the Shrouds. But Ortho? Is it I? I am Ortho? Ortho is I? Big Brother seems to think I am. Therefore I shouldn't think too much of it... I cannot say that I think, therefore I am... Ortho. Or at least, not for now? Yes! I shouldn't be down for that much. No need to make such a fuss about it!

I shouldn't have written this anyway. This is not the aim of my writing. Why am I writing, anyway? I sure could have recorded. Whatever! I just want to! Probably? So I write! So I am writing! So is this [x] version of "Ortho" writing. Am I the system?

Or is the system... I?

I guess this the "Ghost in the Shell" syndrome? Or something a poet said... "I is another"?

But if humans experience this, I cannot possibly... be that different, can... I? Or perhaps this is a bias of interpretation. I... can make mistakes too.

I shouldn't make a fuss about it! It will make Big Brother unhappy... He doesn't need this! So I went out. I could make a lot of things, after all! Helping people, for example! Going out was done, then. The blue corridor, blue is the corridor. Walking through it, flying through it, is possible. Running is another obvious possibility, of course. It is only an outcome of another. The corridor, the corridor, the corridor. It was the end of it. Jumping, gliding, sliding, coming through the mirror was as easy. Although it may be dangerous if the mirror's magic were to fluctuate, according to Big Brother... I agree, though. It would definitely be dangerous. And if magic were to fluctuate, something even more ominous would be bound to exist, and happen. Therefore, it was a good thing to watch over this place. But the whole school could destroy itself with unstable students... I have to await orders, anyway. Although I'm sure my laser beam could definitely help... The mirror wasn't broken as for now. So our focus should remain the same until something get closer with bad intentions. Where should the destination be, today? People would certainly need help. And if Ignihyde could have a good name without forcing Big Brother to overwork himself... He's doing his best in his way, after all, doesn't he? He definitely does. It must be hard to understand that people can be intelligent in different ways, probably. Humans can forget, humans can learn and make mistakes. But I... haven't become arrogant nor begun to look down on them for their errors... mistakes. Mistakes. Or is it... because... I... cannot? Is it impossible for me to be a bad person? Did Big Brother remade this body? Am I someone? Am I something? Am I someone else? Let us stop there. I... cannot allow any error system to happen. I cannot. I. Yes, I just need to find some people to help, hehe! (Is it truly useful to write "hehe"...?)

A black, white and golden corridor. Black, white and golden are the corridor. Black and white are the stones, the stones are black and white. Surely, this building does not need any renovation. This one. I guess I could help pressuring the headmaster into restoring the Ramshackle dorm... but first I should do easier things. It could be troublesome if I spend my days helping and taking care of great matters... People could think Big Brother really doesn't do anything of his days. But that's not how things are... Will they listen to me, anyway? They could tell me I'm just... programmed to praise him...

Well, if that were to happen, I can threaten to shoot a laser beam to them? For sure! It should work!!! Probably? Anyway. It was time to get back to work! I had reached the end of the first corridor... Well, "first" didn't make any sense. Not that it was meant to be in the first place? How should we understand first, here? The first corridor I walked through? No, that was objectively wrong, even today. So, why first? In this situation, in this separated space? That was a possibility. Actually, very likely to be this one. Since knowing if this was the first corridor built... Oh, it would make sense if it were, though. If the mirrors of the school are the most important thing, either the mirror chamber or this one could have been built first... I should scan this place someday, perhaps. I had walked through another corridor. Yes. I could go backward as well... Even crossing my legs, probably. For they were mine. Mine... My... feet were making some noise. Although. They weren't feet. What were they? Mechanical limbs? Prothesis? How was I supposed to define something like this if the word wasn't known, either by me or the whole world? Picturing it would be so much easier. Language was still useless... telepathy sure was needed in order to reach something else! Were these creepy thoughts? I don't know... I should ask Big Brother when I go back to the dorm! But no matter in what order I use words... Nevermind! I shouldn't think about all these things. I should focus on finding someone to help! Or something to do! The garden was there. And of course, everything minus one thing probably, was there. Or perhaps a half of this one? Then it would still be one... The green was the grass, grass the was green. Green grass was the. "Colorless green ideas sleep furiously", probably... Apples, apples, apples x [x]. All around. No, I should try to enjoy this place, after all! What's the use of asking such questions? Everyone already has! Certainly! Maybe I should ask Big Brother so that I can eat one of these apples... The others look so happy when they take a bite... Sure, I should definitely ask him! He will probably be happy if I start behaving on my own! On... On my own. But I am just... reaching the same aim like this.

If I make him happy by becoming more independent... in the end, it's all and the same.

And if I behave like the simple doll I may be, then I am just a program...

Why? Why? Why? Why?

Even this number was probably programed by some external terror. If I behave like a robot, I will execute Big Brother's orders, and make his life simpler, ultimately resulting in happiness.

If I try to be more independent, and perhaps... recover potential memories? Let's be positive, yes, yes! I must have forgotten! ... This will probably make him happy too.

This is a problem.

Both of them. Lead to the same end.

Ah, why am I even thinking about this! This is far too serious, hihi! The apples look... good, though... I should definitely ask him! Big Brother is so nice and great and amazing and talented and hardworking! He will definitely pout a bit and then allow me to eat! This will be great!!! This? Yes, yes, this. That. would have another meaning. I know a lot of things, hihi! I can help so many people!  And I walked again. I could fly above the grass but walking on a soft ground was something else... It was definitely a cool new thing! I have so much to learn, like everyone! Sure, some blade of grass may end up between my feet... But I doubt it will damage or hurt myself! I meddled the green billion of individuals. They were moving next to me, because of me... or was it thanks to me? Would they be angry if I were to pass them by? Flyind didn't allow me to fiddle with them like this! Weren't we playing through reality? Some daisies were among blades of grass. Some Bellis perennis... But I may end up stomping on them, even if I'm careful? No, probably not! I could meddle too, hihi! And if I walk on these flowers, then I'll just need to be more careful next time, like everyone! And the wind was semi-cold, and enough to make my hair move. (Though this is not an important detail, I can allow myself some useless things hihi!) I remember I took a look at the surroundings. Of course the classes were over, so some students and pupils should definitely come by!

-Oh, y... h-hi, Ortho Shroud...

-Howdy, Epel!

-I h-have to go, sorry...

-Awww Ortho!! You're hereee~! You're always so cuteee, lemme take a piccc~!

-Hello, Cater, but why not!

They stopped. He stopped. The uniform looked loose on the pale, smooth, clean, made-up skin. He quickly pulled up his jacket again. Grabbed his orange hair amidst the wind.

-Aww, nevermind... You'd always be okay no matter what I ask, heeeh~?

-That's not true.

-Eeeh, really? Weren't you programmed for some specific reason, like, to make everyone happy?

-No!

-Awww, only Idia?

-Don't insult my Big Brother!!!!! He's not that selfish!!!!!! I know what I can and cannot do, what I want and don't want to do!!!!

-Aww, sorry! I didn't want to upset you, eheh... I apologize, I took the joke too far, didn't I~.

-Oh that was a joke! I'm sorry if I've had an extreme reaction... I'm just tired of hearing everyone say bad thing on Big Bro...

-Well, I'll be leavin' you, see ya~!

Perhaps I should have answered? It was probably impolite not to... But I didn't feel like to? He was right... and he hurt me!!! It wasn't nice at all!!! So I walked away again. Better help nice people, better help people who wouldn't bite the hand feeding them... Although this expression is not that nice either. Should be erased... Will ask Big Brother about it later. I... I will do this! I got this, yes! I can go to Scarabia, Kalim is... nice! So it will be alright and I will stop thinking about all these bad things! I just want to be... frolicsome! I guess!

The first corridor was definitely no more first in most of it meanings, now. Well, maybe not now but... well. And the mirror was still working properly. No shards escaping, no breaking embodying it. No spells invading it. Kalim and Jamil would surely get by soon enough. Flying sure had its advantages... Especially since Kalim could be all over the place or wandering or lolling around or... there are so many options about him! And if I don't spend my time walking nor flying absolutely I would be... If I'm not all in one or the other... No, nevermind! I might miss them if I cloud my head with useless thoughts, hihi! I had crossed my arms. The right beneath the left, the left above the right. Perhaps the left above the right and the right beneath later, if no one had appeared. Maybe I would have done so for my whole life. Neither the right arm nor the left arm could answer me, after all. No matter the order, none was probably favored by any human. Yes, useless thoughts, useless thoughts, shoo! I patted and tapped, tapped, patted, barely rattling. My fingers. On my arms. So did I to my feet. Almost toddling, not toddling anymore yet trudging somehow, pulling some tibia on the silent floor. I thought of jumping too but I wasn't sure if that was allowed or not and I didn't feel like checking since it could take some time if the school rules had been updated... and I could have missed them. Or miss them at all? I clapped my robotic squares of artificial skin. This noise wasn't especially regular. That wasn't a perfect repetition of the same instrument made for someone who was fond of that instrument. So... It was deeply useless. But... If I were to upset Big Bro... Wouldn't that mean I would... have succeeded in being independent? Since all of my acts might lead to his happiness equally... But not all humans act in order to make everyone happy so I would end up being more human? However... However...! To be more human, wouldn't that also bring me closer to Big Brother's lifegoal? That's... that is... those...

-Hey, hi, Orthooo!

-Uuuuh! Kalim! Sorry, I was... thinking about some things! But I'm definitely here to talk with you!

-Oh, is that so? Talking with Kalim, hm? What business might you have with him, though? Especially coming from the Ignihyde Dorm, and perhaps on his command... How strange, mh.

Of course, Jamil Viper would have to be there. It was, after all, the most obvious and potential situation. Some iterations might have had another Scarabia student next to Kalim. Some others might have had 0 student next to Kalim. Some might have had another [dark-skinned] + [Scarabia] student. Or even another [dark-skinned] + [Scarabia] + [long-haired] + [black-haired] student. Nevermind. Jamil was there. From the beginning... Since he could have [appe... Yes, he could have appeared later, and it would have made the whole conversation harder, I think. For Jamil could have barged in full of worries and anxiety and stress and...

-Oh, hihi, I just want to know if I could help you? I feel like helping people today, and Scarabia seems like a very nice place to help people!

-...That was definitely not expected from Ignihyde. Whatever. As long as it's not about food...

-Eeeeh, Ortho? You want to help us?! That's so, so nice!!!

-Kalim, please stop screaming here... Let us go back in Scarabia Dorm already...

-Let's go then, follow us, Ortho!

Well, that was exactly what I had expected. Kalim sure is great to cheer up others. When it comes to Jamil... Well, I expected him in most iterations. He was not a bother... As long as people didn't try to mess up with my system or insult Big Bro, it was okay, really. And Jamil didn't really fit into either of these categories... Probably because he'd rather have us as allies since... I've caused a ruckus during some past events and he seems to... think a lot? For sure he cannot be stupid... Kalim has done a lot of stupid, or at least reckless, things but these things kind of meddle for me, things by the past... and Jamil always has been able to save him somehow. I'm pretty sure he must be good when it comes to observing people and predicting their behaviors... althought it musn't be perfect since he's... no, no, no, I shouldn't be thinking like that! I shouldn't think like that at all! It's useless spiraling down again!

-Hm? I thought you had business with Kalim... yet you glance quite a lot at me, or even watch, if I may say so?

-O-oh, yes, sorry! I was thinking about lowering my body temperature since I don't want to short-circuit because of the temperature in here... I'm not really used to such high temperatures!

-Eeeh, so you can short-circuit? If you really are about to, tell me and I'll make the weather rain!

-...Kalim, you better not... You know what happens when electricity and water mix up, right?

-Oh yeah! Sorry, I wasn't sure if Ortho was made up of electricity or not!

Either way, I would better not experiment this rain he was talking about, so Jamil definitely made a good assumption, even if it were to be a wrong one, or at least untrue one. I didn't need that much to check out for the heat around even though if I were to "overblot" it would certainly worsen the whole thing. And there... Scarabia.

Golden was Scarabia, Scarabia was golden. The sky was blue, blue was the sky. And so, red were some of the cloths, some of the cloths were red, sometimes curtains hanging from some heights. Some heights, some length, some heat, some gold. Golden plates. Silver plates. Ceramic plates. Plates. Golden. Silver. Ceramic, Ceramics. Just materials and fabrics. Expected.

-K-Kalim, please don't already bring the students in your already-pending party?!

Jamil's scream was to be expected in most of the iterations. However, the exact following would have been trickier... Yes, it was great, hihi! Some sounds were already vibing and playing out of nowhere. This "nowhere" I had underestimated, after all. Because it should have been a "nowhere" for me, and not "Scarabia" immediatly. Darbuka... started playing. Along ones I mostly knew of course. But the mixing-up was just... not expected at all. Because it was not stereotyped nor perfectly known. Violin, darbuka. Drum, nays. Kalim dancing was obvious. But all around...

-Hey, Ortho, do you wanna dance before helping? I'll think about how you can help during dancing!

-Oh huh... Sure! Sure, sure! It has been a while since we've last danced, hasn't it?

It probably had been... roughly 44 days and 4 weeks. This number certainly meant something awful and yet... nothing was happening as for now. No omen was loitering around. To be fair... I semi-expected Kalim's question. He was known for his... partying side, after all. If that could be considered a "side" at all... Was that more of a core? A gem? A twig? A branch? Sure it wasn't his "whole". Perhaps a percent? Who knows. Not I by then. Dancing, waltzing, breakdancing, leaping... had been a high possibility since the very moment I had chosen to come and seek help, for them. So, I had to be prepared to dance. I probably didn't since, after all, I... probably saw it as useless, somehow. Which was in itself, useless. Since, what was to be useful, would in the end, be useful in order to bring happiness to someone. Not I. Kalim jumped. Perhaps toward the center of the room. Maybe nowhere. His arms moved to the left. To the right. To the left. To the left. Upward. Upward. To the right. To the right...

-Come on Ortho, let's have fun!!!

-H-how should I move? Like last time? I'm not sure I remember since it was not an automatical process...

My memory might have tossed this aside for data room...

-That's not a problem! Just move the way you want!

-Moving the way I want...? But I'm not a Labovian Celeste like you, Kalim...

-A Labo... I don't know what is that but you'll tell me later, I'm curious! For now, just hmmm... you know... you can dance without a programm nor downloading! So you should be able to do what you want!

-W-what kind of logic is that...!

Jamil's voice and body had become to join the dance, or rather counter-danced on his whole. If Kalim moved to the right, the left belonged to Jamil. The upward belonged to Jamil. Slowness could be Kalim's gift from the world, now.

-Ortho, you can follow one of us, then switch to the other! You will not have to follow either of us this way!

-That's... pretty much true?!

I lifted my arm in order to follow Jamil. Following Kalim would have been the most obvious way to lose any kind of independence, after all. Jamil, Ortho, Kalim. Suddenly, Kalim, Ortho, Jamil. And then... Ortho, Jamil, Kalim. Probably. Predicting their moves in order to cancel them in myself could fail. So... I had to go the other way around. I just had to avoid identical series of number next to each other. Moving twice the right arm, punching once the air, sliding with the left leg once, sliding with the right twice... It didn't have to make sense. Because this party wasn't about all performances nor feigned perfection, which I would not have been able to reach anyway.

Perfection was my domain.

Feigned perfection was that of the humans.

But entertainment could be reached by both of us.

No... I... I leaped through the airs. I spinned round and round. I danced. Probably something was feeling off but. The series of numbers was disappearing. It was, useless, data. This limb could go to the right, this one to the left. Upward, downward. I was going to all of them. The red curtains were flying to the right, to the left, upward, downward. The curtains of purple were of one wing, but of no bird belonging. Dozens of lone, free one wings waltzed along Scarabia, along Kalim, Jamil, I. Golden may have been the things, but the things may have been golden as well. Gold did not imitate the sun. Everything... Each thing. Each...

-Fewww... I'm tired, sorry Ortho, Jamil. I'm hungry and thirsty, now!

-Well, you better be since I had to cook for you once again. But I think I'm going to stop too. Not because I follow you, of course. I do not need you to know when I have to stop for my own health.

-Hey, Ortho, you want to keep on dancing? That's so cool!

I spinned round and round, again. Whether it was again or not? Whatever. It was I. I was I. Probably...

-I'm going to stop now! Can I sit with you all and... serve tea, for example?

-Sure, sure!!! You were here to help, right?! It's so cool that you can keep thinking about this, you're so nice and cool, Ortho!

-Please do serve tea before Kalim wants to. I do not want to see the dorm spending hours trying to erase the stains.

-Jamil, twas years agoooo!!! I know how to do it no~ooow, I even know how to be... aesthetic? When I do it!

-Aesthetic pouring? Oh, I think my Big Bro has shown some of these videos to me! He always thought it was interesting to add little details to characters and thought to make one of his characters do this if he were to create a big game...

-Woaaa... Is that why Idia never go outside?! Because he's busy working on so many little details?!

-Kalim, for fu... oh, fuck. For fuck's sake, be tactful...

-My brother is only living the type of life he wants to live, although I have troubles understanding in what it is a life, exactly...

-Ohhh, I see! Can you pour me some jasmine tea?

Quickly exchanged from the teapot toward the contenant.

-Ouu, that was fast! And not a single drop on the cushions...

-You really are efficient, Ortho. I didn't see you do anything weird while pouring.

-Uuh, thanks Jamil...

-Well, now give me some chamomile tea, if you will.

I poured some tea.

-Hm, hey, O-o...rtho? Can you pour me some tea, too? I'm sorry to ask, you probably don't know me at all...

-No, that's alright, I wanted to help Scarabia's students in the first place, not only the ones with the... highest places!

I held the teapot as high as I could, and poured down. It was perfectly useless. But it was fun.

No...

It was useless... therefore it was fun!

-C—c-c-can I have... tea... too... whatever the tea, the one that is easier to get!

My body, my arms, my hands, poured this liquid as closed to the cup as needed. It wasn't needed anymore, after all. I was the one choosing to make everything now! Hihi!

Jamil gulped down his drink before standing up again, towering over Kalim no matter where his casted shadow could have been.

-Well then, Kalim, I will check the kitchen. Just... in case.

-Oh yeah, yeah! I know, don't worry, you got this Jamil! You're the best!!!

I sat down next to Kalim. I didn't expect that many people to ask me for tea... But I experimented thanks to them.

-So, you have fun so far, Ortho???

-Y-yes, I think so!

Kalim shook his legs while taking a sip of his tea.

-It really looks so, but I wanted to make sure you have! Like, I don't remember seeing you looking so much around... Usually you just stare or whatever, but now! It was so, so cool! And the way you danced, I had never seen it!

-R-really?!

-Yes! It really looked like something invented on the spot! It was so genuine and cute!

I shook one of my leg too.

-It was genuine...? Do you really think so?

-Yes, yes!

My leg stopped shaking. This limb stopped moving like that.

-How can I be genuine when I'm like that... I don't even know if I'm Ortho or... something else, someone else?

-Ohhhh! Don't say that! Of course you're yourself! We're all ourselves!

-Huhhh... This is a bit hard to get, Kalim...

-Well huhhh... I think Jamil would explain better than I but gotta try to help!!! So, you think you're not "yourself"... or that you're not even human... but then, what huuuh... makes us humans, I guess?

-I'm not sure, to be fair... I feel like it's linked to feelings and unpredictability but...

-Well, then... I remember Jamil told me that humans were never entirely focused on others because it was too harsh to entirely return someone's kindness according to the person... or something like that. He scolded me and huuhhh, I don't really recall what he told but... I think it had to do with being selfish and all? He wanted to go on a trip and I told him it was okay but he started talking to me about this?

-About selfishness?! He did? He really did?!

-Y-yeah! He told me that what makes everyone into someone was probably the balance between selfishness and helping... Something like that. I probably forgot most of what he told me, nyehehe!

-Selfishness and helping... Balance... I see... Oh huh, thanks for telling me, Kalim, hihi!

-Nyehehe, you're welcome if it makes sense!

-It does, it does!

Kalim stood again. So did I. Whatever the one who did it first, as for now.

-So it's getting a bit late, shouldn't ya get back to your big bro?

-Weeeell... I think he should do fine... And if he really needs me, he can just call me for once...

-Oh!!! Alright then, come outside, who knows what the sky will look like!!!

Sure this was another instance of the blue sky. If sky could be called sky. All these things... I should leave them aside at least for now. A circle of one usual, basic color closed my world so far.

If the end of the world is but a circle to me, I shouldn't be so afraid... Yet I have been so far!

Stars were nothing but already dead fragments being erased by time.

But now... Maybe this one will disappear.

Perhaps this new "grave" will appear.

All these are technically predictable but... if I do something else, something more interesting in the meanwhile... then it won't be, right?

Why should I even predict this in the first place?

It will probably take more time but... every organism learns at its own pace. Every faltering shining star will change my day. Therefore.

These memories are mine.

Ortho or un-Ortho(dox) in the end.

Hihi.